ZIWI Peak Original Series Pure New Zealand Lamb Recipe
ZIWI Peak Original Series Pure New Zealand Lamb Recipe scores 5/5 on Moesonson's label-based analysis. Its two scoring factors rate evenly: protein clarity (high — 100% of the recipe's protein panel is clearly named) and animal-protein content (strong — 100% of the weighted protein comes from animal sources).
Rating
Updated Jul 2026
How this score is made
This score isn’t a hand-wavy impression: it reads what the label actually prints — the ingredient list, guaranteed analysis and AAFCO adequacy statement — and runs it through the same algorithmic rubric as every other product. No brand pays for placement, and there are no affiliate links on reviewed products.
Is ZIWI Peak Original Series Pure New Zealand Lamb Recipe air-dried cat food good?
ZIWI Peak Original Series Pure New Zealand Lamb Recipe is a air-dried cat food rated 5 stars, with high ingredient transparency and strong animal protein content. The recipe lists most animal ingredients by name and features real muscle meat as a primary protein source. However, most minerals are supplied in inorganic forms that may be less well absorbed. This recipe is free from Gluten grains, Grains (gluten-free), Dairy, Egg, Legumes, Nuts, Poultry, Fish, Unknown Meal but contains Red meat, Shellfish.
Allergy Highlights
Contains:
Free From:
Pros
- Uses clearly named animal protein sources for better transparency.
- Contains organ meats that provide natural vitamins and minerals.
- Includes plant ingredients that can provide fiber and natural antioxidants.
Cons
- Relies mostly on inorganic mineral supplements, which may be less bioavailable.
Nutrition Breakdown
| Protein | 44% |
|---|---|
| Fat | 35% |
| Est. Carbs | 4% |
| Fiber | 4% |
| Ash | 14% |
Moisture (14%) removed so you can compare foods fairly.
Dry matter basis = label value ÷ (100% − moisture%). Carbs estimated from remaining.
| Protein | 38% |
|---|---|
| Fat | 30% |
| Est. Carbs | 3% |
| Fiber | 3% |
| Moisture | 14% |
| Ash | 12% |
As-fed values are the raw percentages printed on the product label.
Tips
- Protein is High (44% dry matter) on our label-based comparison range. This is generally more aligned with cats' higher protein needs than lower-protein recipes, assuming the food is complete for the cat's life stage.
- Fat is Super High (35% dry matter) on our label-based comparison range. This is very energy-dense; cats with pancreatitis, digestive disease, or weight concerns need case-specific veterinary guidance.
Ingredients Analysis
28 of 28 matched
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1 Lamb
Animal ProteinDescription
A type of red meat, high in protein and rich in iron, zinc, and vitamin B12.
Why Prefer?
A high-quality animal protein with high digestibility and biological value.
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2 Lamb Tripe
Animal ProteinDescription
The edible muscle lining of the lamb's stomach. It is high in protein, vitamin B12, also a great source of selenium, zinc, and phosphorus.
Why Prefer?
Organ meats are highly nutritious, with quality protein and many important vitamins / minerals.
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3 Lamb Lung
Animal ProteinDescription
Organ meats of lamb. It is an excellent source of vitamin C, B12, iron, phosphorus, zinc, niacin, and copper.
Why Prefer?
Organ meats are highly nutritious, with quality protein and many important vitamins / minerals.
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4 Lamb Heart
Animal ProteinDescription
An organ meat from lamb, rich in CoQ10, iron, B vitamins, and taurine.
Why Prefer?
Organ meats are highly nutritious, with quality protein and many important vitamins / minerals.
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5 Lamb Liver
Animal ProteinDescription
Organ meats of lamb. It is a significant source of vitamin A, B12, and copper.
Why Prefer?
Organ meats are highly nutritious, with quality protein and many important vitamins / minerals.
-
6 Lamb Kidney
Animal ProteinDescription
Organ meats of lamb. It is rich in iron and vitamin B12.
Why Prefer?
Organ meats are highly nutritious, with quality protein and many important vitamins / minerals.
-
7 Lamb Bone
OthersDescription
Ground lamb bone used as a natural source of calcium and phosphorus in pet food.
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8 New Zealand Green Mussel
Animal ProteinDescription
An excellent source of protein, vitamin A, B12, zinc, and iron.
Why Prefer?
A high-quality animal protein with high digestibility and biological value.
-
9 Lecithin
FatDescription
A fat essential in body cells, it could be extracted from different food like soybean. It acts as an emulsifier that helps fats mixing with other ingredients.
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10 Lamb Cartilage
OthersDescription
Lamb cartilage, a natural source of glucosamine and chondroitin for joint health.
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11 Inulin
CarbsDescription
A prebiotic that promote friendly bacteria in the gut and support better digestion.
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12 Dried Kelp
CarbsDescription
An excellent source of various minerals including calcium, iron, magnesium. Rich in rare mineral iodine essential for healthy thyroid function.
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13 Parsley
CarbsDescription
A type of plant native to the Mediterranean. It is particularly rich in vitamin K, and a good source of vitamin A, C, and antioxidants.
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14 Potassium Chloride
SupplementDescription
An inorganic form of potassium, which offers 5 - 15% less absorption rate to the body. It is essential for important functions like nerve impulse transmission, muscle contraction, and carbon dioxide / oxygen transport.
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15 Magnesium Sulfate
SupplementDescription
An inorganic form of manganese that has 5 - 15% less absorption rate than the organic form. It is essential for the transport and movement of oxygen around the body.
-
16 Zinc Amino Acid Complex
SupplementDescription
An organic form of zinc, which is vital in skin function and wound healing, cell replication, the structure and function of biological membranes. Compare to inorganic form, it has 5 - 15% more absorption rate to the body.
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17 Copper Amino Acid Complex
SupplementDescription
An organic form of copper, which is important for the production of blood cells, hair coat color pigmentation, and maintaining the nervous system. Compare to inorganic form, it has 5 - 15% more absorption rate to the body.
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18 Manganese Amino Acid Complex
SupplementDescription
An organic form of manganese that has 5 - 15% higher absorption rate than the inorganic form. It is essential for normal metabolic function with the body.
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19 Sodium Selenite
Food AdditiveDescription
An inorganic selenium supplement. It remains controversial as the long term effect of consuming it is not known, and there is a much safer organic alternative available.
Why Concerned?
A food additive that is likely to be safe but unnecessary.
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20 Salt
OthersDescription
Mainly added to enhance the flavor, might cause kidney and blood pressure issues in a larger dose. High-quality pet foods should get a sufficient amount from raw meat, additional salt is not necessary.
Why Concerned?
A controversial ingredient that might cause health issues, unnecessary for the risk.
-
21 Choline Chloride
SupplementDescription
Vital molecule for various functions in the body, lack of choline can result in weight loss, vomiting, and fatty liver.
-
22 Thiamine Mononitrate
SupplementDescription
An organic form of thiamine, has 5 - 15% more absorption rate than the inorganic form. It is important for energy production and glucose metabolism.
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23 Mixed Tocopherols
Food AdditiveDescription
A mixture of different types of vitamin E, usually found in plant oils, seed and green vegetables. They are powerful antioxidants used as a natural preservative to slow down the spoilage of food.
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24 Vitamin E Supplement
SupplementDescription
Supplement for vitamin E, which is an important antioxidant that protects oxidative damages on cellular membranes by free radicals. A deficiency will result in symptoms like anorexia, depression, and dermatitis.
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25 Taurine
SupplementDescription
An essential amino acid (building blocks of protein) to maintain a healthy brain and heart functions.
Why Prefer?
A safe supplement to improve the completeness of essential amino acids profile (the building block of protein).
-
26 Pyridoxine Hydrochloride
SupplementDescription
A synthetical supplement of vitamin B6, which is an essential element for nearly every part of metabolism.
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27 Folic Acid
SupplementDescription
A synthetic form of folate, which is also known as vitamin B9. It plays an important role to support the body's functions, such as cell growth.
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28 Vitamin D3 Supplement
SupplementDescription
Supplement for vitamin D3 (animal-derived), which is essential for calcium homeostasis - to maintain a constant concentration of calcium. A deficiency will result in osteopenia (lower bone mass).
Tips
- Some protein sources are less clear: Lamb Bone, Lamb Cartilage appear near the top without a clearly defined animal source.
- Ingredients worth checking: Sodium Selenite, Salt.
Protein Analysis
How this recipe earned its protein scores.
Protein Clarity
High- Named 100%
Strong clarity: 100% of ZIWI Peak Original Series Pure New Zealand Lamb Recipe's animal-protein ingredients are clearly named (like chicken or salmon). Only 0% use vague terms such as "meat meal" and 0% are by-products. Named protein ingredients let you verify the source and check for allergens.
Contributing ingredients
Named
Animal Protein
High- Animal 100%
Meat-forward: 100% of the weighted protein in ZIWI Peak Original Series Pure New Zealand Lamb Recipe comes from animal sources. Plant signals are modest (0% whole plants, 0% plant concentrates), so the protein profile leans on real meat.
Contributing ingredients
Animal
ZIWI Peak Original Series Pure New Zealand Lamb Recipe air-dried cat food Review
ZIWI Peak Original Series Pure New Zealand Lamb Recipe is a strong choice — rated 5 stars with high ingredient transparency and strong animal protein content. A confident pick when the ingredient panel matches your pet's needs.
Best for
- Owners who want clearly named protein sources
- Pets avoiding gluten grains
- Pets that thrive on muscle-meat protein
Key takeaways
- Named animal proteins make up 100% of the recipe's protein panel — a clear sourcing win.
- Contains common allergens: Red meat, Shellfish.
- On a dry-matter basis: 44% protein, 35% fat, 4% estimated carbohydrates.
- 100% of the weighted protein comes from animal sources.
- Free from Gluten grains, Grains (gluten-free), Dairy, Egg, Legumes, Nuts, Poultry, Fish, Unknown Meal.
Frequently asked questions
Is ZIWI Peak Original Series Pure New Zealand Lamb Recipe good for cats?
Yes — ZIWI Peak Original Series Pure New Zealand Lamb Recipe earns 5 out of 5 stars on Moesonson’s label-based analysis, combining high ingredient transparency with strong animal protein content. The score is computed from the printed ingredient list and guaranteed analysis rather than marketing claims — a confident pick when the label matches your cat’s needs.
Does ZIWI Peak Original Series Pure New Zealand Lamb Recipe contain Dairy?
No — based on the printed ingredient list, ZIWI Peak Original Series Pure New Zealand Lamb Recipe does not include Dairy or closely related ingredients, so pets sensitive to Dairy can typically avoid that trigger here. Recipes do get reformulated, though, so re-check the packaging before feeding — Moesonson’s reading reflects the label at analysis time.
Does ZIWI Peak Original Series Pure New Zealand Lamb Recipe contain Egg?
No — based on the printed ingredient list, ZIWI Peak Original Series Pure New Zealand Lamb Recipe does not include Egg or closely related ingredients, so pets sensitive to Egg can typically avoid that trigger here. Recipes do get reformulated, though, so re-check the packaging before feeding — Moesonson’s reading reflects the label at analysis time.
Does ZIWI Peak Original Series Pure New Zealand Lamb Recipe contain Legumes?
No — based on the printed ingredient list, ZIWI Peak Original Series Pure New Zealand Lamb Recipe does not include Legumes or closely related ingredients, so pets sensitive to Legumes can typically avoid that trigger here. Recipes do get reformulated, though, so re-check the packaging before feeding — Moesonson’s reading reflects the label at analysis time.
Does ZIWI Peak Original Series Pure New Zealand Lamb Recipe contain Nuts?
No — based on the printed ingredient list, ZIWI Peak Original Series Pure New Zealand Lamb Recipe does not include Nuts or closely related ingredients, so pets sensitive to Nuts can typically avoid that trigger here. Recipes do get reformulated, though, so re-check the packaging before feeding — Moesonson’s reading reflects the label at analysis time.
Is ZIWI Peak Original Series Pure New Zealand Lamb Recipe grain-free?
Yes — ZIWI Peak Original Series Pure New Zealand Lamb Recipe is grain-free according to its printed ingredient list: no gluten grains (like wheat) and no gluten-free grains (like rice or corn) appear in the recipe. That makes it a candidate for pets with diagnosed grain sensitivities, though grain-free offers no automatic benefit for pets without one.
What are the main protein sources in ZIWI Peak Original Series Pure New Zealand Lamb Recipe?
The main animal proteins in ZIWI Peak Original Series Pure New Zealand Lamb Recipe are Lamb, Lamb Tripe, Lamb Lung. Each is named by species on the printed ingredient list — a protein-clarity strength in Moesonson’s scoring, because named sources let you verify what your cat is eating and avoid specific proteins when managing food allergies.
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