Our Verdict
Zoe dry product range is made up of three recipes which all receives the Cat Food Advisor rating, 3.5 stars.
This range has no corn, wheat or soy. The recipes include boneless meat and are rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Zoë food is suitable for cats at all lifestyles.
Pros
- Good protein levels
- Contains animal meat and organs
- Rich in vitamins and minerals
Cons
- Limited range
- Carbohydrate is near-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 |
|---|---|---|
| Zoe Chicken With Sweet Potato & Quinoa | 3.5 | A |
| Zoe Weight Control Turkey With Barley & Quinoa | 3.5 | A |
| Zoe Turkey With Peas & Russet Potato | 3.5 | A |
Recipe and Label Analysis
Zoe Chicken With Sweet Potato & Quinoa 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.
Zoe Chicken With Sweet Potato & Quinoa recipe
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Protein
Fat
CarbsCarbohydrates
Chicken meal, deboned chicken, peas, pearled barley, oatmeal, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), quinoa seed, sweet potato, chia seed, flaxseed, chickpeas, egg product, natural chicken flavor, salmon oil (source of dha), potassium chloride, apple, blueberry, cranberry, carrot, spinach, broccoli, calcium carbonate, calcium propionate (preservative), sodium bisulfate, dl-methionine, salt, choline chloride, l-lysine, taurine, vitamins [vitamin E supplement, vitamin A supplement, niacin, calcium pantothenate, riboflavin, pyridoxine hydrochloride, thiamine mononitrate, biotin, vitamin B12 supplement, vitamin D3 supplement, folic acid], minerals [zinc sulfate, zinc proteinate, iron proteinate, ferrous sulfate, copper proteinate, copper sulfate, manganese proteinate, manganous oxide, calcium iodate, sodium selenite], chicory root extract, yeast extract, phosphoric acid, sunflower lecithin, yucca schidigera extract, rosemary extract, dried lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, dried lactobacillus casei fermentation product, dried bifidobacterium bifidum fermentation product, dried enterococcus faecium fermentation product.
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 3.5%
Red denotes any controversial items
Ingredients Analysis
The first ingredient is chicken meal. Chicken meal is considered a meat concentrate and contains nearly 300% more protein than fresh chicken.
The second ingredient is deboned 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 third ingredient is peas, which 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 fourth ingredient is pearled barley. Cracked Pearled Barley is produced when the seed hull and bran is removed from barley grain. Fiber is distributed throughout the barley grain, rather than being contained within the hull meaning that Cracked Pearled Barley is still a source of fiber. However, aside from its energy content, this cereal grain is of only modest nutritional value to a cat
The fifth ingredient is oatmeal. A whole-grain product made from coarsely ground oats. Oatmeal is naturally rich in B-vitamins, dietary fiber and can be (depending upon its level of purity) gluten-free.
The sixth 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 seventh ingredient is quinoa seed. Quinoa (pronounced ) is not a true cereal grain but a plant prized for its gluten-free seeds.
Compared to most other grain-type ingredients, it is high in protein (about 12-18%), dietary fiber and other healthy nutrients.
The eighth 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.
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, the company appears to have applied friendly bacteria to the surface of the kibble after cooking. These special probiotics are used to enhance a cat’s digestive and immune functions.
This food also 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.
Finally, the company appears to have applied friendly bacteria to the surface of the kibble after cooking. These special probiotics are used to enhance a cat’s digestive and immune functions.
Nutrient Analysis
Based on its ingredients alone, Zoe Chicken With Sweet Potato & Quinoa recipe looks like an average dry product.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 33.3%, a fat level of 20% and an estimated carbohydrate level of 38.7%.
As a group, the brand features an below-average protein content of 31.9% and an above-average fat level of 17.8%. Together these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 42.4% for the overall product line, alongside a fat to protein ratio of 56%.
This means this Zoe dry range contains lower than average protein, higher than average carbohydrate and higher than average fat, when compared to typical dry cat food.
Final Word
This range of food is enriched with animal fat, vitamins and minerals. It is free from corn, wheat, soy, artificial colors, flavors or preservatives and it can be served as a meal in its own right.
Has Zoe (Dry) cat food been recalled in the past?
No. Zoe cat foods have not been recalled.
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
Zoe is a brand owned by a company called Hagan which was founded in Canada by Rolf C. Hagen in 1955.
Its global head office is located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada along with its pet food manufacturing facility.
Hagen products are sold all around the world.
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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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