Science Diet Cat Food Review 2024: Vet-Approved Nutrition For Your Cat

Having endless pet product options has its ups and downs. We have more options to choose from according to our pet’s needs. Many pet parents have been opting for organic, more holistic approach to their pet’s nutrition.

However, there are still a lot of cat parents who prefer to put their trust in experts who have spent many years studying the science of animal nutrition and health. With this in mind, we have made this 2024 Hill’s Science Diet cat food review to help you find the right veterinarian-approved food for your cat.

History

The Hill’s Pet Nutrition brand was founded by Burton Hill in 1907. It was then a rendering operation called Hill Rendering Works. In the 1930s, the company started a milling division which produced farm animal feed, dog food, and horse meat for human consumption. The company was renamed the Hill Packing Company.

Inspired by a guide dog named Buddy, who suffered from kidney failure, Dr. Mark Morris Sr. and his wife Louise Morris developed meals specifically for dogs with renal failure and insufficiency. In 1948, Dr. Morris partnered with the Hill Packing Company to produce Canine k/d dog food.

By 1968, the product line expanded to include more Prescription Diet food for cats and dogs with specific conditions. The food was being sold at veterinary clinics and pet professionals as Hill’s Science Diet. Hill’s Pet Nutrition was acquired by Colgate-Palmolive in 1976. Their products are now available in 86 countries around the world.

Hill’s cat foods are divided into 3 main product lines: Science Diet, Prescription Diet, and Healthy Advantage. The products are specifically formulated for every life stage or health requirement.

To help guide you in picking the best cat food brand for your fur baby, here is our review of Hill’s top-rated products available at Amazon.com based on ingredients, quality, results, as well as reviews and ratings from other cat lovers.

Hill’s Science Diet Cat Food Review

Reviewed Hill's Science Diet Cat Foods

1. Hill’s Science Diet Kitten – Chicken Recipe
2. Hill’s Science Diet Kitten – Savory Turkey Entrée
3. Hill’s Science Diet Adult – Indoor Dry
4. Hill’s Science Diet Adult – Tender Ocean Fish Dinner
5. Hill’s Science Diet Adult Hairball Control
6. Hill’s Science Diet Adult Hairball Control Entrée
7. Hill’s Science Diet Urinary Hairball Control Adult
8. Hill’s Science Diet Adult Urinary Hairball Control Entrée
9. Hill’s Science Diet Adult Perfect Weight
10. Hill’s Science Diet Adult Light Entrée

According to Hill’s, science has been at the core of how their pet food products are created since 1939. A vast team of more than 220 vets, pet nutritionists, and food scientists are behind their recipes. Hill’s approach to pet food nutrition is called Predictive Biology.

They believe the right nutrition makes little transformations that can contribute to a cat’s optimum health. This makes them one of the best cat foods commercially available.

Hill’s Science Diet brand is divided into five lines: Kitten, Adult, Weight, Hairball, and Urinary. Each line has both dry and wet cat food variants.

Hill’s Science Diet Cat Food Reviews

1. Hill’s Science Diet Kitten – Chicken Recipe 

First on our review is Kitten Chicken Recipe cat food. This Hill’s product is specially formulated for kittens’ developing bodies. It contains DHA derived from fish oil for your cat’s brain and eye development.

High-quality animal protein is included for building muscles. It also has balanced minerals for strong bones and teeth. It also contains mixed tocopherols for freshness.

This cat food from the Hill’s brand is recommended for kittens from weaning to 1 year old, pregnant or nursing cats. The first five ingredients are chicken, brown rice, wheat gluten, chicken fat, and egg product.

Pros

Soft, shiny coats and bright eyes. Kittens who have been fed with this Kitten Chicken Recipe dry food have noticeably softer, glossier fur. Most cat owners have noted that it is the best state of their kitten’s coat that they’ve ever seen. They also have clear bright eyes, which many take as a sign of good health. It is no surprise that this kitten recipe has one of the highest ratings among their products.

Happy, energetic kittens. This dry food keeps young kittens full of energy. They are active and playful as a healthy kitten should be.

Cons

Inconsistent kibble size. Some customer reviews state that the kibble size of their recent purchases is much smaller than what they used to be. A few have noted that the dry kibbles of those purchased from their vets are much larger, which their kittens seem to prefer.

Conclusion

Kitten Chicken Recipe has shown great results for many, many kittens. They are visibly much healthier with their soft, shiny coats and bright, clear eyes. They are playful and full of energy.

These are signs of kittens having complete and balanced nutrition. This is the best cat food for growing kittens, according to many buyers’ reviews and ratings on various websites.

The kibble size of this cat food seems a bit too small for a few kitties. Some cat parents have noted that the size of the ones they purchased online are much smaller than their locally purchased bags.

2. Hill’s Science Diet Kitten – Savory Turkey Entrée 

Savory Turkey Entrée has a smooth, soft texture that kittens can eat with ease. It is made with high-quality protein for healthy, lean muscles. It has antioxidants, vitamins E and C for a strong immune system.

The first five ingredients are water, turkey, turkey giblets, pork liver, and salmon.

Pros

Rich turkey flavor. Kittens just love this Savory Turkey Entrée wet cat food. They enjoy the smooth texture, and just love the overall taste. This cat food is not just rich in turkey, it also has flavorful pork liver and salmon among other ingredients.

Reasonably priced. Customer reviews state that this canned cat food is reasonably priced for the high-quality ingredients it has.

Cons

Needs a bit more liquid. A handful of buyers find that this Hill’s product needs a bit more moisture. Some simply add a spoonful of water to the cat food to make a bit more sauce. This is a great way to give more hydration to your cats.

Conclusion

Savory Turkey Entrée cat food has high quality animal protein from turkey, salmon, pork, and chicken. This also make it extra tasty for kittens to enjoy. Many buyers’ reviews and ratings show that they find good value in this product as it has good quality ingredients, yet it is reasonably priced.

3. Hill’s Science Diet Adult – Indoor Dry Cat Food

Designed to fuel the needs of indoor cats aged 1-6 years old, the Indoor dry food has natural fiber that supports digestive health. This easy to digest food is high in protein from chicken and corn gluten meal.

The first five ingredients of this cat food are chicken, whole grain wheat, corn gluten meal, powdered cellulose, and chicken fat.

Pros

Helps with weight management. Many overweight cats who have been switched to this Adult Indoor food were able to shed their extra weight. It is able to keep them full for longer. As a result, cats are more active, and their joints are feeling much better as they are lighter.

Shiny coats. This is another dry product of the Hill’s brand that gives cats that healthy, silky fur. Cat parents are just so proud of their kitties’ soft, glossy coats. Not only is it pretty, but it is also an indication of a cat’s good health. This is another kibble from the brand that received high ratings for the positive effects on their kitties’ coats.

Cons

Kibbles are too large. Some cat owners have noticed a change in the kibble size of this dry food. They appear to be larger than previous formulas. Cats who are used to the old formula or kibble size do not seem to like the new larger kibbles.

Conclusion

Adult Indoor dry food seems to give great results for indoor cats who need help managing their weights. The cats were able to lose the excess weight, and have become more active. Their coats are soft and shiny, that they have become a source of pride for the cat parents.

However, as with the Kitten formula, the Adult Indoor cat food has received not-so-good feedback regarding the kibble size. This particular formula has received complaints about the kibbles being too large compared to its previous size. A few of the ratings for this particular item has been low due to the hard to chew kibbles.

4. Hill’s Science Diet Adult – Tender Ocean Fish Dinner

This product has chunks of baked ocean fish soaked in tasty gravy. It has the precise amount of nutrients to give adult cats the right amount of energy.

Tender Ocean Fish Dinner’s first five ingredients are water, ocean fish, chicken, pork liver, and wheat flour.

Pros

Kitties beg for more! Cats love the ocean fish chunks in this wet cat food. They love licking the sauce too. This is a great way to incorporate more moisture into your cat’s diet. Many buyers claim that this is their cat’s favorite wet food.

Visible health benefits. Owners have noted an improvement in their cat’s overall health after being fed with Adult Tender Ocean Fish Dinner cat food, according to reviews. They have noticeably healthy skin and hair. A review even mentioned a change in their cat’s behavior – something that he takes as a sign of good health.

Cons

Contains chicken. A few customer reviews stated that this wet food is labeled as “ocean fish”, but actually contains chicken. Aside from fish and chicken, this cat food also contains pork liver.

Conclusion

Tender Ocean Fish Dinner is not just a tasty meal for cats. It also gives many health benefits from its nutrient-dense high-quality ingredients. According to some reviews, this may be the best cat food for kitties who like chunks of meat in their wet food. For this reason, this item from the Hill’s brand has received high ratings on Amazon.com

We do recommend that owners of cats with food allergies check the ingredient list of every product that their pets consume. It is quite common for pet food products to be labeled as having the flavor of one type of protein, but still contain others from different animals. Limited ingredient products might be better for pets with allergies.

5. Hill’s Science Diet Hairball Control

Adult Hairball Control dry food product has vitamin E, omega-3 and 6 for healthy skin and hair. It is rich in protein for lean muscles. The protein content of this product comes from chicken and corn gluten meal.

The first five ingredients: chicken, whole grain wheat, corn gluten meal, chicken fat, and powdered cellulose.

Pros

Helped prevent hairballs. As this dry food from the Hill’s brand is made specifically for cats who suffer from frequent hairballs, it has been tried by numerous cats who needed help with that issue. Many of them have shown improvements from lessened frequency of hairballs to no longer having hairballs at all.

Great flavor. Adult Hairball Control is loved by kitties. It is packed with flavor from chicken, chicken fat, and chicken meal. No wonder cats get excited when they hear this dry food hitting their bowls. Ratings show that this particular flavor is popular among kitties.

Cons

Kibbles are too large. This is another cat product that had a change in kibble size. It is much larger than before, and some cats who are used to the smaller kibble, have trouble chewing or even liking this dry food product.

Conclusion

Based on our review, this Adult Hairball Control from the Hill’s brand is quite popular among cats because of its rich chicken flavor. Made with real chicken, this product is high in protein. It also has fibers that have helped cats who were suffering from frequent hairballs. For this reason, many have given this item high ratings.

The kibbles, however, are too big for some cats’ liking. Their owners are not too happy about the increase in size from the previous formula. This is reflected in some of the customer reviews and ratings for this product.

6. Hill’s Science Diet Hairball Control Ocean Entrée

Adult Hairball Control Ocean Fish canned food contains natural fiber to help reduce hairballs. It is fortified with vitamin E, omega-3 and 6 for healthy skin and coat.

The first five ingredients of this cat food are water, pork liver, tuna, pork by-products, and powdered cellulose.

Pros

Reduced hairballs. This canned food product has been proven effective in reducing hairballs in cats. It has received good feedback from cat owners whose kitties have been suffering from hairballs. The fiber content of this food seems to be helping digestion, and thus make the movement of food and hair in the digestive tract much easier.

Good value. For the high-quality ingredients, and its effectivity in targeting hairball issues, Adult Hairball Control Ocean Fish is a good value for its price. It also has ingredients that promote healthy digestion, which is vital in overall feline health. Some cat owners feel that this saves them from unwanted vet bills in the future.

Cons

By-products. A select few cat parents feel that for the price of this Hill’s canned cat food, it should not have any by-products such as pork by-products.

Conclusion

Adult Hairball Control Ocean Fish is a great product to try for kitties with hairball problems. Many cats have had such issues resolved with this wet food. This makes it worth its price for many cat owners.

The reviews and ratings have been positive due to its health benefits. However, some feel that at its price point, this wet food should not contain any by-products.

7. Hill’s Science Diet Urinary Hairball Control

Urinary Hairball Control Adult dry food has optimal levels of magnesium to support urinary health. It is high in fiber and fatty acids to for healthy skin and coat, and to prevent hairballs. Fibers also help make it easy to digest.

The first five ingredients: chicken, whole wheat grain, pork fat, and powdered cellulose.

Pros

Helped improve urinary tract health. This product has received good reviews from cat parents of kitties suffering from various urinary issues such as crystals, UTI, etc.

Some of them have been advised by vets to try feeding the cats Urinary Hairball Control Adult. Many of the cats’ issues have cleared up or at least improved since being fed with this cat food. It has actually been a life saver for some sick kitties.

Hairball buster. This dry food from Hill’s proved to be capable to deliver as far as its purpose is concerned. Not only has it helped with urinary health, it also reduced the number of hairballs for many cats. Some have even completely eradicated hairballs since they started eating Urinary Hairball Control Adult cat food.

Cons

Hard to chew. This product is not recommended for older cats or cats who have a difficult time chewing tougher cat food. According to some reviews, the kibbles are a bit too big for their cats as well. As it is on the harder side, it is a bit tough to manually grind them up.

Conclusion

The Urinary Hairball Control is great at targeting urinary issues and hairball in cats who suffer from these conditions. Many have shown improvement or even had the issues completely resolved.

It is one of the best food for cats’ urinary health, and has received high ratings for the results it delivers. It is however, not recommended for cats who need may have difficulty chewing large or tough kibbles.

8. Hill’s Science Diet Urinary Hairball Control Savory Chicken Entrée 

Hairballs and urinary issues are some of the most common cat health problems. Just like its dry food counterpart, the Urinary Hairball Control Savory Chicken Entrée has the right levels of magnesium to support urinary health. Natural fiber helps move food and hair through the digestive tract.

The first five ingredients are water, chicken, turkey giblets, pork by-products, and pork liver.

Pros

Resolved various urinary issues. From blockages to urinary tract infections, this Adult Urinary Hairball Control canned food has helped improve or resolve such issues for numerous cats.

Some cat parents have even used this a substitute for more expensive prescription food for urinary problems. This may be one of the best cat foods in the market for urinary health.

Kitties find it tasty. This Hill’s product is loved by many cats. It is rich and meaty with chicken, turkey giblets, and even pork liver.

Cons

Strong smell. A few cat parents find the smell of this product a bit too strong for their liking.

Conclusion

Adult Urinary Hairball Control has been effective in restoring urinary health to numerous cats. Hairballs have been reduced or completely gone. Some also find it suitable as a more affordable substitute for prescription food for urinary conditions.

9. Hill’s Science Diet Adult Perfect Weight 

Adult Perfect Weight gives tasty, nutritious kibble made with clinically-proven technology for effective weight loss. It promises visible results in 10 weeks.

It is recommended for adult cats, and less active cats such as neutered pets. This product is fortified with vitamins, minerals, l-carnitine, mixed tocopherols for freshness, and other supplements as well.

The first five ingredients are: chicken, brewer’s rice, corn gluten meal, wheat gluten, and powdered cellulose.

Pros

Visible weight loss. Adult Perfect Weight has helped numerous cats lose weight in months, and even just weeks for some. They are visibly leaner, and appear much healthier and happier.

Energetic kitties. The cats who lost weight showed signs of increased activity within weeks of being fed with this dry product. They appear to feel lighter and are noticeably more playful.

Cons

Price is a bit high. While many find this a great product for weight management, some find the cost a bit too high, especially for households with multiple cats.

Conclusion

Adult Perfect Weight has been helping many overweight kitties for years. They are not only visibly leaner, but many owners also notice a positive change in their behavior. They are more active and playful. Youthful energy is restored to once lazy cats who are on the verge of becoming lethargic. This is overall, a great product from the brand.

As good as this product is, it is a bit costly for owners of more than a single pet.

10. Hill’s Science Diet Adult Light Liver and Chicken Entrée 

This Hill’s product lets your kitty enjoy a super tasty meal while maintaining an ideal weight. This formula is nutritious yet low in fats and calories. Fiber helps control hunger, allowing them to feel fuller for longer.

Adult Light Liver and Chicken Entrée’s first five ingredients are: water, pork liver, pork by-products, chicken, and rice.

Pros

Loved even by picky kitties! This weight management food sure tastes great as kitties enjoy having this product for meals. It is meaty and the sauce is quite rich. Cats come running when they hear the can being opened.

Great for weight loss. This Adult Light Liver and Chicken Entrée is rich in protein instead of fats. It is also low-calorie to help kitties shed the excess fats. The high fiber content of this product helps kitties control their hunger pangs.

Cons

Paté-like texture. Some customers were expecting a more minced texture from this product based on the image on its label. They find that the texture is more like a paté, which some of their cats are not fans of. Non-paté fans have given this a few low ratings.

Conclusion

Adult Light Liver and Chicken Entrée is a good low-fat and low-calorie option for cats needing to shed some extra fluff. The rich flavor is quite popular too. However, if your feline friend is no fan of patés, this may not be the right product to buy.

Has Hill’s Science Diet cat food ever been recalled?

Yes. In 2007, Hill’s Science Diet was included in a number of brands who had products recalled due to melamine contamination. No cat food from Hill’s Science Diet has been recalled since.

Some dog food products have been recalled in the following years. According to Hill’s, they have put in place more stringent quality control protocols by which their suppliers must comply.

What is Hill’s Prescription Diet?

Prescription Diet is one of the 3 main cat food brands of Hill’s. This brand aims to provide a solution to your cat’s health problems. Only the best ingredients from trusted sources is what Hill’s promises to provide with every bag or can of Hill’s Prescription Diet cat food.

This Hill’s brand of cat food products is divided into 5 categories according the health issues: Metabolic for weight management, i/d for digestive care, d/d for skin and food sensitivities, c/d for urinary care, and k/d for kidney care. Each subcategory has both dry and wet cat food variants.

As with any type of medical condition your cat may have, it is always best to consult your vet before purchasing products to treat the condition.

Summary

As one of the front-runners of the pet food industry, Hill’s Science Diet is a brand that many pet owners swear by.

The nutrition behind every product is based on scientific studies conducted by teams of in-house veterinarians, food scientists, and pet nutritionists. This is definitely an important part of Hill’s reputation. However, results that we can see are more important.

Many cat parents have stated that Hill’s Science Diet products have saved their pets’ lives by restoring their health. These cats have previously suffered from various urinary and digestive conditions. As such, it is no surprise that this brand is recommended by many vets, and has received high ratings for most of their products.

Cat owners who have seen the health benefits this brand gives to their pets believe that it is a good value for its price point. However, a few think that the price is not worth the food due to the presence of animal by-products.

Based on our review, Hill’s Science Diet may not be organic or holistic as many new cat products claim to be, but it offers well-researched, science-backed recipes for the health and well-being of your cat.

The nutritional value of their food products is one of the best available in the market. Their condition-specific products have proven to be the best cat foods for many kitties, and have even been called life savers in reviews multiple times.