John Seeberg

Written by John Seeberg

Laura Ward

Reviewed by Laura Ward

Updated: June 4, 2024

Kitzy (Dry) Review

Updated: June 4, 2024

Our Verdict

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star
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Recommended

Kitzy dry product range is made of two recipes which all receive the Cat Food Advisor rating, 4 stars.

This range of formulas are made with either turkey or whitefish and peas. All of Kitzy’s cat foods are made with animal protein as the first ingredient and both dry formulas are grain-free.  Carbohydrate content is high so this needs to be considered when evaluating each recipe.

Pros
  • First ingredient listed as animal and fish
  • No corn, wheat, or soy
  • Affordable
Cons
  • High in carbohydrate
  • Contains plant based protein
  • Limited range

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
Kitzy Dry Cat Food, Turkey and Pea Recipe, Grain-Free 4 A
Kitzy Dry Cat Food, Whitefish and Pea Recipe, Grain-Free 4 A

Recipe and Label Analysis

Kitzy Dry Cat Food, Turkey and Pea Recipe, Grain-Free 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.

Kitzy Dry Cat Food, Turkey and Pea Recipe, Grain-Free

Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content

36.7%

Protein

17.8%

Fat

37.6%

CarbsCarbohydrates

Turkey, turkey meal, chicken meal, dried peas, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), flaxseeds, dried sweet potatoes, dried plain beet pulp, tapioca starch, pea starch, natural and artificial flavors, potassium chloride, salt, fish oil, dl-methionine, taurine, choline chloride, citric acid (preservative), mixed tocopherols (preservative), l-tryptophan, vitamin E supplement, ferrous sulfate, l-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate (source of vitamin C), zinc oxide, niacin supplement, copper sulfate, sodium selenite, vitamin A supplement, manganous oxide, thiamine mononitrate, menadione sodium bisulfite complex, pyridoxine hydrochloride, D-calcium pantothenate, riboflavin supplement, calcium iodate, vitamin B12 supplement, vitamin D3 supplement, folic acid, biotin, rosemary extract.


Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 4.5%

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 turkey meal. Turkey meal is considered a meat concentrate and contains nearly 300% more protein than fresh turkey.

The third ingredient is dried peas which are a quality source of carbohydrates. And like all legumes, they’re rich in natural fiber.

However, peas contain about 25% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the meat content of this cat food.

The fourth 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 fifth ingredient is flaxseeds, one of the best plant sources of healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Provided they’ve first been ground into a meal, flax seeds are also rich in soluble fiber.

However, flaxseed contains about 19% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the actual meat content of this cat food.

The sixth ingredient is dried sweet potatoes. Sweet potatoes are a gluten-free source of complex carbohydrates in cat food. They are naturally rich in dietary fiber and beta carotene.

The seventh ingredient is dried plain beet pulp. Beet pulp 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.

The eighth ingredient is tapioca starch, a gluten-free, starchy carbohydrate extract made from the root of the cassava plant. 

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 artificial coloring. We are always disappointed to see this in any pet food. That’s because coloring is used to make the product more appealing to humans – not your cat. After all, do you really think your cat cares what color their food is?

Finally this recipe also contains menadione, a controversial form of vitamin K linked to liver toxicity, allergies and the abnormal break-down of red blood cells.

Since vitamin K isn’t required by AAFCO in its nutrient profiles, we question the use of this item in any feline recipe.

Recipe star rating 4

Nutrient Analysis

Based on its ingredients alone, Kitzy Dry Cat Food, 

Turkey and Pea Recipe, Grain-Free looks like an above-average dry product.

The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 36.7%, a fat level of 17.8% and an estimated carbohydrate level of 37.6%.

As a group, the brand features a near-average protein content of 37.8% and an above-average fat level of 18.9%. Together these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 35.3% for the overall product line, alongside a fat to protein ratio of 50%.

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

Final Word

This is a small range of food which comes in dry kibble form, with protein derived from animal and fish. Another positive is that it is free from low-value grains like corn, wheat, and soy.

Has Kitzy cat food been recalled in the past?

No. Kitzy 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

Kitzy is owned and produced by Amazon. It is made in a family-owned facility in Arkansas, USA. 

The ingredients are sourced from around the world.

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].

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