I don’t usually accept food and treats for review here on The Conscious Cat, unless it’s something I’ve already thoroughly researched and/or tried. I won’t use Allegra and Ruby as product testers for diets whose claims I can’t verify. For those reasons, I was hesitant to try Freshpet Select, but after taking a look at their information, I agreed to a test.
Freshpet Select is a line of freshly prepared meals. According to the company, each recipe only includes select ingredients like high protein meats and eggs, and vegetables. The cat food contains no grains, although it does contain some pea fiber. As Freshpet Select states on their website, the recipe is much like a meal you would prepare for your family with simple ingredients you are familiar with and can pronounce.
The nutritional composition closely resembles raw food when it comes to protein and moisture content. The food is minimally processed, batch-cooked and quickly cooled to eliminate any harmful bacteria or parasites. The products undergo pasteurization just like milk or cold cuts. The company states that their food is mostly sourced from the US and Canada, and that their poultry is USDA inspected.
The texture of the food is a little odd. It’s shaped like dry kibble, but it’s softer. It actually almost looks and feels like stuffing! (Apparently, I’m already in a Thanksgiving state of mind.)
I gave Allegra and Ruby a small amount of the Real Chicken Recipe with Carrots and Spinach. Ruby dove right in and finished her portion without coming up for air. Allegra was hesitant at first, but eventually ate most of her portion. I gave a second bag of the food to a friend who wanted to try it with one of her cats, and it was extremely well received. The little cat purred while eating!
This may be a better choice than grain-free canned food since it is less processed. It could be a good option for rotational feeding, alternating with raw and grain-free canned food, and it may be a good solution for finicky eaters.
Freshpet Select is available in select grocery stores and pet stores. For more information about Freshpet, and a store locator, please visit their website.
FTC disclosure: This food was sent to me for review by the manufacturer. I received no compensation for this review. All reviews on The Conscious Cat will always reflect my honest opinion, or, as the case may be, Allegra and Ruby’s honest opinion.
