10 Best Cat Foods For British Shorthairs – 2024 Reviews & Top Picks

British Shorthairs may be a stocky breed, but that does not mean you should let yours get chubby! On the contrary, proper nutrition is vital for this breed to prevent obesity and promote overall well-being.

Choosing the right food for a British Shorthair can be a challenge. You need to find the right amount of protein to support your large kitty’s muscles and fat to provide the energy your pet needs to support its energy level. We are here to help you take some guesswork out of picking the perfect food.

Our reviews below will acquaint you with some of the best options so you can hopefully find the right one for your British Shorthair’s specific needs. Of course, the products below are recommendations, and you should always consult your vet for any diet-related questions.

Read on to find our picks for the 10 best cat foods for British Shorthairs.

Disclaimer: The foods reviewed here were chosen because they have certain characteristics that might help with some of the causes or consequences of this medical condition. However, they are not a medical treatment or a substitute for medical treatment. Keep in mind that each medical case is different and what works for some pets may not work for others. Your veterinarian is the right person to advise you on the best diet for your pet’s case.

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The 10 Best Cat Foods For British Shorthairs

1. Smalls Fresh Smooth Cow – Best Overall

The best overall cat food for British Shorthairs comes from Smalls, a cat food subscription service. They have a unique line-up of fresh cat foods, but we think their Fresh Smooth Cow recipe is the best for your kitty. The fresh ingredients in their recipes are sourced from the United States and Canada, and the recipes are put together in the U.S. Each recipe will undergo vigorous testing for E. coli, salmonella, listeria, and mold before it leaves the facility.

Small uses all-natural protein sources in each recipe so your cat can get the high protein needed to thrive. In addition, their fresh recipes are high in moisture, ensuring your kitty will get the hydration it may be skimping out on otherwise.

Smalls’ wet food needs to be kept in a sealed container in your fridge or freezer. You can freeze their recipes for up to one year, but once it is thawed in your fridge, it need to be served within five to seven days. While this may be slightly inconvenient, it simply means that their food isn’t chock full of preservatives that give it a suspiciously long -life. Smalls believes that real food should spoil.

Smalls is still a small company, so they do not ship outside the continental United States yet. However, since their food is as high-quality as you can get for your kitty, you should also expect to pay more for your subscription than you would be buying food from the store.

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2. Purina Pro Plan Hairball Control Ocean Whitefish & Tuna Entrée – Budget Buy

British Shorthairs can be an expensive breed to own, but you don’t have to spend a massive portion of your budget on food to keep your cat healthy. If you’re on a tight budget, consider Purina Pro Plan Hairball Control Ocean Whitefish & Tuna Entrée.

This recipe is made with real ocean whitefish and tuna, providing your kitty with a high-protein meal in flavors it’ll love. It’s fortified with antioxidants to support the immune system and taurine to boost vision health. This hairball control wet food has much natural fiber to help prevent hairballs in your British Shorthair.

Though this recipe has less protein than other options, it is great to feed your cat if it prefers a fish-based diet over poultry or beef.

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3. Ziwi Peak Air-Dried Venison

Ziwi Peak is a high-quality cat food brand that sources most of its ingredients from sustainable farms in New Zealand. The Ziwi Peak Air-Dried Venison recipe is one of their most popular cat food options, though it is on the pricey side.

This single protein recipe is nutrient-dense and made without added carbohydrates or fillers. It includes all parts of venison, including organ meat, which is very nutrient-dense. Thanks to its inclusion of superfoods, this food can promote the mobility and well-being of your British Shorthair. This ready-to-serve raw alternative is made of 96% meat, organ, and New Zealand green mussels, a natural source of glucosamine for joint and mobility health.

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4. Chicken Soup for the Soul Kitten Chicken & Turkey Recipe Pate

If your British Shorthair is still a kitten, you need to be feeding it food specifically made for its age group. The Chicken Soup for the Soul Kitten Chicken & Turkey Recipe Pate is one of the best kitten foods. This recipe is loaded with DHA and taurine, ingredients your kitten needs for brain and eye health.

Real chicken is the first ingredient, making this recipe high in the kind of protein kittens need to grow and thrive. This chicken is blended with other protein sources like turkey, salmon, and duck. The recipe is lower in carbohydrates than other similar kitten recipes. The recipe features no wheat, corn, or soy ingredients and is made without artificial ingredients, preservatives, or flavors.

The ingredient list contains several vitamins and minerals your kitten needs for immune support and healthy skin and coat.

Some kittens may not like the gooey texture of this pate.

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5. Farmina Natural & Delicious Prime Lamb & Blueberry

The Farmina Natural & Delicious Prime Lamb & Blueberry canned cat food is another great option for your British Shorthair.

The primary protein source and the first ingredient in this recipe is lamb, which provides a source of animal fat and amino acids for your kitten. Herring is the second ingredient and another excellent protein source chock full of essential fatty acids. The recipe also contains blueberries, a fruit high in antioxidants, fiber, and vitamins.

The recipe contains no thickeners like guar, xanthan, or carrageenan and is fortified with vitamins like A and D3.

This wet food was processed without any added water or broth, leaving it with a chunky texture. This texture may be off-putting to some cats who prefer something more pate-like.

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6. Tiki Cat Born Carnivore Chicken & Egg

Tiki Cat’s Born Carnivore Chicken & Egg is an excellent pick for your British Shorthair if it prefers a dry food diet versus a wet one. This recipe is made with real chicken for a hefty dose of high-quality protein. The remaining ingredients are non-GMO, and there are no artificial colors or flavorings. Eighty percent of the protein in this recipe is from animal sources to mimic your kitty’s natural prey diet.

As with Tiki Cat’s other dry food offerings, this recipe is baked rather than extruded. This cooking method preserves more of the nutritional integrity of the ingredients.

This recipe does contain dried egg product and salmon oil, both potential allergens.

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7. Instinct Original Grain-Free Recipe with Real Chicken

Instinct’s Original Grain-Free Recipe with Real Chicken is a kibble option that features the benefits of a raw diet on every piece. Instinct makes their raw frozen recipes and then freeze dries them to remove any moisture and lock in the nutrients. They’ll then crush the freeze-dried pieces and tumble them with the kibble.

This recipe is made with cage-free chicken for a significant protein boost to help support your cat’s muscles. It features 81% real animal ingredients and 19% fruits, veggies, and other wholesome additions. This recipe has no by-product meals, artificial colors, or preservatives.

This food has guaranteed levels of probiotics, omegas, and antioxidants to support your cat’s overall well-being. It’s made in the U.S.A., with ingredients that were sourced worldwide. However, the company doesn’t explicitly say where its ingredients are sourced.

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8. Fussie Cat Super Premium Chicken & Beef Formula in Pumpkin Soup

Fussie Cat’s Super Premium Chicken & Beef Formula in Pumpkin Soup is a high-quality chicken and beef dinner rich in DHA to boost your pet’s brain health. It contains prebiotics for promoting a healthy digestive system and many vitamins and minerals to support your cat’s overall well-being. This recipe is an excellent source of vitamin B12, which is helpful if your cat has chronic GI symptoms¹. This high protein formula provides your pet with a healthy dose of fiber for digestive health, and because it’s wet food, a boost in hydration levels.

The meat in the formula is a little stringy, which can pose a problem if your kitty has a preferred texture for its wet food.

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9. Wellness Sliced Chicken Entree

The Wellness Sliced Chicken Entrée features chicken cuts in a rich gravy sauce. It’s made with wholesome ingredients and no artificial coloring or preservatives. It’s made with high-quality chicken, broccoli for fiber and vitamin C, and cranberries for an antioxidant boost. In addition, each can contain real broth, so your cat gets a good dose of hydration at every meal.

This food has a unique texture as the protein pieces are wide, long, and flat. This is a great pick for cats that prefer a chunkier wet food, but those that are used to date may not like this texture.

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10. Wysong Epigen Starch-Free Chicken Formula

This ultra-high protein recipe features 60% protein and uses real organic chicken as the main ingredient. The unique extrusion process provides a starch-free food that closely resembles the diet your cat would have been eating in the wild. This recipe is made with real fruits and veggies like kale, spinach, blueberries, and apples. The ingredients are domestically sourced and approved by the FDA.

This recipe works as a complete meal or a topper for your cat’s wet food. Some pet parents use it as a protein booster since it is so high in protein.

This formula is so high in protein that it might not be suitable for all cats. If unsure if the protein will benefit your kitty, we recommend speaking to your vet for advice.

Buyer’s Guide — Choosing the Best Cat Foods For British Shorthairs

If only choosing cat food was as simple as picking one off the shelf. As the parent to a beautiful British Shorthair, you know your kitty needs the absolute best nutrition to thrive. Let’s take a deeper dive into your kitty’s nutritional needs and other factors you should consider as you search for the best food.

Nutrition Requirements of British Shorthairs

Your British Shorthair has the same nutritional requirements as most other cat breeds. So let’s take a quick look at some essential things you should consider for your kitty’s diet.

Kitten Nutrition

For your kitty’s first year of life, it will need a greater amount of high-quality protein than it will need once it reaches adulthood. Therefore, it’s imperative that your growing kitten also has fat in its diet, as it is a source of energy and essential fatty acids.

While a growing kitten needs higher amounts of nutrients compared to its adult counterparts, you shouldn’t be feeding them in excess; otherwise, you run the risk of it becoming overweight and obese.

Protein

Cats are obligate carnivores, meaning they need a diet that focuses on nutrients found in animal products. Your kitty will use dietary protein to develop and maintain its muscles, skin, fur, ligaments, cartilage, and more. Protein also acts as a source of energy for cats and provides the essential amino acids it needs to thrive.

Research suggests that a diet with half of its calories from crude protein fits what a cat would seek out if left to fend for itself in the wild.

Fat

Fat is essential to your cat’s diet as it is the most energy-rich nutrient. Fat also transports molecules and helps conduct nerve impulses. In addition, essential fatty acids boost skin and coat health and can help with inflammation.

Highly active cats may need higher fat levels.

Carbohydrates

For most other animals, carbohydrates provide the most abundant source of energy. However, this is less true for cats as they’ve evolved to derive most of their energy from fat and protein.

Cats can convert small amounts of carbs into energy, but they should make up a small part of your kitty’s diet. A diet that’s too high in carbs is not natural for cats and can lead to obesity and related health problems.

Health Concerns

British Shorthairs are a relatively healthy breed, but they are large cats prone to obesity. Therefore, you must ensure the food you’re feeding is high quality and that you’re providing it in the proper portions to prevent excessive weight gain. Overweight and obese cats are more at risk of developing conditions like joint degeneration, diabetes, and heart disease.

British Shorthairs may also be at risk of developing Polycystic Kidney Disease. This is an inherited condition where liquid-filled sacs develop in the kidney tissues. These sacs are cysts and will multiply and grow over time, potentially causing fatal kidney failure. There is no specific treatment for this condition, but your vet may recommend a special diet to help control your kitty’s symptoms and block phosphorus absorption.

Wet vs Dry Food

As you probably noticed, we reviewed a mix of both wet and dry foods above. Wet foods are generally accepted as the best option for cats.

Canned food provides your pet with the hydration it might not get otherwise. Cats are notoriously bad at drinking water, so a diet high in moisture ensures your kitty gets the bare minimum in hydration. In addition, cats with certain health conditions like kidney disease or diabetes may benefit from the extra water they’d get in an all-wet food diet.

Canned food is also usually more palatable than dry food. This is because it’s more aromatic, which can draw your kitty to eat it.

The problem with wet food is that it is much pricier than an all-kibble diet and has a much shorter shelf life.

Dry food is easier to serve and store and typically much less expensive than wet food. It is typically more carbohydrate-rich than canned, however. Cats are carnivores, so their natural diet is low in carbs. There are times when a low or no-carb diet may be recommended for your cat, like if it is obese or develops diabetes.

It may be that the best diet for your British Shorthair is a mixture of wet and dry food, provided they’re both high quality. This will give your kitty the best of both worlds, providing it with the hydrating benefits and palatability of wet food but the crunch many cats enjoy from kibble.

While providing our feline companions with high-quality food is paramount, selecting the right food and water bowl is equally important. The modern yet practical design of our Hepper NomNom Cat Bowl combines cat-catered features, like whisker-friendly shallow dishes and slight elevation, with a contemporary style aimed at protecting your floors from messy eating and drinking. The NomNom is entirely dishwasher safe and was thoughtfully created with your cat’s health and well-being in mind. 

In Conclusion

The best cat food for British Shorthairs is Smalls’ Fresh Smooth Cow for its fresh, domestic ingredients and all-natural recipe. Our budget pick is Purina Pro Plan Hairball Control Ocean Whitefish & Tuna Entrée as it is affordable and great for your British Shorthairs hairballs.

Picking the right food for your beloved kitty can be tricky, but we hope our reviews and buying guide have made the process a little easier.

See also:

• When Do Kittens Start to Purr? Average Age, Facts & FAQ
• 11 British Cat Breeds (with Pictures)

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Featured Image Credit: Chendongshan, Shutterstock