Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Based in Perth, Western Australia, Raw Meow is a recent entrant to the raw pet food market. Offering a variety of raw frozen meals, freeze-dried formulas, and premix options, Raw Meow makes raw feeding simple.
We’ve rated the brand on ingredient quality, species-appropriateness, recalls, and more. Read our Raw Meow cat food review to learn how this brand stacks up.
The Cats.com Standard—Rating Raw Meow Cat Food on What Matters
We’ve rated the brand on six key criteria for quality. Here’s how it rates in each of these six crucial areas.
Ratings
- Species-Appropriateness – 9/10
- Ingredient Quality – 10/10
- Product Variety – 7/10
- Price – 6/10
- Customer Experience – 8/10
- Recall History – 8/10
Overall Score: 8/10
In total, we give Raw Meow cat food a 48 out of 60 rating or an A- grade.
Why Trust Cats.com
Our experts have analyzed, tested, and reviewed hundreds of cat food brands and individual products over the past several years. I’ve tested dozens myself, and I am a recent convert to raw feeding. Having tested many raw food brands with my own three cats, I have the knowledge and experience needed to complete an in-depth analysis of Raw Meow.
I ordered a selection of Raw Meow products at full retail price and tested them at home with my cats Bagel, Biscuit, and Munchkin. During testing, I took notes about my cats’ reactions to the food as well as general observations about its appearance, texture, smell, and consistency.
In addition to this in-depth testing, I analyzed Raw Meow cat food according to the information on the packaging and the brand’s website. Using this information along with detailed brand research, I rated Raw Meow according to the Cats.com Standard.
About Raw Meow
Raw Meow is an Australian company that was created out of a desire to make raw feeding for cats as simple as possible. In line with that goal, Raw Meow Mix is a “meal completer,” designed to ensure complete nutrition for cats when mixed with boneless meat.
In an interview with Dr. Karen Becker, Lauren Di Ciano, founder of Raw Meow, describes herself as “a raw feeder who loves her cats.” Di Ciano’s raw feeding journey began when she started studying raw feline nutrition prior to adopting a pair of Burmese kittens. Shortly thereafter, a wave of recalls swept Australia, raising concerns about commercially manufactured pet food.
Hoping to help other Australian pet owners, Di Ciano started sharing her knowledge of raw feeding online. She slowly developed a following and, in 2017, started Raw Meow to give pet owners a simplified homemade alternative.
Though Raw Meow offers a small selection of raw frozen meals for local pickup in Perth, a larger variety of freeze-dried meals and premixes are available for international shipping. All Raw Meow products are made with local ingredients in small batches to ensure nutritional quality and freshness.
Sourcing and Manufacturing
Raw Meow is based in Osborne Park near Perth in Western Australia, and all products are made in Australia. Product packaging states that Raw Meow’s freeze-dried meals are formulated according to AAFCO nutrient levels for all life stages. The premixes are not nutritionally complete on their own.
The brand states that all food ingredients are locally sourced Australian produce, though some supplements are sourced elsewhere. For example, most Raw Meow products contain New Zealand green-lipped mussel powder.
Recall History
Raw Meow has never had a pet food product recalled. The company is still very new to the pet food market but appears to follow strong standards for quality and safety.
What Kinds of Cat Food Does Raw Meow Offer?
As the brand’s name would suggest, Raw Meow is a raw pet food company. Though the brand focuses on feline nutrition, its raw frozen meals aren’t species-specific and it offers premixes formulated for dogs as well as cats.
Raw Meow offers a variety of raw frozen meals, freeze-dried meals, premixes for homemade food, and supplements. You can purchase individual products or starter packs for your cat or kitten that include an assortment of products. Raw Meow also offers transition packs that include small portions of premix and a freeze-dried chicken breast topper to encourage cats to accept homemade food.
The following Raw Meow formulas offer complete feline nutrition:
- Complete Meal Freeze-Dried Chicken
- Complete Meal Freeze-Dried Lamb
- Complete Meal Freeze-Dried Duck & Beef
- Hypoallergenic Complete Meal Freeze-Dried Kangaroo & Pork
- Frozen Chicken Raw Meal
- Frozen Beef & Chicken Raw Meal
- Frozen Pork & Lamb Raw Meal
- Frozen Kangaroo & Rabbit Raw Meal
- Frozen Kangaroo & Emu Raw Meal
Raw Meow’s frozen raw foods are made with a low-phosphorus supplement. High phosphorus intake can be problematic for cats with kidney disease, so raw foods made with raw bone are sometimes inappropriate. Raw Meow’s raw frozen meals only contain 0.9% to 1.4% phosphorus on a dry matter basis.
What Did Our Test Cats Think?
Raw Meow’s premixes simplify the task of making a nutritionally complete homemade diet for cats. Kate Barrington / Cats.com
To test Raw Meow, I ordered the Adult Starter Pack which included one premix, one freeze-dried complete meal, and a freeze-dried meal topper. I ordered a sample of a second premix and received a free sample of freeze-dried chicken breast treats. My ordered shipped quickly, though it took about a week to arrive and pass through customs from Australia. The food was packaged economically and arrived in good condition.
Because Raw Meow is an Australian company, I was only able to test shelf-stable products. Raw frozen meals are available, however, for pickup only in Perth, Western Australia.
Raw Meow Cat Food – Top 3 Recipes Reviewed
Product Name | Food Type | Main Protein Source | Calories | Price | Our Grade |
Raw Meow Complete Meal Freeze-Dried Lamb | Freeze-Dried | Lamb | 59 kcal/oz. | $5.20 AUD per oz | A |
Raw Meow Mix Adult Chicken Formula | Premix | Chicken | N/A | $7.43 AUD per oz | A |
Raw Meow Beef & Chicken Raw Frozen Meal | Raw | Beef | 141 kcal/oz. | $0.73 AUD per oz | A |
What Do Customers Think of Raw Meow Cat Food?
Raw Meow is a fairly new company, having only been launched in 2017. Because the company is new to market and based in Australia, reviews for Raw Meow are difficult to find. That said, Raw Meow has over 5,800 followers on Facebook. While the brand has the Facebook reviews feature turned off, customers aren’t shy about commenting on posts.
Many Raw Meow followers appear to have followed founder Lauren Di Ciano from other Facebook raw feeding groups. Supporters seem to appreciate the quality of Raw Meow products and, in particular, appreciate the availability of hypoallergenic recipes formulated for cats with allergies. The Raw Meow team is active in replying to comments on Facebook.
How Much Does Raw Meow Cat Food Cost?
Because Raw Meow is an Australian company, all prices are listed in AUD. When I placed my order online, the cost was automatically converted to USD at the current exchange rate. Shipping to my home in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania cost me $54.30 AUD.
Raw Meow’s raw frozen meals are competitively priced at just $6.50 AUD per 250 gram (8.8 oz.) tub. The cost averages to about $0.73 AUD per ounce, putting it in a similar price range to Darwin’s Natural and Smallbatch Pets.
For international customers and Australians outside of Perth, Raw Meow’s freeze-dried meals and premixes are the best option. Freeze-dried meals cost $38.50 AUD per 210 gram (7.4 oz.) bag with the exception of the hypoallergenic kangaroo and pork formula which is $89.50 AUD for a 350 gram (12.35 oz.) bag. The daily cost to feed a 10-pound cat one of Raw Meow’s standard freeze-dried formulas would be about $17.63 AUD.
While Raw Meow’s freeze-dried foods are significantly more expensive than brands like Stella & Chewy’s or Primal, its premixes offer a cost-effective alternative for homemade raw feeders. A bag of Raw Meow’s adult chicken formula premix costs $55 AUD and makes about 70 meals. The daily cost will vary depending on what kind of protein you use.
Where Is Raw Meow Cat Food Sold?
Though Raw Meow is based in Perth, Western Australia, it ships internationally. You can shop the entire product line on Raw Meow’s website. All orders placed by midday Australian Western Standard Time (AWST) will be processed and shipped the same day.
The only products Raw Meow does not ship are its raw frozen meals. Raw frozen meals can be ordered online but must be picked up in the Raw Meow store in Osborne Park, WA. Pickup is only available on Saturdays between 9 am and 12 pm. Alternative arrangements may be made Monday through Wednesday, but only by appointment.