Quick verdict
The Crave Salmon & Ocean Fish is the best entry point for cats upgrading to a high-protein dry food - palatability and protein content lead the brand's cat lineup. The Chicken & Chicken Liver is the most reliable daily formula for most dogs. The Lamb & Venison is the essential rotation option for dogs showing protein sensitivity reactions. Crave sits in a practical mid-tier position - meaningfully better than mainstr
Crave Salmon & Ocean Fish - Best Crave Flavor for Cats Overall
The Crave Salmon & Ocean Fish dry cat formula leads the brand's cat lineup on protein content - 40% crude protein with salmon as the first ingredient and ocean fish as a supporting protein source. Cats have a strong preference for fish-based proteins, and this formula's palatability scores are consistently among the highest in owner-reported feedback, including for cats that have rejected other dry foods. The grain-free formula uses peas and sweet potato as carbohydrate sources, and the kibble size is appropriate for both adult cats and larger kittens. For cat owners upgrading from a grocery-brand dry food to a high-protein formula, this is the most straightforward improvement available in the Crave lineup.
Check price on Amazon →The best Crave pet food flavors of 2026. These high-protein, grain-free picks deliver the animal-first nutrition cats and dogs thrive on, ranked by ingredients, palatability, and value.
Crave offers a range of high-protein dry and wet food formulas for both dogs and cats, built around named animal proteins as first ingredients. The brand’s grain-free positioning and accessible price point make it a popular upgrade from standard grocery-store kibble. These five flavors are ranked by protein content, ingredient quality, palatability across owner reports, and value for the feeding cost.
| Flavor | Species | Protein % | First Ingredient | Best For | Rating |
|—|—|—|—|—|—|
| Salmon & Ocean Fish | Cat | 40% | Salmon | Seafood-preferring cats | 4.9/5 |
| Chicken & Chicken Liver | Dog | 34% | Chicken | Daily driver for most dogs | 4.8/5 |
| Lamb & Venison | Dog | 32% | Lamb | Dogs with chicken sensitivities | 4.7/5 |
| Protein Chunks in Gravy – Chicken | Cat | 10% wet | Chicken | Wet food supplementation | 4.7/5 |
| High Protein Beef & Salmon | Dog | 36% | Beef | Performance and active dogs | 4.6/5 |
Our methodology
We compare every pick against the field on real specifications, certifications, and aggregated owner reviews. We do not take payment for placement, and we flag when a product is older or sold mainly through renewed listings.
Side by side
| Pick | Best for | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crave Salmon & Ocean Fish - Best Crave Flavor for Cats Overall | Check price | ||
| Crave Chicken & Chicken Liver - Best Crave Flavor for Dogs Overall | Check price | ||
| Crave Lamb & Venison - Best Crave Flavor for Dogs With Protein Sensitivities | Check price | ||
| Crave Protein Chunks in Gravy Chicken - Best Crave Wet Food for Cats | Check price | ||
| Crave High Protein Beef & Salmon - Best Crave Flavor for Active Dogs | Check price |
The full reviews
Crave Salmon & Ocean Fish - Best Crave Flavor for Cats Overall
The Crave Salmon & Ocean Fish dry cat formula leads the brand's cat lineup on protein content - 40% crude protein with salmon as the first ingredient and ocean fish as a supporting protein source. Cats have a strong preference for fish-based proteins, and this formula's palatability scores are consistently among the highest in owner-reported feedback, including for cats that have rejected other dry foods. The grain-free formula uses peas and sweet potato as carbohydrate sources, and the kibble size is appropriate for both adult cats and larger kittens. For cat owners upgrading from a grocery-brand dry food to a high-protein formula, this is the most straightforward improvement available in the Crave lineup.
Crave Chicken & Chicken Liver - Best Crave Flavor for Dogs Overall
The Crave Chicken & Chicken Liver dog formula is the brand's highest-volume flavor and represents the most dependable daily feeding option for most dogs. Chicken is listed as the first ingredient, chicken liver adds palatability and micronutrient density, and the 34% protein content represents a meaningful upgrade over standard mainstream kibbles that often land in the 22-26% range. Owner-reported palatability is high - dogs that have rejected previous foods tend to accept this formula readily. It's available in multiple bag sizes from small trial packs through large multi-pound bags, making it practical for both single-dog households and multi-dog homes.
Crave Lamb & Venison - Best Crave Flavor for Dogs With Protein Sensitivities
The Crave Lamb & Venison formula provides a novel protein option for dogs that have developed sensitivities to the chicken and beef proteins that dominate most mainstream dog food formulas. Lamb as the first ingredient is less commonly used as a primary protein, making it a useful rotation or elimination diet component for dogs whose owners are managing food sensitivity reactions. Venison adds a second novel protein and palatability variety. The 32% protein content is slightly lower than the chicken formula but remains meaningfully above the mainstream average. For owners managing itching, digestive upset, or other reactions correlated with previous food formulas, the Lamb & Venison provides a clean protein rotation.
Crave Protein Chunks in Gravy Chicken - Best Crave Wet Food for Cats
The Crave Protein Chunks in Gravy Chicken wet cat food provides a complementary wet feeding option to pair with the dry Salmon & Ocean Fish formula. Wet food supplementation increases hydration in cats - an important benefit for cats prone to urinary tract issues - and the chunk-in-gravy format provides textural variety that most cats strongly prefer over pate formats. The chicken protein base delivers appropriate feline nutrition, and the individual tray or pouch format prevents waste from partially consumed cans. For cat owners feeding a primarily dry diet who want to add wet food for hydration and variety, this format integrates into a dual-feeding routine simply.
Crave High Protein Beef & Salmon - Best Crave Flavor for Active Dogs
The Crave High Protein Beef & Salmon formula leads the dog lineup at 36% crude protein - the highest in the brand's dry dog food range. Beef as the first ingredient combined with salmon provides complementary amino acid profiles that support muscle maintenance and recovery in active, working, or sporting dogs. The higher fat content relative to the chicken formula also supports energy requirements for dogs with higher daily activity levels. For owners of working breeds, active large dogs, or dogs in training who want a higher-protein daily formula without moving to a specialized performance food, the Beef & Salmon provides meaningful nutritional differentiation within the accessible Crave price range.
What matters most
What to consider
Match species first - Crave's cat and dog formulas are nutritionally distinct, and cat food should never be fed to dogs as a primary diet and vice versa. For dogs, select protein percentage appropriate to life stage and activity level - puppies and active adults need higher protein than sedentary seniors. For cats, high protein is almost always appropriate given their obligate carnivore biology. Check the first three ingredients before buying - named meats (chicken, beef, salmon, lamb) as first ingredients indicate protein sourcing quality. Rotate proteins when possible to prevent single-protein sensitization and provide dietary variety. Transition slowly over 7-10 days when switching formulas to prevent digestive upset.
Our take
The Crave Salmon & Ocean Fish is the best entry point for cats upgrading to a high-protein dry food - palatability and protein content lead the brand's cat lineup. The Chicken & Chicken Liver is the most reliable daily formula for most dogs. The Lamb & Venison is the essential rotation option for dogs showing protein sensitivity reactions. Crave sits in a practical mid-tier position - meaningfully better than mainstr
Frequently asked
Crave is a mid-tier high-protein pet food brand that positions itself around grain-free, animal-protein-first formulas. It offers higher protein content than most mainstream grocery brands at a price point below premium specialty brands. The formulas use named meat proteins as first ingredients and avoid corn, wheat, and soy. It's a solid option for owners upgrading from standard kibble who want improved protein content without the cost of boutique brands.
Crave emphasizes its ancestral diet positioning - high animal protein content mirroring what dogs and cats would eat in the wild. Its formulas consistently list a named meat as the first ingredient, use grain-free carbohydrate sources, and maintain higher protein percentages than most mainstream brands. The price point sits between grocery-store brands and specialty pet store premium lines, making it accessible for owners who want ingredient quality improvements without the premium price jump.
Most Crave formulas are grain-free, using alternative carbohydrate sources like sweet potato and peas. However, Crave has introduced some formulas with grain inclusions in response to ongoing FDA research into grain-free diets and dilated cardiomyopathy in dogs. Owners concerned about this issue should verify the specific formula they are considering and consult their veterinarian, particularly for dogs with a predisposition to heart conditions. Cats are obligate carnivores and grain-free formulas are generally considered appropriate for feline diets.
