Chicken, Wheat Gluten, Brown Rice, Chicken Fat, Whole Grain Oats, Cracked Pearled Barley, Whole Grain Wheat, Egg Product, Chicken Liver Flavor, L-Lysine, Flaxseed, Calcium Sulfate, Lactic Acid, Fish Oil, Dicalcium Phosphate, Potassium Chloride, Calcium Carbonate, DL-Methionine, Choline Chloride, Sodium Tripolyphosphate, vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (source of Vitamin C), Niacin Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Folic Acid, Vitamin D3 Supplement), Taurine, minerals (Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Copper Sulfate, Manganous Oxide, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite), Iodized Salt, Mixed Tocopherols for freshness, Natural Flavors, Green Peas, Magnesium Oxide, Apples, Cranberries, Carrots, Beta-Carotene, Broccoli.
Pet Food Ingredient Glossary / Explanation
During your cat's first year of life, you want to feed nutrition that supports everyday health and digestion. Hill's® Science Diet® Indoor Kitten dry food is specially formulated to fuel the energy needs of kittens with an indoor lifestyle so they get the best start in life. Made for kittens, this cat food made with natural ingredients uses DHA from fish oil to support brain health and eye development. Balanced minerals promote strong teeth and bones, while natural fibers promote healthy digestion for your young cat, and easier litter box clean-up for you. There’s more to love with the new look of Science Diet®. Some of our products also have new names, new kibble shapes & new formulas.
▸ Dry kitten food with natural fibers to promote healthy digestion and easy litter box clean-up
▸ Small kibble with DHA from fish oil to support healthy brain and eye development for young cats
▸ Promotes strong bones and strong teeth with balanced minerals
▸ Add variety to meal time with our tasty Hill's® Science Diet® Kitten Healthy Cuisine Roasted Chicken & Rice Medley
▸ Made in the USA with global ingredients you can trust
Healthy digestion for easy litter box clean-up
Chicken, Wheat Gluten, Brown Rice, Chicken Fat, Whole Grain Oats, Cracked Pearled Barley, Whole Grain Wheat, Egg Product, Chicken Liver Flavor, L-Lysine, Flaxseed, Calcium Sulfate, Lactic Acid,
Fish Oil, Dicalcium Phosphate, Potassium Chloride, Calcium Carbonate, DL-Methionine, Choline Chloride, Sodium Tripolyphosphate, vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (source of Vitamin C), Niacin Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Folic Acid, Vitamin D3 Supplement), Taurine, minerals (Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Copper Sulfate, Manganous Oxide, Calcium
Iodate, Sodium Selenite), Iodized Salt, Mixed Tocopherols for freshness, Natural Flavors, Green Peas, Magnesium Oxide, Apples, Cranberries, Carrots, Beta-Carotene, Broccoli.
| Crude Protein | 33.5% min |
| Crude Fat | 16.5% min |
| Crude Fiber | 3.5% max |
| Vitamin C | 85 mg/kg min |
| Vitamin E | 525 IU/kg min |
| DHA | 0.100% min |
Hill’s Science Diet remains one of the top pet food companies on the market. They have a huge following and produce hundreds of different formulas, many of which treat chronic diseases. However, they also produce a variety of “normal” foods, including some for kittens.
Of course, all of these formulas are just a bit different. Hill’s Science Diet uses veterinary science to create all of its foods, which is why they also remain one of the most expensive options on the market.
Furthermore, this company also has a variety of different names. Therefore, discovering which formulas have the best ingredients and nutrition for your cat can be challenging.
However, we did some of the legwork for you and reviewed some of the company’s best kitten foods.
- Hill's Prescription Diet i/d Digestive Care
- For kittens and cats with digestive issues
- Requires a veterinary prescription
- Includes highly digestible protein and fat so nutrients are assimilated easily without causing digestive issues
- Includes several sources of fiber, which are essential for digestive care
- The first ingredient is chicken
- Hill's Science Diet Kitten Savory Turkey Canned Cat Food
- The first ingredient is water for cats and kittens that need extra hydration
- Turkey is the second ingredient
- While turkey is the principal flavor, this recipe does include some chicken products
- This formula also includes soy protein isolate and corn gluten meal
- Contains vitamins for your kitten's immune system support
- Hill's Science Diet Kitten Savory Salmon Entree
- The first ingredient is water to improve moisture content and hydration
- Pork liver, a high-quality protein, is the second ingredient
- Salmon, which is high in omega fatty acids that support skin and coat health, is the third ingredient
- Includes high levels of fiber to support your kitten's digestive tract
- It also includes vitamins C and E for immune system support
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1. Best Overall: Hill’s Science Diet Indoor Kitten Dry Cat Food
For most kittens, we recommend this dry formula by Hill’s Science Diet. It includes chicken as the first ingredient, as well as chicken fat further down the ingredient list. With that said, this formula also relies on wheat gluten, which is a protein concentrate from wheat.
Of course, this ingredient holds some controversy. However, it does provide extra protein for your feline. This formula also includes brown rice, which is a whole grain that provides fiber and some nutrients.
For brain and eye development, this formula includes DHA from fish oil. This ingredient provides some extra support for your cat’s development. Plus, this formula contains antioxidants, as well. These improve your cat’s immune system by preventing oxidative stress.
Plus, we love that this formula does not contain artificial colors, preservatives, or flavors. Therefore, it remains a high-quality option for most kittens.
Best Overall
2. Best Wet Cat Food: Hill’s Science Diet Roasted Chicken & Rice Medley Canned Cat Food
Many cats do best on wet cat food, as it provides extra moisture. This moisture helps prevent UTIs and other urinary tract problems. Plus, extra hydration is rarely a bad thing.
Compared to most formulas on this list, this wet food includes more meat-based ingredients. Chicken broth appears as the first ingredient, which helps add moisture and nutrients to this wet cat food. Whole chicken appears as the second ingredient, while pork liver is the third.
Based on all these ingredients, this formula includes lots of amino acids to improve your cat’s growth and development. However, wheat gluten appears as the fifth ingredient. Keep this in mind when looking at the protein content of this food.
We love that this formula doesn’t contain any artificial flavors or preservatives.
Best for Kittens
3. Best for Digestive Health: Hill’s Prescription Diet I/D Digestive Care with Chicken
Sometimes, kittens and other cats need a bit of extra digestive support. Whether they have an underlying condition or just a sensitive tummy, we highly recommend this formula for your feline. However, it does require a veterinary prescription, which is something you need to keep in mind before trying to purchase it.
Overall, this food is for cats that really need digestive support.
This formula includes highly digestible protein and fat, which helps your feline assimilate nutrients and avoid digestive problems. Plus, Hill’s has included many sources of fiber. For most digestive problems, fiber remains vital for digestive care and support.
This formula lists chicken as the first ingredient. This ingredient helps improve digestion, as chicken is extremely digestible.
Best for Digestive Health
Hill's Prescription Diet i/d Digestive Care
- For kittens and cats with digestive issues
- Requires a veterinary prescription
- Includes highly digestible protein and fat so nutrients are assimilated easily without causing digestive issues
- Includes several sources of fiber, which are essential for digestive care
- The first ingredient is chicken
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4. Best Pouch Recipe: Hill’s Science Diet Kitten Tender Chicken Recipe
This formula features an extremely tender texture that’s sure to entice kittens. Plus, most kittens have no trouble eating it. Therefore, for very tiny kittens, you may want to consider this delectable food.
To increase the water content, this food contains water as the first ingredient. Plus, chicken and pork liver are the second and third ingredients. Therefore, Hill’s included a lot of meat in this formula, as well.
On top of meat protein, soy protein isolate and wheat gluten have also been included. These two ingredients seriously increase the protein content of these foods. However, they are not meat-based and therefore may not contain all the amino acids that your cat needs.
Many customers reported that they loved the pouch this food comes in. Each single-serve pouch allows you to quickly and easily feed your kitten.
Best Pouch Recipe
5. Best Turkey-Based Kitten Food: Hill’s Science Diet Kitten Savory Turkey Entree
While most Hill’s Science Diet features chicken as the main ingredient, this recipe lists turkey as the primary flavor. The company added water first to increase the moisture content. Many cats need the extra moisture, and this wet food provides just that.
However, turkey does appear as the second ingredient. Therefore, this formula works well for cats that can’t have or don’t like chicken. With that said, this formula does include some chicken. For instance, chicken liver flavor appears further down on the list.
Therefore, it is not best for kittens that are extremely sensitive to chicken. However, for only moderate allergies, this formula may work just fine.
Soy protein isolate and corn gluten meal both appear pretty high on the ingredient list. For this reason, we highly recommend keeping this in mind when looking at the overall protein content. Not all of the protein comes from meat.
Best Turkey-Based Kitten Food
Hill's Science Diet Kitten Savory Turkey Canned Cat Food
- The first ingredient is water for cats and kittens that need extra hydration
- Turkey is the second ingredient
- While turkey is the principal flavor, this recipe does include some chicken products
- This formula also includes soy protein isolate and corn gluten meal
- Contains vitamins for your kitten's immune system support
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6. Best Fish-Based Kitten Food: Hill’s Science Diet Kitten Savory Salmon Entree
Fish provide many benefits to cats that you might enjoy. Firstly, salmon is high in omega fatty acids, which support skin and coat health. However, despite its name, salmon doesn’t appear until the third ingredient in this food. Therefore, while it does contain salmon, it contains more other ingredients.
Water appears as the first ingredient. This improves the moisture content of this cat food, which helps with many different health problems. Plus, picky cats also enjoy increased moisture content in many cases.
However, pork liver appears as the second ingredient. While this ingredient is high-quality, it is far from salmon. Don’t let the advertising fool you. Plus, pork by-products and chicken fat appear high on the ingredient list, as well.
This formula includes high levels of fiber, supporting your kitten’s digestive tract. Fiber remains vital for many cats, as it helps regulate your cat’s digestive system. This recipe also includes vitamins C and E, which may help improve your cat’s immune health.
Best Fish-Based Kitten Food
Hill's Science Diet Kitten Savory Salmon Entree
- The first ingredient is water to improve moisture content and hydration
- Pork liver, a high-quality protein, is the second ingredient
- Salmon, which is high in omega fatty acids that support skin and coat health, is the third ingredient
- Includes high levels of fiber to support your kitten's digestive tract
- It also includes vitamins C and E for immune system support
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Choosing the Best: What to Look For
When you’re choosing the best Hill’s Science Diet kitten food, there are several things you should keep in mind. Not all of these foods are the same. Therefore, you’ll need to carefully consider each recipe’s ingredients, nutritional value, grain inclusion, and price before making your purchase.
Ingredients
Generally, you want to see meat as the primary ingredient in any cat food. Cats are obligate carnivores, which means that they thrive on a diet containing mostly meat. They need to eat meat to survive.
Therefore, it only makes sense to choose a cat food that’s high in meat for your kitten.
Plus, you also want to consider not purchasing foods that include any controversial ingredients. These foods may not necessarily harm your feline, but they are rarely the best option.
Nutritional Value
All kitten foods on the market meet AAFCO guidelines for kitten formulas. In other words, they all count as complete diets. However, these formulas often include other nutrients like added omega fatty acids and vitamin C.
These added nutrients can provide support for many felines. If your cat has a specific health problem, these ingredients may be even more important.
Grain Inclusion
Grains remain a controversial subject despite being in most cat foods. For the most part, there currently is no evidence that states whether or not these ingredients should be in cat food. They do provide fiber and some nutrients when used in their whole form.
Therefore, we recommend that most cats consume either no grains or whole grains. Generally, whole grains are the best option.
Many people choose grain-free foods because they often appear to be low in carbohydrates. However, many grain-free cat foods contain lots of starchy veggies. Therefore, a grain-free cat food often contains starchy veggies.
Price
Hill’s Science Diet remains a more expensive cat food brand. However, this higher expense pays for the food research. This brand employs many veterinary nutritionists, which is surprisingly hard to find.
Therefore, you’re getting something for the increased price.
The Different Types of Hill’s Science Diet Kitten Foods: Pros and Cons Compared
Hill’s Science Diet creates three main different types of kitten foods, including dry food, wet food, and veterinary food. Which option is best for your feline depends on a number of factors.
- Dry cat food – For the most part, dry kitten food is the norm. This food has a long shelf life and can be left out without drawing bugs.
- Wet cat food – While not the most common, many cats benefit from the extra moisture in wet cat food.
- Veterinary cat food – Veterinary cat food has been designed for specific health conditions. Kittens with health problems may need one of these foods.
Dry Cat Food
| Inexpensive | Low moisture content |
| Some dental benefits | Often higher in carbohydrates |
| Stores for a long period | Often contains more fillers |
| Easier to feed |
Wet Cat Food
| Tastier | May lead to dental problems |
| High moisture content | Expensive |
| Higher in protein | |
| More meat-based ingredients |
Veterinary Cat Food
| Designed for specific health conditions | Requires a prescription |
| Often necessary for cats with chronic conditions | Only for very sick cats |
| Many different formulas | Typically expensive |
| More difficult to find |
Verified Reviews: Users’ Experiences
Most user complaints were about each recipe’s ingredient list. For instance, many users were disappointed with the salmon wet food, as the first few ingredients were not salmon. Many users felt tricked by the advertising. (This is one reason we recommend always reading the ingredient list before making a purchase.)
With that said, most reviews were extremely positive. Users regularly gave the kitten indoor dry food rave reviews. According to most reviews, cats love it, and it appears to keep them healthy.
However, there were some complaints about each dry food option involving the flavor. Evidently, some cats simply don’t like how this brand tastes. Still, we expect some of this is due to the lack of artificial flavors. If your kitten is used to artificial flavors, switching to any food without them may be a bit troublesome.