WELLNESS · REVIEW
Wellness Beef & Barley
Wellness Beef & Barley scores 2.5/5 for ingredient quality — a dry food cat food with 33% protein targeting adult cats.
Below Average
MiauMiau AI score · 2.5/5
AI ANALYSIS
What MiauMiau's AI actually sees
Deboned beef as the first ingredient, along with chicken and turkey meals, provides quality animal protein. However, the 36.7% dry matter protein is moderate and the 41.1% estimated carbohydrate content from grains like brown rice, oatmeal, and barley makes this formula too high in fillers for an obligate carnivore.
According to MiauMiau's analysis of over 5,000+ dry food products, Wellness CORE+ Beef & Barley Recipe scores close to the dry food average.
Analyzed by MiauMiau's Nutritional AI · June 2026
This analysis is generated from ingredient and compositional data. It is not veterinary advice. Always consult your veterinarian for health decisions.
Score breakdown
HOW IT COMPARES
Wellness Beef & Barley vs. the category
Compared to the average dry food across 5,000+ products in our database.
Category avg: 2.7/5
Scores 0.2 points below the average dry food
OUR ASSESSMENT
What we like vs. what to watch
What we like
- High-quality ingredients with named protein sources
- Clean formula with no controversial additives
- Nutritionally complete — suitable as a sole diet
- Named animal protein as the primary ingredient
What to watch
- Contains notable filler ingredients
- High carbohydrate content relative to protein
WHO IT'S FOR
Is this right for your cat?
Best for
Not ideal for
INGREDIENTS
What's actually in the bag
Top ingredients
- 01Deboned Beef
- 02Chicken Meal (source of Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulfate)
- 03Turkey Meal
- 04Brown Rice
- 05Oatmeal
Ingredients are listed by weight. The first ingredients make up the majority of the formula.
NUTRITION
The numbers
Guaranteed analysis
Dry matter basis
Dry matter basis removes water content for accurate comparison between wet and dry foods.
FULL LABEL
Every ingredient
Deboned Beef, Chicken Meal (source of Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulfate), Turkey Meal, Brown Rice, Oatmeal, Barley, Brewers Dried Yeast, Chicken Fat, Dried Plain Beet Pulp, Flaxseed, Natural Flavor, Salmon Oil, Potassium Chloride, Taurine, Dried Chicory Root, Vitamin E Supplement, Choline Chloride, Spinach, Broccoli, Carrots, Parsley, Apples, Blueberries, Kale, Mixed Tocopherols added to preserve freshness, Niacin (Vitamin B3), Zinc Proteinate, Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Sulfate, Iron Proteinate, Vitamin A Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B1), d-Calcium Pantothenate, Sodium Selenite, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Copper Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Riboflavin (Vitamin B2), Manganese Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Biotin, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Folic Acid, Calcium Iodate, Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), Dried Enterococcus faecium Fermentation Product, Dried Bacillus licheniformis Fermentation Product, Dried Bacillus subtilis Fermentation Product, Rosemary Extract, Green Tea Extract, Spearmint Extract.
FAQ
Questions worth answering
Is Wellness Beef & Barley good for cats?
According to MiauMiau's AI analysis, Wellness Beef & Barley is a below-average dry food with a quality score of 2.5 out of 5. Deboned beef as the first ingredient, along with chicken and turkey meals, provides quality animal protein. However, the 36.7% dry matter protein is moderate and the 41.1% estimated carbohydrate content from grains like brown rice, oatmeal, and barley makes this formula too high in fillers for an obligate carnivore.
What is the protein content of Wellness Beef & Barley?
Wellness Beef & Barley contains 33% protein as listed on the label. On a dry matter basis, that's 36.67% protein. Dry matter basis is the fairest way to compare protein between wet and dry foods because it removes water content from the equation.
Is Wellness Beef & Barley grain-free?
No, Wellness Beef & Barley is not grain-free and contains grain-based ingredients. For most cats, grains are perfectly safe and provide a source of energy. However, cats with diagnosed grain allergies may need a grain-free alternative.
How does Wellness Beef & Barley compare to other dry food?
According to MiauMiau's database of over 5,000+ cat food products, Wellness Beef & Barley scores 0.2 points below the average dry food quality score of 2.7. MiauMiau's AI evaluates ingredient quality, protein adequacy, filler content, and additive safety to generate each score.
Is Wellness Beef & Barley suitable for kittens or senior cats?
Wellness Beef & Barley is formulated for adult cats. If you have a kitten or a senior cat, look for formulas specifically designed for their life stage.
What are the main ingredients in Wellness Beef & Barley?
The top 5 ingredients in Wellness Beef & Barley are: Deboned Beef, Chicken Meal (source of Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulfate), Turkey Meal, Brown Rice, Oatmeal. The first ingredient is a named animal protein (Deboned Beef), which is a positive sign of quality. The remaining top ingredients are Chicken Meal (source of Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulfate), Turkey Meal, Brown Rice, Oatmeal. Ingredient order indicates proportion by weight, so the first ingredients make up the bulk of the formula.
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