10 Best Wet Cat Foods in 2026, Recommended by Vets 

The best wet cat foods have a lot to offer. For starters, wet food is easy for cats to eat, has an enticing smell, and provides hydration for your kitty. 

The best wet cat foods come from reputable brands that provide science-backed, balanced nutrition with tastes and textures cats love—all for a reasonable price. 

To help narrow down the options, our panel of veterinary experts picked the best canned cat food for cats of all types, from kittens and senior cats to indoor cats and those with certain health issues. 

What To Consider When Buying Wet Cat Food 

Choosing food for your feline friend isn’t always as easy as selecting the most popular, top-rated cat food on the market. 

If you’re not sure where to start your search for the best wet food for cats, our veterinary experts say to begin by finding a pet food company that invests in nutritional research, conducts feeding trials, and includes veterinary nutritionists on their staff.  

Once those criteria have been met, the following factors can then help you match the best wet cat food to your cat’s specific needs. 

Cat’s Age 

Cats should be fed a diet that is complete and balanced for their life stage. Cat food can be formulated for adult maintenance (intended for healthy adult cats), growth and reproduction (for kittens and pregnant or lactating females), and all life stages.  

Our veterinary experts also look for specific ingredients when addressing needs at different life stages.  

Kittens require the right amount of protein, fat, and omega-3 fatty acids for growth and brain and eye development, plus vitamins like E and C for a healthy immune system.  

Adults need a diet with a nod toward weight maintenance.  

Senior cats do best with senior cat foods that are formulated to help maintain muscle mass, reduce inflammation, and support joints, brain, skin, and coat.  

Look for a label on the packaging that says it meets the Association of American Feed Control Officials’ nutritional standards and is complete and balanced for your cat’s life stage.  

Ingredients 

Ingredients are listed on the packaging in order by weight. Look for water and a good source of protein (like chicken or fish) as the first ingredients. Cats get most of their energy from protein and fat, not carbs. All of our panel’s picks for best canned cat foods have water or broth, and protein as their top ingredients.  

Our veterinary panel also gave high marks for wet cat foods that contain beneficial ingredients, such as omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, antioxidants, prebiotics, probiotics, and fiber. 

Activity Level  

A very active cat might require a higher calorie diet with protein and other energy-boosting ingredients to provide fuel for activity and ensure proper weight. A less active cat might do best on a low-calorie wet food with more fiber to satisfy their hunger. 

Look at the calories per can, crude protein level, and fiber amount (if any) when comparing canned cat food options to see whether they fit well with your cat’s weight and activity level.  

Health Status 

Cats with certain health conditions might benefit from a therapeutic veterinary diet, which is specially formulated to prevent, manage, and in some cases treat certain medical conditions. These diets will require authorization from your veterinarian, along with specific feeding instructions.   

For example, your cat might need a wet cat food that is formulated for feline weight management, diabetes, or kidney or urinary disease.  

Texture 

Like people, many cats have food texture preferences. Most wet cat food textures fall under minced, pâté, and chunks in gravy/broth. Whether your cat loves to lick or chew might guide their preference.  

Smooth and creamy pâté works well for lickers, minced might be preferred by chewers, and chunks in gravy allows cats to both lick and chew.  

Texture preferences can change with age and health issues. Proper exposure to different textures helps ensure your cat will be less likely to develop picky eating habits as they age.