Last updated Oct 24, 2023
Medically reviewed by
Though its origins are shrouded in mystery, the Abyssinian or Aby is thought to be one of the oldest domesticated cat breeds. With its slim figure and large ears, the Abyssinian cat resembles a small African wildcat but he is every bit the perfect house cat.
Abyssinian cats are active and intelligent which, as any cat owner knows, can be a dangerous combination. One thing is for certain with these vocal little cats: life with an Abyssinian is never dull.
At a Glance: Best Cat Food for Abyssinian Cats To Buy
Want a quick look at the products reviewed in this article? In the comparison table below, we’ve highlighted some of the most important features of each product. You’ll find more detailed information about each product later in the article.
Smalls Ground Bird Fresh Cat Food
- Fresh cat food made with a single protein source
- Rich in hydrating moisture
- Easy to chew and highly digestible
The Honest Kitchen Grace Grain-Free Turkey Dehydrated Cat Food
- Completely human-grade formula
- Free from fillers, GMOs, and artificial additives
- Rich in animal-based protein from turkey
Open Farm Herring & Mackerel Rustic Blend Wet Food
- Packed with high-quality animal protein
- Rich in moisture, good for your cat’s digestion
- Free from artificial additives, fillers, and by-products
Wellness CORE Grain-Free Indoor Chicken & Chicken Liver Recipe Wet Food
- Lower-calorie, high-protein formula is perfect for indoor cats
- Primarily made from high-quality meats
- Grain-free, made without corn, wheat, or soy
Hound & Gatos Chicken & Chicken Liver Formula Grain-Free Canned Cat Food
- Free from artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives
- Grain-free with no corn, wheat, or soy
- Made in the USA meaning good quality assurance
Instinct Ultimate Protein Grain-Free Dry Cat Food
- 95% protein from fresh chicken
- Supplemented with freeze-dried organ meats
- Rich in natural omega fatty acids and antioxidants
Stella & Chewy’s Absolutely Rabbit Freeze-Dried Dinner Morsels Cat Food
- Made with 98% meat, bone, and organs
- Novel source of premium animal protein, good for cats with allergies
- Freeze-dried to preserve nutritional value
What Should You Feed Your Abyssinian?
The Abyssinian is a very old cat breed, though the exact details of his origins are unknown. The ancestors of the breed probably lived throughout Southeast Asia and along the coast of the Indian Ocean. Other old breeds like the Burmese, Russian Blue, and Siamese likely played a role in the Abyssinians development.
As a domestic cat breed, the Abyssinian’s ideal diet is typical to that of other cats. But what exactly does that mean?
First and foremost, it means your Abyssinian is a carnivore – an obligate carnivore, to be specific. Obligate carnivores are designed to eat meat. They have sharp teeth for tearing flesh and a shorter digestive tract optimized for processing protein.
Plant products simply don’t play a significant role in an obligate carnivore’s diet and, in fact, can be very difficult to digest. Your Abyssinian’s diet should be high in animal protein with moderate fat and low carbohydrate content – as low as possible.
Another consideration when bringing cat food home to your Abyssinian, is the balance of moisture in your cat’s diet. Many cats have an unfortunate habit of not drinking enough water, an issue that can lead to kidney problems among other health concerns.
Raw, fresh, or canned food can help keep your Abyssinian hydrated.
No matter what kind of diet you choose for your Abyssinian, make sure it is a nutritionally complete and balanced food made from high-quality ingredients with a focus on animal-based protein. Ensure a balance of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids as well as essential nutrients, ideally from whole-food sources rather than synthetic supplements.
Our Top 7 Recommended Cat Food for Abyssinian Cats
Read on to see our top picks for the best cat food for Abyssinian cats.
#1 Overall Best: Smalls Ground Bird Fresh Cat Food
- Made In: United States
- Guaranteed Protein: 13% Min
- Age Range: All Life Stages
- Calories Per Ounce: 40
- Typical Cost Per Day: $4.00 per day
It’s hard to do better than fresh food when it comes to high-quality nutrition for your Abyssinian. Smalls delivers fresh cat food right to your door in customizable monthly deliveries. All of their recipes are packed with premium animal proteins and hydrating moisture.
This Ground Bird recipe starts off strong with chicken and chicken liver as the top two ingredients. It’s very low in carbohydrates and free from starchy fillers and hard-to-digest legumes. With its finely minced texture, it’s easy for most cats to chew. If your cat prefers a classic pate texture, try Smooth Bird instead.
Smalls cat food is delivered frozen in 5-ounce packages. You’ll need to thaw the package overnight in the fridge first before feeding. Your subscription will be based on your cat’s calorie needs, and you can adjust it as needed in your customer portal or by contacting the customer care team via text or email.
Ingredients
Chicken, Chicken Liver, Green Beans, Water Sufficient for Processing, Dried Yeast, Tricalcium Phosphate, Kale, Magnesium Proteinate, Potassium Chloride, Choline Chloride, Dandelion Greens, Dried Kelp, Taurine, Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Cod Liver Oil, Salt, Niacin Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Thiamine Mononitrate, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Folic Acid, Sodium Selenite, Biotin.
Ingredients We Liked: Chicken, Chicken Liver, Cod Liver Oil
Ingredients We Didn’t Like: None
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
What We Liked:
- Fresh cat food made with a single protein source
- Rich in hydrating moisture
- Easy to chew and highly digestible
- Adjust your subscription at any time
What We Didn’t Like:
- Only available as a subscription plan
- No phone support (text and email only)
#2 Runner Up: The Honest Kitchen Grain-Free Turkey Dehydrated Cat Food
As an alternative to fresh food that you have to keep frozen, this dehydrated cat food is an option to consider. Simply add warm water to rehydrate the food and let it sit for a few minutes before feeding. Once rehydrated, this recipe contains all the moisture your cat needs to support optimal hydration.
This dehydrated formula from The Honest Kitchen features 70% free-range turkey as a source of premium animal-based protein. Whole foods like pumpkin, potatoes, and kale provide natural sources for key nutrients, though the recipe still contains synthetic supplements for nutritional balance.
We like that this recipe is gently dehydrated to preserve nutritional value. It is less processed than many commercial foods and completely free from GMOs and artificial additives. It’s also completely human-grade, meaning it’s made with human-edible ingredients in a human food facility. The only downside is the number of plant ingredients and fairly high carbohydrate content.
Ingredients
Dehydrated Turkey, Dehydrated Eggs, Dehydrated Pumpkin, Dehydrated Potatoes, Dried Parsley, Dehydrated Kale, Dried Cranberries, Minerals [Tricalcium Phosphate, Potassium Chloride, Choline Chloride, Zinc Amino Acid Chelate, Iron Amino Acid Chelate, Potassium Iodide, Copper Amino Acid Chelate, Sodium Selenite], Taurine, Vitamins [Vitamin E Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B1), D- Calcium Pantothenate (Vitamin B5), Riboflavin (Vitamin B2), Vitamin D3 Supplement].
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
What We Like:
- Completely human-grade formula
- Free from fillers, GMOs, and artificial additives
- Rich in animal-based protein from turkey
What We Didn’t Like:
- Contains a significant number of plant ingredients
- Low in moisture unless rehydrated
#3 Premium Pick: Open Farm Herring & Mackerel Rustic Blend Wet Food
If you want the best of the best for your Abyssinian, consider this wet food formula from Open Farm. Not only is it packed with premium animal-based protein, but every ingredient is human-grade and both ethically and sustainably sourced. Even the packaging is reclosable and recyclable.
This formula starts strong with fresh ocean herring and mackerel as rich animal-based sources of both protein and fat. Whole foods like pumpkin, carrots, and spinach provide natural sources for key nutrients with chelated minerals and vitamin supplements for nutritional balance.
What we love about this recipe is the high protein and moisture content. Unfortunately, it contains a few more plant ingredients than we’d like, though the overall carbohydrate content isn’t too high. It’s still a little higher than we’d like to see in a wet food, however.
Ingredients
Ocean Herring & Mackerel, Water Sufficient For Processing, Pumpkin, Carrots, Spinach, Red Lentils, Agar Agar, Non-GMO Cranberries, Garbanzo Beans (Chickpeas), Chicory Root, Sunflower Oil, Coconut Oil (preserved with mixed tocopherols), Salt, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement, D-calcium Pantothenate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin Supplement, Biotin, Folic Acid, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Zinc Amino Acid Chelate, Iron Amino Acid Chelate, Copper Amino Acid Chelate, Manganese Amino Acid Chelate, Sodium Selenite, Dried Kelp, Potassium Chloride, Dandelion Greens, Choline Chloride, Taurine, Turmeric.
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
What We Like:
- Packed with high-quality animal protein
- Rich in moisture, good for your cat’s digestion
- Free from artificial additives, fillers, and meat by-products
What We Didn’t Like:
- Contains several plant-based ingredients
- Fairly expensive
#4 Value Pick: Wellness CORE Grain-Free Indoor Chicken & Chicken Liver Recipe Wet Food
This grain-free chicken pate was designed specifically with indoor kitties in mind.
This is a moderately low-calorie choice that can help keep your indoor cat slim – reviewers comment that after switching to this food, their overweight cats started to effortlessly slim down. Unlike many other lower-calorie foods, this formula isn’t packed with carbohydrates that can lead to weight problems.
Like all Wellness CORE foods, this indoor cat food aims to satisfy your feline’s natural dietary needs by focusing on high quality protein meat and organs and cutting out grains. Besides high-quality named meats like chicken, chicken liver, and turkey, this recipe contains nutrient-dense plant ingredients like dried kelp and cranberries.
Ingredients
Chicken, Chicken Liver, Chicken Broth, Turkey Broth, Chicken Meal, Turkey, Pea Protein, Dried Ground Peas, Natural Flavor, Cranberries, Pea Fiber, Ground Flaxseed, Guar Gum, Tricalcium Phosphate, Potassium Chloride, Choline Chloride, Taurine, Cassia Gum, Xanthan Gum, Dried Kelp, Chicory Root Extract, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Salt, Alfalfa Meal, Iron Proteinate, Zinc Proteinate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin E Supplement, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Sodium Selenite, Niacin, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, Biotin, Potassium Iodide, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Folic Acid.
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
What We Like:
- Lower-calorie, high-protein formula is perfect for indoor cats.
- Primarily made from high-quality meats.
- Grain-free, made without corn, wheat, or soy.
- Low in carbohydrates to keep your cat slim and healthy.
- Filler-free.
What We Didn’t Like:
- Contains pea protein – cats would be better off with more animal protein and not plant based protein.
#5 Best Wet Food: Hound & Gatos Chicken & Chicken Liver Formula Grain-Free Canned Food
The Hound & Gatos Pet Food Company offers what they call a “paleolithic pet diet” – one inspired by your cat’s ancestry and natural biological needs.
This recipe is made with 100% meat protein – ideal for your savage carnivore.
Besides chicken and chicken liver, this food contains added vitamins and minerals to make it a complete and balanced diet. It’s one of the simplest foods that you can buy for your cat, making it ideal for cats with food sensitivities and allergies.
Ingredients
Chicken, Chicken Broth, Chicken Liver, Calcium Carbonate, Agar-Agar, Potassium Chloride, Choline Chloride, Salt, Taurine, Salmon Oil, Iron Proteinate, Zinc Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Magnesium Proteinate, Sodium Selenite, Calcium Iodate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Niacin Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin Supplement, Biotin, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid.
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
What We Like:
- Free from artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives.
- Grain-free with no corn, wheat, or soy.
- Made in the USA meaning good quality assurance.
- A single source of animal protein – ideal for cats with allergies.
What We Didn’t Like:
- Customer reviews suggest that some cats don’t like the flavor.
#6 Best Dry Food: Instinct Ultimate Protein Grain-Free Dry Cat Food
Dry food is a convenient choice for many cat owners because it has a long shelf-life and simple serving. We like this Ultimate Protein formula from Instinct because it is packed with protein from fresh chicken and supplemented with freeze-dried chicken heart and liver for a boost of nutrition and flavor.
This recipe is made with 95% protein from fresh chicken and the primary source of added fat is animal-based as well. Made with whole-food ingredients, this recipe is highly digestible and it doesn’t hurt that it contains guaranteed levels of natural probiotics as well as natural omega fatty acids and antioxidants.
The downside of this kibble is that it lacks the moisture your cat needs for optimal hydration. It also contains more plant ingredients than we’d like and the overall carbohydrate content is a little high.
Ingredients
Chicken, Tapioca, Chicken Fat (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols and Citric Acid), Ground Flaxseed, Natural Flavor, Dried Tomato Pomace, Dried Whey Protein Concentrate, Dicalcium Phosphate, Potassium Chloride, Salt, Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin Supplement, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate, Thiamine Mononitrate, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin A Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Folic Acid, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Biotin), Montmorillonite Clay, Choline Chloride, Minerals (Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Sodium Selenite, Ethylenediamine Dihydriodide), Taurine, Freeze Dried Chicken, Freeze Dried Chicken Liver, Pumpkinseeds, Freeze Dried Chicken Heart, Dried Bacillus coagulans Fermentation Product, Rosemary Extract.
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
What We Liked:
- 95% protein from fresh chicken
- Supplemented with freeze-dried organ meats
- Rich in natural omega fatty acids and antioxidants
What We Didn’t Like:
- Doesn’t contain the moisture your cat needs
- Somewhat pricey
- Contains some added plant ingredients
#7 Best Raw: Stella & Chewy’s Absolutely Rabbit Freeze-Dried Dinner Morsels Cat Food
Raw food is an undeniably exceptional nutritional choice for cats if done properly, but it isn’t always the most affordable or the most convenient. If you’re looking for a suitable alternative to raw for your Abyssinian, consider this freeze-dried raw rabbit formula from Stella & Chewy’s.
This Absolutely Rabbit formula is made with 98% meat, bones, and organs from a single protein source: rabbit. The formula is gently freeze-dried to preserve the nutritional integrity of the raw ingredients and it can be served as-is with no need for rehydration. That being said, we do recommend rehydrating the food before feeding to help meet your cat’s needs for moisture.
Aside from the rabbit and rabbit liver, this formula contains just two other main ingredients: olive oil and pumpkin seed. Both of these are rich sources of omega fatty acids, though we’d prefer to see an animal-based source like salmon oil. Overall, the carbohydrate content of this formula is fairly low.
Ingredients
Rabbit With Ground Bone, Rabbit Liver, Olive Oil, Pumpkin Seed, Potassium Chloride, Sodium Phosphate, Choline Chloride, Dried Ediococcus Acidilactici Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus Acidophilus Fermentation Product, Dried Bifidobacterium Longum Fermentation Product, Dried Bacillus Coagulans Fermentation Product, Taurine, Tocopherols (Preservative), Dandelion, Dried Kelp, Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin Supplement, Copper Proteinate, Riboflavin Supplement, Sodium Selenite, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Biotin, Manganese Proteinate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid, Vitamin B12 Supplement.
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
What We Like:
- Made with 98% meat, bone, and organs
- Novel source of premium animal protein, good for cats with allergies
- Freeze-dried to preserve nutritional value
What We Didn’t Like:
- Fairly expensive
- Some cats dislike the freeze-dried texture
Common Abyssinian Health Problems
Your Abyssinian’s health is your top priority and while choosing a high-quality diet is essential, you should also be aware of the potential health issues affecting the breed.
All purebred and mixed breed cats are prone to developing health problems, but some specific issues that seem more common in Abyssinians include, dental disease, pyruvate kinase deficiency, which can cause anemia, amyloidosis (selective breeding has reduced the occurrence of this), patellar luxation, hip dysplasia, and progressive retinal atrophy (PRA). You should also be mindful of the risks for obesity, as this can worsen conditions such as hip dysplasia and patellar luxation, though Abyssinians tend to be a very active breed.
Another problem to be aware of in cats is the potential for food allergies. Diagnosing food can be tricky because they don’t present the same way in cats as they do in humans. Skin problems are more common than gastrointestinal symptoms with untreated food allergies in cats.
Some of the most common symptoms of food allergies in cats include:
- Chronic skin problems
- Dry, itchy skin
- Redness and inflammation
- Recurrent ear infections
- Vomiting or diarrhea
- Frequent bowel movements
Proteins like chicken, beef, and fish are the most common food allergens for cats, though dairy products are also frequently an issue. If you suspect your cat is suffering from food allergies, dietary modification is generally the most reliable means of confirmation. In other words, an elimination diet.
Switch your cat to a new diet with a novel source of protein (one he’s never had before and ideally a protein less commonly used such as rabbit or turkey) and keep him on that diet for at least 6 weeks. If the symptoms improve, you can keep feeding the hypoallergenic diet long term. If your cat isn’t improving or has other symptoms, visit your veterinarian for advice. Similarly, if they have an underlying condition, check with your vet first before changing their diet.
Overview
A healthy diet is the best way to support your Abyssinian cat’s long-term health and wellness. It’s your right to choose what kind of diet you offer your cat, but make sure to select a recipe that provides species-appropriate nutrition. Your cat is a carnivore above all else and requires a meat-based diet.
As long as your cat’s nutritional needs are being met, you have the freedom to choose what works for both of you. We recommend choosing the highest quality diet you can consistently afford, but we understand that not everyone has an unlimited budget. Follow the feeding recommendations on the pet food package and keep an eye on your Abyssinian’s body condition to adjust his daily portion if necessary. Take your cat to the vet at least once a year for his preventive wellness check and be sure to stay up-to-date on vaccinations as well.
I have a friend who is a veteranarian dentist who says that dry cat food is what keeps her in business.