5 Best Wet Cat Food in 2024: Prices + Pros & Cons

Many pet food services sell wet cat food, but they often offer meals with questionable ingredients that provide little to no nutritional value for your pet. To help you choose services that produce high-quality meals to help your cat thrive, I researched and created this guide. 

Most companies I listed provide food for cats at various life stages, and some have specialized options for kittens. Each offers meals made with quality ingredients, including animal-derived proteins, fruits, vegetables, and even superfoods. Also, some offer extras like treats, supplements, and accessories.

I consider Smalls the top choice for wet cat food delivery. It provides meals crafted from human-grade ingredients and includes free items with orders. Furthermore, it lets you customize your cat’s meals according to their needs and tastes. But other services in my list have unique qualities, too, so read on to find the ideal option for your pet. 

Best Wet Cat Food Delivery Services Reviewed

1. Smalls – Best Fresh Cat Recipes Overall

Smalls ranks highest on my list for several reasons. Firstly, it uses only high-quality ingredients and prepares them to maintain nutritional value. Secondly, it collaborates with veterinarians to develop recipes for cats at all life stages. Plus, the service offers personalized meal plans for your pet. 

What’s on Offer?

Smalls offers 5 recipes featuring different proteins, some of which are available in multiple textures. For cats favoring ground food, choose the Ground Bird Recipe or Ground Other Bird Recipe. If your cat prefers smooth, pâté-like meals, then the Smooth Bird Recipe, Smooth Other Bird Recipe, Pig, Fish, and Bird & Fish are ideal options. There’s also a more premium Pulled texture, which stimulates a cat’s natural instincts. Pulled Bird and Pulled Other Bird are both available.

Bird recipes feature chicken as the primary protein, while Other Bird recipes use turkey. The Fish recipe contains white fish, while Bird & Fish features chicken and salmon. Alongside the main ingredients, all recipes contain other human-grade ingredients like green beans, yeast, pumpkin, and spinach, varying by dish.

Smalls' cat food is free from preservatives, fillers, and other unhealthy additions. The team cooks the ingredients at low temperatures for a long time to maintain their nutritional value and then freezes the food to keep nutrients. Read our review to learn more.

What Makes It Special?

Every ingredient is human-grade, matching the quality of food humans eat. The company sources fresh ingredients in the USA and Canada and prepares meals in its New Jersey facility. Each batch undergoes a pathogens test and must meet strict quality standards before shipping.

Smalls has a detailed meal customization quiz. It considers aspects like age, health, current food, protein preferences, and medical concerns.

Finally, you can take advantage of Smalls' money-back guarantee if you're unsure whether your cat will adapt to it. If she doesn't like the food or has trouble adjusting to the new meals, reach out to Cat Concierge for a full refund. Note that you should request a refund within 30 days of the delivery date.

Is It Good Value?

Smalls delivers great value for your investment. Notably, 90% of customers report health enhancements in their cats. Furthermore, 78% have noticed shinier coats, while 64% have observed increased energy levels and less smelly litter boxes.

I was pleasantly surprised to find that complimentary treats come in the sampler box. I was even happier to learn that these welcome extras are part of every delivery, not just a 1-time occurrence. 

The cost of Smalls' meals varies based on several factors, such as your cat's appetite and age. But the most affordable <$2 per meal.

2. The Honest Kitchen – Best Grain-Free Wet Meals for Cats

The Honest Kitchen has some of the largest wet food selections for cats. These are made of real ingredients and have a high nutritional value. Besides wet meals, you can also buy various essential extras on its website. 

What’s on Offer?

The Honest Kitchen caters to owners of picky cats. It has an extensive range of wet cat food recipes, totaling 10 at my last count, and the dishes score consistently high ratings from cat owners. 

You have a choice of proteins with this provider. Single-protein recipes include chicken and turkey. Multi-protein varieties also include beef, salmon, cod, and duck. Meals are available in 2 textures – gravy and pate. You can buy a variety pack consisting of 4 recipes of each type.

The Honest Kitchen also has cat treats and toppers. My cats enjoy the White Fish and Herring treats and the Salmon & Pollock and Chicken & Duck toppers. Plus, you can find Instant Goat Milk and Perfect Form Herbal Digestive supplements on offer. 

What Makes It Special?

I find The Honest Kitchen's meal custom quiz a notable feature. This tool tailors your cat's meals based on your responses to various questions. Still, the quiz is less detailed than Smalls', which I suggest checking out, particularly for cats with health concerns.

You can consult with an HonestExpert for guidance on your pet's nutrition, a feature detailed in our full review. These consultations last 15 minutes.

The company sources human-grade, non-GMO ingredients. Its proteins come from animals caught in the wild and domesticated animals that roam free. 

Is It Good Value?

The Honest Kitchen's recipes provide excellent value. Four out of 5 customers reported improved digestion in their pets after switching to these meals. Besides, 77% observed enhanced overall well-being, and 71% noted improvements in their pets' skin and coat health.

The price of The Honest Kitchen's wet meals is consistent, irrespective of the protein type and texture, and they start at $5.99 for dry food.

3. Raised Right – Best Wet Recipes for Adult Housecats

Raised Right is another good wet cat food delivery service. It creates nutritious and delicious recipes using high-quality ingredients, developed alongside pet food experts. Its recipes are rich in protein, low in carbs, and free from superfluous ingredients. Moreover, the company helps you calculate the cost of your pet's diet.

What’s on Offer?

Raised Right presents 4 recipes for cat owners. These are Original Turkey Adult Cat Recipe, Original Chicken Adult Cat Recipe, Turkey & Pumpkin Paté for Adult Cats, and Chicken & Pumpkin Paté for Adult Cats. Check out Smalls for options suitable for all life stages.

Chicken and turkey are the only available proteins. If your cat prefers others, The Honest Kitchen provides a broader selection. But what sets Raised Right apart is the use of fruits and veggies and even superfoods. Some complimentary ingredients in its recipes are pumpkin, spearmint, and carrot. 

Furthermore, Raised Right has treats for your cat. Meat Bites include beef, lamb, turkey, or pork liver, and you'll also find Shake A Flake toppers, which come in beef, turkey, and lamb liver varieties.

What Makes It Special?

Raised Right includes an on-site cat food calculator to help you estimate your expenses. It considers your cat's weight, activity level, and weight management objectives. It calculates the costs for feeding your cat with 100%, 50%, or 25% Raised Right food.

You can trace the source of every ingredient in Raised Right products, as detailed in the full review. The majority of ingredients come from US suppliers. The sole exception I found during my research was cod liver oil, which originates from Norway.

Raised Right shows a strong commitment to environmental sustainability. It partners with rePurpose Global, actively working on eliminating plastic waste from the environment. Also, the provider cooperates with carbonfund.org to offset carbon emissions from its delivery processes.

Is It Good Value?

Raised Right is a great choice for eco-conscious adult cat owners. It's also among the top picks for people who want to know where each buck goes. And it's one of the rare services that is completely transparent about the origins of its ingredients. 

Still, you may want to check out other pet subscription services if your cat isn't a fan of poultry. The same goes if you want to tailor your pet's mealtime based on their dietary needs. 

The price of your pet's food from Raised Right varies based on the chosen recipe, their appetite, activity level, and your weight management objectives, but the starting price for its items is $9.99/bag.

4. Open Farm – Best Eco-Friendly Wet Meals For Cats

Open Farm is all about quality and sustainability. It upholds these standards by rigorously selecting suppliers and employing a climate strategy. What's more, the service clearly labels products that are sustainability-friendly, and it lets you trace the origins of its ingredients on its website.

What’s on Offer?

Open Farm has a few meal types on its menu, wet included. It had 6 meals featuring different proteins from domesticated and wild-caught animals. 

The menu features single- and multi-protein recipes. Single-protein options are Harvest Chicken, Harvest Turkey, Grass-Fed Beef, and Wild-Caught Salmon Rustic Blends. Multi-protein varieties are Chicken & Salmon and Herring & Mackerel Rustic Blends. 

Pumpkin and carrots are standard ingredients in all meals. You can also find GMO-free cranberries, spinach, and many other ingredients, depending on the recipe. Open Farm sources these from local and foreign purveyors to ensure top quality. Read our review to learn more.

What Makes It Special?

Open Farm differentiates its products for kittens (Kitten Essentials) from those meant for grown-up and elderly cats (Adult & Senior Cat). This is rare among pet food delivery services. You can find these specific items under the Tailored Needs category. 

The business sources its meat from farms that treat animals humanely. These animals roam freely and never see the inside of crates or cages. What’s more, the company works toward reducing its operational carbon footprint by 42% by 2030.

You can check the food origins by selecting a product and scrolling down to the ingredients.  Aside from the US, they may come from Australia (beef), France (chicory root), and Canada (red lentils).

Is It Good Value?

Sustainability-wise, eco-conscious buyers of wet food have 4 Lower Carbon options to choose from, alongside a few broths. Also, Open Farm sources meats free from antibiotics. 

But the company lacks other essentials, such as treats and toppers. For a 1-stop shop for these extras and wet meals, Raised Right may be a better choice. 

At Open Farm, the cost of wet meals is uniform. The company's most affordable product will set you back $7/day .

5. Chewy – Best Range of Wet Food for Cats

Chewy has a wide variety of cat products from both established and emerging brands like Friskies, Sheba, and Farmina. Its wet food selection alone features thousands of products. Besides meals, this online pet food store offers everything else you might need for your kitten or cat. Chewy is also one of the best wet food providers for kittens. 

What’s on Offer?

You can choose between various types of wet food on Chewy's site, including the Pate, Chunks in Gravy, Shredded, and Flaked options. There are also offerings for different life stages – Kitten, Adult, and Senior. 

You can find almost any type of cat food you can imagine. From grilled seafood mixes to chicken and beef pate, the range is extensive. What's more, I've also found a lot of variety packs, so you can try different meals to see which ones are best for housecat.

Chewy has many other products for cats on offer, including supplies and accessories. These include litter boxes, healthcare items, toys, and feeders. Check out our complete review for more about what’s on offer.

What Makes It Special?

Chewy is a 1-stop shop for all pets' needs. Whatever you can think of, it will be there in some form. 

The provider offers an efficient filtering system to help you quickly locate needed products. Particularly useful filters include Brand, Food Texture, and Flavor. Some other helpful options to streamline your search are Price, Lifestage, and Special Diet.

The 24/7 customer support offered by this service is a rare find among pet food delivery services. Call 1-800-672-4399 or use the live chat feature for immediate help, or email the customer support team for less urgent inquiries.

Is It Good Value?

Chewy is an excellent choice if you know exactly what your pet needs. It's also ideal for cat parents who prefer purchasing all their pet essentials from 1 place. 

But, Chewy doesn't suit cat owners seeking to personalize their pet's diet. If you're among them, Smalls has an outstanding quiz for customizing meals, the best I reviewed so far. 

The cost of feeding your cat depends on various factors. Some of these are the type of food, the brand, your cat's life stage, and texture. Still, the starting price point for Chewy is <$2 per meal.

Quick Comparison Table

Tips for Choosing the Best Wet Cat Food Delivery Service

Now that you know what the leading wet cat food delivery services are, it's time to figure out the best pick for you and your cat. I suggest you look into the following tips that have proven effective for most cat owners, myself included.

• Check the ingredients closely. The quality of wet food varies among pet food providers. Choose those that use real ingredients and steer clear of additives, hormones, fillers, and other unnecessary or potentially harmful by-products. Opt for services like Smalls, which offer vet-approved meals that contain human-grade ingredients. 

• Consider the variety. The selection of wet products varies among pet food providers. The Honest Kitchen offers a limited, but decent assortment, counting around a dozen options. And the company focuses on tight quality control, granting high-quality meals. 

• Think about other necessities. Beyond essential items like a litter box or a bed, you'll likely need feeding bowls and maybe toys. Chewy is an ideal stop for these and other necessary extras, such as treats and health supplements. 

• Plan a budget. Prices between wet cat food subscription services tend to vary widely, so it’s handy to have a projection of future costs when setting up a budget. You can do just that with Raised Right, which has a useful feeding calculator.

FAQ

What is the healthiest wet food for cats?

The answer to this question probably depends on who you ask. But according to my research and input from my fellow experts, Smalls stands out. It collaborates with veterinarians to create cat meals and sources top-quality human-grade ingredients.

What are the top 5 healthiest cat foods?

The healthiest cat foods include Smalls, The Honest Kitchen, Raised Right, Open Farm, and Chewy. These brands made my shortlist because they include high-quality and nutritious ingredients. They also commit to sustainability, and some of them offer tailored options to meet various dietary needs and preferences.

Is pate or gravy better for cats?

There are indications that pate is better than gravy from a nutritional standpoint. The reason is that cats actually eat pates, whereas some of them lick the gravy and leave the meat behind. The Honest Kitchen has both wet food types if you'd like to try them out.

Do vets recommend wet food for cats?

Veterinarians suggest canned or wet food for cats with certain health conditions, such as kidney disease and urinary tract issues. For cats facing these challenges, a diet that includes increased fluid intake helps cleanse their urinary system. Raised Right has fresh and pate-like meals for adult cats.  

Best Wet Cat Food in 2024 — Final Score