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Chicken & Salmon With Pumpkin & New Zealand Mussels Wet Cat Food
Blackwood

Chicken & Salmon With Pumpkin & New Zealand Mussels Wet Cat Food

Verified Aug 28, 2026

Cat · Wet All Life Stages All Breed Sizes

This is a grain-free, all–life stage canned pâté for cats featuring chicken as the primary protein, with salmon, chicken liver, and New Zealand green mussels adding additional animal protein and nutrients. Pumpkin, peas, and dandelion greens contribute fiber and plant nutrients, while salmon oil provides beneficial fatty acids. It’s designed to offer complete and balanced nutrition for kittens through adult and senior cats in a moist, highly palatable format.

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Over-the-counter AAFCO No recalls

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Official product page
KibbleLab Score
8.8 out of 10

Strong Choice

This is a high-quality wet cat food with multiple animal protein sources and a generally moderate ash level, formulated to meet AAFCO standards for all life stages. The inclusion of salmon oil and New Zealand green mussels is a nice plus for omega fatty acids, and the grain-free recipe will suit owners who prefer that approach. It does contain chicken and fish, so it’s not appropriate for cats with known allergies to those proteins, but for most healthy cats it can be a very solid staple diet or part of a rotation.

Nutritional profile 10.0
Ingredient composition 8.0
Adequacy substantiation 7.0
Health considerations 10.0

Computed from 4 of 4 applicable checks. Missing data is skipped, never counted against a food.

The KibbleLab Score (1–10) is assessed from publicly available product data. Our evaluation is science-based, not marketing-based.

Nutritional profile Protein, fat, fiber on a dry-matter basis, for the stated life stage and format
Adequacy substantiation Complete and balanced substantiation; feeding trials valued higher
Ingredient composition Screened for unnamed sources, artificial additives, and label protein inflation. Not a quality ranking.
Health considerations Pulse-heavy grain-free (DCM) pattern and recall history
Verified manufacturer evidence A small bonus when we can verify evidence addressing WSAVA selection criteria
9.0 - 10 Top Pick
8.0 - 8.9 Strong Choice
7.0 - 7.9 Solid Option
6.0 - 6.9 Worth a Conversation
Below 6.0 Review Carefully

KibbleLab may earn an affiliate commission when you buy through a link. No one can pay for a higher score, or to change what we recommend for your pet.


At a Glance

Suitable For
All Life Stages All Breed Sizes
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Nutritional Perspective

KibbleLab Review

Strengths

  • Chicken, salmon, and chicken liver appear high in the ingredient list, providing a good mix of animal-based proteins and essential amino acids for cats.
  • Grain-free formula that avoids corn, wheat, and soy while still providing some fiber from pumpkin, peas, and dandelion greens to support digestive health.
  • Includes salmon oil and New Zealand green mussels, which are natural sources of omega fatty acids that can support skin, coat, and joint health.
  • Formulated to be complete and balanced for all life stages according to AAFCO profiles, so it can be used for kittens, adults, and seniors with appropriate portion control.

Considerations

  • Contains chicken and fish, which are common food allergens for some cats, so it’s not a good choice for cats with known sensitivities to these proteins.
  • Protein level is moderate for a wet all–life stage cat food; very active or underweight cats may benefit from pairing with higher-protein options if advised by a veterinarian.
  • Pea meal is present as a plant-based ingredient; while not inherently harmful, it does contribute some plant protein in addition to the animal sources.
Scored using the rubric of an NAVC Certified Pet Nutrition Coach (PNCC). This is informational, not veterinary advice.

Full Ingredient List

Chicken, chicken broth, salmon, pumpkin, natural flavors, chicken liver, pea meal, agar-agar, potassium chloride, parsley, choline chloride, salt, dandelion greens, dried New Zealand green mussels, salmon oil, taurine, calcium carbonate, zinc proteinate, manganese proteinate, copper proteinate, magnesium proteinate, sodium selenite, calcium iodate, thiamine mononitrate, niacin supplement, vitamin E supplement, calcium pantothenate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, riboflavin supplement, biotin, vitamin A supplement, vitamin B12 supplement, vitamin D3 supplement, folic acid

Ingredients and analysis reflect manufacturer data at the time of our last update and can change without notice. Always check the actual product packaging before feeding.

Ingredient filtering helps identify compatible options but is not a substitute for a veterinary elimination diet.

Top 5 Ingredients Explained

01
Chicken
Chicken is a common animal-based protein in dog and cat foods, supplying essential amino acids, B vitamins, and energy-dense fats that support muscle maintenance, growth, and overall health; for cats it also contributes toward dietary taurine but must be present in sufficient amounts or provided via supplementation. It is prized for its digestibility and palatability, though some pets develop sensitivities or allergies to chicken, and nutritional value and safety depend on ingredient quality and processing—raw chicken carries pathogen risks and whole bones can pose choking or GI hazards.
View ingredient
02
Chicken Broth
Chicken broth is commonly used in pet foods and toppers as a flavorful liquid base or gravy to improve palatability and add moisture, providing modest amounts of soluble protein, electrolytes and minerals. It can help encourage eating and increase hydration, but owners should choose low‑sodium, onion‑ and garlic‑free formulations (or make homemade broth), since commercial broths may contain excessive salt, seasonings or additives that are unsafe or unsuitable for dogs and cats.
03
Salmon
Salmon is commonly used as a high-quality animal protein and rich source of omega‑3 fatty acids (EPA/DHA) in dog and cat foods, supporting skin and coat condition, joint and cognitive health, and overall muscle maintenance. While very nutritious, salmon can be an allergen for some pets and raw salmon may pose risks from parasites, thiaminase-related thiamine loss, and region-specific pathogens (e.g., salmon poisoning); owners should avoid feeding uncooked bones and consider sourcing to minimize contaminant and sustainability concerns.
View ingredient
04
Pumpkin
Pumpkin is used in pet foods primarily as a fiber-rich carbohydrate and moisture source that can help regulate digestion and firm up loose stools or add bulk for softer stools, and it provides beta-carotene (vitamin A precursor) plus small amounts of vitamins and minerals for dogs and cats. It is safe and beneficial when plain cooked or canned (not spiced or sweetened pie filling), should be fed in moderation as a supplement rather than a primary food, and introduced gradually since large amounts can cause gastrointestinal upset or interfere with absorption of some medications.
View ingredient
05
Natural Flavor
Natural flavor is used primarily as a palatability enhancer in pet foods to improve taste and aroma and is not intended to provide significant nutrients, typically coming from concentrated extracts of meat, poultry, plant, or fermentation sources. While it can increase acceptance in picky dogs and cats, manufacturers are not required to disclose specific sources so pets with known sensitivities or allergies may react, and presence of natural flavor should not be taken as a guarantee of overall product quality.

Nutritional Breakdown

How to read As Fed versus Dry Matter As fed shows the numbers straight off the label, water included. Dry matter removes the water so you can compare a wet food and a dry food fairly.
As Fed
Crude Protein (min)
9.50%
Low High
Crude Fiber (max)
1.00%
Low High
Moisture (max)
78.00%
Low High
1284
kcal / Kg
200
kcal / Can
High
Calorie density category
What is calorie density How many calories the food packs per unit. Denser foods mean smaller portions for the same calories.

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Product Details & Brand

Product Specs

Lifestage All Life Stages
Breed size All Breed Sizes
Texture Pate
Processing method Canned
Food type Wet

AAFCO Nutritional Adequacy
What is AAFCO Association of American Feed Control Officials. It sets the nutritional adequacy standards US pet foods are measured against.

Complete & balanced Yes
AAFCO life stages All Life Stages
Substantiation Formulation
Blackwood Chicken & Salmon with Pumpkin and New Zealand Green Mussels has been formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO cat food nutrient profiles for all life stages.

Brand

Blackwood is a premium pet food brand that offers small-batch, slow-cooked recipes for dogs and cats made in the USA. The brand targets pet owners seeking natural, high-quality nutrition with an emphasis on digestibility, freshness, and family-owned production values.

Price tier $$$$

Manufacturer

Company name Blackwood Pet Food
Parent company BrightPet Nutrition Group
Founded 1994
Headquarters Lisbon, Ohio, USA
Manufacturing type In House
Manufacturing country United States
Manufacturing region Ohio
Manufacturing oversight

Blackwood Pet Food manufactures its products in-house in the USA at USDA-inspected, AAFCO-compliant facilities. All recipes are slow-cooked in small batches to ensure better nutrient retention, with oversight on ingredient sourcing and process control.

Manufacturing details are compiled from public sources and not independently verified; they may not reflect contract manufacturing or co-packing.

Recall History

No recalls on record

No recall is listed for Blackwood Chicken & Salmon With Pumpkin & New Zealand Mussels Wet Cat Food.

Source: FDA animal food recall listings back to January 2019 · Checked daily, last on Aug 31, 2026

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KibbleLab food report
GREAT BOWL.
8.8 /10 Grade A
Chicken & Salmon With Pumpkin & New Zealand Mussels Wet Cat Food
Blackwood · kibblelab.com

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Frequently Asked Questions

Has Blackwood ever been recalled?

We have no recalls on record for Blackwood. 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.

How does KibbleLab rate foods?

Our scores are based on ingredient composition, nutritional profile, AAFCO compliance, and health considerations. We don't penalize by-products, grains, or synthetic preservatives. Brands cannot pay for higher scores.

Is KibbleLab a substitute for veterinary advice?

No. KibbleLab provides data-driven food analysis, not medical advice. Always consult your veterinarian before making dietary changes, especially for pets with health conditions.

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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.

KibbleLab may earn affiliate commissions through product links. No one can pay for a higher score, or to change what we recommend for your pet.

Product data sourced from manufacturer websites, AAFCO statements, and FDA recall listings. Last verified dates reflect our most recent data check. 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.