Our Verdict
The Honest Kitchen dehydrated product range is made of three recipes which all receive the Cat Food Advisor second highest rating, 5 stars.
The Honest Kitchen is created by a vet nutritionist and only uses wholesome foods. Suppliers must provide proof of food origins, screening, handling and cleaning. The grain-free whole food clusters recipes are prepared using human-grade muscle meat and liver, low-glycemic carbs, beneficial fats and live probiotics.
Pros
- Human-grade
- High in protein
- No artificial preservatives, feed grade by-products, fillers, GMO ingredients, corn, wheat or soy
- Vet recommended
- Money back guarantee
Cons
- Price is above market average
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 |
|---|---|---|
| The Honest Kitchen Dehydrated Grain-Free Chicken & Fish | 5 | A |
| The Honest Kitchen Grain-Free Chicken Dehydrated Cat Food | 5 | A |
| The Honest Kitchen Grain-Free Turkey Dehydrated Cat Food | 5 | A |
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Recipe and Label Analysis
The Honest Kitchen Dehydrated Grain-Free Chicken & Fish 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.
The Honest Kitchen dehydrated grain free chicken & fish recipe
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Protein
Fat
CarbsCarbohydrates
Dehydrated chicken, dehydrated sweet potatoes, dehydrated potatoes, flaxseed, dehydrated eggs, dehydrated white fish, dehydrated chicken bone broth, dehydrated spinach, dehydrated pumpkin, tricalcium phosphate, dried cranberries, dried blueberries, minerals [potassium chloride, choline chloride, potassium iodide, iron amino acid chelate, zinc amino acid chelate, copper amino acid chelate, manganese amino acid chelate, sodium selenite], taurine, vitamins [vitamin E supplement, pantothenic acid (vitamin B5), thiamine mononitrate (vitamin B1), riboflavin (vitamin B2), vitamin D3 supplement, vitamin B12 supplement, pyridoxine (vitamin B6)], dried organic barley grass, dried organic kelp, rosemary extract, turmeric, dried bacillus coagulans fermentation product*
*contains a source of live, naturally occurring microorganisms
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 2.5%
Red denotes any controversial items
Ingredients Analysis
The first ingredient is dehydrated chicken. Dehydrated chicken is considered a meat concentrate and contains more than four times as much protein as fresh chicken.
The second ingredient is dehydrated sweet potatoes, an item usually made from the by-products of potato processing. In most cases, dried sweet potato can contain about 10% dry matter protein which can have a slight affect on our estimate of the total meat content of this recipe.
The third ingredient is dehydrated potatoes, a dehydrated potato product usually made from by-products of a food processing plant. This item is equal to corn in calorie content yet possibly with more protein.
The fourth ingredient is flaxseed. One of the best non-fish sources of omega-3 fatty acids — essential to a cat’s health.
The fifth ingredient is dehydrated eggs. A dehydrated form of shell-free eggs. Quality can vary significantly. Lower grade egg product can even come from commercial hatcheries — from eggs that have failed to hatch. In any case, eggs are easy to digest and have an exceptionally high biological value
The sixth ingredient is dehydrated white fish , a protein-rich whitefish native to the central and northeast coasts of the United States.
The seventh ingredient is dehydrated chicken bone 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.
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.
However, we note the inclusion of dried fermentation products in this recipe. Fermentation products are typically added as probiotics to aid with digestion.
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Nutrient Analysis
Based on its ingredients alone, The Honest Kitchen dehydrated grain free chicken & fish recipe looks like an above-average dry product.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 44.2%, a fat level of 29.5% and an estimated carbohydrate level of 18.3%.
As a group, the brand features an above average protein content of 43.5% and an above average fat level of 29.5%. Together these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 19% for the overall product line, alongside a fat to protein ratio of 68%.
This means that The Honest Kitchen dehydrated product line contains above-average protein, below-average carbs, and above-average fat when compared to typical dry cat food.
Final Word
The Honest Kitchen dehydrated grain free chicken & fish recipe is a premium product offering high quality ingredients.
Has The Honest Kitchen cat food been recalled in the past?
The Honest Kitchen has no known history of product recalls.
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
The Honest Kitchen was founded in 2002 by Lucy Postins in San Diego and is still based there today.
The Honest Kitchen is a premium brand of pet food that focuses on high-quality nutrition as the ultimate recipe for health and wellness.
This brand believes that food is the best medicine, so it focuses its recipes on high-quality, natural ingredients to promote better digestion, higher energy levels, healthier skin and coat, increased appetite, and healthy weight control.
Sources
Best cat foods
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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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