John Seeberg

Written by John Seeberg

Laura Ward

Reviewed by Laura Ward

Updated: June 4, 2024

Feline Natural Freeze-dried (Wet) Review

Updated: June 4, 2024

Our Verdict

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Highly Recommended

Feline Natural Freeze-dried product range is made of six recipes which all receive the Cat Food Advisor rating, 5 stars

This range of food contains a mix of animal meat, organs and blood to provide a rich source of protein. Each recipe is very low in carbohydrate and has added vitamins.  This food offers a very good diet option for cats of all life stages.

Pros
  • Freeze dried food retains the nutrient value of the raw meat
  • Very low in carbohydrate
  • Vitamins added
Cons
  • Requires re-hydration
  • Expensive versus other cat foods

The table below shows each recipe in the range including our rating and the AAFCO nutrient profile: Growth (kitten), Maintenance (adult), All Life Stages, Supplemental or Unspecified.

Product line Rating AAFCO
Feline Natural Beef Feast Freeze-Dried Cat Food 5 A
Feline Natural Lamb Feast Freeze-Dried Cat Food 5 A
Feline Natural Chicken Feast Freeze-Dried Cat Food 5 A
Feline Natural Lamb & King Salmon Feast Freeze-Dried Cat Food 5 A
Feline Natural Chicken & Lamb Feast Freeze-Dried Cat Food 5 A
Feline Natural Beef & Hoki Feast Freeze-Dried Cat Food 5 A

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Recipe and Label Analysis

Feline Natural Chicken Feast Freeze-Dried Cat Food was selected to represent the other products in the line for a detailed recipe and nutrient analysis.

Label and nutrient data below are calculated using dry matter basis.

Feline Natural Chicken Feast Freeze-Dried Cat Food

Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content

48.9%

Protein

30.4%

Fat

12.7%

CarbsCarbohydrates

Chicken, chicken liver, New Zealand green mussel, fish oil, flaxseed flakes, dried kelp, salt, taurine, choline chloride, vitamin e supplement, magnesium oxide, zinc proteinate, copper proteinate, manganese proteinate, thiamine mononitrate, folic acid, vitamin D3 supplement.


Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 2.5%

Red denotes any controversial items

Ingredients Analysis

The first ingredient is chicken which is considered “the clean combination of flesh and skin derived from the parts or whole carcasses of chicken”.  1

Chicken is naturally rich in the 11 essential amino acids required by a cat to sustain life.

The second ingredient is chicken liver.  This is an organ meat sourced from a named animal and thus considered a beneficial component.

The third ingredient is New Zealand green mussels.  Mussels are clam-like animals notably rich in glucosamine and omega-3 fatty acids, nutrients proven to support long-term joint health.

The fourth ingredient is fish oilFish oil is naturally rich in the prized EPA and DHA type of omega-3 fatty acids.  These two high quality fats boast the highest bioavailability to dogs and humans. 

Depending on its level of freshness and purity, fish oil should be considered a commendable addition.

The fifth ingredient is flaxseed flakes, one of the best plant-based sources of healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Flax meal is particularly rich in soluble fiber.

However, flaxseed contains about 19% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the actual meat content of this cat food.

The sixth ingredient is dried kelp, a dehydrated form of seaweed also known as alginate.  Kelp is most likely used here as a thickening or gelling agent.  

The seventh ingredient is salt (also known as sodium chloride).  Salt is a common additive in many cat foods.  That’s because sodium is a necessary mineral for all animals — including humans. 

Salt can often be found in cat foods to promote cats to drink more water too.  This is a means of increasing their hydration and diluting their urine which helps to reduce the likelihood of urinary stones forming.

However, since the actual amount of salt added to this recipe isn’t disclosed on the list of ingredients, it’s impossible to judge the nutritional value of this item.

The eighth ingredient is taurine, an essential amino acid for cats associated with the healthy function of heart muscle and eye sight, and is crucial for maintaining good health in cats. 

We view the presence of taurine in this recipe as a positive addition.

From here the list goes on to include a number of other items. But to be realistic, ingredients located this far down the list (other than nutritional supplements) are not likely to affect the overall rating of the product.

This food contains chelated minerals that have been chemically attached to protein.  This makes them easier to absorb. Chelated minerals are usually found in better cat foods.

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Nutrient Analysis

Based on its ingredients alone, Feline Natural Chicken Feast Freeze-Dried Cat Food looks like an above-average, freeze-dried product.

The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 48.9%, a fat level of 30.4% and an estimated carbohydrate level of 12.7%.

As a group, the brand features an above-average protein content of 48% and a mean fat level of 37.9%.  Together these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 6.1% for the overall product line, alongside a fat to protein ratio of 80%.This means this Feline Natural Freeze-Dried range contains higher than average protein, lower than average carbohydrate and higher than average fat, when compared to typical freeze-dried cat food.

Final Word

This range of food contains excellent sources of animal protein including meat, organs and blood.  Carbohydrates are very low and vitamins have also been added, so these recipes offer a good diet option.

The Cat Food Advisor highly recommends this food.

Has Feline Natural cat food been recalled in the past?

No.  Feline Natural cat food has not been recalled.

However, in April of 2018, one of the company’s dog food lines – K9 Natural – was recalled due to possible contamination of listeria. You can read more details about this on the Dog Food Advisor.

You can view a complete list of all cat food recalls since 2021 here.

To stay on top of any cat food product recalls, sign up for our free email alerts, here.

About

Natural Pet Food Group is the parent company of Feline Natural which was founded in 2006 by Geoff Bowers. The company also owns K9 Natural and is based in Christchurch, New Zealand.

Sources

1: [1. Association of American Feed Control Officials]

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