Our Verdict
Wellness Complete Health Dry cat food receives the Cat Food Advisor above average rating, 4 stars.
This is a well-rounded food that features protein and fats with added taurine for heart health. It also contains essential fatty acids to help maintain your cat’s healthy coat.
Pros
- Added vitamins & minerals
- Contains omega fatty acids
- Healthy protein blend
- Contains taurine
- Contains probiotics
Cons
- Contains a small amount of plant-based proteins
- Low in moisture
Each recipe includes its AAFCO nutrient profile: Growth (kitten), Maintenance (adult), All Life Stages, Supplemental or Unspecified.
Wellness Complete Health dry product line includes five cat foods.
| Product line | Rating | AAFCO |
|---|---|---|
| Wellness Complete Health Adult with Wholesome Grains Salmon & Salmon Meal | 4 | M |
| Wellness Complete Health Adult with Wholesome Grains Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal & Rice | 4 | M |
| Wellness Complete Health Indoor with Wholesome Grains Deboned Chicken & Chicken Meal | 4 | M |
| Wellness Hairball Control with Wholesome Grains Chicken Meal & Rice | 4 | M |
| Wholesome Grains Kitten Chicken & Chicken Meal Recipe | 4 | M |
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Recipe and Label Analysis
Wellness Complete Health Adult with Wholesome Grains Salmon & Salmon Meal 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.
Wellness Complete Health Adult with Wholesome Grains Salmon & Salmon Meal
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Protein
Fat
CarbsCarbohydrates
Salmon, salmon meal, herring meal, menhaden fish meal, rice, barley, oatmeal, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), ground flaxseed, tomato pomace, natural fish flavor, cranberries, chicory root extract, potassium chloride, choline chloride, taurine, calcium chloride, vitamin E supplement, zinc proteinate, mixed tocopherols added to preserve freshness, glucosamine hydrochloride, chondroitin sulfate, zinc sulfate, calcium carbonate, niacin, iron proteinate, ferrous sulfate, vitamin A supplement, ascorbic acid (vitamin C), copper sulfate, thiamine mononitrate, copper proteinate, manganese proteinate, manganese sulfate, D-calcium pantothenate, sodium selenite, pyridoxine hydrochloride, riboflavin, dried kelp, yucca schidigera extract, menadione sodium bisulfite complex (vitamin K), vitamin D3 supplement, biotin, calcium iodate, vitamin B12 supplement, folic acid, dried lactobacillus plantarum fermentation product, dried enterococcus faecium fermentation product, dried lactobacillus casei fermentation product, dried lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, rosemary extract, green tea extract, spearmint extract.
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 3%
Red denotes any controversial items
Ingredients Analysis
The first ingredient is salmon. Salmon is 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, third and forth ingredients are salmon meal, herring meal and menhaden fish meal.
Because it is considered a meat concentrate, fish meal contains almost 300% more protein than fresh fish itself. Fish meal is typically obtained from the “clean, dried, ground tissue of undecomposed whole fish and fish cuttings” of commercial fish operations. 1
Fish meat is naturally rich in the 11 essential amino acids required by a cat to sustain life.
The fifth ingredient is rice. Is this whole grain rice, brown rice or white rice? Since the word “rice” doesn’t tell us much, it’s impossible to judge the quality of this item.
The sixth ingredient is barley oatmeal, a whole-grain product made from coarsely ground oats. Oatmeal is naturally rich in B-vitamins, dietary fiber and can be (depending upon its level of purity) gluten-free.
The seventh 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 eighth ingredient is flaxseed, 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.
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.
Nutrient Analysis
Based on its ingredients alone, Wellness Complete Health Adult with Wholesome Grains Salmon & Salmon Meal looks like an above average dry product.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 40%, a fat level of 20% and an estimated carbohydrate level of 32%.
As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 40% and a mean fat level of 17.8%. Together these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 34.2%, alongside a fat-to-protein ratio of 44%.This means this Wellness Complete Health dry product line contains near-average protein and near-average carbohydrate content and above-average fat when compared to typical dry cat food.
Final Word
Wellness Complete Health is a dry cat food made from natural ingredients and contains essential fatty acids along with meat and fish-derived ingredients.
Recommended.
Has Wellness Complete cat food been recalled in the past?
Wellness has had a few cat food recalls. The most recent was in February 2017, when a number of canned cat foods were recalled due to the potential for foreign material.
In February 2011, the following Wellness canned cat foods were recalled due to inadequate levels of thiamine (Vitamin B1)
- Wellness (all flavors and sizes, including CORE) with “best by” dates of April 14–Sept. 30, 2013
- Wellness Chicken & Herring (all sizes) with “best by” dates of either Nov. 10, 2013 OR Nov. 17, 2013
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
Wellness Pet Company’s headquarters is just outside Boston, in Tewksbury, Massachusetts. It maintains the Farm Fresh Kitchen manufacturing facility in Minnesota and a manufacturing plant in Indiana.
The company consists of Wellness Natural Pet Food, Old Mother Hubbard by Wellness, WHIMZEES by Wellness, Sojos, Eagle Pack and Holistic Select.
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Article reviewed by
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Julia Ogden, is a former journalist with more than 10 years’ experience in content marketing; specializing in writing for people as well as a Google algorithm.
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