Freeze-dried cat food popularity is on the rise; however, it’s still not as widely known or understood as kibble or canned cat food. The benefit of this new type of food for your furry friend is that it’s packed with goodness and provides all the nutrition they need. It’s raw food that has been sealed securely with all its moisture removed through freezing, allowing it to last longer than typical raw food would.
Reviewed & Fact-Checked By
Dr. Paola Cuevas
Veterinarian, MVZ
Reviewed & Fact-Checked By
Dr. Paola Cuevas
Veterinarian, MVZ
The information is current and up-to-date in accordance with the latest veterinarian research.
With freeze-dried cat food, you benefit as a cat owner because you won’t have to spend time meal-prepping, worrying about bacteria, or guessing the nutritional balance because it comes packed with all that done for you.
Before changing your cat’s diet, consult your vet as their age or medical concerns need to be taken into consideration. Freeze-dried cat food comes in various forms, from meals to treats. Let’s look at some of the best options below.
A Quick Look at Our Favorite Picks in 2023
Image Product Details
Best Overall
Smalls Freeze-Dried Raw Cat Food
Raw and all-natural ingredients
No mystery meats
Species-appropriate diet
Delivered at your doorstep
Click to Save 40% Use code: Petkeen2023
Best Value
Vital Essentials Chicken Mini Nibs Freeze-Dried Cat Food
Affordable
Offers beneficial ingredients
High in quality and protein
Check Price
Stella & Chewy’s Yummy Lickin’ Salmon & Chicken Dinner Morsels Freeze-
98% raw meat and bones
Can be eaten dry or rehydrated
Suitable for cats with sensitive stomachs
Check Price
Meat Mates Lamb Dinner Grain-Free Freeze-Dried Cat Food
Sustainably sourced with no GMOs or fillers
Resealable bag
Low in carbohydrates and high in protein
Check Price
Instinct Raw Meals Cage-Free Chicken Recipe Grain-Free Freeze-Dried Ki
Designed for kittens
Omegas 3 and 6
High in protein
Check Price
The 11 Best Freeze-Dried Cat Foods
1. Smalls Freeze-Dried Raw Cat Food – Best Overall
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Crude Protein: 45% -49%
Weight: 40-oz bag
Flavor: Chicken, Turkey or Duck
Type: Complete and balanced diet
The best overall goes for Smalls freeze-dried raw cat food. These amazing products come in 3 different recipes including chicken, turkey, and duck. We love Smalls, they are a transparent company offering only the very best species-appropriate diets for tiny domestic carnivores. This freeze-dried food is 100% raw and made in human-grade kitchens without the use of artificial colorings or flavors. Instead of chemical preservatives, Smalls uses tocopherols, which are antioxidant compounds that protect your cat’s health from free radical damage at the cellular level.
The ingredients in this recipe are all-natural and clearly named, there are no mystery meats here so you can rest assured you know exactly what you are feeding your cat. In addition, you will no longer need to make those regular trips to the pet store; Smalls products are delivered right to your doorstep!
The main drawback to this food is that you cannot buy it directly; instead, you have to sign up for a Smalls human-grade fresh food subscription, and the freeze-dried food is available as an add-on. While this food might seem a little bit pricy, the quality of nutrition you are feeding your cat will save you expensive veterinary bills in the future. You are paying the right price for feeding only premium-quality ingredients, instead of paying for overpriced and unnecessary carbohydrate-loaded cheap fillers that will eventually wreak your beloved kitty’s health. By feeding Small’s top-quality diets you are literally preventing medical issues and taking a proactive approach to your cat’s health. We hope Smalls develops a non-poultry-based freeze-dried recipe to serve kitties with allergies to chicken, turkey, and duck.
Pros
Raw and all-natural ingredients
No mystery meats
Species-appropriate diet
Delivered at your doorstep
Cons
Only poultry recipes
If you ask us, the Vital Essentials Chicken Mini Nibs Freeze-Dried Cat Food is the best freeze-dried cat food for the money, available at a lower price than many other similar products.
Raw and all-natural ingredients
No mystery meats
Species-appropriate diet
Delivered at your doorstep
- Raw and all-natural ingredients
- No mystery meats
- Species-appropriate diet
- Delivered at your doorstep
Only poultry recipes
- Only poultry recipes
Crude Protein: 55%
Weight: 12-oz bag
Flavor: Chicken
Type: Complete and balanced diet
Check Price on Chewy
This product doesn’t try to impress with a long list of unnecessary ingredients but rather offers the best ones that your cat will actually benefit from. This product has high-quality ingredients and is high in protein, with a crude content of 55%.
If you find your cat playing with their chunks instead of eating them, they may be too big for them, and you may need to halve them in size.
Pros
Affordable
Offers beneficial ingredients
High in quality and protein
Cons
Chunks can be a bit large
Approved by both cats and cat owners is our premium choice freeze-dried cat food, Stella & Chewy’s Yummy Lickin’ Salmon & Chicken Dinner Morsels. It’s packed full of goodness and is made up of 98% raw meat and bones—the kind of diet your furry friend would eat in the wild.
Affordable
Offers beneficial ingredients
High in quality and protein
- Affordable
- Offers beneficial ingredients
- High in quality and protein
Chunks can be a bit large
- Chunks can be a bit large
Crude Protein: 45%
Weight: 18-oz bag
Flavor: Salmon and Chicken
Type: Complete and balanced diet
You can feed this delicious meal to your cat dry like you would kibble or rehydrated in a bit of cold or warm water. Allow it to soak for 5 to 15 minutes, and then your kitty can happily lap it up.
You’ll quickly notice a change in your cat’s poop once you start this cat food. They’ll poop more regularly, and it’ll stick much less than before. Although it’s a bit pricey, it offers all the ingredients that help sensitive stomachs, and your kitty will thank you for the relief! You’ll also notice your cat shine from a healthier coat.
Pros
98% raw meat and bones
Can be eaten dry or rehydrated
Suitable for sensitive stomachs
Healthier poop and coat
Cons
A bit pricey
98% raw meat and bones
Can be eaten dry or rehydrated
Suitable for sensitive stomachs
Healthier poop and coat
- 98% raw meat and bones
- Can be eaten dry or rehydrated
- Suitable for sensitive stomachs
- Healthier poop and coat
A bit pricey
- A bit pricey
For sustainably sourced freeze-dried cat food with limited ingredients and no GMOs or fillers, take a look at our next choice—Meat Mates Lamb Dinner Grain-Free Freeze-Dried Cat Food. This product is suitable for cats with poultry allergies, and the resealable bag is an extra bonus.
Crude Protein: 42%
Weight: 14-oz bag
Flavor: Lamb
Type: Complete and balanced diet
The carbohydrate content in this product is less than 1%, and the protein content is 42%, making it an excellent option for weight maintenance. A product of premium status is going to cost more, and unfortunately, the price has increased recently, making it unattainable for many customers.
This cat food is quick and easy to serve as it doesn’t require water or any other liquid. Don’t worry about it being too hard—the pebbles are soft and break apart easily, making it simple for your cat to eat. This product is very high in fat so it is not suitable for cats that need to shed some weight.
Pros
Sustainably sourced with no GMOs or fillers
Resealable bag
Low in carbohydrates and high in protein
Quick and easy to serve
Pellets are soft and break easily
Cons
Expensive and recently increased in price
Not for cats that need to loose weight
Made with kittens in mind is the Instinct Raw Meals Cage-Free Chicken Recipe Grain-Free Freeze-Dried Kitten Food. This cat food is ideal for developing kittens due to its high protein content that aids in the development of strong muscles. It also contains DHA for healthy brain development and healthy vision. In addition, this food will give your kitten a healthy, soft coat.
Sustainably sourced with no GMOs or fillers
Resealable bag
Low in carbohydrates and high in protein
Quick and easy to serve
Pellets are soft and break easily
- Sustainably sourced with no GMOs or fillers
- Resealable bag
- Low in carbohydrates and high in protein
- Quick and easy to serve
- Pellets are soft and break easily
Expensive and recently increased in price
Not for cats that need to loose weight
- Expensive and recently increased in price
- Not for cats that need to loose weight
Crude Protein: 39%
Weight: 9.5-oz bag
Flavor: Chicken
Type: Complete and balanced diet
Although expensive, this freeze-dried meal aids in digestion, provides your kitty with energy, helps them maintain a good weight, and is excellent for kittens with food sensitivities. The pieces could be a bit smaller, but they’re easy to break up. This meal can be eaten dry or rehydrated. Watch your kitten go from being an uninterested eater to an eager one!
Pros
Designed for kittens
Balanced Omega 3 and 6 ratio
High in protein
Aids in digestion and provides energy
Suitable for kittens with food sensitivities
Cons
Expensive
Pieces may be a bit large
We all would like the best food for our cats, and what better food is there than that of our cat’s ancestors? Purpose Carnivore Duck Freeze-Dried Grain-Free Raw Cat Food has got its recipe right and provides your cat with the goodness that their ancestors lived on. No matter the age of your cat, you can start them on the right food that contains only 1% vitamins and minerals, and the rest is made up of duck.
Designed for kittens
Balanced Omega 3 and 6 ratio
High in protein
Aids in digestion and provides energy
Suitable for kittens with food sensitivities
- Designed for kittens
- Balanced Omega 3 and 6 ratio
- High in protein
- Aids in digestion and provides energy
- Suitable for kittens with food sensitivities
Expensive
Pieces may be a bit large
- Expensive
- Pieces may be a bit large
Crude Protein: 45%
Weight: 9-oz bag
Flavor: Duck
Type: Complete and balanced diet
This cat food appeals to a range of cats. If they enjoy crunchy food, they can eat it dry, just don’t forget they should always have access to clean drinking water. If they’re a bit more finicky, you can soak it and give it to them soft. Either way, you’ll get the enjoyment of watching them gobble it up. These pieces are also easy to break up for added convenience. Your cat also has a variety of flavors to choose from within this range. Unfortunately, as with many freeze-dried cat foods, it’s quite expensive.
Pros
99% duck
It can be eaten crunchy or soft
Pieces are easy to break up
Variety of flavors
Cons
Expensive
For something slightly different, we’ve got this freeze-dried topper from Dr. Tim’s. This topper is designed to supplement a cat’s dry kibble food to give them an amino acid boost. However, if your cat is already on a well-balanced freeze-dried diet, it’s unnecessary to add this topper to their meal.
99% duck
It can be eaten crunchy or soft
Pieces are easy to break up
Variety of flavors
- 99% duck
- It can be eaten crunchy or soft
- Pieces are easy to break up
- Variety of flavors
Expensive
- Expensive
Crude Protein: 35%
Weight: 12-oz bag
Flavor: Beef
Type: Topper
The taurine in this supplement is vital and prevents heart disease, and aids in a healthy vision and immune system. Unfortunately, cats that don’t get enough dietary amino acids can end up with some serious and irrevocable health issues. If you’re concerned your cat isn’t getting all the taurine and protein they need, this topper will give it to them—and it’s tasty too!
Pros
Supplements dry kibble cat food
Protein boost
Protects your cat’s heart and brain
It tastes good
Cons
It isn’t necessary if your cat is on a well-balanced diet
Not a complete and balanced formula
Another topper option for you to consider is the Instinct Raw Boost Mixers Grain-Free Freeze-Dried Raw Cat Food. It’s a cheaper option that a wider range of customers will be able to afford and add to their cat’s bowl for extra flavor and nutrition. If your cat is already on a well-balanced diet, you can use these chunks as a tasty yet healthy treat.
Supplements dry kibble cat food
Protein boost
Protects your cat’s heart and brain
It tastes good
- Supplements dry kibble cat food
- Protein boost
- Protects your cat’s heart and brain
- It tastes good
It isn’t necessary if your cat is on a well-balanced diet
Not a complete and balanced formula
- It isn’t necessary if your cat is on a well-balanced diet
- Not a complete and balanced formula
Crude Protein: 36%
Weight: 5.5-oz
Flavor: Chicken, pumpkin, sweet potato, chicory root, and apple cider vinegar
Type: Topper
Although it contains a decent amount of protein, it’s lower than many other freeze-dried products—yet higher than most commercial cat food. It also has a fairly high number of fruits and vegetables, which typically isn’t what you’d like to see in a protein supplement.
Regardless, your cat is going to love munching on these all-natural, well-sized chunks.
Pros
Inexpensive
It can be used as both a topper or a treat
All-natural
Well-sized
Cons
Less protein and more fruits and vegetables than other options
Nulo is a cat food brand that many people love and trust, and now the company has freeze-dried cat food too! 98% of the Nulo FreeStyle Chicken & Salmon Freeze-Dried Recipe is from animal ingredients and has probiotics included. Only 0.76% carbohydrates are in your cat’s bowl of food.
Inexpensive
It can be used as both a topper or a treat
All-natural
Well-sized
- Inexpensive
- It can be used as both a topper or a treat
- All-natural
- Well-sized
Less protein and more fruits and vegetables than other options
- Less protein and more fruits and vegetables than other options
Crude Protein: 46%
Weight: 8-oz bag
Flavor: Chicken and Salmon
Type: Complete and balanced diet or topper
You can use this cat food as a topper on commercial kibble or as a full meal on its own. It’s excellent for picky eaters and for cats that have trouble eating because it’s so soft. After a bit of time on this cat food, you’ll notice your cats begin to slim down, no longer struggle with dry skin, and have beautiful shiny coats.
Unfortunately, some pieces might be a bit too soft and can break into dusty remains, leaving customers disappointed.
Pros
Nulo is a well-known brand
98% of the food are animal ingredients
Contains probiotics
You can add it as a topper or full meal
Excellent for picky eaters or cats who have trouble eating
Cons
Breaks apart easily
For a high protein diet, you won’t be disappointed with the Primal Chicken & Salmon Formula Nuggets Grain-Free Raw Freeze-Dried Cat Food, with a crude protein content of 49%. This meal has flavors of chicken and salmon but has many other options to choose from, never giving your cat the chance to get bored of their food.
Nulo is a well-known brand
98% of the food are animal ingredients
Contains probiotics
You can add it as a topper or full meal
Excellent for picky eaters or cats who have trouble eating
- Nulo is a well-known brand
- 98% of the food are animal ingredients
- Contains probiotics
- You can add it as a topper or full meal
- Excellent for picky eaters or cats who have trouble eating
Breaks apart easily
- Breaks apart easily
Crude Protein: 49%
Weight: 14-oz bag
Flavor: Chicken and Salmon
Type: Complete and balanced diet
The nuggets need to be rehydrated before being served to your cat, which takes a bit of time and not all cats accept the consistency.
Pros
A high 49% protein content
Variety of flavors
Cons
Need to be rehydrated
Not all cats accept it
The interesting thing about Feline Natural Lamb & King Salmon Feast Grain-Free Freeze-Dried Cat Food is that the company is from New Zealand. Because of this, it uses grass-fed lamb. So, you’ll know that the ingredients used in this cat food are sustainably sourced.
A high 49% protein content
Variety of flavors
- A high 49% protein content
- Variety of flavors
Need to be rehydrated
Not all cats accept it
- Need to be rehydrated
- Not all cats accept it
Crude Protein: 44%
Weight: 11-oz bag
Flavor: Lamb and Salmon
Type: Complete and balanced diet or topper
While this cat food is quite pricey, it doesn’t cost much more than most freeze-dried food. You’ll quickly notice an increase in your cat’s energy and playfulness.
Unfortunately, the kibble sizes are too large for most cats, but they’re easy to break up. Of course, this adds to your preparation time. Although your cat can eat it for breakfast and dinner, it can also be used as a handy supplement to normal dry kibble.
Pros
Sustainably sourced ingredients
Increase in energy and playfulness
Easy to break into smaller pieces
It can be used as a topper
Cons
Expensive
Kibble pieces may be too large
Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose the Best Freeze-dried Cat Foods
The natural way is always the best way and freeze-dried cat food is one of the closest and easiest methods of attaining that for your cat. However, there are a few factors to look out for when shopping around for this product, which we discuss below.
Sustainably sourced ingredients
Increase in energy and playfulness
Easy to break into smaller pieces
It can be used as a topper
- Sustainably sourced ingredients
- Increase in energy and playfulness
- Easy to break into smaller pieces
- It can be used as a topper
Expensive
Kibble pieces may be too large
- Expensive
- Kibble pieces may be too large
Ingredients
Because cats are carnivores, they require a high protein diet with high quantities of meat for a good, nutritional diet that’ll do their bodies, muscles, and coats wonders. Freeze-dried cat food is packed with all this, including other types of fresh, raw ingredients, such as yolks, organs, and fruit and vegetables. With a well-balanced meal with these ingredients that are designed for cats, they’ll be getting everything their bodies need and will only be eating what they’d naturally be eating in the wild.
A beneficial point to freeze-dried food is that the flavor and nutritional value of most ingredients and vitamins will be locked into the food due to the freezing and sealing, without other processing and preservation factors taking away from its natural state.
Bear in mind that some companies do use fillers, corn, or grain in their freeze-dried cat food. Always read the packaging and go through the ingredients listed, regardless of how popular the brand is or whether or not they claim to offer high-quality ingredients. Freeze-dried cat food is only beneficial to your cat if it contains beneficial ingredients. The best freeze-dried food for your kitty will be GMO-free, and the packaging will state that their ingredients are sourced sustainably.
Ease of Use
If you’re used to preparing raw food for your cat but no longer have the time for it, you’ll be happy to know that some freeze-dried cat food can be given to your cat dry or in bite-size pieces for quick and easy consumption, giving you extra time on your hands. However, please keep in mind that your cat should always have access to fresh drinking water.
Other freeze-dried cat food may need to be soaked before your cat can dig right in, so read the instructions before purchasing the product to get the one that suits your lifestyle. If you get freeze-dried food that is too big for your cat to eat comfortably, you may need to spend unnecessary time chopping them up into smaller pieces. There are a variety of sizes available, so determine the one that’ll work for your cat to save you time in the kitchen.
Remember that regardless of the type of freeze-dried food you choose for your cat, you’re still dealing with raw food. Be mindful of washing your hands and any surfaces that the food has touched once you’re done preparing it or dishing it out.
Price
Due to the unconventional process that freeze-dried cat food undergoes along with the time it takes, and the ingredients used it is more expensive than standard cat food. Before buying this more expensive cat food, discuss it with your vet and find out if it’ll be the best option for your specific cat. Also, start slow with less expensive options such as toppers and treats and see if your cat enjoys them or whether it suits your lifestyle or not.
Regardless, due to its high nutritional value and natural process, we think it’s worth the price.
Storing and Preparing
As mentioned above, some types of freeze-dried cat food can be given to your cat without any preparation and can be treated the same way as kibble. However, other types require rehydration, and the food will need to be soaked in warm water, broth, or milk before being served to your cat.
Depending on its shelf life, the freeze-dried cat food should last a relevantly long time if unopened or sealed properly. You should store it at room temperature, which is a benefit because your freezer won’t be packed full of cat food, as it would be if you were preparing raw cat food.
If you have added liquid to the cat food for consumption, it’ll only be safe to leave out to eat for half an hour before needing to go into the fridge. The cold temperature will stop any bacteria growth, but it’ll need to be thrown away within two days if not eaten before then.
Conclusion
With so much goodness, you’ve got a wide variety of freeze-dried cat food to choose from! However, you can’t go wrong with our best overall cat food, Smalls freeze-dried raw, offering only top-quality ingredients and a species-appropriate diet for your little carnivore to thrive. Our best value option is the Vital Essentials Chicken Mini Nibs which is a great product to start your cat onto the freeze-dried diet with. Our premium choice, Stella & Chewy’s Yummy Lickin’ Salmon & Chicken Dinner Morsels, provides cats with high single-source protein and a perfectly well-balanced diet.
Freeze-dried cat food is a change that your cat will love!
Featured Image Credit: Seattle Cat Photo, Shutterstock
