Our Verdict
Stella & Chewy’s dry cat food receives the Cat Food Advisor rating, 4.5-stars.
It is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO cat food nutrient profiles for all life stages.
Each recipe in the range is tailored to meet the nutritional needs of cats at different stages of life.
Pros
- Rich in animal protein
- Freeze-dried raw goodness
- Grain and potato free
- No corn, wheat or soy protein
- No by-products
- Contains probiotic
- Contains taurine
Cons
- Quite expensive
Each recipe includes its AAFCO nutrient profile: Growth (kitten), Maintenance (adult), All Life Stages, Supplemental or Unspecified.
The Stella & Chewy’s dry product line includes six cat foods.
| Product line | Rating | AAFCO |
|---|---|---|
| Raw Coated Kibble Cage-Free Chicken Recipe | 4.5 | A |
| Raw Coated Kibble Wild-Caught Salmon Recipe | 4.5 | A |
| Raw Blend Cage Free Recipe | 4.5 | A |
| Raw Coated Kibble Cage-Free Duck Recipe | 4.5 | A |
| Raw Blend Kibble Wild Caught Recipe | 4.5 | A |
| Raw Coated Kibble Kitten Cage-Free Chicken Recipe For Kittens | 4.5 | G |
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Recipe and Label Analysis
Stella & Chewy’s Raw Coated Kibble Cage-Free Chicken 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.
Raw Coated Kibble Cage-Free Chicken Recipe
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Protein
Fat
CarbsCarbohydrates
Cage-free chicken, chicken meal, lentils, peas, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), chicken liver, natural chicken flavor, chicken gizzard ,fenugreek seed, salmon oil (preserved with mixed tocopherols), suncured alfalfa, dandelion greens, taurine, choline chloride, mixed tocopherols (preservative), yucca schidigera extract, thyme, rosemary, sage, organic cranberries, zinc proteinate, iron proteinate, copper proteinate, magnesium proteinate, manganese proteinate, sodium selenite, vitamin E supplement, calcium iodate, thiamine mononitrate, niacin supplement, D-calcium pantothenate, riboflavin supplement, vitamin A supplement ,vitamin D3 supplement, vitamin B12 supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, biotin, folic acid, salt, dried pediococcus acidilactici fermentation product, dried lactobacillus dried bifidobacterium longum fermentation product, dried bacillus coagulans fermentation product
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 5%
Red denotes any controversial items
Ingredients Analysis
The first ingredient is cage-free 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. Chicken meal is considered a meat concentrate and contains nearly 300% more protein than fresh chicken.
The third and fourth ingredient are lentils and peas. Both are a quality source of carbohydrates. Plus (like all legumes) they’re rich in natural fiber. However, they contain about 25% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the actual meat content of this cat food.
The fifth 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 sixth ingredient is chicken liver. This is an organ meat sourced from a named animal and thus considered a beneficial component.
The seventh ingredient is natural chicken flavor. This 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 ingredients. Flavorings are used to make the foods more appealing and tasty for our cats.
The eighth ingredient is chicken giblets, the edible by-products of poultry slaughter. They include the gizzard, lungs, kidneys, heart, spleen, liver, ovaries and most other internal organs of the bird. Although the thought of eating an animal’s internal organs may not be appealing to most humans, these unfamiliar ingredients can be considered a natural part of an authentic feline diet.
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 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.
This recipe receives a 4.5-star rating.
Nutrient Analysis
Based on its ingredients alone, Stella & Chewy’s Raw Coated Kibble Cage-Free Chicken Recipe looks like an above-average dry product.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 44.3%, a fat level of 18.2% and an estimated carbohydrate level of 29.5%.
As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 42% and a mean fat level of 17..3%. Together these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 32.6% for the overall product line, alongside a fat-to-protein ratio of 41%.
This means the Stella & Chewy’s dry product line contains above-average protein, near-average carbs and above-average fat when compared to typical dry cat food.
Final Word
Stella & Chewy’s dry range always contains responsibly-sourced quality animal proteins. Complete and balanced appropriate levels of vitamins and minerals with added Taurine.
Has Stella & Chewy's cat food been recalled in the past?
Yes, Stella & Chewy’s has had two recalls in 2015. One in July, the other in December. Both for potential listeria links.
The products affected in July were:
- Freeze-Dried Chewy’s Chicken Dinner for Dogs, 15 oz., Lot #111-15, Best by April 23, 2016 or April 26, 2016
- Freeze-Dried Chick, Chick, Chicken Dinner for Cats, 12 oz., Lot #111-15, Best by April 29, 2016 or May 3, 2016
- Freeze-Dried Chick, Chick, Chicken Dinner for Cats, 12 oz., Lot #104-15, Best by April 23, 2016
- Freeze-Dried Chick, Chick, Chicken Dinner for Cats, 12 oz., Lot #109-15, Best by April 29, 2016 or May 3, 2016
- Carnivore Crunch – Turkey Recipe, 3.25 oz., Lot #111-15, Best by May 3, 2016 or May 4, 2016
- Carnivore Crunch – Chicken Recipe, 3.25 oz., Lot #110-15, Best by May 3
- Frozen Duck Duck Goose Dinner Morsels for Dogs, 4 lb., Lot #111-15, Best by April 21, 2016
- Frozen Chewy’s Chicken Dinner Morsels for Dogs, 4 lb., Lot #111-15, Best by April 21, 2016
- Frozen Surf ‘N Turf Dinner Patties for Dogs, 6 lb., Lot #111-15, Best by April 21, 2016
- Frozen Chewy’s Chicken Dinner Patties for Dogs, 3 lb. or 6 lb., Lot #111-15, Best by April 21, 2016
- Freeze-Dried Tantalizing Turkey Meal Mixers, 9 oz. or 18 oz., Lot #105-15, Best by May 3, 2016
- Freeze-Dried Tantalizing Turkey Meal Mixers, 18 oz., Lot #113-15, Best by May 3, 2016
- Freeze-Dried Chewy’s Chicken Dinners for Dogs, 15 oz., Lot #114-15, Best by April 26, 2016
- Freeze-Dried Tummy Ticklin’ Turkey Dinner for Cats, 12 oz., Lot #114-15 or #115-15, Best by May 4, 2016
- Freeze-Dried Salmon & Chicken Dinner for Cats, 12 oz., Lot #107-15, Best by April 23, 2016
And the products affected in December were:
- 8 oz. packages of Frozen Stella’s Super Beef Dinner Morsels for Dogs, Lot #165-15, “Best by” June 25, 2016
- 4 lb. packages of Frozen Stella’s Super Beef Dinner Morsels for Dogs, Lot #165-15, “Best by” June 25, 2016 or June 26, 2016
- 1.25 lb. packages of Frozen Duck Duck Goose Dinner Morsels for Cats, Lot #165-15, “Best by” June 25, 2016
- 1.25 lb. packages of Frozen Chick Chick Chicken Dinner Morsels for Cats, Lots #160-15 or 152-15, “Best by” July 2, 2016
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
Stella & Chewy’s was founded by Marie Moody after adopting two dogs named Stella & Chewy, this led to Marie pursuing her passion for pet nutrition and starting her own business.
The privately held business is based in Oak Creek and foods are manufactured at a plant in 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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