Our reviews are based on extensive research and, when possible, hands-on testing. Each time you make a purchase through one of our independently-chosen links, we may earn a commission. Learn more.

The 7 Best Healthy Canned, Soft & Wet Cat Foods in the UK

Share Email Pinterest Linkedin Twitter Facebook
Best cat food in the UK

Charlotte Fisher / Cats.com

We’ve tried and tested cat food brands across the UK to help you make informed choices when it comes to feeding your fur baby the very best. After looking closely at each brand, we recommend KatKin as the best cat food in the UK. Recipes are made from human-grade cuts of meat, and gently steamed for a nutrient-rich formula.

But, there is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to giving your cat the best nutrition. Every feline is different, so you may have to try several brands before you find one that suits your kitty’s needs. That’s why we’ve chosen 7 different top-ranking products as the best you can buy in the UK. Each meets a slightly different set of needs.

At a Glance: Best Wet Cat Food To Buy  In the UK

Clock
2772
hours of
research
Eye
231
brands
vetted
Check
7
features
reviewed
Star
7
top
picks

Want a quick look at the best cat foods reviewed in this article? In the comparison table below, we’ve highlighted some of the most important features of each product. You’ll find more detailed information about each product later in the article.

Overall Best
9.8
Picked by 31 people today!

KatKin

  • Highly customizable meal plans
  • Made from premium-quality ingredients
  • Attentive customer service
GET 30% OFF CLICK HERE TO GET 30% OFF YOUR 14-DAY TRIAL BOX
Best For Specialized Diets
9.7
Picked by 31 people today!

Lily’s Kitchen Turkey & Duck cat food recipe

  • Appears to contain only high-quality cuts of meat and fish
  • Recipes are nutritionally complete
  • Plenty of options for special diets
Best For Healthy Digestion
9.6
Picked by 25 people today!

Meowing Heads Top-Cat Turkey Wet Food

  • Contains over 50% protein measured as dry matter
  • Made with protein from three high-quality animal sources
  • Rich in moisture to support your cat’s hydration
Best For Fussy Eaters
9.4
Picked by 21 people today!

Untamed Chocka Chicken with Ham cat food recipe

  • Made from human-grade meat and fish
  • Moisture-rich
  • Easy on sensitive stomachs
Best For Sensitive Stomachs
9.3
Picked by 18 people today!

Scrumbles Turkey cat food recipe

  • Steam-cooked fresh meat for locked-in nutrients
  • Slippery elm aids digestive health
  • Easy on sensitive stomachs
Best Budget
9.3
Picked by 18 people today!

HiLife It’s Only Natural Chicken Dinner cat food recipe

  • All-natural ingredients
  • Affordable
  • Suitable for sensitive stomachs
Best Premium
9.3
Picked by 18 people today!

Bella & Duke Lamb & Duck cat food recipe

  • Recipes are species-appropriate and nutritious
  • High-quality, human-grade meat
  • Plenty of support for raw food newbies

For example, Scrumbles is touted for cats with sensitive tums, while HiLife may be best for those on a budget. To help remove the guesswork, read on to discover which food is right for your cat.

Why Should You Trust Us?

Having reviewed over  231 of the world’s most popular cat food brands and hundreds of recipes, we’ve spent countless hours researching both feline nutrition and the pet industry. We’ve consulted with veterinarians and animal nutrition experts, talked to industry insiders, and tried out dozens of recipes with our own cats.

All brands featured in this review have been taste-tested by my own cats and I am not being paid to promote any products. All products were bought with our own money.

Our team of veterinary experts provides additional informative support as well as their professional opinion on what makes a great cat food product. Here’s the full methodology behind our cat food ratings.

If you want to learn all about the best wet cat food available in the UK, read on. Before we jump into the reviews, let’s discuss what qualities a good wet cat food has.

The best wet cat food gives your cat gold-standard nutrition.

As a baseline, the food should be complete in nutrients and balanced according to FEDIAF (European Pet Food Industry Federation) standards. And beyond meeting those basic nutritional requirements, a great cat food is rich in animal protein with just the right amount of fat. It should be sourced from reputable suppliers and manufactured according to the highest standards.

They offer a good variety of meal options to satisfy cats with different preferences and needs.

If you’re going to rely on a cat food delivery service as your cat’s only source of food, that service should be able to provide the types of protein sources, textures, and flavours your cat likes and needs. Cats that eat the same food over an extended period of time are liable to develop sensitivities towards some of the ingredients. A good variety will also prevent your cat from growing bored of their food. Like us, cats generally don’t like to eat the same thing every day.

It fits your budget.

When it comes to cat food, you’ll find that the better quality your pet eats, the more money you will spend. That doesn’t mean these prices should be unaffordable or unreasonable – we evaluated each brand’s pricing structure and ensured that they were affordable and worth every penny!

#1 Overall Best: KatKin

Katkin Splash

Katkin is a premium quality cat food delivery service. All their ingredients are made from 100% human-grade meat, steamed to lock in nutrients. They offer customized plans to suit your cat’s needs depending on age, size, and health conditions – with benefits that include healthy digestion, boosted energy levels, and shiny coats.

What Did Our Test Cats Think?

KatKin went down beautifully with my taste-testers. One of my cats has a sensitive stomach and is prone to diarrhea; however, he didn’t have any problems consuming KatKin which made for a less smelly litter box. As for the winner in terms of recipes, Bubble & Quack! and Splash! both proved to be firm favorites. One cat did turn his nose up at the latter, but overly-fishy flavors have never really been his thing. Each pouch will provide two (or three) meals worth per average size feline and could stretch to even more if you have a smaller cat.

cat eating cat food

Charlotte Fisher / Cats.com

What Kind Of Food Does Katkin Offer?

KatKin’s meals are gently steam cooked to get rid of bad bacteria while locking in nutrition before they are frozen fresh. Their meals are 100% fresh meat and fish.

KatKin offers a variety of recipes that makes for easy flavor rotation, so there should be something that will satisfy the fussiest of eaters.

The recipes include:

  • Splash! – Premium whitefish, salmon and turkey liver
  • Cluck! – Chicken thigh, liver and heart
  • Gobble! – Turkey thigh, gizzards and liver
  • Bubble & Quack! – Whitefish, salmon, duck feet and duck liver
  • Baaa! – Lamb trim, liver and heart
  • Mooo! – Beef heart, trim and liver
  • Quack! – Duck breast, liver and chicken heart
  • Oink! – Pork trim and shoulder

Katkin’s recipes are formulated by Board-Certified veterinary nutritionist Dr. Justin Shmalberg. Each meal is made using only top-quality ingredients to ensure nutritional value exceeds standards set by FEDIAF guidelines.

To get a better understanding of what KatKin food looks like, let’s take a closer look at their popular Splash! cat food recipe.

cat food

Charlotte Fisher / Cats.com

The KatKin Splash! recipe is made from whole cuts of whitefish, salmon and turkey liver. It also contains minerals and sunflower oil. Each meal has 70.92% protein which is almost double the amount a standard pouch of store-bought cat food typically offers.

The food contains plenty of moisture to help your cat’s digestion process as well as absorb nutrients more efficiently. The meat is high-quality and packed with animal proteins. Additionally, it’s easy to digest without a lot of plant content, making it a species-appropriate choice for cats of all ages.

Ingredients

Fresh Fish & Turkey (100% Whitefish, Salmon, Turkey Liver), Minerals, Sunflower Oil.

Guaranteed Analysis

loader
Crude Protein: 17.8%
Crude Fat: 5.7%
Crude Fiber: 0.1%
Moisture: 74.9%
Ash: 1.9%

Dry Matter Basis

loader
Protein: 70.92%
Fat: 22.71%
Fiber: 0.4%

Caloric Weight Basis

loader
Protein: 56.25%
Fat: 43.75%

Where And How Is It Made?

Katkin’s recipes are gently steamed to eliminate bad bacteria and preserve nutrients. All the ingredients are locally sourced in the UK and conform to the British Welfare of Farmed Animals Regulations (WFAAR).

Who Should Try Katkin?

For those who want full control over their cat’s nutrition or have specific health goals for their kitty, KatKin would be a great choice.

They offer customizable pouch sizes, impressive recipe selections and will text to follow up on how your pet is doing after the switch.

Their customer service is attentive and accessible – if your pet isn’t taking to the food right away, simply reply back with a text or give them a call for feeding advice.

KatKin exceeds nutritionally as they use all-natural ingredients with no fillers or additives. If you are willing to pay that extra bit of money per month for something quality then definitely go ahead and sign up for their trial box.

What We Liked

  • Highly customizable meal plans
  • Made from premium-quality ingredients
  • Attentive customer service
  • Steamed to remove bad bacteria and lock in nutrients
  • Options for cats with allergies and intolerances
  • Plenty of flavors to choose from

What We Didn’t Like

  • More expensive than many premium competitors

#2 Best For Specialized Diets: Lily’s Kitchen

Lily’s Kitchen was built on the idea that pets are a part of the family and deserve to eat proper food just like us. When founder Henrietta’s dog Lily fell sick, she began making nutritious homemade recipes to nurse her back to health. She worked with vets and nutritionists to develop these recipes further, and Lily’s Kitchen was born.

Lily’s Kitchen cat food is made with fresh meat and veg, steam-cooked once to preserve as many nutrients as possible.

What Did Our Test Cats Think?

The first thing I noticed opening a pouch of their Lamb & Duck recipe was that it smelled just like real meat should – the quality is immediately clear.

One thing that I appreciated about this food is its texture, which is soft and easy to eat, even for those with bad teeth, like my older cat. As a former stray, my cat’s teeth were rotting when we took him in, and he had to have most of them removed. This sometimes gives him trouble chewing his food, but he had no problem eating Bella & Duke’s moist, minced formula.

Lily’s Kitchen smooth pate recipes proved to be a hit with both of my taste-testers, and my cats seemed noticeably more excited for their dinner. The smooth texture of the pate meant that even my older cat who has very few teeth had no problem cleaning his bowl.

My other cat, who often eats at snails-pace, wolfed down his food and even tried for seconds by pretending to my partner he hadn’t been fed! So, I can say the taste test was a success!

Best cat foods tested in England

Charlotte Fisher / Cats.com

What Kind Of Cat Food Does Lily’s Kitchen Offer?

Lily’s Kitchen has an impressive range of recipes tailored to all life stages. They also offer several dietary choices, which include sweet potato-free, pork-free, and grain-free.

Their recipes are available in a variety of textures, which include shredded fillets, cuts in gravy, and their most popular option, pate.

The recipes include:

  • Chicken
  • Fish
  • Beef
  • Turkey
  • Lamb
  • Turkey & Duck
  • Chicken & Game
  • Salmon & Chicken

Lily’s Kitchen’s recipes are made primarily from raw cuts of meat, steam-cooked once to lock in nutrients. Additionally, meals contain small amounts of minerals, fish oil, and algae.

To get a better understanding of what Lily’s Kitchen food looks like, let’s take a closer look at their popular Turkey & Duck cat food recipe.

cat food in bowl

Charlotte Fisher / Cats.com

Lily’s Kitchen proudly states that their recipes are only made from “proper” cuts of meat. The Turkey & Duck recipe contains 50% turkey and 15% duck. Both turkey and duck are high-quality sources of protein for a cat’s diet.

The remaining 35% of the recipe contains minerals, salmon oil, and algae.

Salmon oil contains high levels of omega-3s, which can promote healthy skin and shinier coats. These fatty acids contain anti-inflammatory properties, which support older felines with arthritis or mobility issues.

Although Lily’s Kitchen provides plenty of protein and healthy fats, it does have a higher ash content than I anticipated. Ash is the mineral content left over when the organic portion of the food has been burnt off. High ash content can suggest low-quality cuts of meat, for example, meat containing a lot of bone.

Ingredients

50% Turkey, 50% Duck, Minerals, Salmon Oil, Algae.

Guaranteed Analysis

loader
Crude Protein: 9.5%
Crude Fat: 5.5%
Crude Fiber: 0.3%
Moisture: 81%
Ash: 2.5%

Dry Matter Basis

loader
Protein: 50%
Fat: 28.95%
Fiber: 1.58%
Carbs: 6.32%

Caloric Weight Basis

loader
Protein: 39.49%
Fat: 55.52%
Carbs: 4.99%

Where And How Is It Made?

According to the website, Lily’s Kitchen wet cat food is made in various locations in the EU and Thailand.

How Much Does It Cost?

The price depends on which meal plan you choose. The cheapest box (4kg) comes in at £42.99 for 26 days’ worth of meals, making Lily’s Kitchen a relatively expensive option. This works out at £1.65 per day.

A Pate Selection Multipack of 8 x 85g will typically cost around £8. There is a larger 32 x 85g box available which sits at around £32. Single 85g trays are £1 each, so Lily’s Kitchen is on the expensive side.

Who Should Try Lily’s Kitchen Cat Food?

Lily’s Kitchen is a great option for cats with sensitive tummies or special dietary requirements. Their foods are widely available across the UK so are much more accessible than many other premium brands.

Their recipes are made using only natural ingredients with no cheap fillers or added sugars whatsoever, so you can feed your fur babies with a clean conscience!

What We Liked

  • Appears to contain only high-quality cuts of meat and fish
  • Recipes are nutritionally complete
  • Plenty of options for special diets
  • Widely available across the UK
  • Recipes available for all age groups

What We Didn’t Like

  • Unexpectedly high ash level
  • More expensive than other brands
  • Difficult to find information about where they source ingredients

#3 Best for Healthy Digestion: Meowing Heads

Meowing Heads was formed by three Petfood UK co-workers in 2008 after they left their jobs at an American pet food company. The brand was eventually bought by Inspired Pet Nutrition (IPN) and is currently sold in over 30 countries. The sister company Barking Heads makes dog food.

Meowing Heads offers a limited selection of dry cat foods made with 77% animal protein and four wet foods made with over 90% meat in every recipe.

What Do Customers Think Of Meowing Heads?

With over 3,400 customer reviews on TrustPilot, Meowing Heads and Barking Heads carry a 4.2 out of 5-star rating. Over 80% of customers give the brand 5 stars.

Positive reviews for Meowing Heads often mention how much cats like the food and several suggest the pricing is reasonable. There are comments that the smell of the food isn’t pleasant to human noses but seems to be perfectly appealing to cats.

While negative reviews are limited, they carry a common theme: poor customer service. Several customers report problems with not receiving their order or missing items along with long customer service wait times and poor follow-up from the brand.

testing cat food in the uk

Charlotte Fisher / Cats.com

What Kind Of Cat Food Does Meowing Heads Offer?

Meowing Heads offers nine cat food formulas, both dry and wet varieties. They use fresh meat, poultry, and fish in their foods and their recipes are free from artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives. Meowing Heads wet food is slow-cooked to preserve nutrition and their dry foods are enriched with taurine.

All of Meowing Heads’ formulas are nutritionally complete but their wet food pouches also work well as meal toppers and mixers.

The recipes include:

  • Paw Lickin’ Chicken Dry Cat Food
  • So-Fish-Ticated Salmon Dry Cat Food
  • Fat Cat Slim Light Dry Cat Food
  • Smitten Kitten Dry Cat Food
  • Senior Moments Dry Cat Food
  • Paw Lickin’ Chicken Wet Cat Food
  • Top-Cat Turkey Wet Cat Food
  • So-Fish-Ticated Salmon Wet Cat Food
  • Surf & Turf Wet Cat Food

To get a better understanding of what Meowing Heads food looks like, let’s take a closer look at their popular Top-Cat Turkey wet cat food recipe.

This recipe’s primary source of protein is fresh deboned turkey, though it contains near-equal amounts of fresh deboned beef and a lesser amount of fresh deboned chicken. The food contains 93% animal protein overall and is very low in carbohydrates.

The only downside to this recipe is that the main source of fat appears to be plant-based. Sunflower oil is a less biologically valuable source of essential fatty acids for cats but we’re happy to see it followed by omega-3-rich salmon oil.

Ingredients

Composition: 93% Turkey, Beef & Chicken includes – Fresh Deboned Turkey (28%), Fresh Deboned Beef (25%), Turkey Broth (25%), Fresh Deboned Chicken (15%), Sunflower Oil, Salmon Oil, Minerals.

Nutritional Additives (per kg): Taurine 800 mg Vitamins: Vitamin D3 240 IU, Vitamin E (DL-Alpha-Tocopheryl Acetate) 95 mg, Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) 550 mg

Trace Elements: Zinc as Zinc Chelate of Glycine Hydrate 13mg, Manganese (Manganese Sulphate Monohydrate) 0.5 mg, Copper as Cupric Sulphate Pentahydrate 2mg, Iodine as Calcium Iodate Anhydrous 0.4mg

Ingredients We Liked: Turkey, Beef, Chicken, Salmon Oil

Ingredients We Didn’t Like: Sunflower Oil

Guaranteed Analysis

loader
Crude Protein: 11%
Crude Fat: 5%
Crude Fiber: 1.5%
Moisture: 80%
Ash: 0.4%

Dry Matter Basis

loader
Protein: 55%
Fat: 25%
Fiber: 7.5%
Carbs: 10.5%

Caloric Weight Basis

loader
Protein: 43.58%
Fat: 48.1%
Carbs: 8.32%

What We Liked

  • Contains over 50% protein measured as dry matter
  • Made with protein from three high-quality animal sources
  • Rich in moisture to support your cat’s hydration
  • Free from artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives

What We Didn’t Like

  • May not be ideal for cats with food allergies

#4 Best For Fussy Eaters: Untamed

untamed cat food

Charlotte Fisher / Cats.com

Untamed was born after co-founder Ben’s cat made a dramatic recovery from illness. He just replaced her regular cat food with human-grade meat. After Ben’s peers heard about Sian’s incredible transformation, they all wanted in. With the help of co-founders Marco and Lenny, Untamed cat food was born.

Untamed offers wet cat food made up of at least 60% premium cuts of meat and fish.

What Did Our Test Cats Think?

The meat looked as meat should, and there was no pungent smell as is common with other brands. Both of my cats ate with gusto, and I was delighted to find clean bowls.

I was also impressed by the wide variety of flavors, which other premium brands sometimes lack. The Chocka Chicken with Ham in Gravy recipe proved to be a particular favorite!

Cat eating

Charlotte Fisher / Cats.com

What Kind Of Cat Food Does Untamed Offer?

Untamed offers wet cat food in ten different recipes. They use human-grade cuts of meat and fish in jelly or gravy for moisture. All recipes are free from derivatives, vegetable proteins, grains, and sugars. According to their website, all recipes are fussy cat-approved and gentle on sensitive stomachs.

All the formulas in gravy are nutritionally complete, while their jelly recipes are to be fed alongside your cat’s usual wet or dry food.

The recipes include:

  • Chocka Chicken in Gravy
  • Chocka Chicken with Ham in Gravy
  • Full-On Fishy in Gravy
  • Tuck-In Tuna in Gravy
  • Tuck-In Tuna with Shrimp in Gravy
  • Chocka Chicken in Jelly
  • Chocka Chicken with Duck in Jelly
  • Tuck-In Tuna in Jelly
  • Tuck-In Tuna with Salmon in Jelly
  • Tuck-In Tuna with Shrimp in Jelly

To get a better understanding of what Untamed food looks like, let’s take a closer look at their popular Chocka Chicken with Ham cat food recipe.

cat food

Charlotte Fisher / Cats.com

This recipe’s primary source of protein comes from 58% chicken breast, alongside 33% chicken broth which ensures plenty of moisture. The formula only contains 5% ham, which is actually a good thing as this keeps the sodium levels down.

Unfortunately, the only added fat in this recipe comes from sunflower oil, which is plant-based. A source of animal fat would have been preferred here. Tapioca acts as a binder as opposed to grains. Tapioca is low in nutritional value but makes the formula safe for cats with grain allergies.

Ingredients

Chicken breast 58%, Chicken broth 33%, Ham 5%, Sunflower oil, Tapioca 1%, Vitamins & Minerals.

Guaranteed Analysis

loader
Crude Protein: 16.5%
Crude Fat: 2.5%
Crude Fiber: 0.5%
Moisture: 78%
Ash: 2%

Dry Matter Basis

loader
Protein: 75%
Fat: 11.36%
Fiber: 2.27%
Carbs: 2.27%

Caloric Weight Basis

loader
Protein: 71.52%
Fat: 26.32%
Carbs: 2.17%

Where And How Is It Made?

Untamed sources their ingredients across Europe and South East Asia and their recipes are canned in Thailand. They source their meat and fish from a premier human-grade supplier. All fish is certified dolphin-safe and sustainably sourced.

How Much Does It Cost?

Pricing will vary based on how much food your cat needs. For one cat, the typical plan will consist of 56 tins delivered every four weeks, which will cost £55.90 per month.

There is also a trial option for those who don’t want to commit to a large order which costs £8 for 12 tins.

Who Should Try Untamed Cat Food?

Untamed cat food is a great choice for cats with sensitive stomachs or allergies. Many cats don’t take to premium brands straight away, but I think Untamed would be a relatively safe choice for fussy-eaters.

Overall, Untamed is packed with protein and moisture, and free from artificial additives and fillers.

What We Liked

  • Made from human-grade meat and fish
  • Moisture-rich
  • Easy on sensitive stomachs
  • No artificial additives or fillers

What We Didn’t Like

  • Additional fat is plant-based

#5 Best For Sensitive Stomachs: Scrumbles

scrumbles cat food

Charlotte Fisher / Cats.com

Scrumbles is a brand perhaps best known for their dry food but now offers nutritionally complete wet food alongside their kibble. Scrumble’s mission is to offer healthier, more ethical choices when we feed our pets.

They use high-quality meat, gently steam-cooked to preserve nutrients, alongside slippery elm for digestive health. 1% of all sales are donated to environmental and social charities.

Scrumbles is available in pet stores across the UK and they also offer a subscription service.

What Did Our Test Cats Think?

I started my cats with the turkey variety. On opening the little plastic pot, I was met with a strong (but not unpleasant) smell of fresh meat. Both cats had no problem polishing off their plates, and the portion size was just right.

Diarrhea can sometimes be an issue with one of my felines when trying new fresh meat products. I was delighted to only find healthy-looking stools in the litterbox, so the recipes appear easy to digest.

cat eating cat food

Charlotte Fisher / Cats.com

What Kind Of Cat Food Does Scrumbles Offer?

Scrumbles offer gut-friendly, hypoallergenic cat and dog food, in both wet and dry forms. Their recipes are all-natural and created to help cats and dogs live their best lives while respecting the environment.

Scrumbles wet cat food comes in a pate-like texture with gravy and is available in four flavors.

The recipes include:

  • Chicken
  • Tuna
  • Salmon
  • Turkey

To get a better understanding of what Scrumbles food looks like, let’s take a closer look at their popular Turkey cat food recipe.

cat food

Charlotte Fisher / Cats.com

The recipe’s primary source of protein comes from turkey, chicken, and chicken liver. These are all high-quality sources of animal protein, and make up 70% of the formula.

The most interesting ingredient listed is slippery elm. Touted as a superfood for pets, slippery elm is a natural prebiotic derived from tree bark. A few benefits include healthy digestion, immune support, enhanced nutrient absorption, and weight management.

The recipe also contains a small amount of salmon oil – great for shiny coats, and sunflower oil.

Ingredients

26% Turkey, 24% Chicken, 20% Chicken Liver, Minerals, Salmon Oil 0.1%, Sunflower Oil 0.1%, Slippery Elm 0.05%,

Guaranteed Analysis

loader
Crude Protein: 10%
Crude Fat: 9%
Crude Fiber: 0.5%
Moisture: 72%
Ash: 1.5%

Dry Matter Basis

loader
Protein: 35.71%
Fat: 32.14%
Fiber: 1.79%
Carbs: 25%

Caloric Weight Basis

loader
Protein: 25.74%
Fat: 56.25%
Carbs: 18.01%

Where And How Is It Made?

All Scrumbles pet food is made in the UK and Ireland. They use as many locally sourced ingredients as they can, including Welsh turkey.

How Much Does It Cost?

The smallest box available is a multipack of 6x85g pouches which costs £5.50.This comes to around 92p per meal. Otherwise, individual flavors can be bought in packs of 8, 24, and 72 pouches. It costs £7.50 for 8, while the most expensive option will run you £66.

Who Should Try Scrumbles Cat Food?

Scrumbles cat food would be a fantastic option for cats with sensitive tums or allergies. Fresh meat recipes can often be a difficult transition for fussier cats, but Scrumbles would be a great way to introduce fresh meat into your cat’s diet with considerably less risk of a stinky litter box. Their ingredients are locally sourced, and 1% of all sales are donated to environmental and social causes so you can feed your kitty with a clean conscience!

What We Liked

  • Steam-cooked fresh meat for locked-in nutrients
  • Slippery elm aids digestive health
  • Easy on sensitive stomachs
  • No artificial additives or fillers
  • Ethically sourced ingredients

What We Didn’t Like

  • Lower protein content than expected
  • Higher ash content than expected

#6 Best Budget: HiLife: It’s Only Natural

HiLife is a pet food brand owned by Town & Country Petfoods, a family-owned business based in Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire. John Parkinson launched the HiLife range over 30 years ago with the aim to make high-quality, all-natural pet food accessible to everyone. Their complete ‘It’s Only Natural’ range is made from 50% real meat, and 100% natural ingredients.

HiLife is available to buy via the HiLife website, on Amazon, or in selected pet stores.

Why Should You Trust Us?

Neither cat had any issues wolfing this down – but one may have got a bit over-excited and wolfed his down too fast, causing him to be sick! Vomiting aside, I was grateful to encounter no further nasty surprises in the litter box later.

The meat was flaky and fell apart on its own, meaning I could forgo mushing it up with a fork first. As far as cat food goes, the chicken variety actually smelled quite nice – like cooked chicken should!

cat food

Charlotte Fisher / Cats.com

What Kind Of Cat Food Does Hilife Offer?

HiLife offers two primary ranges. HiLife ‘Perfection’ is a complementary pet food made using human-grade ingredients. Their popular ‘It’s Only Natural’ range is a complete pet food made from 100% natural ingredients, 50% of which is real meat. This round-up will focus on their ‘It’s Only Natural’ range.

All of their recipes are grain-free but contain starch. Their all-natural formulas are made up of meat, vegetables, yeast extract, and sunflower oil.

The recipes include:

  • Chicken Dinner
  • Chicken with Beef
  • Tuna Flakes
  • Ocean Fish
  • Sardine with Tuna Flakes

To get a better understanding of what HiLife food looks like, let’s take a closer look at their popular Chicken Dinner cat food recipe.

cat food in bowl

Charlotte Fisher / Cats.com

Chicken makes up 50% of the recipe, which is a good source of animal-based protein. The formula does, however, have a high ash content, which could suggest low-quality cuts of meat. Cassava extract is a high-quality carbohydrate that can be easily digested and releases energy slowly throughout the day.

Sunflower oil is the recipe’s primary source of fatty acids. I would have preferred to see a higher-quality oil such as fish oil, as sunflower oil doesn’t have enough nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids due to being plant-based.

The inclusion of chicory promotes healthy gut flora, while yeast extract provides a natural source of B vitamins. The recipe also contains yucca extract, which can help eliminate stinky stools.

Ingredients

Chicken (50%), yeast extract, cassava extract, minerals, sunflower oil, chicory extract (50 mg/kg), yucca extract (50 mg/kg)

Guaranteed Analysis

loader
Crude Protein: 9.5%
Crude Fat: 4.5%
Crude Fiber: 0.1%
Moisture: 84%
Ash: 1.2%

Dry Matter Basis

loader
Protein: 59.38%
Fat: 28.13%
Fiber: 0.63%
Carbs: 4.38%

Caloric Weight Basis

loader
Protein: 44.96%
Fat: 51.72%
Carbs: 3.31%

Where And How Is It Made?

Although HiLife doesn’t specify where all of their products are made, the website states they manufacture an increasing number of products in the UK. The company only uses ingredients and factories that meet strict food safety and quality standards.

HiLife uses Dolphin Safe tuna purchased through the Earth Island Institute.

How Much Does It Cost?

A single 70g pouch of HiLife It’s Only Natural costs 75p from their website. A multipack of 8 pouches costs £4.79, while a 32 pouch pack costs £17. You also have the option to subscribe and save 5% via the HiLife website.

Who Should Try Hilife Cat Food?

HiLife is a mid-quality cat food ideal for those who want to feed their cat an all-natural diet for a cheaper price than premium brands. Their recipes are grain-free, however, aren’t suitable for hypoallergenic cats.

HiLife is available in pet stores, via the website, and through Amazon, which makes the brand very accessible. While the pouch size could be a little bigger for the money, it’s still one of the best budget natural cat foods in the UK.

What We Liked

  • All-natural ingredients
  • Affordable
  • Suitable for sensitive stomachs
  • Accessible
  • Grain-free

What We Didn’t Like

  • Only oil source is plant-based
  • High ash content indicates lower quality meat
  • Not allergen-friendly for all cats

#7 Best Premium: Bella & Duke

cat food lamb and duck recipe

Charlotte Fisher / Cats.com

Bella and Duke began as a raw food delivery service for dogs, but they noticed some customers were feeding their cats from the dog food range. So, to meet this demand and increase the nutritional value of their meals for cats, Bella & Duke started making cat-specific recipes with ingredients that are human-grade and void of fillers or preservatives.

What Did Our Test Cats Think?

Bella & Duke’s minced lamb and duck cat food smelled like real meat, which is the first thing I noticed when I opened a pouch of it. One thing that was great about this food is its texture-it’s soft and easy to eat. As my older cat had his teeth removed due to sores, he often has trouble chewing regular foods but there was no problem with Bella & Duke’s flaky formula.

Unfortunately, my fussier cat wouldn’t touch the food on its own. However, I had some success when I mixed it with her regular food. With perseverance and time, I think he might eventually be able to eat it on its own just fine.

It’s worth mentioning that the portion sizes are generous – about two servings per pouch, or three if your cat has a small appetite.

cat eating bella and duke food

Charlotte Fisher / Cats.com

What Kind Of Food Does Bella & Duke Offer?

Bella & Duke offers three varieties of cat food. For those looking for a large variety, you may be disappointed with their selection. They only offer three flavors for adult cats and the same flavors available in kittens too- which is fewer than most competitors provide.

The recipes include:

  • Raw Lamb & Duck
  • Raw Turkey & Chicken
  • Raw Chicken & Salmon

Bella & Duke offers fresh meat blended with natural oils and broth that are frozen to keep ingredients fresh. They use only natural ingredients and don’t add any extra vitamins or minerals, so you know exactly what your pet is eating. Bella & Duke’s meals have been developed by nutritionists (and checked by vets) to ensure they meet the high standards.

To get a better understanding of what Bella & Duke’s raw food looks like, let’s take a closer look at their popular Lamb & Duck cat food recipe.

cat food

Charlotte Fisher / Cats.com

This recipe’s main protein source comes from lamb hearts, organs, and duck meat. Herring oil provides omega-3s while virgin olive oil is a good source of monounsaturated fats, antioxidants, and omega-6.

While it doesn’t provide as much protein (at 13%), the dish does have quality animal fat content that will surely satisfy your kitty’s carnivorous cravings! It also has an adequate amount of moisture to aid bodily hydration and overall body function.

Bella & Duke are transparent about exactly what goes into their food recipes by telling you how much each type of product they use; in this case, 94% is based around animal products that provide excellent nutrition.

Ingredients

Lamb hearts (35%), duck with bone (30%), lamb tripe (20%), lamb offal (9%), lamb broth, herring oil, virgin olive oil.

Guaranteed Analysis

loader
Crude Protein: 13%
Crude Fat: 12%
Moisture: 73%
Ash: 2%

Dry Matter Basis

loader
Protein: 48.15%
Fat: 44.44%

Caloric Weight Basis

loader
Protein: 30.85%
Fat: 69.15%

Where And How Is It Made?

Bella & Duke cat food is made in their company-owned kitchen in the UK, where all their ingredients are also sourced.

How Much Does It Cost?

The price of Bella and Duke varies depending on which meal plan you choose. The cheapest box (4kg) comes in at £42.99 for 26 days’ worth of meals, making it a relatively expensive option. This works out at £1.65 per day.

Who Should Try Bella & Duke Cat Food?

Bella & Duke is a great choice for those who are looking for quality meat to feed their cat. Bella & Duke’s website provides detailed information about the products they offer and their customer service is excellent if you have any questions or concerns.

Raw food enthusiasts will love that all of Bella and Duke’s recipes are made using raw ingredients, which means your cat is going to be getting real nutrition from animal-based sources rather than plant matter often used as substitutes in other brands.

Bella and Dukes’ limited meal plans provide variety without being overwhelming. I like how you can customize box size and plan according to what suits your cat best because different lifestyles call for different needs (and budgets).

What We Liked

  • Recipes are species-appropriate and nutritious
  • High-quality, human-grade meat
  • Plenty of support for raw food newbies
  • Range for kittens

What We Didn’t Like

  • No customizable portions
  • Not a huge variety of flavors
Note: The values in our nutrient charts are automatically calculated based on the guaranteed analysis and may not represent typical nutrient values. This may lead to discrepancies between the charts and the values mentioned in the body of the review.
Help us do better! Was this article helpful and relevant?
Yes
No
What can you say about this article?
I am completely satisfied, I found useful information and tips in this article
Article was somewhat helpful, but could be improved
Want to share more?
Thank You for the feedback! We work to make the world a better place for cats, and we're getting better for you.

About Charlotte Fisher

Based out on London, England, Charlotte is a freelance writer who specializes in writing about health pets. An adamant cat lover, she spent her childhood surrounded by all kind of pets and can often be found taking care of her neighbors' cats and dogs.

Sign Up
Sign Up