Last updated Jul 27, 2025
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
We’ve rated Wishbone Food on ingredient quality, species-appropriateness, recalls, and more. Read our Wishbone Cat Food review to learn how this brand stacks up.
The Cats.com Standard—Rating Wishbone Food on What Matters
We’ve rated the brand on six key criteria for quality. Here’s how it rates in each of these six crucial areas.
Ratings
- Species-Appropriateness – 7/10
- Ingredient Quality – 7/10
- Product Variety – 3/10
- Price – 7/10
- Customer Experience – 6/10
- Recall History – 8/10
Overall Score: 6.5/10
In total, we give Wishbone food a 38 out of 60 rating or a C+ grade.
About Wishbone Food
Wishbone is a small, family-run pet food company based in New Zealand. They’re known for using high-quality, free-range meats and organic produce sourced from local family farms.
The Wishbone brand aims to provide pets with nourishing, homestyle foods, encouraging pet owners to show their pets the same kindness, love, and respect they’d give any family member. Their products are all gluten-free, grain-free, and produced in small batches to ensure freshness.
Sourcing and Manufacturing
Wishbone’s recipes appear to be made with high-quality, whole-food ingredients like fresh meat and poultry as well as fruits, veggies, and other botanicals. The brand claims to source their fruits and veggies from local family farms, though we couldn’t find any more specific information than that.
The Wishbone website does state that their free-range meats and poultry are sourced from New Zealand though, again, no more details are provided. We also couldn’t find much about their manufacturing process except the claim that they “cook all [their] food in small, single batches.”
Recall History
To our knowledge, Wishbone has never had a product recalled. It’s worth mentioning, however, that this is a New Zealand-based company, so pet product regulations may differ than in the United States.
What Kinds of Cat Food Does Wishbone Offer?
Wishbone is a small pet food company that offers fewer than 10 products for dogs and cats. Their line of cat foods includes just three dry food recipes, each made with a single source of animal protein. These three recipes feature free-range grass-fed beef, cage-free chicken, or free-range grass-fed lamb.
What Do Customers Think of Wishbone Food?
Being a small company based outside the United States, Wishbone isn’t one of the most popular products available on Chewy. Of their three products, only one has 20 reviews and the highest rating is 4.4 out of 5 stars – the lowest is 2.6 out of 5.
Some cat owners report that their cats love the food – even picky eaters who refuse to eat most things. Depending on the recipe, however, others say even their easy-to-please cats wouldn’t touch it. There are a few concerns about the high carb content and several customers mentioned an unpleasant smell.
Let’s take a look at a few reviews from some of the most popular recipes from Wishbone.
Positive Reviews
“Tried this cat food for my Orange. Glad that he’s not picky about it. He loved it. I guess because of its smell and flavor. I’m glad that it is available here.” – MitzelIvor, reviewing Wishbone Roost Grain-Free Dry Cat Food
“SO… once upon a time I had one cat and could afford high end brands like Orijen and Arcana. In comes a flea infested kitten that stole both mine and my 6 year old male’s hearts. Needless to say I can’t afford to feed the high priced brands anymore along with Kitten Good STart to life fees (Spay… eating 3x a day etc..) Thank God for this product! The company itself was quick to respond to my requests for nutritional information after the Chewy representative helped me narrow it down as one of the few all beef (my male has a chicken allergy or intolerance. But he does okay with the chicken fat in this food) replacement for the all beef expensive Beef Recipe i had been feeding. My cats love it! The kibble size appears to be small enough that even my kitten now 5 months old can enjoy. The nutritional content matches that of the food i was feeding enough that I didn’t have any stool issues. The kids go crazy for it. I have two waiting heads every day when i refill their bowls. THanks for making such a great product @ Wishbone! Thanks @ chewy for supplying it at a great price.” – Catmomof2, reviewing Wishbone Graze Grain-Free Dry Cat Food
Negative Reviews
“Had to give bag of dry cat food to animal shelter. Had to buy a different brand of dry chicken based cat food that my cat would eat. Apparently my cat didn’t like lamb.” – Mack, reviewing Wishbone Pasture Grain-Free Dry Cat Food
“I just don’t know about this…The cats love these little light discs just like they are treats. That’s not the issue. I don’t judge food by how much the cats like the taste. I judge by the ingredients and the sourcing. The sourcing seems great..love NZ products. The chicken sourcing is great…what has me so hesitant to reorder is all these peas and beans..Fava beans? Where in nature would cats ever eat peas and beans? It just seems too much starch would burden their system with a food that their bodies are clearly not designed to digest. It also makes me wonder why so much of this type of non-cat food is in the formula? It’s gotta be to up the protein content and provide more profits (cheaper form of protein than cage free meat)..or not? Maybe to feed a bit here and there…not to fill their bellies with a bunch of peas and beans…would they ever eat a bowl of beans? So I almost want to say “2 stars” but it’s not nearly a bad as other dry foods, so if you must…this is probably better than most. Lots of ash too. Sigh.” – RescueMama, reviewing Wishbone Roost Grain-Free Dry Cat Food
What Did Our Test Cats Think?
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
To test Wishbone cat food, I ordered a small bag of all three recipes. When I opened the bag, I noticed that the customer above was right – the kibbles are incredibly small and thin.
I didn’t notice an overwhelming aroma, but my cats seemed to smell something they didn’t like. I tried offering the food to all three of my cats and none of them were interested.
Wishbone Food – Top 3 Recipes Reviewed
| Product Name | Food Type | Main Protein Source | Calories | Price | Our Grade |
| Wishbone Roost Grain-Free Dry Cat Food | Dry | Chicken | 3,455 kcal/kg | $3.80 per lb | B- |
| Wishbone Pasture Grain-Free Dry Food | Dry | Lamb | 3,244 kcal/kg | $4.42 per lb | B- |
| Wishbone Graze Grain-Free Dry Food | Dry | Beef | 395 kcal/cup | $5.04 per lb | B |
#1 Wishbone Roost Grain-Free Dry Cat Food
This dry food formula is made with cage-free New Zealand chicken, supplemented with fish meal for added protein. I’m always a fan of extra protein, though I’d prefer to see a named ingredient here instead of the vague “fish meal.”
I love the use of chicken fat as the primary source of added fat here. It’s rich in nutrients, full of flavor, and a great source of essential fatty acids for cats.
Unfortunately, many of the following ingredients are plant-based. Not only do we see starchy tapioca, but peas and flaxseed as well. These are followed by a list of half a dozen fruits, a handful of herbs, and sunflower seeds. This combination of ingredients contributes significantly to the carb content of the food. It’s estimated over 30%, measured as fed.
Overall, this appears to be a largely plant-based dry cat food with moderate protein and fat content but significant carbohydrate content.
Ingredients
Chicken Meal, Fish Meal, Tapioca, Chicken Fat (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Peas, Flaxseed, Apples, Blueberries, Cranberries, Papaya, Mango, Apples, Basil, Oregano, Rosemary, Thyme, Sunflower Seeds, Chamomile, Peppermint, Camelia, Natural Flavor, Sodium Chloride, Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin (Vitamin B3), Calcium Panthothenate (Vitamin B5), Vitamin A Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B1), Riboflavin Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Biotin (Vitamin B7), Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid (Vitamin B9), Taurine, Choline Chloride, Magnesium Sulfate, Zinc Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Calcium Carbonate, Copper Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Calcium Iodate, Cobalt Sulfate, Sodium Selenite, Green Tea Extract, Rosemary Extract and Spearmint.
| Ingredients We Liked | Ingredients We Didn’t Like | Common Allergens |
| Chicken Meal Fish Meal Chicken Fat |
Tapioca Peas Flaxseed |
Chicken Fish |
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
Pros
- Made with two concentrated sources of animal protein
- Nutrient-rich chicken fat supplies essential fatty acids
- Free from fillers, by-products, and artificial additives
- Cats seem to like it more than the other formulas
Cons
- Made with a lot of unnecessary plant ingredients
- High carbohydrate content
- Doesn’t contain the moisture your cat needs
#2 Wishbone Pasture Grain-Free Dry Food
Made with pasture-raised New Zealand lamb as the main ingredient, this formula is almost identical to the previous except for the substitution of lamb for chicken. Some of the ingredients appear in a different order as well, but the guaranteed analysis is the same for both.
I appreciate the use of pasture-raised lamb here, but again, could do without the vaguely named fish meal. This recipe also features nutrient-rich chicken fat but also exhibits a host of unnecessary plant ingredients which contribute to an estimated carbohydrate content over 30%.
Overall, this appears to be a largely plant-based dry cat food with moderate protein and fat content but significant carbohydrate content.
Ingredients
Lamb Meal, Tapioca, Chicken Fat, Peas, Fish Meal, Blueberries, Cranberries, Papaya, Mango, Apples, Basil, Oregano, Rosemary, Thyme, Sunflower Seeds, Chamomile, Peppermint, Camelia, Natural Flavor, Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin (Vitamin B3), Calcium Pantothenate (Vitamin B5), Vitamin A Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B1), Riboflavin Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid (Vitamin B9), Sodium Chloride, Taurine, Choline Chloride, Magnesium Sulfate, Zinc Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Calcium Carbonate, Copper Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Calcium Iodate, Cobalt Sulfate, Sodium Selenite, Green Tea Extract, Rosemary Extract and Spearmint Extract.
| Ingredients We Liked | Ingredients We Didn’t Like | Common Allergens |
| Lamb Meal Chicken Fat Fish Meal |
Tapioca Peas |
Lamb Fish |
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
Pros
- Made with two concentrated sources of animal protein
- Free from artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives
- Chicken fat provides a nutritious source of essential fatty acids
Cons
- Contains a lot of unnecessary plant ingredients
- High carbohydrate content
- Doesn’t contain the moisture your cat needs
#3 Wishbone Graze Grain-Free Dry Food
The third and final recipe Wishbone has to offer is made with free-range beef and lamb raised in New Zealand. This is the only recipe that contains two named protein sources instead of fish meal.
Like the previous recipes this formula contains chicken fat as the primary source of added fat, but it still has all those plant ingredients. This recipe also contains potatoes in addition to the tapioca, making it a little higher in starch than the others.
The guaranteed analysis of this formula is the same as the other two, so the estimated carbohydrate content is still much too high. It’s also worth mentioning that none of these three dry foods provide the moisture your cat needs for proper hydration.
Overall, this appears to be a largely plant-based dry cat food with moderate protein and fat content but significant carbohydrate content.
Ingredients
Beef Meal, Lamb Meal, Peas, Potatoes, Chicken Fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), Tapioca, Flaxseed, Natural Flavor, Potassium Chloride, Choline Chloride, Sodium Chloride, Magnesium Sulfate, Blueberries, Cranberries, Papaya, Mango, Apples, Basil, Oregano, Rosemary, Thyme, Sunflower Seeds, Chamomile, Peppermint, Camellia, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B1), Riboflavin Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate (Vitamin B5), Niacin (Vitamin B3), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Folic Acid (Vitamin B9), Vitamin B12 Supplement , Ferrous Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Zinc Sulfate, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite, Vitamin K1 Supplement, Cobalt Sulfate, Taurine, Biotin (Vitamin B7), Calcium Propionate, Green Tea Extract, Rosemary Extract, Spearmint Extract.
| Ingredients We Liked | Ingredients We Didn’t Like | Common Allergens |
| Beef Meal Lamb Meal Chicken Fat |
Peas Potatoes Tapioca Flaxseed |
Beef Lamb |
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
Pros
- Two concentrated sources of animal protein as main ingredients
- Chicken fat provides flavor and essential fatty acids
- Free from fillers, by-products, and artificial additives
- No vaguely named ingredients (like fish meal)
Cons
- Made with a lot of unnecessary plant ingredients
- High carbohydrate content
- Doesn’t contain the moisture your cat needs
How Much Does Wishbone Food Cost?
As a largely plant-based dry food, it is a little surprising to find that Wishbone is a little pricey. All three recipes average about $0.24 per ounce which puts it on par with other familiar brands like Acana.
Using Wishbone’s feeding recommendations for an 8-pound cat, you’d feed about ½ cup per day. This averages to about $0.96 per day. Larger cats will require more food and may cost closer to $1.50 to $1.75 per day.
Overall, Is Wishbone Food a Good Choice?
Wishbone is an affordable dry cat food brand that offers three different recipes, all made with high-quality New Zealand proteins. I love the use of grass-fed beef, pasture-raised lamb, and cage-free chicken, though it’s a little disappointing to see them accompanied by vaguely named fish meal.
The high carbohydrate content of these dry foods is also concerning – all three recipes are estimated over 30% which makes them a poor choice in terms of species appropriateness. This brand may be better than similarly priced recipes for its lack of by-products and artificial additives, but it still leaves something to be desired on the whole.
Overall, Wishbone certainly isn’t the worst cat food on the market or even in its price range. That being said, it’s not particularly species-appropriate and you can easily find something better.
Where Is Wishbone Food Sold?
Because Wishbone is based in New Zealand, you may have trouble finding it in stores. Some independent and specialty pet retailers carry Wishbone but the most reliable place to find it is online through Chewy or Amazon.
They’ve just changed their recipie. It’s not on their website but it’s on shelves in nz, completely different