Last updated Sep 16, 2026
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Heart To Tail is an economy pet food brand sold exclusively by the Aldi grocery store chain in the United States. This brand offers a limited selection of highly affordable cat food products, but are they a good choice for your cat? Find out in this detailed review.
Ratings
- Species-Appropriateness – 5/10
- Ingredient Quality – 4/10
- Product Variety – 5/10
- Price – 9/10
- Customer Experience – 6/10
- Recall History – 9/10
Overall Score: 6.3/10
We give Heart To Tail a 38 out of 60 or a C+ grade.
About Heart To Tail Cat Food
Heart To Tail is a private label cat food brand sold only by Aldi, a German discount supermarket chain. Aldi opened its first U.S. location in Iowa in 1976 and currently operates over 12,000 stores in 18 countries around the world. The majority of the store’s stock comes from private-label brands, which help keep prices low.
Like other Aldi products, Heart To Tail cat food’s biggest selling point is its affordability. The brand offers a limited array of products, the availability and formulation of which is subject to change throughout the year. All of Heart to Tail’s cat food products are nutritionally complete, according to AAFCO requirements, except for the products specifically marketed as treats.
Sourcing and Manufacturing
Because Heart To Tail is a private label brand, there’s little information available about its manufacturing. Aldi doesn’t disclose the manufacturer of the products, and the packaging only states that the food is distributed and sold exclusively by Aldi (with a location listed in Batavia, Illinois). Both the wet food and dry food recipes exhibit the same lack of specific information.
There is some speculation that Heart To Tail wet cat food is made by Big Heart Pet Brands (formerly part of Del Monte, now owned by J.M. Smucker) in Texas and Washington. Big Heart Pet Brands also makes 9 Lives and other pet foods.
However, Heart To Tail cat foods have at times been identified as products of Canada on the label. In short, we’re not sure who makes Heart To Tail wet food for Aldi but there’s no “Made in the USA” claim on the current wet food packaging (there was on the bag of dry food we tested).
Has Heart To Tail Cat Food Been Recalled?
No, Heart To Tail cat food has never been recalled. The only relevant product recall was in January 2022 for pet advent calendars under the Pure Being product line, but the recall was due to a potential choking hazard from small parts.
Because we’re not sure who makes Heart To Tail cat food, we can’t say whether the manufacturer itself has had any product recalls.
What Kinds of Cat Food Does Heart To Tail Offer?
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Heart To Tail offers a limited variety of wet cat food, dry cat food, and cat treats. The food mainly features chicken and fish flavors, though all the recipes contain multiple proteins. Some of the dry foods contain whole proteins like chicken or salmon, but the bulk of the protein content appears to come from animal by-products.
Here’s a list of the Heart To Tail cat foods most commonly available in Aldi stores:
- Indoor Formula Dry Cat Food
- Special Medley Formula Dry Cat Food
- Beef Entrée Wet Cat Food
- Salmon Entrée Wet Cat Food
- Gourmet Chicken Entrée Wet Cat Food
- Turkey & Giblets Entrée Wet Cat Food
- Ocean Whitefish & Tuna Entrée Wet Cat Food
In addition to the Heart To Tail cat foods, Aldi offers a handful of specialty dry pet foods in a product line called Pure Being. These formulas are free from corn, wheat, or soy and feature real animal protein as the top ingredient. Several Pure Being formulas are grain-free and they’re all enriched with probiotics to support healthy digestion.
Heart To Tail dry cat foods are sold in 3.15-pound bags while the wet food comes in 3-ounce and 5.5-ounce cans. In addition to nutritionally complete meals, Heart To Tail also offers a handful of cat treats such as jerky sticks that can be torn into pieces, as well as bite-sized treats with a crunchy exterior and creamy center.
What Did Our Test Cats Think?
To test Heart To Tail cat food, I purchased the food from my local Aldi store (located in Pittsburgh, PA). My local selection included just two dry cat food recipes and almost half a dozen wet cat foods.
Aldi doesn’t provide any nutritional information or ingredients lists for Heart To Tail products on its website, so my analysis comes from the info on the product packages plus the results of at-home testing with my two cats, Biscuit and Munchkin.
My cats enjoyed all the Heart the Tail cat foods they tested and didn’t seem to prefer one wet cat food recipe over the other. Both the chicken and salmon pates looked pretty similar to me, and both had the same moist texture. There wasn’t any noticeable difference in product quality between the 3-ounce and 5.5-ounce cans.
Heart To Tail Cat Food—Top 3 Recipes Reviewed
| Product Name | Food Type | Primary Protein | Calories Per Ounce | Price | Our Grade |
| Heart To Tail Premium Cat Food Salmon Entrée Wet Cat Food | Wet | Meat By-Products | 32 | $0.12 per ounce | C |
| Heart To Tail Premium Cat Food Gourmet Chicken Entrée Wet Cat Food | Wet | Chicken | 32 | $0.32 per ounce | C+ |
| Heart To Tail Premium Adult Cat Food Indoor Formula Dry Cat Food | Dry | Chicken By-Product Meal | 93 | $0.08 per ounce | D |
#1 Heart To Tail Premium Cat Food Salmon Entrée Wet Cat Food
This wet cat food recipe features salmon as the named flavor, though it’s not the first ingredient. Most of the protein appears to come from various by-products of meat and fish, as well as whole salmon and vaguely named fish. Though we’d prefer to see high-quality, named sources of animal protein at the top of the list, we’re happy to find that the first four ingredients (excluding water needed for processing) are all animal-based.
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Generally speaking, this formula is surprisingly low in plant ingredients for a grocery store-brand cat food. The only significant source of added carbohydrate is rice, which is admittedly low in nutritional value. With a dry matter protein level of 45% and fat level of almost 23%, this means the dry matter carbohydrate content is pretty low (under 15%).
At about 32 calories per ounce, this food is very calorie-dense. It has a smooth, moist texture that my cats seemed to like, and they enjoyed the flavor. The can was easy to open and the food didn’t get stuck inside.
Ingredients
Meat By-Products, Salmon, Poultry By-Products, Water Sufficient Enough For Processing, Fish, Rice, Natural Flavor, Added Color, Guar Gum, Potassium Chloride, Choline Chloride, Salt, Carrageenan, Taurine, Magnesium Sulfate, Calcium Carbonate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Ferrous Sulfate, Vitamin E Supplement, Zinc Oxide, Copper Proteinate, Sodium Nitrate (To Promote Color Retention), Potassium Iodide, Niacin Supplement, Manganese Sulfate, Sodium Selenite, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, Biotin, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Folic Acid.
Ingredients We Liked: Salmon, Fish
Ingredients We Didn’t Like: Added Color, Guar Gum, Sodium Nitrate
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
What We Liked:
- Top three ingredients are animal-based
- Good source of hydrating moisture for cats
- Contains over 45% dry matter protein
- Soft paté texture is easy for cats to eat
What We Didn’t Like:
- Relies heavily on animal by-products
- Contains some added color
#2 Heart To Tail Premium Cat Food Gourmet Chicken Entrée Wet Cat Food
In contrast to the previous recipe, the named protein is the first ingredient in this recipe. Chicken and chicken broth top the list, followed by various vaguely named animal proteins and animal by-products. This recipe also contains fish oil as a species-appropriate source of omega-3 fatty acids, though we’d prefer to see it from a named source like salmon oil.
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Aside from the flavor swap, this recipe is pretty similar to the previous formula with one significant difference: it doesn’t contain rice. The guaranteed analysis nutrient values remain unchanged, however, so the dry matter carbohydrate content is similar. It’s likely closer to 10% than 15% due to a lower percentage of ash (which is a measure of mineral content in pet food).
Another calorie-dense recipe, this formula contains about 32 calories per ounce. It has the same moist texture as the previous recipe and my cats liked it. Of the two wet food recipes they sampled, they seemed to prefer the chicken flavor.
Ingredients
Chicken, Chicken Broth, Meat By-Products, Animal Liver, Fish, Natural Flavor, Guar Gum, Potassium Chloride, Salt, Calcium Carbonate, Choline Chloride, Vitamins (Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin Supplement, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, Bioton, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Folic Acid), Fish Oil (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Taurine, Minerals (Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Copper Proteinate, Sodium Selenite, Manganese Sulfate, Potassium Iodide), Magnesium Sulfate.
Ingredients We Liked: Chicken, Fish, Fish Oil
Ingredients We Didn’t Like: Guar Gum
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
What We Liked:
- Whole source of animal protein (chicken) as the main ingredient
- Soft paté texture is easy to eat and hydrating for cats
- Relies mainly on animal-sourced protein and fat
- Made without artificial colors or flavors
What We Didn’t Like:
- Contains vaguely named animal ingredients and by-products
- Gum thickeners may trigger digestive upset in sensitive cats
#3 Heart To Tail Premium Adult Cat Food Indoor Formula Dry Cat Food
As is true for many economy-brand dry cat foods, Heart To Tail’s kibble recipes rely heavily on inexpensive grains and animal by-products. This recipe lists whole grain corn as the first ingredient, with several other corn ingredients later on the list (like corn distillers dried grains and corn protein meal). The only animal ingredients are by-products from chicken and beef, plus animal fat as the main source of added fat.
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Measured as dry matter, this recipe contains about 34% protein and under 11% fat. This leaves the dry matter carbohydrate content at around 50%, which is over twice as high as our preferred maximum level for dry cat food. Overall, it appears to be a largely plant-based recipe with a moderate level of protein, low fat, and moderate calorie density (about 98 calories per ounce).
At a glance, this dry cat food looks like your typical grocery store kibble. The pieces are small, somewhat flat, and rounded. My cats seemed to like the flavor and the size of the kibble made it easy for them to eat. Unsurprisingly, given the price point, the bag wasn’t resealable but there was enough leftover material at the top to roll it up and tape it shut.
Ingredients
Whole Grain Corn, Chicken By-Product Meal, Soybean Meal, Beef and Bone Meal, Corn Distillers Dried Grains with Solubles, Animal Fat (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Rice Bran, Corn Protein Meal, Rice, Powdered Cellulose, Chicken Liver Digest, Phosphoric Acid, Potassium Chloride, Taurine, Parsley Flakes, Vitamins (Choline Chloride, Niacin, Vitamin E Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride [Source of Vitamin B6], Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex, Folic Acid, Biotin), Minerals (Copper Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Zinc Sulfate, Iron Sulfate, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite, Ascorbic Acid [Source of Vitamin C].
Ingredients We Liked: None
Ingredients We Didn’t Like: Whole Grain Corn, Soybean Meal, Corn Distillers Dried Grains with Solubles, Corn Protein Meal
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
What We Liked:
- Contains several animal-sourced proteins
- Small kibbles are easy for cats to eat
- Affordably priced under $0.10 per ounce (about $1 per lb)
What We Didn’t Like:
- Relies heavily on grains and plant proteins
- Most of the animal ingredients are by-products
- High in carbs and low in hydrating moisture
What Do Customers Think of Heart To Tail Cat Food?
Because Heart To Tail is a grocery store brand, online reviews for the products are limited. Aldi doesn’t post product reviews on its site, so the only source for reviews is Amazon, where a limited number of products are sold (presumably not licensed by Aldi) at a significant markup. The newest reviews I saw were already over a year old.
Though I wasn’t able to find any recent reviews, here’s a sampling of customer feedback:
Positive Reviews
Satisfied customers often say they love the price of Heart To Tail pet food and that their cats seem to like it. Several customers specifically say they don’t have a problem with the animal by-products in the ingredients list.
“That’s all I buy. Mostly the turkey and once in a while the salmon. I also get the beef in the little cans. All of mine love it! 5 of mine, 2 fosters and 5 outside.” – Courtney Trzcinski-Coleman reviewing Heart To Tail cat food on Facebook
“Our kitties love it too. I mix it with dry for added crunch. You can’t beat the price and I’ve compared ingredients with pricier food and the are pretty much the same.” – Debbie Levin reviewing Heart To Tail cat food on Facebook
Negative Reviews
Dissatisfied customers typically comment on the ingredients in Heart To Tail products or say their cats refused to eat it. Some reviewers dislike the use of added color and a few say their cats throw up after eating the food.
“Terrible ingredients. Meat by products could be anything. 3 and 4d meat. Carrageenan, synthetic vitamins, red dye.” – Cathy Marquis reviewing Heart To Tail cat food on Facebook
“A friend of mine was thrilled to find a wet food her kitties would like…but true to form of “cattitude”, that after my friend decided to buy a boat load, just to find that after not quite a week of feeding them that, the 3 decided it was a no go.” – Jackie Alejo reviewing Heart To Tail cat food on Facebook
How Much Does Heart To Tail Cat Food Cost?
Heart To Tail cat food is one of the most affordable cat food brands we’ve reviewed, which makes sense given that it’s a discount grocery store brand. Prices may vary from one region to another but, generally speaking, all of Heart To Tail’s wet foods are sold at the same price, as are the dry foods.
The per-ounce price of Heart To Tail wet cat food differs depending on the size of the can. The 5.5-ounce cans are about $0.65 (average $0.12 per ounce) while the 3-ounce cans are $0.95 (average $0.32 per ounce). Heart To Tail dry cat foods cost about $1.30 per pound or about $0.08 per ounce.
Using the average calorie requirements of a healthy adult cat, the estimated daily feeding cost of Heart To Tail wet food is between $0.75 and $2.00. For dry cat food, it’s about $0.20. This puts Heart To Tail in a similar price range to brands like Special Kitty and Friskies.
Where Is Heart To Tail Cat Food Sold?
Because Heart To Tail is Aldi’s private label brand, Aldi is the only store that sells it. You can find it on store shelves or purchase it online through grocery delivery services like Instacart, depending on local availability.
You may be able to find some Heart To Tail cat foods from other retailers like Amazon, but they’re not licensed sellers. Keep in mind that you’ll likely pay a significant markup and the product may not be as advertised. For example, the products available on Amazon at the time of this review were sold in tins like Kirkland Signature cat food from Costco, not the cans sold at Aldi.
Overall, Is Heart To Tail Cat Food a Good Choice?
Heart To Tail cat food could be a good choice for budget-conscious cat owners, but we recommend sticking to the wet food recipes. The dry food is simply too high in carbohydrates and doesn’t prioritize animal proteins. If daily costs are a concern, try to split your cat’s daily meals between wet food and dry food.
All of Heart To Tail’s wet cat food recipes appear to be pretty low in carbohydrates for a brand at this price point. There are a lot of animal by-products in the food but these aren’t necessarily problematic ingredients, especially if your cat doesn’t have any food allergies that require you to avoid certain proteins. The food does contain some added color but the formulas are relatively simple and contain plenty of hydrating moisture.
Similar Brands
Looking for other cat food brands similar to Heart To Tail? Check out some of our other brand reviews.
You mentioned that the 3oz can of Heart to Tail gourmet chicken entree cat food had “sodium nitrate added for color retention” under the cons. Where did you get that information, since I’m now looking at that very can and not anywhere is that ingredient listed? Sorry, but can’t take you seriously because of that one fact! Sodium nitrate is a carcinogen! You were right about the 5.5 Oz can of Salmon containing that harmful addition, but WRONG about the gourmet chicken! You sure you’re not biased?
See the part on the page where it says “Complete list not found online. (See this page for a picture of an older version of the can.)”
I bought the Heart to Tail adult cat food (indoor formula) because they seemed to like the wet food….However, neither of my cats like this food AT ALL. They just won’t eat it. I’m going to try to get a refund.
While I liked the review and research done for it, I am finding the rating scale interesting- this 38/60 is a C- but a 39/60 (Fancy Feast) is a B- and another 36/60 (Friskies) is a C. ? usually read the ingredients and liked the explanations given on what the cats should or should not have. My cat has been sick for 4 months, now recovering after losing 3 pounds and is now a picky wet food eater and loved the salmon. I liked that it had a much higher protein value than most other brands, as I am trying to get him to gain weight. I have been feeding him Fancy Feast kitten food with an offering of dry available. He does not care for any of the more expensive (natural) brands, so I need to find the one he will eat with the highest protein content. I recently purchased this brand and based on the review will keep purchasing it because it does seem comparable to the Fancy Feast.
Hi Kathy, thanks for your feedback. We’re in the middle of updating our rating scale along with a page that explains our ratings in detail for each category. In the meantime, I’m glad the Fancy Feast is working for you! I have a picky senior cat myself and I’m happy to feed her whatever she’ll actually eat.
Carlotta, You have a very nice way of imparting important info with carefully balanced “pros and cons” If you have a monetary connection to the Heart to Tail brand..it isn’t obvious, biased, etc. and you fooled me! My two cats have been trained by me to eat anything. Here cats, here is your meal..eat it or go hungry. Charlie is about 15 years old and just an agreeable sort. Dextrina (which appeared on our back deck about 1 1/2 years ago ) is now only about 60 % feral and digging the domestic life. She eats anything, diving in before I get the bowl down on the deck. So, H to T Brand is enjoyed. I constantly mix it with tuna in water, Dave’s, Friskies, Triumph wet foods. I throw in a bit of dry kibble made by Crave. They like that too. Thanks for your coherent and concise reviews. At Aldi, the 5.5 oz. cans are .55 cents, so what’s not to like? Dee
What nice feedback—this is what we’re aiming for (and no, we don’t have any relationship with Heart to Tail that might skew our reviews). Thank you; I’m sure Carlotta will appreciate it as well. Thanks for sharing your experience with both this brand and feeding your cat in general.
Would you be able to make a video on this brand please? I love your videos they are so helpful
Hi Reami, thanks for the request! Will consider it. 🙂
😊 Hi Mallory! I really love your YouTube channel it’s so informative and just fun to watch. Aldi also has cat toys. I think this is very recent! Thank you so much, also forest is so ADORABLE!!