Our Verdict
Dr Elsey’s wet cat food receives the Cat Food Advisor rating, 5 stars
This range of food is made in pate form and caters for all life stages. Each recipe lists the first ingredient as animal protein and also includes additional animal organs. The protein content is high, whilst the carbohydrate level is low. Each recipe has high fat content, along with lots of moisture. This food offers a very good diet option.
Pros
- High in protein
- Multiple animal protein sources
- Low in carbohydrate
Cons
- More expensive than other cat foods
Each recipe includes its AAFCO nutrient profile: Growth (kitten), Maintenance (adult), All Life Stages, Supplemental or Unspecified.
Elsey’s wet product line includes nine cat foods.
| Product line | Rating | AAFCO |
|---|---|---|
| Dr Elsey’s Chicken Recipe Paté | 5 | A |
| Dr Elsey’s Turkey Recipe Paté | 5 | A |
| Dr Elsey’s Beef Recipe Paté | 5 | A |
| Dr Elsey’s Ocean Whitefish Recipe Paté | 5 | A |
| Dr Elsey’s Rabbit & Turkey Recipe Paté | 5 | A |
| Dr Elsey’s Salmon Recipe Paté | 5 | A |
| Dr Elsey’s Pork Recipe Paté | 5 | A |
| Dr Elsey’s Duck Recipe Paté | 5 | A |
| Dr Elsey’s Duck & Turkey Recipe Paté | 5 | A |
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Recipe and Label Analysis
Dr Elsey’s Chicken Recipe Paté 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.
Dr Elsey’s Chicken Recipe Paté
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Protein
Fat
CarbsCarbohydrates
Chicken, chicken broth, chicken liver, dried egg product, agar-agar, salmon oil, natural flavor, new zealand green mussel, salt, dried barley grass, calcium sulfate, sodium tripolyphosphate, taurine, potassium chloride, magnesium oxide, choline chloride, betaine anhydrous, zinc proteinate, iron proteinate, niacin, vitamin E supplement, thiamine mononitrate, copper proteinate, manganese proteinate, sodium selenite, calcium pantothenate, vitamin a supplement, riboflavin pyridoxine hydrochloride, biotin, vitamin B12 supplement, calcium iodate, vitamin D3 supplement, folic acid.
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 1.5%
Red denotes any controversial items
Ingredients Analysis
The first ingredient is chicken. Chicken is considered “the clean combination of flesh and skin derived from the parts or whole carcasses of chicken”. 1
Chicken is naturally rich in the 11 essential amino acids required by a cat to sustain life.
The second ingredient is chicken broth. Broths are of only modest nutritional value. Yet because they add both flavor and moisture to a cat food, they are a common component in many wet products.
The third ingredient is chicken liver. This is an organ meat sourced from a named animal and thus considered a beneficial component.
The fourth ingredient is dried egg product, which is a dehydrated form of shell-free eggs. Quality can vary significantly. Lower grade egg-product can even come from commercial hatcheries — from eggs that have failed to hatch.
In any case, eggs are easy to digest and have an exceptionally high biological value.
The fifth ingredient is agar-agar which is a natural vegetable gelatin derived from the cell walls of certain species of red algae. Agar is rich in fiber and is used in wet pet foods as a gelling agent.
The sixth ingredient is salmon oil. Salmon oil is naturally rich in the prized EPA and DHA type of omega-3 fatty acids. These two high quality fats boast the highest bioavailability to dogs and humans.
Depending on its level of freshness and purity, salmon oil should be considered a commendable addition.
The seventh 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 eighth ingredient is New Zealand green mussels. Mussels are clam-like animals notably rich in glucosamine and omega-3 fatty acids, nutrients proven to support long-term joint health.
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, Dr Elsey’s Chicken Recipe Paté looks like an above-average wet product.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 50%, a fat level of 36.4% and an estimated carbohydrate level of 5.6%.
As a group, the brand features an above-average protein content of 47.5% and an above-average fat level of 29.5%. Together these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 15% for the overall product line, alongside a fat to protein ratio of 62%.
This means that Dr Elsey’s pate range contains higher than average protein, lower than average carbohydrate and higher than average fat, when compared to typical wet cat food.
Final Word
Dr Elsey’s wet cat food provides high levels of protein derived from multiple animal meat sources. High protein content also means that a cat can eat less and stay full for longer.
The Cat Food Advisor recommends this food.
Has Dr Elsey's cat food been recalled in the past?
No. Dr Elsey’s cat food has not been recalled.
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
Dr Elsey’s was established in 1989, by Dr Bruce Elsey.
In 2017, the company launched its first product line of cat food called cleanprotein™
The food is manufactured in the United States from ingredients sourced around the world.
Dr. Elsey’s doesn’t source any primary ingredients from China, but may use China-sourced taurine.
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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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