Blue Buffalo Wilderness Chicken Recipe Grain-Free Adult Dry Cat Food
A 40%-protein, chicken-first grain-free food at roughly $2.25 per 1,000 kcal - about a third less per calorie than Orijen Six Fish. Pea protein at position three is the reason the protein number is not quite what it looks like.
Score breakdown
The overall score of 81/100 is a weighted sum of the six dimensions below. Each dimension shows what we found in this specific formula.
Weight 30% · Algorithm-computed score 85/100
Algorithm: first ingredient “Deboned Chicken” is named whole meat; 3 named animal ingredients in the top five; protein 44.0% on a dry-matter basis (target for this stage: 28%). Deductions: Plant protein concentrate — dilutes animal share.
Weight 20% · Algorithm-computed score 70/100
Algorithm: first ingredient is a named animal source; among the top five, 0 by-product/unnamed and 1 plant-protein concentrate items.
Weight 18% · Editorially assessed score 76/100
AAFCO statement: Formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Cat Food Nutrient Profiles for maintenance.. Formulated-to-meet profiles are acceptable but weaker evidence than feeding trials, which caps the score here.
Weight 14% · Editorially assessed score 75/100
Nine voluntary recalls; the most recent was March 2017 (elevated beef thyroid hormone in a single lot of Wilderness wet food). Two 2007 events were part of the industry-wide melamine crisis and a 2010 withdrawal involved excess vitamin D. The rest were small lots: a 2015 cat-treat lot containing propylene glycol, salmonella in a 2015 chew-bone lot, a 2016 mould withdrawal, and a March 2017 packaging-seal market withdrawal. Nothing has been recalled since General Mills acquired the brand in 2018.
Weight 10% · Algorithm-computed score 97/100
Algorithm: about $2.25 per 1,000 kcal ($$ tier), normalized against same-species peers, wet and dry together (cheapest = 100, most expensive ≈ 15).
Weight 8% · Editorially assessed score 94/100
Owner ratings are consistently high across major retailers, with few recurring palatability complaints.
Pros and cons
What we like
- Deboned chicken and chicken meal lead, with menhaden fish meal for omega-3 - 40% protein total
- 4.7/5 across roughly 3,800 Chewy ratings, one of the highest owner scores here
- No corn, wheat, soy or poultry by-product meals anywhere in the recipe
- About $2.25 per 1,000 kcal for a 40% protein grain-free food - cheaper than Orijen by a third
What we don't
- Pea protein is the third ingredient, so a real share of that 40% protein is plant-derived
- Formulated-to-meet only, with no feeding-trial substantiation
- Grain-free and legume-containing, which matters if you are weighing the FDA DCM signal
Ingredients & nutrition analysis
The first five ingredients tell most of the story:
On paper this matches Orijen Six Fish: 40% protein, real meat first, grain-free. In practice the protein comes from a different place - deboned chicken and chicken meal lead, but pea protein is the third ingredient and tapioca starch the fourth, so a portion of that headline number is plant-derived.
What you get for that is price and palatability. At $3.92/lb from a 12 lb bag it is about $2.25 per 1,000 kcal against Orijen's $3.57, and owners rate it 4.7/5 across roughly 3,800 reviews, with coat quality the most common praise. Magnesium is held to 0.14% max, which is a genuinely useful disclosure for urinary health.
Alternatives to consider
Other products ranked in Best Dry Cat Food:
85/ 100 Blue Buffalo Tastefuls Sensitive Stomach Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe
85/ 100 Wellness Complete Health Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal & Rice Recipe
Frequently asked questions
Is Blue Buffalo Wilderness Chicken Recipe Grain-Free Adult Dry Cat Food right for my pet?
It is our pick for: Adult cats that thrive on high protein, and owners who want a clean label without Orijen pricing. It is not the best fit for: Cats that need a low-phosphorus diet, and owners avoiding pea protein. Individual animals vary — if your pet has diagnosed health conditions, confirm the choice with your veterinarian.
How much does Blue Buffalo Wilderness Chicken Recipe Grain-Free Adult Dry Cat Food cost?
Expect roughly $3.92 per pound ($$ tier) depending on bag size and retailer. Check the linked retailers for current pricing; our value score compares cost per 1,000 kcal against comparable formulas.
How should I switch to this food?
Transition over 7–10 days, mixing increasing proportions of the new food into the old. Go slower for puppies, kittens, seniors and pets with sensitive stomachs, and watch stool quality during the switch.
Score history
Every change to this product's score is logged here, including the reason. Scores are recomputed by algorithm whenever ingredient or price data changes.
- 2026-10-19 — Product data refreshed: guaranteed analysis, ingredient list, AAFCO statement, calorie content and price replaced with values verified against the manufacturer's current US label and current US retail listings. Editorial scores for standards, safety and reviews reassessed against that data.