Wellness Complete Health Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal & Rice Recipe
The cleanest high-protein grain-inclusive label here - chicken, chicken meal, barley, rice, oats, with no plant protein booster in the top five. It is let down by being sold only in a 5 lb bag and by a thin owner review base.
Score breakdown
The overall score of 85/100 is a weighted sum of the six dimensions below. Each dimension shows what we found in this specific formula.
Weight 30% · Algorithm-computed score 90/100
Algorithm: first ingredient “Deboned Chicken” is named whole meat; 2 named animal ingredients in the top five; protein 42.2% on a dry-matter basis (target for this stage: 28%).
Weight 20% · Algorithm-computed score 80/100
Algorithm: first ingredient is a named animal source; among the top five, 0 by-product/unnamed and 0 plant-protein concentrate items.
Weight 18% · Editorially assessed score 80/100
AAFCO statement: Formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Cat Food Nutrient Profiles for maintenance.. Formulated-to-meet profiles are acceptable but weaker evidence than feeding trials, which caps the score here.
Weight 14% · Editorially assessed score 79/100
Six voluntary recalls between 2011 and 2018. The largest was a February 2011 thiamine shortfall affecting roughly 21.6 million cans of canned cat food; later events were small lots (salmonella and mould in two 2012 dry foods, foreign material in 2017 cans, elevated beef thyroid hormone in beef toppers). No recalls since February 2018.
Weight 10% · Algorithm-computed score 98/100
Algorithm: about $2.12 per 1,000 kcal ($$ tier), normalized against same-species peers, wet and dry together (cheapest = 100, most expensive ≈ 15).
Weight 8% · Editorially assessed score 84/100
Owner ratings are generally positive, with a minority of owners reporting picky eating or digestive transition issues.
Pros and cons
What we like
- Deboned chicken and chicken meal lead, then barley, rice and oats - no plant protein concentrate in the top five
- 38% protein with cranberries and chicory root for urinary and digestive support
- Wellness discloses taurine, calcium, phosphorus, omega-3, omega-6, glucosamine, chondroitin and a live probiotic CFU count
- Grain-inclusive, which sidesteps the legume-heavy formulation of most grain-free competitors
What we don't
- Only sold in a 5 lb bag, so $3.80/lb never improves - about $2.12 per 1,000 kcal
- 4.3/5 across just 252 ratings, the thinnest and lowest review base in this ranking
- Formulated-to-meet only, with no feeding-trial evidence
Ingredients & nutrition analysis
The first five ingredients tell most of the story:
This is the rare high-protein cat food that does not lean on pea protein to hit its number: deboned chicken and chicken meal lead, then barley, rice and oats, with cranberries and chicory root for urinary and gut support. Wellness publishes taurine, calcium, phosphorus, omega-3 and -6, glucosamine, chondroitin and 80 million CFU/lb of live lactic-acid bacteria.
Two practical problems. It is only sold in a 5 lb bag, so the price stays at $3.80/lb - about $2.12 per 1,000 kcal, which is steep for a multi-cat household. And its Chewy review base is small and comparatively lukewarm at 4.3/5 from 252 ratings, well below the 4.7 that Blue Wilderness and Hill's Indoor attract.
Alternatives to consider
Other products ranked in Best Dry Cat Food:
85/ 100 Blue Buffalo Tastefuls Sensitive Stomach Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe
83/ 100 Hill's Science Diet Adult Indoor Chicken Recipe Dry Cat Food
Frequently asked questions
Is Wellness Complete Health Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal & Rice Recipe right for my pet?
It is our pick for: Adult cats whose owners want high animal protein with grains and full label disclosure. It is not the best fit for: Multi-cat households watching cost, and anyone who wants a large-bag price break. Individual animals vary — if your pet has diagnosed health conditions, confirm the choice with your veterinarian.
How much does Wellness Complete Health Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal & Rice Recipe cost?
Expect roughly $3.80 per pound ($$ tier) depending on bag size and retailer. Check the linked retailers for current pricing; our value score compares cost per 1,000 kcal against comparable formulas.
How should I switch to this food?
Transition over 7–10 days, mixing increasing proportions of the new food into the old. Go slower for puppies, kittens, seniors and pets with sensitive stomachs, and watch stool quality during the switch.
Score history
Every change to this product's score is logged here, including the reason. Scores are recomputed by algorithm whenever ingredient or price data changes.
- 2026-10-19 — Product data refreshed: guaranteed analysis, ingredient list, AAFCO statement, calorie content and price replaced with values verified against the manufacturer's current US label and current US retail listings. Editorial scores for standards, safety and reviews reassessed against that data.