October 19, 2023
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Based in Perth, Western Australia, Raw Meow is a recent entrant to the raw pet food market. Offering a variety of raw frozen meals, freeze-dried formulas, and premix options, Raw Meow makes raw feeding simple.
We’ve rated the brand on ingredient quality, species-appropriateness, recalls, and more. Read our Raw Meow cat food review to learn how this brand stacks up.
The Cats.com Standard—Rating Raw Meow Cat Food On What Matters
We’ve rated the brand on six key criteria for quality. Here’s how it rates in each of these six crucial areas.
Ratings
- Species-Appropriateness – 9/10
- Ingredient Quality – 10/10
- Product Variety – 7/10
- Price – 6/10
- Customer Experience – 8/10
- Recall History – 8/10
Overall Score: 8/10
In total, we give Raw Meow cat food a 48 out of 60 rating or an A- grade.
Why Trust Cats.com
Our experts have analyzed, tested, and reviewed hundreds of cat food brands and individual products over the past several years. I’ve tested dozens myself, and I am a recent convert to raw feeding. Having tested many raw food brands with my own three cats, I have the knowledge and experience needed to complete an in-depth analysis of Raw Meow.
I ordered a selection of Raw Meow products at full retail price and tested them at home with my cats Bagel, Biscuit, and Munchkin. During testing, I took notes about my cats’ reactions to the food as well as general observations about its appearance, texture, smell, and consistency.
In addition to this in-depth testing, I analyzed Raw Meow cat food according to the information on the packaging and the brand’s website. Using this information along with detailed brand research, I rated Raw Meow according to the Cats.com Standard.
About Raw Meow
Raw Meow is an Australian company that was created out of a desire to make raw feeding for cats as simple as possible. In line with that goal, Raw Meow Mix is a “meal completer,” designed to ensure complete nutrition for cats when mixed with boneless meat.
In an interview with Dr. Karen Becker, Lauren Di Ciano, founder of Raw Meow, describes herself as “a raw feeder who loves her cats.” Di Ciano’s raw feeding journey began when she started studying raw feline nutrition prior to adopting a pair of Burmese kittens. Shortly thereafter, a wave of recalls swept Australia, raising concerns about commercially manufactured pet food.
Hoping to help other Australian pet owners, Di Ciano started sharing her knowledge of raw feeding online. She slowly developed a following and, in 2017, started Raw Meow to give pet owners a simplified homemade alternative.
Though Raw Meow offers a small selection of raw frozen meals for local pickup in Perth, a larger variety of freeze-dried meals and premixes are available for international shipping. All Raw Meow products are made with local ingredients in small batches to ensure nutritional quality and freshness.
Sourcing and Manufacturing
Raw Meow is based in Osborne Park near Perth in Western Australia, and all products are made in Australia. Product packaging states that Raw Meow’s freeze-dried meals are formulated according to AAFCO nutrient levels for all life stages. The premixes are not nutritionally complete on their own.
The brand states that all food ingredients are locally sourced Australian produce, though some supplements are sourced elsewhere. For example, most Raw Meow products contain New Zealand green-lipped mussel powder.
Recall History
Raw Meow has never had a pet food product recalled. The company is still very new to the pet food market but appears to follow strong standards for quality and safety.
What Kinds of Cat Food Does Raw Meow Offer?
As the brand’s name would suggest, Raw Meow is a raw pet food company. Though the brand focuses on feline nutrition, its raw frozen meals aren’t species-specific and it offers premixes formulated for dogs as well as cats.
Raw Meow offers a variety of raw frozen meals, freeze-dried meals, premixes for homemade food, and supplements. You can purchase individual products or starter packs for your cat or kitten that include an assortment of products. Raw Meow also offers transition packs that include small portions of premix and a freeze-dried chicken breast topper to encourage cats to accept homemade food.
The following Raw Meow formulas offer complete feline nutrition:
- Complete Meal Freeze-Dried Chicken
- Complete Meal Freeze-Dried Lamb
- Complete Meal Freeze-Dried Duck & Beef
- Hypoallergenic Complete Meal Freeze-Dried Kangaroo & Pork
- Frozen Chicken Raw Meal
- Frozen Beef & Chicken Raw Meal
- Frozen Pork & Lamb Raw Meal
- Frozen Kangaroo & Rabbit Raw Meal
- Frozen Kangaroo & Emu Raw Meal
Raw Meow’s frozen raw foods are made with a low-phosphorus supplement. High phosphorus intake can be problematic for cats with kidney disease, so raw foods made with raw bone are sometimes inappropriate. Raw Meow’s raw frozen meals only contain 0.9% to 1.4% phosphorus on a dry matter basis.
What Did Our Test Cats Think?
Raw Meow’s premixes simplify the task of making a nutritionally complete homemade diet for cats. Kate Barrington / Cats.com
To test Raw Meow, I ordered the Adult Starter Pack which included one premix, one freeze-dried complete meal, and a freeze-dried meal topper. I ordered a sample of a second premix and received a free sample of freeze-dried chicken breast treats. My ordered shipped quickly, though it took about a week to arrive and pass through customs from Australia. The food was packaged economically and arrived in good condition.
Because Raw Meow is an Australian company, I was only able to test shelf-stable products. Raw frozen meals are available, however, for pickup only in Perth, Western Australia.
Raw Meow Cat Food – Top 3 Recipes Reviewed
| Product Name | Food Type | Main Protein Source | Calories | Price | Our Grade |
| Raw Meow Complete Meal Freeze-Dried Lamb | Freeze-Dried | Lamb | 59 kcal/oz. | $5.20 AUD per oz | A |
| Raw Meow Mix Adult Chicken Formula | Premix | Chicken | N/A | $7.43 AUD per oz | A |
| Raw Meow Beef & Chicken Raw Frozen Meal | Raw | Beef | 141 kcal/oz. | $0.73 AUD per oz | A |
#1 Raw Meow Complete Meal Freeze-Dried Lamb
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
An ideal solution for international customers, Raw Meow’s freeze-dried cat foods are nutritionally balanced and shelf-stable. This lamb recipe is made with a single source of protein, though it also contains egg yolk and green-lipped mussel powder. Cats with severe chicken allergies may not tolerate it, though some might.
Featuring lamb muscle meat, heart, tongue, and liver, this formula contains over 83% protein measured as dry matter. It doesn’t contain any added fat, however, so the dry matter fat content is only around 21%. This limits the food’s calorie density which, in turn, increases the necessary portion size and therefore the per-meal price. It does, however, appear to be highly digestible and species-appropriate.
While many freeze-dried raw foods come in pellets or patties, Raw Meow’s formula is almost powdered. This makes it fairly easy to rehydrate, though some larger crumbles didn’t rehydrate as evenly as the rest. My cats still really enjoyed the food and didn’t seem to have any problems with the texture.
Ingredients
Lamb, Lamb Heart and Tongue, Lamb Liver, Egg Yolk, Calcium Carbonate, Green Lipped Mussel, Potassium Citrate, Choline L-Bitartrate, Sea Salt, Taurine, Zinc Citrate, Ferrous Sulphate, Manganous Gluconate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin E, Copper Gluconate, Potassium Iodide, Pyridoxine KCI, Vitamin D3, Selenium Yeast, Vitamin K (Phylloquinone).
Ingredients We Liked: Lamb, Lamb Heart and Tongue, Lamb Liver, Egg Yolk, Green Lipped Mussel
Ingredients We Didn’t Like: None
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
What We Liked:
- Provides complete and balanced nutrition
- Made with a single source of animal protein
- Contains over 80% protein, measured as dry matter
- Easy to rehydrate in water or broth
What We Didn’t Like:
- Crumbled texture may not rehydrate evenly
- Very expensive
#2 Raw Meow Mix Adult Chicken Formula
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Premixes simplify the process of making nutritionally balanced homemade food for cats. Raw Meow offers a variety of options for kittens and adults in several single-protein formulas. These mixes contain all the essential amino acids, vitamins, and minerals your cat needs for complete nutrition.
Raw Meow premixes can be used with either raw or cooked meat, though cooked meat should be completely cooled before use. You just stir the premix into water then add it to the meat. The package includes instructions for making single servings as well as large batches using 1 kg (2.2 lbs.) of meat. I used finely ground chicken and my cats seemed to enjoy the flavor of the food.
While Raw Meow doesn’t specifically recommend its premixes for cats with kidney disease, the formulas don’t contain ground bone which helps keep the phosphorus content low. The premixes are designed to be added to boneless muscle meat.
Ingredients
Freeze-Dried Australian Chicken Liver, Dried Australian Egg Yolk, Calcium Carbonate, NZ Green-Lipped Mussel Freeze-Dried Powder, Potassium, Choline, Sea Salt, Taurine, Zinc, Iron, Manganese, Vitamin E, Copper, Vitamin K2, Thiamine, Vitamin B6, Vitamin D3, Iodine, Selenium Yeast.
Ingredients We Liked: Freeze-Dried Australian Chicken Liver, Dried Australian Egg Yolk, NZ Green-Lipped Mussel Freeze-Dried Powder
Ingredients We Didn’t Like: None
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
What We Liked:
- One bag makes up to 70 nutritionally complete meals
- Finely powdered, easy to mix with raw ingredients
- Can be used with raw or cooked meat
What We Didn’t Like:
- Should only be used with boneless meat
#3 Raw Meow Beef & Chicken Raw Frozen Meal
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
For cat owners who live in or near Perth, Western Australia, Raw Meow offers raw frozen meals for pickup only. These meals are made with raw meat and produced in small batches to ensure optimal freshness. Because they’re minimally processed, Raw Meow notes that the taste and texture may vary from one batch to another.
This beef and chicken recipe features a blend of muscle meat from beef and chicken as well as chicken organs, and eggs. Chicken bone broth boosts the food’s moisture content. Both the bone broth and green lipped mussel powder offer anti-inflammatory and joint-supporting benefits. Specifically, green lipped mussels are a natural source of glucosamine and chondroitin.
I wasn’t able to test this product, but it appears to be a high-quality and species-appropriate raw food. While the pickup-only requirement limits its availability, it’s a competitively priced raw food. Cat owners should just be prepared for variability between batches.
Ingredients
Beef, Chicken, Chicken Giblets, Chicken Hearts, Chicken Liver, Eggs, Chicken Bone Broth, Green Lipped Mussel Powder, Calcium Carbonate, Raw Meow Low Phosphorus Supplement.
Ingredients We Liked: Beef, Chicken, Chicken Giblets, Chicken Hearts, Chicken Liver, Eggs, Chicken Bone Broth, Green Lipped Mussel Powder
Ingredients We Didn’t Like: None
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
What We Liked:
- Carnivore-appropriate blend of muscle meat and organs
- Prepared in small batches to preserve freshness
- Free from added carbohydrates
- Rich in animal-sourced protein and fat
What We Didn’t Like:
- Only available for pickup in Perth, WA
- Taste and texture may vary between batches
What Do Customers Think of Raw Meow Cat Food?
Raw Meow is a fairly new company, having only been launched in 2017. Because the company is new to market and based in Australia, reviews for Raw Meow are difficult to find. That said, Raw Meow has over 5,800 followers on Facebook. While the brand has the Facebook reviews feature turned off, customers aren’t shy about commenting on posts.
Many Raw Meow followers appear to have followed founder Lauren Di Ciano from other Facebook raw feeding groups. Supporters seem to appreciate the quality of Raw Meow products and, in particular, appreciate the availability of hypoallergenic recipes formulated for cats with allergies. The Raw Meow team is active in replying to comments on Facebook.
How Much Does Raw Meow Cat Food Cost?
Because Raw Meow is an Australian company, all prices are listed in AUD. When I placed my order online, the cost was automatically converted to USD at the current exchange rate. Shipping to my home in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania cost me $54.30 AUD.
Raw Meow’s raw frozen meals are competitively priced at just $6.50 AUD per 250 gram (8.8 oz.) tub. The cost averages to about $0.73 AUD per ounce, putting it in a similar price range to Darwin’s Natural and Smallbatch Pets.
For international customers and Australians outside of Perth, Raw Meow’s freeze-dried meals and premixes are the best option. Freeze-dried meals cost $38.50 AUD per 210 gram (7.4 oz.) bag with the exception of the hypoallergenic kangaroo and pork formula which is $89.50 AUD for a 350 gram (12.35 oz.) bag. The daily cost to feed a 10-pound cat one of Raw Meow’s standard freeze-dried formulas would be about $17.63 AUD.
While Raw Meow’s freeze-dried foods are significantly more expensive than brands like Stella & Chewy’s or Primal, its premixes offer a cost-effective alternative for homemade raw feeders. A bag of Raw Meow’s adult chicken formula premix costs $55 AUD and makes about 70 meals. The daily cost will vary depending on what kind of protein you use.
Where Is Raw Meow Cat Food Sold?
Though Raw Meow is based in Perth, Western Australia, it ships internationally. You can shop the entire product line on Raw Meow’s website. All orders placed by midday Australian Western Standard Time (AWST) will be processed and shipped the same day.
The only products Raw Meow does not ship are its raw frozen meals. Raw frozen meals can be ordered online but must be picked up in the Raw Meow store in Osborne Park, WA. Pickup is only available on Saturdays between 9 am and 12 pm. Alternative arrangements may be made Monday through Wednesday, but only by appointment.
