If you have an indoor cat, you know it has different needs than an outdoor cat. Outdoor cats spend much of their time hunting and watching over their territory. These cats burn many more calories than indoor cats that spend most of their day sleeping and lounging around. As more cats are spending their entire lives indoors, as they should, more people are asking what type of food is the best. We’ve chosen several different brands to review for you so you can see the difference between them. We’ll give you the pros and cons we experienced while using them, and we’ll also tell you how our cats liked them. Keep reading while we look at ingredients, vitamins, omega fats, taurine, and more to help you make an informed purchase.
A Glance at Our Winners in 2023
Image Product Details
Best Overall
Smalls Human-Grade Fresh Cat Food
Species-appropriate and convenient
Human-grade ingredients
No artificial flavors or preservatives
Delivered right to your doorstep
Click to Save 40% Use code: PetKeen2023
Best Value
Rachael Ray Indoor Dry Cat Food
Chicken first ingredient
Real fruits and vegetables
Omega fats
Check Price
Iams ProActive Indoor Dry Cat Food
Formulated to reduce hairballs
Chicken first ingredient
Omega Fats
Check Price
Best for Kittens
Hill’s Science Indoor Kitten Food
Chicken first ingredient
Real fruits and vegetables
Antioxidants
Check Price
Blue Buffalo Indoor Dry Cat Food
The deboned chicken first ingredient
Real fruits and vegetables
Omega fats
Check Price
The 8 Best Cat Foods for Indoor Cats
1. Smalls Human-Grade Fresh Cat Food Subscription – Best Overall
Save 40% on Smalls - Click Here & Use Code Petkeen2023
Protein: 45%
Fat: 15%
Package Size: 12 ounces
The Smalls Human-Grade Fresh cat food is our choice for overall best cat food for indoor cats because it allows you to feed your kitty a diet that closely resembles a cat’s natural diet (while still being in a convenient form!). It has at least 15% protein as fed, and 49.6% of the metabolizable energy comes from this basic nutrient. With this food choice, your cat will get all the protein it needs from a reliable source and in a natural form.
What sets Smalls Human-Grade Fresh recipe apart from other commercial cat foods is the high quality of its natural and wholesome ingredients. This species-appropriate diet has exactly what your tiny carnivore needs to thrive. Naturally high in protein and low in carbohydrates, this amazing product is also rich in moisture, helping to prevent some of the common issues with indoor cats: obesity and hairballs. That’s a very significant plus for indoor cat owners! In addition, Smalls food is all-natural – meaning it does not contain unnatural colors, flavors, or preservatives. The natural preservative in this food is actually an antioxidant that protects your kitty from free radicals, promoting health at the cellular level.
We know, it’s like a dream come true for your cat – but guess what? This amazing food is also delivered right to your doorstep automatically so you will be saving time and gas on pet store trips. If you are interested in this amazing fresh cat food, you can get a trial offer – just beware, your kitty will LOVE it!
The only downside is that the food is more expensive than regular kibble, but this food will provide the best nutrition for your kitty and will allow you to take a practical approach to your kitty’s health care, saving you tons of dollars on future vet bills.
Overall, we think this is the best cat food for indoor cats.
Pros
Species-appropriate
All-natural ingredients
Free from artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives
Delivered right to your doorstep
Cons
More expensive than regular kibble
Rachael Ray Nutrish Indoor Complete Chicken with Lentils & Salmon Recipe Natural Dry Cat Food is our pick as the best cat food for indoor cats for the money. It features chicken as the first ingredient, which helps provide your cat with 34% protein per serving. It also contains real fruits and vegetables, like cranberries, pumpkin, blueberries, dandelion, and beet pulp. Fish oil provides omega fats and also contains taurine.
Species-appropriate
All-natural ingredients
Free from artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives
Delivered right to your doorstep
- Species-appropriate
- All-natural ingredients
- Free from artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives
- Delivered right to your doorstep
More expensive than regular kibble
- More expensive than regular kibble
Protein: 34%
Calories: 354 kcal/cup
Package Size: 14 pounds
Check Price on Chewy
The biggest downside we experienced while reviewing Rachael Ray Nutrish Indoor is that some cats don’t like it. It also seemed to leave our cats feeling hungry sooner than some other brands.
Pros
Chicken first ingredient
Real fruits and vegetables
Omega fats
Natural probiotics
Cons
Some cats don’t like it
Iams ProActive Health Indoor Weight & Hairball Care Dry Cat Food is our next pick for best cat food for indoor cats. It has a high protein content which will provide your pet with plenty of energy and the building blocks for strong muscle. It has chicken listed as its first ingredient and also contains omega fatty acids and taurine.
Chicken first ingredient
Real fruits and vegetables
Omega fats
Natural probiotics
- Chicken first ingredient
- Real fruits and vegetables
- Omega fats
- Natural probiotics
Some cats don’t like it
- Some cats don’t like it
Protein: 30%
Calories: 302 kcal/cup
Package Size: 22 pounds
The only downside we experienced while reviewing Iams ProActive Health Indoor was that some of our cats wouldn’t eat it and would try to hold out until we gave them something different.
Pros
Formulated to reduce hairballs
Chicken first ingredient
Omega Fats
Cons
Some cats don’t like it
Hill’s Science Diet Indoor Kitten Dry Cat Food is our pick as the best kitten food for indoor kittens. It has chicken listed as its first ingredient and provides your kitten with 33.5% protein to help your pet develop into a strong cat. Real fruits and vegetables like broccoli, apples, carrots, and cranberries add powerful antioxidants to your cat’s diet that will help boost the immune system and prevent them from catching a disease.
Formulated to reduce hairballs
Chicken first ingredient
Omega Fats
- Formulated to reduce hairballs
- Chicken first ingredient
- Omega Fats
Protein: 33.5%
Calories: 544 kcal/cup
Package Size: 7 pounds
We liked serving our kittens Hill’s Science Diet, but it is quite expensive, and at nearly 550 calories per serving, it can quickly add weight to your pet which is good when they are a kitten, but you’ll want to switch to something else when they become fully grown.
Pros
Chicken first ingredient
Real fruits and vegetables
Antioxidants
Cons
Expensive
Blue Buffalo Indoor Health Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Adult Dry Cat Food is another one of our favorite choices. It provides your cat with 32% protein by using deboned chicken as its first ingredient and other protein sources, like peas. Besides the meat ingredients, it also contains omega fats and real fruits and vegetables, like carrots, sweet potatoes, blueberries, and kelp. However, there are no genetically modified corn or soy products that can upset your cat’s stomach and leave your cat feeling hungry.
Chicken first ingredient
Real fruits and vegetables
Antioxidants
- Chicken first ingredient
- Real fruits and vegetables
- Antioxidants
Expensive
- Expensive
Protein: 32%
Calories: 402 kcal/cup
Package Size: 15 pounds
Once again, the biggest downside to the Blue Buffalo Indoor brand is getting the cats to eat it. We also felt that the kibble was a little large for some of our cats.
But, when it comes to premium quality, we think this is the best cat food for indoor cats.
Pros
The deboned chicken first ingredient
Real fruits and vegetables
Omega fats
No corn or soy
Cons
Some cats don’t like it
Large kibble
6. Purina ONE Indoor Advantage Adult Dry Cat Food
Purina ONE Indoor Advantage Adult Dry Cat Food is a popular brand of cat food that you can find in most stores. It lists turkey as its first ingredient and provides your act with 37% protein per serving. It includes several vitamins and minerals, including the important ones, like vitamins A, D, and E. Your cat will also receive the required omega fats and taurine.
The deboned chicken first ingredient
Real fruits and vegetables
Omega fats
No corn or soy
- The deboned chicken first ingredient
- Real fruits and vegetables
- Omega fats
- No corn or soy
Some cats don’t like it
Large kibble
- Some cats don’t like it
- Large kibble
Protein: 37%
Calories: 372 kcal/cup
Package Size: 22 pounds
It was easier to get our cats to try Purina ONE Indoor than several other brands, but it still wasn’t some of our cat’s favorites. We also found that it has corn and soy listed near the top of the ingredients list, so your cat might get hungry sooner than normal.
Pros
Turkey first ingredient
Vitamin and mineral fortification
Omega3 fats
Cons
Some cats don’t like it
It contains corn and soy
7. Cat Chow Indoor Hairball & Healthy Weight Dry Cat Food
Cat Chow Indoor Hairball & Healthy Weight Dry Cat Food is one of our cat’s favorite foods. It contains real farm-raised chicken and provides your pet with 30% protein per serving. It contains taurine that cats require, and this is one of our cat’s favorite brands.
Turkey first ingredient
Vitamin and mineral fortification
Omega3 fats
- Turkey first ingredient
- Vitamin and mineral fortification
- Omega3 fats
Some cats don’t like it
It contains corn and soy
- Some cats don’t like it
- It contains corn and soy
Protein: 30%
Calories: 358 kcal/cup
Package Size: 20 pounds
We didn’t like Cat Chow Indoor because the farm-raised chicken is lower down the list than meat by-products and corn ingredients. It contains artificial colors that can trigger allergies in some pets, and there are no omega fatty acids that can help improve the coat of your cat as well as protect the skin.
Pros
Farm-raised chicken
Cats enjoy it
Contains taurine
Cons
Chicken byproduct first ingredient
Artificial colors
No omega fats
Friskies Indoor Delights Dry Cat Food provides your cat with 30% protein and omega fats that will help improve your pet’s coat. It also has plenty of vitamins and minerals that help our cat receive a complete and balanced meal.
Farm-raised chicken
Cats enjoy it
Contains taurine
- Farm-raised chicken
- Cats enjoy it
- Contains taurine
Chicken byproduct first ingredient
Artificial colors
No omega fats
- Chicken byproduct first ingredient
- Artificial colors
- No omega fats
Protein: 30%
Calories: 364 kcal/cup
Package Size: 16 pounds
The downside to Friskies Indoor is that corn is the first ingredient that can lead to weight gain in your pet due to it being mostly empty calories. There is no real meat, and all of the protein comes from a meat byproduct. It also has artificial colors in its ingredients that can trigger allergies in some cats.
Pros
Contains omega fats
Provides a complete and balanced diet
Plenty of vitamins and minerals
Cons
Corn first ingredient
No real meat
Artificial colors
- Related Read: 10 Best Dry Cat Foods – Reviews & Top Picks
Contains omega fats
Provides a complete and balanced diet
Plenty of vitamins and minerals
- Contains omega fats
- Provides a complete and balanced diet
- Plenty of vitamins and minerals
Corn first ingredient
No real meat
Artificial colors
- Corn first ingredient
- No real meat
- Artificial colors
Buyer’s Guide: How to Buy the Best Cat Food for Indoor Cats
Protein
One of the first things you should look for when choosing a cat food for an indoor cat is the amount and type of protein. We recommend choosing a brand that provides your kitten with at least 30% protein, so your cat will have the building blocks it needs for a strong and healthy body. Protein also helps your cat feel full for longer and gives them the energy they need to stay active.
We recommend looking at the ingredients list and choosing a food with real meat like chicken, turkey, or lamb listed as the first ingredient. Avoid choosing brands that have a meat byproduct listed higher than these other meats because it’s dried and ground meat that can be several years old.
Carbohydrates
Your cat is a carnivore and has no real need for carbohydrates. Some carbs, like corn and soy, can be harmful to your pet because they digest quickly and can leave your cat feeling hungry again sooner than it should. However, other carbohydrates like carrots, broccoli, blueberries, cranberries, and other fruits and vegetables can provide your cat with important nutrients if they don’t consume too much. The high fiber content in these foods can also help calm the stomach and regulate the water in the intestines, reducing constipation and diarrhea.
- You might also be interested in: 10 Best Cat Toys for Indoor Cats – Reviews & Top Picks
Taurine
Taurine is an important amino acid only found in animal proteins. Cats cannot produce this amino acid in their bodies, so your cat can only get it from eating these animal proteins. If taurine levels get depleted, it can affect the cat’s eyes, leading to retinal degeneration. It can also lead to problems with the heart.
Giving your pet the highest quality nutrition is a top priority, so why not give them a food and water dish to match? We think the Hepper Nom Nom Bowl is too good not to share.
Made from food-safe stainless steel, you can ensure that your pet is consuming the best nutrition out of the finest bowls on the market. Click here to get yours. 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!
Made from food-safe stainless steel, you can ensure that your pet is consuming the best nutrition out of the finest bowls on the market. Click here to get yours.
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!
Omega Fats
Studies show that omega fats can be helpful to your cat by reducing inflammation, especially that which comes with old age. Omega fats also help with brain and eye development as well as coat and skin health. It helps reduce dandruff, dry skin, and irritation caused by insect bites. It can also help boost the immune system and promote heart health.
Fish oil is the primary source of omega fat, but you can also get them from flaxseed oil and other sources. You can even purchase supplements that you can add to the food.
Calories
Since your cat does not see as much activity as it does in the wild, you will need to keep a close eye on the number of calories in each serving. We prefer to keep the calories closer to 300 per serving, but if you are feeding a kitten, you can increase it to 400 or 500 calories, but you will need to keep a close eye on your cat’s weight to ensure it doesn’t get out of hand.
Unfortunately, more than 50% of cats over the age of four are obese, and this obesity can lead to several health problems, including diabetes, heart disease, and much more.
- Related Read: 10 Best Wet Cat Foods – Reviews & Top Picks
Conclusion
When choosing your next cat food for indoor cats, we highly recommend our pick for the best overall.
The Smalls Human-Grade Fresh cat food is our top choice because it offers plenty of moisture and is human-grade, healthy, and packed with protein and vitamins.
Another smart choice for cat food is our pick for the best value. Rachael Ray Nutrish Indoor Complete Chicken with Lentils & Salmon Recipe Natural Dry Cat Food features chicken as its first ingredient and provides real fruits and vegetables that provide natural probiotics.
We hope you have enjoyed reading over our reviews and found a few brands you would like to try out. If we have helped answer your questions, please share this guide to the best cat food for indoor cats on Facebook and Twitter.
Featured Image Credit: Lilia-Solonari, Shutterstock
