Strengths
- An easy but complete questionnaire to find the right food for your cat
- A no-commitment subscription system that prevents running out of kibble
- Animal nutrition experts for the formulation
Areas for improvement
- High prices linked to the high-end positioning
- A lack of transparency about the origin of the ingredients on the site
- A tried-and-tested storytelling (the 2 buddies who love cats and were fed up with animals getting sick because of other kibbles!)
My opinion
With this test of Caats cat food, I appreciated the ease of ordering, the mixed feeding (wet + dry), the composition developed by expert veterinarians, the caring customer service, and the eco-responsible aspect (not even claimed, though!) with kibbles made in France and paper packaging.
I liked less a certain lack of transparency, a personalization that is actually quite limited, and, as far as Mikado is concerned, kibbles that are too fatty.
Caats gets a solid rating of 8/10, based on the following criteria: order/customer service, palatability test, composition, transparency, value for money.
Caats
Few cat owners can have missed this brand: it is indeed very active online and on social media.
Caats is a French cat food brand created by Tanguy and Mathias, according to their site. They surrounded themselves with two veterinarians for the nutritional and medical aspects. Thanks to a subscription system and a personalized approach, Caats boasts of being “A practical and effective food solution to take care of your cats’ health”.
With Darwin, we wanted to test this brand full of promise, if we are to believe its messaging. As a cat enthusiast, I agreed to play along with the customer experience, but without forgetting the critical eye of the veterinarian.
Since I don’t have a cat (I have a dog, nobody’s perfect!), we decided to hire as our tester the clinic mascot where I work: Mikado, a lovely European shorthair of about ten years old, who is very fond of napping.
The test therefore included a practical and somewhat subjective part, covering the ordering process, and the visual and taste assessment of the product (that’s where Mikado comes in!).
And a more scientific part, based on deciphering the labels and the Caats website. Based on all these criteria, a table and a score out of 10 were established.
Experience and test with my cat
The order
So I go to the Caats website. First click and first pleasant surprise: one of the brand’s consultants is none other than Professor Nguyen, my nutrition professor when I was a student at the Nantes Veterinary School (some… years ago). This discovery rather reassures me. The other Caats expert is also a veterinarian, Dr. Denoun.
After a quick look around the site, which is quite well done with easy access to the composition of the foods (we’ll come back to that), I’m pleased to discover that Caats advocates bi-nutrition, that is to say a mix of kibbles and pâtés. This is in line with current recommendations for feline nutrition; mixed feeding is increasingly popular for its beneficial effects on cats’ health (better satiety and fewer urinary problems thanks to the wet food).
The site invites me to create my cat’s personalized menu, and I do so. In 13 questions, Caats establishes the best menu for Mikado based on his sexual status, his activity level, and his level of plumpness (chubby!), his health issues, but also his tastes and eating habits. The questionnaire turns out to be pleasant and easy to fill in. A good point for question 7, which allows you to assess your cat’s body condition thanks to a small diagram that is very… telling.
The menu put together for Mikado is rather appealing. His 15-day trial kit contains a bag of Senior Cat kibbles and 12 shredded multi-flavor pouches for 15.05 euros (welcome offer at –50%). The recommended daily ration for Mikado is indicated, which is very practical. I’m informed that delivery is free and takes 24–72 hours, and that the first order comes with no commitment…
I proceed to payment by bank card (after skipping an impulse purchase page). Okay, home delivery is not free, but it is free to a pick-up point. I live in the Paris region, I easily find a partner store near my home. The page displays a summary of my order with this note: “Have Mikado try this new menu for 15 days, then switch to a bimonthly subscription cancellable at any time.”
All I have left to do is enter my credit card number when I’m drawn to a greyed‑out nail titled “After your trial” which states: “Once the trial is over, you will receive a delivery and be billed every 2 months. You can stop the subscription at any time in 1 click.” The subscription (€50.40/month) is therefore activated from the very first order without the customer’s real consent.
I place my order and immediately receive a confirmation email. I’m also informed of the contents of the next parcel for 2 months’ time (€100.80), but also that I will receive an email 3 days before each upcoming parcel is prepared and that I can, if I wish, modify or stop the deliveries (which I’ll be able to do very easily from my customer account).
To sum up this step, I appreciated how easy it was to order, the “personalized” aspect with the quantities to give, and a bit less the somewhat pushy sale linked to the automatic subscription (but cancellable at any time).
The delivery
I receive my order 4 days later at my parcel pickup point (one day more than the promised 72 hours). The parcel therefore contains the trial kit with the bag of kibble and the shredded food, plus a booklet with Mikado’s menu and advice for the dietary transition. Pretty practical.
The special “Mikado” menu is actually made up of products from the range. Personalization consists in choosing the right product for the cat, indicating the quantities to give and sticking on a label with the cat’s name (paper bag 100% recyclable, by the way, thanks for the planet).
The palatability test with Mikado
So I offered the Caats products to our tester. As for the shredded food, Mikado licked the jelly but didn’t really deign to eat the pieces of pâté. Same for the kibble, which stayed in her bowl all night.
By insisting a bit (about ten days – Caats also points out in its user-guide booklet that getting used to a new food can take 2 to 3 weeks –), the shredded food ended up being eaten, without much enthusiasm. I then moved on to the mousses and fillets, two other formats offered by Caats. The chicken mousse was accepted more quickly and the tuna fillets were an absolute hit !
Of course, you can’t draw conclusions about Caats’ palatability from just one cat. Mikado, a 10‑year‑old cat with very definite tastes, was not an easy tester; however, she did eat the products and particularly enjoyed the fillets.
Note that the trial kit is very practical for letting picky little felines try the kibble and pâté!
The veterinarian’s opinion
Aspects
The organoleptic properties are rather satisfactory; the kibble is not too fatty, the shredded food is quite appealing and not too smelly (especially the chicken), which is positive for humans, perhaps less so for the cat… The mousses and fillets are just as good; you’d almost want to eat them yourself…
The composition
If palatability is an important criterion for cat food, we also expect it to be balanced and to cover this little feline’s specific nutritional needs.
A cat kibble must therefore be rich in animal proteins (cats are strict carnivores), not too fatty given the tendency toward overweight in neutered animals. In addition, it must protect the cat’s kidneys and urinary system, these 2 weak points.
To attest to the quality of the proteins, 2 tools are used: the Protido-Phosphoric Ratio (PPR) and the Protido-Caloric Ratio (PCR). The mineral content and the phosphorus level must be within standards to avoid urinary problems.
Mikado’s Caats kibbles are the “Senior Grain-Free Cat Kibble”. They contain animal proteins (including chicken), potatoes, various vegetables and fruits. This is a diet suitable for senior cats, notably with a low phosphorus level for kidney health.
| Proteins | Fats | Crude fiber (Fibers) | Crude ash (minerals) | Phosphorus | Nitrogen-free extract (Carbohydrates) | Moisture | Metabolizable energy | PPR | PRP | |
| Caats Mikado kibble | 41% | 17% | 4.5% | 7% | 0.8% | 20.5% | 10% | 3 826 Kcal/kg | 51 | 107.1 |
The composition lives up to its promise of a balanced senior kibble, with perfect PPR and PCR values. However, I find this kibble a bit high in calories even though I clearly indicated that Mikado was overweight and not very active.
Mikado’s daily caloric needs are 152 kCal. With these 40 grams of kibble, we are already at 153 kCal + a shredded pouch (77 kCal). I’m afraid that on this regimen Mikado will gain even more weight!
This information is easy to find on the website and in the leaflet provided with the kibble; even the PPR and PCR are listed. A good point for this transparency.
Origin, quality control, price transparency
According to the brand’s website, the products are developed in two specialized French plants where “sourcing and production are strictly controlled.” The kibbles are made in Vendée, the wet foods in Normandy. For the latter, the raw materials come from the “Greater West” region.
These indications leave me a bit unsatisfied, and I contact the brand via its online chat, which gives me a rather vague answer. So I send a message. I’m promised a reply within 48 hours. The reply arrives the same day, the raw materials are produced mainly in France, and in Europe (Poland). Caats also states that its manufacturers comply with current European standards. As for quality control, the products are checked (appearance, smell, packaging compliance) upon receipt and each batch is tracked up to shipment.
Regarding prices, it is impossible to find the price of the products on the site (except for the trial kit). The brand justifies this lack of transparency because of the personalized nature of the prepared menus. Still, this makes comparisons with the competition difficult.
Customer service
Caats can be contacted through different channels (chat, WhatsApp, email). I personally opted for a phone call (option to be called back) regarding Mikado’s palatability issues.
The service, which is very responsive, calls me back immediately. A very friendly young woman gives me useful advice to improve the palatability of the products (heating, switching from shreds to mousses, etc.). A refund of the trial kit is even offered upon sending a video of Mikado refusing his food!
Mini comparison Caats vs competitors
With Darwin, we decided to do a small comparison with two competing French brands that are also high-end: a veterinary brand, Virbac, and a brand developed by a renowned veterinary nutritionist, Ziggy.
1. Composition comparison (based on neutered cat kibbles)
| Brand | %proteins | %phosphorus | Energy Kcal/100 g | PPR | PRP | Darwin comparison score |
| Caats | 41 | 1 | 370 | 41 | 110 | 4.5/5 |
| Virbac | 44 | 1.1 | 364 | 40 | 109 | 4.5/5 |
| Ziggy | 44 | 0.77 | 382 | 57 | 115 | 4.5/5 |
Unsurprisingly, the 3 brands developed by veterinarians specialized in animal nutrition are top-notch.
However, as veterinary nutritionist Charlotte Devaux points out, only veterinary brands carry out scientific studies on their kibble that can attest to their benefits for cats’ health.
2. Price comparison
Price transparency is not really Caats’ strong point. It’s impossible to find a unit price. On the other hand, I do know that Mikado’s menu (1 bag of 2.4 kg kibble and 60 shredded 85 g pouches) will cost me 100.80 euros for 2 months, shipping included. So I put together equivalent menus with competing brands. Results:
| Caats | Caats website (subscription) | 50.40 euros/month (free delivery to pickup point |
| Virbac | Chronovet website (no subscription) | 59.20 euros/month (free delivery to clinic) |
| Ziggy | Ziggy website (subscription) | 45 euros/month (free delivery to pickup point) |
Caats is in the average of its (high) range, with a decent quality/price ratio.
Caats rating: 8/10
| Order/Customer service | 5/5 |
| Palatability test | 4/5 |
| Composition | 8/10 |
| Transparency | 3/5 |
| Value for money | 4/5 |
Caats gets the good score of 8/10.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Puis-je nourrir mon chat uniquement avec des croquettes ?
Nowadays, a mix of kibble and wet food is generally recommended. In fact, some cats fed exclusively on kibble do not compensate for the dehydrated nature of this dry product by drinking enough, which results in very concentrated urine and the formation of urinary crystals or stones. For cats with fragile urinary health, a 100% wet diet is even recommended.
Les céréales sont-elles mauvaises pour mon chat ?
Cats can digest grains (wheat, rice, corn, etc.) as long as they are well cooked. You can therefore feed your cat kibble with or without grains; the latter have not been scientifically proven to be nutritionally superior for cats.
Quelle quantité de nourriture un chat doit-il manger par jour ?
Vaste question… Celle qui lui permet de rester à son poids de forme ! Les quantités sont généralement indiquées sur les sacs et boîtes par le fabricant. Des calculateurs de ration plus précis sont disponibles sur internet. Il faut alors renseigner les caractéristiques du chat et celui de l’aliment.
La castration fait-elle grossir ?
Oui… D’autant plus que le chat sera sédentaire (chat d’appartement !). Et comme il est très difficile de faire maigrir un chat, il est conseillé de passer à une alimentation pour chat stérilisé dès l’opération et de surveiller son poids dans les mois suivant l’opération.
Comment nourrir un chat souffrant d’une maladie chronique ?
Veterinary pet food brands make foods specifically designed for sick animals (with kidney failure, diabetes, allergies, etc.). To find the right kibble for a cat suffering from a chronic condition, you need to ask your veterinarian for advice.
