My cat’s not a senior, but he is a picky little guy who refuses to eat his food if it’s too crunchy. Whether you have a picky cat like mine or you have an older cat who needs any homemade soft food options on its teeth, you might want to look around for the leading soft dry cat food—especially if you don’t want to deal with handling wet cat food or its messes.
But is there such a thing as soft dry food for cats with no teeth? Most cats like either crunchy kibble or soft wet food, and you might be trying to figure out the in-between options. To help your cat get all the nutrients that they need to have without digestive issues or if your cats with dental issues are not eating well, the right food will go a long way. Check out these soft kibble cat food!
10 Best Soft Dry Cat Foods
Blue Buffalo Wilderness High Protein Grain Free (Great Soft dry food for cats with bad teeth)
This option from Blue Buffalo is made of both dry bits and soft bits that have all the vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that you want to improve your cat’s immune system. You can pick one of two of the available protein options depending on your cat’s preference, which even cats with no teeth can enjoy.
We liked the blend of ingredients in this food, which were great for nutrition and also ensured that our guy stayed healthy. There are no harmful byproducts in this food, so if your cat likes eating after you soften the food or if they have digestive issues, this is the food for them.
Pros
- The so-called LifeSource bits are much softer in comparison
- Real protein is the first ingredients
- Provided our cats with good energy
Cons
- If you open the pack and don’t store it properly, it can get hard quickly
Meow Mix Tender Centers Dry Cat Food
Our cat personally loves Meow Mix because of the tender centers, so he enjoys the crunchy feeling on the outside with the softer protein on the inside. Meow Mix makes multiple flavors of this type of food, which have a low number of calories and which also do include some filler ingredients like wheat and ground corn.
These foods do have lots of vitamins and minerals though to help your cat get the nutrition that they need, but it’s up to you if you want to feed your cat the artificial preservatives and colors. This is a great choice for adult cat food over some much older or younger cats.
Pros
- Many flavor options
- This is a great food for adult cats specifically or for picky eaters
- The food itself is one of the most inexpensive options
Cons
- There are artificial flavors in this cat food
Purina ONE Tender Selects Blend Adult Dry Cat Food
You have crunchier foods, and you have tender center food—and then you have Purina One. Purina’s Tender Selects are made with meaty bits and tender bits that are easier for your cat to bite through comfortably. They do use fresh salmon and chicken by-products, but do remember that there’s white rice in these that act as a filler. If your cat can’t handle grains very well, you’ll want another choice for your cat.
If your cat isn’t choosy and okay with grains, you’ll appreciate the vitamins and minerals to help your cat’s coat and help keep your cat healthy. Just be careful serving it to overweight cats, since there’s more fat in this food than comparable options.
Pros
- The texture is perfect for older cats
- It does have grains and veggies for digestion, but that does mean it’s not pure protein
- The physical bites are good for picky cats who want a little crunch
Cons
- There’s a little too much fat in this food
Iams Proactive Health High Protein
This is the perfect food for cats who need a lot of protein, from kittens to larger cats. There’s advice for cat with dental problems that they can eat this food, and should hopefully enjoy the chicken flavor. Of course, there’s also prebiotics and some veggies to help your cat’s digestive system, and it helps that you won’t need to struggle with anything artificial in this food.
Now, do keep in mind that this food isn’t only for a specific breed but for all kinds of cats, and the protein does keep it a little less crunchy than other dry or wet options. It’s not made with tender centers or soft bits though, so it may not be good for all with weak cat’s teeth.
Pros
- It’s good for any age and any size of cat
- Good budget cat food
- There’s nothing artificial in this cat food
Cons
- May not be soft enough for every cat
Purina Kitten Chow Nurture Kitten Dry Cat Food
Kitten food may be marketed towards kittens, but it’s possible that you can feed it to your older cats as a choice that’s soft for them to eat. This is because kitten foods are made to be softer—they can even be eaten easily. If your cat doesn’t have any teeth, this might just be the best option for you.
That’s because the dry kibbles are very small in this food, not to mention that they’re easy to digest. That being said, kitten formulas like dry kibble foods are to be high in protein to help your kitten grow. For adult cats, it might be too much, especially if they’re dealing with kidney or renal issues.
Pros
- This is a food that a cat with weak or no teeth can eat
- Perfect for digestion
- Soft textures that can be combined with other foods
Cons
- It might be too high in calories and protein
Purina Fancy Feast Adult Dry Cat Food
As a semi-dry cat food, Purina’s Fancy Feast food contains chicken and turkey that should entice your cat to eat it. Plus, you’ll love the various vitamins and minerals inside all that protein. Our cat loved the real protein flavoring, even in the dry food, and he was interested in the shape of the food.
The shape of the food made it soft and easy to eat since it’s so light and not as dense as some of your other dry and wet cat food options. That means that it’s not as crunchy but it also isn’t the same consistency as wet cat food.
Pros
- The shape is unique, which may appeal to your cat
- The minerals in this food are good for your cat’s bones and teeth
- Your cat should really notice the strong flavoring
Cons
- May not be as good for digestion without the extra vegetables
Blue Buffalo Indoor Health Natural
It’s no surprise that we just had to look at a couple of Blue Buffalo options—Blue Buffalo makes good cat food, after all, using real ingredients, vitamins, and minerals that are not only meant to entice your cat to eat but that are also made for your cat to digest comfortably. With meat right there as the first ingredient in this food, it shouldn’t be an issue, at least for you to get your cat to eat this food.
Feed this food to your indoor cats for them to chew on the blended bits—which are made to be chewable for your cat to eat comfortably. This can be your cat’s entire diet, and they’ll get all the nutrition they need to live well.
Pros
- The Lifesource bits are soft
- The food is completely natural
- Senior cats find that it’s easy to chew
Cons
- There are grains in this food, so it’s not good if your cat has food sensitivities.
Sheba Perfect Portions- Pate Wet Cat Food Trays
First off, yes, this cat food is closer to wet food than our other more kibble-like options. We’re including it on this list, though, because it’s proportioned out easily enough that you should be able to give it to your cat as easily as any dry food. It’s also a pate, so it’s not precisely as wet as your other options. It is perfect for cats that do not have teeth though and is solid enough that your cat won’t make a mess with it.
Sheba food product is made without any fillers like wheat or corn, and there are no artificial flavors either. Real meat is the first ingredient, but this is a complete diet for any cat. You might prefer to give it to your senior cat or to your cat as a treat or as a transition to softer food.
Pros
- You do have real meat in this food
- The vitamins and minerals are good for cats in all life stages
- This may be economical with the two meals per package
Cons
- This food is too rich for cats with sensitive stomachs
Rachael Ray Nutrish SuperFood Blends Dry Cat Food
It’s one of the best things for elderly cats or cats with sensitive teeth is food that’s a good size and texture. That’s what this Rachael Ray food is: it’s made to be small enough for your cat to chew while still including a high amount of protein like chicken, salmon, and chicken meal. There is also the inclusion of extras such as beet pulp, rice, and pumpkin. If your cat has a sensitive stomach, this might not be the cat food for your feline.
There aren’t any artificial flavors, though, and for the most part, any cat of any age can enjoy this food. The fact that the kibbles are made to be a little softer is a huge help for kittens and older cats.
Pros
- There’s nothing artificial in this food
- It’s soft enough to give it to all ages of cats
- You can purchase it in a variety of flavors
Cons
- The price of this food is more expensive
Hill’s Science Diet Dry Cat Food
Now, Hill’s Science is made specifically dry food for adult cats, with the variety that your cat deserves. You have five different formulas that your cat can try out, and it helps that this food is specifically made for cats with none or fewer teeth to help with their heart, eyes, and kidneys. Really, if your cat doesn’t have any teeth and you still want to feed them a dry food, this is the option for you.
Of course, rest assured that you’re feeding your cat healthy food that includes tons of antioxidants and Vitamin E that is meant to boost their immune system and keep them active into their senior years. Without anything artificial either, this is an easy food to digest.
Pros
- The little triangular pieces are shaped just right for cats with few teeth
- It’s made with ingredients to support your cat’s immune system
- Made specifically for senior cats
Cons
- It is a little greasy, so it might not be great if your cat has a sensitive stomach
Wellness Core Air Dried Natural Grain Free Dry Cat Food
If you’re finding for dry cat food that your cat can still eat comfortably with weak or sensitive teeth, look no further than this Wellness Core grain-free dry cat food. It’s made with kibbles that include 70 percent raw pieces without any wheat, gluten, soy, by-products, or artificial preservatives. The formula is made to be completely natural, with deboned turkey and chicken for your cat to enjoy.
What really stands out here is the partially soft type of the kibble, which is what makes this food such a good choice for both kittens and older cats. The only issue here is that there’s a lot of fat in this food, meaning that it’s not the best option for cats who have dealt with weight issues.
Pros
- This food is completely natural, with nothing to upset your cat’s stomach
- The texture is soft and yet with a little crunch to it
- There’s a lot of protein content in this food
Cons
- It is very fatty, and does contain peanuts too
Purina Pro Plan Savor Adult Dry Cat Food with Probiotics
Your cat has some good flavor options when you pick up this Purina Pro Plan food, and if they don’t like the flavor you pick out, you can buy a smaller bag of food at first just to test it out. Do keep in mind that this dry cat food has enough moist that sits in a pouch, so there’s a blend of crunchy bits and soft bits. Within this pouch, there’s a unique blend of probiotics in the food, which are made to enhance your cat’s digestion.
Check out this Purina food to see that real protein is the first ingredient, although you will also notice that there are a variety of vegetables, grains, and fruits inside this food too. Do be careful when it comes to cats who have trouble with digesting grains.
Pros
- You have a good blend of meaty pieces of kibble that are easy to chew
- The available flavors provide your cat with a lot of options
- The probiotics are a good option for your cat’s digestion
Cons
- There are a lot of calories in this food
What is Soft Dry Cat Food?
Soft dry cat food is, as the name suggests: food that is solid but that is chewier than your usual kibble options. This type of food is a great option for cats that are older and having trouble eating crunchy food, and it comes in a variety of flavors that will hopefully appeal to your cat. In addition, these soft dry foods are created with ingredients that are easily digestible if your cat of any age is dealing with food intolerances.
Really, soft dry foods are a sort of combination of your usual wet foods and your usual dry food. They’re baked with softer bits in them or soft centers and do have a higher moisture content as compared to your traditional or commercial dry food choice. Granted, they are not as moist as your choices, but they can put a little more moisture into your cat’s diet.
Why Soft Dry Cat Food?
You already know that there are dry and wet foods, and there are also semi-moist cat foods. Why would you choose to feed your cat dry yet soft cat food?
Soft dry cat food is basically a dry food like any other that is softer cat food than your comparable kibble options. It’s not wet, but there is more moisture in them than your usual crunchy kibble bits. If your cat likes to feel like they’re chewing something and won’t like the soft texture of wet food, this is why you’ll want to get this soft dry food for your cat.
Granted, wet food can be beneficial for cats who need that increased amount of water in their diet, but it’s also true that it will generally be more expensive than your soft yet dry food options.
You can also find semi-moist soften cat food as a part of our options here, which food contains a lot more water than your usual kibble or even softer dry food. Of course, this food also has more sugar and salt.
In the end, this has moisture if your cat needs soft dry cat food, but it’s also a good option if your cat still wants to eat food that is softer but has some texture to it.
Types of Dry Cat Food That is Soft
Pouch Foods
Pouch cat food types are foods that are a little bit more portable than your traditional cat food, but that are still too wet to really feel like dry food. They still have that sauce and still might be tough for your cat to adjust to if they’re used to strictly dry food. Many of them may not be the best option in terms of calories either, with some pouch foods more like treats than meals.
Partially Dry Cat Food
This is the type is the one you want to be on the lookout for. The partially dry option has softer pieces and crunchy pieces together, or you can find options that have softer centers and some soft bits in them that make it easier for your cat to chew it.
This type of food is perfect for cats that still want to feel like they’re crunching solid food without hurting their teeth or upsetting their stomach.
Soft Treats
While not strictly a food that you should be feeding your cat too regularly, soft treats are something that you can purchase to complement your existing cat’s diet.
You can find treats that have soft centers, that have chewy pieces or even come as puree. These types of treats are a great way to entice your cat to try a dry food that’s softer.
Choosing the Best Soft Dry Cat Food
You’ve gone through many of the available brands out there, and while you can choose based on caloric intake, it doesn’t matter how few calories a food has if it’s too difficult for your cat to eat. When you’re looking for high-quality food, here are some tips to help you choose.
Check the softness
If you’ve checked out the reviews online and people say that the food is soft for a cat to chew, this is a good indication that it might be good for your cat. It helps if the food is for cats with no teeth or specifically marketed for cats with few teeth.
If your food completely comes in a small bag though, it always helps to buy the small bag first just to make sure that your cat can easily eat the food. This lets you check the size and the tenderness of the kibble too.
Brand
The brand does matter when it comes to this kind of cat food since there are so many foods, and you’ll want to make sure that you’ve got a brand that isn’t just an unpopular option. Take a moment to look into the brand population to see what other options they have.
Nutrition
You want your cat food to have a good texture to it so that your cat can comfortably chew and swallow the food. You also want to check on the nutrition of your food, though. Make sure that there’s not too much protein in the food that you’re giving to your adult cat, and check on the fat content too. You don’t want too much fat in your cat’s food, or it could negatively impact their weight.
Ingredients
Take a look at the ingredient list on your cat’s preferred food. You should notice a protein as the first ingredient. Especially in foods that have tender bits or tender centers, there should be a prime protein right at the top of the list, rather than fillers like corn or grains that reduce the nutritional content of the food.
Flavoring
This is where it’s a great idea to buy a small pouch or bag of your food choice before you go all in with your new option. You need to make sure your cat likes the flavoring, and beyond the flavoring, you also need to check that they’re comfortable eating something softer. Many cats like their food extra crunchy, after all, and will have a hard time transitioning to some softer options.
Price
Finally, you’ll want to take a look at the price of your available food. You want something that’s more affordable than wet food, and that will still work for your cat, so take a look at the price compared to your ingredients when you’re making your pick.
Can I Soften My Cat’s Favorite Brand?
In actuality, yes, you can help your cat out if they’re very picky, and you don’t think they’ll switch to another type of food. This is more work on your part, but if you’ve tried out some of these foods and your cat doesn’t seem to be liking them, you can try to soften your cat’s favorite brand.
This can be done simply by putting some water, broth, or stock in your cat’s food that will help soften up the kibble. You will need to be careful about the ingredients in any broth though in case there’s something in it that won’t be good for your cat.
You can also try to break up any kibble so that your cat doesn’t need to put as much effort into chewing. Just place the food in a plastic bag and give it a good whack to crack the food, but don’t turn it into a powder that your cat won’t eat.
Of course, this is something that you’ll only need to do if your cat just isn’t liking any of the available soft yet dry cat food. With so many options, it’s likely that this won’t be necessary.
Conclusion
What is the softest dry cat food? What about soft dry food for cats with no teeth? Cat owners have many choices out there for soft dry cat food. Some of these options are like pate, but others have tender insides or bits that help your cat still feel like they’re eating kibble. Check on the flavoring to see which one your cat might like and which one suits your budget, and if you have the option to buy small pouches, this is a great way to get your cat used to a new food that will be good for their health and for their teeth.
