Best Cat Food For Feral Cats (2024): What To Feed Stray and Outdoor Cats

Many of you lovely people feed feral cats regularly, so in this guide we'll be helping you figure out what to feed stray cats. In this group test we're comparing and reviewing some of the best cat food for feral cats available on the market.

After all, choosing the right cat food for a feline friend who’s used to living outside can be complex. It can be challenging to introduce your feral companion to a new way of life, while still ensuring they get the right amount of nutrition. 

Compared to everyday domestic cats, outdoor cats typically require a slightly different diet. They may need more protein than most and often have different tastes and preferences. Given that most foods on the market are intended for domestic cats, choosing the right diet can be tricky. 

Using our own experience domesticating feral cats, we’ve reviewed some of the top products on the market today, specially designed to give your new kitty the nutrition they deserve.

Wellness Complete Health Natural Dry Cat Food is great for feral cats as it is made with high-quality, natural ingredients that provide essential nutrients to support their overall health. Feral cats often have limited access to regular meals, so a nutrient-dense and balanced diet is crucial. 

This cat food also includes protein from real meat sources, aiding in muscle development and maintaining a healthy weight. The formula is free from artificial additives, flavors, and preservatives, which aligns with the natural diet feral cats would typically consume.

3 Top Cat Food For Feral Cats Picks – Best, Value & Premium

Ultimately, the best cat food for feral cats will depend on a number of factors, ranging from their personal preferences for texture and flavor to their specific nutritional needs.

The good news is there are a handful of great options out there, which are perfect for feral felines. We narrowed some of our favorite products down into three top picks, based on overall value, nutritional content and community feedback:

That's a brief look at the top three, but let's go into more detail about those choices and a few others that may suit your needs.

Best Cat Food for Feral Cats: Alternative Picks

While the options outlined above were chosen to suit the needs of various pet parents, you may still find none of them appeal to you or your feral cat.

Fortunately, there are a handful of other great alternatives you can still consider. Here are some of our other favorites on the market today:

Cat Food For Feral Cats Buyers Guide

Choosing the best cat food for feral cats is similar to choosing food for your own domestic kitty. Whether you’re rehabilitating a stray, or feeding a collection of feral felines around your home, it’s important to make sure you’re providing the right balance of nutrients and good taste. 

Notably, if you’re feeding stray cats, you can actually help to reduce the impact they have on the local wildlife, and improve their health, as many cats don’t get the quality nutrition they actually need in the wild.

However, it’s important to ensure you’re not exposing kitties to any dangerous ingredients.

The Nutritional Needs of Feral Cats

While the nutritional needs of feral cats are similar to that of domestic kitties, there are some differences. Just like any cat, a feral feline will need a diet high in crucial macronutrients, such as proteins and fats. 

These proteins should typically be derived from animal products, as cats are obligatory carnivores, reliant on the nutrition they get from real meat. 

Some of the most important things to keep in mind include:

What to Consider When Choosing Cat Food for Feral Cats

Every cat deserves a nutritious, whole, and balanced diet. However, feral cats typically don’t have access to the same nutritional resources as domestic cats. The ideal cat food for your feral cat, whether you’re adopting it, or feeding a stray, will depend on numerous factors. 

Keep in mind, feral cats, just like regular kitties, have their own preferences when it comes to flavor and texture. 

Some will prefer wet food over dry food, and others will avoid anything other than raw meat. You may need to experiment for a while before you find a cat food that’s suitable for your furry friend. For the most part, choosing the right feral cat food will come down to two things - cost and ingredients.

Feeding feral cats generally means finding high-quality cat food that lists high-quality animal protein as the first ingredient and contains other sources of healthy nutrition. These include supplemental proteins, animal-based fats (like chicken fat, omega-3, omega-6, and salmon oil), vitamins, and minerals.

Cat Food Cost

We all have budgets we need to consider, no matter how much we want to help stray felines and feral kitties. Some of the highest-quality cat foods can be extremely expensive, particularly if you’re buying enough to feed an entire colony. 

There are a handful of cheaper cat food options on the market too, but it’s important to ensure these still include enough protein and essential vitamins and minerals. Consider all of your options carefully before making your choice. 

Cat Food Ingredients

As mentioned above, the ingredients you’ll need to focus on when choosing a feral cat food will be similar to those you’d look for in a standard cat food. Cats are obligate carnivores so the most important thing to look for is a high quantity of protein, derived from animal sources. 

If a cat food includes extra ingredients, like probiotics for digestion, fatty acids for skin and fur health, and taurine, this can also be particularly useful. Just avoid any products with high amounts of additives or byproducts. Protein is the most important thing for a cat. 

That protein should come from quality animal sources like meat, poultry (chicken & turkey) fish, and eggs. In addition to protein, cats need healthy fats in their diet for energy and skin and coat support. 

Balancing quality and price

The good news is there are a handful of great cat foods out there, including some of the options mentioned above, which offer an excellent combination of ingredients for a relatively low price. The key to success when shopping for a product that suits your budget is to check the ingredients carefully. Focus on buying foods with animal protein as the number one ingredient. 

Buying products in bulk can often be a good way to save some extra money too, however you’ll need to make sure the food you choose is long-lasting. Dry kibble generally lasts a lot longer than wet food, and it’s easier to serve outdoors too. 

Read this next: Best Low Protein Cat Food – Wet and Dry Picks For a Low Protein Diet

Best Cat Food For Feral Cats: The Verdict

Choosing to rehabilitate a feral cat, or feed the strays in your area can be a very noble thing to do. It’s a great way to protect the environment and demonstrate your compassion as an animal lover. 

However, it’s worth remembering that feral cats tend to have different nutritional needs and preferences from their domesticated counterparts. 

If you’re looking for a high-quality, and relatively budget-friendly cat food option, our top pick is the Wellness Complete Health dry food. It includes chicken as its number one ingredient and features a combination of omega fatty acids, minerals, and vitamins to support great overall health. Plus, it’s great for giving feral cats the extra calories and fats they need too.