Top frozen and freeze dried raw cat food năm 2024
Giving your kitties the best in life is something every cat parent strives for—and making the switch to a more health-conscious diet is one of the easiest ways to ensure that your feline companions are well-nourished, strong, and happy. Show
Freeze-dried cat food is an excellent option for cat parents looking to provide a well-balanced diet that their cats will enjoy eating. Featured in this article
What Is Freeze-Dried Cat Food?Although it might sound fancy or complicated, freeze-dried cat food is quite simply a blend of meats and veggies that has gone through a freezing and drying process that sucks all of the moisture out of it. Not only does this multi-step process allow for the safe and extended storage of fresh ingredients, it also makes it easy for pet parents to provide all-natural (and usually raw) cuts of meat and organs without any filler or preservatives—all you have to do is add a bit of water to rehydrate the shelf-stable formula. Freeze-dried cat food differs from frozen raw cat food, which is stored in the freezer and needs to be thawed before serving. What’s more, most freeze-dried brands on the market are made with indulgent ingredients, like lamb, salmon, and even mussels and rabbit, that will make any cat feel like royalty while also benefiting their overall health and digestion in ways that kibble and most wet food simply cannot. Benefits of Freeze-Dried Cat FoodIt should really come as no surprise that just as humans do, cats also benefit from eating a healthy diet with organic, non-processed food, which is the perfect reason to change your cat to a freeze-dried diet. According to Dr. Georgina Ushi, medical director at Pet Urgent Care of Wesley Chapel, switching from wet food or dried kibble to a freeze-dried diet is beneficial to almost all cats, at any stage of life. “Feeding your cat with freeze-dried food is arguably the most nutritional and complete diet you could get for your furry friend, as it’s rich in vitamins, nutrients, and enzymes,” she explains. “Besides, this type of food is extremely convenient for owners as well since it can be stored at room temperature for long periods and it’s easy to take on-the-go.” Freeze-Dried Cat Food: What to Look ForWhen you’re shopping for the best freeze-dried cat food, there are certain things you’ll want to check before serving up dinner for your cats. Here are a few key factors to keep an eye on when selecting a new food: Look for high-quality ingredients: Don’t assume that just because you’re going raw that you don’t have to check the ingredients list for filler products or antibiotics! Look for terms like GMO-free and sustainably sourced—and avoid anything that has unnecessary legumes, corn, or grain. Consider ease of use: Committing to a freeze-dried diet requires a bit more work than kibble or wet food since you may need to soak it in warm water or broth before serving—but there are certain brands that can also be fed dry or that come broken into small niblets, requiring less prep on your end. Check out other pet parents’ reviews: Some formulas and brands work better for different cats. If you’re curious to see how other pet parents have fared while making the switch to freeze-dried food, consider checking out some verified customer reviews. The 7 Best Freeze-Dried Cat FoodsAll featured products are chosen at the discretion of the author. However, Vetstreet may make a small affiliate commission if you click through and make a purchase. Best Overall Freeze-Dried Cat FoodOur pick: Smalls Freeze-Dried Raw Cat Food 25% off + free treats for life with code VETSTREET5 FlavorChickenTurkeyDuckLife StageAllAllAllFormFreeze driedFreeze driedFreeze driedProtein (Ingredients)Finely ground chicken with bone, chicken heart, chicken liver, chicken gizzard, chicken egg, goat’s milkFinely ground turkey with bone, turkey heart, turkey liver, turkey gizzard, goat’s milk, turkey eggFinely ground duck with bone, duck heart, duck liver, duck gizzard, duck egg, duck blood, goat’s milkProtein Analysis45% min49% min45% minMeets AAFCO Standards?YesYesYes Switching from wet food or dried kibble to a freeze-dried raw diet may be an adjustment for your cat, but Smalls Freeze-Dried Raw Cat Food makes it a much easier experience all around thanks to their smaller sized packaging and an affordable price tag. You can start with a sampler box that features multiple flavors. That way you can see which ones stick without having to commit to a large amount of food that your kitties might not gravitate toward. Plus, if your cat doesn’t eat the food, the company will refund you! Highlights
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Sample buyer review: “Our cat loves Smalls so much that he basically sings Opera when it’s time to eat and he’s lost a little bit of his chonk for his previous food and is overall so spritely and happy and healthy!” Best Novel Protein Freeze-Dried Cat FoodOur pick: Stella & Chewy’s Freeze-Dried Raw Dinner Morsels FlavorRabbitDuck and GooseTurkeySalmon and CodSalmon and ChickenChickenLife StageAdultAdultAdultAdultAdultAdultFormFreeze driedFreeze driedFreeze driedFreeze driedFreeze driedFreeze driedProtein (Ingredients)Rabbit with ground bone, rabbit liverDuck and turkey with ground bone, turkey liver, goose, turkey gizzard Turkey with ground bone, turkey liver, turkey gizzardSalmon and cod with ground boneSalmon and chicken with ground bone, chicken liver, chicken gizzardChicken with ground bone, chicken liver, chicken gizzardProtein Analysis44% min40% min40% min45% min45% min45% minCalories131 kcal/oz.149 kcal/oz.208 kcal/oz.126 kcal/oz.125 kcal/oz.182 kcal/cupMeets AAFCO Standards?YesYesYesYesYesYesLooking for a well-rounded freeze-dried cat food that’s both natural and easy to serve come dinner time? Stella & Chewy’s Freeze-Dried Raw Dinner Morsels comes recommended by Dr. Ushi. “It’s easy to notice Stella & Chewy’s food is made with premium ingredients and most cats love it,” shares Dr. Ushi. Aside from rabbit, the food comes in a wide variety of flavors, including chicken, duck, salmon and chicken, salmon and cod, and turkey recipes. Highlights
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Sample buyer review: “My kitten loves this food. I let it rehydrate in some water for a few minutes and she gobbles it up. I would recommend breaking up the pieces if you have a young kitten and it’s too big for them to chew.” Best High-Meat Freeze-Dried Cat FoodOur pick: Feline Natural Freeze-Dried Cat Food FlavorLamb and SalmonBeef and HokiChicken and LambLife StageAll All All FormFreeze driedFreeze driedFreeze driedProtein (Ingredients)Lamb heart, salmon, lamb kidney, lamb liver, lamb blood, New Zealand green musselBeef heart, hoki, beef, beef kidney, beef liver, beef blood, New Zealand green musselChicken, lamb heart, lamb kidney, lamb liver, lamb blood, New Zealand green musselProtein Analysis44% min47% min48% minCalories239 kcal/cup205 kcal/cup185 kcal/cupMeets AAFCO Standards?YesYesYesNew Zealand-based Feline Natural is made with both sustainability and health at the forefront. Their recipes feature sustainably-caught and free-range ingredients, like New Zealand green lipped mussels and grass-fed lamb, to ensure both a great taste that your cats will instantly warm to and an eco-friendly approach to store-bought cat food. Highlights
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Sample buyer review: “Feline Natural Feast Freeze-Dried Cat Food is a winner at our house. I use it mixed with dry food for between meals, or as a meal on it’s own and sometimes add a bit of warm water to rehydrate and create a juice. The cats enjoy it however it’s served!” Best Freeze-Dried Cat Food for Sensitive StomachsOur pick: Instinct Raw Meals Freeze-Dried Cat Food Crafted from a mix of 85 percent protein and 15 percent stomach-friendly veggies, the Instinct Raw Meals freeze-dried cat food was designed to help cats of all ages achieve leaner muscle, stronger bones, and healthier fur—while also being easy on digestion. In fact, the unique combination of ingredients is even said to make their visits to the litter box much less smelly. Highlights
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Sample buyer review: “My kittens have now learned how to pull out the cloth bin I keep these in, reach in, claw out the bag, tear it open, and eat the whole thing. They go absolutely bananas for this stuff. I use this as a treat to supplement their diet. It had the side effect of making their poop smell a lot better too so I will keep it in their diet. My 12 year old girl is also becoming picky and she likes these too.” Best Freeze-Dried Cat Food for SeniorsOur pick: Primal Freeze-Dried Nuggets for Cats FlavorTurkeyChicken and SalmonPorkVenisonBeef and SalmonRabbitDuckLife StageAdultAdultAdultAdultAdultAdultAdultFormFreeze driedFreeze driedFreeze driedFreeze driedFreeze driedFreeze driedFreeze driedProtein (Ingredients)Turkey with ground bone, turkey liversChicken with ground bone, chicken livers, salmonPork hearts, ground pork bones, pork livers Venison, venison hearts, ground venison bones, venison liversBeef hearts, ground beef bones, beef livers, salmon Rabbit with ground bone, rabbit liversDuck with ground bone, duck liversProtein Analysis48% min49% min48% min54% min36% min57% min33% minCalories123 kcal/oz205 kcal/cup128 kcal/oz125 kcal/oz138 kcal/oz111 kcal/oz126 kcal/ozMeets AAFCO Standards?YesYesYesYesYesYesYesMade in the USA using hormone-free meat, organs, and freshly ground bone, Primal Freeze-Dried Nuggets come as an excellent option for pet parents concerned about their cats getting enough protein and calcium. The convenient nugget shape is made to be pressed and broken into bite-size pieces, which ends up looking and tasting very similar to traditional wet food—a huge plus for picky or older cats. Highlights
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Sample buyer review: “My cat loves this flavor, and because of its denser texture I’m able to cut it up to use as treats for him. Much healthier than feeding him treats that include potato or corn.” Best Freeze-Dried Cat TreatOur pick: PureBites Freeze Dried Cat Treats FlavorBeef LiverChicken and DuckChicken and LambMinnowOcean WhitefishTunaTurkeyLife StageAdultAdultAdultAdultAdultAdultAdultFormFreeze driedFreeze driedFreeze driedFreeze driedFreeze driedFreeze driedFreeze driedProtein (Ingredients)Beef liverChicken breast, duck liverChicken breast, lamb liverMinnowOcean whitefishTunaTurkeyProtein Analysis64% min72% min70% min70% min40% min80% min75% minCalories3 kcal/treat2 kcal/treat2 kcal/treat1 kcal/treat2 kcal/treat2 kcal/treat2 kcal/treatMeets AAFCO Standards?Feed as a healthy treatFeed as a healthy treatFeed as a healthy treatFeed as a healthy treatFeed as a healthy treatN/AN/ALooking to shift your cat’s diet but not sure if they’ll warm to freeze-dried cat food? Consider picking up a couple packages of the PureBites Freeze Dried Cat Treats. Like freeze-dried cat food, these healthy treats offer the same all-natural nutrients without fillers or added sugar and provide a good way to start gauging your cat’s interest in a more natural food. Start by using it as a treat replacement or sprinkling it on top of their usual kibble or wet food. Highlights
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Sample buyer review: “Our cat is a little overweight but we still wanted to give her treats. These treats are the best choice as they’re natural, low fat and easy to break into smaller pieces to control portion sizes. The best thing is that our cat loves them!” Best Functional Freeze-Dried Cat Food TopperOur pick: Instinct Freeze-Dried Raw Boost Mixers FlavorSkin & Coat HealthDigestive HealthLife StageAdultAdultFormFreeze driedFreeze driedProtein (Ingredients)Chicken with ground bone, chicken liver, chicken heart, codChicken with ground bone, chicken liver, chicken heartProtein Analysis36% min36%Calories19 kcal/tablespoon18 kcal/tablespoonMeets AAFCO Standards?Intermittent or supplemental feeding onlyIntermittent or supplemental feeding onlyThese grain-free Raw Boost Mixers from Instinct pull double-duty as a tasty freeze-dried meal topper and a functional food. They have a Digestive Health recipe that is rich in fiber and live natural probiotics to help support a cat’s digestion. Ingredients include chicken, pumpkin, sweet potato, chicory root, and apple cider vinegar. There’s also a Skin & Coat Health recipe packed with omega fatty acids to promote healthy skin and a shiny coat. Ingredients in this recipe include chicken, cod, flaxseed, salmon oil, chia seeds, and cranberries. These meal enhancements can help entice picky cats to eat and can also be used as a yummy treat. Highlights
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Sample buyer review: “Definitely the best solution I have found. Our kitties tend to be a bit picky, they are 11 years old and slightly overweight. They both have some digestive issues also. Adding this to the top of their food twice a day has made their litter box trips regular (I had one kitty that definitely had more than occasional constipation issues). They also have much less frequent upset stomach/vomiting/hairballs.” Freeze-Dried Cat Food FAQStill unsure about whether you want to make the switch to freeze-dried cat food? Here are answers to some of the more commonly asked questions: Is freeze dried food good for cats?Most freeze-dried cat foods are minimally processed, grain-free, and contain limited ingredients. They are higher in protein, lower in carbs, and rich in nutrients and antioxidants. Potential health benefits of feeding freeze-dried raw cat food may include higher energy, healthier skin and coat, and more regular bowel movements. Pet parents also typically find freeze-dried raw food to be more convenient than feeding a completely raw diet. Is freeze dried raw cat food safe?Many freeze-dry processes do not involve heating in order to preserve the integrity and nutritional quality of the ingredients. However, freeze-drying alone will not completely eliminate all microbial pathogens. Some brands use high-pressure processing (HPP) to destroy potentially harmful bacteria like Salmonella, E. coli and Listeria without affecting the nutritional value of the food. To help avoid food-borne illness, check to ensure the cat food brand you choose sends their batches to a third-party facility to be tested for these bacteria and that the results are readily accessible on their website. Since these bacteria also pose a risk to humans, you should always make sure to wash your hands after handling your pet’s food, wipe down any surfaces the food came in contact with, and regularly clean your cat’s bowls. If you’re unsure about whether freeze-dried raw cat food is safe for your pet, talk to your veterinarian. If you have a kitten, for example, your vet may not advise feeding this type of food, since kittens are more vulnerable to illness-causing bacteria as their immune system develops. How to feed freeze dried cat food?To feed freeze-dried cat food, you may need to rehydrate it with warm water or low sodium or unsalted broth before serving. The package instructions should describe the appropriate ratio of liquid to food. You may need to break the food into smaller pieces to help distribute the moisture. Other products come in smaller niblets or can be fed dry—just make sure your cat has access to fresh water during mealtime. Is freezeRaw pet food poses similar risks for pathogenic bacteria as do raw meat and eggs for humans (2,15). Freezing, freeze-drying, or dehydration results in a reduction in bacterial counts but viable pathogenic bacteria survive (2–5,15). Do vets recommend freezeFreeze-dried food is not considered safe for dogs, and many vets discourage pet parents from feeding their dogs raw foods in any form because of the risk of contamination and sickness. What brand of raw cat food is the best?The 10 Best Raw Cat Foods. Feline Natural Chicken & Lamb Feast Grain-Free Freeze-Dried Cat Food, 11-oz bag. ... . Instinct Freeze-Dried Raw Boost Mixers Grain-Free Digestive Health Recipe Cat Food Topper, 5.5-oz bag. ... . A Better Treat Freeze-Dried Salmon Dog & Cat Treat, 3-oz bag.. Is frozen raw food good for cats?While some raw cat foods may provide cats with excellent nutrition, they are still not without their drawbacks. Studies reveal that commercially prepared raw pet foods suffer from increased levels of contamination with potential pathogens like Salmonella, Listeria, and E. Coli in comparison to “regular” pet foods. |