Last updated May 29, 2024
Kirsten McCarthy / Cats.com
The best raw cat food emulates the pure, elegant simplicity of a cat’s natural whole-prey diet. Great products combine nutritional integrity with excellent ingredient quality and a reputation for consistency and safety.
That’s why we recommend Open Farm Harvest Chicken Freeze-Dried Raw Cat Food as the best raw cat food you can buy. Freeze-drying ensures that this food is safer for both you and your cat while delivering the rich nutrition of fresh meat. It’s made by a company renowned for its ethical and sustainable sourcing and business practices.
Before we dive into the details of our top recommendations, let’s talk about the potential benefits of a raw food diet for your cat.
At a Glance: Best Raw Cat Food To Buy
Open Farm Harvest Chicken Freeze-Dried Raw Cat Food
- Contains muscle meat, organs, and ground bone
- Made with a single source of animal protein
- Relies primarily on animal-based fat from salmon oil
Viva for Cats Turkey Formula Raw Frozen Cat Food
- Nutritionally complete raw food for cats
- Made with a single protein source
- Finely ground texture is easy to chew
Instinct Raw Frozen Bites Chicken Recipe
- Affordably priced under $0.50 per ounce
- Easy to find in pet stores or online
- Single-protein recipe is easily digestible
Smallbatch Pets Turkeybatch Sliders Raw Frozen Patties
- Made with 97% humanely raised turkey
- Highly digestible for cats
- Easy to feed with 1-ounce sliders
Stella & Chewy's Absolutely Rabbit Freeze-Dried Raw Dinner Morsels
- Shelf-stable raw food option
- Made with a novel source of animal protein
- Nuggets are easy to portion and rehydrate
Answers Pet Food Fermented Raw Goat Milk
- Cardboard cartons make it easy to store leftovers
- Use as a meal mixer, topper, or treat
- Supports your cat’s hydration and digestion
Hare Today Freeze-Dried Ground Chicken
- Carnivore-appropriate blend of muscle meat, organs, and bone
- Ideal for use in homemade raw diets
- Finely ground texture is easy to rehydrate
Is Raw Cat Food Safe?
As with any raw food, there are some risks involved in feeding your cat a raw diet. Raw cat food is inherently prone to containing bacteria due to its uncooked nature. As obligate carnivores, however, cats have a short digestive tract designed to quickly and efficiently process raw meat. Their stomachs also have much higher levels of acidity than the human stomach.
Cats can still get sick from pathogens in food, but their physiology as carnivores may offer some protection in the case of raw diets. Foodborne pathogens simply may not spend enough time in the cat’s digestive system to make them sick.
But what about the risk to yourself or your family? It’s important to follow safe food handling practices, but research seems to suggest that the risk of pathogen transmission to humans from raw pet food diets is low.
A worldwide survey involving more than 5,600 responses from 62 countries revealed no confirmed cases of pathogen transmission or infection. The study authors concluded that potential or probable cases of transmission were likely dependent on hygiene and food safety measures. That said, it’s still important to choose high-quality products from companies that have clear sourcing guidelines and a strong reputation for safety and consistency.
Why Trust Cats.com
Our experts have personally purchased and tested hundreds of the world’s most popular cat foods, including the products in this review. The recommendations below are based on a combination of in-depth market research and hands-on testing by numerous members of the Cats.com team. All products were purchased at full retail price and tested at home with our own cats.
To choose the products for this list, we evaluated the companies behind the food to find manufacturers with a history of safety and consistency. We also considered customer experience, reading hundreds of customer reviews, checking for complaints on Consumer Affairs, and sometimes calling the company to get a feel for its culture and trustworthiness.
Top Picks Explained
Raw cat food is sold in many forms but freeze-dried products offer shelf-stable convenience. While we’ve since updated the raw cat food products we recommend in this article, we still love the freeze-dried products Mallory talks about in this video.
The Top 7 Best Raw Cat Food Products in 2024
For its meat-focused formula and ethically sourced ingredients, Open Farm freeze-dried raw cat food is our top choice. As a freeze-dried formula, it’s also a convenient option for many cat owners. But it’s not the perfect pick for every cat. Whether you prefer a raw frozen formula or raw supplements you can add to your cat’s current diet, we’ve got you covered.
We consider a variety of factors when making our recommendations including ingredient quality, species appropriateness, price, brand reputation, and more. To help you find the right raw cat food product for your cat, we’ve broken down our recommendations into different categories.
#1 Overall Best: Open Farm Harvest Chicken Freeze-Dried Raw Cat Food
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
- Made In: United States
- Guaranteed Protein: 47% Min
- Age Range: All Life Stages
- Calories Per Ounce: 149
- Typical Cost Per Day: $3.75 per day
While individual preferences may vary, cats seem to enjoy the flavor of Open Farm’s freeze-dried cat food. Multiple customer reviews mention that the chicken recipe is a hit with picky eaters and the formula doubles as both a complete meal and a food topper.
This freeze-dried formula features 98% humanely raised, free-range chicken including muscle meat, organ meat, and ground bone. The crude protein content is roughly 50% measured as dry matter, making it a carnivore-appropriate diet comprised of a single source of animal protein. The only other animal ingredient is salmon oil, included as a species-appropriate source of healthy fats including skin- and coat-supporting omega-3s.
Packed with animal protein and healthy fat, the nutritional makeup of this Open Farm cat food leaves little to be desired. Where it falls short is its low moisture content. Freeze-dried cat food is processed to remove moisture without compromising the integrity of the raw ingredients but it’s still wise to rehydrate the food with water or broth before feeding.
Overall, this appears to be a high-protein, high-fat, and low-carbohydrate cat food formula made with a single source of animal protein. It can be a species-appropriate choice for your cat when reconstituted to meet your cats needs for hydration.
Ingredients
Chicken with Ground Bone, Chicken Liver, Chicken Neck, Montmorillonite Clay, Organic Dandelion Greens, Potassium Chloride, Choline Chloride, Vitamins (Niacin Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Pantothenic Acid, Riboflavin Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Folic Acid, Biotin) Taurine, Organic Cranberries, Minerals (Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite) Salt, Salmon Oil, Mixed Tocopherols, Magnesium Sulfate, Rosemary Extract.
Ingredients We Liked: Chicken with Ground Bone, Chicken Liver, Chicken Neck, Salmon Oil
Ingredients We Didn’t Like: None
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
What We Liked:
- Contains muscle meat, organs, and ground bone
- Made with a single source of animal protein
- Relies primarily on animal-based fat from salmon oil
- Very low carbohydrate content
What We Didn’t Like:
- Low moisture content, should be rehydrated
- Raw food tends to be pricey
#2 Best Raw Frozen: Viva for Cats Turkey Formula Raw Frozen Cat Food
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
- Made In: United States
- Guaranteed Protein: 16.1%
- Age Range: All Life Stages
- Calories Per Ounce: 42
- Typical Cost Per Day: $2.15 per day
Frozen raw cat food from Viva comes in five single-protein flavors, either as a nutritionally complete formula or raw meat only. It’s finely ground which makes it simple to serve and easy for your cat to chew. With its meat-centric recipe, Viva is an appealing option for cats that comes in unique flavors like duck and rabbit.
This turkey formula from Viva features a carnivore-appropriate blend of turkey muscle meat, organs, and ground bone. Fish oil and cod liver oil supply most of the recipe’s fat, including plenty of omega-3 fatty acids to support your cat’s skin and coat. Viva also includes nutrient-dense Chilean mussels and oyster meat in the food.
If you’re not sure your cat will enjoy raw food, Viva offers a one-time purchase or a two-week trial for new subscribers. In either case, you’ll have to place a minimum order of 10 pounds. Overall, however, Viva’s costs are competitive with those of other raw brands, and they’re very transparent about using ethically sourced ingredients.
Ingredients
Turkey with Ground Bone, Turkey Heart, Turkey Gizzard, Turkey Liver, Organic Psyllium Husk, Chilean Mussels, Fish Oil, Organic Egg Yolk, Taurine, Organic Icelandic Kelp, Cod Liver Oil, Nutritional Yeast, Vitamin E (Tocopherols), Oyster Meat, Manganese Proteinate.
Ingredients We Liked: Turkey with Ground Bone, Turkey Heart, Turkey Gizzard, Turkey Liver, Chilean Mussels, Fish Oil, Organic Egg Yolk, Cod Liver Oil
Ingredients We Didn’t Like: None
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
What We Liked:
- Made with ethically sourced ingredients
- Nutritious blend of muscle meat, organs, and bone
- Smooth texture is easy for cats to eat
- Nutritionally complete raw diet for cats
What We Didn’t Like:
- Minimum order of 10 pounds required
#3 Budget Pick: Instinct Raw Frozen Bites Chicken Recipe
- Made In: United States
- Guaranteed Protein: 12%
- Age Range: Adult
- Calories Per Ounce: 47
- Typical Cost Per Day: $2.25 per day
Raw cat food tends to be pricier than kibble and other standard diets but shipping costs can double or even triple your monthly spending. If you’re looking for a modestly priced raw option that’s sold both online and in major pet store chains, Instinct may be a good choice.
Made with a single source of animal protein, this chicken formula raw frozen food comes in small bite-sized nuggets rather than patties. This makes the product simple to portion, and you can quickly thaw only as much as you need. The formula is meat-centric, with salmon oil as a rich source of omega-3s and a smattering of fresh fruits and vegetables for nutritional support.
Instinct’s raw frozen cat food line is still pretty limited but there are a few more options available in freeze-dried form. This is one of the only brands that offers a kitten-specific raw formula (freeze-dried only).
Ingredients
Chicken (including Ground Chicken Bone), Chicken Liver, Chicken Heart, Montmorillonite Clay, Ground Flaxseed, Salmon Oil, Carrots, Apples, Butternut Squash, Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin D3 Supplement), Potassium Chloride, Tricalcium Phosphate, Choline Chloride, Taurine, Yeast Culture, Salt, Minerals (Zinc Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Calcium Iodate), DL-Methionine, Blueberries, Spinach.
Ingredients We Liked: Chicken, Chicken Liver, Chicken Heart, Salmon Oil
Ingredients We Didn’t Like: None
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
What We Liked:
- Made with a single source of animal protein
- Easy to find in stores and online
- Rich in omega-3 fatty acids
- Bite-sized nuggets thaw fairly quickly
What We Didn’t Like:
- Very limited flavor variety
#4 Easiest to Feed: Smallbatch Pets Turkeybatch Sliders Raw Frozen Patties
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
- Made In: United States
- Guaranteed Protein: 17.9%
- Age Range: All Life Stages
- Calories Per Ounce: 34
- Typical Cost Per Day: $2.50 per day
Made with 97% humanely raised turkey, these raw frozen sliders are a protein-rich choice for cats of all ages. The formula contains little more than turkey muscle meat and organs with salmon oil as a species-appropriate source of omega-3 fatty acids. There are a few organic plant ingredients, but the carbohydrate content of the food is negligible.
Unlike freeze-dried raw food, these turkey sliders are intended to be fed as-is. You’ll need to thaw them, of course, but they’re rich in moisture without needing to be rehydrated. Each slider contains about 1 ounce of food and roughly 34 calories.
The challenge with Smallbatch Pets frozen raw cat food is that availability varies. Smallbatch Pets doesn’t sell its products on their website and you may only find it in specialty pet food stores. Check the store locator here.
Ingredients
Turkey with Ground Bone, Turkey, Turkey Livers, Turkey Hearts, Turkey Gizzards, Sardine Oil, Organic Dandelion Greens, Organic Apple Cider Vinegar, Organic Cranberry, Organic Kelp, Organic Chia Seeds, Organic Barley Grass, Vitamin E.
Ingredients We Liked: Turkey with Ground Bone, Turkey, Turkey Livers, Turkey Hearts, Turkey Gizzards, Sardine Oil
Ingredients We Didn’t Like: None
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
What We Liked:
- Made with 97% humanely raised turkey
- Species-appropriate blend of muscle meat, organs, and bone
- Portioned in convenient 1-ounce sliders
- High in protein with negligible carbohydrate content
What We Didn’t Like:
- May be hard to find in stores
- Pretty expensive
#5 Picky Eaters: Stella & Chewy’s Absolutely Rabbit Freeze-Dried Raw Dinner Morsels
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
- Made In: United States
- Guaranteed Protein: 44% Min
- Age Range: All Life Stages
- Calories Per Ounce: 132
- Typical Cost Per Day: $6.01 per day
Stella and Chewy’s is a leader in the raw pet food space. The brand has a strong reputation for consistency and a robust lineup of flavors to keep your cat happy. Stella & Chewy’s freeze-dried and frozen cat foods all provide an impressive macronutrient distribution and healthy micronutrient levels.
We’ve recommended this freeze-dried recipe because it’s convenient to feed, packed with animal-sourced protein, and seems to be a hit among cats. Because it’s made with a single source of novel protein, it may be a good choice for cats with food allergies. As a freeze-dried food, this product is safer to handle and store but retains the nutritional balance of raw meat.
This particular recipe centers around rabbit meat, organs, and bones. In addition to rabbit, the recipe contains prebiotics and probiotics to keep your cat’s digestive system healthy and their immune system strong. It’s a calorie-dense choice with fairly low carbohydrate content but, like our top pick, should be rehydrated before feeding.
Ingredients
Rabbit With Ground Bone, Rabbit Liver, Olive Oil, Pumpkin Seed, Potassium Chloride, Sodium Phosphate, Choline Chloride, Dried Ediococcus Acidilactici Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus Acidophilus Fermentation Product, Dried Bifidobacterium Longum Fermentation Product, Dried Bacillus Coagulans Fermentation Product, Taurine, Tocopherols (Preservative), Dandelion, Dried Kelp, Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin Supplement, Copper Proteinate, Riboflavin Supplement, Sodium Selenite, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Biotin, Manganese Proteinate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid, Vitamin B12 Supplement.
Ingredients We Liked: Rabbit with Ground Bone, Rabbit Liver
Ingredients We Didn’t Like: None
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
What We Liked:
- Freeze dried food is safer to handle and store
- Made primarily from species-appropriate rabbit
- Rich in probiotics with 10 million colony forming units per ounce
- Grain-free without fillers or by-products
- Low carbohydrate content
What We Didn’t Like:
- Freeze-dried food demands a few minutes of rehydration time
- Stella & Chewy’s doesn’t publish complete nutrient charts, making it difficult to evaluate its nutritional strengths and weaknesses
#6 Best Raw Supplements: Answers Pet Food Fermented Raw Goat Milk
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
- Made In: United States
- Guaranteed Protein: 2.7% Min
- Age Range: All Life Stages
- Calories Per Ounce: 19
- Typical Cost Per Day: $4.65 per day
Based in Eastern Pennsylvania, Answers is a small, family-owned business that offers a variety of raw pet food products. In addition to complete and balanced raw meals, Answers sells probiotic-rich raw supplements like raw goat’s milk, fermented bone broth, and raw cheese bites. These supplements are full of digestion-boosting probiotics and enzymes.
Whether you’re feeding your cat freeze-dried or fresh raw food, Answers makes it easy to incorporate variety into their diet. Using fermented bone broth to rehydrate freeze-dried raw food enhances the flavor and moisture content. Raw goat’s milk or raw cow milk kefir can be served as a treat or used as a wet food topper.
Answers Fermented Raw Goat Milk is sold by the pint, quart, or half-gallon in cardboard cartons. It’s easy to mix with various types of cat food. Keep in mind, however, that once it’s thawed it should be used within 14 days.
Ingredients
Raw Goat Milk, Raw Honey, Organic Cinnamon, Dried Lactococcus lactis Fermentation Product, Dried Leuconostoc mesenteroides Fermentation Product.
Ingredients We Liked: Raw Goat Milk
Ingredients We Didn’t Like: None
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
What We Liked:
- Simple formula with a limited list of ingredients
- Cardboard carton makes it easy to store leftovers
- Use as a meal mixer, topper, or treat
- Supports your cat’s hydration and digestion
What We Didn’t Like:
- Not sold in volumes smaller than 1 pint
- Must be used within 14 days once thawed
#7 Best for Homemade Diets: Hare Today Freeze-Dried Ground Chicken
- Made In: United States
- Guaranteed Protein: 17.9%
- Age Range: NA
- Calories Per Ounce: NA
- Typical Cost Per Day: NA
Many people who feed their cats a raw diet choose to make the food themselves. Making your own homemade cat food enables you to cater to your cat’s preferences and unique nutritional needs. The trick is to follow a veterinarian-approved recipe or use a premix to ensure you’re giving your cat the right balance of nutrients.
Hare Today offers a wide variety of frozen and freeze-dried meats, organs, and bones for use in homemade raw diets. The brand even sells exotic proteins like alpaca, pheasant, and quail. If your cat is allergic to common proteins and you’re giving raw food a try, Hare Today has more options than many raw providers.
This particular product consists of 80% chicken muscle meat, 10% chicken organs, and 10% chicken bone. It’s freeze-dried with a finely ground texture that is easy to mix with liquid or other ingredients in a homemade cat food recipe. Keep in mind that this recipe — like many of Hare Today’s products — is not nutritionally complete. You’ll need to add supplements or a premix to ensure adequate nutrition.
Ingredients
Chicken Quarter (Bone-In, Skin-On), Boneless Chicken Breast (Skinless), Chicken Neck (Skin-On), Chicken Heart, Chicken Gizzard, Chicken Liver.
Ingredients We Liked: Chicken Quarter, Boneless Chicken Breast, Chicken Neck, Chicken Heart, Chicken Gizzard, Chicken Liver
Ingredients We Didn’t Like: None
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
What We Liked:
- Single-protein recipe made with meat, organs, and bone
- Finely ground texture is easy to rehydrate or mix
- Freeze-dried formula is shelf-stable
- Great foundation for homemade raw diets
What We Didn’t Like:
- Not a nutritionally complete formula
- Availability varies with some products
What to Look for in Raw Food for Cats
The best raw cat food is rich in animal protein with moderate levels of fat and low carbohydrate content. Raw food usually does this well when the diet is nutritionally balanced and complete, delivering plenty of animal-derived protein, species-appropriate sources of fatty acids, and not too much starch.
There are many different kinds of raw cat food on the market, so it can be tricky to find the perfect fit for your cat. Here’s what to look for when shopping for raw cat food.
Whole-Prey Inspired Distribution of Muscle Meat, Organs, and Bones
As obligate carnivores, cats thrive on a prey-inspired balance of protein, fat, and carbohydrates. It appears that the healthiest raw cat foods are composed of roughly 84% muscle meat, 6% bone, 5% liver, and 5% other organs. This mimics the composition of your cat’s prey and helps the food to deliver the right macronutrients and micronutrients with minimal supplementation.
Balanced Mineral Content
Excessive bone content is surprisingly common among raw food products. With too much bone comes too much phosphorus and other minerals. It’s well documented that high levels of phosphorus can be harmful to cats with kidney disease, so excessive bone content could spell problems for your cat’s kidneys.
Complete and Balanced Feline Nutrition
Whether you’re looking at the ratio of muscle meat to organs to bone or scrutinizing the food’s nutrient percentages, it’s critical to make sure that the food has the right balance of nutrients. Compared to other types of cat food, raw cat food is notorious for missing the mark in this area.
When shopping for raw cat food, read product descriptions carefully before buying. Many raw pet food manufacturers don’t formulate their products according to AAFCO nutrient profiles, so know whether you’re buying a complete and balanced product or whether you’ll need to add supplements.
Quality Ingredients and Solid Brand Reputation
Labels are important, but the label only tells you a sliver of the story. You should also know where the food and its ingredients came from. Research the brand to find out where they source their ingredients, how they formulate their foods, and what safety protocols they have in place throughout the manufacturing process.
The most trustworthy manufacturers subject their raw cat food to stringent quality control measures, making sure that every stage of production is tightly controlled to ensure consistent quality. The food may also undergo processes to reduce the risk of pathogenic contamination, including freeze-drying or high-pressure processing (HPP).
Raw food can be a healthy and species-appropriate choice for cats but it’s important to talk to your vet before making the switch. Your veterinarian can help you select the product that’s right for your cat and walk you through the process of transitioning your cat onto the new food.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is raw food safe for cats?
Raw food always carries a risk of contamination with foodborne pathogens. Following safe food handling practices can help reduce the risk of pathogen transmission to your cat and to your family. When properly processed, handled, and stored, raw food is generally safe for cats.
Do cats live longer on raw diets?
There’s no definitive answer to this question because diet is just one factor that influences a cat’s longevity. That said, a high-quality, species-appropriate diet goes a long way in protecting your cat’s long-term health.
Why don’t vets recommend a raw diet for cats?
In many cases, it’s due to the risk that raw food might contain bacteria, parasites, and other pathogens. There are also some nutritional challenges that come with feeding your cat a diet that isn’t commercially formulated.
Do cats prefer raw or cooked meat?
Every cat is different. Whether you feed your cat cooked or raw food really comes down to a matter of personal preference — both yours and your cat’s.
Raw cat fodd is good for cat.i m really happy that my pet cat is going to healthy .so i think food is very importat for animal.
It’s good to feel confident in your cat’s diet!
I feed my cat about 3/4 of his food as re-hydrated freeze-dried raw (Stella and Chewy’s) along with free-feed Orjen dry kibble. I also add a tiny bit of a powder which helps prevent UTI’s. He’s very healthy, with a lush, shiny coat and glowing eyes. He never has hair balls though his coat is thick and medium length. He has tons of energy and is the happiest, healthiest guy ever! I wish they’d had this food available years ago for all my past kitty companions, but better late than never! I highly recommend freeze-dried raw cat food in general, and Stella and Chewy specifically. After all, cats evolved to eat raw, including contents of stomachs, hence the addition of some plant materials to the raw cat food. It works!
Please consider changing the heading to ‘Freeze-dried raw’ since that is what was evaluated. Are you planning to review frozen or refrigerated raw?
Hi Lara, that’s a good point. I’ll make a note to update this piece with some other raw options (not just freeze-dried ones).
Look up Savage Cat frozen raw.
How about for the kitten diet I have had my kitten on raw instinct Kitten food since I got her. She is a spicy we got from the pound.And love so much.
Hi Patricia, Instinct’s raw kitten food is a good option! We will consider expanding the article to touch upon kitten food in the future.
Hello. What happened to Northwest Naturals that was noted in the video to have added fiber content? I don’t see it on the recommended list and liked that it had additional fiber which my cat needs due to constipation issues. Thanks. Kim
Hi Kim! We update our recommendations from time to time in order to reflect the current market. While our list of recommendations may have changed, we still like Northwest Naturals. If it works for your cat, keep up with it!