Let’s Talk Food (Pt1)
For a cat, mealtimes are like a daily festival, a celebration of culinary glory that ignites their inner hunter and transforms their mundane existence into a grand feast of flavourful delights. Each bowl is a treasure trove, offering not just sustenance but an opportunity to engage in their favourite ritual – the noisy gobble of an impatient stomach, as they engulf their food. It’s also a daily reminder, to both humans and cats, that food is indeed the most significant event of their day! Which is why it should come as no surprise when I tell you it is vital to understand their diets and food-based needs to maximise health and happiness.
Wet Foods:
Wet food is like a spa day for your feline friend’s digestive system, providing essential hydration and a deliciously palatable experience that dry kibble simply can’t match. Packed with protein and fewer carbohydrates, wet food mirrors the natural diet of a cat, ensuring they get the vital nutrients and water they need without the fillers that often accompany. In addition, the moisture content in wet food also promotes healthy kidney function and helps prevent urinary tract issues, which is an absolute win in any cat parent's book! As cat’s get most of their moisture and nutrients from food, it is thus important that wet food makes up the majority of their diet (80-95%). Plus, let’s face it – your kitty will practically do backflips with delight when that tin or sachet is popped open, making mealtime the highlight of their day.
In my number one place is Marro with Katkin only off by a few points due to packaging and price; with Marro coming in at roughly £50 a month and Katkin around £66 a month. Though there are obviously some differences, they are both offer subscription-based fresh cat food designed for optimal feline health. In addition, they are both customisable box depending on the cat’s preference, size, active levels and age. Both are brands are initially stored in the freezer which is why they have a good shelf life for fresh food, however, once out the freezer Marro lasts two days longer in the fridge than Katkin, though it does has smaller portions. Personally what I like to do is give a variety to Narla, in the morning she will have Marro and cooked chicken whereas in the evening she will have Katkin with a sprinkle of crunchy, allowing a variety of flavours and textures so she doesn’t become fussy to one brand and style. Furthermore, Narla hasn’t got a preference on a brand to be told, though there are days where she decides she going to love one more but that is just Narla being Narla; in terms of quality and how much gets eaten there isn’t much in it between the two. However, I would advise if you are moving a cat onto either one of these brands to avoid the pork and fish flavour ones as these were what Narla stuck her nose up to the most.
For more budget friendly, Hilife and Untamed are rated very highly. Untamed offers a flexible subscription-based pricing model, starting with a 12-tin trial pack for £8 to let cats sample different recipes. After the trial, a standard subscription provides 28 tins every 28 days for £23.80, with options to adjust the quantity based on your cat’s needs. The subscription is fully customisable, allowing you to edit, pause, or cancel anytime before dispatch, making it a convenient and cost-effective way to provide high-quality, protein-rich meals for your feline. On other hand, HiLife offers a variety of wet cat food products, with pricing varying based on the specific product and retailer. For instance, a pack of eight 70g pouches is priced at £4.79 on the HiLife website, while a 32-pouch box costs around £17.00. And thought you can buy on line (and in some supermarkets) it is not a subscription based one like Marro, Katkin or Untamed.
In my last place is Whiskas and Felix, they are widely available, budget-friendly wet cat food brands, but they come with significant nutritional drawbacks. Both contain high levels of carbohydrates, meat derivatives, and fillers, which provide minimal nutritional benefits for cats, who are obligate carnivores. While Whiskas is known for its affordability and variety, it often includes grains and artificial additives, which may contribute to digestive issues or weight gain. Similarly, Felix has been criticized for low meat content and high sugar levels, with some owners reporting adverse effects after prolonged use. Despite their long shelf life and convenience, neither brand is ideal for long-term feline health, making them better suited as occasional emergency meals rather than a primary diet.
Some others to consider are Blink!, Lily’s Kitchen, Encore, Scrumbles, Applaws, Seriously Good, and Bella & Duke, which all offer wet cat food with varying focuses on quality, ingredients, and nutrition. Blink! provides high meat content meals without grains or fillers, though some cats may experience digestive sensitivities. Lily’s Kitchen is known for its natural, organic ingredients free from artificial additives, with positive reviews from cat owners who appreciate its balanced recipes. Encore emphasizes 100% natural ingredients, with up to 75% real meat content, but many of its products are complementary and require pairing with a complete diet. Scrumbles offers grain-free wet food with probiotics for digestive health, making it a great option for sensitive stomachs. Applaws similarly uses simple, high-quality recipes but, like Encore, some of its wet foods are only complementary and need additional nutrition sources. Seriously Good, Pets at Home’s own brand, is a high-quality option with natural ingredients but comes at a premium price. Lastly, Bella & Duke specializes in raw wet cat food, aiming to mimic a natural feline diet, but transitioning to raw food should be done carefully and under veterinary guidance. Each brand has its strengths, catering to different dietary needs and preferences, so choosing the best one depends on your cat’s individual health requirements and taste.
Wet Cat Food Brands Ranked by Pricing (From Most Affordable to Most Expensive):
1. Whiskas – ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Very Affordable)
• £0.35 - £0.60 per pouch (85g)
-not recommended to buy-
2. Felix – ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Very Affordable)
• £0.40 - £0.70 per pouch (85g)
-not recommended to buy-
3. HiLife – ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (Affordable to Moderate)
• £0.60 - £1.00 per pouch (70g)
4. Encore – ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (Moderate)
• £0.80 - £1.20 per 70g tin/pouch
5. Scrumbles – ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ (Moderate)
• £1.00 - £1.50 per pouch
6. Applaws – ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ (Moderate)
• £0.90 - £1.50 per tin/pouch
7. Seriously Good (Pets at Home) – ⭐⭐☆☆☆ (Expensive)
• £1.50 - £2.00 per pouch
8. Blink! – ⭐⭐☆☆☆ (Expensive)
• £1.50 - £2.00 per day
9. Lily’s Kitchen – ⭐⭐☆☆☆ (Expensive)
• £1.30 - £1.60 per pouch (85g)
10. Untamed – ⭐⭐☆☆☆ (Expensive)
• £23.80 per month (28 tins, ~85p per tin)
11. Marro – ⭐☆☆☆☆ (Very Expensive)
• Subscription-based (custom pricing, estimated at £2.50+ per day)
12. KatKin – ⭐☆☆☆☆ (Very Expensive)
• £1.99 - £2.34 per day (~£55.83 - £65.53 per month)
13. Bella & Duke – ⭐☆☆☆☆ (Extremely Expensive)
• £2.50 - £4.00 per day
✔ Most Affordable: Whiskas, Felix, HiLife
✔ Mid-Range: Encore, Scrumbles, Applaws
✔ Premium but Expensive: Seriously Good, Blink!, Lily’s Kitchen, Untamed
✔ Very Expensive: Marro, KatKin, Bella & Duke
If you’re looking for affordable but decent options, HiLife or Encore are great. If you prefer high-quality but don’t might slightly higher priced brands, Untamed, Lily’s Kitchen, or Seriously Good offer better nutrition. For those seeking fresh or raw diets, Marro, Katkin and Bella & Duke are top-tier but come at a higher cost. Personally, I would recommend a mix of a couple brands and food types, using some cheaper ones mixed in with complete meal, more expensive one to reduce the cost over an extended time period whilst still providing the cat with a healthy, balanced diet.