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Savannahs aren’t your average housecats. The breed has only been around since the 1980s when an African Serval cat was bred with a domestic Siamese cat. Savannahs have a lot in common with their wild cousins. They are high-energy cats with lean, muscular bodies and specific nutritional needs.

Savannahs are at risk for taurine deficiency1; taurine is an amino acid found naturally in meat and fish. Most Savannah cats benefit from a high-protein, low-carb diet. We’ve analyzed several cat food brands on the market and provided reviews of the ones that we think are the best for Savannahs.

A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites in 2024

The 11 Best Cat Foods for Savannah Cats

1. Smalls Cat Food Subscription – Best Overall

Your Savannah cat needs a diet replicating one that it would eat in the wild, meaning it needs to eat high-quality food chock full of protein. For that reason, we believe Smalls Cat Food Subscription is the best cat food for Savannah cats overall.

Smalls Cat Food is a delivery service that is ultra-high in protein and void of useless and potentially harmful fillers that could be biologically inappropriate for your Savannah. Smalls offers fresh food called “Human Grade Fresh.” Though the term “human-grade” has no definition in any animal feed regulations, we still think this offering from Smalls is the most appropriate for your Savannah.

Their fresh food comes in four protein-rich recipes; fish, bird, cow, and “other bird” flavors. Each flavor comes in one of two textures—smooth (like pate) or ground (minced)—so it’s easy to find a texture that your cat prefers. In addition, the recipes feature real animal protein as the first ingredient, something you should always look for when searching for high-quality cat food.

In addition, Smalls includes taurine in each of their recipes. Since Savannahs are sometimes prone to taurine deficiency, the food you feed your cat must include it.

Your Smalls deliveries arrive at your doors at regular intervals, perfect for busy cat owners. That said, Smalls food is slightly higher priced because of that convenience and its higher quality formulation.

Pros

• Contains taurine
• Real animal protein is the first ingredient
• Two texture options
• No fillers
• Convenient delivery

Cons

• Higher price than pet store foods

2. Purina Friskies Seafood Favorites – Budget Buy

Purina Friskies is an inexpensive cat food that comes in a variety of flavors. You get 32 cans with recipes including Mariner’s Catch, Salmon Dinner, Sea Captain’s Choice, and Ocean Whitefish & Tuna Dinner. Although ratios vary, the meals have between 9% and 11% protein and because these are wet food meals, they have a high moisture rate, which is beneficial to cats, especially those that don’t like to drink water from their bowls.

The food comes in small cans, so you won’t have to leave open cans in the fridge for too long, and the ingredient lists include good-quality proteins like chicken and salmon, although the primary ingredient of meat by-products could be better quality and it would be better if the actual meat was listed. But, the price and variety make this the best cat food for Savannah cats for the price.

Pros

• Wet food offers good hydration
• Good variety in meal flavors
• Cheap

Cons

• Meat by-products aren’t the best first ingredient

3. Instinct Raw Boost Healthy Weight Grain-Free Chicken & Freeze-Dried Raw Coated Pieces– Premium Choice

The decision of what type of food to give your cat can be a difficult one. Dried food is convenient, keeps longer, and causes less mess. Raw food, when properly sourced and prepared, is appealing and offers cats what they would naturally eat in the wild, but it does take more effort and the thought of raw feeding puts a lot of owners off.

Instinct Raw Boost Healthy Weight Grain-Free Chicken & Freeze-Dried Raw Coated Pieces combines premium kibble with freeze-dried pieces of raw chicken so your cat can enjoy the best of both worlds.

The food is expensive because of the use of quality ingredients, but that includes primary ingredients of chicken, chicken meal, and chickpeas. Furthermore, the food is free from fillers, artificial colors, and preservatives.

Pros

• Main ingredients include chicken and chicken meal
• Includes freeze-dried raw chicken pieces
• No artificial colors or preservatives

4. Wellness Complete Health Kitten Chicken Entrée Recipe Natural Canned Cat Food – Best for Kittens

Kittens have different nutritional requirements from adult cats and seniors. They need more protein because they burn more energy over the day. They also need vitamins and minerals that support cognitive functions and aid in development.

Wellness Complete Health Kitten Entrée Recipe Natural Canned Cat Food is a smooth loaf-style canned food that has 11% protein and contains DHA for brain function and extra taurine for heart health and eye health. Its primary ingredients are chicken, chicken liver, and chicken broth, so its protein comes primarily from high-quality meat sources, and the ingredients list does not contain any artificial colors, preservatives, or flavors.

It is expensive, though, and it is quite rich so you will need to slowly wean your kitten onto the food if it isn’t already used to it.

Pros

• Primary ingredients are chicken, chicken liver, and chicken broth
• Contains no artificial colors, preservatives, or flavors
• Formulated to aid in healthy kitten development

5. Earthborn Holistic Natural Dry Cat & Kitten Food

Earthborn Holistic Natural Dry Cat & Kitten Food is a complete dry food with chicken meal as its primary ingredient. The food also contains fruit and vegetables and is fortified with vitamins and minerals as well as antioxidants and probiotics. It is marketed as appropriate for all life stages, so can be fed to kittens, as well as adults. It contains no artificial ingredients and is a natural food.

However, as well as being a little on the expensive side, the kibble is also quite small which may put some adult cats off eating it.

Pros

• Small kibble is suitable for kittens
• Main ingredient is chicken meal
• No artificial ingredients

Cons

• Quite expensive

6. ORIJEN Original Grain-Free Dry Cat Food

Orijen’s Original Grain-Free dry cat food is another good food for savannah cats. The first five ingredients are an array of animal proteins that will appeal to most cats. In fact, 90% of the ingredients are animal-based. The freeze-dried liver coating on the kibble provides an additional flavor boost.

Orijen’s “Wholeprey” formulas include not just meat but bone, cartilage, and organs—as close to raw meat as you can get in a commercial kibble. This recipe has overwhelmingly positive reviews, but a few customers thought this recipe had a strong fish odor. This scent wasn’t a deterrent to the cats, however. Orijen is a premium pet food brand and is priced accordingly.

Pros

• Contains whole prey ingredients
• 90% animal-based ingredients

Cons

• Expensive
• Some customers don’t like the fish odor

7. Solid Quail & Pumpkin Sensitive Stomach Dry Cat Food

Consider Solid Gold if you value sourcing transparency. The company provides detailed information about where it obtains its globally sourced ingredients. While most of the ingredients in Solid Gold’s Winged Tiger with Quail & Pumpkin come from North America, the company also sources extensively from Western Europe. Solid Gold does not source any ingredients from China.

The Quail & Pumpkin recipe is formulated for cats with sensitive stomachs. Most critical reviews were from owners whose cats continued to have upset stomachs after switching to this food. Keep in mind that switching to a “sensitive stomach” formula is not a substitute for seeing a vet if your Savannah vomits or has diarrhea. We like the added probiotics and taurine but would like more information about the “natural flavor.”

Pros

• Sourcing transparency for global ingredients
• Does not source ingredients from China
• Specially formulated for sensitive stomachs

Cons

• Unspecified “natural flavor”

8. Tiki Cat Born Carnivore Chicken & Egg Grain-Free Cat Food

Tiki Cat’s Born Carnivore Chicken & Egg Grain-Free Dry Cat Food is 100% GMO-free. The small 2.8-pound bag makes it easy to sample without blowing your budget. Once you know your savannah cat likes this formula, you can save money per ounce by buying a larger bag. The fact that Tiki’s food is calorie-dense can be both a pro and a can.

The biggest advantage is that a bag lasts longer than other brands. The downside is that some owners report that their cats aren’t satisfied with small servings and beg for more food. We couldn’t find information on Tiki’s ingredient sourcing for this formula or where the food is produced. Many other pet food brands in this price bracket are forthcoming about their ingredient sourcing and production facilities. We did find that Whitebridge Pet Brands owns Tiki Cat.

Pros

• Sold in multiple bag sizes
• Free of GMO ingredients
• No artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives

Cons

• Kibble may be harder than other brands
• Expensive
• No information on sourcing ingredients

9. Natural Balance L.I.D. Chicken Formula Dry Cat Food

Natural Balance’s High Protein Chicken is made in the U.S. with globally sourced ingredients. This formula is labeled “limited ingredients” but does not specify the source of the “natural flavor.”

Natural Balance states that chicken is the sole source of protein, and this food is suitable for Savannahs with other protein allergies. A few customers mentioned a kibble size and color change in 2022 that caused their cats to stop eating this recipe. The new appearance may not be an issue if your Savannah cat is new to this formula.

Pros

• No artificial colors or flavors
• Added taurine

Cons

• Contains unspecified “natural flavor”

10. Purina ONE Grain-Free with Ocean Whitefish Dry Cat Food

Purina ONE’s True Instinct Natural Grain-Free with Ocean Whitefish is a happy medium between a higher-protein food and an affordable price. This formula is free of artificial ingredients like colors or flavors found in many other cat foods in this price bracket.

The added taurine boosts the nutritional content for Savannah cats. A few owners thought the mix of multi-shaped kibble pieces (triangle, circle, and soft morsels) was a turn-off for their cats. We like that this cat food is available in multiple sizes. The 3.2-pound bag won’t break the bank if you’re not sure your cat will enjoy this food.

Pros

• Available in several bag sizes
• Added taurine
• No artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives

Cons

• Picky cats may not like the varied kibble texture

11. Tiki Cat Succulent Chicken in Consomme Cat Food

Commercially canned cat food can’t match the protein content of dry kibble. But wet food is a nice treat and can help your Savannah get the water they need. Tiki Cat’s Succulent Chicken in Chicken Consomme is one of the higher-protein wet foods on the market today. Most canned foods have 10% or less protein, while this formula has 16%.

Sunflower seed oil is high in omegas and promotes a healthy coat and skin. The added taurine and limited ingredients make this a suitable recipe for Savannahs. The higher price tag makes it cost-prohibitive for most owners to feed their cat daily, but you can jazz up dry kibble with a spoonful or two. While this is a popular premium cat food, some cats don’t care for the shredded meat texture. Less than enthused kitties may lick the broth but leave the meat behind.

Pros

• Added taurine
• Omega-rich sunflower seed oil
• Limited ingredient

Cons

• Expensive per ounce
• Some cats may not like shredded texture
• Not as much protein as dry kibble

Buyer’s Guide: How to Find the Best Cat Foods for Savannah Cats

Reading through our list of the 10 best cat foods for Savannah cats is just the beginning. Learn more about Savannahs’ nutritional needs and how to choose the right food for your cat.

Why Is Protein So Important for Savannah Cats?

Savannahs and other domestic cats are obligate carnivores. They need nutrients found in animal tissue, like arginine, taurine, and fatty acids. Additionally, cats’ bodies are designed to process a high-protein diet.

They lack some of the digestive enzymes needed to break down carbohydrates. And because cats’ taste buds can’t detect “sweet” flavors, they naturally gravitate towards savory foods like meat and animal fat.

Do Savannah Cats Need a Grain-Free Diet?

You’ll notice that most cat foods on our list are grain-free. That’s not because all grains are universally bad for Savannah cats. Instead, it’s a reflection of current pet food trends. Manufacturers are meeting pet owners’ desire for grain-free foods.

Most Savannahs do best on a high-protein/low-carb diet, but that doesn’t mean they need completely grain-free cat food. Think of it this way—grains are optional for cats unless your vet advises otherwise. You can feed your Savannah a higher-protein, grain-inclusive food if that’s what they like and it fits your budget.

The same may not be true for dogs, however. Research has shown a possible link between grain-free diets and canine dilated cardiomyopathy. The condition causes dogs’ hearts to enlarge and cardiac muscles to thin. While a grain-free diet may be okay for your Savannah cat, you should check with your vet before switching your cat or dog to grain-free food.

Cat Food Buying Tips

There are countless cat food brands on the market today in the U.S., and we considered several factors when we chose the 10 best formulas for Savannah cats. First, we narrowed our choices down to brands that were available at a national level.

Then we read through reviews to find foods that cats and their owners universally love. The products on our list had to be nutritionally sound and tasty. We also acknowledged that no pet food brand is perfect. Every pet food has its critics, and we’ve done our best to present the “cons” to you.

• NO MESS - The 360° tray on this cat food and water bowl set has a raised design to catch and...
• WHISKER FRIENDLY - Shallow and wide metal containers with flat bottoms ensure your kitty can enjoy...
• CHEW-SAFE MATERIALS - Kittens and cats love chewing on silicone and soft rubber - but it's a choking...

High-quality cat food is an important part of fostering a long and healthy life for your cat but the right cat food and water dish will promote good posture, offer whisker relief, and aid in good digestion. The Hepper NomNom Cat Bowl is our favorite bowl since it offers all of the above and is beautifully crafted to meet modern home stylings. The wide tray design catches any food and water spills and the entire setup is dishwasher safe. Learn more about the Hepper NomNom Cat Bowl here.

At PangoVet, we’ve admired Hepper for many years and decided to take a controlling ownership interest so that we could benefit from the outstanding designs of this cool cat company!

Conclusion

There are lots of different cat foods on the market including dry, wet, and fresh or raw food options. As well as ensuring the food has appropriate protein, vitamins, and minerals, it should also use healthy, natural ingredients. With such an available range of choices, getting the right food can be challenging.

Above, we have included reviews of some of the best cat foods for Savannah cats including Smalls Cat Food which is a subscription-based food that includes added taurine and is free from fillers. Purina Friskies is an inexpensive canned food that meets the nutritional requirements of your Savannah while offering a variety of flavors of food.

Featured Image Credit: Jarry, Shutterstock

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