Wellness Cat Food Review of 2026: Recalls, Pros & Cons
In this article
Wellness Cat Food Review Summary
Our Final Verdict
Started in 1997 by a team of animal wellness experts, including nutritionists, veterinarians, and food scientists, Wellness Pet Food is the largest holistic pet food sold in independent retailers today.
Whenever possible, the company strives to use natural ingredients designed to prolong your cat’s life and ensure that they enjoy the best possible overall health. They’ve identified the "Five Signs of Wellbeing," key areas that they believe any good cat food should target: energy, digestive health, skin and coat health, immune function, and eyes, teeth, and gums.1
None of their recipes include corn, wheat, or soy; they keep the costs down, but they can wreak havoc on your cat’s digestive system. As a result, you should expect to pay more for Wellness-brand foods, but its impact on your cat’s health should be well worth it.
Instead of fillers, you’ll find real meat as the first ingredient. The remaining ingredients include peas, potatoes, and flaxseed. The protein levels are high, but the fat and fiber can be lacking.
At a Glance: The Best Wellness Cat Food Recipes:
| Image | Product | Details | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Wellness CORE Grain-Free Indoor Formula |
|
Check Price |
|
Wellness Complete Health Pâté Chicken Entree |
|
Check Price |
|
Wellness CORE Signature Selects Flaked Skipjack Tuna & Shrimp Entree |
|
Check Price |
|
Wellness Natural Gravies Salmon Entree |
|
Check Price |
|
Wellness Complete Health Natural Salmon & Herring Indoor Formula |
|
Check Price |
Wellness Cat Food Reviewed
Who makes Wellness and where is it produced?
Wellness Cat Foods is made by WellPet LLC, which is a subsidiary of the Berwind Corporation. The Berwind Corporation is a private investment management company situated in Philadelphia. The dry food is made at the company’s manufacturing plant in Indiana, and Wellness never uses artificial flavors, colors, preservatives, or other chemicals.
Which types of cats are Wellness best suited for?
Wellness is a premium brand, so it’s a good choice for anyone willing to pay whatever’s necessary to ensure their cat stays healthy and happy. If you’re an owner who takes the food your cat eats seriously—and wants them to eat only natural, chemical-free ingredients—Wellness is a good fit.
It’s also a good choice for cats that have issues eating lower-quality food. If your cat has digestive issues due to ingredients like corn or soy, switching to Wellness could help clear them up quickly.
Our Favorite Deal Right Now
Get 35% OFF at Chewy.com
+ FREE Shipping on Cat Food and Supplies
Which types of cats might do better with a different brand?
It’s pricier than many other cat foods, so Wellness likely won’t be the first choice of bargain shoppers. You’re going to see plenty of cheaper options in the pet food store, and if money’s tight, Wellness might not be in your price range.
It’s also not ideal for those who wish to keep meat meals out of their cat’s diets. Or for those looking to feed alternative protein sources such as beef, venison, pork, or rabbit diets to their poultry- or fish-allergic cats.
One excellent alternative to Wellness is Instinct Limited Ingredient Diet Real Rabbit Recipe Grain-Free Dry Cat Food. It’s a bit more expensive but a better choice for cats that need more limited and alternative protein sources.
Discussion of the Primary Ingredients
The first ingredient in every Wellness recipe is a protein source, usually fish or chicken. This is important, as cats are carnivores, so you want to start them off with a strong foundation of meat-based proteins. The fact that Wellness uses real and identified meat sources (as opposed to generic animal by-products) is also reassuring.
Many of their dry foods list peas as the first 3 or 4th ingredient. Peas are usually included as a protein source. This is not ideal, as cats are carnivores and need animal-derived proteins in their diets. However, if the food is labeled as complete and balanced, your cat’s nutrients should be covered.
Almost every recipe is heavy on omega fatty acids. Many of them get their omegas from fish sources, which are healthy and irresistible to cats. However, you may also find ingredients like canola oil or flaxseed on the label.
Most recipes also include nutritious ingredients like kelp, cranberries, and carrots. These can provide essential nutrients, but they’re not as important for cats as pure meat. Look for a recipe that has them further down the label.
They Have Several Different Product Lines
You can find a Wellness product for just about any nutritional need. For example, its CORE line is grain-free, and if you feel that grains are harmful to your cat’s health, you can eschew them entirely.
They also have lines like Complete Health, which offers grain-free and grain-inclusive options. The grain-inclusive still uses high-quality grains rather than cheap fillers like corn.
The Options Can Be Overwhelming
It can feel like you need a Ph.D. in feline nutrition to figure out which Wellness brand to feed your cat. Unless you’ve done a lot of research, you likely won't have an opinion on grain-free versus grain-inclusive or any other options.
That can result in analysis paralysis, where you spend so much time comparing labels (and marketing terms) that it feels impossible to pick good food. It would simplify things if they only offered one type of food guaranteed to be healthy for your cat.
Unfortunately, animal nutrition isn’t that simple. However, you can ask your vet which product they recommend and if Wellness suits your cat.
Cats Seem to Enjoy the Taste
There’s nothing more frustrating than spending top dollar on healthy cat food only to have your cat refuse to eat it. Fortunately, that doesn’t seem to be an issue with Wellness’s products. It's just one added benefit of using real meat as the foundation of your food.
Cats love chicken and tuna, so not only does it provide a more natural diet for them, but it’s also one they enjoy eating.
Wellness Manufactures Its Products in Different Locations
Wellness uses high-quality ingredients in its recipes, but its products are manufactured in several countries. Most of its food, including the dry cat food, is made in Indiana. However, the freeze-dried raw products are made in Minnesota, and the wet cat food is produced in Canada, Thailand, and the United States.
- NO MESS - The 360° tray on this cat food and water bowl set has a raised design to catch and contain stray crumbs and drips. Protect your indoors and floors from wet and messy meals!
- WHISKER FRIENDLY - Shallow and wide metal containers with flat bottoms ensure your kitty can enjoy mealtime free from whisker fatigue!
- CHEW-SAFE MATERIALS - Kittens and cats love chewing on silicone and soft rubber - but it's a choking hazard. Our cat feeding station materials are anti-chew for a 100% safe feeding frenzy!
Feeding your cat a high-quality diet is important for keeping them healthy and happy. But it goes beyond the food you choose; the dishes they use also matter. The Hepper NomNom Cat Bowl is our favorite for its unique, five-star design that protects from whisker fatigue and promotes good posture which also aids in better digestion. As an added bonus, it’s beautifully crafted and offers a modern take on the traditional cat bowl that fits seamlessly with all home stylings. Learn more about the NomNom by clicking here.
At Catster, we’ve admired Hepper for many years and decided to take a controlling ownership interest so that we could benefit from the outstanding designs of this cool cat company!
A Quick Look at Wellness Cat Food
Pros
- Uses natural ingredients as much as possible
- Real meat is first ingredient
- No artificial flavors, colors, fillers, or by-products
Cons
- Fairly expensive
- Some ingredients are less than ideal
Wellness Cat Food Recall History
Wellness has experienced several recalls since its inception in 1997. However, not all of them have been major; some have only affected dog food, and others were made out of an abundance of caution rather than real danger.
The biggest recall occurred in 2011 when it withdrew 21.6 million cans of cat food from the shelves due to inadequate thiamine levels. Thiamine deficiency can cause heart problems in cats, but it’s unknown how low the thiamine levels in the food were.
Wellness also recalled several varieties of canned cat food in 2017 because trace amounts of metal were found in one of the products made at the manufacturing plant. No metal was found in any Wellness products, but it recalled them, anyway, just to be safe.
It’s worth noting that while this last entry makes the company look responsible (and we credit it for being proactive), it failed to disclose where the manufacturing plant in question was located. Furthermore, the fact that many pet food companies use the plant indicates that its standards are out of Wellness’s control.
Reviews of the 3 Best Wellness Cat Food Recipes
1. Wellness CORE Grain-Free Indoor Formula
Wellness CORE is a grain-free dry food that’s geared toward indoor cats. It has quite a bit of fish, including salmon, herring, and fish meal, so it’s likely to be scarfed down without question. All the fish boosts the level of omega fatty acids, which supports coat health and the immune system.
It’s heavy on plant-based ingredients, and peas are listed second on the label, with potatoes not far behind. Those ingredients are certainly better than corn, but we’d like to see them a few spots behind the various meat sources. That contributes to the lower protein levels than we’d like at 34%. That’s not a dangerously low level or anything, but we’d expect better from food this pricey.
There’s still much to like about this food, however. It has taurine, which is essential for heart health, and plenty of probiotics for digestive health are also included. Wellness CORE isn’t a perfect dry food, but it has almost everything your cat needs to stay healthy and happy, especially when paired with high-quality wet cat food.
Pros
- Grain-free recipe
- Cats seem to enjoy the flavor
- Filled with omega fatty acids
- Taurine for heart health
- Probiotics boost digestive performance
Cons
- Less protein than we’d like
- Heavy on the plant-based ingredients
2. Wellness Complete Health Pâté Chicken Entree
Unlike many canned cat foods that come in tiny little 3.5-ounce containers, Wellness Complete Health Pâté is a giant, 12.5-ounce can—like a can of wet dog food. That’s good and bad, as it allows you to feed your feline however much you want, but it can lead to overfeeding. Be careful not to let your cat get chubby on this food.
Fortunately, that should be relatively difficult, as the ingredients label shows chicken, chicken liver, and turkey as the first three ingredients. That means your cat will get plenty of the protein they need to function at peak health.
However, you shouldn’t have to deal with wasted food since most cats love the taste. Chicken broth is the fourth ingredient, and it gives the food a tantalizing aroma and adds moisture. Part of the reason the food is so appealing is that it’s high in salt, however. You’ll need to watch your cat to ensure they’re drinking enough water.
Regarding wet foods, Wellness Complete Health Pâté is about as good as you’re likely to find in this price range.
Pros
- Comes in a jumbo-sized can
- Real meat makes up the first four ingredients
- Chicken broth will be appealing to cat’s taste buds
- Has a tantalizing aroma
Cons
- Hard to portion into small meals
- Very energy dense, not ideal for overweight cats
3. Wellness CORE Signature Selects Flaked Skipjack Tuna & Shrimp Entree
Wellness CORE Signature Selects is in a much more conventionally sized can than the entry above. It’s also a grain-free recipe, but not all their Signature Selects products are. This recipe is seafood-heavy, with tuna, mackerel, and shrimp. It should make quite the treat for your cat while giving them a heavy dose of omega fatty acids.
It makes up for it by being packed with moisture, making it a smart choice for cats that don’t drink enough water. We also like how many essential vitamins and minerals they include, like magnesium, folic acid, and biotin. While you’ll still want to pair this with dry kibble, it should give your kitty a well-rounded nutritional profile.
It’s expensive food, and some owners might balk at paying so much for canned food that needs to be paired with kibble. If you’re willing to shell out the extra cash, your cat will undoubtedly thank you.
Pros
- Plenty of omega fatty acids
- High in moisture
- Packed with essential vitamins and minerals
- Most cats love seafood flavors
Cons
- Fairly pricey
- Low in protein, fat, and fiber
Wellness Cat Food Reviews: What Other Users Are Saying
All About Cats — “Wellness Cat Food, particularly canned foods in the CORE line, are rich in species-appropriate animal protein and made from high-quality ingredients.”
Cat Food Database — “Overall, Wellness Core Signature Selects Skipjack Tuna & Shrimp is a significantly above-average cat food.”
Amazon — As pet owners, we always double-check with Amazon reviews from buyers before we buy something. You can read these by clicking here.
In Conclusion
Wellness Cat Food is a high-quality pet food line that heavily emphasizes using natural ingredients whenever possible. They start every recipe with real meat and never include artificial flavors, cheap fillers, or animal by-products.
As you might expect, that drives the cost of their food up a bit, and it is not for bargain hunters. Most of their recipes have less fat and protein than we’d like to see (especially in this price range), but they’re still within acceptable levels.
If you care deeply about what your cat is eating and are willing to pay extra to ensure they get the best, the Wellness brand is a good option, but it’s not quite as impressive as some of its premium competitors.
See also:
Expert cat care, straight to your inbox
News, insights, and useful advice, delivered to you.
No spam — unsubscribe anytime.
By signing up, you agree to our Terms & Conditions and Privacy & Cookies Policy.
How useful was this post?
Click a star to rate. You can leave written feedback afterwards. (We read all feedback.)
Christian started writing for a local newspaper as a teenager, and he's been involved in the publishing industry for most of his adult life. Combining his love of writing with a passion for animals, he is currently the Director of Editorial at Pangolia and the Editor-in-Chief at Catster.
Christian lives in the Philippines with his wife, son, and four rescue cats: Trixie, Chloe, Sparky, and Chopper.
