8 Best Soft Dry Cat Foods in Australia — 2024 Reviews & Top Picks
By Kit Copson
Updated on
The truth is, finding dry food with a soft center isn’t easy because it’s usually treats that are formulated this way rather than complete diets. The good news is that there are plenty of foods on the Australian market tailored for cats that need something easy to digest or that may help with dental problems.
In this post, we’ll share some of the best cat foods in Australia for cats that need something a little gentler on their tummies or to help with their dental care. We’ll also share some soft-centered treats that your cat might enjoy if they’re that way inclined.
A Quick Glance at Our Favorite Picks in 2024
| Rating | Image | Product | Details | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Best Overall
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Hill’s Science Diet Sensitive Recipe |
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Check Price |
Best Value
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Purina One Sensitive Systems with Salmon & Tuna |
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Check Price |
Premium Choice
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OPTIMUM Oral Care 1+ Years with Chicken |
|
Check Price |
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Hill’s Science Diet Kitten Chicken Recipe |
|
Check Price | |
| Best Overall |
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Hill’s Science Diet Oral Care |
|
Check Price |
The 8 Best Soft Dry Cat Foods in Australia
1. Hill’s Science Diet Sensitive Stomach & Skin Adult Cat Food – Best Overall
| Main ingredients: | Chicken, brewers rice, corn gluten meal, whole grain corn |
| Protein content: | 29% min |
| Fat content: | 17% min |
| Calories: | 524 kcal/cup |
This chicken and rice sensitive stomach and skin recipe by Hill’s Science Diet is our pick for the best overall soft dry cat food in Australia. Formulated specifically to enhance digestion, the kibble pieces have soft, rounded edges—which is great as it reassures you that no sharp bits will hurt your cat—and are ideally sized for easy eating.
It’s also made with prebiotic fiber to be gentle on your cat’s stomach, which adds an extra layer of reassurance. User reviews are overwhelmingly positive, and some users mentioned that it really seems to help their cats with sensitive stomachs.
On the downside, it’s a bit pricey and some users feel that the calorie content is quite high, so be careful to feed appropriate portion sizes, especially if you’ve got a cat that’s a little chunky.
- Round-edged kibble
- Formulated for easy digestion
- Mostly glowing reviews
- Quite pricey
2. Purina One Sensitive Systems Cat Food – Best Value
| Main ingredients: | Real salmon and tuna, poultry meal, corn gluten meal, rice |
| Protein content: | 34% min |
| Fat content: | 14% min |
| Calories: | 3.7 kcal/g |
Our choice for the best soft dry cat food for the money is Purina One’s Sensitive Systems formula which contains real salmon and tuna as the primary ingredients. In addition to supporting digestive health with ingredients that make it easy to absorb nutrients and prebiotic fiber, omega-3 and 6 fatty acids help support good skin and coat condition.
User reviews praised this recipe’s suitability for fussy cats and the small kibble size which makes it easy for cats to eat and digest. Affordability was another pro mentioned by users. On the other hand, some users mentioned that this product just doesn’t help their cat, but not every food is going to suit every cat. Another issue mentioned by a few was a dusty consistency in the bag.
- Affordable
- Contains immune defence plus blend
- Supports healthy digestion
- Small kibble size
- Might be dusty in the bag
3. OPTIMUM Oral Care 1+ Years Cat Food – Premium Choice
| Main ingredients: | Poultry and poultry by-products, cereals, cereal protein, poultry digest |
| Protein content: | 34% min |
| Fat content: | 14% min |
| Calories: | 360 kcal/100g |
Developed by nutritionists and vets and made in Australia, Optimum’s Oral Care formula might be worth considering if you’re looking for something that may benefit your cat’s teeth and tummy at the same time. It contains inulin and beet pulp fiber to aid digestion and nutrient absorption and the kibble is formulated to reduce plaque and tartar. The kibble is small with rounded edges for easy eating.
According to user reviews, this product has had a positive effect on cats’ teeth and feline recipients seem to enjoy the taste. On the downside, one user mentioned that it can be a bit hard to find in some places.
- Supports digestive health
- Supports oral health
- Small kibble with rounded edges
- Largely positive reviews
- May be hard to track down
4. Hill’s Science Diet Kitten Chicken Cat Food
| Main ingredients: | Chicken, brown rice, wheat gluten, chicken fat |
| Protein content: | 33% min |
| Fat content: | 19% min |
| Calories: | 568 kcal/cup |
Kittens have very specific needs because their little bodies are still developing—especially their digestive systems—so they can’t eat food formulated for adult cats. If you’re looking for something gentle enough for your kitten, we recommend Hill’s Science Diet’s chicken formula for kittens. Like our other recommendations, its kibble is rounded with soft edges for safety.
This recipe is formulated to support various areas of kitten development including oral health and brain, eye, and muscle development. User reviews are overwhelmingly positive with palatability and quality noted as two major pros. However, the high price tag has been mentioned as the main con.
- Digestible ingredients
- Supports oral health
- Small, rounded kibble
- Expensive
5. Hill’s Science Diet Oral Care Adult Cat Food
| Main ingredients: | Chicken, brown rice, corn gluten meal, chicken fat |
| Protein content: | 29% min |
| Fat content: | 17.5% min |
| Calories: | 331 kcal/cup |
We’ve already picked out quite a few Hill’s Science Diet formulas for this roundup, and this oral care recipe with chicken, rice, and barley. The texture of the kibble is formulated to gently clean your cat’s teeth while they chew without hurting their gums. It may also help if you’ve got a cat with stinky breath.
Some cat parents have commented that this formula works wonders for their cats’ teeth and has helped to freshen their breath, too. One issue that has consistently been mentioned is that the kibble is quite large and can be difficult for some cats to chew. This wasn’t an issue at all for some cats, however.
- Gently cleans teeth
- Freshens breath
- Positively reviewed
- Expensive
- Kibble may be too large for some cats
6. Royal Canin Oral Care Adult Cat Food
| Main ingredients: | Dehydrated poultry protein, rice, maize, vegetable protein isolate |
| Protein content: | 30% min |
| Fat content: | 15% min |
| Calories: | 3494.0 kcal/kg |
Another dental care dry food for our list—Royal Canin’s adult cat Oral Care formula targets tartar buildup with a kibble shape designed to aid in the process. The formula contains a dental agent which traps calcium before it reaches the teeth and develops into tartar. The Oral Care formula is suitable for cats between one and seven years of age.
Positive user reviews mention that the Royal Canin Oral Care formula has worked well for cats with smelly breath, though some found the kibble too small for some cats to properly chew before swallowing.
- Helps prevent tartar buildup
- Kibble shape formulated to aid cleaning
- May freshen breath
- Well-reviewed
- Kibble may be too small for some cats
7. Hill’s Science Diet Senior 11+ Chicken Cat Food
| Main ingredients: | Chicken, whole grain wheat, corn gluten meal, chicken fat |
| Protein content: | 32.7% min |
| Fat content: | 22.5% min |
| Calories: | 4089 kcal/kg, 510 kcal/cup |
As cats age, it gets harder for their tummies and teeth to handle certain kinds of food, so they need something that will be gentle on their systems and easy to eat. This Hill’s Science Diet Senior recipe is formulated for cats aged 11 and up, contains easy-to-digest ingredients and focuses on kidney and bladder health and skin and coat condition.
The kibble pieces are rounded and small, measuring approximately 6.5 x 4mm. According to many positive reviews, it’s a great choice for older cats because it’s easy to eat and seems to be enjoyable. As with other Hill’s Science Diet products, the high price is something that users consistently bring up.
- Easy for senior cats to eat
- Supports digestive, kidney, and bladder health
- Lots of great reviews
- Made with real chicken
- Pricey
8. Temptations Cat Treats with Soft Inside
| Main ingredients: | Chicken by-products, beef and/or sheep byproducts, corn, rice |
| Protein content: | 30% min |
| Fat content: | 17% min |
| Calories: | Less than 2 calories per treat |
It can be quite a challenge to find complete cat foods with soft centers, but they’re much easier to find in treat form. If your cat loves nothing more than a crunchy exterior and a soft middle, you could always treat them to this six-pack of Temptations treats. They come in three flavors—chicken, beef, and seafood, which is great if you want to give your cat a bit of variety.
Users mostly have positive things to say about the Temptations treats, particularly how tasty they are and their value for money. So, if you feel like treating your cat to an occasional snack, why not?
- Three flavors for variety
- Crunchy outside, soft inside
- Make tasty treats
- Not a complete diet
Buyer’s Guide — Buying the Best Soft Dry Cat Food
One of the most important things to remember when it comes to choosing a cat food is that though reviews are helpful for getting an idea of how a product may benefit your cat, every cat is an individual and what works for one might not work for another.
If you’re concerned about a certain aspect of your cat’s health like their teeth or digestion, we highly recommend asking your vet for a recommendation of food that may be suitable for their specific needs before making any decisions.
- A complete diet that fulfills all your cat’s nutritional needs (protein, fat, carbs, vitamins, minerals, and water—remember to always provide fresh water for your cat.)
- A reputable brand that uses quality ingredients (remember, not all by-products are low in quality1 in spite of their reputation—a good brand will use high-quality by-products).
- Food that meets your pet’s specific dietary or health needs, i.e., dental care, digestive care, mobility, etc.
- Food suitable for your cat’s age (kitten, adult, senior).
- A flavor your cat will enjoy.
Conclusion
To recap briefly, our best overall pick is Hill’s Science Diet’s Sensitive Stomach and Skin formula which is tailored to cats that are a little sensitive and need something gentle. Our best value-for-the-money choice is Sensitive System by Purina One, a formula praised for its digestibility and for being easy to eat.
Our premium recommendation is OPTIMUM’s Chicken Oral Care 1+ recipe for adult cats that need a little help with their teeth and gums. For kittens, we chose Hill’s Science Diet’s Kitten formula, which supports various areas of kitten development and is made with ingredients digestible enough for kittens’ tummies to handle.
Finally, making it to our list is another Hill’s Science Diet formula—the Oral Care recipe with chicken, rice, and barley, which is designed to gently clean teeth with its special kibble texture.
We hope these reviews have helped you get a better idea of dry foods that may be gentle enough for your cat’s teeth and stomach. Remember, when in doubt, consult your vet. Good luck!
