The best cat food in our index on ingredients — air-dried, meat-first and transparent. Just work out the cost per day first, because the premium is steep.
84Strong
The 2026 ranking · Australia
Best Cat Food in Australia
The best cat food in Australia is ZIWI Peak, scoring 84/100 for its air-dried, meat-first recipes. Below is our full top-10, scored out of 100 on ingredients, value, nutrition and transparency — plus the best picks for kittens, indoor cats and sensitive stomachs.
Reviewed by the PetReviews editorial team
Independent scoring · Updated June 2026 · Not veterinary advice
Not veterinary advice. Scores are illustrative editorial estimates for v1 — always confirm live pricing and suitability with the retailer and your vet.
Our #1 cat food
ZIWI Peak
Best overall · $$$$
0/ 100
The best cat food in our index on ingredients — air-dried, meat-first and transparent. Just work out the cost per day first, because the premium is steep.
Best for…
Best overall
ZIWI Peak
Highest overall score — air-dried, meat-rich and minimally processed.
Best value
Advance
Aussie-made, vet-recommended quality at a sensible everyday price.
Best for kittens
Royal Canin
Deep, growth-stage and breed-specific kitten ranges.
Best for indoor cats
Advance
Dedicated indoor formulas for weight and hairball control.
Best for sensitive stomachs
Hill's Science Diet
Consistent, vet-recommended sensitive and therapeutic recipes.
Best on a budget
Fussy Cat
Decent ingredients for the price, well above supermarket basics.
THE TOP 3
How we test →Our top picks.
01Best overall
ZIWI Peak
Air-dried, meat-first recipes with very high named-meat content and excellent ingredient transparency. The most nutritionally dense cat food in our index.
8.4/10
02
Best wet food
Applaws
Short, natural ingredient lists with high named-meat content — especially in the wet range. Premium quality at a noticeably more accessible price than ZIWI.
7.8/10
03
Best value
Advance
Australian-made, widely vet-recommended, with dedicated ranges for kittens, indoor cats and sensitive stomachs. The most practical all-rounder in the index.
7.6/10
RUNNERS-UP
The 10 best cat food brands.
Every brand through the same 100-point model — ranked best to worst value.
Premium, meat-rich quality at a sensible price — our best wet-food pick for cats. Just check whether a given product is complete or complementary before it becomes the whole diet.
78Good
The best all-round value in our cat index — Aussie-made, vet-recommended and with a formula for almost every life stage. Comfortably our recommendation for most households.
76Good
A safe, good-value all-rounder — Aussie-made with grain-free choices. Not the flashiest, but hard to go wrong for most cats.
75Good
Brilliant for prescription and life-stage precision, but you pay for the science rather than the ingredients. Great for specific needs; better value sits higher up for everyday feeding.
74Good
A clean, grain-free Australian option at a fair price — our pick when you want grain-free without paying import money.
73Good
A safe, vet-backed choice for sensitive stomachs and clinical needs, but you pay a premium for the science, not the ingredients.
72Good
A sensible mid-range Aussie option — better than supermarket basics, easier on the wallet than premium. Good for everyday feeding on a budget.
70Good
Cheap, palatable and everywhere — great for tempting fussy cats or as a topper, but lean on a higher-quality base for the bulk of the diet.
60Average
A budget option that's complete and affordable but basic on ingredients. Fine when cost is the deciding factor; trade up if your budget allows.
54Poor value
Scores are illustrative editorial estimates for v1, applied with the same methodology as our dog food index.
More cat food guides.
Looking for picks tailored to your cat's specific needs? Explore our in-depth guides below.
How we score
A transparent score out of 100
Every brand and product runs through the same six-part model. Sponsored placements never change a score.
Pillar 01
Price & Value
25/ 100 pts
Price per kg, cost per day, subscription discount, sale frequency and value vs similar formulas.
Pillar 02
Ingredient Quality
25/ 100 pts
Named meat first, protein source quality, wholefoods, fillers, artificial colours/flavours, grain quality.
Pillar 03
Nutrition & Suitability
20/ 100 pts
Complete & balanced claim, life-stage suitability, protein/fat levels, sensitive-stomach and vet use cases.
Pillar 04
Transparency
15/ 100 pts
Clear ingredient list, country of manufacture, ownership, feeding-guide clarity, recall visibility.
Pillar 05
Availability & Convenience
10/ 100 pts
Stock availability, delivery options, repeat delivery and retailer availability.
Pillar 06
Customer Sentiment
5/ 100 pts
Review sentiment, repeat complaints and product consistency feedback.
Six pillars · 100 points total · no pay-to-rank
Full methodology →Cat food FAQs
In our index, ZIWI Peak ranks highest overall (84/100) for its air-dried, meat-first recipes, with Applaws and Advance close behind. The best choice depends on your cat: Advance leads on everyday value, Royal Canin on kitten ranges, and Hill's Science Diet for sensitive stomachs.
Cats are obligate carnivores and benefit from the higher moisture and protein of wet food, which supports hydration and urinary health — but quality dry food is convenient and cost-effective. Many owners feed a mix. Whichever you choose, look for a named meat first and a complete-and-balanced claim, and compare cost per day rather than sticker price.
Advance tops our value score — Australian-made, widely vet-recommended and reasonably priced for the quality. Black Hawk and Applaws also offer strong price-to-quality. Value is about cost per day, not the cheapest bag, so always compare price per kg.
Every brand is scored out of 100 across six weighted areas: Price & Value (25), Ingredient Quality (25), Nutrition & Suitability (20), Transparency (15), Availability (10) and Customer Sentiment (5). Scores are illustrative editorial estimates for v1, and sponsored placements never change a ranking.
No. PetReviews is an independent value and comparison resource, not veterinary advice. Always speak to your vet before changing your cat's diet, especially for kittens, seniors or cats with health conditions.