Is Fancy Feast good for cats?
It's a reasonable question that people ask, since your kitty's nutrition truly sets the foundation to her healthy happy life! And these days, we find that many pet parents wonder if this well-known product is worth purchasing to feed their precious felines.
In this cat Fancy Feast cat foods review, we're going in-depth to answer your questions about this popular kitty food brand.
We'll discuss some key topics—including its ingredients, manufacturing, price, taste, and whether there's ever been a Fancy Feast recall—all of which should ultimately help you decide if this brand is the right choice to feed your fluffball.
Fancy Feast Cat Food Reviews
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Purina Fancy Feast Creamy Delights
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Purina Fancy Feast Classic Paté
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Purina Fancy Feast Gravy Lovers
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Purina Fancy Feast Chunky
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Fancy Feast Classic Broth
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Fancy Feast Creamy Broth
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Fancy Feast Senior Broth
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Fancy Feast Gourmet Dry Cat Food
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Purina Fancy Feast Gourmet Naturals
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If you're wondering why some people ask, “Is Fancy Feast bad for cats?,” it may help to get a better idea of what kind of ingredients are included in the well-known cat food line and if feeding this brand is the right choice for your cat.
These Fancy Feast reviews are here to help you be more informed about the brand's most popular products and whether they're right for your kitty. We've “pawed” through all available information about these dry and wet cat foods and summarized their overall quality based on Fancy Feast ingredients, taste, and price.
- Fancy Feast Paté, Creamy Delights Chicken Feast With a Touch of Real Milk
- Fancy Feast Classic Paté Tender Liver & Chicken Feast
- Fancy Feast Gravy Lovers Salmon & Sole Feast
- Fancy Feast Chunky Chicken
- Fancy Feast Classic Broths with Tuna, Shrimp & Whitefish
- Fancy Feast Creamy Broths with Wild Salmon & Whitefish
- Fancy Feast Senior Classic Broths with Skipjack Tuna & Vegetables
- Fancy Feast Gourmet Savory Chicken & Turkey
- Fancy Feast Gourmet Naturals White Meat Chicken
Purina Fancy Feast Wet Cat Foods
Purina’s Fancy Feast line of wet canned food is one of its most popular draws. These come in different sub-labels, such as Creamy Delights, Classic Pate, and Chunky, which all offer a complete and balanced meal for any kitty.
Purina Fancy Feast Creamy Delights
The Creamy Delights line keeps each paté smooth and rich with a dose of milk for a creamy sauce that cats won’t have trouble lapping up.
This canned wet food for adult kitties—considered by many sources to be the number one selling wet cat food brand in the United States—has real chicken and liver as its first ingredient.
It has a creamy consistency with added milk which cats really like, although keep in mind this may make it a bad choice for your kitty with a dairy sensitivity.
The most basic canned food you can find from the Fancy Feast brand, it features 78% moisture and minimum 9% crude protein, which supports proper feline hydration and development.
Pros
- Real meat as its first ingredient
- Comes in variety of textures to pique interest of feline eaters
- Many reviewers note even their pickiest eaters like it
- Inexpensive
Cons
- Contains meat by-products
- Has dairy, which some cats can't tolerate well
- Also contains artificial flavors
Also available in Salmon and Tuna flavors.
Purina Fancy Feast Classic Paté
The Classic Paté label offers finely ground ingredients made smooth and creamy in delish flavors your felines love.
This classic paté offers up a rich liver and chicken feast made up of real meat. It comes with plenty of vitamins (Vitamins B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, K, Biotin, and more) to keep your cats healthy.
Pros
- A high-protein nutrition diet
- Is a 100% balanced and complete meal for adult kitties
- Enhanced with protein, omegas, and lots of other vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants
- Supports urinary health
- Hydrates with every bite with moisture from real broth
- Grain-free
Cons
- The new mix now contains fish as an ingredient, which may be troublesome for felines who are allergic
- Contains meat by-products
Also available in Tender Beef, Salmon & Shrimp, Ocean Whitefish & Tuna, Turkey & Giblets, Cod, Sole, & Shrimp, Seafood, and Chicken flavors.
Purina Fancy Feast Gravy Lovers
It's all about gravy with this wet food option from Fancy Feast. The soupier consistency provides more moisture (as much as 82% max in the guaranteed analysis), which makes it a great option for some kitties who tend not to drink much water. It packs a decent amount of important nutrients that support feline wellness.
Perhaps the main strike against this and other Fancy Feast products is that it contains plenty of undesirable ingredients. Things like wheat, corn, soy, and meat by-products may trigger food sensitivities in kitties.
This whisker-licking combination of salmon and sole offers your feline nearly everything he needs for a healthy coat and build. The real broth mixture keeps him hydrated to protect against urinary tract diseases.
Pros
- Contains many vitamins and minerals, such as thiamine, Vit E, zinc, niacin, ferrous sulfate, D-3, and much more
- High moisture content
- Contains a high amount of protein (9%)
Cons
- Many undesirable ingredients, including wheat gluten, corn starch, artificial and natural flavors, soy flour, and meat by-products
- Reduced calorie content necessitates larger servings, diminishing cost-effectiveness, despite its potential benefit for aiding overweight cats in achieving a healthy weight.
Also available in Grilled Chicken, Roasted Turkey, Seared Salmon, Grilled Chicken (Chicken Hearts & Liver), Grilled Chicken (Chicken & Beef), Roasted Beef, and Sauteed Seafood (Whitefish & Tuna) flavors.
Purina Fancy Feast Chunky
This line is for cats who love nothing more than to chew big meaty chunks of morsels surrounded by a smooth, rich paté.
This is a complete food that provides nose-to-tail well-being with every scrumptious bite of chicken chunks and nutritious paté loaded with all the vitamins and minerals your feline needs.
Pros
- Real chicken and chicken broth provide a chunkylicious taste with every bite
- Packed full of antioxidants, proteins, minerals, and omegas
- Comes in an easy-open tab for ready eating
- Provides a 100% balanced meal
- Contains 11% protein and 78% moisture
Cons
- Contains meat by-products
- Has wheat gluten and artificial flavors
Also available in Turkey and Chopped Grill flavors.
Is Fancy Feast Wet Canned Food Good for Cats?
Perhaps the main strike against these Fancy Feast products is that they only contain plenty of undesirable ingredients. Things like wheat, corn, soy, and meat by-products may trigger food sensitivities in kitties. But all of them also offer complete nutrition in the form of added vitamins and minerals.
Most of the Classic Paté flavors contain fish even when the label says Chicken & Liver flavor, but it contains real meat and absolutely no grains at all. The Gravy Lovers has wheat gluten added in, but it is also low in calories, which is good for kitties on a diet.
If your cat doesn’t do well with all of these undesirable ingredients, then it’s best to stay away from these canned wet foods from Fancy Feast. But if your cat is only allergic to only one of those ingredients here, just check the labels carefully and your feline should do well with his Fancy Feast diet.
Purina Fancy Feast Broths Supplemental Pouches
This Fancy Feast selection from Purina comes in easy-to-open pouches and in silky or creamy broth varieties. Some are made for adult cats, while some are specifically for seniors 7 years and above. If you’re concerned about giving your cats sumptuous supplemental meals without fillers or by-products, then Classic Broths is the one for your felines.
Fancy Feast Classic Broths
The Classic line of Fancy Feast’s Broths Collection features a silken broth that allows pure meaty goodness to come to the fore of every bite and lick.
This particular variety offers cats and kittens a taste of the sea in this yummy blend of three flavorful seafood.
Pros
- Real fish broth, tuna, shrimp, and whitefish as the first few ingredients
- Has a variety of seafood flavors for discerning feline palates
- Perfectly complements any well-balanced meal
- Packed with ample protein and vitamins
- Contains less than 1% carbohydrates
Cons
- The price can be expensive for a small pouch of meal supplement
Also available in Wild Salmon and Vegetables, Tuna, Anchovies & Whitefish, and Tuna & Vegetables flavors.
Fancy Feast Creamy Broths
The Creamy Broths line brings the rich creamy taste of milk to tender pieces of real fish, chicken, or veggies.
This particular wild salmon and whitefish flavor gives your hungry felines a rich source of protein along with a luxe taste to any meal you decide to put it on as a topper.
Pros
- Real fish broth, salmon, and whitefish are the first few ingredients
- Loaded with morsels of real salmon and whitefish
- Great as food toppers for meals
- Packed with minerals, vitamins, and a moisture content of 92%
- Contains very low sodium content (0.22%)
Cons
- Contains dairy and sugar, which don’t agree with some cats
Also available in Tuna, Chicken & Whitefish and Chicken & Vegetables flavors.
Fancy Feast Senior Broths
These are shredded food toppers carefully prepared to give beloved mature kitties aged 7 and up a yummy and easy eating experience.
The Skipjack Tuna and Vegetables flavor gives cats access to nutritious veggies with the tuna providing a decadent taste.
Pros
- Tiny morsels make it easy for older cats to chew
- Enriched with Taurine and Vitamin E to meet the needs of mature cats
- Perfect as supplements to the diet of aging kitties
- Made with tuna, carrots, and spinach
- Very low fat content (0.05%) but high moisture (92%) and ample protein (7%)
Cons
- The price can be expensive since these are only supplemental food toppers and not meant to be entire meals
Is Fancy Feast Broths Good For Cats?
Yes and no. If price isn’t an object, these delish food toppers from Fancy Feast are worth the purchase. You can be sure there are no fillers included and each of the tender morsels are made of pure meat or fish. These also come packed with the necessary nutrients to complement your cat’s balanced diet. Overall, these are great products on our list.
However, bear in mind that some of Fancy Feast’s Broths can contain sugar, salt, or artificial coloring. If your cat has a health problem that may be triggered by any of these (for example a diabetic cat and the sugar ingredient), it is advised to check the label to be completely sure it’s safe.
Fancy Feast Adult Dry Cat Food
Fancy Feast seems to be better known for making wet canned foods. However, they do offer dry food varieties, too. This adult dry food comes in two labels: Gourmet and Gourmet Naturals.
Both of these have a variety of flavor options, including filet mignon with shrimp and seafood; ocean fish, salmon and garden greens; and chicken and turkey. They’re also relatively inexpensive, which may be appealing to some cat parents with a tight pet food budget.
Fancy Feast Gourmet
These are fun-shaped crunchy kibbles that offer enough vitamins, minerals, and protein to fuel up your cat’s active lifestyle.
This gourmet recipe features the tasty combination turkey and chicken and serves as a 100% complete and balanced meal for your companion. This crunchy kitty kibble fuels your cat with the protein he needs for his active lifestyle. Plus, it's enhanced with vitamins and minerals for nose-to-tail well-being in every bite.
Pros
- Many flavor options to choose form
- Cats tend to like the crunchy texture and taste
- Chock full of all vitamins and minerals that cats need to be healthy
- Offers a complete and balanced diet
- Inexpensive
Cons
- Overall, made with very low quality ingredients
- The first several ingredients are either grains or by-products
Precaution:
- Must be stored in a cool, dry place
Also available in Ocean Fish & Salmon & Accents of Garden Greens and Filet Mignon with Real Seafood & Shrimp flavors.
Fancy Feast Gourmet Naturals
The Gourmet Naturals line is a healthier and more natural version of the Gourmet label. These foods don’t contain any artificial flavorings or preservatives.
Every bite of this chicken meat contains the all-natural goodness that you can only get from real chicken and real chicken flavor.
Pros
- First ingredient is chicken
- No artificial flavorings or preservatives
- Is chock full of essential vitamins and minerals
- Offers a complete and balanced diet for felines
Cons
- Contains by-products and grains
Also available in Wild Caught Oceanfish flavor.
Is Fancy Feast Dry Food Good for Cats?
In our opinion, Fancy Feast dry foods are not good for cats because it contains a lot of bad ingredients, including meat by-products, fillers, corn, gluten, soybean meal, and artificial flavors.
Sure, eating fancy feast is relatively affordable. But it's important to remember that if a kitty doesn't get the right nutrients she needs or is exposed to foods that could trigger allergies, food sensitivities, and other health problems, then as a pet parent you may end up spending more in vet bills.
The Gourmet Natural variety is much better than the non-natural variant, but it still contains some grain ingredients. However, it’s not all bad for the brand’s dry foods. Each of these contains enough vitamins and minerals to provide your cat’s daily needs for an active and healthy lifestyle. They’re also quite cheap, so a little goes a long way.
Where is Fancy Feast Made?
Fancy Feast grew in popularity in the 1980s and 1990s after it was marketed as a “luxury” gourmet foods for kitties.
The majority of Fancy Feast products are made right here in America. Certain product lines, including Fancy Feast Flaked Fish & Shrimp, Fancy Feast Broths, and Fancy Feast Purely, are made in Thailand, but these are still manufactured in facilities owned by the company.
One other good piece of news:
As far as we've been able to determine, Fancy Feast has never been recalled! That said, Fancy Feast is owned by Purina, which has had multiple recall incidents in the past.
What Kinds of Cat Food Does Fancy Feast Offer?
The type of cat foods offered by Fancy Feast include varieties of wet food, dry cat food, and food toppers/complements. The total recipe count tops 100 and includes a variety of textures as well as tastes, including morsels in broths, and patés.
Here's a bit more information about the three Fancy Feast main categories:
Wet Cat Food:
- The Gourmet line: this is where it all began—the original Fancy Feast line! It includes morsels inside, regular and chunky paté, milk-infused meals, and more.
- Gourmet Naturals: similar in texture and flavor to the original line, Gourmet Naturals are free of artificial ingredients, colorings, and flavors.
- Purely Fancy Feast Natural: these canned food meals are free of animal by-products and fillers and feature real meat like chicken, beef, and seafood.
Dry Cat Food
- Gourmet Dry Cat Food: the original line of Fancy Feast dry food.
- Gourmet Naturals Dry Cat Food: the other type of dry food made by Fancy Feast, and like the Naturals wet food it is free of artificial colors, ingredients, and preservatives.
Food Toppers and Complements
- Purely Fancy Feast Filets: tasty add-ons made with real chicken or seafood.
- Gourmet Broths and Fancy Feast Appetizers: both of these Fancy Feast varieties feature broth chicken and seafood morsels contained in broth.
Other Cat Food Brands to Consider
Fancy Feast offers lots of tasty and healthy options for your kitties, but if you're not going to go with Fancy Feast, then what should you choose?
At this point, we welcome you to check out our latest comprehensive review of other good cat foods for your friend if you're interested. Other readers have found it super helpful for helping them learn about their options and figure out what's best for their rambunctious kitties.
FAQs
How Many Cans of Fancy Feast Do You Feed a Cat Per Day?
In general, you should feed an adult cat around 2 to 4 three-ounce cans of Fancy Feast canned cat food per day. Most pet parents end up giving their animals one can in the morning followed by one at night. Your animal may need more or less can food depending on her health, age, and activity level.
You also may need to feed your kitty more or less canned food depending on how much other type of food she's eating. It's usually best to consult with your veterinarian for more individualized guidance.
Is Fancy Feast Good for Cats or Kittens?
It can be. The brand has healthy options that can be good for wee kittens, such as the Classic Paté line, which has no grains and is high in moisture. The Fancy Feast Broths are also great as additional sources of much-needed nutrients for growing cats because these toppers are made from real meat or fish and have high moisture content to prevent urinary tract problems.
But on the other hand, some Fancy Feast products tend to be made with lots of artificial ingredients and flavors, fillers, or preservatives. Exposing developing kittens to this may increase the risk of food allergies and sensitivities cropping up later on in their life.
If you are looking for totally healthy kitten food, stick to Fancy Feast’s healthier lines. Or, you can look at other cat food products available for kittens that are better overall. While these other products may be more expensive, it's an added price that many pet parents are happy to make, as people see it as an investment in their animal's health and longevity.
Are Fancy Feast Broths Healthy for Cats?
If you are looking for cat food that has real meat coupled with tons of essential nutrients, Fancy Feast Broths can provide that, although they aren't the best choice of broth for cats according to many animal experts.
This is mostly because Fancy Feast broths contain ingredients that may trigger food allergies and other health problems in felines. Problematic ingredients include things like wheat starch, vegetable oil, sugar, salt, carrageenan, and artificial coloring.
These Broths aren’t meant to be taken as entire meals, only as food toppers. As you may know, cats are obligate carnivores and must eat plenty of protein in order to stay healthy. Fancy Feast broths don't contain enough protein on their own to support your kitty's health.
If you choose to feed your kitty Fancy Feast broths, make sure she's getting plenty of other protein and micronutrients through eating complete and balanced meals that the other cat food lines from Fancy Feast can provide.
Is Fancy Feast Good for Diabetic Cats?
This depends on the line. Some Fancy Feast cat food lines do not contain any trace of sugar and will be perfectly okay for your diabetic cat to eat, although some like the Creamy Broths do.
Many veterinarians and other animal experts often recommend Fancy Feast because it's highly palatable and low in carbohydrates, which is important for animals with diabetes. It's also moisture-rich and low in fat, which helps support a healthy bodyweight.
Related article: Top 5 Best Diabetic Cat Foods
Does Fancy Feast Have Taurine?
Some Fancy Feast products contain Taurine, which is an important amino acid (building block of protein) that your kitty needs for healthy vision, heart function, digestion, immune function, and more.
Conclusion
Based on this Fancy Feast review, our general opinion echoes many veterinarians and other animal experts.
That is: Fancy Feast dry food and wet food products are usually pretty tasty according to feline taste testers. They also tend to contain healthy vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients, and compared to many other brands out there are very affordable.
The problem is, Fancy Feast foods are made with some bad quality ingredients and fillers—which partially explains why they're more affordable than other higher quality products and brands!
So, if you're looking for the highest quality cat food product to feed your felines, Fancy Feast may not be the ideal option for you. But many cats seem to do well with it, even if just as an occasional treat or add-on to their other regular food.
Do you have a fellow cat parent who's been on the fence about Fancy Feast? Be sure to share this article with them, and check out the rest of our website for all things feline!