Friskies cat food is a household name, known for its affordability and wide availability. But when it comes to your cat’s health and well-being, you might be wondering: Is Friskies Cat Food Good? This unbiased review breaks down the brand, examining its ingredients, nutritional value, and customer feedback to help you make an informed decision.
Evaluating Friskies: Our Cats.com Standard
We’ve assessed Friskies based on the Cats.com standard, evaluating six key factors: species-appropriateness, ingredient quality, product variety, price, customer experience, and recall history.
Ratings Breakdown:
- Species-Appropriateness: 6/10
- Ingredient Quality: 4/10
- Product Variety: 8/10
- Price: 6/10
- Customer Experience: 5/10
- Recall History: 5/10
Overall Score: 5.6/10 (C Grade)
This translates to a 34 out of 60 rating, giving Friskies a C grade. Let’s delve deeper into what these scores mean.
A Brief History of Friskies
Friskies boasts a long history, dating back to 1934. Initially focused on dog food, the brand recognized the potential of the cat food market in the 1950s. The introduction of “Little Friskies for Cats” marked their entry into the feline food arena. Fast forward almost 60 years, and Friskies became the leading wet cat food brand in the United States. In 1985, Nestlé (now Nestlé-Purina) acquired Friskies, adding it to their portfolio of popular pet food brands like Fancy Feast and Purina Cat Chow.
Where Does Friskies Source and Manufacture its Food?
Friskies cat food is manufactured in Purina-owned facilities within the United States. The majority of their ingredients also come from the US. However, certain ingredients, such as lamb, venison, duck, rabbit, and vitamin packs, are sourced internationally.
Friskies Recall History
It’s important to be aware of a brand’s recall history. Friskies cat food has faced at least one recall. In 2011, their Grillers Blend dry cat food was recalled due to potential salmonella contamination.
A Wide Variety of Options
Friskies offers an extensive range of wet food options, a smaller selection of dry food, and cat treats.
- Wet Food: Over 60 varieties, including lines like Lil’ Soups™, Extra Gravy Paté, Extra Gravy Chunky, Classic Paté, Shreds, Prime Filets, Tasty Treasures®, Meaty Bits, Indoor, Cat Concoctions®, Gravy Sensations™, and Flaked cat food.
- Dry Food: Six varieties of kibble.
- Treats: Four lines of treats.
Top 3 Friskies Cat Food Recipes Reviewed
Let’s take a closer look at three popular Friskies recipes:
| Product Name | Food Type | Price | Our Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Friskies Classic Paté Turkey & Giblets Dinner | Wet | $0.14 per oz | C- |
| Friskies Surfin’ & Turfin’ Favorites Dry Cat Food | Dry | $1.09 per lb | D |
| Friskies Classic Paté Poultry Platter | Wet | $0.13 per oz | C |
1. Friskies Classic Pate Turkey & Giblets Dinner Canned Cat Food Review
Key Ingredients: Meat by-products, turkey, poultry by-products.
This wet cat food uses meat by-products as its primary protein source. While labeled as “Turkey & Giblets Dinner,” it contains a minimum of 25% turkey and giblets (on a dry matter basis). It also includes rice and several additives, including artificial and natural flavors and carrageenan, which is a controversial ingredient.
Pros: Relatively low in carbohydrates, primarily animal-sourced protein, palatable, affordable.
Cons: Contains artificial ingredients, carrageenan, and by-products as the main meat content.
2. Friskies Surfin’ & Turfin’ Favorites Dry Cat Food Review
Friskies Surfin’ & Turfin’ Favorites Dry Cat Food, showcasing the kibble pieces and highlighting its mix of “surf” and “turf” flavors.
Key Ingredients: Ground yellow corn, chicken by-product meal, soybean meal.
This dry cat food is plant-heavy, with corn and soybean meal leading the ingredient list. It contains some animal protein from chicken by-product meal and meat and bone meal. It also contains artificial colors like Yellow 6, Yellow 5, Red 40, and Blue 2, which have been linked to negative health effects.
Pros: Affordable, palatable to cats.
Cons: Primarily plant-based, contains vaguely-named by-products, and artificial colors.
3. Friskies Classic Paté Poultry Platter Canned Cat Food Review
Key Ingredients: Poultry, poultry by-products, liver, fish.
This wet cat food contains poultry as the first ingredient, followed by poultry by-products, liver, and fish. It also includes a trace amount of rice and artificial and natural flavors. It’s thickened with guar gum and carrageenan.
Pros: Free of artificial colors, named meat as the first ingredient, palatable, affordable.
Cons: Primarily made from meat and poultry by-products, contains artificial flavor, rice, and carrageenan.
What Do Customers Say About Friskies?
Customer opinions on Friskies cat food are mixed. Many cat owners have been feeding Friskies to their cats for generations due to its affordability and accessibility. However, some customers report concerns about the food’s texture, foreign objects found in cans, and reports of illness. Some reviewers have found pieces of plastic in the food.
Positive Reviews: Cats enjoy the taste and readily consume the food.
Negative Reviews: Concerns about product quality, damaged packaging, and potential health issues.
Friskies Cost: An Affordable Option
Friskies is one of the most budget-friendly cat food brands. Feeding a 10-lb cat Friskies canned food would cost approximately $0.95 per day, while dry food would cost around $0.18 per day.
Final Verdict: Is Friskies a Good Choice for Your Cat?
So, is Friskies cat food good? While Friskies is an affordable and widely available option, it’s not a top recommendation due to its ingredient quality. If you choose to feed Friskies, consider opting for their wet food recipes over dry food. Wet food generally has a higher meat content and lower carbohydrate content. Pay close attention to the ingredient list and choose options with fewer artificial additives and questionable ingredients like carrageenan.
Where Can You Buy Friskies Cat Food?
Friskies is sold at most major retailers, including discount stores, big box stores, and grocery stores. It’s also readily available online through retailers like Walmart, Target, Amazon, and Chewy.
