bowlly-mcp-server
Bowlly Search
Documentation
Bowlly MCP Server
MCP (Model Context Protocol) server for Bowlly cat food product search and ingredient analysis.
Enables Claude Desktop to search, analyze, and compare cat food products.
Prerequisites
- Node.js 22+ - Required for running the MCP server
- Claude Desktop - Download here if not installed
Quick Start
Option 1: One-Command Setup (Recommended)
npx @bowlly/mcp-server --setupAfter running, restart Claude Desktop and you're ready to go!
Option 2: Manual Configuration
1. Edit your Claude Desktop config at the appropriate path for your OS:
2. Add the Bowlly server configuration:
{
"mcpServers": {
"bowlly": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["-y", "@bowlly/mcp-server"]
}
}
}3. Save the file and restart Claude Desktop
Available Tools
| Tool | Description |
|---|---|
| `search_products` | Search by ingredients, conditions, form |
| `get_product_detail` | Full product info with ingredients |
| `compare_products` | Side-by-side comparison |
| `analyze_nutrition` | Ingredient breakdown & carb analysis |
| `get_curation_list` | Best-of category recommendations |
Example Natural Language Queries
"Find grain-free dry cat foods"
"Show me wet foods without chicken"
"Analyze the nutrition of Blue Buffalo Wilderness"
"Compare Orijen and Acana cat foods"
"What are the best low-carb options?"
"Show me foods for cats with sensitive stomachs"Configuration
Config File Locations by Platform
| Platform | Path |
|---|---|
| macOS | `~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json` |
| Windows | `%APPDATA%/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json` |
| Linux | `~/.config/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json` |
Verification
To confirm the MCP server is working:
1. Restart Claude Desktop (required after configuration changes)
2. Open the tools menu - Look for the hammer icon in the bottom left
3. Verify Bowlly tools appear - You should see 5 tools listed
4. Test with a query: Try asking "Find grain-free dry cat foods"
Troubleshooting
Tools not showing in Claude?
- Restart Claude Desktop - Configuration changes require a restart
- Check the config file path - Ensure you're editing the correct file for your OS
- Verify JSON syntax - Use a JSON validator if unsure
- Check Claude Desktop logs:
- macOS: `~/Library/Logs/Claude/`
- Windows: `%APPDATA%/Claude/Logs/`
- Linux: `~/.config/Claude/Logs/`
"Command not found" errors?
- Ensure Node.js 22+ is installed: `node --version`
- Try with npx: `npx @bowlly/mcp-server --setup`
- Global install fallback: `npm install -g @bowlly/mcp-server`
Configuration not persisting?
- Check file permissions - Ensure you have write access to the config directory
- Use absolute paths - Relative paths may not resolve correctly
- Validate JSON format - Missing commas or brackets are common issues
License
MIT
Frequently asked questions
What is bowlly-mcp-server?
bowlly-mcp-server is Bowlly Search
How do I install bowlly-mcp-server?
Open the GitHub repository and follow its README. Most MCP servers are added to your client's MCP config, then called by your agent.
Is bowlly-mcp-server open source?
Yes — it is hosted on GitHub at https://github.com/bowlly-net/bowlly-mcp-server.
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