Young Again Cat Food Review 2025: Affordable & Quality High Protein Diet

Young Again is a pet food company known for making animal protein-based grain-free food products. They launched their first products for birds, reptiles, and small animals in 1990 after years of research and development done by vets and nutritionists.

To help guide you in picking the best food for your cat, we created this 2025 Young Again cat food review.

Cat Food is one of the first to introduce 50% meat-based protein grain-free cat food. The products have no plant-based proteins, and contain less than 6% starch or carbs.

According to the brand, this make their products last longer than others by about 40% – 60% despite the smaller bags. Their pet foods are rich in nucleotides needed by the immune system.

All of their pet food products are manufactured in the company’s own plant in Stacy, Minnesota.

The in-house lab ensures quality and safety, and tests the products on their own pets. An independent lab tests the food to make sure it is free from salmonella.

Young Again’s ingredients are sourced from the United States, Canada, France, Switzerland, India, Finland, Japan, Germany, New Zealand and Scotland.

They specifically stated that no ingredients come from China, or originated in China but re-sold somewhere else. Their suppliers are all required to use natural tocopherols as preservatives.

Young Again’s cat products are all dry foods. They come in 6 variants for different cat life stages or dietary requirements.

They also have a flavor enhancer – designed for extra finicky felines, canines, and ferrets. Read the comprehensive review below to find the best food for your cat.

Young Again Cat Food Review

Reviewed Young Again Cat Foods

1. Young Again 50/22 LI'L BITES
2. Young Again Original 50/22 Cat food
3. Young Again Mature Health Formula 54/22
4. Young Again Zero Trucarnivore Cat Food 54/26
5. Young Again LID Zero Mature Cat Food 54/25
6. Young Again Zero Mature Trucarnivore Cat Food 54/24
7. Young Again Flavor Enhancer

1. Young Again 50/22 Li’l Bites

Young Again Li’l Bites Dry Kitten Food has 100% meat protein without plant proteins, grains, and gluten. At less than 6% starch, this protein-rich cat food for little kittens offers good value for about $0.42 per day. This product helps build lean muscles for a young little cat’s developing body. It also helps them maintain healthy weights. Aside from hydrolyzed pork and chicken meal, this cat food also has herring meal as an additional source of protein.

The kibbles in this dry pet food are small. They can be easily picked up by very small kittens. It is however, not the best food for flat-faced cats such as Persian cats. The kibbles may be too small for a flat-faced cat to pick up.

The first five ingredients of this cat food product are hydrolyzed pork, chicken meal, chicken fat, potato starch, and chicken liver flavor. 

Guaranteed Analysis

[thrive_progress_bar count=”5″ label0=”Crude Protein 50%” percentage0=”50″ color0=”orange” label1=”Crude Fat 22%” percentage1=”22″ color1=”orange” label2=”Crude Fiber 3%” percentage2=”3″ color2=”orange” label3=”Moisture 10%” percentage3=”10″ color3=”orange” label4=”Carbohydrates 6%” percentage4=”6″ color4=”orange”]

Pros

Softer cat fur. Young Again Li’l Bites cat food has no grains, gluten, or corn that could trigger food allergies or skin conditions in kittens. This product has fish oil in its ingredients. Fish oil is rich in omega fatty acids for healthier skin and coats, and stronger immune system.

Bite-sized kibbles. The small kibbles make it easier for even a very young cat to pick up the pieces in her mouth. It also makes it easy for them to chew and digest. While designed for very small kittens, this dry food product is not the ideal choice for a flat-faced cat such as Persians. Flat-faced kitties may find the kibbles too difficult to pick up in their mouths.

Cons

Guar gum. This dry food product contains guar gum. This is an ingredient that some experts claim may contribute to certain medical conditions in cats.

Conclusion

Young Again Li’l Bites is a good dry food for growing kittens. As it is high in protein, this dry food gives them all the support they need to help develop strong and lean muscles. The kibbles are perfectly bite-sized for tiny kitties.

The omega fatty acids from fish oil gives them healthy, soft fur, and boosts their immune system. While this cat food product does not contain any artificial colors, flavors or preservatives, it does contain guar gum which some believe is not good for cat health.

2. Young Again Original 50/22

Young Again’s Original 50/22 cat food recipe is designed for healthy adult cats and kittens. With less than 6% starch and carbs, this food is best for cats who need to maintain healthy weights. Hydrolyzed pork, chicken meal, and herring meal provide the high protein content of this cat food.

Free choice feeding is actually encouraged by the brand. According to them, this is the best way to feed their products to a healthy cat. This does not include food-obsessed cats, competition eaters, social eaters, and rescues who may have been found starving. Because it has nutrient-rich ingredients, Young Again states that your cat will not consume as much as she used to with other brands.

The first five ingredients of this cat food product are hydrolyzed pork, chicken meal, chicken fat, potato starch, and chicken liver flavor. 

Guaranteed Analysis

[thrive_progress_bar count=”5″ label0=”Crude Protein 50%” percentage0=”50″ color0=”orange” label1=”Crude Fat 22%” percentage1=”22″ color1=”orange” label2=”Crude Fiber 3%” percentage2=”3″ color2=”orange” label3=”Moisture 10%” percentage3=”10″ color3=”orange” label4=”Carbohydrates 6%” percentage4=”6″ color4=”orange”]

Pros

High quality protein source. Made with real pork and chicken meal, cat owners are assured that their kitties get high quality, protein-rich ingredients with every serving of this grain-free cat food. The crude protein content is 50%, and with very minimal starch and carbs, it is perfect for cats who need help with weight maintenance.

Fresher litter box. Made with highly-digestible protein and fat, and fiber from psyllium husks, this dry food improves the digestion of kitties. There are lesser stools so the litter box does not require frequent cleaning.

Cons

Guar gum. This is another cat product from the brand that contains guar gum. This is an ingredient that some experts claim may contribute to certain issues in a cat’s health.

Conclusion

Young Again Original 50/22 is the best cat food the brand has to offer to healthy cats. It is made of nutrient-dense and highly digestible ingredients. It has a significantly higher protein content compared to commercially available dry foods. Its low starch and carb formula makes it perfect for cats who need to maintain their weights.

3. Young Again Mature Health 54/22

Formulated to meet the nutritional needs of mature cats, Young Again Mature Health has reduced levels of minerals such as phosphorous, magnesium, sodium, and calcium.

It is also recommended for cats with kidney disease. The first in the list of ingredients is hydrolyzed pork. With less than 6% starch and carbs, it is also a good choice for mature kitties with weight issues.

The first five ingredients of Mature Health are hydrolyzed pork, chicken meal, chicken fat, potato starch, and chicken liver flavor. 

Guaranteed Analysis

[thrive_progress_bar count=”5″ label0=”Crude Protein 54%” percentage0=”54″ color0=”orange” label1=”Crude Fat 22%” percentage1=”22″ color1=”orange” label2=”Crude Fiber 2.76%” percentage2=”2.76″ color2=”orange” label3=”Moisture 10%” percentage3=”10″ color3=”orange” label4=”Carbohydrates 6%” percentage4=”6″ color4=”orange”]

Pros

Low phosphorous levels. Excessive amounts of phosphorous is especially dangerous to a cat with kidney disease. Mature Health contains only 0.60% of phosphorous. Even with free choice feeding, controlling the phosphorous levels is very easy.

High in protein. As this dry food product is about 54% protein, cats do not need to gorge on food to satisfy their hunger. As a result, the cat’s phosphorous intake is controlled and kept at ideal levels. Most cats who are fed Young Again free-choice as encouraged by the brand, do not overeat.

Cons

Lacks moisture. While marketed as a product that is formulated for cats with kidney disease, some cat owners believe that a wet food diet is still a better and healthier option than any premium dry cat food you can find. Hydration is essential in a cat’s overall health, and wet foods are a good way to get them to ingest more liquids.

Conclusion

Young Again Mature Health is a good food to try if you have an aging cat or one that is suffering from kidney disease. It is critical that phosphorous levels be under control for cats who have kidney disease. At only 0.60%, this is the ideal dry food for them.

Because it has less than 6% of starch and carbs, this food keeps cats’ hunger at bay for longer periods of time. They do not feel the need to gorge, so free-choice feeding is the way to go for Young Again products.

As much as it is a high-quality, high protein food with reduced levels of key minerals, some still swear by a canned food diet especially for cats with chronic renal disease.

4. Young Again ZERO Trucarnivore 54/26

Young Again Zero Trucarnivore dry food product is developed for pre-diabetic and diabetic kitties. This product has a very low carb and starch content at less than 1%. The high protein ingredients in this cat food are hydrolyzed pork, chicken meal, and herring meal.

The brand claims that many owners of newly-diagnosed have reported normal blood glucose levels and diabetic remission success within 2 weeks of eating ZERO cat foods. Young Again is quite confident that nutrition-based remission is possible.

The first five ingredients of ZERO Trucarnivore cat food are hydrolyzed pork, chicken meal, chicken fat, chicken liver flavor, and guar gum. 

Guaranteed Analysis

[thrive_progress_bar count=”5″ label0=”Crude Protein 54%” percentage0=”54″ color0=”orange” label1=”Crude Fat 26%” percentage1=”26″ color1=”orange” label2=”Crude Fiber 3%” percentage2=”3″ color2=”orange” label3=”Moisture 10%” percentage3=”10″ color3=”orange” label4=”Carbohydrates 1%” percentage4=”1″ color4=”orange”]

Pros

Minimal starch, carb levels. At almost zero carb and starch content, the only plant-based ingredient ZERO Trucarnivore has is tomato pomace. Tomato pomace is a non-digestible dietary fiber that is good for gut mobility, but has no significant effect on blood glucose levels

Good results. This dry food product has been proven to help pre-diabetic kitties achieve remission in just 2 weeks of eating ZERO. The cats respond well to the food, and have shown higher energy and more activity.

Cons

Softer stools. According to a handful of cat parents, their kitties had softer stools since they started feeding them this ZERO recipe.

Conclusion

If you have a diabetic adult cat or kitten, ZERO Trucarnivore is highly recommended for you. It has received positive feedback from numerous owners of diabetic and pre-diabetic cats. Their blood glucose levels are regulated, and many have even gone into remission.

One of the lowest carb levels among dry foods, ZERO Trucarnivore has been proven beneficial to diabetic kitties. However, a few cats have had softer stools from this product.

5. Young Again LID ZERO Mature 54/25

This cat food is Young Again’s limited ingredient formula for mature cats with allergies to proteins other than pork. This is especially good for sensitive diabetic or pre-diabetic cats. It also works well for cats with digestion issues such as IBD and constipation.

This dry food has reduced phosphorous, calcium, magnesium, and iodine levels. Fish oil gives it omega fatty acids for skin and coat health.

The first five ingredients of this limited ingredient food are hydrolyzed pork, chicken fat, hydrolyzed yeast flavoring, guar gum, and DL methionine. 

Guaranteed Analysis

[thrive_progress_bar count=”5″ label0=”Crude Protein 54%” percentage0=”54″ color0=”orange” label1=”Crude Fat 25%” percentage1=”25″ color1=”orange” label2=”Crude Fiber 2%” percentage2=”2″ color2=”orange” label3=”Moisture 10%” percentage3=”10″ color3=”orange” label4=”Carbohydrates 1%” percentage4=”1″ color4=”orange”]

Pros

Easy to digest. Cats who were previously suffering from digestion problems such as constipation, IBS/ IBD have shown improvement since switching to this limited ingredient cat food. The improvement in their digestion made the cats feel so much better.

Low starch and carb levels. This pork-based dry food product from Young Again is high in protein which makes up most of what a cat’s natural diet should be. The cats eat less, but are fuller for much longer periods of time. Free choice feeding is advised by the brand as the most effective way to get maximum results from their products.

Cons

Possible allergens. While it is marketed as a limited ingredient cat food with pork as the only source of protein, this product also contains chicken fat and fish oil.

Conclusion

This Young Again limited ingredient cat food is recommended for older cats who have sensitive stomachs and suffer from digestion problems. It is also a good product to try for older cats who need to gain body mass.

Low in starch and carbs, this variant has a significantly higher protein content compared to other dry food brands. While having pork as the sole protein source, it does contain fish oil and chicken fat which are possible allergens.

6. Young Again ZERO Mature 54/24

This cat food product is best for older cats who are no longer have a growing bone. It is especially recommended for mature diabetic kitties. This product is not recommended for pregnant or lactating females. It has reduced levels of some minerals such as calcium, phosphorous, and magnesium. Excess levels of these nutrients do not help a mature cat’s health.

With less than 1% starch and carbs, and maintenance levels of key nutrients, this cat food is designed to combat rapid aging in mature cats.

The first five ingredients of this cat food product are hydrolyzed pork, chicken meal, chicken fat, chicken liver flavor, and guar gum. 

Guaranteed Analysis

[thrive_progress_bar count=”5″ label0=”Crude Protein 54%” percentage0=”54″ color0=”orange” label1=”Crude Fat 24%” percentage1=”24″ color1=”orange” label2=”Crude Fiber 2%” percentage2=”2″ color2=”orange” label3=”Moisture 10%” percentage3=”10″ color3=”orange” label4=”Carbohydrates 1%” percentage4=”1″ color4=”orange”]

Pros

Helps support urinary health. This dry food from Young Again has received great feedback from owners of cats who were previously suffering from various urinary tract conditions such as crystals, infections, and stones. Test results have shown significant improvement or even total elimination of the conditions. Stones and crystals were dissolved and are gone.

Helps feline diabetes patients. This Young Again cat food has significantly improved the conditions of numerous diabetic older cats. Many have gone into remission shortly after starting the cats on this cat food product. The need for insulin shots have also been reduced for a lot of kitties. Their owners could not be more thankful for this cat food product.

Cons

Guar gum. Having guar gum in the first five ingredients is not exactly preferable to some cat owners. Some claim that the ingredient may possibly contribute to certain conditions in cats.

Conclusion

ZERO Mature Health is possibly the best-reviewed cat food product of Young Again. It has received numerous positive feedbacks from owners of older diabetic cats and those who suffered from urinary issues.

A lot of them have gone into diabetic remission, or have had stones and crystals dissolved. It is highly-recommended for cats who need to reduce their carb intake, but refuse to give up crunchy kibbles and eat wet food.

7. Young Again Flavor Enhancer

Young Again Flavor Enhancer is designed to make food smell and taste better to your super fussy pet cat, dog, or ferret. It is important to note that flavor enhancers are not meant for long-term use. Young Again advises pet parents to wean off their pet once it is eating the food.

Overconsumption of this enhancer may cause soft stools, weight gain, and higher blood glucose levels in diabetic cats.

Young Again Flavor Enhancer contains hydrolyzed chicken liver and hearts, brewers yeast, hydrolyzed starch, hydrolyzed fish, phosphate salts, alanine, thiamine, mixed tocopherols, and citric acid (preservatives). 

Guaranteed Analysis

[thrive_progress_bar count=”4″ label0=”Crude Protein 20%” percentage0=”20″ color0=”orange” label1=”Crude Fat 0.3%” percentage1=”0.3″ color1=”orange” label2=”Crude Fiber 1%” percentage2=”1″ color2=”orange” label3=”Moisture 10%” percentage3=”10″ color3=”orange”]

Summary

Young Again has proven itself as a brand that offers some of the highest protein content among dry foods in the market. Keeping as close as possible to the natural feline nutritional needs, their products have less than 6% carbs and starch in their ingredients, and less than 1% for the ZERO line of products.

Marketed toward cats with digestive, urinary, and kidney conditions as well as diabetic cats of all ages, their products do not contain plant-based protein. According to the brand, cats have difficulty processing plant-based proteins.

Their regular line of dry foods contain some potato starch in the ingredients, possibly as a binding agent to help the kibbles hold their shapes. Despite the presence of potato starch, the carb levels are kept at below 6% and the protein levels are still significantly higher than their competitors’.

Young Again’s Mature Health, LID ZERO Mature Health, and ZERO Mature Health all have reduced levels of phosphorous, calcium, magnesium, and other minerals that older cats do not need excessive amounts of.

Mature Health from the Young Again ZERO line has received numerous great reviews from owners of diabetic and pre-diabetic cats, as well as kitties with urinary and kidney conditions. They attribute their cats’ recovery or diabetic remission to this product as well as others from this line of almost zero carb dry foods.

The brand’s products also offer great value. With one of the highest protein levels in the market, Young Again advises free-choice feeding for their products. The pork-based protein keeps the cats satisfied. They actually eat less by about 40-60%, at least according to Young Again.

While they have a higher price tag and a smaller bag than other brands, cat parents save more money because in this case, a little goes a long way. Their products range from about $0.42 to $0.54 cost per day to feed a 10-lb cat.

Based on ingredient quality, protein levels, results delivered, and cost, Young Again is overall a highly recommended brand of cat foods. They are likely to have some of the best foods available for special needs cats who prefer a dry diet.

Many cats are very fond of kibbles, and are having trouble switching to wet cat food. Young Again proves that dry pet food does not need to be starchy and carb-heavy, and that it is capable of restoring many a cat’s health.