The Best Freeze Dried Cat Food in 2022

There are several brands supplying frozen raw cat food. They all contain some sort of raw meat but in other ways they are quite different. To help you choose which freeze-dried cat food would suit you and your cat best, here's a summary of what you should consider.

• Ingredients list: The primary ingredient of freeze-dried foods should be raw meat or fish. Cat foods do not need to have a lot of carbohydrate because cats are carnivores and best on a meat-based diet. There may be some fruits and vegetables in the recipe but these must only be there to provide additional natural vitamins and minerals. Cheap fillers are best avoided.
• Artificial additives: There should be no need for artificial additives in a freeze-dried recipe. All of the ingredients should come from the best natural sources.
• Method of production: You may want to carry out some research to find out how the raw cat foods were produced. Has there been a process to remove pathogens? There should be some information on the label about this.
• How to use the food: Products that have large calorific values are best used as toppers or treats for your cat. Others are used as the main diet. Make sure that you can spot the difference and read the label carefully. If you give your cat too many calories, they can become obese.

Check out our guide on Cat Food for Weight Loss for more info. 

You may think that freeze-dried food for cats is a new development in the pet food world but cats have, in fact, been eating this type of food ever since they evolved. Cats in the wild catch prey and eat it raw and whole. There is no processing and no treatments and they often eat the whole carcass including organs, bones, and connective tissue. Freeze-dried feline food is therefore simply imitating nature. Because it is based on a cat's natural diet, freeze-dried food has a number of benefits for your kitty.

The first benefit is that your cat will love the taste of these cat foods. The proteins in the meat content are raw and therefore have more flavor. The natural flavors are locked in and highly appealing to your pet.

A second benefit is that raw food has no artificial additives. It needs no artificial preservatives because the moisture has been removed. There is no need for artificial flavors because it tastes so great and natural food needs no artificial colors. As a cat owner, you can be confident that your furry friend is avoiding artificial chemicals that could trigger health issues.

You may also like our article on Organic Cat Food.

If you like the idea of your cat having a purely carnivorous diet, this food will appeal for you. There are many freeze-dried products that contain only meat and nothing else. This stops you from having to worry which grains or plants you should avoid - there will be none at all!

Allergies in cats can often be triggered by meat by-product meals (which are highly processed) and grains. Raw food that has been freeze-dried usually contain none of these. They will therefore probably be suitable for cats with allergies. However, if you are in any doubt, it is always best to check with your vet.

Take a look at our review of Hypoallergenic Cat Food for more options.

Freeze-dried raw foods usually have an excellent shelf-life which cuts down on waste and makes them a cost-effective option. Bacteria, molds and other micro-organisms cannot grow because there is so little available water.

You will notice the final benefit once you come to clean out the litter tray! For a cat, raw food is highly digestible. This is what their intestines are designed to break down and they do it very well! Your cat's body will absorb most of the food and will therefore not poop so often!

It is important to note that freeze-dried food is not the same as dehydrated kibble. Both foods have good shelf lives because they contain little moisture but the water content of the raw food has been removed in very different ways.

Dehydrated food, has had the water removed by heat. As the raw food warms up, the water evaporates and only the dry elements of the food are left behind. Foods that have been freeze-dried, however, are first frozen and then have moisture removed using very low pressure or a vacuum.

Head over to our review of Dry Cat Food for more alternatives.

The process takes longer but is much better at conserving the nutrients within the food because many of them are denatured by heat. It also maintains texture and taste which cats find appealing.

There are several brands that offer freeze-dried food but some stand out from the crowd. In particular, there are some smaller companies that have led the way with innovative processes and which are committed to providing an exceptionally high quality product. One notable example is Stella & Chewy’s who provide a line of single serving freeze-dried food in pouches or in a larger re-sealable bag.

Primal Pet Foods add organic vegetables and natural sources of vitamins to their products. These companies make a great effort to ensure that their raw product is safe for cats and for their owners.

Our top pick of the best freeze-dried cat food is the delicious Stella Chewy morsels. They are minimally processed and therefore retain vitamin and mineral content from the raw ingredients. The primary ingredients are salmon and cod which make up 98% of the food. The fish is caught in the wild and the bones and organs are included so it is just like the diet of a wild cat.

The full range of vitamins and minerals (including taurine for a healthy heart) promote overall health. Probiotics are added to promote gut health and efficient digestion. The formula contains no hormones or antibiotics and is grain-free.