Ziwi Peak Mackerel – The Best Cat Food Reviews (2025)

Last Updated on March 27, 2025 by Indy the Cat

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Review summary

Rating 

Where to buy

Being a popular brand for our feline friends, you will find Ziwi Peak wet cat food across most major retailers. This flavour in particular is a regular staple and we often purchase them from Pet Circle and Petbarn.

These days, a tray of twelve 185g cans costs around $60–$70, while the smaller 85g cans are about $90 per tray. We definitely prefer the larger cans since they come out to roughly $5 each, compared to $3.75 for the smaller ones. Plus, we can stretch a big can over three meals, whereas we usually end up using a full small can in one go.

Comparing this pricing to when we first reviewed their chicken formula, prices are about 25% more expensive compared to 3 years ago. Given their quality and reputation, it remains at the very expensive end of the cat food market.

History

It’s been 3 years since our first Ziwi Peak wet cat food review so it’s a great time to revisit the brand. Over the past five years, there has been a surge in New Zealand-based pet food companies entering the premium cat food market. With so many new brands emerging, it’s worth comparing them to one of the originals—Ziwi Peak, a long-standing leader in high-quality pet nutrition.

Ziwi Peak began in 2002 under founder, Peter Mitchell, a former free range deer farmer. Peter was supplying high quality meat products to other pet food companies. Unfortunately, he saw his high end ingredients mixed in with cheap fillers and carbohydrates to make highly processed dry cat food (for our take on it – check out our popular article on dry foods).

As a pet owner himself, he wanted something better for his pets. Fueled by his passion, he founded Ziwi Peak, which focused on capturing the benefits of the raw diet while transforming it into a modern convenient pet food. He eventually pioneered air dried cat food (now trademarked under the name  Z-TWINTECH©), which forms one of their signature product lines.

Often sharing its spotlight with Feline Natural, Ziwi Peak sources high quality products from New Zealand focusing on free range sustainable ingredients. You will find a variety of named ingredients alongside unique sources for essential vitamins and minerals. Their range includes air-dried pet food, canned wet food, treats, and oral chews—catering to both dogs and cats.

Beyond premium ingredients, Ziwi Peak prioritizes ethical practices, including animal welfare and sustainability. Their products meet AAFCO standards and align with the company’s commitment to being GMO-free, antibiotic-free, grain-free, and free from sugars or glycerins—an often-debated ingredient due to its sourcing and artificial nature.

Recalls

To date, Ziwi Peak cat food 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. At the time of publishing, Ziwi Peak is not a member of the Association. 

Product line commentary

Today, we’re reviewing Ziwi Peak’s Mackerel wet cat food formula. While most of Ziwi’s recipes are meat-based, this is the only one in their lineup that features a single fish protein. All of their wet food products are formulated for cats of all life stages, making them suitable for kittens, adults, and seniors alike.

Is this the best fish for cat food?

Ziwi Peak is the original pioneer of New Zealand’s premium pet food. Long before natural pet food became mainstream, they were setting the standard—predating many of the newer brands on the market today. Still manufactured in New Zealand, they have continued to be one of the most recommended brands for cat food.

With a strong commitment to high-quality, sustainable ingredients, all of Ziwi Peak’s wet food recipes including this one put a strong focus on named ingredients. Mackerel is the main protein here, complemented by New Zealand Green Lipped Mussels as a secondary source. Ziwi Peak was one of the first, if not the first, to incorporate this premium ingredient into their cat food. Rich in omega-3s, it supports joint health, reduces inflammation, and promotes a healthy coat—offering both nutrition and functional benefits for our felines.

We also wanted to point out that Mackerel is a standout protein choice, not only for its rich omega-3 content but also for its sourcing. Farmed fish such as salmon can contain higher levels of contaminants (like PCBs) and have other environmental concerns. On the other hand, New Zealand mackerel is wild-caught, offering a more natural and sustainable option.

Ziwi Peak’s wet foods, like Feline Natural, stand out by skipping conventional gelling agents. That means no guar gum and none of the more controversial thickeners like Xanthan gum or Carrageenan. We always note that many cats digest these thickeners without issue. However, some studies suggest they may contribute to inflammation and other health concerns.

How else can Ziwi Peak improve?

Since cats are obligate carnivores, it’s great to see minimal vegetable-sourced proteins in this product. The only drawback is the inclusion of chickpeas. This raises the carbohydrate content higher than expected for a wet food. Ziwi Peak explains that chickpeas were chosen for their natural binding properties. They also serve as an additional protein source for cats. While it’s not ideal to have increased carbohydrate levels, it’s a reasonable tradeoff given the removal of other binding agents.

What’s next for Ziwi Peak?

In summary, at 91 kcal per 85g can and 199 kcal per 185g can, this nutrient-dense food is a great option for those seeking a high-quality, fish-based formula. However, its fat content is slightly lower than some other products. While it is a complete food, it may not be ideal as a sole staple for kittens, who require higher fat levels for growth and development.

In our last Ziwi Peak review, we mentioned that the company was purchased by a Chinese private equity firm (FountainVest Partners) in 2021. Since then, they have released one major new product line known as “Steamed and Dried” cat food. While not exactly traditional kibble, it bears a clear resemblance in form despite the difference in processing. This new formula also includes vegetarian fillers, a departure from previous Ziwi Peak products. Although, this isn’t a review of the product itself, it raises concerns that Ziwi Peak may be shifting away from its original philosophy.

Ultimately, will this mark a change in Ziwi Peak’s product strategy? Or are they simply expanding their range to attract more budget and mid-range customers? Time will tell, but we’ll be watching closely for any further updates to existing products or the introduction of new ones.

Guaranteed analysis

Crude Protein (min) – 12%

Crude Fat (min) – 3%

Crude Fiber (max) – 2%

Moisture (max) – 76%

Ash (max) – 4%

Taurine (min) – 0.19%

Dry matter basis

Protein – 62.5%

Fat – 12.5%

Carbohydrate – 12.5%

Fibre 2.1%

Ash – 10.4%

Ingredient list

Mackerel, Water Sufficient for Processing, Chickpeas, New Zealand Green Mussel, DL-Methionine, Minerals (Dipotassium Phosphate, Magnesium Sulfate, Zinc Amino Acid Complex, Manganese Amino Acid Complex, Copper Amino Acid Complex), Dried Kelp, Vitamins (Choline Chloride, Vitamin E Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Niacin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid), Salt, Taurine.

Nutritional information – core ingredients

Mackerel – source of fish protein

Water – water for processing and source of hydration

Chickpeas – used as an alternative binder as opposed to gelling agents and also a source of vegetable protein

New Zealand Green Mussel – source of omega 3’s, anti-inflammatory benefits

DL-Methionine – essential amino acid – important for healthy skin, fur health, eyes, hearts and other vital organs

Dipotassium Phosphate – source of phosphorous

Magnesium Sulfate – source of magnesium

Zinc Amino Acid Complex – source of zinc

Manganese Amino Acid Complex – source of manganese

Copper Amino Acid Complex – source of copper

Dried Kelp – source of magnesium, protein, Vitamin A, iodine, bromine, and phosphorous. Minor source of fibre

Choline Chloride – source of choline

Vitamin E Supplement – source of Vitamin E

Thiamine Mononitrate – source of thiamine

Niacin – source of Niacin (Vitamin B3)

Pyridoxine Hydrochloride – source of Pyridoxine (Vitamin B6)

Riboflavin – source of Riboflavin (Vitamin B2)

Vitamin D3 Supplement – source of Vitamin D3

Folic Acid – source of Folic acid (Vitamin B9)

Salt – source of salt

Taurine – essential amino acid 

Indy’s review

So does Indy the cat like it? 

Here’s a real shocker. Indy does not really like this Ziwi Peak flavour. While he’s not going to turn his nose up to it, he will frequently leave leftovers. If he is fed it continuously, he won’t be a happy cat!

This seems like a classic example of a cat turning away from one of the healthiest and highest-quality fish formulas available!

Of course, this doesn’t change our recommendation of it. It’s Indy dad approved, even though this one it isn’t quite “Indy approved”.

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