Hound & Gatos is a pet food brand that'll tap into your dog's inner hunter, serving up recipes loaded with meat and little else. For the past 20 years, Hound & Gatos has focused on producing limited-ingredient pet food free from common fillers like grains, soy, and corn. But does Hound & Gatos lead the pack when it comes to animal protein-rich dog foods?

Read on for Wag!'s comprehensive Hound & Gatos dog food review, where we'll analyze each recipe and its pros and cons to help you decide if this brand is right for your pup. 

Currently, Hound & Gatos only offers seven wet dog recipes and no dry foods or treats.  Hound & Gatos recently discontinued its Lamb, Chicken & Salmon and Pork & Liver recipes. 

All recipes are formulated for all life stages according to the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) nutrient profile guidelines, meaning they meet all dogs' nutritional needs, from puppies to seniors.

One big selling point for these recipes is their limited ingredient formulas, which don't contain low-quality plant-based fillers, artificial dyes, or preservatives. 

Hound & Gatos products comprise 98% of high-quality animal products, including muscle and organ meats. Another plus for some parents is that Hound & Gatos doesn't use carrageenan.

While carrageenan is approved for human and pet foods, anecdotal evidence suggests it can cause digestive problems in some dogs.

Besides the blend of vitamins and chelated minerals, the Beef recipe contains just six ingredients: beef, beef broth, agar-agar, sunflower oil, salt, and salmon oil. 

We like that these recipes use only beef and no animal by-products, which suggests it's a higher quality wet food. The protein content in this recipe is 45.4% on a dry matter basis (a more accurate way of measuring), which is quite impressive. With 36.3% fat as dry matter, it's not the best option for weight-watching woofers. 

Most of these ingredients are self-explanatory, but you may wonder, "What's agar-agar?" Agar-agar is a powdery substance derived from red algae and forms a gelatinous compound when combined with water. This ingredient is an all-natural and safe additive to help give the recipe a paté-like texture.

Hound & Gatos Turkey & Liver wet food features just four main ingredients: turkey, turkey broth, turkey liver, and agar-agar. 

At 407 calories, this recipe is the most calorie-conscious offering from Hound & Gatos. But don't that fool you — this food is packed with protein. It contains 45.4% protein and 36.3% fat on a dry matter basis. Like the Hound & Gatos Beef, this recipe is a little high in fat for our liking. 

Plus, turkey is a good option for dogs with meat protein allergies — studies show it's not a common allergen for dogs. 

The Chicken & Liver paté follows a similar ingredient lineup to the beef recipe, except the first three ingredients are chicken, chicken broth, and chicken liver.

This is a great option for dogs that need a high-protein recipe since it has the same amount of protein as the beef recipe with slightly fewer calories. It also has the same fat content.

This recipe is primarily comprised of lamb, lamb broth, lamb liver, and agar-agar. This recipe gets a double dose of iron thanks to the addition of both lamb and liver. 

Lamb is also high in immune-boosting zinc and essential peptides like glutathione and l-carnosine. Lamb is also a relatively good choice for dogs with food allergies. 

The Duck and Liver recipe is this brand's most energy and calorie-dense recipe, due to the rich, meaty duck that comprises the majority of this recipe. 

Duck is a great, iron-rich option for dogs sensitive to turkey or chicken. Plus, dogs tend to love the rich, deep flavor of duck. This recipe is even higher in fat (40.9% as dry matter) than Hound & Gatos other offerings with a similar protein content. 

This recipe is rich in omega fatty acids, which are great for joint health and skin conditions due to the high content of salmon. 

The lamb liver also gives this recipe a healthy dose of minerals like iron, phosphorus, and zinc. Multiple animal protein sources means it's not the best choice for dogs with sensitive stomachs. It's high in protein (47.7% as dry matter) and fat (43.1% as dry matter). 

Along with Salmon & Lamb Liver, the Poultry & Gamebird recipe contains 47.7% protein — the highest the brand has to offer. This partly thanks to the addition of not one but four different animal proteins. Plus, it's lower in fat than Salmon & Lamb Liver, with just 38.6% as dry matter. 

This mixture of duck, turkey, quail, and guineafowl is jam-packed with the meaty flavor that dogs crave. Again, this blend of proteins means it might be the best options for pups with digestive issues. 

There are several reasons that Hound & Gatos stands out from the pack — here are some of our favorites!

When you choose Hound & Gatos, the flavor you see on the packaging is what you get. Whether you choose their Lamb & Liver recipe or Poultry & Gamebird, you can rest assured that those ingredients constitute 98% of the recipe. (Also, we love the addition of organ meats, which are great sources of minerals and essential amino acids that dogs need!) You won't find a slew of legumes or peas in these recipes either, which are often added to dog food as a inexpensive way to bulk up the protein content.

Many pet food brands include sketchy additives to prolong the shelf life and reduce costs while increasing palatability— not Hound & Gatos, though! This brand is committed to all-natural recipes that are free of artificial preservatives and flavorings and potentially dangerous emulsions like carrageenan and guar gum.

This brand won TruthAboutPetFood.com's "Most Trusted Pet Foods Company," not once but 4 years in a row from 2014 to 2018! Not only that but Hound & Gatos was also recognized in the Whole Dog Journal as a recommended wet food!

We're big fans of the high-quality recipes that Hound & Gatos produces, but every brand has its downsides. Here are some things to consider if you're thinking of making the switch.

Hound & Gatos dog foods have high fat-to-protein ratios — some recipes contain as much as 43% fat as dry matter. Plus, many recipes are relatively high in calories, at over 450 calories per 13 oz can. While this isn't an issue for active dogs, these Hound & Gatos recipes are not the best choice for obese or inactive pups, as they may contribute to weight gain. 

Currently, Hound & Gatos only offer grain-free recipes with no additional produce, which means they're low in fiber. While grain-free diets are paramount for dogs that can't tolerate grains, they can be low in fiber, which can cause constipation in some dogs. We would like to see them offer a recipe or two with high-quality ancestral grains like quinoa, buckwheat, or chia seeds.

If you're in search of an affordable brand, you may want to look at other options. Hound & Gatos is pretty pricey— as of writing, a case of 12 cans is $56. But remember, you get what you pay for, as Hound & Gatos is a quality brand!

"Maverick is a Mastiff. He is pretty picky with his food. He loves the Hound & Gatos and hopefully it will help him with his allergies."

"I have looked for many ways to disguise my little dog's medications in various foods (people and dog food), but with this food, I just have to put his meds in a little meatball and he eats it very willingly! Thank you, Hound & Gatos!!!"

Read more on Chewy. 

Hound & Gatos launched in 2003 and was the brainchild of the family-owned business, Phillips Pet Food & Supplies. Phillip's Pet is the same corporation that brought us Dr. Marty's, Greenies, and FROMM, to name a few. This brand set out to be a high-quality animal protein-rich alternative to other popular pet foods. 

In 2018, Hound & Gatos was bought out by dog treat manufacturer Charlee Bear Products, who fell in love with the brand's natural recipes. The headquarters for Hound & Gatos moved from South Dakota to Madison, Wisconsin. Despite the various transitions this business has gone through, they've stayed committed to producing all their foods in the US and sourcing high-quality ingredients.

Hound & Gatos dog food has no recorded recalls as of March 2025.