Published Aug 2, 2019
*Wag Cat Food has been Discontinued, Amazon has launched a new cat food brand called Kitzy and you can read the review here.
The Cats.com Standard—Rating Wag on What Matters
We’ve analyzed Wag 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 – 7/10
- Product Variety – 4/10
- Price – 9/10
- Customer Experience – 4/10
- Recall History – 9/10
Overall Score: 6.5/10
We give Wag cat food a 39 out of 60 rating or a B- grade.
About Wag
The Amazon-exclusive brand speaks the language of today’s premium pet food. Every formula features “real” meat at the head of the ingredient list and each package features images of people and their pets in adventurous natural settings.
It’s marketed as an affordable alternative to brands like Wellness, but is it a good option for your cat? Let’s dig a little bit deeper to find out.
Sourcing And Manufacturing
Amazon doesn’t disclose who manufactures Wag cat food. Few private label companies do. We know that Wag is made in the United States and Canada. Beyond that, it’s a mystery. The foods are made from ingredients sourced in the United States and elsewhere around the world. Again, Amazon doesn’t go into details.
Has Wag Cat Food Been Recalled?
Wag cat food has never been recalled.
What Kinds Of Cat Food Does Wag Offer?
Wag’s cat food selection is limited to wet—canned—food only and includes several recipes.
You can choose from:
- Beef Paté
- Chicken & Giblets Paté
- Turkey & Giblets Paté
- Salmon & Chicken Recipe in Gravy
- Shredded Salmon Recipe in Gravy
- Salmon & Seafood in Gravy
- Turkey & Chicken in Gravy
- Tuna & Giblets in Gravy
All of their recipes feature meat, poultry, or fish as the first ingredient. They don’t contain any corn, wheat, or soy and are made without artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives.
Wag Cat Food – Top 3 Recipes Reviewed
| Product Name | Food Type | Price | Our Grade |
| Wag Salmon & Chicken Recipe in Gravy | Wet | $0.28 per oz | C+ |
| Wag Shredded Salmon Recipe in Gravy | Wet | $0.19 per oz | B |
| Wag Turkey & Salmon Recipe | Wet | $0.19 per oz | C+ |
#1 Wag Salmon & Chicken Recipe in Gravy Review
Salmon appears to be the primary protein source in this wet cat food.
This recipe features salmon broth, salmon, and chicken as the first three ingredients, followed by chicken liver, dried egg white, and dried egg product as additional sources of protein and other nutrients.
All are nourishing ingredients and appear to be of higher quality than the mystery meals and by-products common among similarly-priced foods.
Though the recipe gets off to a good start, it has a few ingredients you might want to avoid. For example, the food is made with potato starch as a high-carbohydrate thickener, along with spinach, broccoli, and carrots. All of these ingredients increase the food’s carbohydrate content and mark it as a less-than-ideal option for carnivorous cats.
This food is one of several Wag recipes that contain carrageenan, a potentially inflammatory thickener and binding agent.
Overall, this food is high in protein with moderate-to-low fat content and relatively high carbohydrate content.
Though you have to give Wag credit for the generous inclusions of apparently high-quality animal ingredients and plenty of animal-sourced protein, this food isn’t one of our top recommendations. The use of carrageenan, the food’s relatively high carbohydrate content, and the fact that it gets mixed customer reviews make this food an okay, but not excellent, choice.
The food has 77 calories per 3-ounce can or about 26 calories per ounce.
Ingredients
Salmon Broth, Salmon, Chicken, Chicken Liver, Dried Egg White, Potato Starch, Spinach, Broccoli, Carrots, Natural Flavor, Dried Egg Product, Salt, Sodium Phosphate, Potassium Chloride, Cranberries, Guar Gum, Minerals (Iron Amino Acid Chelate, Zinc Amino Acid Chelate, Copper Amino Acid Chelate, Manganese Amino Acid Chelate, Sodium Selenite, Potassium Iodide), Carrageenan, 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), Taurine.
Ingredients We Liked: Salmon, Chicken, Chicken Liver, Dried Egg White
Ingredients We Didn’t Like: Potato Starch, Spinach, Broccoli, Carrots, Guar Gum, Carrageenan
Common Allergens: Chicken, Fish, Eggs
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
Pros
- Rich in animal-sourced protein
- Contains a mix of nourishing muscle meat and organs
- Doesn’t contain the animal and plant by-products so common at this price
- Free of artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives
Cons
- High carbohydrate content
- Contains carrageenan, a potentially inflammatory or carcinogenic ingredient
#2 Wag Shredded Salmon Recipe in Gravy Cat Food Review
Salmon appears to be the primary protein source in this wet cat food.
In spite of the name, don’t expect to pop open a can to find a pile of flaky, shredded salmon. All of the proteins are mixed up into a homogenous material that is formed into “shreds” and set in a light gravy.
Like the last recipe we reviewed, this food is primarily made from animal ingredients, with fish broth and salmon heading up the ingredient list. Chicken, chicken liver, dried egg white, and dried egg product round out the food’s variety of protein sources.
This food is a little bit lower in carbohydrates than other Wag recipe and doesn’t contain any fruits and veggies. Potato starch is its only major source of carbohydrates. It also doesn’t contain carrageenan and relies on guar gum instead.
Overall, this wet cat food is high in protein with moderate fat and relatively low carbohydrate matter.
Out of the Wag recipes currently available for cats, this one has the meatiest ingredient list and the best macronutrient distribution. It looks like an all-around decent food. If your cat likes the cuts in gravy format, this is one to try out.
The food has 145 calories per 5.5-ounce can or about 26 calories per ounce, making it a relatively low-calorie product.
Ingredients
Fish Broth, Salmon, Chicken, Chicken Liver, Dried Egg White, Potato Starch, Dried Egg Product, Guar Gum, Natural Flavor, Salt, Sodium Phosphate, Potassium Chloride, Calcium Carbonate, Minerals (Zinc Amino Acid Chelate, Iron Amino Acid Chelate, Copper Amino Acid Chelate, Manganese Amino Acid Chelate, Sodium Selenite, Potassium Iodide), 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), Taurine, Choline Chloride.
Ingredients We Liked: Salmon, Chicken, Chicken Liver, Dried Egg White
Ingredients We Didn’t Like: Potato Starch, Guar Gum
Common Allergens: Chicken, Eggs
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
Pros
- Primarily made from protein-rich animal ingredients
- Free of artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives
- Low carbohydrate content compared to other Wag cat foods
- Free of carrageenan
Cons
- At roughly 12% carbohydrates on a dry matter basis, the food is still on the high-carbohydrate side
#3 Wag Turkey & Giblet Recipe Cat Food Review
Turkey appears to be the primary protein source in this wet cat food.
This Wag recipe features a mix of turkey, turkey broth, and vaguely-named liver as primary ingredients. The manufacturer explains that it’s beef liver. Though salmon appears in the food’s name, it doesn’t show up until after potatoes. The inclusion of potatoes increases the food’s carbohydrate content without adding much nutritional value. Other relatively low-value ingredients include peas and carrots. This is another Wag food with a lot of plant ingredients and a touch of carrageenan, a potentially carcinogenic and inflammatory thickener.
Overall, this food has high protein content with moderate fat and moderate carbohydrate content.
With an ingredient list full of fruits and vegetables and the inclusion of carrageenan, this is one of the least impressive foods in the Wag lineup.
Ingredients
Turkey, Chicken, Chicken Liver, Turkey Broth, Carrots, Potatoes, Peas, Potassium Chloride, Cranberries, Choline Chloride, Guar Gum, Minerals (Iron Amino Acid Chelate, Zinc Amino Acid Chelate, Copper Amino Acid Chelate, Manganese Amino Acid Chelate, Sodium Selenite, Potassium Iodide), Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Niacin Supplement, D-calcium Pantothenate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, Biotin, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Folic Acid), Taurine, Salt, Carrageenan.
Ingredients We Liked: Turkey, Salmon
Ingredients We Didn’t Like: Potatoes, Peas, Carrots, Guar Gum, Carrageenan
Common Allergens: None
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
Pros
- Contains a diverse blend of animal protein sources
- Free of the animal by-products so common among cheap foods
- Made without artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives
Cons
- Contains several low-value, high-carbohydrate plant ingredients
- Relatively high carbohydrate content
- Made with carrageenan
What Do Customers Think Of Wag Cat Food?
While Wag’s dog food selection has been well-received, their wet food doesn’t get such uniformly positive reviews. Their foods get middling three-to-four out of five star ratings, with most happy reviewers praising Wag as a good value and most unhappy reviewers saying their cats didn’t like the way it tasted.
Several customers noted that it was difficult or impossible to reach Wag customer service, and when they did get someone on the phone, that person wasn’t able to help them. Poor customer service and a lack of information about the foods’ origins are recurring themes—they appear in Wag customer reviews and discussions around the web.
Positive Reviews
“Great food! Appearance and texture are great, ingredients list is great, and most importantly, our cats love it! Even two of our girls who are very finicky. All of these Wag flavors are definitely going to be part of our cat food arsenal from this point on!” – Robert, reviewing Wag Salmon & Chicken Recipe
“My cat isn’t necessarily a picky eater, but he’s been on the same can diet (you know, the cheap stuff from the grocery store) his whole life. I recently decided to upgrade his diet but I didn’t want to break the bank. Amazon’s WAG food was the perfect comprimise to increase quality without over paying for the big brands that spend Millions in advertising and sponsor samples in the vet offices and with kennels. We switched over fine and I’m seeing (or atleast think I’m seeing) a difference in coat shine for my cat. Worth a try!” – Jamie L., reviewing Wag Turkey & Salmon Recipe
Negative Reviews
“It sounded like a perfect cat food. However, all 4 of our kitties absolutely hated the stuff. I will have to donate the rest as it is clear they won’t have it.” – MEPchll, reviewing Wag Salmon & Chicken Recipe
“I’d rate this higher if more information was provided about the ingredients, sourcing, and manufacturers. I bought this as it was offered at a discount and a 1 day ship with Prime and we’d almost run out of our usual foods with delivery not expected for a few more days. The ingredients looked okay except for the guar gum, but in a pinch it would do.
Our cats like either soupy pate or soupy chunky freeze-dried or other canned foods, albeit not shredded–think Weruva Paw Lickin’ Chicken. We always add a bit of warm water prior to serving so there is a nice bit of gravy. As another reviewer pointed out, this food is formed into chunky longish bites even though the can states “shredded.”
The food wasn’t a hit as hours later one 5.5 oz. can still hasn’t been consumed, however, the gravy was licked up straight away. Normally the cats co sure 11 oz. within an hour or two.
Not knowing more about the company(ies) used for ingredient procurement, the quality of those ingredients and the manufacturers also makes me extremely uneasy. the main reason it wouldn’t qualify as a food in our cats’ rotation.” – Sara, reviewing Wag Shredded Salmon Recipe in Gravy
How Much Does Wag Cat Food Cost?
Wag is significantly cheaper than foods with similar ingredient lists. Low cost is, in fact, this brand’s biggest selling point.
Let’s break it down in terms of cost per day. If you’re feeding the average 10-lb cat, you’ll need to feed him about 6 ounces of Wag cat food each day. At $0.19 per ounce, that adds up to $1.14 per day—less than a day’s worth of Fancy Feast Classics. If your cat has a more robust appetite or you choose one of the more expensive food packs, that price could move as high as $1.91 a day, but even that is cheaper than the other stuff on the market.
Similar foods from Crave and Rachael Ray Nutrish PEAK cost at least $2 per day and sometimes over $3 per day.
Overall, Is Wag A Good Choice?
Wag cat food is affordable with relatively high ingredient quality and, if you choose the right recipes, not-too-terrible macronutrient distribution.
According to reports from customers, Wag’s customer support staff is not the most knowledgeable, attentive, or easy to reach. One reviewer found an unidentified white chunk in their food, called up the customer support line, and reached an automated message system saying the call couldn’t be completed as dialed.
All in all, Wag is a decent budget option, but not the best food you could buy, even at this price point. If you’re not ready to settle on Wag, consider some of the brands on our list of the best affordable cat food.
Where To Buy Wag Cat Food?
Wag cat food is available exclusively through Amazon. Prime members get free shipping on all orders, regardless of price. If you subscribe to repeat deliveries, you could get up to 10% off each box.
Why no ingredients for the pates?
You list 5 “flavors” as available;
Beef Paté
Chicken & Giblets Paté
Salmon & Seafood in Gravy
Turkey & Chicken in Gravy
Turkey & Giblets Paté
but then show “ingredients” for three DIFFERENT formulas;
Wag Salmon & Chicken Recipe in Gravy
Wag Shredded Salmon Recipe in Gravy
Wag Turkey & Salmon Recipe
Can you explain?
Hi Margo,
That’s a good question—it looks like I may have made a mistake when writing the review. The article’s been corrected to show that there are several more varieties of Wag cat food than were mentioned in the original list, including the three recipes reviewed at the end of the recipe.
As for why we only show ingredient lists for those three recipes, it’s just the way we typically format our brand reviews. If you’d like more ingredient lists, you can look on Amazon or let us know which recipes you’re interested in.
Hope this explains things! Thank you for pointing out that discrepancy.
Best,
Mallory