Our Verdict
Almo Nature HQS La Cucina cat food receives the Cat Food Advisor rating, 5 stars
This range of wet food lists animal protein as the first ingredient. Protein level is very high, carbohydrates low and each recipe is rich with moisture and added vitamins and minerals.
Pros
- First ingredient listed is human grade animal meat
- High in protein
- Low in carbohydrate
- Added vitamins and minerals
Cons
- Includes sunflower oil
- More expensive than some other cat foods
- Relatively small range
Each recipe includes its AAFCO nutrient profile: Growth (kitten), Maintenance (adult), All Life Stages, Supplemental or Unspecified.
The Almo Nature HQS La Cucina product line includes six wet cat foods.
| Product line | Rating | AAFCO |
|---|---|---|
| HQS La Cucina Chicken Dinner with Pineapple in Gravy | 5 | M |
| HQS La Cucina Chicken Dinner with Whitefish in Gravy | 5 | M |
| HQS La Cucina Tuna Dinner with Papaya in Gravy | 5 | M |
| HQS La Cucina Chicken Dinner with Apple in Jelly | 5 | M |
| HQS La Cucina Tuna Dinner with Lobster in Jelly | 5 | M |
| HQS La Cucina Tuna Dinner with Sole in Jelly | 5 | M |
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Recipe and Label Analysis
Almo Nature HQS La Cucina Tuna Dinner with Papaya in Gravy 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.
Almo Nature HQS La Cucina Tuna Dinner with Papaya in Gravy
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Protein
Fat
CarbsCarbohydrates
Tuna, water sufficient for processing, papaya, sunflower oil, tapioca starch, natural flavor, tricalcium phosphate, minerals (zinc oxide, reduced iron, sodium selenite, manganese sulfate monohydrate, copper glycine complex, potassium iodide), choline chloride, taurine, vitamins (vitamin E supplement, niacin supplement, vitamin A supplement, vitamin B12 supplement, vitamin D3 supplement, calcium pantothenate, riboflavin supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, biotin, folic acid, menadione sodium bisulfite complex (source of vitamin K activity).
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 0.5%
Red denotes any controversial items
Ingredients Analysis
The first ingredient is tuna. Tuna is an oily marine fish not only high in protein but also omega 3 fatty acids, essential oils needed by every cat to sustain life.
This item is typically sourced from clean, undecomposed whole fish and fish cuttings of commercial fish operations. 1
The second ingredient is water, which adds nothing but moisture to this food. Water is a routine finding in most wet cat foods.
The third ingredient is papaya. a tropical fruit rich in dietary fiber, potassium, vitamin A and other healthy nutrients.
The fourth ingredient is sunflower oil. Sunflower oil is nutritionally similar to safflower oil. Since these oils are high in omega-6 fatty acids and contain no omega-3s, they’re considered less nutritious than canola or flaxseed oils.
Sunflower oil is notable for its resistance to heat damage during cooking. There are several different types of sunflower oil, some better than others. Without knowing more, it’s impossible to judge the quality of this ingredient.
The fifth ingredient is tapioca starch, a gluten-free, starchy carbohydrate extract made from the root of the cassava plant.
The sixth ingredient is natural flavor. Natural flavors doesn’t give us much information about the particular ingredients included in this cat food for flavoring purposes.
We’re pleased that the flavorings used are natural, but more details are required to give any further information about these natural flavoring ingredients. Flavorings are used to make the foods more appealing and tasty for our cats.
The seventh ingredient is tricalcium phosphate, a beneficial source of calcium and phosphorus. In addition, this additive is used in wet foods as an emulsifier – an agent designed to disperse a food’s fats more evenly in water.
The eighth ingredient is minerals. Minerals are included in this ingredients list, as in Europe ingredients are declared a little differently.
In the US, our nutritional additives are listed within our ingredients list. In Europe, ingredients and additives are listed separately. For that reason the category of minerals can include those elements which are classed as an ingredient, rather than an additive, such as calcium carbonate and magnesium oxide. These elements contribute to the nutritional balance of a food and we see their inclusion as a positive.
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.
Nutrient Analysis
Based on its ingredients alone, Almo Nature HQS La Cucina Tuna Dinner with Papaya in Gravy looks like an above-average wet product.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 75.7%, a fat level of 8.1% and an estimated carbohydrate level of 8.2%.
As a group, the brand features an above-average protein content of 75.7% and a below-average fat level of 8.1%. Together these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 8.2% for the overall product line, alongside a fat to protein ratio of 11%.
This means that Almo Nature HQS La Cucina range contains higher than average protein, lower than average carbohydrate and lower than average fat, when compared to typical wet cat food.
Final Word
This range of food offers high quality sourced animal meat which was originally fit for human consumption. Each recipe is enriched with vitamins and minerals and carbohydrate content is low. This food represents a very good diet option for cats.
The Cat Food Advisor recommends this food.
Has Almo Nature cat food been recalled in the past?
No. Almo Nature has not had a product recall.
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
Almo Nature was founded in 2000 in Genoa, Italy, by Pier Giovanni Capellino. Since June 28th, 2019, Almo Nature has been owned by Fondazione Capellino.
Interestingly, Almo Nature declared in March 2018 that all of the company’s profits would be allocated to a non-profit organization benefiting cats and dogs.
Almo Nature’s United States operation is based in Miami, Florida and there is a Canadian subsidiary of Almo Nature based in Quebec.
Sources
Best cat foods
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Article reviewed by
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Julia Ogden, is a former journalist with more than 10 years’ experience in content marketing; specializing in writing for people as well as a Google algorithm.
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