Last updated Apr 4, 2025
Is Pure Vita a wholesome choice for your cat? Find out in our unbiased Pure Vita cat food review.
The Cats.com Standard—Rating Pure Vita on What Matters
We’ve analyzed Pure Vita and graded it according to the Cats.com standard, evaluating the brand on species-appropriateness, ingredient quality, product variety, price, customer experience, and recall history. Here’s how it rates in each of these six key areas.
Ratings
- Species-Appropriateness – 7/10
- Ingredient Quality – 7/10
- Product Variety – 8/10
- Price – 5/10
- Customer Experience – 9/10
- Recall History – 5/10
Overall Score: 6.8/10
We give Pure Vita cat food a 41 out of 60 rating or a B- grade.
There Are Better Fresh Options
Pure Vita can be purchased at most pet stores but a crop of new fresh cat food delivery competitors offer better, fresher cat food delivered right to your door.
Here are our favorite fresh cat food delivery companies you can choose from today. Most offer a heavy discount on your first order so you can see how your cat likes it .
About Pure Vita
Clean white packages, a nod to the Costa Rican good life in its name, and the company’s claim that Pure Vita provides “pure and natural holistic pet foods for a long and healthy life” imply that this brand is a clean, healthy choice for cats.
Pure Vita is owned by KLN Family Brands, a Minnesota company dating back to 1947. That’s when Darrell “Tuffy” Nelson started Pine Lakes Feed.
After operating the feed store for almost 20 years, Darrell and his son Kenny decided to expand into the manufacturing side of the pet food industry. They later expanded into the super premium market and in 2007, they started Pure Vita, their first holistic line of pet food.
Sourcing and Manufacturing
Pure Vita foods are made in a single company-owned facility in Perham, Minnesota. This facility is certified to the BRC Global Standard for Food Safety and inspected by the American Institute of Baking.
Has Pure Vita Cat Food Been Recalled?
While Pura Vita cat food has never been recalled, one of its dog foods was recalled in October of 2021. The recall involved potentially elevated levels of vitamin D in a single recipe. Over a thousand cases were pulled off the market. The company initiated the recall voluntarily, and there were no reports of illness. This was the first recall in the company’s more than fifty years in business.
What Kinds of Cat Food Does Pure Vita Offer?
The Pure Vita lineup includes three grain-free dry foods, five canned recipes, and six types of freeze-dried treats. They’re free of dyes, flavors, and preservatives that might harm your cat.
Pure Vita Cat Food – Top 3 Recipes Reviewed
| Product Name | Food Type | Price | Our Grade |
| Pure Vita Grain Free Chicken and Peas Entrée | Dry | $4.41 per lb | B- |
| Pure Vita Grain Free Salmon and Peas Entrée | Dry | $5.15 per lb | B- |
| Pure Vita 96% Grain Free 96% Real Turkey Entree Canned Cat Food | Wet | $0.73 per oz | A- |
#1 Pure Vita Grain Free Chicken & Peas Entrée Cat Food
Chicken appears to be the primary protein source in this dry cat food.
Like all Pure Vita foods, this product features a single species protein source. Chicken and chicken meal lead the ingredient list, followed by a small amount of dried egg product.
Like many grain-free foods, it contains a healthy dose of peas and pea flour. These ingredients help to make the food cohesive, crunchy, and consistent, but they’re no better than unfashionable corn, soy, and wheat. Later on the ingredient list, the recipe includes a few more pea-sourced ingredients, including pea starch and pea fiber.
Chicken fat is the food’s primary fat source. This is a good thing. Chicken fat and other animal-sourced fats are superior to the plant-derived oils sometimes found in cat food.
Part of the secret to this food’s high palatability ratings is an additive called natural flavor. Usually made from hydrolyzed animal tissues, this ingredient is a concentrated source of the meaty flavor cats love.
In addition to its primary ingredients, the food contains a signature blend of minerals and digestive aids, including a yeast culture and chelated minerals.
Overall, this food has moderate protein content, moderate fat, and high carbohydrate content.
This food appeals to cats, is easy on the digestion, and seems to be made from high-quality ingredients.
That said, it’s not one of the best foods you can buy. As obligate carnivores, cats should eat a low-carbohydrate diet that’s made primarily from muscle meat, organs, and fat. With peas taking up so much space in this entrée, it’s a legume-laden meal better suited to an omnivorous eater.
Ingredients
Chicken, Chicken Meal, Peas, Pea Flour, Chicken Fat (Preserved With Mixed Tocopherols), Dried Egg Product, Natural Flavor, Yeast Extract, Pea Protein, Pea Starch, Pea Fiber, Dried Brewers Yeast, Tomato Pomace, Phosphoric Acid, Salt, Potassium Chloride, Dl Methionine, Carrots, Sunflower Oil, Minerals (Iron Proteinate, Zinc Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Cobalt Proteinate), Cranberries, Apricots, Cherries, Taurine, Minerals (Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Sulfate, Calcium Carbonate, Zinc Oxide, Copper Sulfate, Manganous Oxide, Sodium Selenite, Mineral Oil, Calcium Iodate, Cobalt Carbonate), Turmeric, Dried Chicory Root, Vitamins (Vitamin A Acetate, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement, etc…
Ingredients We Liked: Chicken, Chicken Fat
Ingredients We Didn’t Like: Peas, Pea Flour, Pea Protein, Pea Starch
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
Pros
- Made without animal by-products
- Cats love the way the kibble tastes
- Free of artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives
- Primarily made with animal-sourced fat
- Comes in a resealable, easy-to-use bag with a zip closure
- Contains the Good4Life system of minerals and digestive supplements
Cons
- High carbohydrate content
#2 Pure Vita Grain-Free Salmon & Peas Entrée Cat Food
Salmon appears to be the primary protein source in this dry cat food.
While most other fish-based foods contain a mix of unidentified fish species, this food contains salmon and salmon alone. The first two ingredients are salmon and salmon meal.
The food contains sunflower oil as its primary fat source. While not bad for your cat, sunflower oil lacks the fatty acid profile found in animal fat.
The food contains a variety of peas and pea derivatives, with pea starch, peas, pea protein, and pea flour taking up plenty of label space. These ingredients primarily add carbohydrates, but they also increase the food’s fiber and protein content.
The food also contains flaxseeds, sunflower meal, and alfalfa meal. Instead of the usual vaguely-named “natural flavor” we’re accustomed to seeing in cat food, this food contains “natural salmon flavor”.
Like all Pure Vita foods, the recipe is supplemented with the Good4Life System, which includes a combination of digestive aids and chelated minerals. It also contains a sprinkling of fruits and vegetables, including small amounts of carrots, cranberries, apricots, and cherries.
Overall, this dry food has moderate protein content with moderate fat and high carbohydrate content.
If you’ve been looking for a fish-based food that doesn’t contain an ounce of chicken fat, eggs, and other ingredients that might irritate your cat, this kibble could be a good option.
That said, it goes heavy on peas and other high-carbohydrate ingredients and isn’t particularly rich in protein, both signs that it’s a less-than-ideal option for your carnivorous feline.
The food has 407 calories per cup.
Ingredients
Salmon, Salmon Meal, Pea Starch, Sunflower Oil (Preserved With Mixed Tocopherols And Citric Acid), Peas, Pea Protein, Pea Flour, Flax Seeds, Sunflower Meal, Alfalfa Meal, Natural Salmon Flavor, Yeast Extract, Calcium Carbonate, Dried Brewers Yeast, Dried Tomato Pomace, Phosphoric Acid, Choline Chloride, Salt, Dl Methionine, Carrots, Potassium Chloride, Minerals (Iron Proteinate, Zinc Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Cobalt Proteinate), Taurine, Cranberries, Apricots, Cherries, Lactic Acid, Turmeric, Dried Chicory Root, Vitamins (Vitamin A Acetate, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, D-calcium Pantothenate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Folic Acid, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement), Inositol, etc…
Ingredients We Liked: Salmon, Probiotics
Ingredients We Didn’t Like: Peas, Pea Flour, Pea Starch, Pea Fiber, Carrots, Sunflower Oil
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
Pros
- Appropriate for cats with food sensitivities and allergies
- Free of potentially-harmful additives
- Contains probiotics and digestive enzymes
Cons
- High carbohydrate content
#3 Pure Vita 96% Grain Free 96% Real Turkey Entree Canned Cat Food
Turkey appears to be the primary protein source in this wet cat food.
This canned food is 96% turkey meat, with turkey, turkey broth, and turkey liver occupying the first three spots on the ingredient list. It’s enhanced with natural flavor, an additive usually made from hydrolyzed animal tissue.
The paté is bound and stabilized with agar-agar. This seaweed derivative is similar to carrageenan in origin and function, but unlike carrageenan, it’s one of the safest thickeners you can use.
The food contains nutrient-rich dried kelp and is fortified with Pure Vita’s signature blend of digestive enzymes, yeasts, and proteinated minerals.
Overall, this food has high protein content with moderate fat and low carbohydrate content.
With a combination of turkey muscle meat and liver making up 96% of the total recipe and no low-value plant ingredients, this is a species-appropriate food for your obligate carnivore.
This is a relatively high-calorie food with 35 calories per ounce or 192 calories per can.
Ingredients
Turkey, Turkey Broth, Turkey Liver, Natural Flavor, Calcium Carbonate, Potassium Chloride, Agar-agar, Choline Chloride, Salt, Taurine, Yucca Schidigera Plant Extract, Dried Kelp, Betaine, Iron Proteinate, Zinc Proteinate, Niacin, Vitamin E Supplement, Manganese Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Sodium Selenite, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin A Supplement, Biotin, Calcium Pantothenate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin B-12 Supplement, Ethylenediamine Dihydriodide, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex.
Ingredients We Liked: Turkey, Turkey Liver
Ingredients We Didn’t Like: Agar-Agar
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
Pros
- Contains a mix of turkey muscle meat and liver
- Thickened with agar-agar instead of carrageenan
- Free of potentially-harmful additives
- Fortified with digestive enzymes and prebiotics
Cons
- Expensive
What Do Customers Think of Pure Vita Cat Food?
The brand’s emphasis on single-species protein sources has made it popular among cats with food sensitivities and allergies. People also appreciate the care put into Pure Vita’s packaging, praising its resealable bags and the freshness that they ensure.
Complaints range from palatability problems to concerns about the nutritional appropriateness of dry food in general.
Positive Reviews
“This food works great for our cat! Kitty loves it!” – Chris, reviewing Pure Vita Grain-Free Chicken & Peas Recipe
“We love that food. I have 2 cats and both are realy love Pure Vita Salmon and peas. They do not gain excess weight, their fur stays lush and soft. Breathe is good. Will continue to buy it.” – Irina, reviewing Pure Vita Grain-Free Salmon & Peas Entrée
Negative Reviews
“My cats nose got really red and inflamed. She likes it, but it made her sick and throw up. I would love to return this since it was expensive now I see that it is not returnable. I have questions about this being a genuine product since it was supposed to be very high level of healthy cat food. I wish I had ordered it directly from the site.” – Reviewerdw56, reviewing Pure Vita Grain-Free Chicken & Peas Recipe
My cat food bag has a cut on the top and has clear tape holding down the top of the bag. You can see the oil spots on the inside of the box where some of the food spilled out from the hole. I would like a fresh replacement as soon as possible.” – Amazon Customer, reviewing Pure Vita Grain-Free Chicken & Peas Recipe
How Much Does Pure Vita Cat Food Cost?
Pure Vita is on the expensive side, particularly if you choose one of their wet recipes. Breaking it down in terms of cost per day, Pure Vita would cost about $4.38 per day if you’re feeding a 10-lb cat. If you choose one of their dry cat food recipes, that price would drop to the range of $0.34 to $0.50 per day.
Overall, Is Pure Vita a Good Choice?
Pure Vita offers a diverse variety of limited-ingredient, single-species recipes, providing plenty of options for cats with food intolerances, sensitivities, and allergies.
Their dry foods aren’t among the best we’ve reviewed—we’d prefer Ziwi Peak, Dr. Elsey’s cleanprotein, or Tiki Cat—but they’re slightly better than the average kibble.
If you can stomach the price tag, Pure Vita wet cat food is among the best you can buy. Their wet food has an outstanding combination of thoughtfully simple recipes, limited-ingredient formulations for sensitive cats, and enough meat to satisfy your carnivore.
Where To Buy Pure Vita Cat Food?
The company is committed to partnering with independent neighborhood stores and is not available in major pet retail chains. Click here to find a retailer near you.
The same applies to their online distribution. Pure Vita encourages customers to support small businesses by buying from their authorized online retailers, which include PetFlow, Anglers Outfitters, and Naturally Unleashed.
Not all of these authorized retailers provide a comprehensive selection. You can also purchase Pure Vita through larger online stores, including Amazon, eBay, Jet, Kmart, Petco, Sears, and Walmart.
I just purchased the turkey entree wet cat food because my cat has been eating the Tiki succulent chicken and salmon can for a couple years now. I got my cat to lose 6 pounds very quickly but after watching some of your YouTube videos about Tiki cat not having much added vitamins in it, I decided to get this turkey food. Will this make my cat gain weight? I worked very hard to keep him at 11.5 pounds and I definitely don’t want him back up to 18 pounds lol. I really appreciate your videos and feedback.
Hi Sheena! Sorry it’s taken me so long to get back to you. It really depends on how much you feed your cat! The food is more calorie-dense, so just watch it and add some extra water so he fills up on less. All the best!
Pure vita dog food has been recalled in the past. See https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/tuffys-pet-foods-inc-issues-voluntary-recall-limited-quantity-pure-vita-salmon-entree-dog-food
Thank you for making us aware of this!
Hi!
I find all your reviews super helpful!
We’ve been feeding our two cats pure vita wet food for a few years with no complaints. However recently I’ve noticed the company has removed the guarantee of “96% Chicken”. There is a statement on the company’s website addressing the label change but they don’t provide any specific information about how the recipe might have changed. We’ve been pretty happy with this food but it’s not cheap so if it cant be guaranteed of the same quality I might switch brands.
Looks like the guaranteed analysis for the first one (chicken and pea dry food) is incorrect (78% moisture)
Thank you. I’ve corrected the review.
Thanks for all the work you do!
Can u make the food in a tuna flavor my cat already eats the same in one pot he has a sensitive stomach and bi issue. We’ve been buying this food for many years. Please let me know if there’s a possibility in the future that you can make one out of tuna. Thank you so much. I also have seen your cats as well and they enjoy it
Thank you for sharing this idea, Scott. We don’t have direct contact with this company, so you may have better luck contacting them here. Wishing you all the best.
I really liked your article. I would like to know what you all feel are the top three dry food choices for senior cats.
Hi Kathie, you might like our article on the best cat food for senior cats: https://cats.com/best-cat-food-for-senior-cats
It’s not for a old my cat is 6 months old and has a GI issues just asking if you can make a dry cat food in tuna flavor? Please let me know it would be so helpful to thanks Scott p