Royal Canin vs The Honest Kitchen
Royal Canin is made by Royal Canin (owned by Mars, Incorporated), and The Honest Kitchen is branded by The Honest Kitchen, Inc. and made by third-party contract manufacturers, and both make food for cats and dogs. On KibbleLab, Royal Canin averages 9.0 out of 10 across its scored foods, compared with 8.6 for The Honest Kitchen. Royal Canin meets WSAVA's published criteria for evaluating a manufacturer, while The Honest Kitchen does not.
Royal Canin and The Honest Kitchen compared
| Attribute | Royal Canin |
|
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Royal Canin | The Honest Kitchen, Inc. |
| Parent company | Mars, Incorporated | Independent |
| Founded | 1968 | 2002 |
| Headquarters | Aimargues, Gard, France | San Diego, California, USA |
ManufacturingWhether a brand makes its own food in-house or has it produced by an outside contract manufacturer or co-packer. |
In-house | Contract manufacturer |
| Made in | France | United States |
| Manufacturing region | Gard | California; Kansas |
| Products listed | 269 | 86 |
| Serves | Cats & dogs | Cats & dogs |
Price tierA relative price guide, from $ (most affordable) to $$$$$ (most premium), based on the brand's typical retail cost. |
$$$$ | $$$$$ |
WSAVA guidelinesThe 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. |
Yes | No |
PSC accreditedThe 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 |
ScoreThe average KibbleLab score across this brand's scored foods, on a 0 to 10 scale. Foods are scored on published veterinary science. How scoring works . |
9.0 (avg of 160) | 8.6 (avg of 86) |
Recalls on recordWe track the FDA's animal food recall listings back to January 2019 and publish every pet food recall automatically. A filing that isn't pet food may not appear here. |
None | None |
| Where to buy |
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Royal Canin vs The Honest Kitchen: how they compare
Scores
Royal Canin scores higher on KibbleLab, averaging 9.0 out of 10 across 160 scored foods, compared with 8.6 across 86 for The Honest Kitchen. Scores apply the same criteria-based rubric to every food, drawn from published veterinary science.
Who makes them
Royal Canin is made by Royal Canin, owned by Mars, Incorporated, based in Aimargues, Gard, France, founded in 1968. The Honest Kitchen is a brand of The Honest Kitchen, Inc., based in San Diego, California, USA, founded in 2002. Its food is made by third-party contract manufacturers in United States.
Standards and range
Royal Canin meets WSAVA's published manufacturer criteria, while The Honest Kitchen does not. KibbleLab lists 269 Royal Canin foods and 86 The Honest Kitchen foods.
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Common Questions
Which scores higher on KibbleLab, Royal Canin or The Honest Kitchen?
Royal Canin scores higher: it averages 9.0 out of 10 across 160 scored foods, compared with 8.6 for The Honest Kitchen. Scores reflect published veterinary science.
Who makes Royal Canin and The Honest Kitchen?
Royal Canin is made by Royal Canin, which is owned by Mars, Incorporated. The Honest Kitchen is a brand of The Honest Kitchen, Inc.. Its food is made by third-party contract manufacturers in United States.
Which brand has more products on KibbleLab?
Royal Canin has 269 products in the KibbleLab database, compared with 86 for The Honest Kitchen.
Where is each brand based?
Royal Canin is based in Aimargues, Gard, France. The Honest Kitchen is based in San Diego, California, USA.
Do Royal Canin and The Honest Kitchen meet WSAVA criteria?
Royal Canin meets WSAVA's published criteria for evaluating a manufacturer; The Honest Kitchen does not, based on public information. WSAVA publishes criteria; it does not certify or endorse brands.
Have Royal Canin or The Honest Kitchen been recalled?
Neither Royal Canin nor The Honest Kitchen has a recall on record in the KibbleLab database. We track the FDA's animal food recall listings back to January 2019 and publish every pet food recall automatically. A filing that isn't pet food may not appear here.
See the full profiles: Royal Canin and The Honest Kitchen .
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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 filings, and a filing may name the parent company rather than the brand. We track the FDA's animal food recall listings back to January 2019 and publish every pet food recall automatically. A filing that isn't pet food may not appear here.
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.