The 10 Best Cat Food for Bengals (Vet Approved Review)

Bengals are known for their coat’s striking patterns and sleek physiques. These domestic cats have what some would call mischievous and rambunctious personalities. They are playful, always on the move, and love to chase, climb, and explore their surroundings. Bengals are smart, curious, and may splash in an aquarium or even jump into the shower with you – it sets them apart from other cat breeds that tend to stay away from water. They are very affectionate towards their cat parents and have a “chatty” nature, which means they are extremely vocal and need a lot of love and attention.^[1]​

You may be planning on getting a Bengal kitty or perhaps have already got one – if so, you’re a fortunate soul. In this article, you will get to know about Bengal cat foods that will provide your sweetheart with everything he needs to fuel his paw-some daily adventures and support lifelong whole-body health.

Quick Look at Our TOP Picks

There are many cat foods available on the market. Any that comes with a high amount of animal protein and healthy fats can be a good option for your Bengal. For those in a hurry, here are the top 3 foods we recommend for this breed:

Bengal Cat Food Recommended Reviews

1. Royal Canin Bengal Breed Dry Cat Food

There is no more magnificent breed for you than your Bengal cat. We know that you want to keep your furry friend healthy inside and out. That’s why we have chosen Royal Canin Bengal Kibble as our favorite. These light-footed house tigers are full of energy – often jumping and climbing high. It takes a proper diet to maintain healthy muscle weight, protect their sensitive stomachs from adverse reactions and nourish the skin and exotic coat for a lustrous shine.

With highly-digestible proteins and prebiotics, this food is gentle on sensitive stomachs and helps the digestive system work as it should. Omega fatty acids, vitamins, and essential amino acids help keep your Bengal cat’s beautiful striped coat shiny and smooth.

Features:

• Specially formulated for the Bengal breed.
• Crafted with an optimal ratio of protein and fat content.
• Comes with omega fatty acids, vitamins, and essential amino acids.
• Y-shaped bites to better fit the mouth of a Bengal.

2. Blue Buffalo Wilderness Dry Cat Food

As Bengal cat parents, we know how gorgeous they are, and we like watching their antics. To stay healthy and active, they need complete and balanced nutrition. Blue Buffalo Wilderness kibble is a protein-rich meal your athletic feline will love, designed to fuel his active lifestyle and curious nature. This recipe is one of the most popular dry foods for Bengal kitties, full of quality protein and wholesome fats.

This dry food comes with a high concentration of irresistibly tasty chicken and turkey as the primary protein sources to help build and maintain lean muscle. There are other useful ingredients here too, including dried kelp, berries, carrots, and turmeric. Also, this kibble is packed with healthy carbs like sweet potatoes and peas to help unlock your kitty’s potential to thrive. At the same time, the kibble does not contain soy, corn, wheat, other gluten-containing ingredients, and poultry by-product meals. There are no artificial additives; therefore, it can be a good solution for felines with sensitive stomachs.

Features:

• Comes with chicken and turkey as the main protein sources.
• Includes dried kelp, berries, carrots, and turmeric.
• Packed with healthy carbs.
• Enriched with taurine.
• Contains no corn, soy, wheat, and poultry by-product meals.
• Has no artificial additives.

3. American Journey Salmon Recipe Grain-Free Dry Food

American Journey kibble not only takes the best budget award, but it also offers solid nutrition for your feline pal. It comes with real, deboned salmon as the main ingredient and salmon meal as a second concentrated protein source. Salmon is also an excellent natural source of omega fatty acids. Along with flaxseed, it will bring out your Bengal cat’s striking patterns and his coat’s shine. This special blend also contains fresh vegetables and fruits to enhance your sweetheart’s overall health and well-being.

This kibble is free from poultry by-product meal and artificial fillers. American Journey kibble is loaded with antioxidants to reinforce the immune system and taurine to nourish the heart and keep your cat’s eyes healthy. Your Bengal friend will get everything he needs in this delicious food that will fuel his paw-some adventures.

Features:

• Comes with deboned salmon as the main ingredient.
• Contains fresh vegetables and fruits.
• Loaded with omega fatty acids, antioxidants, and taurine.
• Free from poultry by-product meal and artificial fillers.

4. Purina Fancy Feast Gravy Lovers Canned Food

If you have a cat that is inclined to wet food and want to pamper him with some tasty cat food, try purchasing some Fancy Feast Gravy Lovers, and he will purr happily for the taste. This canned food is one of the favorite foods of almost all Bengal cats. And since variety gives zest to life, the choice of flavors will keep his curiosity piqued and his tummy happy.

This premium food comes with poultry and beef as primary sources of protein. This 24 pack offers three different flavors: Chicken feast, Beef feast, and Turkey feast. Delicate bites served in mouthwatering gourmet gravy make this collection irresistibly tasty, and the special blend of vitamins and minerals offers balanced nutrition. On top of this, this product contains taurine, which supports normal heart muscle function and eyesight.

You can mix this tasty wet food with other healthy kibbles – this is only a recommendation, not a requirement. Though it is a portion of delicious cat food and a great way to reward your sweetheart for being a good kitty, you can make your cat’s mealtime even more nutritious if you mix it with other simple kibbles.

Features:

• Comes with poultry and beef as primary sources of protein.
• 24 cans in a pack.
• Three different flavors: Chicken feast, Beef feast, and Turkey feast.
• Contains special blend of vitamins, minerals, and taurine.

5. Rachael Ray Nutrish Kibble

Inspired by the diet of the lynx, Rachael Ray Nutrish cat food offers solid nutrition for any adventure. Crafted with natural, high-quality ingredients, this dry food comes with farm-raised chicken and brown rice as its primary ingredients.

This kibble features a balanced ratio of protein, fat, and fiber. It is high in omega-6 fatty acids to help keep your cat’s coat shiny and bright. In addition to chicken and brown rice, there is some dried beet pulp. It is a wholesome source of fiber and prebiotics that helps regulate your feline pal’s digestive system. Also, Rachael Ray Nutrish cat food contains taurine to nourish the heart and support eyesight. Equally important, you will not find wheat, soy, and by-product meal in this recipe. However, it contains some corn gluten meal which you should avoid if your Bengal cat is sensitive to this product.

The Rachel Ray Nutrish cat food is fortified with a wide variety of vitamins and minerals to enhance the overall health of your favorite ball of fur.

Features:

• Comes with farm-raised chicken and brown rice as its primary ingredients.
• Features a balanced ratio of protein, fat, and fiber.
• High in omega-6 fatty acids.
• Includes dried beet pulp, yeast, and peas.
• Contains taurine.
• Loaded with a wide variety of vitamins and minerals.
• Free from wheat, soy, and by-product meal.

6. Purina ONE Indoor Advantage Cat Food

Purina ONE Indoor Advantage Cat Food will help you to make your Bengal cat’s mealtime a nutritious and delicious occasion. With high-quality protein and a small amount of fat, this food is ideal for keeping your light-footed house tiger healthy and lean.

This weight management formula contains real turkey as the main ingredient, so you can be sure your Bengal cat is getting good-quality protein. Also, this food contains grains that provide complete nutrition, as well as dried spinach and taurine, which is good for your feline pet’s heart and eye health. High in omega-6 fatty acids, this dry food will keep his gorgeous striped coat silky and smooth. An antioxidant blend will boost your cat’s natural immune defenses. More than this, its texture helps chew and crunch away plaque build-up and promotes healthy oral captivity.

This product from Purina ONE is a vet-recommended cat food loaded with all essential vitamins and minerals to fuel your little hunter’s adventures.

Features:

• Weight-management formula.
• Features high-quality protein and a small amount of fat.
• Contains real turkey as the main ingredient.
• Includes grains, dried spinach, and taurine.
• High in omega-6 fatty acids.
• Loaded with all essential vitamins and minerals.

7. Instinct by Nature’s Variety Kitten Canned Food

Start feeding your small fluffy friend with a good-quality formula like Instinct by Nature’s Variety Kitten wet food. Its main ingredient is real cage-free chicken, a rich source of protein with lots of healthy fats to fuel your Bengal kitten’s curious nature and his daily adventures. It features a robust variety of vitamins and minerals for a healthy immune system and all the key nutrients your fur baby needs for strong, lean muscles.

Served as a topper or meal, this irresistibly tasty wet food will delight even a finicky kitten, and he will purr long after his lunch has passed. The delicious pate also contains natural sources of DHA to support eyesight and healthy brain development in kittens. At the same time, it is free from grain, potato, corn, wheat, soy, by-product meals, artificial fillers – ingredients known to cause a negative response in food-sensitive cats. If you are on the hunt for the most suitable Bengal kitten food, we recommend trying this one.

Features:

• Comes with real cage-free chicken as the main ingredient.
• Features a robust variety of vitamins and minerals.
• Contains natural sources of DHA.
• Free from grain, potato, corn, wheat, soy, by-product meals, artificial fillers.
• Served as a topper or meal.

8. Blue Buffalo Wilderness Mature Canned Food

As your feline companion grows older, he may become less active than in his younger day and start to pile on extra pounds. At this age, his nutritional needs remain the same, but he may require fewer calories. Protein is still important for maintaining muscle mass, but you can reduce the fat content in his diet to keep your mature Bengal cat fit. We love this Blue Buffalo Wildlife Mature wet food because it is still loaded with protein and key nutrients but has a lower fat and calorie content for aging Bengal cats.

This incredibly delicious canned food is crafted with grain and gluten-free ingredients. It starts with farm-raised chicken, filled with healthy fruits and vegetables, and then fortified with vitamins and minerals. With DHA and taurine, this recipe helps support your cat’s cognitive development and nourishes his heart. The exceptionally healthy ingredients are free from corn, soy, wheat, and artificial additives.

Features:

• The right option for mature Bengal cats.
• 24 cans in a pack.
• Loaded with protein and key nutrients, but has lower fat and calorie content .
• Crafted with grain and gluten-free ingredients.
• Real chicken is the main ingredient.
• Filled with healthy fruits and vegetables.
• Fortified with vitamins and minerals.
• Includes DHA and taurine.
• Free from corn, soy, wheat, and artificial additives.

9. Nature’s Variety Instinct Limited Ingredient Formula

When your Bengal cat has food sensitivities, as a pet parent you want to know what ingredients his food contains. That’s why we recommend Nature’s Variety Instinct Limited Ingredient cat food, as it comes with only one animal protein and one vegetable. Based on the purity and simplicity, this limited-ingredient recipe will fuel your little hunter’s adventures and will protect his sensitive stomach from adverse reactions.

This kibble lets your Bengal cat embrace his wild side by providing a healthy, easily digestible protein – cage-free turkey. It also features optimal levels of omega fatty acids to give your cat’s gorgeous coat a luxurious shine, as well as antioxidants to boost his immunity. The cat food has no grains, eggs, chicken, beef, fish, dairy, potatoes, chickpeas, wheat, corn, soy, or artificial fillers. On top of that, the food ingredients are sourced from verified farmers from around the world. 

Features:

• Short ingredient list.
• Comes with only one animal protein and one vegetable.
• Provides a healthy, easily digestible protein – cage-free turkey.
• Contains key amino acids, omega acids, and antioxidants.
• Free from grains, eggs, or dairy.
• No chicken, beef, fish, soy, corn, wheat, potatoes, chickpeas, and artificial additives.

10. Instinct Ultimate Grain-Free Dry Cat Food

Based on the popular idea that raw is the healthiest form of nutrition, Instinct set a goal of creating a cat food that would most accurately reflect a raw diet’s benefits. The result was Instinct Ultimate Grain-Free Dry Cat Food.  This product is protein-rich and easy on the tummy.

The highly palatable food is made only with real meat – 95% of protein from real chicken – and contains absolutely no by-product meal, potato, grain, wheat, soy, and artificial additives. Instinct Ultimate Grain-Free kibble also features natural probiotics to promote healthy digestion; omega fatty acids to keep the skin and coat in top condition; antioxidants to reinforce the immune system, and a freeze-dried raw coating to make every mealtime a delicious occasion.

This carefully formulated food makes a healthy difference you can see, thanks to the natural nutrition that helps to satisfy your Bengal cat’s cravings and support his well-muscled sleek physique.

Features:

• Protein-rich.
• 95% of protein from real chicken.
• Free from by-product meal, potato, grain, wheat, soy, and artificial additives.
• Features natural probiotics, omega fatty acids, and antioxidants.

Final Thoughts

With so many products to choose from, you might think finding the most suitable cat food for your Bengal friend will be as easy as shelling peas, but think again! Carnivores, by nature, these pets are very active and energetic. That’s why they need the optimal balance of essential nutrients to maintain healthy organs and lean muscles. This means getting good-quality food rich in protein and a bit of carbohydrate.

While any of the ten cat foods reviewed above is an excellent option for your athletic feline, we feel that Royal Canin Bengal Breed kibble is an ideal food for Bengal cats because this is tailor-made nutrition crafted especially for this breed.

However, if you are interested in budget-friendly food, you may find that the American Journey Grain-Free kibble fits the bill without putting a dent in your wallet. And if you are looking for something in between, the Blue Buffalo Wilderness kibble may be a good choice for you and your kitty.

At the end of the day, whatever you choose, you can rest assured that your sweetheart is eating the best food!

Buying Guide: What to Look for in Food for Your Bengal Cat

Buying cat food can be a daunting task, especially when there are a robust variety of products on the market. To make it easier, Bengal cat parents should know about the main features of reliable cat food.

Let’s take a closer look:

• Named Meat: Bengals need protein-rich nutrition to stay healthy and thrive. So you want to look for food that comes with meat as the main ingredient. Foods that use chicken or any other named meat as their first ingredient are a great option. Keep in mind to avoid kibbles and wet foods that have unnamed meats or by-products listed first.
• Natural Ingredients: Whole foods are more nutritious and easier to digest than artificial fillers or by-products.
• No Artificial Additives: Cat parents should avoid foods that come with fillers. Most good-quality products don’t have them, but the same can’t be said for cheaper foods. So, try to avoid rice protein, corn, wheat, soy, etc. They may cause health problems in your cat down the road.
• Minerals and Vitamins: To fulfill the total nutrient-rich requirements of your Bengal cat’s daily meal, all foods have to be loaded with key minerals and vitamins.

READ MORE: Wet VS Dry Food for Cats: Pros and Cons

What do Bengal Cats Eat?

Most new Bengal cat parents wonder what they should feed their fur babies. Since felines are meat-eaters, it is important to feed them a protein-rich kibble. To understand the dietary needs of this breed, let’s look back at their past, where we meet Asian leopard cats. ^[2]​

These wild cats used to eat mostly protein-rich foods such as a variety of small prey, including lizards, amphibians, and insects.^[3]​ Most commercial cat foods nowadays feature less meat and more carbs, such as corn, wheat, and soy. If your Bengal cat’s diet consists mainly of low-grade, cheap foods, he can have some health problems later on.

Raw meat is a great addition to the Bengal cat’s diet, provided that it is fresh and unprocessed. You can make your own cat food or buy good-quality canned food or kibble. Equally important, make sure that protein makes up about 50-80% of your cat’s diet, leaving space for fiber, fats, vitamins, and minerals. Also, you should consult your veterinarian for choosing your cat’s diet plan.

READ MORE: How to Deal With Cat Picky Eater?

Daily Calorie Intake

Cat parents should know what Bengal cats eat and how much to feed them because it can make a huge difference to their feline’s overall health. If your furry friend eats too many calories, he can pack on extra pounds. If he lacks calories, your cat will not have enough energy to live a full-on life.

• Bengal kittens: When it comes to feline babies, feed them 100 calories per pound of body weight every day. This amount should go down to 40 calories per pound of body weight when kittens are 40 weeks old.
• Grown-up Bengals: For adult Bengals, a diet of approximately 25-30 calories per pound of body weight is sufficient. However, if your cat eats good-quality kibble but is regularly sick, you need to check whether your feline pal is getting enough food.
• Older Bengals: Cats entering old age become less active, and therefore, need fewer calories. As a general rule of thumb, 20 calories per pound of body weight should be enough to address your aging cat’s nutritional needs and keep him healthy – inside and out.

It is important for us to note that these are just general recommendations and that all Bengal cats are different. Depending on health issues or activity level, your feline may need more or fewer calories each day to maintain a healthy weight and stay happy. When in doubt, check with your veterinarian and let him tell you how much food your kitty needs to eat each day.

READ MORE: How to Fatten Up My Skinny Cat?

Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Bengal

Every cat parent is familiar with this scenario: you pull something out of the fridge, sit down at the table and start eating; suddenly, your feline pal appears next to you and demands a tasty piece of food. Of course, you want to share it with your fur baby because you will feel bad for being greedy, and spoiling your kitty is okay sometimes, but did you know that there are certain foods that you should never feed your Bengal?

Don’t give your cat the following foods:

• Chocolate: It contains theobromine, an alkaloid that can negatively influence the overall tummy health, cause heart problems, muscle tremors, seizures, and even death.
• Avocado: This fruit contains a toxic substance to Bengal cats that is called persin. It can cause digestive problems, vomiting, respiratory problems, heart issues, and even death.
• Alcoholic beverages: This should be clear, but if it is not, alcohol can cause fatal liver and brain damage in cats as it is highly intoxicating.
• Raw eggs: They may contain salmonella and hinder the absorption of biotin – causing skin and fur problems.
• Onions and Garlic: These veggies can cause blood problems and even anemia in cats.

FAQ

Article Sources:

1. “Bengal.” International Cat Care, icatcare.org/advice/bengal/.
2. “Leopard Cat – Facts, Diet, Habitat & Pictures.” Animalia Bio, animalia.bio/leopard-cat.
3. Sunquist, Mel. “Wild Cats of the World.” University of Chicago Press, 19 Dec. 2020