Pate Mariner's Catch Wet Cat Food
Verified Jun 10, 2026
This is a soft pate-style wet food for adult cats that uses meat by-products, fish, and chicken as its main protein sources. It’s formulated to be a complete and balanced diet for adult maintenance, with added vitamins, minerals, and taurine to meet essential nutrient needs. The relatively high moisture content can also help support your cat’s overall water intake.
Overall, this is a perfectly reasonable everyday wet food option for healthy adult cats, especially if you’re looking for something with mixed animal protein sources and a smooth pate texture. The formula is complete and balanced for adult maintenance and offers moderate protein and fat levels typical for a mainstream canned diet. It’s not a “premium” formulation, but it does provide appropriate nutrition for most adult cats without unnecessary exclusions.
The KibbleLab Score (1–10) is assessed from publicly available product data. Our evaluation is science-based, not marketing-based.
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
KibbleLab Review
Strengths
- Complete and balanced to AAFCO standards for adult cat maintenance, so it can be fed as a sole diet for adult cats.
- Multiple animal protein sources (meat by-products, fish, chicken, poultry by-products) provide a broad amino acid profile and natural sources of nutrients.
- Taurine is specifically supplemented, which is essential for heart, eye, and overall health in cats.
- High moisture (78%) can help support hydration, which is especially useful for cats that don’t drink much water on their own.
Considerations
- Contains chicken, fish, and poultry by-products, so it’s not a good fit for cats with known allergies or sensitivities to those proteins.
- Artificial flavors are included; these are safe but some owners prefer formulas that rely only on natural flavorings.
- Protein level is moderate for a wet food; very active or underweight cats may do better on a higher-protein option if they don’t maintain weight well on this type of formula.
- Carrageenan is used as a thickener; it’s widely used and considered safe in pet foods, but some owners prefer to avoid it.
Full Ingredient List
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
Meat By-Product
Meat by-products are rendered animal parts such as organ meats, blood, bone and other tissues used in pet food as a concentrated source of animal protein, fat, vitamins and minerals. They can provide biologically valuable nutrients—especially for cats, which require animal-derived proteins—but composition and quality vary by source so owners seeking specific ingredients or with pet food sensitivities should look for transparency and regulation-compliant sourcing.
02
Water
Water is an essential nutrient and the primary solvent and moisture component in pet foods, especially wet and canned diets, and is also used in processing and to adjust texture and palatability. It is vital for digestion, nutrient transport, temperature regulation and waste removal in dogs and cats; pets must have constant access to clean water as dehydration can quickly lead to serious health issues and requirements increase with activity, heat, or illness, while moisture in wet food can help meet part of their daily needs.
03
Fish
Fish is commonly used in pet foods as a highly digestible animal protein and an excellent source of omega‑3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA) that support skin and coat health, joint function, and cognitive development in both dogs and cats. It also supplies B vitamins and minerals but can be a common allergen, may contain environmental contaminants or mercury depending on species and sourcing, and raw fish can contain thiaminase—so choose properly processed, nutritionally balanced, and sustainably sourced fish ingredients.
04
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.
05
Poultry By-Product
Poultry by-product is used primarily as a concentrated protein, fat and micronutrient source in pet foods and consists of rendered poultry parts such as internal organs, bones and connective tissues that supply amino acids, minerals (notably calcium and phosphorus) and B‑vitamins. It can be a cost‑effective source of bioavailable nutrients, but composition and quality vary by source and processing—owners of pets with poultry allergies or who prefer named-meat ingredients may choose alternatives, and safety depends on reputable rendering and adherence to regulatory standards.
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.What is calorie density
How many calories the food packs per unit. Denser foods mean smaller portions for the same calories.Product Details & Brand
Product Specs
AAFCO Nutritional Adequacy
What is AAFCO
Association of American Feed Control Officials. It sets the nutritional
adequacy standards US pet foods are measured against.
What is AAFCO
Association of American Feed Control Officials. It sets the nutritional adequacy standards US pet foods are measured against.Brand
Friskies offers a wide variety of cat food and treats at an affordable price, focusing on flavor variety and accessibility. It is designed for mass-market distribution and long-standing brand loyalty.
Visit FriskiesManufacturer
Nestlé Purina operates its own manufacturing facilities in the United States and globally with rigorous quality assurance programs. Facilities comply with FDA and USDA standards and implement HACCP-based food safety systems. The company conducts AAFCO feeding trials and employs board-certified veterinary nutritionists.
Manufacturing details are compiled from public sources and not independently verified; they may not reflect contract manufacturing or co-packing.
Recall History
Friskies Pate Mariner's Catch Wet Cat Food has no recalls since 2014.
Source: FDA Pet Food Recall Database · Monitored daily
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Frequently Asked Questions
Has Friskies ever been recalled?
We have no recalls on record for Friskies. We monitor the FDA Pet Food Recall Database daily.
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.
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 database. Last verified dates reflect our most recent data check.
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