Newman’s Own Cat Food Review

The Newman’s Own company started as a small, boutique operation in 1982 when Paul Newman began bottling and selling his homemade salad dressing. Over the years, the company grew and expanded to offer more than 200 different products divided over 20 different categories, including pet food. Newman’s original purpose for starting his company was to share his favorite recipes with friends and family but it soon blossomed into a bigger company that allowed him to share his recipes with a larger audience and to give back to those in need. In 1993, Newman’s daughter started her own branch of the company, Newman’s Own Organics, and it continues to offer organic pet food products today. Newman’s offers two dry food formulas and eleven wet food formulas for cats as well as an assortment of products for dogs. All of them are made with quality ingredients in tasty formulas your cat will love.

Who Manufactures Newman’s Own?

The Newman’s Own brand of cat food is produced and manufactured by the Newman’s Own Company which was founded in 1982. The branch of the company that produces pet foods is called Newman’s Own Organics and it was founded in 1993 by Paul Newman’s daughter. The company remains independently owned and operated today and many consumers view it as a high-quality pet food brand. The Newman’s Own website does not provide detailed information about how or where their products are made, but they state that all of their products are thoroughly tested for safety and quality. The website also states that Newman’s Own pet food products are made with organic ingredients without the use of artificial additives, preservatives, of flavors to help preserve the quality of the product and to ensure quality nutrition for the pets who eat it.

Newman’s Own Cat Food Recalls 2023

To date, the Newman’s Own company has not been affected by any recalls issued by the FDA or any voluntary recalls.

Newman’s Own Cat Food Coupons 2023

Overall Newman’s Own Cat Food Review

The main selling point of Newman’s Own cat food is that it is made with many high-quality, organic ingredients. Because many of the ingredients used in Newman’s Own pet foods are organic, you can rest assured that they are free from artificial and chemical additives such as preservatives, fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, and more. These products are also made without any soy ingredients and they are not thickened with carrageenan like many low-quality pet foods are. All of Newman’s Own products for cats are supplemented with taurine, an essential amino acid, and they are full of natural flavor. According to the website, Newman’s Own products can be fed as your cat’s staple diet or they can be blended with various Newman’s Own or other pet food products for a more varied diet.

When it comes to dry cat food products, Newman’s Own only offers two different recipes: Adult Cat Dry Formula and Advanced Cat Dry Formula. These products are made with a unique blend of proteins, whole grains, vitamins, and minerals to help your cat live a long and active life. The Adult Cat Dry Formula features an ideal protein-to-fat ratio to support the nutritional and energy needs of adult cats and it is made with organic chicken as the first ingredient. The Advanced Cat Dry Formula is made with higher levels of protein to benefit older cats as well as younger cats who have higher protein needs to support their lean muscle mass. This recipe is also made with organic chicken as the primary ingredient. Both of these recipes are supplemented with poultry meal and fish meal as supplementary sources of protein, plus they include several organic whole grains such as brown rice and sorghum.

For wet foods, Newman’s Own offers eleven different options – four of which are labeled Premium Cat Food and carry the original Newman’s Own name, and the rest are labeled The Second Generation and carry the Newman’s Own Organics name. The Premium Cat Food recipes feature flavors like chicken, salmon, and turkey supplemented with brown rice and vegetables. The Newman’s Own Organics wet foods feature organic beef, organic chicken, organic turkey, and organic liver as well as other organic ingredients. What set the organic recipes apart from the standard recipes is the fact that they are made with organic ingredients and several of them contain 95% meat ingredients.

When it comes to feeding your cat Newman’s Own cat foods, you have the option to feed him a single product or you can blend a wet and a dry food product together for maximum flavor and balanced nutrition. The brand website makes note that feeding a combination of dry and wet foods can add variety and flavor to your cat’s diet and any of Newman’s Own pet food products can be combined with each other for this purpose. The website also makes note that organic meats and whole grains may be richer foods than your cat is used to so you should transition your cat slowly onto the new diet and consult your veterinarian if your cat develops digestive problems.

Individual Recipe Review (Dry) Newman’s Adult Cat Dry Formula

This Newman’s Own Adult Cat Dry Formula is made with organic chicken as the primary ingredient and it features an ideal protein-to-fat ratio to support the nutritional needs of adult cats. While all cats need plenty of protein in their diets, the ratio of protein to fat is particularly important for adult cats. Your cat needs enough protein to support his lean muscle mass and enough fat to provide a concentrated source of energy as well as support for his immune system and his skin and coat. It is important not to give your adult cat too much fat, however, because this could lead to obesity which could contribute to serious health problems as your cat gets older.

The first ingredient in this dry food recipe is organic chicken. This can be considered a very high-quality source of animal protein and, because it is organic, you do not have to worry about growth hormones, antibiotics, or artificial preservatives. One thing to keep in mind about fresh meats like chicken, however, is the fact that they contain up to 80% water. When the total product is cooked down to a moisture level of 10% (as per the guaranteed analysis), the actual volume of protein that comes from the chicken will be much lower. This may not be a problem, however, because the second ingredient listed is poultry meal. Meat meals have already been cooked to remove moisture so they are a highly concentrated source of protein. The only thing troubling about this ingredient is the fact that it doesn’t come from a named source (like chicken meal) which makes it difficult to judge the quality. Fish meal, a similar ingredient, appears in the fifth slot on the ingredients list.

After the organic chicken and poultry meal comes soybean meal. While it might seem like this ingredient is included as a carbohydrate, it is actually a supplementary source of protein. Soybean meal contains about 48% protein by volume but, unfortunately, it is plant-based protein. Because cats are obligate carnivores, they have a very limited ability to digest plant materials. Animal-based proteins are much more biologically valuable for cats than plant-based proteins. Many pet food manufacturers use plant proteins to increase the protein content of their products without adding more meat. It is unclear whether or not this is the case with this Newman’s Own Adult Cat Dry Formula since two animal protein sources are listed prior to this ingredient, but it is definitely something to think about.

The fourth ingredient in this Newman’s Own Adult Cat Dry Formula is organic sorghum, a gluten-free grain. Similar to soybean meal (the previous ingredient), however, it also contains a good bit of plant protein as well as some dietary fiber. The same is true for organic peas, the sixth item on the list. Other sources of carbohydrates that appear on the ingredients list include organic brown rice, organic millet, organic rice, and organic oats. Organic carrots and organic cranberries are also on the list but they are most likely included as natural sources of key vitamins and minerals, though they do contain some dietary fiber as well. All but one of the carbohydrates used in this recipe (organic barley) are gluten-free grains which is generally a very good thing for cats because food allergies and sensitivities to gluten are fairly common. It is a little troubling, however, to see so many different carbohydrates listed – especially since they outnumber the protein sources.

When it comes to the fat content of this Newman’s Own Adult Cat Dry Formula, the main sources of fat are poultry fat, organic flax seed, and organic canola oil. The poultry fat is likely the primary source of fat in this recipe and it can only be considered a moderately valuable source of fat because it does not come from a named source. Organic flax seed provides omega-3 fatty acids as well as some dietary fiber and, as long as it is ground, it is fairly easy for your cat to digest. The organic canola oil is also rich in omega-3 fatty acids which help to support your cat’s healthy skin and coat. It would be better to see a greater balance of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids in this recipe and animal-based fats are preferable to plant-based fats and oils because they are easier for your cat’s body to digest and utilize.

The remaining ingredients in this cat food formula consist of organic carrots, organic cranberries, vitamin and mineral supplements, and dried fermentation products. Vitamin and mineral supplements are very important in commercial cat food products because they help to balance out the nutritional content of the product. Unfortunately, nutritional supplements cannot be utilized as fully by your cat’s body as natural sources of these nutrients – that is likely why the carrots and cranberries are included. It is good, however, to see that many of the minerals used in this recipe are chelated minerals. Chelated minerals have been chemically bonded to protein molecules which makes them easier for your cat’s body to digest and absorb. The dried fermentation products used in this recipe are included as probiotics to help support your cat’s healthy digestion.

Overall, this Newman’s Own Adult Cat Dry Formula has a guaranteed analysis as follows:

• Crude Protein (Min) – 32%
• Crude Fat (Min) – 16%
• Crude Fiber (Max) – 16%
• Moisture (Max) – 10%
• Taurine (Min) – 0.20 %
• Calorie Content – 462 kcal/cup

This formula meets the AAFCO nutritional requirements for cats in all life stages. According to the Newman’s Own website, adult cats weighing 5 to 9 pounds should be fed ½ to ¾ cup of this food daily, ideally divided over two or more servings. The website also states that kittens should be fed up to twice the amount of adult cats and pregnant or lactating females should be fed up to three times the normal amount. When feeding your cat Newman’s Own pet food, you should monitor your cat’s weight and condition for a few weeks while feeding him a steady amount. If your cat gains too much weight during this time you may need to scale back his daily portion a little – if he loses weight or becomes lethargic, you may need to increase it a little bit. Keep in mind that your cat’s energy needs will vary depending on his sex, age, and activity level, so these feeding recommendations are just that – recommendations.

Final Thoughts

Overall, this Newman’s Own Adult Cat Dry Formula seems to provide high-quality nutrition for adult cats. The guaranteed analysis for this product shows a protein content of 32% and a fat content of 16% – both of these values are very good for adult cats. What is a little troubling, however, is a crude fiber content equal to the crude fat content. Cats are obligate carnivores so they have a very limited ability to digest plant materials – it is usually best to see a fiber content at or below 5% in dry cat foods. The fact that this product contains more than three times that amount and the fact that the ingredients list shows at least ten sources of carbohydrate and fiber, is fairly troubling. The recipe does list two proteins sources first with a third plant-based protein source to follow, but it leaves the consumer to wonder whether the total volume of carbohydrate in this product ends up being more than the total volume of protein. This recipe does include a variety of high-quality and beneficial ingredients (including chelated minerals and dried fermentation products) but it could definitely stand to lose a few carbohydrates to drop the crude fiber level closer to the ideal of 5%.