If you’re reading this, you may be wondering what the best food is for stray cats that come near your house. Maybe you’ve already tried a few different types of cat food and haven’t found one that works well.
Well, if so, I have some great news for you! There are actually quite a few options out there when it comes to feeding stray cats near your house. The trick is finding the right type of cat food for them without wasting too much money or time on trial-and-error testing with different brands.
In a rush? The Best 5 cat food for stray cats of 2021:
- Best Overall: Purina Cat Chow Naturals 13 lb. Bag
- Best Superfood: Rachael Ray Nutrish Super Premium Dry Cat Food, SuperFood Blends
- Most Affordable: 9Lives Daily Essentials Salmon Chicken & Beef Cat Food
- Best High-Protein: DIAMOND NATURALS High Protein Premium Formulas
- Best for Adult: Purina ONE Tender Selects Blend
What is a stray cat?
Stray cats are typically solitary animals that avoid people’s houses as pets do. Rather, they generally walk the roads looking for food on their own. Stray cats that go about freely outside on their own may come onto your yard because they are intrigued by humans or hungry. Some will even allow you to pick them up if they’re usually interested in people.
Stray cats eat different things depending on where they live – in an area with lots of wildlife, there’s a better chance they’ll have enough to eat by hunting mice, rats, etc. If their living area is more suburban or rural with fewer wild animals running around for them to catch, they may need human help in the form of cat food!
As you can imagine, stray cats are quite common in areas where people tend not to bring their pets along when they go out for a walk. If you’re wondering why people would let their cats roam free, it’s because many cat breeds are actually very hard to contain.
So, why are stray cats important to feed?
For one reason, not feeding them can cause them to become aggressive with humans that come into their territory. Hungry stray cats will attack or scratch anyone who gets too close because they feel threatened.
Additionally, if you don’t keep the food stations far enough from your house, you may end up with cats using your front porch as a litter box.
What about feeding stray cats human food?
While it may seem like a good idea to give the odd bit of kibble once in a while or scraps from dinner, this is actually not recommended. Human food can lead to problems for stray cats that are not only expensive but deadly.
The biggest reason to avoid feeding stray cats human food is that they can eat too many of the wrong types of foods. Of course, humans are naturally omnivorous, while cats are obligate carnivores.
What better - cheap or expensive cat food for stray cats?
Stray cats will eat whatever they can find and catch – if you want to ensure that the food you give them is top quality, then go with a high-end brand; otherwise, cheap brands like 9Lives and Purina ONE will suffice.
When feeding stray cats, you want to make sure that the food is healthy for them while also being within your budget. Cheap cat food will often work well, but keep in mind that some brands are more expensive than others for a reason – sometimes it’s because they’re better quality!
I suggest feeding stray cats low-cost food because there are many, but you might spoil them by giving them middle-cost wet canned food. Also, you don’t want them to become accustomed to expensive cuisine since they will cease hunting and eat lower-quality food. Eventually, you’ll run out of money to buy them food.
The best food for stray cats Reviewed 2021
When considering the best cat food for stray cats, remember that they often do not stick around in one place for longer than a few days or weeks at most. For this reason, you want to find a type of cat food that is easy to carry with you and relatively inexpensive.
The best choice in terms of value is dry cat food like Purina Cat Chow. You can buy more than one bag at once (depending on how many stray cats you expect to feed), and you can even buy a larger bag that will last longer. Keep in mind. However, that dry cat food does not expire as quickly as wet cat food – so if you don’t think you’ll be feeding the stray cats very often, it is better to choose canned cat food instead.
Purina Cat Chow Naturals Original With Added Vitamins, Minerals & Nutrients dry cat food is made with real chicken as the #1 ingredient.
Purina also have whole grains and leafy greens to round out the recipe for a mouth-watering meal that will keep her coming back for more.
Plus, this formula has 25 essential vitamins and minerals in every bag, so she gets all the nutrition she needs to live a long, happy life by your side.
You can rest assured that Purina cat chow is made with natural ingredients like genuine chicken and salmon, which you would give to your own cats. It’s a simple method to provide strays what they want while still giving them all they need for a good life!
Things We Like
- Cats enjoy this food.
- Stray cats will smell this for miles away.
- 25 Essential vitamins.
Things We Don’t
- High in calories.
You know how much stray cats love to eat. But what if we told you that they can enjoy delicious food while also getting the nutrients they need to be healthy and happy?
Introducing Rachael Ray Nutrish Super Premium Dry Cat Food! This premium blend of real farm-raised chicken is packed with protein and other essential vitamins and minerals for your furry cats.
Plus, it’s made without any corn, wheat, or soy – which means no fillers in their diet! And don’t worry about having to cook up a special meal every night because this formula is available in both wet and dry varieties. So go ahead and give them something tasty that will keep them healthy at the same time!
This cat food was developed by cats lovers passionate about making sure cats live long, healthy lives. Ray wanted to make sure that all animals had access to nutritious food like our food. I think that’s pretty amazing – but we know cats would agree too! That’s why I want everyone out there looking for a new way to feed their furry friends.
Things We Like
- Amazing dry food.
- Stray cats love it.
- Superfood.
Things We Don’t
- Requires adjusting to this food.
9Lives Daily Essentials dry cat food provides complete and balanced nutrition for adult cats.
With chicken, beef, and salmon flavors, this dry cat food delivers nourishment that helps support strong muscles, heart health, vision, and skin & coat health.
Plus, with just one morning serving per day (adjusted based on age and activity level).
You’ll feel good after feeding your cats 9Lives Daily Essentials. This cat food is made with high-quality ingredients like real meat proteins for the taste they enjoy. It doesn’t have any artificial flavors or preservatives.
The food is also 100% nutritionally balanced and complete for cats over 1 year old.
Things We Like
- Feral & Stray cats love it.
- High protein content.
- 100% complete and balanced nutrition.
Things We Don’t
- For cats over one year.
Diamond Naturals Active Cat Chicken Meal and Rice Dry Cat Food is the perfect food for your active cat. It’s high in protein, fat, and calories, so it provides high-power nutrition to help keep them going all day long.
Plus, it has vitamins and minerals from superfoods like blueberries and oranges to give their skin a healthy glow.
Each serving also includes species-specific viable proprietary probiotics – antioxidants and prebiotics – to help support healthy digestion, immune system, and overall health.
Diamond Naturals Active Cat Chicken Meal & Rice Dry Cat Food are healthy for cats. One serving a day helps the cat’s digestion, immune system, and overall health. Plus, they have probiotics to help their digestive system.
Things We Like
- Healthy skin and coat from Omega 3 & 6
- Crafted with care.
- Contain Superfoods and Antioxidants.
Things We Don’t
- Strong scent.
Purina ONE Tender Selects Blend With Real Chicken adult dry cat food is made with real chicken as the #1 ingredient.
This adult dry food’s omega 6 fatty acids help nourish and maintain healthy skin and a radiant coat.
This natural recipe plus essential nutrients uses real ingredients, including accents of real carrots and peas.
Crafted without fillers, artificial flavors, or preservatives using real ingredients.
Stray cats need food with crunchy bites and tender morsels they can bite. Give your cat the food they need by feeding them Purina ONE tender selects blend with real chicken adult dry cat food today!
It’s made without fillers, artificial flavors, or preservatives. It also has vegetables like carrots and peas.
Things We Like
- No artificial flavors or preservatives.
- Natural plus essential nutrients.
- 100% Complete and balanced nutrition.
Things We Don’t
- Not for kittens
Meow Mix Original Choice Dry Cat Food is the perfect mix to help you connect with stray cats over a healthy meal.
Cats need nutrition to stay healthy.
Meow Mix Original Choice is a food that has high-quality protein and essential fatty acids. It helps keep the cat’s muscles strong and makes their hair shiny.
Meow Mix is made without artificial flavors or preservatives. It has vitamins and minerals like calcium which helps keep your cat healthy. And it tastes good to cats too! Stray cats will love Meow Mix!
Things We Like
- Climate Pledge Friendly.
- Made in the USA.
- Price.
Things We Don’t
- Some cats didn’t like it.
Blue Buffalo Wilderness High Protein is made with real chicken, turkey, and fish for a high-quality protein that helps maintain lean muscle mass.
It also contains antioxidants like vitamin E and selenium to help support healthy immune systems.
This formula has no corn or wheat, so it’s great for cats sensitive to those ingredients.
Plus, this grain-free recipe is perfect for senior cats because it supports healthy weight levels without excess calories from carbohydrates.
You can feel confident knowing that BLUE Wilderness has everything stray cats needs to live a long life full of energy and happiness.
Things We Like
- Grain free mature cat food.
- Balanced protein and carbohydrates.
- High Protein.
Things We Don’t
- Little expensive.
Is wet or dry food better for stray cats?
Wet can cat food is more expensive than dry food, but it is often more satisfying for stray cats because of its meaty taste and moist texture. However, if your cat will eat dry food by itself, that may be a less expensive alternative.
Wet cat food has at least 10 percent of the water content removed after cooking to keep cats full between meals. It also contains about twice the fat content of dry food.
Dry cat food is easy to store and generally lasts longer than wet cat food. Dry food is usually more affordable, but some cats may need encouragement to eat it.
Some people worry that cats can become addicted to wet food, but this isn’t usually the case with stray cats who are only given dry food.
However, if your cat will eat dry food by itself, that may be a less expensive alternative.
What is better: wet or dry cat food?
A stray cat will need to be offered both wet and dry food, and they may prefer one over the other. But in most cases, we recommend trying different types of food to see what your cat prefers.
Where should I feed a stray cat?
It’s important not to feed a stray cat outside in an area where other pets can get their food. This could create territorial issues when it comes time for the animal to come indoors.
On average, stray cats need about one cup of food per day. If they are old, sick, or nursing kittens, you may need to feed them more.
How often should I feed a stray cat?
Each day you can offer your new pet food in two or three meals. Stray cats used to free-feeding may not understand that it is your job to provide this mealtime routine.
Conclusion
Food isn’t the only thing that can help strays cats. The majority of strays are adoptable cats who want to be loved again!
When it’s feasible, go above and beyond by giving a stray something more. Provide him with a warm place to rest as well!
