The scores
American Journey Cat: B (82/100)
Blue Buffalo Cat: B (76/100)
Both earn B grades, but American Journey sits in the upper half of the range while Blue Buffalo is in the lower half. The 6-point gap reflects a real difference in protein density and formula cleanliness.
How the ingredients compare
Here are the first five ingredients side by side:
American Journey: Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Tapioca Starch, Turkey Meal, Dried Egg Product
Blue Buffalo: Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Brown Rice, Barley, Oatmeal
Both start strong with deboned chicken and chicken meal — two quality animal proteins. Then they diverge. American Journey adds turkey meal at position four and dried egg product at five — two more animal protein sources before any significant plant ingredient. Blue Buffalo fills positions three through five with grains (brown rice, barley, oatmeal). Good grains, but grains nonetheless. AJ's protein density in the top five is simply higher.
Where American Journey pulls ahead
Four named animal proteins. Deboned chicken, chicken meal, turkey meal, and menhaden fish meal. Four distinct, named animal protein sources provide a diverse amino acid profile that cats need as obligate carnivores. Blue Buffalo has two (deboned chicken and chicken meal).
Grain-free formula. No rice, barley, oatmeal, corn, or wheat. The carbohydrate sources are tapioca starch and peas — simpler and lower in total carbohydrate load than Blue Buffalo's triple-grain approach.
Five probiotic strains. Enterococcus faecium, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Aspergillus niger, Trichoderma longibrachiatum, and Bacillus subtilis. Blue Buffalo doesn't include probiotics in its standard cat formula.
Fruit and vegetable blend. Spinach, apples, blueberries, carrots, cranberries, and pumpkin provide natural antioxidants and fiber. It's a richer functional food profile than Blue Buffalo offers. Shop on Amazon →
Where Blue Buffalo holds its own
Quality whole grains. Brown rice, barley, and oatmeal are nutritious grains that provide fiber, B vitamins, and sustained energy. Some owners prefer grain-inclusive formulas, especially given the FDA's investigation into grain-free diets and dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM).
Wider availability. Blue Buffalo is sold everywhere — grocery stores, pet stores, big-box retailers, online. American Journey is a Chewy exclusive. If you don't order from Chewy, you can't get it.
Established brand. Blue Buffalo has decades of market presence and name recognition. American Journey is newer and less proven over time, though owned by Chewy (a well-funded company). Shop on Amazon →
The bottom line
American Journey is the better food on ingredient quality. Four animal proteins versus two, grain-free versus grain-inclusive, probiotics versus none, and a more complete functional food profile. The 6-point gap is meaningful within the B tier. Blue Buffalo's advantages are availability and the grain-inclusive formula for owners who prefer grains. On pure ingredient analysis, American Journey delivers more nutritional value — often at a lower price. If you already order from Chewy, this is one of the best cat food values available.
Read our full reviews of American Journey Cat and Blue Buffalo Cat for the complete ingredient breakdowns.