Could a syrupy-sweet brand like Chicken Soup for the Soul have the substance it takes to nourish your carnivore? Find out in our unbiased Chicken Soup for the Soul cat food review.
The Cats.com Standard—Rating Chicken Soup for the Soul on What Matters
We’ve analyzed Chicken Soup for the Soul 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. Here’s how it rates in each of these six key areas.
Ratings
- Species-Appropriateness – 8/10
- Ingredient Quality – 7/10
- Product Variety – 6/10
- Price – 5/10
- Customer Experience – 8/10
- Recall History – 3/10
Overall Score: 6.6/10
We give Chicken Soup for the Soul cat food a 40 out of 60 rating or a B- grade.
The Chicken Soup for the Soul brand was created in 1993. Following the success of the original Chicken Soup for the Soul book, the company has published over 250 books and pumps out a new title every month.
In addition to books, the company’s expanded into TV and movies, runs an anti-bullying program, has its own app, and, most relevantly, owns a line of pet food.
Chicken Soup for the Soul says “we’re also inspired by the thousands of stories we receive about the love between pets and people. These stories show that every moment matters between an owner and a pet. Our wholesome pet foods are meant to help you turn your own moments into stories.”
Sourcing and Manufacturing
Chicken Soup for the Soul cat food was manufactured by Diamond Pet Food through 2012, but is now manufactured by a co-packer headquartered in Utah. All of their foods are made in the United States. The company sources ingredients from around the world, but refuses to source ingredients—including vitamins, minerals, and amino acids—from China.
Has Chicken Soup for the Soul Cat Food Been Recalled?
Chicken Soup for the Soul cat food has been recalled twice.
In 2012, a salmonella outbreak forced Diamond Pet Foods to recall multiple brands manufactured in its Gaston, South Carolina plant. All Chicken Soup for the Soul products were pulled. Other recalled brands included Country Value, Diamond, Premium Edge, 4Health, Taste of the Wild, and Professional.
By the time Diamond issued the recall, the bug had infected dozens of people across the United States and Canada. According to the CDC, a total of 49 people in twenty US states were infected with salmonella after handling Diamond-produced pet food.
The company has since severed their relationship with Diamond.
In 2007, several varieties of Chicken Soup for the Soul kitten and puppy food were recalled due to potential melamine contamination. This recall was one of many issued that year after multiple manufacturers received melamine-contaminated vegetable proteins from a major supplier in China.
What Kinds of Cat Food Does Chicken Soup for the Soul Offer?
Chicken Soup for the Soul offers both dry and wet cat food in grain-inclusive and grain-free formulations.
Though it’s not strictly a grain-free brand, Chicken Soup for the Soul refuses to use the most unpopular grains, including corn, soy, and wheat. With the exception of synthetic vitamins, minerals, and amino acids, Chicken Soup for the Soul recipes are all-natural without any artificial colors, flavors, or chemical preservatives.
Chicken Soup for the Soul Cat Food – Top 3 Recipes Reviewed
What Do Customers Think Of Chicken Soup For The Soul Cat Food?
Most customers seem to like this brand, saying that it delivers the quality they need at a price they can afford. Chicken Soup for the Soul cat food product listings receive generally positive reviews and the brand is seldom criticized elsewhere on the web.
Here’s what a few customers have to say about Chicken Soup for the Soul cat food:
Positive Reviews
“My cats absolutely love this product! They have been eating it for over 5 years. I had 2 cats losing their hair. After being on the Chicken Soup for Cats, their hair came back in, beautifully!” – HappyKitties, reviewing Chicken Soup for the Soul Adult Dry Cat Food
“Great Prices for quality! Cat loves! & still in the lower range of calories. [I try to find under 300/kcup] thus only 4 stars- This would be 5 stars if the calories were a tiny bit lower. Awesome choice for a budget friendly consumer without sacrificing quality.” – Tammy, reviewing Chicken Soup for the Soul Indoor with Hairball Care Dry Cat Food
Negative Reviews
“I was looking forward to finding a healthier wet cat food product for my cats. Someone had recommended this and said that her cats love it. Unfortunately neither one of my cats like it. They would rather not eat 🙁 It could be because of the pate texture as they are accustomed to cat food with more gravy. I tried to mash it up, add a little of another cat food, alternate with other foods but they are not interested. Sigh. Still on a quest to find something they like and is healthier.” – LF1234, reviewing Chicken Soup for the Soul Adult Canned Cat Food
“I allowed time to see improvement but after a month and a half the hairballs were still just as violent for my shorthair. Time to try another brand.” – misty5, reviewing Chicken Soup for the Soul Indoor with Hairball Care Dry Cat Food
How Much Does Chicken Soup For The Soul Cat Food Cost?
Chicken Soup for the Soul is an economical brand. Breaking it down by cost per day, the dry food would cost about $0.20 per day if you were feeding the average 10-lb cat. If you opt for Chicken Soup for the Soul wet cat food, it would cost closer to $0.90 per day.
How does that compare to other brands? The cost of Chicken Soup for the Soul cat food is comparable to 4Health and Simply Nourish. Their wet food is some of the cheapest on the market—even cheaper than some wet foods from Meow Mix and Sheba.
Overall, Is Chicken Soup For The Soul A Good Choice?
Chicken Soup for the Soul is doing some things a lot better than other similarly-priced brands. Its foods nix artificial flavors, colors, and chemical preservatives that might harm your cat. Their recipes are free of animal by-products of potentially unsafe origins.
At the same time, this brand doesn’t do anything particularly extraordinary. All of their foods contain carbohydrate-heavy starches and low-value ingredients.
Though they’re not the best brand on the market, Chicken Soup for the Soul is worth putting on your shopping list if you want an economical food without a lot of potentially-harmful additives.
Where To Buy Chicken Soup For The Soul Cat Food?
Chicken Soup for the Soul cat food is sold in pet specialty retailers, farm and ranch stores, natural grocery stores, and other brick-and-mortar locations. Click here to find a store near you.
If you’d prefer to shop online, you can order Chicken Soup for the Soul cat food through Chewy, Wag, Amazon, PetFlow, and other online stores that sell cat food.
Why was Chicken Soup for the Soul so popular?
The founders, Jack Canfield and Mark Victor, were motivational speakers who discovered that their audiences connected deeply with the personal stories they told on stage. More than anything, Chicken Soup for the Soul seems to want to make you cry, cathartically.
What is the summary of Chicken Soup for the Soul?
A Chicken Soup for the Soul story is an inspirational, true story about ordinary people having extraordinary experiences. It is a story that opens the heart and rekindles the spirit. It is a simple piece that touches our readers and helps them discover basic principles they can use in their own lives.
Should I read Chicken Soup for the Soul?
This book did justice to it's title. It really opens the heart and rekindle the spirit. This is a wonderful book inspiring you a lot. Some stories will bring tears, some extremely motivational, some making you believe in yourself.
What age group is Chicken Soup for the Soul for?
Product information.