Ever heard of Blue Buffalo?
No, it's not some unusually colored animal. It's actually highly respected pet food brand. Maybe you've heard of them…
…and maybe you've heard some controversy about them, too.
Recall! Don't buy it! Whatever people have said about this food in the past, we have to say there is at least some justification for their warning (which we'll discuss shortly).
But (and here's the big but), many of you may only be aware of the bad news. Unfair reporting and word-of-mouth news has likely left all the good things about Blue Buffalo off the airwaves.
In this article, we're going to go over the recent news about Blue Buffalo cat food and address some legitimate concerns that many pet parents have about it.
We're also going to ease your mind a bit by showing how these days, Blue Buffalo is consistently creating high quality food made with high quality ingredients.
Read on for our thorough Blue Buffalo Cat Food Reviews.
Comparison Table for Blue Buffalo Cat Food
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Blue Buffalo Freedom Indoor Adult
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Check Price on ChewyCheck Price on Amazon | |
Blue Buffalo Healthy Gourmet Pate
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Blue Buffalo Basics Limited Ingredient Grain-Free
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Check Price on ChewyCheck Price on Amazon | |
BLUE Indoor Health
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Blue Buffalo Freedom Indoor Adult
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Blue Buffalo Wilderness Rocky Mountain Recipe
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Blue Buffalo Wilderness Chicken Recipe
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Blue Buffalo Cat Food Reviews
The following foods are overall considered tasty and nutritious by our human (and kitty) reviewers and have gotten two paws up.
- Blue Buffalo Freedom Indoor Adult
- Blue Buffalo Healthy Gourmet Pate
- Blue Buffalo Basics Limited Ingredient Grain-Free
- Blue Buffalo Indoor Health
- Blue Buffalo Freedom Indoor Adult
- Blue Buffalo Wilderness Rocky Mountain Recipe
- Blue Buffalo Wilderness Chicken Recipe
Wet Food
1. Blue Buffalo Freedom Indoor
The first item on our list is Blue Buffalo Freedom Indoor Wet Cat Food. Like a few others in this category, this product has been formulated for indoor feline friends.
Lots of pet parents decide to keep their cats indoors only, by the way, because it makes them safer from environmental dangers including cars, other pets, bugs, and wildlife.
However, some indoor cats have a tendency to develop urinary tract infections, obesity, excessive hairballs, and other problems. The Blue Buffalo team has cleverly crafted this canned food to address and prevent these potential issues with things like cranberries (great for the urinary system) and high fiber plus lower calories (to assist with weight maintenance), and a low calorie content.
One problem or thing to be aware of about this food is that compared to some other canned foods (including other ones on this list), this food has a relatively high amount of carbs, a moderate amount of fat, and only an average amount of protein.
While carbs aren't bad per se, too many of them can lead to weight gain. Meanwhile, almost all kitties need a lot of protein in their diet in order to support optimal growth and development.
So, if you try this wet food, you'll just have to be aware of how your animal responds to it and whether she can maintain an active lifestyle while eating it.
Pros
- Cats really seem to like the flavor and texture
- High moisture food
- Designed specifically to meet the needs of indoor kitties
Cons
- Excessive carbohydrate content and relatively lower in protein, which could contribute to weight issues or lower satiety
2. Blue Buffalo Healthy Gourmet Indoor Chicken
The Blue Buffalo Healthy Gourmet Indoor Chicken Wet Cat Food is based on real chicken meat (with real textured meat chunks inside). The high level of protein allows for healthier hearts, stronger muscles, and leaner bodies for your feline friends.
This product can be a great part of a balanced diet four your kitty whether she's perfectly well or currently dealing with certain issues such as obesity. The antioxidants from the fruits and veggies supports her immune system and optimizes her overall well-being.
Made with quality and free of common allergens like corn, soy, wheat, and artificial flavors and colorings, even more sensitive kitties tend to tolerate this well.
It's also easy to digest with a smooth texture and great for adding on top of dry food. It comes in a variety pack so your cat can enjoy salmon and tuna, as well (provided she can stomach different wet food flavors well, as some cats can't).
Pros
- High protein (meaning healthy kitty, for most animals anyway)
- It's great for helping your kitty maintain her ideal body weight
- It has a smooth and highly palatable texture and savory taste
Cons
- Some cats really just don't seem to like it
- Getting variety packs can spell trouble for sensitive tummies and picky eaters
3. Blue Basics Limited Ingredient Diet
Does your cat get frequent allergens or skin issues? Is she dealing with a chronic condition? Does she have a few pounds to lose? If so, your vet may have advised you to get her on a limited ingredient diet.
Blue Basics Limited Ingredient Diet Wet Cat Food might be an ideal fit for her. As its name implies, this food has a limited number of ingredients including a single protein source (real duck meat) and some wholesome veggies like pumpkin and peas.
Fewer ingredients minimizes your animal's exposure to allergens, which include the biggies like soy, dairy, corn, wheat, animal meals and by-products, and eggs.
But don't mistake fewer ingredients for fewer nutrients. This wet food is also full of healthy omega 3 fatty acids (great for her coat and skin!) as well as antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals.
Does your cat not favor duck? No worries, she might prefer fish and potato or turkey and potato instead. Who knew kitties had so much choice?
Pros
- Features limited ingredients which is perfect for cats with sensitivities
- Single-source protein (duck)
- Supports healthier digestion with pea fiber and pumpkin, allowing your cat to get even more of the nutrients from the food
- Doesn't contain additives, fillers, and artificial ingredients
Cons
- Some pet parents have found their cats don't like the taste and texture
- A bit low on moisture content, which can be especially problematic for kitties who don't drink a lot of water
Dry Food
Are they a pricier pet food brand option? Absolutely. But once you learn about how this dry food is made and what goes into it (and just as importantly, what doesn't go into it), then hopefully you'll see why a lot of pet parents have decided that it really is worth the extra money and helps their kitties stay trim, healthy, and energized.
1. Blue Buffalo Tastefuls Chicken Indoor
For indoor kitties, BLUE Indoor Health is one of the brand's top selling products. This product is made with real deboned chicken that's protein rich—purrrfect for your carnivorous, active, hungry feline.
Protein is especially important for young kitties who need a lot of this macronutrient to develop properly and maintain a lean body weight while also having plenty of energy to play.
This dry food also includes vegetables and fruits that offer a full range of important vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. It packs healthy whole grains like brown rice and barley too. Plus, it features “LifeSource Bits” which are processed at lower temperatures to preserve the morsels' nutrients and provide a real boost to your pet's overall well-being.
This type of dry food has been especially designed to meet the needs of cats who are indoors and may be a little less active.
Pros
- Contains a high amount of quality protein from real deboned chicken meat
- Expertly designed with the indoor cat in mind
Cons
- Some cats don't like the taste
- Might not have a high enough moisture content to meet the needs or preferences of some felines
2. BLUE Freedom Grain Free Indoor Adult
Compared to cats who spend time outdoors, indoors-only cats often need a different balance of nutrients and carbohydrates to provide the right amount of energy for playtime without going overboard on calories (and therefore lead to weight gain).
With this in mind, the expert team created BLUE Freedom Grain-Free formula. This dry food, which can easily be transitioned into your pet's diet, will help your indoor cat look and feel better.
Interestingly, many pet owners find that this product help their pets lose weight and maintain their weight loss over time, because it's so filling and protein-rich without being super calorically dense.
At the same time, this dry food can also help underweight animals gain pounds thanks to the nutrient profile (of course, talking to your vet will give you the best idea of how much to give your animal, depending on her needs).
True to its brand reputation, this product from is free of artificial fillers and junk, as well as corn, soy, wheat, and by-products.
Pros
- Excellent nutritional support designed especially for indoor kitties
- Great for obese cats who need to safely and sustainably lose pounds
- Rich in vitamins and minerals
- Free from poultry by-products
Cons
- Not great for picky eaters, and not all cats enjoy the taste
- Not ideal for cats that spend time outdoors
3. Blue Wilderness Rocky Mountain Recipe
The Rocky Mountains are a gorgeous and holistic inspiration for this food from Blue Buffalo. The Blue Wilderness Rocky Mountain Recipe is specifically designed for adult cats. It features tons of protein-rich ingredients that you can actually read and find even in your own fridge, including beef, lamb, bison, and venison.
Does your cat need a lot of protein in her diet? This one could be perfect for her—but it's not designed for kittens, so depending on how old your little one is you may need to choose something else, at least until she gets older.
The Blue Wilderness Rocky Mountain blend also contains tons of fruits and veggies like sweet potatoes for a big dose of antioxidants, which your pet needs daily to keep her immune system strong.
It's a bit on the pricey side, but think of it this way: by investing a little more money in your cat's high quality food, you'll probably end up saving money because you won't have to go to the vet as much or deal with chronic issues.
Pros
- Uses real animal protein that's tasty and nutritious for cats (who are natural meat eaters)
- It provides an essential dose of daily antioxidants
- Doesn't contain any by-products or artificial ingredients and fillers (many of which can lead to digestive issues for cats)
Cons
- It is not for kittens
- It's not budget-friendly for some users (especially if they end up having to buy different food brands for their different cats)
4. BLUE Wilderness Nature’s Evolutionary Diet
Blueberries, cranberries, sweet potatoes, and carrots in your kitty food? Don't mind if we do! BLUE Wilderness Nature’s Evolutionary Diet contains these antioxidant-rich real ingredients that support immune system and overall kitty wellness.
Like the first food in our review, the number one ingredient is real deboned chicken—so your little four-legged cutie will have all the protein she needs from this chicken recipe.
What you don't see are artificial preservatives, corn, wheat, and soy. Hey, a lot of humans don't tolerate these foods well, either…maybe you should explore cutting those out of your diet for a while, too!
Pros
- Free of grains and gluten
- Contains the company special “LifeSource Bits” for added minerals, antioxidants, and vitamins that are highly bioavailable and easily digestible
- Offers complex carbohydrates (better digestion)
- Rich in antioxidants
- Full of protein that's great for strong muscles
Cons
- Not good for cats with allergies to some fruits
The Skinny on the Blue Buffalo Cat Food Recall
Here's the deal:
The Blue Buffalo company was in the news recently…and not exactly for a good reason. Unfortunately, the company had to recall some of their dog food lines formulated with beef meat. This recent recall happened in 2017.
In 2015, the company also had to recall a single series of cat foods and treats, and once before that in 2007. Both of these recalls happened because testing revealed that the cat products contained high levels of a potentially toxic substance known as melamine (found in a lot of common kitchenware products). These foods also tested positive for low amounts of propylene glycol, which may also be toxic.
Depending on your personality and risk-tolerance, you may well decide that any history of product recall means that you will swear off that company and its products forever. We're not here to tell you that's wrong, by the way, either. You're a consumer who has the right to make personal decisions about where and how you spend your money…
…and what you feed your adorable little feline friend! If you're just not interested in Blue Buffalo, you're absolutely welcome to go check out some of our other cat food brand reviews for more in-depth and comprehensive info.
Just be aware that if you go by that zero-tolerance policy on recalls, you may have a hard time finding what you need. In reality, product recalls happen quite a lot and from across a wide range of industries. This isn't an attempt to justify or excuse them, especially in cases of recalls where the faulty product could have harmful or even potentially deadly effects.
As far as the pet food manufacturing business goes, it's really incredible when you learn how many steps are involved from start to finish. With so many moving parts, you'd almost wonder how more problems arise like the ones this company experienced in the past few years.
The good news is that pet food companies, including this one, have stringent quality control policies in place.
And frankly, we applaud them for quickly and transparently acknowledging their errors and doing their best to address it as soon as possible.
And in lieu of letting one bad apple spoil the bunch, we still have to say that we stand by the Blue Buffalo brand. In our mind, it's not about whether a company never make mistakes, but rather what is their track record overall and what do they do when a rare mistake is made?
Regarding these questions, Blue passes with flying colors.
That said, we'd love to share with you some of our top reviews of Blue kitty grub. But before we do, we'd be happy to talk a little bit about the company so you can learn more about it and have a better understanding of the brand you may end up purchasing from (or perhaps you already do…).
Why Do People Like Blue Cat Food?
No, it's not literally blue. But kitty food from this brand actually has a pretty great reputation, reviews and ratings. Many pet owners (of cats and dogs alike) rave about it in their reviews.
Blue Buffalo is specifically known in the industry for offering high protein dry cat food made with great quality and eaten by pretty happy kitties.
The family-owned company out of Wilson, Connecticut started back in 2002. Since then, it's experienced massive growth, but states that they have stayed true to their American roots by keeping all of their manufacturing within the states.
Blue Buffalo is particularly appealing to health-conscious cat parents because their food products are:
- Made with U.S.-sourced ingredients that are high quality and natural
- Often created with ingredients from small local farmers
- Formulated with the expert input of nutritionists and veterinarians
- Loaded with a diverse and rich blend of proteins, vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients that cats need to grow and stay healthy
- Made with real meat, rather than meat by-products (which is common in lower quality/cheaper brands)
- Relatively affordable for a higher quality brand
- 100% grain-free (which is a major allergen for many cats) as well as free of artificial colors, fillers, and preservatives
Blue Buffalo has also made formulas including dry and wet canned food, that are specially designed for adults, kittens, and seniors (Blue, Blue Freedom, Blue Wilderness, Blue Basics, etc.).
So no matter what type of kitty you have roaming around your home, it's very possible that there is a Blue product perfect for her tummy…and great for her coat, bones, joints, heart, weight, and other elements of her overall well-being.
So, are you little less turned off by Blue Buffalo now with this review? Or did this information just confirm why you already are loyal to the brand? Either way, it's time we introduce a few of our top Blue food products for cats of all ages. We've compiled this food review based on price, ingredients, taste (gauged by kitty interest and enjoyment), and customer feedback.
Other Food Options
You were obviously here to read the reviews about the Blue Buffalo kitty chow and we hope that this article has helped you get an overall grasp on their history and current food quality.
However, if you are in a search for more brand reviews you can read here our picks for the best cat food for your kitty.
Conclusion
So, what's the final word on Blue kitty food? Overall, these are great products made by a great and reputable brand. Don't be scared to try Blue for your cat.
The company has a long history of loyal customers with great reviews, high quality products, and responsibility and transparency. Many pet parents are happy to support them—and even happier with how their cats benefit from the products. The ratings speak for themselves.
You should be more concerned about other brands that have had recalls and low ratings. You can read more about those brands in this article.
Do you have fellow cat parents who have concerns about the food they're feeding their furball? Or friends that like to read reviews and ratings before they buy? Be sure to share this article with them—and for more information about other pet products and important cat-related news, visit the rest of our website.