John Seeberg

Written by John Seeberg

Laura Ward

Reviewed by Laura Ward

Updated: June 4, 2024

Gosbi Exclusive Grain Free (Dry) Review

Updated: June 4, 2024

Our Verdict

star
star
star
star
star

Recommended

Gosbi Exclusive Grain Free dry product range is made of three recipes which all receive the Cat Food Advisor rating, 4 stars.

This range of food lists the first ingredient as animal protein.  Both dehydrated and fresh meat is used.  In addition, prebiotics and probiotics are used which is good for a cat’s gut and urinary tract health.

Pros
  • Includes meat and fish protein
  • No artificial colors, flavors, preservatives
  • Contains prebiotics and probiotics
Cons
  • Availability of food outside of Spain
  • Limited range
  • Not complete and balanced to AAFCO

The table below shows each recipe in the range including our rating and the AAFCO nutrient profile: Growth (kitten), Maintenance (adult), All Life Stages, Supplemental or Unspecified.

Product line Rating AAFCO
Gosbi Exclusive Grain Free Chicken & fish kitten 4 U
Gosbi Exclusive Grain Free Turkey & fish cat adult 4 U
Gosbi Exclusive Grain Free Duck & fish cat sterilized 4 U

Recipe and Label Analysis

Gosbi Exclusive Grain Free Turkey & Fish 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.

Gosbi Exclusive Grain Free Turkey & Fish recipe

Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content

37.9%

Protein

16.8%

Fat

37.3%

CarbsCarbohydrates

Turkey and salmon, salmon oil, dehydrated blue whiting, fish broth, dehydrated potato, dehydrated sweet potato, fruits and vegetables, carrot, beet pulp, dehydrated apple, dehydrated pear, dehydrated pumpkin, dehydrated tomato, desiccated brewer's yeast, tapioca, vitamins and minerals, procatvital formula: alfalfa, olive oil, fos, mos, yucca extract, dehydrated chicory pulp, dehydrated red bilberries, dehydrated blue bilberries, dehydrated seaweed, calendula extract, rosemary extract, dehydrated spinach, seeds and psyllium integuments, turmeric root, probiotics.


Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 2%

Red denotes any controversial items

Ingredients Analysis

The first ingredient is turkey. Turkey is considered “the clean combination of flesh and skin derived from the parts or whole carcasses of turkey”. 1

Turkey is naturally rich in the 11 essential amino acids required by a cat to sustain life.

The second ingredient is salmon, an oily marine and freshwater fish not only high in protein but also omega 3 fatty acids, essential oils needed by every cat to sustain life.

The second 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 bio-availability to dogs and humans. 

Depending on its level of freshness and purity, salmon oil should be considered a commendable addition.

The third ingredient is dehydrated blue whiting. a marine or freshwater species native to Canada and the California coast.

The fourth ingredient is fish 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 fifth ingredient is dehydrated potato, a dehydrated potato product usually made from by-products of a food processing plant. This item is equal to corn in calorie content yet possibly with more protein.

The sixth ingredient is dehydrated sweet potato. Sweet potato meal is a dehydrated product made from whole sweet potatoes. Containing just 9% protein, this item should have only minimal effect on the total protein reported in this recipe.

The seventh ingredient is fruits and vegetables. Most fruits can be considered a reasonable source of digestible carbohydrates. And they can also provide dietary fiber as well as plant-based vitamins and minerals. 

However, aside from their caloric energy content, fruits are typically of only modest nutritional value to a cat.

In EU pet food ingredients lists there is the option to detail the names of each individual ingredient in descending weight order, as we see in AAFCO declarations. The other option is to declare groups of ingredients as categories including derivatives of vegetable origin.

By using category declarations this cat food recipe is not fixed, but can include different ingredients at different points — so long as the guaranteed analysis and ingredient categories listed remain the same.

This gives the brand space to adjust its recipe to use ingredients which are more readily available or less expensive. The ingredient can come from any combination of cereals, vegetables, legumes and oil seeds — which can make identifying specific food allergens impossible.

Even though derivatives of vegetable origin can be nutritious, we do not consider an anonymous generic ingredient such as this to be a quality item.

The eighth ingredient is carrots which are rich in beta-carotene, minerals and dietary fiber.

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.

However this recipe contains beet pulp which is a controversial ingredient, a high fiber by-product of sugar beet processing. 

Some denounce beet pulp as an inexpensive filler while others cite its outstanding intestinal health and blood sugar benefits.

We only call your attention here to the controversy and believe the inclusion of beet pulp in reasonable amounts in most cat foods is entirely acceptable.

Recipe star rating 4

Nutrient Analysis

Based on its ingredients alone, Gosbi Exclusive Grain Free Turkey & Fish recipe looks like an above-average dry product.

The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 37.9%, a fat level of 16.8% and an estimated carbohydrate level of 37.3%.

As a group, the brand features an near-average protein content of 37.9% and an above-average fat level of 17.2%. Together these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 36.9% for the overall product line, alongside a fat to protein ratio of 45%.

This means this Gosbi Exclusive Grain Free range contains near-average protein, higher than average carbohydrate and higher than average fat, when compared to typical dry cat food.

Final Word

This range of grain free food offers good sources of meat and fish.  With probiotics, fruit and vegetables and no artificial colors, flavors, preservatives, this food is a good choice for cats.

Has Gosbi Exclusive Grain Free cat food been recalled in the past?

No.  Gosbi has no product recall history.

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

Gosbi is a family business that was founded in 2003  in Girona, Spain. Gosbi owns its kitchen, controls its production, and selects its suppliers. It does not make private-label foods for other companies.

Sources

1: [1. Adapted by the Cat Food Advisor and based upon the official definition for chicken published by the Association of American Feed Control Officials, Official Publication, 2008 Edition].

We uphold the highest editorial standards when creating the authoritative content pet parents rely on and trust.

Every piece of clinical content on the Cat Food Advisor is reviewed by our certified Veterinary Advisory Board, which consists of licensed veterinarians and medically certified specialists.

Our reviews are completely independent; we are not paid by any pet food company to promote their products favorably. We do not accept money, gifts, samples or other incentives in exchange for special consideration. For more information see our Disclaimer & Disclosure page.

Vet with cat