15 Tasty * Wellness CORE * Cat Foods

Table of Contents

Wellness CORE cat food, a sub-brand of Wellness, is one of the most widely recognized cat food brands in the US. With a philosophy that promises to use the power of natural nutrition to give our pets a long and vibrant life, Wellness has become the third-largest pet food company in the US. A favorite among both cats and their human caretakers for the quality of its ingredients, Wellness ranks among the top ten most successful pet food companies globally.

Our top Wellness CORE cat food picks:

  1. Wellness CORE Grain Free Indoor Formula Chicken dry cat food
  2. Wellness CORE Grain Free Indoor Formula Salmon and Herring dry cat food
  3. Wellness CORE Grain Free Adult Turkey and Duck dry cat food
  4. Wellness CORE Original Grain Free Turkey dry cat food
  5. Wellness CORE Grain Free Kitten dry food
  6.  Wellness CORE Classic Pate Indoor Formula Chicken and Chicken Liver wet cat food
  7. Wellness CORE Classic Pate Turkey and Duck wet cat food
  8. Wellness CORE Classic Pate Chicken, Turkey, and Chicken Liver wet cat food
  9. Wellness CORE Classic Pate Beef, Venison, and Lamb wet cat food
  10. Wellness CORE Classic Pate Whitefish, Salmon, and Herring wet cat food
  11. Wellness CORE Hearty Cuts Indoor Shredded Chicken and Turkey wet cat food
  12. Wellness CORE 95% Chicken Smooth Pate wet cat food
  13. Wellness CORE Classic Pate Kitten Formula Turkey and Chicken wet cat food 
  14. Wellness CORE Tuna & Shrimp Simply Shreds
  15. Wellness CORE Tiny Tasters Duck Recipe 

Wellness CORE cat food story

WellPet LLC, also known as Wellness, got its start as a dry dog food company.

Created in 1997 by a team of animal nutritionists, veterinarians, and food scientists led by Jim Scott Sr, Wellness set out to use natural nutrition to fuel happy, healthy, and active lives for our kitty and canine friends.

In 2007 Wellness launched Wellness CORE, a high protein and grain free cat food brand that feeds felines on a biological level by putting high-quality meats and animal proteins first.

Considered one of the first natural pet food brands, Wellness and Wellness CORE cat food is one of the most popular holistic cat foods in the US.

Who makes Wellness CORE cat food?

As of 2020, WellPet is owned by Clearlake Capital Group, a privately-owned investment firm that purchased the company from Berwind Corporation.

Based in Massachusetts, WellPet is one of the leading independently-owned pet food companies. The holistic cat and dog food brand are known for their dedication to using high-quality ingredients and for their small collection of smaller companies with that same natural foods philosophy. These include Old Mother Hubbard Baking Co. dog biscuits, Sojo raw, and grain-free dog food, and Holistic Select premium and all-natural cat and dog food.

Wellness CORE cat food reviews

Where is Wellness CORE cat food manufactured?

According to Wellness’s website, all Wellness CORE dry cat food is manufactured at company-owned factories in Indiana.

WellPet does not say what other factories make their Wellness and Wellness CORE wet cat food on their website. However, a representative shared that Simmons Pet Food facilities in New Jersey and Kansas also manufacture some varieties of Wellness CORE wet cat food.

Previous Wellness cat food recalls state that some Wellness wet cat food is manufactured in a Diamond Pet Food factory in South Carolina.

Where do Wellness CORE cat food ingredients come from?

According to a Wellness representative, 95% of the company’s ingredients come from North America, specifically the US and Canada. Less than 2% of Wellness CORE’s ingredients are globally sourced from countries like Australia, Italy, and Chile, with about 4% of ingredients, particularly lamb, from New Zealand.

What is the difference between Wellness and Wellness CORE cat food?

Wellness Complete Health includes grains like barley, brown rice, and oats in many of their recipes. Wellness Complete Health also has lower levels of protein.

In contrast, Wellness CORE cat food is entirely grain free, uses limited vegetable ingredients, and creates high protein wet and dry cat food that puts meat and animal proteins first in each recipe.

Has Wellness CORE had any recalls?

The Wellness company has had several recalls dating as far back as 1997. Many of the recalls concern dog food from other Wellness pet food lines, but there are a few Wellness CORE cat food recalls.

February 2011 Wellness CORE recalled all their canned wet cat food for inadequately low levels of vitamin B1, also known as Thiamine. A lack of this essential vitamin can lead to poor health and even death in cats.

February 2017 Wellness pulled several of their Wellness brand canned wet cat food (though not their Wellness CORE line) for potentially being tainted with “foreign objects”, potentially from factory equipment in the manufacturing process.

Is Wellness CORE good cat food? Is it a healthy cat food brand?

We think so! This holistic cat food is a nutritionally balanced and complete brand that uses recognizable and straightforward ingredients. Wellness CORE takes a biologically, or species, appropriate approach to nutrition by going easy on vegetable and plant-based ingredients and using multiple sources of meats and animal proteins in their wet and dry cat food.

All Wellness CORE cat food recipes are made from non-GMO ingredients and never contain artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives. As a protein-centric and grain free cat food all Wellness CORE products are also free from wheat, gluten, corn, and soy.

Wellness CORE also doesn’t use any carrageenan in their wet cat food.

However, they do use a combination of guar gum and xanthan gum in their pate, shredded meat, and other wet cat foods. While these thickeners are a lot less controversial than cancer-linked additive carrageenan and are considered GRAS, or “generally recognized as safe”, they still could potentially cause digestive upset and conditions like inflammatory bowel, diarrhea, gas, and bloating in cats.

Wellness CORE cat food reviews holistic

What kind of food does Wellness CORE make?

Wellness CORE makes wet cat food, dry cat food, and supplements for kittens, indoor, and adult cats. These lines include:

  1. Wellness CORE Grain Free Dry Cat Food: Wellness CORE’s original grain free dry cat food comes in five varieties including, CORE Original Turkey, CORE Adult Turkey, CORE Kitten Turkey, and two formulas specifically for indoor cats, CORE Indoor Chicken and CORE Indoor Salmon.
  2. Wellness CORE Classic Pate Wet Cat Food: Wellness CORE’s Classic Pate wet cat food comes in six flavors with specific formulas for kittens and indoor cats. This grain free high protein pate includes flavors such as Beef, Venison and Lamb, and Whitefish, Salmon, and Herring.
  3. Wellness CORE Hearty Cuts Wet Cat Food: Wellness CORE Hearty Cuts wet cat food comes in four different flavors with one indoor cat-specific formula. This grain free wet cat food features thick chunks of meat bathed in gravy instead of pate.
  4. Wellness CORE 95% Wet Cat Food: If Wellness CORE is already considered a high protein cat food, this canned wet cat food is extra high protein. Available in four pate-style flavors including Beef & Chicken, Turkey, Chicken, and Chicken & Salmon this wet cat food boasts 95% animal protein in each can.
  5. Wellness CORE Tiny Tasters: Wellness CORE’s Tiny Tasters cat food supplement are plastic pouches of squeezable pureed wet cat food. Available in five different flavors including Duck and Tuna, these grain free supplements can be used as toppers for dry cat food, feeding or between meals, or as a treat.
  6. Wellness CORE Simply Shreds: Wellness CORE’s Simply Shreds cat food supplement is a grain free limited ingredient wet cat food supplement. Available in four flavors like Wild Salmon & Tuna, and Boneless Chicken, these pouches of shredded meat in gravy can be served atop kibble, in between meals, or as a treat.

Wellness CORE dry cat food

1. Wellness CORE Grain Free Indoor Formula Chicken dry cat food

Wellness CORE’s original grain free high protein indoor-specific dry cat food starts with three simple ingredients: deboned chicken, turkey meal, and chicken meal. This recipe has fewer calories than other Wellness CORE dry cat food to better suit indoor kitties who may be less physically active than free-roaming outdoor cats. However, this is still a high carbohydrate food– especially with starchy ingredients like potatoes and peas on the ingredients list. Despite that, this dry cat food offers a good amount of fiber, omega fatty acids, and all the essential nutrients cats need. Wellness CORE’s signature probiotic blend helps with digestive health and wellness.

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Wellness CORE Grain Free Indoor Formula Chicken

Pros

  • The top ingredients are deboned chicken and turkey meal
  • Contains fewer calories than other dry cat food
  • There are no fish ingredients so it’s ok for cats with allergies to fish
  • Is nutritionally complete and contains added probiotics

Cons

  • High in carbohydrates
  • Contains species inappropriate peas and potatoes
  • Some cats don’t like the small size and disc-like shapes of the kibble
  • Not suitable for cats with urinary tract illnesses and conditions

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2. Wellness CORE Grain Free Indoor Formula Salmon and Herring dry cat food

Wellness CORE’s second indoor cat-specific grain free high protein dry cat food is their Salmon and Herring recipe. Like the cat food company’s other indoor cat food this is formulated to contain fewer calories than their other dry cat food options. The top proteins, salmon and herring, are a good source of omega fatty acids to give cats soft and healthy skin and hair. Added probiotics and nutrients like glucosamine and chondroitin help digestive system wellness, joint health, and fight inflammation.

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Wellness CORE Grain Free Indoor Formula Salmon and Herring dry cat food

Pros

  • Real salmon is the first ingredient
  • Has fewer calories than other Wellness CORE dry cat food
  • Contains no poultry or egg ingredients so it’s good for cats with allergies to them
  • Enhanced with probiotics for digestive health

Cons

  • High in carbohydrates
  • Contains multiple high carb and starchy pea ingredients
  • Contains species inappropriate canola oil and potatoes
  • Some cats don’t like the small size and disc-like shapes of the kibble
  • The kibble has a strong odor
  • Not good for cats with urinary tract illnesses and conditions

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3. Wellness CORE Grain Free Adult Turkey and Duck dry cat food

Deboned turkey and turkey meal are the top proteins in this grain free dry cat food. This is one of Wellness CORE’s few recipes that are entirely chicken, egg, and fish-free, making it a potentially more affordable choice than prescription cat foods for cats with allergies to any of those ingredients. Other sources of protein in this kibble come from pork meal, duck, and peas. There are significantly more vegetable and species inappropriate ingredients in this dry cat food than some of Wellness CORE’s other varieties. It’s also slightly misleading with the duck ingredient appearing almost ten ingredients into the product.

Wellness CORE Grain Free Adult Turkey and Duck dry cat food
Pros

  • Deboned turkey and turkey meal are the first ingredients
  • No chicken, fish, or egg ingredients so it’s allergy-friendly for some cats
  • Contains probiotics, omega fatty acids, and other essential nutrients

Cons

  • High in carbohydrates
  • Contains species inappropriate canola oil, peas, and potatoes
  • Some cats don’t like the small size and disc-like shapes of the kibble
  • The kibble has a strong odor
  • Not good for cats with urinary tract illnesses and conditions

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4. Wellness CORE Original Grain Free Turkey dry cat food

Wellness CORE’s Original grain free dry cat food boasts 65% high protein from easy to digest and nutrient-dense meats like deboned chicken and turkey. This dry cat food is enhanced with omega fatty acids from salmon oil and flaxseeds for healthy fur and skin. It is formulated with a careful blend of probiotics for digestive wellness and immune system health. There isn’t an excess of vegetable or plant-protein ingredients, making it slightly more species-appropriate than some other holistic dry cat foods.

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Wellness CORE Original Grain Free Turkey
Pros

  • Deboned turkey and chicken are the first ingredients
  • Fortified with extra probiotics for digestive health
  • High protein and high fiber

Cons

  • Contains herring meal and salmon oil so it’s not appropriate for cats with fish allergies
  • Contains potatoes that aren’t species-appropriate
  • Some cats don’t like the small size and disc-like shapes of the kibble
  • The kibble has a strong odor
  • Not good for cats with urinary tract illnesses and conditions

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5. Wellness CORE Grain Free Kitten dry food

Wellness CORE’s grain free dry kitten food is specifically formulated to give growing kittens all the nutrition they need to grow! These tiny morsels of kibble pack a powerful protein punch (55% protein to be exact) with a combination of wholesome and easy to digest deboned chicken and turkey. Probiotics, DHA, omega fatty acids, and other essential nutrients make this a complete, balanced option for kittens. Unlike many dry cat foods, this doesn’t contain any potatoes or excessive veggie ingredients, making it a lower carb option. This dry cat food even includes a small dose of green tea extract, which is known for its anti-inflammatory properties and contributing to metabolic and cognitive health– both are very important for developing kittens!

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Wellness CORE Grain Free Kitten Dry Food
Pros

  • Deboned turkey and chicken are the first ingredients
  • Contains an extra boost of salmon-derived DHA for kittens’ brain development
  • Has only a few vegetable ingredients
  • Many cat parents report their kittens to have softer and shinier fur and shed less when they eat this food

Cons

  • Contains herring meal and salmon oil so it’s not appropriate for cats with fish allergies
  • Some kittens don’t like the disc-like shape of the kibble
  • The kibble has a strong odor
  • Not good for cats with urinary tract illnesses and conditions

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Wellness CORE wet cat food

6. Wellness CORE Classic Pate Indoor Formula Chicken and Chicken Liver wet cat food

This Indoor specific Wellness CORE Classic Pate wet cat food features whole chicken, chicken liver, turkey, and turkey broth as it’s easy to digest and high protein main ingredients. This grain free cat food is formulated to have lower fat content and fewer calories than some of Wellness CORE’s other wet cat food recipes. There are many plant-based proteins in here like pea protein, pea fiber, and ground peas which bring extra protein and fiber to keep kitties feeling full for longer and less prone to overeating. However, because of those starchy ingredients, this wet cat food is not low carb.

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Wellness CORE Classic Pate Indoor Formula Chicken and Chicken Liver wet pate cat food
Pros

  • The top six ingredients are high protein easy to digest meats
  • The pate is soft enough and nutritionally balanced for kittens, cats, and senior cats
  • Lower fat and calorie content than other Wellness CORE wet cat food
  • Contains no potatoes, canola oil, carrageenan, or artificial ingredients
  • Has no fish so it’s appropriate for cats with fish allergies

Cons

  • Contains several plant-based proteins and vegetable ingredients which may be harder to digest
  • Contains multiple gums and thickeners

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7. Wellness CORE Classic Pate Turkey and Duck wet cat food

There’s nothing quackers about this grain free high protein turkey and duck wet cat food. This creamy and smooth pate is made from Wellness CORE’s classic high-quality ingredients like whole turkey and duck. A blend of vitamins like B12, folic acid, and biotin encourages soft and shiny hair and healthy skin. The addition of pork liver as a top ingredient adds iron and essential vitamins and minerals in place of extra supplements. This is one of the few Wellness CORE recipes to contain no fish.

Wellness CORE Classic Pate Indoor Formula Turkey and Duck wet pate cat food
Pros

  • The top four ingredients are high-quality meats
  • The pate is soft enough and nutritionally balanced for kittens, cats, and senior cats
  • Barely any vegetable ingredients
  • Contains no fish so it’s appropriate for cats with fish allergies

Cons

  • Contains multiple gums and thickeners
  • Contains pork so it’s not suitable for cats with pork allergies

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8. Wellness CORE Classic Pate Chicken, Turkey, and Chicken Liver wet cat food

Poultry is one of the easiest meats for cats to digest. With that in mind, this Wellness CORE grain free high protein wet cat food features highly nutritious chicken and turkey. There are no cheap by-products or mystery meats here, but instead vitamin-rich organ meats like chicken liver and turkey liver and a hearty dose of omega-3 fatty acids from high-quality salmon oil. This velvety smooth pate contains a tiny amount of vegetable and fruit ingredients combined with multiple high-quality animal proteins, making this an affordable and very species-appropriate wet cat food choice.

Wellness CORE Classic Pate Chicken, Turkey, and Chicken Liver wet cat food
Pros

  • The top six ingredients are easy to digest high protein poultry
  • High protein and high moisture
  • Limited veggie and fruit ingredients
  • Soft enough for cats with missing or sensitive teeth and senior cats

Cons

  • Contains multiple gums and thickeners
  • Contains salmon oil so it’s not appropriate for cats with fish allergies

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9. Wellness CORE Classic Pate Beef, Venison, and Lamb wet cat food

A trio of unconventional meats, or as they’re sometimes known, novel animal proteins, make up the bulk of this high protein wet cat food. As the name on the can suggests, the main ingredients in this grain free Wellness CORE Classic Pate are beef, venison, and lamb. These high protein and easy to digest meats are accompanied by an extra boost of protein from chicken meal and a powerful dose of antioxidants, fiber, and omega fatty acids from flaxseeds and cranberries. With just three plant-based ingredients this is one of the more species-appropriate wet cat foods on the market.

Wellness CORE Classic Pate Beef, Venison, and Lamb wet cat food
Pros

  • The first seven ingredients are highly nutritious meats
  • Contains no fish, potatoes, canola oil, or carrageenan
  • High protein and high moisture
  • Limited veggie and fruit ingredients
  • Soft enough for cats with missing or sensitive teeth and senior cats

Cons

  • Contains multiple gums and thickeners

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10. Wellness CORE Classic Pate Whitefish, Salmon, and Herring wet cat food

This savory and smooth grain free wet cat food is one of Wellness CORE’s most popular Classic Pate flavors. This fishy feast contains four omega fatty acids and protein-rich fish: tuna, salmon, herring, and whitefish. Flaxseeds, dried kelp, and cranberries bring a boost of fiber, antioxidants, and an extra helping of plant-based omega fatty acids to your kitty’s diet. There are no meat by-products, artificial flavors, colors, preservatives, or harmful ingredients like carrageenan in this balanced and complete wet cat food.

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Wellness CORE Classic Pate Whitefish, Salmon, and Herring wet cat food
Pros

  • The first five ingredients are highly nutritious animal proteins and meats
  • Contains no chicken or eggs so it’s appropriate for cats with poultry allergies
  • High protein and high moisture
  • Limited veggie and fruit ingredients
  • Soft enough for cats with missing or sensitive teeth and senior cats

Cons

  • Contains multiple gums and thickeners
  • Contains hard to digest, species inappropriate canola oil and potatoes
  • Cats who don’t like pate might dislike the pureed texture

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11. Wellness CORE Hearty Cuts Indoor Shredded Chicken and Turkey wet cat food

This Wellness CORE Hearty Cuts Indoor recipe wet cat food features six protein-packed and easy to digest meats and animal proteins like chicken liver, turkey, and egg whites. Designed specifically for indoor cats, this grain free and high protein cat food is also formulated to contain fewer calories than Wellness CORE’s other wet cat food. Select veggie ingredients like powerhouse superfoods, carrots, spinach, and flaxseeds bring a boost of fiber, antioxidants, and essential vitamins and minerals to indoor kitties’ diets. This wet cat food has a heartier texture from tiny slices of meat bathed in a thick, savory gravy.

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Wellness CORE Hearty Cuts Indoor Shredded Chicken and Turkey wet cat food
Pros

  • The first five ingredients are high-quality meats and animal proteins
  • Contains fewer calories than most wet cat food
  • High protein and high moisture
  • The chunked and shredded meat texture is great for cats who hate pate

Cons

  • Contains guar gum
  • Contains salmon oil so it’s not appropriate for cats with fish allergies
  • Some cat parents think it has too many vegetable ingredients

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12. Wellness CORE 95% Chicken Smooth Pate wet cat food

Wellness CORE 95% is a wet cat food that features (surprise surprise) 95% protein. Designed to feed cats’ obligate carnivore natures, this Wellness CORE 95% recipe consists of a single animal protein: chicken. This soft and smooth pate is grain free, easy to digest, and is fortified with all of the nutrients and essential vitamins cats need like taurine and folic acid. Like all Wellness CORE wet cat food, there’s never any carrageenan, artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives.

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Wellness CORE 95% Chicken Smooth Pate wet cat food
Pros

  • Real chicken is the top ingredient
  • Contains only one plant protein: flaxseed
  • Balanced and nutritionally complete
  • Pate is soft enough for senior cats and cats with missing or sensitive teeth
  • Contains no fish so it’s appropriate for cats with fish allergies

Cons

  • Contains multiple gum thickeners
  • Cats who don’t like pate might not like the texture

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13. Wellness CORE Classic Pate Kitten Formula Turkey and Chicken wet cat food 

Wellness CORE Classic Pate Kitten Formula Turkey and Chicken wet cat food starts with six high protein and easy to digest meats. Iron-packed chicken liver, omega fatty acid-rich herring, and whole turkey are accompanied by select plant proteins like fiber-rich and anti-inflammatory ground flaxseeds. This pate is smooth and creamy for kittens’ tiny teeth and is fortified with all of the vitamins, minerals, and nutrients kittens need for healthy growth and development.

Wellness CORE Classic Pate Kitten Formula Turkey and Chicken wet cat
Pros

  • The first six ingredients are meat
  • High protein and moisture
  • Limited vegetable and fruit ingredients
  • Many cat parents notice silky, smooth, and shiny fur in their kittens who eat this

Cons

  • Contains multiple gums and thickeners
  • Contains fish so it’s not appropriate for kittens with fish allergies

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Wellness CORE cat food toppers

14. Wellness CORE Tuna & Shrimp Simply Shreds 

If you’re after supplemental foods for your kitty, Wellness CORE’s Simply Shreds line of wet cat food might just fit the bill! Each plastic pouch of Simply Shreds is crafted from just four ingredients (or less!) and contains no grains, artificial flavors or colors, or any harmful thickening agents. Each recipe features hearty shreds of meat bathed in savory broths. Perfect for mixing into dry kibble or serving in between meals Wellness CORE’s Tuna & Shrimp Simply Shreds brings a boost of moisture, protein, and omega fatty acids to any kitty’s diet!

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Wellness CORE Tuna and Shrimp Simple Shreds
Pros

  • The only ingredients are whole tuna, shrimp, and fish broth
  • High protein and high moisture content
  • Contains no carrageenan, gums, or thickeners
  • No grains, corn, wheat, soy, or any artificial flavors, colors, or preservative

Cons

  • Comes in a non-recyclable plastic pouch
  • All Simply Shreds recipes include fish so they’re not appropriate for cats with allergies
  • Cats who only like pate might not like the chunks of meat

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15. Wellness CORE Tiny Tasters Duck Recipe 

Wellness CORE also has supplement options for cats who prefer pate too! Their Tiny Tasters line features single servings of pureed, pate-style wet cat food in a convenient plastic pouch. Like their Simply Shreds Wellness CORE’s Tiny Tasters start with real meats like duck and chicken. Like the Duck Recipe, these supplements are also enriched with vitamins and essential nutrients, which makes this wet cat food a good option for cats who need more protein and moisture in their diet, especially senior cats and cats who have smaller appetites.

Wellness CORE Tiny Tasters Duck Recipe
Pros

  • The top ingredients are chicken and duck
  • High protein and high moisture
  • Fortified with taurine and other essential vitamins and nutrients
  • This is one of Wellness CORE’s few recipes that doesn’t contain any fish

Cons

  • The single-serve plastic pouch is wasteful
  • Contains multiple gums and thickeners
  • Cats who prefer chunked meat might not like the pate texture

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What are cat parents saying about Wellness CORE?

Wellness CORE cat food positive reviews

“One of my cats (Newt) is allergic to chicken-meal and some kinds of fish. My vet recommended trying a “novel protein’ diet. This pate is grain-free, chicken free, and something she is able to eat with no problems. It’s expensive, but it’s high-grade food, and she’s finally able to eat without developing skin irritations.” by Linda on Chewy.com (Wellness CORE Classic Pate Turkey and Duck wet cat food)

“My cat loves the tuna flavor, which is great, but what is especially helpful is due to the paste-like consistency it is easy for me to mix in her daily medication. Because of the strong flavor of tuna, she doesn’t taste it and therefore finishes it. While she enjoys the other flavors of the CORE Tiny Tasters, this is the only one where she is unable to detect the medicine that has been added to it.” by Sassy Mom on Chewy.com (Wellness CORE Tiny Tasters Tuna Recipe)

Wellness CORE cat food negative reviews

“My newly adopted kitten was having bad diarrhea and this is one of the only foods I found that he would eat consistently and that seemed to help his problem. I think he really likes how soft and juicy it is. Unfortunately, it is not in my budget to continue feeding. I feel like there are options out there with even better ingredients, that cost half the price.” by Alys on Chewy.com (Wellness CORE Classic Pate Kitten Formula Turkey and Chicken Liver wet cat food)

“My cats will eat it but they are not in love with it. I got it because I thought that the healthier nutrients and smaller bite-size would be good for my elderly cat with no teeth. But she’d prefer to eat the bigger chunks. Go figure. Disappointed.” by Brun on Chewy.com (Wellness CORE Original Deboned Turkey and Chicken dry cat food)

Wellness CORE cat food alternatives

Alternatives to Wellness CORE cat food

Halo

Halo is another option for holistic cat food. This high protein brand (with grain free options) takes a “whole meat” approach in all of their wet and dry cat foods using only high-quality meats like vitamin-rich organ meats and no “meals” or by-products. Halo is made in the US from non-GMO ingredients.

Weruva

Weruva is another popular holistic cat food alternative. All of Weruva’s high protein dry and wet cat food recipes are made from high-quality meats and animal proteins like wild-caught salmon and never contain anything artificial. Weruva has a ton of grain free, low-fat, low-carb, and allergy-friendly options for cats of all ages.

You can read a detailed Weruva cat food review here.

Orijen

Orijen cat food is an independently-owned holistic high protein and grain free cat food. Although their dry cat food products are pricier than Wellness CORE, the unparalleled high quality of Orijen’s ingredients makes it worth the extra cost. Every “biologically” formulated recipe starts with whole meats like deboned goat, and many contain novel proteins like wild boar and pollock fish oil.

You can read a detailed Orijen cat food review here.

Key takeaways about Wellness CORE

Wellness CORE is one of the top-rated holistic cat food companies. The high-quality cat food brand emphasizes crafting biologically-appropriate recipes from the best meats and animal proteins.

Ingredients like vitamin-rich chicken liver and turkey liver and omega fatty acid plentiful salmon and salmon oil appear in many Wellness CORE cat food recipes, reducing the need to excessively supplement essential nutrients.

There are no mystery meats, cheap meat by-products, fillers, harmful GMOs, or artificial ingredients in any of CORE’s wet or dry cat food. While their use of some thickeners like xanthan gum and guar gum raise a few eyebrows, the overall quality of Wellness CORE’s ingredients come together to create wholesome, balanced, and nutritionally complete cat food for felines of all ages and life stages.

Victoria Tomis