How much dry cat food should you feed a cat?

If you're unsure of how much dry food to feed your particular cat, you can refer to the packaging for guidelines or check with your veterinarian. To give you a general idea, you should consider factors such as your cat's weight and age. Most adult cats (one year and older) can be fed around a quarter of a cup of dry food twice daily . Older cats or ones with special needs however, may need to be fed more often. This would be a case to check in with your veterinarian. Ideally, it's recommended to feed your cat a combination of mostly wet food with dry food mixed in. This is because dry food is higher in carbs and cats don't generally need carbs in their diet. In this case, you can look at the recommended feeding amount on each type of food and half them.

What ingredients should you look for in premium dry cat food?

When selecting a premium dry food, it's important to select one that contains essential nutrients to meet your cat's needs. As stated above, taurine is one essential amino acid you should always look for in a dry food because it helps with digestion, muscle function, and immunity. Look for other ingredients like protein, vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Fiber helps with digestive function and weight management while high-quality protein (turkey, fish, chicken, etc.) keeps your cat energized and satisfied. A dry food high in omega-3 fatty acids is also more ideal as it helps promote healthy fur and skin.

Can dry cat food go stale?

Like any other pet food, dry cat food can go bad. Always check the "best by" date to make sure your food isn't past its due date. To best preserve your dry food, keep it in the original packaging—these bags are designed to help food maintain its freshness as long as possible. Make sure to seal the bag properly after use to avoid air exposure as well. Air exposure can cause degradation of the food. Store your food in a cool, dry place as opposed to out in the sun as that can cause the temperature and humidity to rise in the bag.

Is it better for cats to eat dry food or canned food?

When it comes to feeding your cat, there are two basic choices: canned wet food or dry kibble. You might wonder which is best, and indeed, there is considerable dispute even among veterinarians as to whether it's ideal for cats to eat only wet food, or whether kibble is a satisfactory choice as well. The answer, however, is not cut-and-dried. The two major arguments against kibble—that it is too high in carbohydrates and that it causes dehydration—are not necessarily true in all cases. While cats are not designed to eat a diet high in carbohydrates, they can digest complex carbs, and indeed, require some carbohydrates in their diet for optimum health. A good cat food is high in protein, and only low-to-moderate on carbohydrates. Unfortunately, many inferior kibbles have plant-based carbohydrates as a top ingredient, with protein further down the list. To keep your cat healthy, always read the ingredient list of any potential kibble, and be sure that meat-based proteins are the top ingredients, with grains or plants absent or further down the ingredient list. As for dehydration, there is no clear evidence that a diet of kibble causes cats to be more or less dehydrated than other felines. Studies have gone both ways; some show cats fed kibble-only diets are more dehydrated than cats fed wet food, while others indicate the reverse. But all cats, regardless of diet, should have access at all times to a source of fresh, clean water. Many people solve the dry-versus-wet-food dilemma by feeding their cat a mixture of both. Perhaps a morning meal of wet food and a dinner of kibble, or the reverse. Whatever you decide, however, always check the ingredients of your cat's food and choose only those with a high-quality, meat-based protein as the top ingredient. It's also helpful to talk to your veterinarian as to what food they recommend for your specific feline, as your cat may have specific dietary needs due to age, health, or weight.

The 9 Best Premium Dry Cat Foods of 2023

The 9 Best Premium Dry Cat Foods of 2022 — The Spruce Pets / Sabrina Jiang

Reviewed & Approved

Our top choice is the Crave Grain Free High Protein Indoor Adult Cat Food. Hill's Science Diet Adult Indoor Dry Cat Food is also veterinarian-recommended.

Choosing cat food isn't always a straightforward process. It's an owner's responsibility to provide for a cat's nourishment requirements, which can change over time. "Cats are what we call obligate carnivores, meaning they must have protein as the majority of their diet," Dr. Lewis Singleton, a veterinarian at Banfield Pet Hospital in South New Jersey, explains. "Cats are not able to naturally make certain amino acids and vitamins such as taurine, arginine, vitamin A, vitamin D3, and other B vitamins, and therefore they must be included in their diet."

With Dr. Singleton's guidance in mind, here are the best premium dry cat foods.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall:

CRAVE Indoor Adult Cat Food at Amazon

Jump to Review

Best for Weight Loss:

Blue Buffalo Life Protection Dry Adult Cat Food at Amazon

Jump to Review

Best for Kittens:

Orijen Biologically Appropriate Cat Food at Amazon

Jump to Review

Best for Adult Cats:

Royal Canin Dry Cat Food at Amazon

Jump to Review

Best Organic:

Castor & Pollux Organix Cat Food at Amazon

Jump to Review

Best Grain-Free:

Wellness CORE Dry Food at Amazon

Jump to Review

Best Vet-Recommended:

Hill's Science Diet Dry Cat Food at Amazon

Jump to Review

Best with Probiotics:

Purina Pro Plan Complete Essentials Dry Food at Amazon

Jump to Review

Best Raw:

Instinct Raw Boost Cat Food at Amazon

Jump to Review

4.8

CRAVE Grain Free High Protein Indoor Adult Cat Food

Amazon

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What We Like

Comes in various flavors
Uses real meat
Provides immunity support

What We Don't Like

Expensive

The best premium option overall is Crave Indoor Adult Cat Food. It comes in various flavors, including chicken, chicken with salmon, salmon with ocean fish, turkey, chicken, and duck blend. Catering to the protein-rich diets cats need to thrive, the number one ingredient is meat. Other nourishing ingredients include pea protein, potato protein, flaxseed, and several essential vitamins and minerals, like Vitamin E which research shows can help cats' immune systems. Inspired by your pet's ancestral hunting diet, the recipes are created with high-quality protein and carbohydrates for healthy muscles, energy, and immunity support.

Price at time of publish: $35

_{Weight: 10 pounds | Form: Dry | Flavors: Chicken & Salmon, Chicken, Salmon & Ocean Fish | Life Stage: Adult}

4.3

Blue Buffalo Life Protection Dry Adult Cat Food

Amazon

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What We Like

Uses real deboned meat
Grain-free
Formulated without artificial preservatives

What We Don't Like

Bag isn't resealable

If you're looking for dry cat food to support weight loss, we suggest Blue Buffalo Weight Control. It's developed with an optimal blend of animal protein and calories, which helps your pet achieve and maintain an ideal body mass. Real deboned meat is the first ingredient. After that, you'll find brown rice, omega-3, and omega-6 fatty acids, vegetables, fruit, and vitamins. The round kibble contains a blend of specially-formed bites that are processed with less heat, which the manufacturer says helps preserve the nutritional value of the ingredients.

Price at time of publish: $43

_{Weight: 15 pounds | Form: Dry | Flavor: Chicken & Brown Rice, | Life Stage: Adult}

Blue Buffalo's Life Protection Cat Food Is Pricy But High Quality

Blue Buffalo Weight Control Natural Adult Dry Cat Food — The Spruce Pets / Jordan Provost

What Testers Say

"The food is entirely free of corn, wheat, soy, artificial flavors, and preservatives. It also meets the nutritional standards established by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), meaning that it’s a well-balanced and complete meal." —Nick Ingalls, Product Tester

The 6 Best Cat Foods for Weight Loss of 2023

Orijen Biologically Appropriate Cat Food

Amazon

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What We Like

Uses fresh ingredients
85 to 90 percent animal-derived ingredients

What We Don't Like

Expensive

If you've got a kitten at home, we recommend Orijen Biologically Appropriate Cat Food (formerly called Orijen Cat & Kitten Dry Food). It's formulated with fresh, whole ingredients like free-range chicken, cage-free eggs, and wild-caught fish, providing your developing kitten with the nutrients they need to grow. Also, you won't find any grains in the ingredients list, which some owners prefer to avoid. All components of the recipe are selected with your feline's biological needs in mind.

Price at time of publish: $66

_{Weight: 12 pounds | Form: Dry | Flavors: Original, Kitten, Regional Red, Tundra, Six Fish | Life Stage: All}

Amazon

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What We Like

Digestion-friendly
Rich in fiber, protein, vitamins, and minerals
Comes in 3-, 7-, or 15-pound bags

What We Don't Like

Expensive

The best premium dry cat food for adult felines is Royal Canin Indoor Dry. Recommended by Dr. Singleton, it's formulated with a blend of fiber for digestion and weight maintenance.

This cat food contains optimal portions of chicken meal, animal fat, vegetable fiber, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals. The highly digestible and metabolizable ingredients keep your adult cat healthy, energized, and satisfied. Be sure to buy this food from a reputable pet retailer as counterfeit versions of this pet food seem to be an issue. If you're shopping on Amazon, it's best to make sure the product is being sold and shipped by the manufacturer.

Price at time of publish: $57

_{Weight: 15 pounds | Form: Dry, Pellets | Flavor: Chicken | Life Stage: Adult}

The 8 Best Healthy Cat Treats of 2023

Castor & Pollux Organix Grain Free Organic Cat Food

Amazon

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What We Like

Made with free-range chicken
USDA Certified organic

What We Don't Like

Some cats refuse to eat it

If you're looking for an organic option, pick up a bag of Castor & Pollux Organix. This grain-free dry cat food is cooked in a certified organic kitchen. The number-one ingredient is free-range chicken, which is combined with a nutritional superfood blend of cranberries, coconut oil, and flaxseed. It doesn't have any added growth hormones, antibiotics, or artificial preservatives.

Price at time of publish: $56

_{Weight: 10 pounds | Form: Dry | Flavors: Chicken & Sweet Potato, Chicken & Brown Rice | Life Stage: All}

Wellness CORE Grain Free Natural Dry Food for Adult Cats

Amazon

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What We Like

Various flavors
Helps maintain a healthy coat

What We Don't Like

Uses chicken and turkey meal

Although some cats may have allergies to certain grains, on the whole, there's little research showing that grain-free diets are healthier than conventional cat food diets. Nonetheless, some pet owners prefer grain-free.

Wellness Core is a natural dry cat food free of grains and fillers. The recipes contain real poultry or fish as the main ingredient and includes animal proteins and fats, amino acids, vitamins, minerals, and probiotics. This cat food is formulated to provide energy, promote digestion, immunity support, and a healthy coat.

Price at time of publish: $41

_{Weight: 11 pounds | Form: Dry | Flavor: Chicken (Indoor) | Life Stage: Kitten, Adult}

The 7 Best Hypoallergenic Cat Foods of 2023

Hill's Science Diet Adult Indoor Dry Cat Food

Amazon

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What We Like

Made with high-quality meat
Keeps cat full
Digestion-friendly

What We Don't Like

More carbs than other formulas

Hill's Science Diet is another option Dr. Singleton often recommends. It's also the number one veterinarian-recommended dry cat food for its special formula of energy-support and digestible ingredients to fuel an indoor lifestyle. With high-quality meat, whole grains, fish oil, animal fat, vegetable fibers, and amino acids, it'll satisfy your cat's cravings and keep them full between meals.

Price at time of publish: $50

_{Weight: 15.5 pounds | Form: Dry | Flavor: Chicken | Life Stage: Adult}

Purina Pro Plan Adult Complete Essentials Dry Cat Food with Probiotics

Amazon

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What We Like

Rich in protein
Digestion-friendly
Helps maintain a healthy coat

What We Don't Like

Not grain-free

Purina Pro Plan Complete Essentials is a high-protein cat food developed with digestive health and immunity in mind. The primary ingredient is real chicken or salmon, combined with brewer's rice and a blend of live probiotics and prebiotics. This dry cat food also has omega-6 fatty acids for a healthy coat and skin. The ingredient list also has eggs, animal fat, amino acids, and a range of essential vitamins and minerals.

Price at time of publish: $47

_{Weight: 16 pounds | Form: Dry | Flavor: Chicken | Life Stage: Adult}

Petco

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What We Like

Grain-free
Digestion-friendly probiotics
Contains omega fatty acids and antioxidants

What We Don't Like

Uses game bird and fish meal

While cats are capable of digesting raw foods, the risk of cross-contamination suggests against adopting a raw food diet for your cat in most cases. But if you have decided on a raw food approach after consultation with your veterinarian consider Instinct Raw Boost Grain-Free, which enables a grain-free, raw diet with dry cat food, rather than the typical wet food most associated with the raw food approach.

The meaty offerings from Instinct Raw are rich in omega fatty acids, antioxidants, and probiotics. This cat food is made with cage-free chicken as the first ingredient. The food is minimally processed and always comes in a resealable bag.

Instinct Raw Boost Grain-Free Cat Food is also available in real duck and real salmon flavors, and can be found in two, four and a half, five, and 10-pound bags.

Price at time of publish: $45

_{Weight: 10 pounds | Form: Dry | Flavors: Chicken, Duck, Salmon | Life Stage: Adult}

Final Verdict

The best overall premium dry cat food is the Crave Grain Free High Protein Indoor Adult Cat Food. It boasts a protein-rich blend of high-quality meat, carbs, vitamins, and minerals. Plus, it comes in multiple feline-approved poultry and fish recipes. However, Hill's Science Diet Adult Indoor Dry Cat Food is another great choice. The vet-approved formula is packed with meat, whole grains, animal fat, fish oil, and veggie fibers.

Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Dry Cat Food — The Spruce Pets / Jordan Provost

Life Stage

Match your cat’s life stage to the dry food you choose to feed them. Kittens have unique nutritional needs as they grow and develop, so it makes sense to feed them accordingly. Through the active adult years, feed your cat a balanced diet that will supply plenty of nutrients and energy to keep them healthy and happy. Senior cats will have different diet criteria than either of these first two life stages, so pick a formula that has been developed for your kitty’s golden years.

Flavor

This is a matter of taste, but the fact is that some felines are more finicky than others. Finding a dry cat food that your cat will eat and appreciate is sometimes a challenge, especially if you’re transitioning from wet cat food. While limited ingredient foods are good for digestion, they’re not always as appetizing to some cats. You may need to experiment with different protein sources and ingredients to find a dry cat food that your cat will gobble up.

Essential Nutrients

Your cat needs certain nutrients to thrive, including amino acids, vitamins, and minerals. For instance, taurine is an essential amino acid that your cat needs to absorb through diet. Look for dry cat food that meets the minimum daily requirements for essential amino acids, vitamins, and minerals.

One thing to note is that your cat does not need carbohydrates in his or her diet, although there's no data to show what the optimal carbohydrate percent for cats should be.

FAQ

How much dry cat food should you feed a cat?

If you're unsure of how much dry food to feed your particular cat, you can refer to the packaging for guidelines or check with your veterinarian. To give you a general idea, you should consider factors such as your cat's weight and age. Most adult cats (one year and older) can be fed around a quarter of a cup of dry food twice daily. Older cats or ones with special needs however, may need to be fed more often. This would be a case to check in with your veterinarian.
Ideally, it's recommended to feed your cat a combination of mostly wet food with dry food mixed in. This is because dry food is higher in carbs and cats don't generally need carbs in their diet. In this case, you can look at the recommended feeding amount on each type of food and half them.
What ingredients should you look for in premium dry cat food?

When selecting a premium dry food, it's important to select one that contains essential nutrients to meet your cat's needs. As stated above, taurine is one essential amino acid you should always look for in a dry food because it helps with digestion, muscle function, and immunity. Look for other ingredients like protein, vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Fiber helps with digestive function and weight management while high-quality protein (turkey, fish, chicken, etc.) keeps your cat energized and satisfied. A dry food high in omega-3 fatty acids is also more ideal as it helps promote healthy fur and skin.
Can dry cat food go stale?

Like any other pet food, dry cat food can go bad. Always check the "best by" date to make sure your food isn't past its due date. To best preserve your dry food, keep it in the original packaging—these bags are designed to help food maintain its freshness as long as possible.
Make sure to seal the bag properly after use to avoid air exposure as well. Air exposure can cause degradation of the food. Store your food in a cool, dry place as opposed to out in the sun as that can cause the temperature and humidity to rise in the bag.
Is it better for cats to eat dry food or canned food?

When it comes to feeding your cat, there are two basic choices: canned wet food or dry kibble. You might wonder which is best, and indeed, there is considerable dispute even among veterinarians as to whether it's ideal for cats to eat only wet food, or whether kibble is a satisfactory choice as well.
The answer, however, is not cut-and-dried. The two major arguments against kibble—that it is too high in carbohydrates and that it causes dehydration—are not necessarily true in all cases.
While cats are not designed to eat a diet high in carbohydrates, they can digest complex carbs, and indeed, require some carbohydrates in their diet for optimum health. A good cat food is high in protein, and only low-to-moderate on carbohydrates. Unfortunately, many inferior kibbles have plant-based carbohydrates as a top ingredient, with protein further down the list. To keep your cat healthy, always read the ingredient list of any potential kibble, and be sure that meat-based proteins are the top ingredients, with grains or plants absent or further down the ingredient list.
As for dehydration, there is no clear evidence that a diet of kibble causes cats to be more or less dehydrated than other felines. Studies have gone both ways; some show cats fed kibble-only diets are more dehydrated than cats fed wet food, while others indicate the reverse. But all cats, regardless of diet, should have access at all times to a source of fresh, clean water.
Many people solve the dry-versus-wet-food dilemma by feeding their cat a mixture of both. Perhaps a morning meal of wet food and a dinner of kibble, or the reverse. Whatever you decide, however, always check the ingredients of your cat's food and choose only those with a high-quality, meat-based protein as the top ingredient.
It's also helpful to talk to your veterinarian as to what food they recommend for your specific feline, as your cat may have specific dietary needs due to age, health, or weight.

Theresa Holland is a professional writer and animal lover with extensive experience writing about cats and dogs. In addition to The Spruce, she regularly contributes to MyDomaine and Byrdie.

For this piece, Holland interviewed Dr. Lewis Singleton, a veterinarian at Banfield Pet Hospital, to obtain more information on dry cat food. Choosing the right cat food can be a daunting task, but consulting with a veterinarian about key ingredients to look for (or avoid) can make the task less intimidating. To make this list, each pick's flavor and nutrients were considered, as well as the cat's life stage.

Best Overall

CRAVE Grain Free High Protein Indoor Adult Cat Food

Best for Weight Loss

Blue Buffalo Life Protection Dry Adult Cat Food

Best for Kittens

Orijen Biologically Appropriate Cat Food

Best for Adult Cats

Royal Canin Indoor Adult Dry Cat Food

Best Organic

Castor & Pollux Organix Grain Free Organic Cat Food

Best Grain-Free

Wellness CORE Grain Free Natural Dry Food for Adult Cats

Best Vet-Recommended

Hill's Science Diet Adult Indoor Dry Cat Food

Best with Probiotics

Purina Pro Plan Adult Complete Essentials Dry Cat Food with Probiotics

Best Raw

Instinct Raw Boost Grain-Free Cat Food

More from The Spruce Pets

The 9 Best Premium Dry Cat Foods of 2023

Best Overall

CRAVE Grain Free High Protein Indoor Adult Cat Food

Best for Weight Loss

Blue Buffalo Life Protection Dry Adult Cat Food

Best for Kittens

Orijen Biologically Appropriate Cat Food

Best for Adult Cats

Royal Canin Indoor Adult Dry Cat Food

Best Organic

Castor & Pollux Organix Grain Free Organic Cat Food

Best Grain-Free

Wellness CORE Grain Free Natural Dry Food for Adult Cats

Best Vet-Recommended

Hill's Science Diet Adult Indoor Dry Cat Food

Best with Probiotics

Purina Pro Plan Adult Complete Essentials Dry Cat Food with Probiotics

Best Raw

Instinct Raw Boost Grain-Free Cat Food

What to Look for in a Premium Dry Cat Food

Life Stage

Flavor

Essential Nutrients

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