Last updated Oct 10, 2024
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Offering an array of therapeutic and maintenance diets made with novel proteins, Rayne Nutrition is gaining popularity among owners of cats with chronic digestive issues and food allergies. But is it the right choice for your cat? Find out in this unbiased, in-depth review.
The Cats.com Standard—Rating Rayne Nutrition 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 – 7/10
- Ingredient Quality – 8/10
- Product Variety – 7/10
- Price – 5/10
- Customer Experience – 9/10
- Recall History – 10/10
Overall Score: 7.7/10
In total, we give Rayne Nutrition cat food a 46 out of 60 rating or a B+ grade.
Why Trust Cats.com
One of my cats has a severe allergy to poultry (and suspected allergies for other proteins), so I’ve tried dozens of limited-ingredient and novel protein diets over the years. The only protein Biscuit has consistently tolerated is rabbit. Unfortunately, rabbit-based cat foods aren’t particularly common—especially products without other proteins in them.
When a Cats.com reader asked us to review Rayne Nutrition, I was eager to do so. In addition to thoroughly researching the brand and combing through customer reviews, I ordered and tested three Rayne Nutrition products with my two cats, Biscuit and Munchkin. They provided their subjective opinions about the food while I applied the feline nutrition expertise I’ve gained over the past 12+ years to evaluating the products objectively.
About Rayne Nutrition
Founded in 2009 by John Phelps and Dan Pitts, Rayne Nutrition is based in Kansas City, Missouri. Rayne Nutrition is a prescription pet food brand sold only through the brand’s website (and by some veterinary practices). It’s marketed as whole-food nutrition for pets with “quality that vets trust.”
Rayne Nutrition’s primary goal is to provide complete and balanced pet diets made with minimally processed ingredients. Their products are formulated under the guidance of veterinary and animal health experts, some of whom are listed on the Rayne Nutrition website. Rayne also references scientific research on the company website that provides further context for the brand’s nutritional philosophy and product lineup.
The idea behind Rayne’s Whole Food Philosophy is that less-processed foods are lower in advanced glycation end-products (AGEs). Clinical research suggests that accumulation of food-derived AGEs might increase inflammation and oxidative stress—two key factors that contribute to chronic disease.
Not only are Rayne’s products designed to help prevent chronic disease, but many of them are formulated to offer support for existing conditions like food allergies, urinary stones, and diabetes mellitus. Many of Rayne Nutrition’s cat food products are made with novel proteins like rabbit or kangaroo.
Sourcing and Manufacturing
In keeping with Rayne Nutrition’s claims that quality ingredients matter, the company offers complete ingredient transparency. Rayne Nutrition products are made in the United States with ingredients sourced primarily from North America. The most notable exceptions include kangaroo from Australia and rabbit from France and Italy.
In addition to sourcing ingredients from reputable suppliers, Rayne Nutrition prioritizes quality control. The company follows a fixed formula policy—ingredient proportions are kept consistent in every batch (some manufacturers adjust ingredient levels based on cost). Rayne Nutrition also uses third-party independent labs to test incoming ingredients as well as the finished products.
The most significant element of quality control for cats with food allergies is Rayne’s thorough product line cleaning process. Production lines are fully shut down, organically cleaned, and flushed out between recipes to prevent cross-contamination.
Some online sources suggest the production lines are owned and operated by CJ Foods, a private label company. I reached out to customer service and was told Rayne no longer uses CJ Foods, but they don’t own their production lines either. They use third-party manufacturing facilities but implement their own cleaning procedures before and after production.
Recall History
In the company’s 15-year history, Rayne Nutrition has not experienced a product recall. A post in the company’s blog suggests that careful ingredient selection and strict quality control measures are the primary reason. Rayne specifically mentions mycotoxin contamination as a common reason for pet food recalls and explains in detail what the brand does to prevent it.
What Kinds of Cat Food Does Rayne Nutrition Offer?
Rayne Nutrition offers wet, dry, and freeze-dried products for dogs and cats. There are two ways to browse the cat food product selection on Rayne’s website: by featured ingredient or by the condition you’re seeking to manage.
All Rayne Nutrition pet food products are marketed under the brand name TheraDiet. Most of the recipes are made with kangaroo or rabbit as the sole protein source, though a few products feature pork instead.
Here’s a list of the cat food products from Rayne Nutrition:
- Rabbit-MAINT Chunky Stew
- Kangaroo-MAINT Chunky Stew
- Adult Health-RSS Chunky Stew
- Growth/Sensitive-GI Chunky Stew
- Rabbit-MAINT Dry Cat Food
- Kangaroo-MAINT Freeze-Dried Cat Food
- Rabbit-MAINT Canned Paté
- Kangaroo-MAINT Canned Paté
- Rabbit-MAINT Paté Cups
The TheraDiet line is divided between maintenance and diagnostic diets. The maintenance recipes listed above are nutritionally complete; recipes like Kangaroo-DIAG and Rabbit-DIAG are designed for use as elimination diets. They contain a single protein and carbohydrate source but are not complete and balanced so they are not designed for long-term feeding; they should only be used to confirm food allergies before switching to a nutritionally complete diet.
What Did Our Test Cats Think?
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
To test Rayne Nutrition, I ordered two rabbit-based and one kangaroo-based product. My selection included one dry food, one canned food, and one chunky stew.
While my cats are used to eating rabbit-based food, they’ve never had kangaroo before. They seemed to enjoy the kangaroo paté but not as much as they liked the chunky stew made with rabbit. My cats’ opinion on the rabbit-based dry cat food seemed to match what some other customers have reported—their cats eat it but don’t seem particularly excited by it.
When I placed my order, I was required to provide contact information for my veterinarian and the clinic I use. Because my order shipped almost immediately, however, I can’t say for sure whether Rayne verified the information. I did receive an email asking for a written copy of my cats’ prescription but there wasn’t any follow-up.
Rayne Nutrition Cat Food – Top 3 Recipes Reviewed
| Product Name | Food Type | Main Protein Source | Calories Per Ounce | Price Per Ounce | Our Grade |
| Kangaroo-MAINT Canned Paté | Wet | Kangaroo | 26 | $0.68 | B+ |
| Rabbit-MAINT Chunky Stew Cat Food | Wet | Rabbit | 29 | $0.63 | B+ |
| Rabbit-MAINT Dry Cat Food | Dry | Rabbit | 101 | $0.67 | C |
#1 Kangaroo-MAINT Canned Paté
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Sold only in 5.5-ounce cans, Rayne Nutrition’s kangaroo paté might be a good option if you’re looking for a novel protein to minimize digestive issues or allergic reactions. Made primarily from kangaroo and kangaroo liver, this formula contains nearly 48% crude protein when measured as dry matter.
Aside from the kangaroo ingredients, this food contains several plant ingredients. Because most of them are dried, they contribute a significant amount of carbohydrates (fresh ingredients would contain more water). None of the ingredients are particularly concerning, though I’d prefer to see something more nutritious than potatoes and a dry matter carbohydrate content under 20%.
This food has a smooth, moist texture that’s easy for cats to eat. It’s a good source of hydration and cats seem to enjoy the flavor. Mine went crazy for the first couple cans then their excitement dwindled a little, though they still enjoyed the food.
Ingredients
Kangaroo, Water, Kangaroo Liver, Dried Potatoes, Sunflower Oil, Dried Sweet Potatoes, Natural Flavor, Dried Celery, Marine Microalgae Oil, Inulin, Potassium Chloride, Salt, Choline Chloride, Taurine, Minerals (Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Sodium Selenite, Ethylenediamine Dihydroiodide), Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin A Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Biotin, Folic Acid, Vitamin D3 Supplement)
Ingredients We Liked: Kangaroo, Kangaroo Liver, Marine Microalgae Oil
Ingredients We Didn’t Like: Dried Potatoes, Sunflower Oil
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
What We Liked:
- Made with a single source of animal protein
- Kangaroo is a novel protein for most cats
- Moist, soft texture is easy for cats to eat
- Contains marine microalgae oil for omega-3 fatty acids
What We Didn’t Like:
- Contains several starchy ingredients
- Carbohydrate content is more than 20%
#2 Rabbit-MAINT Chunky Stew Cat Food
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
My cats’ favorite Rayne Nutrition recipe, this chunky stew features rabbit as the only source of animal protein. It comes in 6.4-ounce cartons that are a little tricky to open, but they’re great for storing leftovers in the fridge. They’re also recyclable.
Measured as dry matter, this product contains a little more than 34% protein. Unfortunately, it’s pretty high in carbohydrates and it does contain some concentrated plant protein. Overall, however, my cats enjoyed the texture and seemed to really like the flavor.
Though my cats normally eat a rabbit-based diet, Biscuit still has occasional reactions to food—likely caused by cross-contamination. But over the several weeks we tested Rayne Nutrition, she didn’t have a single flare-up. What Rayne says about cleaning their production lines appears to make a significant difference.
Ingredients
Rabbit, Water, Potatoes, Red Pepper, Tapioca Starch, Pea Protein, Carrots, Celery Powder, Dextrose, Marine Microalgae, Spinach, Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Niacin Supplement, L-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate, Folic Acid, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin A Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Biotin, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement), Fructooligosaccharides, Tricalcium Phosphate, Potassium Chloride, Magnesium Proteinate, Minerals (Zinc Proteinate, Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Sulfate, Iron Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Copper Sulfate, Manganese Proteinate, Manganese Sulfate, Sodium Selenite, Calcium Iodate, Potassium Iodide), Salt, Taurine, Choline Chloride.
Ingredients We Liked: Rabbit, Marine Microalgae
Ingredients We Didn’t Like: Potatoes, Tapioca Starch, Pea Protein
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
What We Liked:
- Made with rabbit as a single source of animal protein
- Soft, stew-like texture is easy for cats to eat
- Recyclable cartons are great for storing leftovers
- Good source of hydrating moisture for cats
What We Didn’t Like:
- Fairly high in carbohydrates
- Contains some concentrated plant protein
#3 Rabbit-MAINT Dry Cat Food
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Like the previous recipe, this formula features rabbit as the sole source of animal protein. It contains both fresh rabbit muscle meat and rabbit meal, which contribute to the food’s dry matter protein content of about 38.6%.
While this dry food is a little higher in protein than some of Rayne Nutrition’s wet foods, it’s still pretty high in carbohydrates. I prefer the dried sweet potatoes over the dried potatoes, which contribute little in the way of nutrition, and I’d rather omit the potato protein. It’s difficult to say how much it contributes to the total protein content, but it’s a top-5 ingredient.
This dry food comes in small, disc-like kibbles. My cats had no problem eating the food and seemed to like it well enough, but it hardly excited them the way the wet foods did. They seemed to eat it mostly to sate their hunger, not because they loved it.
Ingredients
Rabbit, Rabbit Meal, Dried Sweet Potatoes, Potato Protein, Dried Potatoes, Coconut Oil (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Natural Flavor, Marine Microalgae, Calcium Chloride, Choline Chloride, Fructooligosaccharides, Calcium Carbonate, Vitamins, Taurine, Minerals, Salt, Mixed Tocopherols, Rosemary Extract.
Ingredients We Liked: Rabbit, Rabbit Meal, Marine Microalgae
Ingredients We Didn’t Like: Potato Protein, Dried Potatoes, Coconut Oil
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
What We Liked:
- Made with rabbit as a novel protein source
- Limited list of ingredients designed to reduce reactivity
- Good option for cats with food allergies
What We Didn’t Like:
- Fairly high in carbohydrates
- Contains concentrated plant protein
- No dry food provides the moisture cats need
What Do Customers Think of Rayne Nutrition Cat Food?
Because Rayne Nutrition products are only sold through the brand’s website (and some veterinary practices), online reviews are sparse. Rayne Nutrition does allow customers to rate and review products on the website, but it’s always hard to tell whether a pet food brand publishes every review or just the positive ones.
Positive Reviews
Customers generally seem pleased with Rayne Nutrition cat foods. Many satisfied customers comment that the novel protein diets work better to alleviate their cats’ food allergies and digestive issues than other prescription products they’ve tried. That said, several customers noted that their cats started to lose interest in the food after a while.
“My cat loves his rabbit-MAINT stew!! He has several food allergies and I struggled to find food that he liked and was good for him. The vet recommended another brand and he chose this one. He’s healthy again!”—Juan P. on RayneNutrition.com, September 10, 2024
“Initially, our cats loved this. After a few weeks on a strict diet, they’ve been less excited about it. Overall, it is an excellent option, but keep in mind that it won’t be their favorite meal forever.”—MG on RayneNutrition.com, August 16, 2024
Negative Reviews
The most common complaints about Rayne Nutrition cat food involve the price (especially the cost of shipping) and the chunky stew packaging. Several cat owners also noted that their cats simply didn’t care for the Rabbit-MAINT dry food—even if they loved some of the wet food recipes.
“My cat has a food allergy and GI issues but has found this single source protein diet to work well. While she still tries to steal our other cat’s food, she eats every morsel of this! However, this is the WORST packaging ever!! I absolutely hate it! It’s extremely hard to open and very difficult to get the food out in an accurate amount.”—Acarl387 on RayneNutrition.com, January 13, 2024
“She absolutely loves the wet Rabbit-Maint, even more than her previous wet food (we didn’t even have to do a transition hybrid-mix of the two) but for whatever reason she is not happy with the dry Rabbit-MAINT, and hasn’t touched it, even when mixed with a generous portion of her usual dry food.”—Edward on RayneNutrition.com, October 13, 2024
How Much Does Rayne Nutrition Cat Food Cost?
This brand offers a limited array of products and pricing is similar within the same product type. Canned foods, for example, average $0.67 per ounce while novel protein chunky stews cost about $0.62 per ounce. Other TheraDiet chunky stews are slightly cheaper and the Rabbit-MAINT paté cups are more expensive—about $0.82 per ounce.
Dry cat food is usually more cost-effective than wet cat food, but Rayne Nutrition’s only dry food has the same per-ounce price as their canned foods. The product with the highest price tag is Kangaroo-MAINT freeze-dried food, which costs more than $2 per ounce. Even so, it’s roughly half the price of Stella & Chewy’s Absolutely Rabbit and about $0.85 cheaper per ounce than Open Farm’s freeze-dried cat food.
Rayne Nutrition offers free ground shipping on orders over $60, otherwise the shipping fee starts at $7.99 and increases on a sliding scale. Customers who choose the AutoShip option will save an additional 5% on subscribed products.
Where Is Rayne Nutrition Cat Food Sold?
Rayne Nutrition cat food products are only sold through the brand’s website. You can place a one-time order or subscribe with AutoShip to receive regular deliveries. You can customize your delivery frequency to every one to 15 weeks.
Because Rayne Nutrition prioritizes therapeutic nutrition, you might be able to purchase it through your veterinarian. Some vets might carry it, but it depends on the veterinarian.
Overall, Is Rayne Nutrition a Good Choice?
Although novel proteins and limited-ingredient diets are more readily available than ever, cross-contamination is still a serious concern for some pet parents. Even popular brands like Weruva and Tiki Cat that offer poultry-free products might use shared equipment to make those foods. If you’re looking for a brand that takes precautions to prevent cross-contamination and prioritizes single-protein formulas, Rayne Nutrition could be the right choice.
The downside of Rayne Nutrition is the foods may be a little pricey for some budgets (but still comparable to other prescription brands like Hill’s and Royal Canin). Availability is limited to the brand website as well, but that might not be an issue if you shop for cat food online anyway.
Similar Brands
Looking for other cat food brands similar to Rayne Nutrition? Check out some of our other brand reviews.
Thanks for the information on this food! Rayne’s website says that the kangaroo maintenance pate is only 16.7% carbohydrates as a percentage of metabolic energy as of 1/7/25. I wonder which is correct!