Last updated Jul 6, 2026
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Why make an additional trip to the pet store when you can stock up on both cat food and groceries at Costco? Kirkland Signature cat food promises an appealing combination of value and convenience, but is it a good choice for your cat?
Read this Kirkland cat food review to determine if Costco’s famous store brand delivers the quality and value you need for your cat.
The Cats.com Standard—Rating Kirkland Signature on What Matters
We’ve analyzed Kirkland Signature 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 – 7/10
- Product Variety – 6/10
- Price – 9/10
- Customer Experience – 8/10
- Recall History – 6/10
Overall Score: 7/10
We give Kirkland Signature a 42 out of 60 or a B grade.
About Kirkland Signature Cat Food
Costco operates as a membership-only warehouse club and has become one of the largest retailers in the world. Introduced in 1995, Kirkland Signature is Costco’s private-label brand that includes a limited selection of affordable pet foods.
Kirkland Signature has a reputation for delivering affordable products that are as good or better than their name-brand equivalents. What the brand lacks in variety it makes up for in convenience. Costco members can shop for the whole family in one place and take advantage of bulk buy savings with large-volume bags of dry cat food and variety packs of wet food.
Though a membership is generally required to shop in Costco stores, Kirkland Signature wet cat food recipes are sometimes repackaged and sold on Amazon under the brand name Healthy Surplus.
Sourcing and Manufacturing
Kirkland Signature cat food is manufactured by Diamond Pet Foods in facilities around the United States. Diamond Pet Foods is based in Meta, Missouri and operates production plants in South Carolina, California, and Arkansas.
In addition to Kirkland Signature, Diamond manufactures pet food for a variety of other brands including Taste of the Wild, 4health, and Chicken Soup for the Soul.
Because Kirkland Signature is a private label brand produced in multiple facilities, it’s hard to find specific information about ingredient sourcing or manufacturing practices. The only information available on the packaging states that Kirkland Signature cat foods are made in the United States using globally sourced ingredients.
Has Kirkland Signature Cat Food Been Recalled?
Kirkland Signature cat food has been recalled once in its history. In 2012, Diamond Pet Foods recalled products from several brands due to a salmonella outbreak in its Gaston, South Carolina facility.
Following the outbreak, the FDA launched a week-long investigation of the facilities, revealing that Diamond Pet Foods wasn’t taking “all reasonable precautions” to ensure its products were safe. Diamond also has a history of recalls with its own products, though none more recent than 2013.
Though it has been involved in one recall and its manufacturer has been the subject of several FDA investigations, Kirkland Signature appears to be a consistent and safe brand. As of this writing, Kirkland cat food hasn’t been recalled in over a decade.
What Kinds of Cat Food Does Kirkland Signature Offer?
Kirkland Signature currently offers a limited selection of dry and wet cat food products. The dry cat foods are sold in bulk bags containing 18, 20, or 25 pounds of cat food, depending on the recipe. Kirkland Signature wet cat food comes in several flavors and textures and is sold in 3-ounce cans and or 3.5-ounce trays.
The Kirkland Signature cat food lineup currently includes the following recipes:
- Kirkland Signature Maintenance Cat Chicken & Rice Formula Dry Food
- Kirkland Signature Nature’s Domain Salmon & Sweet Potato Recipe Dry Food
- Kirkland Signature Healthy Weight Indoor Adult Cat Formula Dry Food
- Kirkland Signature Chicken Recipe Pâté Wet Cat Food
- Kirkland Signature Turkey Recipe Pâté Wet Cat Food
- Kirkland Signature Salmon Recipe Pâté Wet Cat Food
- Kirkland Signature Chicken Recipe Chunks in Gravy Wet Cat Food
- Kirkland Signature Salmon Recipe Chunks in Gravy Wet Cat Food
All Kirkland Signature cat foods feature animal protein as the first ingredient. The wet cat food formulas are all grain-free, as is the Nature’s Domain dry food recipe. Kirkland’s other two dry foods rely heavily on rice and other carbohydrates.
Kirkland Signature’s wet cat foods are only sold in variety packs. The pâté variety pack includes three flavors (chicken, turkey, or salmon) and comes in a box with 15 trays of each flavor. The chunks in gravy variety pack includes two flavors, chicken and salmon, and comes with 24 of each in 3-ounce cans.
What Did Our Test Cats Think?
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
To test Kirkland Signature cat food, I ordered two dry food recipes and both of the wet food variety packs directly from Costco. I also purchased a variety pack of Kirkland wet food on Amazon that was being sold under the brand name Healthy Surplus. It turned out to simply be Kirkland Signature Chunks in Gravy cat food removed from the Costco box. (Note: This product was no longer available on Amazon at the time of writing.)
My two cats, Munchkin and Biscuit, enjoyed all of the Kirkland Signature foods. Munchkin was partial to the pâtés while Biscuit loved the kibble and chunky wet foods. I appreciated that the pâté had a very moist, smooth texture and the chunks in gravy were almost minced, making both easy for my cats to eat.
Kirkland Signature Cat Food—Top 4 Recipes Reviewed
| Product Name | Food Type | Primary Protein | Calories Per Ounce | Price | Our Grade |
| Kirkland Signature Maintenance Cat Chicken & Rice Formula Dry Food | Dry | Chicken | 114 | $0.07 per ounce | C+ |
| Kirkland Signature Nature’s Domain Salmon & Sweet Potato Recipe Dry Food | Dry | Salmon | 101 | $0.09 per ounce | C |
| Kirkland Signature Chicken Recipe Pâté Wet Cat Food | Wet | Chicken | 31 | $0.22 | B |
| Kirkland Signature Salmon Recipe Chunks in Gravy Wet Cat Food | Wet | Salmon | 28 | $0.23 | B- |
#1 Kirkland Signature Maintenance Cat Chicken & Rice Formula Dry Food
This affordable kibble is a real crowd-pleaser. It’s formulated for all life stages, meaning it’s nutritionally well-rounded for kittens and adult cats of all ages. It’s primarily made from chicken and chicken meal, both good sources of the amino acids your cat needs to thrive.
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
After these chicken-derived ingredients, the food contains whole-grain brown and ground white rice. These two types of rice help to bind the kibble, lending it structure and crunch. Chicken fat serves as the food’s primary fat source, and it’s a good one. Compared to plant oils, cats get more benefits from animal-derived fats.
Measured as dry matter, this food has about 33% protein and 22% fat. It’s very energy-dense at about 114 calories per ounce, but very high in carbohydrates and on the lower side for protein. Like any dry food, it doesn’t provide the moisture your cat needs for optimal hydration but it’s free from the animal by-products and artificial additives present in many cat foods at this price point. Cats generally seem to like the food and cat owners consistently give it positive reviews.
Ingredients
Chicken, Chicken Meal, Whole Grain Brown Rice, Ground White Rice, Chicken Fat (Preserved With Mixed Tocopherols), Natural Flavor, Flaxseed, Sodium Bisulfate, Salmon Oil (A Source of DHA), Potassium Chloride, Dl-Methionine, Choline Chloride, Taurine, Dried Chicory Root, Dried Lactobacillus Plantarum Fermentation Product, Dried Bacillus Subtilis Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus Acidophilus Fermentation Product, Dried Enterococcus Faecium Fermentation Product, Dried Bifidobacterium Animalis Fermentation Product, Zinc Proteinate, Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, Manganese Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Zinc Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin a Supplement, Biotin, Potassium Iodide, Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Sodium Selenite, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid.
Ingredients We Liked: Chicken, Chicken Meal, Chicken Fat.
Ingredients We Didn’t Like: None
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
What We Liked:
- Relies primarily on animal-sourced protein and fat
- Affordably priced under $0.10 per ounce
- Enriched with prebiotic fiber and probiotics
- Small kibbles are easy for cats to eat
What We Didn’t Like:
- No dry food provides the hydrating moisture your cat needs
- High in carbohydrates
#2 Kirkland Signature Nature’s Domain Salmon & Sweet Potato Recipe Dry Food
Nature’s Domain is Kirkland’s grain-free pet food line. Instead of rice and other grains, the food uses sweet potatoes, peas, and potatoes as starchy binders. Like all Kirkland cat foods, the food features animal protein as the first ingredient and offers guaranteed levels of probiotics. Chicory root serves as a source of prebiotic fiber, which helps to feed beneficial bacteria in the gut.
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
This fish-based recipe features salmon, salmon meal, and fish meal as its top three ingredients. The next five are plant-based, including both peas and pea protein. Canola oil is the primary fat source, which offers less bioavailability than an animal-sourced fat, but it’s followed by salmon oil (a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids).
Compared to the previous recipe, this food is a little higher in protein but significantly lower in fat and much less calorie-dense (about 101 calories per ounce). It’s also worth noting that some of that protein content comes from a plant protein concentrate. This recipe has the same issues with high carb and low moisture content and it’s a little less popular among Costco shoppers than the Maintenance Cat formula.
Ingredients
Salmon, Salmon Meal, Fish Meal, Sweet Potatoes, Potatoes, Peas, Pea Protein, Canola Oil (Preserved With Mixed Tocopherols), Natural Flavor, Salmon Oil (A Source of DHA), Dl-Methionine, Salt, Potassium Chloride, Choline Chloride, Taurine, Blueberries, Raspberries, Tomatoes, Dried Chicory Root, Dried Lactobacillus Plantarum Fermentation Product, Dried Bacillus Subtilis Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus Acidophilus Fermentation Product, Dried Enterococcus Faecium Fermentation Product, Dried Bifidobacterium Animalis Fermentation Product, Zinc Proteinate, Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, Manganese Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Zinc Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin a Supplement, Biotin, Potassium Iodide, Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Sodium Selenite, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid.
Ingredients We Liked: Salmon Meal, Ocean Fish Meal.
Ingredients We Didn’t Like: Peas, Potatoes, Pea Protein.
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
What We Liked:
- Top three ingredients are animal-sourced proteins
- Enriched with probiotics for healthy digestion
- Salmon oil provides a rich source of omega-3s
- Formulated for cats in all life stages
What We Didn’t Like:
- No dry food provides the hydrating moisture your cat needs
- High in carbohydrates
- Contains some concentrated plant protein
#3 Kirkland Signature Chicken Recipe Pâté Wet Cat Food
This grain-free chicken recipe starts off strong with fresh chicken as the first ingredient. Chicken broth provides flavor and moisture, while chicken liver and hearts supply supplemental protein and essential nutrients. Natural flavor is generally just hydrolyzed protein.
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Fortunately, this wet food recipe doesn’t contain a significant number of added plant ingredients. Canola oil provides plant-based omega-3 fatty acids, though we’d prefer to see them come from an animal-based source like salmon oil. The recipe also contains guar gum as a binder and thickener, which can sometimes cause gas or loose stools in sensitive cats. Overall, however, the formula appears to be simple, easily digestible, and limited to a single source of animal protein (which could be important for cats with food allergies).
Measured as dry matter, this recipe contains 45% protein and 20% fat. It’s also fairly calorie-dense for a wet food at about 31 calories per ounce. The food has a smooth, moist texture to help support your cat’s hydration. The texture also makes it easy for cats to eat, though it’s worth noting that it’s formulated for adult cats rather than all life stages.
Ingredients
Chicken, Chicken Broth, Chicken Liver, Chicken Hearts, Natural Flavor, Calcium Carbonate, Miscanthus Grass, Guar Gum, Sodium Tripolyphosphate, Potassium Chloride, Salt, Taurine, Canola Oil, Ascorbic Acid, Magnesium Carbonate, Choline Chloride, Vitamin E Supplement, Zinc Sulfate, Iron Sulfate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Calcium Pantothenate, Niacin, Copper Amino Acid Chelate, Manganese Sulfate, Riboflavin, Biotin, Calcium Iodate, Folic Acid, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Meniadone Sodium Bisulfate Complex.
Ingredients We Liked: Chicken, Chicken Liver, Chicken Hearts
Ingredients We Didn’t Like: Guar Gum, Canola Oil
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
What We Liked:
- Made with a single source of animal protein
- Rich in hydrating moisture
- Smooth pate texture is easy for cats to eat
What We Didn’t Like:
- Guar gum may trigger loose stools in sensitive cats
- Main source of added fat is plant-based
#4 Kirkland Signature Salmon Recipe Chunks in Gravy Wet Cat Food
One of the two flavors included in Kirkland Signature’s Chunk in Gravy variety pack, this salmon recipe features fresh salmon as the primary ingredient. It also contains protein from animal liver, dried egg product, and ground dried peas. If your cat has food allergies, this recipe may not be appropriate due to the inclusion of vaguely named animal liver (and multiple animal proteins).
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Measured as dry matter, the protein content of this food is about 44% and the fat content is about 22%. Though similar in price to the previous product, this recipe is a little less calorie-dense and contains protein from multiple animal sources. It also contains more added carbohydrate, including potato starch and guar gum as thickeners for the gravy.
On the positive side, this food is still rich in hydrating moisture and it comes in small, easy-to-eat chunks. It appears to be well-liked by cat owners and it’s economically priced under $0.25 per ounce.
Ingredients
Fish Broth, Salmon, Animal Liver, Natural Flavor, Dried Egg Product, Potato Starch, Ground Dried Peas, Brewers Dried Yeast, Salt, Guar Gum, Flaxseed Meal, Sodium Phosphate, Calcium Carbonate, Pumpkin, Inulin, Powdered Cellulose, Dried Plain Beet Pulp, Potassium Chloride, Sunflower Oil, Minerals (Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Sodium Selenite, Potassium Iodide), Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Niacin Supplement, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, Biotin, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Folic Acid), Taurine, Blueberries, Cranberries, Choline Chloride, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate.
Ingredients We Liked: Salmon, Dried Egg Product
Ingredients We Didn’t Like: Potato Starch, Ground Dried Peas, Guar Gum, Sunflower Oil
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
What We Liked:
- Salmon is the first ingredient
- Small, easy-to-eat chunks in flavorful gravy
- Good source of hydrating moisture for cats
What We Didn’t Like:
- Contains some vaguely named animal products
- Guar gum may trigger loose stools in sensitive cats
What Do Customers Think of Kirkland Signature Cat Food?
Kirkland Signature cat food receives consistently positive reviews from cat owners. It’s worth noting, however, that since it’s a private label brand, the only place to find reviews is on the seller’s website. All Kirkland Signature’s cat food products have average ratings of at least 4.1 out of 5 stars, with the dry foods averaging about half a star higher than the wet foods.
Positive Reviews
Satisfied customers consistently comment on the cost of Kirkland Signature cat food and many rate the product quality high as well. The dry foods are particularly popular among feral cat caretakers and in multi-cat households. A significant number of reviewers also mention a reduced frequency of vomiting after switching their cats to Kirkland Signature.
“My 6 indoor cats at various life stages love this food. I researched different brands and this was the clear winner for the best quality for my budget. Best of all, my cats have quit throwing up undigested food!” –LazyShopper reviewing Kirkland Signature Chicken and Rice Dry Food on Costco.com, June 2026
“Both my cats are extremely picky eaters and they LOVE this wet food. Never had an issue with quality in the last 2 years of feeding them this food. Black spots are fish skin!!! Not sure why some reviews are so hateful, this is great wet food for great value.” –SweetPotatoePerson reviewing Kirkland Signature Pate Cat Food Variety Pack, June 2026
Negative Reviews
As tends to happen with many cat food brands, a common thread among dissatisfied Kirkland Signature customers is that their cats simply didn’t like the food. Numerous customers say they received dry food that didn’t seem fresh or cans that were damaged. Some customers found their cats enjoyed one flavor in a variety pack, but not the others, and wished they could purchase individual recipes.
“My cat didn’t eat it. The product was really dry and hard for him to swallow. It looked old. Unfortunately, I threw the bag, and I couldn’t return it. I won’t buy it again.” –Patty R reviewing Kirkland Signature Nature’s Domain Dry Cat Food on Costco.com, June 2026
“Some of the individual container’s leaked and had to be thrown away. The juices came out and got over the entire cardboard box.” –Kate Baby Pate reviewing Kirkland Signature Pate Cat Food Variety Pack on Costco.com, June 2026
How Much Does Kirkland Signature Cat Food Cost?
If you buy it on the Costco website or in the warehouse, Kirkland dry cat food is generally priced under $0.10 per ounce. Kirkland wet cat foods are sold only in variety packs, averaging between $0.20 and $0.25 per ounce.
A 45-count variety pack of 3.5-ounce cans of Kirkland Signature pate costs $34.99, which averages out to about $0.22 per ounce. The Chunks in Gravy wet foods are sold in 48-count packs of 3-ounce cans for $32.99, or about $0.23 per ounce.
If you’re feeding a typical 10-lb cat Kirkland Signature dry food, you’ll end up spending between $0.13 to $0.20 per day. A Kirkland Signature wet food diet will be a little more expensive, about $1.50 per day.
This puts Kirkland cat food among the cheapest brands on the market. Kirkland Signature’s dry cat food is similarly priced to brands like Diamond Cat Food and Friskies.
Where is Kirkland Signature Cat Food Sold?
Since Kirkland Signature is Costco’s private label brand, it’s only sold in Costco stores. You’ll need a Costco membership to shop either in-store or online. If you order online, you can get same-day delivery through Instacart or 2-day delivery from Costco.
If you want to skip the membership process, you can also purchase some Kirkland cat foods on Amazon.com and Walmart.com. Availability seems spotty and more expensive, however, and the sellers may not be licensed by Costco.
Overall, Is Kirkland Signature Cat Food a Good Choice?
Kirkland cat food isn’t perfect. Like many other dry products, their recipes are moisture-depleted, carbohydrate-heavy, and relatively low in protein. But compared to other comparably-priced products such as Kindfull and Pretty Please, Kirkland is a solid option. This brand offers superior ingredient quality with none of the potentially-harmful additives you’ll find in other budget foods.
In terms of a carnivore-appropriate diet, we recommend Kirkland Signature’s wet foods over the dry food options. They’re moisture rich and prioritize animal proteins, though the carbohydrate content is still higher than we’d like. Only one recipe (the chicken pate) is made with a single animal protein, so this brand might not be the best choice for cats with food allergies.
It’s also worth noting that what makes Kirkland Signature such an economical option is the bulk buy of it all. You can’t purchase the wet food in a single flavor and the smallest bag of dry food is 18 pounds, so if your cat doesn’t like it you’ll be stuck with a lot of food.
Similar Brands
Looking for other cat food brands similar to Kirkland Signature? Check out some of our other brand reviews.
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MS CK. Harmful or harmless: Carrageenan. Chris Kresser. Published September 26, 2022.
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Delany A. Costco’s Kirkland Signature is the best store brand there ever was. Bon Appétit. Published August 29, 2016.
I rescued my cat Charlie from my daughter’s back yard. Charlie has Herpes Virus. I started to feed him with Purina wet and a special brand dry made of salmon/pea formula. I was thinking I was getting great stuff cuz I inquired about what’s best on dry food. Not so good after researching ingredients.
Love ❤️ the Kirkland brand. Charlie does too. Stools are fine / no urine issues. I believe cats / pets are just like humans can be sensitive with digestion. Unlike people and new foods. Know that when changing to new foods it should be done slowly for your pets.
I just changed Charlie to pate formula and he absolutely loves it. (Yet he never liked chicken in other brand)
Thank you for letting me share my experience and Charlie’s.
My 14 year old cat was so skinny, she could barely walk. The vet said she was in kidney failure. She might live a month or a few months. She would not touch the specialty foods. One day I walked into Costco and saw cat food on sale, so I gave it a try. She loves it, even though it’s pate’. She is now 16 and a bit on the chubby side. (She does not like the turkey flavor, but I give it to the food bank or cat shelter.)
Although this is anectdotal, I swear by it. We had a male cat that got a kidney stone within a month of running out of the Kirkland cat food. Put him back on it and he hasn’t had a recurrence in over 8 years now. Another male got a bladder infection when we ran out and tried regular kibble. He passed from old age at 18. Since it worked so well for the cats, we switched our laborador to Kirkland brand when she was diagnosed with kidney disease. She lived for another 18 months, her kidney values improved on the Kirkland food and our vet was astounded. She was 16 when she passed but we got at least another year with her than the vet expected. Now, I won’t feed our pets anything else.
I’m not sure if it’s been said yet, but the signature pate no longer contains carageenan!
The Kirkland Signature Pate variety pack is now “carrageenan free”. Since carrageenan gum was one of its main negatives it would be nice to see an updated review.
I think the Kirkland Signature Turkey Recipe Pate Wet Cat Food needs revised. Looking at it on Costco’s website, and the ingredient list on the packaging no longer lists Carrageenan.
My stray cats would not touch the food in the purple bag which tells me something is not right. All four who usually scarf food would not touch it.
Hi Mallory! Do you think you’ll update the review with costco’s new kirkland chunks in gravy cat food? I’ve been feeding my cats the Chicken maintenance with 2 days of the chunks each week and they seem to be doing fine and liking the chunks so I’m not too worried. But I do want to know your opinion and grade for it. Thanks! I love reading your many in-depth reviews btw <3
If you are reviewing a variety pack you can’t just review one variety. The wet food Turkey is great, the Chicken is OK, but the Salmon stinks of liver. None of my cats will come within three feet of a plate. Not very economical if you end up throwing away a third of what you bought.
Thanks for your feedback, Jim! We’ll consider adding reviews of the other two recipes.
FYI for anyone who’s interested: Costco plans to end its contract with is supplier for the Chunks canned wet food. It’s no longer in stock at my location, and Customer Service confirmed. Such a shame–my cats preferred it, and it was a healthier alternative to bigger name brands.
They said that if enough customers express demand, Costco would consider bringing back this product. Leaving feedback is easy. Google “costco provide feedback” if you’d like to see this product available again!
Thank you for sharing this news!
Fyi – read where others bought costco sig brand food that their cats did not like – bring it back for a refund. bought a bag of food for the cats from costco that they did not like – and brought it back to costco for a refund. That is what is so awesome about costco. We had a bag of chicken nuggets once from there – the humans hated- brought it back-no $$$ wasted.
Does the costco signature brand maintenance dry cat food (purple bag) have expiration dates – and where would i find them?
Good question! Unfortunately, I don’t have a bag available to check, but I believe there is an expiration date printed somewhere on it! Check the bottom and top of the bag, as well as any seam areas.
My stray cats would not touch the food in the purple bag which tells me something is not right. All four who usually scarf food would not touch it.
I appreciate the pics with the kibbles next to a tape measure but the photos are a little too small to be useful – one of my cats doesn’t have teeth so I try to stick to small sized kibbles for her – she likes to be able to free feed on kibble and won’t eat a full meal of wet food. Right now she’s eating science diet perfect weight, not because she needs weight loss kibble but because the size of it is good for her. I would love to switch to costco food since I have 4 cats and the price of science diet has gotten out of control.
Hi there! My cats have been eating Sheba perfect portions ever since they were kittens. I have been considering switching them to Kirkland wet food for the price, as well as reduced plastic. I have been going back and forth between the reviews, but am still unsure. Do you think they are very comparable as far as quality goes?
Hi Ashlyn! I think Kirkland’s wet food seems better than Sheba in terms of ingredient quality! The one negative is that the Kirkland food contains carrageenan, while the Sheba food relies on guar gum as a thickener. The carrageenan conversation is ongoing, and the evidence of food-grade carrageenan’s harmfulness is not strong, but I understand being cautious.
This salmon and sweet potato dry is horrible neither of my cat’s will touch it barely even smelled it.andmy one cat eats almost everything 👎 I tried for Three days not even a morsal was ate 👎 wasted money because where I live in Alaska we can only buy bulk I will pass this on to my neighbors 👍
Salmon seems to be a miss in both wet and dry. Two of my cats liked the Salmon wet when we first brought it into the house, but the last two cases none will even get near. It stinks like liver. I wish they sold the varieties separately. They like the Turkey and Chicken.
Have photos and reported/returned to Costco. Next will report to FDA.
Been using Kirkland pate cat food for a while now and recently found a giant insect in the food. It kind of looks like a bot fly. It looks disgusting and has meat imbedded in its body so I know that it was cooked/packaged in the food without a doubt. Just a heads up. I’m getting it analyzed to determine what type of insect it is.
Did you get a photo of it? I would report this to the FDA.
I liked the info on the kirkland paye but I can’t find much info on the “chunks and gravy.” I noticed it doesn’t have carrageenan like the Pate. In general do you think it is a better choice than the pate?
No, I don’t think so—it’s much “plantier” and has a lot higher carbohydrate content, which are generally not really cat-appropriate qualities. It depends on what you, personally, prioritize, though, and I realize that carrageenan is a concerning and complicated ingredient that you may want to avoid.
Hi – I’m curious about Kirkland Pate verses Kirkland chunks wet cat food varieties.
Excellent request. In short, the paté version is significantly more carnivore-appropriate and meat-based than the chunks in gravy varieties, so we wouldn’t recommend the latter.
please comment.
should I continue the Friskies pate of buy the Kirkland 3 pack pate ???
Heya! Sorry about the wait. Just responded to you. 🙂
Should I give my cats the new Kirkland pate 3 pack or continue the Friskies pate. I am concerned with the Friskies first ingredient listed as bu-products.
I’d switch to the Kirkland food.
Hi! I recently noticed a new cat wet food is selling at my local Costco. Its brand is called “I luv my cat”, which I never heard of before. i searched a little bit of it online and it seems like this is a local brand selling in California (some Nevada) Costco only. Not sure if you could so a review on this..
Hello Lanza, thanks for sharing. We’ll consider reviewing I Luv My Cat food in the future!
Hi! I am considering trying out the Kirkland 3-flavor variety pack pate. My cats have been consuming Blue Buffalo Wilderness pate in either salmon, duck, or chicken. As kittens, they started with kibbles, but I switched them to pates to increase hydration. I realize switching them will be a challenge, which is another beast for another day. From your assessment (I am not sure if you have done a review of the Blue Buffalo Wilderness), which food brand would be better to keep my cats on? Blue Buffalo Wildness vs Kirkland? Is Kirkland AAFCO? To note, one cat is 8 and the other is 7. Kirkland would be most favorable in terms of cost effectiveness, but I would rather give them good quality food. If neither of these are good, do you have a brand you could recommend? The cats are indoor with healthy weights and no issues according to their last vet visit just last week. Thanks in advance!
I think you can feel okay about making the more economical shift to the Kirkland paté. Overall, the Kirkland food is a bit more species-appropriate than the Wilderness wet food line, and the only possibly concerning thing about it is its use of carrageenan (potentially carcinogenic). But the Blue Wilderness paté has that, too. Kirkland’s wet food seems to be manufactured by Simmons, which has been connected to several recalls, but Blue Buffalo has also been involved in numerous recalls. Both meet AAFCO guidelines for nutritionally complete cat food. So between the two, I would opt for the Kirkland food as a nutritionally-superior, more cost-effective choice. As alternatives, you might consider products from Nulo, Purina ONE, and Wellness, which will offer similar nutrition without any potentially-harmful additives. Hope this helps you to make a decision!
Thank you so much for taking the time to provide me with guidance. It is so incredibly helpful, and I am so grateful!
Hello, thank you for your hard work,
I have 3 cats but one with urinary problems so I have to feed all of them with special food. I’m currently using Hills Science diet urinary hairball control but it’s really expensive and I’m wondering if Kirkland option would’nt be better nor worst Since I think you rated them B. But one of my cat actually had urinary issues so i’m wondering if I have to stay on Hills because of him. Would apreciate your thought!
Thank you
Hi Carole, personally, I don’t feel that Hills Science Diet Urinary Hairball Control shows strong enough promise as a urinary food to justify staying on it if another option looks better in other areas. However, I also don’t think a cat with recurring urinary tract health issues should be on a dry diet at all, much less one that’s not formulated to address urinary problems. Getting your cat on a wet diet is perhaps the best thing you can do to promote long-term urinary tract health, and I would recommend trying one of the foods on our list of the best urinary health foods.
I am a tightwad and my feral cats get 50% kirkland maintenance and 50% aldi
They like kirkland better
Aldi brand seems to have a lot more pieces & crumbs lately but my cats hate the cheap walmart brand
Thanks for sharing!
Hi do you know if Kirkland or Diamond dry salmon and sweet potato cat food sold at Costco is tested on animals, sold in China or if any ingredients come from China? I’m looking for a cat food not tested on lab animals. Thank you for the help.
Hi Laura, that’s an excellent question. I know that Diamond, presumably still the manufacturer of Kirkland cat food, does source some ingredients from China. They aren’t explicit about which ingredients come from there, but we know for certain that the list includes synthetic supplements that are only available imported from the country. Regarding animal testing, the company hasn’t published any statement on sourcing from companies that don’t perform animal testing, but there’s also no mention of animal testing as part of their process in any company literature. It’s also not mentioned in Cruelty-Free Kitty’s popular list of pet food companies that perform animal testing. With this in mind, I would tentatively assume that the company doesn’t engage in this kind of testing. Hope this helps.
I bought the Maintenance Chicken and rice dry food for my 5 cats and none of them like it.
Disappointing!
Hi Mallory, we are new to the cat world, we adopt a beautiful kitten named Monatana a year ago, she is about 14 months old right now. We heard about Kirkland maintenance and it was our choice since the beginning (60-70 grams/day) and we mix it with time to time (twice a month replacing 1 serving of 4 a day) with a 1/4 can (39grams) of Hills i/d. In our last visit to the Vet. we found out that she is gaining weight (total weight currently = 10.5lb) and we want to control it on time, but all the alternatives the Vet gave us dos not have good reviews C and C+ rated. We do not want to change Kirkland brand, could you advice us please. Thanks!
Hi Adriana, thank you for commenting, and I apologize for taking a while to get back to you! Of course, I can’t overrule your vet’s opinion as I am neither a vet nor an animal nutritionist, but I would generally advise not using a therapeutic or weight loss-specific diet for an overweight cat. You can accomplish much more controllable results through calorie control and consistent monitoring of your cat’s progress. You may appreciate this video on the subject.
Any idea how to store this long-term once the bag is opened? I’m thinking of switching but my cats only get 3/4 cup of dry food a day between them (they eat breakfast hours before I get up and I can’t manage canned food when I’m half-asleep) so if I do buy this, it’ll take at least a few months to finish a bag, and I worry it would start to go rancid even in a sealed container. Do you think portioning it into gallon bags and freezing it until i need it would work?
Hi AC, thanks for commenting! Yes, a lot of people portion this food out into gallon bags and freeze it to make it last longer. If you have a vacuum sealer, this would also be a good option to ensure that the food is not exposed to air and moisture.
Hello Mallory!
Would you please recommend a higher protein dry and canned cat food for my cats?
Thank you so much!
Hello Mallory! I’ve been looking into Kirkland as a way to upgrade my cats diet. The price in comparison to the amount of food definitely caught my interest, as I’m looking to get more for less with how tight my budget is as a currently unemployed high-school senior.
But the problem I’m having is that the low-protein content makes me worried about how it’ll impact my cats. Do you think it’ll be too much of a change in protein they’re receiving? My cats are fully indoor two-year olds and all currently eat meow-mix, which makes it a little obvious why I’d like to switch to a better brand lol
I’ve personally considered buying some of the cheaper wet foods as added supplements for both protein and moisture, since I can’t afford switching them to a wet diet, but I’m unsure how helpful it would be.
Thank you for any help!
Alex
Hi Alex, thanks for your comment! Could you please clarify your concerns about protein content? I’m not sure exactly which Meow Mix variety you’re currently feeding, but their original kibble is at least 31% protein, which puts it only 1% higher than the Kirkland dry food’s minimum. The Kirkland food features chicken and chicken meal as its primary proteins, meaning that most of that protein is coming from a species-appropriate source. Conversely, the Meow Mix food features corn, corn gluten meal, and soybean meal, the latter of which are concentrated sources of plant protein. So while the Kirkland appears to be marginally lower in protein, it seems to have better sources of protein that will likely make it more biologically available to your cats. So between that and mixing in some low-cost wet food, I do believe that this would be a worthwhile upgrade from their current diet. It’s hard to quantify the difference any dietary change will make, but I believe it’s worth the change.
Hi!
Is there any way to find out the phosphorous levels of the weight management kirkland food?
thanks you!
S
Hi Selina, good question. I have been able to get information on Kirkland food from Costco’s customer support department. You may contact them here. Hope this helps.
– Mallory
Hello is the food good for cats who have grain allergies ?
Hi Angelina, it depends on which grain your cat is allergic to, but a cat with grain sensitivities can opt for the Nature’s Domain variety, which is grain-free.
My cat is 10 years old and is allergic to all kinds of poultry, and I believe to other things as well but we haven’t been able to pinpoint exactly what. It seems chicken gets slipped into most cat foods. She throws up a lot if she is sensitive to anything and she often runs underweight until we can find the next thing she isn’t allergic to, until she is. Do you think the Kirklands Salmon and Sweet Potato would be an option for me to try with her? I tend to lean away from mass produced products that cut corners and add fillers. I will probably add a homemade bone broth to moisten the dry food since she tends to vomit often.
Hello Shaw! Thanks for commenting. For a cat who can’t eat poultry, I’d say that the Salmon & Sweet Potato food might be a good option, but I would prefer a limited-ingredient food that really strips down the ingredient list so that you know exactly what your cat’s eating. Considering that you’re not sure what she’s sensitive to, I think this type of elimination diet is going to be invaluable. Consider the recommendations from our article on the best cat food for cats with sensitive stomachs.
Hi Mallory, We are brand new to having a pet. A month ago we adopted a stray young male cat who the vet estimates is 8 months old.
We have been feeding him 2 Sheeba servings and 2 1/8 lb serving of Fresh Pet, in addition to leaving out a small amount of Rachael Ray dry Noutrish.. Can you rate the pros and cons of this combo diet?
Hi Jimbo, I would make sure that all of the formulas you’re giving your kitten are either formulated for kittens or all life stages. I would also use this calorie calculator to determine how much food your new kitten needs: https://petnutritionalliance.org/resources/calorie-calculator/?type=cats
Other than that, that’s a decent diet—you seem to have an emphasis on animal-derived proteins and high moisture content.
Hi Mallory,
I am wondering what you think of Krikland’s claim that their chicken recipe (purple bag) is suitable for both cats and kittens. My two male kitties are about seven months old and I am thinking of changing from Iams Kitten kibble to Kirkland. The kitties also currently get one 3oz can (each) of Fancy Feast Kitten wet food (turkey) per day.
Thank you!
Ian
Hi Ian, the food should be appropriate for both cats and kittens as it meets the AAFCO’s nutritional benchmarks for all life stages. Between the all life stages kibble and the kitten food, your youngsters should be getting a nutritionally-adequate diet.
My male orange tabby has a tendency to obstruct his urinary tracts. Problem solved by mixing dry and wet food (half each) PLUS 4 tablespoon of water mixed into it.
Never feed adult male cats dry food only.
I’m using Kirkland chicken kibble for dry and Friskiie’s for wet.
Mallory, I appreciate your reviews. While in search of a better food, due mostly to soft smelly stools, I moved from Kirkland maintenance to the Natures domain salmon & Sweet potato. He has more energy and stools are firm and normal odor. So it seems I am good. Now I see Rachel ray indoor is in the store. Is that inferior to the Natures domain? Thank you!
Hello Jeff, thanks for stopping by! I wonder if your cat has a sensitivity to chicken, given that the switch to a fish-based food alleviated his soft, smelly stools. With that in mind, I wouldn’t recommend the Rachael Ray indoor cat food for a couple of reasons. For one, it contains chicken, and secondly, it appears to contain slightly more plant-derived protein, which is arguably lower-value than meat-based protein for cats.
Hope this helps! – Mallory
Hi
My cat will love the Kirkland brand they also get extra protein i cooked chicken and sometimes cook steak.
But I notice that my cat fart and there shit at times stink more then others why is it they fart so much.
Kristi
Alberts
Hello there Kristi, flatulence can sometimes be caused by excessive fiber in your cat’s diet or may be a sign that your cat has a sensitivity to something in their diet. You can try closely tracking patterns in your cat’s waste and flatulence to identify if they correlate with dietary factors.
You might like this article on the best cat food for gassy cats: https://wereallaboutpets.com/best-cat-food-for-gassy-cats
Our article on the best cat food for smelly poop may also help: https://cats.com/best-cat-food-smelly-poop
Hope you’re able to find some solutions soon!
Hi, my kitties have been eating Kirkland Maintenance Cat food for years. They all loved it. I noticed that when we switched to Kirkland, they all quit throwing up (except the occasional hairball). Now after years of this food, all 6 of my kitties will not eat the food. This happened halfway through the bag. We bought another bag from a different Costco and they still won’t touch it. I cleaned bowls, the mat and everything near their food, just in case they were smelling something else. I called the manufacturer of Kirkland cat food and spoke with a vet. She told me that nothing has changed with their formula or processing. Now we are going nuts trying to figure out what to do. We bought Blue Buffalo, Abound grain free, and Iams, etc, they ate some and all threw up. We bought Rachael Ray food, they won’t eat it. They will eat Purina grain free but all continue to throw up and now 4 of my cats have allergies (scratching fur off, licking so much in spots that she is loosing her hair. We used to buy Authority Brand cat food at Petsmart. They loved it and had no alleries. It got so expensive we can’t afford it for so many rescue kitties. Any suggestions. We are almost out of food and I don’t know what to do. Lorie
Hello Lorie. Sorry that you’re going through this! I can only imagine that you’re tearing your hair out over this. While it doesn’t solve the mystery here, you may appreciate our article on the best budget-friendly cat food: https://cats.com/best-cheap-cat-food
Would it be appropriate to mix the Maintenance Cat food with the Sweet Potato/Salmon food, since one is high carb/low protein and the other is low carb/high protein?
Yes, Katie, you could certainly do that. It still wouldn’t be a nutritionally stellar diet, but it’s a good start. You could also try alternating meals to give your cat more variety.
hello I have a better kitten for your advertising in the food bags, I would like to contact the person in charge and offer my cat. regards
Tomas, you’ll want to contact one of Costco’s corporate offices with your interest in having your kitten used on Kirkland cat food bags. https://customerservice.costco.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/828/~/how-can-i-contact-the-costco-corporate-offices%3F
I’m tempted to get this brand for my cat, but I’m worried about the low protein. I’ve read that indoor cats require quite a bit of protein.
Do you recommend mixing in some wet cat food with this kibble for the extra protein?
Austin, that would be a great idea! The food is definitely a bit higher-carbohydrate and lower-protein than we’d like, so mixing in some wet cat food or alternating dry and wet meals would be an excellent way to help get those macronutrients in line.
Hi Ms Crusta,
I was at a Costco Store in the Bay Area today and found the two Kirland Dry Cat food offer. I’m a frequent Costco
Member, I shop for gas and food and other products every week. Just got a kitten now 15 week old. At what age is my kitten ready to try the Domain product. It looks like the next level from kitten to adult food. I’m giving Tiger Nourish Kitten food now a rice base product. Also when and what type of wet kitten food you suggest Tiger should try along with method of introduction to my little guy ?.
Warmest Regards,
Dave
Hi Dave, thanks for your question about providing the best food for your Tiger. He can safely transition to adult food when he’s around 12 months of age. As for making the move to a wet diet, you can do that as soon as you like. There are so many wet kitten foods that would work! You can learn about some of them in our article on the best kitten food. You can start adding a spoonful of wet food into his kibble and gradually increasing the amount over the course of a week or two. This is the same gradual approach I’d recommend for switching to adult food later on. Hope this answers your questions! Best, Mallory
I feed my two cats Blue Buffalo. One kitty likes it in the house. My other kitty wants noting to do with indoors. Is the Costco brand cat food as good as Blue Buffalo (dry)? It is getting expensive. Especially because of loss if income due to Coronavirus.
Hey Linda, yes! The Costco brand is as good as Blue Buffalo, if not better. I think you’re going to be very happy with it and it’ll be good for your budget, too.
What is the ash content of Kirkland Maintenance Cat Food?
What is the ash content of Kirkland’s Nature’s Domain Salmon meal and sweet potato cat food?
I have a male cat and want to care for his kidneys.
Any suggestions for best cat food ?
Hi Joyce,
Thanks for your comment! I contacted Kirkland and it looks like the Kirkland Maintenance cat food is about 7% ash, while the Nature’s Domain food is 8.5% ash. This is typical among dry foods. Controlling ash levels can help, but it isn’t necessarily the most reliable way to choose a kidney-friendly food. It appears that the best way to preserve your cat’s kidney health is by choosing moisture-rich foods with high-quality, low-waste protein and controlled levels of phosphorus.
Our list of the best cat food for senior cats takes these factors into consideration and you might find it helpful: https://cats.com/best-cat-food-for-senior-cats
Hope this helps you choose the best food for your cat!
– Mallory