6 Best Raw Cat Foods

6 Best Raw Cat Foods

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Raw cat food is formulated to mirror your cat’s ancestral diet. A raw food diet usually includes raw muscle meat, organ meat and ground bones. Usually the meats used in raw cat foods come from chicken, fish and eggs, but other meats may also be included.

* Feeding your cat a raw food diet means better digestion, disease prevention, decrease in allergies, improved oral health, less stool and improvement in overall health.

Keep reading to learn more about the best raw foods for cats along with their pros and cons.

How We Researched The 6 Best Raw Cat Foods?

• We spent several days researching the best raw cat foods
• We considered over 10 cat foods and fine tuned it down to the 6 reviewed in this article
• We did this by reading hundreds of reviews, watching videos and comparing the features of each raw cat food

The 6 Best Raw Cat Foods Comparison Chart

What To Look For In Raw Food For Cats?

• Quality Protein – High-quality animal protein is the foundation of a healthy diet for cats. Look for food with one quality protein containing about 80 to 85% raw meat and that contains mostly meat and limited grains or fillers.
• Moisture Rich – Any cat food your select should be rich in moisture. If you choose freeze dried raw cat food it will contain less moisture than raw cat food. Make sure your cat has access to and drinks plenty of water as well.
• Nothing Artificial –  Cat food should be free from artificial preservatives, flavors and colors which is why raw foods were created for your cats diet.
• Added Fruits and Vegetables – others will add fresh, raw fruits and vegetables that contain these nutrients naturally  cats to absorb dietary nutrients than supplementary nutrients
• Limited Carbohydrates – Cat’s were not designed to digest carbohydrates, so any cat food with high amounts of plant products will be difficult to digest. Try to avoid items like corn, soy or wheat especially because some cats can develop allergies.

The 6 Best Raw Cat Foods Reviewed

#1 Stella & Chewy’s Chick Chick Chicken Dinner Morsels Freeze-Dried Raw Cat Food

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Stella & Chewy’s Chick Chick Chicken Dinner Morsels Freeze-Dried Raw Cat Food is made from sustainably-sourced ingredients and raw protein.

This recipe starts with 98% cage-free poultry, organs, and bone. In addition to the cage-free poultry this recipe includes 100% organic-certified fruits and vegetables. Stella & Chewy’s foods never contain grains, gluten, fillers, artificial preservatives, or colorings.

Each batch is made with care in Stella & Chewy’s own USA kitchen. Food can be served as is or can be rehydrated by adding warm water.

#2 Merrick Backcountry Raw Infused Kitten Recipe Cat Food

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Merrick Backcountry Raw Infused Kitten Recipe Grain-Free Dry Cat Food starts with 42% protein with chicken as the number one ingredient as well as turkey, and is infused with freeze-dried raw meat bites.

It provides the nutritional benefits of a raw diet for your kitten, straight out of the bag. There are extra added items like vitamins, minerals and taurine, omegas for a healthy skin and coat, probiotics for easy digestion and antioxidant-rich veggies.

Merrick Backcountry is safely cooked in the USA in small batches using no by-products, grains, wheat, gluten, corn, artificial colors, flavors or preservatives.

#3 Instinct Raw Boost Mixers Chicken Recipe Freeze-Dried Cat Food Topper

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Instinct Raw Boost Mixers Chicken Recipe Grain-Free Freeze-Dried Cat Food Topper was created to complement to your cat’s meals by adding the nutrition of raw food.  this recipe is made with cage-free chicken and chicken liver as well as non GMO fruits and vegetables.

This raw food is made in the USA with no grain, potato, corn, wheat, soy, by-product meal or artificial colors or preservatives.

#4 Primal Chicken & Salmon Formula Nuggets Grain-Free Raw Cat Food

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Primal Chicken & Salmon Formula Nuggets Grain-Free Raw Freeze-Dried Cat Food offers a diet packed with naturally derived vitamins and minerals. It is made with antibiotic, hormone and steroid-free chicken meat and chicken organs along with real salmon and incorporates certified organic produce, certified organic minerals and unrefined vitamins.

This food also has added optimum levels of amino acids, essential fatty acids, natural-occurring enzymes and necessary vitamins and minerals supply the building blocks for healthy biological functions.

This freeze dried raw food is crafted in the USA with sustainably-sourced ingredients and contains no grain, gluten, corn, wheat or soy. It can be served straight from the bag or with added water.

#5 Meat Mates Chicken Dinner Grain-Free Freeze-Dried Cat Food

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Meat Mates Chicken Dinner Grain-Free Freeze-Dried Cat Food recipe is crafted with 99% single source New Zealand cage-free chicken and organs for a high-protein meal.

It has added New Zealand fish oil, vitamins and minerals to support your kitty’s overall health and well-being. this food is completely free of grains, GMOs, preservatives, fillers and each piece is freeze-dried.Made in the USA and made without grains, preservatives, fad fillers or GMOs.

#6 Vital Essentials Chicken Hearts Freeze-Dried Cat Treats

Vital Essentials Chicken Hearts Freeze-Dried Cat Treats are made with a fresh, single-source USDA animal protein. These treats go through a 48-hour freeze drying process, which slowly locks in the natural ingredients without ever cooking the meat.

They are totally free from grain and gluten with no added hormones, antibiotics, fillers, flavorings, artificial preservatives, colors, synthetic vitamins or minerals.These treats are made and sourced in the USA.

Conclusion

Raw diets are the natural choice for your cat and if you are unable to make it at home there are many commercial products. A raw cat food diet can help your cat with existing medical issues as well as improve his overall health.

*This article is for informational purposes only. It’s not intended to be a substitute for professional veterinary advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the benefits of raw freeze-dried cat food?

Freeze-dried raw cat food is created to lock in the flavors of the raw components used in making it making the animal proteins in it taste more authentic. It is also known to prevent disease, decrease allergies, improve oral health, produce less stool and improve the overall health of your cat.

How much raw food should I feed my cat?

Feeding your cat raw or wet food is based on body weight. Generally 2 to 4% of the cat's ideal body weight should be fed in portions per day. The less active your cat is means you can drop it closer to 2% while the more active would be closer to the 4% of ideal body weight.

How long can raw cat food be left out?

According to the USDA says Meat and Poultry should never be left out of refrigeration over 2 hours. Also, if the temperature of the food is above 90 °F, food should not be left out more than 1 hour.

How do I get my cat to eat raw cat food?

Place a tablespoon of raw food next to or mixed into their regular food. This allows the cat to associate raw food with regular meals. Add a little more each day to the regular food until your cat is eating raw food entirely. This can be a slow process and can take up to 7 days or more.