Last updated Apr 19, 2023
Made in Britain using as many British ingredients as possible, Harringtons says that it’s been making pet food since 1923. Harringtons makes both dog and cat food with a focus on natural ingredients. Find out more about Harringtons in our unbiased review.
The Cats.com Standard – Rating Harringtons on What Matters
We have analyzed Harrington cat food and rated it according to our standards here at Cats.com. Our grades are based on the species-appropriateness of the food, the quality of the ingredients, product variety, price, customer experience, and recall history. You can read more about our ratings here.
Here are our ratings for Harringtons in these key areas:
Ratings
- Species-Appropriateness – 6/10
- Ingredient Quality – 6/10
- Product Variety – 6/10
- Price – 7/10
- Customer Experience – 6/10
- Recall History – 7/10
Overall Score: 6.33/10
About Harringtons
According to Harringtons, in the late 19th century Great-grandfather Harrington (the current Chairman’s grandfather) started a milling business in Yorkshire, England. In 1923 the company became manufacturers of animal feed.
And, in the mid-1980s, Harringtons moved into the pet food manufacturing business. Today Harringtons is one of the largest pet food brands in the UK. Headquarters are in Thirsk, Yorkshire.
Today Harringtons is owned by the parent company known as IPN or Inspired Pet Nutrition. IPN was recently acquired by CapVest.
The company states that it sources locally-grown products whenever possible. It has the goal of producing wholesome food free from any artificial flavors or colors.
Harringtons launched their natural dry cat food in 2012. Their cat food is described as packed with natural ingredients and free from artificial “nasties.” The food is nutritionally complete and balanced. It is made with freshly prepared chicken or rich in salmon that is supposed to appeal to even the fussiest of cats. It is “naturally wholesome, naturally tasty and naturally healthy.”
Harringtons has several statements on their web site about being proud of being from Yorkshire. Their home and heritage are reasons why they want to minimize the environmental impact of making the pet food. It’s why sustainability is important to the company.
Harringtons generates its own electricity, looks for ways to reduce the company’s water usage, and tries to limit the amount of plastic used in packaging.
Sourcing and Manufacturing
Harringtons has been in operation since 1923.
Harringtons pet foods are British-made with ingredients that are locally-sourced as much as possible. Using local raw ingredients helps reduce the energy consumption used by transportation. It also helps support the local community and local businesses.
The company also states that it believes in using natural ingredients that are free from artificial colors and flavors.
Harringtons states that it does not carry out, approve, or fund invasive animal testing. The company does occasionally conduct palatability testing to find out if a pet enjoys the taste of a new product. (This testing is not invasive.)
Harringtons has a purpose-built factory for making their pet foods. It is equipped with modern, efficient manufacturing and packaging systems.
Harringtons has been accredited for their environmental performance by the Investors in the Environment (Bronze Accreditation).
Has Harringtons Cat Food Been Recalled?
We didn’t find any recalls for Harringtons pet foods online but we cannot say definitively that they have never had a recall. Many countries have only recently begun keeping careful records of recall data. However, as far as we can tell, Harringtons cat food has not been recalled.
What Kinds of Cat Food Does Harringtons Offer?
Harrigtons makes both dry and wet cat foods. Chicken and salmon are their most common meat proteins. They are used in multiple foods and in combinations.
Wet cat food is available in chicken and in salmon (and sometimes in chicken and salmon together). Other flavors include beef, turkey, tuna, lamb, mackerel, and cod sold in multi-packs. Their wet food comes in a gravy and in a jelly. The cans are 85 grams but are sold in boxes with multiple containers.
All of the wet cat foods are described as complete adult cat foods.
We found foods for adult and senior cats but not foods especially for kittens. Harringtons does have one dry food made for indoor cats. All of these foods are dry cat foods.
At this time it appears that Harringtons has a much larger selection of foods for dogs than for cats.
Harringtons Cat Food– Top 3 Recipes Reviewed
| Product Name | Food Type | Primary Protein | Calories | Price | Our Grade |
| Harringtons Complete Adult Salmon in Gravy Wet Cat Food | Wet | Chicken | 85 kcal per 100g | £2.44 per lb | B |
| Harringtons Complete Adult Chicken Dry Cat Food | Dry | Chicken | 389 kcal per 100g | £1.98 per lb | B |
| Harringtons Complete Adult Chicken in Gravy Wet Cat Food | Wet | Chicken | 82 kcal per 100g | £2.44 per lb | B |
#1 Harringtons Complete Adult Salmon in Gravy Wet Cat Food 32x85g Review
Many of Harringtons cat foods rely on salmon so we have chosen the Complete Adult Salmon in Gravy Wet Cat Food for review. This formula is packaged in a box of 32 pouches, each containing 85 grams.
According to Harringtons, this formula is a complete food. An adult cat that weighs 3 to 5 kg will require 2 to 4 pouches per day divided into at least two meals. Adjust the amount if you are mixing this wet food with a dry cat food.
The main ingredients in this food are: Chicken, Pork Liver, Salmon (5%), Beef Liver, and wheat gluten.
Chicken and salmon are both excellent sources of protein for cats. Pork liver and beef liver are nutritionally dense. Liver is an excellent source of vitamin A and a good source of vitamins B and C. It is also a good source of iron, potassium, phosphorus, folate, copper, riboflavin, and niacin.
Wheat gluten may raise eyebrows. Wheat gluten is generally used in pet foods as a source of protein. It is 99 percent digestible in the small intestine which makes it very desirable from the perspective of a pet food manufacturer. It cuts down on things such as fecal odor and flatulence when pets eat their food. Of course, if you’re a pet owner reading a label, looking for all natural ingredients, wheat gluten isn’t what you want to find.
Inulin and chicory extract are prebiotics which help your cat’s digestive system grow beneficial flora for better digestion. Cranberries and blueberries are sources of antioxidants.
They are believed to help keep the urinary tract healthy. Some of the botanicals in this food do seem questionable though you could probably find herbal reasons for using them. They probably won’t do any harm to your cat in these small amounts. They seem a little gimmicky.
Nutritional values for this recipe are crude protein 8.5 percent, crude fat 4.5 percent, crude ash 2 percent, crude fibre 0.4 percent, and moisture 82 percent.
We can convert these figures into the dry matter basis for the food. This means removing the water from the figures to see what remains. If we do this we find that the food contains 47.2 percent protein, 25 percent fat, 2.2 percent fiber, 11.1 percent ash, and 14.4 percent carbohydrates.
We estimate that Harringtons Complete Adult Salmon in Gravy Wet Cat Food has approximately 85 calories per 100 grams.
Ingredients
Chicken, Pork Liver, Salmon (5%), Beef Liver, Wheat Gluten, Minerals, Inulin, Caramel Syrup, Chicory Extract (0.05%), Cranberry (0.01%), Blueberry (0.01%), Rosehip (0.01%), Turmeric (0.01%), Spirulina (0.01%), Oregano (0.01%), Rosemary (0.01%), Thyme (0.01%), Marigold (0.005%).
Additives (Per Kg): Vitamin D 185 iu, Vitamin E 30 mg, Taurine 500 mg, DL- Methionine 150 mg, Zinc Sulphate Monohydrate 111 mg, Iron Sulphate Monohydrate 33 mg, Manganous Sulphate Monohydrate 15.6 mg, Calcium Iodate Anhydrous 0.78 mg, Sodium Selenite 0.1 mg, Colourants from a mineral source found in nature.
Ingredients We Liked: Chicken, Pork Liver, Salmon, Beef Liver, Inulin, Chicory Extract, Cranberry
Ingredients We Didn’t Like: Wheat Gluten, Caramel Syrup, Colourants from a mineral source found in nature
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
Pros
- Harringtons is made in Britain from locally-sourced ingredients as much as possible
- Harringtons uses their own manufacturing facilities
- The company has been around for a long time and it has been making pet food since the 1980s.
Cons
- Harringtons has more dog foods than cat foods; there are only a moderate number of cat food choices
- There are no kitten foods
- Harringtons talks about using natural ingredients but uses wheat gluten and caramel syrup in their food
#2 Harringtons Complete Adult Chicken Dry Cat Food
Made for adult cats one year and older Harringtons Complete Adult Chicken Dry Cat Food is formulated to provide wholesome nutrition. It contains no artificial colors or flavors; and no dairy, soy, or added wheat. This cat food is made in the UK.
The main ingredients in this food are: 33% Chicken and Meat Meals (Freshly Prepared Chicken 4%, *Dried Chicken Meal 8.5%, Meat Meal 20%), wholegrain rice (20 percent), ground maize, maize protein, wholegrain oats (6 percent), and chicken fat.
Chicken is a good source of protein for cats and this food is high in animal protein. However, it appears that 20 percent of the animal protein is made up of meat meal. This is an unnamed source of animal protein which may disturb some cat lovers. It probably won’t bother your cat and it could be a decent meat protein but it’s unknown.
The food also contains several grains and cereals. This is often expected in dry cat foods but the wholegrain rice makes up 20 percent of the food and the wholegrain oats make up 6 percent. Ground maize and maize protein make up somewhere between 6 and 20 percent of the food. That’s a lot of carbs. These grains/cereals will also contribute to the protein percentage of the food.
The food also contains dried chicory root/inulin which is a good prebiotic to aid digestion.
Nutritional values for this recipe are crude protein 30 percent, crude fat 12 percent, crude ash 8.5 percent*, and crude fibre 2 percent. (*The web site shows 9.5 percent crude ash but the packaging shows 8.5 percent crude ash.) We estimate that this food has 8 percent moisture.
We can convert these figures into the dry matter basis for the food. This means removing the water from the figures to see what remains. If we do this we find that the food contains 32.6 percent protein, 13 percent fat, 2.2 percent fiber, 9.2 percent ash, and 43 percent carbohydrates.
According to the company, Harringtons Complete Adult Chicken Dry Cat Food has 389 kcal per 100 grams.
Ingredients
33% Chicken and Meat Meals (Freshly Prepared Chicken 4%, *Dried Chicken Meal 8.5%, Meat Meal 20%), Wholegrain Rice (20%), Ground Maize, Maize Protein, Wholegrain Oats (6%), Chicken Fat (4.5%), Beet Pulp, Salmon Oil (1%), Chicken Gravy, Minerals, Dried Chicory Root (0.09%, Inulin 0.05%), Yucca Extract (0.02%), *8.5% dried Chicken, equivalent to 34g Chicken in every 100g kibble.
Additives (Per Kg): Vitamin A 20,000 iu, Vitamin D3 1800 iu, Vitamin E 150 mg, Taurine 750 mg, Zinc (Zinc Sulphate Monohydrate) 75 mg, Iron (Iron Sulphate Monohydrate) 50 mg, Manganese (Manganous Oxide) 30 mg, Copper (Copper (II) Sulphate Pentahydrate) 5 mg, Iodine (Calcium Iodate Anhydrous) 1.5 mg, Selenium (Sodium Selenite) 0.1 mg, Antioxidants (tocopherol rich extracts from vegetable oil)
Ingredients We Liked: Freshly Prepared Chicken, Dried Chicken Meal, Beet Pulp, Salmon Oil, Dried Chicory Root
Ingredients We Didn’t Like: Meat meals, wholegrain rice, ground maize, maize protein, wholegrain oats. These grains and cereals are not necessarily bad but all together, there are a lot of them.
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
Pros
- Harringtons is made in Britain from locally-sourced ingredients as much as possible
- This food contains 8.5% dried Chicken, equivalent to 34g Chicken in every 100g kibble
- The recipe features several items that are good for your cat’s digestion such as dried chicory root and beet pulp
- Salmon oil is a good source of omega-3 fatty acids that are good for your cat’s skin and coat
Cons
- Harringtons only offers a small number of dry cat foods and none of them are for kittens
- This recipe is high in protein but some of the protein comes from meat meals and cereals/grains
#3 Harringtons Complete Adult Chicken in Gravy Wet Cat Food 24x85g
Harringtons Complete Adult Chicken in Gravy Wet Cat Food is a complete pet food with balanced nutrition for adult cats. According to Harringtons, this food contains natural healthy ingredients with added vitamins and minerals for a healthy diet.
The main ingredients in this formula are: Chicken (17%), Pork Liver, Pork, Beef Liver, and Wheat Gluten.
Chicken and pork are good sources of protein for your cat while pork liver and beef liver are rich in vitamins and minerals.
The presence of wheat gluten is surprising considering the claims that Harringtons makes about their foods and philosophy. Wheat gluten is typically used as a thickener or stabilizing agent in wet foods but it also increases the protein percentage. It’s not bad for animals but pet food companies sometimes use it a little slyly. You are less likely to find it in top quality pet foods.
This recipe contains no artificial colors or flavors. It does contain chicory extract, a prebiotic that helps digestive health. It also contains rosehips which are a good source of vitamin C. And it contains botanical herbs such as oregano, parsley, and sage, along with spirulina. Spirulina, a nutritious blue-green algae, is a good source of amino acids, vitamins and minerals that is good for health and vitality.
Nutritional values for this recipe are crude protein 8.5 percent, crude fat 4.5 percent, crude ash 2 percent, crude fibre 0.4 percent, and 82 percent moisture.
We can convert these figures into the dry matter basis for the food. This means removing the water from the figures to see what remains. If we do this we find that the food contains 47.2 percent protein, 25 percent fat, 2.2 percent fiber, 11.1 percent ash, and 14.4 percent carbohydrates.
According to the company, Harringtons Complete Adult Chicken in Gravy Wet Cat Foodd has 82 kcal per 100 grams.
Ingredients
Chicken (17%), Pork Liver, Pork, Beef Liver, Wheat Gluten, Minerals, Inulin, Caramel Syrup, Chicory Extract (0.05%), Cranberry (0.01%), Blueberry (0.01%), Rosehip (0.01%), Turmeric (0.01%), Spirulina (0.01%), Oregano (0.01%), Rosemary (0.01%), Thyme (0.01%), Marigold (0.005%)
Additives (Per Kg): Vitamin D 185 iu, Vitamin E 30 mg, Taurine 500 mg, DL-Methionine 150 mg, Zinc Sulphate Monohydrate 111 mg, Iron Sulphate Monohydrate 33 mg, Manganous Sulphate Monohydrate 15.6 mg, Calcium Iodate Anhydrous 0.78 mg, Sodium Selenite 0.1 mg, Colourants from a mineral source found in nature
Ingredients We Liked: Chicken, Pork Liver, Pork, Beef Liver, Inulin, Chicory Extract, Cranberry, Blueberry, Turmeric
Ingredients We Didn’t Like: Wheat gluten, caramel syrup; rosemary has been linked to seizures in some animals
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
Pros
- Chicken, pork liver, pork, and beef liver are all good sources of animal protein for your cat
- Inulin and chicory extract are good prebiotics
- Cranberry and blueberry are good for the urinary tract
Cons
- Wheat gluten seems like a deceptive way to increase the protein percentage in the food
- Your cat doesn’t need caramel syrup
What Do Customers Think of Harringtons Cat Food?
In addition to their subscription service, Harringtons is also sold through Amazon in the UK, as well as through other retailers. We found a range of customer opinions on the food and on the service.
Most of the earlier reviews were quite positive. However, recent reviews, especially those in the time of Covid — or since the sale of the company to CapVest — are very negative. Comments about the food itself are not bad but customers are very angry about the company’s customer service.
Positive Reviews
I now have this cat food on a subscription as my cats love it! It is a good quality dry food that equates favourably with much more expensive brands and the kibble pieces are tiny so they’re easy for the cat to crunch. I made the mistake of briefly putting the unopened package in the conservatory when it arrived, only to find that the cats had ripped it open in their excitement to get at it….just shows how much they love it!! I love the peace of mind which comes with having a good quality food regularly delivered, plus with the subscription it’s even better value for money, my cats are I are very happy! – by Rosie Posie on 27 April 2020, reviewing HARRINGTONS Complete Cat Food Chicken
Negative Reviews
Note that there are MANY negative reviews like this first one that have been posted in September 2021. We don’t know if this is a temporary problem.
They deleted my review! Absolutely atrocious. Lied about food being dispatched and when I checked with the courier they could prove they hadn’t been given anything to collect. Multiple emails, Facebook and Twitter messages sent as well as phoning but they never answer and you get cut off after 5 minutes.
Do NOT buy from this company. Just look at all the other reviews. They need closing down. Covid is NOT an excuse for lies and an abysmal customer service – by Sarah Collis on Sep 16, 2021, reviewing Harringtons
My cats loved this. Then they have changed the recipe (again) so now have 4 bags of food my cats don’t want to eat. You can see the biscuits are darker and larger. Recipe changed a few months ago as well and took 4 weeks to get them used to it. Please advise if recipe changes as hungry, stressed cats is not what I signed up for. Otherwise would be 5* star review as no other complaints.
Normally they love it so if you’re changing the biscuits and packaging (no longer all paper bags as they’re lined) customers should be made aware. – by Emma on 1 August 2020, reviewing HARRINGTONS Complete Cat Food Chicken
How Much Does Harringtons Cat Food Cost?
A 2 kg order of Harringtons dry cat food (chicken) costs £24.00 as a one-time order. As part of the subscription service, the price drops by 15% to price drops by 15% to £20.40 per delivery.
The Complete Grain-Free Adult Meaty Selection in Gravy Wet Cat Food Bundle costs £24.99 as a one-time order. As part of the subscription service, it costs £21.24. The bundle contains 72 85 grams pouches of wet cat food in gravy (18 pouches of four different flavors).
There is free standard delivery for most UK addresses if you spend £30 or more. Charges do apply in some areas that are harder to reach such as the Scottish Highlands and islands.
Overall, Is Harringtons Cat Food a Good Choice?
Harringtons cat food seems like a moderately good cat food. It looks like it has an average amount of protein – some of it from wheat gluten. The canned cat food contains more carbohydrates than many other canned foods.
Customers appear to be upset about the customer service and deliveries at the current time but most customers still seem to like the food.
How Do You Order Harringtons Cat Food?
You can sign up to order Harringtons subscription service on their web site. You can make changes to your cat’s order whenever you like. Pause or cancel your order at any time. Using the subscription service reduces your costs by 15 percent.
You can buy Harringtons through Amazon and other retailers in the UK if you would like to wait and see if the company works out their customer service problems.
I found this super helpful. I have been trying to find more affordable food choices for my cats while not sacrificing too much of the good stuff. The pet food market is not regulated enough which is a shame but articles like these definitely help see the truth.
I’ll be reading alot more of these tonight while choosing
My cats hate it……What a huge waste of money!!