Finding the right food for your cat goes beyond flavor; it’s also about ensuring complete and balanced nutrition to help your cat stay at their healthiest and happiest. With numerous cat food brands available, selecting the best one can be challenging
In this Sploot Vets guide, we discuss some of the best brands that offer AAFCO cat food, along with details on their WSAVA compliance. We’ll also discuss why some pet parents and veterinarians consider AAFCO and WSAVA compliance when choosing the best cat food brand.
Overview:
- The following guide goes over some of the best cat food brands as a starting point for nutritional discussions with your vet. Many of the following brands are either AAFCO-compliant, WSAVA-compliant, or both.
- Our vets at Sploot generally recommend AAFCO-compliant cat food; this helps ensure that your cat receives complete and balanced nutrition, appropriate for their age.
- In recent times, many pet parents have been looking for ‘WSAVA-approved’ cat food. While WSAVA does not really provide an ‘approval’ system, their guidelines are helpful in assessing a cat food’s quality.
Which Cat Food Brand is Best?
With numerous cat food brands available, the best choice depends on a brand's credibility, your cat’s unique needs, and other key factors. Here is a list of things to consider:
- Your Vet’s Recommendation – A trusted vet understands your cat’s individual nutritional needs, based on their age, breed, lifestyle, medical history, and more. This helps them recommend the best cat food brand and formulation to support your cat’s health.
- A Fitting Formulation – Aside from choosing the best cat food brand, you also need the right formula based on your cat’s needs. There are special formulas for indoor cats, hairball control, weight control, hydration, kitten food, senior cat food, specific breeds of cats, cat food allergies, and other medical needs.
- Palatability – A cat food’s palatability helps keep your cat happy and nourished. If your cat exhibits picky eating behaviors with their cat food, they may experience malnutrition and unhealthy weight loss.
- Meets AAFCO Standards and/or WSAVA Guidelines – These provide assurance of balanced nutrition and sound formulation/manufacturing practices, respectively.
I. AAFCO Cat Food
AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) is an independent, non-profit organization that sets standards for both animal feed and pet foods in the United States. (AAFCO.org).
What Does ‘AAFCO-Approved’ Cat Food Mean?
The phrase AAFCO-approved cat food is not technically correct. AAFCO does NOT directly approve cat food formulations. Instead, here’s how AAFCO’s standards help:
- AAFCO provides standards for cat food so that it provides complete and balanced nutrition.
- Cat food companies can refer to these standards so that their formulations comply.
- State regulators help ensure truthful compliance. Falsely claiming AAFCO-compliance can lead to legal issues.
Note: Over time, some have used the phrase ‘AAFCO-approved cat food’ or ‘AAFCO cat food’ to refer to cat food that complies with AAFCO’s nutritional standards.
How Do I Know If My Cat Food Is AAFCO Compliant?
AAFCO cat food does not contain a special seal or logo to indicate it. Instead, they have an AAFCO statement on the packaging, which can be worded as:
- “[Cat Food] is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Cat Food Nutrient Profiles for [lifestage/s]”
- “Animal feeding tests using AAFCO procedures substantiate that [Cat Food] provides complete and balanced nutrition for [purpose & lifestage]”
Note: If you’re unsure about a cat food’s AAFCO compliance, we recommend double-checking with a veterinarian and/or consulting credible sources.
II. WSAVA Approved Cat Food
WSAVA (World Small Animal Veterinary Association) is a global organization with a mission to ‘advance the health and welfare of companion animals and to advocate on behalf of [...] veterinarians…’ (WSAVA.org). WSAVA provides guidelines for various aspects of animal health and welfare—including nutrition guidelines.
What Does WSAVA-Approved Cat Food Mean?
Technically, there is no such thing as “WSAVA-approved cat food’ because WSAVA does NOT directly approve or reject cat food. Instead, WSAVA helps veterinarians and pet parents choose a trustworthy pet food brand through a series of guide questions. These include:
- Does the cat food company comply with AAFCO?
- Does the cat food company employ a Veterinary Nutritionist?
- Does the cat food company have adequate quality control?
How Do I Know If My Cat Food Is WSAVA Compliant?
Cat food brands can indicate the WSAVA guidelines they are aligned with on their website. In some cases, they may not mention WSAVA directly; instead, they may highlight the practices that align with WSAVA’s guidelines.
For example, they can state that they are AAFCO compliant, employ veterinary nutritionists, and/or have strict quality control, which all align with WSAVA’s guidelines.
III. 4 Best Cat Food Brands [With AAFCO & WSAVA Details]
If you’re looking for the best cat food brand, here is a list of well-known brands that you can discuss with your veterinarian:
1. Royal Canin
- Is Royal Canin ‘AAFCO-Approved’ Cat Food?: Yes, for a majority of products*
- Is Royal Canin WSAVA-Compliant Cat Food?: Follows WSAVA guidelines*
- Available on SplootRX
For over 50 years, Royal Canin has been one of the most trusted cat food brands in the market. They are known for their highly tailored pet food recipes, which are formulated to address specific needs related to age, breed, hairball control, and certain medical conditions.
Note: As of this article’s last update, Royal Canin is the only well-known brand offering breed-specific cat food.
Royal Canin is also known for their science-driven approach, giving veterinarians and pet parents confidence in a wide range of options for precise feline nutrition.
*Information according to the cat food brand’s website, as of this article’s last update
2. Hill's Pet Nutrition
- Is Hill’s ‘AAFCO-Approved’ Cat Food?: Meet or exceed AAFCO nutrient profile*
- Is Hill’s WSAVA-Compliant Cat Food?: Meet or exceed WSAVA manufacturing guidelines*
- Available on SplootRX
Hill’s Pet Nutrition has been a trusted cat food brand for over 80 years. They are known for their commitment to science-led ingredient selection, carefully choosing ingredients that taste great and deliver nutritional benefits for a variety of needs. With their two product lines, Hill’s Science Diet and Hill’s Prescription Diet, they offer nutritional support for both everyday feline health and medical conditions (e.g., kidney disease, allergies, and obesity in cats).
Many veterinarians trust Hill’s Pet Nutrition thanks to their science-backed formulas and leadership in pet nutrition and predictive biology.
*Information according to the cat food brand’s website, as of this article’s last update
3. Purina
- Is Purina ‘AAFCO-Approved’ Cat Food?: Most products are complete and balanced for the lifestage indicated*
- Is Purina WSAVA-Compliant Cat Food?: Not explicitly stated on their website, but many of their practices are consistent with WSAVA’s recommendations
- Purina Pro Plan - Available on SplootRX
Purina is one of the most recognized pet food brands worldwide, known for their extensive research (via Purina Institute) and a wide range of product lines, with both premium and accessible cat food options.
A few examples of Purina’s product lines include:
- Purina Pro Plan – Purina’s premium line of protein-rich cat food, tailored to provide advanced nutrition for allergen management, cognitive health support, immune support, joint health, kidney function, urinary health, hairball control, and much more.
- Purina ONE – Purina’s product line offering complete nutrition tailored to various feline health needs. Purina ONE offers natural ingredients and a focus on wellness.
- Fancy Feast – This line of Purina pet food primarily focuses on gourmet cat food, offering a variety of flavors and textures.
*Information according to the cat food brand’s website, as of this article’s last update
4. IAMS
- Is IAMS ‘AAFCO-Approved’ Cat Food?: Not explicitly stated on their website, but packaging may carry an AAFCO statement
- Is IAMS WSAVA-Compliant Cat Food?: Not explicitly stated on their website, but, as part of Mars Petcare, some of their practices are consistent with WSAVA’s recommendations
Founded in 1946 by Paul Iams, IAMS is a cat food brand that’s been around for over 75 years. They were one of the first to make use of high-quality protein in pet food, a practice that has since become an industry standard. Currently, IAMs is a well-known cat food brand that offers a variety of options for hairball control, bone/joint support, weight management, dental care, and more.
Final Thoughts on the Best AAFCO Cat Food Brands
Choosing the best cat food brand can be overwhelming, especially with brands that offer multiple product lines and various formulations. Additionally, your cat’s needs may overlap, which can make cat food selection more nuanced.
To choose the best cat food more easily and accurately, we recommend consulting a vet! Knowing some of the most trusted cat food brands (i.e., Royal Canin, Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Purina, and IAMS) is the first step. However, at the end of the day, the best choice depends on your cat’s age, breed, health status, and preferences—and a trusted veterinarian can help you consider all these factors while navigating options.
For more information on choosing the best cat food, you can check out our related guides:
- 6 Best Kitten Food for All Breeds: Wet & Dry Food [Vet-Approved]→
- 4 Best Senior Cat Foods: Why It Matters & How to Choose→
- 3 Weight Loss Cat Food [& Weight Care Tips]→
- 7 Cat Hairball Remedies: Which Ones Actually Work? [Vet-Approved]→
Sploot Vets: All-in-One Vet Care, Including Your Cat’s Nutrition
At Sploot Vets, we’re dedicated to supporting your cat’s overall health with all-in-one vet care. From nutritional guidance to every aspect of veterinary support your cat may need (preventive care, urgent care, and emergency services), you can count on us!
We provide top-tier veterinary care with a Fear Free approach that your cat will love! Visit one of our modern clinics in Denver, Chicago, and Colorado Springs; our doors are open 365 days a year with extended clinic hours to fit your schedule.
Whether you need help selecting the best cat food or addressing other feline health concerns, our team is here to help.
Easily book an appointment online or through the Sploot Vets app!
