Top 12 Cat Foods in Canada for 2025: Expert-Reviewed, Vet-Backed Choices for Dry, Wet, Raw and Prescription Diets

Orijen Cat & Kitten is positioned as a biologically appropriate, ultra-high-protein kibble that mirrors the natural prey diet of active cats, providing dense calories and a broad spectrum of fresh animal ingredients for sustained energy and muscle support. Technically it outpaces the other formulas on raw meat inclusion and protein-to-carb ratio, making it ideal for very active cats who need peak performance, though it commands a premium price per bag compared with the other options in this list.

Fancy Feast Classic Pate is a market leader mainly for value and ubiquity, offering a very wide range of flavors and a smooth pate texture that reliably pleases picky cats at a much lower price point than premium grain-free lines. While it does not match the high-protein, grain-free formulations of Wellness CORE or Blue Buffalo, its financial advantage and shelf availability make it the go-to everyday canned pate for budget-conscious shoppers and multi-cat households.

Primal Freeze-Dried Nuggets Turkey Formula ranks as a best-in-class freeze-dried option thanks to its high organ-to-muscle ratio and ready-to-serve convenience, giving cat owners raw nutrition without freezer space. It typically costs more than bulk frozen raw but offers technical advantages like long shelf life and portion control compared with frozen brands such as Big Country Raw, while delivering a more complete, ready-made raw profile than simple toppers like Instinct Raw Boost.

Open Farm Freeze Dried Raw Surf & Turf Recipe emphasizes traceable, ethically sourced proteins—typically a blend of seafood and pasture-raised meat—appealing to buyers focused on sustainability and provenance. Compared with many North American brands it often carries a price premium, but its supply-chain transparency and certified sourcing claims are a technical and marketing differentiator that justify the higher cost for conscious consumers.

Open Farm Harvest Chicken Rustic Blend distinguishes itself through strong ethical sourcing and supply-chain transparency, providing a dehydrated formula that appeals to buyers focused on animal welfare and sustainability. Technically similar to other premium dehydrated options like The Honest Kitchen, Open Farm commands a premium for verified humane practices and traceability, making it the go-to for shoppers who will pay extra for provenance and sustainability credentials.

Hill's Prescription Diet a/d Urgent Care is a high-calorie, high-protein paste formulated specifically for critically ill or anorexic cats in emergency and urgent-care settings within Cat Critical Care Diets. Its paste-like consistency and established clinical track record make it a go-to for rapid refeeding, and although it can be positioned at a premium compared with more generic recovery formulas, clinicians often choose it for its focused nutrient profile and documented outcomes.

Orijen Original Cat ranks as best-in-class for all life stages because it offers an exceptionally high inclusion of fresh and raw animal ingredients that mirror a cat's natural diet, delivering superior protein density and nutrient completeness compared with the other formulas on this list. Its technical advantage is a broad variety of whole prey proteins and minimal carbohydrates, which comes at a premium price but can reduce the need for supplements and frequent feeding, making it cost-effective for owners prioritizing top-tier nutritional density.

Orijen Six Fish earns a best-in-class position for grain-free fish kibble by delivering a very fish-forward, multi-species recipe designed to mirror a cat's natural diet; its technical advantage is the broad mix of six distinct fish sources and a high animal-protein profile that many owners seek for obligate carnivores. Compared with the other formulas on this list it commands a premium price but offers superior diversity of fish proteins and rich omega profiles, making it the top pick for owners prioritizing maximal fish variety and biologically appropriate nutrition.

FirstMate's Pacific Ocean Fish Meal formula is notable for a concise ingredient profile that leverages fish meal and antioxidant-rich blueberries, positioning it as a high-quality limited-ingredient alternative with a focus on sustainable sourcing and nutrient-dense protein. Typically offered by a smaller, specialty manufacturer, it competes on technical merits—ingredient traceability and limited additives—while often providing competitive pricing compared with larger premium brands for buyers seeking boutique sourcing and simplicity.

Orijen Six Fish is a market leader for nutrient-dense, biologically appropriate diets, delivering very high inclusions of fresh and raw fish from six species which gives it a technical advantage in amino acid and omega profiles. While typically at the top price tier, it outperforms others like Acana and FirstMate on sheer variety and protein density, making it the pick for owners prioritizing maximum fish-derived nutrition over strict organic labeling.

Hill's Science Diet Perfect Weight is frequently recommended by veterinarians because its clinically tested calorie and nutrient balance helps cats lose weight while preserving lean muscle mass; precise formulation and added L-carnitine give it a technical edge for controlled, safe weight loss. Although often priced above mass-market brands, its strong evidence base and veterinary reputation make it the best-in-class pick for owners prioritizing proven results compared with Royal Canin's prescription specificity, Purina's value-focused science, Blue Buffalo's natural ingredient positioning, and Iams' budget-friendly approach.