Encore Cat Food Review
This page contains affiliate links. We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post through our independently chosen links, which earn us a commission. Learn More
Encore Natural Pet Food makes a variety of cat and dog foods in the UK. Encore offers wet and dry cat foods as well as treats for cats. Their natural pet food comes in a choice of jelly, pate, or broth. Their recipes are high in protein with up to 75 percent real meat such as shredded chicken breast or whole tuna fillet. Read our unbiased review to learn more about Encore.
The We’re All About Pets Standard – Rating Encore Cat Food on What Matters
We have analyzed Encore cat food and rated it according to our standards here at We’re All About Pets. Our grades are based on the species-appropriateness of the food, the quality of the ingredients, product variety, price, customer experience, and recall history.
Here are our ratings for Encore in these key areas:
- Exclusively sell complementary cat food products
- A decent quality brand
- A diet of only Encore wet foods won’t provide the nutrients your cat needs for balanced nutrition
- Exclusively sell complementary cat food products
- A decent quality brand
- A diet of only Encore wet foods won’t provide the nutrients your cat needs for balanced nutrition
We give Encore cat food a 43 out of 60 rating (71.67) or a A- grade.
About Encore
Encore Natural Pet Food is one of the pet food companies owned by MPM Products in Great Britain. Other pet foods owned by the company include Applaws, Reveal, and Nature’s Calling. The business has headquarters in Manchester, UK.
Encore Pet Food was launched in 2008. The brand was originally intended for the UK grocery market but is now sold around the world in some 49 countries to “time-strapped but welfare-conscious consumers interested in feeding their cats and dogs the very best in natural nutrition.”
Encore uses 100 percent natural ingredients without any artificial additives, preservatives, or sweeteners. The fish used is sustainably-caught using dolphin-friendly techniques. They use sea-caught species of fish from sustainable sources. The tuna used is accredited by the Earth Island Institute in the United States. They do not use any battery chicken in their foods or eggs from battery chickens.
Encore does not conduct, contract out, or fund animal tests in the developing, manufacturing, testing or marketing of their pet food products.
All of Encore’s cuts of meat come from animals that have been veterinary-inspected and passed fit for human consumption
Encore uses no genetically-modified (GM) ingredients in their complete Encore dry foods.
Sourcing And Manufacturing
Encore wet cat food is made in Thailand. This is not unusual for many cat food manufacturers today. According to Encore, their partner in Thailand is one of the largest suppliers of canned tuna and prepared chicken in the world. It is a human food supplier which has been awarded grade A by the British Retail Food Consortium in Food Safety. This is known around the world as the gold standard in producing human food. Encore is one of the few companies that has this standard for their pet food.
Chickens used by Encore come from carefully selected farms that have been chosen for their high welfare standards. The chickens are raised in barns and they are allowed to grow for twice the length of time as standard chickens in the UK. They also have four times as much room to roam.
Encore’s tuna is endorsed by the Earth Island Institute in the USA. They only catch and use sustainable species using dolphin-friendly fishing methods.
According to Encore, their recipes follow strict quality specifications. All of the ingredients used can be traced from the source through the manufacturing process. The company partners with a number of specialist suppliers in the UK, France, Austria, Spain, Australia, the USA, as well as Thailand. Encore exceeds the criteria for product inclusion and packaging declarations as outlined in the guidelines of the FEDIAF, AAFCO, and PFIAA regulatory authorities for Europe, USA, and Australia.
Encore has an exceptionally good Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page on their site. It covers questions about their foods and sourcing as well as general questions about food for cats.
Has Encore Cat Food Been Recalled?
We didn’t find any recalls for Encore pet foods on the British site for food recalls and alerts. However, Encore is sold in over 40 countries so we can’t completely state that the company has never had a recall.
A sister company under the same ownership – Applaws – did have dry cat food involved in a 2021 recall in the UK. However, that dry food was being produced by Fold Hill Foods at the time. It has since been resolved. There is no indication that Encore was being made at the same location.
What Kinds Of Cat Food Does Encore Offer?
Encore currently makes wet foods, dry foods, and treats. Their wet foods come in pouches, tins, and pots. They are available in jelly and broth formulas. The recipes include chicken, tuna, and a variety of other fish formulas.
Encore’s dry cat food is available in chicken and chicken with salmon formulas. These kibbles are grain-free and naturally hypoallergenic. They are made with 80 percent lean animal protein, natural omega oils, and essential nutrients to support your cat’s health and well-being.
Their treats include mackerel fillet, whole tuna loin, and chicken fillet with rosemary. Their treats are 100 percent natural and contain no added sugar. They are completely free from artificial additives, colors, and preservatives.
Many of Encore’s foods come in multi-packs. Their pots and broth pouches have a see-through package window so you can see what you are buying.
Encore Cat Food Reviews
Encore Tuna Fillet with Prawn in Broth Pouch
Product Info
- Type of Food: Wet
- First 5 Ingredients: Tuna fillet, fish broth, prawn, rice
- Guaranteed Analysis: 14% Protein Min, 1% Fat Min, 1% Fiber Max, 82% Moisture Max
- Calorie Content: 65 calories per 100 grams
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
- High in protein
- Encore uses high ethical standards in their food sourcing
- Encore uses no artificial colors, flavors, preservatives, or sweeteners
- The company is transparent about their sourcing and manufacturing
- Complementary wet foods can confuse some customers so cats might not get all of the nutrients they need
- Expensive and wet food tins are only 70 grams
A complementary cat food usually contains many of the nutrients your cat needs but it won’t contain all of them. It won’t provide your cat with a complete and balanced diet. It might give your cat more meat protein, for example. But, if you feed a complementary food, you will need to provide a good complete and balanced food during the day so your cat will have all of the nutrients he needs.
Encore’s wet foods and their treats are complementary foods. They sell these foods while recommending that customers feed them in tandem with Encore dry food.
Encore Tuna Fillet with Prawn in Broth Pouch is a complementary food for adult cats, as are Encore’s other broths. It contains tuna, fish broth, prawn, and rice. It has no additives, including vitamins and minerals.
The recipe is naturally high in protein and omega-3 fatty acids because of the tuna and prawn.
According to Encore, their foods, including their complementary foods such as Tuna Fillet and Prawn in Broth Pouch, are naturally high in taurine due to the high meat/fish content. They use up to 75 percent real meat/fish in their wet foods. This food contains 55 percent tuna fillet and 20 percent prawn (75 percent total seafood).
Remember, as a complementary food, this wet food is intended to be fed to your cat in conjunction with Encore’s dry cat food which is a complete food. Otherwise, your cat won’t be getting all of the nutrients he needs.
Calculated calorie content: (ME): Est. 65 calories per 100 grams
Encore Chicken Dry Food Cat Food
Product Info
- Type of Food: Dry
- First 5 Ingredients: Dry Chicken Meal, Chicken Mince, Potato, Brewer’s Yeast, Beet Pulp, Chicken Gravy
- Guaranteed Analysis: 37% Protein Min, 20% Fat Min, 2.1% Fiber Max, 8% Moisture Max
- Calorie Content: 420 calories per 100 grams
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
- High in protein
- Encore uses high ethical standards in their food sourcing
- Encore uses no artificial colors, flavors, preservatives, or sweeteners
- The company is transparent about their sourcing and manufacturing
- Complementary wet foods can confuse some customers so cats might not get all of the nutrients they need
- Expensive and wet food tins are only 70 grams
Is there still a place for dry cat food in your cat’s diet? Many customers believe there is. So does Encore. They make two dry cat foods. One food features chicken with salmon; the other is a chicken formula. Both foods are complete and balanced to provide all of the nutrients your cat needs. Both are grain-free. And, both contain 80 percent meat.
Encore Chicken Dry Food is also gluten-free and hypoallergenic. It contains 20 percent vegetables. It contains no artificial flavors or preservatives.
This food also contains salmon oil as a source of omega-3 fatty acids, natural DHA, and EPA. Kelp provides a source of minerals such as iron, potassium, iodine, and trace minerals.
Instead of grains as a source of carbs (which are used in kibbles for extrusion), this food uses potatoes. Potatoes are a low-allergen source of carbs that also provide dietary fiber.
The food also contains cranberries which are a good antioxidant. They are also beneficial for the urinary tract. In addition, Encore uses beneficial probiotics which are good for your cat’s gut health.
Compared to many dry foods, this chicken dry food appears to contain many healthy ingredients. It’s also high in real meat protein which cats will like.
Calculated calorie content: (ME): 3,950 kcal/kg; Est. 420 calories per 100 grams
Encore Treat Mackerel Fillet Cat Food
Product Info
- Type of Food: Wet
- First 5 Ingredients: Mackerel fillet 100
- Guaranteed Analysis: 25% Protein Min, 7% Fat Min, 1% Fiber Max, 65% Moisture Max
- Calorie Content: 159 calories per 100 grams
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
- High in protein
- Encore uses high ethical standards in their food sourcing
- Encore uses no artificial colors, flavors, preservatives, or sweeteners
- The company is transparent about their sourcing and manufacturing
- Complementary wet foods can confuse some customers so cats might not get all of the nutrients they need
- Expensive and wet food tins are only 70 grams
Is there still a place for dry cat food in your cat’s diet? Many customers believe there is. So does Encore. They make two dry cat foods. One food features chicken with salmon; the other is a chicken formula. Both foods are complete and balanced to provide all of the nutrients your cat needs. Both are grain-free. And, both contain 80 percent meat.
Encore Chicken Dry Food is also gluten-free and hypoallergenic. It contains 20 percent vegetables. It contains no artificial flavors or preservatives.
This food also contains salmon oil as a source of omega-3 fatty acids, natural DHA, and EPA. Kelp provides a source of minerals such as iron, potassium, iodine, and trace minerals.
Instead of grains as a source of carbs (which are used in kibbles for extrusion), this food uses potatoes. Potatoes are a low-allergen source of carbs that also provide dietary fiber.
The food also contains cranberries which are a good antioxidant. They are also beneficial for the urinary tract. In addition, Encore uses beneficial probiotics which are good for your cat’s gut health.
Compared to many dry foods, this chicken dry food appears to contain many healthy ingredients. It’s also high in real meat protein which cats will like.
Calculated calorie content: (ME): 3,950 kcal/kg; Est. 420 calories per 100 grams
What Do Customers Think Of Encore Cat Food?
Most customers and their cats give Encore rave reviews online. We found great reviews from many different countries. Among reviews from five popular chain stores in the UK, Encore gets a solid 4 star rating. The most common reason a customer gave a lower review was because their cat wouldn’t eat the food. We didn’t find any reviews where the customer thought the food was bad.
Positive Reviews
My female cat does not touch any form of chicken, salmon, mackerel but both her and her brother wolf these down they go crazy when they see them when eating it out of my hand which they never do..amazing product. – Customer reviewing Mackerel fillets on December 13,2021
Reviewed this due to receiving a free sample by Ocado. As my cat didn’t like the wet food from the same brand, I wasn’t sure how this would fare. I needn’t have worried, he scoffed the lot in record time. He’s not generally a big fan of dry food so this is high praise indeed. Definitely switching from my usual brand to this one. – by LolaD reviewing Chicken Dry Food on September 20, 2020
My cats love these products and I think they are well worth the price. – by Wendy Jenkins,UK reviewing Tuna Fillet with Prawn in Broth on April 16, 2021
Negative Reviews
My cat is very fussy and will only eat this if he is starving, unfortunatly he doesnt seem to like anything thats good for him as he loves the leading brands !- by Rosiebeau reviewing Chicken Dry Food on 29 August 2020
Was given this to review, b but my cat I wasn’t keen and didn’t eat it all, for this reason I wouldn’t buy it at that price. But it’s real meat, and good quality if you know your cat will eat it…- by gill26 reviewing Tuna Fillet with Prawn in Broth on 03 September 2021
How Much Does Encore Cat Food Cost?
Encore cat foods and treats tend to be a little more expensive than most foods available in stores. This is most noticeable when you look at the size of their packaging. While many tins in the UK are 85 grams, Encore tins are 70 grams.
Most of the places in Britain we found Encore tins were selling them for £1 but some places had them for £2. A multi-pack of 8 tins cost £7.35 where we checked. Encore has a number of multi-packs available for different recipes. Outside the UK, the prices were higher.
If you are in the U.S. and you want to buy a pack of nine tins of Tuna and Shrimp (the name for Americans), be prepared to pay about $20 on Amazon, plus shipping costs. And, it may take a month for your package to arrive from the UK.
Encore treats such as the mackerel fillets (30 grams in size) were £1.50 where we checked.
Encore chicken dry cat food was £6 online.
Overall, Is Encore Cat Food A Good Choice?
Based on their ingredients, sourcing, manufacturing standards, and other factors, we think Encore cat foods are very good quality. We like their protein and the fact that they are lower in common sources of carbohydrates than many cat foods. They seem to pay attention to the cat’s gastrointestinal system, gut health, and urinary tract with their ingredients. And they avoid using artificial additives.
Some customers might be confused by their complementary foods but if they add these foods to a good dry cat food, along with access to plenty of water, we think Encore provides a good source of food for cats.
It would be helpful to know more about who formulates recipes for Encore. Do they have qualified veterinary nutritionists on staff, for example? If they don’t do any testing – and they are adamant that they do not – are their formulas made using computer percentages?
Computer models for pet foods are usually considered less desirable than feeding trials. Pet food testing has a bad reputation among some consumers but it’s an important part of making sure that pet food is palatable, easy to digest, and safe for cats and dogs. Many people can formulate pet foods using computer percentages but the foods can still fail to appeal to cats or have other problems when they are actually sold in the marketplace.
We have no reason to believe that there are any problems with Encore but it would still be good to know who formulates their foods and how it is done.
How Do You Order Encore Cat Food?
Encore is available in about 49 countries. You can buy Encore at ASDA, Waitrose, Morrisons, Amazon, Ocado, Wilko.
