10 Best Tasting Cat Foods for Picky Cats – 2024 Reviews and Top Picks
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To help on your mission of pleasing your cat, we’ve found the best cat foods for picky cats this year. Look at the list below, pull out your wallet, and prepare to tempt your kitty with a taste of these foods until the true master of the house chooses their favorite.
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 Glance at Our Top Picks (2024)
| Rating | Image | Product | Details | |
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Best Overall
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Smalls Human Grade Fresh Bird Cat Food |
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Click to Save 40% Use code: Hepper2023 |
Budget Buy
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Fancy Feast Poultry & Beef Variety Wet Cat Food |
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Check Price |
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Taste of the Wild Canyon River Dry Cat Food |
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Check Price |
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Royal Canin Dry Cat Food for Young Cats |
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Check Price | |
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Blue Buffalo Wilderness Chicken Dry Cat Food |
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Check Price |
The 10 Best Tasting Cat Foods for Picky Cats
1. Smalls Human Grade Fresh Cat Food (Other Bird Recipe) – Best Overall
If you’re looking for an alternative to store-bought cat food for your picky eater, Smalls Human Grade Fresh Other Bird recipe cat food is the best overall. Made with only the best and most wholesome of ingredients that are USDA-certified and sustainably sourced, you won’t find any additives, fillers, or chemicals in Smalls! The Fresh Other Bird recipe is made with turkey thigh, chicken liver, kale, peas, and green beans and provides your cat with Vitamins A, D3, and B12, along with other valuable nutrients.
Every Smalls recipe is cooked so that it retains most nutrients, and every batch of food is tested for safety and quality. Fresh food, like Fresh Other Bird, also comes in two different textures—smooth or ground—so you can pick what your cat is most likely to enjoy.
Smalls is a subscriptions service—just tell them a little about your picky eater, and they’ll set you up with the perfect plan (which you can change to make sure this particular food is in there). Then, just sit back and wait for them to ship it to you!
- Uses only the best ingredients
- New members can get a sampler pack
- Different plans & price points for subscriptions
- Every batch tested for quality and safety
- Automatic monthly delivery
- May take your cat some time to transition from store-bought food to fresh
2. Fancy Feast Gravy Poultry & Beef Wet Cat Food – Budget Buy
| Size | 30 cans |
| Lifestage | Adult |
The best-tasting cat food for picky cats this year for the money is hands down the Fancy Feast Gravy Lovers Poultry and Beef variety pack. With most cats, even the picky ones, loving wet food, this 30-pack offers enough to keep multiple cats happy at a great price. You’ll be spending less time shopping and more time enjoying your feline partner thanks to this great money saver. Featuring turkey, chicken, and beef flavors and thick gourmet sauce, these cans also offer added vitamins and minerals to ensure complete nutrition.
Food morsels are tender which allows even elderly cats to partake in the goodness while cat owners save money in the long run. We think this is the best-tasting cat food for picky cats for the money available this year.
- Variety pack offers different flavors each day
- Great price for 30 cans
- Additional vitamins and minerals for healthier cats
- Can sizes are small
3. Taste of the Wild Canyon River Dry Cat Food
| Size | 14-pound bag |
| Lifestage | Adult |
Our third choice for best-tasting cat food for picky eaters is Taste of the Wild Canyon River Grain-Free Dry Cat Food. Using peas and sweet potatoes, this grain-free dry cat food offers active cats the highly digestible energy they need. With proteins such as trout and smoked salmon, this premium cat food offers the taste your cats will love and the peace of mind you are searching for.
Your cat will receive the essential minerals they need while amino acids help with absorption to ensure their bodies get what they need. This grain-free formula is also ideal for cats with stomach sensitivities to help them build strong bones.
- Helps support skin and coat health
- Features probiotics, prebiotics, and antioxidants
- No artificial flavors or colors
- The fish flavor may be too overwhelming for some cats
4. Royal Canin Dry Cat Food for Young Cats
| Size | 15-pound bag |
| Lifestage | Kitten |
Royal Canin Feline Health Nutrition Dry Cat Food for Young Cats is a great choice for picky kittens. Kittens need the proper amount of nutrition to curb their hunger and help keep up with their active lives. This formula uses antioxidants to help boost your kitten’s immunity and a blend of vitamins and minerals to help promote healthy digestion.
This formula also helps form strong bones, healthy teeth, and growing muscles in young cats. Recommended for kittens ages 4 months to 1 year, this kibble comes in small, various sizes to allow tiny teeth to eat easily.
- Promotes healthy growth in kittens
- Small pieces for easier eating
- Bags do not close completely after opening and may cause the remaining food to dry out
5. Blue Buffalo Wilderness Chicken Dry Cat Food
| Size | 12-pound bag |
| Lifestage | Adult |
Blue Buffalo Wilderness Chicken Recipe Dry Cat Food offers cats a grain-free high-protein food packed with meats cats love. This formula is inspired by the diet of the lynx and brings the taste of the wild to your domesticated cat. This food contains real chicken and healthy carbs to help your cat build lean muscle and get the nutrients they need.
No poultry by-products, unwanted additives, or preservatives are used in this cat food to make it safer and tastier for all cats.
- High protein formula features real chicken
- Helps promote healthy skin and coat
- Helps support a cat’s immune system
- Slightly expensive
6. Natural Balance LID Green Pea & Chicken Dry Cat Food
| Size | 10-pound bag |
| Lifestage | Adult |
Natural Balance Limited Ingredients Diets Green Pea and Chicken Formula Grain-Free Dry Cat Food is formulated to help cats with stomach sensitivities. By keeping the recipe simple and the ingredients list small, this cat food helps even the pickiest cats thrive. Chicken is the only animal source of protein included while minerals, vitamins, taurine, and omegas help with your cat’s coat and their overall well-being.
This cat food formula is also designed to promote better eyes and a healthier heart. Your picky cat will come running to their food bowl each time they hear their favorite kibble start to pour.
- Supports overall better health including heart health
- Uses no artificial colors or flavorings
- Issues with packaging have been reported
7. Fancy Feast Gourmet Chicken & Turkey Dry Cat Food
| Size | 12.25-pound bag |
| Lifestage | Adult |
If you want your cat to purr, offering them Fancy Feast Gourmet Savory Chicken and Turkey Dry Cat Food is the answer. This complete and balanced meal uses a yummy combination of turkey and chicken in this savory recipe. Offering a crunch cat love, this protein-packed kibble promotes a more active lifestyle for your cat.
Enhanced with vitamins and minerals, this cat food also aids in better overall health for your cat while maintaining its mouthwatering taste.
- Packed with vitamins and minerals
- 100% nutritionally balanced
- The adhesive on the resealable bag is difficult to close
8. Friskies Extra Gravy Pate Variety Canned Cat Food
| Size | 24 cans |
| Lifestage | Adult |
All cats love wet food and this Friskies Extra Gravy Pate Variety Pack Canned Cat Food is a great food to answer the call of their taste buds. Packed with flavor and nutrition, this recipe uses real meat, proteins, antioxidants, and healthy omegas to help your cat look and feel its best.
Enhanced with essential taurine, vitamins, and minerals designed to promote well-being in cats, this tasty variety pack is perfect for picky eaters by giving them taste options and the health benefits they need.
- Designed for heart and vision health
- Gravy is designed to help with urinary health and avoid dehydration
- Reasonably priced
- The gravy portion is quite small
9. Wellness CORE Tuna & Salmon Broth Canned Cat Food
| Size | 12 cans |
| Lifestage | Adult |
Wellness CORE Signature Selects Flaked Skipjack Tuna and Wild Salmon Entrée in Broth Grain-Free Canned Cat Food takes a different approach to the health of your cat. This food is made by hand using flakes of real tuna and sunflower oil to provide the nutrition and fatty acids your cat needs. The ingredients used are carefully sourced to ensure cats who enjoy this delicious food receive only the best.
Offering complete and balanced nutrition, this food offers hydration to the diet for great urinary health.
- Uses high-quality real tuna
- Serving size is ideal for daily feedings
- Texture may not be favored by all cats
10. Instinct Original Pate Rabbit Wet Canned Cat Food
| Size | 12 cans |
| Lifestage | Adult |
The Instinct Original Grain-Free Pate Real Rabbit Recipe Wet Canned Cat Food is crafted using the idea of raw, high-quality meat can help your cat meet its true potential. Farm-raised rabbit is the first ingredient in this cat food. The high protein content features are designed to help your cat build lean muscle and live a better lifestyle. Balanced with real meat, wholesome fruits, and veggies the pate texture of this cat food is ideal for most cats and leaves them craving more.
Natural omega fatty acids are also used to help promote your cat’s coat and great skin.
- Features 95% real rabbit
- Uses no artificial colors or flavoring
- Pate is slightly grainy
Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Best Cat Food for Picky Cats
When searching for the best-tasting cat food for picky eaters, it’s important to know what you are looking for in high-quality cat food. Whether you decide to go with wet food or traditional kibble, the ingredients are what’s most important. Before you buy any type of cat food, read all the information labels. This is the best place for you to find out exactly what you’re feeding your cat. The key is to provide them with well-balanced cat food with high protein content and no artificial colors or flavoring.
Also, make sure that you are keeping your eye out for ingredient splitting. Often, pet foods will include the same ingredient in different forms, such as corn gluten meal, cornflour, and whole ground corn, which all have the same base. If they were grouped, corn may become the first ingredient on the list. So, be aware of when filler ingredients like corn, peas, rice, and potatoes are peppered into the list. These are not ideal in large quantities for cats, who are obligate carnivores.
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.
- 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...
Final Thoughts
As you can see, finding the perfect cat food for your furry feline is difficult. Luckily, there are great options out there. Our overall best-tasting cat food for picky eaters this year is by far the Smalls Human Grade Fresh Other Bird. This food offers your cats everything they need for great health. Our best value pick is the Fancy Feast Gravy Lovers Poultry and Beef Variety Pack. These handy cans are great for feeding your cat meals while helping you control the amount of money you’re spending.
See also:
- 9 Best Cat Foods to Prevent Vomiting: Reviews & Buyers Guide
- 10 Best Senior Cat Foods: Reviews & Top Picks
Featured Image Credit: monte_a, Shutterstock
