Last updated Jan 15, 2026
Kirsten McCarthy / Cats.com
Go-Cat is a brand of dry cat food made by Purina. It’s available in Great Britain and European Union countries. Learn more about Go-Cat in our unbiased review.
The Cats.com Standard – Rating Go-Cat Cat Food on What Matters
We have analyzed Go-Cat 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 Go-Cat in these key areas:
Ratings
- Species-Appropriateness – 6/10
- Ingredient Quality – 6/10
- Product Variety – 6/10
- Price – 7/10
- Customer Experience – 8/10
- Recall History – 9/10
Overall Score: 7/10
We give Go-Cat cat food a 42 out of 60 rating (70%) or a B- grade.
About Go-Cat
Nestle bought the British cat food Go-Cat in 1985. Based on the information we found, Go-Cat was previously known as Friskies Go-Cat in the 1990s. It has been considered to be similar to Meow Mix in the United States.
Nestle-Purina Petcare (or simply Purina) is the second-largest global producer of pet food in the world.
Purina Petcare’s world hub is in Missouri in the United States. The company has invested heavily in nutrition research and development with nutritionists, veterinarians, behaviorists, immunologists, chemists, molecular biologists, food scientists, palatability experts, and specialists in genomics and bioinformatics. You can learn more about the Purina Institute and their research into pet foods here.
Sourcing and Manufacturing
Nestle-Purina has multiple factories in the UK. We couldn’t identify which facility makes Go-Cat but Purina does make their own foods.
We did find a useful page on the Purina UK website which answers many questions about ingredients, sustainability, and how the food is made.
Purina has a good record of quality control. The company may carry out as many as 1400 tests and checks in one day, at one site, to ensure the safety of their foods.
Has Go-Cat Cat Food Been Recalled?
Searching the UK government’s Food Standards Agency’s website for recalls yielded no returns for Go-Cat recalls. However, Go-Cat has been around for several decades and Purina has owned the company for a long time. We can’t say with certainty that the brand has never had a recall in Great Britain.
We didn’t find any recalls for Go-Cat in Europe but they might not show up in an English language Google search.
What Kinds of Food Does Go-Cat Offer?
At this time, Go-Cat has 10 different dry cat foods. Most of the foods are strictly kibble but several also contain tender bits.
Go-Cat makes food for kittens, junior cats, adult cats, and seniors.
Flavors include beef, fish, salmon, chicken, tuna, turkey, dairy, and duck.
Go-Cat also has a special formula for indoor cats.
In the past, Go-Cat was available as a wet food but they do not offer canned foods at this time based on their website.
Go-Cat Cat Food – Top 3 Recipes Reviewed
| Product Name | Food Type | Primary Protein | Calories | Price | Our Grade |
| Go-Cat Chicken and Duck Dry cat food | Dry | Chicken, Duck | 340.5 kcal per 100g | £1.51 per lb | C |
| Go-Cat® Crunchy and Tender Kitten Chicken Dry Cat Food | Dry | Chicken | 354 kcal per 100g | £5.50 per lb | B- |
| Go-Cat Indoor Chicken Dry Cat Food | Dry | Chicken | 328.25 kcal per 100g | £1.13 per lb | B- |
#1 Go-Cat Chicken And Duck Dry Cat Food
According to Purina, Go-Cat is Britain’s favorite dry cat food. While wet cat food is often favored for cats because of its moisture content, many people still prefer dry cat food.
It’s convenient to feed and to store compared to wet foods. You don’t have to carry boxes of canned food, for example. Plus, a bag of dry food doesn’t take up as much space as a dozen cans of food. Dry foods also have a long shelf life. And, they are more economical than wet foods.
That’s not to say that wet foods don’t have their good points – they do. But there are some good reasons why some people prefer to feed their cats dry foods.
The main ingredients of Go-Cat Chicken and Duck Dry cat food are cereals, meat and animal derivatives, vegetable protein extracts, oils and fats, and derivatives of vegetable origin. Unfortunately, under British and EU law, pet food companies are not required to provide more precise labeling for their ingredients.
We do see that the meat and animal derivatives make up 10 percent of the food. A note on the Go-Cat page states that this is equivalent to 20 percent rehydrated meat and animal derivatives with a minimum of 4 percent chicken and a minimum of 4 percent duck.
The food contains no artificial colors. Purina states that its Go-Cat formulas contain no artificial colorants, flavorings or preservatives.
According to Go-Cat, this chicken and duck formula is made with carefully selected ingredients from known and trusted suppliers. The right balance of minerals supports urinary tract health. Essential minerals plus vitamin D support your cat’s healthy teeth and bones. And, essential fatty acids are good for your cat’s healthy skin and shiny coat.
This formula is a complete and balanced adult maintenance formula for cats.
Go-Cat appears to be a complete and balanced dry food that provides suitable nutrition for adult cats. It’s hard to draw conclusions about the ingredients since they are not listed in any detail. The vague descriptions and price indicates that this is an average food but many cats may like it and thrive on it.
Calorie Content (ME Calculated): 340.5 kCals per 100g
Ingredients
Cereals, Meat and animal derivatives (10%*), Vegetable protein extracts, Oils and fats, Derivatives of vegetable origin, Minerals, Yeasts
Ingredients We Liked: Meat and animal derivatives with chicken and duck
Ingredients We Didn’t Like: Hard to say since the ingredients are so vague
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
Pros
- Contains a minimum of 4 percent chicken and 4 percent duck
- Complete and balanced for adult cats
- Purina has qualified veterinary nutritionists to formulate their foods; the company performs over 1000 ingredient and production quality checks per day in their factories
- Affordable
Cons
- Ingredient information is vague on the label (though this is legal in the UK)
- Information about ingredient sourcing is lacking
#2 Go-Cat Crunchy And Tender Kitten Chicken Dry Cat Food
Kittens require special nutrition. They do most of their growing in the first four months of life. It’s important for a kitten to have the correct nutrients, along with plenty of energy during this period.
Go-Cat® Crunchy and Tender Kitten Chicken Dry Cat Food is formulated for kittens during the first year of growth. It’s also suitable for pregnant cats and mother cats that are nursing. It helps support your kitten’s growth. It contains vitamin E for the immune system. And it has taurine to promote a healthy heart and good eyesight.
While many Go-Cat recipes are strictly dry foods, this kitten formula has both crunchy and tender bits to appeal to kittens while they are teething. This may also help maintain healthy teeth and gums.
The main ingredients in this food are cereals, meat and animal derivatives, vegetable protein extracts, and oils and fats. The meat and animal derivatives are equivalent to 20 percent rehydrated meat and animal derivatives with a minimum of 4 percent chicken. The food also contains an equivalent of 4 percent rehydrated vegetables.
According to Go-Cat, the food contains no artificial colors. Purina states that their Go-Cat recipes contain no added artificial colorants, flavorings, or preservatives.
Go-Cat recommends that the food be served with water at first when your kitten is weaned. You can gradually reduce the amount of water as your kitten becomes more accustomed to eating hard foods.
It would be nice to have more information about the exact information in the ingredients but that is not required by British law.
This recipe is one of the most expensive Go-Cat formulas. It is relatively high in protein, as it should be for growing kittens. Go-Cat Crunchy and Tender Kitten Chicken Dry Cat Food appear to provide suitable nutrition for growing kittens up to one year of age.
Calorie Content (ME Calculated): 354 kCals per 100g
Ingredients
Cereals, Meat and animal derivatives (10%*), Vegetable protein extracts, Oils and fats, Glycerol, Minerals, Various sugars, Derivatives of vegetable origin, Vegetables (0.6%**), Yeasts
Ingredients We Liked: Chicken
Ingredients We Didn’t Like: Added sugars
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
Pros
- A minimum of 4 percent chicken (equivalent)
- Relatively high in protein
- Purina has good production and quality control checks
Cons
- Ingredients are vague and sources are not provided
- Contains added sugars
#3 Go-Cat Indoor Chicken Dry Cat Food
Unlike a few decades ago, many cats today live their lives indoors. City life with traffic and other dangers makes it unsafe for pet cats to enjoy the outdoors. Indoor cats often need a diet that’s suited for their special needs.
Go-Cat Indoor Chicken Dry Cat Food is made with the indoor cat in mind. It helps keep your cat at a healthy weight. It has chicory as an ingredient to help reduce litter odor. It contains beet pulp extracts to help reduce the formation of hairballs. Plus, fiber from natural sources helps support your cat’s healthy digestion.
The main ingredients in this formula are cereals, meat and animal derivatives (10 percent), vegetable protein extracts, derivatives of vegetable origin (5 percent beet pulp), oils and fats, and vegetables (2 percent dried chicory). The rehydrated meat and animal derivatives contain a minimum of 4 percent chicken according to the Go-Cat website. The recipe label actually states that the food contains 2.1 percent chicken and 2.1 percent turkey.
This recipe contains no added artificial colors. Purina states that none of their Go-Cat recipes contain added artificial colorants, flavorings, or preservatives.
This indoor food has slightly fewer calories than some of Go-Cat’s other dry food offerings which can be helpful for cats that may not get as much exercise as cats that engage in outdoor activities.
Go-Cat Indoor Chicken Dry Cat Food is an adult maintenance formula for cats one year of age and up.
Go-Cat Indoor Chicken Dry Cat Food looks like a reasonably nutritious food for indoor cats. It does appear to consider factors such as fiber and calories for indoor cats.
Calorie Content (ME Calculated): 328.25 kCals per 100g
Ingredients
Cereals, Meat and animal derivatives (10%*), Vegetable protein extracts, Derivatives of vegetable origin (5% beet pulp), Oils and fats, Vegetables (2% dried chicory**), Minerals, Yeasts
Ingredients We Liked: Chicken, beet pulp, chicory
Ingredients We Didn’t Like: Impossible to say
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
Pros
- Beet pulp is a good source of fiber
- Chicory is a good prebiotic
- This formula has slightly fewer calories than some of Go-Cat’s other recipes which can be good for indoor cats
Cons
- Most of the ingredients are vague so it’s impossible to know anything about them
What Do Customers Think of Go-Cat Cat Food?
Almost all of the reviews on the Go-Cat website are 5 stars. We searched for other sites that might be less biased. Most of the reviews we found on Amazon.co.uk were still very positive about the brand. On Amazon.co.uk, 85 percent of the reviews were 5 stars. (Many of them were also very funny.)
Positive Reviews
“This cat food is more expensive than I would usually buy but it seemed worth a go as it gets good ratings and ive had other recommend it as a good brand.
I trialed it with my cars over a week or so and they seemed to enjoy it. First reaction was that they ate it straight away and didn’t leave any in the bowl. They didn’t experience any sickness which they can be prone to so that’s also a good sign. The food didn’t smell too strongly that it offended me and didnt give them a bad smelling breath particularly. Their coat is looking nice and shiny, whether that is down to the food or general wellness it’s hard to say.
We combo feed with dry and wet food so the cost of the dry isn’t too bad as it lasts quite a while.” – by Annie reviewing Go-Cat Adult Dry Cat Food Chicken and Duck 10kg on Jan 12, 2026
“I ordered the pack of five Herring with Vegetable flavoured dry cat food and I have to say it’s been great and my little hoard of kitties are very happy with it. I’m really happy with the amount of dry food you get for your money and each box is 750g so enough for several meals per box (though this is of course dependent on how many cats you have). I really like the ingredients, everything is natural and there are no artificial flavourings, colours or preservatives. The pieces are fish shaped and my cats get a satisfying crunch out of them. Thankfully while they are heavy on the fish they don’t smell too much. Overall, I’m very happy with these as are my cats. Go-Cat is our go to brand of cat food anyway so there was thankfully no worry that my cats would reject this but cats can be fussy so if they’re used to a different brand then introduce them slowly. If they already eat Go-Cat pet food they should be ok. Recommended.”- by Customer Review reviewing Go-Cat Adult Tuna, Herring & Veg Dry Cat Food 10kg on Jan 9, 2026
Negative Reviews
“The cats mostly enjoyed it but gave them diarrhoea after a couple weeks. Switched food and it stopped, so I wouldn’t recommend for cats with even slightly sensitive tummies.” by Ri reviewing Go-Cat Adult Dry Cat Food Chicken and Duck 10kg on Jan 7, 2026
“I give my cat a mix of dry food and wet food each day and thought I would try this. The boxes are easy to open with a small flap that you push in on the top corner. This is supposed to be resealable, but it just folds back down without actually sealing. The kibble themselves are a nice small size that are easily eaten by my cat and when she saw or maybe smelt something different, she was immediately interested and polished off the sample I put in her bowl so quickly that it assured me she like it and was ready for a proper meal of it. She quickly finished this off telling me she is happy with it. There was a lot more crunching going on than there normally is with her regular kibble, so I think these are a little harder than she is used to. My one worry is that the ingredients list shows cereals top of the list which does not make me happy, with only 4% fish and even less vegetables. I don’t think I would buy it again for this reason as I prefer something with a larger meat or fish composition. Pricewise at £13.75 (at time of review) it is not the dearest cat food available, but there are better value options with slightly better ingredients…” by Savvy Shopper reviewing Go-Cat Adult Dry Cat Food Chicken and Duck 10kg on Jan 1, 2026
How Much Does Go-Cat Cat Food Cost?
Go-Cat cat foods are one of the more affordable brands for sale in the UK. Most of the formulas are listed from £1.10 for 320 grams; and £2.25 for 850 grams.
Some of the Go-Cat formulas come in larger bags and cost more. For example, we found Go-Cat Senior Chicken Dry Cat Food for sale in a 2kg bag for between £7.29 and £10.55 at various pet food retailers.
Overall, Is Go-Cat Cat Food a Good Choice?
We think that Purina has good quality control measures at their pet food factories. Their veterinary nutritionists are some of the best in the pet food industry. Most of their foods are not gourmet or homemade in style but they are nutritious and follow nutritional guidelines. Go-Cat dry cat foods should meet your cat’s nutritional requirements.
It also appears that many cats absolutely love these foods, based on customer reviews.
Finally, Go-Cat cat foods are affordable and widely available.
The bottom line is that Go-Cat is a good choice for many cats. Can you buy better dry cat foods? Yes, but you will also pay a lot more.
Go-Cat seems to be similar to Meow Mix. At one time it was called Friskies Go-Cat. If you are in another country, that may give you some idea of the kind of cat food Go-Cat is.
How Do You Order Go-Cat Cat Food?
Go-Cat is available from the Go-Cat website. You can also buy it online through Amazon.co.uk.
The foods are also available throughout the UK from stores such as ASDA, Monster, Ocado, Pets At Home, Sainsbury’s, Tesco, The Pet Express, Vet UK, Viovet, Waitrose Pet, and Wilko.
