Our Verdict
Caru Classic wet product range is made of four recipes which all receive the Cat Food Advisor rating, 5 stars
This range of food is human grade and lists the first ingredient as good quality meat or fish but it does contain some plant ingredients. It is low in carbohydrate and high in moisture, with added vitamins and minerals, so this food offers a balanced diet.
Pros
- Human grade
- High protein content
- Good quality animal protein source
- Low in carbohydrate
- Added vitamins and minerals
Cons
- Contains plant ingredients
- Limited range
The table below shows each recipe in this range including our rating and the AAFCO nutrient profile: Growth (kitten), Maintenance (adult), All Life Stages, Supplemental or Unspecified.
| Product line | Rating | AAFCO |
|---|---|---|
| Caru Classic Natural Chicken & Crab Stew for Cats | 5 | A |
| Caru Classic Natural Chicken Stew for Cats | 5 | A |
| Caru Classic Natural Turkey Stew for Cats | 5 | A |
| Caru Classic Natural Wild Salmon & Turkey Stew for Cats | 5 | A |
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Recipe and Label Analysis
Caru Classic Natural Chicken Stew for Cats recipe was selected to represent the other products in the line for a detailed recipe and nutrient analysis.
Label and nutrient data below are calculated using dry matter basis.
Caru Classic Natural Chicken Stew for Cats recipe
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Protein
Fat
CarbsCarbohydrates
Chicken, chicken broth, tapioca starch, egg whites, apples, carrots, sweet potato, natural flavor, tricalcium phosphate, dandelion greens, calcium carbonate, potassium chloride, taurine, vitamins (vitamin A supplement, vitamin D3 supplement, vitamin E supplement, thiamine mononitrate, niacin supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, D-calcium pantothenate, riboflavin supplement, folic acid, biotin, vitamin B12 supplement), minerals (zinc amino acid chelate, iron amino acid chelate, copper amino acid chelate, manganese amino acid chelate, magnesium amino acid chelate, iodine amino acid chelate, sodium selenite), choline chloride.
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 1%
Red denotes any controversial items
Ingredients Analysis
The first ingredient is chicken. 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 second ingredient is chicken broth. Broths are of only modest nutritional value. Yet because they add both flavor and moisture to a cat food, they are a common component in many wet products.
The third ingredient is tapioca starch, a gluten-free, starchy carbohydrate extract made from the root of the cassava plant.
The fourth ingredient is egg whites. Eggs are highly digestible and an excellent source of usable protein.
The fifth ingredient is apples. This includes the pulpy solids that remain after pressing apples to extract the juice. It is most likely used here for its fiber content.
The sixth ingredient is carrots. Carrots are rich in beta-carotene, minerals and dietary fiber.
The seventh ingredient is sweet potato. Sweet potatoes are a gluten-free source of complex carbohydrates in cat food. They are naturally rich in dietary fiber and beta carotene.
The eighth ingredient is natural flavor. Natural flavors doesn’t give us much information about the particular ingredients included in this cat food for flavoring purposes.
We’re pleased that the flavorings used are natural, but more details are required to give any further information about these natural flavoring ingredients. Flavorings are used to make the foods more appealing and tasty for our cats.
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 food contains chelated minerals that have been chemically attached to protein. This makes them easier to absorb. Chelated minerals are usually found in better cat foods.
Recipe star rating 5
Nutrient Analysis
Based on its ingredients alone, Caru Classic Natural Chicken Stew for Cats recipe looks like an above-average wet product.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 55.6%, a fat level of 16.7% and an estimated carbohydrate level of 19.8%.
As a group, the brand features an above-average protein content of 55.6% and near-average fat level of 14.6%. Together these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 21.9% for the overall product line, alongside a fat to protein ratio of 26%.
This means this Caru range contains higher than average protein, lower than average carbohydrate and near-average fat, when compared to typical wet cat food.
Final Word
This range of food is human grade and provides high levels of protein which comes from various sources. The first ingredient in each recipe is animal protein. The carbohydrate content is low and moisture content high. This food also contains added vitamins and minerals, to offer a well balanced diet.
The Cat Food Advisor recommends this food.
Has Caru cat food been recalled in the past?
No. Caru has not had a product recall.
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
Caru is a family-owned business founded in 2010 by Pamela and Adrian Pettyan, both Canadian medical professionals.
Caru sources its ingredients from the United States. However, some of the vitamins and minerals are sourced from Europe and/or Japan. The tapioca starch comes from Thailand.
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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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