In this article
Review Summary
We give Merrick cat food a rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars.
Introduction
Merrick is a US-based pet food producer that started out producing dog treats but added dog food and, eventually, cat food to its product line. Now owned by Nestle Purina, the company promises to use natural ingredients, source most of the components in its foods from the USA, and aims to produce high-quality and nutritious foods for pets.
With a selection of dry and wet foods, Merrick offers grain-free and limited-ingredient diets for cats with special needs, along with recipes for different life stages. Many formulas are rich in omega fatty acids, which help maintain a healthy and attractive coat. While some recipes include plant proteins like pea protein and alfalfa meal, which are less valuable for cats than meat-based proteins, the overall quality remains good for the price, and the foods do not contain harmful ingredients.
The food is suitable for all life stages, for purebred breeds and moggies, and they use natural ingredients that are locally sourced. Although some recipes include cheap fillers, such as pea protein and alfalfa meal, there are no ingredients considered harmful or toxic, and the food is of good quality for the price.
At a Glance: The Best Merrick Cat Food Recipes:
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Our Favorite
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Merrick Purrfect Bistro Grain Free - Dry |
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Merrick Purrfect Bistro Grain Free Pate - Wet |
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Merrick Purrfect Bistro Grain Free Indoor - Dry |
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Merrick Backcountry Grain Free Real Meat - Wet |
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Merrick Cat Food Reviewed
Who Makes Merrick and Where is it Produced?
Merrick was formed in 1988 when founder Garth Merrick started making home-cooked treats for his dog. The company has expanded to include cat food, but they stick to their original mission and the company’s five-star promise:
- Real Whole Foods – Merrick uses fresh meat combined with whole fruit and vegetables. They don’t use fillers, sweeteners, or other additives.
- Higher Quality Ingredients – Buying directly from farmers means that Merrick can ensure the highest quality from their suppliers. The food remains fresh because there are fewer steps between the farm and your cat’s bowl.
- Health You Can See – Merrick aims to provide the perfect combination of protein and fat combined with omega fatty acids and other ingredients, to ensure that your cat not only feels good but looks great, too.
- Crafted In Our Hereford Kitchen – Garth Merrick started his company by making treats for his dog from his kitchen in Hereford, Texas. The company continues to produce from this same kitchen today.
- Merrick Gives Back – The company’s fifth mission is to give back and to help ensure the welfare of pets. They partner with local and national charities that protect the welfare of dogs and cats.
Merrick was purchased by Nestle Purina in 2015, but they announced that they would not make any changes to the production or management of the pet food line.
Which Types of Cats is Merrick Best Suited For?
Merrick manufactures cat food made from fresh ingredients, using no artificial additives. They have dry and wet food and ranges for senior cats, kittens, and those with sensitive stomachs. There are foods suitable for all cats and cat owners.
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Primary Ingredients In Merrick Cat Food
Merrick produces a range of different foods, and each line and each recipe has its own ingredients. However, a study of the ingredients highlights the following key ingredients, as well as some that are potentially controversial:
- Nutrient Sources – Different recipes use different meat as the protein source. The limited ingredients used in this food allow you to easily identify the primary meat. We found chicken to be one of the most commonly used ingredients.
- Filler Foods – Merrick includes some plant-derived proteins. They are used to boost protein content but come from lower-quality plant sources rather than animal protein. They do not contain the same balance of essential amino acids as high-quality animal ingredients. Examples that we found include pea protein, which was present in most, if not all, of the recipes, and dried alfalfa meal. These ingredients are not harmful, but they could be replaced with better-quality ingredients that offer greater nutritional benefits to your cat.
- Carrageenan – Carrageenan is present in some of the recipes. Carrageenan is a food additive that is used in human as well as cat foods. It is a seaweed extract and is used as a binding agent. Some forms of carrageenan contain known inflammatory properties, but they are not necessarily found in all recipes from Merrick.
Grain-Free Recipes
Strictly speaking, cats would not have eaten grains when living in the wild. Grain-inclusive foods have been known to cause gastrointestinal upset while proving to be an allergen for some cats, but most felines do not show any adverse side effects after eating grains.
Grains like corn and barley are used in many foods because they bulk the food up and provide fiber. Even if your cat can stomach grains, they can be lower quality than meat or vegetable ingredients. All Merrick recipes in the cat food line appear to be free from grain-based ingredients. It is worth noting that wild cats may ingest small amounts of grains or plant matter from the stomach contents of prey animals like mice, but these make up only a minor part of their natural diet.
Limited Ingredient Foods
It is accepted that the more common a protein source is, the more likely a cat or any other animal may develop an allergic reaction to it. The most common allergens in cat food are beef, lamb, seafood, dairy, and corn. If your cat is known to have allergens, if you are trying to eliminate known allergens as part of an elimination diet, or if you want to avoid feeding these common proteins to your pets, you can try limited-ingredient food.
A limited-ingredient recipe should contain a single protein and a single carbohydrate. If your cat does not show allergy signs, they are not allergic to the protein or carb in that food. You can continue to feed the novel protein or try another, and keep trying foods until you discover what your cat is allergic to.
Among Merrick’s cat food line are several limited-ingredient formulas, and most of their recipes contain a single protein source to make the ingredients easily identifiable.
Omega Fatty Acids
Many of Merrick’s recipes contain fish oil and other omega fatty acid supplements. These supplements provide your cat with omega-3 and omega-6 essential fatty acids.
Fish oil can help combat joint pain thanks to its high EPA and DHA content. It can also help stave off heart and kidney disease, improve cognitive function, and even improve coat and skin health.
Carrageenan
Unfortunately, at least one Merrick recipe contains carrageenan, which is a controversial ingredient. Following animal testing, it was found to have potential inflammatory and gastrointestinal effects.
It also contains a substance that is known to cause gastrointestinal bleeding in some studies. Some owners and experts avoid feeding their cats any food that contains carrageenan. Check the ingredients before buying if you wish to avoid this substance. Limited ingredient lines do not contain carrageenan.
- Want to see more cat food reviews? Check out our review page here!
A Quick Look at Merrick Cat Food
- Only natural ingredients
- Most ingredients are sourced from the USA
- Rich in omega fatty acids
- Grain-free foods
- Foods contain prebiotics and probiotics
- Some recipes contains carrageenan
- Pea protein found in most recipes
Recall History
Merrick Pet Foods has undergone several recall notices, but they have all been for dog treats and dog food. Their cat food has never been recalled.
Reviews of the 2 Best Merrick Cat Food Recipes
1. Merrick Purrfect Bistro Grain Free Dry Cat Food
Merrick Purrfect Bistro Grain-Free Dry Cat Food lists salmon and sweet potato as the main ingredients. It is high in omega fatty acids and contains antioxidants, vitamins, and essential minerals. Other ingredients at the top of the list are chicken meal, turkey meal, and dried egg product.
Purrfect Bistro contains 38% protein and 34% carbs, which is around average for protein and fat but higher than average in carbohydrate content for a grain-free formula. Although it contains no grain, which would make it suitable for sensitive stomachs and cats with allergies, it has deboned salmon and dried egg, which are considered allergens and may cause allergic reactions in your cat.
The food is quite expensive, but it does not list any filler within the top half a dozen ingredients, which suggests that it is a relatively high-quality formula.
Calorie Breakdown:
- Natural ingredients
- Minimal plant-based proteins
- Good protein levels
- High carb content
- Contains common allergens
2. Merrick Purrfect Bistro Grain Free Pate Wet Cat Food
Merrick’s Purrfect Bistro Grain-Free Pate Wet Cat Food is canned wet food. Its primary ingredients are chicken, chicken liver, dried egg product, chicken broth, and natural flavor. Because it is wet food, it has a much higher moisture content than dry food, which can help keep your cat hydrated. Among other ingredients is salmon oil, which is a beneficial source of omega-3 fatty acids and provides greater bioavailability than plant-based fatty acid sources.
The pate consistency is popular with cats, easily digestible, and highly palatable. Although it is grain-free, it has egg and chicken, both of which are common food allergens in cats. The ingredients also list carrageenan, which some pet parents prefer to avoid due to potential gastrointestinal inflammation.
Calorie Breakdown:
- Grain-free diet
- Natural ingredients
- Contain salmon oil
- Protein makes up about 45% of the dry ingredients
- Contains common allergens (chicken and egg)
- Contains carrageenan
What Other Users Are Saying
See what others have to say about Merrick’s range of cat foods.
- ConsciousCat – “I have long considered Merrick one of the better offerings in the pet food arena.”
- MyPetNeedsThat – “Their cat food is loaded with essential fatty acids like omega-3 and omega-6 and super important pro and prebiotics for ultimate digestive health.”
- Chewy – You can also read real reviews from real buyers at Chewy. Click here to see what they have to say about Merrick food.
Conclusion
Merrick uses natural ingredients, sources most of its food from the USA, and has a great selection of dry and wet foods, including limited-ingredient recipes and options suitable for cats with sensitive stomachs and allergies. In most cases, the top five ingredients comprising most of the food are high-quality and meat-based protein sources.
The ingredients also contain beneficial and natural sources of omega fatty acids, along with prebiotics and probiotics to encourage good gut health. Although there are some controversial ingredients in the food, namely plant-derived proteins such as pea protein and, less commonly, carrageenan, the ingredients list is generally considered to be high quality, making this a beneficial food for your cats.
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Featured Image By: Merrick, Chewy
2 Responses
I have Merrik brand Duck Pate both regular and Limited Ingredient. I have read the label on both cans and it does not list Carrageenan on the list of ingredients.
Thank you for taking the time to check the labels on both your Merrick brand Duck Pate and the Limited Ingredient version, Nancy Graham.
Listening to pet parents' concerns, Merrick has removed carrageenan from many of its recipes. This ingredient was often replaced with alternatives such as guar gum, xanthan gum, or locust bean gum. Your confirmation that neither of your Duck Pates lists carrageenan is very helpful information for our community! We appreciate you reading and sharing this detail. Our post will be updated soon.