Wellness Core Original Chicken & Turkey Cat Formula Review

Wellness Core Original Chicken & Turkey grain-free changed its formula in 2017. As I usually do when brands change their recipe, I research the new ingredients and the guaranteed analysis to see if those changes point in the right direction. Here’s my review.

Nutritional Features of Wellness Core Original

• Grain-free formula, no corn, wheat, soy, rice.
• Egg-free recipe
• The four first ingredients are animal and fish-sourced proteins
• Chicken and turkey are locally sourced (in the USA or Canada) and Herring is wild-caught in the North Atlantic.
• No by-products or fillers.
• No artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives
• Formula with 45% protein
• Flaxseed and salmon oil provide Omega-3 fatty acids for a healthy cat’s skin and shiny coat.
• Vegetables and fruits help the cat’s digestive system and provide antioxidants
• Packaged with vitamins, minerals, and probiotics
• Made in the USA

Wellness Core formula includes the following meats & fish varieties:

⇒ Chicken: Deboned meat, meal, fat.
⇒ Turkey: Deboned meat, meal.
⇒ Herring: Meal.

Wellness Core Original Chicken & Turkey Formula Ingredients:

Deboned Turkey, Deboned Chicken, Turkey Meal, Chicken Meal, Peas, Herring Meal, Chicken Fat (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Dried Ground Potatoes, Tomato Pomace, Ground Flaxseed, Natural Chicken Flavor, Salmon Oil, Cranberries, Chicory Root Extract, Choline Chloride, Taurine, Vitamin E Supplement, Dried Kelp, Zinc Proteinate, Mixed Tocopherols (added to preserve freshness), Zinc Sulfate, Calcium Carbonate, Niacin, Iron Proteinate, Ferrous Sulfate, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Vitamin A Supplement, Copper Sulfate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Manganese Sulfate, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Sodium Selenite, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Biotin, Calcium Iodate, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Folic Acid, Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), Dried Lactobacillus Plantarum Fermentation Product, Dried Enterococcus Faecium Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus Casei Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus Acidophilus Fermentation Product, Rosemary Extract, Green Tea Extract, Spearmint Extract.

Guaranteed Analysis

Crude protein 45.0% min – Crude fat 18.0% min – Crude fiber 3.0% max – Moisture 10.0% max – Calcium 2.1% max – Phosphorus 1.60% max – Vitamin A 25,000 IU/kg min -Vitamin E 200 IU/kg min – Taurine 0.20% min – Omega-6 fatty acids 4.75% min – Omega-3 fatty acids 1.25% min.

Ingredients of the past formula (Discontinued)

Deboned Turkey, Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Whitefish Meal, Herring Meal, Peas, Turkey Meal, Potatoes, Chicken Fat (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Tomato Pomace, Natural Chicken Flavor, Flaxseed, Cranberries, Chicory Root Extract, Choline Chloride, Salmon Oil, Vitamins [Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, Beta-Carotene, Vitamin A Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin, Vitamin D-3 Supplement, Vitamin B-12 Supplement, Folic Acid, Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), Biotin],Minerals [Zinc Proteinate, Zinc Sulfate, Iron Proteinate, Ferrous Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Manganese Sulfate, Sodium Selenite, Calcium Iodate], Taurine, Mixed Tocopherols added to preserve freshness, Dried Kelp, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Dried Lactobacillus plantarum Fermentation Product, Dried Enterococcus faecium Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus casei Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus acidophilus Fermentation Product, Rosemary Extract. This is a naturally preserved product.

Guaranteed Analysis Discontinued formula

Crude protein (min.) 40 % – Crude fat (min.) 20 % – Crude fibers (max.) 3% – Moisture (max.) 10 % – Calcium (min.) 1.2 % – Phosphorus (min.) 1% – Magnesium (min.) 0.1% – Taurine (min.) 0.2% – Omega-6 fatty acids (min.) 3.5 % – Omega-3 fatty acids (min.) 0.8% – DHA (min.) 0.2 % – EPA (min.) 0.2 %

Changes In Wellness Core Original VS Previous Recipe

I analyze the most important changes in the formula, so I consider the first five ingredients. The first ingredients represent the biggest proportion in the formula.

Changes in the first ingredients:

• Chicken meal (Old) vs Turkey meal (New). Turkey meal provides more protein than cat meal. They are both excellent sources of protein for cats.
• Whitefish meal (Old) vs Chicken meal (New). Though whitefish is a good source of protein for cats, chicken meal is a much better option. This change was good.
• Herring meal” (Old) vs Peas (New). In terms of proteins, it’s better to have a low-mercury and lean fish protein such as “herring meal” than a vegetable protein such as “peas”. Even though this change didn’t point in the right direction, it didn’t affect significantly the nutritional profile of the formula. Adding more vegetable fiber could be a good change for cats with digestive problems.

Changes in the Guaranteed  Analysis:

• Crude protein increased from 40% to 45%. This is a good change because it means your cat will be satisfied with less food.
• Crude fat reduced from 20% to 18%. This is a good change for indoor cats since fats are a source of energy and indoor cats are usually less active.
• Calcium increased from 1.8% max to 2.2% max. More calcium means more chances of bladder irritation or kidney stone formation in cats.
• The maximum level of Phosphorus (1.6%) is high.
• Omega-6 increased from 3.5% to 4.75% and Omega-3 increased from 0.8% to 1.25%. Both fatty acids were increased and the Omega-3’s vs Omega-6 ratio was reduced. This is a good change because the ratio of Omega-3 vs Omega-6 should be 1:5.

Analysis of the first 5 Ingredients of Wellness Core Original Chicken & Turkey

Deboned turkey: 2 stars. This meat adds water weight that evaporates after being cooked. The real percentage after being cooked is less. Turkey provides less flavor than chicken.
Deboned chicken: 3 stars. The meat lacks bones but it adds water weight. This is a less real percentage of protein after being cooked.
Turkey meal: 4 stars. This ingredient represents a higher level of protein since it’s cooked and dehydrated turkey meat. Good source of proteins for cats.
Chicken meal: 5 stars. Very good concentrated source of protein for cats.
Peas:5 stars. A good vegetable alternative of protein, carbohydrates, and fiber.

What are the Pros & Cons Of Wellness Core Original Cat Formula?

The advantages and drawbacks of this formula for a maintenance diet in adult cats.

PROS

• The grain-free formula reduces blood sugar spikes in the cat, less prone to develop obesity and diabetes.
• No artificial preservatives, flavors, or colors. These are harmful and could cause cancer.
• The formula contains 45% proteins, a denser protein cat food means your cat will need to be satisfied.
• Good sources of fatty acids that ensure a cat’s healthy skin, eyes, and a shiny, smooth coat.
• No eggs, no chances of cats developing an allergy to eggs.
• Good level of magnesium 0.18% (minimum AAFCO is 0.04% as dry matter).
• Vitamin A and vitamin E for the cat’s body function and immune system.
• This formula eliminated whitefish from the ingredients, keeping only “herring meal”.

CONS

• Potatoes are not the best ingredient for cat foods. The good thing is that the impact of this ingredient on the cat’s blood sugar is lower since it’s not part of the main ingredients.
• High calcium level 2.23%.
• Phosphorus 1.68% is higher than the 0.5% maintenance profile recommended for adult cats.

Final Thoughts

Wellness Core Original Turkey & Chicken offers a protein-rich formula featuring lean poultry and fish, essential for your cat’s well-being. The reduction of excessive fish ingredients addresses concerns about the overconsumption of fish in the cat’s diet. However, the increased levels of minerals like calcium and phosphorus may require smaller portion sizes for optimal feeding. Despite the favorable Calcium/Phosphorus ratio, it’s important to note the higher mineral content, particularly for healthy cats who don’t need extra minerals.

Bottom Line

Wellness Core Original Chicken & Turkey is suitable for cats with deficiencies in minerals. You must complement your cat’s diet with a low-in-phosphorus wet food with a percentage of 30% dry food and 70%  wet food. Also, you need to provide your cat with a source of fresh and clean water at all times.

With Chewy you can save 35% on your first autoship. Check it out —-> here.