"Those who think they have no time for healthy eating will sooner or later have to find time for illness" - Edward Stanley
Although this quote is geared towards humans, the responsibility we have towards our pets and the food we purchase for them is also called into question. Nobody wants to be told by a vet that their cat suffers from multiple diseases that have presumably arisen as a result of a kibble filled with additives and colorings that they've been fed ever since they were a kitten.
Our pets give us their very best selves every day. Accordingly, they should be gifted with the very best food so they'll enjoy a healthy lifestyle. Trusting in Applaws – a reputable natural pet food company that has shaped the very landscape of ethical pet food for more than a decade – is a great place to start. To help you find your feet shopping for pet food, we've put together an Applaws cat food review, including five distinctive Applaws products we're keen to share with you.
Quick Overview of 7 Popular Applaws Cat Food Formulas
| Product Name | Price | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Applaws Tuna with Whole Anchovy and Seaweed | Buy on Amazon | 4.5 |
| Applaws Tuna and Sardine Mousse | Buy on Amazon | 4.3 |
| Applaws Chicken Breast Canned Cat Food | Buy on Amazon | 4.6 |
| Applaws Ocean Fish | Buy on Amazon | 4.4 |
| Applaws Chicken Breast With Duck in Broth Wet Cat Food | Buy on Amazon | 4.3 |
| Applaws Whole Tuna Loin Cat Treat | Buy on Amazon | 4.6 |
| Applaws Adult Complete Whitefish Recipe | Buy on Amazon | 4 |
1 Applaws Tuna with Whole Anchovy and Seaweed
- Brand: Applaws
- First 5 ingredients: Tuna Fillet Wholemeat, Prawn, Fish Broth
- Primary Proteins: Tuna, Prawn
- Calories: 70 kcal/pouch
- Flavor: Tuna with Pacific Prawns
- Life Stage: All
Starting off our product selection with a bang, Applaws grain-free tuna cat food meal ensures that your cat starts their day off with the optimal amount of nutrients. Just like all Applaw recipes, the limited ingredients included in this formula are beneficial for granting your pet the protein they require to flourish. Besides, the protein sources selected are those that have been proven as delicious for cats’ pallets –for example, all furry felines are well known for loving tuna’s robust flavor and strong smell.
However, cat owners may be concerned regarding the inclusion of tuna in this fish-based cat food due to concerns over their feline suffering from mercury poisoning – an illness that causes major problems in cats including neurological damage that results in difficulty walking and balance problems. In this regard, Applaws demonstrate their astute attention towards your cat’s needs in this respect by including skipjack tuna instead. This medium sized fish contains substantially lower levels of mercury than normal-sized tuna, as their life span is a quarter of a normal tuna’s. Just wait even a few days and you’ll start to notice a remarkable difference taking place in your cat when their coats start to shine and glow as a result of the nutrients they’re benefiting from.
Tuna Fillet Wholemeat, Prawn, Fish Broth.
2 Applaws Tuna and Sardine Mousse
- Brand: Applaws
- First 5 ingredients: Fish Broth, Tuna, Sardine, Carrageenan, Locust Bean Gum
- Primary Proteins: Tuna
- Calories: 25.9 kcal/pot
- Flavor: Tuna & Sardine
- Life Stage: Adult 1-7 years
Applaws wet cat food is highly acclaimed for its ethical and scrumptious ingredients cats adore. Their tuna and sardine mousse serves as a prime example. Presenting the tuna meal as a mousse offers felines a lighter texture, as well as making the meal easier to digest for older cats. Following scientific advice that pet food containing a limited number of sources is beneficial for cats, Applaws only include five high-quality ingredients in their entire formula: Fish Broth, Tuna, Sardine, Carrageenan and Locust Bean Gum.
Including taurine in Applaws’ recipe – an essential amino acid that ensures the body’s metabolic processes and immune system are supported – is crucial, as cats are unable to manufacture taurine from amino acids unlike other mammals. In fact, all the ingredients are 100% natural: limited protein sources of only the highest quality are included, proving that for Applaws, the heath of your pet comes first.
*Mousse intended for supplementary feeding only*
Fish Broth, Tuna, Sardine, Carrageenan, Locust Bean Gum
3 Applaws Chicken Breast Canned Cat Food
- Brand: Applaws
- First 5 ingredients: Chicken Breast 75%, Chicken Broth 24%, Rice 1%
- Primary Proteins: Chicken
- Calories: 83 kcal/can
- Flavor: Chicken Breast In Broth
- Life Stage: Adult 1-7 years
Applaws Chicken Breast sits among the favorites of Applaws’ furry customers’ favorite cat tinned recipes due to the natural flavors running through. Exclusively featuring chicken breast, chicken broth, and rice as the main ingredients, these limited ingredients haven’t been tainted by any additives, vitamins, or minerals – only those that naturally exist in these food sources are allowed to remain.
As Applaws Chicken Breast formula is a complementary pet food, feeding it alongside a complete wet or dry food is the feline equivalent of us humans adding coleslaw to a meal: it completely transforms its flavor for the better. Therefore, if you’re seeking a grain-free formula for your cat, we present to you the answer to all your problems.
You may also like our ultimate guide on Grain Free Cat Food.
Chicken Breast 75%, Chicken Broth 24%, Rice 1%
4 Applaws Ocean Fish Canned Cat Food
- Brand: Applaws
- First 5 Ingredients: Mackerel, Tuna, Fish broth, Rice
- Primary Protein: Mackerel, Tuna
- Calories: 88kcal/can
- Flavor: Ocean Fish
- Life Stage: All
Applaws Ocean Fish wet food is another option made with just four ingredients and leaves out artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives. This 100% natural wet-food topper contains high levels of protein to keep your cat, no matter their age, fit and healthy.
Although – don’t be fooled by the lack of ingredients, this delicious ocean fish recipe will ensure that your kitty stays full and hydrated as well as providing them with a natural source of omega 3 that will support their joints, skin, and coat.
Mackerel 45%, Tuna Fillet 30%, Fish Broth 24%, Rice 1%
5 Applaws Chicken Breast with Duck in Broth Wet Cat Food
- Brand: Applaws
- First 5 ingredients: Chicken, Chicken Broth, Duck, Rice
- Primary Proteins: Chicken, Duck
- Calories: 42.5 kcal/2.47-oz can
- Flavor: Chicken Breast with Duck
- Life Stage: Adult 1-7 years
Leaving one of Applaws most impressive wet cat food products for last, their juicy chicken breast pot is a 100% natural option for your pets. The 60% ratio of chicken breast with duck is a shining example of the intentness with which Applaws create their cat food to achieve high-quality products. This cat pot with hand shredded chicken paired with duck breast provides an optimal natural source of meat-based taurine, of which cats require to ensure normal heart muscle function and vision.
Containing zero additives, owners rave about the positive responses their pets have had towards this complimentary cat food. In particular, owners who have been engaged in a constant battle trying to provide food that will satisfy their fussy kitty are delighted with the moist and juicy poultry in this formula. Although quality comes with a steeper price tag, the unrefined protein your cat will receive makes the extra cost worthwhile.
Chicken, Chicken Broth, Duck, Rice
6 Applaws Whole Tuna Loin Cat Treat
With human-grade fish fillets, this option from Applaws offers ample nutritional benefits for your cat. No artificial colors, preservatives or additives are used in this cat treat, making it one of the healthiest treats you could give your cat.
A high moisture content keeps your cat’s urinary tract healthy, while the high protein content that is natural occurring in the tuna loin provides plenty of nutrition to your cat, too. You can either break this down into smaller chunks and use it as a topper, or have it as a standalone treat for occasional use.
Tuna.
7 Applaws Adult Complete Whitefish Recipe
No cat can resist the flavor of fish and they certainly won’t refuse this dry food recipe from Applaws. This is another limited ingredient formula that is completely rid of artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives as well as grain.
Applaws’ complete recipe is balanced with natural ingredients infused with important vitamins and minerals to support your cat’s overall health. The inclusion of vitamins, for example, vitamin E, D3, A, and B12, amongst other valuable minerals and protein, will provide essential support for their coat, eyes, skins, muscles, and immune system. As a dry food, this meal can be made even more irresistible by adding the Applaws Ocean Fish wet food topper (Number 4 on this list) to add a little extra hydration and nutrition to your cat’s diet.
Whitefish, Whitefish Meal, Peas, Lentils, Chicken Fat, Chickpeas, Flaxseed, Natural Flavor, Taurine, Calcium Carbonate, Vitamin E Supplement, Zinc Proteinate, Zinc. Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Iron Proteinate, Potassium Chloride, Copper Sulfate, Copper Proteinate, Niacin Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Manganese Sulfate, Sodium Selenite, Manganese Proteinate, Vitamin A Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Calcium Iodate, Folic Acid.
Applaws Cat Food Review Buying Guide
Now that you’ve scoured our product selection for the cat food that best suits your pet’s needs, you’re bound to have some questions concerning the curated ingredients that work together to create Applaws natural cat food. In our buying guide below, we’ve attempted to answer several of these niggling doubts in the back of your mind by including information on the company, why choosing Applaws is a smart choice, an analysis of all essential ingredients, and finish off by discussing the company’s pros and cons.
Company Information
2006 was the year that saw the founding of the pet food brand Applaws: a company with ethically sourced pet food at the heart of everything they do. Their success in advertising their brand to conscientious pet owners seeking to switch their cat’s kibble from additive-filled to nutritious has culminated in around two hundred recipes over the last fifteen years.
The company is owned by Making Pet Food Matters (MPM), a UK-based brand that takes pride in creating innovative pet food products in an ethical way. Their ethical intent is clear when taking a look at other notable brands that MPM owns such as ‘Nature’s Calling’, which specializes in creating biodegradable clumping cat litter. Besides, the number of prestigious ethical awards that the leading pet food company speak for themselves!
Why Choose This Brand?
Applaws aren’t afraid to rock the boat
In this age of advancement, it’s essential to invest in a company that won’t shy away from benefiting the future. Applaws have proven to nutritionists and owners everywhere that they’re not afraid of a challenge by creating the world’s first grain-free dry food in 2009. With a ration of 80% grain-free dry food, nutritionists everywhere are waiting to see what the reputable company is going to release next.
The company is switched on in regard to ethics
Applaws proudly flaunt the fact they’ve been accredited by the Ethical Company Organisation, the institution that has sought to promote ethical and corporate social responsibility in companies since 2002. This is the UK’s only cross-spectrum ethical accreditation, of which only 33% of companies in any product sector can be deemed eligible for ethical accreditation. Put differently, this accreditation is a big deal and demonstrates the authenticity of Applaws cat food. If you still remain skeptical and wish to read more about how Applaws ensures their ethical standards are met, their Ethical Policy goes into greater detail concerning workforce rights, regular assessments, and how they plan to extend their ethical principles in the future.
Ingredient Analysis
Although it’s important to always read the label before you buy food, typing any unknown ingredient into a search bar can be more frightening than remaining ignorant: the list of ‘complications’ that could potentially arise alarms us enough that we wind up putting the food back. Operating as an independent specialist, Applaws recognizes the importance of limited ingredients in pet food and ensures only natural ingredients are used. Divided into four main categories, the ingredient analysis seeks to highlight the positive benefits of these high-quality ingredients.
Antioxidants
The inclusion of antioxidants in cat food is heavily important for preventing damage to your pet’s cells. Many of Applaws’ cat food contains the natural antioxidant bioflavonoid: plant-derived active compounds that are a valuable source of vitamin C and play a role in combatting cellular aging to ensure your cat lives a healthy and happy life. Another beneficial antioxidant present in many Applaws recipes is luteolin which clears away harmful or damaged cells from your pet’s body.
Fiber
Essential for facilitating optimal digestion, fiber is a must in wet and dry cat food. If you spot natural cellulose plant fiber on an ingredient list, chances are that the formula is nutritional. This fantastic source of fiber aids digestion reduces the chance of furballs and maintains colon health. If you are looking for more options, check out our guide on High Fiber Cat Food.
Fatty acids and amino acids
As society has conditioned us into equating the adjective ‘fatty’ with food that isn’t good for us, it’s important to note that fatty acids are essential for any mammal’s body to function properly. In Applaws cat food, omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are present in salmon oil that prevents your cat’s skin from flaking and becoming irritated.
Similarly, as cats struggle to naturally produce amino acids, they must obtain them from food. Look out for taurine on a list of ingredients – an essential amino acid that maintains healthy muscle cells in the heart of adult cats and aids kitten growth.
Prebiotics and probiotics
Operating as live bacteria and yeasts that maintain a healthy balance in the gut, probiotics are included in Applaws’ cat food so their food is easily digested.
Although the two sound incredibly similar, prebiotics are distinctive from probiotics. In fact, prebiotics is the food for probiotics (live bacteria) and are commonly obtained from the fiber. One example of a natural prebiotic in Applaws cat food is yucca – a root vegetable that reduces the stench of your cat’s stools (thank goodness for that!) Likewise, thyme extract is highly suitable for aiding digestion.
My Pet Needs That
- The High Price Goes Towards Producing a Cat Food That is Better Than Human Food Standard. You’re probably wondering why cats require food that is superior to human food. After all, they’re born carnivores, right? Actually, cats require a much lower sodium content than what goes into human food. Besides, although high salt levels aren’t recommended in human food either, excessive salt in cat food is even worse for our pets. As Applaws rightly state, to achieve this standard in their cat food, meat and fish must be handled to a higher standard compared to human food, but they believe pets are worth it. The company are also adamant that although the kibble is labeled as more expensive for the same amount of cat food other brands advertise, due to the exceptional quality of the ingredients used, cats require a much smaller amount of rich Applaws food as they would a low-quality kibble.
- Applaws Have Never Had to Issue a Recall on Their Food. To our knowledge, there has never been a recall of Applaws cat food, proving once again that the company deserves its prestigious reputation.
My Pet Doesn’t Need That
- Their Food is, to Put it Quite Frankly, Extortionate. In terms of their dry food selection, Applaws food is affordable if you consider the quality of the kibble your cat is receiving. However, it’s their selection of wet cat food that breaks the bank. In comparison to other leading brands, the price of Applaws’ cat food is noticeably higher.
- Misleading Information on Supplemental Feeding. As Applaws cat food is rich in nutrients, many owners are unaware that cat kibble that contains an abundance of nutrients cannot be consumed for every meal. Feeding just Applaws kibble to your cat is dangerous for cats’ health, yet the company do not put across this message with the same persistence that other cat food brands like Purina do. This lack of clear messaging has led to many cats becoming sick as their owners inadvertently feed them Applaws cat food for every meal.
