Is your feline friend deserving of a meal that’s both nutritious and delicious? Stella & Chewy’s Raw Blend Premium Kibble Cat Food – Cage-Free Poultry Recipe promises just that, combining the convenience of kibble with the benefits of raw food. Let’s dive into a detailed review of this popular cat food, exploring its features, ingredients, and what real cat owners are saying.
What is Stella & Chewy’s Raw Blend Premium Kibble?
Stella & Chewy’s Raw Blend Kibble aims to bridge the gap between traditional dry cat food and raw diets. It features protein-rich kibble coated with freeze-dried raw meat and also includes whole pieces of freeze-dried raw nuggets mixed right into the bag. This combination is designed to offer superior digestion and an irresistible taste that cats crave. The Cage-Free Poultry Recipe, in particular, emphasizes high-quality animal proteins, with cage-free chicken as the number one ingredient, alongside turkey and duck.
Key Features and Benefits:
- The Power of Raw: The blend of freeze-dried raw coated kibble and whole pieces of freeze-dried raw meat is a standout feature. This approach aims to provide complete and balanced nutrition while mimicking a more natural, ancestral diet for cats.
- Irresistible Taste: With a focus on animal proteins, Stella & Chewy’s emphasizes creating a palatable food that even picky eaters will enjoy. Customer reviews often mention cats eagerly eating this food.
- High-Quality Protein: Cage-free chicken is the primary ingredient, and the recipe incorporates turkey and duck, offering a diverse and protein-rich meal.
- Whole Prey Ingredients: The brand highlights the importance of whole prey ingredients to support healthy digestion, strong teeth and gums, a vibrant coat, and overall vitality.
- Grain & Gluten-Free: This recipe is formulated to be easily digestible for cats of all life stages, excluding unnecessary fillers like grains and gluten.
- Supports Whole Body Health: Fortified with vitamins, minerals, fiber, and probiotics, this food aims to improve overall well-being, supporting digestion and heart health through taurine.
- Skin & Coat Support: Omega fatty acids from salmon oil and fenugreek seeds are included to promote a healthy skin and coat.
- Made in the USA: Crafted in the USA using responsibly sourced, premium ingredients with minimal processing and small-batch production.
Ingredients Spotlight:
The ingredient list is quite impressive for kibble, prioritizing animal-based proteins and avoiding common fillers. Key ingredients include:
- Chicken, Chicken Meal, Turkey, Duck, Chicken Liver, Chicken Gizzard – A variety of poultry sources provide high-quality protein.
- Lentils and Peas – Legumes used as carbohydrate sources and fiber.
- Chicken Fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols) – A healthy fat source and preservative.
- Salmon Oil & Fenugreek Seed – Sources of Omega fatty acids for skin and coat health.
- Probiotics (dried Pediococcus acidilactici, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacterium longum, Bacillus coagulans fermentation products) – To support digestive health.
What Customers Are Saying - A Review Roundup:
Customer reviews for Stella & Chewy’s Raw Blend Premium Kibble are generally positive, with a 4.3 out of 5-star rating based on over 460 global ratings. Here’s a summary of what cat owners are experiencing:
Pros, as highlighted in reviews:
- Palatability: Many reviewers confirm that their cats love this food. One reviewer mentioned, “My cat adores this food,” while another hilariously described their cat “hoovering it up like a dustbuster!”
- High Quality and Nutritious: Customers frequently praise the quality of ingredients, noting it’s “good quality” and “high quality cat food.” The grain-free nature and use of real meat are appreciated by health-conscious pet owners. Some even reported seeing improvements in their cats’ coats and energy levels.
- Health Benefits: Some reviewers specifically mentioned health improvements, with one stating, “This raw diet has eliminated all the digestive issues…Plus he’s been gaining weight and playing like a kitty.” Another mentioned it’s “healthier than those I have bought in a supermarket.”
- Coat Improvement: Several reviewers noticed a positive change in their cat’s fur. One noted, “My cat loves this food and his coat is looking so healthy,” and another saw their cat’s coat “filled out and regrow hair that’s shiney and healthy.”
Cons and Concerns, as noted in reviews:
- Quality Control Issues: Some reviewers reported inconsistencies in quality. One customer received a bag with “rock hard” kibble and freeze-dried pieces, while another mentioned bags with “almost no freeze-dried pieces” or conversely, “hard and impossible for my cats to eat” freeze-dried pieces.
- Bugs: A concerning issue raised by a few customers is finding bugs in sealed bags. One reviewer stated their bag was “filled with little black bugs.” This is a serious quality control issue that potential buyers should be aware of.
- Price: While some consider it “worth the money,” others find it “a bit expensive” or “very pricey.” Value for money is a mixed opinion.
- Freeze-dried Morsel Texture: Some cats seem to dislike the freeze-dried raw pieces, finding them “stale” or “powdery.” One reviewer wished for a kibble-only option without the freeze-dried component.
- Kibble Size: One humorous review mentioned the kibble pieces being “tiny” and easily swallowed, which, while not necessarily negative, might be a concern for some cat owners.
Final Verdict:
Stella & Chewy’s Raw Blend Premium Kibble Cat Food – Cage-Free Poultry Recipe appears to be a high-quality option for cat owners seeking a blend of convenience and raw food benefits. The positive reviews highlight its palatability, quality ingredients, and potential health benefits, especially for coat health and digestion. However, the negative reviews regarding quality control, particularly the presence of bugs and inconsistencies in the freeze-dried components, are significant concerns that Stella & Chewy’s needs to address.
Would I Recommend It?
Despite the quality control concerns raised in some reviews, the overwhelmingly positive feedback regarding palatability and ingredient quality makes Stella & Chewy’s Raw Blend Premium Kibble worth considering, especially if you are looking to incorporate more raw food elements into your cat’s diet. It’s advisable to carefully inspect each bag upon arrival due to the reported quality issues.
You can purchase Stella & Chewy’s Raw Blend Premium Kibble Cat Food – Cage-Free Poultry Recipe on Amazon: Stella & Chewy’s Raw Blend Premium Kibble Cat Food