The Real Meat Company Cat Food Review

The Real Meat Company Cat Food Review

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Cats are obligate carnivores which means they are biologically evolved to require a meat-based diet. When shopping for cat food, real meat should always be the first ingredient you look for.

The Real Meat Company understands what pets need and they created a company with the mission of providing for those needs. This company specializes in air-dried pet food that contains over 90% air-dried free-range meat and organs for optimal health and digestibility. Simply put, if you want to satisfy your cat’s carnivorous cravings, look no further.

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

The Real Meat Company Cat Food

Brand

Overall Score

Pros

• Made with 90% meat and organs
• Ground bone as a natural source of nutrients
• Ground bone as a natural source of nutrients

Cons

• A little harder to find than some brands

Pros

• Made with 90% meat and organs
• Ground bone as a natural source of nutrients
• Ground bone as a natural source of nutrients

Cons

• A little harder to find than some brands

Variety of Recipes

Ingredient Quality

Price Per Pound

Recall History

Availability

Customer Reviews

View On AmazonView On Realmeatpet.com

How We Review Cat Food Brands

All cat food is created equal, or so many cat owners think. It’s hard to think differently when every bag of kibble looks more or less identical. You could spend all day wandering through the pet store and still have no idea if one brand is better than another.

Pet food manufacturers are businesses like any other, so they want to make money. Marketing plays a major role, but the company’s bottom line also drives decisions when it comes to choosing quality ingredients and trusting certain manufacturers. The last thing you want to do is trust your cat’s health and nutrition to a company who doesn’t care about anything more than dollar signs.

If you’re feeling a little bit overwhelmed by the pressure to pick a good cat food, don’t worry – we’re here to help! It’s our goal to provide you with the background you need on your cat’s nutritional requirements and an in-depth look into some of the top brands to help you make a choice.

We don’t play favorites when it comes to cat food, though we do have certain preferences and standards in mind. We only recommend cat food that starts with a real animal protein as the first ingredient and we don’t recommend formulas that are loaded with carbohydrates.

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 supplements
• No low-quality fillers, grains, or by-products

In addition to making sure any cat food brand we recommend is made with high-quality ingredients, we evaluate several other factors as well. We prefer brands that offer a wide 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 Real Meat Company Brand

When it comes to cat food, you may think it’s all the same. If you’re shopping for kibble, you’re probably right. Most commercial cat foods are made using the extrusion process which subjects a mixed recipe to high temperatures to create those hard, dry pieces your cat eats.

The Real Meat Company is different. Their recipes are air-dried and meat-based.

This company uses real meat in their recipes (in case it wasn’t clear from the name) and they source that meat from free-range farms. The animals are humanely raised without antibiotics or growth hormones, and their fish is wild-caught straight from the ocean. The Real Meat Company prides themselves in making their foods without artificial flavorings or preservatives, and they don’t use grains or fillers.

All of The Real Meat Company’s products are packed in either the United States or New Zealand with meats sourced from the USA, New Zealand, and Australia.

We weren’t able to find too many specific details about The Real Meat Company in terms of ownership. It appears to be an independently owned company based in California. They offer a variety of dog and cat food products including air-dried recipes, wet foods, and jerky treats.

What Kind of Cat Food Products Do They Offer?

When you shop for cat food, you probably look for products specifically made for cats. At The Real Meat Company, recipes are formulated for both dogs and cats, aside from the wet food recipes.

Here’s what the company has to say:

“How, it’s simple our name says it all, REAL MEAT, packed full of natural nutrition for our carnivore companions! We add a few veggies, vitamins and minerals to supplement the nutrition nature provides, to ensure your dog or cat is getting the goodness they need.”

The Real Meat Company uses a variety of proteins including common meats and poultry like beef, chicken, and turkey as well as more uncommon options like lamb and venison. Whether your cat has traditional tastes or specific needs due to allergies, you can find a recipe that works.

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

Product Recall History

You want to give your cat a diet that will not only be healthy, but also safe. Unfortunately, you can’t always take what pet food manufacturers say at face value. They are businesses, after all, and marketing schemes are designed to draw in customers.

If you want to get an understand for the brand as a whole, start with the products themselves. Take a look at the list of ingredients and guaranteed analysis for some of their top products. If they seem pretty good, move on to learning more about the company’s sourcing of ingredients and their manufacturing processes. If you find red flags here, you may want to rethink and start shopping around.

One aspect of a company’s history you should check is their product recall history.

A product recall happens when an issue is discovered with the product and it needs to be removed from sale for the protection of pets and consumers. It’s not uncommon for companies to experience recalls, but if the brand has a long list of recalls it’s definitely a red flag. Recalls can happen for minor issues like labeling errors or for serious things like contaminated ingredients.

In our research, we weren’t able to find anything suggesting The Real Meat Company had had any recalls in the brand’s history.

Compare The Real Meat Company Cat Food

1. THE REAL MEAT COMPANY Beef Recipe Dog & Cat Food View on RealMeatPet Read Review	2. THE REAL MEAT COMPANY Chicken Recipe Dog & Cat Food View on RealMeatPet Read Review	3. THE REAL MEAT COMPANY Lamb & Fish Recipe Dog & Cat Food View on RealMeatPet Read Review	4. THE REAL MEAT COMPANY Turkey Recipe Dog & Cat Food View on RealMeatPet Read Review	5. THE REAL MEAT COMPANY Venison Recipe Dog & Cat Food View on RealMeatPet Read Review
Type of Food Dry	Type of Food Dry	Type of Food Dry	Type of Food Dry	Type of Food Dry
First 5 Ingredients Beef, beef lung, beef liver, vegetable glycerin, pumpkin powder	First 5 Ingredients Chicken, chicken liver, chicken heart, chicken gizzard, chicken neck	First 5 Ingredients Lamb, lamb lung, lamb liver, mackerel, hoki	First 5 Ingredients Turkey, turkey liver, turkey heart, turkey gizzard, turkey neck	First 5 Ingredients Venison, venison heart, venison lung, venison liver, vegetable glycerin
Guaranteed Analysis 30% protein, 27% fat, 2% fiber, 15% moisture	Guaranteed Analysis 30% protein, 25% fat, 2% fiber, 15% moisture	Guaranteed Analysis 39% protein, 23% fat, 3% fiber, 14% moisture	Guaranteed Analysis 29% protein, 26% fat, 3% fiber, 14% moisture	Guaranteed Analysis 39% protein, 23% fat, 3% fiber, 14% moisture
Calories per Cup 435 kcal/cup	Calories per Cup 439 kcal/cup	Calories per Cup 420 kcal/cup	Calories per Cup 453 kcal/cup	Calories per Cup 420 kcal/cup
Price Per Pound/Ounce $1.50/ounce	Price Per Pound/Ounce $1.50/ounce	Price Per Pound/Ounce $1.50/ounce	Price Per Pound/Ounce $1.68/ounce	Price Per Pound/Ounce $1.50/ounce

1.

THE REAL MEAT COMPANY Beef Recipe Dog & Cat Food

View on RealMeatPet

Product Info

• Type of Food: Dry
• First 5 Ingredients: Beef, beef lung, beef liver, vegetable glycerin, pumpkin powder
• Guaranteed Analysis: 30% protein, 27% fat, 2% fiber, 15% moisture
• Calories per Cup: 435 kcal/cup
• Price Per Pound/Ounce: $1.50/ounce

Guaranteed Analysis

Crude Protein: 30%

Crude Fat: 27%

Crude Fiber: 2%

Moisture: 15%

Dry Matter Basis

Protein: 35.29%

Fat: 31.76%

Fiber: 2.35%

Carbs: 30.59%

Ingredients:

Beef, Beef Lung, Beef Liver, Vegetable Glycerin, Pumpkin Powder, Parsley Powder, Inulin(From Chicory Root), Ground Beef Bone, Dried Marine Microalgae, Mixed Tocopherols, Potassium Chloride, Rosemary Powder, Taurine, Choline Chloride, Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Sunflower Oil, Calcium Carbonate, Vitamin E Supplement, Selenium Yeast, Folic Acid, Biotin, L-Tyrosine, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Niacin Supplement, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Calcium Iodate, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement.

This air-dried beef recipe is formulated for both dogs and cats, made with 90% beef and beef organs. The first ingredient is fresh beef, followed by beef lung and liver.

Other notable ingredients in this recipe include pumpkin and parsley powder, ground beef bone, and dried marine microalgae. Beef bone is an excellent source of natural minerals like calcium and phosphorus – the marine microalgae likely provides nutrients as well. The remaining mineral supplements are chelated which helps improve absorption.

One thing worth noting about The Real Meat Company recipes is that the calorie content is over 420 kcal/cup, so pay attention to the feeding instructions to prevent overfeeding.

2.

THE REAL MEAT COMPANY Chicken Recipe Dog & Cat Food

View on RealMeatPet

Product Info

• Type of Food: Dry
• First 5 Ingredients: Chicken, chicken liver, chicken heart, chicken gizzard, chicken neck
• Guaranteed Analysis: 30% protein, 25% fat, 2% fiber, 15% moisture
• Calories per Cup: 439 kcal/cup
• Price Per Pound/Ounce: $1.50/ounce

Guaranteed Analysis

Crude Protein: 30%

Crude Fat: 25%

Crude Fiber: 2%

Moisture: 15%

Dry Matter Basis

Protein: 35.29%

Fat: 29.41%

Fiber: 2.35%

Carbs: 32.94%

Ingredients:

Chicken, Chicken Liver, Chicken Heart, Chicken Gizzard, Chicken Neck, Vegetable Glycerin, Pumpkin Powder, Parsley Powder, Inulin(From Chicory Root), Ground Chicken Bone, Dried Marine Microalgae, Mixed Tocopherols, Potassium Chloride, Rosemary Powder, Taurine, Choline Chloride, Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Sunflower Oil, Calcium Carbonate, Vitamin E Supplement, Selenium Yeast, Folic Acid, Biotin, L-Tyrosine, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Niacin Supplement, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Calcium Iodate, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement.

Similar to the previous formula, this recipe starts with the main ingredient for which it is named: chicken. In addition to fresh chicken, you’ll find an assortment of chicken organs including liver, heart and gizzard as well as chicken necks, a source of raw bone (though ground bone is included as well).

This formula is similar in the nutritional profile to the previous recipe and the remaining ingredients on the list are as well. Sunflower oil seems to be the primary source of added fat. Though we’d prefer an animal-based fat, it may be used to help balance out the omega fatty acid content.

3.

THE REAL MEAT COMPANY Lamb & Fish Recipe Dog & Cat Food

View on RealMeatPet

Product Info

• Type of Food: Dry
• First 5 Ingredients: Lamb, lamb lung, lamb liver, mackerel, hoki
• Guaranteed Analysis: 39% protein, 23% fat, 3% fiber, 14% moisture
• Calories per Cup: 420 kcal/cup
• Price Per Pound/Ounce: $1.50/ounce

Guaranteed Analysis

Crude Protein: 39%

Crude Fat: 23%

Crude Fiber: 3%

Moisture: 14%

Dry Matter Basis

Protein: 45.35%

Fat: 26.74%

Fiber: 3.49%

Carbs: 24.42%

Ingredients:

Lamb, lamb Lung , Lamb Liver, Mackerel, Hoki, Vegetable Glycerin, Pumpkin Powder, Parsley Powder, Inulin(From Chicory Root), Ground Lamb Bone, Dried Marine Microalgae, Mixed Tocopherols, Potassium Chloride, Rosemary Powder, Taurine, Choline Chloride, Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Sunflower Oil, Calcium Carbonate, Vitamin E Supplement, Selenium Yeast, Folic Acid, Biotin, L-Tyrosine, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Niacin Supplement, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Calcium Iodate, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement.

This lamb and fish recipe includes both lamb ingredients and two types of fish. The first ingredient is fresh lamb, followed by lamb lung and lamb liver. Next, you’ll find fresh mackerel and hoki. Unsurprisingly, we don’t see fish organs on the ingredients list.

Like the previous recipes, this formula contains ground bone (from lamb here) as well as dried marine microalgae as a source of nutrients and various forms of fiber like pumpkin powder and parsley powder. Again, sunflower oil is the main source of added fat.

4.

THE REAL MEAT COMPANY Turkey Recipe Dog & Cat Food

View on RealMeatPet

Product Info

• Type of Food: Dry
• First 5 Ingredients: Turkey, turkey liver, turkey heart, turkey gizzard, turkey neck
• Guaranteed Analysis: 29% protein, 26% fat, 3% fiber, 14% moisture
• Calories per Cup: 453 kcal/cup
• Price Per Pound/Ounce: $1.68/ounce

Guaranteed Analysis

Crude Protein: 29%

Crude Fat: 26%

Crude Fiber: 3%

Moisture: 14%

Dry Matter Basis

Protein: 33.72%

Fat: 30.23%

Fiber: 3.49%

Carbs: 32.56%

Ingredients:

Turkey, Turkey Liver, Turkey Heart, Turkey Gizzard, Turkey Neck, Vegetable Glycerin, Pumpkin Powder, Parsley Powder, Inulin(From Chicory Root), Ground Turkey Bone, Dried Marine Microalgae, Mixed Tocopherols, Potassium Chloride, Rosemary Powder, Taurine, Choline Chloride, Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Sunflower Oil, Calcium Carbonate, Vitamin E Supplement, Selenium Yeast, Folic Acid, Biotin, L-Tyrosine, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Niacin Supplement, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Calcium Iodate, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement.

Back to single protein recipes, this formula features turkey. Fresh turkey is the first ingredient, followed by turkey liver, heart, gizzard, and neck. We love that animal proteins make up the first five ingredients in this formula and we can’t complain that it’s a single-source protein recipe either.

This recipe is a little lower in protein than the previous but higher in fat, which is a little surprising, though certainly not a problem. Sunflower oil seems to be the only source of added fat, though animal organs tend to be fairly high in fat as well.

5.

THE REAL MEAT COMPANY Venison Recipe Dog & Cat Food

View on RealMeatPet

Product Info

• Type of Food: Dry
• First 5 Ingredients: Venison, venison heart, venison lung, venison liver, vegetable glycerin
• Guaranteed Analysis: 39% protein, 23% fat, 3% fiber, 14% moisture
• Calories per Cup: 420 kcal/cup
• Price Per Pound/Ounce: $1.50/ounce

Guaranteed Analysis

Crude Protein: 39%

Crude Fat: 23%

Crude Fiber: 3%

Moisture: 14%

Dry Matter Basis

Protein: 45.35%

Fat: 26.74%

Fiber: 3.49%

Carbs: 24.42%

Ingredients:

Venison, Venison Heart, Venison Lung, Venison Liver, Vegetable Glycerin, Pumpkin Powder, Parsley Powder, Inulin(From Chicory Root), Ground Venison Bone, Dried Marine Microalgae, Mixed Tocopherols, Potassium Chloride, Rosemary Powder, Taurine, Choline Chloride, Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Sunflower Oil, Calcium Carbonate, Vitamin E Supplement, Selenium Yeast, Folic Acid, Biotin, L-Tyrosine, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Niacin Supplement, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Calcium Iodate, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement.

This final recipe from The Real Meat Company is another single-source protein formula but it is made with a unique source: venison. If your cat is allergic to common proteins like beef or chicken, venison could be a good option.

The first ingredient here is fresh venison, followed by venison heart, lung, and liver. The rest of the ingredient list is largely the same, which leads us to believe The Real Meat Company uses some kind of base mix for their formulas and switches up the proteins. This is a fairly common practice.

What Do Customers Think of The Real Meat Company Cat Food?

Cats can be picky eaters, so it’s always a risk to buy a new brand of cat food without doing your research. It’s just as important to ensure the quality of the recipe as it is to make sure your cat will eat it. The best way to judge the flavor and palatability of a brand before buying it for yourself is to consult with other customers who have tried it.

Judging from online reviews, there’s not a lot to say about The Real Meat Company. It’s still a fairly small brand and not the easiest to find – the same goes for reviews.

Of the reviews we could find, customers seemed to like the quality of the ingredients and the process through which the food is made, though some had concerns about the palatability and texture of the food. Some cats simply wouldn’t touch the food.

How Much Does The Real Meat Company Cat Food Cost?

When shopping for cat food, it’s understandable to be concerned about price. You want to give your cat a healthy diet, but you don’t want to empty your bank account every month to do it.

The thing you need to remember about pet food is that you’ll have to spend a little more if you want something of good quality. The quality of the ingredients affects the price of the food, and the last thing you want to do is feed your cat something that won’t meet his nutritional needs. You don’t necessarily need to spend a fortune, but you shouldn’t skimp either.

We had some trouble finding The Real Meat Company food online to verify prices, but the recipes we could find on Amazon were priced between $1.50 and $2.00 per ounce.

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

Where Can You Buy The Real Meat Company Cat Food?

If you’re looking for The Real Meat Company cat food, your best bet is to stop into your local independent pet retailer or specialty pet store. This company doesn’t sell their products in major pet store brands like Petco or PetSmart, or on their websites. If you prefer to shop online, you may find certain products on Amazon but stock on Chewy seems to come in and out.

Our Final Thoughts: Is The Real Meat Company a Good Brand?

Overall, we don’t have anything bad to say about The Real Meat Company except that it may be a little harder to find. We couldn’t verify prices because the availability online is limited, but it is likely to be at the higher end of the pricing spectrum, over $1.50 per ounce. We also couldn’t find many details about the company itself in terms of its history.

In terms of quality, we love The Real Meat Company. We can’t complain about a brand that uses 90% meat and organs in their recipe, especially when they use ground bone as a natural source of nutrients (especially minerals). These formulas don’t have any red flag ingredients, either.