We just tried Stella & Chewy’s Raw Coated Cat Kibble and my cats loved it! In recent years, feeding your cat(s) has become increasingly complicated, with more and more cat food brands popping up with terms like “organic,” “natural,” “raw,” and “grain-free.” It can be hard to figure out which foods to feed your cat. So we try a lot and research a lot… and ultimately, we just try to offer our cats a variety of foods.
Our Trial Of Stella & Chewy’s Raw Coated Cat Kibble
We tried Stella & Chewy’s newest cat food: Raw Blend Cage Free Recipe (Raw Coated Cat Kibble). In a nutshell – all of my cats love it. Here’s what we noticed about this food and why we love it.
Stella & Chewy’s Brand Promise
We’ve been a long-time fan of Stella & Chewy’s Chick, Chick, Chicken Freeze-Dried Raw Dinner Morsels so we were excited to try this new formulation. We love that Stella & Chewy’s is made in the USA and doesn’t contain any unnecessary stuff like artificial colors, flavors or preservatives.
Raw Coated Cat Kibble Texture
The Raw Blend – Raw Coated Cat Kibble has both small pieces of hard dry food and larger pieces of freeze-dried chicken. The freeze-dried chicken pieces are semi-soft and large. My cats seemed to enjoy both textures, though I will say that the larger freeze-dried pieces seem a wee bit large for their mouths. That didn’t stop them though, they had no problem eating it. In fact, I caught several of them shaking their heads like they just caught prey. The larger size pieces makes them stop and chew. Whereas sometimes with smaller kibble, they’ll swallow it whole without chewing.
Raw Coated Cat Kibble Smell
This food doesn’t have any noticeable smell to humans. When I opened the bag, my cats came running down the stairs and into the kitchen – so they obviously could smell it and it appealed to them.
Raw Blend Cage Free Recipe Ingredients
First, we are not veterinarians nor veterinary nutritionists. We recognize that all cats are obligate carnivores and need the majority of their calories from protein. With that said, you should always review your cat’s diet with your veterinarian first.
The first 10 ingredients listed on the package are as follows:
Chicken, chicken meal, lentils, peas, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), turkey, natural chicken flavor, chicken liver, duck, chicken gizzard…
I inquired directly with the Stella & Chewy’s team about the non-meat ingredient choices and they were very forthcoming about them. I asked about the choice to use lentils, peas, cranberries and blueberries and was given the following explanation:
- Starch is required to create any and every kind of kibble. Stella & Chewy’s chose to use peas and lentils due to their lower glycemic index and the superior nutrition they provide, particularly when compared to using grains or potatoes.
- Cranberries are added as a great natural source of antioxidants and help promote urinary tract health; they comprise less than 1% of the product content.
- Blueberries are in the Raw Blend and make up less than 1% of the product.
In conducting my own research, lentils and peas are safe in small amounts and add valuable protein and fiber to your cat’s diet. According to the National Academy of Sciences, “Certain features of the cat’s intestinal tract, including a relatively small colon and nonfunctional cecum, suggest that cats may not be able to utilize dietary fibers as well as other animals. Meals should not have more than 10% fiber.” The formulas by Stella & Chewy’s have a maximum fiber content of 5% – so this is great!
Rocket chowing down on Stella & Chewy’s Raw Blend
Here comes Sweet Pea! She’s enjoying Stella & Chewy’s Raw Blend
Product Source
As mentioned above, I love that Stella & Chewy’s is made in the USA and uses cage-free animals. I feel better knowing the product is sourced in this country and not from China where the standards are not always as stringent as they are in this country.
The Bottom Line
We’re really excited about this innovation to bring the benefits of a raw diet to every home. Overall my cats loved this food and we’ll continue buying it. One of our cats, Jady, is diabetic, so as far as kibble goes, she’s probably better suited with the Chick, Chick, Chicken, freeze-dried chicken morsels since it’s 98% meat (Sorry, Jady!)
More Questions?
We know that the world of pet food can be really confusing and as a pet parent, you want to provide the very best for your pets! If you have specific questions about this product or the Stella & Chewy’s brand, feel free to reach out to them directly by email (info (at) stellaandchewys (dot) com) or call 888-477-8977.
Save $3 Now
Want to give it a try? Get your $3 coupon now! Visit this link to claim your discount and visit your local pet supply store to redeem.
Want to try a different variety? Freeze-dried formulas are available online at Chewy.com (the kibble is currently only available at your local pet supply store) – visit the Stella & Chewy’s store locator here to find a location near you.
A Word of Advice When Considering New Pet Foods
When it comes to feeding your cats or changing their diet, talk to your veterinarian first. Cats have complicated nutritional needs and needs will vary for each individual cat. Factors affecting your cat’s nutrition requirements include its breed or breed traits, its activity level and any other underlying health issues (diabetes, kidney disease, irritable bowel, etc).