Our Verdict
Just Food For Cats Fresh product range is made of one recipe which receives the Cat Food Advisor rating, 4.5 stars.
It is formulated with high levels of animal protein such as wild-caught Alaska Pacific cod, chicken meat and organs and sardines. As a food with high moisture levels, this food will keep your cat hydrated and is perfect for adult cats of all breeds.
Pros
- High levels of animal protein
- Moisture-rich
- Gluten-free
- Grain-free
Cons
- Not a single source protein recipe
- Made with the 2 most common cat food allergens
The table below shows each recipe in the range including our rating and the AAFCO nutrient profile: Growth (kitten), Maintenance (adult), All Life Stages, Supplemental or Unspecified.
| Product line | Rating | AAFCO |
|---|---|---|
| Just Cats Fish & Chicken | 4.5 | M |
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Recipe and Label Analysis
Label and nutrient data below are calculated using dry matter basis.
Just Food For Cats Just Cats Fish & Chicken
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Protein
Fat
CarbsCarbohydrates
Wild-caught alaska pacific cod, chicken thighs, chicken hearts, chicken liver, tapioca Starch, whole atlantic sardines, calcium carbonate, salt, potassium chloride, potassium iodide, zinc amino acid chelate, iron amino acid chelate, copper amino acid chelate, choline bitartrate, manganese gluconate, vitamin E supplement, D-Calcium pantothenate, niacinamide, pyridoxine hydrochloride, folic acid, biotin, riboflavin, vitamin B12 supplement, thiamine mononitrate
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 3%
Red denotes any controversial items
Ingredients Analysis
The first ingredient is wild-caught alaska pacific cod, a marine species of fish native to both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of North America. This is a quality item as raw fish contains up to 73% water.
The second ingredient is chicken thighs. Chicken is considered “the clean combination of flesh and skin… derived from the parts or whole carcasses of chicken”.1
Chicken is naturally rich in the 11 essential amino acids required by a cat to sustain life.
The third ingredient is chicken heart. Although it doesn’t sound very appetizing, heart tissue is pure muscle – all meat. It’s naturally rich in quality protein, minerals and complex B vitamins, too.
The fourth ingredient is chicken liver. This is an organ meat sourced from a named animal and thus considered a beneficial component.
The fifth ingredient is tapioca starch, a gluten-free, starchy carbohydrate extract made from the root of the cassava plant.
The sixth ingredient is whole Atlantic sardines. Sardine is a small, oily marine fish which is nutrient-rich, high in protein and is a source of omega 3 fatty acids, essential oils needed by every cat to sustain life.
The seventh ingredient is calcium carbonate, likely used here as a dietary mineral supplement.
The eighth ingredient is salt (sodium chloride) and is one of the most common ingredients found in commercial cat foods. And contrary to what you may have heard, salt is a necessary nutrient required by nearly every life form (including humans) and can often be found in cat foods to promote cats to drink more water.
This is a means of increasing their hydration and diluting their urine which helps to reduce the likelihood of urinary stones forming. However, as with anything else, it’s all a matter of quantity. Too much salt can be unhealthy for any animal.
Since the actual amount of salt is not disclosed on the label, it’s impossible to judge the amount in each product. Just the same, it can be reassuring to know the salt listed in most cat food recipes usually complies with the amount recommended by AAFCO nutritional profiles.
From here the list goes on to include a number of other items. But to be realistic, ingredients located this far down the list (other than nutritional supplements) are not likely to affect the overall rating of the product.
This recipe receives a 4.5-star rating.
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Nutrient Analysis
Based on its ingredients alone, Just Cats Fish & Chicken Fresh Cat Food looks like an above-average fresh product.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 46.2%, a fat level of 17.3% and an estimated carbohydrate level of 28.5%, alongside a fat-to-protein ratio of 38%.
This means the Just Food for Cats product line contains above-average protein, average carbs and above-average fat when compared to typical fresh cat food.
Final Word
Just Food for Cats is a quality product with high inclusions of real animal proteins and this reflects in the 4.5 star rating.
Has Just Food for Cats cat food been recalled in the past?
No. However, its parent company Just Food for Dogs has. You can read the details on Dog Food Advisor.
You can view a complete list of all cat food recalls since 2021 here.
To stay on top of any cat food product recalls, sign up for our free email alerts, here.
About
Just Food for Cats was founded by Shawn Buckley, a serial entrepreneur who has founded a number of businesses.
Just Food for Dogs and Just Food for Cats is his most passionate project yet, inspired by his first dog Simon.
Lovingly made by hand in open-to-public kitchens, the homemade food is lightly cooked to retain its nutritional value.
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Article reviewed by
Veterinarian
Dr Georgia Jeremiah has a first class honors degree in comparative pathology with field experience in anatomic and clinical pathology, studying disease processes in a multitude of species.
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