Last Updated on October 8, 2026 by admin
Several well-known brands make their cat food in the United States. Taste of the Wild, Merrick and Instinct (kibble and raw) state that their food is made in US facilities. Nulo and Canidae make most of their range in the US, with exceptions noted below. “Made in USA” tells you where the food was produced, not that every ingredient is American, so check what each brand actually says.
What “made in USA” means on cat food
Under the FTC’s Made in USA standard, an unqualified “Made in USA” claim means the product is “all or virtually all” made in the US. Pet food brands often word it differently, and the differences matter:
- “Made in the USA” describes where the food was cooked and packed.
- “Made in the USA with globally sourced ingredients” means it was produced in the US, but some ingredients (often vitamins, minerals, taurine or lamb and fish) come from abroad.
- “USA-sourced ingredients” is a claim about where ingredients come from. Read it carefully: it may cover only the main meats.
Many vitamin and amino-acid supplements used across the pet food industry are produced overseas. If avoiding ingredients from a specific country matters to you, contact the brand and ask about that ingredient directly.
Cat food brands made in the USA
| Brand | What the company says | Owner / maker | Cat range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taste of the Wild | Made in seven Diamond Pet Foods facilities, all in the US | Diamond Pet Foods | Dry: Rocky Mountain, Canyon River, Lowland Creek; PREY limited-ingredient recipes |
| Merrick | Made in Hereford, Texas, with USA-sourced ingredients | Nestlé Purina | Dry and wet cat recipes |
| Instinct | Raw and kibble made in the USA; frozen and freeze-dried raw made in company-owned plants in Lincoln, Nebraska | Instinct (formerly Nature’s Variety) | Kibble, raw and freeze-dried; check wet-food labels separately |
| Nulo | Made in the USA, except some wet foods (pouches, purées, mousses, stews and select cans), which are made in Thailand | Nulo | Dry and wet; check the can or pouch |
| Canidae | Kibble made in its own plant in Brownwood, Texas; wet food and treats made by US partner facilities | Canidae | Dry and wet cat recipes |
Sources: Taste of the Wild FAQ, Merrick, Instinct FAQ, Nulo FAQ, Canidae FAQ. Brands can move production, so check the bag for the current statement.
Taste of the Wild
All three feline recipes are formulated for all life stages, so one bag can feed kittens and adults. Taste of the Wild says there is no kitten-only recipe. This is a good mid-priced choice if you want a US-made kibble from a large manufacturer.
Merrick
Merrick started in Hereford, Texas and still makes its food there. It is now owned by Nestlé, the parent company of Purina. Merrick is a good pick if you want both US production and US-sourced main ingredients. More detail in our Merrick cat food review.
Instinct
Instinct makes its frozen and freeze-dried raw food in its own Lincoln, Nebraska facilities, which hold SQF food-safety certification. Its kibble is also made in the US. Raw diets carry a higher risk of bacteria such as Salmonella, so discuss raw feeding with your vet first, especially if anyone in your home is very young, elderly or immunocompromised.
Nulo
Nulo’s dry food is US-made, but several popular wet formats come from Thailand. If US production is your priority, read the country of origin on each can or pouch. See our Nulo cat food review.
Canidae
Canidae owns its kibble plant in Texas and uses US co-manufacturers for wet food. It is a reasonable option if you prefer a brand that controls its own dry-food production.
How to choose a US-made cat food
- Start with nutrition, not the flag. Look for an AAFCO “complete and balanced” statement for your cat’s life stage. A US-made food that isn’t complete is not a good choice.
- Read the origin statement on the actual bag or can. Brands often make some lines in the US and others abroad.
- Check recall history. Where a food is made does not guarantee safety. Look up the brand on the FDA’s pet food recalls page and our cat food recalls guide.
- Ask about specific ingredients. If you want to avoid ingredients from a particular country, email the company. Reputable brands will tell you where their vitamin premix and taurine come from.
- Match the food to your cat. Kittens, seniors, overweight cats and cats with urinary or kidney problems may need a specific formula or a vet diet.
Is US-made cat food safer?
Not automatically. Most pet foods sold in the US must meet the same FDA and state feed rules wherever they are made, and US-made foods have been recalled too. What US production gives you is a supply chain that is easier to trace and a company that is easier to contact. If you want a list of brands with clean records, see cat foods with no recall history, and still check the FDA page for anything recent.
When to call your vet
Switch foods gradually over 7–10 days. Call your vet if your cat refuses the new food for more than a day, vomits repeatedly, has diarrhea lasting more than a day or two, or seems lethargic. Cats that stop eating can develop serious liver problems quickly.
FAQ
What cat food is not sourced from China?
No brand can promise that for every vitamin and mineral unless it says so in writing. Merrick advertises USA-sourced ingredients. For any brand, ask customer service about the specific ingredients you are concerned about.
Is any cat food made in the USA?
Yes. Taste of the Wild, Merrick, Instinct (kibble and raw), Canidae and most Nulo dry food state that they are made in US facilities.
Which is the best cat food made in the USA?
The one that is complete and balanced for your cat’s life stage, that your cat eats reliably, and that has a recall history you are comfortable with. For most healthy adult cats, any of the brands above can work. Ask your vet if your cat has a medical condition.
Is Blue Buffalo made in the USA?
We could not confirm a current manufacturing statement on Blue Buffalo’s website. Check the bag or contact the company. Our Blue Buffalo review covers the brand’s recipes.