The scores
Blue Buffalo Indoor Health: B (76/100)
Taste of the Wild Canyon River: B (76/100)
A perfect tie at 76 points. Both sit in the upper half of the B grade, trailing only Wellness (B/80) in our cat food rankings. The identical scores mask genuinely different formulation strategies - this is a grain-inclusive versus grain-free showdown, not a case of two similar foods.
Read our full reviews of Blue Buffalo and Taste of the Wild for the complete ingredient breakdowns.
How the ingredients compare
Here are the first five ingredients side by side:
Blue Buffalo: Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Brown Rice, Barley, Oatmeal
Taste of the Wild: Trout, Ocean Fish Meal, Sweet Potatoes, Peas, Potatoes
The protein strategies diverge immediately. Blue Buffalo goes all-in on chicken with two named chicken proteins. Taste of the Wild leads with trout and ocean fish meal, adding smoked salmon further down the list for three distinct fish sources. The carbohydrate split is even more dramatic: Blue Buffalo uses traditional whole grains, while Taste of the Wild uses sweet potatoes, peas, and potatoes as its starch base. Both formulas place two animal proteins before any carbohydrate, which is the right priority for cats.
Where Blue Buffalo pulls ahead
Grain-inclusive formula. Brown rice, barley, and oatmeal are digestible whole grains with real nutritional value - fiber, B vitamins, and steady energy. More importantly, a grain-inclusive formula sidesteps the grain-free/DCM conversation entirely. While the FDA's investigation into grain-free diets and dilated cardiomyopathy has focused primarily on dogs, the underlying concern about legume-heavy diets remains relevant. Blue Buffalo avoids that question altogether.
L-carnitine. Blue Buffalo includes L-carnitine, which helps convert fat into energy - particularly useful for indoor cats prone to weight gain. It's one of the more evidence-backed weight management ingredients in pet food, and Taste of the Wild doesn't include it.
Lower legume load. Though Blue Buffalo does include pea starch, pea protein, and pea fiber further down its ingredient list, the bulk of its carbohydrate base comes from whole grains. Taste of the Wild relies more heavily on peas and potatoes for its starch, and potato protein appears further down the list as a plant-based protein booster. Shop on Amazon →
Where Taste of the Wild holds its own
Protein diversity. Three named fish sources - trout, ocean fish meal, and smoked salmon - give Taste of the Wild one of the broadest protein profiles in any mainstream cat food. Each fish brings a slightly different amino acid profile and nutrient set. Blue Buffalo's chicken-only approach is fine but less varied.
Built-in omega-3s. Fish-based proteins are naturally rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Taste of the Wild gets its omega-3s from the protein itself, not just from added oils. This means the omega-3 content is woven throughout the formula rather than tacked on as a supplement. For coat health, skin integrity, and inflammation management, fish proteins do double duty.
Novel protein for sensitivities. Cats with chicken sensitivities need an alternative protein source. Taste of the Wild's fish-based formula provides exactly that. If your cat has been on chicken-based foods and is showing signs of food intolerance - itchy skin, digestive issues, excessive grooming - a switch to fish protein can help identify whether chicken is the culprit.
Price. Taste of the Wild is manufactured by Diamond Pet Foods, and that manufacturing scale keeps costs competitive. It's often the most affordable B-grade cat food on the shelf, making it an excellent value for the ingredient quality you get. Shop on Amazon →
The bottom line
This is a genuine tie, and the best choice depends on your priorities. Blue Buffalo is the safer, more conventional pick - grain-inclusive, chicken-based, with L-carnitine for weight management. Taste of the Wild is the better choice for protein diversity, built-in omega-3s, and cats who need a non-chicken option. Both avoid artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives. Both deliver solid B-grade nutrition. If your cat is healthy and doing well on chicken, Blue Buffalo's grain-inclusive approach has a slight practical edge. If your cat thrives on fish or needs a novel protein, Taste of the Wild is the clear pick.