Does Applaws contain carrageenan
Honest Applaws Cat Food Review
Disclaimer:As a Chewy & Amazon affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This does not impact our reviews and comparisons.
Score: 7.5/10
Bottom Line
Simple meaty ingredients, but lacks the nutrition cats need for sole feeding.
PROS
- Simple meaty ingredients
- Grain-free
- Filler free
CONS
- Pricey
- Not suitable for sole feeding
- Misleading
We did this Applaws cat food review with the help of our cat taste testers.
Applaws are a brand that focuses on simple grain-free cat food.
I tested 2 products (one wet and one dry) with our cats, which Ive reviewed in this article.
Review summary:
The good?
Simple.
If youre after a filler free supplement, this cat food is up your alley. With minimal ingredients, its easy on digestion.
The bad?
Lack of variety.
Minimal ingredients is great, but the lack of variety means the nutrition is lacking. Youll need to provide complete cat food on top.
The ugly?
Pricey.
Aside from convenience, the price is questionable for what you get. Could you cook your own chicken and serve it?
In short:
Ok.
Applaws canned cat food is a simple supplemental food. In a pinch, its a tasty occasional snack.
Best for:
- Supplemental feeding
- Easy digestion
- Fussy eaters
>> Check out Applaws cat food here.
After more on Applaws cat food?
In this short Applaws cat food review Ill go into more detail about:
- Nutrition
- Ingredients
- Value for Money
- Taste
Ill take a close look at these selected products:
- Applaws chicken broths
- Applaws chicken dry cat food
Whilst this doesnt perfectly encapsulate all products, I hope it gives a close idea of what to expect.
This review include taste testing results with our cats.
Ill also cover frequently asked questions on Applaws.
Lets get into it.
I am not a veterinarian and I recommend seeking the advice of a vet for any further questions.This article is not intended as a replacement for medical advice.
About Applaws Cat Food
Applaws is a pet food brand that makes natural cat foods for supplemental feeding. They founded in 2006.
They operate in various locations but manufacture their wet food in Thailand. They make wet and dry cat food as well as treats.
Fast notes:
- Thailand manufactured
- Founded in 2006
- Mainly supplemental foods
Applaws Chicken Cat Food Review: Top Foods
Weve looked at Applaws wet and dry cat food.
Heres our current Applaws cat food reviews:
1. Applaws Wet Cat Food Review
Pros and Cons
- High protein
- Low carb
- Single protein source
- Supplemental only
- Limited flavors
Nutrition
Ok.
Applaws is a simple product, using 75% chicken breast, and 1% rice.
Precise nutrition isnt clear due to their numbers being crude values (and they dont add to 100%). I used estimates for this review.
In any case, Applaws is high protein and low fat. Helpful for weight control.
Carbs (estimated) are a tad high from the rice, but under expert advice for blood sugar control.
Applaws is a supplementary cat food. Their foods are occasional feeding options based on AAFCOs nutrition guidelines.
That means Applaws doesnt have all the micronutrients for cats. A diet of only meat results in calcium deficiency, for example.
You must give your cat complete cat food to complement Applaws and make sure your cat gets all they need.
Notes:
- High protein
- Low carb
- Supplemental feeding only
Nutrition (dry matter basis):*
- Protein: 78%
- Fat: 1%
- Carbs: 10%
- Fiber: 11%
- Energy: 530 kcal/kg
*estimated
Nutrition: 7.5/10
Ingredients
Simple.
The product only contains the following:
Chicken breast 75%, chicken broth 24%, rice 1%
As you can see, not a lot going on here.
The main ingredient is chicken breast which is 75% of the product. Its a high protein, low fat ingredient.
As mentioned earlier a diet of only meat causes calcium deficiency, with symptoms including depression and movement issues.
The other ingredients are chicken broth and rice.
Rice is a high carb ingredient, but its only in small amounts.
Overall, the main issue is the lack of variety in this cat food.
In short:
- Simple
- Mainly chicken breast
- Lacks variety
Ingredients: 6/10
Taste
Good.
I offered Applaws to our cats Karl and Ollie, with both approving. Ollie did leave a small amount though.
Online reviews are mostly positive about the taste of Applaws wet cat food.
Here are the results of our taste testing:
- Food Test 1: Applaws Chicken Breast in Broth Canned Cat Food
- Amount eaten:90% Ollie; 100% Karl
- Food appearance:Chicken shreds in a broth. Clean and fresh looking.
- Smell:Fresh smell
Heres some photos of our testing:
Taste: 9/10
Value for Money
Pricey!
Even their 24 x 3 ounce pack is steep compared to many options.
Given its a supplemental, its ok for an occasional snack.
Value: 6/10
Final Thoughts
Not bad.
As an occasional snack, Applaws is a handy low calorie choice. Cats love the authentic chicken shreds.
On the other hand its not a complete meal, so youll need to make sure your cat gets complete cat food. Plus its expensive.
Best for:
- Supplemental feeding
- Easy digestion
- Fussy eaters
Where to buy Applaws canned cat food?
Scoring Explained: We use our own calculations to fairly compare brands. For nutrition, we look at ingredient weighting. We taste test products with our cats and compare to customer results. We also check if its a well-known brand customers approve of and can trust.
2. Applaws Dry Cat Food Review
Pros and Cons
- Chicken first ingredient
- Grain-free
- Affordable
- High carb
- Mediocre protein
This product is from Australia. Other countries sell similar products which may not reflect this product.
Nutrition
Not the best.
This cat food is a complete meal for adults.
The protein amount here is only 34% on a dry matter basis. Adjusting for quality, I estimate around 28%.
Based on a cats dietary need (26% for maintenance), this is a borderline.
Carbs are high at 33%. We recommend sticking to cat food at no more than 10% dry matter and limiting foods over this.
Excess carbs:
Not the best.
Notes:
- Suited to adult cats
- High carb
- Lackluster protein content
Nutrition (dry matter basis):*
- Protein: 35%
- Fat: 14%
- Carbs: 34%
- Fiber: 7%
- Ash: 10%
- Energy: 1,430 kcal/kg
Nutrition: 3.5/10
Ingredients
Average.
Heres the ingredient list for Applaws dry cat food:
Chicken Meal, Turkey Meal, Pea Starch, Tapioca Starch, Dried Chicken, Potato, Chicken Fat (preserved with mixed Tocopherols and citric acid), Flaxseed (source of natural pre-biotic, Omega 3&6), Natural chicken flavour, Taurine, Salt, Rosemary extract, Carrots, Sweet potato, Cranberries, Alfalfa, Dried Kelp, Yucca, Beet Pulp, Lysine, Vitamins (A, B1, B2, B5, B6, B12, D3, E), Biotin, Folic Acid, Niacin, Magnesium, Iron, Zinc, Manganese, Copper, Mauri Mos and Calcium Propionate
Theres no amount on the label or descriptor used.
The main ingredients are chicken and turkey meal. Good high protein ingredients, although a tad lower in quality than fresh meat (about 80%).
Down the list are high carb ingredients including pea starch, tapioca starch, and potato. Not needed for cats.
Some other issues:
Cranberries. High in vitamin C, which can increase the risk of urinary tract infection.
Theres added veggies including carrots, alfalfa, dried kelp, and yucca. Not ingredients cats enjoy.
In short:
- Meat first
- Too many high carb ingredients
- Too many veggies
Ingredients: 5.5/10
Taste
Average.
Our cat Toby enjoyed Applaws dry cat food.
Reviews online are less enthusiastic. This might be due to the high carb and veggie content, which can put off cats.
Food comes in small pellets with a mild meaty smell.
Notes:
- Our cat enjoyed it
- Online reviews mixed
- Low smell
Taste: 8/10
Value for Money
Affordable.
There seems to be two sizes (800g and 3kg) available. Not ultra cheap, but decent.
Similar products:
Value: 8.5/10
Final Thoughts
Average.
Applaws is another mid-quality dry cat food to add to the pile. Its an occasional food for adult cats, and affordable eating.
Main downsides include the mixed taste, and sky high carb content.
Best for:
- Adult cats
- Occasional snack
- Budget buy
Where to buy Applaws dry cat food?
Note: Availability is limited online as of the writing of this article.
Frequently Asked Questions
Has Applaws Cat Food Been Recalled?
Yes.
Applaws dry cat food was recalled in the UK recently.
The recall was a precautionary measure against a suspected mycotoxin contamination.
Does Applaws Cat Food Have Taurine?
Depends.
Applaws canned cat food doesnt contain added taurine, as its a supplemental food.
They do use taurine rich ingredients including tuna. This can help meet a cats needs for this amino acid.
That said, ingredients like chicken breast are a little low in tuna compared to chicken thigh.
Their dry cat food has added taurine.
Is Applaws Wet Cat Food Good?
Yes.
Applaws is a good wet cat food, but only for supplemental feeding.
It lacks the range of ingredients needed for complete nutrition for cats.
Is Applaws Wet Cat Food Safe?
Yes.
However, Applaws is a supplemental feeding option only.
You must give your cat a complete and balanced cat food or theyll have deficiencies.
One option is to boost the nutrition of Applaws using nutrient rich toppers.
The tuna rich cat foods are of some concern. This can raise the mercury in a cats diet, which is harmful to health.
Learn More:
Is Applaws a Complete Cat Food?
No.
Applaws is a supplementary cat food.
What Cat Food Is Similar to Applaws?
Tiki Cat After Dark.
Both wet foods are Thai manufactured and have a shredded texture.
In contrast to Applaws, Tiki Cat is a complete and balanced cat food.
If your cat loves the high protein shredded texture of Applaws, give Tiki Cat a try for a complete meal. They also offer food for kittens (Tiki Baby Cat).
Learn More:
Does Applaws Have Carrageenan?
No.
Applaws cat food does not contain carrageenan.
Most of their range is free from fillers. Check each product carefully as ingredients change over time and new products hit the shelves.
Learn More:
Conclusion
Applaws is a simple natural cat food.
Their wet cat food is our preferred choice for cats as a supplemental meal.
Its great for picky eaters and easy digestion.
However its main drawbacks are the high price and limited nutrition quality.
Best for:
- Supplemental feeding
- Easy digestion
- Fussy eaters
Where to find Applaws canned cat food?
Debunking The Myth About Carrageenan In Cat Food
Sharing is caring!
If you take a can of wet cat food, its highly likely that youll see carrageenan on its ingredient list. If you go online to learn more about it, however, youll see articles listing carrageenan as a no-no ingredient in cat food.
So, is carrageenan really that bad? The answer is a simple No.
In this article, well uncover the truth about carrageenan in cat food, as there is a ton of misinformation about it on the internet.
What Exactly Is Carrageenan?
In simple terms, carrageenan is a polysaccharide obtained from certain members of the class Rhodophyceae, otherwise known as red seaweeds.
Carrageenan has been FDA-approved since 1961, and its use is widespread in the food industry today.
You can find it in jelly, fudge, ice cream, soy sauce, ham, sausages, canned meat, and a bunch of other food items, including cat food.
Why Is It Added To Food?
If you look at the FDAs list of approved food ingredients, youll see its listed as:
a fat replacer as it mimics the texture and taste of fats
a stabilizer as it keeps all of the food components mixed together
a thickener as it increases the thickness of the food products consistency
a binder as it holds the product together
a texturizer as it creates a specific texture in the food product
Carrageenan is also an inert ingredient, meaning it has no nutritional value, nor does it add any flavor or odor to the food.
So, is it used in both human and cat food? The answer is yes!Essentially, you can find this ingredient everywhere!
Why Do People Think Carrageenan Is Bad?
Let me first note that there are three types of carrageenan.
| Type of carrageenan | Is it safe for consumption? | Is it used in the food industry? |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Food-grade carrageenan (or just carrageenan) | Yes | Yes |
| 2. Degraded carrageenan | No | No |
| 3. Poligeenan | No | No |
As you can see, only one type of carrageenan is used in the food industry. However, not many people know this.
The debate around the use of carrageenan in food arises when people attribute the negative health effects of degraded carrageenan and poligeenan to the regular, safe carrageenan that is used in food.
Degraded carrageenan and poligeenan have been proven to cause negative side-effects for our health, and therefore they are not used in food products!
A 2019 scientific paper about the misconceptions regarding carrageenan states:
Human consumption of food-grade carrageenan as a food additive is completely safe with no demonstrated adverse effect.
Your kittys food definitely does not contain degraded carrageenan and poligeenan, but rather the safe type of carrageenan.
Therefore, I would say youve got nothing to worry about.
The Verdict: To Use Carrageenan-Free Food Or Not?
Now that you have all of the information about carrageenan, you can decide if youre going to continue giving your feline regular canned food, or opt for carrageenan-free cat food.
The choice is really up to you!
If youd like to have complete piece of mind and giving your cat food containing carrageenan is unsettling to you, then I suggest you switch to cat food that is free of carrageenan.
However, if youre confident in the research provided here, then you know its completely safe to continue giving your cat food that contains carrageenan.
I dont recommend cat owners to switch strictly to carrageenan-free cat food, as there is no scientific evidence that food containing carrageenan is bad for felines.
At the end of the day, the most important thing is to have the facts presented to you, and then its up to you to decide whats best for your feline and you!
