Published Oct 21, 2022
We’ve rated Dr. Tim’s cat food on ingredient quality, species-appropriateness, recalls, and more. Read our Dr. Tim’s cat food review to learn how this brand stacks up.
The Cats.com Standard—Rating Dr. Tim’s Cat Food on What Matters
We’ve rated the brand on six key criteria for quality. Here’s how it rates in each of these six crucial areas.
Ratings
- Species-Appropriateness – 8/10
- Ingredient Quality – 9/10
- Product Variety – 5/10
- Price – 7/10
- Customer Experience – 7/10
- Recall History – 9/10
Overall Score: 7.5/10
In total, we give Dr. Tim’s cat food a 45 out of 60 rating or a B+ grade.
About Dr. Tim’s Cat Food
Dr. Tim’s is a self-described premium pet food brand headquartered in Marquette, Michigan. The brand was founded in 2004 by Dr. Tim Hunt, a veterinarian who also races sled dogs. Unhappy with the quality and calorie density of dog foods on the market, Dr. Tim set out to create a dry food that promoted stamina, endurance, and performance.
The Dr. Tim’s brand was born in Dr. Tim Hunt’s garage in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. It remains a family-owned and -operated company today but has expanded to offer about half a dozen dry dog foods and a limited range of cat foods.
Sourcing and Manufacturing
While Dr. Tim’s is a family-owned and -operated company, the production of their foods is outsourced to Alphia Foods in Kansas. The recipes are formulated by Dr. Tim himself using his 25 years of veterinary experience. None of his products contain corn, wheat, or soy ingredients.
Most of the brand’s ingredients seem to be sourced from the United States with some fats and nutrient supplements sourced internationally from countries like France, Norway, and Germany. All the salmon Dr. Tim’s uses in their pet foods is wild-caught in Alaska.
Recall History
To our knowledge (and confirmed in the FAQ section of Dr. Tim’s website), this brand has never had a product recalled.
What Kinds of Cat Food Does Dr. Tim’s Offer?
Dr. Tim’s offers a relatively small but diverse selection of food for cats, including dry food, canned food, toppers, and treats. Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Dr. Tim’s has a relatively limited selection of products available for cats. Their lineup includes one all life stages dry cat food, one canned food, two freeze-dried toppers, and an assortment of freeze-dried cat treats.
The dry food formula is a grain-inclusive recipe featuring chicken meal and brown rice. Dr. Tim’s canned cat food also utilizes chicken as the primary protein but supplements it with fish and seafood.
Both of Dr. Tim’s freeze-dried toppers are beef-based. One is marketed as a flavor booster for pet food, made only with freeze-dried beef liver. The second is sold as a taurine supplement, made with beef, beef organs, salmon oil, and taurine.
What Do Customers Think of Dr. Tim’s Cat Food?
Dr. Tim’s isn’t one of the biggest brands in the business, but it seems to be well-liked. Customer ratings are limited but the brand receives top ratings from respected pet food review sites like DogFoodAdvisor.
On Chewy, Dr. Tim’s dry cat food has a little fewer than 100 reviews with a 4.3 out of 5-star rating. Customers appreciate the quality of the ingredients and several comment that the food has helped cats with digestive issues. Many of the negative reviews are related to picky cats – some cats simply turn up their noses at certain brands for unknown reasons.
Let’s take a look at a few reviews from some of the most popular recipes from Dr. Tim’s.
Positive Reviews
“My cats are EXTREMELY finicky! They went through the entire menu of Nulo Canned and found only one flavor they would eat! I fed them the Dr Tim’s and they loved it! The only problem is, now they are refusing to eat the Nulo and I have two cases of it! I do find the Dr Tim’s a bit dry so I spritz it with a little water and mix it in gently before feeding and my cats can’t get enough of it! I guess I will have to return the Nulo and order more Dr Tim’s! Anything to make my boys happy!” – by Neko Reviewing Dr. Tim’s Nimble Chicken and Vegetable Pate Canned Cat Food on 4 Dec 2019
“My 7yo cat started having diarrhea, the vet gave him a round of antibiotics and anti diarrhea meds. It returned once those were finished. Tried the ID food but I have 5 cats so he kept getting into other food. I tried this on a whim after searching for hypoallergenic food… he is so much better. We’re only finishing the first bag, but I remain hopeful that he’ll stay feeling better on this food. (I do also feed wet because I have a diabetic cat in remission).” – by WhitRN Reviewing Dr. Tim’s Chase All Life Stages Dry Cat Food on 15 Nov 2020
Negative Reviews
“I love the ingredients in this cat food and have been trying to get my cats to eat better grain (or grain-free) – but after more than a week of trying, they still will not touch it. I tried everything…I don’t know if it’s the smell or taste, but they actually were spitting out pieces when I mixed in with their old grain to transition them over.” – by PeachesMommy Reviewing Dr. Tim’s Chase All Life Stages Dry Cat Food on 9 Nov 2020
“I was hoping that my cats would like this food since it seemed so healthy. Unfortunately, neither of my cats care for the food very much. If I put it in their dishes, one will nibble at it a bit and my voracious eater will just walk away, I suppose hoping for something better later on. They will eventually eat most of it, but only bit by bit after nothing else is forthcoming. I suppose this would be a good thing if they needed to lose weight.” – by Meow Reviewing Dr. Tim’s Nimble Chicken and Vegetable Pate Canned Cat Food on 8 Jul 2018
What Did Our Test Cats Think?
In order to fully understand what Dr. Tim’s has to offer, we tried it out with our own cats. Kate Barrington / Cats.com
To test Dr. Tim’s cat food, I ordered a 5-pound bag of the Chase All Life Stages Formula Dry Cat Food recipe and a case of Nimble Chicken & Vegetable Pate cat food cans.
My cats seemed to enjoy both recipes. The dry food comes in small X-shaped kibbles that I thought were appropriately sized for small feline mouths. The canned food is a pate texture, and I thought it was a little smoother than other pate-style canned foods I’ve tested.
Dr. Tim’s Cat Food – Top 3 Recipes Reviewed
| Product Name | Food Type | Main Protein Source | Calories | Price | Our Grade |
| Dr. Tim’s Chase All Life Stages Formula Dry Cat Food | Dry | Chicken | 472 kcal/cup | $5.14 per lb | B |
| Dr. Tim’s Nimble Chicken & Vegetable Pate Canned Cat Food | Wet | Chicken | 31 kcal/oz. | $0.43 per oz | B |
| Dr. Tim’s Beef Taurine Supplement Freeze-Dried Dog & Cat Food Topper | Topper | Beef | 125 kcal/oz. | $2.77 per oz | A- |
#1 Dr. Tim’s Chase All Life Stages Formula Dry Cat Food
This all life stages dry cat food is formulated with 91% animal protein, primarily from chicken meal. This concentrated source of animal protein is supplemented with dried egg, catfish meal, dried porcine plasma, chicken liver meal, and salmon meal.
While porcine plasma may sound like a questionable ingredient, it’s actually quite nutritious for cats. Plasma is often used in pet food as a source of essential amino acids and important vitamins and minerals like potassium, calcium, magnesium, and vitamin B12.
Not only does this dry food contain over half a dozen animal-derived sources of protein, but it relies primarily on animal-based fats. Chicken fat is the main source of fat, supplemented by ground whole flaxseed meal and menhaden fish oil. Though plant-based fats are not ideal, flaxseed does contain omega-3 fatty acids as well as dietary fiber. Menhaden fish oil is included as an animal source of omega-3s as well.
As is true for all dry cat foods, this recipe doesn’t provide the moisture your cat needs. It’s pretty high in fat – around 24% on a dry matter basis – but only moderately high in protein. It contains over 30% carbohydrate as well, so it may not be the most species-appropriate choice for your cat. It is, however, high in calories which may be beneficial for growing kittens and cat who need to put on weight.
Overall, this is a high-protein and high-fat dry food formula with fairly high carbohydrate content. The food contains 472 calories per cup.
Ingredients
Chicken Meal, Brown Rice, Chicken Fat (Preserved With Mixed Natural Tocopherols, A Source Of Vitamin E), Dried Egg Product, Catfish Meal, Dried Porcine Plasma, Ground Whole Flaxseed Meal, Dried Plain Beet Pulp (Sugar Removed), Chicken Liver Meal, Menhaden Fish Oil (Preserved With Mixed Natural Tocopherols, A Source Of Vitamin E), Rice Bran, Salmon Meal, Lecithin (Sunflower Derived), Potassium Chloride, Dried Carrots, Dried Celery, Dried Beets, Dried Parsley, Dried Lettuce, Dried Watercress, Dried Spinach, L-Lysine, DL-Methionine (Essential Amino Acid), Dried Kelp, Dried Chicory Root (Source Of Inulin), Psyllium Seed Husk, Dried Bacillus Coagulans Fermentation Product, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Choline Chloride, Salt, Taurine, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (Source Of Vitamin C), Vitamin E Supplement, Zinc Sulfate, Zinc Proteinate, Beta Carotene, Ferrous Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Inositol, Niacin Supplement, Iron Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Zinc Oxide, Biotin, Thiamine Mononitrate (Source Of Vitamin B1), Copper Sulfate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Source Of Vitamin B6), Copper Proteinate, Vitamin A Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement (Source Of Vitamin B2), D-Calcium Pantothenate, Potassium Iodide (Source Of Iodine), Manganous Oxide, Calcium Iodate, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Sodium Selenite, Vitamin D3 Supplement, L-Carnitine, Folic Acid.
| Ingredients We Liked | Ingredients We Didn’t Like | Common Allergens |
| Chicken Meal
Chicken Fat Dried Egg Product Catfish Meal Dried Porcine Plasma Chicken Liver Meal Menhaden Fish Oil Salmon Meal |
Ground Whole Flaxseed Meal | Chicken
Fish |
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
Pros
- Concentrated source of fat and calories for kittens and underweight cats
- Made with 91% animal-based protein
- Contains nutrient-rich chicken fat and menhaden oil for omega-3s
- Free from corn, wheat, soy, and artificial additives
Cons
- Contains over 30% carbohydrate
- No dry food provides the moisture your cat needs
#2 Dr. Tim’s Nimble Chicken & Vegetable Pate Canned Cat Food
Wet cat food is much higher in moisture than dry food and this Dr. Tim’s recipe is no exception. Following flavorful chicken broth as the first ingredient comes fresh chicken, chicken liver, and fresh ocean fish. You’ll also find New Zealand green mussels, eggs, and clams on the list.
While this recipe is packed with animal proteins and fats, it does contain several plant-based ingredients. Cats are able to derive some nutrition from wholesome plant foods but starchy ingredients like dried peas provide limited nutritional value. Peas and other legumes can also be difficult to digest and their phytic acid content may compromise the absorption of key nutrients like calcium.
One benefit Dr. Tim’s wet food has over other canned food recipes is that it is thickened without carrageenan or gum thickeners like guar gum and xanthan gum. Carrageenan has been identified as a potentially carcinogenic ingredient and gum thickeners have been linked to digestive upset in some cats Agar-agar is seaweed based like carrageenan but generally not considered harmful, though it too seems to upset the stomachs of some cats.
Overall, this is a high-protein and high-fat canned food formula with high carbohydrate content. The food contains 170.5 calories per 5.5-ounce can.
Ingredients
Chicken Broth, Chicken, Chicken Liver, Ocean Fish, Dried Peas, Natural Chicken Liver Flavor, Agar-Agar, Carrots, Asparagus, Cranberries, Blueberries, Ground Whole Flaxseed, New Zealand Green Mussels, Eggs, Clams, Salmon Oil, Olive Oil, Tricalcium Phosphate, Sea Salt, Dried Kelp, Potassium Chloride, Sodium Tripolyphosphate, Calcium Sulfate, Choline Chloride, Betaine, Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Niacin, Vitamin E Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Sodium Selenite, Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin A Supplement, Riboflavin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Calcium Iodate, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid, No Carrageenan, No Guar Gum and No Xanthan Gum.
| Ingredients We Liked | Ingredients We Didn’t Like | Common Allergens |
| Chicken
Chicken Liver Ocean Fish New Zealand Green Mussels Eggs Clams Salmon Oil |
Dried Peas
Agar-Agar Olive oil |
Chicken
Fish |
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
Pros
- Top four ingredients are animal-based
- Made without carrageenan or gum thickeners
- Packed with moisture and animal proteins
- Free from corn, wheat, soy, and artificial additives
Cons
- Contains starchy dried peas
- Agar-agar may cause digestive upset in some cats
#3 Dr. Tim’s Beef Taurine Supplement Freeze-Dried Dog & Cat Food Topper
While Dr. Tim’s only offers two complete cat food formulas, there are several treats and food toppers to choose from. This is a freeze-dried meal topper that comes in the form of a powder you can easily sprinkle over dry food or stir into wet food.
This topper is made primarily from beef ingredients, including fresh beef, and three types of beef organs. It also contains omega-3-rich salmon oil and added taurine.
Though not a source of complete and balanced nutrition for cats, this freeze-dried topper is a simple and flavorful way to boost the protein and fat content of your cat’s diet. The recommended serving size is 1 tablespoon per day for every 25 pounds of body weight, so the average cat (about 10 pounds) would probably only need a teaspoon or so per day.
Ingredients
Beef, Beef Heart, Beef Liver, Beef Tripe, Taurine, Salmon Oil.
| Ingredients We Liked | Ingredients We Didn’t Like | Common Allergens |
| Beef
Beef Heart Beef Liver Beef Tripe Salmon Oil |
None | Beef |
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
Pros
- Made entirely with animal ingredients plus taurine
- Freeze-dried powder is easy to sprinkle over or mix into food
- Rich source of animal protein, fat, and beef flavor
Cons
- Recommended serving size is too large for most cats
- Not a supplemental source of moisture
How Much Does Dr. Tim’s Cat Food Cost?
Dr. Tim’s cat food is on the higher end of the pricing spectrum. The sole dry cat food formula costs about $0.30 per ounce while the wet food is more expensive, around $0.43 per ounce. Dr. Tim’s wet food is similarly priced to Caru and Open Farm. The dry food recipe is similarly priced to Annamaet’s grain-free formulas.
To feed a 10-pound cat, you’d spend about $0.51 per day with Dr. Tim’s dry food or about $2.77 per day with Dr. Tim’s wet cat food.
Overall, Is Dr. Tim’s Cat Food A Good Choice?
In terms of quality, Dr. Tim’s cat food is a decent choice. The recipes are primarily animal-based with at least 40% protein on a dry matter basis. Unfortunately, Dr. Tim’s selection is limited to one dry food and one canned food for cats and both are pretty high in carbohydrates.
Another potential issue with Dr. Tim’s is that it’s a little pricey; it might not be in every cat owner’s budget. If you’re willing to spend the money, you can find similarly priced dry cat foods that are much lower in carbohydrates – like Young Again or Dr. Elsey’s. The wet food is a little better simply for the higher moisture content but has the same issue with carb content.
Where Is Dr. Tim’s Cat Food Sold?
While Dr. Tim’s does sell cat food on the brand website, you can also shop online at Chewy, PetFlow, Target, and Amazon. In stores, you’re most likely to find Dr. Tim’s sold in veterinary hospitals and clinics or local and independent pet food retailers.
Can you lab test this one?
We’ll consider it!