Wag Cat Food Review
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Shopping for cat food can be difficult, simply because there are so many options to choose from. If you want to avoid the hassle of wandering aimlessly through aisle upon aisle of cat food, you may find yourself shopping online instead. Why not have your cat’s food delivered right to your door?
The trouble with shopping online for cat food is that you may find different products at different retailers. With Wag, however, you know you can always find it on Amazon. In fact, that’s the only place you’ll find it because it’s an Amazon-exclusive brand.
Read on to see what we think of the brand and to see our reviews for their top products.
- Made with high-quality ingredients
- Real animal protein as the main ingredient
- Recipes are low in carbohydrates
- Only available on Amazon
- Recipes use carrageenan as a thickener
- Made with high-quality ingredients
- Real animal protein as the main ingredient
- Recipes are low in carbohydrates
- Only available on Amazon
- Recipes use carrageenan as a thickener
How We Review Cat Food Brands
Cats require balanced nutrition just like humans, though their nutritional needs are very different from your own. Your cat needs a very protein-heavy diet balanced with healthy fats and other essential nutrients. Carbohydrates aren’t a significant part of a wild cat’s diet and should be limited in your cat’s.
We make it our goal to provide you with the information you need to understand your cat’s nutritional needs and to judge the quality of cat food products based on those needs.
Every recommendation we make is something we would be happy to feed our own cats. Our recommendations are based on high-quality, real animal proteins as the first ingredient with no added colors, flavors, or preservatives. We prefer recipes that are very low in carbohydrates and that have appropriate levels of healthy fats, ideally from animal sources.
All cat foods are not created equal, and we don’t recommend all of them. The best we can do is give you an objective overview of a brand and let you come to your own conclusions.
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 Wag Brand
The pet food industry is huge and there are hundreds, even thousands, of companies that want their piece of the pie. Amazon is no different. In 2018, the Amazon-exclusive brand Wag entered the market, and the brand has already gained a following.
All of Wag’s pet foods are free from added grain, colors, and artificial ingredients. Real meat is the #1 ingredient in every formula, and they offer a variety of products for dogs and cats.
Unfortunately, that’s about all we know about Wag. Even the Wag store on Amazon doesn’t provide much in the way of information. The wet cat food product page offers vague responses to important questions regarding sourcing and manufacturing, likely in response to numerous customer queries and independent reviews. We’re not particularly thrilled with this lack of information.
Amazon says Wag cat food is made in California, USA. Their ingredients are sourced from the USA and Canada was well as “a variety of countries around the world.” No specific information is provided about ingredients other than the meat and poultry, which all seems to come from the USA or Canada.
In researching the Wag brand, we found that while Amazon owns the brand, Wag cat food is manufactured by another company – this is known as a co-packer. Amazon says “the supplier of Wag cat food adheres to stringent food safety protocols, constantly monitoring and testing raw materials, production environment, processes and finished products” but makes no mention of who that supplier is. Overall, we have a hard time putting our trust in a brand we know so little about.
What Kind of Cat Food Products Do They Offer?
When it comes to cat food, Wag currently only offers wet food recipes. There are four recipes to choose from, some of which are available in both 5.5-ounce and 3.5-ounce cans. All four of these recipes come in a pate style and are made with real poultry or meat as the first ingredient.
Here is the nutritional information for these cat food recipes:
Wet Food Recipes |
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| Recipe | Protein % | Fat % | Fiber % | Moisture % | Calories/Kg |
| Wag Beef Pate Canned Cat Food | 11 | 7.5 | 1 | 78 | 1, 219 |
| Wag Beef & Chicken Pate Canned Cat Food | 10 | 6.5 | 1 | 78 | 1,178 |
| Wag Chicken & Giblets Pate Canned Cat Food | 9 | 5 | 1 | 78 | 1,230 |
| Wag Turkey & Giblets Pate Canned Cat Food | 9 | 5 | 1 | 78 | 1,270 |
Product Recall History
Quality is important when it comes to your pet’s food. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to judge the quality of a product before you purchase it. That’s where research comes into play.
When researching a brand, it’s important to take into account the history of the brand as well as their sourcing and manufacturing practices. The list of ingredients is a good indication of quality, but it only gets you so far. You also want to know that the brand takes safety seriously and that they don’t have a lot of issues with their products after they’ve been formulated.
Product recall history is a valuable tool to use in evaluating a pet food brand.
A recall happens when an issue is discovered with a product and it is pulled from sale. These issues often come to the attention of the FDA through customer complaints but can also be revealed during FDA testing or the brand’s own testing. It’s bad news when a brand has a long history of product recalls, though one or two in the whole history of the brand isn’t unusual.
The Wag brand doesn’t have any recalls in its history, though that’s not too surprising considering the brand is fairly new. Lack of recalls doesn’t necessarily mean a product is of high quality, but it can only be considered a point in the company’s favor.
Products Included in This Review |
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| Name | Type | Protein % | Fat % | Top 5 Ingredients |
| Wag Beef Pate Canned Cat Food | Wet | 11 | 7.5 | Beef, chicken, beef broth, chicken liver, carrots |
| Wag Beef & Chicken Pate Canned Cat Food | Wet | 10 | 6.5 | Beef broth, beef, chicken, poultry liver, dried egg product |
| Wag Chicken & Giblets Pate Canned Cat Food | Wet | 9 | 5 | Chicken, chicken broth, poultry giblets, carrots, potatoes |
| Wag Turkey & Giblets Pate Canned Cat Food | Wet | 9 | 5 | Turkey, chicken, poultry giblets, turkey broth, carrots |
Compare Wag Cat Food
1. WAG Beef Pate Canned Cat Food |
2. WAG Beef & Chicken Pate Canned Cat Food |
3. WAG Chicken & Giblets Pate Canned Cat Food |
4. WAG Turkey & Giblets Pate Canned Cat Food |
|
Type of Food
Wet |
Type of Food
Wet |
Type of Food
Wet |
Type of Food
Wet |
|
First 5 Ingredients
Beef, chicken, beef broth, chicken liver, carrots |
First 5 Ingredients
Beef broth, beef, chicken, poultry liver, dried egg product |
First 5 Ingredients
Chicken, chicken broth, poultry giblets, carrots, potatoes |
First 5 Ingredients
Turkey, chicken, poultry giblets, turkey broth, carrots |
|
Guaranteed Analysis
11% protein, 7.5% fat, 1% fiber, 78% moisture |
Guaranteed Analysis
10% protein, 6.5% fat, 1% fiber, 78% moisture |
Guaranteed Analysis
9% protein, 5% fat, 1% fiber, 78% moisture |
Guaranteed Analysis
9% protein, 5% fat, 1% fiber, 78% moisture |
|
Calories per Cup
1,219kg/oz. |
Calories per Cup
1,178 kg/oz. |
Calories per Cup
1,230 kg/oz. |
Calories per Cup
1,270 kg/oz. |
|
Price Per Pound/Ounce
$0.28/ounce |
Price Per Pound/Ounce
$0.28/ounce |
Price Per Pound/Ounce
$0.17/ounce |
Price Per Pound/Ounce
$0.17/ounce |
WAG Beef Pate Canned Cat Food
Product Info
- Type of Food: Wet
- First 5 Ingredients: Beef, chicken, beef broth, chicken liver, carrots
- Guaranteed Analysis: 11% protein, 7.5% fat, 1% fiber, 78% moisture
- Calories per Cup: 1,219kg/oz.
- Price Per Pound/Ounce: $0.28/ounce
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Beef, Chicken, Beef Broth, Chicken Liver, Carrots, Potatoes, Peas, Potassium Chloride, Cranberries, Guar Gum, Minerals (Iron Amino Acid Chelate, Zinc Amino Acid Chelate, Copper Amino Acid Chelate, Manganese Amino Acid Chelate, Sodium Selenite, Potassium Iodide), Tricalcium Phosphate, 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), Taurine, Salt, Carrageenan, Magnesium Sulfate, Menhaden Fish Oil (Preserved With Mixed Tocopherols).
This beef pate canned food starts out strong with fresh beef and chicken as the top two ingredients. You’ll also find chicken liver as a supplemental source of protein with nutritional support from carrots, potatoes, peas, and cranberries.
Other than these primary ingredients, this Wag recipe actually has a fairly limited list of ingredients. The rest are vitamin and mineral supplements with a few other additions like guar gum (a thickener), salt, and menhaden fish oil. You’ll also see carrageenan, which is a fairly controversial ingredient.
One thing we found strange was that menhaden fish oil is the very last ingredient. Generally, ingredients that come after salt on the list are represented in concentrations under 1%, so it’s unlikely this ingredient makes a significant contribution.
WAG Beef & Chicken Pate Canned Cat Food
Product Info
- Type of Food: Wet
- First 5 Ingredients: Beef broth, beef, chicken, poultry liver, dried egg product
- Guaranteed Analysis: 10% protein, 6.5% fat, 1% fiber, 78% moisture
- Calories per Cup: 1,178 kg/oz.
- Price Per Pound/Ounce: $0.28/ounce
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Beef Broth, Beef, Chicken, Poultry Liver, Dried Egg Product, Guar Gum, Potassium Chloride, Salt, Minerals (zinc Amino Acid Chelate, Iron Amino Acid Chelate, Copper Amino Acid Chelate, Manganese Amino Acid Chelate, Sodium Selenite, Potassium Iodide), 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), Carrageenan, Taurine, Choline Chloride.
Very similar to the previous recipe, this beef & chicken pate formula starts with beef broth, beef, and chicken. Poultry liver and dried egg product provide supplemental sources of protein and there are no added carbohydrates to be found in this formula.
Though this recipe is very low in carbohydrates (an estimated 2% or less), we don’t love the unspecified “poultry liver” that is used as a main ingredient. This recipe contains just as many synthetic supplements as the previous, so we wouldn’t mind seeing the addition of a few fresh vegetables to boost the natural nutritional content.
Again, this recipe contains carrageenan but there doesn’t appear to be a source of added fat. Most of the fat likely comes from the beef and poultry liver.
WAG Chicken & Giblets Pate Canned Cat Food
Product Info
- Type of Food: Wet
- First 5 Ingredients: Chicken, chicken broth, poultry giblets, carrots, potatoes
- Guaranteed Analysis: 9% protein, 5% fat, 1% fiber, 78% moisture
- Calories per Cup: 1,230 kg/oz.
- Price Per Pound/Ounce: $0.17/ounce
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Chicken, Chicken Broth, Poultry Giblets, Carrots, Potatoes, Peas, Salt, Potassium Chloride, Cranberries, Guar Gum, 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), Taurine, Carrageenan, Fish Oil (Preserved With Mixed Tocopherols), Magnesium Sulfate.
With chicken as the main ingredient, this Wag recipe stands up to the brand’s promise. The only other protein ingredient is poultry giblets – another unspecified protein. Giblets can be very nutritious for cats, but we don’t love that the source is unidentified.
To supplement the protein from the first few ingredients, this recipe also contains carrots, potatoes, and peas. These ingredients contribute natural sources for key nutrients, though there are still plenty of synthetic vitamins and minerals to be found. The estimated carb content of this recipe is under 5%.
Like the beef pate recipe, the only source of added fat appears at the very end of the list. We like that it is animal-based, but we don’t love that it is an unspecified “fish oil.”
WAG Turkey & Giblets Pate Canned Cat Food
Product Info
- Type of Food: Wet
- First 5 Ingredients: Turkey, chicken, poultry giblets, turkey broth, carrots
- Guaranteed Analysis: 9% protein, 5% fat, 1% fiber, 78% moisture
- Calories per Cup: 1,270 kg/oz.
- Price Per Pound/Ounce: $0.17/ounce
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Turkey, Chicken, Chicken Liver, Turkey Broth, Carrots, Potatoes, Peas, Potassium Chloride, Cranberries, Choline Chloride, Guar Gum, Minerals (Iron Amino Acid Chelate, Zinc Amino Acid Chelate, Copper Amino Acid Chelate, Manganese Amino Acid Chelate, Sodium Selenite, Potassium Iodide), 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), Taurine, Salt, Carrageenan.
This turkey & giblets formula is very similar to the previous recipe though, honestly, we like it a little better. The primary reason for that is because it contains two fresh animal proteins within the first three ingredients. Again, we don’t love the poultry giblets.
There is little else to distinguish this recipe from the previous, though it doesn’t contain that added fish oil. Again, the estimated carbohydrate content is under 5%
What Do Customers Think of Wag Cat Food?
Wag cat food is only available on Amazon, but their cat food line has over 550 reviews. The four products average just under 4/5 stars, though only 50% of the reviews are 5-star reviews. The remaining are split between 1 and 4 stars.
Generally speaking, customers seem fairly pleased with the quality of the ingredients and the value for the money. There are some negative comments about cats simply not liking the food and others about the pate recipe being a little dry.
How Much Does Wag Cat Food Cost?
Price is an important factor for many pet owners when shopping for pet food. When it comes to pricing, it’s important to remember that cost and quality often go hand-in-hand. That being said, price isn’t always an accurate reflection of quality, and vice versa.
Wag cat food is one of the more affordable brands we’ve reviewed, which isn’t surprising since it comes from Amazon. Two of the four recipes reviewed were priced around $0.17 per ounce and a third at $0.28 per ounce. The fourth wasn’t currently available, but given the price difference of the beef recipe, we assumed it would be similar or somewhere between the two.
To give you a better idea how Wag 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 Wag Cat Food?
Wag cat food is an Amazon-exclusive brand, so that’s the only place you can get it. Fortunately, being an Amazon brand makes it fairly easy to order Wag cat food and you can save by creating an automatic subscription. The bad news is you can’t walk into a pet store to buy it if you need it in a hurry.
Our Final Thoughts: Is Wag a Good Brand?
Overall, we were fairly underwhelmed with the Wag brand. Though their cat food recipes are affordably priced and do contain real animal protein as the main ingredient, there’s little else that really catches our eye. It’s always a good thing to find a cat food low in carbohydrates like this, but we don’t love the use of carrageenan as a thickener.
If you’re looking for an affordable brand of cat food, we think you can do better than Wag. If price and convenience is your concern, shop on Chewy and create an automatically recurring subscription.
