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10 Best High Protein Cat Foods in Canada — 2024 Reviews & Top Picks

Kathryn Copeland

By Kathryn Copeland

an orange cat eating food from a bowl

If you’re a cat parent, you know how critical your cat’s diet is to keep them in tip-top health. Your cat’s food must be meat-based and high in protein— but there are so many foods out there to choose from. Sorting through the options can be a chore, so we did the hard work for you.

Here are 10 of the best high-protein cat foods available to Canadians, with reviews for each one. Hopefully, you’ll find cat food with plenty of protein that your cat will love to eat!

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A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites in 2024

Rating Image Product Details
Best Overall
Winner
Pro Plan High Protein Cat Food Pro Plan High Protein Cat Food
  • Real chicken is the primary ingredient
  • High in protein
  • Natural prebiotic fibre for digestion
  • Best Value
    Second place
    Whiskas Dry Cat Food With High Protein Whiskas Dry Cat Food With High Protein
  • Well-priced
  • Meaty pocket treats mixed in with kibble
  • Supports the immune system
  • Premium Choice
    Third place
    Blue Buffalo Wilderness High Protein Blue Buffalo Wilderness High Protein
  • Made with all-natural ingredients
  • Includes chicken liver for high protein
  • No artificial ingredients
  • Best for Kittens
    Hill’s Science Diet Dry Kitten Food Hill’s Science Diet Dry Kitten Food
  • Easily digestible and high-quality food
  • High levels of protein
  • DHA for eye and brain development
  • IAMS Proactive Health High Protein Adult IAMS Proactive Health High Protein Adult
  • Supports healthy muscles and heart
  • Provides extra energy
  • Affordable
  • The 10 Best High-Protein Cat Foods in Canada

    1. Pro Plan High Protein Dry Cat Food — Best Overall

    Pro Plan High Protein Dry Cat Food

    Top Ingredients Chicken, rice, corn gluten meal
    Calories 494 kcal/cup
    Protein 36%
    Fat 16%

    Our choice for the best overall high-protein cat food in Canada is Pro Plan’s High Protein Dry Cat Food. It’s high in protein, with real chicken as the primary ingredient. It has added antioxidants and live probiotics for digestive and immune systems support. It includes added vitamin A and linoleic acid, which contribute to a healthy coat and skin, and a natural prebiotic fibre that aids your cat’s digestion.

    The main flaw is that it has caused stomach upset in some cats.

    Pros
    • Real chicken is the primary ingredient
    • High in protein at 36%
    • Vitamin A and linoleic acid for coat and skin health
    • Live probiotics and antioxidants for digestive and immune system support
    • Natural prebiotic fibre for digestion
    Cons
    • Sometimes causes stomach upset in some cats

    2. Whiskas Dry Cat Food With High Protein — Best Value

    whiskas Dry Cat Food

    Top Ingredients Chicken by-product meal, ground whole-grain corn, corn gluten meal
    Calories 390 kcal/cup
    Protein 36.5%
    Fat 14%

    The best high-protein cat food in Canada for the money is Whiskas Dry Cat Food With High Protein. It has little meaty pocket treats mixed in with kibble. If your cat enjoys Whiskas already, this food has all the same tastiness but with more protein. It helps support your cat’s immune system and has 100% balanced and complete nutrition. It also doesn’t include any artificial colours or flavours.

    However, while corn can be a healthy addition to pet food, there are two corn products in the top three ingredients, which might be excessive.

    Pros
    • Well-priced
    • Meaty pocket treats mixed in with kibble
    • Supports the immune system
    • 100% balanced diet
    • No artificial flavours or colours
    Cons
    • Two of the three top ingredients are corn

    3. Blue Buffalo Wilderness High Protein  — Premium Choice

    Blue Buffalo Wilderness High Protein Grain Free Wet Cat Food

    Top Ingredients Chicken, chicken broth, chicken liver
    Calories 219 kcal/can
    Protein 10%
    Fat 8%

    Our premium choice pick for the best high-protein cat food is Blue Buffalo Wilderness High Protein Wet Cat Food. This canned food is full of natural ingredients in a pâté style. It’s grain free, which should help cats with food sensitivities to grains, and has added chicken liver, which contributes to the high levels of protein. Blue Buffalo never includes artificial colour, flavours, or preservatives in its recipes.

    Unfortunately, this is a premium food for a reason — it’s quite expensive. It also contains carrageenan, but only a small amount.

    Pros
    • Made with all-natural ingredients
    • Pâté style
    • Includes chicken liver for high protein
    • No artificial ingredients
    Cons
    • Expensive
    • Contains carrageenan

    4. Hill’s Science Diet Dry Kitten Food — Best for Kittens

    Hill’s Science Diet Kitten Dry Food

    Top Ingredients Chicken, brown rice, wheat gluten
    Calories 568 kcal/cup
    Protein 33%
    Fat 19%

    Hill’s Science Diet Dry Kitten Food gives your kitten a balanced diet with easily digested and high-quality kibble. It has natural DHA derived from fish oil for eye and brain development and a blend of antioxidants, minerals, and vitamins for a healthy immune system. This combination of nutrients also supports strong teeth and bones and high levels of protein for growing muscles. There are no artificial ingredients.

    The issues with this food are that it is expensive, and some kittens might experience diarrhea with it.

    Pros
    • Easily digestible and high-quality food
    • DHA for eye and brain development
    • Antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals for the immune system
    • High levels of protein for growing muscles
    • No artificial ingredients
    Cons
    • Expensive
    • Might cause diarrhea

    5. IAMS Proactive Health High Protein Adult Dry Cat Food

    IAMS Proactive Health Adult Dry Cat Food

    Top Ingredients Chicken, chicken by-product meal, corn grits
    Calories 439 kcal/cup
    Protein 38%
    Fat 18%

    IAMS Proactive Health High Protein Adult Dry Cat Food gets 84% of its protein from whole salmon and chicken. Most cats love it! The extra protein will support your cat’s energy, muscles, and heart. It starts with whole chicken and gives your cat 100% balanced nutrition.

    The food is quite affordable but picky cats might not like it.

    Pros
    • 84% of the protein comes from salmon and chicken
    • Supports healthy muscles and heart
    • Provides extra energy
    • Affordable
    • No artificial colours or preservatives
    Cons
    • Not all cats like it

    6. Blue Buffalo Wilderness High Protein Adult Dry Cat Food

    Blue Buffalo Wilderness High Protein Grain Free, Natural Adult Dry Cat Food

    Top Ingredients Deboned salmon, chicken meal, pea protein
    Calories 438 kcals/cup
    Protein 40%
    Fat 18%

    Blue Buffalo Wilderness High Protein Adult Dry Cat Food features tasty kibble made with all-natural ingredients, along with Blue Buffalo’s LifeSource Bits, which contain balanced antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. The first ingredient is deboned salmon, and there are also healthy ingredients such as flaxseed for omega-3 fatty acid and taurine for heart and eye health.

    It is rather expensive, however, and some cats might not like it.

    Pros
    • Kibble made with all-natural ingredients
    • Contains LifeSource Bits, a blend of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals
    • First ingredient is deboned salmon
    • Includes flaxseed and taurine
    Cons
    • Expensive
    • Not all cats like it

    7. CRAVE Indoor Adult Dry Cat Food

    CRAVE Indoor Adult Dry Cat Food

    Top Ingredients Chicken, chicken meal, pea protein
    Calories 379 kcal/cup
    Protein 40%
    Fat 16%

    CRAVE Indoor Adult Dry Cat Food includes real chicken as the main ingredient, which helps it to be high in protein. It contains the essential vitamins and minerals for immune and digestive systems support, and it doesn’t have any artificial flavours, colours, or preservatives. It’s available in chicken or chicken and salmon recipes.

    The cons are that it is more expensive than many other cat foods, and some cats might experience an upset stomach after eating this food.

    Pros
    • Real chicken is the main ingredient
    • High in protein at 40%
    • No artificial ingredients
    • Available in chicken or chicken and salmon
    Cons
    • Pricey
    • Some cats might get an upset stomach

    8. Pro Plan Senior Wet Cat Food

    Pro Plan Senior Wet Cat Food

    Top Ingredients Salmon, liver, water
    Calories 107 kcal/can
    Protein 10%
    Fat 7%

    Pro Plan Senior Wet Cat Food is a tasty canned food for senior cats that are 7 years old and older and is high in protein to maintain lean muscles and a healthy weight. Salmon is the first and main ingredient and includes beta carotene, vitamin E, and omega-3 from fish oil. This food also has added chicory root, which provides prebiotic fibre, and all these nutrients support the digestive and immune systems.

    However, some cats turn their noses up at this food, and other cats might experience stomach upset.

    Pros
    • For cats 7 and over
    • High protein for lean muscles and healthy weight
    • Main ingredient is salmon
    • Includes beta carotene, prebiotic fibre, and omega-3
    Cons
    • Some cats won’t eat it
    • Some cats might get stomach upset

    9. Ziwi Peak Canned Cat Food

    ZIWI Peak Canned Wet Cat Food

    Top Ingredients Mackerel, water, lamb
    Calories 102 kcal/can
    Protein 10.5%
    Fat 4%

    Ziwi Peak Canned Cat Food is a great choice for cats with food allergies or sensitivities. It’s a limited-ingredient food with no chicken or beef — it has real mackerel and lamb as the main ingredients. All the ingredients are sustainably and ethically sourced in New Zealand. The animals are grass fed, cage free, wild caught, and free range, and the food is comprised of 92% meat. This makes it all natural, with no artificial ingredients, and it’s suitable for cats of all life stages.

    But it’s incredibly expensive and not all cats will eat it.

    Pros
    • Limited ingredients for cats with allergies
    • Lamb and mackerel are the main ingredients
    • 92% of the ingredients are meat products
    • Ingredients are ethically and sustainably sourced
    • Good for all life stages
    Cons
    • Expensive
    • Not all cats will eat it

    10. Purina ONE True Instinct Dry Cat Food

    Purina ONE True Instinct Grain Free Natural Dry Cat Food

    Top Ingredients Chicken, poultry-by product meal, pea starch
    Calories 356 kcal/cup
    Protein 35%
    Fat 14%

    Purina ONE True Instinct Dry Cat Food has whole chicken as the primary ingredient. It contains essential minerals and vitamins, including calcium for strong teeth and bones. It has four sources of antioxidants for immune system support and omega-6 for healthy skin and shiny coats. It doesn’t contain any artificial flavours, preservatives, or colours.

    However, pea starch is listed as the third ingredient, which is under a bit of controversy, but studies are still being done. Also, some cats seem to be still hungry after eating this food.

    Pros
    • Main ingredient is chicken
    • Added minerals and vitamins, including calcium
    • Four antioxidant sources for immune system support
    • No artificial ingredients
    Cons
    • Contains pea starch
    • Some cats might still feel hungry after eating

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    Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Best Cat Food With High-Protein Content

    Here, we go over a few points about a cat’s diet, so you can determine if your cat needs high-protein cat food.

    Why High Protein?

    Cats are obligate carnivores and need a minimum of 26% protein in their diet. But higher levels, such as 30% to 40%, can keep most adult cats in optimal health. Cats need higher levels of protein than dogs or humans. They also need vitamins A and D, as well as niacin, which can only be derived from animal tissue.

    What Is Considered High Protein?

    For the most part, if a cat food has a minimum of 30% protein, it is considered high protein. Kittens and pregnant and nursing mother cats need high-protein diets, as do cats with diabetes. However, before changing your cat’s diet, speak to your vet, particularly if your cat has any medical issues. Some cats might not do well on a high-protein diet.

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

    What Ingredients Should You Look For?

    When shopping for cat food, it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with the ingredients on the label. The first five ingredients make up about 80% of the food, so these are the most essential one. For cats, you want meat to be in the first three ingredients.

    While whole meat is the highest quality, don’t be scared off by named meals. Meal is meat with the moisture removed, so it can be as much as 300% higher in protein compared to whole meat. That said, don’t go for food with simply “meat” or “animal meal” on the ingredient list. It should be named, such as “chicken” or “turkey meal.”

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    Conclusion

    Purina Pro Plan’s High Protein Dry Cat Food is our favorite high-protein cat food for its antioxidants, live probiotics, and natural prebiotics that all help the immune and digestive systems. Whiskas Dry Cat Food With High Protein has tasty little meaty pocket treats mixed in with the kibble, and it’s quite affordable! Finally, Blue Buffalo’s Wilderness High Protein Wet Cat Food is a premium choice for a reason. It’s full of all-natural ingredients and has no artificial preservatives, flavours, or colours.

    While there are many choices out there, hopefully, these reviews have made things easier for you, and you’ll find the perfect food for your cat.


    Featured Image Credit: Olga Kazanovskaia, Shutterstock

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