Wishbone: Cat Food You Should Try

Wishbone: Cat Food You Should Try

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Over the years, the team at Cat Mania has reviewed a lot of cat food brands and products. We’ve evaluated everything from the worst on the market to the best and just about everything in between. 

Through our research, we’ve found that the vast majority of cat food brands are cutting corners, using cheap ingredients, and using artificial colors and flavors to disguise low-quality food. 

Wishbone is among a growing number of brands that are doing what it takes to make cat food better. Wishbone cat food emphasizes carefully-sourced ingredients, industry-leading manufacturing standards, and recipes made to help your cat thrive. 

In this review, we’re going to take a look at everything you need to know about Wishbone and why it might be the ideal upgrade from your cat’s current diet. Keep reading to get all the details.

Wishbone Cat Food At A Glance

Here at Cat Mania, we’re dedicated to helping you make the best decisions for your cat.

We put hours of research into our cat food reviews, poring over each brand’s background, sourcing and manufacturing processes, and more. We’ve reviewed dozens of cat food brands and established a good understanding of what it takes to make an outstanding food for cats.

Nutritional quality is our number one priority when evaluating cat food brands. Other factors, like product variety, pricing, and recall history, also weigh into our impressions of each brand. We’ve taken all of these into consideration when reviewing Wishbone cat food.  

In addition to researching the facts about Wishbone, we did hands-on testing. We opened bags of each Wishbone cat food product, evaluated its smell, consistency, and appearance, and tried it out with our cats. 

What Is Wishbone Cat Food?

Created by the same company that brought us Addiction Pet Food, Wishbone’s mission is creating ethical, high-quality food that you can trust.

Their foods are made from top-quality ingredients and manufactured according to some of the world’s highest safety standards.

Wishbone is also involved in philanthropy, having recently donated over 5,000 pounds of food to SPCA International, an international animal welfare organization. This May 2020 donation was the largest in the SPCA’s history.

What Kind Of Cat Food Does Wishbone Offer?

Wishbone’s selection includes three dry cat food recipes, featuring chicken, lamb, or beef as primary ingredients. These animal protein sources represent at least 90% of each recipe’s total protein content.  

While other brands contain low-value plant ingredients like brewer’s rice and corn gluten meal, Wishbone foods are accented with an array of superfoods, including papaya, blueberries, cranberries, and flaxseed. 

You won’t find any animal by-products, artificial colors, dangerous preservatives, or other commonly-harmful ingredients on any of Wishbone’s ingredient lists. 

Every Wishbone recipe begins in the pastures of New Zealand, recognized as one of the cleanest manufacturing locations in the world.

New Zealand’s standards for livestock management, imports, and manufacturing have earned it an international reputation. It’s considered one of the best places on the planet to make cat food. 

By working closely with New Zealand farmers, Wishbone is able to obtain some of the best ingredients on the planet. Their meats come from free-range animals that were never treated with growth hormones or antibiotics. 

Because Wishbone never outsources to third-party manufacturers, it’s able to retain control of the entire manufacturing process. All Wishbone foods are made in a single company-owned-and-operated facility located in the Bay of Plenty, New Zealand. 

Since the brand was launched, Wishbone cat food has never been involved in a recall.

Its parent company, Addiction, was involved in a single recall in September of 2016. No reports of illness were associated with this recall. 

Of course, Wishbone is a newer brand and its clean recall history doesn’t necessarily mean that it will never be recalled in the future. It does, however, suggest that the company is doing something right. 

Wishbone Cat Food Reviews

To get a better understanding of what Wishbone has to offer your cat, let’s take a look at their three recipes for cats. 

#1 Wishbone Roost Grain-Free Dry Cat Food

Ingredients: 

Chicken Meal, Fish Meal, Tapioca, Chicken Fat (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Peas, Flaxseed, Apples, Blueberries, Cranberries, Papaya, Mango, Apples, Basil, Oregano, Rosemary, Thyme, Sunflower Seeds, Chamomile, Peppermint, Camelia, Natural Flavor, Sodium Chloride, Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin (Vitamin B3), Calcium Pantothenate (Vitamin B5), Vitamin A Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B1), Riboflavin Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Biotin (Vitamin B7), Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid (Vitamin B9), Taurine, Choline Chloride, Magnesium Sulfate, Zinc Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Calcium Carbonate, Copper Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Calcium Iodate, Cobalt Sulfate, Sodium Selenite, Green Tea Extract, Rosemary Extract and Spearmint

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Wishbone’s popular Roost recipe is a poultry-centric formula featuring chicken as its primary protein source. Chicken meal from cage-free chicken is its first ingredient, with fish meal as a secondary source of animal protein. 

Chicken fat serves as the food’s main source of fatty acids. The food is grain-and-gluten-free, with tapioca and peas serving as its main binding agents and sources of carbohydrates. 

After its main ingredients, the food contains an array of nutrient-dense fruits, vegetables, and herbs, featuring a mix of flaxseed, apples, blueberries, oregano, chamomile, and other supplementary ingredients.

The food is fortified with all the vitamins, minerals, and amino acids needed to make each meal nutritionally complete and balanced for all life stages.

#2 Wishbone Pasture Grain-Free Dry Cat Food

Ingredients: 

Lamb Meal, Tapioca, Chicken Fat, Peas, Fish Meal, Blueberries, Cranberries, Papaya, Mango, Apples, Basil, Oregano, Rosemary, Thyme, Sunflower Seeds, Chamomile, Peppermint, Camelia, Natural Flavor, Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin (Vitamin B3), Calcium Pantothenate (Vitamin B5), Vitamin A Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B1), Riboflavin Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid (Vitamin B9), Sodium Chloride, Taurine, Choline Chloride, Magnesium Sulfate, Zinc Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Calcium Carbonate, Copper Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Calcium Iodate, Cobalt Sulfate, Sodium Selenite, Green Tea Extract, Rosemary Extract, and Spearmint Extract.

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With protein-packed lamb meal its first ingredient, this recipe emphasizes protein from animals before anything else. The food also contains fish meal as a secondary source of protein, with tapioca and peas holding it all together. 

Like all Wishbone foods, the kibble contains 8 superfoods for a nutritional boost, with an array of added vitamins, minerals, and amino acids making the food nutritionally complete. Because it meets AAFCO standards for all life stages, this food is appropriate for cats ranging from kittenhood to the senior years.

#3 Wishbone Graze Grain-Free Dry Cat Food

Ingredients: 

Beef Meal, Lamb Meal, Peas, Potatoes, Chicken Fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), Tapioca, Flaxseed, Natural Flavor, Potassium Chloride, Choline Chloride, Sodium Chloride, Magnesium Sulfate, Blueberries, Cranberries, Papaya, Mango, Apples, Basil, Oregano, Rosemary, Thyme, Sunflower Seeds, Chamomile, Peppermint, Camellia, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B1), Riboflavin Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate (Vitamin B5), Niacin (Vitamin B3), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Folic Acid (Vitamin B9), Vitamin B12 Supplement, Ferrous Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Zinc Sulfate, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite,  Vitamin K1 Supplement,  Cobalt Sulfate, Taurine,  Biotin (Vitamin B7), Calcium Propionate, Green Tea Extract, Rosemary Extract, Spearmint Extract.

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Perfect for cats who crave red meat, this recipe features beef and lamb meal as its primary ingredients. It’s the only Wishbone recipe that’s completely free of fish, making it a promising option for cats who are sensitive to seafood. 

Peas, potatoes, and tapioca hold the food together, while chicken fat serves as a source of nourishing fatty acids.

The food is supplemented with Wishbone’s signature superfood blend and fortified with all of the vitamins, minerals, and amino acids your cat needs to stay healthy.

It meets AAFCO guidelines for all life stages, making it a nutritious diet for cats of all ages.

What Customers Think Of Wishbone Cat Food?

As a new addition to the cat food market, Wishbone hasn’t had a lot of time to accumulate customer reviews. That said, most customers seem to be glad they made the switch to Wishbone.

Wishbone’s most popular recipe, Roost, has a 4.2 out of 5-star rating on Chewy and 94% of customers say they’d recommend it to a friend. 

Chewy customer Nala gave an enthusiastic 5-star rating, saying that “We love wishbone pet food for cats! Smells so good all 3 cats come running when it’s dinner time! Great for picky eaters like Zoey! I had to feed the cats separate food before & now all 3 cats can eat the same food! Since switching to wishbone cat food we’ve also noticed a considerable difference in the litter box! (Less stool!!)” 

Another Chewy customer named Olivia says that, after trying $100 worth of dry foods, Wishbone was the first that her cat would try. “My cat loves Wishbone Roost. On her first try of it she had her old dry cat food in one bowl and the Roost in another and she immediately went for the Roost. I am so happy and so relieved because this year I have spent close to $100 on different dry foods for her, but to no avail. Thank you so much for offering such a quality product and your prices are fair and delivery is swift, to boot!”

How Much Wishbone Cat Food Costs?

Compared to other similar brands, Wishbone cat food is surprisingly affordable.

At about $0.25 per ounce, Wishbone isn’t one of the lowest-priced foods on the market, but its price is very competitive with similar brands. 

Assuming that you’re feeding a typical 10-lb cat who needs about 200 calories per day, Wishbone food should cost about $0.61 each day. That’s comparable to brands like Merrick and Essence.

Other brands that emphasize careful ingredient sourcing and manufacturing can cost significantly more. Fromm’s dry food, for example, costs around $0.40 per ounce. This would add up to about $0.80 per day for a 10-lb cat. 

Overall Impressions

If you’re tired of by-products, fillers, and recalls, Wishbone might be the cat food for you.

If you’re like most of us, your cat’s diet probably could use some improvement.

The most popular cat food brands use low-value ingredients, load up on fillers, include artificial colors, and worse. If you’re feeding your cat one of these low-quality foods, you’re already putting them at risk of serious health issues. 

It’s never too late to upgrade your cat’s diet.

Wishbone isn’t going to be the right choice for everyone. It’s not the right fit, for example, if you’re looking for a low-carbohydrate, high-moisture diet. It’s also not the best match for cats with special dietary needs. But it’s a huge step up from the typical dry cat food.

If you want to feed your cat with a brand that goes the extra mile to earn your trust, consider Wishbone. Each food starts with healthy livestock, stringent quality standards, and tightly-controlled manufacturing processes. The end product is fresher, better food for your cat.

And because Wishbone is involved in charitable efforts for pets, trying it also helps to support other pets around the world. Overall, this is a cat food you should consider trying in 2021. 

Where Can You Buy Wishbone Cat Food?

Wishbone cat food is sold on Chewy and Amazon. You can also purchase it in brick-and-mortar stores scattered across the western United States and Canada.