Cat Food Reviewed
Ratings based on the actual ingredient list, not advertising. Scale 1–5, where 5 means recommended. Formulas can change — always check the current label.
Whiskas Adult
Positive
+Affordable
+Widely available worldwide
Negative
–Only ~4% meat
–Heavy on grain and starch
–Sugar in the gravy
–Carrageenan
One of the most recognised names globally — unfortunately with a very poor ingredient list. Grain fillers dominate; actual meat content is minimal.
Felix (As Good As It Looks)
Positive
+Cats tend to like it
+Readily available in Europe, UK and Australia
Negative
–Low meat content
–Sugar syrup
–Artificial flavourings
–Many additives
The appeal is mainly down to artificial flavouring, not actual quality. Not recommended for daily feeding.
Applaws
Positive
+60–75% meat or fish
+Grain-free
+Short, readable ingredient list
+Available in EU, UK, US, Australia and Asia
Negative
–Some complementary varieties nutritionally incomplete as sole diet
–More expensive than mainstream brands
One of the cleanest mainstream wet foods available internationally. Minimal ingredients, clearly labelled meat content — a strong everyday option.
Wellness CORE
Positive
+Grain-free
+High protein focus
+Widely available in North America, UK and Europe
Negative
–Some varieties contain carrageenan
–Dry range still higher in carbohydrates than ideal
A reliable grain-free choice in English-speaking markets. Stick to wet varieties and check labels for carrageenan.
Ziwi Peak
Positive
+91–96% meat, organs and bone
+Grain-free
+No sugar, no carrageenan
+Available in 50+ countries
Negative
–Significantly more expensive than most brands
The global benchmark for quality cat food. The ingredient list is exemplary across all varieties. The only real barrier is the price.
Royal Canin
Positive
+Globally available
+Breed- and condition-specific ranges
+Frequently recommended by vets
Negative
–Corn and wheat gluten near the top of the ingredient list
–Very expensive relative to ingredient quality
–Manufacturer funds veterinary education programmes
A globally recognised brand whose reputation far exceeds its ingredient quality. Heavy reliance on grain fillers makes it a poor species-appropriate choice.
Hill's Science Diet
Positive
+Wide availability globally
+Condition-specific ranges
+Frequently recommended by vets
Negative
–Corn and chicken by-product meal high on ingredient list
–Significant filler content relative to price
–Manufacturer funds veterinary education programmes
Another brand whose clinical reputation is backed by marketing spend rather than ingredient quality. Vets often recommend it — that doesn't make the formula good.
Purina Pro Plan
Positive
+Named meat as first ingredient in several lines
+Available worldwide
Negative
–Corn gluten meal and wheat as secondary ingredients
–Multiple artificial additives
–Pro branding not reflected in ingredient quality
A step above the supermarket own-brands but still reliant on plant fillers. The premium positioning is not justified by the formula.
Iams
Positive
+Affordable
+Widely available
Negative
–Corn and chicken by-product among first ingredients
–Artificial colours and preservatives
–Negligible moisture content in dry varieties
–Consistently poor ingredient quality across ranges
One of the worst offenders at the budget end of the market. Little has changed despite multiple reformulations over the years.
Sheba
Positive
+Wet food — better moisture than dry
+Lower carbohydrate content than dry alternatives
+Some varieties are grain-free
Negative
–Thickened with carrageenan in most varieties
–Meat content lower than label suggests
–Premium packaging does not match ingredient quality
Marketed as a premium product at a near-premium price. In practice the formula is much closer to Whiskas than to genuinely high-quality wet food.
Animonda Carny
DE / AT / CHPositive
+55–70% named meat or offal
+Grain-free across all varieties
+No sugar, no carrageenan
+Good species-appropriate offal content
Negative
–Less widely available outside German-speaking markets
–Some varieties use gelling agents
One of the better German-market wet foods. High meat content, transparent labelling and no grain fillers. A solid everyday choice for cats in the DACH region.
Feringa
DE / ATPositive
+70–80% meat content
+Grain-free
+No sugar, no artificial preservatives
+Species-appropriate recipes including heart and liver
Negative
–Only available in Germany and Austria
–Limited product range compared to larger brands
A consistently clean German brand with high meat content and honest labelling. A top pick for DACH cat owners who want quality without paying Ziwi prices.
Grau
DE / AT / CHPositive
+Organic-certified ingredients
+Named meat clearly stated
+Grain-free, no artificial additives
+Good offal and organ content
Negative
–Higher price point
–Smaller availability outside DACH
Grau stands out for its organic certification and honest labelling. A reliable choice for owners who prioritise clean sourcing alongside high meat content.
Smilla
DE / ATPositive
+Higher meat content than supermarket brands
+Grain-free varieties available
+Widely available in German-speaking markets
Negative
–Quality varies significantly across product lines
–Some varieties contain carrageenan
–Ingredient sourcing not fully transparent
An acceptable mid-range option in the German market. Stick to the grain-free lines and check for carrageenan — quality across the range is inconsistent.
Lily's Kitchen
UK / IEPositive
+Named meat as first ingredient
+Certified organic in most lines
+No artificial preservatives, colours or flavours
+Grain-free dry food options
Negative
–Some wet varieties contain carrageenan
–Higher price than most UK supermarket brands
The standout quality brand in the UK and Ireland market. Organic certification, honest labelling and high meat content make it one of the better mainstream options available in British supermarkets.
Tiki Cat
US / CAPositive
+90–95% whole fish or meat
+Grain-free, no starch fillers
+No carrageenan, no artificial additives
+High moisture content
Negative
–Limited availability outside North America
–Some fish-heavy varieties may have high phosphorus
One of the cleanest wet foods available in the US market. Minimal ingredients, very high meat content and no fillers. The North American equivalent of Ziwi Peak at a somewhat lower price point.
Almo Nature
IT / EUPositive
+High meat or fish content (70%+)
+Short, readable ingredient list
+HFC range is grain-free and additive-free
+Widely available across Europe
Negative
–Classic range contains some fillers
–Quality varies significantly between product lines
The HFC line from this Italian brand is genuinely good — high meat content, clean formula, and broadly available across Europe. Avoid the Classic range; it's a different product in the same branding.
Orijen Cat & Kitten
CA / GlobalPositive
+85–90% named animal ingredients
+Biologically appropriate formulation
+High protein, low carbohydrate
+No grain, no artificial additives
Negative
–Dry food — lower moisture than wet
–Very high protein may not suit all cats, especially with kidney issues
–Significant price premium
The best dry food on this list by a clear margin. If dry food is a requirement, Orijen is the benchmark. That said, wet food is still preferable for most cats.
Bozita
SE / NordicPositive
+Named meat clearly stated
+No artificial colours or flavours
+Widely available in Scandinavia
Negative
–Contains carrageenan in most varieties
–Meat content lower than premium brands
–Some varieties contain rice and potato starch
A reasonable mid-range option for Scandinavian owners. Better than supermarket brands but held back by carrageenan and inconsistent meat content. Check each variety individually.
Taste of the Wild
US / GlobalPositive
+Named meat as first ingredient
+Grain-free
+No artificial colours or preservatives
Negative
–Dry food — moisture problem inherent to the format
–Pea and legume content high (potential DCM link under investigation)
–Ingredient quality below premium brands
A step above most US supermarket dry foods. The grain-free formula is positive, but the high legume content is a concern worth monitoring. Adequate if wet food is not an option, but not a long-term recommendation.