Published May 7, 2026
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Premium cat food at fair prices. That’s what Optimeal promises its customers, but how does the brand hold up against our standards? Find out in this detailed review.
The Cats.com Standard—Rating Optimeal on What Matters
We’ve analyzed Optimeal and graded it according to the Cats.com standard, evaluating the brand on species-appropriateness, ingredient quality, product variety, price, customer experience, and recall history. Here’s how it rates in each of these six key areas.
Ratings
- Species-Appropriateness – 7/10
- Ingredient Quality – 8/10
- Product Variety – 7/10
- Price – 6/10
- Customer Experience – 7/10
- Recall History – 9/10
Overall Score: 7.8/10
We give Optimeal a 44 out of 60 or a B grade.
About Optimeal Cat Food
Founded in 2013, Optimeal is an Eastern European brand of cat food that entered the US market in 2021. It was created by a family-owned Ukrainian company called Kormotech, which is a global pet food manufacturer with five brands sold in over 50 countries.
Optimeal is marketed as Kormotech’s super-premium pet food line. It’s described as natural pet food filled with functional ingredients, backed by the latest European nutritional science. Every recipe starts with meat, poultry, or fish but also contains herbs, berries, and prebiotics for their antioxidant properties and digestive benefits.
Something that sets Optimeal apart from other brands is its unique approach to wet food. Optimeal’s wet cat food formulas are only sold in pouches and the food pieces are shaped like little clouds interspersed with chunks of real meat.
Sourcing and Manufacturing
Kormotech is headquartered in Ukraine but also has branches in Kedainiai, Lithuania and New York City. Optimeal is manufactured by Kormotech in Ukraine, primarily using ingredients sourced from Ukraine. According to the brand, Optimeal also sources ingredients from France, New Zealand, Germany, and Poland, but not from China.
Optimeal cat foods are formulated with a meat-first philosophy, incorporating both muscle meat and nutrient-dense organ meat. The formulas are developed in-house by a research and development team consisting of veterinarians, nutritionists, and food scientists.
According to the brand, Optimeal pet foods are formulated to exceed both US and European quality standards. All Optimeal products are non-GMO, free from artificial colors, and formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by AAFCO for complete and balanced nutrition.
Has Optimeal Cat Food Been Recalled?
To our knowledge, Optimeal cat food has never been recalled. While the brand only entered the US market somewhat recently (2021), it’s been widely sold across the globe for over a decade.
What Kinds of Cat Food Does Optimeal Offer?
Optimeal offers a moderate assortment of wet and dry food options for cats. For dry food, there’s recipes formulated for kittens as well as adult cats, while Optimeal wet foods are all formulated for adult maintenance.
All of Optimeal’s cat foods feature animal protein as the first ingredient. Though many formulas feature novel proteins like salmon, lamb, or rabbit in the product name, chicken is a primary ingredient in most formulas. This even applies to seafood-focused recipes.
Optimeal’s wet cat foods are called Tender Morsels and are sold only in 3-ounce pouches. They’re all multi-protein blends packaged in gravy, savory sauce, or aspic. Here’s a list of current recipes:
- Tender Morsels with Real Shrimp & Salmon in Savory Sauce
- Tender Morsels with Chicken & Turkey in Gravy
- Tender Morsels with Beef & Rabbit in Savory Sauce
- Tender Morsels with Lamb & Veggies in Aspic
- Tender Morsels with Chicken & Salmon in Gravy
- Tender Morsels with Tuna & Mackerel in Aspic
- Tender Morsels with Salmon & Tuna in Aspic
- Tender Morsels with Real Shrimp, Herring & Tuna in Sauce
- Tender Morsels with Herring, Mackerel & Cod in Aspic
- Tender Morsels with Real Chicken Breast in Gravy
- Tender Morsels with Real Turkey Breast in Gravy
- Tender Morsels Beef and Beef Liver Recipe in Gravy
- Tender Morsels Chicken & Salmon Recipe in Gravy
In its dry food lineup, Optimeal offers an array of functional formulas with recipes for indoor health, skin and digestive support, or kitten development. Optimeal’s marketing for its dry foods also focuses heavily on immune support with berries and herbs added as antioxidant sources.
What Did Our Test Cats Think?
In order to test Optimeal cat food, I purchased two dry food formulas and two variety packs of Tender Morsels wet cat food. I chose one dry food recipe for kittens and one for adults. For the wet food, I wanted to test a mixture of recipes featuring meat, poultry, and fish.
When I opened the first pouch of wet food, I was surprised to find the pieces shaped like clouds instead of the standard chunks or shreds. It seemed a little gimmicky to me at first, but my cats disagreed. They absolutely loved this food.
My cats enthusiastically enjoyed both dry food formulas but seemed to prefer the wet foods in sauce or gravy over the recipes in aspic (jelly). I appreciated that Optimeal includes some of their favorite flavors like salmon and rabbit in addition to the standard chicken, beef, and tuna.
Optimeal Cat Food—Top 4 Recipes Reviewed
| Product Name | Food Type | Primary Protein | Calories Per Ounce | Price | Our Grade |
| Optimeal Grain-Free Tender Morsels with Salmon & Tuna in Aspic Wet Cat Food | Wet | Chicken | 24 | $0.67 per oz | A- |
| Optimeal Digestive Support Grain-Free Tender Morsels with Beef & Rabbit in Savory Sauce Wet Cat Food | Wet | Chicken | 25 | $0.67 per oz | B+ |
| Optimeal Skin & Digestive Support Salmon & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Cat Food | Dry | Salmon | 110 | $6.06 per lb | C |
| Optimeal Vital Nurture Kitten Chicken & Rice Recipe Dry Cat Food | Dry | Chicken | 118 | $5.45 per lb | C |
#1 Optimeal Grain-Free Tender Morsels with Salmon & Tuna in Aspic Wet Cat Food
Featuring large protein-rich pieces in a soft jelly, this wet cat food from Optimeal features salmon and tuna as primary flavors. Looking at the ingredients list, however, the top three are all chicken-based. It’s worth keeping this in mind if your cat has a poultry allergy.
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Though the naming of this product is a little misleading, it appears to offer fairly carnivore-appropriate nutrition. Measured as dry matter, it contains 50% protein and nearly 24% fat. The carbohydrate content is low, coming mainly from the fiber sources and gum thickeners.
My cats didn’t enjoy this flavor as much as some of the Optimeal recipes, but they generally seem to prefer sauces and gravies over aspic. Customer reviews for this product on Amazon are mixed, though there are a decent number of cats who don’t seem to like the aspic.
Ingredients
Chicken Broth, Chicken, Chicken Liver, Salmon, Tuna, Chicken Heart, Bovine Plasma, Dried Egg Product, Salmon Oil, Natural Flavor, Xanthan Gum, Guar Gum, Choline Chloride, Dextrose, Calcium Carbonate, Pea Fiber, Glycine, Cranberries, Sodium Tripolyphosphate, Potassium Chloride, Taurine, Sodium Carbonate, DL-Methionine, Vitamin E Supplement, Safflower Oil, Yeast Extract, Fructooligosaccharide, Thyme, Dried Pot Marigold, Chamomile, Vitamin C (L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate), Zinc Sulfate, Niacin Supplement, Manganese Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Calcium Pantothenate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Potassium Iodide, Folic Acid, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Biotin, Vitamin D3 Supplement.
Ingredients We Liked: Chicken, Chicken Liver, Salmon, Tuna, Chicken Heart, Bovine Plasma, Dried Egg Product, Salmon Oil
Ingredients We Didn’t Like: Xanthan Gum, Guar Gum
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
What We Liked:
- Made primarily from animal-sourced ingredients
- Contains 50% protein, measured as dry matter
- Good source of hydrating moisture for cats
What We Didn’t Like:
- Gum thickeners may cause loose stools in sensitive cats
- May not be appropriate for cats with poultry allergies
#2 Optimeal Digestive Support Grain-Free Tender Morsels with Beef & Rabbit in Savory Sauce Wet Cat Food
Like the previous formula, this wet cat food features beef and rabbit in the product name but chicken is the first ingredient. The food also contains pork, so it may not be appropriate for cats with poultry or pork allergies. It is, however, very rich in protein and low in carbohydrates.
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Measured as dry matter, this recipe contains over 56% protein and nearly 22% fat. Unlike the previous recipe, this formula contains some added starch from tapioca and potato, but the carbohydrate content is still under 20% as dry matter.
My cats greatly preferred this recipe over other Optimeal formulas. Reading customer reviews, it seems to be hit or miss with other cats. Preferences aside, it’s largely an animal-based formula rich in hydrating moisture with fairly low carbohydrate content.
Ingredients
Chicken Broth, Chicken, Beef, Pork Liver, Pork Lungs, Rabbit, Animal Plasma, Water Sufficient For Processing, Dried Egg Product, Minerals (Calcium Carbonate, Potassium Chloride, Zinc Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Potassium Iodide), Natural Flavor, Pea Fiber, Dried Plain Beet Pulp, Glycine, Pork Fat, Whey Dried, Salmon Oil, Choline Chloride, Sodium Tripolyphosphate, Vitamins (Taurine, Vitamin E Supplement, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (source of Vitamin C), Niacin Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Folic Acid, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Biotin, Vitamin D3 Supplement), Tapioca Starch, Potato Starch, DL-methionine, Cranberries, Guar Gum, Fructooligosaccharide (FOS), Yeast Extract, Dried Pot Marigold, Chamomile, Thyme, Safflower Oil.
Ingredients We Liked: Chicken, Beef, Pork Liver, Pork Lungs, Rabbit, Animal Plasma, Dried Egg Product, Pork Fat, Salmon Oil
Ingredients We Didn’t Like: Tapioca Starch, Potato Starch, Guar Gum
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
What We Liked:
- Primarily made with animal-sourced protein and fat
- Rich in hydrating moisture for your cat
- Packed in a flavorful, gravy-like sauce
What We Didn’t Like:
- Gum thickeners may cause loose stools in sensitive cats
- May not be appropriate for cats with poultry allergies
#3 Optimeal Skin & Digestive Support Salmon & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Cat Food
Featuring fresh salmon as the first ingredient, this dry cat food is formulated to support healthy skin and digestion. It’s enriched with omega-3 fatty acids for skin and coat support, with whole grains and prebiotics to promote digestive health. This dry cat food formula contains about 35% protein (measured as dry matter).
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
As seems to be the case for all Optimeal recipes, it still contains chicken as a primary ingredient. There’s also some plant protein concentrates (potato protein and pea protein), though it’s hard to tell how significantly they contribute to the total protein content. The main sources of fat are animal-based and, though the food is fairly high-carb, the main sources appear to be fairly nutritious (brown rice and oatmeal).
This dry food comes in small, round kibbles that my cats found very easy to eat. They seemed to enjoy the flavor as well. I like that the food comes in small bags with a resealable top to help keep it fresh.
Ingredients
Salmon, Brown Rice, Oatmeal, Chicken Meal, Turkey Meal, Potato Protein, Poultry Fat (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Rice, Pea Protein, Brewer’s Dried Yeast, Chicken Liver, Natural Flavor, Flaxseed, Dried Chicory Root, Salt, Salmon Oil, Calcium Carbonate, Potassium Chloride, Choline Chloride, Dried Plain Beet Pulp, Psyllium Seed Husk, Taurine, Powdered Cellulose, Dried Cranberries, Dried Blueberries, Vitamin E Supplement, Dried Pot Marigold, Zinc Sulfate, Fructo-oligosaccharide, Turmeric, Chamomile, Rosemary Extract, Ascorbic Acid (source of Vitamin C), Thyme, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Iron Sulfate, Niacin Supplement, Manganese Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin A Acetate, Riboflavin Supplement, Biotin, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex, Folic Acid, Potassium Iodide, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Sodium Selenite, Vitamin D3 Supplement.
Ingredients We Liked: Salmon, Chicken Meal, Turkey Meal, Poultry Fat, Chicken Liver, Salmon Oil
Ingredients We Didn’t Like: Potato Protein, Pea Protein
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
What We Liked:
- Relies primarily on animal-sourced protein and fat
- Contains nutritious whole grains like brown rice
- Enriched with antioxidants and prebiotic fiber
What We Didn’t Like:
- No dry food provides the moisture your cat needs
- Contains plant-based protein concentrates
- Fairly high in carbohydrates (like most dry foods)
#4 Optimeal Vital Nurture Kitten Chicken & Rice Recipe Dry Cat Food
This Optimeal dry food is formulated to support the growth and development of kittens. It features a higher concentration of protein and fat, measuring 38.5% and 21.4% as dry matter, respectively. Chicken is the main ingredient with supplemental protein from turkey and egg as well as pea protein and potato protein.
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
In addition to being protein-rich, this recipe contains higher levels of healthy fats for energy as well as omega-3 fatty acids. Salmon oil is a good source of DHA to support healthy brain development in kittens, and there’s also Optimeal’s usual blend of prebiotic fibers and antioxidant-rich berries.
This dry cat food comes in very small, crescent-shaped kibbles that may be particularly easy for small mouths to manage. My cats seemed to really like the flavor but online reviews for this product are sparse.
Ingredients
Deboned Chicken, Rice, Chicken Meal, Poultry Fat (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Turkey Meal, Pea Protein, Potato Protein, Barley, Dried Egg Product, Flaxseed, Chicken Liver, Natural Flavor, Calcium Carbonate, Salmon Oil, Brewer’s Dried Yeast, Salt, Dried Chicory Root, Potassium Chloride, Dicalcium Phosphate, Dried Plain Beet Pulp, Choline Chloride, Taurine, Magnesium Sulfate, Dried Cranberries, Dried Blueberries, Dl-methionine, Vitamin E Supplement, Zinc Sulfate, Rosemary Extract, Dried Pot Marigold, Fructooligosaccharide, Turmeric, Chamomile, Ascorbic Acid (source of Vitamin C), Thyme, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Iron Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Niacin Supplement, Copper Sulfate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin A Acetate, Riboflavin Supplement, Biotin, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex, Folic Acid, Potassium Iodide, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Sodium Selenite, Vitamin D3 Supplement.
Ingredients We Liked: Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Poultry Fat, Turkey Meal, Dried Egg Product, Chicken Liver, Salmon Oil
Ingredients We Didn’t Like: Pea Protein, Potato Protein
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
What We Liked:
- Protein-rich recipe formulated to support kitten growth
- Relies primarily on animal-sourced protein and fat
- Small, specially shaped kibbles are easy for kittens to eat
What We Didn’t Like:
- No dry food provides the moisture your cat needs
- Contains plant-based protein concentrates
- Fairly high in carbohydrates (like most dry foods)
What Do Customers Think of Optimeal Cat Food?
Despite having made its entry into US markets roughly five years ago, Optimeal still has a fairly small presence in online retailers. There aren’t even any customer reviews on the brand’s website. On Chewy, the highest number of ratings for an Optimeal product was around 180 but most had fewer than 30 at the time of this review.
Positive Reviews
Satisfied customers seem happy with the quality of Optimeal products and many cats really enjoy the food. A significant number of customers say the product looks appealing and smells like human food, making it worth a slightly higher price tag.
“This seems like a good quality food at a decent price. Smells like human food and looks appealing. They both love it, so it’s in the rotation.” -Dyan reviewing Optimeal Tender Morsels with Real Shrimp and Salmon on Chewy, March 8, 2026
“My kitties become ravenous whenever I open a pack of Optimeal. I like the fact that it helps manage my 2 senior cat’s digestion.” -Marie reviewing Optimeal Tender Morsels with Beef and Rabbit on Chewy, February 6, 2026
Negative Reviews
Dissatisfied customers frequently state that their cats simply didn’t like the food, some commenting specifically on the texture of it. Others didn’t think the price was proportionate to the quality of the product and some said their cats threw up after eating it.
“I have 5 cats and 2 out of my 5 cats actually ate this food. The others smelled and walked away- would not eat. This is suppose to be one of the top healthy cat foods on the market today as this was the reason I paid the price of 18.00 for 12 – 3 ounce pouches. I will not purchase this food again.” -Anonymous reviewing Optimeal Tender Morsels variety pack on Amazon, March 31, 2026
“Do you have a picky cat who is hard to please with food? Well, they may not like this food either. This food’s ingredients look clean and quality for cats. It even smells tasty. I was hopeful they would like it…..but NOPE.” -Jennifer Baranowsky reviewing Optimeal Tender Morsels with Chicken & Turkey on Amazon, December 4, 2025
How Much Does Optimeal Cat Food Cost?
When it comes to its wet food offerings, Optimeal is similarly priced to other premium brands that offer wet food in pouches like Tiki Cat and Weruva. Unlike these brands, however, Optimeal’s prices don’t appear to vary by recipe.
All Optimeal wet food products cost about $0.64 per ounce on Chewy, whether you buy them as single recipes or in variety packs. Optimeal’s dry foods range from about $4–$6 per pound, or about $0.25 to $0.38 per ounce.
To estimate the daily feeding cost for Optimeal, we’ll use the average calorie needs of a 10-pound cat. For Optimeal wet food, the estimated daily feeding cost is about $5 and, for dry food, it’s around $0.44 to $0.67 per day.
Where is Optimeal Cat Food Sold?
Optimeal is sold in a limited number of local pet stores but is most readily available online. You can find most of Optimeal’s wet and dry cat food products on Chewy, though Amazon appears to only carry the wet food products (at the time of this review).
You can also buy Optimeal by shopping on the brand’s website. Here you can make a one-time purchase or save up to 30% on your first order with a monthly subscription. Subsequent orders are generally discounted at 10% off.
Overall, Is Optimeal Cat Food a Good Choice?
When it comes to choosing a cat food brand, any cat’s preferences play a key role. In reading customer reviews for Optimeal, however, cats either seemed to love it or hate it with little in between. The wet foods in sauce or gravy were consistently better received than those in aspic, but cats who don’t like chicken are probably not going to enjoy this brand.
Speaking of chicken, since it looks like every Optimeal recipe contains this ingredient, it’s not a good choice for cats with poultry allergies or sensitivities. The product names are a little misleading as, in many cases, the named flavors aren’t even in the top three ingredients.
Aside from these concerns, Optimeal’s ingredient quality seems good and the wet foods, in particular, are rich in protein and pretty low in carbs. The food is a little pricey (as is common with wet food that comes in pouches) but with multiple variety packs to choose from, you can see if your cats like it without any significant waste of food.
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