Julia Ogden

Written by Julia Ogden

Georgia Jeremiah

Reviewed by Georgia Jeremiah

Updated: January 16, 2024

The Honest Kitchen Wet Cat Food Review

Updated: January 16, 2024

Our Verdict

star
star
star
star
star

Recommended

The Honest Kitchen wet cat food receives the Cat Food Advisor second highest rating, 4.5 stars.

The Honest Kitchen only uses wholesome foods. Suppliers to The Honest Kitchen must provide proof of food origins, screening, handling and cleaning. Created by a vet nutritionist.

Pros
  • Human grade
  • High in protein
  • No artificial preservatives, feed grade by-products, fillers, GMO ingredients, corn, wheat or soy
  • Vet recommended
  • Money back guarantee
Cons
  • Price is above market average

Each recipe includes its AAFCO nutrient profile: Growth (kitten), Maintenance (adult), All Life Stages, Supplemental or Unspecified.

The Honest Kitchen wet product line includes 10 cat foods.

Product line Rating AAFCO
Minced Chicken in Bone Broth Gravy 4.5 G & M
Minced Turkey in Bone Broth Gravy 4.5 G & M
Minced Turkey Chicken & Duck in Bone Broth Gravy 4.5 G & M
Minced Chicken & Salmon in Bone Broth Gravy 4.5 G & M
Minced Salmon & Cod in Bone Broth Gravy 4.5 G & M
Grain free Chicken Cate (Paté) 4.5 G & M
Grain free Turkey Cate (Paté) 4.5 G & M
Grain free Beef & Chicken Cate (Paté) 4.5 G & M
Grain free Salmon & Turkey Cate (Paté) 4.5 G & M
Grain free Salmon & Cod Cate (Paté) 4.5 G & M

EXCLUSIVE: New customer offer

30% off orders $30+ with code CFA30

Recipe and Label Analysis

The Honest Kitchen Minced Turkey in Bone Broth Gravy 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.

The Honest Kitchen Minced Turkey in Bone Broth Gravy recipe

Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content

52.8%

Protein

22.2%

Fat

17%

CarbsCarbohydrates

Turkey, turkey broth, pumpkin, carrots, blueberries, cranberries, natural turkey flavor, agar-agar, dandelion greens, calcium carbonate, choline chloride, magnesium proteinate, vitamins [vitamin E supplement, vitamin A supplement, niacin supplement, calcium pantothenate (vitamin B5), thiamine mononitrate (vitamin B1), riboflavin (vitamin B2), pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), folic acid, biotin (vitamin B7), vitamin B12 supplement, vitamin D3 supplement], salt, potassium chloride, taurine, minerals [copper proteinate, iron proteinate, manganese proteinate, potassium iodide, zinc proteinate, sodium selenite], tricalcium phosphate, salmon oil, yucca schidigera extract, turmeric


Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 1%

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 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 third ingredient is pumpkin. Pumpkin is a nutritious addition high in complex carbohydrates, beta-carotene and dietary fiber.

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

The fifth ingredient is blueberries.  They are a good source of vitamins, minerals and dietary fiber. 

The sixth ingredient is cranberries, a nutrient-rich fruit that’s also high in fiber.

The seventh ingredient is natural turkey 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. 

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.

EXCLUSIVE: New customer offer

30% off orders $30+ with code CFA30

Nutrient Analysis

Based on its ingredients alone, The Honest Kitchen Minced Turkey in Bone Broth Gravy recipe looks like an above-average wet product.

The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 52.8%, a fat level of 22.2% and an estimated carbohydrate level of 17%.

As a group, the brand features an above average protein content of 54.6% and an above average fat level of 25%. Together these figures suggest a below average carbohydrate content of 12.4% for the overall product line, alongside a fat to protein ratio of 46%.

This means that The Honest Kitchen wet product line contains an above average protein, below average carbs, and above average fat when compared to typical wet cat food. 

Final Word

The Honest Kitchen Minced Turkey in Bone Broth Gravy recipe is a premium product offering high quality ingredients. It aims to create minimally processed and nutritionally balanced pet food using whole food ingredients. The recipes contain human-grade meats, fruits, and vegetables, and the products are free from artificial additives, preservatives, or by-products. 

Has The Honest Kitchen cat food been recalled in the past?

The Honest Kitchen has no known history of product recalls.

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

The Honest Kitchen was founded in 2002 by Lucy Postins in San Diego and is still based there today.

The Honest Kitchen is a premium brand of pet food that focuses on high-quality nutrition as the ultimate recipe for health and wellness.

This brand believes that food is the best medicine, so it focuses its recipes on high-quality, natural ingredients to promote better digestion, higher energy levels, healthier skin and coat, increased appetite, and healthy weight control.

Sources

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