Iams advertises its cat food as providing “nutrition that’s tailored to bring out their unique best”. But Is Iams Cat Food Good For Cats? This comprehensive review delves into Iams cat food to determine if it’s truly a healthy and high-quality option for your feline companion.
Rating Iams: Our Comprehensive Assessment
We’ve meticulously evaluated Iams based on our established criteria, covering essential aspects such as species-appropriateness, ingredient quality, product variety, price, customer experience, and recall history.
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Ratings Breakdown:
- Species-Appropriateness – 5/10
- Ingredient Quality – 5/10
- Product Variety – 6/10
- Price – 4/10
- Customer Experience – 7/10
- Recall History – 4/10
Overall Score: 5.1/10
Based on our assessment, Iams cat food receives a total score of 31 out of 60, earning a D grade.
Iams: A Brand Overview
Iams is currently a brand of Mars, Inc., excluding its European branch, which is owned and manufactured by Spectrum Brands.
Founded in 1946 by Paul Iams, a self-taught animal nutritionist, Iams initially focused on high-protein, high-fat dog food. In 1950, Iams introduced the first dry dog food predominantly made from animal-based protein. Later, the company expanded into cat food.
Procter & Gamble (P&G) acquired Iams in 1999, expanding its availability to 70 countries. In 2014, P&G sold Iams, Eukanuba, and Natura to Mars, Incorporated, while retaining ownership of the products in the European market.
Mars Petcare is a leading pet food company. In 2017, their revenue exceeded $17 billion. The company’s portfolio includes over 40 pet food brands in addition to Iams, including Crave, Whiskas, and Royal Canin.
Spectrum Brands acquired Iams’ European division at the end of 2014. Their pet care division includes brands like One Earth pet food, Furminator, LitterMaid, and Nature’s Miracle.
Iams Cat Food: Sourcing and Manufacturing
Most Iams pet food is manufactured in the United States, with facilities in Ohio, Nebraska, and North Carolina. The European division operates a plant in Coevorden, Netherlands.
Iams emphasizes its strict food safety program, claiming it exceeds FDA and USDA standards. The company also reports receiving high ratings from the American Institute of Baking, an independent certification authority for the human food industry.
While Iams doesn’t explicitly disclose ingredient sourcing, all Mars subsidiaries adhere to Mars’ Responsible Sourcing program and Supplier Code of Conduct. This involves using third-party risk assessments to select ethical and reliable suppliers.
Recall History: Has Iams Cat Food Been Recalled?
Iams has experienced several recalls since its establishment in the 1940s. Here’s a summary of recent recall events:
2013
In March 2013, Iams Shakeables dog treats were recalled due to potential mold. Later that summer, various Iams dog food varieties were recalled due to possible salmonella contamination.
2011
Iams ProActive Health Smart Puppy dry dog food was recalled due to aflatoxin mold contamination.
2010
June 2010 saw a recall of Iams ProActive Health canned cat and kitten food due to low thiamine levels. The following month, a lot of Feline Renal formula was recalled for potential salmonella contamination.
2007
Similar to many brands sourcing ingredients from China, Iams recalled multiple cat and dog food varieties due to potential melamine contamination.
Types of Cat Food Offered
Iams focuses on tailored nutrition for individual cat needs, crafting recipes for specific life stages and activity levels.
The dry cat food selection is limited to the ProActive Health line, while the wet food selection includes three lines: Purrfect Delights, Purrfect Delicacies, and Perfect Portions.
Top 3 Iams Cat Food Recipes: A Detailed Review
| Product Name | Food Type | Price | Our Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iams ProActive Health Indoor Weight & Hairball Care Dry Cat Food | Dry | $2.25 per lb | C |
| Iams ProActive Health Healthy Adult Original with Chicken Dry Cat Food | Dry | $2.33 per lb | C |
| Iams Perfect Portions Indoor Chicken Recipe Grain-Free Cat Food | Wet | $0.48 per oz | B- |
#1 Iams ProActive Health Indoor Weight & Hairball Care Dry Cat Food
This dry cat food appears to be primarily composed of chicken and chicken by-product meal. It’s designed for indoor cats, with a low-calorie, high-fiber formula aimed at managing weight and hairballs.
Chicken and chicken by-product meal are the primary ingredients, followed by grains like corn grits, corn gluten meal, and ground whole grain sorghum. Dried beet pulp and powdered cellulose are included as fiber sources.
The recipe incorporates fish oil for omega-3 fatty acids and contains traces of carrots, spinach, and dried apple pomace. Caramel color, a dye potentially containing carcinogenic process contaminants, is also present.
This food has moderate protein, low fat, and high carbohydrate content, providing 332 calories per cup.
Ingredients:
Chicken, Chicken By-Product Meal, Corn Grits, Corn Gluten Meal, Ground Whole Grain Sorghum, Ground Whole Grain Corn, Dried Beet Pulp, Turkey, Powdered Cellulose, Dried Peas, Natural Flavor, Salt, Brewers Dried Yeast, Dried Egg Product, Caramel Color, Sodium Bisulfate, Potassium Chloride, Choline Chloride, Fish Oil (preserved with mixed Tocopherols), Carrots, Dried Apple Pomace, Calcium Carbonate Fructooligosaccharides, Spinach, Tomato, Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, Ascorbic Acid, Vitamin A Acetate, Calcium Pantothenate, Biotin, Thiamine Mononitrate (source of Vitamin B1), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (source of Vitamin B6), Vitamin B12 Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement (source of Vitamin B2), Inositol, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid), Minerals (Zinc Oxide, Manganese Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Potassium Iodide), Taurine, L-Carnitine, Silicon Dioxide, Citric Acid, Mixed Tocopherols, Rosemary Extract.
- Ingredients We Liked: Chicken, Fish Oil, Turkey
- Ingredients We Didn’t Like: Corn Gluten Meal, Ground Whole Grain Sorghum, Ground Whole Grain Corn, Dried Peas, Caramel Color
Guaranteed Analysis:
- Crude Protein: 30%
- Crude Fat: 13.5%
- Crude Fiber: 8.3%
- Moisture: 10%
Dry Matter Basis:
- Protein: 33.33%
- Fat: 15%
- Fiber: 9.22%
- Carbs: 42.44%
Caloric Weight Basis:
- Protein: 29.71%
- Fat: 32.47%
- Carbs: 37.83%
Pros:
- Includes fish oil as a species-appropriate source of omega-3 fatty acids
Cons:
- High carbohydrate content
- Contains animal by-products, which may not be optimally digestible
- Made with low-value plant ingredients
- Contains caramel color
#2 Iams ProActive Health Healthy Adult Original with Chicken Dry Cat Food
This adult maintenance food primarily contains chicken and chicken by-product meal, followed by corn in various forms.
It includes both chicken fat and fish oil, providing animal fats. Iams claims an optimal omega-3 to omega-6 fatty acid ratio for healthy skin and coat.
The food has moderate protein, low-to-moderate fat, and high carbohydrate content, providing 373 calories per cup.
Ingredients:
Chicken, Chicken By-Product Meal, Ground Whole Grain Corn, Corn Grits, Corn Gluten Meal, Dried Beet Pulp, Chicken Fat (preserved with mixed Tocopherols), Natural Flavor, Dried Egg Product, Brewers Dried Yeast, Sodium Bisulfate, Potassium Chloride, Fish Oil (preserved with mixed Tocopherols), Calcium Carbonate, Choline Chloride, DL-Methionine, Fructooligosaccharides, Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, Ascorbic Acid, Vitamin A Acetate, Calcium Pantothenate, Biotin, Thiamine Mononitrate (source of Vitamin B1), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (source of Vitamin B6), Vitamin B12 Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement (source of Vitamin B2), Inositol, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid), Taurine, Minerals (Zinc Oxide, Manganese Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Potassium Iodide), L-Carnitine, Rosemary Extract.
- Ingredients We Liked: Chicken, Chicken Fat, Turkey
- Ingredients We Didn’t Like: Corn Grits, Corn Gluten Meal, Ground Whole Grain Sorghum, Ground Whole Grain Corn, Dried Peas, Caramel Color
Guaranteed Analysis:
- Crude Protein: 32%
- Crude Fat: 15%
- Crude Fiber: 3%
- Moisture: 10%
Dry Matter Basis:
- Protein: 35.56%
- Fat: 16.67%
- Fiber: 3.33%
- Carbs: 44.44%
Caloric Weight Basis:
- Protein: 29.51%
- Fat: 33.6%
- Carbs: 36.89%
Pros:
- Contains animal-sourced fats
- Good source of omega-3 fatty acids
Cons:
- High carbohydrate content
- Contains caramel color
#3 Iams Perfect Portions Indoor Chicken Recipe Grain-Free
Iams Perfect Portions Indoor Chicken Recipe Grain-Free Wet Cat Food
This wet cat food appears to be primarily flaked chicken in sauce, thickened with modified tapioca starch and guar gum.
It includes fish oil as a source of omega-3 fatty acids.
This chicken-based wet food is high in protein, with low fat and moderate carbohydrate content, providing 85 calories per 3 oz can.
Ingredients:
Chicken Broth, Chicken, Chicken Liver, Meat By-Products, Tapioca Starch, Dried Egg Product, Dried Plain Beet Pulp, Glycine, Fish Oil (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Potassium Chloride, Salt, Sodium Tripolyphosphate, Natural Flavor, Magnesium Sulfate, Xanthan Gum, Choline Chloride, Caramel Color, Taurine, Fructooligosaccharides, DL-Methionine, Vitamin E Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B1), Guar Gum, Zinc Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Potassium Iodide, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (Source of Vitamin K).
- Ingredients We Liked: None
- Ingredients We Didn’t Like: Tapioca Starch, Caramel Color
Guaranteed Analysis:
- Crude Protein: 9%
- Crude Fat: 4%
- Crude Fiber: 1%
- Moisture: 82%
- Ash: 3.5%
Dry Matter Basis:
- Protein: 50%
- Fat: 22.22%
- Fiber: 5.56%
- Carbs: 2.78%
Caloric Weight Basis:
- Protein: 46.84%
- Fat: 50.56%
- Carbs: 2.6%
Pros:
- Contains fish oil as a species-appropriate source of omega-3 fatty acids
Cons:
- High in carbohydrates compared to other wet foods
- Contains caramel color
Customer Opinions: What Do Cat Owners Think?
Iams cat food generally receives positive customer reviews. However, the brand has faced criticism, notably a boycott following revelations about animal treatment at a research facility contracted by Iams.
In 2002 and 2003, PETA conducted an undercover investigation of the Sinclair Research Center, releasing footage of animal treatment within the lab.
Following the release of the footage, Iams terminated its relationship with Sinclair Research.
Positive Reviews
“The pricing is good and the cat likes it. He gets a tad nervous when he can see the bottom of the bowl… Never mind for the 8 years I have had him since kittenhood, he has never missed a meal and he is carrying extra weight so I’m trying to give him less and keep him satisfied.” – Cathy, reviewing Iams ProActive Heart Healthy Adult dry cat food
“This is the only wet food my cat will eat. It must taste good, it does smell good, and it keeps her from having furballs (indoor formula). The portion is just right, too. No waste!” – M, reviewing Iams Perfect Portions Indoor Chicken Recipe Grain-Free
Negative Reviews
“I have purchased this food for my seven cats for several years and they always ate it. The last auto ship of food, they are eating very little and leaving a lot… Has Iams changed something in the formula? I talked with a Chewy Rep. and they are refunding my money.” – J-Lee, reviewing Iams ProActive Health Indoor Weight & Hairball Control dry cat food
“Unfortunately, we tried this new food for our 4 cats and it has not been going well. One of the cats is throwing up 4 or more times per day, another one that almost never throws up is not throwing up and also is having fully LIQUID diarrhea… We usually like other IAMS foods, but this one is just not good for our cats and they are suffering because of it!” – Jaime, reviewing ProActive Heart Healthy Adult dry cat food
Cost Analysis of Iams Cat Food
Feeding a 10-lb cat one of the reviewed Iams dry foods would cost approximately $0.45 per day.
The reviewed Iams canned food costs around $2.62 per day. Iams Perfect Portions is more expensive at approximately $3.76 daily.
Most Iams foods are priced similarly to mid-level brands like Purina Beyond or Rachael Ray Nutrish, with some wet foods reaching premium prices, despite containing low-cost or unnecessary ingredients.
Final Verdict: Is Iams a Good Choice for Your Cat?
While many cats and their owners appreciate Iams, we don’t recommend it as a top choice.
Iams has had multiple recalls since 2004, suggesting potential issues with quality control. While moderately priced, its ingredient lists resemble those of budget brands.
Where to Purchase Iams Cat Food
Iams is widely available worldwide in grocery stores, big box stores, and pet food retailers. You can find Iams in a store near you by visiting their website.
Online retailers include Amazon, PetSmart, Chewy, Walmart, PetFlow, Petco, PetFoodDirect, Target, and Wag.com.
