Last updated Jul 13, 2026
Kirsten McCarthy / Cats.com
Blue Buffalo promises to feed your pets like family, offering superior nutrition made with wholesome, natural ingredients. But do the products hold up under scrutiny?
To help you determine whether Blue Buffalo is a good choice for your cat, we tested it at home with our own cats and subjected several formulas to an in-depth analysis. Keep reading to find out how this brand ranks according to the Cats.com standard.
The Cats.com Standard—Rating Blue Buffalo on What Matters
We’ve analyzed Blue Buffalo 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 – 6/10
- Ingredient Quality – 6/10
- Product Variety – 7/10
- Price – 7/10
- Customer Experience – 8/10
- Recall History – 3/10
Overall Score: 6.2/10
We give Blue Buffalo a 37 out of 60 or a C+ grade.
About Blue Buffalo Cat Food
Blue Buffalo was founded in 2002 by Bill Bishop. Following a long career in advertising and consumer products, Bishop set out to create a holistic pet food brand named for his family’s Airedale terrier, Blue. Blue Buffalo quickly earned its place in the burgeoning natural pet food market and eventually sold for $8 billion to General Mills in 2018.
Every Blue Buffalo product carries the True BLUE Promise. The company pledges to feature real meat or poultry as the first ingredient, with no poultry by-product meals and no corn, wheat, or soy. Blue Buffalo’s marketing centers on natural ingredients with several product lines designed around pet food trends like high-protein, limited-ingredient, or grain-free recipes.
Blue Buffalo remains one of the top-selling brands of pet food in the United States. Loyal customers cite the brand’s variety, reasonable cost, and nutritional philosophy as benefits, though Blue Buffalo isn’t universally liked. In addition to a history of product recalls, Blue Buffalo has received some criticism related to the debate surrounding grain-free pet food.
Sourcing and Manufacturing
Blue Buffalo’s recipes are developed by an in-house staff of veterinarians and PhD-level animal nutritionists. The products are made primarily in the US with globally sourced ingredients and produced in a combination of company-owned facilities and manufacturing partner facilities in the US and Thailand.
According to Blue Buffalo’s FAQs, the company owns two manufacturing facilities. One is in Joplin, Missouri and the other is in Richmond, Indiana. Blue Buffalo doesn’t provide specific information about its domestic or international manufacturing partners except to say that they work according to the brand’s recipes, specifications, and standards.
Blue Buffalo states that all of its formulas undergo feeding studies, including digestibility and nutrient analyses. The brand also formulates and manufactures its products to meet World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) global nutrition guidelines.
Has Blue Buffalo Cat Food Been Recalled?
Yes, Blue Buffalo products have been recalled about half a dozen times since the brand was founded in 2002. Notably, all the recalls affected dog food products except one limited recall of cat treats in 2015.
The first recall happened in April 2007 when Blue Buffalo was involved in the nationwide Menu Foods recall caused by melamine contamination. In 2010, Blue Buffalo voluntarily recalled several products due to potentially elevated levels of vitamin D caused by a “sequencing error” made by an ingredient supplier.
There were two recalls of pet treats in 2015 (Blue Kitty Yums and chewing bones for dogs) and a limited number of dog food formulas were recalled in 2016 due to potential for mold contamination. Another two recalls of dog food products happened in 2017, first due to possible aluminum contamination (a packaging issue) and second due to potentially high levels of beef thyroid hormone.
In addition to these recalls, Blue Buffalo has been named in several lawsuits and an FDA investigation exploring a potential link between grain-free diets and an increased risk of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in pets. The 2014 suit brought by Purina accusing Blue Buffalo of falsely advertising its exclusion of animal by-products was settled for $32 million in 2015. The FDA’s investigation remains inconclusive.
What Kinds of Cat Food Does Blue Buffalo Offer?
Kirsten McCarthy / Cats.com
Kirsten McCarthy / Cats.com
Kirsten McCarthy / Cats.com
Blue Buffalo offers a wide variety of cat food products spread across several distinct lines tailored to certain life stages, health needs, and dietary preferences. The brand focuses on traditional kibble-style dry foods but its wet foods come in a range of different textures and formats. Blue Buffalo also has a variety of soft, crunchy, dual-texture, and wet cat treats and food toppers.
All of Blue Buffalo’s products are formulated according to the True BLUE Promise which prioritizes animal protein as the first ingredient and excludes animal by-products, corn, wheat, soy, and artificial flavors or preservatives.
Here’s a quick overview of Blue Buffalo’s cat food product lines:
- Life Protection Formula – The brand’s flagship line, Life Protection Formula products feature real meat as the first ingredient with a proprietary blend of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants called “LifeSource Bits.”
- Basics – A limited-ingredient line of pet food made with a single source of animal protein (including novel proteins like salmon or turkey) and easily digestible carbohydrate sources.
- Freedom – This 100% grain-free line includes recipes tailored to cats with dietary sensitivities, indoor lifestyles, and weight management needs.
- Wilderness – Formulated to mimic an ancestral feline diet, the Wilderness line features meat-rich recipes high in protein, both with and without grains.
- Tastefuls – Designed to appeal to picky eaters, this line includes dry and wet foods available in a variety of life stage-specific recipes.
- Baby BLUE – Formulated to meet the needs of growing kittens, this line includes a limited array of wet and dry foods.
- True Solutions – A non-prescription line of foods formulated to target specific health needs like digestive care, mobility support, and weight control.
- Natural Veterinary Diet – This limited line of prescription cat foods is formulated to support cats with specific dietary needs.
Many of Blue Buffalo’s product lines include variety packs of wet cat food, typically organized around a certain texture or flavor grouping (such as chicken or fish). Wet cat foods from this brand are typically sold in both 3- and 5.5-ounce cans and dry cat food bags range from 3 to 22 pounds in weight.
Blue Buffalo Cat Food—Top 3 Recipes Reviewed
| Product Name | Food Type | Primary Protein | Calories Per Ounce | Price | Our Grade |
| Blue Buffalo Wilderness Chicken Recipe Grain-Free Dry Food | Dry | Chicken | 109 | $0.25 per ounce | C |
| Blue Buffalo Tastefuls Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Adult Indoor Dry Cat Food | Dry | Chicken | 105 | $0.23 per ounce | C |
| Blue Buffalo Wilderness Turkey Grain-Free Canned Cat Food | Wet | Turkey | 34 | $0.32 per ounce | B+ |
#1 Blue Buffalo Wilderness Chicken Recipe Grain-Free Dry Food
Like all products in the Wilderness line, this food is grain-free and promises to deliver increased levels of high-quality protein. The recipe features deboned chicken and chicken meal but pea protein is listed third, which may indicate that a significant amount of the formula’s protein content is plant-based. However, supplemental animal proteins like menhaden fish meal and dried egg product appear later on the ingredient list.
Kirsten McCarthy / Cats.com
Kirsten McCarthy / Cats.com
Kirsten McCarthy / Cats.com
Instead of grains like corn, rice, or wheat, the food contains peas and tapioca starch as its primary binding agents. Though these ingredients tend to look more appealing than highly processed grains, they’re not particularly nourishing for cats. They drive up the food’s carbohydrate content and the protein is generally less digestible than protein from animal sources.
Overall, this food has slightly below-average carbohydrate content when compared to other dry foods, moderate protein content, and moderate fat. As an economical dry food, this recipe is one of the better ones you can buy. It doesn’t contain any animal by-products or vaguely named ingredients. It’s free of artificial colors or potentially harmful preservatives. And it contains several species of probiotic bacteria, promising to support better digestive health.
Ingredients
Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Pea Protein, Tapioca Starch, Peas, Menhaden Fish Meal (source of Omega 3 Fatty Acids), Chicken Fat (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Dried Egg Product, Pea Fiber, Natural Flavor, Flaxseed (source of Omega 6 Fatty Acids), Calcium Chloride, Potassium Sulfate, DL-Methionine, Choline Chloride, Direct Dehydrated Alfalfa Pellets, Potatoes, Dried Chicory Root, Alfalfa Nutrient Concentrate, Calcium Carbonate, Taurine, Salt, Potassium Chloride, Sweet Potatoes, Carrots, preserved with Mixed Tocopherols, Vegetable Juice for color, Ferrous Sulfate, Niacin (Vitamin B3), Iron Amino Acid Chelate, Zinc Amino Acid Chelate, Zinc Sulfate, Vitamin E Supplement, Blueberries, Cranberries, Barley Grass, Parsley, Turmeric, Dried Kelp, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Copper Sulfate, Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B1), Copper Amino Acid Chelate, L-Carnitine, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (source of Vitamin C), L-Lysine, Biotin (Vitamin B7), Vitamin A Supplement, Manganese Sulfate, Manganese Amino Acid Chelate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Calcium Pantothenate (Vitamin B5), Riboflavin (Vitamin B2), Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Folic Acid (Vitamin B9), Dried Yeast, Dried Enterococcus faecium fermentation product, Dried Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, Dried Aspergillus niger fermentation extract, Dried Trichoderma longibrachiatum fermentation extract, Dried Bacillus subtilis fermentation extract, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite, Oil of Rosemary.
Ingredients We Liked: Deboned Chicken
Ingredients We Didn’t Like: Pea Protein, Tapioca Starch, Potatoes, Dehydrated Alfalfa Meal
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
What We Liked:
- Top two ingredients are animal-sourced proteins
- Enriched with probiotics to support healthy digestion
- Contains about 44% dry matter protein
- Cats seem to enjoy the chicken flavor
What We Didn’t Like:
- Contains a concentrated plant protein as a top-3 ingredient
- No dry food contains the hydrating moisture cats need
- High carbohydrate content over 30% (as dry matter)
#2 Blue Buffalo Tastefuls Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Adult Indoor Dry Cat Food
This popular formula is marketed to indoor cat guardians. The company claims that the recipe addresses the unique needs of indoor-only cats, including a tendency to develop hairballs, urinary tract disease, and obesity. To combat these issues, the food is high in fiber, contains cranberries, and has moderate calorie content. It’s also enriched with Blue Buffalo’s proprietary blend of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants called LifeSource Bits.
Kirsten McCarthy / Cats.com
Kirsten McCarthy / Cats.com
Kirsten McCarthy / Cats.com
Its main protein sources are deboned chicken, chicken meal, and fish meal which make up most of the recipe’s 32% dry matter protein content. These ingredients are followed by a medley of high-carb plant ingredients, including nutritious grains like brown rice, barley, and oatmeal and starchy grain-free alternatives like peas and potato starch.
Ultimately, this is a plant-based dry food with high carbohydrate content, moderate protein content, and moderate fat. Like so many dry foods—especially those marketed for indoor cats—this recipe is a plant-heavy, carbohydrate-rich product that fails to honor your cat’s needs as a carnivore. It has all the nutrition your cat needs, but it’s not the species-appropriate ideal.
Ingredients
Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Fish Meal (source of Omega 3 Fatty Acids), Brown Rice, Barley, Oatmeal, Peas, Pea Protein, Chicken Fat (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Dried Egg Product, Potato Starch, Natural Flavor, Pea Fiber, Flaxseed (source of Omega 6 Fatty Acids), Miscanthus Grass, Calcium Sulfate, Choline Chloride, Direct Dehydrated Alfalfa Pellets, DL-Methionine, Taurine, Salt, Potassium Chloride, Potatoes, L-Threonine, Dried Chicory Root, Alfalfa Nutrient Concentrate, Calcium Chloride, Calcium Carbonate, preserved with Mixed Tocopherols, Cranberries, Dried Sweet Potatoes, Carrots, Vegetable Juice for color, Ferrous Sulfate, Niacin (Vitamin B3), Iron Amino Acid Chelate, Zinc Amino Acid Chelate, Zinc Sulfate, Vitamin E Supplement, Blueberries, Barley Grass, Parsley, Turmeric, Dried Kelp, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Copper Sulfate, Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B1), Copper Amino Acid Chelate, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (Vitamin C), L-Lysine, Biotin (Vitamin B7), Vitamin A Supplement, Manganese Sulfate, Manganese Amino Acid Chelate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Calcium Pantothenate (Vitamin B5), Riboflavin (Vitamin B2), Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Folic Acid (Vitamin B9), Calcium lodate, Sodium Selenite, Oil of Rosemary.
Ingredients We Liked: Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Fish Meal, Chicken Fat, Dried Egg Product
Ingredients We Didn’t Like: Peas, Pea Protein, Potato Starch
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
What We Liked:
- First three ingredients are animal-sourced proteins
- Relies primarily on animal-sourced fat
- Rich in fiber to support digestive health in indoor cats
- Free from animal by-products, corn, wheat, and soy
What We Didn’t Like:
- No dry food contains the hydrating moisture cats need
- High carbohydrate content over 30% (as dry matter)
#3 Blue Buffalo Wilderness Turkey Grain-Free Canned Cat Food
This turkey pate canned food comes from Blue Buffalo’s Wilderness line which, again, promises to be free from grains and high in protein. Turkey, turkey broth, and turkey liver are the first three ingredients, so this recipe does appear to be mostly turkey-based. The only other animal-based ingredient is dried egg product, a supplemental protein source.
Kirsten McCarthy / Cats.com
Kirsten McCarthy / Cats.com
Rather than feeling embarrassed about looking silly, cats are more concerned with how their behavior makes them vulnerable to threats. Kirsten McCarthy / Cats.com
While muscle and organ meats take up a significant amount of real estate on the ingredients list, again we see some of those starchy plant-based ingredients like potatoes along with flaxseed and several gums as thickening agents. Though not inherently harmful, gum thickeners like guar gum and cassia gum can sometimes trigger loose stools in sensitive cats.
Overall, this is a fairly species-appropriate canned food with high protein and fat content that is limited in carbohydrate content. It’s primarily meat-based, low in carbohydrates, and provides the balanced nutrition and moisture your cat needs.
Ingredients
Turkey, Turkey Broth, Turkey Liver, Potatoes, Dried Egg Product, Natural Flavor, Flaxseed, Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate, Guar Gum, Carrageenan, Potassium Chloride, Cassia Gum, Taurine, Choline Chloride, Salt, Iron Amino Acid Chelate, Zinc Amino Acid Chelate, Vitamin E Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B1), Copper Amino Acid Chelate, Manganese Amino Acid Chelate, Sodium Selenite, Niacin Supplement (Vitamin B3), Calcium Pantothenate (Vitamin B5), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Riboflavin Supplement (Vitamin B2), Vitamin A Supplement, Biotin (Vitamin B7), Potassium Iodide, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Folic Acid (Vitamin B9).
Ingredients We Liked: Turkey, Turkey Liver, Dried Egg Product
Ingredients We Didn’t Like: Potatoes, Guar Gum, Cassia Gum
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
What We Liked:
- Primarily made from animal-sourced ingredients
- Rich in hydrating moisture for cats
- Low in carbohydrates (under 10% dry matter)
What We Didn’t Like:
- Gum thickeners may trigger loose stools in sensitive cats
What Do Customers Think of Blue Buffalo Cat Food?
Customers are largely satisfied with Blue Buffalo cat food, with most products averaging 4 out of 5 stars or higher on major retail platforms like Amazon and Chewy. As a well-liked brand with widespread distribution, many products have hundreds (if not thousands) of individual ratings.
Here are a few reviews selected from popular Blue Buffalo recipes:
Positive Reviews
Satisfied customers often comment on the quality of Blue Buffalo foods and the variety of flavors. Several mention liking that many flavors are available in both dry and wet food form. Positive reviews also frequently mention picky cats liking the food, perceived improvements in digestion and/or coat health, and reduction in vomiting.
“My cats have been eating Blue Buffalo for over three years, and we couldn’t be happier. After researching high-quality ingredients and clean nutrition for our furry kids, we settled on this brand and haven’t looked back. Both of our cats absolutely love the Tastefuls Chicken & Brown Rice recipe, and I highly recommend it to any pet parent looking for a reliable, healthy option.” – Virgi reviewing Blue Buffalo Tastefuls Chicken & Brown Rice Indoor Dry Cat Food on July 7, 2026
“Blue Buffalo Wilderness has very good nutrition and protein for my cats. Adult cats may have a bit of a problem when first switching to this due to the small pieces, but they are adjusting very well. Takes a bit of time to adjust plus it slows down eating habits and they eat less but get better nutrition. But their hair and bodies get good nutrients without grain fillers.” – Dawn reviewing Blue Buffalo Wilderness Chicken Recipe Dry Food on April 25, 2026
Negative Reviews
As is the case for many cat food brands, many dissatisfied reviewers simply state that their cats didn’t like the food. Some cat owners find the food too expensive or say their cats experienced vomiting and diarrhea after eating it. Numerous negative reviews mention concerns over the brand’s reputation regarding ingredient quality, product recalls, and DCM.
“My cats have always eaten blue buffalo wilderness salmon and chicken canned food. They are refusing to eat this most recent order. It’s too expensive to keep wasting this food.” – Louise reviewing Blue Buffalo Wilderness Salmon Recipe Wet Cat Food on March 22, 2026
“My cats did not want to eat this. Avoided the bowl. When they finally ate it they all got sick. One vomited constantly. The other had diarrhea that required me to bathe him everyday. I don’t even want to give it away to friends for their cats.” – Lori reviewing Blue Buffalo Tastefuls Indoor Adult Dry Cat Food on April 4, 2026
How Much Does Blue Buffalo Cat Food Cost?
Blue Buffalo is generally a mid-range brand for pricing, though cost varies among the different product lines. The Tastefuls line appears to be the most economical while Wilderness is the premium, high-protein line. Blue Buffalo dry cat foods range from $3 to $6 per pound ($0.19 to $0.38 per ounce) and wet foods are generally $0.25 to $0.65 per ounce.
The estimated daily cost to feed a healthy 10-pound cat Blue Buffalo dry food ranges from $0.35 to $0.75 per day. For wet food, the average daily cost is generally between $1.50 and $4.00. This puts it in a similar price range to brands like Hill’s Science Diet and Purina Pro Plan.
Where is Blue Buffalo Cat Food Sold?
Blue Buffalo is very widely distributed, both in stores and online. In stores, you can find Blue Buffalo products at both general retail stores like Walmart and Target as well as pet food chains and feed supply stores.
While Blue Buffalo doesn’t sell its products directly through the brand’s website, they’re easy to find on major pet retail sites like Chewy. You can also shop pet store websites like PetSmart, Petco, and Pet Supplies Plus.
Overall, Is Blue Buffalo Cat Food a Good Choice?
Blue Buffalo cat food is popular and well-liked but there are a few factors cat owners should consider before making the switch. This brand excels in areas of price, variety, and availability but its standards of quality and manufacturing safety have been called into question several times over the years. Unfortunately, this is a common concern among big-name pet food brands who outsource some of their production to undisclosed manufacturing partners.
While Blue Buffalo isn’t one of our favorite pet food brands to recommend, some of the products are species-appropriate and relatively inexpensive. We recommend choosing a canned food formula rich in animal-sourced protein with limited added carbohydrate.
Mixing wet and dry cat food can help keep costs down, but we suggest one of the grain-inclusive kibbles from the Tastefuls or True Solutions line over the Wilderness or Freedom lines which rely heavily on grain-free alternatives like peas and other legumes. Recipes from the Basics line can be a good choice for cats with food allergies or sensitivities but the options are limited.
Similar Brands
Looking for other cat food brands similar to Blue Buffalo? Check out some of our other brand reviews.
I have a 17 year old siamese and I thought that.
Last year I was going to lose her do to her health we try so many different treatments and none of them were working out for her we changed her Diet to Blue and now a year later she is so much healthier and happier and her fur and skin is back to normal she is so much more energetic and playful like a kitten THANK You for every thang and PUMPKIN thanks you to for giving her a second chance to be happy again….
I’m so happy I really am I sit here and look at Chase he’s 8 years old and he already has a blockage issue and has to take miralax twice daily quarter teaspoon. But I mean I have thrown some Blue wilderness in there here there but this morning he literally devouted and actually and he’s not much for chicken unless there’s chicken liver in it. And I just wanted to be as healthy as possible I mean well first he’s a certified therapy pet emotional support animal and he is very special he’s gotten me through so much so many times without him I don’t know what I do so thank you for the feedback
I feed my cat Blue Diamond / Buffalo Basics moist & dry Turkey/ Potato cat food & he seems to be really healthy & use to give him the regular Blue chicken brand & seemed not to work for him so switched when & all Cat Vet in Ventura said try the turkey / Patato, but I keep seeing reviews & alerts on the Blue Diamond / Buffalo products for Dogs & Cats. So I worry like other pet owners if I’m feeding my cat the right Brand of food!! Would like to know if I’m feeding cat the best food on market , it seems they have had law suits!! My cat was itching & seemed to not do good on the Chicken Brands of Blue !!! Sherry in California!!!! Can I get some help here to know if ant pet should be on Blue Diamond / Buffalo Brands????????
Hi Sherry,
It’s great that your cat is doing well on Blue Buffalo’s turkey and potato recipes, but since you’re—rightfully—concerned about the safety of Blue Buffalo products, I’d recommend exploring turkey-based or chicken-free foods from other brands. There’s a whole world of limited-ingredient cat food out there and you’ll find a lot of brands with better reputations than Blue Buffalo.
Good luck finding something that works for both you and your cat!
Take care,
Mallory
Just doing a lot of research on line. Our kitty has an abnormality with her kidneys. Without going into a lot of detail, this is the only brand of food I’ve found that has limited ingredients, lower than 29% protein, and a real meat as the first ingredient. She is drinking water right after she eats it, but I only started it last night and gave her 2 handfuls each time she asked for food. I’m not a huge Blue Feeds fan as she started showing signs of kidney issues at 5 months of age, but like I said, this is the only one I can find. All other dry foods are over 30% protein. She does get some K/D, but doesn’t eat the solid pieces ,only licks the jelly out. Which she has done the whole 4 years of her life, and usually will walk away from any wet food. So I’m curious on your thoughts of this food for kidney issues. (Not an email spammer, the email is my horses name, it raises eyebrows. lol).
Hi Christy,
Thanks for commenting. Feeding a cat with kidney issues is always difficult and no food is perfect. Blue Buffalo’s kidney diet is one such imperfect food. It covers the kidney disease essentials, but is it nutritionally stellar? Certainly not.
It’s a very plant-heavy food brimming with pea derivatives. Though it’s one of the few dry kidney diets that features meat as the first ingredient, I suspect that peas and other plant ingredients take up more nutritional space than does deboned chicken.
Given its flawed formula and Blue Buffalo’s troubled history, I might consider another kidney diet–at least as a supplement to the Blue Buffalo food. In our article on the five best foods for cats with kidney disease, we recommend Royal Canin’s Renal Support S as the best dry food of its kind. Meat isn’t the first ingredient, but Royal Canin has a good reputation and the formula appears to be slightly lower in phosphorus, which I’m sure is an important consideration for you.
Ultimately, there currently is no such thing as a perfect food for cats with kidney disease. There’s always compromise. The Blue Buffalo food might be the right compromise for you. Or you may choose to rotate it with other renal diets. Alternatively, I wouldn’t ignore the possibility of feeding a non-prescription food or exploring the option of a higher-protein, phosphorus-restricted diet. It’s a nontraditional approach and would take more time and research, but it could be worth it.
Hope this helps!
Take care,
Mallory
P.S. Thanks for mentioning the email address! Your horse has a delightful name.
Try Dr Elsey’s dry.
Your pet will love this Dr. Elsey’s cleanprotein Chicken Formula Grain-Free Dry Cat Food, 6.6-lb bag:
We rarely give dry food, but we use this as a treat. I was looking for low calorie and little to no carbs. This is it.
I am doing research on the best all- natural wet food for cats that INCLUDES everything they need in their diets without all of the unnecessary fillers and artificial things. Can you point me in the right direction as to where to go? I just switched my kitty to purina pro plan because it was the best one I could find at the price point I can afford at the moment.
Hi Sarah,
I’m glad you reached out!
Purina Pro Plan is a decent option, but it’s not the only good food at the price point you can afford. You’ll find plenty of options in our article on the best canned cat food: https://cats.com/reviews/best-canned-cat-food
You might also like our article on the best affordable cat food: https://cats.com/best-cheap-cat-food
Hope this helps to point you in the right direction!
Best,
Mallory
Make your own. It’s very easy takes no time. Chicken quarters are always a great base. Low boil it all in one pot. Good luck!
Hey,
Great site. I noticed that the pet foods are rated based on recall history/nutritional value etc. How about lab testing for contaminates? Heavy metals/ lead etc are often found at dangerous levels based on previous lab studies, I feel like that would be one of the biggest deciding factor for how to rate a pet food.
I’m honestly completely lost right now in terms of which brand of food I should feed my cat. I looked at the clean label and their top rated brands for low contaminates tend to be the cheaper lower nutrient brands. Not to mention that they are controversial in their funding/result transparency. I look here and a lot of the top rated brands are not available in any of our local pet foods.
Is there a brand that you recommend for dry and wet that is more easily accessible?
Are lab tests for contaminates considered in the rating?
Hi Kaia,
Thank you so much for the positive feedback.
I recommend you have a look at the following articles:
https://cats.com/best-dry-cat-food
https://cats.com/reviews/best-canned-cat-food
https://cats.com/best-cheap-cat-food
Hope this helps!
Hi, I have my 4-month-old kitten on Blue Buffalo Freedom Indoor Kitten Chicken Recipe Grain-Free Dry Cat Food. I switched her from Hill’s Science (foster program’s food) because I have Celiac. However, she has been pretty gassy on her new food. I noticed the kitten recipe isn’t included in the Blue Buffalo review. Would you please include this? I’m concerned that I could be feeding her something that isn’t healthy.
Hi Brittany, thank you for your comment. We will consider adding this recipe to the review, but for now, here’s my take on the food.
While the food has some good qualities, like the use of high-value fats like chicken fat and fish oil, prebiotics and probiotics for digestive support, and the fact that it delivers the nutrients kittens need to thrive, it’s still a plant-heavy product that loads your kitten up on carbs. I’m guessing that the gassiness is coming from the fact that the food contains peas and pea protein as primary ingredients.
It appears that nutritionally, the Blue Buffalo food is likely a bit better than the Hill’s Science Diet, but you also have to consider both company’s histories. While Hill’s has a good record of quality control and safety, Blue Buffalo has some red flags in its past. Neither are perfect—a more meat-heavy food would be ideal—but the Blue Buffalo is certainly not that far ahead of the Hill’s diet your kitten was eating previously.
I’d consider a grain-free food made without legumes—perhaps even a wet kitten food. Hope this helps!
What do you think about their new treats, like the blue buffalo bursts?
Hi Angela! Blue Buffalo Bursts are decent as far as treats go; anything without animal by-products and artificial colors is going to be a better choice than the competition. Sure, they’re high in carbohydrates and not nutritionally ideal, but they’ll work as an occasional treat.
My cat has trouble with the tiny size of the “bits”
Not large enough to chew.
Will not buy again.
We have a Siamese with a sensitive stomach and have been feeding him a prescription dry cat food. Now with COVID our vet is unable to get the same food for us. We tried Purina’s prescription dry food but our cat started vomiting the first time he ate it. We are now trying Blue Buffalo Sensitive Stomach dry food but I’m nervous after reading your reviews.
Do you have any suggestions for dry food for cats with sensitive stomaches?
Hello Linda, thank you for sharing your experience! There are a few things to think about when feeding a cat with a sensitive stomach, including asking questions about the cause of the sensitive stomach. Do you know if your cat has food sensitivities? Have you explored elimination diets? Has your cat been diagnosed with IBD? Answering these questions will help you to identify exactly what you need to look for in your cat’s food. Since we don’t have the answers to those questions right now, let’s think in general terms instead. Generally speaking, a sensitive stomach will benefit from food that is easy to digest. For cats, that generally means a diet featuring high-value meats. Circling back to the questions I mentioned earlier, you may have to adjust the type of meats included in that food based on your cat’s particular sensitivities. In general, the products on our list of the best foods for sensitive stomach should work: https://cats.com/best-cat-food-for-sensitive-stomach
Hope this helps!
I have 2 15 year old cats that have a history of frequent vomiting.
I read your cat food reviews for vomiting. Everything listed was more expensive, except for Blue Buffalo Basics Limited Ingredient Grain Free Formula Fish & Potato Indoor Adult Dry Cat Food.
Is this still the best budget pick?
I enjoy reading your reviews, but money is an issue.
I have 7 year old cats with past urinary issues, a 15 year old with dementia, and the 15 year old cats with vomiting issues.
I look forward to your reply Mallory!
Janet Lillie the
Hello Janet, thank you for your comment! I would consider any type of budget-friendly food with a relatively simple recipe and anti-inflammatory ingredients. This can be hard to find among dry foods, but I’d encourage you to consider a more streamlined alternative to your current diet. Our article on the best cat food for vomiting is an older one and in need of an update, so I wouldn’t recommend the Blue Buffalo food mentioned there. Instead, you may like some of the options on our list of the best cheap cat food: https://cats.com/best-cheap-cat-food
For an extra boost, you can add probiotics and fish oil as an anti-inflammatory.
Hope this helps!
– Mallory
Even tho I buy cat food, I AM NOT the customer. My cats are. Yes the ads are convincing enough for ME to buy a few cans to see how my cats like it. I have three cats of different breeds and two immediately tried burying it and the third was polite and walked away all three times I tried giving this food.
Then I started doing online research and decided to not buy this food ever again. Please, no smoke and mirrors for my cats. They are the ultimate deciders if it will be eaten or not and they gave Blue a four paws down.
Dear Sirs:
I thought this food was best to feed my cat what is really disappointing is that it has that ingredient carogean and I don’t think is healthly for him why do they put that ingredient in the catfood.
Blanca Elizabeth Jordan
Hi there. Carrageenan is certainly a controversial ingredient. In theory, cat food should only contain the non-degraded (safe) form of carrageenan, but there is some evidence that the degraded form of this additive does show up in our food products.
I want to state right away…I don’t know if the blue Buffalo had anything to do with this..my 9 year old cat
Had been on the same dry cat food since we rescued him 8:years ago. I thought I’d try Blue Buffalo because their
ads make it sound like like the best product for a cat. Within 6 weeks I had to put him down. He had lost 2 lbs but I thought possibly it was because his new food didn’t have all the junk the other food did, he began to get lethargic so I made an appointment with the vet, 3 day wait for the appointment..each day he got a little worse. Vet said he was dehydrated, had kidney failure and every organ number was bad..I also have a 15 year old cat, I’ve put him back on his old food just to be sure. Pretty devastating to lose an indoor cat with no health issues so quickly
Again if you notice unusual changes the first thing I’d do is to put them back on their old food just in case
Thanks
Kathie
Kidney problems do not just happen overnight!! Educate yourself & be mindful of what you allow your (hopefully) beLoved furry companion to eat & drink (normal tap water is not nearly the best!) & find a HOLISTIC vet who can administer acupuncture & moxibustion treatments!! My drastically kidney-failed 14 yr old Border Collie’s life (& QUALITY of life!) was extended almost 2 years beyond the 2 months he was given by a “very good” vet after his first tests!! Do not give up!!! …&, of course, PRAY without ceasing!!✨
I tried Blue Buffalo and twice my cat has thrown up. Today he had such severe diarrhea after eating it that I took a visit to the Vet. Not a fan! Will go back to my original choice. This never happened with Purina
You contradict yourself repeatedly in this article. The spin is absurd when its purposeful. I came looking for why Blue is potentially bad, and you made me believe original research correct. You comment on Species-appropriate ingredients, then try claiming Corn, Rice and Wheat are the appropriate healthy choice for Cats over Peas and Tapioca Starch… None of which would ever be eaten by a cat in the wild. CATS ARE CARNIVORES… They gnaw on grass more than hunt for corn rice and wheat… You then try to claim a meat based protein is high on peas because peas is listed after Chicken and Chicken meal…? Then to try and spin it as Diabetes causing??? Do we read the same scientific literature???
Hi there. It sounds like we may need to reassess the way that this article was written, as the spin you’re referring to was not at all the author’s intention. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
So explain to me why you think a cat-only vet clinic would sell the RX strength Blue if it was not good for cats? A completely separate vet in our area does not sell it but didn’t tell us not to continue feeding it to our cats when we told her the brand. The only time I’ve heard of this issue was from friends who are not vets telling me these horror stories. So am I not supposed to trust the vets around me? How am I supposed to care for my cats if I cannot trust professionals? It’s all a bit distressing.
Hi there. Blue Buffalo’s prescription diets aren’t necessarily bad for cats, and many cats thrive on them. This article is an attempt to give an unbiased review of Blue Buffalo, analyzing its manufacturing processes, company background, and the ingredients present in the foods. It’s not meant to encourage or discourage anyone from giving the food to their cat. Since you have concerns, you may want to bring specific issues to your veterinarian and ask them for their opinion on them. Note that very few veterinarians focus on nutrition, so you might want to ask around to find a vet who specializes in this area and can give you more complex answers. As for your friends telling horror stories, I would take these with a grain of salt. Food is always easy to blame when things go wrong, and almost every cat food on the market plays a role in someone’s horror story.
Vets will usually want you to buy the stuff they sell and nothing else.
From the post above by the author of the article,”Note that very few veterinarians focus on nutrition, so you might want to ask around to find a vet who specializes in this area and can give you more complex answers.”
This is as true for animals as it is for humans. Vets and doctors get very little training in nutrition. It’s up to pet owners to do their research to choose the best food for their animal. A healthy adult cat with no underlying conditions should be on a high protein food that contains the least carbs available. A brand such as Dr. Elsey’s is ideal.
Hi!
I have a cat at home and I want to change his diet. He is a 3 year old orange tabby with no health issues. My only concern is that he is packing a couple extra pounds. He is perfectly fine, just has a little bit of a big belly. Right now I’m feeding him freaskies cat food because he likes it a lot better than dry food but I’ve read some pretty bad things about that brand and want to switch to a healthier option. He is a strictly indoor cat who’s not very active. He spends most of his time sleeping or chilling in somebody’s bed. I do play with him and try to get him to exercise, but he doesn’t have a lot of interest in cat toys aside from my hair ties and knitting yarn. I want to feed him something that is gonna keep him healthy and happy but is also budget friendly. Is Blue Buffalo a good fit for him? If not, what would you recommend? Thank you so much!!
Blue Buffalo wet foods tend to be on the higher-carbohydrate side. I’d consider Fancy Feast as a small step up from your Friskies, and then perhaps something from Authority or WholeHearted.
I’m confused by your statement on the canned turkey food that the carb content is higher than ideal at 12%. Should we be looking at the carb contents in the dry matter basis or caloric weight basis? Both appear to be lower than 10% on this food.
Thanks so much for your website, It’s extremely helpful!
Hi Lara, thanks for pointing that out. I believe the issue comes from the way the values were originally calculated. When I worked out the carbohydrate content of this food, I also removed other non-nutritive components (fiber and ash), which made the carbohydrate content come out higher. When we introduced the automated system that creates the pie charts you see here, it only removed water. In retrospect, this method is probably more effective as it will generate results that are easier to compare to other dry matter analyses. I’ll edit the article so that the values I determined are no longer mentioned.
I have a 12 yr old cat and due to a cat food shortage I bought a case for almost $20 because it’s all that was on the shelf. It seemed like a healthy option so I wasn’t mad about it but my cat will not eat it! I’ve religiously fed her this brand over the course of 10 days and have thrown away untouched food in her dish every day.
I don’t know what it is she doesn’t like about it.
WHAT did you do to to the chicken entree (pate)?! For months I have been trying almost every canned cat food at Petsmart & Petco . I got it down to his liking chicken and then Tastefuls chicken & finally Tasteful chicken pate’. NOW you not only changed the look of the can ( no blue lid) but the product is SO DRY!!! WHY? The cost is the same but…….!!!!!
Lame. Dry food is dinged for not supplying enough moisture in the pet diet? It’s dry. AND carbs in pet food aren’t poisonous. They’re a good source of energy. Get over it.
Dear Ms. Crusta,
I just finished reading your very interesting unbiased review article about Blue Buffalo products for cats. Years ago I did volunteer work for a local cat rescue charity. Healthy cats we helped would go into our adoption center at PetSmart. Cats who needed fostering for various reasons would come home with the volunteers, and I was good at working with special needs cats. As such, I often had a busy but happy household. Finding a food that (a) everyone loved and (b) suited their nutritional and health needs and (c) wasn’t a cheap junk food, was often a difficult task.
Looking for quality foods that I could afford for the precious souls in my care, I came across Blue Buffalo Wilderness dry food for adult cats, chicken, not long after the company’s products became available. Everyone loved it. And the litter box odor improved on the highly digestible food. But they ALL have rejected BB’s canned food. It’s the only wet food they universally reject. I wonder why? Has anyone else shared this?
Thank you for your time.
Hi Mirabelle, thanks for reaching out! It’s fascinating to hear that you had such an experience with Blue Buffalo’s canned food. I’ve not heard this from other commenters, and I also haven’t had that experience with my own cats, but I wouldn’t disregard your experience based on that. Thanks for sharing!
Very interesting info about the recall issues! Thank you.
Since February 6th, 2020
I will never purchase Blue Buffalo again!!! I used to feed Blue Buffalo to my cat. I could tell the recipe has changed because the texture and smell was very different. My cat vomited after eating a serving from this new batch. I tried a new case and the same issue. I returned the food. I changed my cat to another brand and she has been fine. I emailed and reported these two cases to Blue Buffalo and they ignored me. I reported these issues to the FDA and suddenly Blue Buffalo responded to me. Blue Buffalo said no issues were found but I doubt they looked very thoroughly.
Thanks for sharing your experience, Kerri.
I may have read wrong but I think there is a typo. In one place you give canned Turkey Wilderness a “C” & then further down you give it a “B”. Forgive me if I read it wrong. I’m hoping it’s supposed to be a B grade. Thank you for all you do. I appreciate this website & all y’all do. 🙏
You’re totally right! Thank you! I’m editing it to give it a B in the top table as well.
We have 2 cats that are rescues and they are about 4 and 5 yrs old. I am trying to find an affordable dry cat food to help them lose and maintain a healthy weight. They are indoors only. We currently feed them Purina One Ideal Weight / High protein at the recommended serving size and they seem to be gaining weight. Can you help?
If you want your cats to lose weight, they need to eat for their ideal body weight, i.e. less than what is recommended for them currently. I would recommend using our calorie calculator here.
Our male cat had PU surgery a few years ago to alleviate Urinary crystals and blockages. Our vet suggested a prescription cat food by Purina, but somewhere along the way we switched to Blue Buffalo canned prescription recipe geared toward Weight issues and urinary issues. Our indoor Cat has gained a LOT of weight. Now 24 lbs. Some say Blue Buffalo is high carb. Worried now about potential for diabetes and heart issues.
Yikes! It might be worth re-checking the feeding guidelines on the food and discussing with your vet how to safely get your cat back to a healthy weight. If you’re looking for low-carb options, there are some recommendations here: https://cats.com/best-cat-food-diabetic-cats
My calico eats the blue Buffalo wilderness with duck. I tried quite a few different foods, then found this one. She used to have runny stool but now she doesn’t. She loves this food. But now hearing blue isn’t a good food for cats. Is it just certain ones? Is the duck ok? We’ve been using blue for over a year now. I’d hate to gave to go on the look again for a food she enjoys but is good for her to.
I believe the hate stems from the cat food listed above. Our cat had a chicken allergy which caused him to lick/pluck the fur from his belly raw.. switched to the Whitefish recipe and within a month it all grew back…
I have bought blue wet cat food twice . Every time I tried feeding it to my cat , he refuses to eat it … he hates it n have wasted roughly $ 50 $
I dont see anything about the Blue Basics Grain-Free that’s Whitefish and potato recipe.. We’ve been feeding ours that for a good while since he was overgrooming his stomach area (also pulling fur out) which the vet attributed to another dry food he was eating.
my cat is skinny and lower weight so i have been looking for good brands to both increase her weight and help her with her stomach issues and runny stool. so far the only thing that brought any progress was the blue wilderness chicken wet cat food and purina sensitive skin and stomach dry food mixed with some low sodium chicken stock. but now im worried it’ll lead to more troubles down the line. plain chicken sourced food seems to help, i just want to find good options that won’t hurt my cat that i can afford.
My Cat won’t eat any variety of Blue Buffalo,preferring Fancy Feast or Whiskas wet food(except the pouches} over Tastefuls..
All though Blue Buffalo isn’t the best , I switch it between Blue at the store when I’m tight on money and my cats cat food at “My Best Friends Place” pet store Fussie Cat, WUVEUE spelled it wrong , I introduced Fussie Cat to the owner she finally ordered a couple big boxes of variety boxes and she can’t keep up with the sales my 2 cats love Fussie cat. Blue is way better than what the stores have to offer here in Alaska a lot of meat by products and it’s a shame I see a lot of unhealthy cats. I opened up my own cat rescue I at one time had 39 cats and got them all adopted out to good homes and stay in contact with all the cats.