Published Jul 29, 2022
Europe and North America top the list when it comes to global pet food production, each manufacturing about 9.4 million tons of pet food each year.
While Germany and the UK are two of the biggest contributors to global pet product sales, the Spanish pet industry is catching up. More Spanish citizens own pets than ever and the Spanish pet food market is expected to grow significantly over the next few years.
In this guide, we’ll briefly discuss what your cat needs in terms of nutrition. We’ll also talk about the kind of cat food you’ll find in Spain and introduce you to our top picks.
NOTE: We’ve compiled a list of some of the highest quality cat food brands available in Spain based on product availability in online pet stores that serve Spain. To learn more about how we came to our top picks, scroll to the bottom of the page.
At A Glance: Best Cat Treats To Buy In Spain
Want a quick look at the best cat foods reviewed in this article? In the comparison table below, we’ve highlighted some of the most important features of each product. You’ll find more detailed information about each product later in the article.
Wellness CORE Signature Selects Chicken Recipe Wet Food
- High-quality source of animal protein as the first ingredient
- Contains fresh chicken and chicken liver
- Rich in moisture to support your cat’s hydration
Natural Greatness Wild Instinct for Cats Dry Food
- Made from 86% ingredients of animal origin
- Contains fresh poultry, fish, eggs, and organs
- Doesn’t contain grains or artificial additives
Applaws Chicken Breast Recipe Canned Cat Food
- Made with a short list of simple ingredients
- Contains a single source of high-quality animal protein
- Rich in moisture to support hydration
True Origins Pure Cat Adult Sterilized Salmon Dry Cat Food
- Top two ingredients are high-quality animal proteins
- Primary source of added fat is animal-based
- Doesn’t contain any artificial additives or grains
Criadores Adult Chicken with Rabbit Wet Cat Food
- Made with an incredibly simple list of ingredients
- Slow cooked to increase flavor and aroma
- Rich in moisture to support your cat’s hydration
Nature’s Variety Original Chicken Dry Cat Food
- Made with several sources of high-quality animal protein
- Doesn’t contain artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives
- Primary source of added fat is animal-based
Schesir Tuna with Small Anchovies Wet Cat Food
- Rich in animal-based protein from fish sources
- Incredibly low carbohydrate content
- Very limited list of simple ingredients
Lily’s Kitchen Smooth Pate for Mature Cats Chicken Recipe Wet Food
- Contains four different sources of animal-based protein
- Salmon oil provides plenty of omega-3 fatty acids
- Rich in moisture to support healthy digestion and hydration
Why Should You Trust Us?
Having reviewed over 230 of the world’s most popular cat food brands and hundreds of formulas. We spent hours researching, contacting pet food companies, and analyzing labels. With the help of our cats, we’ve also accumulated hours upon hours of hands-on experience with different cat foods.
Based on that research, we’re bringing you an updated list of the best cat food brands and products available in Spain. We’ve researched the brands themselves and evaluated individual recipes to bring you our top picks.
What Does Balanced Nutrition Look Like for Cats?
The single most important factor to consider when shopping for cat food is whether it’s a nutritionally balanced and species appropriate option for your cat.
Cats are obligate carnivores which means they require a meat-based diet. Animal proteins and fats are absolutely essential. Not only are plant-based proteins and fats less biologically valuable to your cat, but they’re hard to process and can contribute to digestive issues and other health problems.
Animal protein is the foundation of a healthy feline diet, so look for a meat, poultry, or fish ingredient at the top of the list.
Ideally, two out of the top three ingredients and three out of the top five should be animal-based – at a minimum. Remember, more protein is almost always better, and the carbohydrate content of your cat’s diet should be as low as possible. Be particularly careful to avoid low-value grains and fillers like corn, wheat, and soy.
Keep in mind that growing kittens will need higher protein and fat content than adult cats. The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) recommends a minimum fat content of 9% (dry matter) for all cats with 30% protein for kittens and 26% for adult cats. To keep your cat’s diet more in-line with his ideal ancestral diet, however, you should aim for a fat content closer to 20%.
In addition to making sure the cat food you choose contains the right concentration of protein and fat, be sure to look for potentially harmful ingredients.
Avoid cat foods that are loaded with vaguely named ingredients or by-product meals (like poultry meal versus chicken meal). Don’t choose a cat food that has an incredibly long list of ingredients either, especially if it includes artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives.
The Pet Food Market in Spain
Challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic aside, the pet industry in Spain has been growingly steadily for years. As of 2020, Spain had more pets than children under the age of 15 years.
According to a 2022-2027 projection published by Mordor Intelligence, the Spanish pet food market is expected to register a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 5.8% over the next five years. While dog food dominates the pet food market in Spain, there were 3.8 million cat owners in 2020.
The same research conducted by Mordor Intelligence reveals that pet food market in Spain in consolidated with a few big players holding the majority share. The top five companies in the Spanish pet food market are:
- Mars, Inc. (and its affiliates)
- Nestle SA
- Hill’s Pet Nutrition
- Affinity Petcare SA
- Saturn Petcare GmbH
Mars Petcare is one of the leading providers of science-backed nutrition for pets with the Royal Canin line accounting for a significant portion of those products. This company is also responsible for familiar brands like Sheba, Iams, and Whiskas, all of which are available in Spain. In May of 2021, Mars Petcare opened a new plant in Arévalo, Spain and expects to nearly double its production from 26,000 to 50,000 tons of pet food by 2024.
Nestle Petcare is another big name in Spain, offering a wide variety of cat food products from brands under the Purina name such as Purina ONE, Felix, Pro Plan, Friskies, and Fancy Feast.
Hill’s Pet Nutrition products are divided between two lines: Prescription Diet and Science Plan (Science Diet in the U.S.). The first of these is a line of therapeutic pet foods which require a prescription to purchase while Hill’s Science Plan cat foods offer “biology-based pet nutrition” for all cats and dogs.
According to a 2018 global survey, Affinity Petcare SA grossed the highest annual sales in Spain at nearly €369 million. Affinity’s sales doubled Nestle Purina’s at €117 million. Some of the brands that fall under the Affinity umbrella include Advance, Ultima, and Brekkies.
Saturn Petcare GmbH is a private label pet food brand based in Germany. They manufacture pet food in bulk for companies to put their own name on.
The 8 Best Cat Foods in Spain: Our Top Picks
While big names like Mars Petcare and Hill’s Pet Nutrition may be among the biggest sellers in the Spanish pet food market, their products probably aren’t going to be the most species-appropriate choice for your cat. The top five pet food manufacturers in Spain listed above seem to prioritize quantity over quality, making heavy use of fillers, by-products, and artificial additives.
In this roundup, I made an effort to include brands that will be familiar to North American readers but primarily pet food brands specific to Europe. The eight products reviewed below may not be the absolute best of the best, but they represent some of the higher quality options that will be familiar and accessible for Spanish pet owners.
#1 Wellness
WellPet LLC is the brains behind the CORE line of wet cat foods. Founded in 1997, the company that eventually became WellPet LLC actually got its start as Old Mother Hubbard Dog Treats. Wellness is now a subsidiary of Berwind Corporation.
Featured Recipe: Wellness CORE Signature Selects Chicken Recipe Wet Food
With boneless chicken as the first ingredient, this canned food provides an animal-based source of protein for your cat. Fresh chicken is supplemented with chicken liver and eggs to deliver a dry matter protein content over 50%.
While this formula is rich in animal-based protein, the primary source of added fat is plant-based, and it contains several starchy thickeners. It also contains guar gum which has been known to contribute to GI upset in some cats.
Overall, this recipe is an excellent source of protein but it’s still a little high in carbohydrates. It’s also worth noting that it’s pretty low in fat, so it might not be the best option for growing kittens but could be perfect for cats who need to lose a little weight.
Ingredients
Boneless Chicken, Chicken Broth, Water Sufficient for Processing, Tapioca Starch, Potato Starch, Chicken Liver, Eggs, Natural Flavor, Salt, Sunflower Oil, Tricalcium Phosphate, Taurine, Magnesium Sulfate, Guar Gum, Vitamins [Vitamin E Supplement, Thiamine Hydrochloride, Niacin, Vitamin A Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin Supplement, Folic Acid, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement], Potassium Chloride, Choline Chloride, Minerals [Zinc Amino Acid Chelate, Iron Amino Acid Chelate, Manganese Amino Acid Chelate, Copper Amino Acid Chelate, Potassium Iodide, Sodium Selenite].
Ingredients We Liked: Boneless Chicken, Chicken Liver, Eggs
Ingredients We Didn’t Like: Tapioca Starch, Potato Starch, Sunflower Oil
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
What We Liked
- High-quality source of animal protein as the first ingredient
- Contains fresh chicken and chicken liver
- Rich in moisture to support your cat’s hydration
- Free from artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives
What We Didn’t Like
- Contains several starchy plant ingredients
#2 Natural Greatness
Natural Greatness is headquartered in Valencia, Spain and specializes in veterinary diets for dogs and cats. The brand aims to create pet foods developed with a natural view of animal nutrition, drawing inspiration from the eating habits of wolves and lynx.
Featured Recipe: Natural Greatness Wild Instinct for Cats Dry Food
Comprised of 86% meat ingredients, this dry cat food formula is packed with animal protein and animal-based fats. Fresh chicken is the main ingredient, supplemented with extra protein from dried chicken, dried turkey, chicken liver, dried fish, and dried egg.
The moisture content of this formula isn’t listed, but it’s safe to assume it’s somewhere between 8% and 12%. Using an average of 10% moisture, this recipe contains over 45% crude protein and 23% crude fat on a dry matter basis. This makes it a protein- and calorie-dense diet appropriate for adult cats as well as kittens.
This recipe doesn’t contain any grains or artificial additives, but it does contain some added carbohydrate in the form of potato and peas. Overall, this dry food appears to be a fairly high-protein, high-fat recipe with fairy high carbohydrate content.
Ingredients
Fresh Chicken Meat (40%), Dehydrated Chicken Meat and Dehydrated Turkey Meat (30%), Potato, Chicken Oil (7.5%), Hydrolyzed Chicken Liver (5%), Peas, Dehydrated Fish (2.5%), Beet Pulp, Fish Oil (0.8%), Yeasts, Dehydrated Whole Egg (0.5%), Chicory, Sodium Chloride, Carbonate, Calcium, Monocalcium Phosphate, Malt Extract, Inulin, Mannan-Oligo-Saccharides, Citrus Extracts, Yucca, Rosemary, Glucosamine and Chondroitin.
Ingredients We Liked: Fresh Chicken, Dried Chicken, Dried Turkey, Chicken Fat, Hydrolyzed Chicken Liver, Dried Fish, Fish Oil, Dried Whole Egg
Ingredients We Didn’t Like: Potato, Peas
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
What We Liked
- Made from 86% ingredients of animal origin
- Contains fresh poultry, fish, eggs, and organs
- Doesn’t contain grains or artificial additives
What We Didn’t Like
- No dry food provides the moisture your cat needs
- Contains starchy plant ingredients
#3 Applaws
Applaws is a UK-based pet food brand that was first launched in 2006. It has since become popular throughout Europe and into North America and Australia.
Featured Recipe: Applaws Chicken Breast in Broth Canned Cat Food
This wet food recipe is truly limited ingredient. It contains just three ingredients: chicken, broth, and rice. As such, it’s a protein-packed option for cats that also provides plenty of moisture to support your cat’s hydration.
The only notable downside of this recipe is that it contains rice, a starchy grain. Rice only accounts for 1% of the total composition, however, so this recipe is still very low in total carbohydrate content.
This recipe doesn’t contain any artificial additives, but it is worth noting that it’s not a complete and balanced recipe. Applaws wet foods mostly fall into this category, so they’re best used as food toppers or treats to give your cat a little extra protein and moisture.
Ingredients
Chicken Breast 75%, Chicken Broth 24%, Rice 1%
Ingredients We Liked: Chicken Breast
Ingredients We Didn’t Like: Rice
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
What We Liked
- Made with a short list of simple ingredients
- Contains a single source of high-quality animal protein
- Rich in moisture to support hydration
- No artificial additives of any kind
What We Didn’t Like
- Not a complete and balanced recipe
#4 True Origins
True Origins produces a variety of wet and dry pet food products as well as treats, supplemental oils, and pet accessories. Their cat food products are primarily animal-based and free from cereals and artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives.
Featured Recipe: True Origins Pure Cat Adult Sterilized Salmon Dry Cat Food
This fish-based dry cat food features both dehydrated white fish and fresh salmon. It also contains hydrolyzed fish protein as a supplementary animal-based protein with poultry fat as the primary source of added fat.
Similar to the Natural Greatness recipe, the moisture content of this formula isn’t listed but it’s most likely somewhere around 10%. That makes the dry matter protein content of this recipe about 35% and the fat content around 13%.
Given these numbers, this formula is a decent source of protein, but it could certainly have more – the same is true for fats. It also contains too much carbohydrate, largely from starchy ingredients like potatoes, pea starch, and lentils.
On the positive side, this recipe doesn’t contain any grains or artificial additives. Plus, it’s an entirely fish-based recipe in terms of protein, so it might be a good option for cats with sensitive stomachs or who have allergies to other common proteins.
Ingredients
Dehydrated White Fish, Fresh Salmon (26%), Potato (14%), Pea Starch, Egg Powder (7.5%), Lentils (7.5%), Beet Pulp (4%), Poultry Fat, Pea Fibers, Hydrolyzed Fish Protein, Mineral Substances, Chicory Root (1%), Dehydrated Tomato (0.5%), Dehydrated Apple (0.5%), Dehydrated Carrot (0.5%), Dried Blueberries (0.1%), Yeast Cell Walls (0.061%), Yucca Schidigera (0.027%), Citrus Extract (0.024%).
Ingredients We Liked: Dehydrated White Fish, Fresh Salmon, Egg Powder
Ingredients We Didn’t Like: Potato, Pea Starch, Lentils
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
What We Liked
- Top two ingredients are high-quality animal proteins
- Primary source of added fat is animal-based
- Doesn’t contain any artificial additives or grains
What We Didn’t Like
- Protein and fat content could be higher
- No dry food provides the moisture your cat needs
#5 Criadores
Criadores seems to be a well-liked brand of cat food made in Spain and owned by Tiendanimal. They offer a variety of dry and wet cat foods primarily comprised of animal-based ingredients. The word Criadores translates to “Breeders” in English.
Featured Recipe: Criadores Adult Chicken with Rabbit Wet Cat Food
This wet food formula features fresh chicken and rabbit as the main ingredients. It’s also rich in moisture to help support your cat’s hydration.
Criadores canned foods are cooked over low heat to maximize the flavor and aroma without compromising nutritional quality. This recipe is free from GMOs and doesn’t seem to contain any artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives, though the ingredients list may not be complete.
Overall, this is a high-protein canned food formula with moderate fat content. It’s difficult to determine where the carbohydrate content of the food comes from given that there are no plant ingredients listed, though the product description says that the food “provides an adequate amount of carbohydrates.”
Ingredients
Chicken (60%), Rabbit (4%), Mineral Substances, Cooking Water.
Ingredients We Liked: Chicken, Rabbit
Ingredients We Didn’t Like: None
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
What We Liked
- Made with an incredibly simple list of ingredients
- Slow cooked to increase flavor and aroma
- Rich in moisture to support your cat’s hydration
What We Didn’t Like
- Product information may not be complete
- Seems to contain a significant amount of carbohydrate
#6 Nature’s Variety
In the United States, Nature’s Variety has been rebranded as Instinct but the company itself is owned by Agrilomen, a company based in Barcelona, Spain. While Instinct is primarily known for its raw and raw-infused recipes, Nature’s Variety cat foods follow the classic pet food patterns.
Featured Recipe: Nature’s Variety Original Chicken Dry Cat Food
This dry food formula starts off strong with both fresh boneless chicken and dehydrated chicken protein at the top of the list. These ingredients are supplemented with additional protein from dehydrated turkey. Corn protein is on the list as well, but as a plant-based protein it provides limited nutritional value.
Two of the top five ingredients are high-carb plant ingredients: brown rice and dry peas. Cats have a difficult time digesting carbs in general, but peas and legumes seem to be particularly problematic.
While the moisture content of this food isn’t listed, we can assume the dry matter crude protein content is somewhere around 40% and the fat content around 18%. This makes it a fairly high-protein formula with moderate fat content and high carbohydrate content.
This recipe doesn’t contain any artificial additives, but it does contain corn. Corn, wheat, and soy are three low-value grains that you really want to avoid in cat food.
Ingredients
Boneless Chicken (21%), Dehydrated Chicken Protein (20%), Brown Rice (13%), Dry Peas (12%), Dehydrated Turkey Protein (7%), Oats (6%), Corn Protein, Poultry Fat (4%), Beet Pulp, Protein Hydrolysate (3%), Vitamin A, Vitamin D3, Vitamin E, Vitamin C, Taurine, Sulfate Monohydrate, Potassium Iodide, Copper Sulfate Pentahydrate, Manganese Sulfate Monohydrate, Zinc Sulfate Monohydrate, Sodium Selenite, Dehydrated Carrot, Dehydrated Apple, Fish Oil (0.3%).
Ingredients We Liked: Boneless Chicken, Dehydrated Chicken Protein, Dehydrated Turkey Protein
Ingredients We Didn’t Like: Brown Rice, Dry Peas, Oats, Corn Protein
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
What We Liked
- Made with several sources of high-quality animal protein
- Doesn’t contain artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives
- Primary source of added fat is animal-based
What We Didn’t Like
- Contains numerous plant ingredients (including corn)
- No dry food provides the moisture your cat needs
#7 Schesir
Schesir is a European cat food brand founded in 1999. By 2003 Schesir had begun exporting their products and the brand is widely available today. Schesir uses “100% natural and premium quality ingredients,” offering a variety of wet and dry foods for dogs and cats.
Featured Recipe: Schesir Tuna with Small Anchovies Wet Cat Food
This wet food formula is made with a short list of simple ingredients, primarily fish. Tuna makes up over half of the food’s composition with 4% small anchovies and a little bit of rice. While this recipe does contain 1.5% rice, it’s incredibly low in carbohydrates. In fact, it contains about 90% crude protein on a dry matter basis.
The fat content is very low, however, so keep that in mind if your cat is very active or underweight. The product description doesn’t say one way or the other but given the 1.5% crude fat content (measured on a dry matter basis), it doesn’t appear to be a complete and balanced recipe.
This canned food is best used for supplemental feeding as a way to boost your cat’s protein and moisture intake.
Ingredients
Tuna (51%), Small Anchovies (4%), Rice (1.5%), Vitamin A, Vitamin D3, Vitamin E, Taurine
Ingredients We Liked: Tuna, Small Anchovies
Ingredients We Didn’t Like: None
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
What We Liked
- Rich in animal-based protein from fish sources
- Incredibly low carbohydrate content
- High in moisture to support your cat’s hydration
- Very limited list of simple ingredients
What We Didn’t Like
- Very low in fat and calories
- Not likely complete and balanced
#8 Lily’s Kitchen
Lily’s Kitchen is one of the top cat food brands in the UK and Europe. It’s headquartered in London and has always been committed to using high-quality ingredients including freshly prepared meats. All Lily’s Kitchen recipes are free from meat meals, fillers, and added sugar.
Featured Recipe: Lily’s Kitchen Smooth Pate for Mature Cats Chicken Recipe Wet Food
This complete and balanced wet food from Lily’s Kitchen features a variety of animal-based proteins including chicken, pork, trout, and lamb. In addition to plenty of animal protein, the only source of added fat is salmon oil which is an animal-based source of omega-3s.
Given the short list of simple ingredients, this recipe should be highly digestible for most cats. Because it isn’t a single-protein formula, it might not be ideal for cats with food allergies or sensitivities. It’s worth noting, however, that trout and lamb are novel proteins for many cats.
The only added carbohydrate ingredient in this recipe is carrots, so the carbohydrate content is pretty low. This is a high-protein, high-fat formula that doesn’t contain any grains or artificial additives. It’s specifically designed for mature cats and has a smooth, easy -to-chew pate texture.
One downside of this formula is that it contains carrageenan as a thickener. Carrageenan is a problematic ingredient that has been identified as a potential carcinogen and linked to digestive upset and inflammation.
Ingredients
Chicken (30%), Pork (22%), Trout (4%), Lamb (4%), Carrots, Salmon Oil, Vitamin D, Zinc Chelate, Copper Chelate, Manganese Chelate, Iodine, Carrageenan.
Ingredients We Liked: Chicken, Pork, Trout, Lamb, Salmon Oil
Ingredients We Didn’t Like: Carrots
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
What We Liked
- Contains four different sources of animal-based protein
- Salmon oil provides plenty of omega-3 fatty acids
- Rich in moisture to support healthy digestion and hydration
- Soft pate texture is easy for older cats to chew
What We Didn’t Like
- Thickened with carrageenan
How Did We Come To Our Top Picks?
Writing about pet food sold in countries outside my home country (the United States) is challenging. The selection sold by online retailers doesn’t always paint an accurate or comprehensive picture of the pet food brands sold in local pet stores.
In this particular roundup, I researched some of the most popular online pet retailers in Spain (according to a blog published by Ohla Living, a lifestyle and family blog out of Valencia, Spain) and browsed their selection. I couldn’t find detailed information about many pet food brands headquartered in Spain, partially due to the language barrier and the limitations of Google Translate.
For these reasons, I’ve chosen to primarily include big-name brands that are easily accessible as well as products that seemed to deliver good quality and balanced nutrition based on the information provided about the products by individual retailers.
At Cats.com, we seek to provide relevant and accurate information to our readers, but we recognize that our abilities may be limited in certain subjects. We welcome comments and criticism from our Spanish readers who may have a more comprehensive understanding of cat food availability in Spain. We’re always willing to update our articles to make them as useful as possible.
Final Thoughts
There is no shortage of options available to pet owners in Spain, but it can be tricky to separate out the products that are the most popular from the ones that actually suit your cat’s carnivorous nutritional needs.
Keep in mind that these recommendations are made based on products available from online retailers – availability may be different in stores. This roundup also doesn’t account for local Spanish-made brands that may not have much of an international online presence.
Whether you choose one of the products reviewed above or go with something else, be sure to select a meat-heavy product balanced with healthy animal-based fats and low carbohydrate content.
Why are my comments not showing ? Wanted to ask your thoughts about Schesir Bio and to thank you for the great job you’re doing…
Hi Cosmin, sorry about the delay! Comments go through an approval process before they go live, so I have to manually review and approve. Your message has been received, and we’d love to cover Schesir in the future.
Oh, I see ! Thank you for clarifying !
Unfortunately Criadores was very bad for my cat 🙁 She had diahrrea for several days after eating their mousse recipe…
I’d love to know your thoughts on the Spanish brand “Natural Greatness”: I’ve started including their wet food in my cat’s diet as the ingredient’s list doesn’t seem too bad (though I did email them asking about the thickener and they told me they used guar gum which sucks but… it’s not easy to find good alternatives where I live).
Hi! Is there any chance for you to do an article like this one, but for the Italian pet market food?
Hi Emanuele! I’ll run this by our editorial team and see if we can get something like this in the works!