Published Oct 16, 2024
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
As a shelf-stable alternative to raw cat food, the Fresh is Best brand offers an array of freeze-dried meals for cats. But what sets these meals apart from similar companies, and are they worth putting in your cat’s bowl? I tried it with my own cats to bring you this detailed review.
The Cats.com Standard—Rating Fresh is Best Cat Food on What Matters
We’ve rated the brand on six key criteria for quality. Here’s how it rates in each crucial area.
Ratings
- Species-Appropriateness – 9/10
- Ingredient Quality – 10/10
- Product Variety – 9/10
- Price – 5/10
- Customer Experience – 8/10
- Recall History – 10/10
Overall Score: 8.3/10
In total, we give Fresh is Best cat food a 50 out of 60 rating or an A- grade.
Why Trust Cats.com
Before ordering products to test for this review, I spent some time researching the brand. I wanted to learn how and why the company started as well as details about its manufacturing process, safety protocols, and recall history. Once I had a detailed picture of Fresh is Best in my mind, I ordered an assortment of products to evaluate in depth.
Once I received my order, I set about testing the products with my cats. While they offered their opinions on taste and general appeal, I scrutinized product labels and made observations about the food’s appearance, texture, aroma, packaging, and convenience. Finally, before recording my experience in this review, I scoured the internet for customer ratings and reviews to see how other cat owners like the products.
The entire testing process for Fresh is Best was completed without direct input from the manufacturer. All products were purchased at full retail price and tested in my home with my two cats, Biscuit and Munchkin.
About the Fresh is Best Brand
Founded by Stacy La Point, Fresh is Best got its start in early 2000. After her German Shepherd was diagnosed with Addison’s disease, La Point compiled research and developed a homemade diet to help keep her pup healthy. Word eventually spread and, after making dog food for several friends’ pets, La Point decided to make a business of it.
In 2001, La Point began working with an animal nutrition scientist to fine-tune her recipes. The goal was to ensure that they met the nutrient minimums established by the American Association of Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). She then launched her new company, named Fresh is Best, inspired by La Point’s nutritional philosophy that fresh food is the best way to promote a long and healthy life for our pets.
In addition to making Fresh is Best products available nationwide, Fresh is Best donates thousands of dollars worth of pet food to local shelters and animal advocacy groups in Milwaukee and Southeast Wisconsin.
Sourcing and Manufacturing
All ingredients used in Fresh is Best formulas are sourced from human food suppliers and are USDA-inspected to meet the standards for human consumption. Fresh is Best uses meats that are humanely raised, including pasture-raised, grass-fed, and antibiotic-free beef and cage-free poultry. The products are free from grains, white potatoes, peas, legumes, and starches like tapioca flour.
While most ingredients are locally or regionally sourced, some ingredients like rabbit, minnows, and venison may come from trusted suppliers outside the US. Fresh is Best products are manufactured in a company-owned facility in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and they are sold nationwide.
Every Fresh is Best formula is produced in small batches, quickly packaged, and sold immediately. Nothing is stored long-term. Raw frozen pet foods are only available locally, while freeze-dried formulas are sold nationwide. These are slowly freeze-dried to preserve the nutritional value of the raw ingredients.
Recall History
Fresh is Best is committed to protecting the safety and nutritional integrity of its products. There has not been a product recall to date. Typical analyses for all freeze-dried products are available on the Fresh is Best website to validate nutritional claims.
What Kinds of Cat Food Does Fresh is Best Offer?
Fresh is Best primarily sells freeze-dried dog and cat food products. In addition to nutritionally complete freeze-dried foods, the brand also makes freeze-dried meal toppers called Tasty Trimmings, as well as single-ingredient and low-carb freeze-dried treats.
While product availability changes depending on the accessibility of certain ingredients, the primary proteins featured in Fresh is Best products are:
- Grass-fed beef
- Cage-free chicken
- Cage-free duck
- Pasture-raised elk
- Cage-free guinea fowl
- Pasture-raised lamb
- Crate-free pork
- Cage-free turkey
- European grass-fed rabbit
- Pastured in New Zealand venison
- Wild-harvested seafood
When it comes to nutritionally complete freeze-dried foods, Fresh is Best sticks to the classics: beef, chicken, duck, lamb, and pork. Tasty Trimmings meal toppers are available in the same proteins and you’ll find the largest variety of protein choices as freeze-dried raw treats. Fresh is Best freeze-dried treats are made with organ meats, muscle meat, and frozen meaty bones.
In addition to an extensive array of freeze-dried cat foods, meal toppers, and treats, Fresh is Best offers a limited selection of raw frozen formulas. These are only available locally, however, in the Milwaukee, Wisconsin area. When I called to ask about the availability of these products, I was told the owner, Stacy La Point, handles requests personally. Production is limited and made available only to a select number of local customers.
What Did Our Test Cats Think?
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
To test Fresh is Best cat food, I ordered four products: Freeze-Dried Lamb Cat Food, Tasty Trimmings Chicken Recipe, Freeze-Dried Rabbit Livers, and Freeze-Dried Elk Kidney Filets. I was a little disappointed that a nutritionally complete rabbit recipe wasn’t available at the time, but I was eager to see how my cats liked the lamb and elk products (they’ve never had elk before).
My Fresh is Best order arrived quickly in a simple cardboard box with minimal paper padding. The products are vacuum sealed in resealable bags that are easy to open and reclose. Everything really looked as I expected—like freeze-dried meat.
Fresh is Best Cat Food—Top 3 Recipes Reviewed
| Product Name | Food Type | Main Protein | Calories Per Ounce | Price Per Ounce | Our Grade |
| Freeze-Dried Lamb Cat Food | Freeze-Dried | Lamb | 133 | $2.87 | A- |
| Tasty Trimmings Chicken Recipe | Meal Topper | Chicken | 109 | $1.50 | A |
| Freeze-Dried Rabbit Livers | Treat | Rabbit | 118 | $6.67 | A |
#1 Fresh is Best Freeze-Dried Lamb Cat Food
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
One of five nutritionally complete recipes available at the time of purchase, this lamb formula is packed with protein from lamb muscle meat and lamb organs. Measured as dry matter, it contains a little over 44% protein and 32.8% fat. The fish bone meal is likely added as a source of essential minerals rather than supplemental protein.
This is a limited-ingredient recipe formulated according to AAFCO nutrient profiles for cats in all life stages. Though this recipe does contain a few added carbohydrates, the dry matter carb content is under 15%. I’d prefer to see an animal-sourced fat over sunflower oil, but overall, the recipe appears highly digestible and relatively species-appropriate for carnivores.
Like most freeze-dried foods, this product is designed to be rehydrated. The pieces are small and soft enough that I found it easy to crush them—then it only took a few minutes to rehydrate in hot water. My cats seemed to enjoy the flavor and they noticed the aroma of the food as soon as I opened the package.
Ingredients
Lamb, Lamb Spleen, Lamb Liver, Yams, Apples, Kale, Collards, Fish Bone Meal, Sunflower Oil, Calcium Carbonate, Dried Kelp, Vitamin E Supplement, Zinc Amino Acid Chelate, Manganese Amino Acid Chelate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin D3 Supplement.
Ingredients We Liked: Lamb, Lamb Spleen, Lamb Liver, Fish Bone Meal
Ingredients We Didn’t Like: Sunflower Oil
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
What We Liked:
- Made with a single source of animal protein
- Limited list of ingredients, highly digestible
- Carnivore-appropriate blend of muscle meat, organs, and bone
- Easy to crush and rehydrate for feeding
What We Didn’t Like:
- Relies primarily on plant-sourced fat
#2 Fresh is Best Tasty Trimmings Chicken Recipe
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Perfect for mixing with your cat’s regular food, this Tasty Trimmings recipe features chicken muscle meat and chicken organs as the primary ingredients. Measured as dry matter, it contains 64% protein and under 15% carbohydrate. It also contains the same nutrient supplements as the formula above and meets AAFCO nutrition guidelines for cats in all life stages.
Like the previous product, this recipe is freeze-dried. Because it’s so finely powdered, however, you don’t necessarily need to rehydrate it before using it as a meal topper or mixer. If you choose to, add just enough water or broth to saturate it first. My cat, Munchkin, was perfectly happy to eat this meal topper dry and seemed to heartily enjoy it. It looked like crushed pieces of freeze-dried chicken interspersed with green flakes that I assume are dried kelp.
For cat owners looking to introduce raw food slowly into their cats’ diet, Tasty Trimmings could be an economical option—it’s priced more than $1 per ounce less than the formula above.
Ingredients
Chicken, Chicken Hearts, Chicken Livers, Chicken Gizzards, Yams, Apples, Kale, Collards, Fish Bone Meal, Dried Kelp, Vitamin E Supplement, Zinc Amino Acid Chelate, Manganese Amino Acid Chelate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin D3 Supplement.
Ingredients We Liked: Chicken, Chicken Hearts, Chicken Livers, Chicken Gizzards, Fish Bone Meal
Ingredients We Didn’t Like: None
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
What We Liked:
- Contains 64% dry matter protein
- Carnivore-appropriate blend of muscle meat and organs
- Powdered texture is easy to serve as-is or rehydrate
- Nutritionally complete and balanced
What We Didn’t Like:
- Should be higher in fat to serve as a staple diet
#3 Fresh is Best Freeze-Dried Rabbit Livers
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
One of many freeze-dried treats they have to offer, this one is made with a single ingredient: rabbit. Based on the name, price, and appearance of the product, I assume it’s freeze-dried rabbit liver, though the ingredients list says rabbit meat. Either way, it’s a protein-packed treat that’s easily digestible for cats.
I was particularly excited to test this product with my cats. They normally eat a rabbit-based diet but have never tried rabbit liver. Biscuit enjoyed the little pieces I broke off for her, while Munchkin just grabbed a whole liver from the bag and started gnawing at it.
Ingredients
Boneless/Skinless Rabbit Meat
Ingredients We Liked: Rabbit
Ingredients We Didn’t Like: None
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
What We Liked:
- Single-ingredient freeze-dried treat
- Packed with animal-sourced protein
- Can be broken down into small pieces
What We Didn’t Like:
- Some confusion between the product name and ingredients list
- Not complete and balanced, intermittent feeding only
What Do Customers Think of Fresh is Best Cat Food?
Though Fresh is Best has been around for over two decades, online reviews are still pretty sparse. It appears to be most popular in Milwaukee where customers likely purchase it in-store.
Of the limited reviews available, however, the majority of customers appear to be satisfied with the brand. Nutritionally complete recipes from Fresh is Best only had around 70 Amazon reviews at the time of writing. Individual products had a maximum of 34 ratings on the Fresh is Best website.
Positive Reviews
Satisfied customers often comment on the quality of the ingredients in Fresh is Best cat food, saying it’s worth the price. Fresh is Best Tasty Trimmings meal toppers seem to be a hit among picky eaters and customers like how easy it is to incorporate into their cats’ regular diet. The chicken recipe seems to be the most popular of the nutritionally complete recipes and toppers.
“My cat loves the chicken toppings. She is eating anything that I put this on. She is a picky eater, so this is a win.”
—Patricia reviewing Fresh is Best Tasty Trimmings Chicken Recipe on FreshisBest.com, April 30, 2024
“My cat has been raised on a raw-food-based diet, and he LOVES this. It is a bit pricey, but for the quality, I understand why. He licks the dish clean and gets so excited when I prepare his food. The health properties are awesome, and I’ve noticed no tummy troubles.”
—Kayla Badaczewski reviewing Fresh is Best Freeze-Dried Cat Food on Amazon.com, May 13, 2024
Negative Reviews
Very few of the reviews I found for Fresh is Best online were negative and many of those were related to feline preference rather than the product itself. Several customers who rated the product poorly explained that they loved the quality of the product but their cat simply wouldn’t eat it. A few mentioned that their cat experienced stomach upset or loose stools after eating it.
“The food is excellent quality and comes highly recommended by fellow cat lovers. Tried introducing it in the tiniest amounts imaginable to Gus’s regular freeze dried raw brand, and he simply won’t touch it.”
—Susan reviewing Fresh is Best Freeze-Dried Raw Cat Food on Amazon.com, June 20, 2024
“Can only feed a little bit at a time, caused diarrhea.”
—Anonymous reviewing Fresh is Best Freeze-Dried Lamb Cat Food on FreshisBest.com, July 10, 2024
How Much Does Fresh is Best Cat Food Cost?
Nutritionally complete freeze-dried recipes from Fresh is Best start at $22.99 for an 8-ounce bag and range up to $26.49. The pricing on the product category page is a little confusing at first glance but when you click to the individual product pages, you’ll see there’s a discount available for purchasing more than two bags. You can even mix and match different proteins and still receive the discount.
Per ounce, Fresh is Best freeze-dried food costs between $2.87 and $3.37 (before any discounts). This puts it in a similar price range as other freeze-dried-only cat food brands like Primal, Furry Wonder, and Hare Today. The average cost to feed a 10-pound cat is between $2.75 and $6.60 per day.
Where Is Fresh is Best Cat Food Sold?
The best place to buy Fresh is Best products online is through the brand’s website. Here you’ll have access to the entire product line as well as military, first responder, and senior discounts. All orders over $100 ship free. Fresh is Best orders are only processed Monday through Friday between 8 am and 4 pm Central Time. Once you place an order, it takes 1–2 business days to ship. You’ll receive an email with tracking information when your order ships.
If you prefer to shop in-store, Fresh is Best is widely available in Milwaukee pet stores. Elsewhere in the country, you’re most likely to find this brand in independent and specialty pet retailers as well as some boutique boarding or grooming businesses.
Overall, Is Fresh is Best a Good Choice?
Owners seeking to provide their cats with species-appropriate, high-quality nutrition would do well to consider Fresh is Best. It’s a particularly good choice for cats with food allergies or sensitivities because all the recipes are made with a single animal protein. The food is similarly priced to other freeze-dried brands but it’s made by a relatively small company that appears to prioritize quality.
If you’re going to feed your cat Fresh is Best, follow the brand’s transition guidelines. The feeding guidelines on the package are designed to comply with AAFCO recommendations, but due to the nutrient density and high digestibility of the product, Fresh is Best suggests smaller servings may be adequate. Feed your cat ½ cup per 4 pounds of bodyweight for two weeks, then adjust as needed to prevent unwanted weight loss or weight gain.
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