Primal Cat Food Reviews in 2021

Is it a good idea to put Primal cat food into your feline’s bowl? Discover if it’s a worthy brand and a healthy choice for your cat in this review.

Ratings

  • Species appropriate diet: 4/5
  • Quailty of ingredients: 4.5/5
  • Variety of recipes: 5/5
  • Pricing: 2/5
  • Customers experience: 3.5/5
  • Recalls history: 1/5
3.5/5

What Is Primal Story?

Primal Pet Foods is based in Fairfield, California, and is known as the manufacturer of human-grade raw pet food. The company was established in 2000 with the goal of improving the health and overall life quality of our four-pawed friends through natural feeding options that are very close to what animals eat in the wild.

The brand started with the story of Matt Koss and his dog Luna. Luna was diagnosed with renal failure, and a holistic vet recommended switching the dog to a diet that included bones and raw food.

Inspired by a beam of hope, Matt formulated a recipe for his Luna. The pets’ health significantly improved on a raw diet, but that was not all. Matt also noticed an increase in the energy levels of the canine and overall well-being.

Preview

As Matt saw promising results of raw feeding, he decided to help other people support their pet’s health with raw food and, in this way, promise a more vibrant and healthier life for dogs and cats.

As of now, Primal offers a healthy, wholesome alternative to mass-market cat food and is committed to educating pet parents about the benefits of a balanced and natural diet.

What Is Manufacturing Facility Location?

Primal cat food is manufactured in the USA-based facilities certified by the USDA, the United States Department of Agriculture. This ensures that organic ingredients that have been grown and processed according to the federal requirements are used in all the recipes.

The Primal website says that the company is committed to providing its customers and their pets with the highest quality raw food made of safe and truly nourishing ingredients. The brand established long-term relations with suppliers who grow all the Primal cat food ingredients with love and in a humane way.

Primal’s animal protein ingredients come from the United States, Australia, New Zealand, and Europe. Other organic ingredients like fruit, vegetables, and supplements are sourced from the USA, Iceland, Northern Europe, and New Zealand.

What Is Primal Recall History?

Primal pet food was recalled at least three times. The first Primal cat food recall took place in May 2011 when the limited batch of the Feline Chicken & Salmon Formula in 4 lb. bags was voluntarily recalled due to the suspected salmonella contamination.

Then, in March 2015, the company recalled Feline Turkey Raw Frozen Formula because of the potential low thiamine levels.

And, finally, Primal recalled a number of cat and dog raw recipes in December 2017 since the bone grind size had some deviations from the approved norm.

Preview 2

What Kind of Cat Food Does Primal Offer?

Primal offers meat-centric raw cat food to meet the nutritional needs of the feline. Meat, bones, and animal organs are minimally processed and are mixed with fruit, vegetables, and supplements so that your pet could get all the nutrients they need for a more vibrant life.

There are recipes that feature one protein source as well as formulas that include multiple meat types. You can choose between pork, rabbit, chicken, salmon, turkey, duck, beef & salmon, chicken & salmon, and some other flavors. All in all, these meals are appropriate for felines with allergies and some food sensitivities.

Primal offers three product lines. All products are raw but come in different food piece sizes and have different processing methods. Let’s see what stands behind every category and analyze their products.

Preview 3

Primal Frozen Cat Food Reviews - Raw Frozen Pronto

Raw Frozen Pronto by Primal is a cost-effective feeding option that comes in different flavors. The easy-to-portion pieces of raw meat are blended with fruit and veggies and are finished then with the essential supplements. Because of the bite-sized format, this food doesn’t require long thawing. If left at room temperatures, the pieces thaw in minutes.

The company recommends starting the transition to raw food with products from this category as they have a similar form to the kibble.

The Primal Feline Raw Frozen Pronto Recipe with Pork is a great nutritionally-rich alternative to traditional kibble. This formula contains 93% of pork, 8% of organ meat, and 6% of bone content. The carbohydrate level is pretty low and makes 1% of the ingredient composition. This food comes in convenient pouches that can be easily stored in the fridge. The small pieces of food thaw easily and could be quickly eaten by the feline.

Ingredients:

Pork Hearts, Pork Livers, Ground Pork Bones, Organic Collard Greens, Organic Squash, Organic Celery, Organic Cranberries, Organic Blueberries, Organic Pumpkin Seeds, Organic Sunflower Seeds, Montmorillonite Clay, Organic Apple Cider Vinegar, Organic Cilantro, Sardine Oil, Taurine, Organic Quinoa Sprout Powder, Dried Organic Kelp, Organic Coconut Oil, Cod Liver Oil, Organic Ginger, Vitamin E Supplement.

Pork organs, bones, and meat are the main sources of proteins and the first ingredients on the list. Meaty ingredients are then followed by organic fruit and vegetables like collard greens, squash, celery, cranberries, blueberries, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, and more to fuel a feline with the energy and required nutrients for proper growth and health maintenance.

Warning!

This is a frozen raw formula, so it should be stored frozen until you’re ready to serve it. If stored in the fridge, it would remain fresh for up to 5 days.

Good Stuff about This Primal Feline Raw Frozen Pronto Recipe with Pork:
  • Nutritionally balanced formula for cats
  • Rich in fatty and amino acids
  • Enriched with the essential vitamins
  • Free of grains and preservatives
What You Might not Like about This Primal Feline Raw Frozen Pronto Recipe with Pork:
  • Should be stored in the freezer or fridge
  • Gets easily spoiled if stored in the wrong conditions

Primal Freeze Dried Cat Food Reviews

Primal Freeze-Dried Nuggets are manufactured according to the special technology that freezes and dehydrates cat food. Thanks to this, the food has a longer shelf life and can be stored without a refrigerator. In fact, these recipes resemble kibble, and you can serve it as it is, but Primal recommends rehydrating these meals.

Primal Freeze-Dried Nuggets with Duck is shelf-stable and protein-rich cat food. It offers all the benefits of frozen raw food with the convenience of kibble. You don’t need to measure, mix, chop, and blend the ingredients to serve a nutritionally-packed breakfast or dinner. Primal has already done that for you. This food comes in the shape of small bricks (nuggets), which you can easily break and mix with water, broth, or topper. The high protein ratio and low carbs content will help you maintain the overall health of your feline without any mess.

Primal Freeze Dried Nuggets For Cats

Ingredients:

Duck Necks, Whole Ducks, Duck Hearts, Duck Livers, Organic Pumpkin Seeds, Organic Sunflower Seeds, Organic Cranberries, Organic Blueberries, Organic Kale, Organic Squash, Organic Carrots, Organic Broccoli, Organic Rosemary Extract, Organic Parsley, Organic Quinoa, Organic Apple Cider Vinegar, Fish Oil, Montmorillonite Clay, Organic Coconut Oil, Taurine, Vitamin E Supplement, Organic Ground Alfalfa, Dried Organic Kelp, Zinc Sulfate.

Duck meat, organs, and bones are the primary ingredients of this recipe. This meat is packed with proteins, fats, and amino acids to ensure the feline gets the basic nutrients in the optimal quantity. The recipe also includes fruit, vegetables, greens that nourish a cat with other essentials like carbs, fiber, and vitamins. There is a basic set of vitamins and minerals to support the overall well-being of your pet.

Warning!

As you serve any freeze-dried recipe, wash all your work surfaces, bowls, or other utensils you used with hot, soapy water. Keep this food separately from other cat food.

Good Stuff about This Primal Freeze-Dried Nuggets with Duck:
  • Ready for serving
  • Doesn’t require a freezer or fridge for storing
  • Can be grabbed to any place
  • If mixed with water or broth, it will help maintain the water balance
What You Might not Like about This Primal Freeze-Dried Nuggets with Duck:
  • Can be messy
  • Pricier than other cat food

Primal Raw Cat Food Reviews - Raw Frozen Nuggets

And, finally, Raw Frozen Nuggets are the original recipes that started it all. They are similar to Raw Frozen Pronto but come in a larger size so that you don’t need to mix the ingredients on your own.

The Raw Frozen Nuggets Beef & Salmon Recipe is a multiple-protein cat raw meal that has been prepared and frozen for your convenience. This recipe will benefit your feline just like the raw food you would make on your own but will spare you from wasting your time on the ingredient search and processing. This food is formulated from beef meat and beef organs enhanced with wild-caught salmon. It ensures your pet gets enough animal proteins and consumes fewer carbs. The ingredient composition is boosted with the use of fruit, vegetables, and supplements to enrich your feline with all the nutrients they crave for.

Primal Beef & Salmon Formula Nuggets Freeze-Dried Cat Food

Ingredients:

Beef Hearts, Beef Livers, Ground Beef Bones, Salmon, Organic Kale, Organic Squash, Organic Carrots, Organic Apples, Organic Broccoli, Organic Cranberries, Organic Blueberries, Organic Pumpkin Seeds, Organic Sunflower Seeds, Montmorillonite Clay, Organic Apple Cider Vinegar, Organic Parsley, Salmon Oil, Taurine, Organic Coconut Oil, Cod Liver Oil, Organic Quinoa Sprout Powder, Dried Organic Kelp, Organic Ground Alfalfa, Vitamin E Supplement.

Beef meat, organs, and bones are the core of this recipe, while salmon makes only 5% of the whole content. Other ingredients include superfoods and other quality products like kale, squash, carrots, apples, broccoli, and other vegetables that increase the nutritional value of this formula. No preservatives, grains, corn, soy, artificial colors are added. Just organic and natural ingredients that fuel the pet like nothing else.

Warning!

Serve this food only when it’s naturally thawed. Frozen pieces might be hard to eat. Also, wash all the surfaces and utensils with hot soapy water after serving raw food.

Good Stuff about This Primal Raw Frozen Nuggets Beef & Salmon Recipe:
  • A balanced raw diet with quality protein sources
  • Packed with superfoods
  • Contains supplements
What You Might not Like about This Primal Raw Frozen Nuggets Beef & Salmon Recipe:
  • Might be inconvenient to store
  • Can be purchased through local retail stores only; thus, it can be hard to find

Is Primal Good For Your Cat?

Are you thinking of switching your feline to a prey-inspired raw diet? Or maybe you’re already feeding your cat with some raw meals but would like to find a healthier option? Then Primal is a good brand to cast your look at.

Even though Primal maintenance cat food is pricey, it’s worth its money. Just look at the ingredient list, and you’ll immediately understand why you need to cash out if you want to switch to a healthy cat’s diet.

Primal uses quality organic ingredients and doesn’t add any preservatives, red-flag products, grains, soy, corn, by-products, and other stuff you’d better avoid. The company believes in healthy and balanced food for cats and dogs, and it lives up to its conviction in every recipe.

What Are Pet Owners Saying About Primal?

I’ve gathered Primal cat food reviews Reddit and from other platforms so you could see what the pet parents say about this raw food brand.

In general, Primal has pretty good standing among pet parents. Lucy admits that regardless of the price, she buys this food for her kittens as it’s clean and nutritious. She soaks the nuggets in hot water and then just minces the substance with her fingers (but I would recommend doing it with a fork or teaspoon). One nugget is enough to nourish two kittens.

review 1

Another customer says he gives this raw food to his cat for breakfast. At first, someone gave them the chicken flavor and it tasted good. But then the cat owner bought a beef and salmon recipe and the feline just couldn’t get enough. So, I guess, it’s all the matter of the flavor. If your pet doesn’t like one recipe, try another with a different taste.

review 2

According to Primal cat food reviews, some felines just can’t digest raw food. Violet complains that her feline threw the chicken flavor up, though he was doing well with the turkey recipe until she suspected the turkey allergy.

review 3

Stocking and shipping are among other Primal cat food problems. These are delicate products and can’t be stored in damp and hot premises, especially the frozen formulas. According to numerous reviews, customers are not happy with the food due to the defects that result from improper storage or transportation.

review 4

Is Primal Worth Trying?

If you are ready to pay extra money for the quality of the cat’s diet (or already sticking) to the cat’s raw ration, Primal is a great choice.

There are both frozen and dried-freeze recipes, so if you don't have enough space in your freezer, you can go for the dried-freeze formulas and avoid the hassle of sticking to the strict temperature regime.

The Primal brand promises to provide pet parents and their felines with a balanced and 100% natural diet inspired by animals’ instincts, and, in my opinion, it keeps its word.

If you are searching for an answer to the question “Primal cat food where to buy?” let me guide you. You can find these recipes in your local stores or order dried-freeze formulas online.

Related articles

article card Canidae Cat Food Reviews in 2021
Deliciously simple or blandly unpalatable? Are Canida grain-free formulas worth it? Are they good for your cat? Learn the answers in our detailed review.
article card Orijen Cat Food Reviews in 2021
Is Orijen the best cat food money can buy? Check out my review to find why it's definitely worth the buck and why thousands of cat parents agree on this.
article card Farmina Cat Food Reviews in 2021
Is it safe to feed your feline with Farmina cat food, and does it make a healthy dietary choice for your pet? Find out in this detailed review.
article card Solid Gold Cat Food Reviews in 2021
Solid Gold cat food brand promises to nourish pets with quality meals. But does it really live up to its promise? Find out in this honest review.