Earthborn Cat Food Review

Cats Reviews May 12, 2022
Written by | Updated Apr 4, 2024
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Earthborn Cat Food Review

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When you scan the words on a pet food package, things like “natural” and “holistic” are likely to catch your eye.

You can’t always believe what you read on a pet food label, however, because sometimes claims like these don’t have a standard definition.

When it comes to Earthborn pet food, however, you can trust that every recipe is formulated to deliver holistic, natural nutrition that’s good for your cat.

Earthborn is a pet food brand with decades of experience in the industry. Their recipes are expertly formulated and independently tested for safety, made with high-quality ingredients to deliver superior nutrition.

Read on to see what we think of the Earthborn brand and our reviews for their products.

Earthborn Cat Food
Brand
Overall Score
Pros
  • No history of product recalls
  • Easy to find both online and in stores
  • Wet foods are higher in protein and lower in carbs
  • Uses high-quality ingredients, including real animal proteins
Cons
  • Pea protein as a main ingredient in dry foods
Pros
  • No history of product recalls
  • Easy to find both online and in stores
  • Wet foods are higher in protein and lower in carbs
  • Uses high-quality ingredients, including real animal proteins
Cons
  • Pea protein as a main ingredient in dry foods
Variety of Recipes
Ingredient Quality
Price Per Pound
Recall History
Availability
Customer Reviews

How We Review Cat Food Brands

Your cat deserves the highest quality nutrition you can give him – that’s why you’re here, after all. You want to know what cat food brands you can trust and what products are the best.

Why should you trust us? To put it simply, we wouldn’t recommend anything to you we wouldn’t feed our own cats.

Cats are obligate carnivores, so they have a biological need for meat in their diet – even more so than dogs.

Our cat food recommendations are based on the idea that protein is a priority and carbohydrates should be as limited as possible. If meat isn’t the first ingredient, we don’t recommend the food.

Though protein always comes first, we also consider the quality and source.

Animal proteins are much better for your cat than plant proteins and any carbohydrates in your cat’s food should come from highly digestible and nutritious sources, not low-quality grains and fillers.

Here are some of the things we look for in a good cat food brand:

  • High-quality animal protein as the first ingredient
  • Rich in healthy animal fats (ex: chicken fat or salmon oil)
  • Few to no carbohydrate ingredients (especially within the top 5)
  • Limited number of main ingredients plus supplements
  • No low-quality fillers, grains, or by-products

In addition to making sure any cat food brand we recommend is made with high-quality ingredients, we evaluate several other factors as well.

We prefer brands that offer a wide variety of recipes and those that provide plenty of information about their ingredients and products. We also consider pricing and recalls as well as the availability of the brand as a whole.

Overview of the Earthborn Cat Food Brand

Earthborn pet food is a brand owned and produced by Midwestern Pet Foods. A family-owned and -operated business, Midwestern Pet Foods was founded in 1926 as a small milling company. Today, it is in its fourth generation of family leadership.

Midwestern Pet Foods specializes in nutritional dog and cat food recipes, including the Earthborn brand.

Earthborn pet food is made in company-owned kitchens in the United States using carefully selected ingredients from trusted sources. Every product is tested by independent laboratories to ensure quality.

Earthborn cat food products are sold under the Earthborn Holistic brand name. These recipes are made with real animal proteins and wholesome, nutrient-rich vegetable and fruits.

Each formula contains a precise blend of essential vitamins and minerals for balanced nutrition to support optimal health.

What Kind of Cat Food Products Do They Offer?

Earthborn offers a wide variety of pet food products for both dogs and cats. Though they offer three unique product lines in dry dog food recipes, there is only one product line for dry and wet cat food – Earthborn Holistic.

There are three dry cat food recipes to choose from, all of which are grain-free. Earthborn also offers seven grain-free canned foods and six moist food pouches.

Here is the nutritional information for some of the most popular cat food recipes:

Dry Food Recipes

Recipe Protein % Fat % Fiber % Moisture % Calories/Cup
Earthborn Holistic Feline Vantage 36 14 5 10 415
Earthborn Holistic Primitive Feline 40 18 3 10 395
Earthborn Holistic Wild Sea Catch 40 18 3 10 400

Wet Food Recipes

Recipe Protein % Fat % Fiber % Moisture % Calories/Can (3 oz.)
Earthborn Holistic Catalina Catch Canned Food 12 2 1.5 82 82
Earthborn Holistic Chicken Catcciatori Canned Food 10 2 1.5 82 70
Earthborn Holistic Chicken Fricatssee Canned Food 9 2 1.5 83 125 (5.5 oz.)
Earthborn Holistic Chicken Jumble with Liver Canned Food 9 2 1.5 83 147 (5.5 oz.)
Earthborn Holistic Harbor Harvest Canned Food 12 2 1.5 82 70
Earthborn Holistic Monterey Medley Canned Food 12 2 1.5 82 66
Earthborn Holistic RanchHouse Stew Canned Food 8 2 1.5 83 138 (5.5 oz.)
Earthborn Holistic Autumn Tide Moist Food Pouch 12 2 1.5 82 68
Earthborn Holistic Fin & Fowl Moist Food Pouch 12 2 1.5 82 69
Earthborn Holistic Key West Zest Moist Food Pouch 12 2 1.5 82 68
Earthborn Holistic Lowcountry Fare Moist Food Pouch 12 2 1.5 82 67
Earthborn Holistic Riptide Zing Moist Food Pouch 12 2 1.5 82 67
Earthborn Holistic Upstream Grille Moist Food Pouch 12 2 1.5 82 68

Product Recall History

A product recalls happens when there’s a problem with the product. In many cases, recalls are issued by the FDA in response to customer complaints, but the company always has the option to issue a voluntary recall if they discover the issue first themselves.

Product recalls can be for both simple things like labeling errors and life-threatening concerns like contamination with food-borne pathogens.

Brands that outsource manufacture and use ingredients from China seem to experience more frequent recalls than companies that own and operate their own facilities, but that isn’t exclusively true.

Earthborn is a family-owned and operated business with 4 production facilities in the United States. Since the brand’s founding in 1926, there have been no recalls.

The number of recalls a pet food brand has or doesn’t have is a key indicator of quality, though certainly not the only fact to consider. High-quality brands have occasional recalls as well as low-quality brands.

In this case, we’re glad to see that Earthborn has held true to their commitment to quality.

Products Included in This Review

Name Type Protein % Fat % Top 5 Ingredients
Earthborn Holistic Feline Vantage Dry 36 14 Chicken meal, ground brown rice, pea protein, oatmeal, dried egg product
Earthborn Holistic Wild Sea Catch Dry 40 18 Salmon meal, pacific whiting meal, peas, pea protein, pea starch
Earthborn Holistic Catalina Catch Canned Food Wet 12 2 Mackerel, fish broth, shrimp, sunflower oil, natural flavors
Earthborn Holistic RanchHouse Stew Canned Food Wet 8 2 Beef broth, beef, dried egg product, chicken, pumpkins
Earthborn Holistic Fin & Fowl Moist Food Pouch Moist 12 2 Tuna, tuna broth, chicken, tapioca, sunflower oil

Compare Earthborn Cat Food

EARTHBORN Holistic Feline Vantage

1. EARTHBORN Holistic Feline Vantage

EARTHBORN Holistic Wild Sea Catch

2. EARTHBORN Holistic Wild Sea Catch

EARTHBORN Holistic Catalina Catch Canned Food

3. EARTHBORN Holistic Catalina Catch Canned Food

EARTHBORN Holistic RanchHouse Stew Canned Food

4. EARTHBORN Holistic RanchHouse Stew Canned Food

EARTHBORN Holistic Fin & Fowl Moist Food Pouch

5. EARTHBORN Holistic Fin & Fowl Moist Food Pouch

Type of Food
Dry
Type of Food
Dry
Type of Food
Wet
Type of Food
Wet
Type of Food
Moist
First 5 Ingredients
Chicken meal, ground brown rice, pea protein, oatmeal, dried egg product
First 5 Ingredients
Salmon meal, pacific whiting meal, peas, pea protein, pea starch
First 5 Ingredients
Mackerel, fish broth, shrimp, sunflower oil, natural flavors
First 5 Ingredients
Beef broth, beef, dried egg product, chicken, pumpkins
First 5 Ingredients
Tuna, tuna broth, chicken, tapioca, sunflower oil
Guaranteed Analysis
36% Protein Min, 14% Fat Min, 5% Fiber Max, 10% Moisture Max
Guaranteed Analysis
40% Protein Min, 18% Fat Min, 3% Fiber Max, 10% Moisture Max
Guaranteed Analysis
12% Protein Min, 2% Fat Min, 1.5% Fiber Max, 82% Moisture Max
Guaranteed Analysis
8% Protein Min, 2% Fat Min, 1.5% Fiber Max, 83% Moisture Max
Guaranteed Analysis
12% Protein Min, 2% Fat Min, 1.5% Fiber Max, 82% Moisture Max
Calories per Cup
415 kcal/cup
Calories per Cup
400 kcal/cup
Calories per Cup
82 kcal/can (3 oz.)
Calories per Cup
138 kcal/can (5.5 oz.)
Calories per Cup
69 kcal/pouch (3 oz.)
Price Per Pound/Ounce
$2.07/pound
Price Per Pound/Ounce
$2.29
Price Per Pound/Ounce
$0.29/ounce
Price Per Pound/Ounce
$0.29/ounce
Price Per Pound/Ounce
$0.33/ounce
1.

EARTHBORN Holistic Feline Vantage

Product Info

  • Type of Food: Dry
  • First 5 Ingredients: Chicken meal, ground brown rice, pea protein, oatmeal, dried egg product
  • Guaranteed Analysis: 36% Protein Min, 14% Fat Min, 5% Fiber Max, 10% Moisture Max
  • Calories per Cup: 415 kcal/cup
  • Price Per Pound/Ounce: $2.07/pound

Guaranteed Analysis

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Crude Protein: 36%
Crude Fat: 14%
Crude Fiber: 5%
Moisture: 10%

Dry Matter Basis

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Protein: 40%
Fat: 15.56%
Fiber: 5.56%
Carbs: 38.89%
Ingredients:

Chicken Meal, Ground Brown Rice, Pea Protein, Oat Meal, Dried Egg Product, Pea Fiber, Chicken Fat (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Herring Meal, Ground Barley, Ground Flaxseed, Tomato Pomace, Natural Flavor, Salmon Meal, Whitefish Meal, Blueberry Fiber, Cranberry Fiber, Choline Chloride, Apples, Blueberries, Carrots, Spinach, Cranberries, Canola Oil (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols, a Source of Vitamin E), Taurine, L-Lysine, Dl-Methionine, Potassium Chloride, Dicalcium Phosphate, Calcium Sulfate, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement, Zinc Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Niacin, Folic Acid, Biotin, Manganese Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Calcium Pantothenate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin Supplement, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (Source of Vitamin C), etc..

If you’re looking for a nutritious recipe for your cat and he doesn’t have any food allergies or sensitivities to worry about, this Feline Vantage recipe could be a good choice.

This formula features chicken meal as the first ingredient, a concentrated source of animal protein. You’ll also find supplemental sources of animal protein like dried egg, herring meal, salmon meal, and whitefish meal later down the list.

Keep in mind that pea protein (a plant protein) is listed as well.

With ground brown rice, oatmeal, and ground barley on the list, this not a grain-free recipe. We aren’t of the opinion that all grains are bad, however.

If carbohydrates are included in your cat’s diet, they should come from digestible and nutritious sources like whole grains.

Other notable ingredients in this recipe include chicken fat as a nutritious source of essential fatty acids and fresh fruits and veggies to provide natural sources of key vitamins and minerals.
2.

EARTHBORN Holistic Wild Sea Catch

Product Info

  • Type of Food: Dry
  • First 5 Ingredients: Salmon meal, pacific whiting meal, peas, pea protein, pea starch
  • Guaranteed Analysis: 40% Protein Min, 18% Fat Min, 3% Fiber Max, 10% Moisture Max
  • Calories per Cup: 400 kcal/cup
  • Price Per Pound/Ounce: $2.29

Guaranteed Analysis

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Crude Protein: 40%
Crude Fat: 18%
Crude Fiber: 3%
Moisture: 10%

Dry Matter Basis

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Protein: 44.44%
Fat: 20%
Fiber: 3.33%
Carbs: 32.22%
Ingredients:

Salmon Meal, Pacific Whiting Meal, Peas, Pea Protein, Pea Starch, Canola Oil (preserved with mixed Tocopherols), Dried Eggs, Natural Flavors, Flaxseed, Pea Fiber, Apples, Blueberries, Cranberries, Carrots, Spinach, Potassium Chloride, Choline Chloride, Taurine, L-Lysine, DL-Methionine, Calcium Sulfate, L-Carnitine, Beta-Carotene, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement, Zinc Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Niacin, Folic Acid, Biotin, Manganese Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Calcium Pantothenate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin Supplement, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (Source of Vitamin C), Zinc Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Rosemary Extract, Dried Enterococcus Faecium Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus Casei Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus Acidophilus Fermentation Product.

One of Earthborn’s most popular dry cat food formulas, this recipe features a variety of proteins including salmon meal and pacific whiting meal. You’ll also find eggs on the ingredients list as a supplementary source of animal protein.

In addition to these animal proteins, you’ll also see pea protein included. Pea protein is the fourth ingredient, but peas are third – you’ll also see pea starch. This is what we call “ingredient splitting” and it’s something to watch out for in pet food.

Pet food ingredient lists are ordered by weight. By splitting one ingredient into several components, manufacturers can alter their position on the list. In this case, pea protein is separated from pea starch and both are listed separately from whole peas.

This makes it very difficult to tell how much of the total protein content in this formula comes from animal protein. Fortunately, two concentrated sources of animal make the top of the list.
3.

EARTHBORN Holistic Catalina Catch Canned Food

Product Info

  • Type of Food: Wet
  • First 5 Ingredients: Mackerel, fish broth, shrimp, sunflower oil, natural flavors
  • Guaranteed Analysis: 12% Protein Min, 2% Fat Min, 1.5% Fiber Max, 82% Moisture Max
  • Calories per Cup: 82 kcal/can (3 oz.)
  • Price Per Pound/Ounce: $0.29/ounce

Guaranteed Analysis

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Crude Protein: 12%
Crude Fat: 2%
Crude Fiber: 1.5%
Moisture: 81.5%
Ash: 3%

Dry Matter Basis

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Protein: 64.86%
Fat: 10.81%
Fiber: 8.11%
Ingredients:

Mackerel, Fish Broth, Shrimp, Sunflower Oil, Natural Flavors, Tricalcium Phosphate, Guar Gum, Salt, Choline Chloride, Potassium Chloride, Taurine, Zinc Oxide, Iron Proteinate, Niacin, Vitamin E Supplement, Sodium Selenite, Manganese Sulfate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Copper Proteinate, Vitamin A Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Biotin, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Potassium Iodide, Folic Acid, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (Source of Vitamin K).

Packed with fish flavor and loaded with protein, this recipe features fresh mackerel and shrimp as the primary ingredients. Fish broth provides some additional flavor as well as a healthy dose of moisture.

Sunflower oil is the primary fat in this recipe. We prefer to see animal-based fats but, in this case, it’s safe to assume that since the mackerel is fresh it contains some fat as well.

Fatty fish like mackerel are rich in omega-3s, so the high omega-6 content of the sunflower oil helps provide balance.

This recipe also contains added vitamins and minerals, including chelated minerals. Chelated minerals are mineral supplements that have been chemically bound to protein molecules which helps boost their absorption and uptake.
4.

EARTHBORN Holistic RanchHouse Stew Canned Food

Product Info

  • Type of Food: Wet
  • First 5 Ingredients: Beef broth, beef, dried egg product, chicken, pumpkins
  • Guaranteed Analysis: 8% Protein Min, 2% Fat Min, 1.5% Fiber Max, 83% Moisture Max
  • Calories per Cup: 138 kcal/can (5.5 oz.)
  • Price Per Pound/Ounce: $0.29/ounce

Guaranteed Analysis

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Crude Protein: 8%
Crude Fat: 2%
Crude Fiber: 1.5%
Moisture: 83%
Ash: 3%

Dry Matter Basis

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Protein: 47.06%
Fat: 11.76%
Fiber: 8.82%
Carbs: 14.71%
Ingredients:

Beef Broth, Beef, Dried Egg Product, Chicken, Pumpkins, Potatoes, Carrots, Natural Flavors, Tuna, Tricalcium Phosphate, Salt, Guar Gum, Potassium Chloride, Magnesium Sulfate, Taurine, Choline Chloride, Iron Proteinate, Vitamin E Supplement, Zinc Proteinate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Niacin, Vitamin A Supplement, Manganese Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Sodium Selenite, Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin Supplement, Folic Acid, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Biotin, Potassium Iodide.

For cats who don’t have food allergies or sensitivities, this beef and chicken recipe is a great option. Fresh beef is the primary source of protein, supplemented with chicken and fresh tuna.

You’ll also find dried eggs on the list with beef broth for additional flavor and moisture.

Unlike the previous recipe, this formula has several sources of added carbohydrate – pumpkins, potatoes, and carrots. All of these are nutritious ingredients but fairly high in starch.

The estimated carb content of this formula is under 3%, however, so it’s still a protein-rich recipe.
5.

EARTHBORN Holistic Fin & Fowl Moist Food Pouch

Product Info

  • Type of Food: Moist
  • First 5 Ingredients: Tuna, tuna broth, chicken, tapioca, sunflower oil
  • Guaranteed Analysis: 12% Protein Min, 2% Fat Min, 1.5% Fiber Max, 82% Moisture Max
  • Calories per Cup: 69 kcal/pouch (3 oz.)
  • Price Per Pound/Ounce: $0.33/ounce

Guaranteed Analysis

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Crude Protein: 12%
Crude Fat: 2%
Crude Fiber: 1.5%
Moisture: 81.5%
Ash: 3%

Dry Matter Basis

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Protein: 64.86%
Fat: 10.81%
Fiber: 8.11%
Ingredients:

Tuna, Tuna Broth, Chicken, Tapioca, Sunflower Oil, Tricalcium Phosphate, Potassium Chloride, Guar Gum, Taurine, Celery, Niacin, Vitamin E Supplement, Zinc Oxide, Salt, Iron Proteinate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Sodium Selenite, Manganese Sulfate, Vitamin A Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Copper Proteinate, Biotin, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid, Potassium Iodide, Menadione Sodium Bisulfate Complex (Source of Vitamin K).

Made with fresh tuna and chicken, this wet food formula is low in carbohydrates and high in protein. Tapioca is the main carbohydrate ingredient, though you’ll see celery a little lower on the list as well.

The estimated carbohydrate content of this recipe is extremely low – tapioca may largely be used as a thickener in this formula. Tapioca is derived from cassava root and is naturally gluten free.

In addition to these ingredients, this recipe contains sunflower oil and added vitamins and minerals to ensure complete and balanced nutrition for your cat.

What Do Customers Think of Earthborn Cat Food?

Because Earthborn has been around for many years, there are plenty of reviews online. Their dry cat food products have between 100 and 300 customer reviews and an average rating over 4 stars.

Earthborn offers a wider selection of wet food products but most recipes still have 100 reviews or more, most averaging over 4 stars out of 5.

How Much Does Earthborn Cat Food Cost?

When it comes to pricing, Earthborn cat food is moderately priced. Their dry food recipes are priced over $2.00 per pound but under $2.50.

Earthborn wet food formulas are priced around $0.30 per ounce which is on par with other affordable brands of cat food.

To give you a better idea how Earthborn stacks up against other cat food brands, here is a quick chart to show you some average prices:

Where Can You Buy Earthborn Cat Food?

The Earthborn pet food brand has been around for quite some time, so you can find it both online and in stores. You can find a wide array of cat food products available on Chewy and on Amazon.

In stores, you’re most likely to find Earthborn products in local and regional pet stores as well as specialty pet food stores than in major national chains like Petco.

You can also find Earthborn cat food at Tractor Supply Company and various feed and garden centers.

Our Final Thoughts: Is Earthborn a Good Brand?

Overall, we’re very pleased with the Earthborn brand. We think they offer a decent selection of products, though most of them are wet foods rather than dry foods.

Generally speaking, however, wet food tends to be higher in protein and lower in carbs than dry food, so we prefer it anyway.

Earthborn uses high-quality ingredients in their recipes, including real animal proteins.

We were a little disappointed to see pea protein used as a main ingredient in their dry foods, but the wet foods we reviewed were extremely low in carbohydrate and high in protein.

If you’re looking for a moderately priced brand that delivers good nutritional quality, consider Earthborn Holistic.

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Kate Barrington is avid pet lover and adoring owner of three cats and one dog, her love for animals has led her to a successful career as a freelance writer specializing in pet care and nutrition. She has been writing about pet care and pet products since 2010
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