Our Verdict
Stella & Chewy’s Carnivore Cravings Savory Shreds product range is made of six recipes which all receive the Cat Food Advisor rating, 4.5-stars.
It is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by AAFCO for all life stages.
Pros
- Protein rich
- Responsibly sourced
- Pea, lentil & potato free
- Contains taurine
Cons
- Quite expensive
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Carnivore Cravings Chicken & Chicken Liver Recipe | 4.5 | M |
| Carnivore Cravings Chicken & Salmon Recipe | 4.5 | M |
| Carnivore Cravings Chicken & Tuna Recipe | 4.5 | M |
| Carnivore Cravings Duck & Chicken Recipe | 4.5 | M |
| Carnivore Cravings Salmon, Tuna & Mackerel Recipe | 4.5 | M |
| Carnivore Cravings Tuna & Pumpkin Recipe | 4.5 | M |
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Recipe and Label Analysis
Stella & Chewy’s Carnivore Cravings Chicken & Chicken Liver Savory Shreds 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.
Carnivore Cravings Chicken & Chicken Liver Savory Shreds
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Protein
Fat
CarbsCarbohydrates
Cage-free chicken, chicken broth, chicken liver, tapioca, sunflower oil, natural chicken flavor, tricalcium phosphate, taurine, calcium chloride, salt, magnesium sulfate, flaxseed, choline chloride, vitamin E supplement, thiamine mononitrate, zinc oxide, niacin supplement, reduced iron, vitamin A supplement, sodium selenite, manganese sulfate, copper amino acid complex, pyridoxine hydrochloride, calcium pantothenate, riboflavin supplement, folic acid, vitamin B12 supplement, vitamin D3 supplement, biotin, potassium iodide
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 1%
Red denotes any controversial items
Ingredients Analysis
The first ingredient is cage-free 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 chicken liver. This is an organ meat sourced from a named animal and thus considered a beneficial component.
The fourth ingredient is tapioca, a gluten-free, starchy carbohydrate extract made from the root of the cassava plant.
The fifth ingredient is sunflower oil. Sunflower oil is nutritionally similar to safflower oil. Since these oils are high in omega-6 fatty acids and contain no omega-3s, they’re considered less nutritious than canola or flaxseed oils.
Sunflower oil is notable for its resistance to heat damage during cooking.
There are several different types of sunflower oil, some better than others. Without knowing more, it’s impossible to judge the quality of this ingredient.
The sixth ingredient is natural chicken 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.
The seventh ingredient is tricalcium phosphate, a beneficial source of calcium and phosphorus. In addition, this additive is used in wet foods as an emulsifier — an agent designed to disperse a food’s fats more evenly in water.
The eighth ingredient is taurine, an essential amino acid for cats associated with the healthy function of heart muscle and eye sight, and is crucial for maintaining good health in cats.
We view the presence of taurine as a positive addition.
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.
Nutrient Analysis
Based on its ingredients alone, Carnivore Cravings Chicken & Chicken Liver Shreds looks like an above-average wet product.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 62.5%, a fat level of 12.5% and an estimated carbohydrate level of 17%.
As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 59.3% and a mean fat level of 12.3%. Together these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 20.4% for the overall product line, alongside a fat-to-protein ratio of 21%.
This means the Stella & Chewy’s Carnivore Cravings Savory Shreds product line contains above-average protein, below-average carbs and above-average fat when compared to typical wet cat food.
Final Word
Stella & Chewy’s Carnivore Cravings Savory Shreds range always contains responsibly sourced quality animal proteins. Complete and balanced appropriate levels of vitamins and minerals with added Taurine.
Has Stella & Chewy's cat food been recalled in the past?
Yes, Stella & Chewy’s has had two recalls in 2015. One in July, the other in December. Both for potential listeria links.
The products affected in July were:
- Freeze-Dried Chewy’s Chicken Dinner for Dogs, 15 oz., Lot #111-15, Best by April 23, 2016 or April 26, 2016
- Freeze-Dried Chick, Chick, Chicken Dinner for Cats, 12 oz., Lot #111-15, Best by April 29, 2016 or May 3, 2016
- Freeze-Dried Chick, Chick, Chicken Dinner for Cats, 12 oz., Lot #104-15, Best by April 23, 2016
- Freeze-Dried Chick, Chick, Chicken Dinner for Cats, 12 oz., Lot #109-15, Best by April 29, 2016 or May 3, 2016
- Carnivore Crunch – Turkey Recipe, 3.25 oz., Lot #111-15, Best by May 3, 2016 or May 4, 2016
- Carnivore Crunch – Chicken Recipe, 3.25 oz., Lot #110-15, Best by May 3
- Frozen Duck Duck Goose Dinner Morsels for Dogs, 4 lb., Lot #111-15, Best by April 21, 2016
- Frozen Chewy’s Chicken Dinner Morsels for Dogs, 4 lb., Lot #111-15, Best by April 21, 2016
- Frozen Surf ‘N Turf Dinner Patties for Dogs, 6 lb., Lot #111-15, Best by April 21, 2016
- Frozen Chewy’s Chicken Dinner Patties for Dogs, 3 lb. or 6 lb., Lot #111-15, Best by April 21, 2016
- Freeze-Dried Tantalizing Turkey Meal Mixers, 9 oz. or 18 oz., Lot #105-15, Best by May 3, 2016
- Freeze-Dried Tantalizing Turkey Meal Mixers, 18 oz., Lot #113-15, Best by May 3, 2016
- Freeze-Dried Chewy’s Chicken Dinners for Dogs, 15 oz., Lot #114-15, Best by April 26, 2016
- Freeze-Dried Tummy Ticklin’ Turkey Dinner for Cats, 12 oz., Lot #114-15 or #115-15, Best by May 4, 2016
- Freeze-Dried Salmon & Chicken Dinner for Cats, 12 oz., Lot #107-15, Best by April 23, 2016
And the products affected in December were:
- 8 oz. packages of Frozen Stella’s Super Beef Dinner Morsels for Dogs, Lot #165-15, “Best by” June 25, 2016
- 4 lb. packages of Frozen Stella’s Super Beef Dinner Morsels for Dogs, Lot #165-15, “Best by” June 25, 2016 or June 26, 2016
- 1.25 lb. packages of Frozen Duck Duck Goose Dinner Morsels for Cats, Lot #165-15, “Best by” June 25, 2016
- 1.25 lb. packages of Frozen Chick Chick Chicken Dinner Morsels for Cats, Lots #160-15 or 152-15, “Best by” July 2, 2016
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
Stella & Chewy’s was founded by Marie Moody after adopting two dogs named Stella & Chewy, this led to Marie pursuing her passion for pet nutrition and starting her own business.
The privately held business is based in Oak Creek and foods are manufactured at a plant in Wisconsin.
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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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