Our Rating Methodology

Every cat food product on CatFoodAnalyst is evaluated using the same objective, data-driven criteria. We don't accept sponsorships, free samples, or payments for reviews. Here's exactly how we score each product.

The 5 Rating Criteria

Each product receives a score of 1–5 in each category. The weighted average becomes the final rating.

Ingredient Quality

35% weight

We analyze the first 5 ingredients — the most important ones by volume:

Named whole meats (chicken, salmon) as #1 ingredient
Meat meals over by-product meals
Absence of corn, wheat, soy fillers in top positions
Named fats (chicken fat) vs generic fats (animal fat)

Protein Content

25% weight

Cats are obligate carnivores — protein is their most critical nutrient:

Minimum crude protein percentage
Ratio of animal vs. plant protein sources
Whether protein is "boosted" by corn gluten or pea protein

Additive Safety

15% weight

We flag controversial or potentially harmful additives:

Artificial colors (Red 40, Yellow 5, Blue 2)
Chemical preservatives (BHA, BHT, Ethoxyquin)
Artificial flavors and carrageenan

Brand Transparency

15% weight

How open and honest the brand is about their products:

Full ingredient list publicly available
Manufacturing location disclosed
Sourcing and third-party certifications

Recall History

10% weight

We track every brand's recall history from FDA databases:

Number of recalls in the past 10 years
Severity and how the brand responded

Rating Scale

Rating	Meaning
4.5–5.0 ★★★★★	Excellent — Premium ingredients, high transparency, minimal recalls
3.5–4.4 ★★★★☆	Good — Above average quality with minor concerns
2.5–3.4 ★★★☆☆	Average — Meets basic needs but relies on fillers or by-products
1.5–2.4 ★★☆☆☆	Below Average — Significant ingredient quality concerns
1.0–1.4 ★☆☆☆☆	Poor — Major red flags, recalled, or lack transparency

What We Don't Do

We don't accept payment for higher ratings

We don't receive free products from brands

We don't conduct lab testing (we analyze published data)

We don't let affiliate relationships influence scores

Data Sources

Brand official websites — Ingredient lists, guaranteed analysis
Chewy.com / Amazon.com — Product details, reviews
FDA Pet Food Recalls database — Recall history
AAFCO standards — Nutritional adequacy
Published veterinary research — Science references

Questions about our methodology? Contact us — we're always happy to explain.