FreshPet Cat Food Review

FreshPet Cat Food Review

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Though fresh cat food delivery companies have really only started to gain traction in the last few years, fresh pet food is nothing new. FreshPet was started in 2006 as one of the first commercial fresh pet food companies and they have grown exponentially since then.

Today, they offer a wide variety of products for cats and dogs, making them available online and in fridges across the country.

Read on to see what we think of the brand and to see our reviews for their top products.

FreshPet Cat Food

Brand

Overall Score

Pros

• Made with real animal protein and other whole ingredients
• Easy to find online and in pet stores
• Wide variety of products for cats and dogs
• No product recalls in brand history

Cons

• Some recipes use carrageenan as a thickener
• Made with carbohydrates that offer limited nutrition (like tapioca starch)

Pros

• Made with real animal protein and other whole ingredients
• Easy to find online and in pet stores
• Wide variety of products for cats and dogs
• No product recalls in brand history

Cons

• Some recipes use carrageenan as a thickener
• Made with carbohydrates that offer limited nutrition (like tapioca starch)

Variety of Recipes

Ingredient Quality

Price Per Pound

Recall History

Availability

Customer Reviews

View on PetSmartView on AmazonView on ChewyView on Petco

How We Review Cat Food Brands

Your cat’s food is more than just what he eats for breakfast and dinner – it’s his primarily source of nutrition.

A balanced diet is essential for long-term health and wellness, and it should come from high-quality, natural ingredients. That’s what we look for in a good cat food brand.

Cats are obligate carnivores, so their bodies are designed to process animal products (meat) better than plant products. Animal proteins like meat, poultry, and fish should always be listed first for your cat’s food and carbohydrates should never outweigh the animal ingredients.

When evaluating a cat food brand, we take a comprehensive look at the brand and an in-depth look at their products. We know you want what’s best for your cat, and we’re here to help you find it.

Here are some of the things we look for in a good cat food brand:

• High-quality animal protein as the first ingredient
• Rich in healthy animal fats (ex: chicken fat or salmon oil)
• Few to no carbohydrate ingredients (especially within the top 5)
• Limited number of main ingredients plus vitamins, minerals and other supplements.
• No low-quality fillers, grains, or by-products

We really want to make sure any cat food brand we recommend to our readers is made with high-quality ingredients, but we evaluate several other factors as well.

We give preference to brands that offer a variety of recipes and those that provide plenty of information about their ingredients and products. We also consider pricing and recalls as well as the availability of the brand as a whole.

Overview of the FreshPet Brand

The FreshPet company started in 2006 with a mission “to revolutionize the way all pets are fed by making fresh, natural food.” The company started small but has grown to feed over 1 million pets and their products are sold in over 20,000 retailers across North America.

Fresh pet describes their products as “real pet food, fresh from the fridge” and that’s exactly what they are. These products are made with real, whole ingredients that are gently cooked without preservatives.

FreshPet’s gentle steam cooking process preserves the nutritional integrity of the raw ingredients and refrigeration keeps the products fresh without the need for artificial preservatives or synthetic vitamins.

Though they started out small, FreshPet has expanded greatly and currently offers dozens of different products across several product lines.

They suggest their fresh food provides the following benefits:

• Shinier, softer skin and coat
• Improved digestion
• Healthier weight
• Relief from food allergies
• Increased energy
• Maximum flavor (for picky eaters)

Though there are certainly some challenges involved in feeding your cat fresh food, the benefits are undisputable. FreshPet makes it easy to find a high-quality product your cat will love, and you don’t have to go any further than your local pet store or grocery store to get it.

What Kind of Cat Food Products Do They Offer?

FreshPet offers a wide variety of products for dogs and cats divided among several product lines. For cat food, their products are available in three lines: FreshPet Select,FreshPet Vital, and Nature’s Fresh.

FreshPet Select is made using fresh, whole, high-quality ingredients including 100% natural poultry, beef, and fish with no ingredients from China and no grains. Choose from pate rolls, wet food recipes, and moisture-rich tender bites.

The Vital product line is designed for simplicity. It includes only the nutrients your cat needs and nothing more. Nature’s Fresh cat food from FreshPet is made with a holistic approach to nutrition, thoughtfully prepared and made from locally sourced ingredients that are Global Animal Partnership (GAP) certified.

Here is the nutritional information for some of the most popular cat food recipes:

Product Recall History

Before switching your cat to a new pet food, it’s important to do your research on the brand. There are a number of ways to judge a brand’s quality and their recall history is one of them.

Having a recall or two doesn’t necessarily indicate a poor-quality brand, but a long list of recall points toward potential issues with ingredient quality or manufacturing.

FreshPet produces their foods in large batches, so there is some concern there. They state in the FAQ section of their website that “the only ingredients we’re interested in are the best ingredients we can find” and all ingredients are locally sourced, as much as possible.

Ingredients are delivered daily to their company kitchens in Bethlehem, PA and recipes are steamed at low temperature to maintain the nutritional values of the vitamins and minerals in the food.

Not only does FreshPet adhere to high standards for quality and safety, but the company hasn’t had any product recalls to date.

One thing worth noting here is that because FreshPet doesn’t sell directly to customers, retailers are responsible for storing the food properly and selling it by the right date. It’s possible that issues have been reported in the past but were attributed to retailer mishandling rather than an issue with the product itself.

Compare Freshpet Cat Food

1. FRESHPET Nature’s Fresh Grain Free Chicken Recipe for Cats Complete Meal View on FreshPet Read Review	2. FRESHPET Vital Grain Free Chicken & Beef Recipe for Cats Roll View on FreshPet Read Review	3. FRESHPET Vital Grain Free Chicken Recipe for Cats Complete Meal View on Petco Read Review	4. FRESHPET Select Grain Free Gourmet Pate with Salmon for Cats Roll View on FreshPet Read Review
Type of Food Fresh	Type of Food Fresh	Type of Food Fresh	Type of Food Fresh
First 5 Ingredients Chicken, chicken liver, natural flavors, pea protein, carrots	First 5 Ingredients Chicken, chicken broth, beef, chicken liver, natural flavors	First 5 Ingredients Chicken, chicken liver, natural flavors, pea protein, eggs	First 5 Ingredients Chicken, chicken broth, beef, chicken liver, salmon
Guaranteed Analysis 18% protein, 10.5% fat, 1.5% fiber, 65% moisture	Guaranteed Analysis 10% protein, 6% fat, 1% fiber, 78% moisture	Guaranteed Analysis 17% protein, 11% fat, 1.5% fiber, 65% moisture	Guaranteed Analysis 9% protein, 8% fat, 0.75% fiber, 78% moisture
Calories per Cup 221	Calories per Cup 1,200 kcal/kg	Calories per Cup 219	Calories per Cup 1,165 kcal/kg
Price Per Pound/Ounce $5.49/pound	Price Per Pound/Ounce $4.99/pound	Price Per Pound/Ounce $6.49	Price Per Pound/Ounce $4.24/pound

1.

FRESHPET Nature’s Fresh Grain Free Chicken Recipe for Cats Complete Meal

View on FreshPet

Product Info

• Type of Food: Fresh
• First 5 Ingredients: Chicken, chicken liver, natural flavors, pea protein, carrots
• Guaranteed Analysis: 18% protein, 10.5% fat, 1.5% fiber, 65% moisture
• Calories per Cup: 221
• Price Per Pound/Ounce: $5.49/pound

Guaranteed Analysis

Crude Protein: 18%

Crude Fat: 10.5%

Crude Fiber: 1.5%

Moisture: 65%

Dry Matter Basis

Protein: 51.43%

Fat: 30%

Fiber: 4.29%

Carbs: 14.29%

Ingredients

Chicken, Chicken Liver, Natural Flavors, Pea Protein, Carrots, Eggs, Pea Fiber, Vinegar, Spinach, Salt, Beta-Carotene, Fish Oil, Taurine, Celery Powder

Vitamins: Choline Chloride, Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, Thiamine Mononitrate, Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid

Minerals: Dicalcium Phosphate, Potassium Chloride, Calcium Carbonate, Iron Proteinate, Zinc Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Sodium Selenite, Calcium Iodate

If you’re used to feeding your cat dry food but you want to make the switch to fresh, something like this Nature’s Fresh Grain Free Chicken Recipe could be a good choice. It looks similar to kibble because it is formed in small bites, but the quality is higher.

This recipe features humanely raised fresh chicken with vitamin-rich peas and carrots in a grain-free formula. It also contains eggs, spinach, fish oil, and celery powder along with vitamins and minerals.

One ingredient worth noting is the pea protein, ingredient #4. Pea protein is a plant-based protein, so it provides less nutritional value than the chicken or chicken liver. It’s hard to tell how much of the protein comes from this source, however.

Overall, this seems to be a decent fresh food recipe. We would, of course, like to see another animal protein replace the pea protein, but there are no major red flags here.

2.

FRESHPET Vital Grain Free Chicken & Beef Recipe for Cats Roll

View on FreshPet

Product Info

• Type of Food: Fresh
• First 5 Ingredients: Chicken, chicken broth, beef, chicken liver, natural flavors
• Guaranteed Analysis: 10% protein, 6% fat, 1% fiber, 78% moisture
• Calories per Cup: 1,200 kcal/kg
• Price Per Pound/Ounce: $4.99/pound

Guaranteed Analysis

Crude Protein: 10%

Crude Fat: 6%

Crude Fiber: 1%

Moisture: 78%

Dry Matter Basis

Protein: 45.45%

Fat: 27.27%

Fiber: 4.55%

Carbs: 22.73%

Ingredients:

Chicken, Chicken Broth, Beef, Chicken Liver, Natural Flavors, Egg, Tapioca Starch, Pea Protein, Carrageenan, Pea Fiber, Salt, Potassium Chloride, Taurine, Celery Powder

Vitamins: Choline Chloride, Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, Thiamine Mononitrate, Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid

Minerals: Dicalcium Phosphate, Iron Proteinate, Zinc Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Sodium Selenite, Calcium Iodate

Another common way in which fresh pet food is presented is in rolls like this Vital Grain Free Chicken & Beef Recipe. You simply determine how much your cat needs according to his weight then slice the roll and chop it up in his bowl.

This recipe features fresh chicken and beef as the primary ingredients with chicken broth for moisture and flavor. This recipe also contains pea protein like the one before it, as well as tapioca starch and carrageenan, likely for thickening.

Carrageenan is a somewhat controversial ingredient in pet food because it has been linked to digestive upset. The tapioca starch seems to be the primary source of carbohydrate, though it likely helps thicken the product as well. The estimated carb content of this recipe is still under 5%, however.

3.

FRESHPET Vital Grain Free Chicken Recipe for Cats Complete Meal

View on Petco

Product Info

• Type of Food: Fresh
• First 5 Ingredients: Chicken, chicken liver, natural flavors, pea protein, eggs
• Guaranteed Analysis: 17% protein, 11% fat, 1.5% fiber, 65% moisture
• Calories per Cup: 219
• Price Per Pound/Ounce: $6.49

Guaranteed Analysis

Crude Protein: 17%

Crude Fat: 11%

Crude Fiber: 1.5%

Moisture: 65%

Dry Matter Basis

Protein: 48.57%

Fat: 31.43%

Fiber: 4.29%

Carbs: 15.71%

Ingredients:

Chicken, Chicken Liver, Natural Flavors, Pea Protein, Eggs, Carrots, Pea Fiber, Vinegar, Spinach, Salt, Beta-Carotene, Fish Oil, Taurine, Celery Powder

Vitamins: Choline Chloride, Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, Thiamine Mononitrate, Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid

Minerals: Dicalcium Phosphate, Potassium Chloride, Calcium Carbonate, Iron Proteinate, Zinc Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Sodium Selenite, Calcium Iodate

Another kibble-like fresh food, this Vital Grain Free Chicken Recipe is very similar to the first recipe reviewed. In fact, all six of the first ingredients are identical, with the eggs and carrots in swapped.

Again, pea protein is used as a primary ingredient and may contribute significantly to the total protein content of the formula. This recipe includes carrots and spinach as the primary carbohydrates, and as natural sources for key nutrients.

Another point worth noting is that FreshPet uses chelated minerals in their foods. Chelated minerals are simply mineral supplements that have been chemically bound to protein molecules which increases their absorption and utilization in your cat’s body.

4.

FRESHPET Select Grain Free Gourmet Pate with Salmon for Cats Roll

View on FreshPet

Product Info

• Type of Food: Fresh
• First 5 Ingredients: Chicken, chicken broth, beef, chicken liver, salmon
• Guaranteed Analysis: 9% protein, 8% fat, 0.75% fiber, 78% moisture
• Calories per Cup: 1,165 kcal/kg
• Price Per Pound/Ounce: $4.24/pound

Guaranteed Analysis

Crude Protein: 9%

Crude Fat: 8%

Crude Fiber: 0.75%

Moisture: 78%

Dry Matter Basis

Protein: 40.91%

Fat: 36.36%

Fiber: 3.41%

Carbs: 19.32%

Ingredients:

Chicken, Chicken Broth, Beef, Chicken Liver, Salmon, Natural Flavors, Tapioca Starch, Eggs, Pea Protein Isolate, Carrageenan, Pea Fiber, Salt, Potassium Chloride, Celery Powder, Taurine

Vitamins: Choline Chloride, Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, Thiamine Mononitrate, Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid

Minerals: Dicalcium Phosphate, Iron Proteinate, Zinc Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Sodium Selenite, Calcium Iodate

This fresh cat food roll is designed with fresh fillets of salmon on the package. If you take a look at the ingredients list, however, you’ll see that it isn’t even listed until fifth. The main proteins are actually chicken, beef, and chicken liver.

Though this recipe already has three sources of animal protein (as well as eggs), it still includes pea protein isolate. Considering the overall protein content is only 9% (41% dry matter), it’s hard to say how much of that is animal versus plant-based protein.

Other than the protein ingredients, this recipe only includes tapioca starch, carrageenan, pea fiber, and celery powder (plus supplements for nutritional balance). The same potential issues with carrageenan apply here and we wouldn’t mind seeing a more nutritious source of carbohydrate than tapioca starch, though it is more likely used for thickening here than nutrition.

What Do Customers Think of FreshPet Cat Food?

FreshPet post customer reviews on their website but, from what I can tell, they only seem to publish positive reviews. In 24 pages of reviews, I didn’t find a significant number of ratings below 4 stars.

To get a more unbiased sense of what customers really think, I consulted ConsumerAffairs.com. FreshPet has roughly 500 reviews on this website and carries an overall 4 out of 5-star rating. General speaking, customers seem to be pleased with the quality of ingredients and with the food itself.

Among the negative reviews, several customers report incidents of vomiting and diarrhea. It’s worth noting that these reviews were published in 2020, so it’s entirely possible that FreshPet has addressed the issue since then.

Here are a few customer reviews of FreshPet fresh cat food:

Positive Reviews

“I have a 12 year old pug who has been struggling lately with eating his kibble (good ole pug teeth :)). I was nervous about switching over to fresh food after all these years of him on the same kibble, but I decided last night to buy a small bag to try it out. After days of turning his nose to his food, I gave him a small amount of Freshpet in his kibble last night and then again this morning. He inhaled his food! It has only been a few meals, but I am feeling good about it so far. I am hoping that once we move to 100% Freshpet and no kibble, that he will have an easier time eating his food.” – Kristin of Clearwater, FL

“This is the only food my 3 dogs will eat it fresh and natural, they love the variety of cranberries and carrots. Price is reasonable and you can find it in the refrigerator in the pet aisle! Worth every penny.” – April of Brockton, MA

Negative Reviews

“I have been feeding Freshpet to both my approx 14-16-year-old chihuahua mix and my 1.5 year old chihuahua mix for about the last 3 to 4 months. I have tried different products, i.e. protein formula however this formula seemed to be their favorite. Over the last week which has been the same time frame in which they have been eating a bag with expiration date Nov 2020 both dogs have been vomiting. The older dog has also had a small amount of blood in his feces. Both have been gasping for air though this has happened inconsistently.” – Shawnda of Old Hickory, TN

“We are new to Freshpet and have purchased several rolls of the chicken and the beef recipe for our Shephard. She was enjoying the product, but we noticed this week for a few days she was lethargic, off her food and vomiting. No runny stools. But, definitely looking unwell. She has been on homecooked food for several years, but we thought with the price of meat that we would try your product. I have decided not to purchase in the future because the last beef roll (6#) was slimy. Only on the outside of the roll, but it was very concerning. I noticed other posts with the same concern and Freshpet’s response was they would be contacting the customer. Freshpet’s voicebox for customer service was full. I will be cooking her meals at home again.” – Barbara of Spanaway, WA

How Much Does FreshPet Cat Food Cost?

You should expect fresh pet food to cost more than traditional kibble, largely due to the fact that it needs to be refrigerated to keep it fresh. This increases costs for both manufacturers and retailers.

The cost of FreshPet is significantly higher than typical dry foods, but you’ll find it’s on par with many fresh pet food companies.

You should be prepared to spend at least $4 per pound, sometimes over $6 per pound, for FreshPet. Their wet food products (like the stews) are priced around $0.50/ounce.

To give you a better idea how FreshPet stacks up against other cat food brands, here is a quick chart to show you some average prices:

Where Can You Buy FreshPet Cat Food?

What makes FreshPet unique from other fresh pet food companies is that you can find their products in many stores, and not just pet stores. FreshPet offers their products in many grocery stores and big box stores with branded refrigerators.

You can also find their food in the refrigerated section of major pet stores like Petco and PetSmart. Online, you can order FreshPet from major retailers like Walmart and Petco as well as AmazonFresh and Prime Now.

Our Final Thoughts: Is FreshPet a Good Brand?

Overall, we’d say FreshPet is a decent introduction to fresh food for cats.

We like that it is easy to find in pet stores (and grocery stores), though the online offerings are still a little limited. It’s fairly pricy as well, compared to traditional kibble, but is in line with other fresh food brands.

In terms of the quality of FreshPet products, there are both ups and downs. We like the use of real animal protein and other whole ingredients, but we could do without the pea protein.

We were disappointed to see controversial ingredients like carrageenan as well as carbohydrates with limited nutritional value like tapioca starch.

If you’re considering fresh food but you’re not sure it’s worth the price or that your cat will eat it, FreshPet could be a good steppingstone in the right direction. You can certainly find higher quality fresh foods, but we didn’t have any major gripes with this brand on the whole.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do veterinarians recommend Freshpet cat food?

Yes many veterinarians that we've spoken to recommend FreshPet cat food due to the high quality ingredients used and overall good reputation in terms of palatability and quality control.

Is there any recalls on FreshPet cat food?

Not only does FreshPet adhere to high standards for quality and safety, but the company hasn’t had any product recalls to date.

Is FreshPet food safe for cats?

Yes, FreshPet food is perfectly safe for dogs to eat.

Is Freshpet easily digestible?

Yes FreshPet cat food is highly digestible due to use of real animal protein and other whole ingredients, some cats that are sensitive to pea protein might have a harder time with digestion.

Is Freshpet cat food made in China?

No, All Freshpet foods are steam-cooked in Freshpet’s company-owned Pennsylvania facility.