Published Dec 28, 2024
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Featuring protein-packed pet foods made with sustainably sourced, wild-caught fish, Boat to Bowl is sold in Target stores and online nationwide. But what do customers think of this brand and are its products a good choice for your cat? Find out in this detailed review.
The Cats.com Standard—Rating Boat to Bowl on What Matters
We’ve analyzed Boat to Bowl and graded it according to the Cats.com standard. Here’s how it rates in each of six key areas:
Ratings
- Species-Appropriateness – 8/10
- Ingredient Quality – 9/10
- Product Variety – 6/10
- Price – 5/10
- Customer Experience – 7/10
- Recall History – 10/10
Overall Score: 7.5/10
We give Boat to Bowl cat food a 45 out of 60 rating or a B+ grade.
Why Trust Cats.com
Each and every one of our cat food reviews is crafted with strict attention to detail. Our goal is to present the brand objectively by sharing information about company history, product formulation, manufacturing policies, and sourcing practices. Equally important, however, is the in-depth assessment of the brand’s products.
Before testing Boat to Bowl, I spent some time digging into the brand itself. I read press releases to learn more about the brand’s launch and scoured online reviews to get a feel for customer satisfaction with the company and its products. My two cats, Biscuit and Munchkin, helped me test the products at home while I utilized my experience and education in feline nutrition to assess the food on its nutritional merits.
About Boat to Bowl
Boat to Bowl is owned by Boston-based wholesale seafood company North Coast Seafood. North Coast Seafood was founded in 1957 by Mel Stavis along with his sons, Norm and Jim. Jim Stavis remains one of the company’s owners and continues to oversee the company’s commitment to sustainability.
The Boat to Bowl brand was launched in Target stores across the United States in 2024. North Coast Seafoods’ pet products director, Jon Wooner, suggests the creation of the brand was motivated as much by desire to offer nutritious and delicious food for pets as it was to support sustainable fishing practices—specifically, the work of the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC).
Boat to Bowl ascribes to what the company calls a “fish first” nutritional philosophy. According to the company, seafood is an ideal ingredient for cats because it’s rich in protein, essential fatty acids, antioxidants, and amino acids. Boat to Bowl also suggests that because its recipes are made only with fish protein, the food is a good choice for cats with allergies to other common proteins—particularly chicken.
Sourcing and Manufacturing
Boat to Bowl cat food is made in the United States with globally sourced ingredients. It’s unclear exactly where Boat to Bowl pet food is made, but it appears that Target manufactures and distributes the products in partnership with North Coast Seafood.
All fish used in Boat to Bowl’s cat food formulas is wild-caught from sustainable fisheries. Boat to Bowl also promotes sustainability through the full utilization of its fish—every part of the fish is properly cut and cooked before being used.
Recall History
None of Boat to Bowl’s pet food products have ever been recalled. Keep in mind that the brand was only launched in 2024, so it doesn’t have much history to speak of yet.
What Kind of Cat Food Does Boat to Bowl Offer?
Boat to Bowl currently offers a limited selection of nutritionally complete wet and dry cat foods as well as a few food toppers. All of Boat to Bowl’s cat food products are made exclusively with fish protein—fish that is wild-caught from sustainable fisheries.
Here are the nutritionally complete recipes Boat to Bowl has to offer:
- Wild Seafood Recipe Dry Cat Food
- Wild Cod & Haddock Recipe Dry Cat Food
- Wild Salmon Recipe Dry Cat Food
- Salmon Paté Recipe Wet Cat Food
- Cod Paté Recipe Wet Cat Food
Boat to Bowl also offers two wet cat food toppers sold in 2.46-ounce (70-gram) pouches. One is a single-protein recipe featuring salmon and the other is a multi-protein formula, featuring cod and trout. Both contain small amounts of potato starch and vegetable fiber, and both are marketed for both dogs and cats.
The only other product Boat to Bowl had to offer at the time of this review was a liquid omega-3 fish oil supplement. It’s made with 100% wild Alaskan pollock oil (preserved with mixed tocopherols).
What Did Our Test Cats Think?
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
To test Boat to Bowl cat food, I ordered both of the wet cat food recipes, both food toppers, and one bag of dry cat food (Wild Seafood Recipe). I placed my order through Target, so it arrived quickly without any hassle.
I was initially intrigued by the packaging of Boat to Bowl’s wet food—it reminded me of a can of sardines and I liked that the cans were flat instead of round. Unfortunately, my cats showed minimal interest in the food inside the can. The wet food went over a little better than the dry, but neither of my cats cared to consume more than a few bites.
Boat to Bowl Cat Food—Top 3 Recipes Reviewed
| Product Name | Food Type | Main Protein | Calories Per Ounce | Price | Our Grade |
| Wild Seafood Recipe Dry Cat Food | Dry | Redfish | 110 | $0.31 per oz | B- |
| Salmon Paté Recipe Wet Cat Food | Wet | Salmon | 31 | $1.10 per oz | A- |
| Cod Paté Recipe Wet Cat Food | Wet | Cod | 30 | $1.10 per oz | A- |
#1 Boat to Bowl Wild Seafood Recipe Dry Cat Food
This wild seafood recipe starts off strong with five fish ingredients at the top of the list. The main source of added fat is plant-based, but the sunflower oil appears to be used as a source of omega-6 fatty acids to balance out the omega-3s from the fish.
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Measured as dry matter, this recipe contains nearly 43.5% protein. It’s also rich in healthy fats, with about 21.7% dry matter fat. Compared to the typical dry cat food, it’s much lower in carbohydrates and most of that comes from nutritious ingredients like brown rice and whole oats. There aren’t any starchy fillers in this food.
On paper, this looks like a pretty great product. I liked that the kibbles were very small and the packaging was easy to reseal. Unfortunately, my cats showed zero interest in the product (an experience reflected by a notable number of other cat owners).
Ingredients
Redfish, Salmon Meal, Whitefish Meal, Cod, Haddock, Sunflower Oil (Preserved With Mixed Tocopherols), Brown Rice, Whole Grain Sorghum, Dried Eggs, Sweet Potatoes, Whole Oats, Flaxseed, Pollock Oil, Natural Flavor, Yeast Extract, Dried Bacillus coagulans Fermentation Extract, Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin Supplement, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin A Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Folic Acid, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex), Salt, Taurine, Choline Chloride, DL-Methionine, Minerals (Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate Sodium Selenite, Calcium Iodate), Rosemary Extract.
Ingredients We Liked: Redfish, Salmon Meal, Whitefish Meal, Cod, Haddock, Brown Rice, Whole Grain Sorghum, Dried Eggs, Whole Oats, Pollock Oil
Ingredients We Didn’t Like: None
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
What We Liked:
- Top five ingredients are animal-based
- Contains more than 43% dry matter protein
- Good source of omega-3 fatty acids
- Relatively low in carbs for a dry food
What We Didn’t Like:
- No dry food provides the moisture cats need
#2 Boat to Bowl Salmon Paté Recipe Wet Cat Food
After the water needed for processing, this recipe’s top three ingredients are animal proteins—fish, specifically. The food contains about 35% of dry matter protein and 32.5% dry matter fat. Given the short list of ingredients, I would have expected these values to be a little higher but it seems the potato starch makes up a significant part of the formula.
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Overall, there’s nothing concerning about this recipe aside from the carbohydrate content. It’s a shame so much of those carbs come from a starchy ingredient with limited nutritional value. The food is, however, rich in moisture, decently calorie-dense, and seemingly easy to digest.
Both of Boat to Bowl’s wet cat food formulas are packaged in rectangular tins rather than round cans. They’re fairly easy to open and some customers report feeding their cats directly from the tin instead of having to scoop the food into a bowl.
Ingredients
Water Sufficient For Processing, Salmon, Cod, Trout, Potato Starch, Powdered Cellulose, Natural Flavor, Dried Parsley, Potassium Chloride, Choline Chloride, Calcium Carbonate, Taurine, Minerals (Zinc Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Potassium Iodide, Sodium Selenite), Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Niacin, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Folic Acid, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin, Biotin).
Ingredients We Liked: Salmon, Cod, Trout
Ingredients We Didn’t Like: Potato Starch
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
What We Liked:
- Contains about 35% dry matter protein
- Limited list of ingredients
- Good source of hydrating moisture
- Flat tin is easy to open and store
What We Didn’t Like:
- Contains starchy carbohydrates
#3 Boat to Bowl Cod Paté Recipe Wet Cat Food
Similar to the previous product, this recipe features three fish-based ingredients at the top of the list (after water). We see the same potato starch and cellulose as well, but it’s another limited-ingredient formula. This recipe is a little lower in fat than the salmon paté but still pretty energy-dense for a fish-based wet food.
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
My cats were a little more interested in Boat to Bowl wet foods than the dry recipe we sampled, but neither were particularly enthusiastic. I was hopeful about these chicken-free formulas (my cat Biscuit is allergic to chicken), but even she turned up her nose after initially being excited at the sound of the lid being peeled back.
Ingredients
Water Sufficient For Processing, Cod, Salmon, Trout, Potato Starch, Powdered Cellulose, Natural Flavor, Dried Parsley, Potassium Chloride, Choline Chloride, Calcium Carbonate, Taurine, Minerals (Zinc Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Potassium Iodide, Sodium Selenite), Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Niacin, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Folic Acid, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin, Biotin).
Ingredients We Liked: Cod, Salmon, Trout
Ingredients We Didn’t Like: Potato Starch
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
What We Liked:
- Three main ingredients are fish
- Contains about 35% dry matter protein
- Good source of hydrating moisture
- Flat tin is easy to open and store
What We Didn’t Like:
- Contains starchy carbohydrates
What Do Customers Think of Boat to Bowl Cat Food?
Customer experiences with Boat to Bowl cat food are mixed. The brand is still very new and only sold through Target stores, so reviews are also fairly limited. At the time of this review, most Boat to Bowl products had fewer than 100 customer ratings both on the brand’s website and on individual product pages on Target.com.
Positive Reviews
Satisfied customers frequently comment on the quality of the ingredients used in Boat to Bowl cat food. Several customers were particularly pleased with the small kibble size for the dry food and owners of cats with food allergies like that all the products are completely chicken-free. Numerous customers also liked the unique wet food packaging.
“Our cat beaker, has a chicken allergy and was constantly scratching, we have since swapped over his diet to this new dry food and a mix of their wet food products, and he no longer suffers from the constant itchiness.”—Sharky reviewing Boat to Bowl Salmon and Wild Seafood Flavor dry cat food on Target.com.
“My two cats really enjoyed this! They tried both the salmon and the cod however I do think the salmon was their favorite. I really liked how easy it was to open. If my cats weren’t sharing and I didn’t need to split it, it would be perfect to leave in the container and let your kitty eat out of.”—Magnolia reviewing Boat to Bowl Seafood and Salmon Flavor Paté on Target.com.
Negative Reviews
Dissatisfied customers tend to comment that the reason for their negative reviews was their cat’s disinterest in the food, not any issue with the product itself. Several of these customers were surprised by their cats’ refusal of the food, stating that their cats aren’t usually picky or that they typically enjoy fish flavors.
“Unfortunately both of my cats absolutely refused to touch this food – both flavors, salmon & cod – and they aren’t really known to be picky eaters so this was surprising to me. Specifically, I’ve never seen them reject a salmon-flavored food in their 14 & 12 years as it’s typically their favorite, until now.”—KKB reviewing Boat to Bowl Seafood and Salmon Flavor Paté on Target.com.
“When you open the bag, the odor is the first thing you notice. The pellets are very small and easy for the cat to eat. I honestly thought the cat would love the food, but he smelled and walked away. The directions did suggest that I put the pellets over his current food. My cat would eat as long as it was mixed with his other food.”—Momof2 reviewing Boat to Bowl Wild Cod & Haddock Recipe dry cat food on Target.com.
How Much Does Boat to Bowl Cat Food Cost?
Despite being sold primarily in Target stores and online at Target.com, Boat to Bowl is not a discount cat food brand. The company’s dry cat food still costs more than $0.30 per ounce (nearly $5 per pound) when you buy the largest bag. Boat to Bowl wet food costs over $3 per container, or about $1.10 per ounce.
The packaging itself might be a big contributing factor to the high cost of Boat to Bowl wet foods. At the time of this review, the food was only sold individually, not in variety packs or cases.
Where Is Boat to Bowl Cat Food Sold?
You can purchase Boat to Bowl cat food directly from the company on the brand’s website or shop through Target. The full product line is available in both places, but the Boat to Boat website is the only place you can get a sample pack of the three dry food recipes. Notably, the sample pack was sold out at the time of this review.
Whether you shop on the brand website or Target.com, you’ll have the option to purchase dry food in three different volumes (3.5, 4, or 11 pounds). In contrast to many brands, the wet food appears to only be sold in single 3.17-ounce (90-gram) tins.
Overall, Is Boat to Bowl Cat Food a Good Choice?
If you’re looking to branch out with your cat’s diet but don’t want to make a big financial commitment, Boat to Bowl wet foods might be worth trying. They’re only sold in single containers and are readily available in Target stores and online. The fact that Boat to Bowl only uses fish proteins could also be a bonus if food allergies are driving your desire to look for new options.
Although there are certainly a few positive things that set Boat to Bowl apart from the crowd, it’s too early to tell whether this brand has what it takes to last. Customers who are willing to bite the budgetary bullet seem pleased with the ingredients, but quality doesn’t guarantee acceptance. A significant number of cats seem to simply show no interest in the food—even cats that aren’t usually picky.
It’s worth noting that fish generally isn’t the best choice as a staple protein for cats given the risk for mercury poisoning. Because you can easily buy small quantities of Boat to Bowl food at a time, there’s relatively little risk to trying it and it could be a good supplemental food to keep on hand if your cat likes fish.
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