Published Mar 10, 2025
Kirsten McCarthy / Cats.com
- Nutritional Benefits Of Pork For Cats
- What To Look For In Turkey-Pork Based Cat Food
- The Best Pork Cat Foods: Our Top Picks
- #1 Smalls Fresh Smooth Pig Recipe
- #2 Best Dry Food: Young Again LID Zero Mature Dry Cat Food
- #3 Lotus Just Juicy Pork Stew Grain-Free Canned Cat Food
- #4 Vital Essentials Pork Entree Freeze-Dried Raw Mini Patties
- Is Pork a Novel Protein for Cats?
- Why Should You Trust Us?
Wild cats primarily hunt small mammals, so meat-based proteins are essential in their diet. While chicken is one of the most common ingredients in commercial cat food, it doesn’t suit every feline. Some cats develop allergies to poultry, and others simply don’t enjoy the taste.
If your cat is sensitive to common proteins or you’re looking for a new flavor to entice a picky eater, pork could be an excellent alternative.
In this guide, we’ll explore the nutritional benefits of pork for cats and review key factors to consider when choosing pork-based cat food. Plus, we’ll share our top recommendations for the best pork cat food on the market.
Nutritional Benefits Of Pork For Cats
Protein should be the primary component of your cat’s diet, but other nutrients are essential as well. Healthy fats provide twice the amount of energy as protein in the form of calories, helping your cat’s body transport and utilize key nutrients. Carbohydrates, on the other hand, play little to no role in a species-appropriate diet for cats.
Because cats are obligate carnivores, animal-based ingredients are ideal.
These include muscle meat, organ meat, and bone. Pork is a species-appropriate protein source for cats and offers the added benefit of being a novel protein for many felines, making it a great option for those with sensitivities to more common meats.
Pork is a type of red meat. Unlike poultry, it tends to be higher in fat, making it a rich and energy-dense protein source for cats. Per 20-gram serving, pork contains approximately 54 calories, with 6.5 grams of protein and 3.5 grams of fat. In addition to these macronutrients, pork is a good source of essential minerals like phosphorus, zinc, selenium, and iron.
Because of its higher fat content, pork can be a great option for active cats that need extra energy. However, portion control is important for cats prone to weight gain or those managing conditions like feline obesity or diabetes. Opting for lean cuts of pork can help maintain a balanced diet while still providing high-quality animal protein.
What To Look For In Turkey-Pork Based Cat Food
When shopping for cat food, it’s essential to keep your cat’s nutritional needs in mind. Most cat foods in the U.S. are formulated according to AAFCO recommendations, ensuring they meet the minimum requirements for essential nutrients.
However, it’s best to choose a formula that exceeds these minimal standards, particularly when it comes to high-quality animal protein. Pork is a highly digestible and nutrient-rich protein source for cats.
Compared to lean meats like turkey, pork has a higher fat content, making it a more energy-dense option. While this can be beneficial for active cats, it’s important to ensure the formula maintains a proper protein-to-fat balance. Look for cat foods that provide high-quality, lean pork as the primary protein source while incorporating appropriate fats to support overall health.
Animal-based fats are the most biologically appropriate source for cats, so look for ingredients like pork fat, salmon oil, or chicken fat. These fats provide essential fatty acids, including omega-3s, which help maintain healthy skin and a shiny coat while also supporting cardiovascular health.
It’s also important to check the calorie content of the cat food. Pork is naturally higher in fat than lean meats like poultry, so it tends to be more calorie-dense. While this can be beneficial for active cats, overweight or less active cats may need a formula with a more controlled fat content. Choosing a pork-based cat food with a well-balanced fat-to-protein ratio is key.
Finally, remember that what’s NOT in your cat’s food is just as important as what is. Avoid formulas with unnecessary fillers, artificial additives, or low-quality ingredients to ensure your cat gets the best possible nutrition.
The Best Pork Cat Foods: Our Top Picks
Now that you understand the basics of pork-based cat food and the situations in which it might be a great choice, you’re ready to explore our top picks.
As you review these recipes, keep in mind that not all of them are single-protein formulas. If your cat has food allergies or sensitivities, a limited-ingredient diet with a single source of novel animal protein, like pork, may be the best option.
For cats without food sensitivities, a formula that includes pork along with other proteins may work just as well. The most important thing is to choose a high-quality, animal-based diet that provides the right balance of protein, fat, and essential nutrients to support your cat’s overall health.
#1 Smalls Fresh Smooth Pig Recipe
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Similar to the previous pate-style recipes, Smooth Pig features a single source of animal protein: pork. This recipe contains pork muscle meat and pork liver with sunflower oil and cod liver oil as added fat sources.
While pork is one of the more common cat food allergens, it may be an appropriate option for cats who can’t tolerate chicken or fish. This food contains about 61.5% protein and 23% fat, measured as dry matter. Its calorie content and nutrient makeup is most similar to the Smooth Fish formula.
Ingredients
Pork, Pork Liver, Green Beans, Water Sufficient for Processing, Dried Yeast, Sunflower Oil, Kale, Tricalcium Phosphate, Cod Liver Oil, Choline Chloride, Magnesium Proteinate, Potassium Chloride, Salt, Taurine, Niacin Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement, Iron Proteinate, Zinc Proteinate, Vitamin A Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Copper Proteinate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Manganese Proteinate, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Folic Acid, Potassium Iodide, Sodium Selenite, Biotin.
Ingredients We Liked: Pork, Pork Liver, Cod Liver Oil
Ingredients We Didn’t Like: None
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
What We Liked:
- Made with a single source of animal protein
- High in protein and fat with low carb content
- Smooth pate texture is easy to chew
- Rich in omega-3 fatty acids from cod liver oil
What We Didn’t Like:
- Only available via subscription
#2 Best Dry Food: Young Again LID Zero Mature Dry Cat Food
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
- Made In: United States
- Guaranteed Protein: 54% Min
- Age Range: Adult
- Calories Per Ounce: 127
- Typical Cost Per Day: $0.75 per day
Some cats prefer the crunch of kibble over soft paté or chunky wet food. Dry cat food generally contains more ingredients than wet food—it’s necessary for processing—but this LID Zero Mature recipe from Young Again keeps things pretty simple. Young Again considers any cat that has stopped growing mature—this recipe isn’t just for senior cats.
Featuring hydrolyzed pork as the main ingredient, this dry food is designed for digestibility. Hydrolysis is a water-based process that breaks protein molecules down into tiny pieces, making them less likely to trigger an adverse reaction. Although pork is the only protein source in this recipe, it also contains both chicken fat and fish oil, so this recipe might not be appropriate for cats that are sensitive to chicken or fish.
This Young Again recipe contains a blend of prebiotics and probiotics to help improve digestibility. The ingredient list looks long, but aside from supplements, it only contains protein, fat, yeast for flavoring, guar gum as a binder, and psyllium husk as a source of dietary fiber.
Measured as dry matter, this food contains 60% protein and the digestible carbohydrate content is under 5%. It comes in tiny round kibbles that my cats found easy to eat. They were intrigued by the food’s aroma and seemed to like the flavor.
Ingredients
Hydrolyzed Pork, Chicken Fat, Hydrolyzed Yeast Flavoring, Guar Gum, DL Methionine, L-Lysine, Fish Oil, Psyllium Husk (Source of Soluble Dietary Fiber), Potassium Citrate, Brewers Yeast, Potassium Carbonate, Calcium Carbonate, Fructooligosaccharides (FOS), Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate, Potassium Chloride, Choline Chloride, Taurine, Vitamin E Supplement, L-Tryptophan, L-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate (Source of Stabilized Vitamin C), Betaine Anhydrous, Magnesium Sulfate, Salt, L-Carnitine, Biotin Vitamin B7), Zinc Sulfate, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Rosemary Extract, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Niacinamide (Vitamin B3), Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B1), Copper Proteinate, Folic Acid (vitamin B9), Vitamin A Acetate, Riboflavin (Vitamin B2), Calcium Pantothenate (Vitamin B5), Dried Aspergillus oryzae Fermentation Extract, Dehydrated Pediococcus Acidilactici Fermentation Product, Beta Carotene, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Vitamin D3 Supplement, Mixed Tocopherols, Potassium Sorbate and Citric Acid (Preservatives).
- Ingredients We Liked: Hydrolyzed Pork, Chicken Fat, Fish Oil
- Ingredients We Didn’t Like: Guar Gum
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
What We Liked:
- Single protein source is hydrolyzed for digestibility
- Relies on species-appropriate animal fat
- Very low carbohydrate content
- Supplemented with prebiotics and probiotics
What We Didn’t Like:
- No dry food provides the hydration your cat needs
- Might not be appropriate for cats that are sensitive to chicken or fish
- Not sold on Amazon or Chewy
#3 Lotus Just Juicy Pork Stew Grain-Free Canned Cat Food
Pork appears to be the primary protein source in this wet cat food.
Lotus Just Juicy Pork Stew is essentially shredded pork set in a pork-based broth. The broth is thickened with potato starch and agar-agar.
Both olive oil and salmon oil are used as fat sources. Salmon oil is a carnivore-appropriate source of omega-3 fatty acids and can help promote a lustrous coat and supple skin.
In addition to meat, broth, oil, and supplements, the food contains carrots, which aren’t species-appropriate and add unnecessary starch to the recipe.
Overall, this is a meat-based food with high protein, low fat, and moderate carbohydrate content.
There are about 62.8 calories in each 2.5 ounce can.
Ingredients
Pork, Pork Broth, Carrots, Potato Starch, Monosodium Phosphate, Calcium Carbonate, Salt, Olive Oil, Salmon Oil, Sunflower Oil, Agar-Agar, Potassium Chloride, Choline Chloride, Taurine, Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, Manganese Proteinate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Copper Proteinate, Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin, Vitamin A Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Biotin, Potassium Iodide, Folic Acid, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Sodium Selenite.
Ingredients We Liked: Pork, Salmon Oil
Ingredients We Didn’t Like: Potato Starch, Olive Oil, Carrots
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
Pros
- Rich in nourishing animal protein
- Single source of protein
- No potentially-harmful artificial ingredients
Cons
- Very expensive
- Excessive starch
#4 Vital Essentials Pork Entree Freeze-Dried Raw Mini Patties
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
- Made In: United States
- Guaranteed Protein: 45% Min
- Age Range: All Life Stages
- Calories Per Ounce: 133
- Typical Cost Per Day: $4.44 per day
If you know your cat tolerates pork well, this freeze-dried formula from Vital Essentials should be an easily digestible choice. It contains little more than pork muscle meat and pork organs. Herring oil, a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids, is the only other ingredient aside from a handful of nutrient supplements.
Priced just under $3 per ounce, this Vital Essentials recipe is modestly priced for freeze-dried food. The large patties are easy to break up and they crush easily for rehydrating purposes. My cats enjoyed the flavor and I liked that it was easy to mix with other foods.
Ingredients
Pork, Pork Liver, Pork Spleen, Herring Oil, Mixed Tocopherols (Preservative), Vitamin E Supplement, Zinc Amino Acid Complex, Iron Amino Acid Complex, Copper Amino Acid Complex, Manganese Amino Acid Complex.
- Ingredients We Liked: Pork, Pork Liver, Pork Spleen, Herring Oil
- Ingredient We Didn’t Like: None
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
What We Liked:
- Large patties are easy to break apart and rehydrate
- Made with pork as a single source of protein
- Short list of easily digestible ingredients
- Herring oil is rich in omega-3 fatty acids
What We Didn’t Like:
- Might not be appropriate for cats sensitive to fish
Is Pork a Novel Protein for Cats?
Pork can be considered a novel protein for cats if they haven’t been exposed to it before, making it a potential option for cats with food allergies or sensitivities. However, it is less commonly used in commercial cat food compared to other novel proteins like rabbit or duck.
Why Should You Trust Us?
Over the last several years, we’ve spent countless hours testing the most popular pet products on the market, including cat food, cat treats, cat litter, and more. We’ve written in-depth reviews of our favorite brands as well as dozens of roundups to help you choose the right product for your cat.
Having reviewed 251 of the world’s most popular cat food brands and hundreds of formulas. We spent hours researching, contacting pet food companies, and analyzing labels. With the help of our cats, we also got hands-on experience with many popular cat foods.
Providing a nutritious diet is one of the best things cat owners can do to keep their feline companions healthy and thriving. With so many cat food options available, a great way to narrow the choices is to focus on high-quality protein sources.
Smalls won’t even let you see their pricing until you waste your time filling out a lengthy quiz asking info about your cats, like their names, etc. If that doesn’t scream “too expensive,” I don’t know what does.