Applaws launched in 2006 with a proposition so simple it was almost radical: cat food with ingredients you can actually recognise. While most pet food brands listed “animal derivatives,” “cereals,” and “various sugars” on their ingredient panels, Applaws listed things like “Tuna 70%,” “Chicken Breast 77%,” and “Salmon.” Their food looked unlike anything else on the shelf โ genuine chunks of meat or fish floating in a natural broth, rather than the uniform grey paste that constitutes most wet food.
That simplicity has built a fiercely loyal UK customer base. Applaws is now available across two major lines: wet food (tins and pouches) and dry kibble. Both maintain the brand’s founding philosophy of high meat content, minimal additives, and ingredient transparency. The brand is now stocked across all major UK pet retailers and is consistently one of the top-selling premium cat food brands on ZooPlus UK.
We’ve reviewed the full Applaws range available in the UK for 2026, covering their best wet cat food tins, their pouch range, their Taste Toppers, and their premium dry kibble.
The Applaws Range at a Glance
- Applaws Wet Cat Tins (70-77% meat): The original product. Tuna or chicken floating in natural broth, available in 70g and 156g formats. Pure, simple ingredients.
- Applaws Taste Toppers: A newer innovation โ thick concentrate pouches designed to be mixed with a cat’s regular meal. Not a complete food in themselves, but a palatability booster and protein enrichment added on top.
- Applaws Dry Cat Food: Grain-free kibble with 80% chicken content. Uses tapioca as an alternative binder rather than wheat.
- Applaws Cat Treats: Single-ingredient freeze-dried treats (chicken, salmon) with zero added anything.
Quick Comparison: Best Applaws Products UK
| Product | Format | Meat % | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Applaws Adult Chicken Tin 156g | Tin | 77% Chicken | Overall best / Fussy cats |
| Applaws Adult Tuna in Broth 70g | Tin | 70% Tuna | Hydration / Fish-preference cats |
| Applaws Taste Toppers Pouches | Pouch (Boost) | 75%+ per serving | Enriching existing meals |
| Applaws Dry Cat Food Chicken | Dry Kibble | 80% Chicken | Premium grain-free dry option |
| Applaws Multipack Tins in Broth | 12 x 156g | 70-77% | Best value economy pack |
Our Detailed Reviews
1. Applaws Adult Chicken Breast in Broth Tins โ The Classic
This is the product that established Applaws’ reputation. Open the tin and you see slices of actual chicken breast sitting in an amber, naturally gelatinous broth. There are four ingredients: chicken breast, chicken broth, tapioca starch, and minerals. The broth itself is produced from the chicken during the cooking process โ not from “flavouring” or “extract.”
Why we chose it: The 77% chicken content means that protein comprises the overwhelming majority of this food. Compare this with standard supermarket wet foods where “chicken” often appears in a 4-8% concentration diluted with water, thickeners, and maize starch. A cat eating Applaws is absorbing measurably more actual protein per gram consumed. View Applaws Adult Chicken & Salmon at ZooPlus โ
2. Applaws Adult Tuna in Broth โ For Fish-Preferring Cats
An identical formulation philosophy as the chicken tins, but using skipjack tuna as the protein source. Tuna is particularly high in oily fatty acids, and the natural broth produced from the tuna cooking liquid is rich in omega-3 EPA and DHA โ the primary anti-inflammatory fatty acids that support joint health, coat quality, and cognitive function in older cats.
Why we chose it: For cats who have always shown a strong preference for fish over poultry (a common and completely valid feline dietary preference), the Applaws tuna range provides the same ingredient quality standard as the chicken line.
3. Applaws Taste Toppers โ Best for Enriching Dry-Fed Cats
Taste Toppers are Applaws’ answer to the growing number of cat owners who feed their cat primarily on dry kibble but want to add a high-protein boost. Each Taste Topper pouch contains a thick, concentrated sauce heavily laden with real meat or fish โ designed to be poured over or mixed into a portion of dry kibble. The result transforms a bowl of crunchy biscuits into a nutritionally richer, highly palatable mixed meal.
Why we chose it: It is the most practical way to increase daily protein and hydration for a dry-food cat without fully committing to a wet food switch. It also dramatically increases palatability for cats who are reluctant to drink water or who have lost enthusiasm for their current food due to monotony.
4. Applaws Dry Cat Food โ Premium Grain-Free Kibble
Applaws’ dry kibble declares 80% chicken as its primary ingredient โ an extraordinarily high meat concentration for a dry cat food. The absence of grain means cats with wheat sensitivity experience fewer digestive issues. The high meat content translates to high digestibility, meaning cats absorb more nutrients per gram and produce smaller, less malodorous stools.
Why we chose it: For owners who need a dry kibble (for free-feeding convenience or for cats who simply refuse wet food) but want to maintain Applaws’ quality standard throughout the entire diet, this is the logical choice. It pairs very well with any of the Applaws wet tins as a 50/50 mixed diet.
Is Applaws Worth the Price Premium?
Yes โ with an important caveat. Applaws wet food, while more expensive per pouch than supermarket brands, requires less food per serving because of its caloric density and high digestibility. A cat who eats Applaws absorbs more of what they eat, meaning you need slightly smaller portions than with a diluted supermarket pouch.
The practical cost difference over a month of feeding is typically ยฃ8-15 higher than standard Whiskas or Felix, for a meaningfully improved ingredient profile. Whether that increment is worthwhile is a personal decision โ but the nutritional difference between 77% meat and 4% meat is not negligible.
See our full Best Wet Cat Food UK guide for how Applaws compares across the broader market, or Best Dry Cat Food for how Applaws kibble compares to other premium dry options.