Nutrition

Applaws Cat Food Review

Applaws is a premium brand of cat food. If you are considering Applaws you are in the right place. We jump in and offer up this Applaws cat food review to help owners get to know this "all natural" brand.

Danielle DeGroot

Last Updated: April 20, 2023 | 7 min read

Cat eating Applaws Cat Food up close

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Cat owners are always looking for the best food to feed their cats. There are numerous options to choose from, making it hard to know which ones are the right pick. One company owners often consider is Applaws, which makes natural cat food and offers several different product lines. Our Applaws cat food review is here to help make the task of picking pet food a little clearer.

As a cat owner, choosing the right food for your feline friend is crucial to ensuring overall health and well-being. Budget is a big concern for many owners, and they want to ensure they can afford and purchase the best nutritional options. Applaws is a natural cat food that makes primarily grain-free recipes, something many owners seek.

When selecting a cat nutrition brand, looking at more than just recipes and a cute label is essential. There is much more to this brand than can be found on the label. Let’s dive in and learn more about Applaws cat food, where it is made, what it is made of, and a little bit about the company’s history.

Key Features

  1. Natural Grain free cat chow.
  2. It uses natural, named animal proteins.
  3. Dry kibbles are made and sourced in the USA.
  4. They have limited ingredient recipes.
  5. Large selection of wet and canned products.
  6. Feline-specific nutrition.
  7. All-natural, with no artificial ingredients or additives.
  8. 17-year-old company.

Brand History

Applaws is a brand under the parent company of Making Pet Food Matters (MPM), a company based out of the UK. This is the same company that also makes Nature’s Calling, Encore, and Reveal. The brand launched in 2006 in the UK. Since then, the brand has expanded its market and is sold in North America, Western Europe, and Australia. It is stocked in many major retailers throughout the United States.

Applaws is a natural pet food company that focuses on making dog and cat food that is 100% natural. The brand describes itself as “high quality, 100% natural, ethically sourced premium pet food.” They make several grain-free recipes. They do not use artificial products, fillers, or additives and work to create limited-ingredient, high-protein recipes.

Recall Information

For most of its history, Applaws has been recall-free, and the company has not had any recalls to date affecting the US market. In June of 2021, the company voluntarily recalled several of its dry cat kibble products sold in the UK. These were recalled due to an elevated risk of developing a condition called Pancytopenia. This condition affects the bone marrow and causes the blood cell count to drop significantly very quickly. It is very serious and can be fatal.

It is important to note that this recall was voluntary, only affected some products sold in the UK, and was related to products made by the pet food manufacturer Fold Hill Food Limited. Several other pet brands were also affected, which is currently under investigation.

This is the only instance of a recall we could find in this company’s history.

Where Is It Made?

Dry kibbles sold to American customers are manufactured in the United States. All wet and canned product is made in Thailand. Ingredients are sourced from all over the world. Though the company does not specify where ingredients come from, all suppliers the company works with must be members of at least one of the following ethical organizations:

  • Earth Island Institute
  • International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF)
  • Marine Stewardship Council
  • Thai Tuna Industry Association (TTIA)

Ingredients To Look For

A balanced diet is essential to support your cat’s immune system, digestive health, and overall energy levels. The right cat diet can also help prevent common health issues in cats, such as obesity, dental problems, and urinary tract infections. Choosing the right food is especially important for cats with specific dietary needs, such as allergies or health conditions. Cat diets should contain balanced nutrients, vitamins, and minerals. Felines are obligate carnivores, meaning they must eat meat to be healthy. High-quality animal proteins are the best. These should be named and listed first on labels. Foods should also contain healthy fats, amino acids, carbohydrates, and vitamins like taurine and potassium.

Applaws Ingredients

  • Applaws uses a variety of animal proteins. Many of their recipes use chicken. However, they also contain fish like tuna, whitefish, sardines, salmon, and ocean fish. Some recipes include duck, as well as meat and poultry meals.
  • Fruits and vegetables are included in some recipes. These include pumpkins, carrots, chickpeas, asparagus, and seaweed.
  • Dry recipes are grain free, while some wet products do contain rice and rice flour.
  • Kibbles made in the USA use locally sourced ingredients when possible.
  • The company does not use any additives or artificial ingredients. This also means they do not add any vitamins, minerals, or amino acids. Recipes do contain these things, but only the natural levels.

Applaws Cat Food Recipes

Applaws makes a limited line of grain-free dry kibble, wet kitten cans, adult canned, broth pots, pouches, and mousse. They also make gravy pouches and treats. It is important to note that dry kibbles offer complete nutrition, while their other products are better for supplemental feeding. This means cats need high-quality dry kibble along with wet, mousse, or pouches to achieve balanced and complete nutrition.

Let’s take a closer look at some of the top-selling Applaws feline products.

Complete Dry Adult Chicken & Country Vegetables

Applaws Complete Dry Adult Chicken & Country Vegetables
  • Dry kibble.
  • Grain-free.
  • Chicken breast and chicken meal.
  • Formulated for adults.
  • Offers balanced nutrition.
  • Made in the USA.

The Complete Dry Adult Chicken & Country Vegetables is one of the company’s two dry kibble options. Chicken breast and chicken meal provide the primary sources of protein. The recipe does contain peas, which add to the protein level, lentils, chicken fat, chickpeas, and flaxseed. We appreciate the limited ingredients, as some cats need this.

This kibble is manufactured in the USA. It does contain carbohydrates, which may be hard to digest, but it also has fiber which aids in digestion. It has high protein and low fat. While we like limited ingredients, the carbohydrate content is high, and we would like to see more healthy fats. It also has a low moisture content, as is typical of dry kibbles. Additionally, the brand also makes whitefish and country vegetables dry kibble.

Kitten Tuna Fillet

Applaws Kitten Tuna Fillet
  • Chicken and tuna flavor.
  • Limited ingredient.
  • Easy to digest.
  • High in moisture.
  • Use with a fully balanced kibble.
  • Canned food in broth.

The company’s kitten line includes two flavors of canned meals in broth. They offer chicken breast and tuna flavor. The limited ingredient claim is a very accurate description as these recipes contain only tuna or chicken breast, fish or chicken broth, rice, and rice four. These offer a good punch of protein and very limited fat and fiber. Cans are high in moisture. They have great taste but do not offer complete nutrition. These should always be served along with a fully balanced kitten formula kibble.

Tuna Fillet In Broth

Applaws Tuna Fillet
  • Three-ingredient recipe.
  • Tuna Fillet, tasty broth.
  • High in moisture and fish protein.
  • For adults.
  • Use with a balanced dry kibble.
  • Natural source of Omega-3.

This is a very limited ingredient wet option. Three ingredients only: tuna filet, broth, and rice. All natural ingredients and full, fishy taste. A natural source of Omega-3’s. This is a top seller and a popular choice for fans of this brand. This complimentary pet nutrition must be fed along with a diet of balanced dry kibble.

Chicken & Pumpkin Mousse

Applaws Chicken & Pumpkin Mousse
  • Smooth mousse.
  • Limited ingredients.
  • All natural.
  • Complimentary nutrition.
  • High protein
  • Great taste and is easy to eat.

This brand offers several varieties of mousse. These are complementary nutrition and must be eaten along with a balanced dry kibble. Chicken and pumpkin mousse is a popular choice. It uses just five ingredients: chicken broth, chicken breast, pumpkin, carrageenan, and locust bean gum. These are whipped into a smooth, palatable mousse. Easy to eat and digest. Totally grain free.

The ingredients are limited, which is good. However, carrageenan is a natural meal thickener. It is natural and comes from red seaweed. In some cases, this can worsen or cause inflammation. This ingredient is not toxic but may be hard for some cats.

Whole Loin Treats

Applaws Whole Loin Treats
  • Whole loin filet treats.
  • Single-ingredient.
  • High in protein.
  • Low fat.
  • Puree treats are also available.
  • Natural meaty taste.

These kitty treats are different from the typical crunchy, meat-flavored treat. This company offers two kinds of treats. Puree and Loin. The puree is a blended treat of limited ingredients and animal protein. The loin treats are simply animal loin and herbs. High in protein, low in fat, and has a ton of taste. These are treats, not a substitute for a complete meal.

Along with the recipes we have reviewed, the brand also offers Pots, Gravy Pots, Gravy Pouches, and Broth Pots. These are all canned grain free and are only suitable as complementary nutrition.

Is Applaws Cat Food Good?

This brand has many positives. Overall, it is good quality, but only the dry kibble offers complete nutrition. Owners need to know this, but it can get overlooked. Cats only eating this wet product will not get everything they need nutritionally. This is important to note, as not everyone realizes this. Wet products tend to be very high in protein and moisture but lack the other essential elements to provide cats with a complete and balanced diet.

Applaws products are a good addition to your cat’s diet as a supplement, treat, and reward. Some owners report that their cats like the taste and use this chow to make their regular kibble more appetizing. The company develops recipes high in natural sources of taurine and arginine and does not use any artificial ingredients or additives. The meals are good quality but not balanced enough to sustain a feline fully.

How Much Is Applaws? Is It Worth The Price?

This brand is a pricier option than many others sold in the same retailers. Of course, the price varies by seller and product. A 12-pack of 2.47-ounce cans of mousse can average $35.00 online. For dry, a 4-pound bag of kibble costs $16.00. These are on the higher end of prices, and as wet foods do not offer complete nutrition, they may not be suitable for all budgets. Wet foods are a great addition and supplement and can be a tasty topper or treat. This makes the price more affordable, though owners must purchase a balanced kibble.

These products may not be the best choice for owners on a limited budget. This can be a good choice for those who want to add a boost of protein and flavor and have extra funds to spend. Owners wanting premium products with complete nutrition may wish to consider human-grade, fresh meal options.

Pros & Cons Chart

ProsCons
Made with high-quality, natural ingredientsMore expensive than other brands
Real, natural animal proteinsLimited availability
A wide variety of flavors and options are availableNo fresh options
Dry kibble offers complete and balanced nutritionMislabelling concerns
No chemical additivesOne recall (in the UK)
No artificial ingredients Complimentary nutrition
Grain-free and grain inclusiveNo ingredient source information
Dry foods made in the USA

Final Thoughts

Overall, Applaws makes tasty, above-average feline products. Other than dry kibble, their recipes are complementary, meaning they are not enough to fully sustain a cat and keep them healthy. Owners need to consider this and make sure to read labels. The company produces high-quality products with limited ingredients, which is a big bonus. Kitties enjoy the taste and texture. Applaws’ wet options make a great addition to your purr baby’s diet but should not be the only meal they are given.

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