Last Updated on February 3, 2025 by Indy the Cat
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Review Summary
| The Good | The Bad |
| – Great named protein sources | – Thickening agent Guar gum is potentially controversial and can be an issue for some cats |
| – Primarily species appropriate with unique choices for protein and offals | – A few elements like peas and potato starch could be omitted |
| – Plenty of raw and natural inspired ingredients | – Fish focused product including tuna which means we tend to only feed it on occasion |
| – On the expensive side and has become more difficult to source online |
Rating
| Species appropriate (weight 0.3) | 9 |
| Ingredients (weight 0.3) | 9 |
| Recall Track record (weight 0.2) | 10 |
| Price (weight 0.2) | 6 |
| Average Score | 8.75 / 10 |
| Weighted Score | 8.8 / 10 |
The Bottom Line: A very nutrient dense wet cat food that hits a lot of positive notes. The biggest con right now is the lack of availability at major online retailers.
Where to Buy
| Happy4paws | Habitat Pet Supplies | |
| Latest Price at time of Posting | Buy Now – $4.69/can | Buy Now – $66.74/24 cans |
While the treats are more readily available, lately we have been finding it hard to find the big retailers stocking any of the Tu meke wet cat food line. At the time of print you could find it on Happy4paws at $4.69/can and Habitat Pets at $66.74 (on sale) for 24 cans. Pet circle previously stocked the brand so keep an eye out in case it returns!
Usually pricing itself at about $3.70/can (85g), this can be a pretty expensive food to feed regularly. On the positive side, each can is very nutrient dense (105kcal), and you can always split it across multiple meals while supplementing with other food.
History
Tu Meke Friend , established in 2018, is a proudly New Zealand-owned company dedicated to producing premium pet food using high-quality, locally sourced ingredients. The name “Tu Meke” is derived from the Māori phrase meaning “impressive” or “awesome,” reflecting the brand’s standard of excellence.
The company offers a range of products, including freeze-dried raw cat food, air-dried cat food, and single/multi-protein wet foods. All animal ingredients are free-range and carefully sourced from specific regions across New Zealand’s North and South Islands. Like many New Zealand companies such as Feline Natural and Ziwipeak, they take advantage of the quality New Zealand produce and livestock.
Tu Meke Friend’s products are high in protein, grain-free, and nutritionally balanced for pets. Their offerings are also compliant with the New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI), ensuring strict adherence to safety and regulatory standards for animal products.
In addition to their commitment to quality, Tu Meke Friend combines unique ingredients to form NutraRich®, a specially formulated dietary additive, into their products. In their food, they commonly incorporate marine kelp, flaxseed oil, coconut oil, green-lipped mussel, and ovine tripe to support various aspects of pet health, including digestion, skin, coat, and joint health.
Recalls
To date, Tu Meke Friend has not been recalled. In Australia, pet food recalls are only mandatory for brands that have decided to work within the Australian Standard for Manufacturing and Marketing of Pet Food (Standard AS5812:2017). All members of the Pet Food Industry Association of Australia comply with these standards and Tu Meke Friend is not a member of the Association at this time.
Product Line Commentary
Unique Premium Ingredients to Differentiate Tu Meke
Today, we are taking a closer look at the Tu Meke Friend’s Tuna & Salmon formula, which is one of their four wet cat food products on offer.
Following up on our review of their treats, it’s no surprise that this product focuses on high-quality, named animal proteins. This ensures your cat gets the nutrition it needs from actual meat. The combination of tuna and salmon take centre stage accompanied with a few other additions. While most of Tu Meke’s wet food products appear to be single-protein formulas, they all contain lamb-derived ingredients, including this one. This shouldn’t be an issue for most cats, but it’s important to note for those with allergies.
Beyond the core fish proteins, what truly sets this formula apart is the inclusion of unique ingredients like salmon offal and lamb plasma. These additions aren’t just fillers—they provide essential nutrients that support digestion, immunity, and overall health. Of course, Tu Meke sources everything from New Zealand, a country known for its high food quality standards and ethical farming practices.
What Could Be Improved in the Recipe
While the formula has a lot going for it, there are a few areas that could be improved. Firstly, although the tuna and salmon are sourced from New Zealand, there is lack of clarity around whether the salmon is farmed or wild-caught. This leaves some questions about its sustainability. Given it is sourced from New Zealand, we can probably assume it is farm-raised salmon. Some clearer labelling around the type and methods could help improve transparency.
The formula also includes guar gum as a thickening agent, which some owners prefer to avoid due to potential digestive sensitivities in cats.
Another aspect worth noting is the addition of peas and potato starch. While manufacturers often use these as fillers or binders, they don’t provide the same nutritional value as animal derived proteins while boosting carbohydrate levels. Peas, in particular, can sometimes cause digestive issues in sensitive cats. Lastly, like most fish-based formula, especially with tuna, means it’s not ideal for frequent feeding, as too much fish in a cat’s diet could lead to issues down the line.
In summary, At 105 kcal per can, this nutrient-dense food is a great choice for those looking for a quality fish based product. It is rated as a complete food and the breakdown shows that it would be considered a high protein, low fat, and (probably) moderate carbohydrate cat food.
Guaranteed analysis
Crude Protein (min) – 11%
Crude Fat (min) – 6.10%
Crude Fiber (max) – 1.0%
Moisture (max) – 78%
Ash (max) – 1.88%
Taurine (min) – 0.15%
Dry Matter Basis
Unfortunately, Tu Meke Friend does not provide additional nutritional information on their treats. As noted above, each can is 105kcal per serve.
Ingredient List
Water Sufficient For Processing, Tuna, Salmon Meat, Salmon Offal, Chicken Liver, New Zealand Green Lipped Mussel Meat, Lamb Tripe (Green), Potato Starch, Lamb Plasma, Dried Yeast, Peas, Coconut Oil, Flaxseed Oil, Salt, Dried Kelp, Carrot, Potassium Chloride, Guar Gum, Taurine, Calcium Carbonate, Choline Chloride, Iron Proteinate, Zinc Glycine Complex, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Niacin, Alpha-tocopherol Acetate, Sodium Selenite, Copper Glycine Complex, Thiamine Mononitrate, Manganese Proteinate, Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin A Acetate, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, CalciumIodate, Folic Acid, Cholecalciferol
Nutritional Information – Core Ingredients
Water Sufficient for Processing – water for processing and source of hydration
Tuna – source of fish protein and omega 3’s
Salmon Meat – source of fish protein and omega 3’s
Salmon Offal – offal – natural form of essential vitamins/nutrients
Chicken Liver – source of protein and as an offal, it offers a natural form of essential vitamins/nutrients
New Zealand Green Lipped Mussel Meat – source of omega 3’s, anti-inflammatory benefits
Lamb Tripe (Green) – source of protein (considered as muscle meat in the raw diet). contains enzymes that promotes a healthy gut
Potato Starch – source of carbohydrates
Lamb Plasma – compounds such as albumin, globulin and fibrinogen. natural source of essential vitamins and minerals
Dried Yeast – primarily for palatability and some benefits around digestion
Peas – source of fibre, vitamins and carbohydrates. cats are not able to process this easily though given it is a legume
Coconut Oil – can aid the digestive tract, hairballs, improve the skin and coat and various other health benefits
Flaxseed Oil – source of omega 3, 6 and 9. some dietary fibre
Salt – source of sodium
Dried Kelp – source of magnesium, protein, Vitamin A, iodine, bromine, and phosphorous. minor source of fibre. supports metabolism and glandular function
Carrot – source of various natural vitamins and minerals and fibre. cats are not able to process this easily though given it is a vegetable
Nutritional Information – Supplementry Ingredients
Potassium Chloride – source of phosphorous
Guar Gum – additive: thickening agent (potentially an issue for sensitive stomach cats)
Taurine – essential amino acid that cats cannot produce themselves
Calcium Carbonate – source of calcium
Choline Chloride – source of choline
Iron Proteinate – source of iron
Zinc Glycine Complex – source of zinc
Yucca Schidigera Extract – helps reduce odour of cat waste (effectiveness is unclear)
Niacin – source of Vitamin B3
Alpha-tocopherol Acetate – source of Vitamin E
Sodium Selenite – source of selenium
Copper Glycine Complex – source of Copper
Thiamine Mononitrate – source of thiamine
Manganese Proteinate – source of manganese
Calcium Pantothenate – source of calcium
Riboflavin – source of Vitamin (Riboflavin) B2
Pyridoxine Hydrochloride – source of Vitamin B6
Vitamin A Acetate – source of Vitamin A
Biotin – source of Vitamin B7
Vitamin B12 Supplement – source of Vitamin B12
Calcium Iodate – source of iodine (mispelled as CalciumIodate in the ingredient list)
Folic Acid – source of Vitamin B9
Cholecalciferol – source of Vitamin D3
Indy’s Review
So does Indy the cat like it?
Indy is a general seafood lover and particularly tuna based recipes. The salmon portion is good but it’s tuna that makes him go a bit wild.
While we both recommend the product, it’s still a seafood recipe so we’re keeping it as an occasional rotation. Sorry Indy!
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