We all love our pets with all our hearts. Delicious and nutritious food is something that we can provide to ensure our pets’ overall wellness and happiness. As we all have certain budgets to work with, we must find the best cat food we can afford that has the right ingredients.
With this in mind, we have decided to write this 2025 Wholehearted cat food review to take a closer look at a brand that promises to be wholesome, thoughtful, and affordable.
The brand aims to provide wholesome and thoughtfully made meals using high quality natural ingredients. Launched by Petco in August 2016, Wholehearted is a private label developed in-house by Petco nutrition experts. The idea is to provide consumers with a healthy, high-quality products that are affordable.
All of Wholehearted’s products are grain free. Their cat foods do not contain any corn or wheat in the ingredients. The protein sources are from the United States, South America, and New Zealand.
Wholehearted’s cat products are dry food, wet food, and treats. To help you pick the best cat food with the right ingredients for your kitty, here is a review of some of Wholehearted’s best-rated products on Amazon.
Wholehearted Cat Food Review
Wholehearted dry cat foods are grain-free, and the number one ingredient is high-quality protein. They offer kibbles for cats of all ages, and even have special needs options.
They have a total of 7 dry cat food products. Here are some of their best cat foods in kibble form.
1. Grain-Free Chicken Recipe
First 5 ingredients:
Chicken, Chicken Meal, Peas, Chickpeas, Pea Protein
Protein: 34.0% min
Fat: 16.0% min
Fiber: 4.0% max
Moisture: 10.0% max
Food Type: Dry
Best for: Kitten
Special Diet: Grain-free
A kibble that is specially crafted to support your kitten’s growth and development from the very first bite.
Featuring real chicken as the first ingredient, this high-protein formula provides the essential building blocks for strong muscles and playful energy.
It includes feline probiotics promote gut health for better absorption of nutrients, while omega fatty acids help nourish and hydrate your kitten’s soft coat.
With added DHA, this recipe also supports healthy brain and vision development during those crucial early months.
The antioxidant-rich formula helps build a strong immune system, ensuring your kitten stays active and resilient.
Plus, it's completely free of corn, wheat, or grains of any kind, making it a wholesome and natural choice for your little feline.
Why we love it
- Kittens love it
- Good for digestion
- Loaded with DHA and Omegas
- Real chicken is 1st ingredient
- Promotes better digestive health
Why we had second thoughts
- Contains too much fruits
2. Grain Free Salmon Formula
First 5 ingredients:
Salmon, Salmon Meal, Peas, Chickpeas, Pea Flour
Protein: 32.0% min
Fat: 12.0% min
Fiber: 4.0% max
Moisture: 10.0% max
Food Type: Dry
Best for: All Lifestages, Adult
Special Diet: Grain-free
This grain free kibble is thoughtfully crafted to provide your cat with complete, balanced nutrition in every bite.
Made with real salmon as the #1 ingredient, this protein-rich recipe supports lean muscle and satisfies your cat’s natural cravings.
Each bowl delivers a nourishing blend of Omega-3 fatty acids for healthy skin and a shiny coat, feline probiotics for digestive support and antioxidants to help strengthen the immune system.
Fortified with essential vitamins and minerals, it ensures your cat gets the nutrients they need to thrive.
Best of all, it's free from corn, wheat or any grains, making it a wholesome choice for cats with sensitivities.
Why we love it
- Good value
- Healthy skin and coat
- Contains real Salmon
- Enriched with kitty probiotics
- Unique blend of antioxidants included
Why we had second thoughts
- Strong odor
3. Healthy Digestion Chicken and Egg Product Recipe
First 5 ingredients:
Chicken, Chicken Meal, Peas, Pea Flour, Chicken Fat
Protein: 32.0% min
Fat: 18.0% min
Fiber: 5.0% max
Moisture: 10.0% max
Food Type: Dry
Best for: All Lifestages, Adult
Special Diet: Grain-free
This dry food is specially formulated for cats with sensitive stomachs, offering gentle nutrition without compromising on taste.
Real chicken is the #1 ingredient, providing high-quality protein to support strong muscles and overall health.
This grain-free recipe features highly digestible egg product and a blend of natural fiber sources to promote smooth digestion.
It also contains live active cultures to help support a healthy gut and maintain regularity.
With no corn, wheat or grains of any kind, this nourishing formula is an ideal choice for felines needing extra digestive care.
Why we love it
- Grain free
- Easy on the tummy
- Chicken is top ingredient
- Perfect kibble size
- Filled with multiple fiber sources
Why we had second thoughts
- Caused digestive upset in some
4. All Life Stages Chicken Recipe in Gravy
First 5 ingredients:
Chicken, Chicken Broth, Water Sufficient For Processing, Tapioca Starch, Sunflower Oil
Protein: 10.0% min
Fat: 2.0% min
Fiber: 1.0% max
Moisture: 84.0% max
Food Type: Wet, Flakes
Best for: All Lifestages, Adult
Special Diet: Grain-free
This product offers a delicious and nutritious mealtime experience for cats of all ages.
Made with real chicken as the #1 ingredient, this recipe features tender flaked pieces in a savory gravy that’s sure to tempt even the pickiest eaters.
It’s crafted without by-products, artificial colors, corn, soy or wheat—just wholesome ingredients your cat needs.
Fortified with sunflower oil and Omega-3 fatty acids, it helps promote healthy skin and a shiny coat.
Whether you have a kitten, adult, or senior cat, this grain-free recipe delivers balanced nutrition in every bite.
Why we love it
- Affordable
- Picky eater approved
- Boosts hydration
- Made from real chicken
- Zero by-products or coloring
- With visible shreds of meat
Why we had second thoughts
- The lid of the can sometimes is hard to open
5. Weight Control Chicken Recipe
First 5 ingredients:
Chicken, Chicken Broth, Chicken Liver, Turkey Broth, Fish
Protein: 9.0% min
Fat: 4.0% min
Fiber: 3.0% max
Moisture: 78.0% max
Food Type: Wet, Pate
Best for: Adult
Special Diet: Grain-free
This wet food is specially-formulated for kitties who need a bit of help in keeping a healthy weight.
The first ingredient is chicken. This calorie reduced recipe has multiple fiber sources to help keep cats feel fuller for much longer.
It has L-carnitine to help metabolize fat. This product contains no grain, corn or wheat.
Why we love it
- Aids in satiety
- With multiple fiber sources
- Reduced calorie meal
- Features real broth
- Rich and meaty
- Helps with weight management
Why we had second thoughts
- Has Carrageenan
6. Grain Free Salmon Recipe Paté Senior
First 5 ingredients:
Salmon, Salmon Broth, Chicken, Chicken Liver, Chicken Broth
Protein: 9.0% min
Fat: 5.0% min
Fiber: 2.0% max
Moisture: 78.0% max
Food Type: Wet, Pate
Best for: Senior
Special Diet: Grain-free
Lastly, what we have here is a thoughtfully designed meal to meet the unique nutritional needs of senior cats.
With real salmon as the #1 ingredient, this soft and savory paté provides high-quality protein to help maintain lean muscle in aging felines.
Its smooth texture makes it easy to eat, requiring minimal chewing effort—perfect for cats with dental sensitivities.
This recipe delivers balanced nutrition enriched with essential vitamins, minerals and antioxidants to support overall health, along with Omega-3 fatty acids to promote a soft, healthy coat.
Grain-free and full of flavor, it’s a nourishing meal your senior cat will love.
Why we love it
- Budget friendly
- Creamy pate texture
- Features real salmon
- Rich in Omega fatty acids
- No artificial colors added
- Great for picky senior cats
Why we had second thoughts
- Slightly too wet
Cat Treats
Kitties deserve rewards too! Wholehearted offers various kinds of treats for our feline friends. They have both wet and dry variants in different flavors and textures.
There are crunchy, soft center treats, squeezable purees, shreds, filet treats, and even dental treats. Your picky cat is sure to find one that he or she will enjoy.
Chicken Liver Freeze-Dried Treats
First 5 ingredients:
Chicken liver
Protein: 60.0% min
Fat: 10.0% min
Fiber: 1.0% max
Moisture: 7.5% max
Food Type: Treats
Best for: All Lifestages, Adult
Made with just one simple ingredient—100% chicken livers—these treats deliver protein-packed goodness in every bite.
Each piece is flash frozen and dehydrated using a gentle, heat-free technique that helps preserve the bioactive nutrients often lost in traditional processing methods.
The result is a wholesome, nutrient-rich treat that supports your cat’s overall health and vitality.
Best of all, these treats are completely free from preservatives, making them a clean and natural choice for cats who deserve only the best.
Why we love it
- 1 ingredient
- Long shelf life
- Locally made (US)
- Ideal bite-size
- Zero fillers or additives
- Made from antibiotic-free chicken
Why we had second thoughts
- Too hard
Takeaway
Petco has been in the pet product and service industry for 50 years, and is one of the most trusted names. When they launched Wholehearted, it was definitely met with high expectations from pet owners.
Did it live up to expectations? Quality-wise, we think they did. Both wet and dry cat foods have real animal protein as the first ingredient. They are all grain free and do not have corn and wheat fillers in the ingredient list. Even the carbohydrates, fiber, and antioxidant sources are of good quality vegetables and fruits.
However, some cat owners feel that ingredients such as oranges, coconuts, berries, and other fruits do not need to be in a cat’s diet. They prefer that the ingredient list be simpler with more protein that carnivorous felines need.
As far the results are concerned, we feel that Wholehearted has delivered excellently. Many cats have personally experienced the health benefits from Wholehearted foods. Their Easy Digestion dry food has received numerous rave reviews saying that their tummy issues have been resolved or improved. Their Weight Control wet food on the other hand has helped cats lose excess weight.
Overall, Wholehearted is a highly recommended brand to try. It is a great grain-free option for those who are looking for more affordable pet food. While their standard cat food products are not all protein, the plant-based ingredients are sources of fiber, antioxidants, and vitamins. These are nutrients that felines can also benefit from.
As pet parents, we are the ones who know our cats better than anyone. We must always be diligent in checking products’ ingredient lists. We hope that this review has helped you in the search for the best cat foods for your fur baby.