Last updated Apr 19, 2023
Gather is a Canadian brand that uses non-GMO, certified organic ingredients. Learn more about Gather cat food in our unbiased review.
The Cats.com Standard – Rating Gather Cat Food on What Matters
We have analyzed Gather 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 Gather in these key areas:
Ratings
- Species-Appropriateness – 7/10
- Ingredient Quality – 9/10
- Product Variety – 2/10
- Price – 5/10
- Customer Experience – 8/10
- Recall History – 9/10
Overall Score: 6.7/10
We give Gather cat food a 40 out of 60 rating (67%) or a B grade.
The primary reason Gather’s score is so low is that they only have one cat food recipe at this time.
About Gather
Gather is made by Petcurean, a Canadian pet food company that has been in existence since 1999. The company makes Go! Solutions, Now Fresh, and Summit, as well as Gather. They also make dog foods.
Petcurean headquarters are located in Abbotsford, Canada.
Sourcing and Manufacturing
According to Petcurean, the maker of Gather, their dry foods are made in Ontario, Canada. Their canned products are primarily produced in Ontario; and secondarily at a plant in New Jersey, USA. Their Now Fresh stews and pâtés are made in Wisconsin, USA.
The company provides extensive information about their ingredients. They use fresh meat and meat meal ingredients passed fit for human consumption by CFIA (Canadian Food Inspection Agency). The fruits and vegetables in their Gather recipes also come from the human food chain.
While they are human-quality ingredients, company does not claim that these ingredients are human-grade since once ingredients leave a human processing facility and enter a pet food facility, they are no longer classified as “human-grade.” We applaud their honesty on this point. Not all pet food companies make this distinction for their customers.
Gather contains non-GMO, certified organic ingredients. That means that these ingredients have met strict government standards for how the food is grown, handled, and processed using organic agricultural methods. Organic farmers use natural fertilizers and pest control methods to benefit the soil, plants, and animals. However, “organic” does not necessarily mean that these ingredients are healthier when they are consumed.
Petcurean does not use wheat glutens or rice protein concentrates in their foods. The company does use various named meat meals to increase the protein and nutrients in their foods. They only use natural preservatives. The poultry used in their recipes is cage-free. The fish used in their recipes is tested for heavy metals before it is accepted for processing.
All of their ingredients are sourced from North America, as close to their factories as possible, with the exception of their pasture-raised lamb and grass-fed venison which is sourced from Australia and New Zealand (from EU-certified plants).
Petcurean does not use any artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives.
Has Gather Cat Food Been Recalled?
We didn’t find any recalls for Gather pet foods in the U.S. Food & Drug Administration database. We did find a voluntary recall for Petcurean Go! Natural (made in Texas) dating from 2003.
However, this recall was later reclassified as a market withdrawal which is not subject to FDA action. Production at the Texas facility was suspended and moved to Canada following this incident.
What Kinds of Food Does Gather Offer?
At this time, Gather has two dog food recipes and one cat food recipe. Gather is not a new brand but it may have been revamped to focus on certified organic, non-GMO ingredients.
The recipes are free from rendered or genetically engineered ingredients and feature a single-source, fresh and dehydrated protein. The dog foods include a Marine Stewardship Council-certified cod recipe and a vegan recipe. The cat food uses certified organic chicken.
Gather Cat Food– Recipe Reviewed
| Product Name | Food Type | Primary Protein | Calories | Price | Our Grade |
| Gather Free Acres Organic Free-Run Chicken Recipe for Adult Cats | Dry | Chicken | 3664 kcal/kg | $6.88 per lb | B+ |
#1 Gather Free Acres Organic Free-Run Chicken Recipe for Adult Cats
Considering the vast number of cat food brands in the world, there aren’t a lot of organic cat foods. If you would like to feed your cat organic food, Gather Free Acres Organic Free-Run Chicken Recipe is certainly one to consider.
Made with ingredients from North America, Gather Free Acres has chicken that is sustainably produced, certified organic, and free-run. Chicken is also the sole source of poultry protein.
This food is also grain-free and gluten-free with no genetically engineered ingredients. It provides your cat with complete and balanced nutrition. It also features omega 3 and 6 oils to support healthy skin and coat.
Gather uses no antibiotics or added growth hormones. There are no by-products, artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives. And, this food has no wheat, corn, or soy.
Gather Free Acres Organic Free-Run Chicken Recipe for Adult Cats has a calorie content of 3664 kcal/kg or 403 kcal/cup.
GATHER™ Free Acres Recipe with organic free-run chicken is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Cat Food Nutrient Profiles for Maintenance.
Most of the ingredients in this food appear to be high quality and nutritious for cats. We question the peas and lentils as the third and fourth ingredients but, overall, we would recommend it.
Ingredients
Organic Chicken, Organic Dehydrated Chicken, Organic Peas, Lentils, Chicken Fat (Preserved With Mixed Tocopherols), Organic Flaxseed, Natural Chicken Flavor, Blueberries, Cranberries, Egg Shell Meal, Vitamins (Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, L-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate (A Source Of Vitamin C), Thiamine Mononitrate, D-calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Folic Acid, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement), Minerals (Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite), Dl-methionine, Taurine, Dried Rosemary.
Ingredients We Liked: Organic chicken, organic dehydrated chicken, chicken fat, blueberries, cranberries
Ingredients We Didn’t Like: Organic peas, lentils
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
Pros
- Uses good quality organic, non-GMO ingredients
- Grain-free, gluten-free
- Contains no artificial preservatives, colors, wheat, corn, or soy
Cons
- Contains a lot of peas and lentils which boost the protein percentage
- This is the only Gather cat food recipe at this time
What Do Customers Think of Gather Cat Food?
Considering that Gather cat food is something of a niche product, with only one recipe at this time, we found a surprising number of customer reviews. Most of them were very positive.
Positive Reviews
My cat loves this food! She is high maintenance & loves all the expensive stuff like her mom! Great quality food, organic & a little expensive but I believe u get what u pay for most of the times! I feed her wet food also and mainly use this when we r gone all day cause cats r dessert animals & live in a constant state of dehydration & do better on wet food!!! Just saying! – by Lana reviewing Gather Free Acres Organic Free-Run Chicken Dry Cat Food on on Apr 12, 2021
My cats are extremely picky and I’ve been looking for a healthy organic option for them (I’ve tried them all). This is definitely their favorite and I love the brand’s mission and their quality ingredients. We will continue to purchase this! – by Erica reviewing Gather Free Acres Organic Free-Run Chicken Dry Cat Food on Mar 29, 2020
Negative Reviews
My kitty gobbled it down & then brought it back up. She will not eat it now. Maybe the pieces were too small & she didn’t chew them enough. – by Naomi Gather Free Acres Organic Free-Run Chicken Dry Cat Food on July 30, 2019
I love the idea of this food, as a vegan, organic, healthy eater myself I make sure my cat-kids eat as healthfully as possible, too. So I was excited about this food and the clean ingredients, but I didn’t check the protein percentage until I had ordered it. It’s only 30%, which is very low. Cats are obligate carnivores and thrive on high protein and a good amount of fat. Their bodies make all the vitamins they need, unlike human bodies, and while they do need some mineral supplementation, this company skimped on actual meet, apparently. I hope the people who make Gather will reformulate their cat food. Until then I won’t buy more. – by Fredricka Gather Free Acres Organic Free-Run Chicken Dry Cat Food on Oct 27, 2018
How Much Does Gather Cat Food Cost?
Since Gather is organic cat food, it does cost more than most average cat foods. We found it on Chewy for about $35 for a 4-lb bag. The 8-lb bag is priced at $55. Prices are similar on Amazon.
Overall, Is Gather Cat Food a Good Choice?
Yes, we do think that Gather Free Acres Organic Free-Run Chicken Recipe for Adult Cats is good food. Since this is the only formula at the moment, if your cat has issues with chicken, you should look at some of Petcurean’s other brands such as Now Fresh.
Some people, as mentioned in the customer reviews, think that the protein percentage of the food (30 percent guaranteed analysis) is too low for cats. According to AAFCO, adult cats need a minimum of 26 percent protein by dry matter basis (DMB).
Many organic pet foods can be a little skimpy with the meat protein because of the high costs involved in producing organic meat. It costs much more to raise livestock organically than conventionally. That may also explain the use of peas and lentils as the third and fourth ingredients since they can increase the protein percentage in pet foods.
This food does surpass the protein requirements for an adult cat but if you feed it and want to make sure your cat is getting plenty of meat protein, you may want to add some wet food or some sardines to your cat’s diet.
If you would like to consider other organic cat foods, have a look at Organix Castor & Pollux cat food and Smalls cat food.
How Do You Order Gather Cat Food?
Petcurean doesn’t sell their pet foods from their website. They do have a page of Canadian and American retailers that sell their products.
You can find Gather for sale on Chewy.com, Amazon, and other online pet food retailers.
