Friskies Extra Gravy Pate with Chicken in Savory Gravy Wet Cat Food
The budget wet food with a gravy twist: $0.84 a can, 4.7/5 from 2,145 reviewers, and the second-lowest cost per calorie of any wet cat food here. The label is by-products and unnamed proteins with carrageenan and added colour - that is exactly where the price comes from.
Score breakdown
The overall score of 60/100 is a weighted sum of the six dimensions below. Each dimension shows what we found in this specific formula.
Weight 30% · Algorithm-computed score 34/100
Algorithm: first ingredient “Meat By-Products” is by-product; 2 named animal ingredients in the top five; protein 44.4% on a dry-matter basis (target for this stage: 28%). Deductions: Named by-products; Unspecified poultry parts; a variable-quality protein source..
Weight 20% · Algorithm-computed score 44/100
Algorithm: first ingredient is not a named animal source; among the top five, 2 by-product/unnamed and 0 plant-protein concentrate items.
Weight 18% · Editorially assessed score 74/100
AAFCO statement: Formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Cat Food Nutrient Profiles for maintenance of adult cats.. Formulated-to-meet profiles are acceptable but weaker evidence than feeding trials, which caps the score here.
Weight 14% · Editorially assessed score 82/100
Nine voluntary recalls since 2011, most of them small and lot-specific. Recent events cluster in the prescription channel: a December 2022 mislabelling of Pro Plan Veterinary Diets EN cans and a February-March 2023 elevated-vitamin-D withdrawal of EL Elemental dry food. No mainstream retail Pro Plan dry food has been recalled.
Weight 10% · Algorithm-computed score 89/100
Algorithm: about $5.34 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
- About $0.84 for a 5.5 oz can - roughly $5.34 per 1,000 kcal, the second-cheapest wet cat food here
- 4.7/5 from 2,145 PetSmart reviewers
- The gravy format adds moisture for cats that drink little, which is the main argument for feeding wet at all
- Complete and balanced for adult cats with added taurine, made in Purina-owned facilities
What we don't
- Meat by-products and poultry by-products lead; chicken does not appear until fourth
- 8% protein as fed is among the lowest of any wet cat food here - ahead of only Hill's two functional cans - and the sources are by-products
- Carrageenan and guar gum as thickeners, plus artificial colours and flavours
- 157 kcal per can means an average adult cat needs one to two cans a day
Ingredients & nutrition analysis
The first five ingredients tell most of the story:
The price floor has a second rung now. At $0.84 for a 5.5 oz can this is $2.44/lb, and against Purina's 1,008 kcal/kg it works out to about $5.34 per 1,000 kcal - second only to Friskies Classic Pate at $5.02. PetSmart's page lists 1,024 kcal/kg; Purina's own figure is 1,008 (157 kcal per can), and the manufacturer wins.
The panel is structurally the same as the Classic Pate: meat by-products and poultry by-products lead, chicken arrives fourth, fish is unnamed, and there are artificial colours and flavours plus carrageenan and guar gum. What Extra Gravy adds is liquid - 82% moisture against a typical 78% - which is the one thing a dry-fed cat actually needs more of.
The protein figure deserves precision: 8% as fed is the third-lowest of the wet cat foods here - only Hill's two functional cans sit lower - but on a dry-matter basis that is about 44%, because water is free and every wet food's as-fed number is dragged down by it. Judge this food on source quality and price, not on the as-fed percentage.
Alternatives to consider
Other products ranked in Best Wet Cat Food:
80/ 100 Nulo MedalSeries Shredded Chicken & Duck Recipe in Gravy Wet Cat Food
78/ 100 Fancy Feast Classic Pate Chicken Feast Wet Cat Food
Frequently asked questions
Is Friskies Extra Gravy Pate with Chicken in Savory Gravy Wet Cat Food right for my pet?
It is our pick for: Strict budgets, multi-cat households, and wet food as a hydration supplement. It is not the best fit for: Owners who want named whole meats, and cats with known protein sensitivities. Individual animals vary — if your pet has diagnosed health conditions, confirm the choice with your veterinarian.
How much does Friskies Extra Gravy Pate with Chicken in Savory Gravy Wet Cat Food cost?
Expect roughly $2.44 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.
- 2026-10-26 — Product published: guaranteed analysis, ingredient list, AAFCO statement, calorie content, price and owner rating taken from the manufacturer's current US label and current US retail listings. Editorial scores for standards, safety and reviews assessed against that data.