The Honest Kitchen vs Whimzees
The Honest Kitchen is branded by The Honest Kitchen, Inc. and made by third-party contract manufacturers, and Whimzees is made by Wellness Pet Company (owned by Clearlake Capital Group), and both make food for cats and dogs. On KibbleLab, The Honest Kitchen averages 8.6 out of 10 across its scored foods, compared with 8.5 for Whimzees. Whimzees is accredited by the Pet Sustainability Coalition; The Honest Kitchen is not.
The Honest Kitchen and Whimzees compared
| Attribute |
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer | The Honest Kitchen, Inc. | Wellness Pet Company |
| Parent company | Independent | Clearlake Capital Group |
| Founded | 2002 | 2021 |
| Headquarters | San Diego, California, USA | Tewksbury, Massachusetts, USA |
ManufacturingWhether a brand makes its own food in-house or has it produced by an outside contract manufacturer or co-packer. |
Contract manufacturer | In-house |
| Made in | United States | Netherlands |
| Manufacturing region | California; Kansas | Overijssel |
| Products listed | 86 | 16 |
| 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. |
No | 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 | Yes |
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 . |
8.6 (avg of 86) | 8.5 (avg of 16) |
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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The Honest Kitchen vs Whimzees: how they compare
Scores
The Honest Kitchen scores higher on KibbleLab, averaging 8.6 out of 10 across 86 scored foods, compared with 8.5 across 16 for Whimzees. Scores apply the same criteria-based rubric to every food, drawn from published veterinary science.
Who makes them
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. Whimzees is made by Wellness Pet Company, owned by Clearlake Capital Group, based in Tewksbury, Massachusetts, USA, founded in 2021.
Standards and range
Neither meets WSAVA's published manufacturer criteria. Whimzees is accredited by the Pet Sustainability Coalition; The Honest Kitchen is not. KibbleLab lists 86 The Honest Kitchen foods and 16 Whimzees foods.
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Common Questions
Which scores higher on KibbleLab, The Honest Kitchen or Whimzees?
The Honest Kitchen scores higher: it averages 8.6 out of 10 across 86 scored foods, compared with 8.5 for Whimzees. Scores reflect published veterinary science.
Who makes The Honest Kitchen and Whimzees?
The Honest Kitchen is a brand of The Honest Kitchen, Inc.. Its food is made by third-party contract manufacturers in United States. Whimzees is made by Wellness Pet Company, which is owned by Clearlake Capital Group.
Which brand has more products on KibbleLab?
The Honest Kitchen has 86 products in the KibbleLab database, compared with 16 for Whimzees.
Where is each brand based?
The Honest Kitchen is based in San Diego, California, USA. Whimzees is based in Tewksbury, Massachusetts, USA.
Are The Honest Kitchen or Whimzees PSC Accredited?
Whimzees is a PSC Accredited business. The Pet Sustainability Coalition is a nonprofit that Accredits pet companies on their environmental and social impact, through third-party verification.
Have The Honest Kitchen or Whimzees been recalled?
Neither The Honest Kitchen nor Whimzees 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: The Honest Kitchen and Whimzees .
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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.