Image alt text: Special Kitty dry and wet cat food products displayed with the brand logo, showcasing the variety available from this affordable cat food brand. By Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Special Kitty Cat Food is a popular choice for cat owners looking for affordable options. But when it comes to our feline friends, price isn’t the only factor. We’ve delved into Special Kitty cat food, examining everything from ingredient quality to recall history, to help you make an informed decision. This comprehensive special kitty cat food review will explore if this budget-friendly brand truly stacks up when it comes to your cat’s health and well-being.
The Cats.com Standard: Rating Special Kitty Cat Food on What Matters
At Cats.com, we take cat food reviews seriously. We assess brands based on six critical criteria to ensure we’re providing you with the most reliable information. Here’s how Special Kitty cat food measures up in these key areas:
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Our Ratings for Special Kitty Cat Food
- Species-Appropriateness: 2/10
- Ingredient Quality: 2/10
- Product Variety: 7/10
- Price: 10/10
- Customer Experience: 6/10
- Recall History: 4/10
Overall Score: 5/10
Grade: D
Based on our comprehensive analysis, Special Kitty cat food receives an overall score of 31 out of 60, earning it a D grade. This special kitty cat food review indicates that while it’s budget-friendly, there are significant areas of concern.
About Special Kitty Cat Food: The Walmart Exclusive Brand
Special Kitty is a brand exclusively available at Walmart. You won’t find special kitty cat food on the shelves of other grocery stores or pet supply retailers; it’s solely a Walmart brand, both in-store and online at Walmart.com.
The brand’s primary focus is affordability, which is a crucial factor for many cat owners. However, it’s essential to approach brand claims with a degree of skepticism, especially with budget-conscious options. Here’s how Walmart describes special kitty cat food:
“Special Kitty understands the unique bond between you and your cat. Every moment together creates memories that will fill your heart for a lifetime. That’s why each one of our products is crafted with the care that cats love, and the attention to detail that cat lovers trust. For all the soft purrs, warm snuggles, and playful pounces – give your Special Kitty the very best.”
This brand description, while heartwarming, lacks specific details about ingredients or nutritional components. Most special kitty cat food recipes make general claims, including:
- 100% complete and balanced nutrition for optimal feline health
- Nutrients to support an active outdoor lifestyle
- Calcium and phosphorus for healthy teeth and bones
- Formulated with 25 essential vitamins and minerals
While these claims might be technically true, they can be misleading. Let’s consider the “complete and balanced nutrition” claim in this special kitty cat food review.
When Special Kitty states “complete and balanced nutrition,” they refer to the nutritional standards set by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). AAFCO establishes minimum nutritional requirements for cats and dogs through extensive research and feeding trials.
Claiming “complete and balanced nutrition” might lead consumers to believe special kitty cat food is a high-quality source of nutrients. While it may meet basic nutritional needs to keep your cat alive, our in-depth ingredient analysis reveals a different story.
Our review of various special kitty cat food ingredient lists uncovered some concerning trends:
- High levels of inexpensive fillers like corn, wheat, and soy
- Plant-based ingredients frequently listed at the top of ingredient lists
- Significant use of meat and poultry by-products and plant proteins
- Inclusion of unnamed ingredients (e.g., “animal fat” instead of specifying the source like “chicken fat”)
- Artificial additives, including artificial colors and flavors
In essence, special kitty cat food is predominantly plant-based, rather than animal-based, which is not ideal for obligate carnivores like cats. Dry food recipes are heavily reliant on low-quality fillers, while wet foods often feature meat and poultry by-products as primary protein sources.
While Special Kitty cat food is undeniably affordable and widely accessible at Walmart, our special kitty cat food review cannot recommend it due to the overall poor ingredient quality.
Sourcing and Manufacturing of Special Kitty Cat Food
Image alt text: A dedicated Special Kitty cat food display in a Walmart store, emphasizing its exclusive availability and showcasing the variety of products. By Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Beyond the ingredient concerns, special kitty cat food also lacks transparency regarding ingredient sourcing and manufacturing processes. Reputable pet food brands typically provide detailed information about where their ingredients originate and how their food is produced. The absence of this information for Special Kitty is a red flag. When details like sourcing and manufacturing are vague, it’s generally advisable to explore alternative brands.
Although detailed sourcing information is scarce, we did uncover some historical details about special kitty cat food manufacturing.
The Special Kitty brand first appeared in 1983, initially manufactured by Doane Pet Care, a company based in Brentwood, Tennessee. Doane Pet Care was a significant player in private label pet food manufacturing, producing for numerous store brands, including Special Kitty and Ol’ Roy.
In 2006, Mars Inc., a major pet food manufacturer owning brands like Whiskas, Temptations, and Sheba, acquired Doane Pet Care’s U.S. operations.
Mars Petcare and Del Monte Foods manufactured special kitty cat food until 2014. Del Monte then sold its pet division to Big Heart Pet Brands. Subsequently, in 2015, the J.M. Smucker Company acquired Big Heart Pet Brands. Currently, it appears that J.M. Smucker still manufactures the Special Kitty brand.
This history of changing manufacturers further complicates transparency regarding sourcing and quality control for special kitty cat food.
Special Kitty Cat Food Recall History: A Cause for Concern
Before choosing any cat food, researching its recall history is crucial. Product recalls are indicators of a brand’s quality control and commitment to pet safety. Recalls occur when products have issues requiring removal from the market to protect pets and consumers. These issues can range from minor labeling errors to serious contamination with harmful pathogens.
Special kitty cat food has a notable history of recalls, which raises concerns. Here’s a summary of Special Kitty recalls:
- December 2019 (Safety and Quality Issues): The FDA recalled specific lots of Special Kitty Mixed Grill Dinner Pate cat food due to failure to meet “quality and safety standards.”
- January 2017 (Low Thiamine Levels): Several Special Kitty canned foods were recalled by the FDA due to insufficient thiamine levels detected in testing. Thiamine is an essential B vitamin for cats.
- October 2008 (Potential Salmonella Contamination): A recall of multiple Special Kitty dry foods was issued and later expanded by the FDA due to potential salmonella contamination.
- September 2008 (Potential Salmonella Contamination): The FDA recalled several Special Kitty dry foods produced at a Pennsylvania plant due to potential salmonella contamination.
- March 2007 (Melamine Contamination): Special Kitty wet food pouches were among the many pet foods included in a massive U.S. recall due to melamine contamination. Melamine is a toxic industrial chemical.
While occasional minor recalls might be expected in the pet food industry, a history of multiple, significant recalls, like those associated with special kitty cat food, should be considered a serious warning sign.
What Kinds of Cat Food Does Special Kitty Offer? Variety at a Budget Price
Image alt text: A variety of Special Kitty wet and dry cat food options, highlighting the brand’s range for different cat ages and lifestyles, all available at affordable prices. By Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Despite ingredient quality concerns, special kitty cat food does offer a wide variety of both wet and dry food formulas. They provide options for different life stages, including adult and kitten formulas, as well as recipes tailored for indoor and outdoor cats.
Special Kitty Dry Food Recipes:
- Outdoor Formula Dry Food
- Gourmet Formula Dry Food, Seafood Flavor Blend
- Complete Nutrition Formula Dry Food, Chicken & Turkey Flavor
- Indoor Formula Dry Food, Chicken & Pea Flavor
- Kitten Formula Dry Food
- Naturals Dry Food, Chicken Flavor
Special Kitty Wet Food Options:
Special Kitty wet food is available in 5.5-ounce and 13-ounce cans. While individual cans may be found in-store, Walmart.com typically sells special kitty cat food canned food in variety packs and multi-packs.
Special Kitty Wet Food Multi-Packs:
- Pate Wet Food Classic Variety Pack
- Turkey & Cheese Shreds Dinner Cuts in Gravy
- Poultry Cuts in Gravy Wet Food Variety Pack
- Favorites Variety Pack Cuts in Gravy
- Pate Wet Food Mixed Grill Dinner
- Kitten Recipe Pate Wet Cat Food Variety Pack
- Surf & Turf Variety Pack Pate Cat Food
Beyond wet and dry food, Special Kitty also produces cat treats and cat litter, although this special kitty cat food review focuses primarily on their food offerings.
What Do Customers Think of Special Kitty Cat Food? Real Reviews from Cat Owners
When considering a new cat food brand, customer reviews can provide valuable insights. While individual cats have unique preferences, and some may enjoy special kitty cat food, examining overall customer sentiment can be helpful.
We analyzed numerous customer reviews for special kitty cat food on Walmart’s website.
Interestingly, many products received high ratings (4 stars or more), often with hundreds or even thousands of reviews. Positive reviews frequently highlighted the extremely affordable price, a major draw for caretakers of feral cat colonies and budget-conscious owners. The wide variety of product choices was also mentioned positively.
However, negative reviews predictably centered around concerns about poor ingredient quality.
Let’s examine some specific customer reviews for popular special kitty cat food recipes.
Positive Customer Reviews of Special Kitty Cat Food
“Wow I couldn’t believe how much my cats love this! I am the cat lady in my neighborhood. I take in every stray and feed all of the feral kitties across the fence. This food is very economical when you have many cats to feed. Special kitty has several varieties and my cats love it all.” – Pulleygirl54j, reviewing Special Kitty Turkey & Cheese Shreds Dinner Cuts in Gravy.
“Our 4 cats are super picky! Every time we try a cheaper brand of cat food they turn their nose up and it’s just a waste of money. After trying almost every store brand a couple cans at a time we were ready to give up. I saw this variety pack the other day and they were out of most of our name brand favorites. Its $14 so we figured if not we will donate them or send them to someone who would use them! SURPRISE!! They love them and I mean all of them!!” – Brittany, reviewing Special Kitty Surf & Turf Variety Pack Pate Cat Food.
Negative Customer Reviews of Special Kitty Cat Food
“I use this to feed the feral cats purely because of the price. They seem content and healthy. My house cats however seem to throw up more when they eat it, and for some reason their poop stinks a lot more when they eat this than when they eat other brands.” – Kimberly, reviewing Special Kitty Outdoor Formula Dry Food.
“Not 22oz by far. 50% of the cans are full of water and juice. It’s the same amount of food as the smaller cans. Opening up a can is a lottery. You don’t know how much food you’re going to get.” – Elson, reviewing Special Kitty Pate Wet Cat Food.
“I always purchase Special Kitty Food and the stray cats and critters always chow down on it. This batch, for some reason, is going untouched so I fear there’s something unpleasant in the food. I do hope the manufacturer is not cutting corners. I thought with the description “Complete Nutrition” that it would be healthier for the kitties, but they won’t go near it.” – Pennysaved, reviewing Special Kitty Complete Nutrition Formula Dry Food.
These reviews highlight the price-driven appeal of special kitty cat food, but also underscore concerns about quality and potential digestive issues in some cats.
What Did Our Test Cats Think of Special Kitty Cat Food?
Image alt text: A cat enjoying Special Kitty dry cat food, illustrating the palatability of the food despite its ingredient quality concerns. By Kate Barrington / Cats.com
To get a firsthand perspective for our special kitty cat food review, we tested several recipes with our feline testers. We ordered:
- Special Kitty Pate Wet Food Classic Variety Pack
- Special Kitty Favorites Variety Pack Cuts in Gravy
- Special Kitty Naturals Dry Cat Food
- Special Kitty Indoor Formula Dry Cat Food
The most striking initial impression was the price. Both wet food variety packs were under $10 for a large quantity of food, and the dry food bags were exceptionally inexpensive.
Upon opening the dry food, the kibble appeared standard, with average size and color variation. Our test cats readily ate the dry food, although we had to exclude one cat with a chicken allergy, as both dry food recipes listed chicken by-product meal as a primary ingredient. Only one listed chicken specifically as the main ingredient.
We also had to exclude the chicken-allergic cat from wet food testing due to the prevalence of chicken or unspecified meat/poultry by-products in many recipes, making it difficult to determine the exact protein sources.
Overall, our test cats seemed to find special kitty cat food palatable, particularly the Cuts in Gravy wet food varieties. They showed less enthusiasm for the dry food options.
Special Kitty Cat Food – Top 3 Recipes Reviewed in Detail
To provide a more in-depth special kitty cat food review, we analyzed three popular recipes:
| Product Name | Food Type | Main Protein Source | Calories | Price | Our Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Special Kitty Mixed Grill Cuts in Gravy | Wet | Chicken | 66 kcal/pouch | $0.13 per oz | C |
| Special Kitty Classic Tuna Dinner Canned Food | Wet | Chicken | 385 kcal/can | $0.05 per oz | C |
| Special Kitty Naturals Dry Cat Food | Dry | Chicken | 374 kcal/cup | $0.86 per lb | C |
Note: Nutritional percentages are based on manufacturer’s guaranteed analysis. Calculated values are estimates.
#1 Special Kitty Mixed Grill Cuts in Gravy – Detailed Review
Image alt text: A pouch of Special Kitty Mixed Grill Cuts in Gravy wet cat food, highlighting the gravy texture and mixed grill flavor of this popular wet food option.
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This wet special kitty cat food formula is part of the Favorites Variety Pack Cuts in Gravy and comes in 3-ounce pouches. Chicken is the primary protein source, but unnamed meat by-products and beef are also listed.
While by-products aren’t inherently detrimental, unspecified sources are less desirable. The recipe also includes wheat gluten, a lower-quality filler, and artificial color and guar gum as a thickener.
Image alt text: Special Kitty wet cat food in both large cans and smaller pouches, showcasing the different packaging options available for their wet food formulas. By Kate Barrington / Cats.com
The feeding recommendations for this special kitty cat food are also quite high – two pouches per 5 pounds of body weight daily for adult cats, suggesting potentially lower nutrient density.
Ingredients We Liked: Chicken, Beef
Ingredients We Didn’t Like: Meat by-products, Wheat gluten, Added color
Common Allergens: Chicken, Wheat, Beef
Guaranteed Analysis: Crude Protein: 8%, Crude Fat: 3%, Crude Fiber: 1%, Moisture: 84%
Dry Matter Basis: Protein: 50%, Fat: 18.75%, Fiber: 6.25%, Carbs: 25%
Caloric Weight Basis: Protein: 41.48%, Fat: 37.78%, Carbs: 20.74%
Pros: Contains two whole animal protein sources, High moisture content, Low in estimated carbohydrates.
Cons: Unnamed by-products, Wheat gluten as protein source, Long list of synthetic supplements.
#2 Special Kitty Classic Tuna Dinner Canned Food – Detailed Review
Image alt text: A can of Special Kitty Classic Tuna Dinner wet cat food, despite the name, chicken is the primary protein source in this formula.
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Despite being named “Tuna Dinner,” chicken is the first ingredient (after water) in this canned special kitty cat food recipe. Tuna is the second ingredient. This misleading naming is a minor concern.
Problematic ingredients include meat by-products, poultry by-products, carrageenan (a controversial thickener), and brewer’s rice, a less nutritious rice form. Artificial color is also added.
However, like other special kitty cat food wet recipes, this formula is low in estimated carbohydrates (around 2%).
Ingredients We Liked: Chicken, Tuna
Ingredients We Didn’t Like: Meat by-products, Poultry by-products, Brewer’s rice, Carrageenan
Common Allergens: Chicken, Fish
Guaranteed Analysis: Crude Protein: 10%, Crude Fat: 5.5%, Crude Fiber: 1%, Moisture: 78%, Ash: 3.5%
Dry Matter Basis: Protein: 45.45%, Fat: 25%, Fiber: 4.55%, Carbs: 9.09%
Caloric Weight Basis: Protein: 39.44%, Fat: 52.68%, Carbs: 7.89%
Pros: Two whole animal protein sources, Low estimated carbohydrate content, High moisture.
Cons: Unnamed by-products (poultry and meat), Carrageenan thickener, Long list of synthetic supplements.
#3 Special Kitty Naturals Dry Cat Food – Detailed Review
Image alt text: A bag of Special Kitty Naturals Dry Cat Food, marketed as natural but still containing significant fillers and by-products.
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Marketed as “natural,” this dry special kitty cat food recipe, while technically containing added vitamins and minerals, is heavily reliant on by-products and fillers.
Chicken by-product meal is the first ingredient, followed by multiple grain-based fillers (corn gluten meal, soybean meal, ground whole wheat, brewers rice, corn meal) before fresh chicken appears as the 8th ingredient. Unnamed “animal fat” is the primary fat source.
This formula has a high estimated carbohydrate content (over 25%) due to the abundance of grain-based ingredients. The primary advantage of this special kitty cat food is its very low price.
Image alt text: A display of Special Kitty dry cat food bags, emphasizing the affordability of the brand with products priced under $1 per pound. By Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Ingredients We Liked: Chicken, Salmon
Ingredients We Didn’t Like: Corn gluten meal, Soybean meal, Ground whole wheat, Brewer’s rice, Animal fat, Corn meal
Common Allergens: Chicken, Corn, Soy, Wheat, Fish
Guaranteed Analysis: Crude Protein: 38%, Crude Fat: 13%, Crude Fiber: 3%, Moisture: 12%
Dry Matter Basis: Protein: 43.18%, Fat: 14.77%, Fiber: 3.41%, Carbs: 38.64%
Caloric Weight Basis: Protein: 36.69%, Fat: 30.48%, Carbs: 32.83%
Pros: Animal protein listed first, Contains chicken and salmon.
Cons: Corn, wheat, and soy ingredients, Heavy use of by-products and fillers, High estimated carbohydrate content (over 25%).
How Much Does Special Kitty Cat Food Cost? Unbeatable Affordability
As a Walmart exclusive, special kitty cat food is priced to be extremely affordable. The recipes reviewed here are all under $0.15 per ounce for wet food and significantly below $1.00 per pound for dry food. Variety packs further reduce the cost of wet food.
Overall, Is Special Kitty Cat Food a Good Choice for Your Cat?
While special kitty cat food is undeniably one of the most budget-friendly cat food brands available, our special kitty cat food review leads us to conclude that we cannot recommend it as a good choice for most cat owners.
The brand’s heavy reliance on low-quality grain-based fillers (corn, wheat, soy) and frequent use of by-products over named animal protein sources are significant drawbacks. Many dry food recipes have excessively high carbohydrate content (often exceeding 25%), although the wet foods are generally lower in carbs.
Despite the appealing price and wide availability at Walmart, the compromised ingredient quality outweighs the benefits. For cat owners seeking affordable options, exploring slightly higher-priced brands with better ingredient profiles is advisable. You can find superior yet still affordable choices in our guide to affordable cat food.
Where Is Special Kitty Cat Food Sold? Walmart Exclusive
Special kitty cat food is exclusively sold at Walmart stores and online at Walmart.com. You will not find this brand at other retailers.
