Our Verdict
Stella & Chewy’s Dinner Morsels freeze-dried cat food receives the Cat Food Advisor rating, 4.5 stars.
It is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO cat food nutrient profiles for all life stages.
Each recipe in the range is tailored to meet the nutritional needs of cats at different stages of life.
Pros
- Rich in animal protein
- Free of animal by-products
- Made without artificial colors, flavors and preservatives
Cons
- Quite expensive
Each recipe includes its AAFCO nutrient profile: Growth (kitten), Maintenance (adult), All Life Stages, Supplemental or Unspecified.
The Stella & Chewy’s Dinner Morsels product line includes six freeze-dried raw cat foods.
| Product line | Rating | AAFCO |
|---|---|---|
| Chick, Chick Chicken Freeze Dried Dinner Morsels | 4.5 | A |
| Duck, Duck Goose Freeze Dried Dinner Morsels | 4.5 | A |
| Tummy Ticklin Turkey Freeze Dried Raw Morsels | 4.5 | A |
| Yummy Lickin Salmon & Chicken Freeze Dried Raw Dinner Morsels | 4.5 | A |
| Sea-Licious Salmon & Cod Freeze Dried Raw Dinner Morsels | 4.5 | A |
| Absolutely Rabbit Freeze Dried Raw Dinner Morsels | 4.5 | A |
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Recipe and Label Analysis
Stella & Chewy’s Chick, Chick Chicken Freeze-Dried Raw Dinner Morsels 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.
Stella & Chewy’s Chick, Chick Chicken Freeze-Dried Raw Dinner Morsels
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Protein
Fat
CarbsCarbohydrates
Chicken with ground bone, chicken liver, chicken gizzard, pumpkin seeds, potassium chloride, sodium phosphate, choline chloride, dried pediococcus acidilactici fermentation product, dried lactobacillus, dried bifidobacterium longum fermentation product, dried bacillus coagulans fermentation product, taurine, mixed 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
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 5%
Red denotes any controversial items
Ingredients Analysis
The first ingredient is ground chicken and bone. Chicken 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 eleven essential amino acids required by a cat to sustain life. The ground bone is an excellent source of natural calcium.
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 chicken giblets, the edible by-products of poultry slaughter. They include the gizzard, lungs, kidneys, heart, spleen, liver, ovaries and most other internal organs of the bird. Although the thought of eating an animal’s internal organs may not be appealing to most humans, these unfamiliar ingredients can be considered a natural part of an authentic feline diet.
The fourth ingredient is pumpkin seed. Pumpkin seeds are rich in fiber, vitamins, minerals and, more importantly, linoleic acid – an essential omega-6 fat.
The fifth ingredient is potassium chloride, a nutritional supplement sometimes used as a replacement for the sodium found in table salt.
The sixth ingredient is monosodium phosphate, a supplemental source of both sodium and phosphorus. Sodium and phosphorus are each considered essential minerals.
The seventh ingredient is choline chloride, an essential B vitamin that naturally occurs in both plant and animals. It is found in meat, eggs, fish, liver, soybeans and wheat germ. Because a cat cannot store choline chloride in its body, the nutrient must be replenished to avoid a deficiency. Choline chloride is a supplement required by both AAFCO and the FDA.
The eighth ingredient is dried pediococcus acidilactici fermentation. The company appears to have applied friendly bacteria to the surface of the kibble after cooking. These special probiotics are used to enhance a cat’s digestive and immune functions.
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 recipe receives a 4.5-star rating.
Nutrient Analysis
Based on its ingredients alone, Stella & Chewy’s Chick, Chick Chicken Freeze-Dried Raw Dinner Morsels Cat Food looks like an above-average raw product.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 47.4%, a fat level of 26.3% and an estimated carbohydrate level of 18.3%.
As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 45.4% and a mean fat level of 29.8%. Together these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 16.7% for the overall product line, alongside a fat-to-protein ratio of 66%.
This means the Stella & Chewy’s Dinner Morsels product line contains above-average protein, average carbs and above-average fat when compared to typical freeze-dried or frozen cat food.
Final Word
Stella & Chewy’s Dinner Morsels generally contain around 98% poultry, nutrient-rich organs and bones, given that the food is more expensive than other cat food brands.
Has Stella & Chewy's cat food been recalled in the past?
Yes, Stella & Chewy’s has had two recalls in 2015. One in July, the other in December. Both for potential listeria links.
The products affected in July were:
- Freeze-Dried Chewy’s Chicken Dinner for Dogs, 15 oz., Lot #111-15, Best by April 23, 2016 or April 26, 2016
- Freeze-Dried Chick, Chick, Chicken Dinner for Cats, 12 oz., Lot #111-15, Best by April 29, 2016 or May 3, 2016
- Freeze-Dried Chick, Chick, Chicken Dinner for Cats, 12 oz., Lot #104-15, Best by April 23, 2016
- Freeze-Dried Chick, Chick, Chicken Dinner for Cats, 12 oz., Lot #109-15, Best by April 29, 2016 or May 3, 2016
- Carnivore Crunch – Turkey Recipe, 3.25 oz., Lot #111-15, Best by May 3, 2016 or May 4, 2016
- Carnivore Crunch – Chicken Recipe, 3.25 oz., Lot #110-15, Best by May 3
- Frozen Duck Duck Goose Dinner Morsels for Dogs, 4 lb., Lot #111-15, Best by April 21, 2016
- Frozen Chewy’s Chicken Dinner Morsels for Dogs, 4 lb., Lot #111-15, Best by April 21, 2016
- Frozen Surf ‘N Turf Dinner Patties for Dogs, 6 lb., Lot #111-15, Best by April 21, 2016
- Frozen Chewy’s Chicken Dinner Patties for Dogs, 3 lb. or 6 lb., Lot #111-15, Best by April 21, 2016
- Freeze-Dried Tantalizing Turkey Meal Mixers, 9 oz. or 18 oz., Lot #105-15, Best by May 3, 2016
- Freeze-Dried Tantalizing Turkey Meal Mixers, 18 oz., Lot #113-15, Best by May 3, 2016
- Freeze-Dried Chewy’s Chicken Dinners for Dogs, 15 oz., Lot #114-15, Best by April 26, 2016
- Freeze-Dried Tummy Ticklin’ Turkey Dinner for Cats, 12 oz., Lot #114-15 or #115-15, Best by May 4, 2016
- Freeze-Dried Salmon & Chicken Dinner for Cats, 12 oz., Lot #107-15, Best by April 23, 2016
And the products affected in December were:
- 8 oz. packages of Frozen Stella’s Super Beef Dinner Morsels for Dogs, Lot #165-15, “Best by” June 25, 2016
- 4 lb. packages of Frozen Stella’s Super Beef Dinner Morsels for Dogs, Lot #165-15, “Best by” June 25, 2016 or June 26, 2016
- 1.25 lb. packages of Frozen Duck Duck Goose Dinner Morsels for Cats, Lot #165-15, “Best by” June 25, 2016
- 1.25 lb. packages of Frozen Chick Chick Chicken Dinner Morsels for Cats, Lots #160-15 or 152-15, “Best by” July 2, 2016
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
Stella & Chewy’s was founded by Marie Moody after adopting two dogs named Stella & Chewy, this led to Marie pursuing her passion for pet nutrition and starting her own business.
The privately held business is based in Oak Creek and foods are manufactured at a plant in Wisconsin.
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Article reviewed by
Veterinarian
Dr Georgia Jeremiah has a first class honors degree in comparative pathology with field experience in anatomic and clinical pathology, studying disease processes in a multitude of species.
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