Our Verdict
ZIWI Peak Air-Dried cat food receives the Cat Food Advisor rating, 5 stars
This brand uses a twin stage production process to air dry its food to eliminate pathogenic bacteria, such as salmonella and listeria, while protecting the natural nutrition of the ingredients.
Protein content is very high and derived from animal meat and organs. This constitutes a very good food option.
Pros
- High in protein
- Contains animal meat and animal organs.
- Low in carbohydrate
- No artificial ingredients
Cons
- More expensive than some cat foods
- Limited range
Each recipe includes its AAFCO nutrient profile: Growth (kitten), Maintenance (adult), All Life Stages, Supplemental or Unspecified.
The Ziwi Peak Air-Dried product line includes five cat foods.
| Product line | Rating | AAFCO |
|---|---|---|
| ZIWI Peak Air-Dried Venison For Cats | 5 | A |
| ZIWI Peak Air-Dried Lamb For Cats | 5 | A |
| ZIWI Peak Air-Dried Beef For Cats | 5 | A |
| ZIWI Peak Air-Dried Mackerel & Lamb For Cats | 5 | A |
| ZIWI Peak Air-Dried Free-Range Chicken For Cats | 5 | A |
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Recipe and Label Analysis
ZIWI Peak Air-Dried Venison For Cats 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.
ZIWI Peak Air-Dried Venison For Cats recipe
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Protein
Fat
CarbsCarbohydrates
Venison, venison tripe, venison heart, venison lung, venison liver, venison kidney, new zealand green mussel, venison bone, lecithin, inulin (from chicory root), dried apple pomace, venison cartilage, minerals (dipotassium phosphate, magnesium sulfate, zinc amino acid complex, iron amino acid complex, copper amino acid complex, manganese amino acid complex, sodium selenite), dried organic kelp, salt, dl-methionine, preservative (citric acid, mixed tocopherols), vitamins (choline chloride, thiamine mononitrate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, folic acid, vitamin D3 supplement), taurine.
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 3%
Red denotes any controversial items
Ingredients Analysis
The first ingredient is venison. Venison is considered “the clean flesh derived from slaughtered” venison and associated with skeletal muscle or the muscle tissues of the tongue, diaphragm, heart or esophagus. 1
Venison is naturally rich in all 11 essential amino acids required by a cat to sustain life.
The second ingredient is venison tripe. Tripe usually consists of the first three chambers of a cud-chewing animal’s stomach. As unappetizing as it may seem to us humans, tripe is palatable to many cats and sometimes even includes the stomach’s contents, too.
The third ingredient is venison heart. Although it doesn’t sound very appetizing, heart tissue is pure muscle — all meat. It’s naturally rich in quality protein, minerals and complex B vitamins, too.
The fourth ingredient is venison lung. Lung is a protein-rich organ meat that’s also low in fat.
The fifth ingredient is venison liver. This is an organ meat sourced from a named animal and thus considered a beneficial component.
The sixth ingredient is venison kidney, an organ meat low in fat and rich in protein and essential minerals.
The seventh ingredient is New Zealand green mussel. Mussels are clam-like animals notably rich in glucosamine and omega-3 fatty acids, nutrients proven to support long-term joint health.
The eighth ingredient is venison bone. Although it’s considered a quality source of calcium, magnesium and essential trace minerals, even human-grade bone meal supplements can contain higher levels of mercury, lead and other metals. 2
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.
This food also contains chelated minerals that have been chemically attached to protein. This makes them easier to absorb. Chelated minerals are usually found in better cat foods.
Recipe star rating 5
Nutrient Analysis
Based on its ingredients alone, ZIWI Peak Air-Dried Venison For Cats recipe looks like an above-average dry product.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 51.2%, a fat level of 27.9% and an estimated carbohydrate level of 12.9%.
As a group, the brand features an above-average protein content of 47% and an above-average fat level of 32.1%. Together these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 12.9% for the overall product line, alongside a fat to protein ratio of 69%.
This means this ZIWI Peak Air-Dried range contains higher than average protein, lower than average carbohydrate and higher than average fat, when compared to typical dry cat food.
Final Word
This range of food uses no rendered meat meal, or any fillers such as rice, grains, or cereals. Protein is high, derived from animal protein and carbohydrate content is low. It is rich in animal fat and has added vitamins and minerals.
The Cat Food Advisor recommends this food.
Has Ziwi Peak Air Dried cat food been recalled in the past?
No. Ziwi cat food has not been recalled.
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
Kimberly and Peter Mitchell started developing Ziwi Peak in 2004.
Most of the ingredients are sourced from sustainable New Zealand farms and ranches.
Ziwi owns and operates dry food manufacturing facilities in Mount Maunganui and Christchurch, New Zealand. The canned foods are made by a manufacturing partner also located in New Zealand.
Sources
Best cat foods
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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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