When getting a new cat, pet parents find themselves pouring over reviews, trying to find the best products for their new family member. Persian cats have some unique needs when it comes to food because of their unique snout shape. Furthermore, we are seeing a push for cat foods to reflect the species-specific needs of cats rather than the classic formulations that are more suited to dogs.
With all this new research coming out, pet parents find themselves bombarded and overwhelmed with new information as they try to navigate the waters of pet ownership. Here are our choices for the top eight foods to consider for your new Persian cat.
A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites of 2023
Image Product Details
Best Overall
Smalls Fresh Raw Cow Cat Food
Fresh, human-grade meat ingredients
High protein source
Contains fiber for hairball control
Click to Save 40% Use code: PetKeen2023
Best Value
Purina ONE True Instinct Cat Food
Very cost-effective
Grain-free
Meat is the first ingredient
Check Price
GO! Solutions Skin + Coat Cat Food
Doctor designed recipes
Specially formulated species-appropriate nutrition
Check Price
Solid Gold Chicken Protein Cat Food
Fiber-rich for hairball control
High-quality protein sources like meat and eggs
Competitive pricing
Check Price
Wellness CORE Canned Cat Food
High-protein & grain-free
Fantastic selection of products
Vet recommended
Check Price
The 8 Best Foods for Persian Cats
1. Smalls Smooth Fresh Cow Raw Cat Food – Best Overall
Save 40% on Smalls - Click Here & Use Code Petkeen2023
Food Type: Wet
Weight Options: 11.5 oz
Other Flavors: Chicken, Turkey
Other Diet Specialties:
We found Smalls Smooth Fresh Cow to be the best overall choice for Persian cats. Its Smooth Fresh Cow recipe is an ideal choice for Persians because the smooth textured option can be eaten by just licking. If your short-nosed cat struggles with traditional kibbles of chunky wet food (and many do, especially as they age) a smooth wet food is essential.
Unlike canned cat foods, Smalls makes its recipes in small batches out of fresh ingredients. All the meat is certified for human consumption, meaning that it’s a cut above traditional cat food quality. It has a high protein, low-filler recipe with just enough fiber (0.5%) to ease hairballs.
The biggest drawback of this recipe is that it contains trace amounts of peas and spinach, which some cats are sensitive to. It is also a more expensive option than some others on this list. It’s also a bit pricey.
Pros
Fiber for hairball control
Smooth texture is easy to ingest
Fresh, human-grade meat base
High protein source
Cons
Contains peas and spinach
More expensive option
When it comes to keeping costs down, it’s hard to get cheaper than Purina. That’s why our pick for the best cat food for Persian cats for the money is Purina ONE True Instinct. Purina ONE is Purina’s limited ingredient diet, and their True Instinct sub-brand is the high-protein version of the food. Purina ONE True Instinct features a cost-effective high-protein diet with real meat as the first ingredient on the list.
Fiber for hairball control
Smooth texture is easy to ingest
Fresh, human-grade meat base
High protein source
- Fiber for hairball control
- Smooth texture is easy to ingest
- Fresh, human-grade meat base
- High protein source
Contains peas and spinach
More expensive option
- Contains peas and spinach
- More expensive option
Food Type: Dry, Canned
Weight Options: 3.2, 6.3 & 14.4 lbs; 3 oz
Other Flavors: Chicken
Other Diet Specialties: Grain-Free
Check Price on Chewy
While the food does reach all of its numerical benchmarks, there is a reason why it is so cheap. The food does have a lot of low-quality ingredients, and meat by-products are the second most prominent ingredient. Still, if you’re on a tight budget, this food has all the numbers in the right places to help your cat thrive and live a long, happy life with you.
Pros
Very cost-effective
Grain-free
Meat is the first ingredient
Cons
High concentrations of low-quality ingredients
Not pea-free
GO! Solutions by Petcurean is our choice for the best premium cat food for Persian cats. GO! Solutions aims to solve the problem of the lack of formal education that’s put behind the recipes we feed our pets.
Very cost-effective
Grain-free
Meat is the first ingredient
- Very cost-effective
- Grain-free
- Meat is the first ingredient
High concentrations of low-quality ingredients
Not pea-free
- High concentrations of low-quality ingredients
- Not pea-free
Food Type: Dry, Canned
Weight Options: 3, 8, & 16 lbs; 6.4 oz
Other Flavors: Salmon
Other Diet Specialties: High protein
GO! Solutions’ recipes are made with the guidance of Dr. Jennifer Adolphe, a Ph.D. holder in companion animal nutrition. This expertise is reflected in the formulation of their recipes and higher price point.
GO! Solutions features high-protein and low-carbohydrate contents in their foods which our cats will thank us for. Their Skin & Coat Care blend is perfect for keeping your Persian’s coat smooth and silky on top of providing excellent nutrition.
Pros
Doctor designed recipes
Specially formulated species-appropriate nutrition
Cons
Expensive
Solid Gold cat food has been on the market since 1974 and garnered a lot of support for its unique and species-appropriate formulation. Their pricing is competitive for the quality of the food they bring to the table, and they offer a wide variety of options for cats, including weight control and non-GMO blends.
Doctor designed recipes
Specially formulated species-appropriate nutrition
- Doctor designed recipes
- Specially formulated species-appropriate nutrition
Expensive
- Expensive
Food Type: Dry, Canned
Weight Options: 3, 6, & 12 lbs; 3 oz, 6 oz
Other Flavors: Quail, Lamb, Pollock, Salmon
Other Diet Specialties: Grain-Free, Gluten-Free, Corn-Free
While they offer various cat options, their Chicken and Egg blend features high-fiber ingredients that can help your Persian with hairball control. However, this blend is not pea-free as the primary fiber source for the combination is peas. So, pet parents who have their cats on a pea-free diet will want to pass on this one.
Pros
Fiber-rich for hairball control
High-quality protein sources like meat and eggs
Competitive pricing
Cons
Not pea-free
Not all blends are grain-free
Wellness CORE is a high-protein vet-recommended diet that cats love. CORE is Wellness pet food’s high-protein specialty food, and its kibble and wet foods are packed with nutrients that your cat needs to thrive.
Fiber-rich for hairball control
High-quality protein sources like meat and eggs
Competitive pricing
- Fiber-rich for hairball control
- High-quality protein sources like meat and eggs
- Competitive pricing
Not pea-free
Not all blends are grain-free
- Not pea-free
- Not all blends are grain-free
Food Type: Dry, Canned
Weight Options: 2, 5, & 11 lbs; 3 & 5.5 oz
Other Flavors: Turkey & Duck, Salmon & Herring
Other Diet Specialties: Grain-Free
Wellness CORE comes with a higher price tag than most other foods, making it hard for pet parents to justify taking the plunge on the purchase, but Wellness CORE brings all the stops to the table for the pets who love their food and the parents who buy it.
Wellness CORE has also launched their Digestive Health line for pet parents of cats with sensitive stomachs or battling hairball control. A line that’s perfect for the Persians of the world who need the extra fiber in their diet to help with the hairballs.
Pros
High-protein & grain-free
Fantastic selection of products
Vet recommended
Cons
Some pet parents have mediocre experiences with the food
American Journey is a famous brand for American pet parents who favor products made locally. Their cat foods are sourced and produced in America and feature high-quality ingredients that your cats will thank you for feeding them.
High-protein & grain-free
Fantastic selection of products
Vet recommended
- High-protein & grain-free
- Fantastic selection of products
- Vet recommended
Some pet parents have mediocre experiences with the food
- Some pet parents have mediocre experiences with the food
Food Type: Dry
Weight Options: 15 lbs
Other Flavors: Salmon
Other Diet Specialties: None
The Sensitive Stomach recipe features a gentle blend of ingredients to avoid any components that might cause gastric upset and comes in Chicken and Salmon flavors. So, there are no worries if your kitty can’t have or doesn’t like chicken.
American Journey features flavors that your cats will love and have recipes for other special diets, including limited ingredient and immune support recipes.
Pros
Made in America
Huge selection of products
Cons
No weight selection for pet parents who want to buy a smaller quantity of food
Not grain-free
Blue Buffalo is a darling of the pet care industry, and their Wilderness line features their highest protein content recipes which are perfect for the cats in our lives. Wilderness features an indoor hairball control formula with a higher fiber concentration to help the cat pass hairballs without trouble.
Made in America
Huge selection of products
- Made in America
- Huge selection of products
No weight selection for pet parents who want to buy a smaller quantity of food
Not grain-free
- No weight selection for pet parents who want to buy a smaller quantity of food
- Not grain-free
Food Type: Dry
Weight Options: 5 & 11 lbs
Other Flavors: None
Other Diet Specialties: Grain-Free
Wilderness Indoor Hairball Control is an excellent choice for pet parents looking for a reputable brand that they can trust to take good care of their cat. Unfortunately, their hairball control formula only comes in a chicken recipe, so pet parents of picky cats might have to pass on this one.
Blue Buffalo Wilderness has also come under fire for its high carbohydrate content—upwards of 40% in some of their recipes—which is highly inappropriate for cats aiming to consume about 70% proteins in their diets.
Pros
Produced by a reputable brand you can trust
Formulated with high fiber to control hairballs
Cons
Only comes in chicken flavors
Merrick is another darling of the pet care industry. Merrick’s foods are a great low-cost way for pet parents to feed their cats a grain-free diet. Merrick’s Purrfect Bistro line features a hairball control formula with extra fiber to help your cat pass those tough hairballs.
Produced by a reputable brand you can trust
Formulated with high fiber to control hairballs
- Produced by a reputable brand you can trust
- Formulated with high fiber to control hairballs
Only comes in chicken flavors
- Only comes in chicken flavors
Food Type: Dry
Weight Options: 4, 7, & 12 lbs
Other Flavors: None
Other Diet Specialties: Grain-Free
Merrick’s foods also are trusted by pet parents who prefer products made in America as all of their production is done here in America. They feature high protein concentrations that are perfect for our cats. However, much of that protein concentration comes from low-quality ingredients like meat meals which helps offset the production cost and bring grain-free food sources to your cat at a low price.
Pros
Made in America
High protein concentration
Cons
High concentrations of low-quality meat by-products
Buyer’s Guide: Picking the Best Cat Food for Persian Cats
The proper feeding of our new pets is a topic that rests at the forefront of every new pet parent’s mind. Selecting a good cat food can feel like a daunting task with all the options on the market. With so many choices at so many different price points, pet parents are left wondering what’s in good cat food in the first place? Why are some so expensive while others are sold for what feels like pennies to the pound?
Made in America
High protein concentration
- Made in America
- High protein concentration
High concentrations of low-quality meat by-products
- High concentrations of low-quality meat by-products
Protein to Carbohydrate Ratio
Cats are obligate carnivores which means that their primary food source has to be animal proteins. Obligate carnivores’ stomachs do not have the enzymes needed to break down carotene, a chief source of nutrients in plant matter. As such, cat food needs to be made up primarily of animal protein sources. Protein should be no less than 30% of your cat’s food content.
In addition, carbohydrates are a great source of quick energy, but they don’t keep your cat full for as long as protein sources. Carbohydrate content is often sourced from low-quality and species inappropriate sources. Your cat’s food should have no more than 20-25% carbohydrate content.
A food too high in carbohydrate content can leave your cat feeling unsatisfied by their meal and eating more than it should be. House cats are prone to obesity because of their natural laziness. Food that doesn’t keep them satiated long enough will prompt them to overeat and become overweight.
High-Quality Animal Proteins
The amount of protein and the source from which the protein is made are important factors. Your cat’s food should be made up of high-quality protein sources, namely natural meats. The first ingredient on the list should be a raw meat source, especially for kibbles.
In a kibble, the meat is dehydrated. Since meats have a higher moisture content than many other kibble ingredients, the weight can be deceptively low even if the food is made up primarily of meats. However, if the primary ingredient of kibble is real meat after dehydration, then the food is made up of more high-quality ingredients than low-quality ones.
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Low-Quality Ingredients
Meat meals, bone meals, and other low-quality and species inappropriate nutrient sources should be low on the ingredient list if included at all. Other low-quality ingredients include corn, unidentified meat, wheat gluten, and cellulose.
Low-quality and filler ingredients don’t provide your cat with the correct types and balances of nutrients that they need to thrive. High concentrations of plant ingredients aren’t species appropriate for a cat since they can’t digest them and break them down into the nutrients that omnivorous and herbivorous animals can.
Meat meals and bone meals aren’t as bad as plant materials, but they don’t carry the same high-quality nutrients as actual meat and organs. Since cats need a high concentration of crude, high-quality proteins, meat and bone meals aren’t sufficient nutrients on their own.
Wet or Dry Cat Food
Deciding whether you want to get your cat wet or dry food is essential, especially when dealing with Persian cats. While vets recommend that cats be fed primarily wet food, dry food is more cost-effective, and pet parents wonder the difference between canned and kibble food.
Wet food contains higher concentrations of moisture. Cats are desert animals and can sometimes forget that they need to drink water. Wet food can help solve any dehydration problems by putting the moisture into their food instead.
Kibble helps with oral hygiene by scraping away plaque on the teeth as the cat chews on it. It’s also more cost-effective for pet parents on a budget. Both wet and dry food has unique benefits to a cat’s overall health outcomes.
Many pet parents choose to feed a combination of wet and dry foods. This allows their cats to get the benefits of both food shapes. When selecting a kibble for your Persian, it’s essential to keep the cat’s breed in mind because of the condition of its mouth.
Size Does Matter
With Persian cats, size can matter a great deal. Brachycephalic, or flat-faced, animals have different shaped jaws and mouths than their typical-snouted counterparts. Flat-faced animals can have trouble with specific kibble shapes because they are too large for their mouths. Ensuring that your Persian’s food isn’t too big for their mouth is imperative for good health.
While dog foods are often specially formulated for a dog’s size, cat foods tend not to be. So if you find that your Persian is having trouble with the food they’re eating, the only natural choice is to switch their food to a different brand.
Hacking Up Hairballs
Hairballs are a well-known problem for Persian cats because of their long, lustrous coat and love for upkeeping their appearance. While hairballs are a generally benign occurrence, they are uncomfortable and unpleasant for the cat.
Owners may help minimize the occurrence of hairballs by brushing their cats to get the dead fur out of their coats for them. Another option is to introduce high-fiber cat food that will help keep the fur moving.
You don’t have to worry about adding fiber; cats are supposed to pass their fur through the other end. Hairballs occur when the hair sits in excess in the stomach. Hairball control foods contain higher concentrations of safe fibers like apples, which can help move things along in the stomach.
- Want to know how various cat foods stack up against one another? Read the Best Cat Foods (Updated)
Conclusion
Pet parents are constantly doing their due diligence to find the best foods for their cats. Our choice for the best overall food for Persian cats is Smalls Smooth Fresh Cow. They offer an impressive blend of human-grade ingredients that your Persian will appreciate.
For pet parents on a budget, our recommendation for the best Persian cat food for the money is Purina ONE True Instinct. It’s an excellent option for pet parents looking for a cost-effective way to get into species-appropriate nutrition for their cats.
Persian cat parents should also consider GO! Solutions Skin + Coat Care formula, the perfect food for keeping your Persian cat’s coat lustrous and shiny.
Feeding our pets is often at the forefront of every pet parent’s mind, and we rightfully agonize over whether or not we’re giving our pets the proper care because we love them. We hope we were able to help you find an excellent choice for you and your cat!
Featured Image Credit: ANURAK PONGPATIMET, Shutterstock
