Is Applaws raw
Applaws Cat Food Review
Weve taken the deep dive on Applaws cat food, learning about its recall history, where Applaws is made, and more. Keep reading to get the scoop.
The Cats.com StandardRating Applaws on What Matters
Weve analyzed Applaws 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. Heres how it rates in each of these six key areas.
Ratings
- Species-Appropriateness 7/10
- Ingredient Quality 9/10
- Product Variety 7/10
- Price 4/10
- Customer Experience 9/10
- Recall History 4/10
Overall Score: 6.6/10
We give Applaws cat food a 40 out of 60 rating or a B- grade.
About Applaws
Applaws first appeared in 2006, initially populating pet specialty retailers across the United Kingdom. Later, the brand started popping up around western Europe, North America, and Australia. Its parent company describes Applaws as high quality, 100% natural, ethically sourced premium pet food.
But those buzzwords dont mean much.
To decide if its a good choice for your cat, we have to take a closer look at Applaws.
Lets start at the source.
Sourcing And Manufacturing
Applaws sources ingredients from around the world.
Their suppliers adhere to relevant international safety and husbandry standards, including those set by Thailands Department of Livestock Development, the British Retail Consortium, and the International Labour Organization.
Applaws suppliers are required to be members of at least one of the following organizations:
- ISSF International Seafood Sustainability Foundation
- Marine Stewardship Council
- Earth Island Institute
- TTIA Thai Tuna Industry Association
US-sold Applaws dry cat food is manufactured in the United States, while their wet offerings are made in Thailand.
Has Applaws Cat Food Been Recalled?
In June of 2021, UK-manufactured Applaws dry cat food was recalled after foods manufactured by Fold Hill were potentially linked to a bone marrow condition called pancytopenia in cats. This was a voluntary recall, and the Royal Veterinary College is currently investigating the situation.
What Kinds Of Cat Food Does Applaws Offer?
The Applaws cat food lineup includes dry and wet foods.
Applaws dry food comes in five varieties. These recipes feature named meats and stay true to the brands promise of no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives. Theyre fortified to meet the nutritional requirements of a complete and balanced diet.
Their wet recipes are some of the simplest on the market. In addition to skipping animal by-products and artificial ingredients, Applaws wet food is made without any additives, including vitamins, minerals, and supplemental amino acids.
That means that Applaws wet food isnt considered a nutritionally complete and balanced diet.
Applaws dry food is appropriate for feeding as your cats sole source of nutrition, while Applaws wet food is best complemented by other foods.
Applaws Cat Food Top 3 Recipes Reviewed
What Do Customers Think Of Applaws Cat Food?
Applaws receives predominantly positive customer reviews. The brands simple, often single-protein, recipes make Applaws a popular choice among cats with food intolerances and health issues.
The biggest concern among people writing about Applaws is the fact that their wet foods arent nutritionally adequate for long-term feeding.
Positive Reviews
First let me say I have never written a review before and Ive been using Amazon for over 10 years. My cat has suffered with terrible allergies for the past year of his life. We have tried so many grain free limited ingredient cat foods without success including Wysong, Dr. Elseys, and Natural Balance. It seems my cat may be allergic to eggs, fish and salmon oil, and brewers yeast. All of the above have one of these ingredients included. I am so happy to finally find Applaws grain free chicken. The list of ingredients is so simple and my cat seems to be relieved. He has stopped itching and licking himself constantly. He is more playful and sleeps peacefully now like a cat should. What a difference! And as an added bonus he seriously loves the taste of this food. Thank you for making this productit is helping him so much! Jenna H., reviewing Applaws Chicken Recipe with Country Vegetables Dry Cat Food
My 18 year old Ragdoll has kidney disease and hardly ever bothers to eat wet food any more, other than the prescription dry food she is used to. But man, did she scarf down this product of yours! I will ration it to make sure she doesnt get bored with it, but like I said, so far so good! Great ingredients make this product valuable, no matter what the cost. G. Stucco, reviewing Applaws Tuna with Sardine Mousse
Negative Reviews
My cat has large cell lymphoma and has been sick for a while. Weve gone through oodles of flavors and brands because she would associate the food with not feeling well. She finished radiation and is looking cancer free, but is down to 6.5 pounds. This was recommended at the pet food store. After this was fed to her as her exclusive food for almost 2 weeks (this and other flavors), I noticed that while it is an additive-free food, it has no serving directions because it states one the can FOR INTERMITTENT AND SUPPLEMENTAL FEEDING ONLY
It has no Taurine or any of the other vitamins or nutrients that a cat needs. A chronic Taurine deficiency wont show up on standard bloodwork (requires a specialized blood-test) and can cause blindness (among other things). While on only Applaws, Allies appetite yo-yoed and her health took a dive. Because she has problems with feeling other canned foods smell appetizing enough, I did buy some more of these and use a tiny spoonful to mix in with REGULAR cat food, and shell go right back and eat some more. PLEASE KNOW WHAT YOURE BUYING. Feeding just this to your cat would be dangerous, and Ive already put in a call to the manager of the store whose employee recommended this. If its supplemental, it shouldnt be called food. It should be called a treat or something. Its really misleading, and seriously endangered a very sick cat weve spent a lot to try and save. ArtemisDeFeisty, reviewing Applaws Tuna Fillet in Broth
First, I wanted the chicken but got the tuna. Second, the consistency is not the moist product pictured. It iYou may as well head to the grocery and buy an 80-cent can of tuna.s firm solid pack and coated in gel. My cat would not even try it . I donated to a shelter. Maybe your cat will like it but be prepared to cop it up, it cant be flaked. I had high hopes for this but was disappointed in the product, so was my cat. twopups, reviewing Applaws Tuna with Seaweed Mousse
How Much Does Applaws Cat Food Cost?
While Applaws dry food is moderately-pricedyoull spend about $0.70 per day to feed a 10-lb cattheir wet food isnt quite so easy on the budget.
At around $0.78 per ounce, Applaws is twice as expensive as a comparable food from some Tiki Cat or Weruva, a couple of the highest-priced brands on the market.
If that sounds pricey to you, consider that Applaws food isnt a nutritionally-complete diet. Youre paying pet specialty prices for something no more cat-specific than an 80-cent can of tuna from the grocery.
Overall, Is Applaws a Good Choice?
Applaws cat food is an interesting option.
In addition to a small variety of dry foods, Applaws brings you a vast selection of wet foods in textures and tastes that cats love. Though they make scrumptious, cat-approved treats or once-weekly meals, Applaws wet foods are both too expensive and too nutritionally incomplete to be a viable option for a long-term diet.
And their dry foods? Applaws dry food may be a good option for some cats, but theyre nothing special compared to other foods in the same category. If youre a kibble lover, Applaws dry food is worth trying, but it doesnt come with an enthusiastic recommendation.
Where To Buy Applaws Cat Food?
Applaws cat food is available in pet stores around the United States, England, Italy, France, Spain, and Australia. Click here to find an Applaws retailer near you. If youd rather shop for Applaws online, youll find it on Amazon, Chewy, Petco.com, PetSmart.com, PetFlow, and other web retailers.
Woolworths Dog Foods Review: The Best & Worst Options
Woolworths Dog Foods Review: The Best & Worst Options
Written ByVedrana Nikolic| Canine Coach, B.A Ethnology & Anthropology, M.A Semiotics.Edited & Fact Checked By Renae Soppe | B.A Journalism & Science.Last Updated: 16th January 2024
The Best Woolworths Dog Foods
#1: Open Paddock Chicken Kibble & Air Dried Meat
- Includes freeze-dried meat
- High protein content
- PFIAA certified member
- Frozen raw food also available
Open Paddock - 3 Star Rating
- Ingredients: Fresh Chicken Meat, Chicken Meal, Field Peas, Rice, Chicken Oil, Chicken Gravy, Beet Pulp, Tapioca, Sea Salt, Salmon Oil, Sunflower Seed Oil, Potato, Brown Rice, Molasses, Choline Chloride, Zinc Amino Acid Chelate, Iron Amino Acid Chelate, Vitamin E, Chick Peas, Calcium Carbonate (Limestone), Niacin (B3),Potassium Chloride, Copper Amino Acid Chelate, Mixed Tocopherols, Natural Smoke, Pantothenic Acid (B5),Manganese, Fermented Rice, Riboflavin (B2), Selenium, Garlic Powder, Kelp, Thiamine (B1), Vitamin A, Vitamin D, Vitamin B12, Vitamin K, Pyridoxine, (B6), Iodine, Biotin (B7), Folic Acid, Alfalfa, Apple, Blueberry, Carrot, Cranberry, Egg, Flaxseed, Parsley, Potato, Pumpkin, Spinach, Sweet Potato, Thyme, Yoghurt.
- Named Protein First: Yes.
- Dog Food Type: Kibble with air-dried meat, frozen raw food, bone broth and treats.
- Recipe Range: Kibble has 3 recipes (kangaroo, chicken, and beef); frozen food has cubes, patties and mince (depending on the recipe, the main ingredient is lamb, kangaroo, chicken, or turkey)
- Suitable For: All life stages and puppy-specific recipes
- Cost: $$$
- Australian Owned: Yes.
Open Paddock is a well-known Woolies staple. What sets the Open Paddock dry dog food apart from other kibbles is the addition of freeze-dried meat. This will make your dog feel fancy and its perfect for picky eaters!
Overall, all the formulas from Open Paddock are quite good for a supermarket brand. While it does have some downsides (why is salt so high on the list?), it's a tried & true option that many dogs love.
Related:Meat Meal vs Real Meat in Dog Food.
| |
| |
Cell | |
| Cell |
#2: Animals Like Us Raw Blend33 King Salmon & Ocean Fish
- 33% freeze-dried fish
- High protein content
- Sustainably sourced ingredients
- Made in New Zealand
Animals Like Us - 3.5 Star Rating
- Ingredients: Salmon, Ocean Fish, Chicken Meal, Peas, Potatoes, Tapioca Starch, Beef Tallow (preserved with mixed tocopherols), Beef Lung, Beef Meal, Lamb Meal, Beef Liver, Dried Carrots, Brewers Dried Yeast, Flaxseed, Natural Flavour, Salt, Magnesium Sulfate, Potassium Chloride, Choline Chloride, Blueberries, New Zealand Green Mussels, Taurine, Zinc Sulfate, Calcium Propionate, Ferrous Sulfate, Dried Chicory Root, Shellfish (Source of glucosamine), Vitamin E Supplement, Green Tea Extract, Rosemary Extract, Spearmint Extract (+ added vitamins and minerals)
- Named Protein First: Yes.
- Dog Food Type: Freeze dried + kibble
- Recipe Range: Salmon, Beef, Lamb + treats
- Suitable For: Adult dogs
- Cost: $$$$
- Australian Owned: No (but NZ-owned)
Animals Like Us is a new Woolworths-exclusive brand that brings a refreshment to the supermarkets dog food range. The name Raw Blend33 refers to the 33% of freeze-dried (so not actually raw) salmon & ocean fish which are mixed in with the kibble.
Overall, we like the formula, although its certainly not perfect. For example, it includes beef lung and beef liver which is great, but they come after peas, potatoes, and tapioca starch in the list. Nevertheless, this looks like a decent new option - lets see how it stands the test of time.
| |
| |
| Cell |
Cell |
#3: Applaws Grain Free Dry Dog Food Chicken & Turkey
- High protein content
- Grain-free
- No artificial colours and flavours
- Complete and balanced
Applaws - 2.5 Star Rating
- Ingredients: Chicken Meal (A natural source of Glucosamine & Chondroitin), Turkey Meal, Pea Starch, Potato, Tapioca Starch, Chicken Fat (preserved with mixed Tocopherols and citric acid), Flaxseed (source of natural pre-biotic, Omega 3&6), Fish Oil, Natural Chicken flavour, Salt, Rosemary extract, dried tomato, apples, blackberries, sweet potato, cranberries, pumpkin, spinach, Alfalfa, Dried Kelp, Yucca, Beet Pulp, glucosamine, chondroitin, olive oil, Lysine, Vitamins (A, B1, B2, B5, B6, B12, D, E), Biotin, Folic Acid, Niacin, Magnesium, Iron, Zinc, Manganese, Copper, Mauri Mos and Calcium Propionate
- Named Protein First: Yes.
- Dog Food Type: Grain Free
- Recipe Range: Chicken & Turkey; Duck (kibble) + various wet food recipes.
- Suitable For: Adult dogs
- Cost: $$
- Australian Owned: No
Applaws is a really nice mid-range dog food brand. It doesnt come close to the super-premium brands, but we can definitely appreciate it for what it is: a decent, moderately-priced option.
The main ingredient in this formula, for example, is chicken meal. While that doesnt sound as nice as fresh chicken, meat meal is a good source of protein. Thats confirmed by the guaranteed analysis which shows a minimum of 33% protein.
And, for dogs who dont agree with chicken, there is now a Duck formula where the main ingredients are duck meal and venison meal.
| |
| Cell |
Cell |
#4: Pet Food Australia Kangaroo & Ocean Fish Grain Free Dog Food
- High protein content
- Kangaroo meal as a protein-dense first ingredient
- Great for dogs who need a grain-free diet
- Affordable in large packs
- 4 training modes
Pet Food Australia - 2.5 Star Rating
- Ingredients: Kangaroo Meal, Ocean Fish Meal, Potato, Peas, Chicken Fat (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols, a source of Vitamin E & Citric Acid), Hemp Seed Oil, Carrot, Dried Kelp, Dried Egg Product, Coconut Oil, Calcium Carbonate, Apple, Alfalfa Meal, Beta Carotene, Blueberry, Green Lip Mussel, Rosemary Plant Extract, Spinach, Turmeric, Vitamins(A, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B12, D3, E, K3, Biotin, Folic Acid, Niacin), Taurine, Minerals (Copper, Iron, Manganese)
- Named Protein First: Yes.
- Dog Food Type: Dry dog food, grain free
- Recipe Range: Kangaroo; Turkey; Turkey & Lamb - Low Fat; Chicken & Duck Puppy formula
- Suitable For: Adult dogs; one formula for puppies
- Cost: $$
- Australian Owned: Yes.
The kibble with a peculiar name, Pet Food Australia, is another good option sold at Woolworths. The main ingredients in this formula are kangaroo meal & ocean fish meal which are both decent options, especially for a feed thats more budget-friendly, like this one.
According to the manufacturer, the kibble is sourced and made in Australia. That should be a good thing! Overall, we cant find anything wrong with this recipe. Sure, potatoes and peas are not the best ingredients for your dog, but the rest of the list makes up for that with multiple ingredients rich in omega fatty acids. Great for the skin and coat!
| |
| Cell |
| Cell |
#5: Prime Pantry Snapper With Vegetables Dog Food Roll
- Australian snapper as the main ingredient
- Good value for money
- No artificial additives
- Formulated to meet the AAFCO guidelines
Prime Pantry Snapper - 3 Star Rating
- Ingredients: Wild Australian Snapper, chicken (including ground chicken bone), tapioca, peas, carrots, apple, broccoli, flaxseed oil, sunflower oil, vitamins, minerals, natural digestive enzymes, salt, water sufficient for processing.
- Named Protein First: Yes.
- Dog Food Type: Cooked, chilled rolls; a small variety of dry kibble; some treats.
- Recipe Range: Australian Snapper & Vegetables; Chicken with Broccoli & Apple
- Suitable For: All life stages
- Cost: $$
- Australian Owned: Yes.
Prime Pantry is part of the Prime100 dog food brand. Their chilled rolls are surprisingly affordable, considering the ingredient list is one of the best weve seen among the refrigerated foods at Woolworths.
The ingredient list is quite short and the ingredients are simple and precisely identified. The two main ingredients are fish and chicken, which is great. Besides those, the roll contains a few different veggies as well as flaxseed oil. And, as a pleasant surprise, there are no things like gelling agents or soy which are very common in this type of food.
|
|
Cell | |
| Cell |
Woolworths Dog Foods to Avoid
#1 Purina Lucky Dog Adult Minced Beef, Vegetable & Marrowbone Dry Dog Food
Purina - 1.5 Star Rating
- Ingredients: Cereals and cereal by-products and/or vegetable by-products; meat and meat by-products (derived from beef and/or mutton and/or poultry); essential vitamins and minerals and/or amino acids; antioxidants and flavours.
- Named Protein First:No
- Dog Food Type: Grain-based
- Recipe Range: A variety of flavours
- Suitable For: Adult dogs
- Cost: $$
- Australian Owned: No
Lucky Dog kibble is a textbook example of deceptive marketing on pet food bags. When you look at the package, the first words youll see is minced beef, followed by ...vegetable & marrowbone flavour. Yes, this food claims to have the flavour of minced beef, vegetable, and marrowbone.
Related:What Ingredients Should I Avoid In Dog Food?
Are any of these ingredients actually inside? No idea! The ingredient list leaves a lot of room for interpretation. The main ingredient: cereals and cereal by-products and/or vegetable by-products. We dont know what exactly that is and wed rather not find out! Avoid.
#2: Ultimates Indulge Beef Mince In Gravy
Ultimates Indulge - 1.5 Star Rating
- Ingredients: Meats (including chicken and/or beef and/or fish), carrot, thickeners, vitamins and minerals, colour, gelling agent.
- Named Protein First:No
- Dog Food Type: Canned dog food
- Recipe Range: Beef Mince in Gravy; Chicken Mince in Gravy; Chicken Mince and Tuna + more
- Suitable For: Adult dogs
- Cost: $
- Australian Owned: No
Ultimate Indulge is a good example of the type of brand that we do not recommend. The label says its made with natural meat. The description on Woolworths website says made with natural grass fed NZ beef. But the ingredient list clearly states that the can may or may not contain any beef.
Mystery meat is the main ingredient. In short, nothing is clear about this food except that it contains carrots. Even the label on the can says intended for supplemental feeding, indicating that this is definitely not a complete and suitable diet for a dog.
Final Thoughts
Although you usually wont find super premium dog food at Woolworths, it turns out there are quite a few decent options. Open Paddock or Animals Like Us both feature decent kibble combined with freeze-dried meat or fish. Thats not too bad!
However, you can also expect to see some very questionable formulas on the shelves, so keep both of your eyes open while shopping.
