Our Verdict
ZIWI Peak wet cat food receives the Cat Food Advisor rating, 5 stars
This range of canned food is formulated for all life stages. Animal meat, organs and bone are used and no grains, sugars, or hormones are added. Protein content is high and carbohydrate content low. This range of recipes offers a good set of options to choose from.
Pros
- High in protein
- Contains animal meat and organs
- Low in carbohydrate
- No grains, or sugars
Cons
- Contains chickpeas
- More expensive than some cat foods
Each recipe includes its AAFCO nutrient profile: Growth (kitten), Maintenance (adult), All Life Stages, Supplemental or Unspecified.
The Ziwi Peak product line includes six wet cat foods.
| Product line | Rating | AAFCO |
|---|---|---|
| ZIWI Peak Wet Free-Range Chicken For Cats | 5 | A |
| ZIWI Peak Wet Mackerel & Lamb For Cat | 5 | A |
| ZIWI Peak Wet Venison Cans For Cats | 4.5 | A |
| ZIWI Peak Wet Beef For Cats | 5 | A |
| ZIWI Peak Wet Lamb Cans For Cats | 5 | A |
| ZIWI Peak Wet Mackerel Recipe for Cats | 5 | A |
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Recipe and Label Analysis
ZIWI Peak Wet Mackerel & Lamb 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 Wet Mackerel & Lamb For Cats recipe
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Protein
Fat
CarbsCarbohydrates
Mackerel, water sufficient for processing, lamb, lamb lung, chickpeas, lamb tripe, lamb heart, lamb kidney, lamb liver, new zealand green mussel, lamb bone, dl-methionine, dried kelp, minerals (magnesium sulfate, zinc amino acid complex, manganese amino acid complex, copper amino acid complex), taurine, vitamins (vitamin E supplement, thiamine mononitrate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, vitamin D3 supplement, folic acid).
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 2%
Red denotes any controversial items
Ingredients Analysis
The first ingredient is mackerel. Mackerel is an oily salt-water fish naturally high in protein as well as omega-3 fatty acids, an essential fat needed by every dog to sustain life.
The second ingredient is water, which adds nothing but moisture to this food. Water is a routine finding in most wet cat foods.
The third ingredient is lamb. Lamb is considered “the clean flesh derived from slaughtered” lamb and associated with skeletal muscle or the muscle tissues of the tongue, diaphragm, heart or esophagus. 1
Lamb is naturally rich in all 11 essential amino acids required by a cat to sustain life.
The fourth ingredient is lamb lung. Lung is a protein-rich organ meat that’s also low in fat.
The fifth ingredient is chickpeas, also known as garbanzo beans. Like peas, beans and lentils, chickpeas are a nutritious member of the fiber-rich legume (or pulse) family of vegetables.
However, chickpeas contain about 22% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the actual meat content of this cat food.
The sixth ingredient is lamb 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 seventh ingredient is lamb 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 eighth ingredient is lamb kidney, an organ meat low in fat and rich in protein and essential minerals.
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 Wet Mackerel & Lamb For Cats recipe looks like an above-average wet product.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 47.7%, a fat level of 18.2% and an estimated carbohydrate level of 26.1%.
As a group, the brand features an above-average protein content of 45.5% and an above-average fat level of 21.2%. Together these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 25.3% for the overall product line, alongside a fat to protein ratio of 48%.
This means this ZIWI Peak wet range contains higher than average protein, lower than average carbohydrate and higher than average fat, when compared to typical wet cat food.
Final Word
This range of food only uses grass-fed meat, free-range poultry or wild-caught fish. Rich in animal fat and moisture, this food offers a quality diet.
The Cat Food Advisor recommends this food.
Has Ziwi Peak Wet 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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