Best cat food 2026: independent A-E ranking

Current answer: Orijen Cat & Kitten is the highest-ranked dry cat food in the PetFoodRate snapshot reviewed on 28 August 2026, with 94/100. Applaws Natural Tuna Fillet leads the wet ranking with 87/100, but it is recorded as a complementary food and should not be treated automatically as a complete sole diet.

The live lists are more useful than a fixed top ten because product data changes. Open the current dry cat food ranking or wet cat food ranking to see the latest ordering and each product's five sub-scores.

What was ranked

On the review date, PetFoodRate listed:

• 609 dry cat foods, with 333 graded A or B and an average score of 67/100;
• 202 wet cat foods, with 42 graded A or B and an average score of 62/100.

The dry top three were Orijen Cat & Kitten at 94, Orijen Six Fish Cat at 92 and Applaws Kitten at 90. The wet top three were Applaws Natural Tuna Fillet at 87, Lily's Kitchen at 85 and Tiki Cat at 84.

These are database results, not universal medical recommendations. A ranking can compare declared product information consistently, but it cannot know an individual cat's health, energy needs, tolerance or preferences.

How PetFoodRate scores cat food

Every product receives a numeric score and an A-to-E grade across five axes:

1. protein quality;
2. nutritional balance;
3. absence of undesirable ingredients;
4. ingredient and label transparency;
5. adaptability to the species and product type.

The method uses the composition, analytical constituents and structured catalog fields available for the product. PetFoodRate does not claim to perform laboratory assays, manufacturing audits, feeding trials or palatability tests. Affiliate availability does not alter a score.

Read the full scoring methodology before using a small score difference as a deciding factor.

Best dry cat food in this snapshot

Orijen Cat & Kitten ranks first at 94/100. Its catalog record shows named chicken, turkey and salmon ingredients, 40% crude protein and A sub-scores across all five axes.

That makes it the strongest label-based result in the dry category, not the right food for every cat. Check the current pack's complete-food statement and feeding guide, transition gradually and account for calorie density. Cats with diagnosed conditions need individual veterinary guidance.

Best wet cat food in this snapshot

Applaws Natural Tuna Fillet ranks first at 87/100 for its short, clearly named ingredient record. The same catalog record flags a critical limitation: it must be supplemented because it is a complementary food.

This distinction is easy to miss. FEDIAF separates complete foods, which provide the daily ration's required nutrients when used as directed, from complementary foods intended to be combined with other food. A complementary tuna fillet can score highly on ingredient transparency while still being unsuitable as the only food.

For a sole diet, confirm the word complete on the exact label. If the pack says complementary, follow its feeding directions and combine it with an appropriate complete food.

How to choose beyond the ranking

Use the score to narrow the field, then check four practical points:

• the exact product and life stage match your cat;
• the pack states complete or complementary clearly;
• the feeding amount and daily cost fit your household;
• the transition and health context have been considered.

Do not infer health outcomes from a grade alone. The rating is a transparent comparison of recorded product information, not proof that one food prevents or causes disease.

Bottom line

Orijen Cat & Kitten leads dry food and Applaws Natural Tuna Fillet leads wet food in the 28 August 2026 data snapshot. The most important caveat is not the score gap: it is whether a product is complete and appropriate for the individual cat. Use the live ranking for discovery, the exact label for verification and a veterinarian for clinical decisions.