Published Jul 2, 2019
Evolve is described as super premium food at a budget-friendly price. Is it good enough for your cat? Find out in our unbiased Evolve cat food review.
The Cats.com Standard—Rating Evolve on What Matters
We’ve analyzed Evolve and graded it according to the Cats.com standard, evaluating the brand on species-appropriateness, ingredient quality, product variety, price, customer experience, and recall history. Here’s how it rates in each of these six key areas.
Ratings
- Species-Appropriateness – 6/10
- Ingredient Quality – 6/10
- Product Variety – 5/10
- Price – 9/10
- Customer Experience – 7/10
- Recall History – 4/10
Overall Score: 6.2/10
We give Evolve cat food a 37 out of 60 rating or a C+ grade.
About Evolve
Evolve is owned by Sunshine Mills. This Alabama company was founded in 1949 and started manufacturing pet food in the 1960s.
Besides its own brands, Sunshine Mills manufactures food for private label, producing food for brands including Abound, Natural Life, Nature’s Promise, and Orlando. Sunshine Mills’ own brands include Triumph, Hi-Tor, and more. The Evolve brand offers the ingredients and formulations you’d expect from a super-premium brand at an affordable price.
Sourcing And Manufacturing
Sunshine Mills manufactures Evolve products in their company-owned US facilities. Their ingredients are sourced primarily from the United States.
Has Evolve Cat Food Been Recalled?
Evolve pet food has been recalled multiple times.
In November of 2018, several varieties of Evolve dog food were recalled due to elevated levels of vitamin D. This nutrient imbalance prompted the recall of multiple Sunshine Mills-manufactured products in late 2018.
In March of 2007, the company recalled Evolve kitten food due to melamine contamination.
What Kinds Of Cat Food Does Evolve Offer?
Evolve cat food is available in dry and wet varieties.
Evolve’s dry selection is slim. They offer a handful of grain-free and grain-inclusive varieties. Whether grain-free or made with grains, Evolve dry foods are free of corn, soy, and wheat.
The brand’s wet selection is divided into cans and plastic trays. The foods in trays are described as “Evolve Classic Crafted Meals”. They provide a smaller serving size appropriate for delicate appetites and topping bowls of dry food.
Evolve Cat Food – Top 3 Recipes Reviewed
| Product Name | Food Type | Price | Our Grade |
| Evolve Classic Deboned Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Cat Food | Dry | $2.53 per lb | C- |
| Evolve Seafood Formula Canned Cat Food | Wet | $0.26 per oz | B |
| Evolve Chicken Formula Canned Cat Food | Wet | $0.26 per oz | B |
#1 Evolve Classic Deboned Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Cat Food Review
Chicken appears to be the primary protein source in this dry cat food.
This dry food features chicken as the primary ingredient, followed by chicken meal as a concentrated protein source. In addition to chicken, the food contains turkey meal, fish meal, and dried egg product as sources of protein.
The food contains brown rice flour, peas, and oatmeal as its primary plant ingredients.Later on the list, the recipe contains smidges of dried kelp, cranberries, blueberries, and a hint of dried kelp. It’s enhanced with a hint of probiotics for digestive support.
Overall, this food has moderate protein content, low fat, and high carbohydrate content.
The food is an upgrade from similarly-priced kibble, but it’s not the best food on the market.
The food has 366 calories per cup.
Ingredients
Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Turkey Meal, Brown Rice Flour, Peas, Oatmeal, Chicken Fat (preserved with mixed Tocopherols), Natural Chicken Flavor, Fish Meal, Dried Egg Product, Taurine, Calcium Sulfate, Salt, Dl-Methionine, Dried Kelp, Dried Cranberries, Dried Blueberries, Dried Lactobacillus Casei Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus Acidophilus Fermentation Product, Dried Bifidobacterium Thermophilum Fermentation Product, Dried Enterococcus Faecium Fermentation Product, Vitamins (Choline Chloride, Vitamin E Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin Supplement, Folic Acid, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement), Minerals (Zinc Polysaccharide Complex, Iron Polysaccharide Complex, Manganese Polysaccharide Complex And Copper Polysaccharide Complex, Zinc Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite).
Ingredients We Liked: Deboned Chicken, Chicken Fat, Probiotics
Ingredients We Didn’t Like: Brown Rice Flour, Peas, Oatmeal
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
Pros
- Primarily made from nourishing poultry ingredients
- Enhanced with probiotics
- Free of artificial colors and potentially harmful preservatives
Cons
- Very high in carbohydrates
#2 Evolve Seafood Formula Canned Cat Food Review
Chicken appears to be the primary protein source in this wet cat food.
Chicken is this food’s first ingredient, with ocean whitefish as an additional source of protein and nutrition. The food also contains salmon broth, chicken liver, and dried egg product.
Brown rice, carrots, cranberries, and peas drive the carbohydrate content up to approximately 13% on a dry matter basis.
Finally, the food is thickened a combination of carrageenan and guar gum. The latter is an acceptable option, but carrageenan has a carcinogenic reputation and is an ingredient to avoid.
Overall, this wet food has high protein content with moderate fat and low carbohydrate content.
Though it has some problems—the use of carrageenan, for example—this food is marginally superior to most products at the same price point. With the exception of ocean fish, its ingredients are clearly-named and easy to identify. It’s not particularly high in carbohydrates and is made without any artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives.
The food has 189 calories in each 5.5-ounce can or 34 calories per ounce.
Ingredients
Chicken, Ocean Whitefish, Salmon Broth, Chicken Liver, Dried Egg Product, Brown Rice, Cranberries, Peas, Carrots, Guar Gum, Salt, Potassium Chloride, Taurine ,Ground Flaxseed, Natural Flavor, Minerals (Iron Amino Acid Chelate, Zinc Amino Acid Chelate, Copper Amino Acid Chelate, Manganese Amino Acid Chelate, Sodium Selenite, Potassium Iodide), Choline Chloride, Vitamins (Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin Supplement, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, Biotin, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Folic Acid), Magnesium Sulfate, Inulin, Carrageenan, Brewers Dried Yeast, Yucca Schidigera Extract.
Ingredients We Liked:Chicken, Ocean Whitefish, Salmon Broth, Chicken Liver
Ingredients We Didn’t Like: Brown Rice, Carrots, Cranberries, Guar Gum, Flaxseed, Carrageenan
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
Pros
- Doesn’t contain any low-value animal or plant by-products
- Contains a mix of muscle meat and liver
- One of the most affordable foods on the market
Cons
- Contains carrageenan, a potentially carcinogenic thickener
- Slightly higher carbohydrate content than is ideal
#3 Evolve Chicken Formula Canned Cat Food Review
Chicken appears to be the primary protein source in this wet cat food.
This food is similar to the last one we reviewed. Instead of turkey, the paté emphasizes chicken and chicken liver, with turkey, ocean fish, and dried egg product coming later on the ingredient list.
The food contains the same mix of fruits, vegetables, and brown rice. Like the turkey food, it contains a dash of garlic powder, which the company says “can help support the immune system, liver and cardiovascular system prevents blood clots and reduces cholesterol/fat build up in the blood and heart,” adding that “it aides in the fight against bacterial, viral and fungal infections and increases the rate of killing off parasites and is great for palatability.”
It’s thickened with a combination of carrageenan and guar gum, ingredients that are neither species-appropriate or, in the case of carrageenan, generally considered safe.
Overall, this food has high protein content with moderate fat and low carbohydrate content.
The food has 189 calories per can or 34 calories per ounce.
Ingredients
Chicken, Chicken Broth, Chicken Liver, Turkey, Ocean Fish, Brown Rice, Cranberries, Peas, Cottage Cheese, Carrots, Dried Egg Product, Guar Gum, Potassium Chloride, Flaxseed, Garlic Powder, Salt, Minerals (Iron Amino Acid Chelate, Zinc Amino Acid Chelate, Cobalt Amino Acid Chelate, Copper Amino Acid Chelate, Manganese Amino Acid Chelate, Sodium Selenite, Potassium Iodide), Taurine, Vitamins(Vitamin E, A, D3, B12 Supplements, Thiamine Mononitrate, Niacin, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin Supplement, Folic Acid, Biotin), Choline Chloride, Chicory Root Extract, Carrageenan, Brewers Dried Yeast, Yucca Schidigera Extract.
Ingredients We Liked: Chicken, Chicken Liver
Ingredients We Didn’t Like: Brown Rice, Peas, Carrots, Guar Gum, Flaxseed, Garlic Powder, Carrageenan
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
Pros
- Contains nourishing chicken muscle meat and liver
- Made without low-quality by-products
- Free of potentially-harmful additives
Cons
- Contains carrageenan
- Contains unnecessary high-carbohydrate ingredients
What Do Customers Think of Evolve Cat Food?
Evolve’s customer reviews are generally positive, but it doesn’t get consistently great palatability scores. A noticeable number of customers say their cats didn’t like Evolve food, particularly their dry recipes.
Positive Reviews
“I have a very picky cat who is 13 years old. She refuses to eat kibble so I feed her canned foods. She’s lost a bit of weight because I haven’t been able to feed her the expensive brand she likes lately. I am happy I found evolve. I got my order today which shipped fast and my cat Cloud took right to it. Thank Goodness. I’m happy with the ingredients because I’m picky about what I feed her. We are both happy customers and I look forward to ordering this in the future. Hopefully she will love the other flavors.” -by Yowler123, reviewing Evolve Seafood Formula Canned Cat Food on 31 Aug 2016
“I’m pleased with Evolve dry cat food for my two 9-yr-old cats. They’re indoor cats, and in the last couple of years, have slowed down and gained a little weight. Boy cat was beginning to get too big to be healthy. Likely pre-diabetic. Girl cat is still a healthy weight but somewhat prone to throwing up. On our budget, and after comparing brands, I chose Evolve about six months ago. Both issues have subsided significantly.” -by BubbaChloe, reviewing Evolve Classic Deboned Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe on 7 Mar 2018
Negative Reviews
“While my cats like the taste, there is so much water/liquid in relation to solids it’s not worth the money. And, the amount of liquid is giving my kittens very soft stool. Would be fine for individual cats who need more fluid in their diet.” -by RussBlu, reviewing Evolve Chicken Formula Canned Cat Food on on 30 May 2019
“I have never once in the years of running a cat rescue come across a food that my ENTIRE household (30+) doesn’t like, but I found it with this one! I’m sad because personally I like the ingredients and it’s a good quality food, but 3 bags in and they turn their noses up. They’re only reluctantly eating it because it’s the only thing they have. Off to try something else I guess!” -by Sckit, reviewing Evolve Classic Deboned Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe on 27 Jun 2019
How Much Does Evolve Cat Food Cost?
Evolve is a budget brand. If you have a 10-lb cat who needs 200 calories a day, you’ll end up spending about $0.18 per day to feed him Evolve dry food and closer to $1.08 per day to feed him Evolve wet food.
Overall, Is Evolve a Good Choice?
Evolve cat food appears to use better ingredients than most brands in the same price bracket, but it’s not one of the best brands you can buy. Their dry food, for example, skips the harmful synthetics and appears to contain higher-quality meats than the average economy kibble, but its high carbohydrate content makes it a distinctly species-inappropriate option.
Similarly, Evolve’s wet foods are free of artificial ingredients and nameless animal by-products, but they contain rice, carrageenan, and high-carbohydrate fruits and vegetables.
Where To Buy Evolve Cat Food?
Evolve cat food is sold in retailers scattered around the United States and Canada. Most of their retailers are concentrated along the coasts. Click here to search for an Evolve retailer near you.
If you can’t find a retailer in your area or prefer to shop online, you can shop for Evolve on Chewy or buy it straight from the Sunshine Mills store.
Well I purchased this wet food on 10/8 and my cats like it so far but one is throwing up and I’m sure the root cause is from the immediate switching of foods. This food smells like something humans can eat. For me that’s a plus. So I am going to keep this in their diet for a bit to see how it goes. If my baby keeps throwing up then I’m throwing it out! That simple.
Hi Vanessa, good luck with this new food. I hope your cat feels better soon.
Thanks I’m monitoring her And I’ve decided to keep the food wellness has garlic as well as long as it’s not given in large quantity then it’s not harmful
I bought Evolve dry cat food because it was a BOGO and they like variety. Put a scoop in each bowl. Male cat took a few bites and walked away, refused to eat more, he eats anything. Female sniffed and walked away.
I ran out of the usual dry and left them with bowls of Evolve overnight. Untouched and had to feed wet food this morning.
Returning it today.
I bought the pink bag of dry food for cats. Salmon, rice, and seeet potato. I asked my grocer if it was recalled because both my cats refuse to touch it. Something is def wrong with it, and this is the second bag I’ve purchased. The first one, only one of my cats would eat. By the second bag she refused and would go to my other cats bowl so I realized something was wrong and am returning to the store.
Yikes! It’s certainly possible that there’s something off with the food, though I wasn’t able to find any information suggesting a recent recall. Pet food brands do sometimes reformulate their products without informing customers, so it could be that the product smells different than it once did. It sounds like you’ve only recently begun feeding your cats Evolve, however, so I’m not sure that would be the case.
Have you checked the “best by” dates on the food? If the food is still fresh and your cats don’t seem interested it may just be a matter of preference. Cats can be picky and if a food doesn’t appeal to their sense of smell they may not bother trying it at all. You could dry adding a little bone broth or a wet food topper. Otherwise, it may be best to simply try another recipe to see if your cat likes that better. Good luck!
most cats dont like sweet potato, naturally, not sure why some brands insist on using it.