Deciding on cat food seems like it should be simple. However, it can be a very daunting task. This is partly due to the wide range of available cat food products. Dry kibble, canned food, and even fresh human-grade options are plentiful, with new additions to the market all the time. There are many brand names out there, but it can be tricky to tell one from the other. One company that owners have likely heard of is Weruva. We take a closer look at the brand in our Weruva cat food reviews.
Weruva has been around for some time and may be recognizable to customers by the brightly colored packaging and energetic, fun product names they use. It is essential to know what is behind the brand, so we look at a few different things, including company history, ingredients used, recalls, and other pertinent information.
Have you considered Weruva? If so, you are in the right spot to learn more. We are here to help make your decision smoother. We dove into the information to help you decide if this is the right pick for your purr baby.
Key Features
- Real ingredients
- Protein-rich recipes
- High moisture formulas
- Based on a carnivore diet
- Ethically sourced animal meats
- Limited-ingredient recipes
- Single and multiple protein recipes
Brand History
Weruva is a family-owned company started in 2006 by a couple who were purr parents to three sweet kitties. The duo started their own when they could not find pet food they felt was good enough for their pets. Named after founders David and Stacie Norman’s three rescue cats, Webster, Rudi, and Vanessa, Weruva was started. The company makes simple recipes and high-moisture formulas with minimal plant materials. Products are made in a human food facility using human-grade ingredients. Weruva keeps some components recognizable so owners can see what their pets eat.
The company has a carnivorous focus, making meals high in protein and low in carbohydrates. All recipes are heavily meat-based, with a few other added ingredients like select vegetables. Currently, the company only makes wet food and no dry products.
The company expanded into dog nutrition when their pup Norman joined the family. Weruva also makes the brand B.F.F. – Best Feline Friend.
The company uses wind power to run its plant in Thailand, where both cat and dog foods are made. The company is committed to appalling high environmental standards. Packaging for pouches is BPA-free and recyclable. For us customers, the company has a program to recycle empty pouches. Additionally, the company uses only ethical sources for its main ingredients.
Weruva Cat Food Recall Information
Weruva cat food has never been recalled as of this writing. However, their Best Feline Friends brand has been recalled. The recall happened in 2017, with products manufactured in Australia due to low thiamine levels. No Weruva products were made in the facility.
All products affected in this recall were sold only in Australia. We could not find any other recalls connected to the brand or any of its smaller brands since then.
Where Is It Made?
Weruva is headquartered in Natick, Massachusetts. Their products are made in a USFDA-approved manufacturing plant located in Thailand. They use chicken and duck sourced from the area near the plant. Beef, and lamb come from Australia, fish is sourced from the Pacific Ocean, and turkey comes from the United States. All products meet the Brand Reputation Compliance Global Standards (BRCGS) (formerly British Retail Consortium (BRC) guidelines), a consumer protection organization that helps to maintain quality standards for human and pet foods.
Ingredients To Look For
Top-quality cat food should contain healthy ingredients, no artificial additives or bulky fillers like corn or wheat gluten. Cats are obligate carnivores and need diets that have large amounts of animal proteins. It is essential to provide them with a diet rich in animal proteins, fats, carbohydrates, and other necessary nutrients. Feline nutrition requires minerals and vitamins, including taurine, to maintain health and well-being. Desired animal proteins include chicken, turkey, fish, beef, and organ meat.
Felines also need essential fatty acids like omega-3 and omega-6 for healthy skin and fur. Minerals and vitamins such as Vitamins A and B, taurine, and potassium are necessary for optimal physical health. Carbohydrates provide energy and dietary fiber, which aids in digestion. Moisture is essential since kitties are prone to dehydration.
Protein
Felines rely mainly on animal protein to obtain essential amino acids, such as taurine. Taurine is crucial for maintaining proper heart function, vision, muscles, and reproductive health in cats. A taurine deficiency can lead to severe health issues, such as dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), central retinal degeneration, and reproductive failure.
Fats
Fats provide energy and are part of the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, and K). They also play an essential role in maintaining healthy skin and coats. Fats are also pivotal to brain development and function.
Vitamins & Minerals
Felines require a mixture of vitamins and minerals for the best health. These micronutrients support several bodily functions, such as immune system maintenance, bone health, and blood clotting.
Water
Hydration is a vital part of survival for all animals, and cats are no exception. Felines rarely show thirst but must drink enough water to support their body’s essential functions and prevent dehydration. Clean, fresh water being available at all times is critical for your kitty’s well-being.
Weruva Ingredients
Weruva makes feline foods that are grain-free, easy to digest, and based on the needs of carnivores. They use a variety of proteins, including poultry, red meat, and seafood. Weruva uses ethically sourced meats, and wild-caught fish, for the most part. Meats are human-grade, and other ingredients are locally sourced near where food is made. The brand uses few vegetables or fruits but does use potatoes, peas, and pumpkin in some recipes. They also use some ingredients like egg shell powder, fish oil, and sunflower oil. Tapioca starch is used in some recipes as a natural binder.
Weruva Cat Food Recipes
The company makes several lines of products. These include kitten-formulated food, Weruva Classic Cat, Weruva Cat Pâté, Weruva Cat Stew!, Cats In The Kitchen Kitten, Cats in the Kitchen, Cats in the Kitchen Pâté, Truluxe, Wx Phos Focused, as well as the B.F.F. lines (B.F.F. Minced!, B.F.F. OMG Gravy!, and B.F.F. Play Pâté!
We break down some of the most popular picks.
Weruva Kitten
Kitten
- Formulated for kittens.
- Features cage-free chicken.
- Higher in protein, fat, and calories.
- Grain and gluten-free.
- Supports growth and development.
- Carnivore-focused diet.
This kitten chow is a grain, gluten, and carrageenan-free recipe. It uses cage-free, boneless, skinless white chicken breast meat. Ingredients include chicken and broth, tuna, pumpkin, natural flavor, potato starch, sunflower oil, dried egg, and other added vitamins and minerals. This formula is a little higher in protein and fat, as well as calories, to support kitten growth.
Served in 3.0 oz cans. 11.5% crude protein (min), 4% crude fat (min), 1% crude fiber (max), and 83% moisture (max).
Weruva Classic Cat
Classic Cat Paw Lickin’ Chicken
- Antibiotic and hormone-free.
- The first ingredient is boneless, skinless chicken breast.
- Grain, gluten, and carrageenan free.
- Flaked or finely chopped.
- Limited – ingredient.
- Multiple protein options.
Weruva Classic Cat is a wide-ranging line. These include fish, poultry, and red meat-based lines. Paw Lickin’ Chicken is a top pick. The first ingredient is boneless, skinless chicken breast, followed by broth. The recipe also contains potato starch, sunflower seed oil, and vitamin and mineral supplements. Free of antibiotics and added hormones. Grain, gluten, and carrageenan free. All have a flaky or finely chopped texture.
Served in 3.0 oz., 5.0 oz., and 10 oz cans. 10% crude protein (min), 1.4% crude fat (min), 0.5% crude fiber (max), and 85% moisture (max).
Weruva Classic Cat offers several other tasty protein options. These include Chicken & Chicken Liver in Gravy, Mackerel & Grilled Skipjack in Gravy, Grilled Red Bigeye in Gravy, Chicken & Pumpkin, Tuna & Shirasau in Gravy, Chicken & Egg in Pea soup, Sardine & Seabass, and more.
Weruva Cat Pâté
Slice is Right Wild Caught Salmon Dinner In A Hydrating Puree
- Smooth puree made into pâté.
- Human-quality meats.
- Multiple protein choices.
- High in moisture.
- Palatable and easy to digest.
- Includes fish broth.
The kitty pâté offerings use the same ingredients as the Classic Cat options but are not flaky. Instead, they are made into a smooth puree and made into pâté.
The Slice is Right Wild Caught Salmon Dinner in a Hydrating Puree is one we took a look at. This uses fish broth, salmon, sardine, mackerel, sunflower oil, potato starch, and added vitamins and minerals.
Served in 2.8 oz. and 5.0 oz pouches. 8% crude protein (min), 1.5% crude fat (min), 1% crude fiber (max), and 87.5% moisture (max).
Other pâté options include Chicken Breast with Tuna, Lamb & Mackerel, Beef & Salmon, Chicken & Beef, Chicken & Pumpkin, and more.
Chicken, Tuna & Pumpkin In Gravy - Who Wants To Be A Meowionaire?
- Uses chicken, tuna, and pumpkin.
- Meat heavy.
- Non-GMO ingredients.
- Wild-caught fish.
- Creamy, smooth texture.
- Easy to digest and full of flavor.
We looked at the Chicken & Pumpkin dinner, Who Wants To be a Meowionaire?, to see the difference in recipes. This one contains chicken broth, chicken, tuna, pumpkin, potato starch, sunflower oil, and added vitamins and minerals. All pâtés are heavy on meat, with limited other ingredients.
Weruva Cat Stew!
Simmer Down Turkey, Chicken & Salmon In Gravy
- Made just for cats.
- Hearty stew.
- Multiple protein recipe.
- Meat-heavy stew.
- Includes wild-caught salmon.
- Minced meat in gravy.
These options feature animal proteins with chunks and shreds of meat. All recipes include wild-caught salmon and tasty minced gravy.
Simmer Down Turkey, Chicken & Salmon in Gravy is a top pick. This one has multiple proteins. The first ingredients are turkey broth, turkey, chicken, and salmon. It also uses coconut oil, celery powder, vitamins, and minerals.
It is served in 3 oz pouches. 7% crude protein (min), 4% crude fat (min), 1% crude fiber (max), and 86% moisture (max).
Cats In The Kitchen
This is a line of cat food that is starch free. These recipes use similar proteins and limited ingredients, like Weruva’s other recipes. The line includes both kitten and adult feline nutrition.
Funk in the Trunk Chicken Recipe In Pumpkin Consommé
- Cage-free, boneless, skinless chicken breast.
- Includes wild-caught tuna.
- It has pumpkin, which aids in digestion.
- Gluten, grain, and carrageenan free.
- Starch-free.
- Includes fish oil.
This recipe uses cage-free, boneless skinless chicken breast, wild-caught tuna, and pumpkin. Fish oil is added, a good source of omega-3 fatty acids. Recipes are free of grain, gluten, starch, and carrageenan. The first ingredients are chicken broth, boneless skinless chicken breast, tuna, pumpkin, and sunflower seed oil, and the recipe also includes fish oil and added vitamins and minerals.
Served in 3.2 oz, 5 oz, and 10 oz cans. 10% crude protein (min), 1.6% crude fat (min), 0.5% crude fiber (max), and 87% moisture (max).
Wx Phos Focused
Wx Phos Focused, Chicken & Tilapia Formula In Gravy
- Low phosphorus levels.
- 99% animal-based ingredients.
- Chicken and tilapia in gravy.
- Includes egg whites and chicken fat.
- Easy to eat.
- Not complete nutrition.
This is a line of pet foods made with carefully selected animal proteins and naturally low phosphorus levels. This line has five formulas made with 99% animal-based ingredients to help with digestion and support muscle maintenance. These options are 100% protein and fat, with zero carbohydrate calories.
We looked at the chicken and tilapia in gravy offering. This recipe uses boneless, skinless white breast chicken meat, tilapia, and egg whites. The formula is free of green, gluten, powdered cellulose, fillers, and carrageenan. These are not meant to provide complete nutrition. They are for intermittent and supplemental feeding. Ingredients in this recipe include chicken broth, chicken, tilapia, egg white, chicken fat, sunflower oil, natural fish flavor, fish oil, egg shell meal and added vitamins and minerals. Again, it is not a complete and balanced formula. Your purr baby will need other nutrition along with this chow.
This is available in 3 oz cans. 10% crude protein (min), 5% crude fat (min), 1% crude fiber (max), and 83.5% moisture (max).
Truluxe
This is a luxury line formula to soothe a picky palette. This line uses unique proteins, including Australian grass-fed beef, wild-caught pink salmon, fresh basa, Saba, also called Japanese mackerel, cage-free turkey, duck, and wild-caught tuna.
Truluxe Mediterranean Harvest With Tuna & Veggies In Gravy
- A luxury line of food.
- Good for picky eaters.
- Uses unique proteins.
- Single-source protein recipes are available.
- Includes fish broth.
- Includes vegetables.
This recipe includes wild-caught tuna with peas and tomato. It is a single-source protein recipe with no grain, gluten, or carrageenan. It uses sustainably sourced fish and is poultry free. This recipe includes fish broth, tuna, potato, pea, tomato, potato starch, sunflower seed oil, and other added vitamins and minerals.
Recipes are available in 3 and 6-oz cans. 10% crude protein (min), 1.4% crude fat (min), 0.5% crude fiber (max), and 85% moisture (max).
B.F.F Best Feline Friend
According to the brand, this line offers the widest variety of flavors and textures. Many customers are not aware that this brand is under Weruva. This line offers minced, gravy, pâté, and multiple protein choices.
B.F.F. OMG GRAVY! Tuna & Salmon Sweet Cheeks
- Tuna & Salmon Dinner in Gravy.
- Hydration-focused recipe.
- Wild-caught tuna and salmon.
- Dolphin-safe tuna.
- All-natural ingredients.
- Wide variety of flavors and textures.
This dinner in gravy features wild-caught tuna and salmon. The recipe uses tuna broth, tuna, salmon, tapioca starch, sunflower oil, and added vitamins and minerals. As with all other Weruva brands, this is a hydration-focused recipe.
It is available in 3 oz pouches. 9% crude protein (min), 1.4% crude fat (min), 1% crude fiber (max), and 86% moisture (max).
The brand also offers other products, including fiber supplement pouches, Pumpkin Patch Up, and clumping cat litter that is clay free and made from green tea.
Is Weruva Cat Food Good?
Generally, this company makes good quality feline meals. We love the wide selection of recipes as well as the kitten-specific options. Many of their recipes use single animal protein or a mixture of easy-to-digest animal protein blends. Many recipes are poultry free, which is beneficial for cats with food sensitivities or digestive issues, as chicken can be hard to digest for some felines. Some recipes include fish oil, which we prefer over sunflower oil, though not all use this. Very few vegetables and fruits are added, which goes along with the company’s meat-based recipe focus.
Recipes all have very low carbohydrate content, little to no added carbs, and use high-quality animal protein. These formulas are also very high in moisture, which is suitable for some cats, but not for all.
Personal Experience
One of our team here at LoveYourCat has tried Weruva cat food in the past and gave us some feedback.
“I purchased the Kitchen Cuties variety pack that features four recipes: Kitty Gone Wild, Lamb Burgini, Chicken Frick ‘A Zee, and Funk In The Trunk. I like that Weruva is a family-owned company that uses cage-free, grass-fed, and wild-caught meats. All formulas include a bone broth base for bioavailable nutrients and hydration, plus fish oil packed with coat-supporting omega-3 fatty acids. My cats hoovered these meals down and begged for more.”
Tara Maurer, Rescue Cat Parent & Nutritional Expert
What Do Customers Think?
In some customer reviews, particularly around the pâté, feedback suggested customers would like to see more meat. Others did not like the gel-like substance in some recipes. Some customers felt the shredded meat was too tough.
On the other hand, the company receives very high reviews from most customers. Most cats seem to love the taste and gobble the meals down. Owners report that the recipes smell like real meat and are very effective with fussy eaters. Most products work great as a topper, and some offer complete nutrition.
Our research shows this is a high-quality brand that produces limited-ingredient, animal protein-heavy formulas. As felines are obligate carnivores, this is a good pick to get that meat flavor, protein, and extra moisture into your pet’s diet. We appreciate the species-specific nutrition and that the brand is generous with real animal ingredients.
Some owners have reservations, being that all products are made in Thailand and that the company does have a recall in its history. It is reassuring that the company uses human-grade meats, a human food processing facility, meets (BRCGS) guidelines, is FDA-certified, and that the brand is considerate of the environment.
How Much is Weruva? Is It Worth The Price?
This brand is in the higher price range for canned pet foods. Pet owners can expect to pay between $3.00 and $6.00 or more a day. This is based on a 10-pound feline. Larger cats need more. Some recipes, like the Truluxe brand, cost more. With the addition of fresh meal subscriptions like Small’s and freeze-dried raw options available, price is important. So, prices will vary depending on individual animal and product choices. This is on the higher end for wet food prices. The brand is available online and in some brick-and-mortar retailers. Select options are available on both Chewy and Amazon. Additionally, customers can use the online tool to locate a retailer in their area.
Pros & Cons of Weruva
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Wide selection of recipes | Made in Thailand |
| It uses natural, named animal proteins | Recall in company history |
| Real broth | Expensive |
| High protein recipes | Taurine and other minerals are sourced in China |
| Meats used are fit for human consumption | Some recipes are very low calorie – may need to feed cats more |
| No plant protein | Several fish-based recipes- not the best pick as a sole protein source for cats |
| No artificial ingredients | |
| Identifiable ingredients | |
| 100% refund guarantee | |
| Email and phone customer service |
Final Thoughts
Weruva makes carnivore-focused recipes for both cats and dogs. Their food has limited ingredients and uses very high-quality food elements. No grains, gluten, soy, carrageenan, or other components as fillers. Overall, this is a good brand and is higher than many in quality. Most cats like the food, and owners are happy with the quality. If you are still determining if this is your brand, look at our reviews of OpenFarm, Cat Person, Applaws, and other brands.
Keep in mind that not every brand will work for every cat. Every kitty has unique nutritional needs based on their health and home environment. For some kitties, a dry-based diet is best; for others, a mixed wet and dry diet is best. Others do best with fresh food like Smalls. If you have specific concerns about your pet’s nutrition, health, and dietary needs, contact your veterinarian and qualified pet nutritionists to address your pet’s unique needs.
