Dave’s Pet Food Cat Food Review

Kate Barrington / Cats.com

Dave’s Pet Food is a family-run business that offers premium products at a reasonable price. Though not as widely known as some of the big name brands, Dave’s Pet Food has earned a positive reputation in independent and specialty pet food retail circles.

We put several products from Dave’s cat food line to the test to find out whether this brand lives up to its promises. Read on to find out what we discovered.

The Cats.com Standard—Rating Dave’s Cat Food on What Matters

We’ve rated the brand on six key criteria for quality. Here’s how it rates in each of these six crucial areas.

In total, we give Dave’s cat food a 48 out of 60 rating or an A- grade.

About Dave’s Cat Food

The Dave’s Pet Food brand was created by Dave Ratner in 2001. While the pet food brand is only about twenty years old, Ratner opened his first retail store—a soda shop—in 1975. Over the years, Dave began to notice an increasing demand for pet food, so he expanded his shop and rebranded it to Dave’s Soda and Pet City.

Eventually, Dave decided to claim a piece of the pet food market for himself. With the help of a veterinary nutritionist, he developed what he stills calls “good food at a reasonable price.” Despite being a small, private-label brand, Dave’s Pet Food is now sold in over 2,000 independent retail stores across the United States and online.

Dave’s Pet Food also participates in an Astro Loyalty program, which offers benefits for new pet adopters and 501(c)(3) rescues and shelters. New pet adopters can receive a free full-sized can of pet food at participating locations each year while rescues/shelters that buy eight cases of canned food get one case free.

Sourcing and Manufacturing

Dave’s Pet Food is based in Agawam, MA. Most of the foods are manufactured in the United States but all tuna-based cat foods are produced in dolphin-free facilities in Thailand. All canned foods are packaged in BPA-free cans and Dave’s new dry cat food

This company sources as many ingredients from the US as possible, though some come from Canada, Thailand (tuna), New Zealand, and Australia (lamb). The vitamin blends used in Dave’s Pet Food are made in China but no other ingredients are sourced from China.

Recall History

Dave’s Pet Food has been in business for two decades and only appears to have had one product recall during that time. The recall occurred in June of 2018 and only affected a single batch of Dave’s 95% premium beef dog food.

The recall was initiated after Dave’s received a report from the FDA that one lot of the product was found to have elevated levels of thyroid hormone. The FDA conducted the analysis after receiving complaints about four dogs with low thyroid levels. Dave’s issued a voluntary recall in response to the report, and the company has not experienced any recalls since.

What Kinds of Cat Food Does Dave’s Pet Food Offer?

Dave’s offers a variety of canned cat foods but only one dry food recipe. The wet foods are sold in cans ranging from 3 ounces to 12.5 ounces.

Dave’s cat food products are divided into the following product lines:

• 95% Meat, Limited Ingredient
• Naturally Healthy—Grain-Free
• Naturally Healthy—Economy Size
• Functional Diets

Dave’s cat foods come in numerous flavors and textures within these product lines. Chicken and tuna appear to be the primary proteins featured in Dave’s formulas, though the brand offers turkey and salmon recipes along with a limited assortment of foods made with beef or lamb.

In addition to a collection of patés, shredded foods, and stews, Dave’s offers two Functional Diet recipes. One recipe is made with restricted phosphorus levels to help manage kidney disease in cats. The other has restricted magnesium levels to help manage urinary issues.

What Do Customers Think of Dave’s Cat Food?

Customer reviews for Dave’s Pet Food are limited on the brand’s website. To get a broader understanding of the Dave’s Pet Food customer experience, I scoured reviews on Facebook and product reviews on Amazon and Chewy.

Let’s take a look at a few reviews from some of the most popular recipes from Dave’s Pet Food.

Positive Reviews

Customers are generally pleased with the quality of the food and ingredients. Many reviews support the efficacy of Dave’s therapeutic diets, and there’s a running theme of owners of fussy cats enjoying Dave’s cat food more than other brands.

“My cats love it. Their diarrhea is gone. Even my oldest cat, who I thought might be going to kitty heaven soon, has put on weight and her coat has improved, now thicker and softer. I would definitely recommend this cat food.” —Karen, reviewing Dave’s Pet Food Naturally Healthy Chicken Formula, on December 18th, 2023

“My roommate’s cats and my boys love Dave’s Dry Cat Food. I have to hide the bag because one of my cats tries to claw the bag open so he can feed himself!” —Catherine, reviewing Dave’s Pet Food Naturally Healthy Adult Dry Cat Food, on April 6th, 2024

Negative Reviews

Many negative reviews for Dave’s Pet Food mention damaged cans—it’s difficult to tell whether this is a shipping issue or if the cans arrive damaged at the retailer. Dissatisfied customers also comment that some paté-style foods (especially the Functional Diets) are much drier in texture than expected.

“I decided to order these off Chewy versus my local pet store because I was having a hard time finding cans that weren’t damaged, it can cause bacteria to form in the can, and make your kitties sick. Maybe Chewy needs to start packing the boxes a bit better or Dave’s? I still really like Dave’s brand.” —Jessica, reviewing Dave’s Pet Food Naturally Healthy Turkey Formula, on March 19, 2024

“My cats do not like this food. One reason they like don’t like it is it’s really dry, there is basically no juice, and the description of the food says it’s in juice. This is the least juicy wet food I have ever seen.” —Catherine, reviewing Dave’s Pet Food Restricted Diet Phosphorus Chicken Liver & Chicken in Juice Pate, on January 10th, 2024

What Did Our Test Cats Think?

Kate Barrington / Cats.com

We’ve tested cat food from Dave’s Pet Food numerous times over the past few years, most recently after the brand added dry food to the product lineup. In the latest round of testing, I ordered one of Dave’s dry food recipes and three wet food products.

The four products I ordered and tested were:

• Naturally Healthy Adult Dry Cat Food
• Naturally Healthy Grain-Free Turkey Formula Canned Cat Food
• Restricted Phosphorus Chicken Liver and Chicken in Juice Pate
• Shredded Chicken & Tuna Dinner in Gravy Recipe Wet Food

My cats enjoyed all four recipes, though their favorite was the shredded wet food formula. They always prefer high-moisture foods and recipes in broth or gravy over traditional patés. Like other reviewers, I found the Restricted Phosphorus recipe incredibly dry but my cats accepted it when I added water.

Dave’s Cat Food—Top 5 Recipes Reviewed

#1 Dave’s Pet Food Naturally Healthy Grain-Free Turkey Formula

Kate Barrington / Cats.com

$48.99 At Chewy $48.99 At Amazon

This grain-free canned food features fresh turkey as the primary protein with chicken broth for moisture. Chicken liver and fresh chicken provide supplemental protein and likely provide most of the recipe’s fat.

At roughly 45.5% crude protein on a dry matter basis, this formula is moderately high in protein. The dry matter fat content is around 23%, which leaves the total carbohydrate content just over 16%. We generally prefer wet foods to be under 10% dry matter carbohydrate but the carbs in this recipe come largely from nutritious sweet potatoes and carrots rather than starchy beans and legumes.

Though not marketed as such, this recipe is made with a limited list of main ingredients—just 5 excluding the chicken broth and the thickeners. One thing to keep in mind, however, is that it isn’t a single-protein formula, so it may not be appropriate for cats with chicken allergies.

Ingredients

Turkey, Chicken Broth, Chicken Liver, Chicken, Guar Gum, Sweet Potatoes, Carrots, Agar-Agar, Potassium Chloride, Salt, Minerals (Iron Proteinate, Zinc Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, 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), Cranberries, Blueberries, Taurine, Dried Squash, Zucchini, Sodium Carbonate.

Ingredients We Liked	Ingredients We Didn’t Like
Turkey Chicken Liver Chicken	Guar Gum

Guaranteed Analysis

Crude Protein: 10%

Crude Fat: 5%

Crude Fiber: 1%

Moisture: 78%

Ash: 2.4%

Dry Matter Basis

Protein: 45.45%

Fat: 22.73%

Fiber: 4.55%

Carbs: 16.36%

Caloric Weight Basis

Protein: 38.85%

Fat: 47.17%

Carbs: 13.98%

Pros

• Made with a limited number of high-quality ingredients
• Contains about 45% crude protein on a dry matter basis
• Rich in moisture to support your cat’s hydration
• Fairly short list of high-quality ingredients

Cons

• Guar gum may trigger digestive upset in some cats
• Not a single-protein recipe

#2 Dave’s Pet Food Restricted Phosphorus Chicken Liver and Chicken in Juice Paté

Kate Barrington / Cats.com

$59.99 At Chewy $59.99 At Amazon

Made with chicken muscle meat and chicken liver, this formula belongs to Dave’s Restricted Diet duo. It contains lower-than-average phosphorus levels which can be helpful for cats with chronic kidney disease. This food is not nutritionally complete—it is for intermittent feeding only.

Measured as dry matter, this paté-style food contains about 29% protein and 16% fat. It’s very high in carbohydrates (over 31%). Most of it comes from rice flour, which isn’t particularly rich in nutrients. Fish oil, a species-appropriate source of omega-3s, makes up most of the food’s fat content.

While not suitable as a staple diet, this formula could be a good supplementary option for older cats at risk for kidney problems. It’s available without a prescription but shouldn’t be fed long-term without a veterinarian’s approval.

Ingredients

Chicken Broth, Chicken Liver, Chicken, Water Sufficient For Processing, Rice Flour, Pumpkin, Natural Flavor, Fish Oil, Calcium Carbonate, Guar Gum, Potassium Chloride, Choline Chloride, Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Niacin, Vitamin A Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin Supplement, Folic Acid, Vitamin B 12 Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement), Biotin, Tricalcium Phosphate, Salt, Minerals (Zinc Oxide, Reduced Iron, Sodium Selenite, Manganese Sulfate, Copper Amino Acid Complex, Potassium Iodide), Taurine.

Ingredients We Liked	Ingredients We Didn’t Like
Chicken Liver Chicken Fish Oil	Rice Flour Guar Gum

Guaranteed Analysis

Crude Protein: 5.5%

Crude Fat: 3%

Crude Fiber: 1.5%

Moisture: 81%

Ash: 3%

Dry Matter Basis

Protein: 28.95%

Fat: 15.79%

Fiber: 7.89%

Carbs: 31.58%

Caloric Weight Basis

Protein: 29.28%

Fat: 38.78%

Carbs: 31.94%

Pros

• Made with a single source of high-quality animal protein
• Restricted phosphorus levels to help manage kidney disease
• Rich in moisture for hydration and kidney support

Cons

• Very high in carbs, over 30% dry matter
• Not nutritionally complete, intermittent feeding only

#3 Dave’s Pet Food Shredded Chicken & Tuna Dinner in Gravy

Kate Barrington / Cats.com

$29.99 At Chewy $29.99 At Amazon

As is typical, Dave’s shredded-style foods are a little pricier than the patés. Because they largely consist of shredded meat in gravy, however, they’re often appealing to picky eaters. Unsurprisingly, this recipe was my cats’ favorite.

Measured as dry matter, this food contains nearly 63% protein with negligible carbohydrates. The only plant ingredients are fiber-rich pumpkin, tapioca starch as a thickener, powdered cellulose, and potato fiber. The last two of these may act as prebiotic fibers to help support a healthy balance of gut microbiota.

While many cats seem to like this food, it’s worth considering its price in comparison to its caloric density. It’s a low-fat, fairly low-calorie food, so it could get expensive to feed as a staple diet. The high fiber content could also be an issue for some cats, so be sure to transition your cat onto the food slowly.

Ingredients

Chicken Broth, Chicken, Tuna, Pumpkin, Tapioca Starch, Sunflower Oil, Tricalcium Phosphate, Powdered Cellulose, Potato Fiber, Minerals (Zinc Oxide, Reduced Iron, Sodium Selenite, Manganese Sulfate, Copper Amino Acid Complex, Potassium Iodide), Taurine, Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin Supplement, Biotin, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite), Magnesium Sulfate, Choline Chloride, Salt.

Ingredients We Liked	Ingredients We Didn’t Like
Chicken Tuna	Tapioca Starch Sunflower Oil

Guaranteed Analysis

Crude Protein: 10%

Crude Fat: 1.5%

Crude Fiber: 1.5%

Moisture: 84%

Ash: 3%

Dry Matter Basis

Protein: 62.5%

Fat: 9.38%

Fiber: 9.38%

Caloric Weight Basis

Protein: 73.3%

Fat: 26.7%

Pros

• Very high dry matter protein content around 60%
• Cats seem to love the flavorful broth and shredded meat
• Rich in moisture to support your cat’s hydration

Cons

• Very high in fiber, could cause constipation in some cats
• Relies primarily on plant-based fat
• Very low in fat and calories

#4 Dave’s Pet Food Naturally Healthy Adult Dry Cat Food

Kate Barrington / Cats.com

$15.99 At Chewy

Chicken meal is the first ingredient in this recipe, providing a concentrated source of animal protein. This formula appears to rely on animal-sourced fat—from chicken fat and menhaden fish oil—but it’s hard to tell how much of the protein is plant-sourced. Not only are lentils and field pieces the second and third ingredients, but the food also contains pea protein.

Measured as dry matter, this food contains about 38% protein and 18% fat. This puts it on par with the average dry cat food and, like many such products, it’s similarly high in carbohydrates. As a grain-free recipe, most of the carbs in this cat food come from peas and legumes. These aren’t our favorite ingredients since they can be hard for some cats to digest.

Available in 4-, 8-, and 20-pound bags, this dry food from Dave’s Pet Food is economically priced. It’s free from artificial additives and appears to be well-liked by cats. Kitten owners mention temporary digestive upset but adult cats seem to tolerate the food well.

Ingredients

Chicken Meal, Lentils, Field Peas, Chicken Fat (Preserved With Mixed Tocopherols), Chickpeas, Pea Flour, Pea Protein, Chicken, Natural Flavors, Tapioca Starch, Whitefish Meal, Flaxseed, Menhaden Fish Oil (Preserved With Mixed Tocopherols), Brewers Dried Yeast, Potassium Chloride, Dl-Methionine, Salt, Taurine, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Dried Cranberry, Dried Blueberry, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin Supplement, Organic Dried Kelp, Thiamine Mononitrate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin Supplement, Biotin, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin B 12 Supplement, Vitamin A Acetate, CitricAcid, Folic Acid, Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Sulfate, Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Copper Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Manganese Sulfate, Manganese Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Manganous Oxide, Sodium Selenite, Calcium Iodate.

Ingredients We Liked	Ingredients We Didn’t Like
Chicken Meal, Chicken Fat, Chicken, Whitefish Meal, Menhaden Fish Oil	Lentils, Field Peas, Chickpeas, Pea Protein, Tapioca Starch

Guaranteed Analysis

Crude Protein: 34%

Crude Fat: 16%

Crude Fiber: 3.5%

Moisture: 10%

Dry Matter Basis

Protein: 37.78%

Fat: 17.78%

Fiber: 3.89%

Carbs: 40.56%

Caloric Weight Basis

Protein: 31.09%

Fat: 35.53%

Carbs: 33.38%

Pros

• Affordably priced around $0.20 per ounce
• Relies primarily on animal-sourced fat
• Free from artificial additives
• Cats seem to enjoy the flavor

Cons

• No dry food provides the moisture your cat needs
• May cause digestive upset in younger cats not used to legumes
• Contains a concentrated source of plant protein

#5 Dave’s Semi-Moist Renal Cat Treats

Megan Swinney / Cats.com

$10.99 At Chewy Buy At DavesPetFood

Now that we’ve covered Dave’s top cat food options, how do their treats measure up? Megan Sanders and her cat, Bandit, tested Dave’s Semi-Moist Renal Cat Treats.

While Bandit wasn’t initially interested in Dave’s Semi-Moist Renal Cat Treats when I first offered them to her, she eventually came around—not only that, she nabbed the largest one.

The first ingredient in this treat, sweet potato, is ideal for cats with kidney issues. Sweet potato helps balance your cat’s sodium levels thanks to potassium and other minerals. It is also a great source of fiber, which is helpful for cats facing constipation. However, cats should only eat it in small amounts.

Coconut glycerin is the main source of fat in the treat. The vegetable-based oil comes from coconut nut oil and is known for improving a cat’s overall hydration. The third ingredient, carrots, is a low-phosphorus food that is highly beneficial to cats with kidney issues and helps cats with constipation.

Flaxseed is high in omega-3 fatty acids. Since there aren’t any gums, the flaxseed and molasses also act as binders, keeping the treat together. Dried egg is the only protein included in the treat. In this form, it is highly digestible and an excellent source of methionine and cysteine.

This treat has 14 kcal per treat based on a 5g treat. It should be fed sparingly, at one treat daily. A 3-ounce bag costs $11.99.

Ingredients

Sweet Potato, Coconut Glycerin, Carrots, Brewer’s Dried Yeast, Flaxseed, Dried Egg Product, Natural Flavor, Molasses, Dried Cultured Skim

Guaranteed Analysis

Crude Protein: 11.5%

Crude Fat: 5%

Crude Fiber: 4%

Moisture: 30%

Dry Matter Basis

Protein: 16.43%

Fat: 7.14%

Fiber: 5.71%

Carbs: 70.71%

Caloric Weight Basis

Protein: 15.72%

Fat: 16.6%

Carbs: 67.68%

Pros

• High moisture level
• No gums or artificial ingredients
• Renal-friendly whole ingredients

Cons

• Different-sized treats—some may be more difficult to pick up than others
• Can be crumbly

How Much Does Dave’s Cat Food Cost?

Dave’s Pet Food was built on the premise of “good food at a reasonable price.” Ranging from $0.25 to $0.50 per ounce for wet food and around $0.20 for the solitary dry food, Dave’s is similarly priced to brands like Taste of the Wild and American Journey. Dave’s sets itself apart from the pack by offering a higher level of quality than many similarly priced products.

The daily cost to feed a 10-pound cat Dave’s Pet Food wet cat food would range from about $2 to $4. Dave’s dry food is much cheaper, costing under $0.50 per day for the average cat.

Where Is Dave’s Cat Food Sold?

The founder of Dave’s Pet Food is an independent retailer himself, so his pet foods are only sold in independent pet retail stores. Dave’s is also carried by major online retailers like Amazon, Chewy, Pet Flow, Pet Life, and more. You can find a complete list of retailers on the company website.

Overall, Is Dave’s Cat Food a Good Choice?

Dave’s Pet Food appears to hold true to its motto, “good food at a reasonable price.” While the carbohydrate content of Dave’s cat food varies wildly, the objective quality of the products seems higher than formulas from other brands that are similarly priced. Dave’s pate-style canned foods appear to offer the best value.

If you have a picky eater, Dave’s offers a variety of flavors and textures, many of which seem to appeal to fussy felines. The Restricted Diets may also be worth considering if your cat is at risk for urinary or kidney problems. Just keep in mind these foods are for intermittent feeding only and it seems to be a toss-up whether your cat will like them or not.