Published Sep 1, 2019
How has Farmina earned its reputation for excellence and does it deserve a place in your cat’s bowl? Find out in our unbiased Farmina cat food review.
The Cats.com Standard—Rating Farmina on What Matters
We’ve analyzed Farmina 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 – 7/10
- Ingredient Quality – 8/10
- Product Variety – 7/10
- Price – 5/10
- Customer Experience – 9/10
- Recall History – 10/10
Overall Score: 7.7/10
We give Farmina cat food a 46 out of 60 rating or a B+ grade.
About Farmina
Farmina began as a joint effort between an English food research company and an Italian livestock feed producer. The Italy-based Russo Magimi Company had been in the feed industry since 1965. When they started developing their first pet foods in the 90s, the company reached out to Farmina, an English food research and nutrition company.
Today, the brand bears the food research company’s name and is still owned by the Russo Magimi company. Farmina is marketed as “nature and science in perfect harmony”.
The company partners with the Chair of Animal Nutrition at the University of Naples Frederico II. This relationship has allowed the company to gather clinical data and publish research in scientific journals. Farmina Vet Research is dedicated to researching and formulating food according to the latest scientific findings.
Sourcing and Manufacturing
Farmina products are manufactured in several locations around the world. The company operates extrusion plants in Italy, Serbia, and Brazil, with a wet food manufacturing facility in Serbia. The food is made with ingredients sourced from Italy, other countries in Europe, and New Zealand. Farmina only uses non-GMO ingredients and those that haven’t been treated with antibiotics, steroids, or growth hormones.
Their manufacturing facility adheres to the food safety and quality standards established by the European Union. These standards are equal to or more stringent than those in the United States.
When manufacturing dry food, Farmina uses twin-screw extrusion to ensure less nutrient denaturing and to increase the digestibility of those nutrients. Additionally, all of their foods utilize a vacuum coater system, which allows the company to reduce the amount of heat stress on vitamins, increasing their longevity.
Has Farmina Cat Food Been Recalled?
It appears that Farmina has never recalled their dog or cat food.
What Kinds Of Cat Food Does Farmina Offer?
Farmina offers a wide variety of wet and dry foods broken into several lines.
- Vet Life Feline recipes are prescription-only foods that target health needs like gastrointestinal disorders, urinary tract disease, and hairballs.
- N&D Quinoa Functional Feline foods also target health conditions, but they are available without a veterinarian’s prescription. All of them feature quinoa instead of traditional grains.
- N&D Prime Feline foods are 98% animal protein, featuring animal ingredients instead of the cereal grains typically used in dry cat food. This line includes both wet and dry foods.
- N&D Ocean Feline includes both wet and dry foods, all of which feature an ocean-sourced primary protein source like cod or shrimp.
- N&D Pumpkin Feline recipes emphasize that 96% of their protein content comes from animal sources. They include pumpkin, a low-glycemic fruit popular among those treating their constipated or hairball-prone cats.
- N&D Ancestral Grain Feline foods include ancestral cereal grains instead of more common corn, soy, and wheat.
Farmina Cat Food – Top 3 Recipes Reviewed
| Product Name | Food Type | Price | Our Grade |
| Farmina Natural & Delicious Chicken Grain-Free Formula Dry Cat Food | Dry | $8.47 per lb | B- |
| Farmina Natural & Delicious Lamb Grain-Free Formula Dry Cat Food | Dry | $8.47 per lb | B- |
| Farmina Natural & Delicious Wild Boar Grain-Free Formula Dry Cat Food | Dry | $0.37 per oz | B- |
#1 Farmina Natural & Delicious Chicken Grain-Free Formula Dry Cat Food Review
Boneless chicken appears to be the primary protein source in this dry cat food.
This popular Farmina recipe is a kibble food comprised of 70% animal ingredients and 30% vegetables, fruits, vitamins, and minerals. The recipe features chicken as the main protein source, with boneless chicken and dehydrated chicken the first two ingredients. The food contains a variety of other animal protein sources, including dried whole eggs, and herring.
With a mix of chicken fat and herring oil as primary fat sources, the food clearly emphasizes species-appropriate fat and delivers the omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids that keep your cat in top condition.
Sweet potatoes are the food’s primary carbohydrate source and help to give the food its crunch and structure.
Like all Natural & Delicious (N&D) foods, the kibble is enriched with a blend of alfalfa, psyllium, rosemary, turmeric, and green tea. Farmina says that these ingredients “tone and strengthen the organs and tissues while inciting the elimination of toxins”. Green tea, turmeric, and rosemary are antioxidants, while alfalfa meal serves as a source of various micronutrients. Psyllium is a source of fiber and can help to promote healthy digestion. Aloe vera gel has multiple beneficial compounds that help to modulate inflammation.
Overall, this food is rich in protein with low fat and moderate carbohydrate content.
Twin-extruded for maximum digestibility, made from fresh—never frozen—ingredients, and vacuum coated for maximum nutrient longevity, this food is a well-crafted, highly-nutritious product. The food has slightly lower carbohydrate content than most dry foods, making it a nutritionally superior alternative to your average grain-free product.
The food has 412 calories per cup.
Ingredients
Boneless Chicken, Dehydrated Chicken, Sweet Potatoes, Chicken Fat, Dried Whole Eggs, Herring, Dehydrated Herring, Herring Oil, Pea Fiber, Dried Carrot, Sun Cured Alfalfa Meal, Inulin, Fructooligosaccharide, Yeast Extract, Dried Pomegranate, Dried Apple, Dried Spinach, Psyllium Seed Husk, Dried Sweet Orange, Dried Blueberry, Salt, Brewers Dried Yeast, Turmeric, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement, Ascorbic Acid, Niacin, Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Thiamine Mononitrate, Biotin, Folic Acid, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Choline Chloride, Beta-Carotene, Zinc Methionine Hydroxy Analogue Chelate, Manganese Methionine Hydroxy Analogue Chelate, Ferrous Glycine, Copper Methionine Hydroxy Analogue Chelate, Dl-Methionine, Taurine, Aloe Vera Gel Concentrate, Green Tea Extract, Rosemary Extract, Mixed Tocopherols (A Preservative).
Ingredients We Liked: Boneless Chicken, Dehydrated Chicken, Chicken Fat, Dried Whole Eggs, Herring, Dehydrated Herring, Herring Oil
Ingredients We Didn’t Like: Sweet Potatoes, Dried Carrot, Suncured Alfalfa Meal
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
Pros
- Carefully formulated and crafted for maximum nutritional integrity
- Contains plenty of protein from animal sources
- Features nourishing animal fat rather than oils
- Relatively low carbohydrate content compared to other dry foods
Cons
- High carbohydrate content
- Fails to provide the moisture cats require
#2 Farmina Natural & Delicious Lamb Grain-Free Formula Dry Cat Food Review
Lamb appears to be the primary protein source in this dry cat food.
This Farmina cat food is similar to the last one we reviewed. It’s comprised of 70% animal ingredients and contains a mix of animal proteins and fats. In this recipe, lamb takes center stage, with fresh lamb meat and dehydrated lamb the first two ingredients. Additional protein sources include dehydrated egg product, herring, dehydrated herring, and chicken protein concentrate.
The food contains potato as a carbohydrate source and binder. A mix of chicken fat, herring oil, and salmon oil increase the food’s fat content and contribute essential omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids.
In addition to the primary ingredients, the food contains a mix of nutraceuticals, including prebiotics for healthy digestion and Farmina’s signature blend of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory ingredients.
Overall, this dry food is rich in protein with low fat and moderate carbohydrate content.
This food has some great qualities. It’s made from apparently high-quality ingredients, delivers plenty of highly-digestible animal protein, and emphasizes fat from animals rather than plant oils. That said, it’s not a particularly species-appropriate choice. With carbohydrate content hovering around 20% on a dry matter basis and potato taking up a large slot on the ingredient list, this may not be the best choice for cats.
The food has 433 calories per cup.
Ingredients
Lamb Meat, Dehydrated Lamb Meat (Source of Glucosamine & Chondroitin Sulfate), Potato, Chicken Fat (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Dehydrated Egg Product, Herring (Source of Glucosamine & Chondroitin Sulfate), Dehydrated Herring (Source of Glucosamine & Chondroitin Sulfate), Herring & Salmon Oil Blend (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Chicken Protein Concentrate, Dried Carrots, Sun-Cured Alfalfa Meal, Chicory Root Extract, Fructooligosaccharide, Yeast Extract (Source of Mannan-Oligosaccharides), Dehydrated Blueberry, Dehydrated Sweet Orange, Dehydrated Pomegranate, Dehydrated Apple, Dehydrated Spinach, Psyllium Seed Husk, Dehydrated Blackcurrant Berry, Salt, Brewers Dried Yeast, Turmeric, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement, Ascorbic Acid, Niacin, Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Thiamine Mononitrate, Biotin, Folic Acid, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Choline Chloride, Beta-Carotene, Zinc Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Selenium Yeast, Dl-Methionine, Taurine, L-Carnitine, Aloe Vera Gel Concentrate, Green Tea Extract, Rosemary Extract.
Ingredients We Liked: Lamb Meat, Dehydrated Lamb Meat, Chicken Fat, Herring, Dehydrated Herring, Herring & Salmon Oil Blend, Chicken Protein Concentrate
Ingredients We Didn’t Like: Potato, Dried Carrots, Sun-Cured Alfalfa Meal
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
Pros
- Contains multiple sources of animal-derived fat
- A good source of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids
- Contains highly-digestible animal protein from apparently high-quality sources
- Low in carbohydrates compared to most dry foods
Cons
- High in carbohydrates
#3 Farmina Natural & Delicious Wild Boar Grain-Free Formula Dry Cat Food Review
Boar appears to be the primary protein source in this dry cat food.
This Farmina food is primarily made from what Farmina calls “semi-wild” farmed boar. Fresh and dehydrated boar meat is mixed with chicken, dehydrated egg product, herring, and chicken protein concentrate, all highly-digestible sources of protein. These ingredients, along with a mix of chicken fat, herring oil, and salmon oil, constitute 70% of the total recipe.
The remaining 30% is composed of fruits, minerals, and vegetables. Potato appears early on the ingredient list and is the food’s primary source of carbohydrates. The food also contains berries, dehydrated apple, sweet orange, spinach, and Farmina’s standard blend of botanicals.
Overall, this food has high protein content with low fat content and high carbohydrate content.
With animal ingredients representing 70% of the recipe, multiple sources of top-quality protein, a reliance on animal-sourced fat, and relatively low carbohydrate content, the food is a lot more carnivore-appropriate than the average kibble.
The food has 384 calories per cup.
Ingredients
Boar Meat, Dehydrated Boar Meat (Source of Glucosamine & Chondroitin Sulfate), Potato, Deboned Chicken, Dehydrated Chicken (Source of Glucosamine & Chondroitin Sulfate), Chicken Fat (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Dehydrated Egg Product, Herring (Source of Glucosamine & Chondroitin Sulfate), Dehydrated Herring (Source of Glucosamine & Chondroitin Sulfate), Chicken Protein Concentrate, Herring & Salmon Oil Blend (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Dried Carrots, Sun-Cured Alfalfa Meal, Chicory Root Extract, Fructooligosaccharide, Yeast Extract (Source of Mannan-Oligosaccharides), Dehydrated Apple, Dehydrated Pomegranate, Dehydrated Sweet Orange, Dehydrated Spinach, Psyllium Seed Husk, Dehydrated Blackcurrant Berry, Dehydrated Blueberry, Salt, Brewers Dried Yeast, Turmeric, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement, Ascorbic Acid, Niacin, Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Thiamine Mononitrate, Biotin, Folic Acid, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Choline Chloride, Beta-Carotene, Zinc Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Selenium Yeast, Dl-Methionine, Taurine, L-Carnitine, Aloe Vera Gel Concentrate, Green Tea Extract, Rosemary Extract.
Ingredients We Liked: Boar Meat, Dehydrated Boar Meat, Deboned Chicken, Dehydrated Chicken, Chicken Fat, Herring, Dehydrated Herring, Chicken Protein Concentrate, Herring & Salmon Oil Blend
Ingredients We Didn’t Like: Potato, Dried Carrot, Suncured Alfalfa Meal
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
Pros
- Primarily composed of highly-digestible animal ingredients
- Contains multiple sources of essential fatty acids
- Features beneficial supplemental ingredients
- Low in carbohydrates compared to other dry foods
Cons
- Relatively high carbohydrate content
What Do Customers Think of Farmina Cat Food?
Farmina is a well-loved brand with a loyal following. It receives almost unanimously positive customer reviews and even commands respect among the tough crowd on TheCatSite.com. Happy customers like the quality of the ingredients and the freshness of the food. Cats seem to like Farmina, too.
Here’s what a few customers have to say about Farmina.
Positive Reviews
“Honestly I think I begged chewy for about a year and a half to carry this formula after reading and trying the lamb version. The boar is actually the most nutritious out of the whole line and I thank the gods that my cats love it so much. The only thing i wish i would change is that they also have a wet food line and again i’m calling as much as i can to hopefully get it added to chewy TT If you are thinking about trying this food I say please do, but of course because of how nutrition packed it is please be careful to transition your cats !!!! Especially if they were on a lower protein diet!! Also be aware that even if your current pet food says high protein that could also mean plant protein which is completely different !!! This food is amazing and I recommend it to all cat owners !!!” – Hana, reviewing Farmina N&D Wild Boar Grain-Free Formula
“I was looking for a grain-free dry cat food with quality non-GMO ingredients and a protein content as high as possible. Too many dry cat foods are as unhealthy for cats as processed American food is for people. After spending several hours on chewy comparing dry cat foods, this one came out on top. A high protein content is crucial for maintaining the health of an obligate carnivore (which is what cats are). 97% of Farmina N&D’s protein comes from quality animal sources. I have 4 indoor/outdoor cats. One LOVES this food, the other 3 like it well enough to eat a little every day (I also feed them wet food). Definitely introduce this food slowly to allow your kitty’s digestive system to adjust. I know this food is pricey but try very hard to fit it into your budget: your cat’s health is worth it.” – Greta603, reviewing Farmina N&D Chicken Grain-Free Formula
Negative Reviews
“This was amazing food to feed my cat who has a pea and sweet potato allergy. I just received a new shipment and I see the bag is different. I checked the ingredients and it’s changed and now has pea fiber and sweet potatoes! Farmina was the only hard food I knew of that didn’t have any of her allergens. This is soul crushing. A 5 star review from me before, a 1 star now. I’m at a loss for what I can feed her now when I need to be out of town and have to leave her hard food.” – Schmoops, reviewing Farmina N&D Chicken Grain-Free Formula
“My cat would not touch this food. It has a strong fish smell and obviously my cat does not like the smell of fish. I did not realize that a lamb based food would have as much fish added to its formula as this one does. Hope your cat is not as picky as mine.” – Rosie, reviewing Farmina N&D Lamb Grain-Free Formula
How Much Does Farmina Cat Food Cost?
Farmina is in the premium price bracket. If you’re feeding a 10-lb cat who needs about 200 calories per day, Farmina dry food will cost around $0.74 per day. If you order on Amazon, their wet varieties cost over $1 per ounce, adding up to around $7 per day for the average 10-lb cat.
Overall, Is Farmina a Good Choice?
Farmina is a brand dedicated to excellence. Their products are rooted in scientific research, made from high-quality ingredients, and thoughtfully manufactured. The brand’s clean recall history and loyal following are both testaments to Farmina’s quality standards.
Yet if your priority is low carbohydrate content, Farmina’s recipes won’t make the cut. With dry foods making up the bulk of their offering and their wet foods containing high-carbohydrate sweet potatoes, this brand tends to use more high-carbohydrate ingredients than we would prefer.
Farmina is an excellent option for those looking for a lower-glycemic, trustworthy upgrade from traditional grain-heavy dry food and by-product-laden wet products.
Where To Buy Farmina Cat Food?
Farmina is sold by retailers around the world. Click here to find a store near you. If you’d like to shop for Farmina online, you’ll find it on Amazon, Chewy, and other retailers that sell pet food.
Could you please off your analysis of the Farmina Ocean flavor herring pumpkin and orange? My cats were enjoying this and all of a sudden they are struggling with it. I don’t see a change on the label but the size of the kibble has been different within the same sized bags with different manufacturing dates. I am concerned as my sweet boys are going hungry!
Hi Debbie! Happy to help. It looks like the Farmina Herring & Orange Adult dry food recipe is similar in formulation to the three recipes in the original review. All start with a source of fresh and dehydrated animal protein supplemented with egg, herring, and herring oil. Because it contains sweet potatoes and suncured alfalfa meal, I’d say the Chicken and Pomegranate recipe is the closest comparison.
To dig into the nutrient composition of the herring formula a bit, the breakdown of protein, fat, fiber, and moisture appears identical. So, the dry matter composition of the herring recipe would be about 48% protein, 22% fat, 2% fiber, and just under 20% carbs.
It’s hard to say whether the herring recipe has been reformulated. You mentioned that the manufacturing dates were different, so it could just be related to the fact that there are often slight differences between batches when they’re made in such large quantities. If you want to stick to a similar product but try a different flavor, I’d say the herring recipe is pretty close in comparison and might be worth a shot. Good luck!
HI! Wondering if you would consider adding reviews of Farmina’s wet food recipes. I happen to feed my cat the pumpkin line (since June 2022), which includes quail, venison, and duck recipes (all with chicken). It’s hit and miss with my cat and I’ve often wondered whether Farmina is the best choice. Thanks!
Yes! That’s a great idea; we should add their wet food to this review. Thank you.
Which cat dry food has less carbs My one cat has just been diagnosed with diabetes. I don’t like the prescription food. Thanks
Young Again is a very popular option for diabetic cats! I’d also consider Dr. Elsey’s dry cat food.
My cat loves this, he’s been diagnosed with stage 2-3 kidney disease and hate the rx kidney kibble!!
Is this kibble safe to feed my boy after his diagnosis?
It’s really not ideal. I’d recommend trying some of the options on our list of the best cat food for kidney disease.
I am using the plain Farmina dry cat food. It’s a plain white bag, large. probably 15 kilos. All it says on the bag is Farmina Pet Foods. Happy pet. Happy you. My wife’s sister said this food is no good for cats because it has high contents of ash and other ingredients that cause urinary tract crystals which can be very painful for the cat and eventually kill them. Is this true ?
These foods’ ash content looks similar to that from other cat foods, so I wouldn’t assume that the food is particularly harmful. However, foods like this, especially those featuring fish, may be a little bit higher in certain minerals, potentially increasing certain cats’ risk of urinary health issues. Fed in rotation with other foods, including wet recipes, it should not be an immediate issue.
I have an inside cat who will only eat special care dry cat food made by brekkies. She doesn’t want anything else. No wet food and no other dry food. Is this okay for her long term? She is young, about 3 years old.
Is it really safe for cats? It has ingredients that are known toxins for cats. Ex oranges and aloe vera.
Hi Tina, not all parts of oranges or aloe vera are toxic to cats. The food contains aloe vera gel concentrate, which is from a part of the plant that is safe for cats, and I would assume that the orange included is orange fruit or flesh, not the peel, which is what contains toxic oils.
I’ve looked everywhere for a Farmina N&D Ancestral Grain cat food review and couldn’t find any. I can’t afford to get the grain free formulas but their ancestral grain formulas seem to still contain more protein than other brands like Royal Canin which I’m using now. would you recommend I make the change for my Scottish fold? Also please note that I live in Türkiye and many of the brands on your website like Dr Elsey’s aren’t sold here. mostly subsidiaries of Nestle and Mars.
Hi Mahmoud, apologies for the late reply. I agree that Farmina’s N&D Ancestral Grain cat food is a good alternative to other popular brands, and the grain-inclusive formulas are similar to the grain-free ones nutritionally. I’d go for it.
I have been through a lot of wet food for my Siberian (9 month old). She is very fussy and I have spent a considerable amount of money offering various brands and flavours to her – which she refuses. Finally I chose one brand of wet food that she seemed to like and I am sticking with it. As for the dry food, the breeder served Farmina N & D and that has been her only dry food. First kitten formula and now adult kibble. I was very upset over the wet food issues and the only thing that kept me from being constantly anxious over her feedings was the fact that N & D was her main and successful source of nutrition. She is beautiful and healthy with a long silky coat.. I would highly recommend the Farmina Dry Food.
Hi, I would like to bring to notice that Farmina has now introduced a grain inclusive (i.e rice, corn and not ancestral) called Matisse. From what I observed this is only currently being sold in India and other developing countries perhaps as a cost effective means for low income population. Please consider including this variety of farmina food as well.
Here is the link for it. There are 4 variants. 1 for kitten, 2 for adults (chicken or fish based) and 1 for neutered.
https://www.farmina.com/in/eshop-cat/cat-food/17-matisse.html
By the way they also have Matisse wet food range as well but the variations are misleading. For example all wet food cans contain chicken as primary ingredients and the “flavour” is usually 5% or so. So if the can says lamb, it’s just 5% lamb. There is that. Also their website says that farmina is committed to avoid using ingredients like rice and corn* yet they do this exact thing in 3rd world countries to avoid suspicion from developed countries
* https://www.farmina.com/in/farmina/745-the-raw-materials.html (check carbohydrates section in this page)
My cat was slim until I started feeding her the chicken with pomegranate formula. It was immediate after only a few weeks. She is actually developing fat on her belly. Plus when I read ingredients had physillium husk I became concerned. That absorbs moisture big time. Unless you mix with water your fat will have terrible dehydration. It’s the same as Metamucil for humans which must be mixed with water. I wasted my money on this food. Sure enough her stools were too firm even though she drinks a lot of water for a cat. Had to add water to it. I am throwing rest of bag out. All the hype about omegas…Sge eats one of my fish omegas every day. Her cia t is amazing. The cat food industry is so lacking. I will be making her homemade real food. Your review explains to me why her sudden weight gain. I thank you for the analysis.
Hello,
For kibble, I would give my three cats exclusively Farmina Italian brand flavors. They each had their favorites and were doing well with this brand, especially my elderly male cat that suffered from IBD for four years. I noticed that after a while they began to eat less and less of their kibble and began to have both skin and stool issues. I noticed that certain flavors no longer smelled or looked the same. Did some investigation online and found issues with the plant in Serbia that was now processing the food. Bottom line is that all the bags of kibble I had that were made in Italy were fine, but the newer bags came from Serbia. Contacted the company, was told nothing had changed and that the formula was exactly the same. I am not going to blame the company for my elderly cat’s demise, but he never seemed to be the same after eating the Serbian sourced food. By the time I had changed brands, he lived only a short time longer. I told the company they were insulting my intelligence by telling me the food had not changed since being processed in Italy, and that I would never buy their products again. Since then, I have visited my local pet store numerous times and now see all Farmina products sourced from Serbia, although my guess is that in Canada you can still purchase their original Italian recipes.
I wanted to share my experiences with this brand. I don’t know if others have had similar results, but I wish everyone the best when it comes to their pets.
Thank you,
Mitch
Thanks for sharing, Mitch, and sorry to hear about your cat. It’s certainly frustrating when products change unexpectedly!