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American Journey Cat Food Review in 2024: Recalls, Pros & Cons

Written by: Christian Adams

Last Updated on January 13, 2024 by Catster Editorial Team

American Journey Cat Food Review in 2024: Recalls, Pros & Cons

Review Summary

Our Final Verdict

We give American Journey Cat food a rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars.

American Journey Pet Food is an exclusive brand owned by Chewy.com. It was first launched in 2017 and sold almost exclusively through Chewy’s website. All American Journey’s pet food is made in the U.S.A. by a manufacturer in Kansas, with ingredients sourced primarily from the United States but also from Mexico, China, Chile, New Zealand, and Germany.

Selling its brand through its website allows Chewy to cut out the middleman and offer great-quality foods at a reasonable price, often far lower than its competitors. American Journey’s cat food is available in several types, including dry and wet food and single or multiple protein source recipes.

One of the most significant benefits of buying American Journey from Chewy is the automatic shipping option; you can set how much food you need to be sent and how frequently you need it. Overall, American Journey is an excellent brand of cat food at an affordable price point.cat face divider 2

At a Glance: The Best American Journey Cat Food Recipes

Image Product Details
Our Favorite
Winner
American Journey Turkey & Chicken Recipe Grain-Free Dry Cat Food American Journey Turkey & Chicken Recipe Grain-Free Dry Cat Food
  • 40% crude protein content
  • Contains real, deboned turkey
  • Contains essential omega acids 3 and 6
  • Second place
    American Journey Salmon Recipe Grain-Free Dry Cat Food American Journey Salmon Recipe Grain-Free Dry Cat Food
  • Manufactured in the USA
  • Provides solid nutrition with 40% protein
  • Contains essential amino acids
  • Third place
    American Journey Minced Poultry & Seafood in Gravy Variety Pack American Journey Minced Poultry & Seafood in Gravy Variety Pack
  • Loads of vitamins and minerals
  • Contains omega-3 and -6 fatty acids
  • Contains a natural source of taurine
  • American Journey Chicken Recipe Grain-Free Dry Cat Food American Journey Chicken Recipe Grain-Free Dry Cat Food
  • Contains taurine
  • Added antioxidants
  • Contains wholesome fruits and vegetables
  • American Journey Duck Recipe Grain-Free Dry Cat Food American Journey Duck Recipe Grain-Free Dry Cat Food
  • Manufactured in the USA
  • Provides solid nutrition with 40% protein
  • Contains essential amino acids
  • 3 cat face divider

    American Journey Cat Food Reviewed 3American Journey Minced Poultry & Seafood in Gravy Variety Pack Grain-Free Canned Cat Food

    The convenience of online ordering and great quality food at an affordable price is turning many cat owners toward American Journey cat food. It has quickly become a trusted brand among pet owners, with quality ingredients and excellent customer service. American Journey makes roughly 18 cat food products, including dry food, wet food, and various treats.

    Who makes American Journey and where is it produced?

    American Journey is made and owned by Chewy, Inc.. All the food is manufactured in Kansas in the United States, with ingredients primarily locally sourced but also imported.

    Which Types of Cats Is American Journey Best Suited For?

    American Journey is suitable for all cats with no underlying allergies or chronic illnesses. The company does not make specially formulated foods for liver, kidney, or cardiac disorders, but all its dry foods are grain-free, which is essential for healthy cats.

    American Journey has a relatively limited choice of only four dry food formulas but also makes a variety of wet foods, including various poultry, seafood, and beef formulas.

    Which Types of Cats Might Do Better With a Different Brand?

    Cats that have underlying chronic health issues or allergies may do better on a prescription diet that will address their issues. They may need to be on the diet permanently, but it is often a temporary measure to help them overcome an illness or disease.

    Brands like Hill’s Science Diet have specific foods for cats with health problems, like sensitive digestion and weight management, and specialized formulas for kittens and seniors.

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    What Are the Primary Ingredients (Good and Bad) in American Journey Cat Food?

    Almost all the American Journey Cat Food products contain a quality protein source as the first ingredient, usually deboned poultry, like chicken and turkey, or fish, including salmon and tuna. The company does not use any artificial coloring or flavors, and none of the cat foods contain animal by-products or grains.

    Animal by-products. These are leftover parts from carcasses after they have been slaughtered for meat, defined as the non-rendered, clean parts safe for animal consumption. Although animal by-products are still fairly nutritious, they are often considered a waste product by customers, and most premium pet food manufacturers have stopped using them, including American Journey.

    Grains. Cats are obligate carnivores and do not need grains in their diet. We recommend going for a grain-free recipe for your cat, and all of American Journey’s cat food products are grain-free. Grains like wheat, corn, and soy are often used as filler ingredients and binding agents in dry cat foods, and although some binders are unfortunately necessary for dry kibble, American Journey chooses to use pea and potato starch instead.

    Peas. American Journey is free from grain binders but substitutes them with other starchy sources, like potatoes and peas. While they are far better than grains and are still a low percentage of the total food makeup, they are still not ideal for cats. Wet foods are usually free of binding agents, and we recommend them if you are concerned about the starch.

    All four of American Journey’s dry cat foods contain pea protein as a binder. The concern over this ingredient is the boost of plant-based protein, which is lower quality than meat-based sources, especially for cats.

    Cat ball divider 1A Quick Look at American Journey Cat Food

    Pros
    • Made in the United States
    • No history of recalls
    • Packed with quality meat
    • Grain-free
    • Free of animal by-products
    • Packed with vitamins and minerals
    Cons
    • Contains non-grain fillers, including peas
    • Contains fruits and vegetables

    cat + line dividerReviews of the 3 Best American Journey Cat Food Recipes

    With no history of recalls and outstanding grain-free recipes, here are three of our favorite cat foods from American Journey.

    1. American Journey Turkey & Chicken Recipe Grain-Free Dry Cat Food 1American Journey Turkey & Chicken Recipe Grain-Free Dry Cat Food

    American Journey’s Turkey and Chicken dry cat food is free from grains, an essential consideration since cats are obligate carnivores. The food features real, deboned turkey as the first ingredient, plus deboned chicken and various healthy fruits and vegetables.

    It has a crude protein content of 40% and is packed with essential omega fatty acids 3 and 6 for healthy skin and fur. The Turkey and Chicken formula also contains essential amino acids, like taurine, for heart and eye health and added antioxidants for optimal immune support, and it is free from artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives.

    The kibble size is tiny, and some larger cats may not enjoy it. Some customers reported their cats drank a ton of water afterward, pointing toward a high salt content.

    Calorie Breakdown:

    american journey turkey + chicken

    Pros
    • Contains real, deboned turkey
    • Packed with healthy fruits and vegetables
    • 40% crude protein content
    • Contains essential omega acids 3 and 6
    • Packed with immune-supporting antioxidants
    Cons
    • Small kibble size
    • High salt content

    2. American Journey Minced Poultry & Seafood in Gravy Variety Pack Grain-Free Canned Cat Food 3American Journey Minced Poultry & Seafood in Gravy Variety Pack Grain-Free Canned Cat Food

    This minced poultry and seafood canned wet cat food is packed with protein from real chicken, tuna, and turkey and comes in a variety pack of three flavors, which is a great test to see which flavor your cat prefers. These high-quality protein sources deliver essential amino acids like taurine, which is excellent for heart health and eyesight.

    It also includes healthy fruits, like cranberries and blueberries, that are a potent source of antioxidants, natural sources of omega-3 and -6 fatty acids, and added vitamins and minerals, including vitamin E and manganese. Again, this formula from American Journey is free from artificial colors, preservatives, and flavors.

    The potent smell of the seafood may put some cats off, and it only has a 9% crude protein content. Also, the lid-opening tabs are reported to break constantly, which can become frustrating.

    Calorie Breakdown:

    american journey poultry and seafood

    Pros
    • Made with real chicken, tuna, and turkey
    • Contains a natural source of taurine
    • Include healthy fruits like cranberries and blueberries
    • Contains omega-3 and -6 fatty acids
    • Loads of vitamins and minerals
    Cons
    • Potent seafood smell
    • Fairly low protein content
    • Finicky lid design

    3. American Journey Chicken Recipe Grain-Free Dry Cat Food 4American Journey Chicken Recipe Grain-Free Dry Cat Food

    With deboned chicken as the first ingredient, this grain-free kibble has a 40% crude protein content. It also contains flaxseeds a natural source of omega-3 and -6 fatty acids, and wholesome fruits and vegetables, including blueberries, cranberries, carrots, and pumpkin. It also contains added antioxidants for immune support and taurine for heart and eye health and is free from artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives.

    Some customers reported that it caused gas and bloating in their cats and even nausea in some cases. The kibble size is also very small, an issue with all American Journey dry foods.

    Calorie Breakdown:

    chicken recipe

    Pros
    • Deboned chicken is the first listed ingredient
    • Contains flaxseeds for added omega-3 and -6 fatty acids
    • Added antioxidants
    • Contains taurine
    • Contains wholesome fruits and vegetables
    Cons
    • May cause gas and bloating
    • Small kibble size

    What Other Users Are Saying

    American Journey is a fairly new brand of cat food, and due to its reasonable prices and high-quality ingredients, it has garnered a great deal of attention from cat owners. Here’s what a few other sources are saying about American Journey:

    • Feline Living: “Chewy’s American Journey is a brand that is a good introduction to natural pet foods. Free from artificial enhancers such as colors, flavors, or preservatives, it offers all-natural cat food that is affordable and can be conveniently purchased online at Chewy.com and PetSmart. Based on our American Journey cat food review, it is overall a good natural pet food brand. Their products have been able to deliver good results, as seen by many cat owners. Their different variants of both wet and dry foods are popular with kitties. Many have thrived on the brand’s products with skin, fur, and digestion issues showing significant improvements.”
    • CatfoodDB: “Overall, CatFoodDB has reviewed 21 American Journey cat food products. Together, they average 7 / 10 paws, which makes American Journey an above-average overall cat food brand when compared to all the other brands in our database.”
    • Catpet: “To sum it up, I do recommend American Journey cat food because it presents an optimal price/quality ratio. Each lineup of foods has great protein content, and wet foods are pretty low in carbs. The dry food from American Journey is a highly recommended option for the daily nutrition of adult cats and kittens because it provides a generous boost of energy and all necessary vitamins and minerals. It goes without mentioning that the manufacturer adds fiber-rich superfoods (fruits, berries, vegetables) and Omega-3 and -6 fatty acids.”
    • Chewy: Of course, we always check chewy.com for customer reviews, especially since Chewy produces American Journey. You can view these customer reviews here.

    3 cat dividerConclusion

    Chewy has taken a bold step into manufacturing its own brand of pet food with American Journey, and so far, it seems it has done a fantastic job. This move has allowed Chewy to make more affordable food than some of its competitors while still maintaining high-quality ingredients and excellent customer service.

    All of American Journey’s food is grain-free and is manufactured in the United States. Meat is always the first ingredient; the food contains no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives and has a great protein content throughout. While American Journey is not perfect, as it contains starchy binder ingredients, you won’t get much better for the price.

    Overall, American Journey is an affordable, healthy, and trustworthy brand we highly recommend as a daily diet for your feline.

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