Zeal vs Zesty Paws
Zeal is made by Natural Pet Treat Company Limited, and Zesty Paws is branded by Zesty Paws (owned by Health & Happiness (H&H) Group) and made by third-party contract manufacturers, and both make food for cats and dogs. On KibbleLab, Zeal averages 8.8 out of 10 across its scored foods, compared with 8.1 for Zesty Paws.
Zeal and Zesty Paws compared
| Attribute |
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Natural Pet Treat Company Limited | Zesty Paws |
| Parent company | Independent | Health & Happiness (H&H) Group |
| Founded | 1999 | 2014 |
| Headquarters | Auckland, New Zealand | Orlando, Florida, 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 | New Zealand | United States |
| Manufacturing region | Auckland | Florida |
| Products listed | 20 | 71 |
| 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 | 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 . |
8.8 (avg of 20) | 8.1 (avg of 71) |
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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Zeal vs Zesty Paws: how they compare
Scores
Zeal scores higher on KibbleLab, averaging 8.8 out of 10 across 20 scored foods, compared with 8.1 across 71 for Zesty Paws. Scores apply the same criteria-based rubric to every food, drawn from published veterinary science.
Who makes them
Zeal is made by Natural Pet Treat Company Limited, an independent maker, based in Auckland, New Zealand, founded in 1999. Zesty Paws is a brand of Zesty Paws, owned by Health & Happiness (H&H) Group, based in Orlando, Florida, USA, founded in 2014. Its food is made by third-party contract manufacturers in United States.
Standards and range
Neither meets WSAVA's published manufacturer criteria. KibbleLab lists 20 Zeal foods and 71 Zesty Paws foods.
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Common Questions
Which scores higher on KibbleLab, Zeal or Zesty Paws?
Zeal scores higher: it averages 8.8 out of 10 across 20 scored foods, compared with 8.1 for Zesty Paws. Scores reflect published veterinary science.
Who makes Zeal and Zesty Paws?
Zeal is made by Natural Pet Treat Company Limited. Zesty Paws is a brand of Zesty Paws, which is owned by Health & Happiness (H&H) Group. Its food is made by third-party contract manufacturers in United States.
Which brand has more products on KibbleLab?
Zesty Paws has 71 products in the KibbleLab database, compared with 20 for Zeal.
Where is each brand based?
Zeal is based in Auckland, New Zealand. Zesty Paws is based in Orlando, Florida, USA.
Have Zeal or Zesty Paws been recalled?
Neither Zeal nor Zesty Paws 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: Zeal and Zesty Paws .
More comparisons
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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.