Last updated Apr 26, 2023
Fact checked by
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
We’ve rated pawTree cat food on ingredient quality, species-appropriateness, recalls, and more. Read our pawTree cat food review to learn how this brand stacks up.
The Cats.com Standard—Rating pawTree 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 – 8/10
- Product Variety – 6/10
- Price – 7/10
- Customer Experience – 6/10
- Recall History – 9/10
Overall Score: 7.33/10
In total, we give pawTree cat food a 44 out of 60 rating or a B grade.
How We Review Cat Food
To review pawTree, we spent hours researching the brand and learning about its history and product lineup. We studied the company’s sourcing and manufacturing practices and scoured recall databases for reports related to safety issues. To understand how other customers feel about the brand, we read dozens of customer reviews, identifying any common patterns or trends.
Finally, our reviewer independently purchased several packages of pawTree cat food and tried it out with their cats, taking notes on palatability, texture, smell, and more.
Based on this research and hands-on testing, we’ve rated the brand according to the Cats.com Standard. Learn more about the Standard here.
About pawTree
pawTree is an online company that combines pet products with educational resources. The company was founded by Roger Morgan in 2012, who partnered with a team of veterinarians and PhD Animal Science and Pet Nutrition professionals to develop a line of foods, supplements, and other products for pets.
Like many online pet food companies, pawTree offers a subscription service. Pet parents can speak to an independent pawTree consultant (called a petPro) or develop a customized nutrition plan online by filling out a pet profile. You also have the option to shop the pawTree collection according to the type of product you’re looking for or a specific issue you want to address.
Sourcing And Manufacturing
pawTree is headquartered in Southlake, Texas. The pawTree website doesn’t provide much specific information about where or how their products are manufactured except to say:
“From sourcing premium human-grade ingredients to our selected USDA registered and inspected manufacturing facilities, our standards of quality never waver.”
Based on information from the product packaging, pawTree products are made in the USA and distributed by pawTree.
Recall History
We didn’t find any evidence that pawTree pet food has ever been recalled.
What Kinds Of Cat Food Does pawTree Offer?
pawTree dry cat food comes in very small, disc-shaped kibbles. Kate Barrington / Cats.com
pawTree offers a wide variety of pet foods, treats, and supplements as well as toys, training supplies, and gifts. They offer five dry food recipes and four wet food formulas.
pawTree emphasizes nutrition plans designed to combat specific issues like bladder health, sensitive skin, and digestive issues. It’s clear, however, that these plans are designed to sell extras (like supplements – the foods themselves don’t appear to be formulated to address any particular need.
Of their four wet food formulas, two pawTree canned foods are pate style and two are morsels in gravy. pawTree offers two fish-free dry foods and the recipes are a mixture of grain-free and grain-inclusive cat foods.
What Do Customers Think of pawTree Cat Food?
Because pawTree operates under a direct sales model, there aren’t many independent product reviews online. Customer reviews are concentrated in the testimonials section of the pawTree website, though there are a few posts on the company’s Better Business Bureau (BBB) profile.
Several reviews on pawTree’s BBB profile mention misleading claims and return policies. Part of the problem, it seems, is that sales are largely run through independent sales consultants who make a commission off pawTree products. Positive customer reviews on the BBB profile seem to come largely from pet owners who purchased through pawTree directly.
Here are a few negative customer reviews from the pawTree BBB profile:
“How is it legal that this company is promoting their dog foods as replacements for medical care? I see their reps making claims that their food can be fed in place of seeing the vet for commonly occurring issues – where is the science to back this up? Sounds pretty shady to me! And how are their sales reps with no medical training promoting themselves as advisors on prescribing dog food in place of vet care?” – by Susie J. on February 7th, 2022
“They boast a return policy that is not actually true. My order arrived and has been unopened (as I reached out about returning after they claimed it was shipped and before it arrived). They told me that the shipping is non-refundable, and that it is my responsibility to get the product shipped there, with no consideration of damages, etc. I inquired about returning the product twice before I got an answer.” – by Keenan E. on September 28th, 2021
Here are a few positive reviews of pawTree from the BBB website:
“Love their 100% money back guarantee. They truly stand behind it. One time I got crushed treats in the mail and they immediately sent out new ones. My dogs and cats have healthier coats and shed less on the pawTree food and salmon oil.” – by Heather G. on January 24th, 2021
“I have used pawTree’s dog food, treats and supplements for years when my Great Danes were aging. My dogs had awful gas and painful joint problems. The products actually eliminated the bad gas completely and helped my dogs be free of joint discomfort while running and playing. I love these products and recommend them to anyone with a pet who has common pet issues. On the rare occasion I have needed to call their customer support line, the staff was courteous and took care of what I needed right away. I couldn’t say enough good things about the products and company.” – by Mandy M. on December 19th, 2020
What Did Our Test Cats Think?
pawTree pate-style canned food has a very soft, mousse-like texture. Kate Barrington / Cats.com
To test pawTree, I ordered three recipes – two canned foods and one dry food. After placing my order, I contacted pawTree to request a nutrient analysis for a sample batch of these foods, since none was provided on their website. The email I sent went unanswered, so I called customer service a week later.
The customer service representative I spoke to said pawTree uses third-party labs to ensure the safety of their products, but he didn’t have access to any sample nutrient analyses.
When I opened the bag of pawTree dry food, I was surprised to see how small the kibbles were. They were much smaller than any I’ve seen, even for kitten recipes. My cat Munchkin was pretty uninterested in the dry food, but Bagel seemed to enjoy it. I was a little concerned that the small kibbles largely negated the need for chewing, however. Pet owners hoping their cats might gain some dental benefit from dry food may want to keep this in mind.
The pawTree wet food I tested had a very soft, almost mousse-like texture. Munchkin really enjoyed the wet food, and I liked that it was easy to mix with water for some extra hydration.
pawTree Cat Food – Top 3 Recipes Reviewed
| Product Name | Food Type | Main Protein Source | Calories | Price | Our Grade |
| pawTree Real Salmon & Oceanfish Entrée Canned Cat Food Pâté | Wet | Salmon | 36 kcal/ounce | $0.48 per oz | A |
| pawTree Real Chicken & Turkey Entrée Canned Cat Food Pâté | Wet | Chicken | 35 kcal/ounce | $0.48 per oz | A |
| pawTree Real Whitefish & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Cat Food | Dry | Whitefish | 112 kcal/ounce | $0.37 per oz | B |
#1 pawTree Real Salmon & Oceanfish Entrée Canned Cat Food Pâté
With five animal ingredients topping the list, this pâté-style canned food appears to be largely meat-based. Salmon and ocean fish are the primary ingredients, and the food relies on animal-sourced salmon oil as the main fat and a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids.
Though the top five ingredients are animal-based, this recipe does contain peas and alfalfa meal. Peas can be difficult for cats to digest, and alfalfa meal is typically used in pet food as a concentrated source of plant protein. The dry matter protein content of this recipe is about 50%. It’s hard to tell how much of that comes from the plant ingredients but the carbohydrate content of the recipe is very low.
It’s worth noting that while this recipe is marketed as a salmon and ocean fish formula, it also contains chicken and chicken liver. It may not be appropriate for cats with chicken allergies.
Ingredients
Salmon, Fish Broth, Oceanfish, Chicken, Chicken Liver, Peas, Natural Flavor, Alfalfa Meal, Calcium Carbonate, Tricalcium Phosphate, Agar-Agar, Parsley, Salmon Oil, Choline Chloride, Salt, Taurine, Potassium Chloride, Dandelion Greens, Sweet Potatoes, Cranberries, Blueberries, Pumpkin, Dried Yucca Schidigera Extract, Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Niacin Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement, Copper Proteinate, Sodium Selenite, Thiamine Mononitrate, Manganese Proteinate, Vitamin A Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Biotin, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Ethylenediamine Dihydroiodide, Folic Acid.
| Ingredients We Liked | Ingredients We Didn’t Like | Common Allergens |
| Salmon
Oceanfish Chicken Chicken Liver Salmon Oil |
Peas
Alfalfa Meal |
Fish
Chicken |
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
Pros
- Top five ingredients are all animal-based
- Contains about 50% dry matter crude protein
- Relies primarily on animal-based fat
- Rich in moisture to support your cat’s hydration
Cons
- Peas can be hard for cats to digest
- Not appropriate for cats with chicken or fish allergies
#2 pawTree Real Chicken & Turkey Entrée Canned Cat Food Pâté
Like the previous formula, this is a pâté-style canned food primarily made up of muscle meat and liver with salmon oil as the primary fat source. It also contains the same peas and alfalfa meal.
Where this recipe differs is in the nutrient composition and the fact that it is fish-free. It may be a more appropriate choice for cats with allergies to fish, though it is not a single-protein recipe.
This formula contains about 45.5% crude protein and over 36% crude fat, measured as dry matter. The carbohydrate content is a little higher than the previous recipe, though it’s still rich in hydrating moisture and free from artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives.
Both of these canned foods are thickened with agar-agar, a seaweed-based gelling agent. Though both agar-agar and carrageenan are derived from seaweed, agar-agar hasn’t been linked to potentially serious health concerns.
Ingredients
Chicken, Chicken Broth, Turkey, Turkey Liver, Peas, Natural Flavor, Alfalfa Meal, Agar-Agar, Parsley, Salmon Oil, Choline Chloride, Salt, Potassium Chloride, Taurine, Calcium Carbonate, Dandelion Greens, Sweet Potatoes, Cranberries, Blueberries, Pumpkin, Dried Yucca Schidigera Extract, Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Niacin Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement, Copper Proteinate, Sodium Selenite, Thiamine Mononitrate, Manganese Proteinate, Vitamin A Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Biotin, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Ethylenediamine Dihydroiodide, Folic Acid.
| Ingredients We Liked | Ingredients We Didn’t Like | Common Allergens |
| Chicken
Turkey Turkey Liver Salmon Oil |
Peas
Alfalfa Meal |
Chicken |
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
Pros
- Contains a blend of muscle meat and organs
- Rich in moisture to support your cat’s hydration
- Salmon oil provides animal-sourced omega-3 fatty acids
- Fairly low in carbohydrates
Cons
- Peas can be hard for cats to digest
- Not appropriate for cats with chicken allergies
#3 pawTree Real Whitefish & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Cat Food
One of pawTree’s two grain-inclusive cat foods, this dry food features whitefish, chicken meal, and salmon meal as the primary protein sources. Dried egg product is included as a supplementary source of animal protein and the main source of added fat is nutrient-rich chicken fat.
Aside from the animal ingredients, this recipe contains brown rice and pearled barley. Compared to grain-free alternatives like peas and legumes, whole grains are more nutritious and digestible for cats.
Though none of the ingredients in this recipe are particularly concerning, the dry matter carbohydrate content is much higher than we’d like. As is true for any dry food, it’s also low in moisture, so it won’t support your cat’s hydration as well as the previous canned food recipes.
Ingredients
Whitefish, Chicken Meal, Brown Rice, Salmon Meal, Pearled Barley, Chicken Fat, Natural Flavor, Tomato Pomace, Flaxseed, Dried Egg Product, Sea Salt, Potassium Chloride, Fructooligosaccharides, Choline Chloride, Dried Cranberries, Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin Supplement, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin A Acetate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Folic Acid), Minerals (Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Calcium Carbonate, Manganous Oxide, Copper Sulfate, Iron Amino Acid Chelate, Manganese Amino Acid Chelate, Zinc Amino Acid Chelate, Copper Amino Acid Chelate, Sodium Selenite, Cobalt Carbonate, Ethylenediamine Dihydroiodide), Dried Blueberries, Dried Apples, Dried Kale, Dried Carrots, Mixed Tocopherols, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Taurine, L-Carnitine, Dried Saccharomyces Cerevisiae, Dried Enterococcus Faecium Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus Acidophilus Fermentation Product, Dried Aspergillus Niger Fermentation Extract, Dried Trichoderma Longibranchiatum Fermentation Extract, Dried Bacillus Subtillis Fermentation Extract, Rosemary Extract.
| Ingredients We Liked | Ingredients We Didn’t Like | Common Allergens |
| Whitefish
Chicken Meal Salmon Meal Chicken Fat Dried Egg Product |
None | Fish
Chicken |
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
Pros
- Relies primarily on animal-sourced protein and fat
- Free from hard-to-digest peas and legumes
- Doesn’t contain artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives
- Supplemented with probiotics for digestive support
Cons
- No dry food provides the moisture your cat needs
- High carbohydrate content
How Much Does pawTree Cat Food Cost?
pawTree canned cat food costs about $0.48 per ounce while dry food is about $0.37 per ounce. This puts it in a similar price range as Open Farm, though Open Farm has the benefit of transparency regarding sourcing and sustainable practices.
Given the calorie requirements for the average 10-pound cat, it would cost about $2.67 per day to feed your cat pawTree canned food. The daily cost for pawTree dry food is only about $0.66.
Though canned food is preferable, a pawTree dry food diet offers affordability similar to Purina Pro Plan but with much better ingredients.
Overall, Is pawtree Cat Food A Good Choice?
pawTree wet foods are meat-centric and rich in hydrating moisture. As is typical, pawTree dry foods are higher in carbohydrates but there are grain-inclusive and fish-free recipes that might appeal to some cat owners.
There’s nothing particularly stand-out about pawTree cat foods, but it might be a good choice if you’re also interested in the brand’s treats and supplements. pawTree’s Paw Club subscription offers EZ-ship convenience and members accumulate points to be redeemed for products.
Where Is pawTree Cat Food Sold?
pawTree uses a direct sales business model, so you’re unlikely to find their products in pet stores. You may be able to find a few of their treats and food toppers on Amazon, but if you want to buy pawTree pet food, you’ll need to shop on pawTree’s website or buy from an independent consultant who sells pawTree (for a commission), called a petPro.
