Ingredient A-Z

Natural flavors

palatantalso called: natural flavor, artificial and natural flavors

What it is

A catch-all term for flavour compounds added to make the food more appealing to the cat. The specific composition does not have to be disclosed.

Why it gets discussed

Its vagueness rather than its content draws most criticism. It is also one of the reasons a lower-quality food can be just as eagerly eaten as a premium one.

Where it sits on the label

Small inclusion, usually in the second half of the list.

Foods in our database that list natural flavors

• Grilled Chicken Feast in Gravy by Fancy Feast
• Gravy Lovers Ocean Whitefish & Tuna Feast Pate in Gravy by Fancy Feast
• Wilderness Chicken Recipe (Adult Dry) by Blue Buffalo
• Wilderness Rocky Mountain Recipe Flaked Trout Feast by Blue Buffalo
• Tender & Crunchy Combo (Chicken, Beef, Carrots & Green Beans Flavors) by Friskies
• Gravy Swirlers (Chicken, Salmon & Gravy Flavors) by Friskies
• Pate Salmon Dinner by Friskies
• Extra Gravy Pate With Tuna in Savory Gravy by Friskies
• Meaty Bits With Ocean Fish in Sauce by Friskies

Foods in our database that do not list it

• Fresh Ground Bird / Smooth Bird by Smalls
• Fresh Pulled Bird by Smalls
• Fresh Ground Other Bird / Smooth Other Bird by Smalls
• Fresh Pulled Other Bird by Smalls
• Fresh Smooth Fish by Smalls
• Fresh Ground Cow / Smooth Cow by Smalls
• Fresh Smooth Pig by Smalls
• Fresh Smooth Bird & Fish Dish by Smalls
• Seafood Sensations (Salmon, Tuna & Shrimp Flavors) by Friskies
• Land & Sea Adventures (Chicken & Ocean Fish Flavors) by Friskies

"Do not list" means the ingredient does not appear on the label text we transcribed for that product. It is not a certification, and recipes change - always confirm on the current packaging.