Published Sep 3, 2024
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Rich in protein and hydrating moisture, Really Great Cat Food is marketed as “wildly delicious,” but how does it hold up in real-world testing? Find out in this in-depth review.
The Cats.com Standard—Rating Really Great 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 – 10/10
- Ingredient Quality – 10/10
- Product Variety – 2/10
- Price – 7/10
- Customer Experience – 8/10
- Recall History – 10/10
Overall Score: 7.8/10
In total, we give Really Great Cat Food a 47 out of 60 rating or a B+ grade.
Why Trust Cats.com
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
I’ve been enjoying tuft + paw products for several years (my personal favorite being the Cove high-sided litter box). Having recently tested the brand’s soy-based cat litter, I was eager to sample Really Great Cat Food. So, I ordered a six-pack and enlisted the help of my cat, Munchkin, to try it out.
Before testing a cat food product, I make observations about the ordering process, the packaging, and the product’s overall appearance. I also analyze the ingredients list and nutritional breakdown to evaluate the formulation to determine how closely it aligns with an ideal feline diet. Munchkin, of course, offered her opinions on the food’s aroma, taste, and texture.
About tuft + paw
tuft + paw was created by Jackson Cunningham in 2016 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada. Cunningham founded tuft + paw as a modern cat furniture company with a simple mission: to make high-quality products for cats and the people who care for them. The furniture is designed with both fashion and function in mind.
Though tuft + paw still makes cat furniture, the brand has branched out. The popular Cove high-sided litter box is a fan favorite for its practical, all-in-one design. tuft + paw’s product line also includes cat care essentials like the Porto travel carrier, the Zip scratching post, and the Stellar cat bed.
In 2022, tuft + paw entered the cat litter market with the release of Really Great Cat Litter. Made from soybean fiber, Really Great Cat Litter is an eco-friendly alternative to clumping clay litter Starting from $21 per 9.25 bag.
The most recent addition to tuft + paw’s lineup is Really Great Cat Food. Marketed as “wildly delicious,” Really Great Cat Food is a protein-rich wet cat food sold in resealable cardboard cartons. As of August 2024, it’s only available in one flavor: Chicken & Rabbit Stew.
Sourcing and Manufacturing
Really Great Cat Food from tuft + paw was developed with input from animal science and pet nutrition experts, including Jocelyn Lambie, MSc, tuft + paw’s in-house feline nutrition expert. The food is formulated according to the nutrient profiles established by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) for cats in all life stages.
tuft + paw describes Really Great Cat Food as a product “inspired by the natural diet of wild felines.” As such, the recipe prioritizes animal-sourced proteins like cage-free chicken and rabbit. The food is low in carbohydrates, made with limited vegetable content to provide dietary fiber and support healthy digestion.
Really Great Cat Food is manufactured in company-owned facilities located in Wisconsin using a blend of locally sourced and imported ingredients. All ingredients are fit for human consumption and the food is prepared in FDA-inspected human-grade facilities. In addition to adhering to strict in-house quality-control measures, tuft + paw regularly sends samples of Really Great Cat Food to third-party independent labs for testing.
Recall History
At the time of this review, Really Great Cat Food has been on the market for less than a year. During that time there have been no product recalls or serious consumer complaints.
What Kinds of Cat Food Does tuft + paw Offer?
tuft + paw currently only offers one product in the Really Great Cat Food line. It’s a wet food formula sold in resealable, recyclable cardboard cartons in packs of six, 24, or 48.
Really Great Cat Food’s only recipe is Chicken & Rabbit Stew. It’s a limited ingredient formula featuring cage-free chicken as the first ingredient. tuft + paw describes the food as: “Packed with protein, supports healthy digestion, lustrous coat, and hydration.” The food is free from fillers, grains, and artificial additives.
tuft + paw’s Really Great Cat Food is nutritionally complete and balanced for cats in all life stages. Feeding guidelines suggest one carton per 5 to 8 pounds of body weight per day.
What Did Our Test Cats Think?
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
To test Really Great Cat Food, I ordered a six-pack of the only recipe available: Chicken & Rabbit Stew. I had a feeling my cat, Munchkin, would like it because her regular diet consists primarily of rabbit and chicken. As predicted, she loved it.
As some customers have reported, I found the cardboard carton a little tricky to open but only because the perforation wasn’t quite deep enough to tear easily. Once opened, however, the food was easy to pour into my cat’s bowl and the carton sealed nicely for storage in the fridge.
Really Great Cat Food lives up to its description as a stew. The texture is very soft but not too watery. I can see it being a great choice for cats that enjoy gravy-style foods and those that have trouble chewing kibble or chunky wet foods.
Really Great Cat Food – Top Recipe Reviewed
| Product Name | Food Type | Main Protein Source | Price | Our Grade |
| Chicken & Rabbit Stew | Wet | Chicken | $0.75/ounce | A |
#1 Really Great Cat Food Chicken & Rabbit Stew
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Featuring cage-free chicken as the main ingredient, this recipe also contains rabbit as a supplemental protein source. Salmon oil is the primary source of added fat and is rich in anti-inflammatory omega-3 fatty acids. Chicken broth contributes most of the recipe’s moisture and boost’s the food’s chicken flavor.
Measured as dry matter, this Really Great Cat Food formula contains more than 52% crude protein and 24% fat. The food’s dry matter carbohydrate content is a little more than 12%. Although we prefer a maximum of 10% carbs, this recipe is significantly lower in carbs than most commercial dry cat foods and many wet foods on the market.
Overall, this Chicken & Rabbit Stew appears to be a high-protein, moderate-fat recipe that provides plenty of hydrating moisture with limited carbohydrate content. It’s free from artificial additives and appears to be highly digestible with a short list of main ingredients.
This food contains about 25 calories per ounce and it’s nutritionally complete for cats in all life stages.
Ingredients
Chicken, Chicken Broth, Pumpkin Puree, Rabbit, Carrots, Ground Golden Flaxseed, Natural Flavor, Tricalcium Phosphate, Agar-Agar, Salmon Oil, Dandelion Greens, Potassium Chloride, Vitamins [Vitamin E Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin B3 (Niacinamide), Vitamin B5 (Calcium Pantothenate), Vitamin B1 (Thiamine Mononitrate), Vitamin B12 (Riboflavin), Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine Hydrochloride), Vitamin B9 (Folic Acid), Vitamin B7 (Biotin), Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement], Minerals [Magnesium Amino Acid Chelate, Iron Amino Acid Chelate, Manganese Amino Acid Chelate, Potassium Iodide, Zinc Amino Acid Chelate, Sodium Selenite], Sea Salt.
Ingredients We Liked: Chicken, Rabbit, Salmon Oil
Ingredients We Didn’t Like: None
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
What We Liked:
- Relies primarily on animal-sourced protein and fat
- Rich in moisture to support hydration
- Comes in resealable cardboard cartons
- Soft texture is easy for cats to eat
- Low dry-matter carb content less than 15%
What We Didn’t Like:
- Some cats might not like the flavor
- Only available to order on tuft + paw’s website
- Some customers report having trouble opening the containers
What Do Customers Think of Really Great Cat Food?
Though tuft + paw’s cat litter is sold on both Chewy and Amazon, Really Great Cat Food is currently only sold through the brand’s website. This, combined with the newness of the product, means that customer reviews are very limited.
As of August 2024, Really Great Cat Food had a 4.1-star average (out of 5 stars) on tuft + paw’s website with a total of 185 reviews. About 64% of customers gave the product a 5-star rating but just over 26% of customers rated it 3 stars or under.
Positive Reviews
Satisfied customers appear to be pleased with the ingredient quality, packaging, and palatability of Really Great Cat Food. Several customers appreciate the convenience of getting their cat’s food and litter in the same subscription.
“My cats love the food and the packaging is awesome too. Easy to open and put away. Can’t wait to be able to buy more.”—Tania on TuftandPaw.com, August 12, 2024
“My cats have been loving their new wet food. My female cat is really picky but she immediately loved the food. The food is easy to spread onto the lickmat for my cat who thinks he’s a competitive eater since it’s pate.”—L.M. on TuftandPaw.com, July 21, 2024
Negative Reviews
The majority of customers who gave Really Great Cat Food a negative review did so because their cats simply didn’t enjoy the product. Many negative reviews mention the limitations of a single food flavor and some customers report having trouble opening the cartons.
“At first my kitties loved it, and that lasted about a month. Now they won’t eat it. Maybe flavor choices would be good?“—Jill Fisher on TuftandPaw.com, May 6, 2024
“Inconvenient packaging, but my cat seems to like it. Wish it was a mix of flavors instead of all one flavor.”—Helen on TuftandPaw.com, July 20, 2024
How Much Does Really Great Cat Food Cost?
tuft + paw’s Really Great Cat Food is sold in 5.5-ounce resealable cardboard cartons in packs of six, 24, or 48. A six-pack of food costs $25, making the per-ounce price about $0.75.
To get the best price on Really Great Cat Food, it’s better to buy in bulk. A 24-pack costs $94, yielding a per-ounce price of $0.71. A 48-pack costs $169, which brings the per-ounce cost down to $0.54. This puts it in a similar price range to Open Farm wet food and products from other premium brands like Caru and Tiki Cat.
Where Is Really Great Cat Food Sold?
Really Great Cat Food is only sold on tuft + paw’s website. If you’re already a tuft + paw customer with an active subscription for Really Great Cat Litter, you can add Really Great Cat Food to your deliveries. You can also place a one-time order to sample the product.
tuft + paw customers can easily manage their subscription online in the customer portal. You can pause, change, or cancel your subscription at any time. If you need help with an order, customer support is available at [email protected].
Overall, Is Really Great Cat Food a Good Choice?
Really Great Cat Food was a success with my cat but, based on customer reviews, the formula appears to be hit or miss. With only one flavor to choose from, there’s a risk your cat simply might not like it. I’d recommend starting out with a six-pack, especially if your cat is picky or unfamiliar with the flavor of rabbit.
At more than $0.60 per ounce, Really Great Cat Food isn’t the cheapest option on the market. In my opinion, however, the nutritional composition and ingredients make it worth the price. If you already have a Really Great Cat Litter subscription, there’s the added convenience of having your cat litter and cat food delivered to your door all at once. If not, you can place a one-time purchase to see how your cats like it before you subscribe.
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