As a cat parent, I feel like I’m in a constant battle at mealtime. One day, my cat devours her food like it’s the best thing she’s ever tasted, and the next, she gives it a sniff and walks away with an air of total disdain. Finding something that’s both nutritious and consistently appealing is the holy grail. I’ve been curious about raw diets for a while, but the prep, storage, and safety concerns always held me back. That’s why I was so intrigued when I came across BJ’S RAW PET FOOD’s Freeze-Dried Cat Food Mix. It promises the nutritional benefits of a raw, multi-protein diet without any of the hassle. But does it live up to the hype? I decided to find out.
This freeze-dried formula is designed to be a complete and balanced meal, packed with a variety of proteins that mimic a cat’s natural diet. Let’s break down what makes it stand out.
Key Features
✅ Multi-Protein Powerhouse: Instead of relying on a single source, this food includes turkey, chicken, beef, and salmon. This variety provides a wider range of amino acids and nutrients, and it can be more appealing to cats who get bored easily.
✅ Nose-to-Tail Nutrition: This isn’t just muscle meat. The mix includes nutrient-dense organ meats (like liver, kidney, and spleen) and ground bone, which are fantastic sources of essential vitamins and minerals that you won’t find in many processed cat foods.
✅ Incredibly Convenient: This is the biggest selling point for me. The freeze-drying process preserves the nutrients of raw food while making it shelf-stable and lightweight. It’s perfect for travel, or just for an easy meal at home without having to thaw frozen meat.
✅ Concentrated Goodness: Don’t be fooled by the small 4-ounce bag. Because all the water has been removed, it’s highly concentrated. The brand states that this 4oz bag rehydrates to about one pound of fresh raw food.
✅ Made in the USA: The ingredients are sourced and the food is produced in Lancaster, PA. For many pet owners, knowing where the food comes from provides significant peace of mind.
How to Serve It Up
Using this food is incredibly simple, and you have a few options depending on your cat’s preference. The directions suggest using it as a topper, a treat, or a full meal.
- As a Crunchy Topper or Treat: Simply crumble some of the freeze-dried nuggets over your cat’s regular wet or dry food. This is a great way to add a nutritional boost and entice a picky eater.
- As a Complete Meal: To serve it as a main course, it’s best to rehydrate it.
- Measure out the desired amount of food.
- Add a bit of warm (not hot) water or cat-safe bone broth. Use roughly a 1:1 ratio of food to liquid.
- Let it sit for 3-5 minutes until the food has absorbed the liquid and softened into a pâté-like consistency.
- Serve!
Important Tip: Cats are notoriously bad at drinking water, so rehydrating their food is a fantastic way to increase their moisture intake and support kidney and urinary health.
What Are Cat Owners Saying?
With an overall rating of 3.4 out of 5 stars, the feedback is a bit of a mixed bag, which tells me this product works wonders for some cats but might not be a universal hit.
Jenna (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️) said her incredibly finicky senior cat, who had been turning his nose up at everything, absolutely loves this food. She uses it as a topper and says it has stimulated his appetite and he’s cleaning his bowl for the first time in months. She was thrilled with the quality ingredients.
On the other hand, Mark (⭐️⭐️) had a different experience. He bought it hoping to transition his two cats to a healthier diet, but neither of them would touch it, even when mixed with their favorite wet food. He felt it was an expensive experiment for his particular cats.
This seems to be the common theme: when a cat likes it, they really like it. But for others, it’s a miss. This is pretty typical for any cat food, especially one with a unique texture and smell like a raw product.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✔️ Excellent variety of high-quality proteins | ❌ Some cats refuse to eat it |
| ✔️ Includes nutrient-rich organs and bone | ❌ The 4oz bag feels small for the price point |
| ✔️ Very convenient for raw feeding | ❌ Mixed customer reviews suggest it’s a bit of a gamble |
| ✔️ Made and sourced in the USA | ❌ Strong smell might be off-putting (to humans or cats) |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Can I use this as my cat’s only food source? A: Yes, the product is formulated as a “Complete & Balanced” meal, meaning it contains all the necessary nutrients for an adult cat. However, because it’s a premium product, many owners find it more budget-friendly to use as a high-quality topper to boost their cat’s current food.
Q: My cat is very picky. What’s the best way to introduce this food? A: Start small! Crumble just a tiny bit on top of their regular food to let them get used to the smell and taste. Rehydrating it with a bit of warm water can also make it more appealing by enhancing the meaty aroma. Don’t be discouraged if they don’t take to it immediately; sometimes it takes a few tries.
Final Verdict
So, who is this food for? BJ’S RAW PET FOOD Freeze-Dried Mix is an excellent choice for cat owners who want to provide the benefits of a raw, species-appropriate diet without the mess and hassle of preparing it from scratch. It’s particularly well-suited for owners of:
- Picky Eaters: The multi-protein formula and strong scent can be a powerful appetite stimulant.
- Cats with Sensitive Stomachs: A limited-ingredient, high-quality raw diet can be easier to digest for some felines.
- Anyone Who Travels: It’s a lightweight, easy-to-pack alternative to cans or frozen food.
However, given the mixed reviews and the premium price, it might not be the best starting point for those on a strict budget or owners of cats who are historically resistant to any change in their diet. My advice? If you’re curious, it’s worth a try. Start with one bag and see if your feline friend is one of the many who end up loving it.
Ready to give it a shot? You can find it here:
Buy on Amazon BJ’S RAW PET FOOD Freeze Dried Complete & Balanced Cat Food Mix