As cat lovers, we all want what’s best for our kitties, and that involves feeding healthy cat food that provides all the necessary ingredients cats need to thrive. When it comes to wet cat food in the UK, you’ll see that you have plenty of options to pick from. But how do you go about picking the right one?
In this guide, we’ll list our top ten reviews of the best wet cat food out there to help you make a decision. Many factors come into play, such as nutritional values, whether the wet food is healthy, and the price. Below, we’ll cover these factors more in-depth.
Purina ONE Adult Cat Food Chicken and Beef comes in wet food pouches that contain all the necessary vitamins and minerals your cat requires to lead a healthy life. It does have a slightly higher protein content of 12% compared to other wet cat foods, and the high-quality chicken and beef used in the recipe provide excellent nutrition. Cats seem to love the gravy in this food, too.
It’s fortified with antioxidants, such as vitamin E, to promote your cat’s natural defense for strong vitality. It also supports a strong urinary system for the prevention of urinary stones. It contains no artificial flavors or preservatives, and it comes in a 40-pack at a reasonable price, making it our pick for the overall best wet cat food.
Some consumers have reported that they did not receive the 40-pack upon arrival, and their customer service needs some work.
Whiskas Wet Cat Food Pouches in jelly is another 40-pack that is a great value. This wet cat food is complete and balanced and contains selected natural ingredients to provide all the necessary vitamins and minerals your cat needs. It has zinc and sunflower oil for healthy skin and coats, and it has no artificial preservatives or colors.
The pouches are easy to open, making feeding time easy and dubbing it the best wet cat food in the UK for the money.
The food may have a pungent smell after opening it, and some consumers claim the pouches have more jelly than food. It also has a low protein content of 8.5%.
Pros
Comes in a 40-pack
Promotes healthy skin and coat
No artificial flavors or preservatives
Cons
Pouches may have more jelly than food
Low protein content
Strong smell
3. Encore 100% Natural Wet Cat Food – Premium Choice
Encore 100% Natural Wet Cat Food contains 100% natural ingredients, with 55% of the ingredients being fish. This is a high-protein cat food with plenty of omega-3s for healthy skin and coats, and the chunks are mixed in with jelly. This food comes in a 20-pack and is a bit pricey. However, the high-quality ingredients are worth the cost. A substantial number of consumers report that their fussy eaters love this food, which makes it worth a try if you have a picky eater.
This food may cause diarrhea in some cats, and the food has a strong smell upon opening.
Natures Menu Cat Food is a complete premium meal for growing kittens that is vet approved. It contains 70% chicken and is gently cooked to retain all the nutrients in a pate-style mixture. It beats the competition by excluding meat meals or derivatives, and it has a suitable protein content for kittens to promote a healthy start to life. It also has no sugars or fillers with only human-grade ingredients. Each pouch contains 108 calories, and it has an 8% crude fat content.
This food is on the expensive side, and it’s only suitable for kittens.
Felix Original Fish Selection in Jelly Cat Food has plenty of different fish in the ingredients, such as pollock, sardine, salmon, trout, shrimp, tuna, and cod. If your kitty loves fish, this food will be a home run. This chunky food is mixed in with jelly, and it meets 100% of your cat’s daily nutritional needs. It has high levels of vitamin D and E with plenty of antioxidants to build up your cat’s natural defense. This food is also free from artificial colors and preservatives.
Some of the packets may arrive damaged and leaking, which has an unpleasant smell. The pouches do not seem very sturdy, so be aware when you go to open them. Another downfall is that the chunks may be a bit large for some cats to consume comfortably.
Fish, beef, chicken, turkey, tuna, salmon, and cod
Lifestage:
Adult
Moisture:
83%
Protein Content:
8%
SHEBA Cat Wet Food offers both jelly and gravy mixes with many different flavors available. Scientists and veterinarians worked together to develop this food, and it is 100% complete and balanced. All the fish used in the recipes comes from an MSC-certified sustainable fishery with 8% protein content. It has a high moisture content of 83%, which will help keep your cat well hydrated. It has 40% meat content, but some of the meat is from derivatives.
This food is a little pricey, which seems to be the biggest complaint, and many consumers report that their cats love the food and gobble it up at every feeding.
Pros
Fish is derived from an MSC-certified sustainable fishery
Applaws Natural Wet Cat Food is a chunky cat food in broth with a high protein content of 14%. They also offer cat food in jelly if your cat prefers that to broth, and they also offer plenty of different flavors, such as chicken and fish, chicken and tuna with crab, tuna filet, ocean fish, and mackerel. This is all-natural cat food with no hidden ingredients, and the fish offers plenty of omega-3 fatty acids.
If you order the chicken and fish recipe, it will contain mostly fish. This food is also a complementary food, which means you’ll need to mix it in with kibble or dry food—you cannot feed this exclusively.
If you’re looking for a grain-free option, HILIFE Luxury Seafood Platter could be a terrific option. This high-protein wet cat food contains 60% real fish with 100% natural ingredients. It has no GMOs or soy, and the meaty chunks are in jelly. This grain-free recipe is handmade, and it comes in a box of 20 pouches. Sauce recipes opposed to jelly recipes are also available.
A downside to this food is that it is another complimentary food, meaning you’ll have to mix it with kibble or dry food. Also, the manufacturer states this food should only be given three to four times a week, but it’s in small print, and some consumers may not read the statement on the packaging. The contents in the pouches are also hard to dig out.
Chicken, chicken and ham, chicken and mussels, and tuna and salmon
Lifestage:
Adults 1 year and up
Moisture:
82%
Protein Content:
11.5%
Lily’s Kitchen Shredded Fillets comes in a multipack of two recipes each for a total of 8 pouches. This complete food is in broth, and the main ingredient is real chicken for the chicken recipes and real tuna for the tuna and salmon recipe. It has no artificial ingredients with plenty of vitamins that your cat needs daily, such as taurine for eye health, digestion, heart health, and vitamin E. It’s free of meat meals and has no added sugar, and the recipes are grain-free.
This food is expensive, but many consumers claim that their cats love it. Even picky eaters love these tasty recipes.
Pros
Real meat is main ingredient
No meat meals
Cons
Expensive
Only 4-packs available
10. Harringtons Complete Wet Cat Food Chicken in Gravy
Harringtons Complete Wet Cat Food Chicken in Gravy is a complete food in a pate form. This food targets healthy coats and skin with rich protein and omega-3s. There are no artificial flavors or preservatives, and it has natural ingredients. It contains herbs, such as oregano, sage, and parsley, and it also contains rosehip to boost vitamin C. The first and main ingredients are chicken, pork, and beef liver, and there are plenty of vitamins and minerals to round out this healthy cat dish.
This food only comes in one flavor, and some consumers state it has a strange smell, but most kitties seem to really like this recipe.
Pros
Natural ingredients
No artificial flavors or preservatives
Cons
Only comes in one flavor
Strange smell
Buyer’s Guide: How to Pick the Best Wet Cat Foods in the UK
Now that we’ve reviewed our top ten picks for the best wet cat food, let’s take a look at what to look for in wet cat food to help you even further.
Why Buy Wet Cat Food?
One reason one may buy wet cat food is for moisture content. Cats usually are not big water drinkers, and feeding wet food provides a good source of hydration for your kitty. Canned cat food is a little more expensive than dry kibble, but it’s more palatable for your cat. Canned food also only lasts roughly 24 hours in the refrigerator after opening it. If you’re questioning whether or not to feed wet cat food, you can always consult with your vet for recommendations.
Some canned wet food is meant to be used only as a topper to dry cat food or kibble, and some are only intended for treats. When searching for wet cat food, ensure you read the labels, as the manufacturer will state whether or not it’s complete or only complementary.
Lifestage
If you have a kitten, ensure the cat food is intended for kittens and not just adults. Kittens have much more energy than adult cats, and they need a higher amount of protein, amino acids, and minerals. If you have a senior, be sure the food is appropriate for their needs.
Cats are considered seniors between the ages of 11–14 and are geriatric at age 15. When cats reach this age range, their nutritional requirements change, and senior cats need more energy in their golden years. However, before switching your cat to senior food, we recommend consulting your vet first because your individual cat may have specific requirements depending on its overall health.
Look For the Main Ingredients
Cats are obligate carnivores¹, and their main source of protein should come from meat-based sources. The first ingredient should always be protein, which means whatever protein is in the food is the most prevalent ingredient. Also, try to avoid foods with a ton of ingredients, fillers, or artificial flavors and preservatives.
Final Verdict
We hope you’ve enjoyed our top 10 reviews of the best wet cat food in the UK and that it helps you in making a final decision. To refresh your memory, we recommend Purina ONE Adult Cat Food Chicken and Beef for its high-quality chicken, vitamin and mineral content, and reasonable price for the best overall cat food. For the best value, we recommend Whiskas Wet Cat Food Pouches for its natural ingredients, zinc and sunflower oil for healthy coats and skin, and reasonable price.
Rachel Giordano is a Pensacola, Florida-based musician and writer. She lives with her partner and their two dogs, Sophie, a Boston Terrier, and Aero, a Border Collie/Sheltie mix. Rachel holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in communication and loves writing about all types of cat breeds. When she’s not writing about cats, she loves to write suspense/thriller novels. A musician by night and writer by day, she enjoys sharing her knowledge of the needs and requirements of our furry friends.
