Vet-backed kitten food picks put meat first
NBC Select’s 2026 kitten food guide says shoppers should look for kitten formulas that meet AAFCO standards and list meat first.
By Georgia Hale · Staff Writer
3 min read
Hungry kittens need food built for their first year, and NBC Select’s 2026 guide puts three checks at the top of the bowl: kitten-specific formulas, AAFCO nutrition standards and a meat source as the first ingredient.
The shopping team said its list is based on veterinarian guidance, staff favorites and highly rated options. NBC Select also says kittens should ideally eat both wet and dry food each day, since each format offers different health benefits.
The dry food front-runners
NBC Select named Iams ProActive Health Kitten Dry Cat Food its best overall dry pick. The chicken-first kibble comes in 3.5-, 7- and 16-pound bags, and was listed at $33.98 at Amazon and Chewy. NBC Select noted its small kibble size, lack of fillers, artificial flavors and artificial preservatives, plus vitamin E, omega-3 DHA, fiber and prebiotics.
Wellness Complete Health Natural Dry Kitten Food earned an editor’s pick. NBC Select said the 5-pound bag starts with deboned chicken and includes vitamins A and E, zinc, calcium, phosphorus, prebiotics, probiotics and fiber. The guide listed it at $18.99 at Amazon, Chewy and PetSmart.
Hill’s Science Diet Kitten Healthy Development Chicken Recipe Dry Cat Food was NBC Select’s natural dry pick. The chicken-first food comes in 3.5-, 7- and 15.5-pound bags and was listed at $22.99 at Amazon and Chewy. NBC Select said it contains DHA from fish oil, vitamins C and E, and prebiotics, and is made without chicken by-product meal, artificial flavors, synthetic colors or artificial preservatives.
For grain-free dry food, NBC Select chose Merrick Purrfect Bistro Grain-Free Healthy Kitten Recipe Dry Food. The 4-pound bag starts with deboned chicken and was listed at $19.98 at Chewy. The guide highlighted its small pellets, probiotics, antioxidants, omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids, and absence of artificial colors, flavors and preservatives.
Wet food gets its turn
Fancy Feast Kitten Tender Ocean Whitefish Feast Canned Cat Food was NBC Select’s best overall wet food. The pate-style food starts with ocean whitefish, comes in chicken, turkey and salmon flavors as well, and was listed at $23.04 at Chewy and $22.86 at Walmart. NBC Select said it includes real milk and vitamins E, B-12 and D-3, with no artificial preservatives or colors.
Blue Buffalo Baby Blue Natural Kitten Wet Cat Food was selected as the best pate. NBC Select said the chicken-first wet food is sold in packs of six or 24 3-ounce cans and is made without corn, wheat, soy, artificial flavors or preservatives. The formula includes fish oil as a DHA source, along with ingredients such as brown rice, flaxseeds, sweet potatoes and carrots.
Royal Canin Feline Health Nutrition Thin Slices in Gravy Wet Kitten Food also made NBC Select’s top picks as the best wet food in gravy. The guide listed it at $54.96 at Amazon.
NBC Select also included Hill’s Science Diet Kitten Liver & Chicken Entree Canned Cat Food for picky eaters. The wet food comes in 24-count packs of 2.9-ounce or 5.5-ounce cans, starts with pork liver and is available in flavors including chicken, roasted chicken and rice, salmon and savory turkey, according to the guide.
For shoppers staring down a pet-food aisle, the veterinarian-backed takeaway in NBC Select’s guide is direct: choose a food made for kittens, check that it meets AAFCO nutrition standards and make sure meat leads the ingredient list.
This story draws on original reporting from NBC News.