Our Verdict
Addiction dry cat food receives the Cat Food Advisor rating, 4 stars.
The range is grain free, has an ultra-high protein level and is also free from corn, soy and wheat. It has an AAFCO nutrient profile suitable for the maintenance of adult cats.
Pros
- Contains a range of proteins
- Grain-free
- No artificial ingredients
Cons
- Contains various meal fillers
Each recipe includes its AAFCO nutrient profile: Growth (kitten), Maintenance (adult), All Life Stages, Supplemental or Unspecified.
The Addiction dry product line includes eight cat foods.
| Product line | Rating | AAFCO |
|---|---|---|
| Salmon Bleu Cat | 4 | A |
| Duck Royale Entrée | 4 | A |
| Viva La Venison Cat | 4 | A |
| Chicken Supreme Recipe | 4 | M |
| Highland Meats Recipe | 4 | A |
| Forest Meat Recipe | 4 | A |
| Pacific Catch | 4 | A |
| Island Birds | 4 | A |
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Recipe and Label Analysis
Addiction Duck Royale Entrée was selected to represent the other products in the line for a detailed recipe and nutrient analysis.
Label and nutrient data below are calculated using dry matter basis.
Addiction Duck Royale Entrée
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Protein
Fat
CarbsCarbohydrates
Duck, chicken, chicken meal, fava beans, tapioca, peas, potatoes, chicken fat, flaxseed, natural flavor, fish meal, brewers dried yeast, eggs, fish oil, buffered vinegar, inulin, aloe vera, yucca extract, salt, potassium chloride, choline chloride, taurine, dl-methionine, zinc amino acid complex, iron amino acid complex, calcium carbonate, niacin (vitamin B3), vitamin E supplement, copper amino acid complex, manganese amino acid complex, thiamine mononitrate (vitamin B1), D-calcium pantothenate (vitamin B5), sodium selenite, riboflavin supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), vitamin A supplement, biotin, vitamin C supplement, vitamin B12 supplement, cobalt sulfate, folic acid, calcium iodate, vitamin K1 supplement, vitamin D3 supplement, mixed tocopherols (for added freshness), rosemary extract, tea extract, spearmint extract
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 5%
Red denotes any controversial items
Ingredients Analysis
The first and second ingredients are named meats – duck & chicken.
Both are considered “the clean combination of flesh and skin… derived from the parts or whole carcasses of duck or chicken”.1 and are naturally rich in the 11 essential amino acids required by a cat to sustain life.
Although they are quality items, raw duck and chicken contain up to 73% water. After cooking, most of that moisture is lost, reducing the meat content to just a fraction of its original weight.
The third ingredient is chicken meal, a meat concentrate which contains nearly 300% more protein than fresh chicken.
The fourth ingredient is fava beans. These are legumes naturally high in dietary fiber and other healthy nutrients. However, beans contain about 25% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the meat content of this cat food.
The fifth ingredient is tapioca. A gluten-free, starchy carbohydrate extract made from the root of the cassava plant.
The sixth ingredient is peas which are a quality source of carbohydrates. And like all legumes, they’re rich in natural fiber. However, peas contain about 25% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the meat content of this cat food.
The seventh ingredient is potatoes which can be considered a gluten-free source of digestible carbohydrates. Yet with the exception of perhaps their caloric content, potatoes are of only modest nutritional value to a cat.
The eight ingredient is chicken fat which is obtained from rendering chicken, a process similar to making soup in which the fat itself is skimmed from the surface of the liquid. Chicken fat is high in linoleic acid, an omega-6 fatty acid essential for life. Although it doesn’t sound very appetizing, chicken fat is actually a quality ingredient.
From here the list goes on to include a number of other items. But to be realistic, ingredients located this far down the list (other than nutritional supplements) are not likely to affect the overall rating of the product.
Recipe star 4-star rating.
Nutrient Analysis
Based on its ingredients alone, Addiction dry cat food looks like an average product.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 37.8%, a fat level of 16.7% and an estimated carbohydrate level of 37.6%.
As a group, the brand features an above-average protein content of 42.8% and an above-average fat level of 16.7%. Together these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 32.6% for the overall product line, alongside a fat to protein ratio of 40%.
This means that Addiction Dry Cat Food contains higher than average protein, near average carbohydrate and higher than average fat, when compared to typical dry cat food.
Final Word
Addiction dry cat food is nutrient-dense due to organ meats and antioxidant-rich ingredients. The range is rapidly air-dried at a lower temperature to ensure maximum nutritional benefits are sealed in to maintain its savory taste and aroma.
Has Addiction cat food been recalled in the past?
Yes. Addiction has undergone one recall in its history, when more than 350 cases of its dog food were recalled in September 2016.
This was due to a discrepancy in the calcium and phosphorus ratios and because the food was too high in vitamin A. However, there were no reported instances of illness associated with this recall.
For more details visit the Dog Food Advisor.
You can view a complete list of all cat food recalls since 2021 here.
To stay on top of any cat food product recalls, sign up for our free email alerts, here.
About
Addiction is a family run business. It was established in 2002 by Jerel Kwek, when he discovered his Golden Retriever, Zack, was suffering from skin and gastrointestinal problems as a result of poor nutrition in commercially available foods at the time.
Addiction cat food is produced in New Zealand and sold in 15 countries around the world including the US & Canada.
Sources
Best cat foods
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Article reviewed by
Veterinarian
Dr Georgia Jeremiah has a first class honors degree in comparative pathology with field experience in anatomic and clinical pathology, studying disease processes in a multitude of species.
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