PetSmart Hill's Science Diet Cat Food Review

Nutrients and Quality

Hill's Science Diet cat foods meet the nutritional guidelines set by the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) and the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). They carry a Made in the USA label which means they are manufactured and packaged in the US from ingredients sourced primarily in this country. The company states that some ingredients are sourced from other North American countries and from Europe.

Hill's Pet Nutrition employs more than 200 scientists in its Global Pet Nutrition Center, where foods are tested using only compassionate, non-invasive methods. The company researches pet nutrition from a bio-predictive perspective, taking into account genetic, genomic, and microbiomic data when formulating its cat foods.

When we reviewed the nutritional information Hill's provides for each of its Science Diet foods, we found that the various flavors offered by the brand are reflected in their actual ingredient lists. Salmon is first on the ingredient list for Adult Perfect Digestion Salmon, Brown Rice, and Whole Oats Recipe kibble, for example. Non-flavor-specific kibbles also list meat as a first ingredient. Semi-moist foods do list water as a first ingredient, but the next ingredient listed on Science Diet Turkey and Liver Casserole is turkey. We also evaluated what's not in Science Diet cat food: artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives. 

The brand's reputation among cat nutrition experts is mixed. Hill's Science Diet cat foods do have significant animal content. They're enriched with Omega-5 fatty acids for skin and coat health and contain taurine, an essential nutrient frequently lacking in cat foods that are largely plant-based. However, the foods are also quite high in carbohydrates The brand has been subject to several recalls, the most recent occurring in 2019.

Price

Hill's Science Diet is available in specialty pet stores and through select online retailers like Chewy and Amazon. Among pet store brands, the food falls into the middle price range. A 3.5 lb bag of one of Hill's Science Diet's most widely-fed kibble, its Adult Indoor Chicken Recipe, will run you about $18 and will last about a month. A 24-can case of Healthy Cuisine Roasted Chicken & Rice costs about $40. Since recommended feeding for an 8 lb. cat is three cans a day, that's a much pricier proposition. But many vets advise feeding a mix of wet and dry food, so you may be able to reduce your feeding costs by mixing food types. That is, unless your cat will only eat wet food. Many a cat lover has been in that position.

Variety

Hill's markets more dozens of wet, dry, and moist cat foods and under the Hill's Science Diet brand. The company formulates foods by life stage (kitten and adult foods for cats aged 1 to 6, 7 to 10, and 11 and older. Other foods are specially formulated to address common cat health problems. The brand offers sensitive stomach, urinary health, and hairball prevention foods, foods for weight maintenance and dental health, and more. With some of the most robust research facilities in the pet food industry and a company commitment to evidence-based nutrition, Hill's Science Diet product line up reflects Hill's Pet Nutrition commitment to robust research and evidence-based nutrition.