Our pick for the best wet cat food in Australia is Applaws, thanks to its seriously high named-meat content and clean, minimal ingredient list. Cats are obligate carnivores and most aren't big drinkers — so wet food's 70–80% moisture is the most natural way to keep them topped up.
Scored by the Pet Reviews independent review board
Independent scoring · Updated June 2026 · Not veterinary advice
Not veterinary advice. It's always worth checking whether a wet food is 'complete and balanced' or 'complementary' before you make it the only thing in the bowl. Consult your vet for guidance on your cat's specific needs.
Our #1 wet cat food
Applaws
Best wet food · $$$
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.
Cats are built to get most of their water from prey. Unlike dogs, many have a low thirst drive and won't make up for a dry-food diet by simply drinking more.
Chronic kidney disease is common in older cats. More moisture in the diet helps flush the kidneys and dilute urine, easing the risk of crystals and FLUTD.
Wet food runs 70–80% moisture; dry food typically 8–12%. For a cat on dry food only, a water fountain can genuinely lift how much they drink each day.
Always read the label: 'complete and balanced' means the food covers all nutritional needs, while 'complementary' means it has to be fed alongside a complete food.
Good wet food lists a named meat (chicken, tuna, salmon) first and high up the list. Be wary of products where water appears before the main protein.
Wet food costs more per kg than dry, but cost-per-day is the comparison that counts. A 70g sachet once a day alongside dry food may cost less than you'd think.
Ranked on moisture quality, named-meat protein, ingredient integrity and how easily you'll find them in Australia, premium right through to everyday.
Applaws tops our wet food picks for its seriously high named-meat content and clean, minimal ingredient list. The wet range usually lists 70–75% named meat on the pack, among the highest you'll find, which makes it a standout for cats that do best on protein-rich, natural feeding.
ZIWI Peak's wet recipes carry the same ingredient integrity as its air-dried range: single-region proteins, no grains, no artificial preservatives. All that moisture is a real help for obligate carnivores that rarely drink enough. The price per can is steep, true, but the ingredient quality is hard to beat.
Fussy Cat is a solid mid-range Australian-made wet food — decent ingredients at a price that doesn't sting. The range of flavours helps win over picky eaters, and you'll find it at Coles and Woolworths as well as pet shops, making it one of the easiest Aussie-made options to get hold of.
Fancy Feast is the taste champion of the supermarket wet food aisle. If your cat turns its nose up at everything else, this usually does the trick. The ingredients aren't up there with the premium picks, but it's a handy, affordable topper or appetite booster alongside a complete dry food base.
Advance Wet rounds out the range next to its well-regarded dry food. It's Australian-made, vet-recommended and there to be part of a complete diet. A dependable everyday wet option, and especially handy for cats already on Advance dry who could use a little extra moisture at mealtimes.
Overall scores from our 100-point cat food index. Wet food picks selected editorially for moisture quality and named-meat content.
Cats are obligate carnivores, and in the wild they get most of their water straight from their prey. Unlike dogs, a lot of cats just aren't thirsty enough to make up the difference on a dry-only diet. Wet food is usually 70–80% moisture, against 8–12% in dry, so it gives kidney health, the urinary tract and overall hydration a real hand.
Wet-only and dry-only can both work fine, as long as the food is complete and balanced. A mix is popular for good reason — wet brings the hydration, dry is convenient and helps a little with dental wear. Wet-only usually costs more per day. If you go dry-only, keep fresh water available at all times, and a water fountain can do wonders for encouraging your cat to drink.
'Complementary' means the food isn't nutritionally complete on its own and needs to be fed alongside a complete food. A lot of gourmet tins, pouches and sachets are complementary, lovely as a treat or topper but not the whole meal. Always check the label for 'complete and balanced' before you rely on a wet food as the main event.
How much depends on your cat's weight, age and activity, and whether you're feeding wet on its own or mixing it with dry. As a rough guide, an 85g sachet or tin once or twice a day suits a 4–5kg adult cat alongside some dry food. Start with the pack guide and adjust as you watch your cat's body condition. Your vet can pin down exact portions if you'd like a hand.
Wet food can be a real friend to older cats, who are more prone to chronic kidney disease and dehydration. The extra moisture supports kidney function, and the softer texture is gentler on a cat with sore teeth. If kidney health is on your mind, look for a senior wet food with reduced phosphorus — and let your vet guide you.