Halo Cat Food Review
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The Halo brand follows the philosophy that “Whole makes a whole lot of difference.” Committed to using only premium-quality ingredients, Halo delivers optimal nutrition and enhanced health for pets.
Using only whole meat ingredients and non-GMO fruits and vegetables, Halo cat food is healthy, complete, and balanced for cats of all breeds and all life stages.
In addition to offering high-quality products for pets, Halo is committed to helping animals in need. For every purchase, Halo donates a bowl to animals in need through the Halo Feed it Forward program which donates over 1,500,00 bowls of food to shelters every year.
- Slightly above-average cat food
- Made with wholesome and natural ingredients
- Wide variety of cat food options
- No artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives
- Some recipes are high in carbohydrates
- Slightly above-average cat food
- Made with wholesome and natural ingredients
- Wide variety of cat food options
- No artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives
- Some recipes are high in carbohydrates
How We Review Cat Food Brands
Your cat is an obligate carnivore which means that it has a higher biological requirement for meat in its diet than a dog does. While dogs can eat plant foods when needed to fill gaps in their diets, your cat’s body is evolved to digest and absorb nutrients from animal products much more efficiently.
This being the case, we favor cat food brands that feature real, whole sources of animal protein as the main ingredient with healthy animal-based fats. Carbohydrate content should be limited, and we try to avoid recipes that contain low-quality fillers and by-products.
Here are some of the other 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 these requirements, we also look for cat food brands that offer a variety of different recipes. It is important for a cat food brand to offer a variety of products because cats tend to be picky – having variety gives you more to choose from.
The brand’s recall history is a good way to gauge quality and safety as a whole while customer reviews provide insight into the brand’s quality and popularity.
Overview of the Halo Brand
The story of Halo began with a sick pet named Spot. Spot suffered from digestive issues, sensitive skin, shedding, and odor problems to a degree that traditional pet foods available at the time couldn’t remedy.
Spot’s pet parent consulted with a nutritionist who pointed out the difference between commercial pet foods – loaded with rendered meats and highly processed ingredients – and the whole foods used in human kitchens. Right on the spot, the first Halo pet food recipe was born from real, whole food ingredients and named Halo Spot’s Stew.
To this day, Halo follows a philosophy that whole food makes a whole lot of difference.
Their recipes are made using high-quality, natural ingredients including real meat, poultry, and fish with no meat meals of any kind. Their fruits and vegetables are all non-GMO and their formulas complete and balanced for pets of all breeds and life stages. They also use cage-free, pasture-raised, and wild-caught meat, poultry, and fish as much as possible. Best of all, their products are all backed by a 14-day, money-back guarantee.
With their nutritional philosophy and commitment to quality, Halo stands behind their products 100% and tells pet parents that they’ll be able to see the Halo difference in their pet’s poop. Natural whole-food ingredients are more digestible for pets and the nutrients they contain are better absorbed.
The result?
Less waste which you’ll notice in the form of smaller, more efficient stools with less odor over time. When your pet eats better, he feels better and that’s better for everyone.
What Kind of Cat Food Products Do They Offer?
For more than 30 years, Halo has been committed to delivering exceptional cat food and dog food products that pet parents trust and pets love.
When it comes to their cat food offerings, Halo offers a variety of recipes catered to the unique nutritional needs of kittens, adults, and senior cats as well as indoor cats and cats with sensitive stomach or weight concerns.
Halo currently offers 11 dry cat food products and 23 wet food options with an assortment of treats and supplements.
Products Included in This Review |
||||
| Name | Type | Protein % | Fat % | Top 5 Ingredients |
| Halo Holistic Chicken & Chicken Liver Recipe Adult Dry Food | Dry | 32% | 16% | Chicken, chicken liver, dried egg product, dried peas |
| Halo Chicken Stew Grain-Free Adult Canned Food | Wet | 9% | 6% | Chicken, chicken broth, chicken liver, carrots, turkey |
| Halo Holistic Seafood Medley Sensitive Stomach Dry Food | Dry | 32% | 16% | Whitefish, salmon, dried egg product, oatmeal, dried peas |
Compare Halo Cat Food
|
Type of Food
Dry |
Type of Food
Wet |
Type of Food
Dry |
|
First 5 Ingredients
Chicken, chicken liver, dried egg product, dried peas |
First 5 Ingredients
Chicken, chicken broth, chicken liver, carrots, turkey |
First 5 Ingredients
Whitefish, salmon, dried egg product, oatmeal, dried peas |
|
Guaranteed Analysis
32% protein, 16% fat, 5% fiber, 10% moisture |
Guaranteed Analysis
9% protein, 6% fat, 1.5% fiber, 84% moisture |
Guaranteed Analysis
32% protein, 16% fat, 5% fiber, 10% moisture |
|
Calories per Cup
416 calories/cup |
Calories per Cup
160 calories/5.5-ounce can |
Calories per Cup
414 calories/cup |
|
Price Per Pound/Ounce
$4.99 |
Price Per Pound/Ounce
$0.38/ounce |
Price Per Pound/Ounce
$5.37 |
HALO HOLISTIC Chicken & Chicken Liver Recipe Adult Dry Food
Product Info
- Type of Food: Dry
- First 5 Ingredients: Chicken, chicken liver, dried egg product, dried peas
- Guaranteed Analysis: 32% protein, 16% fat, 5% fiber, 10% moisture
- Calories per Cup: 416 calories/cup
- Price Per Pound/Ounce: $4.99
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
New Formulation: Chicken, Chicken Liver, Dried Egg Product, Dried Peas, Oatmeal, Soy Protein Concentrate, Pearled Barley, Chicken Fat (Preserved With Mixed Tocopherols), Potato Protein, Natural flavor, flaxseed, Pea fiber, Salmon Oil, Calcium Sulfate, Dicalcium Phosphate, Dried Bacillus Coagulans Fermentation Product, Dried Blueberries, Dried Cranberries, Dried Carrots, Dried Sweet Potatoes, Salt, Inulin, Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin A Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Folic Acid, Biotin), Potassium Chloride, Minerals (Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Sodium Selenite, Calcium Iodate), Taurine, Mixed Tocopherols (Preservative), L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate.
Uniquely formulated for adult cats, this holistic natural recipe features real, whole chicken as the first ingredient. This recipe is completely free from rendered meat meals, made with chicken liver and dried eggs as supplemental proteins.
It contains wholesome, non-GMO sweet potatoes, blueberries, carrots, and cranberries as antioxidant-rich natural sources of essential vitamins and minerals.
You’ll also find beneficial supplements including the proprietary DreamCoat supplement which provides a rich blend of omega fatty acids for healthy skin and coat. Overall, this recipe is highly digestible and highly palatable, formulated to provide maximum nutritional benefit with less waste.
HALO Chicken Stew Grain-Free Adult Canned Food
Product Info
- Type of Food: Wet
- First 5 Ingredients: Chicken, chicken broth, chicken liver, carrots, turkey
- Guaranteed Analysis: 9% protein, 6% fat, 1.5% fiber, 84% moisture
- Calories per Cup: 160 calories/5.5-ounce can
- Price Per Pound/Ounce: $0.38/ounce
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Chicken, Chicken Broth, Chicken Liver, Carrots, Turkey, Green Beans, Peas, Celery, Dicalcium Phosphate, Guar Gum, Calcium Citrate, Potassium Chloride, Sweet Potatoes, Xanthan Gum, Pumpkin, Flaxseed Oil (Preserved With Mixed Tocopherols), Calcium Carbonate, Minerals (Iron Amino Acid Chelate, Zinc Amino Acid Chelate, Copper Amino Acid Chelate, Manganese Amino Acid Chelate, Sodium Selenite, Potassium Iodide), Choline Chloride, Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Niacin Supplement, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, Biotin, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Folic Acid), Dried Kelp, Taurine, Salmon Oil (Preserved With Mixed Tocopherols), Magnesium Sulfate, Garlic Powder.
Loaded with real chicken flavor and rich in moisture, this chicken stew recipe canned food is highly digestible in addition to being complete and balanced. This formula features real chicken as the main ingredient with no rendered meats or meat meals.
It contains non-GMO carrots, green beans, peas, celery, and sweet potatoes as rich sources of natural nutrition, including antioxidants. This recipe is complete and balanced with the help of vitamin supplements and chelated minerals, plus it provides a rich blend of omega fatty acids to support your cat’s healthy skin and coat.
HALO HOLISTIC Seafood Medley Sensitive Stomach Dry Food
Product Info
- Type of Food: Dry
- First 5 Ingredients: Whitefish, salmon, dried egg product, oatmeal, dried peas
- Guaranteed Analysis: 32% protein, 16% fat, 5% fiber, 10% moisture
- Calories per Cup: 414 calories/cup
- Price Per Pound/Ounce: $5.37
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
New Formulation: Whitefish, salmon, dried egg product, oatmeal, dried peas, soy protein concentrate, pearled barley, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), potato protein, natural flavor, flaxseed, pea fiber, calcium sulfate, dicalcium phosphate, dried Bacillus coagulans fermentation product, dried blueberries, dried cranberries, dried carrots, dried sweet potatoes, salt, inulin, vitamins (vitamin E supplement, niacin supplement, thiamine mononitrate, d-calcium pantothenate, vitamin A supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, riboflavin supplement, vitamin D3 supplement, etc…
Formulated for cats with sensitive stomachs, this dry food features a wholesome blend of real whitefish and salmon with no rendered meat meals. Made with novel animal proteins and digestible grains, this recipe is easy on your cat’s stomach and loaded with flavor.
This formula contains dried fruits and vegetables to provide rich sources of key nutrients with vitamin and chelated mineral supplements to ensure complete and balanced nutrition.
You’ll also find dried fermentation products which provide probiotic support for your cat’s digestion. All in all, it is a protein-rich recipe with moderate fat content that will keep your cat healthy and happy.
What Do Customers Think of Halo Cat Food?
Generally speaking, the Halo brand is very well received. Most products have an average of 4/5 stars or higher on Chewy and customers love the nutritional quality of the products. There are some comments about the use of plant proteins and protein concentrates, but most customers are satisfied.
Positive Customer Reviews
“I always try to make the best choices for my fur babies – this switch was well worth it. My cats love the dry food (wet food is a toss up) and the added dream coat is just that. Their coats are soft and no more dandruff! My older cat has tons of energy… at first I thought something was wrong with him – nope! Just happy and lighter on his feet.” – Catmama, reviewing Halo Holistic Chicken & Chicken Liver Recipe Adult Dry Food
“My cat loves this food and the ingredients list passes my inspection. It does have a touch of garlic in it, but my extensive research proves it is not harmful. Halo’s cans are BPA-free. All in all, I feel this is a good choice of food for my cat. I will continue to order from Chewy!” – Buffett, reviewing Halo Chicken Stew Grain-Free Adult Canned Food
“My cats love Halo Sensitive Stomach Dry Cat Food. It’s easy for them to eat because of the small bite size pieces. They also do not throw up as much as with other dry food we have tried. The smell which can be a little pungent and the price would be the only thing I can say I do not like about Halo.” – Melissa, reviewing Halo Holistic Seafood Medley Sensitive Stomach Dry Food
Negative Customer Reviews
“Initially I thought my older cat was getting sick because she was not eating this food that I mixed with another food. But when my younger cats started picking around the food I realized it was just the food. The kibbles are very small, as if it was kitten food.” – Nicole, reviewing Halo Holistic Chicken & Chicken Liver Recipe Adult Dry Food
“Trying to find cat food my cat will eat that fits his dietary needs is a challenge. Adding the fact that he gets bored with food, it certainly doesn’t help my wallet. Most of the time, if the Bengal won’t eat it, the other cats will. When all else fails, the barn cats will eat anything. They won’t eat this stuff either.” – ParaHiker, reviewing Halo Chicken Stew Grain-Free Adult Canned Food
“Yes, my cats are fussy felines, but as I have more than one, usually someone will at least eat a bit of what comes their way. Not with Halo. No one would even nibble at it. Been trying this in their bowls for days. They are not always ecstatic about the more premium better for you brands, but will usually eat a bit of such offerings. Nada here. Halo might be better for them, but not if they don’t consume it.” – Jillie, reviewing Halo Holistic Seafood Medley Sensitive Stomach Dry Food
Product Recall History
Pet food recalls occur when something is wrong with a product and it needs to be removed from pet store shelves due to safety or quality issues. Just because a company has a product recall doesn’t necessarily make it a bad company because recalls can be issued for things as simple as packaging or labeling issues.
On the other side of the spectrum, recalls can be made for serious issues like contamination with food-borne pathogens.
The good news is that in its 30-year history, the Halo company has only had one product recall.
This recall occurred in October 2015 and affected a small run of dry cat food. This was a voluntary recall issued due to concerns of mold affecting 3- and 6-pound bags of Spot’s Stew Wholesome Turkey Recipe Sensitive Formula for Cats.
How Much Does Halo Cat Food Cost?
When it comes to shopping for cat food, price is often equated with quality. Higher quality, natural ingredients cost more for the manufacturer, so those costs are often transferred to the consumer. Halo uses only premium-quality proteins that are naturally and humanely raised as well as non-GMO fruits and vegetables.
This being the case, you should expect to pay more for Halo products than you would for a grocery store brand or a mid-level product. The two dry food formulas reviewed above cost $4.99 per pound or more, though the wet food is fairly well-priced at $0.38 per ounce.
To give you a better idea how Halo stacks up against other cat food brands, here is a quick chart to show you some average prices:
| Brand/Recipe | Type | Quality | Price/Ounce | Price/Pound |
| Meow Mix Original Choice Dry Food | Dry | Low | X | $0.90/pound |
| Friskies Classic Pate Mixed Grill Canned Food | Wet | Low | $0.07/ounce | $1.16/pound |
| Blue Buffalo Indoor Health Chicken & Brown Rice Adult Dry Cat Food | Dry | Moderate | X | $2.53/pound |
| Whole Earth Farms Grain-Free Real Chicken Pate Recipe Canned Cat Food | Wet | Moderate | $0.36/ounce | X |
| Instinct by Nature’s Variety Original Grain-Free Recipe with Real Chicken | Dry | High | X | $3.45/pound |
| Ziwi Peak New Zealand Venison Recipe Canned Cat Food | Wet | High | $1.21/ounce | X |
Where Can You Buy Halo Cat Food?
Halo cat food is available online and in stores throughout the United States and in certain other countries including Canada, China, Taiwan, Japan, and Korea. You can purchase Halo products online through major pet retailers like Chewy, Petco, and PetSmart as well as Amazon.
You can find Halo products in major pet store chains as well as some local and regional chains and specialty pet food stores.
Our Final Thoughts: Is Halo a Good Brand?
Overall, we are pleased with the Halo brand and their cat food products. A company this committed to using wholesome, natural ingredients can’t be bad and our review of several popular recipes confirms that Halo is worthy of your consideration.
We don’t quite understand the problem with meat meals, considering that chicken meal is simply fresh chicken cooked to remove moisture, but we appreciate the commitment to non-GMO produce and whole sources of real animal protein.
If you’re looking for a higher quality cat food for your cat, Halo has a wide variety of options for you to consider.
