Instinct Original Real Chicken Recipe
Raw-feeding advocates who want the closest thing to raw in a canned format
Blue Buffalo Homestyle Recipe Chicken Dinner
Mainstream owners who want identifiable ingredients and a homestyle formulation
Score Comparison
Pricing & Features
Making Your Decision
When to Choose Instinct Original Real Chicken Recipe
Raw-feeding advocates who want the closest thing to raw in a canned format
Instinct Original is as close to raw feeding as canned food gets — 95% real animal ingredients with cage-free chicken. The minimally processed philosophy extends to their wet food with excellent ingredient quality. At ~$9/day it commands a premium, but the ingredient list justifies it for quality-focused owners.
Strengths
- Cage-free chicken is the #1 ingredient with 95% real animal ingredients
- No grain, corn, wheat, soy, potato, artificial colors, or preservatives
- Minimally processed formula with whole-food ingredients for maximum nutrition
Limitations
- Premium pricing at ~$9/day — significantly more expensive than mid-range
- Grain-free formula subject to FDA DCM investigation concerns
- 2021 recall of freeze-dried product line (not canned) is a minor safety note
When to Choose Blue Buffalo Homestyle Recipe Chicken Dinner
Mainstream owners who want identifiable ingredients and a homestyle formulation
Blue Buffalo Homestyle Recipe brings the same philosophy as their dry food — real meat first, no by-products, and recognizable ingredients like carrots and peas. The homestyle chunk-in-gravy format feels more like real food. At ~$7/day, it costs a bit more than other mid-range options but delivers better ingredient quality.
Strengths
- Real chicken is the #1 ingredient with no poultry by-products
- Includes garden vegetables (carrots, peas, potatoes) for a homestyle recipe feel
- Clean safety record with no wet food recalls in 5+ years
Limitations
- Higher price than comparable mid-range competitors at ~$7/day
- Some ingredient names remain vague (e.g., "natural flavor")
- Chunk-in-gravy texture can be inconsistent between batches
