Taste of the Wild Canyon River Feline Recipe with Trout & Smoke-Flavored Salmon Dry Cat Food
The cheapest cat food in this ranking per calorie at about $1.69 per 1,000 kcal, and it is not a cheap-food formula: trout, fish meal and salmon meal lead, and 32% protein clears the cat target comfortably. You are buying Diamond's manufacturing record along with the bag.
Score breakdown
The overall score of 83/100 is a weighted sum of the six dimensions below. Each dimension shows what we found in this specific formula.
Weight 30% · Algorithm-computed score 91/100
Algorithm: first ingredient “Trout” is named whole meat; 3 named animal ingredients in the top five; protein 35.6% on a dry-matter basis (target for this stage: 28%).
Weight 20% · Algorithm-computed score 80/100
Algorithm: first ingredient is a named animal source; among the top five, 0 by-product/unnamed and 0 plant-protein concentrate items.
Weight 18% · Editorially assessed score 73/100
AAFCO statement: Formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Cat Food Nutrient Profiles for all life stages.. Formulated-to-meet profiles are acceptable but weaker evidence than feeding trials, which caps the score here.
Weight 14% · Editorially assessed score 68/100
Four recalls, including one of the largest pet food recalls by weight in US history: the May 2012 salmonella withdrawal covered 24.8 million pounds of Diamond, Diamond Naturals and Taste of the Wild food across 21 states and was linked to 49 confirmed human infections. A 2013 thiamine event followed. Nothing since; Diamond now runs a test-and-hold programme with weekly microbiological testing.
Weight 10% · Algorithm-computed score 100/100
Algorithm: about $1.69 per 1,000 kcal ($$ tier), normalized against same-species peers, wet and dry together (cheapest = 100, most expensive ≈ 15).
Weight 8% · Editorially assessed score 89/100
Owner ratings are consistently high across major retailers, with few recurring palatability complaints.
Pros and cons
What we like
- Trout, fish meal and salmon meal take the first three slots - three named fish ingredients before anything else
- About $1.69 per 1,000 kcal, the cheapest cat food in this ranking per calorie
- 32% protein as fed is about 36% dry-matter, comfortably above the 28% all-life-stages target for cats
- Grain-free, with sweet potatoes and lentils rather than a long grain list
What we don't
- A fish-forward recipe is the wrong tool for a cat that already reacts to fish
- Roughly 1,600 Chewy reviews is a smaller base than the site's most-reviewed cat foods
- Formulated-to-meet only; Diamond publishes no feeding-trial validation for this recipe
- The manufacturer's record includes the 2012 salmonella withdrawal, one of the largest pet food recalls by weight in US history
Ingredients & nutrition analysis
The first five ingredients tell most of the story:
The cost case is straightforward. At $39.99 for 14 lb this is $2.86/lb, and once you divide out the 3,741 kcal/kg it lands near $1.69 per 1,000 kcal - about 8% below Blue Buffalo Sensitive Stomach, which was the cheapest cat food here before this one. For a two-cat household on dry food only, that is the difference between roughly $25 and $28 a month.
The formulation holds up beside the price. Trout, fish meal and salmon meal are the first three ingredients - a genuinely fish-first panel - and 32% protein at 10% moisture converts to about 36% dry-matter, well past the 28% target the algorithm uses for cats. Sweet potatoes and lentils carry the carbohydrate, and the recipe is grain-free.
Two honesty notes. First, the review base: Chewy's listing shows '1.6K reviews' and the exact count is not retrievable, so 1,600 is the rounded figure. Second, provenance: this is Diamond Pet Foods production, and the brand's record includes the 2012 salmonella withdrawal - 24.8 million pounds across 21 states, 49 confirmed human infections. Nothing since 2013, and Diamond now runs a test-and-hold programme with weekly microbiological testing, but that event is why the safety score sits where it does.
Alternatives to consider
Other products ranked in Best Dry Cat Food:
88/ 100 Nulo MedalSeries Turkey & Cod Recipe Grain-Free Dry Cat Food
85/ 100 Blue Buffalo Tastefuls Sensitive Stomach Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe
Frequently asked questions
Is Taste of the Wild Canyon River Feline Recipe with Trout & Smoke-Flavored Salmon Dry Cat Food right for my pet?
It is our pick for: Multi-cat households that want a fish-based, grain-free kibble at the lowest cost per calorie. It is not the best fit for: Cats with fish sensitivities, and owners who want feeding-trial validation. Individual animals vary — if your pet has diagnosed health conditions, confirm the choice with your veterinarian.
How much does Taste of the Wild Canyon River Feline Recipe with Trout & Smoke-Flavored Salmon Dry Cat Food cost?
Expect roughly $2.86 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.