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11 Best Cat Foods for Persian Cats – 2024 Reviews & Top Picks

Nicole Cosgrove Profile Picture

By Nicole Cosgrove

persian cat eating Persian cats are a unique breed. Their soft and fluffy fur (which can be found in more colors than just white) and big, round, beautiful eyes are just two of the many qualities that make Persian cats so attractive.

Yes, they can be active and playful at times, but a lot of them have no interest in going outdoors. They’d rather stay curled up in whatever is their new favorite spot for the week somewhere inside the comfort of their home.

We know you’ve probably spent a lot of money on your purebred Persian cat, and you want to make sure that your cat stays healthy and lives out his full lifespan. And as a cat owner, you know that a key aspect of maintaining your cat’s health is their diet. So here are our reviews for the best cat foods for Persian cats.

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 individual case.

A Quick Look At Our Favorites in 2024

Rating Image Product Details
Best Overall
Winner
Smalls Human Grade Fresh Cat Food Subscription Smalls Human Grade Fresh Cat Food Subscription
  • Human grade
  • Approved for all life stages
  • Delivered to your door
  • Budget Buy
    Second place
    Iams Proactive Health Dry Cat Food Iams Proactive Health Dry Cat Food
  • Provides a well-balanced diet
  • Helps maintain weight and dental health
  • Provides hairball control
  • Third place
    Royal Canin Persian Dry Cat Food Royal Canin Persian Dry Cat Food
  • Designed for Persian cats
  • Contains no artificial ingredients
  • Unique shape makes eating and digestion easier
  • Royal Canin Persian Dry Kitten Food Royal Canin Persian Dry Kitten Food
  • Perfect size for small kitten mouths
  • Helps to strengthen immune systems
  • Contains ingredients that keep coats healthy
  • Blue Buffalo Chicken Wet Cat Food Blue Buffalo Chicken Wet Cat Food
  • Natural ingredients
  • No artificial flavors
  • Grain-free
  • The 11 Best Cat Foods for Persian Cats

    1. Smalls Human Grade Fresh Cat Food Subscription – Best Overall

    Main Ingredients: Chicken Thigh, Chicken Breast, Chicken Liver, Peas, Green Beans
    Calories: 1220 kcal/kg
    Protein: 15%
    Fat: 6%

    Persian cats are known for their majestic fur, which sometimes causes them to have problems with hairballs. To facilitate their intestinal transit, you should opt to provide your cat with a diet that has high water content, such as wet foods. But you can’t just buy any wet food to satisfy the palate of these finicky felines! In addition to being tasty, wet food needs to contain high-quality ingredients. That’s why we chose Smalls Human-Grade Fresh as the overall best cat food for Persian cats.

    This wet food is made with high-quality protein. It’s also formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Cat Food Nutrient Profiles for all life stages.

    It’s available in three options: Fresh Bird, Fresh Other Bird, and Fresh Cow. Each option is made up of at least 90% animal protein, including chicken, turkey, or ground beef. You’ll pay more for this than pet store-bought food, but you can choose between different monthly subscription plans, which lowers the overall bill. Plus, orders arrive right at your doorstep!

    Overall, we believe Smalls Human-Grade Fresh Cat Food to be the best food for Persian cats on the market today.

    Pros
    • Comes in three high-quality protein options
    • Meets AAFCO requirements
    • Made from USDA-certified ingredients
    • Great for hairballs
    • Monthly subscription plans

    Cons
    • More expensive than regular kibble


    2. Iams Proactive Health Indoor Dry Cat Food – Budget Buy

    Iams ProActive Health Indoor Weight & Hairball Care Dry Cat Food

    Main Ingredients: Chicken, Chicken By-Product Meal, Corn Grits
    Calories: 302 cal/cup
    Protein: 302 cal/cup
    Fat: 11%

    Iams Proactive Health Indoor Dry Cat Food will provide your cat with a well-balanced diet. The formula is beneficial for indoor cats who may not get as much exercise because it helps them maintain a healthy weight. And for cat breeds like Persians who shed a lot, ingredients such as beet pulp help to decrease hairballs.

    Speaking of shedding, Persian cats also have a beautiful coat of fur that needs to be maintained. This food helps with that as well by containing omega-3- and omega-6 fatty acids, which helps to keep their fur shiny and healthy. It is dry food, which can be a little harder for Persian cats to digest, but it will also help to maintain the health of their teeth. Just be sure to provide plenty of water to help hydrate your cat. To put it simply, we think this is the best Persian cat food for tight budgets.

    Pros
    • Provides a well-balanced diet
    • Helps maintain weight and dental health
    • Provides hairball control
    • Affordable

    Cons
    • Contains chicken by-product meal
    • Contains preservatives and artificial colors


    3. Royal Canin Persian Dry Cat Food

    Royal Canin Persian Dry Cat Food (1)

    Main Ingredients: Chicken By-Product Meal, Chicken Fat, Brewer’s Rice, Wheat Gluten, Corn
    Calories: Chicken By-Product Meal, Chicken Fat, Brewer’s Rice, Wheat Gluten, Corn
    Protein: 28%
    Fat: 28%

    This dry cat food is made especially for Persian cats in both nutritional value and the shape of the cat food itself. Since Persian cats can have a hard time eating dry cat food, Royal Canin Persian Dry Cat Food has created almond-shaped kibbles. This unique shape helps the cats to pick up and digest the food more easily, while also maintaining healthy teeth.

    The combination of ingredients helps to reduce hairball as well as promotes a healthy and shiny coat because it is high in proteins and fatty acids. However, some of the ingredients used come from cheap and lower-quality plant-based sources, instead of coming from meat which is the most beneficial for a cat’s health. But it doesn’t contain a lot of artificial ingredients, which isn’t always common in cat food.

    Pros
    • Designed for Persian cats
    • Contains no artificial ingredients
    • Unique shape makes eating and digestion easier

    Cons
    • Expensive
    • Contains low-quality protein sources


    4. Royal Canin Persian Kitten Dry Cat Food

    Royal Canin Persian Kitten Dry Cat Food (1)

    Main Ingredients: Chicken By-Product Meal, Brewer’s Rice, Chicken Fat, Corn, Wheat Gluten
    Calories: 427 cal/cup
    Protein: 1%
    Fat: 20%

    Starting purebred cats on a nutritious diet when they’re young can help them grow and keep them healthy in the process. Royal Canin Persian Kitten Dry Cat Food contains vitamins and antioxidants that can strengthen your kitten’s developing immune system. It also contains fatty acids which can help keep your kitten’s fur shiny and healthy.

    You don’t have to worry about your kitten having a hard time eating and digesting the food because the kibble is small enough to fit in his mouth easily. This food does contain some lower-quality, plant-based ingredients which aren’t as beneficial for a cat’s diet, but it doesn’t contain artificial ingredients. Royal Canin Persian Kitten food is ideal for cats between 4 and 12 months of age.

    Pros
    • Perfect size for small kitten mouths
    • Helps to strengthen immune systems
    • Contains ingredients that keep coats healthy

    Cons
    • Contains lower-quality protein sources
    • Expensive


    5. Blue Buffalo Chicken Pate Canned Cat Food

    Blue Buffalo Chicken Pate

    Main Ingredients: Chicken, Chicken Broth, Chicken Liver, Carrots, Sweet Potatoes
    Calories: 97 cal/3-ounce can, 178 cal/5.5-ounce can, 418 cal/12.5-ounce can
    Protein: 9%
    Fat: 6%

    Persian cats have a characteristic flat face which, although cute, can affect their ability to eat dry cat food due to a shortened jaw. That’s why this Blue Buffalo Chicken Pate wet cat food is one of our favorite foods for Persian cats. The soft, wet texture is easy for your cat to eat and digest and contains all the nutrients that your adult cat needs.

    This food is made with real chicken and has a flavor that cats love, along with other high-quality ingredients that will help keep your cat healthy. It is also free of grains and corn and contains no preservatives or artificial flavors. It is formulated for cats, such as Persians, that stay indoors and comes in 3, 5.5, and 12.5-ounce cans.

    Pros
    • Natural ingredients
    • No artificial flavors
    • Grain-free
    • Contains moisture for hydration and better digestion

    Cons
    • Contains vegetable ingredients, which aren’t as beneficial for a cat’s diet


    6. Purina Fancy Feast Seafood Pate Wet Cat Food

    Purina Fancy Feast Seafood Classic Pate (2)

    Main Ingredients: Cod, Salmon, or Whitefish (Liver, Meat By-Products, Fish Broth, depending on variety)
    Calories: 82-92 cal/3-ounce can
    Protein: 11-12%
    Fat: 2-4%

    Persian cats are the face of Fancy Feast wet cat food because it is like a gourmet feast for your cat. With the Seafood Classic Pate, your cat will get a taste of a variety of seafood flavors that are easy for them to eat and digest. Fish is high in protein, so this food will help keep your cat’s coat shiny, their muscles lean, and their eyes healthy. However, it is recommended to feed your cat 1 can for every 3 pounds of weight, so you may go through this food really quickly depending on how large your cat is.

    This food is made with real fish and high-quality ingredients and is free of grain so that your cat can receive a nutritious and well-balanced diet. The wet food also provides more water for your cat so that he stays hydrated and can digest the food more easily. But, wet food is not necessarily better than dry food for keeping your cat’s teeth healthy, although the added moisture can help prevent tooth decay.

    Pros
    • Affordable
    • Contains lots of vitamins and minerals
    • Made with high-quality protein sources

    Cons
    • May go through more food faster


    7. Purina ONE Chicken Pate Canned Cat Food

    Purina ONE Chicken Pate Grain-Free Cat Food (1)

    Main Ingredients: Chicken, Liver, Chicken Broth, Pork, Trout
    Calories: 91 cal/3-ounce can
    Protein: 11%
    Fat: 5%

    Purina ONE Chicken Pate cat food is full of meat-based protein and free of corn, wheat, and soy. While those plant-based ingredients provide fiber for your cat, meat-based proteins are preferred and provide the most benefits for your cat’s health. The formula is also full of moisture to keep your cat hydrated and support healthy digestion.

    Antioxidants support your cat’s immune system, while omega fatty acids will keep your Persian’s skin healthy and his fur shiny. All of the ingredients are natural and this food contains no fillers and preservatives. It also contains very little fat and has less than 100 calories per can, so it is a great choice for cats who may need to be on a diet.

    Pros
    • Low in calories
    • Free of fillers
    • Made with real chicken

    Cons
    • Not specifically for indoor cats
    • Doesn’t contain as much protein as dry cat food


    8. Purina Cat Chow Hairball & Weight Dry Cat Food

    Purina Cat Chow Indoor Hairball and Healthy Weight Dry Cat Food (1)

    Main Ingredients: Chicken By-Product Meal, Whole Grain Corn, Soy Flour, Whole Grain Wheat
    Calories: 358 cal/cup
    Protein: 30%
    Fat: 5%

    Cat Chow Indoor Hairball and Healthy Weight Dry Cat Food is good for cats such as Persians that spend a lot of time indoors. This food contains 25 vitamins and minerals that are essential for your cat’s health and no artificial flavors. Natural fibers help to control hairballs while the low fat content and nutrients help to maintain your cat’s weight.

    The amount of protein in this cat food is high, some of which comes from having chicken as its main ingredient. But a lot of the protein comes from plant-based sources as well, which aren’t as beneficial for your cat’s health. However, these plant ingredients do provide most of the fiber, which aids in your cat’s digestion of it.

    Pros
    • Affordable
    • Contains lots of vitamins and minerals
    • Free of artificial flavors

    Cons
    • Contains some plant-based proteins


    9. Friskies Indoor Pate Chicken Canned Cat Food

    Friskies Indoor Classic Pate Chicken Dinner Canned Cat Food

    Main Ingredients: Water, Chicken, Liver, Meat By-Products, Rice, Spinach
    Calories: 148 cal/5-ounce can
    Protein: 7%
    Fat: 3%

    This Friskies Classic Pate Chicken cat food is formulated for indoor cats and contains real chicken and spinach. Taurine is also found in this formula, which helps to keep your cat’s vision and heart healthy. Being made of up to 78% moisture helps with digestion and supports urinary health as well.

    Protein content in this particular cat food is lower than other cat foods, but it is a combination of meat and plant-based proteins. It also contains antioxidants that help prevent the risk of disease and omega-fatty acids that support healthy skin and fur. However, it is made with some artificial flavors, which don’t provide any nutritional benefits.

    Pros
    • Affordable
    • Contains lots of moisture
    • Essential nutrients support heart and urinary health

    Cons
    • Low in protein
    • Contains artificial flavors


    10. HALO Chicken Pate Indoor Cat Canned Food

    HALO Chicken Pate Indoor Cat Canned Food (1)

    Main Ingredients: Chicken, Chicken Liver, Chicken Broth, Spinach, Sweet Potatoes
    Calories: 203 cal/5-ounce can
    Protein: 11%
    Fat: 9%

    HALO Chicken Pate wet cat food contains real chicken and other sustainably sourced ingredients for a balanced diet that is appropriate for indoor cats such as Persians. It contains no fillers and no artificial ingredients and supports digestion, vision, and a healthy heart. This wet cat food is grain-free but contains spinach which is rich in antioxidants and vitamins.

    Each can of food has over 200 calories and has 9% fat. Both of those amounts are high compared to similar wet cat foods. Although it is designed for indoor cats, the high amount of calories may be too much for cats that aren’t as active or are considered overweight.

    Pros
    • No artificial ingredients
    • Made with real chicken
    • Contains healthy spinach

    Cons
    • Higher in calories
    • Higher in fat
    • More expensive than similar products


    11. Wellness CORE Grain-Free Indoor Dry Cat Food

    Wellness CORE Grain-Free Indoor Formula Dry Cat Food (1)

    Main Ingredients: Deboned Chicken, Turkey Meal, Chicken Meal, Peas, Potatoes
    Calories: 445 cal/cup
    Protein: 45%
    Fat: 18%

    Wellness CORE Indoor Cat Food is high in protein, which will help your Persian maintain lean muscles without being super active. For dry cat food, it is high in moisture content at 10%, which is beneficial for helping cats digest it, and have difficulties eating other brands of dry cat food.

    It also contains probiotics and antioxidants that support your cat’s stomach and immune health. However, it is high in fat and calories compared to other types of dry food, and significantly higher than wet cat food. It may be necessary to ensure your Persian gets more exercise if you choose to feed her this food.

    Pros
    • High in protein
    • Contains more moisture than other dry food
    • Free of fillers and artificial ingredients

    Cons
    • Expensive
    • High in calories
    • High in fat

    Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Best Cat Food for Persian Cats

    Because the Persian breed is typically an indoor cat that isn’t as active, they need foods that can help support their digestion and boost their metabolism to keep them from gaining weight. If your cat gains too much weight, it can lead to serious health problems that can impact its quality of life. Due to being purebred cats, Persians are also more susceptible to a range of genetic conditions, so it is important to feed them the highest-quality food possible in order to prevent diseases and other conditions.

    And because they are well-known and loved for their fur, you will want to feed them food that contains ingredients that help to maintain the health of their coat. If you’re unsure what ingredients will provide your cat with the nutrients that it needs, don’t worry. We’ll explain everything you need to know to choose the best food.

    persian cat eating dry food
    Image By: Patrick Foto, Shutterstock

    What Do Cats Need?

    Cats in general, but especially Persian cats, who spend most of their time indoors, need protein in order to keep their muscles lean and healthy. Protein can come from plants and meat, but because cats are carnivores, they prefer meat-based protein sources.

    Meat-based protein is more beneficial for cats than plants because meat contains more essential nutrients. But you’ll want to choose lean meats for indoor cats, such as chicken, turkey, and fish. Lean meats contain less fat, so they will help your cat maintain its weight. Beef and pork are higher in fat, so most indoor cat foods don’t contain them.

    What Other Ingredients Are Essential For Cats?

    Vegetables can provide important nutrients for your cat that they don’t get from meat, such as antioxidants, probiotics, and fatty acids. Antioxidants support your cat’s immune system, so they are necessary for indoor cats who may be exposed to allergens like dust. Probiotics can boost your cat’s stomach health, while fatty acids keep their prized coat healthy and shiny.

    Some vegetables are used as fillers and don’t provide many nutritional benefits to cats. But garden veggies, such as spinach, lettuce, and carrots can provide some of the beneficial nutrients and additional proteins that will improve your cat’s health. However, meat should be the first ingredient on the list when choosing a cat food because that is the most important food for your cat’s diet.

    Is Wet or Dry Food Better for Persians?

    Persian cats have a characteristic flat face, and unfortunately, their face shape results in a shorter jawline. This can make it more difficult for them to eat dry cat food due to the crunchiness and extra chewing that is involved. Some Persians will do just fine with dry cat food, while others may have a hard time eating it or eat less than they should.

    With that being said, wet food is preferred due to its soft and smooth texture that is easier for cats to bite and chew. Wet food also contains a lot of moisture which can help your cat digest it more easily. But the downside to feeding your cat wet food is that you may go through it a lot faster than you do dry food, so you may have to buy it more often.

    If you want to feed dry food to your cat, look for brands that have smaller-sized kibble. Smaller kibble will allow your Persian to chew and digest it much more easily. You should also provide plenty of water when using dry cat food to help your cat stay hydrated and aid in their digestion.

    Regardless of the type of food your feline companion prefers, finding a bowl that is sure to keep the mess contained can be tough. Our Hepper NomNom Cat Bowl features a wide tray designed to ensure that all food stays exactly where it should—inside the bowl and off the floor. The whisker-friendly bowls fit securely into the PP plastic base and are low and wide to prevent whisker fatigue. Its contemporary style will fit seamlessly into any home and it is completely dishwasher safe. 

    Hepper 360 Cat Feeder, Stainless Steel, Anti-Chew...
    • NO MESS - The 360° tray on this cat food and water bowl set has a raised design to catch and...
    • WHISKER FRIENDLY - Shallow and wide metal containers with flat bottoms ensure your kitty can enjoy...

    Is Indoor Cat Food Preferred for Persians?

    If possible, you should feed your Persian food that is specially formulated for indoor cats. They prefer to spend much of their lives indoors, so they benefit from a diet that supports that lifestyle. Indoor formulas contain the right ingredients that are necessary to maintain your cat’s weight and boost their metabolism since they are less active than other cats.

    Persian cats are also prone to shedding due to having such long, thick fur. When they groom themselves, they may swallow a lot of hair, which can lead to hairballs. Indoor cat food contains more fiber, which helps their digestion and prevents food and fur from remaining in their digestive tract.

    Final Thoughts

    Persians are special cats that benefit from a well-rounded and nutritious diet. Feeding them the best quality food can help maintain their weight and overall health. The best all-around food in terms of quality, ingredients, and price is Smalls Human Grade Fresh Cat Food

    For an even more affordable option that contains essential ingredients for your cat’s health, Iams Proactive Health Indoor Dry Cat Food is another great choice.


     Featured Image Credit: ANURAK PONGPATIMET, Shutterstock

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