21 cans compared

Hill's Science Diet vs Wellness

The typical Wellness can gets 6.2% of its calories from carbohydrate, against 21.1% for Hill's Science Diet. Hill's Science Diet has 2 of 11 recipes under the 10% low-carb line; Wellness has 7 of 10. Below, every number is worked out the same way from each can’s label.

Hill's Science Diet

Wellness

Hill's Science Diet vs Wellness at a glance

Typical values are the middle recipe of each brand. Shares are of calories, so textures compare fairly. Marked cells show the better value where the gap is meaningful.

	Hill's Science Diet	Wellness
Cans we compare	11	10
Typical carbs, % of calories	21.1%	6.2%
Carb range	3.9–35%	0–25.9%
Recipes under 10% carbs	2 of 11	7 of 10
Typical protein, % of calories	43%	40%
Typical fat, % of calories	37%	51%
Calories per ounce	30	27
Calories per can	72–212	66–481
Recipes with published phosphorus	0 of 11	8 of 10
Typical phosphorus, mg per 100 kcal	—	168 mg
Confirmed for kittens	3 of 11	3 of 10
Chicken-free recipes	0 of 11	2 of 10
Fish-free recipes	2 of 11	1 of 10
Textures	Pâté, Chunks in gravy	Pâté, Flaked, Shreds in broth, Chunks in gravy, Minced

Lowest-carb can from each brand

The recipe with the smallest share of calories from carbohydrate on each side, leaving out toppers meant for supplemental feeding.

Put these two side by side

Hill's Science Diet5.5 oz

Kitten with Salmon

Pâté · 212 kcal per can

Carbs: 3.9%
Protein: 43%
Phosphorus: not listed

Protein 43%Fat 53%Carbs 4%

Low carb

Wellness3 oz

Chicken, Turkey & Chicken Liver Recipe

Pâté · 116 kcal per can

Carbs: 0%
Protein: 40%
Phosphorus: 147mg

Protein 40%Fat 60%Carbs 0%

Low carbLower phosphorus

Same texture, head to head

For each texture both brands make, the lowest-carb recipe from each.

Texture	Hill's Science Diet	Wellness
Pâté	Kitten with Salmon3.9% carbs · 43% protein · 212 kcal	Chicken, Turkey & Chicken Liver Recipe0% carbs · 40% protein · 116 kcal
Chunks in gravy	Tender Chicken Dinner16.4% carbs · 44% protein · 170 kcal	Chicken Entrée Cubes in Rich Gravy6.9% carbs · 37% protein · 79 kcal

Which to choose, by what your cat needs

For a diabetic or overweight cat

Wellness is the lower-carb line overall. Its lowest-carb recipe is Chicken, Turkey & Chicken Liver Recipe at 0% of calories; Hill's Science Diet’s is Kitten with Salmon at 3.9%. Both brands have recipes under the 10% line (7 of 10 against 2 of 11), so the right recipe matters more than the brand.

For kidney concerns

Hill's Science Diet doesn’t publish phosphorus on the pages we checked. Wellness publishes phosphorus for 8 of 10 recipes (typical 168 mg per 100 kcal). Only recipes with a published value can be checked, so start from those and confirm targets with your vet.

For kittens

Hill's Science Diet has 3 of 11 recipes whose label we could confirm covers growth or all life stages; Wellness has 3 of 10. A missing statement doesn’t mean a can is unsuitable, only that we couldn’t verify it.

For allergies and picky eaters

Chicken-free: Hill's Science Diet 0 of 11, Wellness 2 of 10. Fish-free: Hill's Science Diet 2 of 11, Wellness 1 of 10. Textures: Hill's Science Diet makes pâté, chunks in gravy; Wellness makes pâté, flaked, shreds in broth, chunks in gravy, minced.

Questions about Hill's Science Diet vs Wellness

Is Hill's Science Diet or Wellness lower in carbs?

The typical Wellness can gets 6.2% of its calories from carbohydrate, against 21.1% for Hill's Science Diet. Hill's Science Diet has 2 of 11 recipes under the 10% low-carb line; Wellness has 7 of 10.

Which has more protein, Hill's Science Diet or Wellness?

Wellness. Its typical can gets 40% of calories from protein, against 43% for Hill's Science Diet. Hill's Science Diet has 0 of 11 recipes over 50% protein calories; Wellness has 2 of 10.

Which is more filling per ounce?

Wellness. Its cans average 27 calories per ounce against 30 for Hill's Science Diet, so a cat needs fewer ounces of it to get the same calories.

Do Hill's Science Diet and Wellness publish phosphorus?

Hill's Science Diet doesn’t publish phosphorus on the pages we checked. Wellness publishes phosphorus for 8 of 10 recipes (typical 168 mg per 100 kcal).

Which is better for a diabetic cat, Hill's Science Diet or Wellness?

Carbs are what matter most, and Wellness has the lower-carb line with 7 of 10 recipes under 10%. The best single choice is a specific recipe, not a brand: Kitten with Salmon (3.9%) from Hill's Science Diet or Chicken, Turkey & Chicken Liver Recipe (0%) from Wellness. Change a diabetic cat’s food only with your vet.