Our Verdict
Fromm Gold dry cat food receives the Cat Food Advisor rating, 3 stars.
This dry food includes good quality meat sources as the first ingredient in every recipe. However, some recipes do contain controversial ingredients like tomato pomace and dried yeast. The carbohydrate content is higher than average, hence our 3-star rating.
Pros
- Relatively well priced versus other dry cat food brands
- Made with fiber-rich flaxseed
- Does not contain fillers, by-products, or artificial additives
Cons
- Contains multiple controversial ingredients
- Low protein content
- Moisture level is low
- Contains a small amount of plant-based proteins
Each recipe includes its AAFCO nutrient profile: Growth (kitten), Maintenance (adult), All Life Stages, Supplemental or Unspecified.
The Fromm Gold dry product line includes four cat foods.
| Product line | Rating | AAFCO |
|---|---|---|
| Adult Gold | 3 | M |
| Kitten Gold | 3 | G |
| Healthy Weight Gold | 3 | M |
| Indoor Cat Gold | 3 | M |
Recipe and Label Analysis
Fromm Adult Gold 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.
Fromm Adult Gold recipe
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Protein
Fat
CarbsCarbohydrates
Chicken, chicken meal, pearled barley, white rice, salmon meal, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), dried tomato pomace, dried egg product, potatoes, duck, salmon oil (preserved with mixed tocopherols), cheese, flaxseed, brewers dried yeast, chicken liver, alfalfa meal, dl-methionine, potassium chloride, choline chloride, vitamin E supplement, niacin supplement, ascorbic acid, calcium carbonate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, vitamin A supplement, folic acid, calcium pantothenate, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin supplement, vitamin D3 supplement, biotin, vitamin B12 supplement, chicken cartilage, chicory root extract, salt, monosodium phosphate, zinc sulfate, manganese sulfate, ferrous sulfate, magnesium sulfate, zinc proteinate, ferrous proteinate, manganese proteinate, copper sulfate, copper proteinate, calcium iodate, sorbic acid (preservative), yucca schidigera extract, sodium selenite, taurine, dried lactobacillus paracasei fermentation product, dried lactobacillus reuteri fermentation product, dried lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, dried lactobacillus plantarum fermentation product
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 4.5%
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 meal, which is considered a meat concentrate and contains nearly 300% more protein than fresh chicken.
The third ingredient is pearled barley. Barley is a starchy carbohydrate supplying fiber and other healthy nutrients. However, aside from its energy content, this cereal grain is of only modest nutritional value to a cat.
The fourth ingredient is white rice, a less nutritious form of rice in which the grain’s healthier outer layer has been removed.
The fifth ingredient is salmon meal. Because it is considered a meat concentrate, fish meal contains almost 300% more protein than fresh fish itself.
Fish meal is typically obtained from the “clean, dried, ground tissue of undecomposed whole fish and fish cuttings” of commercial fish operations. 2
The sixth ingredient is chicken fat. Chicken fat 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.
The seventh ingredient is dried tomato pomace, a dried by-product of tomato processing similar to tomato pomace. This item is of only limited nutritional value to a cat and more typically associated with commercial poultry feeds.
The eighth ingredient is dried egg product, 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.
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.
It contains dried brewers yeast which can be a controversial item. Although it’s a by-product of the beer making process, this ingredient is rich in minerals and other healthy nutrients.
Fans believe yeast repels fleas and supports the immune system.Critics argue yeast ingredients can be linked too. This may be true, but (like all allergies) only if your particular cat is allergic to the yeast itself.
In any case, unless your cat is specifically allergic to it, yeast can still be considered a nutritious additive.
What’s more noteworthy here is that brewers yeast contains about 48% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the actual meat content of this cat food.
This food also contains chelated minerals that have been chemically attached to protein. This makes them easier to absorb. Chelated minerals are usually found in better cat foods.
And finally, we note the inclusion of dried fermentation products in this recipe. Fermentation products are typically added as probiotics to aid with digestion.
Recipe star rating 3
Nutrient Analysis
Based on its ingredients alone, Fromm Adult Gold recipe looks like an average dry product.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 35.6%, a fat level of 20% and an estimated carbohydrate level of 36.4%.
As a group, the brand features a below-average protein content of 35.6% and an above-average fat level of 17.8%. Together these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 38.7% for the overall product line, alongside a fat to protein ratio of 50%.
This means this Fromm Gold dry range contains lower than average protein, higher than average carbohydrate, higher than average fat, when compared to typical dry cat food.
Final Word
Overall, this cat food contains moderate levels of protein and high fat and carbohydrate content compared to other dry cat foods.
Each recipe also contains fruits, vegetables, and grains to create a well-rounded and nutritionally balanced diet for cats at various life stages and dietary preferences.
Has Fromm cat food been recalled in the past?
No. None of Fromm’s cat food recipes have ever 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
Fromm has been privately owned and family operated since it was founded in 1904. Fourth generation family member Tom Nieman is the current president, owner and head chef.
The company manufactures its own wet and dry food for dogs and cats. Its dry facilities are located in Mequon, Wisconsin, and Columbus, Wisconsin, and the wet food cannery is in Eden, Wisconsin.
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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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