Our Verdict
Nature’s Advantage freeze-dried cat food is made up of eight recipes which each receive the Cat Food Advisor rating, 5 stars.
This range comes in two types of food formulas – patties and nibs. All recipes provide excellent sources of protein.
Pros
- High in protein
- First ingredient listed as animal protein
- Multiple animal organs used
Cons
- More expensive than some other cat foods
The table below shows each recipe in the range including our rating and the AAFCO nutrient profile: Growth (kitten), Maintenance (adult), All Life Stages, Supplemental or Unspecified.
| Product line | Rating | AAFCO |
|---|---|---|
| Nature's Advantage Freeze-dried Turkey & Tuna Dinner Cat Food Mini Patties | 5 | A |
| Nature's Advantage Freeze-dried Duck & Rabbit Dinner Cat Food Mini Patties | 5 | A |
| Nature's Advantage Freeze-Dried Chicken, Quail, & Pheasant Cat Food Mini Patties | 5 | A |
| Nature's Advantage Freeze-Dried Turkey & Tuna Dinner Cat Food Mini Nibs | 5 | A |
| Nature's Advantage Freeze-Dried Duck & Rabbit Dinner Cat Food Mini Nibs | 5 | A |
| Nature's AdvantageFreeze-Dried Chicken, Quail, & Pheasant Dinner Cat Food Mini Nibs | 5 | A |
| Nature's Advantage Freeze-Dried Red Meat Dinner Cat Food Mini Patties | 5 | A |
| Nature's Advantage Freeze-Dried Red Meat Dinner Cat Food Mini Nibs | 5 | A |
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Recipe and Label Analysis
Nature’s Advantage Freeze-dried Turkey & Tuna Dinner Cat Food Mini Patties was selected to represent the other products in the line for a detailed recipe and nutrient analysis.
Label and nutrient data below are calculated using dry matter basis.
Freeze-dried Turkey & Tuna Dinner Cat Food Mini Patties
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Protein
Fat
CarbsCarbohydrates
Turkey, turkey liver, tuna, turkey heart, herring oil, taurine, mixed tocopherols, carrot, apple, tomato, broccoli, orange, cranberry, pumpkin, spinach, beet, cherry, strawberry, blueberry, vitamin E supplement.
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 5%
Red denotes any controversial items
Ingredients Analysis
The first ingredient is turkey. Turkey is considered “the clean combination of flesh and skin… derived from the parts or whole carcasses of turkey”. 1
Turkey is naturally rich in the 11 essential amino acids required by a cat to sustain life.
The second ingredient is turkey liver. This is an organ meat sourced from a named animal and thus considered a beneficial component.
The third ingredient is tuna. Tuna is an oily marine fish not only high in protein but also omega 3 fatty acids, essential oils needed by every cat to sustain life.
This item is typically sourced from clean, undecomposed whole fish and fish cuttings of commercial fish operations. 2
The fourth ingredient is turkey heart. Although it doesn’t sound very appetizing, heart tissue is pure muscle — all meat. It’s naturally rich in quality protein, minerals and complex B vitamins, too.
The fifth ingredient is herring oil. Herring oil is naturally rich in the prized EPA and DHA type of omega-3 fatty acids. These two high quality fats boast the highest bio-availability to cats and humans.
Depending on its level of freshness and purity, herring oil should be considered a commendable addition.
The sixth ingredient is taurine, an essential amino acid for cats associated with the healthy function of heart muscle and eye sight, and is crucial for maintaining good health in cats.
We view the presence of Taurine in this recipe as a positive addition.
The seventh ingredient is mixed tocopherols. Tocopherols are a form of vitamin E which are often included in pet foods and pet food ingredients as an antioxidant. The usual form used for this is mixed tocopherols. Antioxidants are important to protect the food from oxidation. Oils and fats, and especially polyunsaturated fats such as omega 3 and 6, are particularly predisposed to oxidation. This results in the oils and fats becoming rancid. Not only is rancid food unappealing, it also poses negative health implications for cats. Antioxidants are a crucial aspect of creating safe pet food, and we view tocopherols as a far preferable solution than artificial antioxidants such as BHA and BHT. We see tocopherols as a positive addition to this food.
The eighth ingredient is carrot. Carrots are rich in beta-carotene, minerals and dietary fiber.
From here the list goes on to include a number of other items. But to be realistic, ingredients located this far down the list (other than nutritional supplements) are not likely to affect the overall rating of the product.
Nutrient Analysis
Based on its ingredients alone, Nature’s Advantage Freeze-dried Turkey & Tuna Dinner Cat Food Mini Patties looks like an above-average freeze-dried product.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 48.9%, a fat level of 19.6% and an estimated carbohydrate level of 23.5%.
As a group, the brand features an above-average protein content of 48.9% and a mean fat level of 19.6%. Together these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 23.5% for the overall product line, alongside a fat to protein ratio of 40%.
This means that Nature’s Advantage freeze-dried range contains higher than average protein, lower than average carbohydrate and higher than average fat, when compared to typical freeze-dried cat food.
Final Word
These simple formulas all provide high levels of protein derived from multiple sources of good quality animal protein. Ingredients are limited, carbohydrate content is low and all are grain free.
The Cat Food Advisor recommends this food.
Has Nature's Advantage cat food been recalled in the past?
No.
You can view a complete list of all cat food recalls since 2021 here.
To stay on top of any cat food product recalls, sign up for our free email alerts, here.
You can view a complete list of all cat food recalls since 2021 here.
To stay on top of any cat food product recalls, sign up for our free email alerts, here.
About
Nature’s Advantage is owned by the Carnivore Meat Company which was founded by Lanny Viegut in 2012 and specializes in the manufacture of frozen and freeze-dried raw pet food.
The company is located in Green Bay, Wisconsin and its products are different from traditional kibble because they are made with meat, organs, and bone products which are reassembled to mimic what a cat would eat in the wild.
Sources
Best cat foods
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Article reviewed by
Pet Nutritionist
Laura studied BSc (Hons) Animal Science with an accreditation in Nutrition at the University of Nottingham, before working for eight years in the pet food and nutrition industry.
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