Dr. Clauder’s Cat Food Review

Dr. Clauder’s cat food is made in Germany. The company was founded in the 1950s to produce top quality dog and cat foods, including prescription diets. Very popular, Dr. Clauder’s is sold in over 60 countries today. Find out more about Dr. Clauder’s cat foods in our unbiased review.

The Cats.com Standard – Rating Dr. Clauder’s on What Matters

We have analyzed Dr. Clauder’s cat food and rated it according to our standards here at Cats.com. Our grades are based on the species-appropriateness of the food, the quality of the ingredients, product variety, price, customer experience, and recall history. You can read more about our ratings here.

Here are our ratings for Dr. Clauder’s in these key areas:

About Dr. Clauder’s

Dr. Clauder’s was founded by Dr. Heinz Clauder in Hamburg, Germany in 1957. Dr. Clauder was a doctoral nutritionist. He was said to be a pioneer in the field of scientifically-developed nutritional supplements that provided the right product for an animal’s different live stages.
Dr. Clauder’s later merged with the IPH Group and expanded.

In 2007 Dr. Clauder’s celebrated the company’s 50th anniversary and moved its headquarters to Hamminkeln.

In 2011, Dr. Clauder’s achieved certification under International Featured Standard (IFS). IFS is a Global Food Safety Initiative-recognized standard for certifying the safety and quality of food products and production processes.

As of 2018, the company’s philosophy is “Responsible pet nutrition.” They produce approximately 400 pet foods and products today which are only sold via specialist retailers.

The company currently has about 100 employees. Dr. Clauder’s products are sold in approximately 65 countries. They have about 10 office dogs. (No word on how many office cats are in residence.)

Also, perhaps unique to Dr. Clauder’s, the company has its own training academy for sales training courses. It’s geared especially to pet supply retailers which help to sell their products.
The company website has translations available for multiple languages.

In general, Dr. Clauder’s appears to have a scientific, nutrition-oriented approach to pet food.

Sourcing and Manufacturing

Dr. Clauder’s is now headquartered in Haminkeln in the lower Rhine Valley in Germany. According to the company’s website, it is a medium-sized, family-owned business. The company makes food and nutritional supplements for animals with a special focus on customer satisfaction.

The company is owner-managed, modern, and global. They take pride in producing the highest quality “Made in Germany” products. All products are made exclusively in Germany according to Dr. Clauder’s.

Along with a love of animals, creativity and innovation are also highly valued at Dr. Clauder’s. Sustainability and the responsible use of resources are very important to the company.

IFS certification helps ensure a high level of quality ingredients and high traceability of raw materials. It increases security and trust with the consumer.

Dr. Clauder’s has its own Research & Development department. The company also has its own nutritional experts.

Today Dr. Clauder’s is involved in seven different areas of pet products: dry nutrition, moist nutrition, function & care, functional snacks, beauty & care, hygiene, and anti-flea products.

Dr. Clauder’s makes premium pet foods including prescription diets for cats and dogs. They make dry cat food and wet canned food. In addition, the company makes BARF foods – “biologically appropriate raw foods” for owners who feed their cats a diet that is similar to the cat’s original diet.

The company doesn’t provide specific information about where their ingredients are sourced but says that they don’t use artificial additives. They also state that there are verifiable origins for their raw materials as you would expect with the IFS certification.

The company uses modern production techniques to make premium quality pet food, supplements, and pet care products but they do not provide details on their web site. Dr. Clauder’s does mention that they follow the European Union’s strict production guidelines.

Has Dr. Clauder’s Cat Food Been Recalled?

We did not find any recalls for Dr. Clauder’s cat food or other foods online. However, Dr. Clauder’s is sold in over 60 countries. It has been in business for over 60 years.

During most of that time, there was no Internet and few people kept records about pet food recalls. We cannot say that their food hasn’t ever had a recall.

It would almost be surprising if a 60-year-old pet food company has not had a recall at some point in time.

We can say that Dr. Clauder’s cat food has not had any recent recalls that we could find listed online.

What Kinds of Cat Food Does Dr. Clauder’s Offer?

Dr. Clauder’s makes cat foods in three tiers of quality: Best Selection, Selected Pearls (High Premium dry food for cats), and Premium (415 gram cans and 100 gram pouches).

Best Selection is wet food for cats. It has very high meat content, the highest quality ingredients, a large selection of flavors (10+ flavors for adult cats, with special flavors for kittens and spayed/neutered cats), health benefits, and it’s well-accepted by cats.

Best Selection wet foods have no processed meat, no bone meal, no soy protein, no wheat or sugar, no artificial colors or flavorings, no preservatives, and no cassia gum.

Dr. Clauder’s dry cat food is for kittens, adults, and seniors (spayed/neutered). They also make dry food for indoor and outdoor cats. Some of their dry foods come in both grain free and grain-inclusive versions.

The company also makes complementary feed for cats. Complementary feed is often called supplemental feed in English-speaking countries. These supplements are not complete and balanced meals.

They are formulated to help your cat with specific health issues such as intestinal/hairball problems, gastrointestinal and digestive needs, reducing gas, providing extra protein to nursing mothers and kittens, and serums for better mobility and for healthier coat and skin.

You can also buy BARF (Biologically Appropriate Raw Food) foods for your cat. Dr. Clauder’s offers them in several different formulas: complete meals in a wide range of meat proteins; 100 percent meat with no vitamins or minerals added; and in the form of vegetable smoothies so you can add your own plant protein and vitamins. You can also buy various BARF oils, mineral, and vegetable mixtures to add to your cat’s own BARF meals.

Dr. Clauder’s Functional Snacks can be used to pamper your cat or for training, if your cat is willing. They are more than tasty treats. They also contain specific nutrients to help your cat’s physical needs. Various snacks are good for your cat’s skin and fur; digestive system; and immune system. There’s even an anti-hairball cream.

Dr. Clauder’s also offers products for cat dental hygiene, ear care, eye care, and cat litter.

Dr. Clauder’s Cat Food– Top 3 Recipes Reviewed

#1 Dr. Clauder’s Best Selection No. 5: Chicken & Tuna with Spinach Cat Food Review

€1.59 At Dr-Clauder

We usually pride ourselves on being able to find reliable information for virtually every quality pet food we review. Dr. Clauder’s has proven to be a challenge. The company web site does provide nutritional information for their dry cat food and complementary feed but the page for wet foods (in English, at least) was consistently down when we were trying to collect information. In order to review a wet/canned food, we had to find a food that was sold online.

We found Dr. Clauder’s Chicken & Tuna with Spinach Best Selection is Dr. Clauder’s highest quality cat food. It is a wet/canned line of foods with high meat content and high-quality ingredients. It also comes in a wide range of meat, fish, and poultry proteins. The Best Selection line of foods contains no processed meat, no bone meal, no soy protein, no wheat or sugar, no artificial colors or flavorings, no preservatives, and no cassia gum.

The ingredients in this food are as follows: chicken (chicken hearts, chicken meat, chicken liver, chicken stomachs, chicken necks), tuna, spinach, minerals, linseed oil, teucrium marum.
Nutritional additives: zinc (as zinc sulphate, monohydrate), manganese (as manganese-II-sulphate, monohydrate), copper (as cupric sulphate, pentahydrate), iodine (as calcium iodine, anhydrous), taurine.

You probably recognize most of these ingredients with the possible exception of teucrium marum. Teucrium marum is the shrub germander. Germander is native to the Mediterranean region. It’s long been used for medicinal purposes and was believed to help gout. It’s said that cats love it and that it’s good for the intestinal tract.

Spinach is high in vitamins and minerals. It is safe for most cats to eat – unless your cat has kidney or urinary tract problems. In that case, spinach can be problematic. Spinach is high in oxalates so if your cat has any pre-existing kidney or urinary tract issues, spinach can lead to the formation of crystals/stones. Cooked spinach could be less likely to cause problems.

This recipe comes in 200 and 400 gram containers and an 85 gram pouch.
Nutritional values for this recipe are crude protein 10.2 percent, crude fat 5.5 percent, crude ash 2.5 percent, crude fibre 0.4 percent, and moisture 80 percent.

We can convert these figures into the dry matter basis for the food. This means removing the water from the figures to see what remains. If we do this we find that the food contains 51 percent protein, 27.5 percent fat, 2 percent fiber, 12.5 percent ash, and 7 percent carbohydrates. We estimate that the food has 96 calories per 100 grams (approximately 3.5 ounces).

Ingredients

66.2% Of Chicken (Chicken Hearts, Chicken Meat, Chicken Liver, Chicken Stomachs, Chicken Necks), 30.6% From Tuna, 2% Spinach, 1% Minerals, 0.2% Linseed Oil, 0.1% Teucrium Marum.

Additives/kg: Nutritional Additives: Zinc (As Zinc Sulphate, Monohydrate) 25mg, Manganese (As Manganese-ii-sulphate, Monohydrate) 1.4mg, Copper (As Cupric Sulphate, Pentahydrate) 1mg, Iodine (As Calcium Iodine, Anhydrous) 0.75mg, Taurine 1,500mg.

Ingredients We Liked: Chicken (including the organs and heart muscle)

Ingredients We Didn’t Like: Spinach can be a problem if your cat has kidney or urinary tract issues; most cats can eat cooked spinach in small amounts without any problems

Guaranteed Analysis

Crude Protein: 10.2%

Crude Fat: 5.5%

Crude Fiber: 0.4%

Moisture: 80%

Ash: 2.5%

Dry Matter Basis

Protein: 51%

Fat: 27.5%

Fiber: 2%

Carbs: 7%

Caloric Weight Basis

Protein: 40.87%

Fat: 53.52%

Carbs: 5.61%

Pros

• Dr. Clauder’s Best Selection wet foods are very high in meat protein
• Dr. Clauder’s Best Selection line of foods contains no processed meat, no bone meal, no soy
• protein, no wheat or sugar, no artificial colors or flavorings, no preservatives, and no cassia gum
• The company has its own Research & Development Department; and their own nutritionists

Cons

• Information is skimpy about ingredient sourcing and manufacturing
• Detailed information about the foods is hard to find in English if you are outside Europe
• since they are not sold on sites such as Amazon

#2 Dr.Clauder’s High Premium Indoor

€4.65 At Dr-Clauder

Dr. Clauder’s makes five dry cat food formulas: High Premium Kitten, High Premium Adult Grainfree, High Premium Sterilised Senior Light, High Premium Indoor, and High Premium Outdoor. All of these foods are available in a range of package sizes.

We chose the High Premium Indoor recipe to review with the idea that it might meet the needs of many of our readers who have indoor cats.

According to Dr. Clauder’s, this food is easy to digest and provides ideal nutrition for cats that stay indoors. It provides appropriate energy and protein for indoor cats – especially for calmer cats. And, it has a nutritional value of 780 grams of fresh meat per 1 kg of dry nutrition.

The main ingredients in this food are as follows: rice, poultry protein (dehydrated), fish protein, liver meal, and poultry fat.

It is slightly disappointing to see rice as the first ingredient. This means that there is more rice in the food than any other ingredient. Poultry protein (dehydrated) does not specify if it’s from chicken or another kind of poultry.

Most owners want to know exactly what they are feeding their cat. Fish protein is also unspecified. While poultry protein and fish protein do provide protein for your cat and your cat may enjoy the taste, it would be better if the sources were specific.

The source of the liver meal is also unspecified though liver, in general, is a good source of vitamins and minerals – especially vitamin A. Poultry fat is also unspecified.

The food contains eggs (dehydrated) which can be an allergen for some pets. There is more rice in the form of rice bran later in the ingredient list. The food also contains cellulose which is sometimes added to weight control pet foods.

Nutritional values for this recipe are crude protein 28 percent, crude fat 11 percent, crude ash 6 percent, and crude fibre 4 percent.

We can convert these figures into the dry matter basis for the food. This means removing the water from the figures to see what remains. If we do this we find that the food contains 30.4 percent protein, 12 percent fat, 4.3 percent fiber, 7 percent ash, and 46.7 percent carbohydrates. We estimate that the food has 383 calories per 100 grams (approximately 3.5 ounces).

Ingredients

Composition: Rice, Poultry Protein (Dehydrated) 21%, Fish Protein (5%), Liver Meal, Poultry Fat, Hydrolysed Protein, Eggs (Dehydrated) 2.8%, Linseed, Beet Pulp (Sugar Reduced), Rice Bran, Cellulose, Fish Oil, Yeast (Dehydrated), Chicory Powder (Dehydrated), Potassium Chloride.

Additives/kg: Nutritional Additives: Vitamin: A 15,000iu, D3 1,500iu, E 150mg, B1 20mg, B2 20mg, B6 20mg, B12 40mcg, Biotin 275mcg, Folate 1mg, Niacin 80mg, Calcium D-pantothenate 20mg, Choline 2,450mg, Taurine 1,300mg, Copper (As Cupric Sulphate, Pentahydrate) 10mg, Zinc (As Zincoxide) 30mg, Zinc (As Amino Acid Zinc Chelate, Hydrate) 40mg, Iodine (E2, As Calcium Iodine, Anhydrous) 2mg, Selenium (As Sodium Selenite) 0.2mg.

Based on information found online for other Dr. Clauder’s dry cat foods

Ingredients We Liked: Fish protein, liver meal, poultry fat, eggs (dehydrated), beet pulp (sugar reduced), fish oil, chicory powder

Ingredients We Didn’t Like: Rice as the first ingredient, poultry protein

Guaranteed Analysis

Crude Protein: 28%

Crude Fat: 11%

Crude Fiber: 4%

Ash: 6%

Dry Matter Basis

Protein: 28%

Fat: 11%

Fiber: 4%

Carbs: 51%

Caloric Weight Basis

Protein: 26.49%

Fat: 25.27%

Carbs: 48.24%

Pros

• This food has the equivalent of 78 percent meat
• No artificial additives

Cons

• The food purports to be good for indoor cats and uses cellulose – an ingredient for weight control – yet it is high in carbohydrates and has approximately 383 calories per 100 grams
• 78 percent meat is lower than some of Dr. Clauder’s other dry foods

#3 Dr. Clauder’s BARF Komplett Menue Rack of Lamb

€2.79 At Dr-Clauder

In addition to their wet and dry cat foods, Dr. Clauder’s also makes BARF diets. We selected one of their complete meals for review – Dr. Clauder’s BARF Komplett Menue Rack of Lamb.

According to Dr. Clauder’s this food is suitable for sensitive cats since it’s a single protein formula.

This recipe is a slow-cooked meat stew with selected vegetables and high quality oils. The high grade oils allow for the natural preservation of the vitamins. Along with some of the internal organs, your cat also gets a species-appropriate amount of vitamins, minerals, and trace elements, along with lean meat made from lamb. The food also contains sweet potatoes.

(We thought a BARF diet meant raw food, too, but these foods are gently boiled/slow-cooked.)

The main ingredients in this food are as follows: lamb (heart, meat, liver, lung), sweet potatoes, minerals, cod liver oil, wheat germ oil.

Lamb provides an excellent source of protein and the organs are a great source of vitamins and minerals for cats. Sweet potatoes are high in carbohydrates but they have also been called a “super food” because of all the health benefits they offer such as antioxidants, soluble and insoluble fiber for good gut health, and more.

Nutritional values for this recipe are crude protein 10.6%, crude fat 7.5%, crude fibre 0.4%, crude ash 2.1%, and moisture 75%.

We can convert these figures into the dry matter basis for the food. This means removing the water from the figures to see what remains. If we do this we find that the food contains 42.2 percent protein, 30 percent fat, 1.6 percent fiber, 8.4 percent ash, and 17.6 percent carbohydrates. We estimate that the food has 128 calories per 100 grams (approximately 3.5 ounces).

Ingredients

94% Of Lamb (Heart, Meat, Liver, Lung), Sweet Potatoes 4%, Minerals 1%, Cod Liver Oil 0.5%, Wheat Germ Oil 0.5%.

Additives/kg: Nutritional Additives: Vitamins: D3 200iu, E 20iu, B1 10mg, B2 6mg, B6 2mg, B12 75mcg, Niacin 15mg, Calcium D-pantothenate 9mg, Folate 0.35mg, Biotin 300mcg, Choline Chloride 1,200mg, Taurine 1,500mg, Trace Elements: Zinc (As Zinc Sulphate, Monohydrate) 25mg, Manganese (As Manganese-ii-sulphate, Monohydrate) 1.4mg, Iodine (E2, As Calcium Iodine, Anhydrous) 0.75mg.

Ingredients We Liked: Lamb (heart, meat, liver, lung), sweet potatoes,

Ingredients We Didn’t Like: Nothing

Guaranteed Analysis

Crude Protein: 10.6%

Crude Fat: 7.5%

Crude Fiber: 0.4%

Moisture: 75%

Ash: 2.1%

Dry Matter Basis

Protein: 42.4%

Fat: 30%

Fiber: 1.6%

Carbs: 17.6%

Caloric Weight Basis

Protein: 31.91%

Fat: 54.84%

Carbs: 13.25%

Pros

• This food appears to have great ingredients with minimal processing
• This recipe is 94 percent lamb and lamb organs
• This is a complete meal so you don’t have to add anything else to your cat’s diet

Cons

• We don’t know why these foods are sold as BARF since they are cooked. Dr. Clauder’s doesn’t explain on their web site.
• This food is a stew so it’s relatively low in calories. In terms of calories, it’s comparable to a wet cat food despite the great ingredients.

What Do Customers Think of Dr. Clauder’s Cat Food?

We didn’t find many customer reviews for Dr. Clauder’s online. This might be due to the fact that it’s a German brand and our search engine is English-based.

Or, it could be because Dr. Clauder’s is mostly sold through specialist retailers instead of outlets such as Amazon where people usually leave reviews.
Here’s what we found.

Positive Reviews

Recommended, timely delivery, thanks – by Syed Samra on October 14, 2020, reviewing Dr.Clauder’s 3 kind of poultry – Cat Jelly Food – 100g

Negative Reviews

My cats won’t touch this stuff. – by moof on September 19, 2019, reviewing Dr.Clauder’s Anti-Hairball Malt Soft Paste 100 G.

How Much Does Dr. Clauder’s Cat Food Cost?

It’s always tricky trying to convert cat food costs, especially when Dr. Clauder’s is sold in over 60 countries. We found one Russian review that said Dr. Clauder’s cat foods were widely available in supermarkets. It also stated that most of the foods could be described as economy foods. That might be true in Russia but it doesn’t appear to fit elsewhere.

Our calculations for some of the dry food prices found that they were selling for about $4 per pound in American dollars. We found a 4kg bag of dry kitten food for 30.83 euros ($36.39 American).

You can buy 100 gram pouches of Dr. Clauder’s wet cat foods online for about 0.50 euros. Best Selection wet cat foods (85 grams) is sold for about 0.90 euros.
BARF meals are more expensive with Dr. Clauder BARF Chicken Complete food for dogs and cats 800 g coming in at 5.1 euros.

Overall, Is Dr. Clauder’s Cat Food a Good Choice?

Yes, we think Dr. Clauder’s foods look very good overall. This is a company that appears to be based on science and nutrition. The IFS certification adds reassurance. It has had a solid reputation for over 60 years. Check the individual recipes to make sure you find ones with ingredients suitable for your cat.

How Do You Order Dr. Clauder’s Cat Food?

Dr. Clauder’s is mostly sold through specialty sources. If you are in one of the countries where Dr. Clouder’s is sold, you can use Shopfinder to locate a store.