Last updated Feb 13, 2023
Wondering if this air-dried, meat-rich food is the right choice for your cat? Find out in our unbiased The Real Meat Company cat food review.
The Cats.com Standard—Rating The Real Meat Company on What Matters
We’ve analyzed The Real Meat Company and graded it according to the Cats.com standard, evaluating the brand on species-appropriateness, ingredient quality, product variety, price, customer experience, and recall history. Here’s how it rates in each of these six key areas.
Ratings
- Species-Appropriateness – 7/10
- Ingredient Quality – 7/10
- Product Variety – 8/10
- Price – 7/10
- Customer Experience – 5/10
- Recall History – 10/10
Overall Score: 7.3/10
We give The Real Meat Company cat food a 44 out of 60 rating or a B grade.
About The Real Meat Company
Since its founding in 2003, this California-based company has specialized in air-dried pet food and treats.
Jerky treats for dogs are the original and perhaps most popular product by The Real Meat Company, but they also offer a small but diverse selection of air-dried meals for cats.
Their cat food will be our focus today as we explore the company’s sourcing and manufacturing practices, break down their recall history, and examine three of their most popular products.
Sourcing and Manufacturing
Real Meat cat food is made in a company-owned facility in the United States. Though the company doesn’t say where they source other ingredients, their proteins are sourced from producers in the United States, New Zealand, and Australia.
Has The Real Meat Company Cat Food Been Recalled?
The Real Meat Company hasn’t issued any recalls.
What Kinds of Cat Food Does The Real Meat Company Offer?
All Real Meat recipes are meat-rich with plenty of muscle meat, organs, and real bone. The raw ingredients undergo a low-temperature air drying process that leaves nutrients intact while destroying pathogens. This yields a nutrient-rich, shelf-stable alternative to raw food.
The Real Meat Company Cat Food – Top 3 Recipes Reviewed
| Product Name | Food Type | Price | Our Grade |
| The Real Meat 14oz Beef Dog & Cat Food | Air-Dried | $1.07 per oz | B+ |
| The Real Meat 14oz Lamb Dog & Cat Food | Air-Dried | $1.07 per oz | B+ |
| The Real Meat Fish & Venison Cat Treats 3oz | Air-Dried | $1.49 per oz | B |
#1 The Real Meat 14oz Beef Dog & Cat Food
Beef appears to be the primary protein source in this cat food.
This popular recipe is 90% beef with a variety of meat and organs from cattle, including muscle meat, lung, liver, heart, and bone.
In addition to meat, the food contains several plant ingredients. The first are parsley, pumpkin, and rosemary. Chicory-sourced inulin serves as a source of prebiotic fiber.
Vegetable glycerin holds the food together and keeps it soft and chewy. Though it’s generally recognized as safe for cats, some avoid this ingredient because it could contain hazardous methanol residue.
According to the guaranteed analysis, this food has moderate protein, moderate fat, and high carbohydrate content.
Though this food appears to have nearly as much carbohydrate content as the standard kibble, much of that may come from glycerin. Though cats can use it for energy, glycerin doesn’t increase blood sugar. Without knowing exactly how much of the food’s carbohydrate content comes from glycerin, it’s impossible to fully understand its nutritional merit.
The food has 181 calories per ounce.
Ingredients
Beef, Beef Lung, Beef Liver, Vegetable Glycerin, Pumpkin Powder, Parsley Powder, Inulin(From Chicory Root), Ground Beef Bone, Dried Marine Microalgae, Mixed Tocopherols, Potassium Chloride, Rosemary Powder, Taurine, Choline Chloride, Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Sunflower Oil, Calcium Carbonate, Vitamin E Supplement, Selenium Yeast, Folic Acid, Biotin, L-Tyrosine, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Niacin Supplement, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Calcium Iodate, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement.
Ingredients We Liked: Beef, Beef Lung, Beef Liver, Beef Heart, Ground Beef Bone
Ingredients We Didn’t Like: Parsley, Pumpkin, Vegetable Glycerin
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
Pros
- Rich in animal protein
- Has a mix of muscle meat, organs, and bones
- Minimally-processed for maximum nutrition
- Free of artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives
Cons
- Some cats don’t like the food’s taste, smell, or texture
- No dry food delivers the moisture your cat needs
#2 The Real Meat 14oz Lamb Dog & Cat Food
Lamb appears to be the primary protein source in this cat food.
This food is loaded with lamb. Lamb muscle meat, organs, and bone account for 90% of the total recipe. The ingredient list also includes pumpkin, parsley, and inulin as sources of fiber and nutrients. Vegetable glycerin helps to hold everything together and acts as a humectant, keeping the chunks soft and chewy.
According to the guaranteed analysis, this food has moderate protein content with moderate fat and high carbohydrate content.
With no protein sources other than lamb, lamb, and more lamb, it’s an option for cats with food sensitivities and allergies.
Without knowing what percentage of its approximately 26% carbohydrate content comes from the polysaccharide glycerin, it’s impossible to know if this food is an acceptable choice for people feeding cats with diabetes or generally avoiding high-carbohydrate foods.
The food has 181 calories per ounce.
Ingredients
Lamb, lamb Lung, Lamb Liver, Vegetable Glycerin, Pumpkin Powder, Parsley Powder, Inulin(From Chicory Root), Ground Lamb Bone, Dried Marine Microalgae, Mixed Tocopherols, Potassium Chloride, Rosemary Powder, Taurine, Choline Chloride, Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Sunflower Oil, Calcium Carbonate, Vitamin E Supplement, Selenium Yeast, Folic Acid, Biotin, L-Tyrosine, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Niacin Supplement, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Calcium Iodate, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement.
Ingredients We Liked: Lamb, Lamb Lung, Lamb Liver, Lamb Heart, Ground Lamb Bone
Ingredients We Didn’t Like: Parsley, Pumpkin, Vegetable Glycerin
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
Pros
- Rich in nutrients from animal muscle meat and organs
- Free of animal by-products
- Free of common food allergens
- Made without artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives
Cons
- Many cats don’t like this food
- High carbohydrate content
- Inadequate moisture content
#3 The Real Meat Fish & Venison Cat Treats 3oz
Fish appears to be the primary protein source in this cat food.
This food features a combination of venison meat and organs mixed with fish. It’s packed with nutrients from venison muscle meat, liver, heart, gizzard, and neck.
While most recipes from The Real Meat Company emphasize clearly-named ingredients, this formula serves up “fish” as a primary protein source. With no particular species identified, it’s hard to know if this fish is a high-quality ingredient.
Alongside fish and venison, the food offers a dose of chicory root. Vegetable glycerin keeps the chunks soft and cohesive.
According to the guaranteed analysis, this food has moderate protein content with moderate fat and moderate-to-high carbohydrate content.
This air-dried food is rich in animal protein and packed with nutrients, but like other The Real Meat Company foods, it’s relatively high in carbohydrates. Some of that carbohydrate content comes from glycerin, which is low-glycemic and doesn’t affect cats in the same way that other carbohydrates do.
The food has 165 calories per ounce.
Ingredients
Fish, Venison, Chicory Root, Vegetable Glycerin, Salt, Mixed Tocopherols (used as a preservative).
Ingredients We Liked: Fish, Venison, Chicory Root
Ingredients We Didn’t Like: Vegetable Glycerin, Salt, Mixed Tocopherols
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
Pros
- Rich in animal-sourced protein
- Features a mix of muscle meat and organs
- Free of artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives
Cons
- Contains vaguely-named “fish”
- Relatively high carbohydrate content
- Lacks adequate moisture
What Do Customers Think of The Real Meat Company Cat Food?
The Real Meat Company hasn’t generated a lot of discussion on the web and customer reviews are limited. Though customers agree that ingredients look good, about a quarter of reviewers say their cats didn’t like the food’s taste, smell, or texture.
Here’s what a few buyers have to say about The Real Meat Company cat food:
Positive Reviews
“Loved the ingredients and after reading the reviews I took the risk of buying it even after seeing other people’s cats wouldn’t touch it. I have one cat who will eat anything and two picky cats, all three love this food. And I feel good about feeding it!” – Kelli,
“I add water to each serving for hydration, my cats are not big water drinkers. My cats drink the water and then devoure the food. They may be getting more water now , even more than with wet food. I would caution, I had a neighbor cat sitting for two weeks. The sitter feed the food like it was dry food. Giving one standard cup of food for each cat. This food recommended 1.5 Oz per cat. I came home to two very over weight cats. It took a long time to take the weight off.” – Prllucky13
Negative Reviews
“Our house cat, took a sniff and backed away. would not touch it, dry or wet. . broken up or in chunks. the barn cats, who usually are thrilled at feeding time, were next in line and they were reluctant to try, but nibbled it. i think the heavy “alfalfa” smell is a turnoff.” – zimmkat
“I purchased 2 different brands of dried lamb cat food at the same time. None of my 5 cats would eat this brand. The pieces were also much too large. I would not recommend this. The other brand from new Zealand was a hit.” – Karri
How Much Does The Real Meat Company Cat Food Cost?
The Real Meat Company promises quality meats at an affordable price. They say their foods cost 10% – 25% less than their closest competitors.
If you have a 10-lb cat, Real Meat cat food will cost about $1.39 to $1.90 per day. Though we don’t know the company’s closest competitors, their food is similar to Ziwi Peak’s air-dried products, which cost about $2.68 per day.
Overall, Is The Real Meat Company a Good Choice?
The Real Meat Company delivers on its promise of a more affordable air-dried cat food. Real Meat cat food recipes are rich in minimally-processed muscle meat, organs, and animal bones, meaning more nutrition from carnivore-appropriate sources.
While it looks good in writing, Real Meat cat food doesn’t fare so well in feline taste tests. Even the best foods get a few upturned noses, but this brand earns more than most. About a quarter of reviewers say their cats didn’t want to eat Real Meat food.
Despite the palatability problem, it’s worth a try if you’re looking for a less-processed food for your kibble addict, have a cat with food sensitivities, or need a budget-friendly alternative to other air-dried products.
Where To Buy The Real Meat Company Cat Food?
The Real Meat Company cat food is sold by independent pet specialty stores, animal trainers, and veterinarians scattered across the United States and Canada. You can find a retailer near you using their store finder tool.
While their distribution in brick-and-mortar stores is limited, Real Meat cat food is sold by more than 40 online retailers, including Amazon, Chewy, and a variety of smaller enterprises.
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