Solid Gold Cat Food Review

Solid Gold 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

When you’re shopping for pet food, what catches your eye? Maybe it’s a sale sticker or a nice picture on the front of the label, or perhaps it’s the name of the brand itself. The name of a brand can inspire confidence in a product, or it can leave you confused. What does the name Solid Gold say to you?

With a name like Solid Gold, you’d expect this to be a pretty good brand.

Read on to learn more about the brand itself and to see an in-depth review of some of their most popular products.

Solid Gold Cat Food

Brand

Overall Score

Pros

• Easy to find in stores and online
• Made with high-quality ingredients
• Wide variety of product choices

Cons

• Can be a little bit pricey

Pros

• Easy to find in stores and online
• Made with high-quality ingredients
• Wide variety of product choices

Cons

• Can be a little bit pricey

Variety of Recipes

Ingredient Quality

Price Per Pound

Recall History

Availability

Customer Reviews

View On ChewyView On Amazon

How We Review Cat Food Brands

All cat foods are not created equal, even if they look the same when you open the bag. The truth is you can’t always trust what pet food manufacturers say about their products because, in the end, they’re a business like any other and their primary goal is to sell their products.

As a cat owner, it’s your responsibility to do the research and take the time to evaluate the options so you can make a smart and healthy choice for your cat.

Unfortunately, with so many cat foods out there, it can be tough to separate the good from the bad and to make a choice among the options leftover. That’s where we come in. We’re not here to tell you exactly what to feed your cat, but we do want to help you gain an understanding of pet food so you can make an informed decision on your own.

We don’t expect you to take our cat food recommendations at face value. In fact, we encourage you to do your own research. We hope to provide unbiased information about the brand and an in-depth look at some of their products, so you get a better idea what it is you’re buying.

All of our cat food reviews are formulated with the understanding that cats have specific nutritional needs and a good product will be designed to meet those needs.

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 Solid Gold Brand

The story of Solid Gold began in 1974 when an animal lover named Sissy Harrington McGill endeavored to give her dogs a more nutritious diet by creating it herself. Inspired by high-quality European pet food, Sissy developed Solid Gold’s flagship product, Hund-N-Flocken.

Now, 45 years later, Solid Gold maintains their commitment to quality, expanding their offerings each and every year to meet the unique nutritional needs of dogs and cats. They believe “transformative nutrition can support the system at its core for lifelong health and vitality.”

Not only does Solid Gold seek to deliver balanced nutrition through the use of high-quality natural ingredients, but they formulate their recipes to support overall gut health and immunity.

Solid Gold pet food products are designed to offer the following benefits:

• Cleanse with whole superfoods to feed good bacteria in the gut
• Balanced with 90 million living probiotics per pound
• Fuel with omegas to support skin, coat, and immune system

What makes Solid Gold unique from other brands is their focus on customized nutrition. Their recipes are labeled not only according to the ingredients, but to the specific health benefit they provide. You’ll find recipes for weight control and sensitive digestion as well as traditional formulas for everyday nutrition and complete health. Solid Gold has it all.

What Kind of Cat Food Products Do They Offer?

Solid Gold offers a wide variety of options for cats and dogs, including original and grain-free choices. They may not offer as much variety in their dry foods as some brands, but you’ll find formulas for indoor cats, kittens, and even weight control. All dry foods are made with real animal proteins.

When it comes to their wet food formulas, Solid Gold has a little more variety to offer. Their wet foods are divided among the following 7 product lines:

• Tropical Blendz
• Triple Layer
• Flavorful Feast
• Purrfect Pairings
• Wholesome Selects
• Holistic Delights
• Five Oceans

Whether your cat has traditional tastes for chicken and turkey or more exotic tastes for fish, Solid Gold has plenty of options to choose from. Every recipe starts with a quality source of real animal protein as the primary ingredient with plenty of moisture-rich nutrition and flavor.

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

Product Recall History

Shopping for cat food can be difficult because there are so many options to choose from. Learning how to interpret the information on a pet food label is important, but that information really only gives you an impression of the recipe – you also want to learn what you can about the brand as a whole.

A good place to start when evaluating a cat food brand is with the recall history.

The FDA plays a role in regulating certain aspects of the pet food industry to keep consumers safe. They set certain rules about labeling have requirements for safety and quality as well. If a product doesn’t meet certain standards, typically revealed through testing or consumer complaints, the FDA has the authority to remove the product from sale – this is a product recall.

In many cases, product recalls happen for simple issues like labeling errors or inadequate content of a certain nutrient. They can, however, happen for more serious problems like foreign bodies in the food or contamination with food-borne pathogens like salmonella.

Just because a company has a recall or two isn’t enough to say it’s a bad brand. Accidents happen, especially with larger brands who mass-produce their goods and outsource production. It can only be considered a good thing, however, when a brand has no recalls in their history.

Here’s an overview of product recalls for Solid Gold:

• May 2012 (potential salmonella contamination) – The FDA issued a recall for Solid Gold dry dog foods due to potential salmonella contamination.

This is the only recall in Solid Gold history, though there was a lawsuit in 2018 filed by a consumer alleging Solid Gold cat food contained heavy metals not disclosed on the packaging. Third-party testing revealed some heavy metal content, but it was below maximum tolerable limits. No recall resulted from this lawsuit and there have been no recalls affecting Solid Gold cat foods in particular.

Compare Solid Gold Cat Food

1. SOLID GOLD Indigo Moon with Chicken & Eggs High-Protein Recipe View on Chewy Read Review	2. SOLID GOLD Let’s Stay In Chicken, Lentil & Apple Adult Indoor Recipe View on Chewy Read Review	3. SOLID GOLD Fit as a Fiddle Weight Control with Alaskan Pollock View on Chewy Read Review	4. SOLID GOLD Five Oceans Blended Tuna Recipe in Gravy View on Chewy Read Review	5. SOLID GOLD Flavorful Feast Kitten Recipe Chicken Pate View on Chewy Read Review
Type of Food Dry	Type of Food Dry	Type of Food Dry	Type of Food Wet	Type of Food Wet
First 5 Ingredients Chicken meal, potatoes, canola oil, peas, chicken	First 5 Ingredients Chicken, chicken meal, lentils, peas, turkey meal	First 5 Ingredients Pollock, turkey meal, peas, tapioca, chickpeas	First 5 Ingredients Tuna, water, tapioca starch, sunflower oil, carrots	First 5 Ingredients Chicken, water, tuna, dried egg product, sweet potato
Guaranteed Analysis 42% protein, 20% fat, 3% fiber, 10% moisture	Guaranteed Analysis 36% protein, 16% fat, 8% fiber, 10% moisture	Guaranteed Analysis 31% protein, 9% fat, 9% fiber, 10% moisture	Guaranteed Analysis 13% protein, 2% fat, 1% fiber, 80% moisture	Guaranteed Analysis 10% protein, 3% fat, 1% fiber, 82% moisture
Calories per Cup 475 kcal/cup	Calories per Cup 425 kcal/cup	Calories per Cup 360 kcal/cup	Calories per Cup 161 kcal/can	Calories per Cup 107 kcal/can
Price Per Pound/Ounce $2.92/pound	Price Per Pound/Ounce $2.92/pound	Price Per Pound/Ounce $2.92/pound	Price Per Pound/Ounce $0.33/ounce	Price Per Pound/Ounce $0.50/ounce

1.

SOLID GOLD Indigo Moon with Chicken & Eggs High-Protein Recipe

View on Chewy

View on Amazon

Product Info

• Type of Food: Dry
• First 5 Ingredients: Chicken meal, potatoes, canola oil, peas, chicken
• Guaranteed Analysis: 42% protein, 20% fat, 3% fiber, 10% moisture
• Calories per Cup: 475 kcal/cup
• Price Per Pound/Ounce: $2.92/pound

Guaranteed Analysis

Crude Protein: 42%

Crude Fat: 20%

Crude Fiber: 3%

Moisture: 10%

Dry Matter Basis

Protein: 46.67%

Fat: 22.22%

Fiber: 3.33%

Carbs: 27.78%

Ingredients:

Chicken Meal, Potatoes, Canola Oil (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Peas, Chicken, Dried Eggs, Ocean Fish Meal, Natural Flavor, Carrots, Potassium Chloride, Pumpkin, Salmon Oil (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (Source of Vitamin C), Niacin, Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Biotin, Folic Acid), Taurine, Minerals (Zinc Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Zinc Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, etc…

This Indigo Moon recipe from Solid Gold is designed as a high-protein formula. At the standard 10% moisture level, a 42% protein content is pretty high for a commercial cat food.

The primary ingredient in this recipe is chicken meal, a concentrated source of protein considering it has already been cooked to remove moisture before being added. You’ll also find supplemental proteins in the form of chicken, dried eggs, and ocean fish meal.

Though chicken meal is the first ingredient, the next two are potatoes and canola oil. We usually prefer to see at least two of the top three ingredients being animal proteins.

Potatoes and peas are both grain-free carbohydrates, but they are also fairly high in starch. That being the case, we wouldn’t be surprised to see the carbohydrate content of this formula being fairly high as well, but the estimate is under 20%. We’re also glad to see fiber content of just 3%.

2.

SOLID GOLD Let’s Stay In Chicken, Lentil & Apple Adult Indoor Recipe

View on Chewy

View on Amazon

Product Info

• Type of Food: Dry
• First 5 Ingredients: Chicken, chicken meal, lentils, peas, turkey meal
• Guaranteed Analysis: 36% protein, 16% fat, 8% fiber, 10% moisture
• Calories per Cup: 425 kcal/cup
• Price Per Pound/Ounce: $2.92/pound

Guaranteed Analysis

Crude Protein: 36%

Crude Fat: 16%

Crude Fiber: 8%

Moisture: 10%

Dry Matter Basis

Protein: 40%

Fat: 17.78%

Fiber: 8.89%

Carbs: 33.33%

Ingredients:

Chicken, Chicken Meal, Lentils, Peas, Turkey Meal, Pea Protein, Pea Fiber, Chicken Fat (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Ocean Fish Meal, Apples, Ground Flaxseed, Natural Flavor, Dried Eggs, Carrots, Potassium Chloride, Choline Chloride, Salmon Oil (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Pumpkin, Blueberries, Cranberries, Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (Source of Vitamin C), Niacin, Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, etc…

Formulated for indoor cats, this Let’s Stay In formula has higher levels of fiber with lower fat and calorie content than the previous recipe. The protein content is also lower, but we’re keeping in mind that the previous recipe was specified as a high-protein formula.

The first ingredient in this recipe is chicken followed by chicken meal – you’ll also see turkey meal and ocean fish meal as supplemental proteins.

Unfortunately, this recipe contains a plant protein concentrate as well, pea protein. The order of the ingredients seems to suggest that the pea protein doesn’t contribute too significantly to the overall protein content, but it’s always hard to tell.

One concern we have with this recipe is the high fiber content. Pet food manufacturers often increase the fiber content of indoor cat formulas to help control weight and hairballs, but there isn’t strong evidence to suggest higher levels of fiber are actually beneficial. In fact, because cats are obligate carnivores and aren’t designed to process plant material, excess fiber could actually be an issue.

Overall, however, this recipe appears to be pretty good and we love the wealth of protein ingredients. That being said, the estimated carbohydrate content is fairly high around 23%.

3.

SOLID GOLD Fit as a Fiddle Weight Control with Alaskan Pollock

View on Chewy

View on Amazon

Product Info

• Type of Food: Dry
• First 5 Ingredients: Pollock, turkey meal, peas, tapioca, chickpeas
• Guaranteed Analysis: 31% protein, 9% fat, 9% fiber, 10% moisture
• Calories per Cup: 360 kcal/cup
• Price Per Pound/Ounce: $2.92/pound

Guaranteed Analysis

Crude Protein: 31%

Crude Fat: 12%

Crude Fiber: 9%

Moisture: 10%

Dry Matter Basis

Protein: 34.44%

Fat: 13.33%

Fiber: 10%

Carbs: 42.22%

Ingredients:

Pollock, Turkey Meal, Peas, Tapioca, Chickpeas, Pea Fiber, Ocean Fish Meal, Chicken Meal, Chicken Fat (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Natural Flavor, Dried Eggs, Potatoes, Carrots, Potassium Chloride, Pumpkin, Choline Chloride, Blueberries, Cranberries, Salmon Oil (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), DL-Methionine, Taurine, Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (Source of Vitamin C), Niacin, Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Biotin, Folic Acid), Calcium Sulfate, Dried Chicory Root, etc…

This Fit as a Fiddle recipe is formulated for weight control, so it isn’t surprising to see higher fiber content with lower fat and calorie content.

Again, we don’t love the excessive fiber content – anything over 3% is hard to justify, so a value three times that high is a little concerning. The lower fat content is still within the recommended range for cats, so no problems there, and the protein content is fine, though it could be higher.

We like that animal protein represents the first two ingredients in this recipe, though the supplemental proteins don’t appear until after three carbohydrate ingredients. You’ll notice fresh fruits and veggies make an appearance as natural sources of key nutrients along with chicken fat and salmon oil.

Solid Gold is serious about supporting the digestive health of pets, so they include dried fermentation products for probiotic support. The idea is great, but we’re not sure how many of the microorganisms survive processing. There’s no harm in adding them, however!

4.

SOLID GOLD Five Oceans Blended Tuna Recipe in Gravy

View on Chewy

View on Amazon

Product Info

• Type of Food: Wet
• First 5 Ingredients: Tuna, water, tapioca starch, sunflower oil, carrots
• Guaranteed Analysis: 13% protein, 2% fat, 1% fiber, 80% moisture
• Calories per Cup: 161 kcal/can
• Price Per Pound/Ounce: $0.33/ounce

Guaranteed Analysis

Crude Protein: 13%

Crude Fat: 2%

Crude Fiber: 1%

Moisture: 80%

Ash: 3%

Dry Matter Basis

Protein: 65%

Fat: 10%

Fiber: 5%

Carbs: 5%

Ingredients:

Tuna, Water Sufficient For Processing, Tapioca Starch, Sunflower Oil, Carrots, Pumpkin, Spinach, Canola Oil, Tricalcium Phosphate, Calcium Sulfate, Xanthan Gum, Taurine, Magnesium Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Vitamin E Supplement, Reduced Iron, Niacin Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Sodium Selenite, Vitamin A Supplement, Manganese Sulfate Monohydrate, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Copper Amino Acid Complex, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin Supplement, Biotin Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid, Potassium Iodide, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (Source Of Vitamin K).

This Solid Gold wet food features fresh tuna as the primary ingredient and the sole source of animal protein. The only other main ingredients are tapioca starch, sunflower oil, carrots, pumpkin, spinach, and canola oil. We appreciate the use of fresh veggies as natural sources for essential nutrients here.

Though we usually prefer animal-based fats, we understand the use of sunflower oil and canola oil in this recipe. Tuna is rich in omega-3 fatty acids and the plant-based oils are likely included to help balance it out with omega-6 fatty acids.

This formula is packed with protein, moderate in fat, and fairly low in fiber content. It also has a very low estimated carbohydrate content around 1%.

5.

SOLID GOLD Flavorful Feast Kitten Recipe Chicken Pate

View on Chewy

View on Amazon

Product Info

• Type of Food: Wet
• First 5 Ingredients: Chicken, water, tuna, dried egg product, sweet potato
• Guaranteed Analysis: 10% protein, 3% fat, 1% fiber, 82% moisture
• Calories per Cup: 107 kcal/can
• Price Per Pound/Ounce: $0.50/ounce

Guaranteed Analysis

Crude Protein: 10%

Crude Fat: 3%

Crude Fiber: 1%

Moisture: 82%

Dry Matter Basis

Protein: 55.56%

Fat: 16.67%

Fiber: 5.56%

Carbs: 22.22%

Ingredients:

Chicken, Water Sufficient For Processing, Tuna, Dried Egg Product, Sweet Potato, Modified Tapioca Starch, Natural Flavors, Carrots, Pumpkin, Tricalcium Phosphate, Sunflower Oil, Spinach, Fructooligosaccharide, Tuna Oil, Guar Gum, Magnesium Sulfate, Salt, Potassium Chloride, Zinc Oxide, Vitamin E Supplement, Reduced Iron, Thiamine Mononitrate, Sodium Selenite, Niacin Supplement, Manganese Sulfate Monohydrate, Vitamin A Supplement, Copper Glycine Complex, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin Supplement, Folic Acid, Potassium Iodide, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Biotin Supplement.

Formulated for kittens, this Flavorful Feast recipe features chicken in the name but also contains tuna. This may not be an issue, but it’s something to be aware of for kittens who have fish allergies.

Chicken is the first ingredient here, supplemented by tuna and dried egg product as the third and fourth. The only other main ingredients are sweet potato, tapioca starch, carrots, and pumpkin with a little spinach and sunflower oil.

Again, we appreciate the use of natural sources for key nutrients. We also like that both sunflower oil and tuna oil are used here to provide a balance of omega fatty acids from plant and animal sources. The estimated carbohydrate content of this formula is low, under 4%.

What Do Customers Think of Solid Gold Cat Food?

With so many cat food brands out there, it’s impossible to make an informed decision about each and every one. You do your best to research the brand and review the information on the label, but sometimes you just want to know what other customers think.

Using Chewy.com customer reviews as a guide, Solid Gold seems to be a popular brand. Their products have an average of 4-star ratings and higher, many with over 50 reviews.

Customers who’ve tried Solid Gold products often comment on the quality of the ingredients and the fact that even picky eaters like it. Of the negative comments, many were related to individual preferences, though there were some comments about the price and carbohydrate content.

How Much Does Solid Gold Cat Food Cost?

The best things in life are free, they say. Unfortunately, that doesn’t extend to cat food. The best cat food is often the most expensive, but it’s not a good idea to shop for cat food by price alone. After all, some of the most expensive cat foods out there aren’t any good at all.

If you’re shopping for Solid Gold cat food, you’ll find that their prices are at the higher end of the spectrum. This applies to their dry foods particularly, which cost an average just under $3.00 per pound. Their wet foods are a little more affordable, ranging from $0.33 to $0.50 per ounce.

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

Where Can You Buy Solid Gold Cat Food?

Many cat owners shop by price, and we can’t blame them. It’s important to make sure you can consistently afford the recipe you choose so you aren’t constantly changing your cat’s diet based on what’s available. We recommend that you also consider how easy it is to find the cat food you choose.

Solid Gold is a fairly popular brand and it is easy to find as well. Their products are sold in major pet store chains like Petco and Petsmart, and you can find them in local and specialty pet food stores as well. If you prefer to shop online, PetFlow and Chewy are authorized resellers of Solid Gold products.

Our Final Thoughts: Is Solid Gold a Good Brand?

Overall, we’re very pleased with Solid Gold as a brand. We appreciate the variety they offer with their products and their commitment to quality. We like the emphasis on digestive health and immunity as well, particularly the recognition that nutrition plays a key role in both.

The downside of Solid Gold cat food is that it’s a little bit pricey. If you’re looking for a high-quality brand, we heartily recommend Solid Gold wet food. The dry food is good too, but it’s significantly more expensive at close to $3.00 per pound.