Tuft + Paw Really Great Cat Food Review

There’s little a good cat owner wouldn’t do to make the lives of their furry children as happy and healthy as possible, myself included. That’s why when it comes to buying their food, it’s easy to become obsessed with reading nutrition labels, figuring out the ideal ratio between dry and wet food, and knowing when a diet might be in order.

That’s where Tuft + Paw might have made things easier. You might already be familiar with this company for its kitty furniture, such as the Cove Litter Box and Porto Cat Carrier, or its line of Really Great Cat Litter, but you might not be familiar with the newest offering from this cat-centric company: Really Great Cat Food.

How I tested Tuft + Paw

Cats can be finicky creatures, especially when it comes to their diets. Some only like one flavor profile or can be picky about texture, and others – like my girl, Caoimhe – have a combination of both varieties of food particularness, along with a sensitive tummy. For cats like mine, when you find a food that works, you stick with it.

So, before I started testing Tuft + Paw’s Really Good Cat Food, I consulted my vet, who gave me tips on how to get a cat interested in a new cuisine.

Start with a slow and steady introduction

I started by blending some of the Really Great Cat Food with Caoimhe’s favorite wet food for each meal to get her acclimated to the taste and texture. She gets two bowls of wet food every day, so I hoped that by slowly increasing the quantity of the new food over time, I’d trick her into realizing she liked it.

The results were mixed. She gave the first combination bowl the sniff test, immediately decided the entire meal was ruined, and tried to bury it into my hardwood floor. Oops. The second attempt went a little better – she ate around the Tuft + Paw and left the unfamiliar food behind. By the third attempt, she had gotten used to the presence of a foreign substance in with the rest of her food and gave it a little taste. Finally, I fed her an entire meal of Really Great Cat Food and she enjoyed every single bite.

Even if you aren't regularly testing cat food it’s helpful to do this kind of food introduction periodically. Getting your pet used to new meals can keep things flexible, just in case their favorite food becomes unavailable, they develop an allergy, or one of the other myriad things that can occur with cat ownership (if you’ve owned a cat before, you know what I mean).

What I and my cat loved about Tuft + Paw

My cat loved it

After the initial introduction period, once Caoimhe actually gave Really Great Cat Food a shot, she licked the bowl clean. After seeing her reaction to the meal, I swapped out her regular food for Tuft + Paw’s, and she was thrilled. My girl loves mealtime, so knowing another option, with a totally different flavor profile and texture, is possible was exciting.

It's easy to store

Really Great Cat Food comes in little cardboard boxes with perforated edges for easy access. Each box holds 5.5 oz, enough for about two meals for a cat my size.

With most wet cat foods that come in a can, you need to use some kind of utensil to portion out what you’re giving to your cat at mealtime and then store the rest in the fridge, usually with a bit of aluminum foil or a rubber can lid, purchased separately. Tuft + Paw, however, has created the holy grail of packages: the shredded food texture is pourable, and the lip of the carton folds down for easy refrigeration. Way to look out for cat owners, too!

The food comes with a surplus of information

I’m a little bit of a helicopter parent when it comes to my furbaby. I know they can fend for themselves and have literal weapons on their toes, but Caoimhe is an indoor-only cat, and pampering her is my dream. Thus, I spend a lot of brainpower on vetting her food.

Tuft + Paw has made this ridiculously easy. All of the information a cat owner needs to understand what’s in the food is right on each carton. If you’re curious to know more, the brand website is chock full of easy-to-read ingredient tables, factoids about what every vitamin and mineral does for your kitty’s health, and a plethora of FAQs if you still have questions. A big perk: there are multiple ways to digest the information, making it a dream for different kinds of learners to absorb what they’re looking for.

The ingredients look good

I’m not a cat nutritionist, but the list of ingredients looks comparable to the other big names in cat diets. If what’s on their site is to be believed, then it’s easy to see why Tuft + Paw is touting its free-range protein sources and a commitment to the other things cat owners like me worry about, such as hydration and weight control.

Although the term “human grade” is starting to feel like a buzzword, especially when you consider the muddiness of FDA regulations on pet food, it’s a major part of Really Good Cat Food’s advertising. While one can never be entirely sure, Tuft + Paw's profuse ingredient transparency put my mind at ease.

What I and my cat didn’t love about Tuft + Paw

The price is on the higher side

A 24-pack of Really Great Cat Food is $69. Although this is almost a month’s worth of food (assuming one carton works for two mealtimes), transitioning your cat onto this brand from one of the less expensive options can be a significant financial commitment. If you’d be willing to stretch each carton out by supplementing with other foods, the 6-pack is a more reasonable $23.

Again, if the quality of the food is to be believed, then I think the cost is justified, but I admit I was in sticker shock when I saw the price. I’ll also say that it’s comparable to other brands that consider their food “human grade,” so if you’re already used to these price tags, then Tuft + Paw shouldn’t be too different.

There’s only one flavor

I’m lucky Caoimhe came around to this food quickly because there’s only one flavor. I can imagine other cat owners might not have it so easy. There’s also just one texture available right now, which means cats who are persnickety about both will have a hard time with Tuft + Paw.

On the other hand, going into this test, I was certain Caoimhe would need a lot of coaxing and gentle convincing, but she gobbled it right down, so maybe Really Good Cat Food has figured out a way to circumvent those concerns.

What is human-grade cat food?

Cat foods that are human-grade typically mean the food comes from the same place humans get food—like a chicken from the grocery store or beef from a butcher. Tuft + Paw claims “Our recipe features human-grade ingredients, held to the same standards as food fit for you and me. Additionally, the food is prepared in a human-grade facility, ensuring top-notch quality.” However, the brand is quick to point out that humans shouldn't eat its cat food. Tuft + Paw is a Canadian company, but it manufactures its food in Wisconsin, USA from local and imported ingredients.

What certifications does Tuft + Paw Really Great Cat Food have?

Tuft + Paw claims that the meats found in Really Great Cat Food are free of growth hormones and antibiotics. Additionally, some of the ingredients found in the food, like pumpkin and carrot, are certified organic. Tuft + Paw does specify, however, that not all the ingredients are organic and that “When crafting this formula, we chose to prioritize human-grade quality over organic certification to uphold the highest standards of safety and quality.” In terms of regulations, while AAFCO does not technically regulate, test, certify, or approve cat food, according to Tuft +Paw, “All of our recipes are formulated to meet AAFCO guidelines for cats of all life stages and are tested by nutrient analysis at a third party lab.”

Should you buy food from Tuft and Paw?

Yes, provided you have the budget and your cat isn’t too fussy

Tuft + Paw Relly Great Cat Food is absolutely worth a try, provided you can justify the cost. If you’re the kind of cat owner who uses strict portion control and likes a tidy mealtime process, this food checks those boxes (packaging pun intended). If you’re on the fence about whether your pet will vibe with Really Good Cat Food, then definitely buy the 6-pack to start and take things slow.