Persian cats may not be known for being excessively energetic or lively. In fact, they’re more likely to be found curled up on your lap than out chasing birds. They can have a playful streak similar to that of a kitten. However, as purebreds, they are prone to certain genetic and physical conditions.

Although they can look like large cats because of their coat, Persians generally weigh between 8 and 12 pounds for a female and up to 15 pounds for a male. The best food for Persian cats will ensure that they get the right ratio of protein, fat, and carbohydrates, while also enabling them to maintain a healthy coat and eyes.

You could feed your Persian on run-of-the-mill superstore cat food, but numerous high-quality brands are designed for breeds like the Persian. We have put together a list of the best brands, including reviews, so that you can make an informed decision and choose the right Persian cat food.

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The 7 Best Foods for Persian Cats

1. Smalls Human-Grade Fresh Cat Food Subscription – Best Overall

Persian cats do great on wet foods that are hydrating, healthy, and packed full of the best ingredients. That’s why Smalls Human-Grade Fresh is our choice for the best cat food for Persians. This soft, wet food comes in smooth or ground texture options that satisfy even the most finicky eaters.

Smalls Human-Grade Fresh comes in three protein options. The Fresh Bird recipe is made from chicken containing 92% breast and thigh, 6% liver, and 2% heart. Fresh Other Bird is 91% skin-on turkey thigh and 9% chicken liver. The other recipe is Fresh Cow, containing 90% lean ground beef and 10% cow liver and heart.

This food is derived from sustainably sourced ingredients that are USDA-certified and fit for human consumption. Smalls ensures their food products are free from grains, fillers, by-products, and artificial additives. Smalls cat foods are formulated specifically to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Cat Food Nutrient Profiles for all life stages so you can be comfortable feeding your Persian this food throughout its life.

Overall, you really cannot go wrong with Smalls Human Grade Fresh. It is a bit on the expensive side, but you are making up for it with exceptionally high quality that ensures your cat is getting all the nutrients and hydration they need.

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2. Iams ProActive Health Indoor Dry Cat Food – Budget Buy

There are several reasons why Iams ProActive Health Indoor Dry Cat Food is ideal for Persian cats. First, it is a small kibble, which is suitable for the shortened face and jaw shape of the Persian. Some are simply too large for the breed to cope with.

Dry food is also considered beneficial because it helps combat dental disease and maintains good dental hygiene. It is rich in protein and has been fortified with ingredients that include omega-3 and omega-6, which help maintain the coat of your Persian.

The Iams ProActive Health Indoor Dry Cat Food is also high in dietary fiber, ensuring that your cat has well-formed stools and does not suffer gastrointestinal complaints. Indoor cat food like this has fewer calories, which means that they can eat as much as an outdoor cat without the fear of them piling on weight that they won’t be able to easily lose.

Unfortunately, the food has a high carbohydrate content, and some of the ingredients are low-quality plant ingredients that are used as cheap fillers. However, these ingredients do help keep the price down and make this the best food for Persian cats for the money.

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3. Royal Canin Persian Dry Cat Food

Royal Canin Persian Dry Cat Food Dry Cat Food is another dry food, this time specifically created to keep Persians healthy. The primary ingredient in this food is chicken by-product meal.

It also contains chicken fat, which is a beneficial source of omega-3. Unfortunately, there are a number of lower-quality plant-based ingredients, including brewer’s rice, wheat gluten, and corn. All of these ingredients are criticized because they can make up a large part of the protein content of the food, but grains do not contain the full range of amino acids found in meat protein.

In short, they are cheaper and less beneficial alternatives to meat protein. Despite some inexpensive filler ingredients, Royal Canin Persian Dry Cat Food is on the expensive side of the foods on this list, although this is likely to be because of the lack of artificial colors, preservatives, and other artificial ingredients. The meat products that are used are also clearly identified, which isn’t always the case with pet foods.

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4. Wellness Complete Health Pate Canned Cat Food

Wellness Complete Health Pate Canned Cat Food is a grain-free wet food that utilizes chicken as its main ingredient and also includes chicken liver, turkey, and chicken broth among its primary ingredients.

It consists of approximately 10% protein and 7% fat. It is also grain-free, which is ideal if your cat has any grain allergies. This pâté is also free from fillers, which means that every mouthful provides nutritional benefits to your feline friend. The premium formula does not contain artificial colors or additives of any sort. The Wellness Complete Health Pate Canned Cat Food has a premium price tag, but it’s packed with muscle meat.

It is also popular because it is produced in North America. The pâté texture is easily palatable and appealing to cats, and it also contains fruit and vegetables for additional nutrients and uses natural thickening agents like cassia gum.

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5. Royal Canin Persian Adult Canned Cat Food

As well as their distinctive eyes, the most distinctive feature of the Persian cat is their long and luscious coat. Your Persian likely spends a lot of time cleaning and maintaining their fur. As a general rule, they are very good at it, too, but by providing them with food designed to protect and nourish their hair, you can give them a helping hand. Constant grooming can also lead to a lot of furballs, while excessive licking can cause damage to the skin under the fur.

Royal Canin Persian Adult Canned Cat Food is a loaf design covered in sauce to make the food more palatable and easier to digest. The formula contains omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, which help maintain a shiny coat. It also contains B vitamins, which further improve the luster of the coat.

The food can be fed as a complete meal or combined with kibble for additional nourishment and variety in your cat’s diet. With 7.5% protein levels, the Royal Canin could have higher protein, but most of this protein at least comes from meat ingredients, including pork by-products, chicken, pork liver, chicken by-products, and salmon.

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6. Hill’s Science Diet Adult Canned Cat Food

Hill’s Science Diet Adult Canned Cat Food is especially suited to overweight cats and can also be useful to feed indoor cats to prevent them from gaining extra weight. The primary ingredient in this food is minced chicken, so it should be appealing even for the pickiest of cats.

Additional taurine promotes a healthy heart and good vision, and the formula contains no artificial additives. It has a protein content of around 8.5%, but it includes ingredients like corn gluten meal and brewer’s dried yeast, which are considered lower quality than the equivalent meat proteins. They are inexpensive and add to the total protein level on the side of the pack, so they are not considered desirable ingredients in most cases.

Although it is decent-quality food and benefits from its lack of artificial additives, it has several ingredients that could be replaced with higher-quality alternatives.

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7. Royal Canin Feline Breed Persian Kitten Dry Cat Food

Royal Canin Feline Breed Persian Kitten Dry Cat Food is formulated specifically for Persian cats and for those up to 12 months old, by which time they should move up to adult food. This dry kibble can help protect your cat’s teeth while providing the nutrients and ingredients essential to their coat and health.

The kibble has also been designed so that it is physically easier for your Persian kitten to eat and digest, which is also important to their health as well as their enjoyment of the food. The primary ingredient is chicken by-product meal with brewer’s rice as the secondary ingredient. Brewer’s rice is the kernels that are left over after rice has been processed, and while it contains protein and fiber, the quality is questionable.

It is considered a relatively cheap filler ingredient and would be better replaced with something of a higher quality. The formula has been enriched with EPA and DHA, which are nutrients known to help protect the Persian’s long hair and skin.

To conclude, we think this is the best food for Persian kittens out there.

Buyer’s Guide: How to Select the Best Foods for Persian Cats

The Persian breed is known for its stunning eyes and luscious long hair. This breed is commonly kept as an indoor cat, so they can quickly put on weight. While they are usually perfectly capable of keeping their fur looking good on their own, you can help make it easier by providing them with high-quality food.

You should also ensure that their food contains all the required protein, vitamins, and minerals. Read on for more on how to choose the best cat food for your Persian.

Meat-Based Proteins

Cats are carnivores, and they must eat meat to survive and stay healthy. Meat protein contains a full array of amino acids, which are simply unavailable in plant and replacement proteins. Chicken, turkey, salmon, and other fish are some of the most common protein sources, but you may also find pork, lamb, and beef.

Fillers

Some cat foods include fruit and vegetables. In some cases, these incorporate essential nutrients and ingredients like omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. In other cases, they are chosen because they add protein that can be included on the side of the packet, but this protein costs a lot less than meat-derived protein. They may keep the cost of cat food down, but they are not providing the benefit they appear to be.

Food Shape Matters

When feeding your Persian dry kibble, you must remember it has a flat face. This means that it can struggle to consume large kibble biscuits. However, most manufacturers of Persian-specific formulas keep the pieces smaller so they’re easier for your cat to eat.

Allergens

Persians, like any cats, may be prone to allergies. In particular, they can be prone to grains and other ingredients. Common allergens include:

Signs of allergies can include itchy and irritated skin, vomiting, and diarrhea. If your cat is showing any of these signs, it may be worth switching to a food that does not include any of the allergens listed above.

Wet or Dry Food

Generally speaking, Persian cats benefit from eating a combination of wet and dry food. Some owners provide wet food in the morning as a meal for breakfast while offering a constant supply of dry food. You should always ensure that your Persian, or any other breed of cat for that matter, has access to fresh water all day.

Beating Hairballs

Hairballs are a significant problem for Persians because of their long fur and love of preening. Furballs are generated when cats use their tongues to clean themselves and drag fur into their throats.

Hairballs are natural and are not usually a sign of concern. But they are unpleasant for the cat producing them, and they are also unpleasant for owners who have to clean them up afterward. Natural remedies for hairballs include adding a teaspoon of flax oil to help lubricate the furball’s passage, providing plenty of water and regular brushing to remove excess and dead hair.

Another solution is to increase the fiber in a cat’s diet. Choose a brand that is high in fiber or higher in fiber than their current food. Fiber helps keep everything moving, and that includes furballs. It will ensure that the furball continues down the throat and into the stomach and beyond.

Cat foods labeled as hairball-control foods or those with small pieces of fruit like apples have higher fiber levels.

Conclusion

Persian cats are purebred felines that have specific dietary requirements. Most purebreds are kept as indoor cats, so you have to take care to ensure that they do not put on too much weight too quickly. They also need assistance caring for their long fur, while the physical shape of their face means that Persians can struggle to eat large kibble. The popularity of the Persian breed means that there are a lot of suitable foods on the market.

If you’re wondering what is the best food to feed a Persian cat, we hope our list of reviews will help you choose the one that suits you and your cat best. We found Smalls Human-Grade Fresh moisture-rich food uses high-quality ingredients to provide everything a Persian requires, although it is more expensive than many of the brands on the list.

If you’re on a tighter budget, Iams ProActive Health Indoor Dry Cat Food helps protect your cat’s teeth, coat, and general health while costing less than most of the competition.

See also:

• Health Benefits of Grain-Free Cat Food – Based on Science
• Best Cat Foods for Outdoor Cats – Reviews & Top Picks

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Featured Image Credit: Patrick Foto, Shutterstock