Published Nov 9, 2018
Medically reviewed by
As popular as organic foods have become for people, it is no surprise that pet owners are increasingly interested in feeding their pets organic food as well.
The idea that organic foods are healthier and more environmentally friendly makes these foods very appealing for humans and pets alike. But is organic cat food healthier for your cat?
Let’s find out and take a look at some of the best options you can buy.
At a Glance: Best Organic Cat Food To Buy
Want a quick look at the Best Organic Cat Foods 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.
Evanger’s Organics Braised Chicken Dinner Canned Cat Food
- All the main ingredients are organic
- Single-protein recipe featuring chicken muscle meat and chicken liver
- Rich in hydrating moisture, also supports digestion
Castor & Pollux Organix Organic Turkey, Brown Rice & Chicken Recipe Canned Food
- Contains four sources of organic animal protein
- Salmon oil provides skin- and coat-supporting omega-3s
- Should be easily digestible for most cats
Purina Beyond Organic Chicken & Sweet Potato Recipe Paté Canned Food
- Made with a short list of organic whole-food ingredients
- Contains a single source of animal protein
- Rich in moisture to support your cat’s hydration
Tender & True Organic Turkey & Turkey Liver Paté Canned Food
- Features organic turkey muscle meat and organic chicken liver
- Salmon oil provides an animal source of omega-3s
- Low carbohydrate content around 10% dry matter
Gather Free Acres Organic Free-Run Chicken Dry Cat Food
- Features organic chicken as the main ingredient
- Relies primarily on animal-sourced fat
- Free from artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives
Wysong Uretic with Organic Chicken Canned Cat Food
- High moisture and low carb content may provide urinary support
- Rich in animal-sourced protein from organic chicken
- Doesn’t contain hard-to-digest peas or starchy potatoes
Why Should You Trust Us?
We’ve reviewed over 200 of the world’s most popular cat food brands and hundreds of different formulas. We’ve spent hours researching, contacting pet food companies, analyzing labels, and reading customer reviews. With the help of our cats, we also got hands-on experience with most of these foods.
Finally, we consulted 7 veterinarians to get their professional opinion on what makes a great cat food.
Our Veterinary Advisors
- Sarah Wooten, DVM, CVJ
- Chris Vanderhoof, DVM, MPH
- Sarah Reidenbach, DVM
- Chyrle Bonk, DVM
- Jamie Whittenburg, DVM
- Albert Ahn, DVM
- Elizabeth Youens, DVM
How We Tested
We personally purchased and tested the products on this list. The entire testing process was funded by Cats.com without direct input or influence from the companies involved.
When researching cat food, we analyze the information on the label including the guaranteed analysis, list of ingredients, and life stage designation. We also consult customer reviews for insight regarding reformulations or issues with product quality and check for product recalls.
During our in-depth testing, we make observations about the product’s appearance, texture, consistency, smell, and packaging. We also feed the food to our cats to get their opinion regarding palatability and general appeal.
The 6 Best Organic Cat Foods
The top four products on this list contain a significant number of organic ingredients – the only exceptions being added fats, flavors, and synthetic supplements. The final two picks feature a source of organic animal protein as the main ingredient with a few other organic ingredients mixed in.
#1 Overall Best: Evanger’s Organics Braised Chicken Dinner Canned Cat Food
Featuring a blend of organic chicken and organic chicken liver, this is a single-protein canned food formula. As such, it may be appropriate for cats with allergies to other common proteins like beef or fish.
The food is rich in moisture, so it’s a good source of hydration for your cat. The moisture may also help with digestion, though some cats experience loose stools when consuming foods thickened with guar gum. The recipe itself, however, should be highly digestible because it’s made with a short list of animal-sourced ingredients.
Overall, this is a fairly high-protein, moderate-fat cat food with plenty of hydrating moisture and fairly low carbohydrate content. All of the main ingredients are organic.
Ingredients
Organic Chicken, Organic Chicken Broth, Organic Chicken Liver, Organic Guar Gum, Taurine, Vitamins {Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin Supplement, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (Source of Vitamin C), Thiamine Mononitrate (Source of Vitamin B1), Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin A Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Source of Vitamin B6), Riboflavin Supplement (Source of Vitamin B2), Folic Acid, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Biotin, Vitamin D2 Supplement}, Minerals {Zinc Sulfate, Iron Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Selenium Yeast, Potassium Iodide}.
Ingredients We Liked: Organic Chicken, Organic Chicken Liver
Ingredients We Didn’t Like: Organic Guar Gum
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
What We Liked:
- All the main ingredients are organic
- Single-protein recipe featuring chicken muscle meat and chicken liver
- Rich in hydrating moisture, also supports digestion
- Short list of simple, animal-sourced ingredients
What We Didn’t Like:
- Guar gum may cause loose stools in some cats
- Fairly expensive, around $0.40 per ounce
#2 Runner Up: Castor & Pollux Organix Organic Turkey, Brown Rice & Chicken Recipe Canned Food
This Organix recipe from Castor & Pollux features organic turkey, organic chicken, and organic chicken liver as the primary source of protein. Organic dried egg provides supplemental animal-sourced protein.
Unlike the previous formula, this is not a grain-free recipe. The grain included is organic brown rice which it a nutritious alternative to things like white rice and is generally more digestible for cats than peas, beans, or legumes. Combined with organic coconut flour, however, the rice does raise the carbohydrate content of this formula over 20% (measured as dry matter).
Overall, this is a moderate-protein, high-fat wet cat food formula rich in moisture with moderate carbohydrate content. All of the main ingredients are organic.
Ingredients
Organic Turkey, Water Sufficient for Processing, Organic Brown Rice, Organic Chicken, Organic Chicken Liver, Organic Coconut Flour, Organic Dried Egg Product, Calcium Carbonate, Organic Flaxseed, Organic Cranberries, Tricalcium Phosphate, Salt, Potassium Chloride, Organic Guar Gum, Salmon Oil, Minerals (Zinc Amino Acid Complex, Iron Amino Acid Complex, Copper Amino Acid Complex, Manganese Amino Acid Complex, Sodium Selenite, Calcium Iodate), Choline Chloride, Taurine, Vitamins (Niacin, Vitamin E Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin Supplement, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Folic Acid).
Ingredients We Liked: Organic Turkey, Organic Chicken, Organic Chicken Liver, Organic Dried Egg Product, Salmon Oil
Ingredients We Didn’t Like: Guar Gum
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
What We Liked:
- Contains four sources of organic animal protein
- Salmon oil provides skin- and coat-supporting omega-3s
- Should be easily digestible for most cats
- Rich in hydrating moisture
What We Didn’t Like:
- Guar gum may cause loose stools in some cats
- Dry matter carbohydrate content is over 20%
#3 Best For Picky Cats: Purina Beyond Organic Chicken & Sweet Potato Recipe Paté Canned Food
Like the Evanger’s recipe above, this Purina Beyond Organic recipe is made with organic chicken and organic chicken livers as the main ingredients. It’s another grain-free recipe, made with organic sweet potatoes which are rich in antioxidants and beta carotene.
While many Purina recipes utilize poor-quality ingredients and artificial additives, this recipe only contains four whole-food main ingredients and synthetic supplements. It does contain organic guar gum as a thickener, but it appears after the minerals on the list, so it doesn’t likely contribute significantly to the product’s overall composition.
Overall, this is a moderate-protein, moderate-fat wet cat food formula rich in moisture with fairly high carbohydrate content. All of the main ingredients are organic.
Ingredients
Organic Chicken, Organic Chicken Broth, Organic Chicken Livers, Organic Sweet Potatoes, Minerals [Potassium Chloride, Zinc Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Potassium Iodide], Organic Guar Gum, Choline Chloride, Taurine, Salt, Vitamins [Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B-1), Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin (Vitamin B-3), Calcium Pantothenate (Vitamin B-5), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B-6), Vitamin A Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement (Vitamin B-2), Vitamin B-12 Supplement, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (Vitamin K), Folic Acid (Vitamin B-9), Vitamin D-3 Supplement].
Ingredients We Liked: Organic Chicken, Organic Chicken Livers
Ingredients We Didn’t Like: Organic Guar Gum
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
What We Liked:
- Made with a short list of organic whole-food ingredients
- Contains a single source of animal protein
- Rich in moisture to support your cat’s hydration
- Free from artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives
What We Didn’t Like:
- Contains guar gum
- Only sold in small 3-ounce cans
#4 Best Low-Carb: Tender & True Organic Turkey & Turkey Liver Paté Canned Food
This canned food from Tender & True features organic turkey and organic chicken liver as the main ingredients. It obtains added protein from organic pea protein. At nearly 42% protein measured as dry matter, this is a fairly high-protein recipe, but it’s hard to say how much of it is plant-sourced.
It’s also worth noting that the first listed source of added fat is plant-based. The food does, however, contains salmon oil as an animal source of omega-3 fatty acids. It’s free from the guar gum that most of the previous recipes are thickened with.
Overall, this is a fairly high-protein, high-fat wet cat food formula rich in moisture with low carbohydrate content. All of the main ingredients are organic.
Ingredients
Organic Turkey, Organic Chicken Broth, Organic Chicken Liver, Organic Pea Protein, Organic Pea Flour, Tricalcium Phosphate, Natural Flavoring, Agar Agar, Organic Sunflower Oil, Salmon Oil, Choline Chloride, Organic Cranberries, Potassium Chloride, Taurine, Sea Salt, Calcium Carbonate, Magnesium Chelate, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (Source of Vitamin C), Zinc Proteinate, Zinc Sulfate, D-Alpha-Tocopherol Acetate (Source of Natural Vitamin E), Vitamin E Supplement, Manganese Proteinate, Manganese Sulfate, Iron Sulfate, Iron Proteinate, Beta Carotene, Inositol, Zinc Oxide, Niacin Supplement, Copper Proteinate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Copper Sulfate, Riboflavin Supplement, Manganous Oxide, Calcium Pantothenate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Potassium Iodide, Biotin, Sodium Selenite, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin A Acetate, Citric Acid, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Folic Acid.
Ingredients We Liked: Organic Turkey, Organic Chicken Liver, Salmon Oil
Ingredients We Didn’t Like: Organic Pea Protein, Organic Pea Flour, Organic Sunflower Oil
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
What We Liked:
- Features organic turkey muscle meat and organic chicken liver
- Salmon oil provides an animal source of omega-3s
- Low carbohydrate content around 10% dry matter
- Rich in moisture to support your cat’s hydration
What We Didn’t Like:
- Contains plant-sourced protein (pea protein)
- Expensive, over $0.60 per ounce
#5 Best Dry Food: Gather Free Acres Organic Free-Run Chicken Dry Cat Food
While only four of this recipe’s main ingredients are organic, all of the proteins are. These include organic chicken muscle meat and organic dehydrated chicken. The food relies primarily on animal-sourced fat from chicken, though the organic flaxseed may contribute some plant-sourced omega fatty acids.
As a dry food, this recipe is very low in moisture. It’s also unsurprisingly high in carbohydrates. Most of the carbs in this food appear to come from organic peas and lentils, two ingredients which can be difficult for cats to digest.
Overall, this is a moderate-protein, moderate-fat dry cat food formula low in moisture with very high carbohydrate content. Four of the main ingredients are organic.
Ingredients
Organic Chicken, Organic Dehydrated Chicken, Organic Peas, Lentils, Chicken Fat (Preserved With Mixed Tocopherols), Organic Flaxseed, Natural Chicken Flavor, Blueberries, Cranberries, Egg Shell Meal, Vitamins (Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, Inositol, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (A Source Of Vitamin C), Thiamine Mononitrate, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Folic Acid, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement), Minerals (Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite), Dl-Methionine, Taurine, Dried Rosemary.
Ingredients We Liked: Organic Chicken, Organic Dehydrated Chicken, Chicken Fat, Egg Shell Meal
Ingredients We Didn’t Like: Organic Peas, Lentils
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
What We Liked:
- Features organic chicken as the main ingredient
- Relies primarily on animal-sourced fat
- Free from artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives
What We Didn’t Like:
- Not all the main ingredients are organic
- Contains some hard-to-digest peas and lentils
- High carbohydrate content over 30% dry matter
#6 Best Therapeutic Food: Wysong Uretic with Organic Chicken Canned Cat Food
Though this recipe only contains two organic ingredients, it’s a more species-appropriate pick than the previous food because it’s a wet food product. It contains 75% moisture and under 15% carbohydrate, measured as dry matter.
The food features organic chicken muscle meat as the main ingredient and sole source of protein. This recipe contains brown rice which, again, is preferable to starchy beans, peas, and legumes. Wysong suggests the food’s high moisture and low carbohydrate content may provide urinary benefits for cats.
Overall, this is a fairly high-protein, high-fat wet cat food formula rich in moisture with fairly low carbohydrate content. Two of the main ingredients are organic.
Ingredients
Organic Chicken, Brown Rice, Blueberry, Dl-Methionine, Cranberry Extract, Taurine, Organic Barley Grass Powder, Dried Kelp, Yeast Extract, Mixed Tocopherols, Rosemary Extract, Chicory Root, Hemicellulose Extract, Natural Flavor, Minerals (Potassium Chloride, Zinc Proteinate, Zinc Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Iron Proteinate, Copper Sulfate, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Sulfate, Manganese Proteinate, Sodium Selenite, Calcium Iodate), Calcium Carbonate, Vitamins (Ascorbic Acid [Source of Vitamin C], Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin A Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Folic Acid), Pepper.
Ingredients We Liked: Organic Chicken
Ingredients We Didn’t Like: Organic Barley Grass
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
What We Liked:
- High moisture and low carb content may provide urinary support
- Rich in animal-sourced protein from organic chicken
- Doesn’t contain hard-to-digest peas or starchy potatoes
What We Didn’t Like:
- Not all the main ingredients are organic
- Fairly expensive, around $0.41 per ounce
What Should You Know About Buying Organic Cat Food?
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), certified organic foods are “grown and processed according to federal guidelines addressing, among many factors, soil quality, animal raising practices, pest and weed control, and use of additives.”
Organic cat food, then, is cat food made with ingredients that pass organic certification. This includes produce grown without pesticides and herbicides as well as meat and poultry raised in living conditions that accommodate natural behaviors (i.e., free-range chicken or pasture-raised beef).
Just because a cat food product is organic, doesn’t necessarily mean it’s species-appropriate.
In order to earn our recommendation, cat food must be formulated in accordance with your cat’s carnivorous needs. It should be meat-centric, balanced with animal-sourced fat, with plenty of moisture to support your cat’s hydration. It should also be low in carbohydrates.
Keep in mind that some cat foods that use the term organic aren’t 100% organic – they may simply use some ingredients that are certified organic. A quick perusal of the ingredients list on the label will tell you whether this is the case.
The Benefits of Buying Organic Cat Food
According to the Clinical Nutrition Service at Tuft University’s Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, it remains to be seen if organic pet food is more nutritious than non-organic pet food. The benefits of organic cat food that are often touted are listed below:
- Free of antibiotics and synthetic hormones
- Free of toxic pesticides
- Free of allergy-triggering artificial ingredients
In many instances, buying organic versus non-organic is a matter of personal choice. What is most important is that the food is species-appropriate for your cat according to their nutritional needs.
Also Read: The Complete Guide to Feline Nutrition
