Crave (Dry) Review

The Crave dry product range is made up of three recipes with ratings varying from 3 to 4 stars. The average rating of the whole range is 4 stars

The product line contains high-quality protein as the first ingredient and is made without soy or grains such as corn or wheat. The recipes focus on protein-rich diets free from artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives.

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.

Recipe and Label Analysis

Crave Grain-Free Adult with Protein from Chicken 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.

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 meal.  Chicken meal is considered a meat concentrate and contains nearly 300% more protein than fresh chicken.

The third ingredient is pea protein, what remains of a pea after removing the starchy part of the vegetable.  Even though it contains over 80% protein, this ingredient would be expected to have a lower biological value than meat.  

And less costly plant-based products like this can notably boost the total protein reported on the label — a factor that must be considered when judging the meat content of this cat food.

The fourth ingredient is split peas.  Peas are a quality source of carbohydrates. And like all legumes, they’re rich in natural fiber.

However, peas contain about 25% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the meat content of this cat food.

The fifth ingredient is chicken fat.  Chicken fat is obtained from rendering chicken, a process similar to making soup in which the fat itself is skimmed from the surface of the liquid.  

Chicken fat is high in linoleic acid, an omega-6 fatty acid essential for life. Although it doesn’t sound very appetizing, chicken fat is actually a quality ingredient.

The sixth ingredient is tapioca starch, a gluten-free, starchy carbohydrate extract made from the root of the cassava plant.

The seventh ingredient is fish meal. Because it is considered a meat concentrate, fish meal contains almost 300% more protein than fresh fish itself.  

Fish meal is typically obtained from the “clean, dried, ground tissue of undecomposed whole fish and fish cuttings” of commercial fish operations. ²

Unfortunately, this particular item is anonymous. Because various fish contain different types of fats, we would have preferred to have known the source species.

The eighth ingredient is dried plain beet pulp.  Beet pulp is a controversial ingredient, a high fiber by-product of sugar beet processing.  

Some denounce beet pulp as an inexpensive filler while others cite its outstanding intestinal health and blood sugar benefits.  We only call your attention here to the controversy and believe the inclusion of beet pulp in reasonable amounts in most cat foods is entirely acceptable.

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-star rating.

Nutrient Analysis

Based on its ingredients alone, Crave Grain-Free Adult Dry Cat Food with Protein from Chicken recipe looks like an above-average dry product.

The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 44.4%, a fat level of 20% and an estimated carbohydrate level of 27.6%.

As a group, the brand features an above-average protein content of 44.4% and an above-average fat level of 19.3%. Together these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 28.3% for the overall product line, alongside a fat to protein ratio of 43%.

This means this Crave dry cat food contains higher than average protein, near average carbohydrate and higher than average fat, when compared to typical dry cat food.

Has Crave cat food been recalled in the past?

No. Crave cat food has never had to recall any of its products.

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

Crave was launched in 2017 by Mars Petcare, a division of Mars, Incorporated, one of the largest food manufacturing companies in the world. 

Mars Petcare specializes in producing pet food, treats, and other pet care products. It has a wide range of brands under its umbrella, including well-known names such as Pedigree, Whiskas, Royal Canin, Iams, Nutro, Greenies, and Sheba.

Most of Mars’ brands are not considered premium or high-cost and are generally sold in large commercial pet food stores or grocery stores such as Walmart or Petsmart.