Pet food in Australia is largely self-regulated with voluntary industry standards applied through the Pet Food Industry Association of Australia (PFIAA).1 Several key stakeholders worked to develop the Australian Standard for the Manufacturing and Marketing of Pet Food after several pet food product safety incidents.
With a lack of regulation and concerns over safety, it can be difficult to find pet food that’s high quality and safety, especially for cats. This list of the seven best cat foods in Australia was compiled based on the brand reputation, species-appropriate ingredients and formulas, and reviews from pet owners.
Purina One Adult Salmon and Tuna Dry Cat Food is the overall best cat food in Australia. Formulated for the unique nutritional needs of cats, this dry food has salmon for lean body mass and healthy organs and omega fatty acids and vitamin E for skin and coat health. The formula is highly digestible for optimal energy absorption.
The food is available in small and medium bag sizes and a variety of additional formulas, including hairball, healthy weight, urinary tract health, indoor, and kitten. Some reviewers said that their fussy cats wouldn’t eat the food or that it caused stinky bowel movements, however.
Friskies Seafood Sensations is the best cat food in Australia for the money. The well-balanced formula contains plenty of protein to maintain lean muscles, essential fatty acids for a healthy coat and skin, and vitamin A and taurine to support strong vision.
Even fussy cats will like Friskies Seafood Sensations for its strong fish, shrimp, crab, and seaweed smell and taste. This food is formulated to meet AAFCO standards, the US association that regulates pet food in the country. Reviewers were happy with the food overall, but some received bags that were long expired.
Pros
High protein
Well-rounded nutrition
Meets AAFCO standards
Cons
Some bags people purchased were expired
3. Optimum Furball 1+ Years with Chicken Dry Cat Food – Premium Choice
Optimum Furball 1+ Years with Chicken Dry Cat Food is a premium food option with the nutrients cats need, including taurine, arginine, and vitamin E to support organ health. This food also has yucca extract to reduce odors and promote urinary health, as well as beet pulp fibre to reduce hairballs.
Formulated with real meat as the first ingredient, Optimum food is manufactured in Australia without artificial colours or flavours. This food is used and recommended by Dr. Chris Brown, an Australian veterinarian and star of the television show Bondi Vet. Cats generally liked the food, but it is expensive compared to other brands and formulas.
Pros
Formulated with yucca extract and beet pulp fibre
Real meat as the first ingredient
No artificial colours or flavours
Cons
May be too pricey for people with multiple cats
4. Purina One Kitten Dry Cat Food – Best for Kittens
Purina One Kitten Dry Cat Food is a balanced kitten food with a special blend of nutrients and minerals to support healthy growth and development. The food has all a growing kitten needs, including calcium and phosphorous for bone health and taurine, fatty acids, vitamin A, and choline for brain and vision health.
This food is suitable for kittens up to 12 months. At this milestone, your kitten can transition into the Purina One adult formula. Most reviewers liked the food, but some said their cats wouldn’t eat it, and others noted similar smelly bowel movements like the adult formula.
Pros
Balanced nutrition
Formulated for kittens
Meat as the first ingredient
Cons
Can cause smelly poop
May not be the best choice for very picky kittens
5. Dine Desire Succulent Chicken Breast Wet Cat Food
Dine Desire Succulent Chicken Breast Wet Cat Food is a high-quality cat food with a recipe of succulent poultry in rich gravy. The food is conveniently portioned to the ideal serving size to prevent spoilage. This food has no preservatives.
Along with this recipe, Dine Desire offers daily food formulas, fine flakes, melting soups, perfect portions, and creamy treats to suit your cat’s needs. The brand makes several different recipes as well, including tuna and white meat, seafood stew, and tuna filets with prawns. Note that Dine Desire is intended for occasional or supplemental feeding only, so it will need to be fed as a topper to a balanced dry food.
Applaws Grain Free Ocean Fish & Salmon Dry Cat Food is a high-quality cat food with human-grade meat as the number-one ingredient. This food has natural ingredients with no fillers, additives, or artificial colours, including dried pear, cranberry, tomato, alfalfa, spinach, and yucca.
The bags are separated into 800-gram portions for freshness and convenience. Each pack comes with six bags with a long shelf life. Applaws food is made in Australia using real food ingredients. This food is complete and balanced, but you can supplement this dry food with several options of wet canned food from the same brand. Though many reviewers were satisfied with this food, some had delivery issues with missing portions.
Pros
Human-grade meat as the first ingredient
No fillers or artificial colors
Pre-portioned bags
Cons
Delivery issues
7. Whiskas Chicken in Gravy Variety Adult Wet Cat Food
Whiskas Chicken in Gravy Variety Adult Wet Cat Food offers a nutritionally balanced diet for adult cats and a mix of tastes and textures that will entice the pickiest of eaters. This food is made with meat, gravy, and essential vitamins and minerals for whole-body health. There are no added preservatives.
Each variety pack contains different flavors, including chicken meals, chicken and turkey meals, and chicken and duck meals to keep your cat from food boredom. You can switch up your cat’s proteins or try the variety pack and choose the one it likes best. This food is a little expensive, however.
Pros
Variety pack
Real meat
Appetizing
Cons
Expensive, not a good choice for people on a budget
Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose the Best Cat Food in Australia
Because the Australian pet food market is largely self-regulated, it’s important to do your due diligence when choosing a quality cat food. Brands with a good reputation are a great start, but pet foods can vary in quality when they’re merged or acquired by other brands. It’s also important to consider recent recalls.
In general, look for cat food with:
Real meat ingredients
Sufficient protein and fat
Limited fillers or artificial flavours and preservatives
Plenty of brands available in Australia are American brands, which are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for safety, sanitary production, and truth in labeling. You could also look for foods approved by AAFCO, which monitors the ingredients and standards in the US pet food industry.
Final Verdict
With the self-regulation of the pet food market in Australia, it can be difficult to find quality food for your cat. We’ve compiled this list of the best cat foods in Australia that offer quality ingredients and nutrients for your cat’s health and wellness. The best overall pick is Purina One Adult Salmon and Tuna Dry Cat Food for its well-balanced nutrition. For the best value, choose Friskies Seafood Sensations, which boasts a good balance of protein and fats. The premium choice is Optimum Furball 1+ Years with Chicken Dry Cat Food, which is made in Australia and approved by Dr. Chris Brown.
Our writing team consists of practicing veterinarians and vet technicians, animal trainers who specialize in animal psychology, and people who care deeply about the well-being of all animals, big and small.
