Our Verdict
Authority cat food receives the Cat Food Advisor rating, 4 stars.
The brand is primarily sold through PetSmart, a major pet retail chain and formulated to provide balanced nutrition for cats.
Authority’s wet cat food is available in various flavors and formulations, including pate, chunks in gravy, and shredded varieties.
Pros
- Primary ingredients include good quality meat protein
- Affordable versus some competitor brands
- The product line caters for all the cat life stages as defined by AAFCO
- There is a wide range of formats and recipes to choose from
Cons
- Some varieties contain filler ingredients and grains
Each recipe includes its AAFCO nutrient profile: Growth (kitten), Maintenance (adult), All Life Stages, Supplemental or Unspecified.
The Authority product line includes 21 wet cat foods.
| Product line | Rating | AAFCO |
|---|---|---|
| Authority® Everyday Health Adult Cat Wet Food - 5.5 Oz, Flaked in Gravy | 4 | M |
| Authority® Everyday Health Adult Cat Wet Food - 5.5 Oz, Pate, With-Grain | 4 | M |
| Authority® Urinary Tract Health Cat Wet Food - 3 Oz, Paté | 4.5 | M |
| Authority® Everyday Health Adult Cat Wet Food - 5.5 Oz, Shreds in Gravy, With-Grain | 4 | M |
| Authority® Everyday Health Senior Cat Wet Food - 5.5 Oz, Paté, With-Grain | 4 | M |
| Authority® Everyday Health Kitten Cat Wet Food - 5.5 Oz, Pate, With-Grain | 4.5 | G |
| Authority® Everyday Health Indoor Kitten Cat Wet Food - 3 Oz, Paté, With-Grain | 4 | G |
| Authority® Sensitive Stomach + Skin - Chicken & Turkey 3 oz | 4 | M |
| Authority® Everyday Health Cat Wet Food - 3 Oz, Shreds in Gravy, With-Grain | 4 | M |
| Authority® Sensitive Stomach & Skin Cat Wet Food - 3 Oz, Flaked in Broth, With-Grain | 4.5 | M |
| Authority Entree in Gravy Adult Wet Kitten Food | 4 | G |
| Authority® Everyday Health Cat Wet Food - 3 Oz, Flaked in Gravy, With-Grain | 4 | M |
| Authority® Hairball Control Indoor Cat Wet Food - 3 Oz, Paté, With-Grain | 4 | M |
| Authority® Skin & Coat Cat Wet Food - 3 Oz, Flaked in Broth, With-Grain | 4.5 | M |
| Authority® Weight Management Cat Wet Food - 3 Oz, Paté, With-Grain | 3.5 | M |
| Authority® Gut Health Cat Wet Food - 3 Oz, Flaked in Broth, With-Grain | 4 | M |
| Authority® Weight Management Cat Wet Food - 3 Oz, Shreds in Broth, With-Grain | 4.5 | M |
| Authority® Everyday Health Indoor Cat Wet | 4 | M |
| Authority® Urinary Tract Health Cat Wet Food - 3 Oz, Paté, With-Grain | 4 | M |
| Authority® Digestive Support Cat Wet Food - 5.5 Oz, Puree, Grain Free | 2 | M |
| Authority® Hairball Control Adult Wet Cat Food - Chicken Paté 3 oz | 4 | M |
Recipe and Label Analysis
Authority Sensitive Stomach & Skin Cat Wet Food – 3oz, Flaked in Broth, With-Grain recipe 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.
Authority Sensitive Stomach & Skin Cat Wet Food - 3oz, Flaked in Broth, With-Grain recipe
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Protein
Fat
CarbsCarbohydrates
Tuna, fish broth, pumpkin, sunflower oil, tapioca starch, tricalcium phosphate, guar gum, inulin, minerals (zinc oxide, reduced iron, sodium selenite, manganese sulfate, copper amino acid complex, potassium iodide), vitamins (vitamin E supplement, niacin supplement, thiamine mononitrate, vitamin A supplement, vitamin B12 supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, calcium pantothenate, riboflavin supplement, biotin, vitamin D3 supplement, folic acid, menadione sodium bisulfite complex (source of vitamin K activity), celery extract, turmeric powder, taurine, choline chloride, salt
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 1%
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 fish broth. Broths are nutritionally empty. But because they add both flavor and moisture to a cat food they are a common addition component in many canned products.
The third ingredient is pumpkin. Pumpkin is a nutritious addition high in complex carbohydrates, beta-carotene and dietary fiber.
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 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 seventh ingredient is guar gum, a gelling or thickening agent found in many wet pet foods. Refined from dehusked guar beans, guar gum can add a notable amount of dietary fiber to any product.
The eighth ingredient is inulin which is a starch-like compound made up of repeating units of carbohydrates and typically sourced from chicory root.
Not only is inulin a natural source of soluble dietary fiber, it’s also used to promote the growth of healthy bacteria in a cat’s digestive tract.
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 rating: 4
Nutrient Analysis
Based on its ingredients alone, Authority wet cat food looks like an above-average wet product.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 66.7%, a fat level of 11.1% and an estimated carbohydrate level of 14.2%.
As a group, the brand features an above-average protein content of 50.4% and an above-average fat level of 19.8%. Together these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 21.7% for the overall product line, alongside a fat to protein ratio of 41%.
This means this Authority wet cat food contains higher than average protein, lower than average carbohydrate and higher than average fat, when compared to typical wet cat food.
Final Word
Authority wet cat food is a good all-round product line. It is formulated using quality meat sources which provide above-average protein levels versus other wet food products.
Each recipe in the range is tailored to meet the nutritional needs of cats at different stages of life.
Has Authority cat food been recalled in the past?
Yes. In the spring of 2007, Authority released a recall of several of its formulas due to melamine contamination. Melamine is a nitrogen-based chemical that’s used to create a variety of a bunch of different household goods including plastics, dishware, and utensils.
This plastic compound found its way into certain Authority ingredients that were being sourced from China. This particular melamine contamination wasn’t just a singularity affecting Authority.
Now all Authority formulas are strictly USA-sourced and made and the company has not had a recall since.
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
Authority cat food is created and distributed exclusively by PetSmart LLC — a pet superstore chain. founded in 1986 by Jim and Janice Dougherty.
PetSmart opened its first two stores in 1987 in Phoenix, Arizona, under the name PetFood Warehouse and sold pet food in bulk at discount prices.
PetSmart LLC operates as a specialty retailer of pet services and solutions. The company sells a range of pet food and products, as well as services such as dog training, pet grooming, pet boarding, and pet adoption services. As of 2020, PetSmart has more than 1,650 stores in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico.
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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