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Taste of the Wild Cat Food Review

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Last updated Mar 31, 2023

Written by Mallory Crusta

Mallory Crusta

Mallory is an NAVC-certified Pet Nutrition Coach. Having produced and managed multimedia content across several pet-related domains, Mallory is dedicated to ensuring that the information on Cats.com is accurate, clear, and engaging. When she’s not reviewing pet products or editing content, Mallory enjoys skiing, hiking, and trying out new recipes in the kitchen. She has two cats, Wessie and Forest... View more

We’ve taken a close look at Taste of the Wild and graded it according to the Cats.com standard, evaluating the brand on species-appropriateness, product variety, price, ingredient quality, customer experience, and recall history.

The Cats.com Standard—Rating Taste of the Wild 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.

Shop For Taste Of The Wild Cat Food On Chewy

Shop For Taste Of The Wild Cat Food On Amazon

Ratings

Species-Appropriateness – 7/10
Ingredient Quality – 7/10
Product Variety – 5/10
Price – 8/10
Customer Experience – 7/10
Recall History – 4/10

Overall Score: 6.3/10

In total, we give Taste of the Wild cat food a 38 out of 60 rating or a C+ grade.

Taste of the Wild describes its food as “the balanced diet nature intended”.

According to the company, Taste of the Wild offers affordable, high-quality, grain-free foods inspired by your cat’s natural diet. Every formula features real meat, fish, or fowl as the first ingredient, along with unexpected proteins like wild boar, bison, smoked trout, roasted duck, venison, and Angus beef.

The brand is well-priced and receives average to slightly above-average marks in species-appropriateness, ingredient quality, and product variety. Read on to learn more about Taste of the Wild and whether or not it’s a good choice for your cat.

About Taste of the Wild Cat Food

Taste of the Wild is owned by Diamond Pet Food, a US company founded in 1970 by brothers-in-law Gary Schell and Richard Kampeter.

Diamond’s brand family includes Taste of the Wild, NutraGold, Nutra-Nuggets, and several varieties of Diamond brand food. In addition to making and selling their own pet foods, Diamond is one of the United States’ leading manufacturers and acts as a co-packer for numerous pet food companies.

Diamond Pet Food is headquartered in Meta, Missouri.

Sourcing and Manufacturing

Taste of the Wild is manufactured in company-owned facilities. All five of their manufacturing facilities are located in the United States. They’re located in California, Missouri, South Carolina, and Arkansas.

Their ingredients are sourced from various countries around the world. Taste of the Wild sources lamb from New Zealand, lamb meal and venison from Australia, duck meal from France, potato protein from Germany, and dried chicory root from Belgium. The company sources some or all of their vitamins, minerals, and amino acids from China.

Recall History

Taste of the Wild was recalled in 2012 when foods tested positive for salmonella. Thousands of units were pulled.

Diamond, Taste of the Wild’s parent company and manufacturer, has had several recalls since its creation in 1970. In 2013, the company issued a cat food recall due to low levels of thiamine, twice in 2012 due to potential salmonella contamination, and in 2005 due to possible aflatoxin mold contamination.

What Kinds of Cat Food Does Taste of the Wild Offer?

All Taste of the Wild cat foods are grain-free and feature meat as the first ingredient. In addition to the standard variety of vitamins, minerals, and amino acids, they’re supplemented with proprietary Viables® probiotics. The company says the probiotic blend is developed specifically for cats and added after the cooking process to ensure viability.

Taste of the Wild has two lines—the original line, which contains a variety of protein sources and long ingredient lists, and Taste of the Wild Prey, which is a line of limited-ingredient foods with four or fewer key ingredients.

Taste of the Wild

The original Taste of the Wild line includes four recipes for cats. These are Rocky Mountain, available in wet or dry form, and Canyon River wet or dry food.

Taste of the Wild Prey

Taste of the Wild describes the Prey line as “a simplified approach to pet food based on the animal’s native diet”. All of the foods in this line contain no more than four key ingredients—these include one animal protein source, along with lentils, tomato pomace, and sunflower oil. This line includes only two formulas for cats, and both of them are dry foods.

Taste of the Wild Cat Food – Top 3 Recipes Reviewed

Product Name	Food Type	Price	Our Grade
Rocky Mountain Grain-Free Dry Cat Food	Dry	$3.43 per lb	C+
Canyon River Grain-Free Dry Cat Food	Dry	$3.75 per lb	C
Rocky Mountain Grain-Free Canned Cat Food	Wet	$0.33 per oz	B

#1 Taste of the Wild Rocky Mountain Grain-Free Dry Cat Food

$39.99 At Chewy $39.99 At Amazon

Chicken meal appears to be the primary protein source in this dry cat food.

The Rocky Mountain recipe stays true to Taste of the Wild’s “meat is the first ingredient” rule by including protein-dense chicken meal as the first ingredient. The food also contains roasted venison, smoked salmon, and ocean fish meal. In addition to these meat ingredients, the food contains both pea and potato protein, which are concentrated plant protein sources.

Overall, the food is high in protein with moderate fat and relatively low carbohydrate content when compared to other dry foods. It has moderate calorie content at 390 calories per cup.

Ingredients

Chicken Meal, Peas, Sweet Potatoes, Chicken Fat (Preserved With Mixed Tocopherols), Pea Protein, Potato Protein, Roasted Venison, Smoked Salmon, Natural Flavor, Ocean Fish Meal, Dl-Methionine, Potassium Chloride, Taurine, Choline Chloride, Dried Chicory Root, Tomatoes, Blueberries, Raspberries, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Dried Lactobacillus Plantarum Fermentation Product, Dried Bacillus Subtilis Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus Acidophilus Fermentation Product, Dried Enterococcus Faecium Fermentation Product, Dried BiFidobacterium Animalis Fermentation Product, Zinc Proteinate, Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, Manganese Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Zinc Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B1), Vitamin A Supplement, Biotin, Potassium Iodide, Calcium Pantothenate, RiboFlavin (Vitamin B2), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Vitamin B12 Supplement, Manganous Oxide, Sodium Selenite, Vitamin D Supplement, Folic Acid.

Ingredients We Liked: Chicken Fat, Roasted Venison, Probiotics

Ingredients We Didn’t Like: Peas, Sweet Potatoes, Pea Protein, Potato Protein

Guaranteed Analysis

Crude Protein: 42%

Crude Fat: 18%

Crude Fiber: 3%

Moisture: 10%

Dry Matter Basis

Protein: 46.67%

Fat: 20%

Fiber: 3.33%

Carbs: 30%

Caloric Weight Basis

Protein: 37.26%

Fat: 38.78%

Carbs: 23.95%

Pros

Contains probiotics to support digestive health
Low carbohydrate content compared to other dry foods
Made with several sources of animal protein
Low price
No artificial ingredients

Cons

Contains multiple sources of plant protein
High carbohydrate content compared to cat dietary requirements
Doesn’t provide adequate hydration

#2 Taste of the Wild Canyon River Grain-Free Dry Cat Food

$41.99 At Chewy $39.89 At Amazon

Trout and ocean fish meal appear to be the primary protein sources in this dry cat food.

Taste of the Wild’s Canyon River food is a fish-centric recipe featuring trout and ocean fish meal as the first two ingredients. These animal protein sources are followed by multiple plant ingredients, including sweet potatoes, potatoes, pea protein, and potato protein.

In addition to standard vitamins, minerals, and amino acids, the food contains traces of berries, tomatoes along with dried chicory root for prebiotic fiber. Like other Taste of the Wild foods, this dry diet is enhanced with Viable® probiotics.

Overall, this is dry food has moderate protein and fat content and high carbohydrate matter. It’s 350 calories per cup.

Ingredients

Trout, Ocean Fish Meal, Sweet Potatoes, Potatoes, Pea Protein, Potato Protein, Canola Oil, Smoked Salmon, Natural Flavor, Choline Chloride, Dl-Methionine, Taurine, Dried Chicory Root, Tomatoes, Blueberries, Raspberries, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Dried Lactobacillus Plantarum Fermentation Product, Dried Bacillus Subtilis Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus Acidophilus Fermentation Product, Dried Enterococcus Faecium Fermentation Product, Dried Bifidobacterium Animalis Fermentation Product, Zinc Proteinate, Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, Manganese Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Zinc Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B1), Vitamin A Supplement, Biotin, Potassium Iodide, Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin (Vitamin B2), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Vitamin B12 Supplement, Manganous Oxide, Sodium Selenite, Vitamin D Supplement, Folic Acid.

Ingredients We Liked: Trout, Smoked Salmon

Ingredients We Didn’t Like: Sweet Potatoes, Potatoes, Pea Protein, Potato Protein

Guaranteed Analysis

Crude Protein: 32%

Crude Fat: 16%

Crude Fiber: 3%

Moisture: 10%

Dry Matter Basis

Protein: 35.56%

Fat: 17.78%

Fiber: 3.33%

Carbs: 43.33%

Caloric Weight Basis

Protein: 29.13%

Fat: 35.37%

Carbs: 35.5%

Pros

Made with several sources of animal protein
No artificial ingredients
Contains probiotics to support digestive health

Cons

Contains concentrated plant protein
High carbohydrate content
Dry food isn’t adequately hydrating

#3 Taste of the Wild Rocky Mountain Grain-Free Canned Cat Food

$34.60 At Amazon

Salmon appears to be the primary protein source in this wet cat food.

This is a fish-based food made with a combination of salmon, chicken liver, chicken, and dried egg whites as animal protein sources. It also includes small amounts of smoked salmon, roasted venison, and ocean fish.

Like all Taste of the Wild canned foods, this product has a stew-style consistency.

While it’s lower in carbohydrates than most dry foods, Taste of the Wild Rocky Mountain canned food is one of the most carbohydrate-dense wet foods on the market. Potato starch, pea flour, peas, and guar gum contribute to the food’s approximately 32% carbohydrate content on a dry matter basis.

Overall, the food is a meat-rich product with high protein content, moderate fat, and high carbohydrate content. It’s approximately 27 calories per ounce or 149 calories per 5.5oz can.

Ingredients

Salmon, Fish Broth, Chicken Broth, Chicken Liver, Chicken, Dried Egg Whites, Potato Starch, Pea Flour, Smoked Salmon, Roasted Venison, Peas, Ocean Fish, Guar Gum, Natural Flavor, Sunflower Oil, Sodium Phosphate, Salt, Potassium Chloride, Inulin, Tomatoes, Blueberries, Raspberries, Taurine, Dl-Methionine, Choline Chloride, Iron Amino Acid Chelate, Zinc Amino Acid Chelate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Vitamin E Supplement, Copper Amino Acid Chelate, Manganese Amino Acid Chelate, Sodium Selenite, Niacin Supplement, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, Biotin, Potassium Iodide, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Folic Acid.

Ingredients We Liked: Chicken Liver, Chicken, Dried Egg Whites, Roasted Venison

Ingredients We Didn’t Like: Potato Starch, Peas

Guaranteed Analysis

Crude Protein: 8%

Crude Fat: 3%

Crude Fiber: 1.5%

Moisture: 82%

Ash: 1.8%

Dry Matter Basis

Protein: 44.44%

Fat: 16.67%

Fiber: 8.33%

Carbs: 20.56%

Caloric Weight Basis

Protein: 42.14%

Fat: 38.37%

Carbs: 19.49%

Pros

Primarily made from animal protein sources
No concentrated plant proteins
High moisture food
No artificial ingredients

Cons

Excessive carbohydrate content

What Do Customers Think of Taste of the Wild Cat Food?

To get an idea of what real customers are saying about Taste of the Wild, here are a few reviews selected from several popular recipes listed on Amazon and Chewy.

Positive Reviews

“All 3 of my cats are on this food and they aren’t throwing up like they were on previous food. They love it,and scream for more when the bowl even starts to get close to bottom. Way less shedding also! Very pleased with this product.” – SpecialK, reviewing Taste of the Wild Canyon River Grain-Free Dry Cat Food

“I was frustrated with another brand of cat food when I bought this particular cat food. I thought that I’d mixed it with the other cat food that they didn’t like for them to eat and me not having to waste any money on cat food. They like this particular cat food so much that they picked on it. I decided to end my cat’s suffering and to donate the other bag of cat food they didn’t like and just feed them this. they devour their food now and their coats are shinier now. I definitely recommend Taste of the Wild cat food and would continue to purchase this for my cats.” – ChanceBaker, reviewing Taste of the Wild Rocky Mountain Grain-Free Dry Cat Food

Negative Reviews

“The food is pressed into small cubes that seems almost clay like and very unnatural. Both our cats did not touch it at all (aside from licking some of the gravy) and we had to feed to the strays and give to the neighbors cat. Two stars since our neighbors cat didn’t seem to mind the strange texture or flavor and ate it all up. Still wasted money on a full tray.” – lizzz, reviewing Taste of the Wild Rocky Mountain Grain-Free Dry Cat Food

“Be advised before purchasing that even though this sounds like a perfect cat food–high protein, grain free–it may not be perfect for your cat. My cat barely picks at the food, and what she does eat comes out the other end as runny diarrhea. Switching dry foods asap. I reccomend strongly that you try one of the smaller bags before taking a big plunge on this product.” – Sharp, reviewing Taste of the Wild Rocky Mountain Grain-Free Dry Cat Food

How Much Does Taste of the Wild Cat Food Cost?

Taste of the Wild cat food is inexpensive compared to other grain-free foods made without meat by-products. The brand’s canned formulas cost about about $1.84 per day, while the Rocky Mountain and Canyon River dry foods cost about $0.78 per day.

Overall, Is Taste of the Wild a Good Choice?

Taste of the Wild is a slightly above-average cat food brand.

If you’re looking for an affordable brand that offers meat-centric, grain-free foods, then Taste of the Wild might be a good choice for you. Taste of the Wild will primarily appeal to dry food consumers. Their canned food selection is small and limited to stew-style products.

Though their foods emphasize meat ingredients, they tend to have high carbohydrate content and aren’t a good choice for people who have a passion for species-appropriate, carnivore-focused feeding.

Where Is Taste of the Wild Cat Food Sold?

You can buy Taste of the Wild cat food in pet retail chains, independent pet specialty retailers, health food stores, and other stores around the world. To find out if it’s sold in your country, click here for a list of global distributors.

Various retailers sell Taste of the Wild online. Online retailers include Amazon, Chewy, Petco, and Tractor Supply Co.