Discover 10 of the best cat food brands that are affordable and vet-approved

From Royal Canin, we've chosen this adult food, which appeals to the masses - and even the pickiest of pussycats. The Royal Canin Aroma Exigent Dry Adult Cat Food has been designed for both indoor and outdoor cats with fussy appetites who might refuse to eat the food you give them. The recipe has been formulated to lure your kitty to their food by smell as it contains fish protein to stimulate their senses. How good does that sound? Royal Canin also recognises that fussy moggies may need some extra help in keeping their weight at the ideal level, which is why this Royal Canin cat food also has adapted energy content to maintain the optimal weight.

While this recipe is scientifically made to be aromatically attractive to fussy cats, it's worth noting that some fussy felines need variety in their diet to keep them interested in what's in their bowl at mealtimes. As the Royal Canin Aroma Exigent Dry Adult Cat Food is just one fishy flavour, it might not keep them interested day after day so you may want to mix it up with different flavoured wet food recipes. Maize is also a main ingredient of this food so it might not be the best option for those moggies with allergies, intolerances or sensitivities to this ingredient.

As for Tippaws Adult Dry Cat Food, we're hand-picked their Turkey and Chicken recipe. As well as protein, Tippaws have added prebiotics, vitamins and minerals to aid digestion and overall health. Tippaws prides itself on its high-quality, high-protein recipes and the Turkey & Chicken formulation is no different, containing 70 per cent fresh meat. This much-needed protein in your moggy's diet will keep their energy levels high and their muscles in tip-top condition, which is why we're so impressed with the high percentage of it in this dry food by Tippaws.

As a small, independently-owned company, the food Tippaws offers is at the more premium end of the pet food market but they do offer free shipping on all orders as well as a 10 per cent discount if you subscribe to regular deliveries of their food. Many of the Tippaws recipes contain chicken, which is a great protein source, but is also a common allergen for kitties so this is something to bear in mind when selecting the recipe best suited to your moggy.

Reviewed by Piper Huxley and her two cats, Casper and Myrtle: "We are so pleased with Tippaws. My two adult cats adore their new dry Turkey and Chicken mix. They're even more excited around dinnertime (than usual, anyway). Purrfect."

A premium source of easily digestible fish protein, the AVA Sensitive Fish Wet Adult Cat Food makes a great meal for your cat. With no fillers or nasties, this nutritious recipe has been formulated by animal experts. AVA's range boasts a hypoallergic, complete and balanced cat food option that has a limited number of protein sources in a bid not to upset a cat's stomach.

With added Omega 3, zinc, biotin and prebiotics, this food takes care of your cat from improving their coat condition and bone health all the way down to supporting their gut and urinary health too. There are no grains added to this recipe but it is made in a factory that handles grains so traces could be present. If your moggy does have grain sensitivities, it will all depend on how severe it is as to whether this food is completely suitable.

Lily's Kitchen Adult Organic Chicken Pate provides an ultra-smooth paste for kitties who may struggle with their teeth and makes the food extra lickable. Even better, this is made with all-natural ingredients and no added sugar, so you're getting high-quality meat, too. The organic ingredients include freshly prepared chicken, pork, beef and fish, together with carrots for a winner-winner, chicken dinner. We're very impressed with the high protein content, with 56 per cent of the overall composition of this recipe being proper meat/fish and offal.

Customers online agree with us that this is a good quality option to feed to your moggy and they love that it’s packed with tasty, natural ingredients. This recipe is a grain-free recipe but like others on our list, it’s made in a factory that handles grains so there is a very small chance that traces could have made their way into this Lily’s Kitchen food. This is something to keep in mind if your moggy has allergies, intolerances or sensitivities to grains.

Packed with nutrients to keep your cat fighting fit, this Harringtons Complete Dry Cat Food Salmon is an affordable option. Using quality ingredients, locally sourced wherever possible, and arriving in fully-recyclable packaging, this Harringtons food is also free from artificial colour, flavours, dairy, soya and added wheat - we can't ask for much more. This complete adult dry food tackles everything from healthy teeth, thanks to its crunchy texture, to stool stench as it has added yucca that helps to reduce unpleasant litter tray odour.

The overall quality of the food for the cost is something that is greatly appreciated by cat owners online, and they also mention that their feline friends seem to love the taste of it too. Customers think this has a good overall protein content and we agree to some extent. It has a higher percentage of protein/meat compared to other budget foods on the market but it is more of a mid-range level when you look at it in comparison to other top cat foods.

The purrfect choice for a nuzzle of affection, the Sheba Fine Flakes Poultry Collection in Jelly is irresistible for your pussycat. Exquisite, with high-quality ingredients to promote nutrition, Sheba's delightful flakey meals come in pouches, portioned and ready for your cat. We love the Fine Flakes, which are a good size for cats to sink their teeth into. Trusted and tasty, Sheba offers complete and balanced cat food with no artificial colours, flavours and preservatives that is developed in collaboration with scientists and vets. What's not to love?

With over 10,000 reviews and an average star rating of 4.7 stars out of 5, this food is a popular choice with Amazon customers and their moggies, rating it highly for being good quality, great value and having a choice of flavours. As there are 40 pouches in a pack, this is a good choice for bulk buying for your moggy. The meaty ingredients are listed as being ‘meat and animal derivatives’ which make up 45 per cent of the overall food composition, however, only four per cent of that is listed as actually being chicken, duck, turkey or poultry so this food could have more clarity about what those other meat products are. Cats lap it up though!

Hypoallergenic, this James Wellbeloved Hypoallergenic Adult Cat Food (Fish) is ideal for pets with sensitivities as it's made with a single source of animal protein and excludes common cat allergens like beef, pork, soya, eggs, dairy and wheat. Containing selected natural ingredients, this fish-flavoured food is complete, and balanced and arrives with nothing artificial. With prebiotics for healthy digestion, this recipe is packed with ingredients to support your cat, bringing back their glossy coat and more. A mid-range wonder, this James Wellbeloved recipe makes for healthy, nutritious pet food.

Online reviews mention this food is good quality and great value, with cat owners also appreciating the size of the kibble not being too big for their cat to crunch with their teeth. Many customers mention this food has a strong fishy smell, which you’d expect for a fish-based recipe, but while it might not be pleasant for us humans, cats just won’t be able to get enough.

If you’ve got a tubby tabby on your hands, they will be looking sleek and slender again with a helping hand from the IAMS for Vitality Dry Cat Food with Chicken. It offers complete and balanced nutrition while also helping to manage your feline friend’s weight, containing 30 per cent less fat compared to the regular IAMS Cat Fresh Chicken recipe. The main ingredient is chicken, a natural source of taurine, which is essential for maintaining healthy eyesight and immune systems in cats. Its special formulation also helps reduce urinary pH and has prebiotics and beet pulp for healthy digestion. In addition, Omega 3 and 6 have been added to support healthy skin and a shiny coat.

Customers have praised the results they’ve seen in both their moggy’s weight and overall health since switching to this light recipe, with comments to do with improvements in coat quality and digestion frequently mentioned in reviews. After dried chicken and turkey, the next ingredients are maize and maize grits and barley is also listed as an ingredient so it may not be the best option for kitties with cereal and grain allergies.

Help your sensitive kitty feel good both inside and out with the Hill's Science Plan Sensitive Stomach & Skin. This dry food is designed to be gentle on tummies and easily digestible while also keeping skin healthy and their coat looking super soft and fluffy. Beet pulp is part of the formula, which is known for its digestible properties and vitamin E and Omega 6 are added to the mix too to work their magic on your kitty’s skin and fur condition.

All of Hill’s Pet Nutrition recipes come vet-recommended so you know they contain only good stuff to keep your moggy as fit and healthy as possible. Customers online feel like it’s a good value food that contains quality ingredients and Ruby, our product writer, agrees. Ruby also believes the condition of her cat’s fur is attributed to this Hill’s Science Plan food, something that is echoed within other customer reviews on the web. Although this is a recipe for sensitive stomachs and skin, it does contain brown rice as a main ingredient so take this into consideration if your moggy has a serious grain allergy.

Reviewed by Ruby Barry and her cats, Hettie & Pickle: "Our cats have been on Hill's Science Plan for over 10 years, and we don't plan on switching anytime soon. It contains a lot of natural ingredients, which is always preferred over highly processed food that cats really aren't designed to be consuming. People comment on how good our cats look, as their fur is super soft and moisturised thanks to Hill's formula, and we have no health problems from them either. We combine this dry food with wet food to keep them hydrated (our go-to is Purina Pro Plan) and they eat happily every day. Our kitten, Thomas, has been trying to steal the Hill's food in my adult cats' bowl ever since we got him, so now that he's transitioned from kitten food, he couldn't be happier!"

For moggies that need a helping hand to shift some timber, consider Hill's Prescription Diet Metabolic Weight Management Dry Cat Food. Coming recommended by vets, it’s a clinically proven diet food that is designed to aid your kitty lose weight naturally and help them maintain their weight loss once they’ve got to their ideal weight. The blend of fibres included in this recipe will keep your cat feeling full and satisfied for longer so you should notice a decrease in your kitty trying their luck for second helpings.

You usually hear weight loss food and think it won’t taste as good but our testers Horace and Orson have still been enjoying it, so their owner Rachel thinks it must be pretty tasty for them to still enjoy it as much as their old food. Rachel has reported that the weight loss for her two moggies has been slower than expected so be prepared to be patient as you’re not going to see results overnight with this food.

Reviewed by Rachel Reeves and her cats, Horace and Orson: “Diet food isn’t expected to taste good so it’s a credit to Hill’s that our boys, Orson and Horace, enjoy it as much as they obviously do (of course, they love food, which is why they are on this). They rush for the food dispenser every time they hear it go. Weight loss has been slow and we are in talks with the vet about portion sizes, but they are definitely sated on less of this than of the standard dry food they had before and there’s no denying that they love it.”

Scrumbles are great to buy if you're looking for high quality and no messing around. This Scrumbles Natural Wet Cat Food Multipack comes naturally grain-free with natural ingredients and is made here in the UK, so it is purr-fect for owners looking for a higher-quality product. It's packed with at least 60 per cent fresh British protein alongside essential vitamins and minerals. Suitable for all life stages, this pack includes three each of four different flavours (chicken, tuna, salmon and turkey) in a succulent jelly, great for cats that like variation in their diet. We're very impressed.

Online reviewers appreciate the high meat content of this food and because it has four different recipes included, they feel like it offers a lot of variety for their moggies, particularly fussy cats. Some reviews also highlight that these tins have helped improve the condition of cats with stomach issues, too. Some customers mention that the tins could be bigger as larger cats may require more food.