You've probably seen the bags. They look different. Deep black packaging, a piercing gaze from a wild lynx or a bobcat, and a brand name that feels more like an instinct than a label. Crave cat food dry hits a very specific nerve for pet parents who are tired of seeing "corn gluten meal" at the top of their cat's ingredient list. We want our indoor predators to eat like, well, predators. But does this stuff actually deliver on the "ancestry" promise, or is it just clever marketing wrapped in a pretty bag?
Cats are weird. They are obligate carnivores. This isn't just a fancy biological term; it means if they don't get enough taurine and animal protein, their hearts literally start to fail. Most grocery store kibbles are basically cereal for cats. Crave tries to flip that.
What is Crave cat food dry actually made of?
Let’s get into the weeds. If you flip over a bag of Crave’s Chicken and Salmon formula, the first thing you’ll notice is that "Chicken" is the first ingredient. That’s good. But what matters more is that "Chicken Meal" usually follows it. In the world of pet food labeling, "Chicken" contains a lot of water weight. Once you cook it down into kibble, that weight disappears. "Chicken Meal," however, is a concentrated protein source.
Crave targets a 40% protein minimum. Compare that to your average mid-tier kibble, which usually hovers around 30% to 32%. That’s a massive jump. It’s the difference between a snack bar and a steak.
But here is the thing people miss. It’s grain-free. Now, "grain-free" became a massive marketing buzzword about a decade ago, but the industry is shifting. While cats don't need corn or wheat, they still need some carbohydrates to hold the kibble together. In Crave cat food dry, you’ll find pea starch and potato protein. It’s not "zero carb." It’s just "different carb."
The "Wild" Ancestry Marketing vs. Reality
Marketing teams love the "wild" angle. They want you to think your tabby is basically a miniature cougar. It’s a bit dramatic. Honestly, your cat probably spends fourteen hours a day sleeping on a heated blanket, not chasing down antelope. However, the biological drive for high-quality animal fat and amino acids remains the same whether they live in a forest or a studio apartment in Chicago.
Crave is owned by Mars Petcare. Yes, the same company that makes Snickers bars also makes a huge chunk of the world's pet food, including Royal Canin and Iams. Some people find this off-putting because they want a "boutique" brand. But there’s an upside: Mars has some of the most rigorous testing facilities in the world, like the Waltham Petcare Science Institute. When you buy Crave, you aren't getting something mixed in a garage. You’re getting a formulated diet backed by massive amounts of data on feline palatability and nutrient absorption.
Why protein percentages aren't the whole story
I’ve talked to many vets who get frustrated when owners only look at the "40% Protein" label. It's about bioavailability. If you ground up an old leather boot, it would technically be high in protein, but your cat couldn't digest it.
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The sources in Crave—chicken, beef, fish, and lamb—are generally highly digestible. This usually results in smaller, firmer stools. It’s a weird thing to celebrate, but if you’re the one scooping the litter box, you know exactly why this matters. Less filler in the food means less waste coming out the other end.
Flavor variety and the "Picky Eater" problem
Cats are notoriously stubborn. They will literally starve themselves to the point of liver failure (hepatic lipidosis) if they don't like their food. Crave cat food dry comes in a few specific flavors:
- Chicken
- Salmon & Ocean Fish
- Beef
- Turkey & Chicken
The "Salmon & Ocean Fish" seems to be the one that gets the most "crave-able" reactions—pun intended. It has a stronger scent. To humans, it’s a bit much when you open the bag at 6:00 AM. To a cat, it’s a five-star buffet.
One thing to watch out for? The calorie count. Because Crave is dense, it’s easy to overfeed. A standard 8oz cup of this stuff can pack over 400 calories. If you just fill the bowl to the brim, your cat will get "chonky" very fast.
The Grain-Free Controversy: Should you worry?
You might have heard about the FDA investigation into grain-free diets and heart issues (specifically DCM) in dogs. It caused a massive panic. However, the data for cats is much less conclusive. Cats handle taurine differently than dogs. Since Crave supplements their formulas with heavy doses of taurine and focuses on animal-based proteins rather than just filling the bag with legumes, the risk profile is generally considered low by many veterinary nutritionists.
Still, it's worth noting. If your cat has pre-existing kidney issues, a high-protein diet like Crave might actually be too taxing. High protein means high phosphorus. For a healthy young cat, it’s great. For a 15-year-old cat with Stage 2 renal failure? It could be a disaster. Always check those blood values before making a radical switch.
Price Point Comparison
Crave sits in that "premium-ish" bracket. It’s more expensive than Purina Cat Chow or Meow Mix, but cheaper than "prescription" diets or ultra-boutique brands like Orijen or Ziwi Peak.
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You’re basically paying for the removal of corn, wheat, and soy. For most owners, that’s a fair trade. You can usually find a 10lb bag for somewhere between $30 and $40 depending on where you shop. It’s not "budget," but it won't break the bank like some of the raw-dehydrated options.
Common misconceptions about Crave
People often think Crave is "raw" food because of the packaging. It’s not. It’s standard extruded kibble. It’s cooked at high temperatures. If you’re looking for the benefits of a raw diet—like live enzymes—you won't find them here. What you will find is a shelf-stable, convenient way to get high protein into your cat without the mess of handling raw meat.
Another myth is that "by-product meal" is always evil. Crave avoids "by-products" in its primary labeling, opting for "meals." Is there a huge difference? In some cases, yes. "Meals" are generally more consistent in quality.
The real-world transition: How to switch
Don't just dump a bowl of Crave cat food dry in front of your cat if they’ve been eating Friskies for five years. Their stomach will revolt. You'll end up with a mess on your carpet and a cat that hates the new food.
- Days 1-3: 25% Crave, 75% old food.
- Days 4-6: 50/50 split.
- Days 7-9: 75% Crave, 25% old food.
- Day 10: Full switch.
If your cat starts puking or gets diarrhea at the 50/50 mark, slow down. Some cats have incredibly sensitive GI tracts. The high fat content in Crave can be a shock to a system used to high-carb "cereal" kibble.
Looking at the "Chicken and Beef" Recipe
This is one of their popular "Land" blends. It’s interesting because it uses multiple protein sources. Some cats develop allergies to chicken because it’s in everything. If your cat is itching or losing hair, a multi-protein bag like this might make it hard to pin down the culprit. In those cases, you’d want a limited ingredient diet, which Crave isn't really designed to be. Crave is about "power," not "restriction."
The inclusion of dried plain beet pulp is a smart move for digestion. It’s a prebiotic fiber. It doesn't sound "wild," but it helps move things along.
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Final Verdict: Who is this for?
Crave cat food dry is for the owner who wants to level up from "basic" food without spending $100 a month on a tiny bag of air-dried venison. It’s a solid, high-protein middle ground.
It’s great for:
- Active cats who need energy.
- Owners who want to avoid grain fillers.
- Multi-cat households where a "one size fits all" high-quality food is needed.
It’s not great for:
- Senior cats with kidney disease.
- Cats with known poultry allergies.
- Sedentary "potato" cats prone to obesity.
Actionable Next Steps
If you’re considering making the switch to Crave cat food dry, start by checking your cat's current weight. Use a kitchen scale if you have to. Because this food is more nutrient-dense than cheaper brands, you will likely need to feed less volume than you’re used to.
Check the back of the bag for the feeding guidelines, but treat them as a starting point, not gospel. Most cats need about 20 to 30 calories per pound of body weight. If you’re feeding Crave, a little goes a long way.
Buy a small bag first. Don't commit to the 12lb giant bag until you know your cat’s digestive system approves. Keep the bag sealed tight; the high fat content in premium kibbles can go rancid faster than the cheap stuff if exposed to too much oxygen. A simple airtight plastic bin can save you from wasting forty bucks of food.
Monitor your cat’s coat over the first 30 days. You should see a bit more shine thanks to the omega fatty acids. If you see that, and the litter box remains "managed," you’ve probably found a winner.