Wellness CORE grain-free Fish & Fowl recipe for adult cats and kittens contains meat protein in the main 5 ingredients, providing a high protein source for the carnivore cat diet, using high quality, low-in-ash meats. This formula does not contain grains or fillers which are harmful because they increase the risk of obesity and diabetes in cats.
Wellness CORE grain-free formula has guaranteed maximum levels of calcium and phosphorus. This means it reduces the risk of non-absorption of trace minerals like zinc and iron which could cause poor growth rates, skin lesions, and low red blood cell levels in cats. AAFCO does not require any mention of calcium or phosphorus on a guaranteed analysis but Wellness CORE gives a step forward and it’s able to guarantee maximum levels which most pet food brands don’t mention. This recipe offers a balance of botanical and nutritional supplements.
FEATURES
- Formula 100% Grain-Free
- Protein focused nutrition
- Meat on main 5 ingredients
- It does not contain by-products or fillers
- Recipe with a good package of antioxidants, omega fatty acids, and probiotics
- Made with gluten-free ingredients
- Taurine for your cat’s heart health
IMPORTANT POINTS ABOUT HOW TO FEED YOUR CAT WITH WELLNESS CORE
- Wellness CORE has good taste so your cat might want to eat more so keep an eye on your cat, in the beginning, to see how much your cat eats and adjust the portions.
- It’s very important to give your cat plenty of water during a diet with Wellness CORE formula and make sure your cat has access to a fresh and clean source of water all day.
- Also, it is important to make the transition to the new food gradually within 7 days, increasing Wellness CORE food slowly until giving your cat 100% of Wellness CORE by day 7.
INGREDIENTS
Deboned Turkey, Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Whitefish Meal, Herring Meal, Peas, Turkey Meal, Potatoes, Chicken Fat (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Tomato Pomace, Natural Chicken Flavor, Flaxseed, Cranberries, Chicory Root Extract, Choline Chloride, Salmon Oil, Vitamins [Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, Beta-Carotene, Vitamin A Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin, Vitamin D-3 Supplement, Vitamin B-12 Supplement, Folic Acid, Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), Biotin],Minerals [Zinc Proteinate, Zinc Sulfate, Iron Proteinate, Ferrous Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Manganese Sulfate, Sodium Selenite, Calcium Iodate], Taurine, Mixed Tocopherols added to preserve freshness, Dried Kelp, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Dried Lactobacillus plantarum Fermentation Product, Dried Enterococcus faecium Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus casei Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus acidophilus Fermentation Product, Rosemary Extract. This is a naturally preserved product.
GUARANTEED ANALYSIS
Crude Protein Not Less Than 45.0%, Crude Fat Not Less Than 18.0%, Crude Fiber Not More Than 3.0%, Moisture Not More Than 11.0%, Calcium Not More Than 1.8%, Phosphorus Not More Than 1.45%, Magnesium Not More Than 0.13%, Vitamin E Not Less Than 200 IU/kg, Taurine Not Less Than 0.2%, Omega 6 Fatty Acids Not Less Than 3.50 %, Omega 3 Fatty Acids Not Less Than 0.80 %, Beta-Carotene Not Less Than 2 mg/kg, Total Lactic Acid Microorganisms Not Less Than 90,000,000 CFU/lb. (Lactobacillus plantarum, Enterococcus faecium, Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus acidophilus in equal amounts).
ANALYSIS OF FIRST 5 INGREDIENTS OF WELLNESS CORE FISH & FOWL
Deboned Turkey: 3 stars. Muscles add water to the weight. The protein content is not as high as chicken.
Deboned Chicken: 3 stars. Chicken muscles add water to the formula, less protein than the “chicken meal” ingredient, but still a good source of proteins.
Chicken Meal: 5 stars. High concentrated protein, water has been extracted. An excellent source of proteins for cats.
Whitefish Meal: 4 stars. A good option to regular meats in concentrated form to add proteins. Some oils may have been extracted when pressed out of fish.
Herring Meal: 4 stars. Excellent source of proteins for cats. Low fatty acids get eliminated when making the meal.
PROS
- 100% Grain-free formula and gluten-free ingredients
- Made with meat protein sources in main 5 ingredients
- It contains a balanced package of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants
- It contains probiotics to enhance the digestive tract
- Healthy fats to improve skin and coat (salmon oil and Flaxseed)
- It does not contain by-products, wheat, corn, soy, artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives
- Cats need to eat less food because it’s denser in proteins
- Small, round crunchy kibble easy for cats to eat
- Food is packaged in a re-sealable (zip-lock) bag for maintaining freshness.
- Less solid waste and less smelly
- GMO-free ingredients
CONS
- It informs some of the 11 essential aminoacids cats need in food analysis.
- The 8th ingredient is potatoes and potatoes cause peaks in blood sugar levels (though it has a low amount in the total recipe).
- 9th ingredient is chicken fat. This might not be good for inactive cats.
- The bag’s plastic seal is hard to re-seal
- The strong fishy odor that might bother some people
- Kibble breaks down a little and accumulates powder on the bottom of the bag
CONCLUSION
Wellness CORE grain-free formula has changed the recipe in the last years, but it still offers a good source of meat proteins in the main 5 ingredients. The recipe contains low-in-ash meats, a good balance of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, healthy fats, and botanical. As this food is more meat concentrated, cats need to eat less to feel satisfied so the more expensive price pays off by making the cat food bag last longer.
Very Important: It is very important to make your cat drink a lot of water while in a highly concentrated protein dry cat food because if your cat does not get enough water, your pet may develop urinary crystals. Also, it needs to be mixed with canned wet food. Cats in the wild eat lots of proteins but also get water with the pray.
The formula contains taurine which is a very important amino acid. Wellness Core has a high percentage of proteins in the formula and is very good cat food for a maintenance diet. However, it only informs 1 of 11 essential aminoacids cats need in food analysis (taurine), and just for this fact Wellness Core is not listed on top of my list.
I recently switched my cats to Halo. However, I now notice it has been taken off most top rated cat food lists. Can you tell me why?
You can check my comparison of the original formula and the new one here where you will see why the new formula is not ideal for cats.
My 17 year old cat is beginning to not eat like she needs to and after a visit with my vet today and a check up he suggests to let her eat some dry food again as she has been on wet food for 3 years now after becoming a diabetic from too much dry food. She gained up to 16 plus lbs and now has dropped her weight to 8 plus lbs over the 3 years as I tried really hard to maintain her health. She is still active with no problems other than I can not afford for her to lose anymore weight. With the help of my vet we gave her human insulin shots and her pancreas begin to work again after about a month and can food was slowly added and the dry taken away. Blood sugar is okay since then thanks to the change in diet as she loved dry food. She still craves the dry anytime she smells it and I want her to enjoy her later years of anything she wants to eat. I do not like the Royal Canin or the kinds that most vets sell so can you guide me in the right direction. I do not plan on giving her but maybe a forth a cup a day of dry and trying my best to keep her on wet food. I buy the Instinct can food from Chewy in the Duck and Turkey formulas-tried lamb etc and she will not eat. Also have to use the fancy feast in the pate such as chopped grill to get her to eat some when she refuses the Instinct. Read alot on your web page but still could not decide on my own. Thanks for any help or advice you can give.
I hope you can find the ideal formula for your diabetic cat, Virginia. You are doing the right thing working together with your Vet. My reviews are for healthy cats since they are formulas that are not created for specific needs. I suggest you to get a dry formula with limited ingredients to feed your cat. Hope that helps.
Thank you Lorena for putting together these comparisons and providing solid information for cat owners who are struggling to find the perfect cat food for their feline family members. I have 7 wonderful felines which have seemed to develop issues: I have 4 that have developed skin issues and one that throws up her dry food (Nutro Max Cat – which started me to research what was actually in cat food!). I was surprised Wellness rated so high. I had heard rumors that they obtained their meat from China…is this true? I would consider Wellness if I know the meat used is from USA. Please advise.
Hello Patricia, I sent an email to Wellness and this is what they answered:
“Thank you for taking the time to write to us about our Wellness® products.
Our Wellness ingredients are primarily sourced from North America. WellPet has one of the most strict sourcing criteria of any pet food manufacturer. All ingredient suppliers, whether domestic or international, need to meet certified nutrient levels and be manufactured in quality audited facilities. While there are many high quality ingredients available in the U.S., in some cases there is not a readily available U.S. supply. For example, our Venison, Lamb, Rabbit and Salmon Meal are sourced internationally from New Zealand, Australia, Italy and Chile respectively. Specifically for Chinese ingredients, we do source our Green Tea Extract, Mixed Tocopherols and may source some our vitamins and minerals from China. No meat products come from China. We feel that we have the appropriate quality programs in place at all our vendor locations and feel safe and secure with all the ingredients we source, whether they are sourced locally or globally.”
Hope that helps!