Notorious for being picky eaters, cats can be put off their food due to anything from the smell or the texture. They’ll even turn their nose up at food that they’ve previously eaten without fuss!
Fortunately, there are many different cat foods available. Whether you want to give your cat wet food for the first time or stick with dry, the variety of flavors, textures, and nutritional benefits will keep your cat guessing and help them maintain a healthy, balanced diet.
These reviews will introduce you to healthy, nutritional, and tasty cat foods to help you find a new brand to entice your fussy feline to devour every morsel.
A Quick Look at Our Favorites in 2023
Image Product Details
Best Overall
Smalls Human-Grade Fresh Cat Food Subscription
Protein-packed fresh food
Amazing flavor for picky cats
Chicken thigh, breast, and liver as primary ingredients
Click to Save 40% Use code: PetKeen2023
Best Value
American Journey Duck Dry Cat Food
Contains deboned duck
Grain-free
40% protein
Check Price
Hill’s Science Diet Sensitive Stomach & Skin Cat Food
Vitamin E and omega-6 fatty acids
Recommended by veterinarians
Gentle on sensitive stomachs
Check Price
Blue Buffalo Wilderness Kitten Chicken Dry Cat Food
Formulated for kittens
Real chicken
Grain-free
Check Price
Wellness CORE Poultry Variety Canned Cat Food
Grain-free
Contains sunflower oil
Supports urinary health
Check Price
The 14 Best-Tasting Cat Foods for Picky Cats
1. Smalls Human-Grade Fresh Cat Food Subscription — Best Overall
Click Here & Use Code Petkeen2023 to Save 40% on Smalls + Get Free Shipping & Treats!Smalls Fresh Ground Bird Recipe is our top choice for overall best-tasting cat foods for picky cats. This quality fresh food contains 42% chicken thigh, 37% chicken breast, and 5% chicken liver, providing your cat with impressive protein and nutrients. The food contains 15.5% protein, along with high levels of antioxidants and micronutrients from natural sources to mimic a cat’s natural diet. Even the pickiest cats seem to love the taste of this premium fresh food!
Being high-quality and human-grade, this food is expensive and only available through a subscription on the Smalls website. These subscriptions are very convenient, however, since you can have your cat’s favorite food delivered right to your door.
Pros
Protein-packed fresh food
Amazing flavor for picky cats
Chicken thigh, breast, and liver as primary ingredients
Full of healthy vitamins and minerals
Cons
Expensive
Only available through subscription
2. American Journey Duck Grain-Free Cat Food — Best Value
Protein-packed fresh food
Amazing flavor for picky cats
Chicken thigh, breast, and liver as primary ingredients
Full of healthy vitamins and minerals
- Protein-packed fresh food
- Amazing flavor for picky cats
- Chicken thigh, breast, and liver as primary ingredients
- Full of healthy vitamins and minerals
Expensive
Only available through subscription
- Expensive
- Only available through subscription
Check Latest Price
Weight: 5 or 12-pound bags
Life stage: Adult
Food form: Dry
Special diet: Grain-free, no wheat, no soy, no corn, high-protein
Available in two bag sizes, the American Journey Duck Recipe Grain-Free Dry Cat Food is the best value dry cat food for picky cats. The recipe uses real, deboned duck and contains several necessary vitamins to promote a healthy and balanced diet. Taurine keeps your feline’s heart and eyes in tip-top shape, antioxidants support their immune system, and omega fatty acids work to keep their coat and skin in top form.
Grain-free with no wheat, soy, or corn, this dry food is high in protein and makes a nice change from the popular chicken and beef flavors.
While this food uses natural ingredients and real duck, it’s unsuitable for kittens. Some cats, particularly seniors, may struggle to eat dry food.
Pros
Contains deboned duck
Grain-free
40% protein
Contains taurine, antioxidants, and omega fatty acids
Cons
Not suitable for kittens
Some cats struggle to eat dry food
Hill’s Science Diet Adult Sensitive Stomach & Skin Chicken & Rice Recipe Dry Cat Food is another great pick. With a choice of three different size bags (3.5, 7, and 15.5 pounds), this recipe is gentle on sensitive stomachs and contains prebiotic fibers to help digestion. Along with supporting a healthy gut, this dry food also promotes healthy skin with its use of omega-6 and vitamin E.
Contains deboned duck
Grain-free
40% protein
Contains taurine, antioxidants, and omega fatty acids
- Contains deboned duck
- Grain-free
- 40% protein
- Contains taurine, antioxidants, and omega fatty acids
Not suitable for kittens
Some cats struggle to eat dry food
- Not suitable for kittens
- Some cats struggle to eat dry food
Weight: 5 pounds
Life stage: Adult
Food form: Dry
Special diet: Sensitive digestion, pea-free
Check Price on Chewy
Recommended by veterinarians, the chicken and rice formula is made with real ingredients, and there are no artificial flavors, preservatives, or flavorings.
But it’s important to note that Hill’s Science Diet dry cat food is pricey. It’s also not hypoallergenic for cats that suffer from dust allergies.
Pros
Vitamin E and omega-6 fatty acids
Recommended by veterinarians
Gentle on sensitive stomachs
Bags come in three sizes
Cons
Not hypoallergenic
Expensive
The Blue Buffalo Wilderness Kitten Chicken Recipe Grain-Free Dry Cat Food is specially formulated to support your kitten’s growth. Along with containing real chicken for your meat-loving fussy eaters, this dry food has DHA and ARA fatty acids for healthy development, the same nutrients found in mother’s milk.
Vitamin E and omega-6 fatty acids
Recommended by veterinarians
Gentle on sensitive stomachs
Bags come in three sizes
- Vitamin E and omega-6 fatty acids
- Recommended by veterinarians
- Gentle on sensitive stomachs
- Bags come in three sizes
Not hypoallergenic
Expensive
- Not hypoallergenic
- Expensive
Weight: 5 pounds
Life stage: Kitten
Food form: Dry
Special diet: High-protein, grain-free, no corn, no wheat, no soy
Grain-free with no corn, wheat, or soy, this high-protein kitten food is great for avoiding common kitty allergies. Included in the formula is a careful blend of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals to promote a strong immune system.
Only available in two small-size bags, the Blue Wilderness kitten food is one of the more expensive cat foods on this list.
Pros
Formulated for kittens
Real chicken
Grain-free
Contains DHA and ARA fatty acids
Cons
Unsuitable for older cats
Only available in small bags
Expensive
Grain-free and containing real meat, the Smalls Freeze-Dried Raw Water Bird is our best overall wet cat food for picky cats. As a variety pack, this option has three flavors in one box of eight cans, giving your fussy feline a break from overused flavors. This selection includes chicken and chicken liver, chicken and turkey, and chicken and beef. All three choices are boneless and drenched in a savory sauce.
Formulated for kittens
Real chicken
Grain-free
Contains DHA and ARA fatty acids
- Formulated for kittens
- Real chicken
- Grain-free
- Contains DHA and ARA fatty acids
Unsuitable for older cats
Only available in small bags
Expensive
- Unsuitable for older cats
- Only available in small bags
- Expensive
Weight: 4 pounds
Life stage: Adult
Food form: Wet
Special diet: Grain-free
Sunflower oil supports your feline’s fur and skin health, while the high-protein and moisture content promotes urinary health.
Wet food is smellier than dry food, so if your picky eater does turn their nose up at this choice, you may find flies buzzing around their food bowl.
Pros
Grain-free
Variety pack: chicken, turkey, or beef
Contains sunflower oil
Supports urinary health
Cons
Smells more than dry food
Attracts flies if uneaten
Inspired by cats that prefer smooth pâtés and gravy to meat chunks, the Fancy Feast Savory Centers Variety Pack Canned Cat Food combines both textures into a tasty meal for even the fussiest eaters. With four flavors ranging from chicken, salmon, tuna, and beef, this multipack has an equal amount of six cans each for a balanced variety.
Grain-free
Variety pack: chicken, turkey, or beef
Contains sunflower oil
Supports urinary health
- Grain-free
- Variety pack: chicken, turkey, or beef
- Contains sunflower oil
- Supports urinary health
Smells more than dry food
Attracts flies if uneaten
- Smells more than dry food
- Attracts flies if uneaten
Weight: 5 pounds
Life stage: Adult
Food form: Wet
Special diet:
Promoting a nutritional diet, these pâtés contain a gravy-filled center and essential vitamins and minerals to keep your favorite fussy feline healthy. Taurine and vitamin E supplements keep your cat’s eyes, skin, and fur in excellent condition.
Some owners complained about the smell being stronger and more unpleasant than other wet food brands.
Pros
Four flavors
Gravy-filled center
Grain-free
Cons
Unpleasant smell
Taste of the Wild Rocky Mountain Grain-Free Dry Cat Food is a blend of protein from roasted venison and smoked salmon, combined with antioxidants from fruit and veg. High in protein and completely grain-free, there are no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives.
Four flavors
Gravy-filled center
Grain-free
- Four flavors
- Gravy-filled center
- Grain-free
Unpleasant smell
- Unpleasant smell
Weight: 15 pounds
Life stage: Adult
Food form: Dry
Special diet: Grain-free, high-protein
The formula includes both prebiotics and probiotics to help your cat’s digestive system and ease sensitive stomachs. Omega fatty acids promote skin and fur health, and a carefully constructed mix of other vitamins and minerals ensures the full support of your feline’s immune system.
While this brand of dry food is a great option to choose for your cat, the price is a little high.
Pros
High-protein
Grain-free
No artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives
Cons
Expensive
8. American Journey Minced Chicken Recipe Cat Food
High-protein
Grain-free
No artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives
- High-protein
- Grain-free
- No artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives
Expensive
- Expensive
Weight: 5- ounce cans
Life stage: Adult
Food form: Wet
Special diet: Grain-free, no wheat, no soy, no corn
Designed to entice picky cats to eat, the American Journey Minced Chicken Recipe Cat Food uses real chicken and a grain-free formula to convince your cat to dig in. Including omega-3 and -6 fatty acids, this wet cat food also uses a variety of necessary vitamins and minerals for your cat’s health and well-being. This food has no wheat, soy, corn, or poultry by-products, so your cat’s diet will be balanced and free from artificial flavors, preservatives, and colors.
This cat food comes in 3.3-ounce or 5.5-ounce cans in 24-count packs but only has one flavor per box. Like most wet cat food, it’s smellier than the dry alternatives. While the scent can entice cats to eat, it will also attract flies if left out for too long.
Pros
Real meat
Grain-free
Omega-3 and -6
Cons
Expensive
Only one flavor pack
Pre-made into purr-fect serving sizes, the Sheba Perfect Portions Grain-Free Multipack uses real chicken, turkey, and beef in natural gravy. Each portion contains a mix of vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, fish oils, and taurine for a balanced diet, healthy fur, and a strong immune system.
Real meat
Grain-free
Omega-3 and -6
- Real meat
- Grain-free
- Omega-3 and -6
Expensive
Only one flavor pack
- Expensive
- Only one flavor pack
Weight: 96 pounds
Life stage: Adult
Food form: Wet
Special diet: Grain-free, no wheat, no soy, no corn, pea-free
Suitable for adults, nursing cats, and kittens, this recipe can be used on its own or mixed with dry food, depending on your cat’s weight and dietary requirements. All three available flavors are grain and pea-free and contain no wheat, soy, or corn.
Although the plastic pots are designed to be easy to open, the packages are not recyclable.
Pros
Grain-free
Variety pack
Real chicken, turkey, and beef
Easy-open packets
Cons
Non-recyclable
More chicken than turkey or beef flavors
Formulated with indoor cats in mind, Crave Chicken & Salmon Grain-Free Dry Cat Food provides all the necessary nutrients that your housecat needs to stay healthy. Made with real chicken, this dry food contains no meat by-products, wheat, soy, or corn and is rich in protein.
Grain-free
Variety pack
Real chicken, turkey, and beef
Easy-open packets
- Grain-free
- Variety pack
- Real chicken, turkey, and beef
- Easy-open packets
Non-recyclable
More chicken than turkey or beef flavors
- Non-recyclable
- More chicken than turkey or beef flavors
Weight: 10 pounds
Life stage: Adult
Food form: Dry
Special diet: Grain-free, no wheat, no soy, no corn, high-protein
With a focus on mimicking wildcat ancestral diets, this food provides a healthy dose of carbohydrates to help your cat maintain their energy levels and immune system.
Bought in 10-pound bags, it’s a long-lasting cat food, but there isn’t an option to buy a smaller or larger bag. This brand is also a little expensive.
Pros
40% protein
Real chicken
No meat by-products, soy, corn, or wheat
Grain-free
Cons
Expensive
This variety pack by Blue Buffalo Tastefuls boasts a range of flavors from salmon, ocean fish, and tuna to chicken to suit cats that have different tastes. Each of the four options comes in a tasty pâté. The recipe contains real meat and high moisture content while avoiding wheat, soy, and corn. Supporting flavors include brown rice and sweet potato for added nutritional benefits.
40% protein
Real chicken
No meat by-products, soy, corn, or wheat
Grain-free
- 40% protein
- Real chicken
- No meat by-products, soy, corn, or wheat
- Grain-free
Expensive
Cats that don’t enjoy chunks of meat and the runniness of gravy in other canned foods might appreciate the smooth, moist texture of these pâtés.
Like other wet food brands, this one has a distinct odor that some people — and cats — may find displeasing, and it may attract flies if left uneaten.
Pros
No wheat, soy, or corn
Four flavors
High moisture content
Real meat
Cons
Smelly
Attracts flies
Friskies Tasty Treasures Gravy Prime Filets Variety Pack Wet Cat Food packs protein, antioxidants, and omega fatty acids into this multipack to keep your cat in top shape. This 24-can pack has four flavors — chicken and tuna, chicken, ocean fish and tuna, and turkey — in either gravy or sauce to support urinary health.
No wheat, soy, or corn
Four flavors
High moisture content
Real meat
- No wheat, soy, or corn
- Four flavors
- High moisture content
- Real meat
Smelly
Attracts flies
- Smelly
- Attracts flies
Weight: 4 pounds
Life stage: Adult
Food form: Dry
Special diet:
With chunks of real meat in each can, your cat can enjoy the chewy and moist texture while maintaining a balanced diet. Taurine and other essential vitamins are also included to make sure your feline is healthy both inside and out.
Formulated for adult cats, kittens won’t receive the necessary nutrients to promote healthy growth and development.
Pros
Variety pack
Supports urinary health
Real meat
Cons
Unsuitable for kittens
Containing real salmon, tuna, and shrimp, Friskies Seafood Sensations Dry Cat Food comes in three different sized bags (16, 22, and 30 pounds). The balanced mix of salmon, tuna, and shrimp is a favorite among seafood-loving cats.
Variety pack
Supports urinary health
Real meat
- Variety pack
- Supports urinary health
- Real meat
Unsuitable for kittens
- Unsuitable for kittens
Weight: 22 pounds
Life stage: Adult
Food form: Dry
Special diet:
Included in the formula is a range of fatty acids and antioxidants to make sure your cat’s immune and digestive systems stay strong and healthy. A small amount of seaweed is also included in the recipe to give your fussy feline another flavor to explore.
Unfortunately, this dry cat food isn’t grain-free and is unsuitable for cats with grain allergies. There are also no smaller size bags to test with your picky cat.
Pros
Real salmon, tuna, and shrimp
Contains fatty acids
Cons
Not grain-free
Only available in large bags
If your cat is a particularly fussy eater, the Fancy Feast Broths Variety Pack Cat Food is a light, nutritious broth created to convince picky cats to eat their meals. Using real ingredients, the packets are pre-made into serving size and appeal to all seafood-loving cats.
Real salmon, tuna, and shrimp
Contains fatty acids
- Real salmon, tuna, and shrimp
- Contains fatty acids
Not grain-free
Only available in large bags
- Not grain-free
- Only available in large bags
Weight: 05 pounds
Life stage: Adults
Food form: Food topper, treats
Special diet:
Each 12-pack contains a variety of tuna, whitefish, and shrimp; tuna, anchovies, and whitefish; and wild salmon and vegetables.
Formulated to enhance your cat’s existing diet of wet food, the Fancy Feast broths aren’t meals on their own and are intended as toppings. While they add a new flare to familiar cat food, you’ll need to buy the wet food itself separately.
Pros
No by-products
Contains tuna, shrimp, whitefish, salmon, anchovies, and vegetables
Cons
A food topper, not a meal in itself
Buyer’s Guide: Finding the Best-Tasting Cat Foods for Picky Cats
Picking the best tasting cat food can be daunting, particularly when human noses don’t think much of any type of pet food. If your cat has never turned their nose up at food before, knowing the possible reasons will help you figure out where to start in your search for food that they’ll eat.
No by-products
Contains tuna, shrimp, whitefish, salmon, anchovies, and vegetables
- No by-products
- Contains tuna, shrimp, whitefish, salmon, anchovies, and vegetables
A food topper, not a meal in itself
- A food topper, not a meal in itself
Boredom
If you’ve ever made a hearty meal where the leftovers last for several meals, you’ve probably gotten a little tired of eating them after a few days. Cats are no different. If the only food that they have is a chicken-flavored pâté — which may or may not be real meat — and nothing else for a week, they’ll get bored.
It can be an easy trap to fall into, especially when you know that your cat is a fussy eater. When you finally land on something that they like to eat, it’s tempting to feed them the same thing over and over. The problem is, the new food that your cat eats will quickly turn into the bane of your feline’s life.
This is why variety packs are so popular. While some big boxes of canned food offer only one flavor, multipacks give you the ability to switch between flavors and keep your cat guessing. It’s still a good idea to buy different flavored variety packs every so often, though, just to make sure your fussy feline doesn’t get bored.
Our Top Pick for Cat Water Bowl:
Gone are the days when you have to mop up water spills after your pet goes for a drink. With the Hepper Nom Nom Bowl, you’ll never have to worry about water spills again. Two stainless steel bowls sit inside a wide tray to catch every little dribble that falls from your pet’s mouth. Your furry friend might not be the cleanest drinker, but now they don’t have to be! Click here to purchase your own and say goodbye to water spills for good. At Pet Keen, we’ve admired Hepper for many years and decided to take a controlling ownership interest so that we could benefit from the outstanding designs of this cool cat company!
Gone are the days when you have to mop up water spills after your pet goes for a drink. With the Hepper Nom Nom Bowl, you’ll never have to worry about water spills again.
Two stainless steel bowls sit inside a wide tray to catch every little dribble that falls from your pet’s mouth. Your furry friend might not be the cleanest drinker, but now they don’t have to be! Click here to purchase your own and say goodbye to water spills for good.
At Pet Keen, we’ve admired Hepper for many years and decided to take a controlling ownership interest so that we could benefit from the outstanding designs of this cool cat company!
Wrong Texture
Cat food isn’t much different from human food. Along with a mixture of flavors, there are different textures too, from crunchy to smooth and from shredded to chunky. You can have dry food or a meal drenched in gravy.
Your cat has preferences just like we do, and sometimes, those preferences change depending on their mood or how often they eat the same type of food. Every so often, they just want to sink their teeth into something chewy rather than crunch through a pile of kibble.
Wrong Temperature
Temperature also plays a part in your cat’s desire to eat. If it’s a hot day, eating something warm is unpleasant at best. Likewise, cold days don’t lead to wanting a meal straight from the fridge. Above all else, cats enjoy comfort and aren’t shy about turning away from anything that gets in the way of their ability to relax.
Stress
Stress is enough to put anyone off their food, even cats. Our feline friends like routine as much as we do, and if their day is interrupted by a house move or a trip to the vet, they may just sulk their way through dinner.
Similarly, if you change their food too suddenly, you could worry them unnecessarily. Different brands use different recipes, and as a result, the smells associated with the food change.
All cat food packets have instructions for easing your cat into a new brand for a reason. If you suspect a sudden change in your feline’s diet is why they’ve stopped eating, try blending the new food with the old and slowly get them used to the new taste that way.
Not Hungry
Even with all the will in the world, if your cat isn’t hungry, there’s no way that you’ll convince them to eat. They’d much rather take a nap and eat later. It can be worrying, but if you have an indoor cat, remember that they’re not as active as their outdoor trekking counterparts. They don’t need as much energy to keep them out of trouble. Not eating their dinner may be their way of saying that they’d rather continue napping and are just not hungry.
Or, if your cat is one of the outdoorsy types, consider checking in with your neighbors. You may find that your cheeky feline has been coaxing food out of other sources.
Health Problems
There is a chance that your cat is suffering from an illness that’s putting them off their food. If you’ve ruled out every other possibility on this list, consider taking your fussy friend to the vet. A veterinarian will be able to tell you if there’s an underlying health issue bothering your feline.
- See Also: 10 Best Litter Boxes for Picky Cats – Reviews & Top Picks
Final Thoughts
Cats can be picky about many things, including the food that they eat. Fortunately for us, there’s a wide selection of meals for you to experiment with.
To recap a few of your options, our overall best cat food for picky cats is the Smalls Fresh Ground Bird Recipe, which combines a variety of flavors with plenty of vitamins for a balanced diet. The American Journey Duck Recipe Grain-Free Dry Cat Food, our best value cat food, contains real deboned duck and is rich in protein.
That’s the end of this article. We truly hope that you find a food that your cat will love after reading these reviews.
Featured Image Credit: aleg baranau, Shutterstock
