Last updated Apr 19, 2023
Yora for Cats is an insect-based food made in Britain. Yora for dogs launched in 2019 and their cat food was added in 2021. Learn more about this insect-based food for cats in our unbiased review.
The Cats.com Standard – Rating Yora Cat Food on What Matters
We have analyzed Yora cat food and rated it according to our standards here at Cats.com. Our grades are based on the species-appropriateness of the food, the quality of the ingredients, product variety, price, customer experience, and recall history. You can read more about our ratings here.
Here are our ratings for Yora for Cats in these key areas:
Ratings
- Species-Appropriateness – 6/10
- Ingredient Quality – 7/10
- Product Variety – 6/10
- Price – 8/10
- Customer Experience – 9/10
- Recall History – 9/10
Overall Score: 7.5/10
We give Yora for Cats a 45 out of 60 rating (75) or a B grade.
About Yora
According to Yora, it is the world’s most sustainble pet food. Yora’s dog food was the first insect-based pet food introduced in the UK in 2019. The company now makes several insect-based dog foods and treats. Yora currently only makes one insect-based cat food which was launced in 2021 – Yora for Cats.
Based on the information we found, Yora Pet Foods for the Planet Ltd was founded by Tom Neish in 2017. The company is based in Warninglid, England in the UK. It has approximately 33 employees and an annual revenue between $2-6 million, depending on the financial source.
The brand’s foods are designed to appeal to pet owners who want to reduce their pets’ environmental impact in the belief that insect-based foods are better for the planet. The larvae used in the foods use a fraction of the land and water that is required to raise animals for conventional meat proteins.
Along with grubs used for protein (from an EU farm in Holland called Protix), the cat food features British-grown oats, potatoes, and natural botanicals. Yora says that the food tastes great (yes, their people have eaten it). Yora for Cats is a complete food.
Along with being sustainable, insect protein is also said to be hypoallergenic. If your cat has any meat-related food allergies or intolerances, insect protein might be a good option. Insect-based cat foods may also appeal to some vegan and vegetarian cat owners.
Yora’s packaging is also fully recyclable.
Sourcing and Manufacturing
According to information provided by Yora, the black soldier fly larvae (“grubs”) for their pet food is raised at a farm in Holland called Protix that follows EU guidelines. The facility is brand new and high tech, costing some £18 million. Protix also supplies the black soldier fly larvae for Lovebug (made by Mars) and for human consumption. You can learn more about Protix here.
Other ingredients used in Yora cat food are specifically locally British-grown such as oats, potatoes, beet root, and natural botanicals. Yora doesn’t list the source of every ingredient used. Using local ingredients as much as possible helps reduce the environmental impact of production.
Yora is based in West Sussex in the UK but we couldn’t find the location of their manufacturing site.
Yora doesn’t provide much information about testing their foods or any certifications or inspections for their manufacturing facilities. More transparency would be welcome since many pet owners are concerned about how pet food is made.
Has Yora Cat Food Been Recalled?
We didn’t find any recalls for Yora pet foods online. However, it’s possible that we could have missed something minor. The company has only been producing pet food since 2019 so it would be unusual if they did have a recall in such a short time period.
People sometimes ask why we don’t give companies a perfect 10 when we rate whether or not they have had recalls. We have to consider all of these factors, including how confident we are that we have good access to recall information in the countries where the food is sold.
What Kinds of Cat Food Does Yora Offer?
At this time, Yora makes one insect-based food for cats, Yora for Cats, along with several insect-based foods and treats for dogs. Their cat food is in a crunchy kibble form. The company has recently introduced gourmet wet dog food so it is possible that Yora could increase their cat food offereings in the future and even provide wet foods for cats.
If the company is making both wet and dry foods, it is more likely that they are working with another manufacturer to produce at least some of their foods. Most small companies don’t have the resources to operate both a cannery and a dry food operation.
Yora Cat Food– Recipe Reviewed
| Product Name | Food Type | Primary Protein | Calories | Price | Our Grade |
| Yora for Cats Insect-Based Food | Dry | Insect | 358.5 Kcal per 100g | $7.85 per lb | B |
#1 Yora For Cats Insect-Based Food
Interest in insect-based pet foods, including cat foods, has been growing in the last several years. Considered to be “planet-friendly” because of their sustainability, foods that use insects for protein use less land and water resources than foods that use traditional meat proteins.
They claim that it takes less carbon to make these foods. Vets and some researchers also say that insect protein is digestible and suitable for pets to eat.
If you are interested in feeding an insect-based cat food, Yora for Cats is one you should try. According to the company, Yora contains all of the essential amino acids (including taurine), fats, and minerals that your cat needs. Black soldier fly larvae (“grubs”) are considered to be very sustainable and digestible.
Along with 62.5 percent insect content (said to be the highest insect content of any insect-based food on the market), Yora for Cats also contains British-sourced oats and potatoes, dried seaweed for vitamins and minerals, beetroot for soluble fiber (good for hairballs), chicory pulp as a prebiotic, and glucosamine and chondroitin extracts for your cat’s joints.
Yora is slow-cooked at lower temperatures for better flavor.
Yora for Cats contains no meat or fish protein or oils. If you are vegan or vegetarian, this will matter to you.
Insects are considered to be a novel protein so if your cat has meat or fish allergies, insect protein is considered to be hypoallergenic.
Yora cat food is a complete and balanced food for adult cats 12 months of age and up. (There are several references on the Yora web site to feeding the food to kittens but the packaging is marked for adult cats 12 months old and up.)
Metabolisable Energy 358.5 Kcal/100g.
Ingredients
62.5% Insect (Insect Meal 40%, Freshly Prepared Insect 19.5%, Insect Oil 3%), Oats (7%), Potato (6.5%), Maize Gluten, Maize, Brewer’s Yeast, Peas, Minerals, Linseed, Tomato Pomace, Vegetable Gravy, Dried Seaweed (0.4%), Chicory (0.4%), Dried Beetroot (0.4%), Dried Carrot, Pumpkin, Dried Parsley, Dried Kale, Chondroitin Sulphate (290mg/kg), Glucosamine (290mg/kg).
Ingredients We Liked: Oats, maize, brewer’s yeast, dried seaweed, chicory, dried beetroot, pumpkin, chondroitin suphate, glucosamine
Ingredients We Didn’t Like: Potatoes, peas, dried kale
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
Pros
- Insect meal is high in protein
- Planet-friendly
- Black soldier fly larvae is said to be sustainable and easy to digest
Cons
- Research suggests that cats in the wild eat no more than 20 percent insects in their diet
- There is little long-term research about the effects of feeding an insect-based diet to cats or the effects on the ecosystem
- Yora for Cats comes in only one formula at this time
What Do Customers Think of Yora Cat Food?
The majority of customers on the Yora web site left 5-star reviews for the products. However, we have no way of knowing whether the reviews have been edited or if negative reviews have been removed.
Positive Reviews
“My cat loves it” – byTrusted Customer, reviewing Yora Pet Foods on 04/09/2022
“Excellent. Cat really enjoys it, better than cat treat!” – by Pamela in Taunton, reviewing Yora for Cats on 03/26/2022
Negative Reviews
“Easy to order, fast delivery, dog loves the food and I like what they are trying to achieve. Still a bit pricey” – by Ben in Cambs, reviewing Yora Pet Foods on 03/29/2022
“I don’t blame Yora, but DPD who deliver for them have caused me an absolute nightmare. I requested home delivery..due to a medical procedure and not being able to drive. A family situation meaning no one available to collect a parcel for me. So after paying over £40 I have lost my pet food. So very disapointed with the delivery service that DPD provide. They actually lied massively about trying to deliver to my home and I think Yora need to look into this.” – by Karen Thornton, reviewing Yora Pet Foods on 03/16/2022
How Much Does Yora Cat Food Cost?
Yora has recently lowered their prices. While still expensive, more people should be able to afford their foods now.
Ordering from the Yora web site, you can buy 375 g of cat food for £5.99; 1.5 kg for £17.99; and 3.75 kg for £36.99. Yora offers 20 percent off and free delivery with your first order if you use the code on their site.
Overall, Is Yora Cat Food a Good Choice?
Insect-based pet foods are still a new trend. Even though most cats (and dogs) are happy to hunt and catch insects occasionally, that’s not the same as making insects the primary protein in their diet.
Early nutritional research suggests that insect-based foods are digestible for cats and that cats can enjoy them. However, some research suggests that not all cats like insect-based foods. It can depend on the amount of insects in the food and other factors.
Yora seems to be a good insect-based food that uses good ingredients. It is hard to find any negative customer reviews of the food or ANY reviews that say cats don’t like it. Just based on the customer reviews and the fact that cats seem to like the food, Yora seems to be a good choice.
If you are concerned about sustainability and the environment, Yora for Cats would be a good food to try for your cat. It compares favorably to brands such as Lovebug, Purina Beyond Nature’s Protein, and Catit Nuna.
How Do You Order Yora Cat Food?
You can buy Yora for Cats individually or by subscription on the Yora web site. The subscription plan is flexible so you can order to receive food every 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 8 weeks, 12 weeks, or 16 weeks.
You can also buy Yora from specialty retailers in the UK, some European countries, Japan, and elsewhere.
