Evanger’s Cat Food Review 2024

Evanger’s is a pet food brand that’s been around for nearly 90 years. Founder Fred Evanger started making food for his champion dogs, and over the years the company grew to earn the trust of pet parents nationwide. Now sold in more than 20 countries around the world, Evanger’s remains a family-owned business and continues to develop new products. It’s also the only woman-owned and family-operated pet food cannery in the United States and the only kosher for Passover pet food on the market. 

Is Evanger’s the right food for your cat? Let’s check out this long-lasting brand’s products, pros and cons, history, and more so you can decide!

Evanger’s offers a wide variety of dry foods, wet foods, mixers, and treats for cats. Let’s have a look!

Dry food

Evanger’s range of dry food for cats comprises a handful of options. There are two regular kibble recipes, one made for indoor cats and another that’s made with novel proteins for cats with food sensitivities. These recipes start with chicken meal or buffalo meal as the first ingredient, followed by other ingredients such as salmon meal, pork meal, rabbit meal, sweet potatoes, lentils, peas, salmon oil, coconut oil, blueberries, and cranberries.

There are also two non-traditional kibble recipes that are suitable for cats and dogs alike. Marketed as an alternative to raw diets, Hi Bio semi-dried recipes contain 85% meat and offer higher moisture levels than regular kibble. Chicken or beef is the number one ingredient, followed by organ meats, grass, skim milk, kale, tomato paste, and honey. These easy-to-digest recipes can also be used as a treat or meal enhancer.

Evanger’s dry food flavors:

• Grain Free Catch Of The Day for Weight Management and Indoor Cats
• Grain Free Meat Lover’s Medley Recipe with Rabbit
• Hi Bio Beef SuperFood 
• Hi Bio Chicken SuperFood 

Wet food

There are more than a dozen products in Evanger’s wet food range for cats. These include classic flavors, exotic proteins, and restricted diets to cater to a variety of preferences and lifestyles. 

Heritage Classics are simple meat-based formulas for your little obligate carnivore. Organics are holistic dinners certified organic by Oregon Tilth. Most Super Premium recipes are limited ingredient, chicken-free, and hypoallergenic. Complements Vegetarian Dinner is also a good option for cats with food allergies, as well as those who need a low-protein diet. EVX Restricted Diets are formulated with nutritionists and experts to provide additional support for common health issues including joint conditions, kidney disease, and pancreatitis. 

Except for Vegetarian Dinner, all Evanger’s wet cat foods start with an animal protein as the first ingredient. 

Evanger’s wet food flavors:

• Complements Vegetarian Dinner
• Heritage Classics Chicken Lickin’ Dinner
• Heritage Classics Goin’ Fishin’ Dinner
• Organics Beef Dinner
• Organics Braised Chicken Dinner
• Organics Turkey & Butternut Squash Dinner
• Super Premium Duck Dinner
• Super Premium Holistic Quail Dinner
• Super Premium Rabbit & Quail Dinner
• Super Premium Seafood & Caviar Dinner
• Hand Packed Catch of the Day Whole Uncut Sardines
• EVX Restricted Diet: Bland Diet 
• EVX Restricted Diet: Senior & Joint Health
• EVX Restricted Diet: Magnesium 
• EVX Restricted Diet: Low Phosphorus 
• EVX Restricted Diet: Weight Management 

Mixers

Evanger’s line of mixers, called Complements, is designed to complement the brand’s Vegetarian Dinner and dry foods. Each variant is made with a single source of protein and real fresh meat cooked in its own broth (except for the sweet potato). Rich in protein with limited ingredients and no added carbs, Complements are great for cats with food allergies and those on protein rotation diets.  

Evanger’s mixers flavors:

• Complements Beef
• Complements Buffalo
• Complements Chicken
• Complements Duck
• Complements Pork
• Complements Quail
• Complements Rabbit
• Complements Salmon
• Complements Sweet Potato

Treats

Evanger’s has two types of treats for cats. The first are simple treats made with only one ingredient such as beef heart, beef liver, or salmon. These nutrient-dense treats are grain-free, gluten-free, and gently dehydrated for maximum palatability, making them ideal for finicky felines and cats with food sensitivities. They can also be used as a training reward, food topper, or snack. 

The second type are creamy treats made with catnip. Feed it to your cat from the stick to enhance your pet parent-furbaby bond, or squeeze the mousse over your cat’s meal to add flavor and moisture. 

Evanger’s cat treat flavors:

• Nothing but Natural Gently Dried Beef Hearts
• Nothing but Natural Gently Dried Beef Liver
• Nothing but Natural Gently Dried Beef Lungs
• Nothing but Natural Gently Dried Beef Tongue
• Nothing but Natural Gently Dried Beef Tripe
• Nothing but Natural Gently Dried Salmon
• LicKitty Mousse with Catnip Chicken Recipe Squeezies

Here are some of the reasons why we like Evanger’s cat food!

Made with high-quality ingredients

Meat is often the first ingredient in Evanger’s recipes, including treats. Ingredients are delivered fresh daily and come from local suppliers within a 50-mile radius of the company’s production facility. Products don’t contain any artificial colors or preservatives as well.

Options for cats with sensitivities 

Most of Evanger’s recipes are grain and gluten free, and many of them do not contain chicken, which is great for cats who are allergic to these ingredients. Evanger’s also uses several novel proteins in its recipes, making them suitable for cats with food sensitivities. 

High in moisture

Evanger’s canned recipes are rich in moisture, which helps reduce the risk of certain health issues such as kidney disease and bladder stones or crystals. 

Cares about the environment

Evanger’s is constantly evolving to become the most sustainable and eco-friendly company possible. The steel cans used for its wet foods are BPA-free and infinitely recyclable, and the company has replaced its white corrugated pallet and pet food trays with recyclable brown corrugated trays.

Supports independent pet stores

Evanger’s is proud to have been independently owned for over 85 years. It has always supported the independent marketplace and continues to sell its products exclusively through neighborhood pet stores that value quality and customer service.

Here are a few things to consider before buying Evanger’s cat food.

Some cats won’t eat it

Pet parents have reported that their cats turned up their noses at certain flavors, so you may have to try a few different products before finding something your cat likes. 

Unclear labels

The mixers aren’t clearly labeled as such and some pet parents have mistakenly bought them thinking they were complete and balanced meals. While it does say on the back that these products are only intended for intermittent or supplemental feeding, this information can be easy to miss.

Recall history

Evanger’s has had one recall in the past. Though it didn’t affect the brand’s cat foods, it was still a significant recall. For details, see the “Evanger’s recall history” section below.

“I have five cats. One who is allergic to meat and fish. He really enjoys this food and his skin looks so much better. I felt so bad for him before this food because we tried everything and nothing worked. His fur got [its] shine back too.”

“I wanted to incorporate more veggies and fruits in my [dog's] diet, but he is picky. My last dog would just eat steamed veggies and loved it, my current dog not so much. I was excited when I found this because cats can have it too, so it saves on buying 2 separate canned foods. They all love it and I feel good they are getting their fruits/veggies and not more meat meal. It does get dry, but I just add a little water to make it soupy, then add to their dry food.”

“Cat and dogs love it. I would say dogs [love] it more, but all eating good.”

Read more reviews on Chewy.

Evanger’s Dog & Cat Food Company was founded in 1935 by Fred Evanger, an immigrant from Norway who raised champion Great Danes. Believing his dogs’ health depended on wholesome, nutritious food, he built a canning factory at his kennels and started making his own pet food free of harmful additives or preservatives. In 1959, he sold the company to two families. 

In 2002, Joel and Holly Sher purchased Evanger’s. At the time, the company was primarily a co-manufacturer and the Evanger’s brand accounted for just less than 5% of the company’s business. The Shers focused on growing Evanger’s and other company-owned brands, which now account for 80% of production. 

The Shers also developed the concept of hand-packed pet food, which was inspired by their dog, Yukon. In 2003, Evanger’s became the first pet food company to offer a food that was packed by hand instead of machine. Workers would put whole pieces of fresh meat and vegetables into cans, and the food would be cooked entirely within the can to lock in nutrients and flavor.

Since the Shers took over the company, Evanger’s has grown from 5 employees to over 50 and has moved from its original location in Wheeling, Illinois into a larger facility in Markham. Evanger’s remains a family owned and operated company and continues to sell its products exclusively through independent neighborhood pet stores.

In February 2017, Evanger’s had its first recall in its 82 years of manufacturing. The company voluntarily recalled five lots of its Hunk of Beef dog food due to the presence of pentobarbital, a drug used for anesthesia and euthanasia. It was reported that five dogs became ill and one of the five dogs passed away after consuming the product. Pet parents were asked to return the product to the place of purchase for a full refund. 

In March 2017, Evanger’s expanded its recall of Hunk of Beef and also recalled Evanger’s Braised Beef and Against the Grain Pulled Beef dog foods due to potential adulteration with pentobarbital. Again, pet parents were asked to return the products to their place of purchase for a full refund.