Kakato is a premium pet-food brand specializing in food and treats for cats and dogs. Established in 2010, the brand is associated with MaxiPro (Asia) Limited, a pet-products company based in Hong Kong. Kakato positions itself around natural, high-meat-content nutrition that mimics human-grade standards, emphasizing simple formulations and animal welfare 1.

While the brand employs a strong New Zealand-inspired identity—stating that Kakato means “delicious” in Māori—company records identify MaxiPro (Asia) Limited as the entity behind the brand. Consequently, Kakato is best described as a premium pet-food brand with a New Zealand-themed positioning, managed by a Hong Kong company, rather than a manufacturer based solely in New Zealand.

Kakato was established in 2010 as a premium pet-food brand. The parent company’s timeline indicates that MaxiPro (Asia) Limited was founded in 2007, followed by the launch of Kakato three years later 2.

The brand expanded throughout Asia over the following decade:

• 2010: Kakato Premium Pet Food was established.
• 2012: Kakato entered the Taiwan market and launched the Kakato Animal Bus, a service designed to facilitate weekend outings for pets and their owners in Hong Kong.
• 2013: Kakato launched in Mainland China.
• 2014: Kakato launched in Singapore.
• 2016: The company established the Kakato Veterinary Scholarship.
• 2020: Kakato established an Animal Food Bank supporting stray animals, shelters, and independent rescuers.

This expansion helped establish Kakato as a recognizable premium pet-food brand across several Asian markets.

The name “Kakato” is presented by the company as a Māori word meaning “delicious.” The brand leverages this New Zealand association in its identity, using imagery and messaging that emphasize natural ingredients and quality.

Kakato’s stated philosophy is summarized by the slogan:

“Healthy Food Means Healthy Pets.”

The brand also utilizes the concept of “Eternal Love · Lifelong Companions” in its communications.

Kakato’s portfolio extends beyond single canned-food lines, covering several categories for both cats and dogs.

Wet Food

Wet food is one of Kakato’s most prominent categories. Products include various flavors such as:

• Tuna fillet
• Chicken fillet
• Salmon
• Tuna & chicken
• Tuna & mackerel
• Tuna & prawn
• Tuna & seaweed
• Salmon & tuna
• Chicken & pumpkin
• Chicken & cheese
• Chicken, salmon & vegetables
• Various mousse products

The company offers both complete diets and complementary diets, a distinction important for consumers selecting appropriate nutrition for their pets.

Complete Diets

Kakato produces complete cat-food formulas designed to provide comprehensive nutritional profiles. Examples include:

• Complete Diet Ocean Fish
• Complete Diet Chicken & Beef
• Complete Diet Chicken & Duck
• Complete Diet Chicken & Lamb
• Complete Diet Salmon & Perna Mussels
• Complete Diet Tuna, Salmon & Goji Berries
• Chicken Breast for adult and senior cats
• Tuna Fillet for adult and senior cats
• Kitten-specific formulas

Some formulas contain ingredients such as taurine, vitamins, minerals, and prebiotics. For instance, the Chicken Breast adult/senior formula lists chicken breast as the principal ingredient and includes taurine and vitamins/minerals 4.

Complementary Food

Kakato also manufactures foods intended to complement a primary diet rather than replace it entirely. These include tuna and chicken mousse products and various meat-and-fish canned recipes. Owners should note that not every Kakato can constitutes a complete and balanced diet; checking the specific product label is necessary to determine its nutritional role.

Dry Food

In recent years, Kakato has expanded its dry-food range through Kakato ONE. This line emphasizes:

• Single animal protein
• Limited ingredients
• Grain-free formulations
• Hypoallergenic positioning
• Complete nutrition

For example, Kakato ONE Tuna uses tuna meal as its primary animal protein and includes cassava, pumpkin, and tuna oil, along with vitamins, minerals, and taurine.

In January 2026, Kakato announced refreshed packaging for Kakato ONE. The company stated that the range is intended for cats and dogs of different life stages, with redesigned packaging to help distinguish between feline and canine formulas more easily 3.

Treats

Kakato sells premium treats, positioned as snacks rather than complete diets. Meat-based options include:

• Beef Bites
• Chicken Bites
• Lamb Bites

A key aspect of Kakato’s marketing is its emphasis on straightforward ingredient lists and recognizable animal proteins. The company describes its canned foods as using high-quality, natural, and human-grade ingredients, while highlighting high meat content and the avoidance of added flavorings and additives in relevant products 4.

For example, a Kakato Chicken, Salmon & Vegetables recipe lists the following composition:

• Chicken — 29%
• Salmon — 17%
• Pumpkin — 8%
• Carrot — 8%
• Spinach — 4%
• Green pea — 4%
• Brown rice — 4%
• Water — 26%

This product is identified as a complementary food for cats and dogs of all ages.

“Human Grade”

“Human grade” is a central term in Kakato’s marketing language. The brand states its products are made with human-grade ingredients 4. However, this term does not automatically imply that a product is nutritionally suitable for humans or that every component adheres to the exact regulatory framework of human food manufacturing. For pet owners, the critical factors remain whether the specific product is complete and balanced for the intended species and life stage, its ingredient list, and its formulation.

Grain-Free Products

Kakato offers numerous grain-free products, particularly within its canned-food range and the Kakato ONE dry-food range. The ONE products specifically highlight grain-free ingredients as part of their formulation. It is worth noting that grain-free status is a formulation characteristic and not necessarily a guarantee of superior nutrition; appropriateness depends on the individual animal’s needs.

Kakato’s official materials highlight several quality recognitions. The brand states it has received:

• TOP Mark recognition
• Quality Label certification from the Hong Kong Standards and Testing Centre
• Halal certification for its additive-free cat-and-dog shared pet-food products

Additionally, Kakato ONE Tuna is listed by the company as Suci certified 5. Because certifications may apply to specific products rather than the entire portfolio, consumers are advised to verify claims against current product packaging.

It is important to distinguish between the brand’s identity and its manufacturing origin. While Kakato maintains a New Zealand-themed brand identity, individual products may have different countries of manufacture.

For example, certain Kakato products sold in Singapore list Thailand as their country of origin. Therefore, describing all Kakato products as “Made in New Zealand” would be inaccurate. The New Zealand connection primarily serves as part of the brand’s naming and positioning strategy.

Kakato has maintained a presence in Singapore since 2014, according to MaxiPro’s corporate timeline. The brand is currently distributed through local pet retailers, with listings covering dozens of products across wet food, complete diets, and treats. This makes Singapore one of the brand’s more established markets in Asia.

Alongside its commercial operations, Kakato has developed significant social-responsibility initiatives. Reported programs include:

• Kakato Animal Bus — Launched in 2012 to assist pets and owners in traveling together for recreational outings.
• Veterinary Scholarship — Established in 2016 to support students pursuing veterinary education.
• Pet Mobile Medical Clinic — Sponsorship beginning in 2017.
• Animal Food Bank — Established in 2020 to support stray animals, shelters, and independent volunteers.
• Sponsorship of various animal-welfare, conservation, and charitable events.

The company’s founder, Dr. April Fong, is described by Kakato as having had a lifelong interest in animals and being involved in animal welfare and environmental initiatives.

Kakato operates as a brand under MaxiPro (Asia) Limited rather than as an independent company. MaxiPro’s corporate website identifies the parent company as established in 2007 and Kakato as launched in 2010. MaxiPro’s portfolio includes other pet-related brands, indicating that Kakato is part of a broader pet-care business structure.

Kakato is an Asian premium pet-food brand with a New Zealand-inspired identity, established in 2010 and associated with Hong Kong-based MaxiPro (Asia) Limited. Its portfolio covers wet food, complete diets, complementary foods, treats, and dry food for cats and dogs. The brand differentiates itself through natural ingredients, high meat content, human-grade positioning, and grain-free options. Consumers should note that product specifications vary significantly across the range, including differences in nutritional completeness (complete vs. complementary) and country of manufacture.

1. About – Kakato – Animal Furdel Awards
2. Kakato official website
3. Kakato | Product Category Archives – Kakato
4. Kakato Complete Diet Chicken Breast Adult & Senior Cats Canned Cat Food
5. Kakato Pet Food