RAWZ Cat Food Review

We’ve rated RAWZ cat food on ingredient quality, species-appropriateness, recalls, and more. Read our RAWZ cat food review to learn how this brand stacks up.

The Cats.com Standard—Rating RAWZ 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.

In total, we give RAWZ cat food a 49 out of 60 rating or a A- grade.

About RAWZ

The story of RAWZ dates back decades to 1961 when Jim Scott Sr. purchased the Old Mother Hubbard line of dog products. Though the Scott family later sold the brand to WellPet in 2008, it launched their family business which continues to thrive today.

Jim Scott III founded RAWZ Natural Pet Food with the goal of providing pet owners with nutritionally exceptional recipes using the highest meat content possible. It is the company’s goal to utilize natural alternatives to highly the processed ingredients traditionally used in pet foods. The Scott family also makes an effort to give back to their communities and to pets around the country.

The Scott family makes a pledge to provide pets with a variety of high-quality nutritional options without the use of rendered meals, rendered fats, or commercial gums. Additionally, they donate 100% of their profits (after taxes) to three causes:

• Providing service dogs to those who need them
• Researching and treating spinal cord injury
• Researching and treating traumatic brain injury

The RAWZ fund, established in 2015, was inspired by two of the Scott sons. Both acquired life-altering injuries and experienced the love and support only a dog can give through their family’s yellow lab, Boomer. In recognizing Boomer’s crucial role, the family pledged to donate their profits to ensure that others struggling with similar issues receive the best care and support possible.

Every product RAWZ offers is made with the strictest attention to detail, quality, and safety. They use only fresh and dehydrated animal proteins – no meat meals – and their products are free from grains and potatoes. Not only can their foods be used as a convenient alternative to raw food, but they can also be used as a base for homemade diets.

Sourcing and Manufacturing

RAWZ makes every effort to maintain the highest standards for quality and nutrition but they are also committed to being open and honest with their customers. This company provides the details on their website for every single ingredient they use. Most of their ingredients come from the United States or Canada, with some spices and supplements being sourced from Europe and Asia.

All RAWZ pet food products are cooked in small batches to ensure safety and quality. They company comments that “the moisture in our fresh poultry and fish supplies everything needed to cook the food in their own juices.” No water needed.

Some RAWZ products are made in the United States, including their dehydrated food. Both RAWZ shredded cat food cans and Aujou dog and cat food pouches are manufactured in Thailand by Chotiwat Manufacturing Company.

RAWZ comments that Chotiwat is “an award-winning human grade facility with some of the highest standards in quality and safety, as well as environmental and human affairs.” The products made by Chotiwat contain many of the same ingredients as the US-made recipes.

Recall History

The RAWZ product line is still fairly new, but it has been around long enough for a recall to happen. That being said, it can only be construed as good news that it hasn’t. To our knowledge, the RAWZ brand has not had a single recall to date for either their wet food or dry food products.

What Kinds of Cat Food Does RAWZ Offer?

RAWZ currently offers pet food products for both dogs and cats. Their cat food formulas are divided into three product types: dehydrated dry food, canned wet food, and wet food pouches.

At the moment, RAWZ currently only offers two recipes for dehydrated cat food – one is fish-based and the other features chicken and turkey. RAWZ canned foods are divided between gum-free pates and shredded recipes. You’ll also find an assortment of shredded wet food pouches.

What makes RAWZ different from the typical pet food manufacturer is that not only do they choose their ingredients thoughtfully, but they are very intentional about the way their foods are prepared. They don’t add water because their fresh poultry and fish contains all the moisture needed. They freeze-dry their products, preparing them in small batches, to keep the nutrients intact.

One thing we’ll note about RAWZ is that they don’t use a lot of fruits and vegetables in their products.

Though many manufacturers add these ingredients as natural sources for key nutrients, RAWZ believes fruits and veggies should be added directly to your pet’s food for optimal nutritional value. That being said, they do end up using some synthetic supplements to meet AAFCO requirements for balanced nutrition, so take that for what it’s worth.

What Do Customers Think of RAWZ Cat Food?

Many customers are pleased with the quality of RAWZ cat food, though there are some whose picky eaters didn’t enjoy it for one reason or another.

Negative reviews for RAWZ cat food were primarily focused on the price. There were also cats who simply didn’t like the food, though even some of those who commented noted that they were pleased with the quality and disappointed that their cats didn’t like it.

Let’s take a look at a few customer reviews from some of the most popular recipes from RAWZ.

Positive Reviews

“Three of my five cats have pretty much sworn off canned food in favor of this dry food, so it must be pretty tasty. Very pricey, unfortunately, but clearly full of good ingredients. I make it last a little longer by mixing it – half and half – with another often recommended brand, Taste of the Wild.” – Christine D. reviewing RAWZ Meal Free Dehydrated Chicken Dry Food

“More expensive but worth it. You feed the cat less as it’s not coated with spray on fat and is more dense so they need less. I wasn’t sure this would be workable for my cat but it is and he loves it.” – Allison A. Larsen reviewing RAWZ Meal Free Dehydrated Chicken Dry Food

Negative Reviews

“The shredded chicken pieces were too large for one of our adult cats, but his brother liked this food okay. Even after cutting the shreds into smaller, chewable pieces, neither cat was all that jazzed. Ours already get top level clean sourced canned and kibble so this chicken was to add variety to their diet.” – PenroseTribar reviewing RAWZ Ajou Chicken Breast & Chicken Liver Cat Food

“My cat must be a trash food eating cat because I can’t get him to eat this stuff. I’m be tried to mix in the old stuff. He eats the old food and just will not eat this stuff. Bummer cause it is pricey. I’m going to try another food that is better for him than the usual cheap brand.” – Duke reviewing RAWZ Meal Free Dehydrated Chicken Dry Cat Food

RAWZ Cat Food – Top 3 Recipes Reviewed

All nutritional percentages in this table and hereafter are taken from the manufacturer’s guaranteed analysis. Exact nutritional percentages are not available.

All calculated values are determined using these minimum and maximum published values and may differ from actual values. RAWZ is the ultimate authority on their products, so please contact the company for more nutritional information.

#1 RAWZ Meal Free Dehydrated Chicken, Turkey, and Chicken Recipe Dry Food

$35.11 At Amazon

One of two dry food formulas RAWZ has to offer, this recipe features dehydrated chicken and dehydrated deboned chicken as the top two ingredients. In fact, the first 7 ingredients are all high-quality sources of animal protein that come from chicken or turkey.

Aside from the protein ingredients, this formula contains pea starch and tapioca starch, likely added as thickeners and sources of fiber, along with dried peas, dried egg product, and flaxseeds. The remaining ingredients are vitamin and mineral supplements.

Overall, this is a protein-rich recipe that doesn’t contain any red flag ingredients. It is naturally grain-free, though we wouldn’t mind seeing a source of carbohydrates that offers a little more nutrition than pea starch or tapioca starch.

Ingredients

Dehydrated Chicken, Dehydrated Deboned Chicken, Chicken, Turkey, Chicken Liver, Turkey Liver, Turkey Hearts, Pea Starch, Tapioca Starch, Dried Peas, Natural Chicken Flavor, Dried Egg Product, Flaxseeds, , Dried Tomato Pomace, Salt, Choline Chloride, Potassium Chloride, Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin Supplement, d-calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin A Acetate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Folic Acid), Minerals (Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Calcium Carbonate, Manganous Oxide, Copper Sulfate, Iron Amino Acid Chelate, Manganese Amino Acid Chelate, Zinc Amino Acid Chelate, Copper Amino Acid Chelate, Sodium Selenite, Cobalt Carbonate, Calcium Iodate), Mixed Tocopherols (Preservative), Taurine, Citric Acid (Preservative), Rosemary Extract.

Ingredients We Liked	Ingredients We Didn’t Like	Common Allergens
Chicken Turkey Chicken Liver Turkey Liver & Hearts	Tapioca Starch Pea Starch Dried Peas	Chicken Egg

Guaranteed Analysis

Crude Protein: 44.2%

Crude Fat: 13.3%

Crude Fiber: 3.17%

Moisture: 10%

Ash: 7.59%

Dry Matter Basis

Protein: 49.11%

Fat: 14.78%

Fiber: 3.52%

Carbs: 24.16%

Caloric Weight Basis

Protein: 44.99%

Fat: 32.88%

Carbs: 22.13%

Pros

• First seven ingredients are animal proteins
• Made in small batches to preserve quality
• No meat meals or animal by-products
• Free from artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives

Cons

• Fairly expensive compared to other options
• Heavy use of synthetic supplements

#2 RAWZ 96% Turkey & Turkey Liver Pate

$69.28 At Amazon

This Turkey & Turkey Liver Pate recipe features real turkey as the main ingredient and a single source of animal protein. Having a single source of protein is particularly important for cats with food allergies or sensitivities but can really be a benefit for any cat. We also appreciate the inclusion of turkey liver.

As is common with wet cat food, there are fewer carbohydrate ingredients than in the dry food recipe. Dandelion greens are really the only source we see, and they are more nutritious than something like tapioca starch. The total estimated carbohydrate content of this recipe is negligible.

Ingredients

Turkey, Turkey Liver, Turkey Broth, Potassium Chloride, Fenugreek Seeds, Natural Flavor, Choline Chloride, Salt, Vegetable Broth, Dandelion Greens, Taurine, Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Niacin Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement, Copper Proteinate, Sodium Selenite, Thiamine Mononitrate, Manganese Proteinate, Vitamin A Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Biotin, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Calcium Iodate, Folic Acid.

Ingredients We Liked	Ingredients We Didn’t Like	Common Allergens
Turkey Turkey Liver Dandelion Greens	None	None

Guaranteed Analysis

Crude Protein: 12%

Crude Fat: 10.2%

Crude Fiber: 0.1%

Moisture: 78%

Ash: 2.13%

Dry Matter Basis

Protein: 54.55%

Fat: 54.55%

Fiber: 0.45%

Caloric Weight Basis

Protein: 29.17%

Fat: 70.83%

Pros

• Single source of quality animal protein
• Negligible carbohydrate content
• Rich in protein and moisture with moderate fat

Cons

• Fairly expensive compared to other options
• Some cats dislike the pate texture

#3 Aujou by RAWZ Aku Tuna & Salmon Recipe

$30.71 At Amazon

In addition to their canned wet food recipes, RAWZ also offers a line of wet food pouches cooked in broth. This recipe features tuna and salmon as the primary flavors and, as you would hope, both are included in the first three ingredients.

Unlike the previous canned food recipe, this formula does contain some tapioca starch. That isn’t uncommon in gravy-style cat foods and cat foods in broth. Aside from that, however, we don’t see any other added carbohydrates. This recipe contains more added fat than the previous formula and about the same content of synthetic vitamin and mineral supplements.

Ingredients

Tuna, Fish Broth, Salmon, Tapioca Starch, Minerals (Zinc Amino Acid Chelate, Iron Amino Acid Chelate, Manganese Amino Acid Chelate, Calcium Iodate, Copper Amino Acid Chelate, Sodium Selenite), Sunflower Oil, Fish Oil, Tricalcium Phosphate, Calcium Chloride, Vitamins (Ascorbic Acid (source of Vitamin C), Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Folic Acid, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement), Parsley, Choline Chloride, Taurine, Potassium Chloride, Salt.

Ingredients We Liked	Ingredients We Didn’t Like	Common Allergens
Tuna Salmon	Tapioca Starch Sunflower Oil	Fish

Guaranteed Analysis

Crude Protein: 14.1%

Crude Fat: 3.27%

Crude Fiber: 0.13%

Moisture: 82%

Ash: 1.37%

Dry Matter Basis

Protein: 78.33%

Fat: 18.17%

Fiber: 0.72%

Caloric Weight Basis

Protein: 63.97%

Fat: 36.03%

Pros

• Rich in premium animal protein
• High in moisture and fish flavor
• Supplemented with vitamins and minerals

Cons

• Fairly expensive compared to other options
• Main source of added fat is plant-based

How Much Does RAWZ Cat Food Cost?

One of the most common concerns customers have about RAWZ is the price. Not only is it a little tricky to find RAWZ in stores and online, but it tends to be fairly expensive.

You can find 8-packs of RAWZ Aujou pouches for around $12 which breaks down to about $1.50 each, or about $0.61 per ounce. RAWZ canned cat food averages about $30 for an 18-pack of 3-ounce cans or $60 for a 24-pack of larger 5.5-ounce cans. This puts the per-ounce price between $0.45 and $0.55, depending on the recipe and retailer you choose.

RAWZ dehydrated food is even more expensive than the canned food. A 3.5-pound bag of the dehydrated fish recipe costs $25 or more, averaging over $7 per pound.

Overall, Is RAWZ Cat Food a Good Choice?

The RAWZ cat food brand is dedicated to using high-quality animal proteins and they’re very open about the sourcing of their ingredients and manufacture of their products. We love that every recipe starts with real animal protein and that they use carbohydrates minimally when possible.

That being said, we didn’t get the impression that RAWZ uses fewer synthetic supplements than the average brand. We understand their comment about preferring to add fruits and vegetables to a pet’s diet directly, but we would also appreciate a few more natural sources for key nutrients.

Overall, RAWZ is a good brand but it’s still fairly new and only available from independent retailers. This makes it a little difficult to get a good sense of how much people like it and their impressions about anything other than the price.

Where Is RAWZ Cat Food Sold?

When shopping for cat food, you may notice that some brands are only available in certain stores. Premium brands like RAWZ often choose to sell their products only in independently owned pet stores rather than big box stores and national chains. You may be able to find RAWZ at your local specialty pet food store, or you can check their list of authorized online retailers.

RAWZ does not sell directly to Amazon and other E-commerce companies, though you may find some of their products available through other sellers. Check the RAWZ website to find retailers near you.