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The 15 Best Cat Foods From Ziwi Peak

Ziwi Peak is located in New Zealand, and their advertising appears to heavily rely on this fact. The founders hope to provide a taste of New Zealand to the rest of the world.

This brand frequently brags about its high-quality ingredients and unique products. But, does this company live up to its name?

In this post, we'll take a look at several different cat foods made by this brand and thoroughly examine the contents and nutritional value.

Even the best cat foods aren't perfect for all cats, so BestForPets (bestforpets.org) will also assist you in determining whether this brand is appropriate for your kitty by reviewing of the best cat foods from Ziwi Peak.

Reviews

Canned Ziwi Peak Beef Recipe Cat Food
 

Recipe for Ziwi Peak Beef This company’s canned cat food is one of our faves.

It is intended to consume the entire prey, including everything from meat to organs to bones. This is unusual for cat food, yet it is representative of how cats would eat in the wild.

The components are essentially entirely meat, with the exception of water for processing. Chickpeas are the only vegetable included.

The remaining beef components include beef lung and beef kidney. Green-lipped mussels contain a variety of vitamins, including chondroitin and glucosamine.

This grain-free diet is appropriate for cats of all life stages. It contains no hormones, preservatives, fillers, cereals, rice, potatoes, antibiotics, or genetically modified organisms.

It’s created with 92% animal products that are all grass-fed and free-range. The food is produced in tiny batches, ensuring that it is safe for your feline to consume.

Pros

  • Whole-prey
  • Contains 92% animal products
  • Water was added to promote moisture consumption.
  • Grain-free at all times
  • Made with grass-fed and free-range beef.

Cons

  • Expensive

 

Cat Food Ziwi Peak Air-Dried Lamb Recipe
 

Ziwi Peak is most renowned for its distinct air-drying method. While they do sell dry food, it is not kibble as other companies do.

It’s dry beef instead. Because the contents are naturally maintained, no preservatives, sweeteners, or other comparable substances are required.

The food is also fully safe and simple to prepare, yet being nutritionally close to a raw diet.

This dish is mostly composed of meat—specifically, lamb meat. It includes lamb organs like as the liver, kidney, lung, and even bones.

This is similar to what our pets would consume in the wild, therefore it is a good choice for the majority of felines.

The food is derived from free-range, grass-fed lambs. The meat has no antibiotics or hormones. The solution contains 96% animal ingredients, including green mussels from New Zealand.

This diet is high in calories, so don’t be put off by the expensive price. You will need to feed your cat substantially less food, which means you will need to repurchase it less frequently than ordinary kibble.

You only need one 2-ounce scoop for a 13-pound cat.

Pros

  • Primarily composed of flesh
  • Calorie-dense
  • Natural preservation
  • High-protein

Cons

  • Expensive
  • Picky felines may not like it.

 

Cat Food Ziwi Peak Air-Dried Venison Recipe
 

Recipe for Ziwi Peak Air-Dried Venison Cat Food is similar to the last food we looked at.

It is prepared with the same two-part drying technique that naturally preserves the meat without the use of any chemicals or fillers. In terms of digestion and nutrition, it is comparable to a raw diet.

It is, however, completely safe to handle and does not pose the same disease danger. Pathogenic germs are eliminated during the drying process.

This recipe contains 96% animal products, such as meat, organs, and bones. The vast majority of the meat is venison, with some New Zealand green mussels thrown in for good measure.

The heart, lungs, liver, and kidney are all contained in the venison. Because organ meats are high in nutrients, this delivers additional nutrition to the cat.

This recipe is particularly high in protein and slightly lower in fat. This is due to the increased protein content of venison. If your cat requires additional protein, this meal can offer it.

To be suitable for cats with sensitivities, this formula is limited-ingredient and uses a new protein.

Pros

  • Suitable for allergic cats
  • Made primarily from animal products
  • Exceptionally high in protein
  • Handling safety

Cons

  • Expensive

 

Canned Ziwi Peak Lamb Recipe Cat Food
 

The predominant protein source in this wet cat chow appears to be lamb.

This popular meal includes lamb flesh and organs, chickpeas, and a variety of synthetic vitamins, minerals, and amino acids.

The dish also comprises lamb liver, lung, kidney, tripe, heart, and bone, in addition to lamb muscle meat. It contains green-lipped mussel. This natural glucosamine and chondroitin source promotes joint health.

Chickpeas contribute significantly to the carbohydrate content of the dish and are a source of plant protein. This legume is included in Ziwi Peak as an alternative to standard binders.

Overall, this is a meat-based dish with a high protein level, a moderate fat content, and a moderate carbohydrate content.

Each 6 oz can contains 185 calories, or around 30 calories per ounce.

Pros

  • Muscle flesh and a species-appropriate assortment of organs are included.
  • Lamb bone is present.
  • Green tripe is included for flavor.
  • Using green-lipped mussel

Cons

  • Carbohydrate content that is unnecessarily high
  • Chickpeas are included.
  • Expensive

 

Canned Ziwi Peak Venison Recipe Cat Food
 

The predominant protein source in this wet cat food appears to be venison.

This venison-based meal comprises venison muscle meat, venison broth, and a range of healthy deer organs not often found in cat food—the ingredient list includes liver, lung, heart, kidney, tripe, and bone.

The food also contains Ziwi Peak’s standard green-lipped mussel, which is a carnivore-appropriate source of glucosamine and chondroitin.

The inclusion of chickpeas is unsuitable for carnivores. Chickpeas are added to Ziwi Peak’s wet foods as a less controversial alternative to standard binders such as agar-agar, although chickpeas raise the food’s carbohydrate content by 8% on a dry matter basis.

Overall, this is a meat-based dish with a high protein level, a moderate fat content, and a moderate carbohydrate content. Each 3 oz can contains 85 calories, or around 28 calories per ounce.

Pros

  • Muscle meat, organs, and bones are included.
  • Carbohydrate content is relatively low.
  • Green-lipped mussel is included as a glucosamine and chondroitin source.
  • Animal protein-rich
  • There are no artificial ingredients.

Cons

  • Chickpeas are included.
  • On a dry matter basis, it contains over 20% carbohydrate.
  • Expensive

 

Cat Food Ziwi Peak Air-Dried Mackerel & Lamb Recipe
 

The principal protein sources in this air-dried cat chow appear to be mackerel and lamb.

This air-dried cuisine is mostly composed of meat, with 93% of the recipe consisting of wild-caught mackerel, lamb flesh, lamb organs, heart, and bone.

Green-lipped mussel, a natural source of glucosamine and chondroitin, makes up 3% of the food’s animal component, as it does in all Ziwi Peak air-dried snacks.

Chicory, lecithin, dried kelp, and a variety of vitamins, minerals, and amino acids are added to the diet.

This is a meat-based dish with a high protein content, a moderate fat content, and a low carbohydrate content. Each 2 oz scoop contains 273 calories, or 137 calories per ounce.

Pros

  • Macronutrient distribution based on species
  • primarily composed of animal components
  • Carbohydrate content is really low.
  • A variety of muscle meat, organs, and bones are included.
  • Artificial ingredient-free

Cons

  • Expensive
  • It does not offer the moisture that cats require.

 

Ziwi Peak Otago Valley Cat Wet Food Recipe
 

The predominant protein source in this wet cat food appears to be beef.

This canned beef dish has five types of animal protein: beef, blue whiting, lamb, venison, and hoki. It’s almost entirely made of animal products, such as fresh meat, fish, broth, and organs.

This canned meal also contains New Zealand green-lipped mussels, which are a natural source of joint-supporting glucosamine and chondroitin.

The diet is fairly species-appropriate in that it contains 97% animal elements, but the carbohydrate percentage is still higher than we’d like to see.

This and other Provenance recipes contain lecithin and dried kelp, both of which contribute to the carb level.

In pet food, lecithin is utilized as a fat emulsifier, while dried kelp is frequently incorporated as a source of prebiotic fiber and important minerals.

Overall, this is a meat-based wet diet with a high protein and fat content and a low carbohydrate content. Each 6-ounce can contains 213 calories, or roughly 35.5 calories per ounce.

Pros

  • Contains five high-quality animal protein sources.
  • Mussels include the anti-inflammatory compounds glucosamine and chondroitin.
  • 97% of the ingredients are meat, seafood, broth, and organs.
  • Moisture-rich to help your cat stay hydrated

Cons

  • Expensive, approximately $0.79 per ounce
  • The carbohydrate content is a little high.

An Overview of Ziwi Peak Cat Food

Pros

  • Ingredients of superior quality
  • High-protein
  • Grain-free and free of fillers
  • All of the components are from New Zealand.
  • Distinctive Dry Food

Cons

  • Expensive

History of Recalls

Ziwi Peak has no recalls or complaints with its cat chow at the moment.

Review of Ziwi Peak Cat Food

Ziwi Peak cat food is typically regarded as premium cat food.

The company emphasizes that they use superior quality ingredients that are directly imported from New Zealand, but how much this benefits your cats is debatable.

Who Produces Ziwi Peak, and Where Is It Made?

Ziwi Peak’s food is made in New Zealand. They use an ingenious air-drying technique that was designed by Kimberly and Peter Mitchell, the founders of Ziwi Peak.

Peter was working in the meat sector when he saw the demand for all-meat pet food.

Peter and Kimberly then devised a method for recovering waste meat from local slaughterhouses and air-drying it.

Their air-drying technology allows the meat to be transported and exported. It lasts longer without all of the unnecessary stuff.

This distinct system distinguishes the company from other brands. While they do sell dry food that looks like kibble, it isn’t. It’s dry beef instead.

Where do the ingredients for Ziwi Peak come from?

Ziwi Peak’s ingredients are sourced from New Zealand, as stated.

Because of the milder temperature in New Zealand, the company enjoys year-round access to free-range and grass-fed cattle, sheep, and deer.

This allows them to consistently provide the same high-quality ingredients.

All of their seafood ingredients are taken in self-sustaining fisheries in New Zealand. The majority of their fish comes from New Zealand’s south waters.

New Zealand is well-known for its stringent livestock regulations. They have stringent protocols in place to avoid the spread of infectious diseases in animals, including as rabies and chronic wasting.

New Zealand facilities must adhere to tight standards, thus their animals are often better treated than elsewhere in the world. All of Ziwi Peak’s ingredients are sourced from these stringent facilities.

Ziwi Peak has manufacturing facilities at Mount Maunganui and Christchurch, New Zealand. These facilities produce their dry food options.

Their wet food choices are produced by a New Zealand-based manufacturing partner.

What Cats Would Benefit from a Different Brand?

Ziwi Peak may be unsuitable for some cats. Because of the ingredients that are frequently used in this cat food, formulations are frequently particularly high in protein.

As a result, they are not ideal for felines who require a low-protein diet. Cats who require a low-protein diet frequently have an underlying health problem, such as kidney disease, that may be aggravated by a high-protein diet.

In this scenario, we propose Hill’s Prescription Diet K/D Kidney Care, which is specifically designed for these concerns. These are the only foods that are likely to be low-protein enough for cats with these health issues.

We also discovered that Ziwi Peak may not be suitable for finicky eaters. It doesn’t appear to be as delicious as some other brands, therefore some cats may refuse to eat it entirely.

In this scenario, we propose a wet cat food with a wide selection of flavors, such as the Tiki Cat Aloha Friends Variety Pack. Foods with a high moisture content often have higher flavor.

What Other Users Have to Say

Many people were blown away by this company’s food, particularly for felines suffering from GI or weight issues. “I cannot say enough excellent things about this food,” one Chewy customer comments.

I had trouble finding food that was high in protein and low in carbs to keep my cat’s weight under control. My cat dislikes most wet food, and he also needs unique proteins owing to GI issues.

This dish is delicious in every way. His weight is ideal, his coat appears healthy, and he appears to be more active overall. I wholeheartedly endorse it!”

However, several people thought the texture of the dry meal was unusual. It has a jerky-like texture rather than ordinary kibble, which may confuse some cats.

Another Chewy buyer of Ziwi Peak says, “I ordered this for my raw diet cat (raw venison and rabbit) to put in his timed feeder for his lunch since I would be working.”

I started by putting 3-4 small pieces into his raw….he wouldn’t touch it! He ate around these pieces, and that’s what remained in the bowl.

The texture is identical to jerky, but the bits are smaller. I’m currently sitting on two bags of various varieties that he refuses to eat as treats. DARN, I hoped this would work for him!”

The flavor appears to be unpleasant to some cats, thus it may not be ideal for really picky felines. A few users complained that their cat didn’t enjoy the flavor, despite the fact that they liked the cat food otherwise.

Some people were upset about the pricing, because this cuisine is more expensive than usual. This is especially true with wet food, which is exorbitantly priced.

Some felines disliked the taste of some recipes. Many owners stated that their felines disliked one recipe but ate the others. As a result, if your kitty does not like the first dish you try, you may wish to try another.

Finally, before purchasing a new pet product, especially one that is expensive, we always check Amazon reviews. Click here to read Ziwi Peak product reviews.

Conclusion

Ziwi Peak is one of the highest-quality cat food brands available. They get their components from grass-fed, free-range animals raised according to strict New Zealand standards.

The vast majority of its constituents are meat products, including a variety of organs. Their foods are typically created with a single protein type, while formulae with two protein types are available.

Based on BestForPets‘ (bestforpets.org) research and testing of the best cat foods from Ziwi Peak above, we think that Canned Ziwi Peak Beef Recipe Cat Food and Cat Food Ziwi Peak Air-Dried Lamb Recipe are the two most reliable and well-known options.

If you have some extra cash, this meal could be ideal for a variety of felines.

It’s especially good for cats who need a high-protein diet to avoid health problems or who are allergic to standard cat food ingredients like chicken or wheat.

FAQs

How Much Is Ziwi Peak Cat Food?

Ziwi Peak cat meals are pricey, with wet and dry feeds costing up to $0.50 per ounce. The cost is mostly determined by the type of protein used, with less common proteins such as deer and rabbit outpricing beef and fish.

You’d spend around $3.75 per day to feed a 10-pound cat from Ziwi’s Originals canned food line. A Ziwi Peak Provenance diet will most likely be more expensive, costing roughly $4.39 per day.

Ziwi Peak air-dried food costs more per ounce than wet food, but it’s more in calories, so you’ll need to feed your cat roughly 2 oz or one scoop every day. This comes to $2.68 each day.

Is Ziwi Peak a Good Option Overall?

If you’re ready to pay $2 to $8 per day on cat food (or more, depending on your cat’s appetite and the size cans you choose) and are concerned about responsible sourcing and ingredient quality, Ziwi Peak could be a good option.

Ziwi appears to be one of the most environmentally responsible pet food companies in the world. One of their main selling points is the use of safe, ethically farmed beef.

Ziwi’s air-dried foods are the company’s nutritional highlight. Ziwi Peak outperforms the competition with a novel dry food that is low in carbs and mostly made from fresh, minimally processed beef. These air-dried recipes are among the best available in a market dominated by plant-based kibble.

Their wet diet is likewise good, including a range of organ and muscle meats that are usually found in generically termed, potentially low-value animal by-products.

Ziwi Peak wet food contains more carbohydrates and is not as inventive or intriguing as their dry foods.

Where Can I Buy Ziwi Peak Cat Food?

Ziwi Peak is available at independent pet specialty stores and holistic veterinary practices worldwide. You may get it online from Amazon, Chewy, and other pet supply shops.

Author Image

Dr. Deborah Fletcher

Deborah R. Fletcher, DVM, is a skilled veterinarian with more than 15 years of experience dealing with companion and exotic animals. She has experience caring for a variety of animals, including household cats and dogs, reptiles, birds of prey, and even primates. Dr. Fletcher is a valuable part of the BestForPets team, where she contributes to their aim of providing pets and their owners with the finest possible treatment and services.

Veterinarian (DVM) Dr. Deborah Fletcher

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