Taste of the Wild vs Blue Buffalo Cat Food: Which is Best for You?

Every cat has their own individual set of dietary needs and nutritional intake required to help them develop and grow at a steady rate. Cats that are found in nature typically rely on a diet that consists of fish and other sources of natural, high-quality protein.

Many of the standard cat food products that are available on the market today include many forms of processed foods and other additives which can pose harm to your cat if not correctly identified. There are several ways that you can avoid feeding your cat food that is potentially harmful to their health and overall well-being.

How to Take Best Care for Your Cat

One of the simplest things you can do is make sure to read the ingredient labels and nutrition information printed on every cat food box that your purchase.

While this method has been proven to help cat owners avoid feeding their feline friends, potentially harmful substances, not all companies honor their labeling and try to hide the facts behind their harmful cat food products.

To avoid running into a company that is involved with false labeling practices, do some research online about lawsuits and other legal action that has been taken against the cat food company you’re interested in.

By doing this, you’ll be able to see if the company in question has come under fire or legal prosecution due to any pets dying or forming new health problems after the consumption of a given cat food product.

Keep in mind, all of the previously mentioned tips do not apply to all cat food companies and manufacturers. There are a lot of very reputable cat food companies out there who produce high-quality products that pose no threat to your cat’s health.

Always Check from Where Cat Food Comes

It’s just always a good practice to double check before feeding your cat any food that comes from a third-party source. Once you’ve found a quality cat food that you trust, you have to take into consideration the ingredients in the food which may not be directly harmful to cat’s in general but to your cat specifically based on their dietary needs.

A great example of this would be cat food that is made using grains, whole grains are not harmful to all cats in general, they can cause digestive irritation in cats who have sensitive stomachs.

To avoid issues like this, pay attention to what is included in cat food products that seem to be rejected by your cat’s body in order to find out what ingredients you need to stay away from. There are a lot of high-quality cat food products on the market which is true to their labeling and packaging.

Two of the most prominent cat food and dog pet food brands on the market are Taste of The Wild and Blue Buffalo. Both pet food brands produce healthy cat food options that are optimized to help support digestive and immune health in your feline friend.

In this guide, we’re going to give you an in-depth comparison between Blue Buffalo and Taste of The Wild cat food products so that you can decide on which feed option is best for your cat.

We’ll go over health standards, manufacturing processes, ingredient sourcing, lawsuits, and more related to the two pet food brands so that you can get an up-close view of exactly how they operate.

Blue Buffalo is the clear winner of this comparison due to their wide variety of specially formulated cat food products that are designed to benefit cats of all ages and size.

Blue Buffalo offers an array of dry food and wet cat food options in addition to cat treats which will help to sustain the quality of life and overall health of your feline friend. We’ll go into more detail about Blue Buffalo later in this guide, just continue reading.

Check out the main differences between Wet Food vs Dry Cat food here.  

A Look at Taste of The Wild

Taste of the wild cat foods is produced with your cat’s natural dietary needs in mind. Taste of The Wild cat food products is a line of high-quality feed options that are crafted using natural ingredient sourced from trusted vendors and suppliers.

Taste of The Wild is a family-owned company that puts an immense amount of dedication into making sure that their cat food products meet health and safety standards set out by all regulatory agencies across the globe.

Taste of The Wild cat food products come in a variety of flavors and are formulated to provide your cat with the essential nutrients that it needs. Taste of The Wild cat food does not contain any grains and uses additive-free sources of protein to support your cat’s healthy lifestyle.

About the Company: Taste of The Wild

Taste of The Wild is owned and operated by a family of cat lovers who share an intense passion for delivering quality ingredients in cat food products that promote long-lasting health. Taste of The Wild formulates all of their cat food products based on the natural evolutionary and dietary needs of felines.

Taste of The Wild cat food is made with ingredients that cats naturally eat in the wild, this allows felines of all age and size to receive the proper nutrition that they need.

Taste of The Wild produces all of their cat food products in the United States with manufacturing facilities located in Arkansas, South Carolina, Missouri, and California.

These facilities source their high-quality all-natural ingredients from local farms and produce suppliers which allows Taste of The Wild to maintain a level of quality assurance that you won’t find with many companies.

Taste of The Wild is the epitome of a company who truly understands and caters to their consumer base, with years of experience crafting high-quality cat food sourced using fresh grain-free ingredients, Taste of The Wild is one of the fastest growing pet food companies on the market.

A Look at Company Ethics: Taste of The Wild

Taste of The Wild has been in the pet food industry for a fairly short amount of time when compared to other companies however, they have already faced several lawsuits and other legal battles which puts the question of the legitimacy at risk.

This section is going to break down some of the questionable claims that have been brought up against Taste of The Wild pet foods so that you can decide for yourself whether or not it’s the right pet food brand for your cat.

Recalls

In May 2012, Taste of The Wild faced a recall on all of their cat and dog foods to the potential of a salmonella outbreak. Taste of The Wild underwent an investigation by the FDA into the claims that their cat and dog food formula products may contain salmonella poisoning.

After the investigation was complete, the FDA found that Taste of The Wild pet food products did not contain any salmonella poising and approved the foods to be released back on store shelves. This is the only recall that Taste of The Wild has faced since the inception of the company which makes their record in terms of recalls fairly clean.

Lawsuits

In 2018, Taste of The Wild pet foods faced a class action lawsuit that was filed by pet owners in multiple states. The class-action lawsuit alleges that Taste of The Wild dog food formula is contaminated with undisclosed amounts of potentially harmful heavy metals.

The lawsuit also claims that these undisclosed heavy metal particles have the potential to trap themselves in the body of dogs which can cause health issues in the future.

Research indicates that the heavy metal toxins which are suspected to be present in their dog foods have the potential to cause nerve damage, cancer, and intestinal problems among other issues.

The basis of the lawsuit filed against Taste of The Wild also states that due to the fact the company failed to disclose the presence of these metals, they were engaging in a false advertisement that has the potential to put their customer’s pets’ at risk.

One of the plaintiffs in this class action lawsuit also believes that Taste of The Wild dog food played a direct role in the death of their dog recently. While the lawsuit is still ongoing, we will just have to wait and see what the outcome of this class action filing will be.

Controversies

The recall and lawsuit mentioned above are the only controversies that Taste of The Wild has faced since the founding of the company. Taste of The Wild has always maintained quality standards and high-levels of dedication to manufacturing the best food products that they can.

Taste of The Wild Manufacturing & Sourcing

Taste of The Wild has manufacturing facilities located all throughout the United States and put an emphasis on producing high-quality cat food that is derived from natural sources.

Taste of The Wild strictly complies with all local and federal standards pertaining to the cleanliness, safety, and efficiency of their manufacturing facilities.

\Taste of The Wild has enduring relationships with local farmers, produce suppliers and vendors who provide them with premium ingredients that are fresh and safe for cat consumption.

Taste of The Wild has manufacturing facilities located in California, Missouri, Arkansas, and South Carolina which allows them to use all-natural ingredient that are grown with love and care.

Taste of The Wild manufactures all of their pet food products using very strict quality assurance testing and health guidelines to ensure that all of their products provide the most benefit to pets all of the kinds.

Taste of The Wild keeps a very tight-knit manufacturing process which ensures that no outside contaminants or lesser quality ingredients make it into their premium line of pet food products.

Taste of The Wild Cat Food Selections

Taste of The Wild offers four cat feed options all formulated to benefit cats of all ages and size. All Taste of The Wild cat food selections has different protein, nutritional, and dietary values so that you can feed your cat the perfect meal every time. The four types of Taste of The Wild cat foods are as follows:

• Canyon River Feline Formula
• Rocky Mountain Feline Recipe
• Canyon River Feline Recipe
• Rocky Mountain Feline Formula

Canyon River Feline Formula

Canyon River Feline Formula provides cats with a fish-based animal protein feed that is grain-free and delicious. Canyon River Feline Formula Pet Foods are formulated to support digestive health in cats by providing them with essential minerals from fish that is compatible with their biology.

Canyon River Feline Formula is additive-free and is crafted using a low carb formula so that your cat only receives energy from pure sources of protein.

Rocky Mountain Feline Recipe

Rocky Mountain Feline Recipe is a cat feed that was formulated with total health support in mind. Rocky Mountain Feline Recipe contains animal protein from an array of fish which are rich in nutritional contents that matches with the dietary needs of cats everywhere.

Rocky Mountain Feline Recipe is additive free and contains minerals and vitamins which help support vision and heart function.

Canyon River Feline Recipe

Canyon River Feline Recipe is packed with essential omega fatty acid fats and other critical nutrients which help support healthy brain and heart function in cats.

Canyon River Feline Recipe contains great sources of beneficial protein including taurine and fish-derived nutrients. Canyon River Feline Recipe can also help boost your cat’s immune system which makes it a great feeding option.

Rocky Mountain Feline Formula

Rocky Mountain Feline Formula is a feed option that can be added to other cat meals or consumed on its own. Rocky Mountain Feline Formula is formulated using low carbs and high-quality all-natural sources of fresh protein. Rocky Mountain Feline Formula is a complete feeding solution for cats of all ages and size.

Taste of The Wild Cat Food: Best Selling Product

Rocky Mountain Feline Wild Recipes

Rocky Mountain Feline Recipe is one of the premier cat food options offered by Taste of The Wild. Rocky Mountain Feline recipe is grain free food which allows cats of all ages to eat smoothly without their body rejecting the feed.

Rocky Mountain Feline Recipe is crafted using protein and nutrition sources that are easily digested by cats to ensure that your feline derives as many essential nutrients as possible.

Rocky Mountain Feline Recipe contains species-specific probiotics which are beneficial bacteria that help cats maintain pristine health in all areas.

Rocky Mountain Feline Recipe was designed to be the perfect feeding option for cats at all stages of life which is what makes this feed combination so potent.

Rocky Mountain Feline Recipe also contains a high amount of essential omega fatty acid which helps to sustain and promote healthy skin in cats. Rocky Mountain Feline Recipe is rich in natural sources of antioxidants which help to provide immune support among an array of other health benefits.

Rocky Mountain Feline Recipe comes in two main feeding sizes which are 14lbs and 5lbs which gives you the ability to personalize your cat’s feeding amount. Rocky Mountain Feline Recipe is crafted to boost overall activity levels and sustain natural protein balance within cats of all sizes.

While in nature, cats typically eat a diet that is rich in fish and natural plants, Rocky Mountain Feline Recipe was formulated to closely resemble the natural feeding habits of cats to provide them with an all-natural way to consume critical vitamins and protein in their system.

Because cats have very delicate digestive systems, Taste of The Wild created Rocky Mountain Feline Recipe with no-grains or artificial flavors and preservatives to ensure that your cat receives lots of protein without any harmful chemicals.

Rocky Mountain Feline Recipe contains taurine which is an essential amino acid that has been proven to help eye and heart function within cats.

Rocky Mountain Feline Recipe contains up to 42% of pure protein content which stringently provides your cat with powerful sources of energy. This protein blend will help to increase activity levels and the overall health of your cat so that they can live a full and happy life.

Top 15 Ingredients

Taste of The Wild Rocky Mountain Feline Recipe this section is going to list the top 15 ingredients found in Taste of The Wild’s Rocky Mountain Feline Recipe cat feed so that you know which sources of protein your cat is consuming. The ingredients listed below combine to make a very powerful cat food that is clean and natural.

The top 15 ingredients are as follows:

• Pea Protein
• Taurine
• Chicken Meal
• Sweet Potato
• Smoked Salmon
• Roasted Venison
• Ocean Fish Meal
• Dried Chicory Root
• Folic Acid
• Blueberries
• Raspberries
• Tomatoes
• Chicken Fat
• Biotin
• Zinc Sulfate

These ingredients combine to create a blend of natural cat food protein and vital nutrition support to help you cat’s body in several different ways. Essential vitamins and minerals help your cat maintain a beautiful coat and clear vision while antioxidants help to fight off infections and keep their immune system strong.

All of the ingredients found in Rocky Mountain Feline Recipe are sourced from local suppliers that maintain pristine health and environmental regulatory standards. Rocky Mountain Feline Recipe is a powerful cat feed that will help your cat absorb the critical protein that they need without any negative side effects.

Nutritional Breakdown

• Crude Fat- 18% Minimum
• Crude Protein- 42% Minimum
• Crude Fiber- 3% Maximum
• Moisture- 10% Maximum
• Zinc- 120mg/kg Minimum
• Selenium- 0.3mg/kg Minimum
• Vitamin E- 150 IU/kg Minimum
• Taurine- 0.15% Minimum

Pros

• Biologically compatible ingredients that provide maximum nutrition for your cat.
• High-quality grain-free feed formula which helps support proper digestion.
• Packed with essential omega fatty acids which support the sustenance of healthy skin and fur for your cat.
• Contains protein from an array of premium selected fish that deliver pure energy to your cat.
• Antioxidants included in the formula help your cat’s immune system
• Species-specific probiotics which help to promote overall health for cats
• Taurine included in the feed to help cats develop and maintain healthy eye and heart function
• Contains over 42% protein content for maximum nutrition at feeding

Cons

• Does not contain any sources of protein from poultry
• Only two feeding sizes available

See how Taste of The Wild Compares to Others:

• Taste of the Wild vs Diamond Pet Foods 

Taste of The Wild FAQs

For those cat owners who want to provide their pet with serious protein and nutrition on a regular basis, Taste of The Wild has an array of high-quality cat feed options that will match up perfectly with your cat’s nutritional needs.

A Look at Blue Buffalo

Blue Buffalo Pet Foods are a comprehensive pet food manufacturer who puts pride and dedication into everything that they do. They provide a huge selection of high-quality cat food options that are designed to provide maximum support for your cat minus all of the harmful chemicals and additives.

Blue Buffalo separates itself from most pet food manufacturers due to their intensely specialized cat food product which is formulated to support cats in particular stages of their life.

Blue Buffalo follows very strict health and safety standards to ensure that their pet food products provide animals with clean and natural source food that fits their natural diet as close as possible.

About the Company: Blue Buffalo

Blue Buffalo was created by Bill Bishop was is an enthusiastic pet owner that lost his dog aptly named Blue. Blue was Bill’s loyal and compassionate pet for many years so when he passed away due to health issues, Bill set out to create an all-natural pet food that would benefit pets of all types.

Since then, Bill has gone on to expand Blue Buffalo as one of the leading pet food companies in the industry. Blue Buffalo puts an emphasis on manufacturing high-quality pet foods that use naturally sourced ingredients from U.S. based farms and suppliers.

A Look at Company Ethics: Blue Buffalo

Blue Buffalo has been producing pet food products for quite some time now. During the time since its founding, Blue Buffalo has faced several recalls and lawsuits pertaining to the quality of their pet food products. While not all of these controversies have held up in court, there have been some questionable claims made against the company.

In this section, we’re going to detail some of the controversies that Blue Buffalo has faced so that you can decide on whether or not it’s the right cat food for your feline.

Recall

In March 2017, Blue Buffalo faced multiple lawsuits, one claiming that their line of wet Blue Buffalo dog food was contaminated with excessive levels of beef thyroid and another claiming that their canned line of pet products contained an issue with the foil seal. T

he lawsuit alleges that Blue Buffalo wet dog food products contained an abnormal level of beef thyroid which can cause issues such as excessive thirst, weight loss, restlessness, increased heart rate, and more. Both of these recalls are still in execution so we will just have to wait and see the outcome.

Lawsuits

In June 2017, Blue Buffalo faced a class action lawsuit which alleges that the company released pet food on the market which was contaminated with toxic lead levels and other unknown substances.

The class action lawsuit was filed and spear-headed by a Blue Buffalo customer who believed that their dog food products played a direct role in the death of her 4yr old cocker spaniel and poodle mix dog.

While these claims were investigated by federal health agencies and other regulatory institutions, it was ultimately thrown out due to a lack of evidence that the food itself played a direct role in the death of the plaintiffs’ dog.

Controversies

Blue Buffalo has faced several controversies over the years largely due to the widespread popularity of their pet food products. While you should take heed to information which may point to potential contamination within the pet food products, not all claims should be taken seriously unless further verified. Till this day, Blue Buffalo has yet to pay out any money due to lawsuits filed or any other controversy.

Blue Buffalo Manufacturing and Sourcing

One of the main disadvantages of Blue Buffalo food is that they do not produce nor manufacture their pet food products in-house. Like many other popular pet food companies, Blue Buffalo outsources the production and manufacturing of their pet food products to third-party facilities.

While their ingredients are sourced from U.S. based suppliers, the fact that they outsource the production of their pet foods put their product line at risk of contamination and production errors. All of the partners that manufacture Blue Buffalo pet foods are located in the U.S. and produce pet food products for other competing companies.

Blue Buffalo Cat Food Selections

Blue Buffalo food offers a multitude of BLUE for Cats cat feed products designed to help cats at all stages of life. All of the BLUE for Cats products focus on integral parts of your cat’s overall health which include things such as weight control, digestive health, hairball control and more. We’re going to list the four most popular BLUE for Cats cat food products, they are as follows:

• BLUE Weight Control
• BLUE Sensitive Stomach
• BLUE Healthy Living
• BLUE Indoor Hairball Control

BLUE Weight Control

BLUE Weight Control is a specially formulated cat food that helps felines maintain a healthy weight without becoming too skinny or too fat. BLUE Weight Control contains rich sources of protein such as deboned chicken and vegetables so that your cat can receive maximum nutrition without going overboard.

BLUE Sensitive Stomach

BLUE Sensitive Stomach is formulated to help cat’s with sensitive stomachs receive their recommended daily value of protein and nutrition without getting sick. BLUE Sensitive Stomach contains a lot of high-quality ingredients which are great for immune support, healthy digestion, and muscle maintenance.

BLUE Healthy Living

BLUE Healthy Living is a comprehensive cat feed that is free of additives and harmful artificial preservatives. BLUE Healthy Living contains rich sources of natural protein like brown rice so that your cat can maintain an active and happy lifestyle.

BLUE Indoor Hairball Control

BLUE Indoor Hairball Control Is specially crafted using a mix of three natural protein sources which help to reduce hairball inflammation. BLUE Indoor Hairball Control contains the perfect balance of calories and protein to support your cat’s everyday life.

Blue Buffalo Cat Food: Best Selling Product 

BLUE Healthy Living Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe

BLUE Healthy Living Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe is a rich source of essential nutrients and minerals that cats need in order to live a fully functional life. BLUE Healthy Living Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe contains whole grain vegetables and all-natural deboned chicken to provide cats with a clean and tasty feeding option.

BLUE Healthy Living Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe also contains a mixture of high-quality vitamins and antioxidants which support a healthy oxidative balance within your feline’s system. BLUE Healthy Living Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe also supports healthy immune function and is formulated to retain its powerful protein content for a very long time.

BLUE Healthy Living Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe promotes a healthy digestive system, weight, immune system, heart, and eyes which makes it an all-around option for those who are serious about the health of their feline.

Top 15 Ingredients: BLUE Healthy Living Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe

BLUE Healthy Living Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe is packed with lots of beneficial protein and minerals. This section is going to list the top 15 ingredients found in BLUE Healthy Living Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe so that you can decide if it’s the right feed selection for your cat.

The top 15 ingredients are as follows:

• Pea Protein
• Oatmeal
• Chicken Meal
• Deboned Chicken
• Chicken Fat
• Dried Egg Product
• Sweet Potato
• Fish Oil
• Dried Chicory Root
• Vitamin B12 Supplement
• Folic Acid
• Taurine
• Peas
• Barley
• Brown Rice

All of these ingredients are rich in essential protein content that cats need to thrive. BLUE Healthy Living Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe is a great comprehensive feeding option for cats of all ages.

Nutritional Breakdown

• Crude Protein- 34% Minimum
• Crude Fiber- 4% Maximum
• Crude Fat- 18% Minimum
• Moisture- 9% Maximum
• Magnesium- 0.14% Maximum
• Taurine- 0.15% Minimum
• Omega 6 Fatty Acids- 3% Minimum

Pros

• Contains natural sources of high-quality protein to support healthy development in cats
• Does not contain any corn, soy, wheat, or preservatives to deliver a health feline feeding option
• Supports immune health with sources of natural antioxidants which are also good for overall health maintenance
• Supports the sustenance of healthy skin and eye function for cats
• Promotes a healthy digestive system making it easier for cats to reduce hairball inflammation amongst other conditions

Cons

• Does not contain any fish-based protein
• Uses some forms of synthesized vitamins and minerals instead of their natural form

Blue Buffalo FAQs

Final Word

While both Taste of The Wild and Blue Buffalo provide a wide variety of naturally sourced and high-quality cat food options, Blue Buffalo comes in the clear winner of this comparison.

This is largely due to the sheer amount of specially formulated cat food options that Blue Buffalo offers. Blue Buffalo offers unique cat feed options that are formulated for cats at specific life stages and for cats who experience certain medical conditions.

Blue Buffalo offers cat food options for cats that need help managing their weight, cats with sensitive stomachs, indoor cats, and a whole lot more.

Their personalized cat feed selections in addition to their commitment to providing natural cat food that pet owners can trust are what makes Blue Buffalo the winner of this comparison.

If you are a cat owner who is serious about giving your feline their daily dose of essential nutrients and protein, Blue Buffalo has the perfect cat feed option for you. Ensure lasting and optimal health for your cat by feeding them Blue Buffalo.

Need more help choosing the best food for your cat? Yes! Then read the Olive Knows: How to Find the Best Cat Food Guide — It will really help!

Further Reads

• Purina Pro Plan vs Blue Buffalo Cat Food Compared: Which is Best?
• Diamond Naturals vs Taste of the Wild Cat Food: 2 Great Brands, Who Wins?
• Blue Buffalo vs Blue Wilderness Cat Food Compared
• Wet Food vs Dry Food