Last updated Nov 19, 2024
Go-Cat is a brand of dry cat food made by Purina. It’s available in Great Britain and European Union countries. Learn more about Go-Cat in our unbiased review.
The Cats.com Standard – Rating Go-Cat Cat Food on What Matters
We have analyzed Go-Cat cat food and rated it according to our standards here at Cats.com. Our grades are based on the species-appropriateness of the food, the quality of the ingredients, product variety, price, customer experience, and recall history. You can read more about our ratings here.
Here are our ratings for Go-Cat in these key areas:
Ratings
- Species-Appropriateness – 6/10
- Ingredient Quality – 6/10
- Product Variety – 6/10
- Price – 7/10
- Customer Experience – 8/10
- Recall History – 9/10
Overall Score: 7/10
We give Go-Cat cat food a 42 out of 60 rating (70%) or a B- grade.
About Go-Cat
Nestle bought the British cat food Go-Cat in 1985. Based on the information we found, Go-Cat was previously known as Friskies Go-Cat in the 1990s. It has been considered to be similar to Meow Mix in the United States.
Nestle-Purina Petcare (or simply Purina) is the second-largest global producer of pet food in the world.
Purina Petcare’s world hub is in Missouri in the United States. The company has invested heavily in nutrition research and development with nutritionists, veterinarians, behaviorists, immunologists, chemists, molecular biologists, food scientists, palatability experts, and specialists in genomics and bioinformatics. You can learn more about the Purina Institute and their research into pet foods here.
Sourcing and Manufacturing
Nestle-Purina has multiple factories in the UK. We couldn’t identify which facility makes Go-Cat but Purina does make their own foods.
We did find a useful page on the Purina UK website which answers many questions about ingredients, sustainability, and how the food is made.
Purina has a good record of quality control. The company may carry out as many as 1400 tests and checks in one day, at one site, to ensure the safety of their foods.
Has Go-Cat Cat Food Been Recalled?
Searching the UK government’s Food Standards Agency’s website for recalls yielded no returns for Go-Cat recalls. However, Go-Cat has been around for several decades and Purina has owned the company for a long time. We can’t say with certainty that the brand has never had a recall in Great Britain.
We didn’t find any recalls for Go-Cat in Europe but they might not show up in an English language Google search.
What Kinds of Food Does Go-Cat Offer?
At this time, Go-Cat has 10 different dry cat foods. Most of the foods are strictly kibble but several also contain tender bits.
Go-Cat makes food for kittens, junior cats, adult cats, and seniors.
Flavors include beef, fish, salmon, chicken, tuna, turkey, dairy, and duck.
Go-Cat also has a special formula for indoor cats.
In the past, Go-Cat was available as a wet food but they do not offer canned foods at this time based on their website.
Go-Cat Cat Food – Top 3 Recipes Reviewed
| Product Name | Food Type | Primary Protein | Calories | Price | Our Grade |
| Go-Cat Chicken and Duck Dry cat food | Dry | Chicken, Duck | 340.5 kcal per 100g | £1.51 per lb | C |
| Go-Cat® Crunchy and Tender Kitten Chicken Dry Cat Food | Dry | Chicken | 354 kcal per 100g | £5.50 per lb | B- |
| Go-Cat Indoor Chicken Dry Cat Food | Dry | Chicken | 328.25 kcal per 100g | £1.13 per lb | B- |
#1 Go-Cat Chicken And Duck Dry Cat Food
According to Purina, Go-Cat is Britain’s favorite dry cat food. While wet cat food is often favored for cats because of its moisture content, many people still prefer dry cat food.
It’s convenient to feed and to store compared to wet foods. You don’t have to carry boxes of canned food, for example. Plus, a bag of dry food doesn’t take up as much space as a dozen cans of food. Dry foods also have a long shelf life. And, they are more economical than wet foods.
That’s not to say that wet foods don’t have their good points – they do. But there are some good reasons why some people prefer to feed their cats dry foods.
The main ingredients of Go-Cat Chicken and Duck Dry cat food are cereals, meat and animal derivatives, vegetable protein extracts, oils and fats, and derivatives of vegetable origin. Unfortunately, under British and EU law, pet food companies are not required to provide more precise labeling for their ingredients.
We do see that the meat and animal derivatives make up 10 percent of the food. A note on the Go-Cat page states that this is equivalent to 20 percent rehydrated meat and animal derivatives with a minimum of 4 percent chicken and a minimum of 4 percent duck.
The food contains no artificial colors. Purina states that its Go-Cat formulas contain no artificial colorants, flavorings or preservatives.
According to Go-Cat, this chicken and duck formula is made with carefully selected ingredients from known and trusted suppliers. The right balance of minerals supports urinary tract health. Essential minerals plus vitamin D support your cat’s healthy teeth and bones. And, essential fatty acids are good for your cat’s healthy skin and shiny coat.
This formula is a complete and balanced adult maintenance formula for cats.
Go-Cat appears to be a complete and balanced dry food that provides suitable nutrition for adult cats. It’s hard to draw conclusions about the ingredients since they are not listed in any detail. The vague descriptions and price indicates that this is an average food but many cats may like it and thrive on it.
Calorie Content (ME Calculated): 340.5 kCals per 100g
Ingredients
Cereals, Meat and animal derivatives (10%*), Vegetable protein extracts, Oils and fats, Derivatives of vegetable origin, Minerals, Yeasts
Ingredients We Liked: Meat and animal derivatives with chicken and duck
Ingredients We Didn’t Like: Hard to say since the ingredients are so vague
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
Pros
- Contains a minimum of 4 percent chicken and 4 percent duck
- Complete and balanced for adult cats
- Purina has qualified veterinary nutritionists to formulate their foods; the company performs over 1000 ingredient and production quality checks per day in their factories
- Affordable
Cons
- Ingredient information is vague on the label (though this is legal in the UK)
- Information about ingredient sourcing is lacking
#2 Go-Cat Crunchy And Tender Kitten Chicken Dry Cat Food
Kittens require special nutrition. They do most of their growing in the first four months of life. It’s important for a kitten to have the correct nutrients, along with plenty of energy during this period.
Go-Cat® Crunchy and Tender Kitten Chicken Dry Cat Food is formulated for kittens during the first year of growth. It’s also suitable for pregnant cats and mother cats that are nursing. It helps support your kitten’s growth. It contains vitamin E for the immune system. And it has taurine to promote a healthy heart and good eyesight.
While many Go-Cat recipes are strictly dry foods, this kitten formula has both crunchy and tender bits to appeal to kittens while they are teething. This may also help maintain healthy teeth and gums.
The main ingredients in this food are cereals, meat and animal derivatives, vegetable protein extracts, and oils and fats. The meat and animal derivatives are equivalent to 20 percent rehydrated meat and animal derivatives with a minimum of 4 percent chicken. The food also contains an equivalent of 4 percent rehydrated vegetables.
According to Go-Cat, the food contains no artificial colors. Purina states that their Go-Cat recipes contain no added artificial colorants, flavorings, or preservatives.
Go-Cat recommends that the food be served with water at first when your kitten is weaned. You can gradually reduce the amount of water as your kitten becomes more accustomed to eating hard foods.
It would be nice to have more information about the exact information in the ingredients but that is not required by British law.
This recipe is one of the most expensive Go-Cat formulas. It is relatively high in protein, as it should be for growing kittens. Go-Cat Crunchy and Tender Kitten Chicken Dry Cat Food appear to provide suitable nutrition for growing kittens up to one year of age.
Calorie Content (ME Calculated): 354 kCals per 100g
Ingredients
Cereals, Meat and animal derivatives (10%*), Vegetable protein extracts, Oils and fats, Glycerol, Minerals, Various sugars, Derivatives of vegetable origin, Vegetables (0.6%**), Yeasts
Ingredients We Liked: Chicken
Ingredients We Didn’t Like: Added sugars
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
Pros
- A minimum of 4 percent chicken (equivalent)
- Relatively high in protein
- Purina has good production and quality control checks
Cons
- Ingredients are vague and sources are not provided
- Contains added sugars
#3 Go-Cat Indoor Chicken Dry Cat Food
Unlike a few decades ago, many cats today live their lives indoors. City life with traffic and other dangers makes it unsafe for pet cats to enjoy the outdoors. Indoor cats often need a diet that’s suited for their special needs.
Go-Cat Indoor Chicken Dry Cat Food is made with the indoor cat in mind. It helps keep your cat at a healthy weight. It has chicory as an ingredient to help reduce litter odor. It contains beet pulp extracts to help reduce the formation of hairballs. Plus, fiber from natural sources helps support your cat’s healthy digestion.
The main ingredients in this formula are cereals, meat and animal derivatives (10 percent), vegetable protein extracts, derivatives of vegetable origin (5 percent beet pulp), oils and fats, and vegetables (2 percent dried chicory). The rehydrated meat and animal derivatives contain a minimum of 4 percent chicken according to the Go-Cat website. The recipe label actually states that the food contains 2.1 percent chicken and 2.1 percent turkey.
This recipe contains no added artificial colors. Purina states that none of their Go-Cat recipes contain added artificial colorants, flavorings, or preservatives.
This indoor food has slightly fewer calories than some of Go-Cat’s other dry food offerings which can be helpful for cats that may not get as much exercise as cats that engage in outdoor activities.
Go-Cat Indoor Chicken Dry Cat Food is an adult maintenance formula for cats one year of age and up.
Go-Cat Indoor Chicken Dry Cat Food looks like a reasonably nutritious food for indoor cats. It does appear to consider factors such as fiber and calories for indoor cats.
Calorie Content (ME Calculated): 328.25 kCals per 100g
Ingredients
Cereals, Meat and animal derivatives (10%*), Vegetable protein extracts, Derivatives of vegetable origin (5% beet pulp), Oils and fats, Vegetables (2% dried chicory**), Minerals, Yeasts
Ingredients We Liked: Chicken, beet pulp, chicory
Ingredients We Didn’t Like: Impossible to say
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
Pros
- Beet pulp is a good source of fiber
- Chicory is a good prebiotic
- This formula has slightly fewer calories than some of Go-Cat’s other recipes which can be good for indoor cats
Cons
- Most of the ingredients are vague so it’s impossible to know anything about them
What Do Customers Think of Go-Cat Cat Food?
Almost all of the reviews on the Go-Cat website are 5 stars. We searched for other sites that might be less biased. Most of the reviews we found on Amazon.co.uk were still very positive about the brand. On Amazon.co.uk, 85 percent of the reviews were 5 stars. (Many of them were also very funny.)
Positive Reviews
“My cats love the chicken and duck flavour. Helps keep their teeth strong and always a clean dish” – by chris kautz reviewing Go-Cat Adult Dry Cat Food Chicken and Duck 10kg on October 23, 2024
“Excellent value compared to purchasing smaller bags in the local supermarket. I got this when I had a frozen shoulder as I couldn’t carry the items back home but I’ve added to my monthly subscriptions as it lasts for ages and the cats really enjoy it. I use a peg to fasten the corner of the bag to keep it sealed and fresh.”- by Rachel H reviewing Go-Cat Adult Tuna, Herring & Veg Dry Cat Food 10kg on November 23, 2024
Negative Reviews
“I’ve purchased 11 x 10kg bags of this on subscription over the past few years and my 3 cats have eaten it without issue until the last sack in March. As soon as I opened the sack it didn’t seem right, there was virtually no smell and the kibble seemed really pale in colour and the cats agreed, none of them would touch it, tried over several days and the bowls were left untouched, luckily after contacting Amazon customer services they issued me a full refund and I purchased some replacement from my local supermarket and all three cats were happy again and eating the replacement.
I also contacted Purina direct to complain, I was asked to send a sample in but they said they couldn’t find any issues with it but did say that the 10kg sacks are being manufactured abroad at the moment due to high demand and i had a condescending reply that cats can be picky, changes in there environment can affect them, etc etc, I could understand this with one of them but all 3 to stop plus us noticing the lack of aroma compared with normal, they did supply me with a list of batch codes for UK produced stock but its useless if buying on subscription from Amazon as you can’t view the batch code till you receive it, so won’t be buying it from here again.” – by Simon Page reviewing Go-Cat Adult Dry Cat Food Chicken and Duck 10kgon June 14, 2024
“The package is a huge sack but only half way filled. False advertisements. Not worth £25” – by TooTsRamBLe reviewing Go-Cat Adult Dry Cat Food Chicken and Duck 10kg on April 1, 2024
How Much Does Go-Cat Cat Food Cost?
Go-Cat cat foods are one of the more affordable brands for sale in the UK. Most of the formulas are listed from £1.10 for 320 grams; and £2.25 for 850 grams.
Some of the Go-Cat formulas come in larger bags and cost more. For example, we found Go-Cat Senior Chicken Dry Cat Food for sale in a 2kg bag for between £7.29 and £10.55 at various pet food retailers.
Overall, Is Go-Cat Cat Food a Good Choice?
We think that Purina has good quality control measures at their pet food factories. Their veterinary nutritionists are some of the best in the pet food industry. Most of their foods are not gourmet or homemade in style but they are nutritious and follow nutritional guidelines. Go-Cat dry cat foods should meet your cat’s nutritional requirements.
It also appears that many cats absolutely love these foods, based on customer reviews.
Finally, Go-Cat cat foods are affordable and widely available.
The bottom line is that Go-Cat is a good choice for many cats. Can you buy better dry cat foods? Yes, but you will also pay a lot more.
Go-Cat seems to be similar to Meow Mix. At one time it was called Friskies Go-Cat. If you are in another country, that may give you some idea of the kind of cat food Go-Cat is.
How Do You Order Go-Cat Cat Food?
Go-Cat is available from the Go-Cat website. You can also buy it online through Amazon.co.uk.
The foods are also available throughout the UK from stores such as ASDA, Monster, Ocado, Pets At Home, Sainsbury’s, Tesco, The Pet Express, Vet UK, Viovet, Waitrose Pet, and Wilko.
