Walking down the pet food aisle can sometimes feel like trying to read a foreign language. With so many confusing labels and marketing buzzwords, it can be incredibly hard to know what you are actually putting into your pet’s bowl.

That is exactly why we love highlighting brands that keep things simple, natural, and incredibly nutritious. Today, we are putting the spotlight on ZIWI.

Since they were founded in 2002, ZIWI’s mission has been simple: deliver peak nutrition without compromise. They take their cues directly from nature, bringing joy and peace of mind to pets and their humans. If you are looking to upgrade your dog or cat’s diet, here is a look at what makes ZIWI so unique, what goes into their food, and why we are so proud to carry it on our shelves at Pets Etc.

The Philosophy: Peak Nutrition & "Kaitiaki"

At their core, ZIWI understands that cats and dogs are carnivores, which means they live healthier lives on a carnivorous diet. Their recipes are packed full of raw meat, organs, and seafood to reflect exactly what your pet would instinctively choose for themselves in the wild.

This philosophy is heavily rooted in a New Zealand Māori concept called Kaitiaki. This means embodying the role of a guardian—caring for people, and protecting the land, the sea, and its creatures for future generations. All ZIWI recipes are proudly made in New Zealand kitchens, keeping things local to the lush pastures, rugged landscapes, and pristine oceans where their ingredients are sourced.

The New Zealand Difference: Ethical Sourcing

ZIWI believes that nature got it right, which means supporting ethical farming practices. Their farmers, fishers, and suppliers strictly follow New Zealand’s Five Freedom Principles to ensure every animal is raised ethically:

  1. Freedom from hunger and thirst
  2. Freedom from discomfort
  3. Freedom from pain, injury, or disease
  4. Freedom to express natural behavior
  5. Freedom from fear and distress

Because of New Zealand’s temperate climate, animals have fields and rolling green hills to roam on 365 days a year. The beef, lamb, and venison are grass-fed and grass-finished with no feedlots in sight. Their local chickens are completely free-range so they can run, leap, and spread their wings, while their seafood is sustainably caught in clean, pristine island waters.

When you pick up a bag of ZIWI dog food—like their rich Beef, Chicken, or Venison recipes—or crack open a can of their wet cat food in flavors like Chicken, Lamb, or Mackerel, you are feeding ethically raised, premium nutrition.

The Air-Dried Advantage: Maximum Nutrition in Bite-Size Pieces

One of the most unique things about ZIWI is their slow and gentle air-drying process. Instead of harsh processing, they gently remove the moisture from the food, which locks in all the goodness a raw diet has to offer.

Because of this process, one portion of ZIWI air-dried food is equivalent to three portions of raw meat! Because there are absolutely no fillers in these recipes, the food is incredibly nutrient-dense. This means you will actually be feeding a much smaller volume of food compared to standard, filler-packed kibbles.

Pro-Tips for Feeding & Transitioning to ZIWI

If you are ready to introduce ZIWI to your pet, here are a few expert tips straight from the brand to ensure a smooth transition:

  • The 7-Day Switch: Mix ZIWI with your pet's existing food over 7 days. Add a little more ZIWI each day while reducing their old food to allow their digestive system to adjust.
  • The Feline Factor: When introducing a cat to a new food, patience is a virtue! Cats are instinctively resistant to changes in their environment, especially their diet (an instinct that goes back to when cats were wild and faced with unfamiliar foods). Give them time to adjust to the new textures and flavors.
  • Use a Kitchen Scale: Because ZIWI is so nutrient-dense, a kitchen scale is your best friend. For cats and small dogs (between 2.2 lbs and 8.8 lbs), overfeeding or underfeeding by even a tiny amount—like 0.35 ounces or 10 grams—can result in them getting quite a bit too much or not enough. Weighing ensures the perfect portion every time.
  • Mix and Match: Can you mix their air-dried food with their canned wet food? Absolutely! Just be sure to calculate the feeding requirements (like a 50/50 split) so you aren't overfeeding.
  • Storage Rules: Always reseal the air-dried pouch after every meal and store it in a cool, dry place away from sunlight. If you use their moist canned food, it must be refrigerated after opening and used within 7 days.

Explore ZIWI at Pets Etc.

If you want to bring the very best of New Zealand's peak nutrition to your own pet's bowl, stop by Pets Etc. in Plainfield. We proudly carry ZIWI products for both dogs and cats. Let our team help you calculate your pet's perfect feeding portions, and pick up your first bag or can to start their transition today!