Short answer — widely recommended premium dry cat‑food brands (good quality, widely used by vets or premium pet owners):

• Hill’s Science Diet / Hill’s Prescription Diet — veterinary, clinically formulated options (wide range of life‑stage and urinary/weight/sensitive formulas). (hillspet.com.au)
• Royal Canin / Royal Canin Veterinary Diets — breed‑ and condition‑specific clinical diets; many vets recommend for medical issues. (petfoodplus.com.au)
• Purina Pro Plan (and Purina Veterinary Diets) — vet‑backed lines and good availability. (vetstreet.com)
• Orijen / Acana (Champion/“biologically appropriate” high‑protein lines) — premium, high‑meat formulas often recommended for higher protein needs. (businessinsider.com)
• Farmina (N&D) — high‑protein / grain‑limited recipes; shown in reviewer/vet roundups. (businessinsider.com)
• Ziwi Peak — premium air‑dried / limited‑ingredient options (Australia popular). (petfoodplus.com.au)
• Merrick / Wellness CORE / Blue Buffalo — widely listed in vet/reviewer “premium” roundups (high‑protein or specialty recipes available). (vetstreet.com)
• Australian premium brands to consider: Ivory Coat, Black Hawk, Advance (and other local lines) — good availability in Australia and often marketed as higher‑quality/natural. (petfoodplus.com.au)

Practical buying checklist (what to look for on the bag/website)

• “Complete and balanced” / AAFCO (or recognised nutritional adequacy) statement or feeding‑trial claim — ensures the diet meets feline nutrient profiles. (catwatchnewsletter.com)
• Named animal protein first (e.g., “chicken,” “salmon”), and taurine included — taurine is essential for heart and eye health in cats. (thesprucepets.com)
• Guaranteed‑analysis and kcal/cup (do dry‑matter comparisons for true protein/fat levels). (petcareadvisors.com)
• Feeding‑trial data is preferable to “formulated to meet” claims when available — it’s a stronger test of digestibility and palatability. (catwatchnewsletter.com)
• If your cat has medical issues, use veterinary prescription diets (Hill’s Prescription, Royal Canin Veterinary Diet, Purina Veterinary Diets) under vet guidance. (vetproductsdirect.com.au)

Cautions and vet advice

• Grain‑free marketing: regulators and veterinary groups investigated links between some grain‑free diets and dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in dogs; evidence for cats is less clear, but many vets advise caution and to discuss major diet changes with your vet. If switching diets, monitor health and ask your vet about taurine and cardiac checks when appropriate. (fda.gov)
• Dry food is convenient but has low moisture — consider adding wet food or ensuring adequate water intake, especially for cats with urinary or kidney concerns. (Many vet sources recommend assessing moisture needs by life stage/health.) (hillspet.com.au)

If you want one short pick by common goals (examples)

• Vet‑recommended everyday adult diet: Hill’s Science Diet or Royal Canin (available in veterinary clinics and pet stores). (hillspet.com.au)
• High‑protein / biologically appropriate: Orijen, Acana, Farmina N&D. (businessinsider.com)
• Limited‑ingredient / sensitive stomach: Farmina limited lines, Royal Canin Veterinary Diet hydrolyzed / Hill’s Sensitive formulas or truly limited‑ingredient lines. (businessinsider.com)

Sources and further reading (examples I used)

• Hill’s & Hill’s Prescription product pages (Australia). (hillspet.com.au)
• Petfood retailers / specialist Australian stores (overview of local premium brands such as Royal Canin, Ivory Coat, Black Hawk, Ziwi Peak). (petfoodplus.com.au)
• Reviews / vet‑advice roundups (Business Insider, Forbes, Vetstreet) and product comparisons. (businessinsider.com)
• FDA Vet‑LIRN / DCM investigation background (grain‑free concerns). (fda.gov)
• Label guidance and “what to check” (Cornell/Catwatch and nutrition guides). (catwatchnewsletter.com)

If you’d like, I can:

• Narrow this to the 3 best options available in Australia in your price range, or
• Compare 2–3 specific bags you’re considering (I’ll compare guaranteed analysis, protein on a dry‑matter basis, and label claims).