Chicken Soup Cat Food Review

The Chicken Soup brand got its start in 1993 when Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hensen began recording stories of warmth and healing from strangers, publishing them in a compilation of stories titled Chicken Soup for the Soul. The first book did so well that the brand took off and there are now dozens of books with the same title – the brand even began producing their own line of pet food products. According to the brand website, they began making pet food because they understand the unique relationship between people and pets and they believe that food is about more than just nutrition – it is about comfort, love, and appreciation. Producing wholesome, balanced pet food products is part of Chicken Soup for the Soul’s mission to spread inspiration, happiness, and wellness in all that they do. Today the Chicken Soup for the Soup brand offers an assortment of cat food and dog food products for pets in all life stages.

Who Manufactures Chicken Soup Cat Food?

The Chicken Soup for the Soup cat food brand is produced and manufactured by Diamond Pet Foods. Diamond was founded in 1970 by Gary Schell and Richard Kampeter who set out to produce a premium pet food that was also affordable. The Diamond Pet Company also produces other pet food brands like Taste of the Wild, NutraGold, Premium Edge, and Diamond Naturals. This company is headquartered in Meta, Missouri and they have three manufacturing plants in the United States – one in South Carolina and two in California. Though many of Diamond Pet Foods’ products are manufactured overseas, the Chicken Soup for the Soul brand is manufactured in the United States according to the brand website.

Chicken Soup Cat Food Recalls 2023

The Chicken Soup for the Soul pet food brand is still fairly young but it has already been affected by a number of recalls. Here is a list of recalls that affected the Chicken Soup brand of pet food:

• In April of 2007 two Chicken Soup products were recalled as part of the FDA recall of Menu Foods products for melamine contamination. The two products recalled were Chicken Soup for the Soul Kitten Formula and Chicken Soup for the Soul Puppy formula.
• In May 2012 Diamond Pet Foods issued a recall for all Chicken Soup for the Soup pet products due to suspected Salmonella contamination.

Chicken Soup Cat Food Coupons 2023

Overall Chicken Soup Cat Food Review

The Chicken Soup pet food brand developed their line of wholesome, natural pet food products more than a decade ago with the goal of providing pets with nutritious, balanced, super-premium diets. Not only are their products designed to appeal to pets, but they also appeal to health-conscious pet owners who want the best for their furry friends. Chicken Soup pet food is holistic in nature, made using only the finest ingredients such as real meat, fresh fruits and vegetables, and natural herbs. All of the brand’s products are made without corn, wheat, or soy ingredients and they are free from artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives. Simply put, Chicken Soup pet food products promote the overall health and wellbeing of pets in all life stages and all of their products are proudly produced in the USA.

When it comes to their pet food products, Chicken Soup offers two main product lines: Life Stages and Grain-Free. The Grain-Free line of pet foods is the newer of the two and it includes two dry food and six wet food options. The two dry foods in this line are the Chicken & Legumes recipe and the Salmon & Legumes Limited Ingredient recipe. The former is made with fresh chicken and chicken meal as the top two ingredients, supplemented with peas and chickpeas for gluten-free, grain-free carbohydrates. The second option, the Salmon & Legumes Limited Ingredient recipe, features salmon and salmon meal as the protein sources with canola oil and salmon oil for fats and peas and chickpeas for carbohydrate. Both of these recipes are fortified with omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids for healthy skin and coat as well as plenty of healthy antioxidants.

The six Chicken Soup grain-free wet food options are made with quality proteins like chicken, salmon, and beef with grain-free carbohydrates like carrots, sweet potatoes, spinach and red-skinned potatoes. Like the grain-free dry food options, these canned food recipes feature quality protein sources and digestible, grain-free carbohydrates. Each recipe is fortified with antioxidants as well as plenty of natural omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. The Life Stages line of canned Chicken Soup cat foods includes four recipes: Kitten Wet Food, Adult Cat Wet Food, Indoor Cat Wet Food, and Weight & Mature Care Wet Cat Food. These recipes also feature a quality protein source as the primary ingredient and they offer a healthy balance of all major food groups. These wet food formulas are slow-cooked for flavor and nutritional integrity, plus they are supplemented with chelated minerals as well as natural sources for a number of key nutrients.

Within the Life Stages line of dry cat foods there are four recipes: Kitten Dry Food, Adult Cat Dry Food, Indoor with Hairball Care Dry Cat Food, and Weight & Mature Care Dry Cat Food. All of these recipes are formulated to provide cats with premium nutrition to keep them happy and healthy for a lifetime. All four of these recipes feature fresh chicken and chicken meal as the top two ingredients with additional sources of protein like turkey meal, duck, salmon, and eggs for supplementary protein. These recipes are not grain-free but they are made with digestible carbohydrates like cracked pearled barley, white rice, peas, and potatoes. Chicken Soup Life Stages dry foods are also slow-cooked, just like their wet foods, and they are supplemented with chelated minerals and dried fermentation products to help support your cat’s healthy digestion.

Individual Recipe Review (Dry) Chicken Soup Grain-Free Chicken & Legumes Formula

This Chicken Soup Grain-Free Chicken & Legumes formula is a high-quality, grain-free dry food recipe for cats in all life stages. As part of Chicken Soup’s grain-free line of products you can expect this recipe to feature digestible carbohydrates that are gluten- and grain-free as well as premium-quality proteins. According to the Chicken Soup website, this product offers super-premium quality at a great price. A quick review of the ingredients list as well as the guaranteed analysis for this product is enough to determine that this claim seems to be supported with truth. Real chicken is the primary ingredient and the recipe is completely free from corn, wheat, and soy ingredients as well as artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives. Overall, this recipe seems to provide complete and balanced nutrition that comes from a variety of quality, nutritious ingredients.

As promised, the first ingredient in this Chicken Soup Grain-Free Chicken & Legumes formula is fresh chicken. One thing to note with fresh meats like this is that they contain up to 80% moisture – when the product is cooked, the moisture level will reduce to 10% and the total volume of protein that comes from the chicken will be much lower. This is not a problem for this dry cat food recipe because chicken meal is listed as the second ingredient and both duck and turkey appear further down the list. Chicken meal is a highly concentrated source of protein because it has already been cooked down to a moisture level around 10% – when the product is cooked, the volume for this ingredient is unlikely to change significantly. Overall, this product seems to be very rich in quality animal proteins.

After the chicken and chicken meal comes peas and chickpeas – two digestible carbohydrates that are also gluten-free and grain-free. One thing to be wary of with peas is the fact that they contain a significant amount of plant protein. Some pet food manufacturers use peas and pea protein in their products to increase the protein content without adding more meat. This does not seem to be the case for this Chicken Soup Grain-Free Chicken & Legumes formula, however, because there are four animal-based protein sources listed. Pea flour is also included in the ingredients list and it is unclear what role this ingredient plays – it may be used as a thickener or a binder, or it could simply be an additional source of dietary fiber.

In terms of fat content, this Chicken Soup Grain-Free Chicken & Legumes formula contains both chicken fat and salmon oil. Animal-based fats like these are much more biologically valuable to cats than plant-based fats like canola oil or flaxseed. Fats are the most highly concentrated source of energy available to cats, so even though chicken fat may sound unappetizing to you it is actually a high-quality addition to this cat food recipe. The salmon oil helps to provide a balance of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids in this recipe which will help to support your cat’s healthy skin and coat. Omega fatty acids are also important for immune health in cats.

Aside from the protein, carbohydrates, and fats this Chicken Soup Grain-Free Chicken & Legumes formula contains a limited number of supplemental ingredients. While this recipe may not be labeled a Limited Ingredient Diet, the limited number of ingredients means that it could be a good option for cats with sensitivities to grains or other ingredients. This recipe is supplemented with dried fermentation products which act as probiotics to help support your cat’s healthy digestion. There are also a number of vitamin supplements and mineral supplements, some of which are chelated. Chelated minerals are chemically bonded to protein molecules which makes them easier for your cat’s body to digest and absorb. There do not appear to be any low-quality fillers or artificial ingredients in this recipe.

Overall, this Chicken Soup Grain-Free Chicken & Legumes formula has a guaranteed analysis as follows:

• Crude Protein (Min) – 32%
• Crude Fat (Min) – 16%
• Crude Fiber (Max) – 3%
• Moisture (Max) – 10%
• Zinc (Min) – 120 mg/kg
• Selenium (Min) – 0.3 mg/kg
• Vitamin E (Min) – 150 IU/kg
• Omega-6 Fatty Acids (Min) – 2.4%
• Omega-3 Fatty Acids (Min) – 0.4%
• Calorie Content – 348 kcal/cup

This formula meets the AAFCO nutritional requirements for cats in all life stages. The guaranteed analysis for this Chicken Soup Grain-Free Chicken & Legumes formula reveals a decent protein content and a decent fat content as well. The total fat content for this recipe could be a little bit higher but it is definitely a bonus that the only fats in the recipe come from animal-based sources. According to the feeding guide for this formula, adult cats weighing 6 to 9 pounds should be fed 2/3 to ¾ cups daily. No matter what you feed your cat, you should keep an eye on his weight and condition for a few weeks while feeding the recommended amount. If your cat seems to be gaining too much weight, cut back on his portions a little bit – if he loses weight or becomes lethargic, increase his portion a little. Keep in mind that kittens require more energy than adult cats to support their growth and development. This is an all life stages formula so you will need to feed kittens more than the recommended amount for adult cats until they are full grown. You should also be sure to provide your kitten or cat with plenty of fresh water at all times.

Final Thoughts

Overall, this Chicken Soup Grain-Free Chicken & Legumes formula seems to be a quality source of nutrition for cats and kittens in all life stages. The inclusion of both fresh chicken and chicken meal at the top of the ingredients list speaks to the high protein content of this recipe – it also doesn’t hurt that duck and salmon appear later down the list. This recipe is grain-free, made with chickpeas and peas as the primary carbohydrate sources, and the pea flour may provide some additional fiber. The total carbohydrate content of this recipe is difficult to judge, but it appears to be within the ideal range for cats. Not only does this recipe rely on animal-based proteins, but the only fats included in this recipe are animal-based as well. All in all, this recipe does seem to be made with quality ingredients (including some beneficial supplements) and it does not appear to contain any dangerous or artificial additives.