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Natural Balance vs The Honest Kitchen

Natural Balance is made by Natural Balance Pet Foods (owned by Ethos Pet Brands (L Catterton / Nexus Capital)), and The Honest Kitchen by The Honest Kitchen, Inc., and both make food for cats and dogs. On KibbleLab, Natural Balance and The Honest Kitchen both average 8.2 out of 10.

Natural Balance and The Honest Kitchen compared

Natural Balance The Honest Kitchen
Manufacturer Natural Balance Pet Foods The Honest Kitchen, Inc.
Parent company Ethos Pet Brands (L Catterton / Nexus Capital) Independent
Founded 1989 2002
Headquarters Burbank, California, USA San Diego, California, USA
Products listed 118 86
Serves Cats & dogs Cats & dogs
Price tier A relative price guide, from $ (most affordable) to $$$$$ (most premium), based on the brand's typical retail cost.
$$$$ $$$$$
WSAVA guidelines The World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) publishes criteria for evaluating a manufacturer: qualified nutritionists on staff, feeding trials, and published research. It does not certify or endorse brands.
No No
PSC accredited The Pet Sustainability Coalition is a nonprofit that accredits pet companies on their environmental and social impact, through third-party verification. It reflects sustainability practices, not food quality.
No No
Score The average KibbleLab score across this brand's scored foods, on a 0 to 10 scale. Foods are scored on published veterinary science, and no one can pay for a higher score. How scoring works .
8.2 (avg of 118) 8.2 (avg of 86)
Recalls on record KibbleLab began logging recalls in July 2026, so earlier recalls may not appear.
None None
Where to buy Amazon Amazon

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Natural Balance vs The Honest Kitchen: how they compare

Scores

Natural Balance and The Honest Kitchen average the same KibbleLab score, 8.2 out of 10, across 118 and 86 scored foods. Scores apply the same criteria-based rubric to every food, drawn from published veterinary science, and no one can pay for a higher score.

Who makes them

Natural Balance is made by Natural Balance Pet Foods, owned by Ethos Pet Brands (L Catterton / Nexus Capital), based in Burbank, California, USA, founded in 1989. The Honest Kitchen is made by The Honest Kitchen, Inc., an independent maker, based in San Diego, California, USA, founded in 2002.

Standards and range

Neither meets WSAVA's published manufacturer criteria. KibbleLab lists 118 Natural Balance foods and 86 The Honest Kitchen foods.

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Common Questions

Which scores higher on KibbleLab, Natural Balance or The Honest Kitchen?

Natural Balance and The Honest Kitchen average the same KibbleLab score, 8.2 out of 10.

Who makes Natural Balance and The Honest Kitchen?

Natural Balance is made by Natural Balance Pet Foods, which is owned by Ethos Pet Brands (L Catterton / Nexus Capital). The Honest Kitchen is made by The Honest Kitchen, Inc.

Which brand has more products on KibbleLab?

Natural Balance has 118 products in the KibbleLab database, compared with 86 for The Honest Kitchen.

Where is each brand based?

Natural Balance is based in Burbank, California, USA. The Honest Kitchen is based in San Diego, California, USA.

Have Natural Balance or The Honest Kitchen been recalled?

Neither Natural Balance nor The Honest Kitchen has a recall on record in the KibbleLab database. KibbleLab began logging recalls in July 2026, so earlier recalls may not appear.

See the full profiles: Natural Balance and The Honest Kitchen .

More comparisons

KibbleLab provides informational content only. This is not veterinary advice. Always consult a qualified veterinarian before changing your pet's diet.

This is a neutral, factual comparison, not a ranking or an endorsement of either brand. KibbleLab may earn affiliate commissions through links. No one can pay for placement or a higher score.

Brand and manufacturer details are compiled from public sources and not independently verified; they may not reflect contract manufacturing or co-packing. Recall data is compiled from public FDA and manufacturer notices, and a notice may name the parent company rather than the brand. KibbleLab began logging recalls in July 2026, so earlier recalls may not appear.

KibbleLab scores and commentary are editorial opinions based on published data. Represent one of these brands? Request a correction. Anyone else can email us. See our Terms.