Our Verdict
Wellness Appetizing Entrees wet cat food is made up of nine recipes which each receive the Cat Food Advisor rating, 5 stars.
This range comes in a variety of textures — shredded, flakes and a mousse — providing high quality protein options to suit different cats’ preferences. The first ingredient in each recipe is listed as animal meat and the moisture-rich broth helps keep your cat hydrated.
Pros
- High in protein
- Animal protein listed as first ingredient
- Range of textures to choose from
Cons
- More expensive than some cat foods
- Few downsides - this is good cat food
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Wellness Appetizing Entrees Shredded Chicken & Duck | 5 | M |
| Wellness Appetizing Entrees Shredded Chicken & Salmon | 5 | M |
| Wellness Appetizing Entrees Shredded Chicken | 5 | M |
| Wellness Appetizing Entrees Mousse Chicken & Turkey | 5 | M |
| Wellness Appetizing Entrees Mousse Chicken | 5 | M |
| Wellness Appetizing Entrees Flaked Tuna | 5 | M |
| Wellness Appetizing Entrees Flaked Tuna & Tilapia | 5 | M |
| Wellness Appetizing Entrees Flaked Tuna, Mackerel and Shrimp | 5 | M |
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Recipe and Label Analysis
Wellness Appetizing Entrees Shredded Chicken & Duck 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.
Wellness Appetizing Entrees Shredded Chicken & Duck recipe
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Protein
Fat
CarbsCarbohydrates
Chicken, chicken broth, water sufficient for processing, duck, sunflower oil, salmon oil, white sweet potato, taurine, calcium chloride, monosodium phosphate, salt, magnesium sulfate, choline chloride, potassium chloride, zinc proteinate, vitamin e supplement, iron proteinate, thiamine mononitrate, niacin, manganese proteinate, copper proteinate, vitamin A supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, sodium selenite, d-calcium pantothenate, riboflavin supplement, folic acid, potassium iodide, biotin, vitamin B12 supplement, vitamin D3 supplement.
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 0.5%
Red denotes any controversial items
Ingredients Analysis
The first ingredient is chicken, which 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 water, which adds nothing but moisture to this food. Water is a routine finding in most wet cat foods.
The fourth ingredient is duck. Duck is considered “the clean combination of flesh and skin… derived from the parts or whole carcasses of duck”. 2
Duck is naturally rich in the 11 essential amino acids required by a cat to sustain life.
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 salmon oil. Salmon oil is naturally rich in the prized EPA and DHA type of omega-3 fatty acids. These two high quality fats boast the highest bio-availability to dogs and humans.
Depending on its level of freshness and purity, salmon oil should be considered a commendable addition.
The seventh ingredient is white 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 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 in this recipe 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.
Nutrient Analysis
Based on its ingredients alone, Wellness Appetizing Entrees Shredded Chicken & Duck recipe looks like an above-average wet product.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 68.8%, a fat level of 12.5% and an estimated carbohydrate level of 10.8%
As a group, the brand features an above-average protein content of 60.6% and a mean fat level of 23.1%. Together these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 8.2% for the overall product line, alongside a fat to protein ratio of 43%.
This means this Wellness Appetizing Entrees wet range contains higher than average protein, lower than average carbohydrate, higher than average fat, when compared to typical wet cat food.
Final Word
This is a new range of healthy recipes from Wellness which is free from artificial flavors, preservatives, colors, or Carrageenan. The foods are all high in protein derived from quality animal sources.
Has Wellness cat food been recalled in the past?
Wellness has had a few cat food recalls. The most recent was in February 2017, when a number of canned cat foods were recalled due to the potential for foreign material.
In February 2011, the following Wellness canned cat foods were recalled due to inadequate levels of thiamine (Vitamin B1)
- Wellness (all flavors and sizes, including CORE) with “best by” dates of April 14–Sept. 30, 2013
- Wellness Chicken & Herring (all sizes) with “best by” dates of either Nov. 10, 2013 OR Nov. 17, 2013
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.
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
Wellness Pet Company’s headquarters is just outside Boston, in Tewksbury, Massachusetts. It maintains the Farm Fresh Kitchen manufacturing facility in Minnesota and a manufacturing plant in Indiana.
The company consists of Wellness Natural Pet Food, Old Mother Hubbard by Wellness, WHIMZEES by Wellness, Sojos, Eagle Pack and Holistic Select.
Sources
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Article reviewed by
Pet Nutritionist
Laura studied BSc (Hons) Animal Science with an accreditation in Nutrition at the University of Nottingham, before working for eight years in the pet food and nutrition industry.
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