If you’re looking to upgrade your cat’s diet without completely overhauling your routine, freeze-dried cat food might be the purr-fect middle ground. It blends the nutritional benefits of raw feeding with the convenience of kibble—and yes, even the pickiest eaters often go wild for it.
But with so many options on the market, how do you know which ones are actually worth your money? Don’t worry, we’ve done the legwork (and paw-work) for you. Below are our top picks for the best freeze-dried cat food to keep your feline healthy, happy, and excited for mealtime.
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Top Pick
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Runner Up
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Best Single Protein
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Open Farm's RawMix Cat Food offers superior nutrition for your feline companion. Crafted with human-grade, non-GMO meats and fruits and vegetables, it combines the finest, responsibly sourced ingredients for a balanced diet. Each ingredient is carefully selected and prepared to retain natural nutrients, enzymes, and flavors. Save an additional 20% on your first Autoship order with code HELLO20 |
Nature’s Feast – Essential Wellness – Fish & Poultry is designed to support your cat’s healthy teeth and skin, easy digestion, youthful energy and mobility, and healthy lifespan. Each batch is made from premium meats, veggies, fruit and seeds — and contains zero artificial preservatives, additives, fillers, or synthetic ingredients. |
Made from sustainably-sourced ingredients and raw protein, this recipe starts with 98% cage-free poultry, organs, and bone—offering the benefits of raw food nutrition with the convenience of freeze-dried preparation. And to ensure the highest quality, each batch is made with care in the USA in Stella & Chewy’s own kitchen. |
Open Farm's RawMix Cat Food offers superior nutrition for your feline companion. Crafted with human-grade, non-GMO meats and fruits and vegetables, it combines the finest, responsibly sourced ingredients for a balanced diet. Each ingredient is carefully selected and prepared to retain natural nutrients, enzymes, and flavors.
Save an additional 20% on your first Autoship order with code HELLO20
Nature’s Feast – Essential Wellness – Fish & Poultry is designed to support your cat’s healthy teeth and skin, easy digestion, youthful energy and mobility, and healthy lifespan. Each batch is made from premium meats, veggies, fruit and seeds — and contains zero artificial preservatives, additives, fillers, or synthetic ingredients.
Made from sustainably-sourced ingredients and raw protein, this recipe starts with 98% cage-free poultry, organs, and bone—offering the benefits of raw food nutrition with the convenience of freeze-dried preparation. And to ensure the highest quality, each batch is made with care in the USA in Stella & Chewy’s own kitchen.
Why Try Freeze-Tried Cat Food?
Raw nutrition is on the rise, with more cat parents seeking to make their cats’ diets as clean and natural as possible. It’s ideal for cats needing a high-protein diet, as well as picky eaters and cats with sensitivities and allergies, as it’s rich in flavor, easy to digest, and free from fillers, additives, and grains.
However, traditional raw cat food can be inconvenient, taking up space in the fridge and making a mess at mealtimes, not to mention the short shelf life! For those who like the sound of raw nutrition without the drawbacks, freeze-dried cat food is the ultimate solution.
Freeze-dried food contains raw ingredients that have been dehydrated at a low temperature, making them easier to handle and store. It offers all of the ancestral nutrition and deliciousness without any of the mess, short shelf life, or refrigeration requirements – but don’t worry! It’s still minimally processed to ensure none of its taste or nutrition is lost, remaining easy to digest, with an added satisfying crunch for daily meals, tasty toppers, and on-the-go feeding.
However, it can be expensive, and there are plenty of products out there, so to help you cut through the noise and get what you pay for, we’ve made this list of the best freeze-dried cat food on the market. Let’s get started!
If you’re looking to streamline your cat’s meal times in addition to stepping up their diet, check out our list of the best microchip cat feeders, too.
Prefer Fresh Instead of Freeze-Dried?
Freeze-dried diets are popular because they’re minimally processed and often higher in protein than traditional kibble. But they’re not the only way to feed a high-quality diet.
If you like the idea of fresh, human-grade ingredients but don’t want to handle raw meat or rehydrate freeze-dried food, a fresh subscription service like Smalls Cat Food can be a great alternative.
Smalls delivers gently cooked meals made with real meat and simple ingredients. The meals arrive ready to serve (just thaw and portion).
Big Pet Food prioritizes profits over cat health and they pack cat food with preservatives and fillers. Smalls believes cats deserve better and uses natural ingredients and added vitamins and minerals in our food. The fresh food come in many delicious flavors and textures.
Top Picks for the Best Freeze-Dried Cat Food
- Top Pick – Open Farms Chicken & Salmon Freeze Dried Raw Morsels
- Runner-Up – Dr. Marty’s Nature’s Feast Essential Wellness Fish & Poultry
- Best Single Source Protein – Stella & Chewy’s Chick Chick Chicken Dinner Morsels
- Best Partial Freeze-Dried – Made By Nacho Dry Cat Food With Freeze-Dried Kibble
- Best Value – Instinct Freeze-Dried Raw Meals Cage-Free Chicken Recipe
- Best For Allergies – Feline Natural Lamb Grain-Free Freeze-Dried Cat Food
| Brand / Product | Protein % | Main Ingredients | Approx. Price (per lb) | Buy |
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| Open Farm Chicken & Salmon Raw Morsels | ~46% | Chicken, salmon, non-GMO fruits & veggies | $36–$40 | Check Price |
| Dr. Marty’s Nature’s Feast Fish & Poultry | ~43% | Turkey, salmon, whitefish, fruits & seeds | $52–$58 | Check Price |
| Stella & Chewy’s Chick Chick Chicken Morsels | ~45% | 98% cage-free chicken, organs & bone | $30–$35 | Check Price |
| Made By Nacho Dry + Freeze-Dried Kibble | ~38% | Cage-free chicken, liver, oats, salmon oil | $20–$25 | Check Price |
| Instinct Cage-Free Chicken Raw Meals | ~44% | 85% chicken, 15% non-GMO fruits & veggies | $25–$28 | Check Price |
| Feline Natural Lamb Grain-Free | ~47% | Grass-fed lamb, organs, green mussels, kelp | $38–$42 | Check Price |
BONUS:
Best Overall Freeze-Dried Cat Food – Open Farms Chicken & Salmon Freeze Dried Raw Morsels
Open Farms Chicken & Salmon Freeze Dried Raw Morsels is our top pick for its dedication to ethically sourced quality. Their freeze-dried formula comes in four flavors, but this combo is our fave, with a purrfect mixture of lean, protein-packed chicken and delicious, Omega-rich salmon.
Key features:
- Humanely-raised chicken and wild-caught salmon
- Non-GMO fruits & vegetables
- Complete and balanced nutrition
- Protein-packed
- Omega-rich
- No grains or fillers
- Free from antibiotics and hormones
- Sustainably sourced
- Strict animal welfare standards
- Regular orders and subscriptions
What we like:
It’s designed to be nutritionally complete and balanced for cats with the highest quality ingredients, such as humanely raised chicken and wild-caught salmon, as well as non-GMO fruits and vegetables for essential fibers, vitamins, and minerals.
It’s free from grains and fillers, and all of their meat is raised in line with strict animal welfare standards, without the use of antibiotics or growth hormones. All of the brand’s ingredients are also sourced in line with their climate strategy commitment, which includes a ten-year journey to minimize their carbon footprint and reduce emissions.
You can put in a regular order or set up a subscription with them, and it can be used as a meal or a topper for a taste of freeze-dried without the full price tag.
What to consider:
They’re sold in small bags, which, although affordable, will add up to a pricey bulk buy if used as your cat’s main meal every day, but if you want top quality in line with good ethics and eco-friendliness – this is it!
Open Farm's RawMix Cat Food offers superior nutrition for your feline companion. Crafted with human-grade, non-GMO meats and fruits and vegetables, it combines the finest, responsibly sourced ingredients for a balanced diet. Each ingredient is carefully selected and prepared to retain natural nutrients, enzymes, and flavors.
Save an additional 20% on your first Autoship order with code HELLO20
Runner-Up – Dr. Marty’s Nature’s Feast Essential Wellness Fish & Poultry
Dr. Marty’s Nature’s Feast Essential Wellness Fish & Poultry is our runner-up pick, with a delicious mix of turkey, salmon, and whitefish. It’s high in protein and rich in nutrition, and you can serve it dry or add water for a warm, wet meal.
Key features:
- 87% premium-quality meat
- Turkey, salmon, and whitefish
- Real fruits, veggies, and seeds
- Designed to support skin and teeth
- Healthy gut and joints
- Promotes high energy levels
- Supports a strong immune system
- No additives or fillers
- Serve wet or dry
- Trial-sized bags available
What we like:
Each batch is made with 87% premium-quality meats and real fruits, veggies, and seeds, including cranberry, kale, ginger, and flaxseed, with zero artificial additives or fillers. It’s designed to support healthy teeth and skin, easy digestion, and youthful energy levels, as well as good mobility and strong immunity for whole body health and longevity.
What to consider:
It’s on the pricey side, but they offer trial-sized bags so you can try it cheaper before committing to a bigger buy.
Nature’s Feast – Essential Wellness – Fish & Poultry is designed to support your cat’s healthy teeth and skin, easy digestion, youthful energy and mobility, and healthy lifespan. Each batch is made from premium meats, veggies, fruit and seeds — and contains zero artificial preservatives, additives, fillers, or synthetic ingredients.
Best Single Source Protein – Stella & Chewy’s Chick Chick Chicken Dinner Morsels
Stella & Chewy’s Chick Chick Chicken Dinner Morsels is our top single-source protein pick for those who want a simple, clean, limited-ingredient recipe. The brand is the #1 in the USA for freeze-dried pet food, and this all-natural chicken recipe is our favorite flavor!
Key features:
- All-natural limited ingredient recipe
- Single-source protein
- 98% cage-free poultry, organs, and bone
- Organic-certified fruits and vegetables
- Added probiotics and taurine
- Improves whole-body health
- Responsibly and sustainably sourced
- Gluten-free and grain-free
- No fillers or additives
- Just add water
- Comes in handy resealable pouches
- Made in small batches in the USA
- Strict quality and safety standards
- #1 freeze-dried pet food brand
What we like:
It’s made from premium-quality, responsibly and sustainably sourced ingredients, starting with 98% cage-free poultry, including organs and bone for three times more flavor. It also contains 100% organic-certified fruits and vegetables with added probiotics and taurine for heart and gut health.
In fact, pet parents can expect several improvements, including cleaner teeth, shinier fur, more energy, and stronger bones, joints, and muscles. It comes in handy resealable pouches and is made in small batches in the brand’s own USA kitchen following strict quality and safety standards, without the use of grains, gluten, fillers, or artificial additives.
What to consider:
It requires rehydration by adding warm water, but it’s not messy or time-consuming and creates a nice warm meal for your kitty.
Made from sustainably-sourced ingredients and raw protein, this recipe starts with 98% cage-free poultry, organs, and bone—offering the benefits of raw food nutrition with the convenience of freeze-dried preparation. And to ensure the highest quality, each batch is made with care in the USA in Stella & Chewy’s own kitchen.
Best Partial Freeze-Dried Cat Food – Made By Nacho Dry Cat Food With Freeze-Dried Kibble
Studies show that feeding your pet just 20% raw can boost their health, so if you want partially freeze-dried food, Made By Nacho Dry Cat Food With Freeze-Dried Kibble is our top pick. It’s a dry kibble with freeze-dried pieces designed by animal nutritionists, for a taste of raw nutrition without the full price tag.
Key features:
- Cage-free chicken
- Freeze-dried liver pieces
- Dehydrated bone broth
- Real fruits and veggies
- Whole grains
- Salmon oil
- Pre and probiotics
- Nourishes skin and coat
- Created by nutritionists
- Designed for picky-eaters
- Made in the USA
What we like:
It’s high in protein with cage-free chicken, freeze-dried liver pieces, and dehydrated bone broth for nutrient-packed deliciousness that delights even the pickiest of eaters. This recipe is grain-inclusive with wholesome oats for a healthy dose of fiber, plus Omega-rich salmon oil that nourishes the skin and coat.
It also contains real fruits and veggies like pumpkin and blueberries for whole nutrition and gut health, with added prebiotics and probiotics for smooth digestion and a healthy microbiome.
What to consider:
It’s unsuitable for cats with grain allergies, but still gluten-free.
See what a difference premium, chef-inspired quality can make with Made By Nacho Cage-Free Chicken, Duck & Quail Dry Cat Food Recipe. They start with cage-free chicken (real protein is our #1 ingredient) and add freeze-dried raw chicken liver pieces for strong muscles and deep, rich flavor. They infuse every bite with hydrating bone broth, Nacho's signature ingredient, for concentrated protein and whisker-smacking taste.
Best Value – Instinct Freeze-Dried Raw Meals Cage-Free Chicken Recipe
If you’re looking for something that suits a smaller budget, check out Instinct Freeze-Dried Raw Meals Cage-Free Chicken Recipe. All freeze-dried cat food is on the pricey side, but this one comes a little more affordable.
Key features:
- 85% cage-free chicken
- 15% non-GMO fruits and veggies
- Three times more protein
- Added vitamins and minerals
- Whole nutrition
- Promotes whole-body health
- Feed dry or rehydrate
- Free from grains, additives, soy, and legumes
- Made in the USA
What we like:
It doesn’t compromise on protein, with three times more real chicken and organ meat than other kibbles. It contains 85% cage-free chicken and 15% non-GMO fruits and vegetables, with added vitamins and minerals for complete and balanced nutrition.
The formula is carefully designed to promote lean muscles, strong bones, and high energy, plus a more vibrant coat and healthy skin. It’s also versatile for varied feeding and different preferences; you can feed it to your cat dry or rehydrate it with water. It’s made in the USA for ensured quality, and it’s free from additives, grains, soy, and legumes.
What to consider:
It’s not suitable for cats with poultry allergies.
This recipe features raw ingredients that have been freeze-dried to eliminate moisture and lock in all the powerful nutrients, making it easier for your pet to digest. A mix of 85% protein-packed chicken meat and 15% non-GMO fruits and veggies create a complete and balanced meal that’s rich in vitamins and minerals.
Best For Allergies – Feline Natural Lamb Grain-Free Freeze-Dried Cat Food
If your cat is sensitive to animal proteins, Feline Natural Lamb Grain-Free Freeze-Dried Cat Food could be a good option for you.
Key features:
- New Zealand grass-fed lamb
- 98% lamb, organs, and bones
- Superfoods like dried kelp
- Complete and balanced
- High in protein
- Low in carbohydrates
- No GMOs, dairy, soy, or potatoes
- Grain-free and filler-free
- Made in New Zealand
What we like:
It’s high in protein and low in carbs, with 98% New Zealand grass-fed lamb, including organs and ground bones, a good choice for cats with protein allergies. The other ingredients include nourishing superfoods like green mussels and dried kelp for complete and balanced nutrition, free from grains and gluten. It’s also free from GMOs, dairy, soy, and potatoes, and it’s made fresh in New Zealand.
What to consider:
It contains salmon, so take that into consideration if your cat is allergic to fish.
This rich-in-protein recipe is made in New Zealand with grass-fed, free-range lamb and green mussels. The single source protein food is purr-fect for the picky kitty. The food is freeze-dried to lock in nutrition and the su-paw yummy taste.
Best Treats – Vital Essentials Rabbit Bites Freeze-Dried Raw Cat Treats
If you’re looking for a freeze-dried treat, Vital Essentials Rabbit Bites Freeze-Dried Raw Cat Treats are our top pick!
Key features:
- Only four ingredients
- Farm-raised butcher’s cut rabbit
- Harvested for peak nutrition and flavor
- Healthy and high-protein
- Texture promotes oral health
- Moisture-rich
- Allergy-friendly
- Grain and gluten-free
- Carefully sourced
- Made in the USA
What we like:
With only four ingredients and one protein source, farm-raised butcher’s cut rabbit, it’s a healthy, high-protein treat that won’t mess up your cat’s clean diet. It’s packed with essential nutrients and minimally processed for peak nutrition and taste; frozen within 45 minutes of harvest and freeze-dried for 48 hours.
It’s also designed to help keep teeth and gums clean with an abrasive texture that’s satisfying to chew, and it’s gluten and grain-free for sensitive tummies. Rabbit is considered a hypoallergenic protein source for cats, so it’s ideal for cats with protein allergies, and it’s high in moisture to contribute to healthy hydration levels.
What to consider:
Many cats will be unfamiliar with eating rabbit, which may be an issue with particular eaters, but other flavors are available.
Vital Essentials Vital Rabbit Bites Freeze-dried Cat Treats satisfy your cat’s carnivorous cravings with a healthy single-protein treat. It’s responsibly sourced in the EU and high in premium butcher-cut rabbit. These healthy protein-rich treats are grain-free and full of flavor, which makes them a great option for snack time.
FAQs
Is freeze-dried cat food safe for cats?
All raw pet foods come with potential risks, and freeze-dried cat food is no different. Whilst freeze-drying doesn’t eliminate harmful bacteria, good brands like the ones we’ve listed take steps to ensure their products are pathogen-free. That said, it’s not risk-free, especially for pets with compromised immune systems, so talk to your vet before making the switch if you’re not sure whether it’s right for you.
Is freeze-dried food safe to handle?
As mentioned above, any raw-based product can contain hazardous bacteria, so we recommend washing your hands and surfaces after handling it to stay safe.
Can kittens eat freeze-dried cat food?
Kittens over 5 months old can eat freeze-dried cat foods designed for kittens or cats of all ages, just make sure to stick to the portion guidelines for your kitten’s age and size.
Final Picks for Picky Eaters, Budget Shoppers & Raw-Like Nutrition
If you’re wrapping up your search for the best freeze-dried cat food, here’s how to match the right brand to your cat’s personality (and your wallet):
🐾 Best for Picky Eaters:
Stella & Chewy’s Chick Chick Chicken is usually the winner for finicky cats thanks to its 98% meat, organs, and bone recipe. The aroma alone tends to seal the deal.
💸 Best Budget-Friendly Option:
For great value without sacrificing quality, Made By Nacho’s Dry + Freeze-Dried Kibble offers the lowest price point while still delivering freeze-dried nutrition in every bite.
🥩 Best Raw-Like Nutrition:
If you want the closest thing to a true raw diet in freeze-dried form, Feline Natural Lamb Feast and Open Farm Raw Morsels deliver high protein, clean ingredients, and minimal processing.
No matter which one you choose, freeze-dried food is an easy, lightweight way to give your cat the benefits of a raw-style diet—without the prep work.
Talk to your vet before changing their diet if you’re not sure, and to keep your protein-powered cat active and engaged, check out our list of the best electronic and motion-activated cat toys.
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