Our detailed Comparison of Wellness vs Blue Buffalo Cat Food in 2021
While perusing your local pet food aisles, you may have seen two brands that stand out from the crowd: Wellness and Blue Buffalo.
Since their early establishment, these two pet food companies have taken advantage of the current natural pet food trend. Customers can feed their cats a higher-quality commercial kibble while still paying a reasonable amount for it, thanks to these two companies.
Despite the fact that the two Brands share many similarities, we believe that one is superior. Continue reading to find out which of these two made the cut.
Overview
Wellness has a superior track record when it comes to using only natural components in their products, which are based on real meat. It also has a better safety record than Blue Buffalo.
There are several reasons why we prefer Wellness over Blue Buffalo, and if you’d like to learn more about them, the guide below will provide you with all the information you need to make an informed decision.
About Wellness
With a focus on natural ingredients whenever feasible, Wellness is the world’s biggest independent holistic pet food brand.
Who Owns Wellness and where does it produces its food?
Private investment management company Berwind Corporation owns Wellness, situated in Philadelphia. The company’s headquarters are in Tewksbury, Massachusetts, although they produce all of its dry foods in Indiana.
They don’t reveal the site of their wet food manufacturing factory, thus it remains a bit of a mystery. This suggests that it is a foreign based , but we have no idea where its food is sourced from.
Exactly what kind of food does Wellness produce?
Wellness manufactures a wide array of products including kibble, wet food, and treats. In their products, you will not find cheap fillers like corn, wheat, or soy in its products, and fresh meat is the primary ingredient in every recipe that it produces.
It includes a range of grain-free foods, as well as a fair number that include high-quality grains among other ingredients. Additionally, they have alternatives that contain raw, freeze-dried bits of meat.
Having said that, its nutritional value might be low at times as well. Compared to other more costly products, it does not include as much fat or protein, but it does contain a little more than most of its lower-priced competitors.
What are the benefits of Wellness Cat Food?
Because of the high level of quality that Wellness Cat Food can provide, it is one of the most popular selections for many cat owners. If you haven’t checked it out yet, you’re losing out on a trustworthy brand that caters to the requirements of your feline companions!
Getting to know more about what it has to offer is now an excellent opportunity.
In addition to Core, Simple, Truefood, and Complete Health, Wellness provides a range of sub-brands that create specific formulations for cats.
If you were to conduct research on cat foods, you would almost certainly come across those names. Don’t be misled; those sub-brands are still part of the Wellness umbrella and were simply established to help consumers better understand the contents of the foods that they are purchasing.
In addition to dry cat food, cats will have access to canned cat food, dried freezed food, as well as treats and snacks, along with toppers and mixers to customize their meals.
For you, it would be more convenient to combine different of these products to make a delicious recipe that your cat would enjoy! The ingredients they use are diverse, and include things like liver, chicken, apples, carrots, broth, salmon oil, omega fatty acids, lamb, taurine, and much more! With this wide array of recipes, you may choose one that is both suitable and convenient for your cat’s nutritional requirements.
What Ingredients Does Wellness Utilize?
Wellness products primary ingredient usually is high quality meat; often, they are common meat source such as chicken, fish, or turkey, but occasionally, exotic meat may suffice.
It has fewer meats than some other upscale foods, and many of its recipes include some type of plant as a second ingredient. Although these vegetables are usually of great quality, cats still want to get as much meat as possible.
It frequently supplements its diet with vitamins and minerals as well. This helps ensure that your cat receives all of the nutrients they require, although it is always preferable to obtain those nutrients from diet than supplements.
The absence of certain components is as stunning as the inclusion of others. There are no cheap fillers or suspicious ingredients such as artificial colors or flavors included in their products.
Who Is the Wellness Industry’s Target Market?
Wellness is targeted at people who are willing to pay a bit more for their cat’s nutrition to be superior to that found in bargain-basement cat meals. However, Wellness aims to be more accessible than other premium diets, and as a result, it is available in the majority of pet retailers.
After all, the type of person who purchases Wellness is someone who values their cat’s nutritional needs but isn’t interested in spending a lot of time (or money) researching the best available foods.
There are undoubtedly superior foods available, but they may not be available at your neighborhood chain pet food store.
Popular Wellness products
Wellness CORE Natural Grain-Free Dry Cat Food
Depending on the needs of our kittens, they may require more attention and a specially selected diet. As a comprehensive and balanced meal focused on protein, the Wellness CORE Natural Grain Free – Kitten Health Recipe may be one of the best to look for.
This meal would make it easier for them to get the nutrition they require, as kittens are more sensitive than adult cats. Deboned turkey and chicken make up the majority of the protein in this recipe.
All of these ingredients are necessary to ensure that the cat receives the proper amount of protein. Minerals and vitamins included in the diet may aid in the healthy development of the eyes and brain. Growth is stimulated by the high-calorie content.
Your kitten’s immune system is critical to its overall health and well-being. A good thing is that this food has the necessary antioxidants to enhance their immune system
For the sensitive kitten, there would be no preservatives or fillers, and it would be soft enough for your kitten to chew.
Wellness CORE Grain-Free Indoor Formula
Wellness CORE is one of the company’s grain-free alternatives for indoor cats.
Omega fatty acids are found in excess in this recipe because of the predominance of fish content in it.
Taurine, a key nutrient for heart health, was incorporated into the recipe, as well as probiotics for additional health benefits.
Plant-based nutrients are prominent in the formula, though. In addition to potatoes, peas are listed as the second ingredient. That eats up a lot of space that could have been used for protein, which is only 34% in this product.
Wellness CORE Hearty Cuts Natural Canned Grain-Free Wet Cat Food
If in doubt, the first person to contact is your veterinarian. If you see any strange behavior or symptoms in your cat, you should ask your vet for their advice which can be quite beneficial and you’ll have a better understanding of your alternatives. The Wellness CORE Grain-Free, Protein-Rich Hearty Cuts in Gravy food is one of the most popular meals endorsed by many vets.
It is an excellent addition to the list of finest cat foods available. It provides full nourishment to your cats in order for them to live a healthier lifestyle.it aids in the improvement of their health and the delivery of basic nutrients your cat requires.
Apart from that, it is a wet canned diet with a high moisture content, which is necessary for your cats’ better digestion.
It enables them to obtain the necessary nutrients while maintaining the food’s quality. It is quite useful since it may assist your cat’s coat to become brighter and softer. It is, in essence, a well-balanced diet for your cats’ general health.
Wellness CORE Signature Selects Flaked Skipjack Tuna & Shrimp Entree
Wellness CORE Signature Selects, another canned alternative, is a grain-free wet food packed with fish including mackerel and shrimp. That guarantees it’s high in omega fatty acids, as well as a pleasant taste for your cat.
It’s also rich in other nutrients, like taurine, folic acid, and biotin. Even though the fat and protein content is just 10% and 3.5% respectively, your cat should get sufficient of nourishment.
This is one product that should be combined with dry kibble, So if you can find a good choice of dry food, it will deliver a tremendous one-two nutritious dose.
About Blue Buffalo
Over the years, Blue Buffalo has served millions of cat owners. They provide high-quality meals that are tailored to your cats’ unique nutritional requirements.
Their meals are of the greatest quality on the market and have been tested to meet the standards of numerous food control organizations.
This is without a doubt the primary reason why many people search for Wellness vs Blue Buffalo cat food comparisons in order to determine which is the best!
As with Wellness cat food, you may select from a range of diets and recipes that perfectly match your cats’ needs. They provide a variety of dry and wet canned products made with natural and nutritious ingredients that give a high level of protein to support your cat’s overall wellness.
There are no artificial flavors or additives to guarantee that your cat receives the maximum amount of nutrients.
Additionally, the recipes are tailored to the size and age of your cats. You’ll find diets suitable for kittens, adults, and seniors. It’s more convenient so that you can obtain the exact diet that your cat requires.
When it comes to your cat feeding, There are many factors to consider, but the most critical is to understand your cat’s preferences. They can be finicky sometimes, but they know what is best for them!
Who Is the Owner of Blue Buffalo and Where Is It Manufactured?
Blue Buffalo began as a family-owned business, recently, the company was acquired by General Mills in 2018. [1]
Blue Buffalo appears to have maintained control of its manufacturing methodology thus far, as the food’s quality has remained consistent since the acquisition.
It manufactures food at a number of processing factories located around the United States.
What Foods Does Blue Buffalo Produce?
Blue Buffalo offers a variety of product lines, including grain-free alternatives, formulae with fewer than five ingredients, and high-protein options. They manufacture both wet and dry food in addition to a range of treats.
As is the case with Wellness, Blue Buffalo begins each recipe with real meat. They strive to use as many natural ingredients as possible and to incorporate as many high-quality fruits and vegetables as feasible.
Although the company claims to never utilize animal by-products, Purina sued them in 2014 for deceptive advertising. Blue Buffalo then countersued, and the two parties reached a “mutually satisfactory” settlement in 2016.
We’ll never know whether such claims were genuine or not, but it doesn’t appear as if Blue Buffalo argued against them with such ferocity.
What are Blue Buffalo’s ingredients?
All of Blue Buffalo’s products are made from real meat. Many of these meats come from poultry, fish, or cattle but there are also more exotic alternatives.
Blue Buffalo, on the other hand, is often lacking in protein and fat, especially in its wet foods.
This food may benefit from being combined with another one.
Peas, potatoes, and the like are used in place of corn, wheat, and soy in its grain-free products. Cranberries, lentils, and kelp are just some of the high-quality fruits and vegetables offered in their diets.
Because they contain probiotics, they’re mild on your cat’s digestive system. however, if blue buffalo choose to add grains, they usually go with rice or another simple carbohydrate that cats can well adapt to its consumption.
Who Is The Ideal Customer For Blue Buffalo?
Those who buy Blue Buffalo products are the same folks who buy Wellness products.
These two brands are in direct competition with one another considerably more than they are with lower-priced foods such as Fancy Feast or higher-end options such as Orijen.
They envision their potential consumer as a person who walks into a pet store and asks for the greatest food they can find there. Throughout many major pet stores, two brands will frequently be competing for the same customers.
You can, however, locate some foods that are significantly more nutritious than either Blue Buffalo or Wellness by doing a little more internet research or hitting up higher-end pet stores. They’re just more difficult to come by and significantly more expensive.
Popular Blue Buffalo Products
BLUE for Cats Adult Dry Cat Food
If you’ve been looking for the finest diet for your adult cats, this is the one! This recipe is designed to provide the nutrients that your cat requires, and it contains barley, brown rice, and other components that are sufficient to sustain a healthy lifestyle.
There are also several recipes and diets to pick from, making it easy to find the one that is ideal for your cats. This mix has no by-products or fillers, making it safe for your cats. Veterinarians suggest this product, which is appropriate for all cats. It does not include fish oil and is great for cats that are allergic to seafood. Just be certain that you know your cat better than anybody else.
It is readily edible and soft and delicate, making it ideal for your cat’s tummy. If you have cats with sensitive stomachs or who suffer from diarrhea, you should consider switching their food to this.
Blue Buffalo Wilderness Chicken Recipe
A cat’s natural diet is the inspiration for Blue Buffalo Wilderness. Chicken and chicken meals are the first two components of this recipe. So It is a highly protein-dense diet.
As a result, it’s quite high in protein at 40%, and the chicken meal is packed with internal organs, providing your cat with all the vital amino acids they require to function optimally.
It has a low-fat level of 18% and a high carbohydrate content due to the high plant content. Overall, it’s one of the best dry kibbles available in this price range.
Adult Dry Cat Food BLUE Freedom Grain Free
Numerous Blue Buffalo cat food products use chicken as the primary protein source.
One of them would be the BLUE Freedom Grain Free Chicken Recipe Cat Food. They offer deboned chicken to provide high-quality protein, and it is one of the greatest elements to search for. Additionally, it contains additional components such as turkey and chicken meals to enhance the flavor.
It contains carbs derived from tapioca starch which guarantees that your cats receive an adequate amount of energy from it. It is created specifically for the needs of outdoor cats.
They’ve carefully prepared this feed to aid in the weight gain of cats as well.
Blue Buffalo assures you of the meal’s quality and the products used. There would be no wheat, corn, or soy to contend with, ensuring that the food is typically safe for your cats.
Blue Buffalo Sensitive Stomach Chicken Recipe
Rice and oats are two of the most often tolerated ingredients in Blue Buffalo Sensitive Stomach Recipe, which is designed for cats who have difficulty digesting other diets.
The components list includes chicken, chicken meal, fish meal, and fish oil, which provides a good diversity of animal protein.
It still only provides 32% protein, which is probably owing to the grains and oatmeal preventing extra meat from being added.
It has a significant salt content as well.
Wellness and Blue Buffalo Recall Records
Both Wellness and Blue Buffalo have tangled recalls history , though Blue Buffalo’s is unquestionably more problematic.
Wellness has had just two significant recalls involving their cat food. The first recall occurred in 2011 when approximately 20 million cans of cat food were recalled owing to inadequate thiamine levels. This can result in cardiac difficulties, and so should not be overlooked.
In 2017, the second significant recall happened. They recalled a range of canned meals after tiny quantities of metal were discovered in another brand’s food manufactured at the same facility. While no metal was detected in any Wellness food, it is worth noting that the company shares a building with other businesses that may not take safety as seriously as they do.
Blue Buffalo was involved in the 2007 Great Melamine Recall. Over 100 dog and cat foods were recalled due to the presence of a lethal chemical called melamine that was introduced into the food at a Chinese processing plant, and thousands of pets died as a result of eating the tainted food (although we do not know how many died precisely from having eaten Blue Buffalo).
Additionally, it recalled several treats in 2015 owing to high amounts of propylene glycol, and the FDA named them as one of 16 pet brands that may be associated with heart disease in cats and dogs in 2019. Nothing has been confirmed thus far, but it is clearly not a list they wish to be on.
Wellness vs. Blue Buffalo Head to head Comparison
While Wellness and Blue Buffalo are comparable companies, there are enough distinctions between them to allow for head-to-head comparisons in several crucial areas.
Ingredients
Blue Buffalo and Wellness both strive to utilize only natural ingredients, both identify meat as the first ingredient, and neither includes cheap fillers or preservatives. As such, they share comparable elements in terms of both type and quality.
However, considering that Blue Buffalo does not explicitly deny using animal by-products in their meals, we’re skeptical. As a consequence, we’re going to give Wellness the advantage in this case.
Price
Both products are on the more expensive side, particularly if you purchase from franchise pet food stores.
There are obviously more costly foods available, but they must be purchased at high-end retailers.
It’s difficult to do a precise comparison here, as both businesses provide a diverse range of products. The cost will vary based on whether you’re comparing one of their basic products or a premium product. Typically, though, Wellness will cost an additional buck or two.
Safety
While both companies have been subject to recalls in the past, Wellness’s track record for safety is better.
To Blue Buffalo’s credit, the company relocated its food manufacturing operations to the United States following the 2007 incident with the Chinese facility.
Additionally, while one of their recalls was not their fault, the fact that they share facilities with low-quality food firms is grounds for worry.
Selection
With either brand, you may find nearly any taste or customized diet. Both companies provide incredibly diverse product ranges.
We’ll give the advantage to Blue Buffalo since it provides a few more products, but it’s doubtful that you’ll walk away empty-handed if you examine Wellness’s variety.
Overall
In theory, these two brands appear to be very comparable. If you’re currently giving one of these foods to your cat and everything is working fine, we encourage you to continue with your cat’s current diet.
However, If you’re seeking to switch, we recommend Wellness. It offers nearly all of the same benefits as Blue Buffalo, but without the risk of dubious advertising or dangerous product recalls.
Overall winner
If you’re going to improve your pet’s food from the cheap food found on the aisles of the majority of pet retailers, both Wellness and Blue Buffalo offer an upgrade in quality and also the price. You may definitely discover products that are superior to either of these brands, but they will not be affordable or easily accessible.
Both dishes are nearly identical in nearly every way, from philosophy to ingredient quality, and you really can’t go wrong with either. By a small margin, we favor Wellness because of its greater safety record, although Blue Buffalo appears to have learned from its prior missteps.
Your cat is likely to devour either food produced by these two Brands, and their health should improve as well if you move from cheaper food. Whichever brand you choose, one thing is certain, Your cat will never again be able to eat inexpensive food.
