Our Verdict
Shine frozen raw cat food is made up of eight recipes which each receive the Advisor’s highest rating, 5 stars.
This product line only uses whole, organic-certified chickens, humanely raised rabbits, pasture-raised, human-grade New Zealand venison and organic-certified, grass-fed, pasture-raised beef from small farms across the USA.
Pros
- High in protein
- Contains excellent quality animal muscle meat
- All ingredients are organically sourced
- High in moisture
Cons
- More expensive than some 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Shine Frozen Raw Beef Recipe | 5 | M |
| Shine Frozen Raw Rabbit Recipe | 5 | M |
| Shine Frozen Raw Turkey Recipe | 5 | M |
| Shine Frozen Raw Chicken Recipe | 5 | M |
| Shine Frozen Raw Transitional Venison Recipe | 5 | M |
| Shine Frozen Raw Transitional Rabbit Recipe | 5 | M |
| Shine Frozen Raw Transitional Chicken Recipe | 5 | M |
| Shine Frozen Raw Transitional Turkey Recipe | 5 | M |
Recipe and Label Analysis
Shine Frozen Raw Chicken Recipe 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.
Shine Frozen Raw Chicken Recipe
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Protein
Fat
CarbsCarbohydrates
Organic ground chicken with bone, organic sweet potato, organic carrots, organic bok choy, organic parsley, organic chicken liver, organic chicken heart, organic kelp
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 0.5%
Red denotes any controversial items
Ingredients Analysis
The first ingredient is organic ground chicken. Chicken is considered “the clean combination of flesh and skin… derived from the parts or whole carcasses of chicken”. 1
It is naturally rich in the 11 essential amino acids required by a cat to sustain life.
The second ingredient is organic sweet potato. Sweet potatoes are a gluten-free source of complex carbohydrates in a cat food. They are naturally rich in dietary fiber and beta carotene.
The third ingredient is organic carrots which are rich in beta-carotene, minerals and dietary fiber.
The fourth ingredient is organic bok choy. Bok choy (or pak choy) is a cruciferous vegetable. It is rich in nutrients such as fiber, vitamins A and K, calcium and phosphorus, whilst being low in calories. Like other cruciferous vegetables, bok choy may provide some anti-cancer benefits.
The fifth ingredient is organic parsley. Due to its exceptional vitamin and mineral content, parsley exhibits a remarkably high nutrient Completeness Score 2 of 91.
The sixth ingredient is organic chicken liver. This is an organ meat sourced from a named animal and thus considered a beneficial component.
The seventh ingredient is cod liver oil which is a fish oil known to be rich in both EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids as well as vitamins A and D.
The eighth ingredient is organic kelp which is an algae-based seaweed modest in protein content but rich in marine minerals.
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, Shine Frozen Raw Chicken Recipe looks like an above-average frozen raw product.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 54.9%, a fat level of 29.3% and an estimated carbohydrate level of 7.8%.
As a group, the brand features an above-average protein content of 54.4% and a mean fat level of 25.9%. Together these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 11.7% for the overall product line, alongside a fat to protein ratio of 48%.
This means this Shine frozen raw range contains higher than average protein, lower than average carbohydrate and higher than average fat, when compared to typical frozen raw cat food.
Final Word
This range of food needs to be thawed in the refrigerator before feeding. Scoop it into the bowl — the brand recommends stainless steel or ceramic — pour some warm water or broth over it to bring it to room temperature and then feed it to your cat.
Has Shine cat food been recalled in the past?
No. Shine cat food has not had any product recalls.
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
Shine Pet Food Co. was founded by Sandra Bosben in 2010 and was initially called Marty’s Meals. The company is run by a team of ranchers and farmers, veterinarians and animal nutritionists.
Shine has locations in Boulder, Colorado, and Santa Fe, New Mexico and sources its meat from small farms and deer farms in New Zealand. It only uses certified organic, non-GMO ingredients and the meats and ingredients are free of additives and antibiotics
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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