Last Updated: 06/05/2025
Best Indoor Cat Food 2024 [Vet Reviewed]
What's the hype about indoor cat food? Find out the benefits and which food is best for your indoor cat.
Author: Dr Jacqui Victor BVSc MANZCVS (Medicine of Cats)
Reading Time: 52 minutes - long read
What's so special about indoor cat food? You may be wondering what the difference is between a regular cat food and an indoor variety - and whether it's worth the hype. In essence, indoor diets typically contain lower calories and fat, to support the less active lifestyle of an indoor cat. This assists your indoor kitty to maintain a healthy body weight, and helps prevent obesity which is unfortunately more common in indoor felines. Most indoor diets also contain added fibre to promote digestive health and reduce hairballs, and the added fibre also helps keep cats feeling fuller for longer which again aids in weight management. Most indoor diets also contain additional ingredients to help reduce litter box odour, creating a more pleasant environment for both you and your cat!
Four factors to consider when choosing an indoor food for your cat:
- Health conditions: Your treating veterinarian should be your first port of call when it comes to dietary advice if your cat has any underlying diagnosed health conditions. In many cases, there may be veterinary prescription diets which are the best option to help manage your cat's condition. For health support, there are a range of non-prescription, retail diet options to help prevent common health conditions that indoor cats are prone to, such as hairball control.
- Complete and balanced: In choosing a food, the most important consideration after any health factors is that the diet is complete and balanced for your indoor cat's stage of life. Ensuring that it meets AAFCO or FEDIAF pet food control guidelines is crucial to ensure that your cat receives all the nutrients they require in the correct ratios.
- Age: Cats of different ages have very different nutritional requirements. Kittens require energy-dense food which meets their ongoing growth rates, while senior cats are often less active and have a slower metabolism which means that they require fewer calories and less fat, but an easily digestible diet, to help them maintain good body condition. There are many senior indoor diets available, which combine the benefits of both diets.
- Quality: The quality of the ingredients and the digestibility of the nutrients they provide should be a key factor in choosing a food. Premium foods are designed to be highly digestible (which means smaller, firmer stools) and do not change ingredients batch to batch like grocery type brands, which means less tummy upsets. They also tend to contain higher levels of added beneficial nutrients, such as omega fatty acids for joint and coat health, and some are backed by testing to ensure they deliver the results they promise. Learning how to read pet food labels and understanding the ingredients in your cat's food are crucial parts of knowing what is the best food for them.
Results:
- Best Overall: Royal Canin Indoor Adult
- Best Australian Made: Advance Indoor Adult
- Best for Senior Cats: Royal Canin Indoor 7 Plus and Hills Science Diet 11 Plus
- Best for Hairballs: Pro Plan Adult Indoor Hairball Control
- Best Natural Food for Sensitive Stomachs: Wellness Core Grain Free Indoor Salmon and Herring
How We Review Our Products
Our Pet Circle Vet Squad comprises 30 vets with over 120 years of collective, independent veterinary expertise. Our Vet team use their health and husbandry knowledge, along with their own personal and clinical experiences to evaluate each product and provide detailed, informative reviews, free of any commercial bias. We then collate this information into our 'best of' recommendations.
Top Indoor Cat Foods in Australia
Best Overall: Royal Canin Indoor Adult Dry Food
Pros
- Highly digestible protein helps reduce the quantity and odour of stools
- Moderate calorie and fat content adapted to the lower activity of indoor cats
- Contains a combination of specific fibres to allow hair to be naturally eliminated from the gastrointestinal tract, reducing hairball formation
- Available in two complimentary wet foods - Royal Canin Indoor Gravy Pouches and Royal Canin Indoor Jelly Pouches
- Available in 2kg, 4kg and 10kg resealable bags
Cons
- Contains chicken - may not be suitable for cats with food allergies or intolerances to chicken
- Not made in Australia
Royal Canin Indoor Adult Dry Food is a premium diet that contains an adapted calorie content for indoor cats to aid in weight management. It also contains a combination of specific fibres to allow hair to be naturally eliminated from the gastrointestinal tract, reducing hairball formation. The addition of the complimentary wet foods available in two different formulas (gravy and jelly) also provides your indoor cat with some variety whilst promoting their urinary and kidney health!
What our customers say: "Have noticed the smell has reduced in the litter box since using this product. Cats eat them no problem. They have nice healthy looking coats."
What our vets say: "I feed Royal Canin Indoor Dry Cat food to my cats as I feel it suits their needs well. It is a premium food that is made from highly digestible ingredients to improve their digestion and reduce the odours coming from their litter trays! It also has an adapted calorie content especially formulated for less active indoor cats. And another addition is the combination of added specific fibres to reduce hairball formation as no one likes to have hairball vomits on their carpets! And lastly, my cats really enjoy eating it, so I do think it is a very palatable option." - Dr. Angie
Best Australian Made: Advance Indoor Adult Dry Food
Pros
- Contains L-carnitine which helps burn fat to support a healthy metabolism
- Fermentable prebiotic fibre helps reduce litter box odours
- Enhanced levels of omega 3 and 6 fatty acids help support a healthy skin and coat
- Reduces frequency of hairballs and may help reduce hairball symptoms
- Available in a complimentary wet food - Advance Indoor Adult Pouches
- Available in 2kg, 4kg and 6kg resealable bags
- More cost effective compared to other premium brands
- Australian made
Cons
- Contains chicken - may not be suitable for cats with food allergies or intolerances to chicken
This Australian-made premium diet is specifically designed to suit the nutritional needs of indoor cats. It contains a fermentable prebiotic fibre which helps support a healthy gut microbiome, promotes a healthy digestive system and reduces litter box odours. It is also formulated to reduce the frequency of hairballs, and contains added omega fatty acids to support your cat's skin and coat health. This premium diet is also free from any artificial colours or flavours, and contains no added wheat, whole corn, soy or beef.
What our customers say: "When I adopted my two, they had been getting fed supermarket brands. Put them onto Advance because my vet recommended it. Since then, their coats have been amazingly shiny and soft, and they are both super happy and healthy!"
What our vets say: "Advance Indoor Dry Cat Food is a premium diet that I highly recommend for any indoor cat. It is a complete and balanced diet which is formulated to help reduce dental tartar, and to reduce the formation of hairballs. It contains fermentable prebiotic fibre to help reduce stool odour, and has a controlled mineral level to promote a healthy urinary tract. Along with all these great benefits, this premium cat food is Australian made." - Dr. Jenny
Best for Senior Cats
Royal Canin Indoor 7 Plus Dry Food
Pros
- Highly digestible protein helps reduce the quantity and odour of stools
- Helps support renal health with an adapted phosphorus content (0.75%)
- Contains omega 6 fatty acids to maintain a shiny and healthy coat
- Added glucosamine and chondroitin to promote joint health
- Formulated with an exclusive complex of antioxidants to fight ageing
- Adapted kibble size is easier for senior cats to chew
- Available in a complimentary wet food - Royal Canin Indoor 7+ Pouches
Cons
- Contains chicken - may not be suitable for cats with food allergies or intolerances to chicken
- Available in small bags only - 1.5kg and 3.5kg
- Not made in Australia
Royal Canin Indoor 7+ Dry Food is formulated to meet the unique nutritional needs of your mature indoor cat. This premium diet is enriched with targeted nutrients (including green tea polyphenols, Vitamin C, EPA and DHA) to help fight the first signs of ageing, and also contains added ingredients to promote joint, skin and coat health. The adapted kibble size, shape and texture is also easier for older cats to chew (it is a pebble-shaped kibble approximately 7-8mm at the widest point).
What our customers say: "Pet Circle make purchase convenient as it part of my Auto Delivery. Most importantly it is good for Willy, my best little furry friend. He is inside 100% of the time so it is a recommended food as he is now 9 years old. He loves his dinner so I guess it tastes good. And he stays healthy. Thank you."
Hills Science Diet Senior 11 Plus Indoor Dry Food
Pros
- Contains the optimal levels of key nutrients to support eye, health, kidney and joint health in ageing cats
- Helps support renal health with an adapted phosphorus content (0.68%)
- Supports healthy digestion with natural fibre for easy litter box clean up
- Adapted kibble size is easier for senior cats to chew
Cons
- No complimentary indoor wet food available (closest is Hills Senior 7 Plus Ocean Fish Pouches)
- Contains chicken - may not be suitable for cats with food allergies or intolerances to chicken
- Available in small bags only - 1.58kg and 3.17kg
- Not made in Australia
Hills Science Diet Senior 11 Plus Indoor Dry Food is specially formulated to meet the nutritional needs of cats with an indoor lifestyle during their golden years. It contains natural fibre to support digestive health, as well as high-quality easy-to-digest ingredients for a flavourful, nutritious meal. The adapted kibble shape is also easier for older cats to chew (triangle-shaped kibble approximately 9.8 x 6.5mm).
What our customers say: "We previously had our 11 year old Persian on the 11+ regular and accidentally ordered this food. However, we will be sticking with it. After six weeks on this food there was an obvious difference in her well being and energy. The triangle shaped biscuits are easier for her to eat and she obviously enjoys the food much more. She's happier, calmer and more energetic."
What our vets say: "For our older indoor kitties, I like to recommend Hill's Science Diet Senior 11+. It's a digestible formula made with senior indoor feline needs in mind. It's palatable, which helps entice older cats to eat, natural fibre for better digestive health (and convenient litter box cleaning!), and key ingredients that have been balanced to provide eye, heart, kidney, and joint health in our ageing cats." - Dr. Antonella
Best for Hairballs: Pro Plan Adult Indoor Hairball Control Dry Food
Pros
- Features a specialised blend of fibres to help minimise the chance of hairballs
- Controlled calorie content to maintain indoor cats at a healthy body weight
- Contains a special ingredient that reduces litter box odours
- Contains added ingredients for skin and coat health
- Available in 1.5kg, 3kg and 8kg resealable bags
- Made in Australia
Cons
- No complimentary indoor wet food available (closest is Pro Plan Adult Fussy and Beauty Pouches which help promote healthy skin and coat, and limit excess shedding)
- Contains chicken - may not be suitable for cats with food allergies or intolerances to chicken
Pro Plan Adult Indoor Hairball Control Dry Food features a specialised blend of natural fibres, including oat fibre and psyllium seed husk, which help minimise the formation of hairballs and promote their safe passage through the digestive system. It also contains inulin, a prebiotic fibre, which reduced litter box odours by 24%.
This diet is formulated with real chicken as the primary ingredient, to support lean muscle development and maintenance for your indoor cat. It is also fortified with probiotics to support digestive and immune health, as well as the addition of omega 6 fatty acids and vitamin A ensures your feline friend's skin and coat will be looking lush.
What our customers say: "I was very pleased to be able to buy Pro Plan Adult indoor Hairball Control Dry Cat Food, as it suits my cat well, and gets rid of all the hairballs. I highly recommend it."
What our vets say: "Pro Plan Indoor Hairball Control is a great choice for indoor cats that struggle with hairballs. The blend of oat fibre and psyllium seed husk helps to encourage the hairballs to pass safely through the digestive tract. Its also an excellent premium diet with added extras such as omega-6 fatty acids for coat health - its one of my top recommendations for long haired cats." - Dr. Samantha
Best Natural Food for Sensitive Stomachs: Wellness Core Grain Free Indoor Salmon and Herring Dry Food
Pros
- Chicken free - making it a great option for cats with chicken allergies
- Salmon and Herring are naturally high in omega 3 and 6 fatty acids, which support brain, joint, heart and skin health
- Grain free natural diet - reduces digestive upsets in cats sensitive to grains
- Contains Yucca schidigera extra to reduce stool odour
- Added glucosamine and chondroitin for joint support
- Contains L-carnitine to support a healthy body weight
Cons
- Not suitable for cats with intolerances or allergies to fish
- No complimentary indoor wet food variety available (however non-indoor salmon wet foods are available -
- Available only in a 2.3kg bag
- Not made in Australia
Wellness Core Grain Free Indoor Salmon and Herring Dry Food is a highly digestible diet for cats with sensitive stomachs. With no chicken, beef, dairy, wheat or corn, this dry food free from many of the common food allergens which contribute to skin or digestive upset.
This diet contains salmon and flaxseed, which are excellent sources of omega fatty acids to promote a healthy skin and coat, as well as cranberries which are natural antioxidants. This formula also contains natural probiotics to support a healthy digestive system, to further benefit cats with sensitive stomachs.
What our customers say: "My cat always turned her nose up at most dry food that I brought home till I tried CORE Ocean. Highly recommended."
Factors to consider when feeding indoor cats
Do I feed a wet or dry indoor food?
Many indoor diets are conveniently available in both a dry and wet food variety - and the best thing is to feed both! Dry food is more calorie-dense than wet food and has the added mechanical benefit of scraping the teeth clean, making it great for maintaining your cat's dental health. On the other hand, wet food is typically more palatable and given its higher moisture content, it helps support bladder and kidney health, which is particularly important in felines due to their low thirst drive. Wet food also helps with weight management for indoor cats, as it contains fewer calories than dry food. Generally for indoor cats, we recommend a 50/50 mix of dry and wet foods to ensure your feline friend receives the benefit of both types of diets.
How much do I feed my indoor cat?
As obesity is common in indoor cats, it's important not to overfeed and to follow the recommended feeding guidelines on the back of the bag/can of food. Also make sure to accurately measure the amount of food you are feeding per day (using kitchen scales is a great way to do this). Using an automatic feeder or puzzle toy can also help to slow down feeling to help with weight control, as well as provide mental enrichment which is so important for indoor cats. Body Condition Scoring your cat is a simple way to assess if they are overweight, and we recommend speaking to your vet to see if a prescription weight loss diet may be more appropriate for your cat if they are a bit on the heavier side.
Further Reading
Want to know more? Check out our Discover Page for more tips from our expert vets on keeping your pets happy and healthy.
