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Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Is Freshpet cat food any good? It has real advantages—refrigerated, cooked recipes with animal ingredients and substantial moisture—but it is not an uncomplicated choice. In its review updated January 13, 2026, Cats.com rated Freshpet 5.5/10 (33/60, C), citing limited variety and anecdotal customer reports of spoilage alongside the recipes’ meat-forward ingredients. That score is the reviewer’s editorial assessment, not a veterinary rating or laboratory result.
What the Cats.com review says about Freshpet
Cats.com evaluates Freshpet across six categories. Its ratings reflect that framework, not a standardized veterinary assessment:
| Category | Cats.com score |
|---|---|
| Species appropriateness | 7/10 |
| Ingredient quality | 6/10 |
| Product variety | 5/10 |
| Price | 7/10 |
| Customer experience | 3/10 |
| Recall history | 6/10 |
| Overall | 5.5/10 (33/60; C) |
The reviewer’s positives include animal-protein-forward examples, moisture, and low carbohydrate content in the recipes assessed. Its criticisms include plant ingredients, limited variety, and consumer reports of mold, sour odors, and spoilage. Those reports are anecdotal, not controlled findings. The reviewer said it counted 88 complaints during informal browsing; there is no population denominator, so that figure cannot establish how often a Freshpet product spoils.
Read the Cats.com Freshpet review and its scoring framework.
#1 Best Overall
- Clean Label Project Certified – Independently tested for over 100 contaminants to help ensure cleaner, safer food for your pet
- Healthy and Natural Fresh Cat Food
- High-quality Nutrition from U.S. Farm Raised Chicken and Veggies You Can See
- Gently Steam Cooked to Lock in Essential Nutrients
- Supports Healthy Digestion with High-quality, Easily Digestible Ingredients
What is in Freshpet cat food?
Freshpet sells distinct recipes and formats, so ingredient lists and nutrient figures should be compared by product rather than treated as one brand-wide formula. Two examples illustrate the differences.
Chicken & Beef roll
Freshpet lists chicken, chicken broth, beef, chicken liver, natural flavors, eggs, tapioca starch, carrageenan, pea protein, pea fiber, salt, taurine, celery powder, and added vitamins and minerals in its Chicken & Beef 1 lb roll. The manufacturer says this recipe is formulated to meet AAFCO Cat Food Nutrient Profiles for all life stages. That is a product-specific manufacturer statement, not an independent AAFCO endorsement.
Freshpet gives this roll a guaranteed analysis of 9% minimum crude protein, 7% minimum crude fat, 1% maximum crude fiber, and 78% maximum moisture. It lists 1,309 kcal/kg, or 297 kcal per half-pound. These are label figures for this recipe; they do not describe every Freshpet cat food.
Rank #2
- Clean Label Project Certified – Independently tested for over 100 contaminants to help ensure cleaner, safer food for your pet
- Healthy and Natural Fresh Cat Food
- High-quality Nutrition from U.S. Farm Raised Chicken and Beef
- Gently Steam Cooked to Lock in Essential Nutrients
- Supports Healthy Digestion with High-quality, Easily Digestible Ingredients
See the Freshpet Chicken & Beef product details.
Vital Chicken and Egg bag
This separate Vital recipe lists chicken, chicken liver, natural flavors, eggs, carrots, pea fiber, minerals, spinach, salt, choline chloride, taurine, fish oil, vitamins, celery powder, and beta-carotene. Its label gives 17% minimum protein, 10% minimum fat, 1.5% maximum fiber, 65% maximum moisture, and 250 kcal per cup. Do not substitute these values for the Chicken & Beef roll’s analysis.
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How to compare Freshpet labels fairly
Guaranteed-analysis percentages are stated as-fed. Because these recipes contain different amounts of water, comparing their raw percentages with dry or canned food can mislead. Freshpet’s FAQ describes converting a nutrient value to a dry-matter basis: subtract moisture from 100, divide the nutrient percentage by the resulting dry-matter percentage, then multiply by 100. Its example converts 10% protein at 75% moisture to 40% protein on a dry-matter basis; that example is not a protein measurement for every Freshpet recipe.
Rank #3
- Sustainably Sourced Cage-Free Chicken
- Gently Steamed Ingredients in Their Own Juices Maximize Nutrient Absorption
- Grain-Free
- Rigorously Tested by Independent Third-Party Labs for Accuracy and Safety Going Beyond Standard Pet Food Testing Protocols for Heavy Metals and Toxins
- USA made
When comparing foods, consider the named animal ingredients, plant ingredients and binders, moisture-adjusted nutrient values, stated calories, life-stage adequacy, package type, handling directions, and local availability. Calorie figures can also help you follow a feeding guide, but a cat’s needs vary; ask your veterinarian about individual medical or dietary requirements.
Freshpet’s FAQ explains its dry-matter comparison.
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Refrigeration and safe handling
Freshpet describes its foods as fully cooked and steam-cooked, and its products are sold refrigerated. For the cited Chicken & Beef roll, Freshpet says to refrigerate at all times and use within seven days after opening. The Vital Chicken & Beef roll page also says it may be frozen, though thawing may change its texture, and recommends transitioning gradually over about ten days, starting with 25% new food and increasing it every few days.
Rank #4
- Free of fillers, byproduct meals and meat meals.
- Grain-free formula.
- No artificial colors, flavors or preservatives.
- Packed in a BPA-free recyclable can.
- Made with sustainably sourced protiens.
Handling instructions can vary by recipe and may change. Follow the current package directions for the exact product you buy, keep it within the stated refrigeration requirements, and discard food that appears spoiled rather than relying on general brand guidance.
Check Freshpet’s Vital Chicken & Beef roll directions.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Has Freshpet cat food been recalled?
The FDA’s June 18, 2022 notice concerned a voluntary recall of one lot of Freshpet Select Fresh From the Kitchen Home Cooked Chicken Recipe dog food: 4.5 lb bags with a sell-by date of 10/29/22, due to potential Salmonella contamination. FDA marks that recall completed and terminated. Cats.com reports that the recalled product was dog food, not a cat-food formula. This record supports a narrow statement about that specific recall; it does not establish that no later recall has occurred.
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- 4 ESSENTIAL PROTEINS, IN SAVORY GRAVY: Optimeal Savory Protein wet cat food variety pack. Chicken, beef, turkey, and salmon in grain free, high protein savory gravy. Cloud-shaped morsels for a cat's mouth, ideal mouthfeel and irresistible taste.
- COMPLETE & BALANCED, CRAFTED BY NUTRITION EXPERTS: Meets AAFCO standards for complete and balanced adult cat nutrition. Optimeal wet cat food is made with premium European ingredients and essential balanced nutrients for daily energy, health and wellbeing. Grain Free, No Carrageenan, Non-GMO, no corn, soy, wheat, artificial flavors or colors.
- SUPPORTS DIGESTION, IMMUNITY & SKIN + COAT: Prebiotic FOS supports healthy digestion and gut health, a complete vitamin and mineral profile supports immune health, and Omega-3 & 6 fatty acids from French salmon oil keep skin healthy and coat shiny.
- 96%+ OF PROTEIN FROM ANIMAL SOURCES: Real animal protein in every bite, no fillers, no rendered by-products, no compromises. Clean, high-protein nutrition your cat's body is built for. Serve as a complete meal or as a hydrating topper over dry kibble.
- SEALED FOR FRESHNESS & MOISTURE-RICH: Pouches lock in moisture and natural aromas for fresher taste every meal. Great for picky cats. Serve as a complete meal or mix over kibble to add vital hydration.
The FDA notice also says the agency posts company announcements as a public service and that “FDA does not endorse either the product or the company.” Freshpet’s FAQ says there are no current or pending recalls, but that is the company’s statement and may change. For current status, check FDA and Freshpet recall notices before buying.
Read the FDA’s June 18, 2022 recall notice.
See Freshpet’s contact and FAQ page.
Where to buy and what is not established
The Cats.com review describes Freshpet cat food as available through grocery, big-box, pet-specialty, natural-food retailers, and local delivery routes. At the time of its January 2026 update, it reported that cat food was not directly available online. That does not establish current stock or shipping options in your area, and refrigerated delivery needs a reliable cold chain. Check local sellers and delivery terms before ordering. The available information does not establish a current price per serving.
Freshpet says it conducts AAFCO growth and adult-maintenance feeding trials, digestibility studies, independent laboratory analyses, and production quality checks. These are statements by the manufacturer; they are distinct from Cats.com’s qualitative ingredient review. The cited sources do not provide an independent study statistic establishing a health outcome from feeding Freshpet.
Quick Recap
Freshpet’s Research & Education page.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
