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Cats.com rates American Journey cat food 7.5/10 (45 out of 60, B+). Its strongest marks are customer experience (9/10) and price (8/10). Its weakest is species-appropriateness (6/10). The core trade-off is this: the dry recipes name real animal ingredients first but depend heavily on starch and legumes, while the canned pâté is far wetter and closer to what the reviewer considers species-appropriate. Chewy now lists at least one of the dry recipes under its own Chewy Made name, so the brand you find on the shelf or in your cart may not say American Journey.
What the Cats.com review actually is
The review was last updated April 2, 2026, and written by Amy Brown-Towry. Cats.com scores each product across six criteria: species-appropriateness, ingredient quality, product variety, price, customer experience and recall history. Its rating method says it works with a panel of veterinary professionals and feline behavior experts (How Cats.com rates cat food). The scores are a reviewer’s judgment on label and product information. They are not the result of a feeding trial, and they are not a veterinary endorsement of the brand.
This article follows the same six criteria. Where it adds anything, it is limited to checking the arithmetic behind the reviewer’s numbers and explaining what the label figures can and cannot show.
Scores by category
| Criterion (Cats.com framework) | Cats.com score |
|---|---|
| Species-appropriateness | 6/10 |
| Ingredient quality | 7/10 |
| Product variety | 7/10 |
| Price | 8/10 |
| Customer experience | 9/10 |
| Recall history | 8/10 |
| Overall | 7.5/10 (45/60, B+) |
The lowest score is the one that matters most for a cat that eats mostly dry food. Cats.com’s customer experience score is the highest, which tells you about buyer satisfaction and service, not about the nutritional fit of the recipe.
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#1 Best Overall
- One (1) 4 lb bag of ORIJEN Original Cat Food with Fresh and Raw** Ingredients
- ORIJEN dry cat food helps supports digestion, shiny coat, healthy skin and heart health for cats of all life stages
- Biologically Appropriate high protein recipe made with 90 percent animal ingredients* to deliver the nutrition cats need to thrive
- First five ingredients of this ORIJEN cat food are fresh or raw** free-run*** chicken and turkey, whole mackerel, turkey giblets and flounder, providing a strong source of essential protein, vitamins, and minerals
- Cat food kibble freeze-dried coated for a burst of raw flavor your cat instinctively craves, containing ORIJEN WholePrey ingredients that feature the most succulent parts of the prey
The three recipes the review analyzes
The review covers two grain-free dry recipes and one canned pâté. The table below puts the label figures reported by Cats.com side by side. Figures marked “not stated” were not given in the review.
| Item | Turkey & Chicken dry | Salmon dry | Turkey & Salmon pâté (canned) |
|---|---|---|---|
| First ingredients listed | Deboned turkey, turkey meal, chicken meal | Deboned salmon, salmon meal, tapioca starch | Turkey, turkey broth, poultry liver, poultry heart, salmon |
| Crude protein (guaranteed analysis) | 40% | 40% | 10% |
| Crude fat | 15% | 15% | 6% |
| Crude fiber | 4% | 4% | 1% |
| Moisture | 10% | 10% | 78% |
| Calories per cup (as reported) | 395 | 410 | Not stated (Cats.com review) |
| Carbohydrates, dry-matter basis (Cats.com estimate) | 34.44% | 34.44% | 22.73% |
| Taurine | Not stated (Cats.com review) | Not stated (Cats.com review) | 0.15% |
| Calcium / phosphorus | Not stated (Cats.com review) | 1.2% / 1% | Not stated (Cats.com review) |
Turkey & Chicken grain-free dry
Three of the first four named ingredients are animal-based: deboned turkey, turkey meal and chicken meal. That is a meaningful feature in a dry food. After those, the list moves to tapioca starch, dried egg product, pea protein and peas. Cats.com also notes menhaden fish meal, chicken fat, added taurine, probiotics and fermentation products. The reviewer’s concern is not the presence of meat, but how much of the dry weight comes from starch and legumes.
Salmon grain-free dry
This recipe starts with deboned salmon and salmon meal, then tapioca starch. Its protein, fat, fiber and moisture figures match the turkey dry recipe exactly, and so does its estimated carbohydrate figure. The reported difference is calories: 410 per cup for salmon versus 395 for turkey and chicken. Cats.com lists calcium at 1.2% and phosphorus at 1%. Those are reported label values for this recipe, and the review does not give the same mineral figures for the turkey recipe.
Rank #2
- Meat is #1 Ingredient - Since the dawn of time, cats have loved their protein—so that’s why this dish is packed with delicious, crunchy bites of the good stuff: USA farm-raised chicken and duck.
- Protein-Rich - Packed with 34% protein! This bag of kibble boosts your pet’s energy and helps them maintain lean muscle mass.
- Pre & Probiotics for Easy Digestion - Nature’s mighty little biotics work hard to ensure your pet’s gut is in tiptop shape.
- Non-GMO Protein & Produce - When it comes to your pet’s veggies and protein, GMOs aren’t invited to the party. #SorryNotSorry
- Grain-Free - Absolutely no corn, wheat, rice, soy, or oats in sight. We don’t pack your pet’s food with grains just to help us save a buck or two.
Turkey & Salmon pâté (canned)
The pâté is the only wet product in the review. Its ingredient list leads with turkey, turkey broth, and poultry organ meats, and includes salmon. Cats.com flags its trade-offs: gums (guar, cassia and xanthan) and plant-sourced fats. The reviewer treats the high moisture as a point in its favor, which is why the species-appropriateness discussion is more favorable for the pâté than for the dry recipes.
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Raw guaranteed-analysis numbers are misleading when one food is 10% moisture and the other is 78%. A pâté that shows 10% protein is not weaker in protein than a dry food with 40% protein, because most of the pâté is water. To compare them, convert each figure to a dry-matter basis:
- Find the moisture percentage on the guaranteed analysis.
- Subtract it from 100 to get the dry-matter fraction. For the dry recipes, 100 − 10 = 90%. For the pâté, 100 − 78 = 22%.
- Divide each nutrient by that fraction and multiply by 100. For example, crude protein in the dry recipe is 40 ÷ 0.90 = 44.4% on a dry-matter basis.
Using this method on the label figures above:
| Nutrient, dry-matter basis (calculated from label values) | Turkey & Chicken dry | Turkey & Salmon pâté |
|---|---|---|
| Crude protein | 44.4% | 45.5% |
| Crude fat | 16.7% | 27.3% |
| Crude fiber | 4.4% | 4.5% |
These are arithmetic on label values, not laboratory assays. On this basis, the protein levels of the dry recipe and the pâté are close. The pâté is much richer in fat, which matters for calorie planning. The carbohydrate gap Cats.com reports is therefore mostly a difference in how the calculation was made and what the dry recipes use as their structure, not a difference in protein.
Rank #3
- Pâté - A deliciously smooth, and decadent texture.
- Real Poultry, or Fish is #1 Ingredient - Since the dawn of time, cats have loved their protein—so that’s why this dish is packed with delicious, succulent bites of the good stuff.
- Hydration Boost - Your cat gets to enjoy flavorful, nourishing broth to ensure they’re getting enough H20 (without even knowing it!) every day.
- Grain-Free - Absolutely no corn, wheat, rice, soy, or oats in sight. We don’t pack your pet’s food with grains just to help us save a buck or two.
- Filler-Free - Unlike other brands, we don’t use ingredients like rice or corn to bulk out your pet’s food because we know there’s little nutritional value and it can contribute to obesity and lethargy.
What the calculated figures do and do not tell you
Carbohydrates and the missing ash value
Cats.com estimates carbohydrates by subtraction: it takes the nutrients on the guaranteed analysis and assigns what is left to carbohydrate. A reader comment on the review asks, “How do you calculate dry matter without the ash total?” The concern is valid. Ash is the mineral content, and if it is left out of the subtraction, the carbohydrate estimate absorbs it. Read the 34.44% and 22.73% figures as estimates that depend on that method, not as measured values.
Calories per cup
The calorie figures are reported per cup, and a cup of dry kibble and a cup of pâté weigh very different amounts. Per-cup comparisons across wet and dry foods will mislead you. Compare calories per gram or per can using the manufacturer’s feeding guide or the label, not the cup figure.
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Cats.com states that its nutrient charts are calculated automatically from guaranteed analysis and may not reflect typical nutrient values. That caveat applies to every number in this article.
Rank #4
- FREEZE DRIED MINNOWS CAT TREATS – CRISPY, BITE SIZED REWARDS, 0.5 OZ BAG: High protein cat treats made with single ingredient minnows in a light, crispy format designed for cats of all ages
- HELPS ENTICE EVEN PICKY CATS: Freeze dried cat treats preserve the aroma cats instinctively recognize, helping turn even finicky felines into eager treat seekers
- USA MADE WITH U.S. AND GLOBALLY SOURCED INGREDIENTS: Made with high-quality animal proteins from trusted suppliers. Grain free cat treats with no fillers, artificial flavors, or colors for nutrition and quality you can trust as a pet parent. Great for picky eaters and cats with allergies
- AROMA AND FLAVOR CATS INSTINCTIVELY RECOGNIZE: Made with minnows, these high protein cat snacks deliver meat-first nutrition in every bite
- CRISPY CAT TREATS WORTH PURSUING: Freeze-dried minnows provide a satisfying texture that may help support dental health while making treating more rewarding and fun for cats of all ages
Recall history, manufacturing and sourcing
- Recall claim: Cats.com states, “American Journey cat food has never been recalled.” That is the reviewer’s statement, and it is given an 8/10 for recall history. Confirm recall status against the FDA’s pet food recall notices and the manufacturer’s current notices before you buy.
- Dry food origin: According to Cats.com, the dry food is made in the United States by third-party partners. The review associates that production with Kansas but does not name the co-packer.
- Wet food origin: According to Cats.com, the pâté is produced in Thailand.
- Ingredient sourcing: Cats.com says ingredients are primarily from the United States, with other supplier countries also involved. It does not list those countries.
The Chewy Made switch and where to buy
Cats.com describes American Journey as a Chewy-exclusive brand launched in 2017 and says the food is available through Chewy, with shipping to contiguous United States addresses. The retailer’s own listing has changed. The current Chewy listing for the Turkey & Chicken grain-free dry recipe identifies it as formerly American Journey and says:
“So if you notice a review mentioning American Journey, that’s because it’s the exact same nutrition – just under our Chewy Made name and packaging.”
That is Chewy’s claim about the dry food on that listing. It does not establish that every historic American Journey recipe is still sold, or that every package is unchanged. Before you reorder, check the recipe name, the guaranteed analysis and the ingredient list on the bag you receive against the figures above.
Best Value
- INDOOR HEALTH + DIGESTIVE SUPPORT, 4 RECIPES - Optimeal Functional wet cat food variety pack. Chicken, turkey, shrimp, salmon, beef, and rabbit in gravy and sauce. Grain free, high protein cat food for cats that need a little extra care every day.
Who this food suits, and who should look elsewhere
- Budget-conscious owners who want named animal ingredients as the first items on a dry food will find the price score (8/10) and the ingredient structure consistent with what the review describes.
- Owners of cats that eat mostly dry food should weigh the 6/10 species-appropriateness score. The review’s concern is the starch and legume content, and the pâté is the option it rates more favorably.
- Owners who need a specific mineral or taurine profile should check the label, because the review does not provide taurine or calcium values for every recipe.
- Owners who need a verified recall record should treat the review’s statement as Cats.com’s own finding and check official notices before buying.
Verdict
American Journey earns a respectable 7.5/10 from Cats.com, mainly on price and customer experience. The dry recipes put real meat first, but their starch and legume content is the main reason the review scores species-appropriateness at 6/10. The pâté is the better-supported choice on the review’s own criteria, provided the moisture and calorie differences fit your cat’s feeding plan. Because the brand is being renamed on some listings, check the current package and the Cats.com review before you buy.
Review source: Cats.com review. Current listing: Chewy listing.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
