Best Dental Food for Cats: Improve Feline Oral Health Naturally

Hill’s Science Diet Oral Care is one of the easiest high-efficacy dental kibbles to find, and in our review its large, hard pieces encouraged thorough chewing to reduce plaque and tartar. Compared with moderate-efficiency treats, it’s a more comprehensive daily solution without a prescription, rivaling Royal Canin’s Dental Care. Some cats may struggle with the kibble size or experience mild stool changes during transition, and it costs more than basic adult foods. At $37.99 on Petco, availability is a big plus.

Royal Canin Dental Care impressed us with a specialized kibble that creates a brushing effect, and the formula is clinically shown to reduce plaque with exclusive feeding. Its dental efficacy ranks high, putting it a step above moderate options like Tiki Cat Solutions Dry, though similar in ambition to Hill’s Oral Care. Be aware the pieces can be large and the ingredient list includes corn, which some shoppers avoid. At $28.99 direct, it’s a strong non-prescription path to cleaner teeth.

Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets DH aims for high dental efficacy, and in our review it did a solid job reducing tartar while staying highly palatable. Versus over-the-counter kibbles with moderate claims, DH delivers more targeted results, but it does require a prescription and runs pricier at $51.99 on Chewy. The kibble can be large—great for chewing engagement, yet potentially tough for smaller or picky cats. If your vet recommends a prescription route, DH is a dependable alternative to Hill’s t/d.

For cats needing maximum dental support, Hill’s Prescription Diet t/d has consistently high efficacy in our testing, with a kibble clinically formulated to reduce plaque and tartar. Compared with moderate-efficacy treats and mousses, this prescription diet delivers more reliable mechanical cleaning—though it does require a vet authorization and costs more than regular foods. Most cats accept the chicken flavor well, easing transitions. At $24.99 from California Pet Pharmacy, it’s a strong primary dental solution when your veterinarian recommends stepping beyond over-the-counter options.

Need to coax a picky eater while giving their teeth a little help? In our testing, Tiki Cat Solutions Dental Mousse worked well as a wet topper, and the sodium tripolyphosphate is there to support tartar control with moderate efficacy compared with high-efficacy kibbles and prescription diets. We did notice a strong odor out of the pouch, and a few cats experienced digestive upset, so start slowly. At $1.99 from Petco, it’s an easy, non-prescription add-on rather than a stand-alone dental plan.

If you prefer a non-prescription kibble, we found Tiki Cat Solutions Dental Dry offers a crunchy texture aimed at plaque control and noticeably fresher breath for many cats. Dental efficacy is moderate, so compared with high-efficacy options like Hill’s Science Diet Oral Care or Royal Canin Dental Care, it’s more of a step-up from standard kibble than a clinic-level solution. Some cats may swallow pieces whole or refuse the formula, limiting benefits. At $43.69 on Chewy, it’s a mid-tier dental diet.

Greenies Feline Dental Treats are a crowd-pleaser in our experience, with a crunchy texture that helps scrub plaque and a flavor many cats find irresistible. Dental efficacy is moderate, much like DentaLife, so they work best alongside regular brushing or a high-efficacy kibble. Watch for large or hard pieces if your cat has dental sensitivity, and note occasional reports of digestive upset or damaged plastic containers in shipping. At $4.99 from Valley Vet, the resealable packs make daily use convenient and budget-friendly.

Purina DentaLife’s porous, crunchy bites encouraged real chewing in our review, helping mechanically reduce plaque with moderate dental efficacy. Most cats we tried loved the chicken flavor, though a minority had digestive upset or occasional vomiting, so introduce gradually. The pieces can be a bit large for kittens or sensitive mouths; Greenies or a mousse-style topper may be easier for those cats. At $1.78 on Chewy, it’s an affordable daily treat, just don’t rely on it as your only dental strategy.

If you want a grain-free option, Emerald Pet Feline Dental Treats stood out for clean ingredients and very low calories—about two per treat—making daily use easy across all life stages. The crunchy, fish-shaped pieces encourage chewing for moderate plaque and tartar control, comparable to Greenies or IntelliDent. Not every cat loves the ocean fish flavor, and a few had digestive upset in our testing; the 3 oz pouch also vanishes fast in multi-cat homes. At $3.45 from PetGuys, it’s an inexpensive way to test acceptance.

C.E.T. IntelliDent Cat Bites keep things simple: in our testing, just three crunchy treats per day provided noticeable breath-freshening while supporting gums and basic cleaning. Dental efficacy is moderate, similar to Greenies, but we liked the low-calorie approach for weight-conscious cats. Some cats found the bites too hard or lost interest, and grain-sensitive pets may not tolerate the corn-based formula. At $9.19 from PetSmart, it’s an easy routine to maintain if your cat accepts the texture.