Our Verdict
Wellness Complete Health Pate wet cat food receives the Cat Food Advisor second highest rating, 4 stars.
Made from natural ingredients, this range is high in protein and contains essential fatty acids to help maintain your cat’s healthy coat.
Pros
- Rich in species-appropriate animal ingredients
- Moisture-rich food promotes healthy hydration
- Free from artificial ingredients
- Low carbohydrate and plant content
Cons
- Above average fat content
Each recipe includes its AAFCO nutrient profile: Growth (kitten), Maintenance (adult), All Life Stages, Supplemental or Unspecified.
The product line includes 11 cat foods.
| Product line | Rating | AAFCO |
|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 4 | M |
| Chicken & Herring | 4 | M |
| Turkey & Salmon | 4 | M |
| Beef & Chicken | 4 | M |
| Turkey | 4 | M |
| Chicken & Lobster | 4 | M |
| Kitten: Whitefish & Tuna | 4 | G |
| Kitten: Chicken | 4 | G |
| Beef & Salmon | 4 | M |
| Age Advantage Chicken | 4 | U |
| Age Advantage Tuna & Salmon | 4 | U |
Buy at 
Recipe and Label Analysis
Wellness Complete Health Chicken Paté 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 Paté Chicken
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Protein
Fat
CarbsCarbohydrates
Chicken, chicken liver, turkey, chicken broth, carrots, natural flavor, guar gum, cranberries, ground flaxseed, potassium chloride, taurine, salt, cassia gum, xanthan gum, choline chloride, iron proteinate, zinc proteinate, beta-carotene, thiamine mononitrate, vitamin e supplement, copper proteinate, manganese proteinate, sodium selenite, niacin, d-calcium pantothenate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, riboflavin supplement, vitamin a supplement, biotin, potassium iodide, vitamin D3 supplement, vitamin B12 supplement, folic acid
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 1%
Red denotes any controversial items
Ingredients Analysis
The first ingredient is 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 liver. This is an organ meat sourced from a named animal and thus considered a beneficial component.
The third ingredient is turkey. Turkey is considered “the clean combination of flesh and skin… derived from the parts or whole carcasses of turkey”. 2
Turkey is naturally rich in the 11 essential amino acids required by a cat to sustain life.
The fourth ingredient is chicken 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 sixth ingredient is carrots. Carrots are rich in beta-carotene, minerals and dietary fiber.
The seventh ingredient is natural flavor. According to AAFCO, natural flavors are ingredients derived from plant, animal or mined sources, not having been produced by or subject to chemically synthetic processes nor do they contain any additives or processing aids that are chemically synthetic.
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.
Nutrient Analysis
Based on its ingredients alone, Wellness Complete Health Paté Chicken looks like an above-average wet product and is high in fat too.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 47.7%, a fat level of 31.8% and an estimated carbohydrate level of 12.5%.
As a group, the brand features an above-average protein content of 10.5% and a mean fat level of 7%. Together these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 19.3% for the overall product line, alongside a fat-to-protein ratio of 53%.
This means this Wellness Complete Health Paté product line contains higher than average protein and higher than average fat when compared to typical wet cat food.
Final Word
Wellness Complete Health Paté wet cat food features real, high-quality proteins as the primary ingredient. The protein sources include chicken, turkey, beef, fish, or combinations of these meats. The ingredients are blended into a smooth pate texture, making it easy for cats to consume and digest.
In addition to the protein source, Wellness Complete Health Paté contains other wholesome ingredients such as vegetables, fruits, and grains.
Has Wellness 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.
Sources
Best cat foods
Cat Food Advisor is reader supported. If you buy using links on this page, we may earn a referral fee.
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.
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.
