Our Verdict
Taste of the Wild dry cat food is made up of five recipes with ratings that vary from 3.5 to 4.5. The average rating of the brand overall is 4 stars.
Pros
- The first ingredient listed is beef
- No artificial ingredients
- Added vitamins and minerals
Cons
- Lower than average protein
- Higher than average carbohydrate
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Taste of the Wild Prey Angus Beef Limited Ingredient Recipe | 3.5 | A |
| Taste of the Wild Canyon River Feline Recipe | 4 | A |
| Taste of the Wild Lowland Creek Feline Recipe | 4.5 | A |
| Taste of the Wild Rocky Mountain Feline Recipe | 4.5 | A |
| Taste of the Wild Prey Turkey Limited Ingredient Recipe | 4 | A |
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Recipe and Label Analysis
Taste of the Wild Prey Angus Beef Limited Ingredient 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.
Taste of the Wild Prey Angus Beef Limited Ingredient Recipe
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Protein
Fat
CarbsCarbohydrates
Beef, lentils, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), natural flavor, salmon oil (source of dha), dl-methionine, salt, potassium chloride, choline chloride, taurine, dried lactobacillus plantarum fermentation product, dried bacillus subtilis fermentation product, dried lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, dried enterococcus faecium fermentation product, dried bifidobacterium animalis fermentation product, zinc proteinate, vitamin E supplement, niacin, manganese proteinate, copper proteinate, zinc sulfate, manganese sulfate, copper sulfate, thiamine mononitrate, vitamin A supplement, biotin, potassium iodide, calcium pantothenate, riboflavin, pyridoxine hydrochloride, vitamin B12 supplement, sodium selenite, vitamin D3 supplement, folic acid.
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 3%
Red denotes any controversial items
Ingredients Analysis
The first ingredient is beef. Beef is defined as “the clean flesh derived from slaughtered cattle” and includes skeletal muscle or the muscle tissues of the tongue, diaphragm, heart or esophagus. 1
Beef is naturally rich in all 11 essential amino acids required by a cat to sustain life.
The second ingredient is lentils. Lentils are a quality source of carbohydrates. Plus (like all legumes) they’re rich in natural fiber.
However, lentils contain about 25% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the actual meat content of this cat food.
The third 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 fourth ingredient is natural flavor. Natural flavors 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 natural flavoring ingredients. Flavorings are used to make the foods more appealing and tasty for our cats.
The fifth 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 sixth ingredient is DL-Methionine, an amino acid, usually included to improve protein quality of the food. DL-Methionine is seen as a positive addition to this food.
The seventh ingredient is salt. Salt is a common additive in many cat foods. That’s because sodium is a necessary mineral for all animals — including humans. Salt can often be found in cat foods to promote cats to drink more water too. This is a means of increasing their hydration and diluting their urine which helps to reduce the likelihood of urinary stones forming.
However, since the actual amount of salt added to this recipe isn’t disclosed on the list of ingredients, it’s impossible to judge the nutritional value of this item.
The eight ingredient is potassium chloride, which is a nutritional supplement sometimes used as a replacement for the sodium found in table salt.
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.
We note the inclusion of dried fermentation products in this recipe. Fermentation products are typically added as probiotics to aid with digestion.
The company also appears to have applied friendly bacteria to the surface of the kibble after cooking. These special probiotics are used to enhance a cat’s digestive and immune functions.
Nutrient Analysis
Based on its ingredients alone,Taste of the Wild Prey Angus Beef Limited Ingredient Recipe looks like an above average dry product.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 33.3%, a fat level of 16.7% and an estimated carbohydrate level of 42%.
As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 38.4% and an above-average fat level of 17.8%. Together these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 35.8% for the overall product line, alongside a fat to protein ratio of 47%.
This means this Taste of the Wild dry range contains average protein, higher than average carbohydrate, higher than average fat, when compared to typical dry cat food.
Final Word
This range of dry food formulas offers good sources of quality animal protein and fish. Vegetables, fruits and various other good ingredients, along with vitamins and minerals can be found across these recipe options.
Has Taste of the Wild cat food been recalled in the past?
Yes, however, just once in May 2012.
This was due to positive tests of salmonella contamination, 14 brands were recalled by Diamond Pet Foods.
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
Taste of the Wild pet food is made by Diamond Pet Foods, a family run business, which has been making foods since 1970.
Taste of the Wild was created more recently, in 2007, to cater for the demand of high quality, grain-free pet food made from natural ingredients.
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Article reviewed by
Pet Nutritionist
Laura studied BSc (Hons) Animal Science with an accreditation in Nutrition at the University of Nottingham, before working for eight years in the pet food and nutrition industry.
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