Our Verdict
Steve’s Real Food Quest product range is made of four recipes which all receive the Cat Food Advisor rating, 5 stars.
The first three ingredients listed in this range come from animal protein which means the protein levels are very high, carbohydrates low and moisture content high.
Pros
- High in protein
- First three ingredients are listed as animal
- Low carbohydrate content
Cons
- More expensive than other cat foods
- Requirement to Freeze/ inconvenience
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Steve's Real Food Quest Frozen Raw Beef Diet | 5 | A |
| Steve's Real Food Quest Frozen Raw Pork Diet | 5 | A |
| Steve's Real Food Quest Frozen Raw Chicken Diet | 5 | A |
| Steve's Real Food Quest Frozen Raw Whitefish Diet | 5 | A |
Recipe and Label Analysis
Quest Frozen Raw Pork Diet recipe 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.
Quest Frozen Raw Pork Diet recipe
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Protein
Fat
CarbsCarbohydrates
Ground pork, pork liver, pork heart, ground pork bone, goat milk, flaxseed, kelp, taurine, inulin, coconut oil, chia seeds, sesame seeds, ground eggshell.
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 0.6%
Red denotes any controversial items
Ingredients Analysis
The first ingredient is ground pork. Pork can be defined as “the clean flesh derived from slaughtered pork” and includes skeletal muscle or the muscle tissues of the tongue, diaphragm, heart or esophagus. 1
Pork is naturally rich in all 11 essential amino acids required by a cat to sustain life.
The second ingredient is pork liver, an organ meat sourced from a named animal and thus considered a beneficial component.
The third ingredient is pork heart which doesn’t sound very appetizing, but heart tissue is pure muscle — all meat. It’s naturally rich in quality protein, minerals and complex B vitamins, too.
The fourth ingredient is ground pork bone. Thisl is considered a meat concentrate and contains nearly 300% more protein than fresh pork. Yet it can also be high in ash — about 25-30%.
However, the ash content of the final product is typically adjusted in the recipe to allow its mineral profile to meet AAFCO guidelines.
The fifth ingredient is goat milk. Goat’s milk is rich in calcium, phosphorus and vitamin D. It contains slightly less lactose and can be considered nutritionally similar to cow’s milk.
The sixth ingredient is flaxseed, one of the best plant sources of healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Provided they’ve first been ground into a meal, flax seeds are also 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 seventh ingredient is kelp, an algae-based seaweed modest in protein content but rich in marine minerals.
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.
Nutrient Analysis
Based on its ingredients alone, Quest Frozen Raw Pork Diet recipe looks like an above-average frozen raw product.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 57.1%, a fat level of 34.3% and an estimated carbohydrate level of .6%.
As a group, the brand features an above-average protein content of 52.1% and an above-average fat level of 25.8%. Together these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 14.1% for the overall product line, alongside a fat to protein ratio of 49%.
This means that the Quest frozen raw range by Steve’s Real Food contains higher than average protein, lower than average carbohydrate, higher than average fat, when compared to typical frozen raw cat food.
Final Word
Quest frozen raw is a premium cat food range designed to meet the nutritional needs of all cats, through the raw feeding prey model of 95% meat, bone, organ, and 5% superfoods. It offers a prey model diet using only muscle meat, organ, bone, and ingredients such as coconut oil and raw goat milk.
The Cat Food Advisor highly recommends this food.
Has Steve's Real Food cat food been recalled in the past?
Yes. In September 2018, Steve’s Real Food voluntarily recalled Quest Beef Diet due to possible salmonella and l. mono contamination. You can read more about this recall 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
Steve Brown founded Steve’s Real Food in 1998 and it was the first commercial frozen-raw diet to meet AAFCO standards.
The company has a dedicated facility in Aumsville. All the meats come from free-range animals that are grass-fed. The produce is fresh, pesticide-free, and triple-washed to ensure it is clean and wholesome.
Sources
Best cat foods
Cat Food Advisor is reader supported. If you buy using links on this page, we may earn a referral fee.
Article reviewed by
Pet Nutritionist
Laura studied BSc (Hons) Animal Science with an accreditation in Nutrition at the University of Nottingham, before working for eight years in the pet food and nutrition industry.
We uphold the highest editorial standards when creating the authoritative content pet parents rely on and trust.
Every piece of clinical content on the Cat Food Advisor is reviewed by our certified Veterinary Advisory Board, which consists of licensed veterinarians and medically certified specialists.
Our reviews are completely independent; we are not paid by any pet food company to promote their products favorably. We do not accept money, gifts, samples or other incentives in exchange for special consideration. For more information see our Disclaimer & Disclosure page.
