Wellness Core Natural Grain Free Turkey, Whitefish & Chicken Dry Kitten Food

Our Review Process

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We've taken a close look at Wellness and graded it according to the We're All About Cats standard, evaluating the brand on species-appropriateness, product variety, price, ingredient quality, customer experience, and recall history.

The We're All About Cats Standard—Rating Wellness on What Matters

We've rated Wellness on six key criteria for quality. Here's how it rates in each of these six crucial areas.

Ratings

• Species-Appropriateness – 8/10
• Ingredient Quality – 7/10
• Product Variety – 7/10
• Price – 7/10
• Customer Experience – 8/10
• Recall History – 4/10

Overall Score: 6.9/10

In total, we give Wellness cat food a 41 out of 60 rating or a B- grade.

Wellness cat food, particularly canned foods in the CORE line, are rich in species-appropriate animal protein and made from high-quality ingredients. Other Wellness foods aren't as nutritionally excellent, containing hefty doses of plant ingredients and higher carbohydrate content than cats require. Wellness foods have been recalled several times, but the brand doesn't get many customer complaints and most cats seem to love Wellness cat food.

Overall, it's an above-average cat food brand, but it does have a few flaws. Find out what's great about Wellness and what's not in our in-depth Wellness cat food review.

About Wellness

Wellness started in 1997 as a creation of WellPet LLC, a pet food company that started in 1926 with the founding of Old Mother Hubbard Dog Treats. When Old Mother Hubbard and Eagle Pack merged, they formed WellPet, LLC. The company is now a subsidiary of Berwind Corporation, a private investment management company.

Sourcing And Manufacturing

The company says that the vast majority of their pet food production is done in their own Mishawaka, Indiana facility. Wellness Signature Selects, Divine Duos, and all wet foods in pouches are made in Thailand.

On the Wellness website, the company provides a step-by-step description of their canned food manufacturing process. The page explains that they work with "only the most respectable ingredient suppliers" to ensure that all products are made with excellent raw ingredients, then manufacture the foods according to a controlled process.

In a video published in 2012, WellPet says that their quality assurance program maintains the strictest standards of food safety in the pet food business and exceeds standards established by the FDA and AAFCO.

Recall History

Wellness has been recalled several times since 1997. Here's a quick summary of the brand's recall history.

2017

In February, a small amount of metal was found in products made in one of the facilities that manufactures Wellness products. While the affected products were not part of the WellPet family, the company decided to take the "conservative step" and recalled several canned cat food varieties.

In March of 2017, Wellness recalled one variety of canned dog food due to possibly excessive levels of naturally-occurring beef thyroid hormone.

2012

In May of 2012, Wellness issued a recall due to possible salmonella contamination of dry dog food.

In October, Wellness recalled a single variety of dry dog food due to excessive moisture content. While not immediately dangerous, excessively moist dry foods are prone to developing mold before their labeled expiration date.

2011

In February of 2011, 21.6 million cans of Wellness canned cat food were recalled due to inadequate levels of thiamine.

What Kinds Of Cat Food Does Wellness Offer?

All Wellness foods are made with whole foods and are free of wheat, corn, and soy. They don't contain any artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives.

Wellness' two lines are CORE, which is a protein-centric, grain-free food, and Complete

Health. The Complete Health line offers "whole food nutrition with grain-free options for your cat's everyday health. The line includes products geared towards specific life stages and lifestyles, including foods for kittens, indoor cats, and weight management.

Wellness CORE

CORE's dry selection is currently limited to seven products, which includes five original recipes, Wellness Air Dried food, and two RawRev products, which involve kibble blended with chunks of freeze-dried meat.

The CORE wet food selection includes Pates, Hearty Cuts, 95% Animal Protein, CORE Signature Selects, Divine Duos, and Simply Shreds snacks.

Wellness Complete Health

Wellness Complete Health offers a selection of both grain-free and grain-inclusive dry foods, each formula targeting life stages and health and lifestyle needs.

The wet food selection includes Complete Health Pate, Gravies, Minced, Sliced, Morsels, and Healthy Indulgence. The Complete Health line also includes Wellness Kittles treats.

Wellness Cat Food – Top 3 Recipes Reviewed

#1 Wellness Complete Health Pate Chicken Entree Grain-Free Canned Cat Food Review

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Chicken appears to be the primary protein source in this canned food.

This popular recipe is a straightforward, meat-based canned cat food that incorporates high-quality chicken, chicken liver, and turkey. According to customer reviews, the pate has a texture "like ground meat" that both people and their cats seem to enjoy.

In addition to carnivore-appropriate meat ingredients, the food contains fruits and vegetables like carrots and cranberries, plus cassia gum, guar gum, and xanthan gum as thickeners.

Altogether, the food is high in protein from species-appropriate animal sources, moderate in fat, and low in carbohydrates. The food is 34 calories per ounce or 101 calories in each 3 oz can.

Ingredients

Chicken, Chicken Liver, Turkey, Chicken Broth, Carrots, Natural Flavor, Guar Gum, Cranberries, Ground Flaxseed, Potassium Chloride, Taurine, Salt, Cassia Gum, Xanthan Gum, Choline Chloride, Iron Proteinate, Zinc Proteinate, Beta-Carotene, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin E Supplement, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Sodium Selenite, Niacin, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, Biotin, Potassium Iodide, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Folic Acid.

Guaranteed Analysis

Crude Protein: 10.5%

Crude Fat: 7%

Crude Fiber: 1%

Moisture: 78%

Dry Matter Basis

Protein: 47.73%

Fat: 31.82%

Fiber: 4.55%

Carbs: 15.91%

Caloric Weight Basis

Protein: 33.87%

Fat: 54.84%

Carbs: 11.29%

Ingredients We Liked: Chicken, Chicken Liver, Turkey

Ingredients We Didn't Like: Carrots

Common Allergens: Chicken

Pros

• Rich in species-appropriate animal ingredients
• Moisture-rich food promotes healthy hydration
• Free from artificial ingredients
• Low carbohydrate and plant content
• Cats seem to like eating this food

Cons

• Contains carrot and cranberry, neither of which are necessary for cats

#2 Wellness CORE Signature Selects Flaked Skipjack Tuna & Wild Salmon Entree in Broth Grain-Free Canned Cat Food Review

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Tuna appears to be the primary protein source in this canned cat food.

Because fish is so prone to heavy metal and toxin contamination, it's not a highly-recommended cat food ingredient. This food is made primarily from tuna, mackerel, and salmon set in sauce.

While the product is described as a "flaked" food, customers found something more like stew inside of the can. One customer begged, "Where's the Flaked Fish???" and said that the food was essentially "fancy gravy".

The gravy in question is thickened with tapioca starch and the food contains guar gum as a binding agent. Sunflower oil is also added to the broth.

Like many fish-based foods, this is a relatively low-calorie canned meal. It's 25 calories per ounce or 70 calories per 2.8 oz can.

Ingredients

Tuna, Tuna Broth, Water Sufficient for Processing, Mackerel, Salmon, Tapioca Starch, Sunflower Oil, Natural Flavor, Guar Gum, Tricalcium Phosphate, Taurine, Magnesium Sulfate, Vitamins [Vitamin E Supplement, Thiamine Hydrochloride, Niacin, Vitamin A Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin Supplement, Folic Acid, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Potassium Chloride, Choline Chloride, Minerals [Zinc Amino Acid Chelate, Iron Amino Acid Chelate, Manganese Amino Acid Chelate, Copper Amino Acid Chelate, Potassium Iodide, Sodium Selenite], Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (Vitamin K).

Guaranteed Analysis

Crude Protein: 10%

Crude Fat: 3.5%

Crude Fiber: 1%

Moisture: 85%

Ash: 2%

Dry Matter Basis

Protein: 66.67%

Fat: 23.33%

Fiber: 6.67%

Caloric Weight Basis

Protein: 54.05%

Fat: 45.95%

Ingredients We Liked: Tuna, Mackerel, Salmon

Ingredients We Didn't Like: Tapioca Starch

Common Allergens: Fish

Pros

• Made primarily from animal protein sources
• No artificial ingredients
• Cats like the flavor

Cons

• Excessive carbohydrate content for carnivores
• Some customers didn't like the food's consistency

#3 Wellness CORE Grain-Free Indoor Formula Dry Cat Food Review

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Deboned chicken and chicken meal appear to be the primary protein sources in this dry cat food.

Like all Wellness CORE foods, this kibble claims to "nourish your favorite feline's primal essence" by delivering protein-rich nutrition. The food features deboned chicken and chicken meal as the first two ingredients, which are both nourishing sources of the animal protein your cat craves.

While this product does provide more meat than the average dry food, it also contains peas, potatoes, and potato protein. Like most cat foods marketed to guardians of indoor cats, the food is high in fiber from tomato pomace, pea fiber, and ground flaxseed.

Altogether, Wellness CORE grain-free chicken dry cat food has moderate-to-high protein content primarily from animal sources, low fat, and high carbohydrate content. It's 445 calories per cup.

Ingredients

Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Turkey Meal, Peas, Potatoes, Potato Protein, Tomato Pomace, Pea Fiber, Chicken Fat (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Natural Chicken Flavor, Ground Flaxseed, Cranberries, Chicory Root Extract, Choline Chloride, Potassium Chloride, Vitamin E Supplement, Taurine, L-Carnitine, Mixed Tocopherols Added to Preserve Freshness, Zinc Proteinate, Zinc Sulfate, Calcium Carbonate, Niacin, Ferrous Sulfate, Iron Proteinate, Dried Kelp, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Beta-Carotene, Glucosamine Hydrochloride, Chondroitin Sulfate, Vitamin A Supplement, Copper Sulfate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Manganese Sulfate, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Sodium Selenite, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Biotin, Calcium Iodate, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Folic Acid, Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), Dried Lactobacillus Plantarum Fermentation Product, Dried Enterococcus Faecium Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus Casei Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus Acidophilus Fermentation Product, Rosemary Extract, Green Tea Extract, Spearmint Extract.

Guaranteed Analysis

Crude Protein: 38%

Crude Fat: 12%

Crude Fiber: 5%

Moisture: 10%

Ash: 8.31%

Dry Matter Basis

Protein: 42.22%

Fat: 13.33%

Fiber: 5.56%

Carbs: 29.66%

Caloric Weight Basis

Protein: 40.5%

Fat: 31.06%

Carbs: 28.44%

Ingredients We Liked: Deboned Chicken, Chicken Fat

Ingredients We Didn't Like: Peas, Potatoes, Potato Protein

Common Allergens: Chicken

Pros

• Primarily made from animal protein sources
• Free from artificial ingredients
• Cats like the flavor of this dry food

Cons

• Excessive carbohydrate content
• No dry food provides the moisture your cat needs

What Do Customers Think Of Wellness Cat Food?

While many other brands garner complaints around the web, Wellness has a good reputation among consumers. Most of their products receive four and five-star reviews.

One of their leading recipes, Wellness Complete Health pate, has a 4.3 out of 5 star rating on Chewy based on 521 customer reviews. 90% of these customers say they'd recommend the food to a friend.

Positive Reviews

"I have used this food for … well over 15 years, for my cats! I tried a less expensive "house brand," here, for quite a few months, but decided despite a huge price difference to go back to Wellness. I am so glad I DID! My cats and I are much much happier. wellness SMELLS like something I would eat, myself! My cats have been finishing it within ten minutes, instead of leaving it, and my husband thinks he may be seeing an improvement in litter box "outcomes," too." – Ollie, reviewing Wellness Complete Health Chicken Pate

"My indoor calico turned 12 last month, and I noticed she looked fat! She was always trim most of her life, but, although I liked holding her and feeling all of that extra cushion on her, I knew it wasn't good for her health, especially now that she's getting older. So I switched her to Wellness Indoor and, just a month later, she's back to her normal trim self. So impressed! I didn't change the amount – honestly, since she was a kitten, I've always free-fed her – making sure there's always fresh food and water in her bowls, and she's good at managing her own intake. So the difference-maker in her weight regulation was purely the ingredient shift. EXCELLENT!" – MomOfSev, reviewing Wellness CORE Grain-Free Chicken Dry Cat Food

Negative Reviews

"The ingredients in this wet cat food is pretty decent but upon opening the can it was runny with no chunks. My cats ate it of course but was asking for more after a short time. Plus it went right through my elderly' cats system which is very unlike her. I'm going back to our tried and true, Earthborn." – Anniesmom, reviewing Wellness CORE Signature Selects Skipjack Tuna & Wild Salmon Entree

"Cats seem to like it, just not sure it is super dry and the crumbles turn to "dust". Might look again for something else." – Core, reviewing Wellness CORE Grain-Free Chicken Dry Cat Food

How Much Does Wellness Cat Food Cost?

In part because the brand covers everything from grain-inclusive kibble to canned products with 95% animal protein, Wellness cat foods range from very inexpensive to pricey.

For example, Wellness wet foods range from around $0.19 per ounce if you choose a product from the Complete Health line and $0.57 per ounce for Divine Duos, meaning your average daily feeding costs will add up to something between $1.14 and $3.42.

Complete Health Indoor dry cat food costs about $0.17 per ounce and their CORE Grain-Free dry foods cost about $0.23 per ounce. Your daily feeding costs will range from $1.02 to $1.38 and more if you opt for the brand's air-dried formulas.

Overall, Is Wellness A Good Choice?

Wellness cat food is one of the better brands on the market. The Wellness CORE line stands out with a great selection of high-protein foods made primarily from animal ingredients. Their Complete Health line is also a good option, particularly if you choose their canned recipes rather than the dry foods.

Though Wellness has been recalled several times in the past, the company reacted promptly to reports of problems and very few customers complain about the food making their pets sick. Overall, the brand has a good reputation among both cats and people.

Where Is Wellness Cat Food Sold?

You can buy it through independent pet retailers, chains, and in some big box stores. It's also available online through sites like Amazon and Chewy.

Wellness is available in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, and Indonesia.

Click here to shop for Wellness cat food on Chewy.

About the author

Mallory Crusta is a writer and adventurecat enthusiast on a mission to make cats' lives extraordinary. She's one of the founders of Wildernesscat – a site for happy, healthy, and adventurous cats who are fueled by nature. Visit Wildernesscat for radically natural cat nutrition, home remedies, and lifestyle inspiration.

Wellness Core Natural Grain Free Turkey, Whitefish & Chicken Dry Kitten Food

Source: https://allaboutcats.com/wellness-cat-food-review

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