Our Verdict
Drools dry cat food receives the Cat Food Advisor rating, 3.5 stars
There are a variety of recipe choices tailored to the specific dietary requirements of kittens, adult and senior cats. They are made from high-quality ingredients including fish meat which is listed as the first ingredient in each recipe.
Pros
- Fish meat listed as first ingredient
- Range caters to kittens, adult and senior cats
Cons
- Low in protein versus average cat food
- Very high in carbohydrate
Each recipe includes its AAFCO nutrient profile: Growth (kitten), Maintenance (adult), All Life Stages, Supplemental or Unspecified.
The Drools product line includes four dry cat foods.
| Product line | Rating | AAFCO |
|---|---|---|
| Ocean Fish Kitten | 3.5 | G |
| Tuna & Salmon Adult | 3.5 | M |
| Ocean Fish Adult | 3.5 | M |
| Mackerel Adult | 3.5 | M |
Recipe and Label Analysis
Drools Ocean Fish Adult Cat Food 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.
Drools Ocean Fish Adult Cat Food recipe
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Protein
Fat
CarbsCarbohydrates
Real sardine, real mackerel, eggs, corn gluten meal, whole grain cereals, soya refined oil, wheat flour, taurine, vitamins (vit A, vit E, vit B1, vit B6, vit B2, vit B12, choline, niacin, folic acid) organic minerals (zinc, iron, copper, selenium, manganese), prebiotics & probiotics
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 2.5%
Red denotes any controversial items
Ingredients Analysis
The first ingredient is real sardine, which is naturally rich in the prized EPA and DHA type of omega-3 fatty acids. These two high quality fats boast the highest bio-availability to cats and humans.
Depending on its level of freshness and purity, sardine should be considered a commendable addition.
The second ingredient is real mackerel. Mackerel is an oily salt-water fish naturally high in protein as well as omega-3 fatty acids, an essential fat needed by every cat to sustain life.
The third ingredient is eggs. Eggs are easy to digest and have an exceptionally high biological value.
The fourth ingredient is corn gluten meal. Gluten is the rubbery residue remaining once corn has had most of its starchy carbohydrate washed out of it.
Although corn gluten meal contains 60% protein, this ingredient would be expected to have a lower biological value than meat.
And less costly plant-based products like this can notably boost the total protein reported on the label — a factor that must be considered when judging the actual meat content of this cat food.
The fifth ingredient is whole grain cereals. Whole grains, or foods made from them, contain all the essential parts and naturally-occurring nutrients of the entire grain seed in their original proportions. If the grain has been processed (e.g., cracked, crushed, rolled, extruded, and/or cooked), the food product should deliver the same rich balance of nutrients that are found in the original grain seed.
This definition means that 100% of the original kernel – all of the bran, germ, and endosperm – must be present to qualify as a whole grain [Whole Grains Council, 2004].
There are 14 grain species which can be defined as whole grain cereals. Dependent on the grains included, the nutrients supplied can vary hugely. Whole grain cereals does not give us much information about the particular ingredient included in this food.
Generally, whole grain cereals contain fibers, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals. Aside from its energy content, however, this whole grain cereal is of only modest nutritional value to a cat.
The sixth ingredient is soya refined oil, which is red flagged here only due to its rumored (yet unlikely) link to feline food allergies.
However, since soybean oil is high in omega-6 fatty acids and contains no omega-3s, it’s considered less nutritious than flaxseed oil or a named animal fat.
The seventh ingredient is wheat flour, a highly-refined product of wheat milling. Like corn, wheat is an inexpensive and controversial cereal grain of only modest nutritional value to a cat.
For this reason, we do not consider wheat a preferred component in any cat food.
The eighth ingredient is taurine, an essential amino acid for cats associated with the healthy function of heart muscle and eye sight, and is crucial for maintaining good health in cats.
We view the presence of taurine in this recipe as a positive addition.
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 3.5
Nutrient Analysis
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 35.6%, a fat level of 13.3% and an estimated carbohydrate level of 43.1%.
As a group, the brand features a below-average protein content of 34.8% and a near-average fat level of 14.1%. Together these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 43.1% for the overall product line, alongside a fat to protein ratio of 41%.
This means this Drools range contains lower than average protein, higher than average carbohydrate and near-average fat, when compared to typical dry cat food.
Final Word
This range caters to all cat life stages and contains good omega-3 sources. The first ingredient listed in each recipe is good quality fish meat, however, protein levels are low, whilst carbohydrate
content is high. On balance, this food is average versus other dry cat foods.
Has Drools cat food been recalled in the past?
No. Drools cat food has never 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
Drools Pet Food was founded by Fahim Sultan in 2010 in the Chattisgarh state of India. It has since expanded globally, exporting its products to more than 22 countries including the USA, Canada and Australia.
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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