Last updated Mar 31, 2023
With easy access to pasture-raised meats like lamb and beef, New Zealand is quickly becoming a hub for high-quality cat foods – especially in the freeze-dried raw niche.
We’ve already taken an in-depth look at the Australian cat food market and there is a lot of overlap with the market in New Zealand. In this guide, however, we’ve chosen to focus on some of the best brands we’ve come across that are made in New Zealand with locally sourced ingredients.
Catit Gold Fern Dry Food is our top pick, as is frequently the case, but we’ve also included picks for dry food and freeze-dried raw food.
At a Glance: Best Cat Food To Buy in New Zealand
Want a quick look at the best cat foods reviewed in this article? In the comparison table below, we’ve highlighted some of the most important features of each product. You’ll find more detailed information about each product later in the article.
Catit Gold Fern Lamb & Mackerel Air Dried Cat Food
- Made with two novel sources of animal protein
- Gently air dried in small batches to preserve nutritional value
- Higher moisture content than most kibble
The New Zealand Natural Pet Food Co. Meow Wild Venison Freeze-Dried Cat Food
- Packed with muscle meat, organs, and ground bone
- Made with a single source of novel animal protein
- Gently freeze-dried to preserve nutrition and flavor
Meat Mates Chicken Dinner Grain-Free Freeze-Dried Cat Food
- Made with a single source of animal protein
- Contains nutrient-rich chicken liver
- New Zealand fish oil provides animal-based omega-3s
Feline Natural Lamb & King Salmon Feast Grain-Free Freeze-Dried Cat Food
- Packed with animal protein and low in carbs
- Contains nutrient-rich organ meats
- Highly digestible with limited ingredient list
Zealandia Beef Pate Wet Cat Food
- Packed with protein from fresh beef and lamb organs
- Rich in animal-based omega-3 fatty acids
- Slow-cooked in a moisture-rich, flavorful broth
Why Should You Trust Us?
Having reviewed over 230 of the world’s most popular cat food brands and hundreds of formulas. We spent hours researching, contacting pet food companies, and analyzing labels. With the help of our cats, we’ve also accumulated hours upon hours of hands-on experience with different cat foods.
Based on that research, we’re bringing you an updated list of the best cat food brands and products available in New Zealand. We’ve researched the brands themselves and evaluated individual recipes to bring you our top picks.
What Is Unique About Cat Food Made in New Zealand?
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
While the phrase “made in the USA” has become synonymous with quality in the pet food market, times are changing. New Zealand was the 7th largest importer of U.S.-made pet food in 2019, but exports are on the rise. In fact, the export of pet food from New Zealand doubled between 2015 and 2019, nearing US $129 million, and growth is expected to continue.
But what is it that makes New Zealand-made cat food such strong competition for U.S.-based brands? A lot of it has to do with the production of “exotic” meats in New Zealand.
New Zealand is the world’s largest exporter of lamb, supplying over half the world’s lamb exports. The country is also known for producing proteins novel to many cats including venison and brushtail (opossum). Many New Zealand-based pet food brands focus on single-protein and limited-ingredient diets catered to pets with food allergies and sensitivities.
Aside from the quality of ingredients, New Zealand is also a standout in areas of sustainability and ethical production of pet food. Many of the brands we’ve come across focus on humanely-raised meats, local sourcing, and eco-consciousness.
The Best Cat Foods in New Zealand: Our Top 5 Picks
#1 Catit Gold Fern
While primarily known for their interactive cat toys, cat furniture, and pet tech, Catit also offers a variety of wet and dry cat food products. Catit was founded in 1999 and is headquartered in Quebec, Canada but their air-dried cat food line Gold Fern is made in New Zealand with locally sourced ingredients.
Featured Recipe: Catit Gold Fern Lamb & Mackerel Air Dried Cat Food
Made with lamb and mackerel as the main ingredients, this cat food is packed with species-appropriate animal protein. Nutrient-rich organ means supplement the protein content of the food while green-lipped mussels and fish oil deliver animal-sourced omega-3s.
This food is air-dried, not extruded at high heat like most commercial dry cat foods – this ensures that the ingredients retain more of their nutritional value. Catit makes the food in small batches with humanely raised, ethically sourced ingredients and packages it in resealable bags.
The primary downside of this food is the price. Though it’s only sold in 14-ounce bags and priced at nearly $0.90 per once, this air-dried food is very nutrient-dense. This means you don’t have to feed your cat as much as you would with the typical dry food.
Ingredients
Lamb, Mackerel, Lamb Kidney, Lamb Liver, Natural Flavoring, Green-Lipped Mussel, Fish Oil (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Calcium Carbonate, Salt, Inulin, Brewer’s Yeast, Choline Chloride, Mixed Tocopherols, Taurine, Iron Proteinate, Zinc Oxide, Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, Copper Sulfate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Sodium Selenite, Manganous Oxide, Vitamin A Supplement, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Folic Acid.
Ingredients We Liked: Lamb, Mackerel, Lamb Kidney, Lamb Liver, Green-Lipped Mussel, Fish Oil
Ingredients We Didn’t Like: None
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
What We Liked:
- Made with two novel sources of animal protein
- Gently air dried in small batches to preserve nutritional value
- Higher moisture content than most kibble
- Green-lipped mussels provide omega-3s and joint-supporting nutrients
What We Didn’t Like:
- Expensive, over $0.80 per ounce
- Only sold in small 14-ounce bags
- Some cats may not like the air-dried texture
#2 The New Zealand Natural Pet Food Co.
The New Zealand Natural Pet Food Co. was launched in 2016 with the release of small-batch freeze-dried dog and cat foods. All ingredients used in their recipes are ethically sourced, grown, and raised in New Zealand.
Featured Recipe: The New Zealand Natural Pet Food Co. Meow Wild Venison Freeze-Dried Cat Food
Featuring New Zealand wild venison, this protein-packed formula is prepared in small batches and gently freeze-dried to preserve flavor and nutritional value.
This recipe contains fresh venison and lamb as the main ingredients with additional protein from lamb organs. Ground lamb bone provides an animal-based source of essential minerals and hoki oil is rich in animal-based omega-3s for healthy skin and coat support.
While largely meat-based, this formula is low in moisture as-is, but it is intended to be rehydrated before feeding.
Ingredients
Venison, Lamb, Lamb Green Tripe, Lamb Heart, Lamb Liver, Lamb Kidney, Ground Lamb Bone, Kelp, New Zealand Green Mussel, Honey, Rosemary, Coconut Oil, Hoki Oil, Taurine, Choline Chloride, Zinc Amino Acid Complex, Iron Amino Acid Complex, Copper Amino Acid Complex, Vitamin B1 (Thiamine Mononitrate), Manganese Amino Acid Complex, Salt.
Ingredients We Liked: Venison, Lamb, Lamb Green Tripe, Lamb Heart, Lamb Liver, Lamb Kidney, Ground Lamb Bone, New Zealand Green Mussel, Hoki Oil
Ingredients We Didn’t Like: Honey, Coconut Oil
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
What We Liked:
- Packed with muscle meat, organs, and ground bone
- Made with a single source of novel animal protein
- Gently freeze-dried to preserve nutrition and flavor
- Hoki oil provides animal-based omega-3 fatty acids
What We Didn’t Like:
- Contains some plant ingredients
- Expensive
#3 Meat Mates
Meat Mates was first launched on Amazon in 2018 but is now sold throughout New Zealand, Australia, and the United States. Their products are made in New Zealand using grass-fed, free-range meat or cage-free chicken.
Featured Recipe: Meat Mates Chicken Dinner Grain-Free Freeze-Dried Cat Food
Featuring fresh chicken and chicken liver as the main ingredients, this is a primarily meat-based recipe with high protein and fat content. It is extremely limited in carbohydrate content and free from GMOs and artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives.
As a freeze-dried raw food, this recipe offers high nutritional quality for cats. It is, however, low in moisture but can be rehydrated for feeding.
In addition to being a single-protein formula, this recipe contains a very limited list of ingredients. Both of these factors make it a good choice for cats with food allergies and sensitivities. If your cat is allergic to chicken, Meat Mates offers several other single-protein recipes.
Ingredients
Chicken, Chicken Liver, Fish Oil, Flaxseed Flakes, Dried Kelp, Salt, Magnesium Oxide, Vitamin E Supplement, Zinc Proteinate, Taurine, Choline Chloride, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid.
Ingredients We Liked: Chicken, Chicken Liver, Fish Oil
Ingredients We Didn’t Like: Flaxseed Flakes
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
What We Liked:
- Made with a single source of animal protein
- Contains nutrient-rich chicken liver
- New Zealand fish oil provides animal-based omega-3s
- Gently freeze-dried to preserve nutritional value
What We Didn’t Like:
- Contains some plant ingredients
- Expensive
#4 Feline Natural
Feline Natural is the cat food line that falls under the K9 Natural brand name. The company was founded in 2006 as a raw dog food company but released Feline Natural in 2011. This brand formulates their recipes around whole prey models using high-quality ingredients sourced primarily from New Zealand.
Featured Recipe: Feline Natural Lamb & King Salmon Feast Grain-Free Freeze-Dried Cat Food
This multi-protein freeze-dried raw food features lamb and king salmon. It includes both fresh salmon and lamb organs, supplemented with New Zealand green mussel. Mussels are rich in omega-3 fatty acids and provide a natural source of joint-supporting glucosamine and chondroitin.
With a 95% recommendation rating from Chewy customers, this Feline Natural recipe is very popular. It can be used as a meal mixer or topper but is also nutritionally complete as a meal in itself.
Overall, this recipe is high in protein with moderate fat content and extremely low carbohydrate content.
Ingredients
Lamb Heart, Salmon, Lamb Kidney, Lamb Liver, Lamb Blood, Flaxseed Flakes, New Zealand Green Mussel, Dried Kelp, Taurine, Vitamin E Supplement, Magnesium Oxide, Zinc Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid.
Ingredients We Liked: Lamb Heart, Salmon, Lamb Kidney, Lamb Liver, Lamb Blood, New Zealand Green Mussel
Ingredients We Didn’t Like: Flaxseed Flakes
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
What We Liked:
- Packed with animal protein and low in carbs
- Contains nutrient-rich organ meats
- Highly digestible with limited ingredient list
- Free from fillers, grains, and artificial additives
What We Didn’t Like:
- Contains some plant ingredients
- Expensive
#5 Zealandia
Launched in 2012, Zealandia is named for the 8th continent – the oceanic area encompassing New Zealand and the surrounding oceans. Zealandia offers a variety of canned cat foods that are slow-cooked in flavorful broth, yielding a moisture-rich recipe that is both highly palatable and easily digestible for cats.
Featured Recipe: Zealandia Beef Pate Wet Cat Food
Featuring New Zealand grass-fed beef, this pate-style canned food is packed with animal protein and healthy fats. Fresh deboned beef is supplemented by a handful of lamb organs as well as New Zealand green mussel and salmon oil.
This recipe provides a rich source of animal-based omega-3 fatty acids from both the green mussel and the salmon oil. These omega-3s offer anti-inflammatory benefits for cats and help support healthy skin and coat.
The primary downside of this recipe is that it does contain several gum thickeners. Gums like cassia gum and guar gum may not be as inherently harmful as carrageenan for cats, but they have been linked to digestive issues like diarrhea in some cats.
Ingredients
Deboned Beef, Water Sufficient for Processing, Lamb Liver, Lamb Lung, Lamb Green Tripe, Lamb Heart, Lamb Kidney, New Zealand Green Mussel, Dried Yeast, Cassia Gum, Carrot, Salmon Oil, Calcium Carbonate, Agar-Agar, Guar Gum, Potassium Chloride, Choline Chloride, Taurine, Iron Proteinate, Zinc Glycine Complex, Niacin Supplement, Alpha-Tocopherol Acetate, Sodium Selenite, Manganese Proteinate, Copper Glycine Complex, Thiamine Mononitrate, Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin A Acetate, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Calcium Iodate, Folic Acid, Cholecalciferol.
Ingredients We Liked: Deboned Beef, Lamb Liver, Lamb Lung, Lamb Green Tripe, Lamb Heart, Lamb Kidney, New Zealand Green Mussel, Salmon Oil
Ingredients We Didn’t Like: Cassia Gum, Agar-Agar, Guar Gum
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
What We Liked:
- Packed with protein from fresh beef and lamb organs
- Rich in animal-based omega-3 fatty acids
- Slow-cooked in a moisture-rich, flavorful broth
- Made in New Zealand without artificial additives
What We Didn’t Like:
- Contains several gum thickeners
- Some plant ingredients
Final Thoughts
The rising demand for raw, freeze-dried, and ethically produced pet food has thrust New Zealand toward the forefront of the pet industry.
While it’s the responsibility of every cat owner to make an informed decision regarding their cat’s nutrition, you can rest easy knowing that pet foods made in New Zealand are held to rigorous food safety standards. In fact, in 2012 New Zealand became the first foreign country recognized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as comparable to the United States in food safety.
Since 2012, New Zealand has continued to raise their standards by ensuring that meat sourced from New Zealand raised on farms that adhere to legislation ensuring the human handling of livestock.
Most of the pet foods available in New Zealand also conform to the nutritional recommendations established by AAFCO nutrient profiles.
For more cat food recommendations that may be available in New Zealand, check out our guide to the best cat foods in Australia.
