Introduction
Crave is Mars Petcare’s grain-free, high-protein cat food line. The pitch is simple: meat first, no grains, and a protein number big enough to print on the front of the bag. The dry recipes claim 40% protein, and every recipe skips chicken by-product meal, corn, wheat, and soy protein, according to Chewy’s brand page.
The range is small: three dry recipes and a set of paté trays. We could verify one of them on Amazon with real ratings, so that is the Crave recipe we link, and we describe the others honestly without buy buttons. Because one recipe is not much of a choice, we also added four well-reviewed grain-free alternatives. Here is what we link to:
- Crave Grain Free High Protein Adult Dry Cat Food, Salmon and Ocean Fish, 10 lb Bag
- Instinct Original Dry Cat Food, Raw Coated Kibble, Real Chicken, 5 lb
- Blue Buffalo Wilderness Indoor Hairball and Weight Control Dry Cat Food, Chicken, 11 lb
- Nulo Freestyle Adult Trim Dry Cat Food, Salmon and Lentils, 4 lb
- Blue Buffalo Basics Limited Ingredient Diet, Duck and Potato, 11 lb
Affiliate Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate Pet Choice Center may earn a commission from qualifying purchases. If you purchase through our links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend products we genuinely stand behind.
Quick Verdict
The Crave Salmon and Ocean Fish dry food holds 4.6 stars across 2,798 Amazon ratings, and it is a solid grain-free kibble for a healthy adult cat. Cats.com is less excited, grading Crave’s dry recipes a C and its salmon paté a B. That split sums up Crave well: cats like it, and it is a decent mid-priced grain-free option, not a premium one. If you want more choice, Blue Buffalo Wilderness Indoor is the top-rated alternative at 4.7 stars, Instinct Original adds a raw coating, Nulo Trim suits weight loss, and Blue Buffalo Basics suits sensitive stomachs.
Why Trust This Guide
The Amazon rating comes from the listing for the exact 10 lb bag. Recipe claims come from Crave’s product pages on Chewy and PetSmart. The grades, recall history, and manufacturing details come from the Cats.com review of Crave. We could not confirm Amazon listings for the other recipes, so we do not link them.
At a Glance
- 40% protein in Crave’s dry recipes, per the brand
- 12% protein in the paté trays, per the brand
- 0 recalls since the line launched in 2017, according to Cats.com
- 1 honest catch: grain free is not the same as low carb
Quick Comparison Table
| Recipe | Form | Cats.com Grade | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salmon and Ocean Fish | Dry | Not graded | Fish-loving adults |
| Chicken and Salmon Indoor | Dry | C | Indoor adults |
| Chicken | Dry | C | Cats that refuse fish |
| Salmon Paté Trays | Wet | B | Adding moisture |
The Crave Recipe We Recommend
01- Crave Salmon and Ocean Fish, Dry
Overview: Grain-free dry food with real salmon and ocean fish as the first ingredients | 40% protein, per the brand | no chicken by-product meal, corn, wheat, or soy protein | complete and balanced for adult cats | 10 lb bag
Why We Recommend It: This is the Crave recipe with the most Amazon feedback behind it: 4.6 stars across 2,798 ratings. It ranked number 208 in Amazon’s dry cat food list when we checked. For a cat that loves fish and does fine on kibble, it is a simple grain-free choice.
Crave Salmon and Ocean Fish
Best Crave Pick
Key Features: Salmon and ocean fish listed first | 40% protein, per the brand | grain free, with quality carbohydrate sources for energy | made in Mars-owned US facilities, according to Cats.com
Pros: 4.6 stars across 2,798 Amazon ratings | no corn, wheat, or soy protein | big 10 lb bag | no recalls on record for the brand, per Cats.com
Cons: Cats.com grades Crave’s dry recipes a C | grain free still means other carbohydrates, and the brand does not print a carb figure
Best For: Healthy adult cats that like fish and eat dry food
Bottom Line: A well-reviewed, mid-priced grain-free kibble from a big-brand maker.
The Other Crave Recipes
Chicken and Salmon Indoor is Crave’s indoor formula, with real chicken listed first and 40% protein. PetSmart sells it in 2, 4, and 10 lb bags, and Cats.com grades it a C. Chicken is the fish-free option for cats that turn up their noses at seafood, also graded C. The Salmon Paté trays are the wet option: each tray snaps into two servings with 12% protein, and Cats.com grades them a B, the best score in the range. We could not confirm Amazon listings with ratings for these, so there are no buy buttons.
Four Grain-Free Alternatives to Crave
One verified Crave recipe is not much of a choice, so here are four well-reviewed grain-free foods we could verify on Amazon. Each one suits a slightly different cat.
02- Instinct Original Raw Coated Kibble, Real Chicken
Overview: High-protein, grain-free dry food with real chicken | kibble coated in raw | 5 lb bag
Why We Recommend It: If you like Crave’s high-protein pitch but want something closer to raw, this is the natural step up. It holds 4.5 stars on Amazon with 4K+ bought last month.
Instinct Original, Real Chicken
Best Raw-Coated Pick
Key Features: Raw-coated kibble | real chicken | high protein | grain free
Pros: 4.5 stars on Amazon | 4K+ bought last month | adds a raw element without feeding fully raw
Cons: Usually costs more per pound than Crave | grain free still means other carbohydrates, so check the label if carbs matter
Best For: Owners who want a higher-protein, raw-coated step up from Crave
Bottom Line: The best pick if you want Crave’s protein focus with a raw boost.
03- Blue Buffalo Wilderness Indoor Hairball and Weight Control
Overview: High-protein, grain-free dry food for adult indoor cats | real chicken first | LifeSource Bits with antioxidants | supports hairball and weight control | 11 lb bag
Why We Recommend It: Crave has no hairball or weight formula we could verify, and this one covers both. It holds 4.7 stars on Amazon, the highest of the alternatives here.
Blue Buffalo Wilderness Indoor Hairball and Weight
Best for Indoor Cats
Key Features: Real chicken first | grain free, high protein | hairball and weight control support | LifeSource Bits for immune health
Pros: 4.7 stars on Amazon | 1K+ bought last month | covers hairballs and weight in one bag | big 11 lb size
Cons: Premium pricing | weight control still depends on measuring portions
Best For: Indoor cats prone to hairballs or extra weight
Bottom Line: The top-rated alternative for indoor cats.
04- Nulo Freestyle Adult Trim, Salmon and Lentils
Overview: High-protein, grain-free weight management kibble | salmon and lentils | probiotics and L-carnitine | 4 lb bag
Why We Recommend It: This is the pick for a cat that needs to slim down without giving up a high-protein, grain-free diet. It adds probiotics for digestion and L-carnitine, and holds 4.5 stars on Amazon.
Nulo Freestyle Adult Trim
Best for Weight Loss
Key Features: Salmon and lentils | grain free and high protein | probiotics for digestion | L-carnitine for weight management
Pros: 4.5 stars on Amazon | 1K+ bought last month | built for weight management | fish-based for cats that prefer seafood
Cons: Small 4 lb bag | lentils add carbohydrate, so it is not a low-carb food
Best For: Overweight adult cats that do well on fish
Bottom Line: The grain-free choice for a slimming cat.
05- Blue Buffalo Basics Limited Ingredient, Duck and Potato
Overview: Grain-free, limited ingredient dry food | duck and potato recipe | skin and stomach care for indoor cats | 11 lb bag
Why We Recommend It: Crave relies on chicken and fish, which do not suit every cat. Duck is a less common protein, and the short ingredient list makes this a sensible pick for a sensitive stomach. It holds 4.5 stars on Amazon.
Blue Buffalo Basics LID, Duck and Potato
Best for Sensitive Stomachs
Key Features: Limited ingredient recipe | duck as the protein | grain free | skin and stomach care for indoor cats
Pros: 4.5 stars on Amazon | 600+ bought last month | less common protein for sensitive cats | big 11 lb bag
Cons: Not a prescription diet, so it will not manage a diagnosed allergy | potato adds carbohydrate
Best For: Sensitive cats that react to chicken or fish recipes
Bottom Line: The gentle, limited-ingredient alternative to Crave.
Grain Free Does Not Mean Low Carb
Crave’s dry recipes leave out grains, but kibble still needs carbohydrates to hold its shape, so the brand uses what it calls quality carbohydrate sources instead. Crave does not print a carbohydrate figure on the product pages we checked. If your cat needs a low-carb diet for a medical reason, such as diabetes, ask your vet and look at the full guaranteed analysis before you buy.
Dry food is also low in moisture. Pairing kibble with a wet meal, like Crave’s paté trays, helps your cat get more water. If your cat has a medical condition, talk to your vet before switching foods.
Common Buying Mistakes to Avoid
- Assuming grain free means healthier for every cat. It suits some cats, but it is not a medical diet.
- Buying a 10 lb bag before a taste test. Try a small bag first if your cat is picky.
- Skipping the chicken check. Some Crave fish recipes also contain chicken, so read the label if your cat has a chicken allergy.
- Switching foods overnight. Mix the new food in over about a week.
Practical Tips for Feeding Crave
- Measure the kibble. High-protein dry food is still calorie-dense, so follow the feeding guide on the bag.
- Use a puzzle feeder. It slows fast eaters and adds some activity for indoor cats.
- Check the date on every bag. Old food can grow mold and bacteria, including Salmonella and Staphylococcus.
- Keep fresh water out, and try a fountain. Many cats drink more from moving water.
Our Review Process
- A real Amazon listing for every product with a buy button
- Ratings and review counts stated, with their source named
- An independent grade from Cats.com alongside brand claims
- No guessed links for recipes we could not verify
We do not make medical claims about any product. For more options, see our guides to the best dry cat food for indoor cats and the best food for cats.
Final Recommendation
If you only take one thing from this guide, make it this: Crave is a decent, mid-priced grain-free food that most cats enjoy, not a premium or medical diet. The Salmon and Ocean Fish dry food is the best-reviewed recipe we could verify. Add a wet meal for moisture, measure portions, and talk to your vet if your cat has special needs.
Frequently Asked Questions About Crave Cat Food
Who makes Crave cat food?
Mars Petcare makes Crave, in Mars-owned facilities around the United States, according to Cats.com.
Has Crave been recalled?
Cats.com reports no recalls since the line launched in 2017. Check the FDA’s recall page for anything newer.
Is Crave grain free?
Yes. Every Crave recipe is grain free with no corn, wheat, or soy protein, according to the brand.
How much protein is in Crave?
The brand says its dry recipes have 40% protein and its paté trays have 12%. Wet food numbers look lower because they include water.
Is Crave good for cats?
Most cats like it, and the salmon dry food has 4.6 stars on Amazon. Cats.com grades the dry recipes a C and the paté a B, so it is a middle-of-the-road choice.
By the Pet Choice Center Editorial Team– Emma
Reviewed and researched by the Pet Choice Center Editorial Team. We compare pet products using manufacturer specifications, verified customer feedback, and practical buying criteria to help pet owners make informed decisions.