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We’ve rated Koha on ingredient quality, species-appropriateness, recalls, and more. Read our Koha cat food review to learn how this brand stacks up.
The Cats.com Standard—Rating Koha on What Matters
We’ve rated the brand on six key criteria for quality. Here’s how it rates in each of these six crucial areas.
Ratings
- Species-Appropriateness – 8/10
- Ingredient Quality – 9/10
- Product Variety – 7/10
- Price – 6/10
- Customer Experience – 9/10
- Recall History – 9/10
Overall Score: 8/10
In total, we give Koha cat food a 51 out of 60 rating or an A grade.
About Koha
The story of Koha pet food began with Lonnie and Jennifer Schwimmer along with their Boston Terrier, Ellie Rae. The couple’s first foray into the pet product industry was with a line of grooming products called Nootie in 2018, but they eventually branched out with other products designed to make pets thrive. According to the company, the Koha pet food brand was born once Ellie got older and started developing digestive issues.
Founded in 2014, Koha only offers wet food recipes. Their products are moisture rich, made with 70% to 90% protein, and free from carb-heavy ingredients like grains, potatoes, and pea protein. Their formulas are ideal for picky eaters as well as cats with food allergies or sensitive stomach. Many of their recipes are made with a minimal list of ingredients as well.
Sourcing And Manufacturing
The Koha pet food company is headquartered in Delray Beach, Florida. All of their recipes are formulated by animal nutrition experts and reviewed by the company’s nutritionist, who holds a PhD in Animal Nutrition.
Koha’s pet products are manufactured by three different companies: Simmons Food in Toronto, Canada; Thai Union in Thailand; and Asian Alliance in Thailand. Of their choice to manufacture many of their foods in Thailand, Koha says:
“Thailand is the global leader for sourcing and manufacturing shredded land and sea proteins. Our factories’ unique manufacturing processes allow us to make the safest and highest quality food that is not available in North America.”
In addition to providing details about where their products are manufactured, Koha is also very transparent about the sourcing of their ingredients. Most of their proteins are sourced from the United States, Canada, France, Germany, or Denmark with a few ingredients from New Zealand and Australia. Their tuna is wild-caught. Their kangaroo, lamb, and venison are free-range, but the rest of their animal meats are farm-raised.
Recall History
To the best of our knowledge, Koha has never had a product recalled. The brand is over 6 years old, so the lack of recalls helps support Koha’s claims that the brand takes the safety and quality of its products seriously.
What Kinds of Cat Food Does Koha Offer?
The Koha brand is a wet food-only brand of pet food. Koha offers four different product lines of canned foods and pouches using high-quality animal proteins like chicken, beef, duck, turkey, rabbit, kangaroo, and fish.
Also Read: The Best Rabbit Cat Food
The Limited Ingredient Diet Pate line of products contains six different flavors as well as a trial variety pack. Koha also offers limited ingredient shredded food packaged in pouches and an assortment of canned minimal ingredient stews. Their poke bowls are made with tuna and an assortment of other proteins in a flavorful gravy.
What Do Customers Think Of Koha Cat Food?
Koha cat food has over 700 reviews on Verified-Reviews.com, over 90% of which are positive. The brand carries a 4.7 out of 5-star rating. Customers seem to like the quality of the ingredients and there are many comments that cats seem to love the flavor. Some customers mentioned slow shipping, but that wasn’t my experience – I received my order within a few days.
There are also a few comments about food arriving within days or weeks of expiration. I did notice when browsing the Koha website that they offered products near expiration at a discounted price – the customers who complained may not have realized what they were buying.
Let’s take a look at a few customer reviews from some of the most popular recipes from Koha.
Positive Reviews
“Koha’s food is consistent, thoughtfully produced, and priced competitively with other high-quality pet foods. I’m a fan!”– Anthony S. on 6/20/2021
“Our cat was experiencing horrible allergies, hair loss, and stomach upset with every food we tried until we found Koha. We love Koha canned cat food!”– Brandy S. on 6/09/2021
“The website is easy to use and I love that I can set up auto deliveries at whatever intervals I need to for my cat’s needs. Shipping is quick and easy and the case always arrives well packaged! Love this brand!”– Bethany M. on 6/14/2021
Negative Reviews
“16 of the packs expire within FOUR DAYS of arrival (very unhappy about this), 12 of the packs expire within four weeks of arrival (not impressed with the date on these) and the others expire anywhere from July to December (as it should be).”– Cindy C. on 6/20/2021
“I had hopes that this would be the answer to my picky cats, but it is not. They refuse to touch it. I even tried mixing a little bit of it with their ONE food they will eat, but they refused that also. Sorry…..I tried.”– Linda H. on 6/14/2021
What Did Our Test Cats Think?
Koha’s varied selection of single-protein and limited ingredient diets made the brand a great choice for my cats, one of whom is allergic to chicken. Bagel, obviously, is not!
My test cats were big fans of Koha cat food. They always seem to be a little more interested in canned food than dry food anyway, but Koha was particularly appealing to them with its meaty flavor and strong aroma.
I appreciated that all of the recipes were made with a limited list of ingredients, since one of my cats has a chicken allergy. I already feed them all rabbit-based food, and Koha is one of the few brands that offers this option.
Koha Cat Food – Top 3 Recipes Reviewed
#1 Limited Ingredient Diet Rabbit Au Jus for Cats
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Made with 96% rabbit, this limited ingredient formula is packed with animal protein from a single, novel source. This makes it a great choice for cats with food allergies and sensitive stomachs. It was a hit with my test cats, who are already used to eating rabbit due to the chicken allergy in the group.
Ground flaxseed provides a source of omega-3 fatty acids while pumpkin acts as a source of fiber. Other than that, the only plant ingredients are dried kale and cranberries. Even with those added carbohydrate sources, however, the estimated carb content of this formula is under 5%.
Overall, this is a meat-based recipe made with a novel source of animal protein, moderate fat content, and low carbohydrate content.
Ingredients
Rabbit, Water Sufficient For Processing, Ground Flaxseed, New Zealand Green Mussel, Agar Agar, Pumpkin, Potassium Chloride, Choline Chloride, Salt, Taurine, Dried Kale, Cranberries, Ginger, Turmeric, Iron Proteinate, Zinc Proteinate, Vitamin E Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Sodium Selenite, Niacin Supplement, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, Biotin, Potassium Iodide, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Folic Acid.
Guaranteed Analysis
Crude Protein: 9%
Crude Fat: 4%
Crude Fiber: 1%
Moisture: 82%
Dry Matter Basis
Protein: 50%
Fat: 22.22%
Fiber: 5.56%
Carbs: 22.22%
Caloric Weight Basis
Protein: 39.62%
Fat: 42.77%
Carbs: 17.61%
| Ingredients We Liked | Ingredients We Didn’t Like | Common Allergens |
| Rabbit New Zealand Green Mussel | None | None |
Pros
- Made with 96% protein from real rabbit
- Loaded with moisture your cat needs
- Limited carbohydrate content, estimated under 5%
- Free from fillers and artificial additives
Cons
- Made with some thickener (agar agar)
#2 Limited Ingredient Diet Shredded Lamb Entrée in Gravy for Cats
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When Koha says this formula has a limited number of ingredients, they really mean it. The formula starts off strong with lamb as the primary ingredient and single source of protein. These are followed by two starchy carbohydrates, pumpkin and tapioca.
In addition to these starches, this recipe contains xanthan gum as a thickener. You’ll also note that sunflower oil is the primary source of added fat, and a plant-based fat at that.
What we like about this formula is that it is packed with protein and moisture. Even though it contains several plant-based ingredients, the estimated carb content is still under 5%.
Overall, this is a meat-based formula with moderate fat and low carbohydrate content.
Ingredients
Lamb Broth, Lamb, Pumpkin, Tapioca, Calcium Sulfate, Salt, Sunflower Oil, Xanthan Gum, Potassium Chloride, Taurine, Minerals (Zinc Oxide, Reduced Iron, Sodium Selenite, Manganese Sulfate Monohydrate, Copper Glycine Complex, Potassium Iodide), Choline Chloride, Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Niacin, Vitamin A Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin Supplement, Folic Acid, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Biotin).
Guaranteed Analysis
Crude Protein: 8%
Crude Fat: 2%
Crude Fiber: 1%
Moisture: 83%
Dry Matter Basis
Protein: 47.06%
Fat: 11.76%
Fiber: 5.88%
Carbs: 35.29%
Caloric Weight Basis
Protein: 42.42%
Fat: 25.76%
Carbs: 31.82%
| Ingredients We Liked | Ingredients We Didn’t Like | Common Allergens |
| Lamb | Tapioca Xanthan Gum | None |
Pros
- Made with a limited number of main ingredients
- Single source of real animal protein
- Packed with moisture your cat needs
- Free from artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives
Cons
- Sunflower oil is the primary source of added fat
#3 Minimal Ingredient Turkey Stew for Cats
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This minimal ingredient turkey stew contains four animal-based proteins within the top six ingredients – the other two are broths which provide an essential source of moisture for your cat.
In addition to these ingredients, this formula contains a number of plant-based ingredients including chickpeas, pumpkin, dandelion greens, parsley, cranberries, and dried kale. Fortunately, the estimated carb content of this formula is still very low – under 5%.
In addition to being protein-rich, this formula is made with a single source of meat with the addition of New Zealand mussels for their joint-supporting omega-3s.
Overall, this is a meat-based formula with moderate fat and low carbohydrate content.
Ingredients
Turkey, Turkey Broth, Vegetable Broth, Turkey Liver, Porcine Plasma, Dried Egg Product, Ground Chickpeas, Xanthan Gum, Pumpkin, Calcium Carbonate, New Zealand Green Mussel, Salt, Sodium Phosphate, Potassium Chloride, Dandelion Greens, Taurine, Choline Chloride, Parsley, Cranberries, Dried Kale, Turmeric, Iron Proteinate, Zinc Proteinate, Ginger, Fenugreek Seed, Vitamin E Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Sodium Selenite, Niacin Supplement, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, Biotin, Potassium Iodide, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Folic Acid.
Guaranteed Analysis
Crude Protein: 8%
Crude Fat: 3.5%
Crude Fiber: 1.5%
Moisture: 82%
Dry Matter Basis
Protein: 44.44%
Fat: 19.44%
Fiber: 8.33%
Carbs: 27.78%
Caloric Weight Basis
Protein: 37.21%
Fat: 39.53%
Carbs: 23.26%
| Ingredients We Liked | Ingredients We Didn’t Like | Common Allergens |
| Turkey Turkey Liver Porcine Plasma Dried Egg Product New Zealand Green Mussel | Xanthan Gum
| None |
Pros
- Four animal proteins listed within the first 6 ingredients
- Rich in the moisture your cat needs
- Very low in carbohydrates, estimated under 5%
- Free from fillers, by-products, and artificial additives
Cons
- Contains several plant-based ingredients
- Made with some thickener (xanthan gum)
How Much Does Koha Cat Food Cost?
Koha cat food is sold in 3-ounce and 5.5-ounce cans as well as 2.8-ounce pouches. Both their limited ingredient pates and limited ingredient shredded foods are priced little over $0.50 per ounce. The most affordable line of products seems to be the minimal ingredient stews, priced around $0.33/ounce.
For the average cat who eats about 2 to 2.5 ounces of food per day, the estimated daily cost for Open Farm cat food is between $0.66 and $1.25 per day.
Overall, Is Koha Cat Food A Good Choice?
For the most part, Koha seems to be a high-quality cat food brand. We love that they only offer protein- and moisture-rich wet foods and that their formulas are designed for simplicity. Limited ingredient lists make this brand a great choice for cats with food allergies or sensitive stomach and for picky eaters.
The estimated carb content for most of these products is still under 5%, which is lower than the average wet food and much lower than the average dry cat food.
Overall, we like this brand and can heartily recommend it for pet owners looking for a high-quality, nutritious option for their cats. We love the flavor variety, but it’s worth mentioning this brand is a touch on the pricy side.
Where Is Koha Cat Food Sold?
You can find Koha cat food in specialty pet food stores and some independent local retailers. If you prefer to shop online, the Koha website is the best option. Here you can purchase all of their products and you’ll receive free shipping on orders over $69.
Click Here To Get Free Shipping on orders over $69
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