An honest review of Darwin's Raw Pet Food, RaisedRight, and Viva Raw for Feline Nutrition
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As a proud cat parent, I have always strived to give my fur babies the best of everything - toys, grooming products or most importantly- their food. Cats are obligate carnivores, so I first wanted to make sure I was feeding a species appropriate diet, that was AAFCO approved. AAFCO, or The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) “is an independent organization that has been guiding state, federal and international feed regulators with ingredient definitions, label standards and laboratory standards for more than 110 years, while supporting the health and safety of people and animals”. (More info can be found on their website here). This is what began our hunt for the best raw food for cats. I decided to commit the time to finding a diet that they loved, that also was the best for their health. Knowing that cats are picky, I was determined to keep trying until we found something that would meet their needs. After reading all of the cat food reviews I could find, I decided to start by trying Darwin's Natural Pet Food, RaisedRight, and Viva Raw, and find the best option for my beloved little girls.
Starting with RaisedRight, there are currently only four options- Chicken, Turkey, Chicken & Pumpkin, and, Turkey & Pumpkin.
Depending on the protein choice, ingredients include the protein as well as vegetables, fruit, and some additional supplements. You can create a sample pack of 4 (which is what we did!), so you can try one of each. At the time of publishing, this will run you about $53, including shipping. I first ordered August 2022, and it was $49, so it seems they are steadily increasing their prices. I had an issue with my order, and I had to call in several times to speak with someone to try to cancel my order. I was going to be out of town during the time of the delivery, and unfortunately, they were unable to accommodate my request. It seems to be a very small company that is still gaining traction.
Next up, we have Viva Raw. Flavors include chicken, turkey, duck, beef, and rabbit. In addition to the protein, the ingredients may include natural supplements, and no peas, potatoes, veggies or other fillers. I tried one of each; however, neither of my cats would eat it.
Lastly, we tried Darwins, and finally found a winner! Darwin’s has two product lines- Natural Selections, and Intelligent Design, which is a veterinarian formulated food for cats with kidney disease (requires a prescription!). We opted for the Natural Selections, since our cats are young and healthy. We initially did the intro offer, where you can get 10 lbs of food for $14.95. This would normally cost around $168! We tried the beef, chicken, and turkey. Neither of them would go for the beef, one of them will eat the turkey, and both of them love the chicken! I would definitely recommend adding the chicken to your first order.
After giving all of these products a fair shot, I can confidently say that Darwin's Natural Pet Food for cats is a clear winner in my household. We finally found a winner for our favorite raw food for cats. While all products are AAFCO approved (except for the Viva raw pure diet), my cats simply refused to eat Viva Raw or Raised Right, no matter how hard I tried to make it appealing to them.
My cats have been eating the Darwin's Natural Pet Food for almost two years now and they absolutely love it. I am glad to see that my pets are enjoying their food and thriving on it. Not only is it packed with all the essential nutrients that cats need, but it is also free of any harmful additives or fillers.
Since feeding Darwin’s, I've noticed that their coats are shinier, their energy levels are higher, and their overall health seems to have improved since we made the switch to Darwin's. Even their vet commented that they both have extremely soft coats!
Some things to keep in mind are: most of these companies will offer a “trial order” for a cheaper price, where you can purchase samples to see which your cats think is most palatable. Also, with most of these raw food delivery services, in order to keep the food fresh and frozen in transit, they only deliver on certain days. A lot of them will allow you to set up a subscription; however, you usually don’t get a discount for doing this. If you purchase a certain amount though, you usually will qualify for free shipping.
Cats are notoriously picky animals, so it may take some trial and error to figure out what they will eat. You could try mixing foods, adding anchovy paste on top, and keep in mind if switching to raw food for the first time, that you will need to do a slow transition.
Kidney disease is a common problem with many cats. Raw food contains a high amount of moisture which could help with this (and I also add fresh, filtered water to their food to give them an extra boost!). Darwin’s specially formulated for cats with kidney disease, also may help to prolong their life.
While I appreciate the idea of Viva Raw and the organic ingredients they use, and RaisedRight adding a feline line of products, at the end of the day, it's all about the best, healthiest option that my cats will actually eat. And for them, it's Darwin's all the way.
In conclusion, if you are looking for a reliable and healthy food option for your feline companions, Darwin's Natural Pet Food is definitely worth considering. Not only is it tasty, but it also meets all the nutritional requirements for your pet's health and happiness, and palatability is 10/10 for 2/2 of our cats! In our opinion, they deserve the award for Best Raw Food for Cats! Give it a try and see the difference it can make in your cat's life!
Try Viva Raw here
Try RaisedRight here
Try Darwin's Pet Food here
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