Freshpet Cat Food Summary

What is Freshpet Cat Food?

Freshpet Cat Food is a pet food brand founded in 2006.

Freshpet is a fresh, refrigerated pet food supplier that believes in using high-quality meats and whole fruits and vegetables that are gently cooked. In their own words: “What is Freshpet? It’s the future of pet food.”

Where is Freshpet Cat Food Made?

Freshpet Cat Food is made in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, USA

How is Freshpet Cat Food Made?

Freshpet Cat Food uses locally sourced ingredients to support American farmers and reduce their carbon footprint by eliminating the need for global shipping. They use responsible packaging to reduce waste.

Freshpet Cat Food never uses by-product meals, preservatives, or fillers and always uses fresh meat and whole plants. The meat they use is delivered daily from U.S. chicken ad cattle farmers and is all done according to FDA and USDA standards with the oversight of veterinary nutritionists.

Freshpet Cat Food believes in transparency and even has its supply chain and production processes laid out on its official website.

Is Freshpet Cat Food Good for Cats?

Yes, Freshpet Cat Food is good. They never use preservatives or unnecessary fillers in their recipes and their food is formulated to provide your cat with complete nutrition from whole foods for all life stages.

Freshpet Cat Food Formulas Reviewed

There are different Freshpet Cat Food recipes available. To help owners decide which cat food is best for their feline friends, we have reviewed several Freshpet Cat Food recipes.

Freshpet Healthy & Natural Cat Food Moisture Rich Tender Bites

Summary: This tender chicken recipe with garden vegetables is made with real chicken and free from fillers, preservatives, gluten, grains, and soy. The food is designed to promote allergy relief and healthy weight. It comes in two flavors (tender chicken and beef recipe) that are tasty even for picky eaters. The diet is fit for cats of all breeds and life stages and must be kept in the fridge.

Type: Fresh refrigerated

Best for: Cats of all life stages

Price: $11.37/lb

Pros
  • US-raised chicken as 1st ingredients
  • Made with fresh meat and veggies
  • Grain, gluten, filler, and preservative-free
  • No meat meals or by-product meals
  • Complete & balanced for all life stages
Cons
  • Must be used within 7 days of opening
  • Often out of stock due to high demand

Ingredient Analysis: The first three ingredients in the formula are chicken, chicken liver, and ocean whitefish. These are great sources of protein, vitamins, and minerals. The addition of fish oil for cats is good for skin & coat health. The list of supplements includes taurine, B-complex vitamins, and folic acid. It also has celery powder and pea fiber to aid the digestive system.

Review: Reviews were mixed, with only 58% of the 400+ reviews giving it a 5-star rating. Most cat owners are happy with the food, and one person even called it “an absolute miracle.” However, 20% of buyers gave it a 1 and 2-star rating. Most of them stated they couldn’t find it in stock anywhere.

Freshpet Vital Grain-Free Fresh Cat Food

Summary: This grain-free chicken recipe is made with fresh chicken and real food for a natural flavor. It is a high-protein fresh food that contains vegetables and fruits to complete its nutrient profile. Offering balanced nutrition, it can be used as both kitten and adult cat food. The food is shipped frozen and must be kept in the refrigerator.

Type: Fresh frozen 

Best for: Cats of all life stages

Price: $41.94/lb

Pros
  • High-protein with chicken, chicken liver, and eggs
  • GMO, soy, filler, and preservative-free formula
  • Supports hydration through its high moisture content
  • Improves digestion and promotes a healthy weight
  • Can be used as a complete meal or as a topper
Cons
  • Very expensive price tag
  • Must be used within 7 days of opening

Ingredient Analysis: Chicken and chicken liver are the first two ingredients immediately followed by a vague “natural flavors” additive. It is rounded out with vitamin E and biotin supplements as well as calcium iodate, pea fiber, and choline chloride.

Review: This is one of the lower-rated cat foods on the market, with people disappointed their cat would not eat the high-end fresh food. This could occur in cats used to eating heavily processed cat foods. Even some five-star reviews had complaints in them regarding shipping.

Freshpet Select Grain-Free Gourmet Pate Cat Food

Summary: This pate comes in a tube and is meant to be refrigerated. It is made with high-quality and whole ingredients to offer complete and balanced nutrition. It contains 100% natural and farm-raised chicken & beef. The food supports digestion, healthy skin & coat, and weight control. It is fit for picky eaters and more budget-friendly than others Freshpet food formulas.

Type: Pate

Best for: Cats of all life stages

Price: $10.53/lb

Pros
  • Farm-raised chicken as the first ingredient
  • Supports overall health
  • No grains, gluten, soy, or fillers
  • Free from meat meals and by-product meals
  • Available at a more affordable price
Cons
  • Contains carrageenan (a controversial ingredient)
  • Must be kept in the refrigerator

Ingredient Analysis: The protein and moisture contents are high. It comes from chicken, chicken broth, beef, and chicken liver as the first four ingredients. Again, there is a nondescript “natural flavor” additive, though. The list goes on to mention vitamin supplements and minerals as well as fish oil and taurine. The only ingredient we dislike is carrageenan.

Review: Pet owners with senior cats seemed to enjoy this food as it encouraged their older cats to eat more. Overall, reviews were mixed, giving this a four-star rating on average. The most common complaint is that their cat just would not eat the food.

What Cat Food Formulas does Freshpet Make?

Freshpet cat food includes three different lines of products. Here is a closer look at them:

  • Freshpet Select Cat Food
    • Freshpet Select Tender Chicken & Beef Recipe for Cats
    • Freshpet Select Tender Chicken Recipe for Cats
    • Freshpet Select Chicken & Beef Grain-Free Gourmet Paté for Cats
    • Freshpet Select Grain-Free Gourmet Pate with Salmon for Cats
  • Freshpet Vital Cat Food
    • Freshpet Vital Grain-Free Chicken Recipe for Cats
    • Freshpet Vital Grain-Free Chicken & Beef Recipe for Cats
  • Freshpet Nature’s Fresh Cat Food
    • Freshpet Nature’s Fresh Grain-Free Chicken Recipe with Antioxidant-Rich Vegetables for Cats
Best Seller
Freshpet Healthy & Natural Cat Food Moisture Rich Tender Bites
10/10Our Score
  • 100% Natural US Farm-Raised Chicken #1 ingredient
  • No Grains, Gluten, Soy or Fillers
  • Complete & Balanced for All Life Stages

Has Freshpet Cat Food Been Recalled?

Yes, Freshpet Cat Food has been recalled.

Freshpet has one recall, but it was for their beef recipe dog food. They had reason to suspect the food was contaminated with salmonella and voluntarily recalled the food. This occurred in June 2021 and no other products were affected.

Is Freshpet Cat Food Worth it?

Yes, Freshpet Cat Food is worth it, as long as you can afford it.

The ingredients are great and offer little reason to worry. Trying Freshpet Cat Food may be a risk; however, if your cat does not like it, in which case it would be a substantial waste of money.