Redbarn Cat Food Reviews in 2021

Does Redbarn produce cat food of the same quality as their famous bully sticks for dogs? Read this Redbarn cat food review to find out the truth.

Ratings

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

What Is Redbarn Cat Food Story?

Redbarn is a pet food company known for producing healthy and quality dog and cat food without stressing your budget. It is one of those brands with an inspiring and fascinating story about how people want to make the world a better place, both for us, humans, and our pets.

Redbarn was established by two friends Jeff and Howie in the 90s. They created their first dog food recipe in an old kitchen with strong determination to make a nutritionally-balanced and wholesome meal for canines. It had instantly become a hit among pet parents and flourished into an international team of 500 people and more than 200 pet foods and treats.

The brand introduced the line of Redbarn cat food in 2014. By that time, they had already purchased several manufacturing facilities (Long Beach, CA; Paraguay; Kansas) and established a trusted and well-known name in the realm of dog treats and food. The new products for felines included grain-free recipes and treats.

In 2019, the company purchased another manufacturing building in Rochester, New York, that allowed Redbarn to produce injected molded treats. As of now, their organization continues to grow, but their commitment to producing quality and healthy food for pets remains unchanged. They are passionate about making food all pets love.

Preview

What Is Manufacturing Facility Location?

Redbarn cat products are made in the USA in the company’s own facilities. They own a manufacturing plant in Kansas and a new production building in Rochester, New York.

However, some of the dog treats (including popular bully sticks) are produced in Paraguay. The company explains it by the fact that South America is a better producer of bulls. It has established a long-lasting partnership with local farmers and purchased its own manufacturing facility in Paraguay to make sure only quality pet products are produced.

Regardless of where the products are made, they are run through safety tests by the quality assurance team in Kansas.

No exact information is given about the ingredient sourcing. The brand says that it does its best to get Redbarn cat food ingredients from local providers. But if they fail to find quality and natural ingredients in the USA, they team up with like-minded farmers all over the globe to make sure every ingredient is healthy and beneficial for your feline.

What Is Redbarn Recall History?

I always consider the recall history when reviewing this or that product. Recalls are issued when there is a problem with a product, and it might be harmful to the pet. Usually, the company voluntarily recalls a lot of defective items, or the FDA might issue a recall when it receives a complaint from the customers.

Redbarn cat food recalls have never happened; however, one batch of bully sticks was recalled due to a potential salmonella infection in 2018.

Preview 2

What Kind of Cat Food Does Redbarn Offer?

For about 20 years, Redbarn has been producing functional and quality dog treats, foods, and chews. The company started manufacturing cat food six years ago and has worked out balanced and nutrient-packed wet food formulas for felines.

It’s unclear whether Redbarn will be producing kibble or not, but it’s a fact that they managed to make some decent canned meals for cats. As of now, there are three product types of Redbarn wet cat food:

  • Filets (flaked in broth)
  • Pâté
  • Stew

All the Redbarn cat recipes are grain-free and low in carbs. The company is committed to producing natural pet food with the maximum quantity of animal proteins and minimum plants. Just like any Redbarn product, these cat formulas follow strict quality assurance rules and are run through numerous tests before they are approved for sale.

Redbarn cat foods are made for felines of all life stages, breeds, and flavor preferences. You’ll find meals with fish & seafood, poultry, and meat in case your pet is more inclined to a specific meat type.

As no Redbarn dry cat food reviews are going to appear here due to the lack of products to describe, let me start the thorough product analysis with the Redbarn Filets wet cat food breakdown.

Preview 3

Redbarn Fillets Cat Food Review

Redbarn Filets for cats is the only product variety available on their official website, so I decided to find out what makes these recipes so special.

Filets are premium cat foods made to be visually appealing, delicious, and nutritious. All the formulas are cooked with the use of fresh wild-caught fish and quality poultry. These ingredients are then flaked and marinated in a savory broth. Thanks to this, the meal looks and tastes appealing so that even the finicky cat will finish this food in no time. What’s more, the brand even assures that you might confuse it with your own tuna can because all the ingredients are fresh and real. Redbarn would never cook the cat’s food from stuff we, humans, won’t eat on our own.

The company says that it never adds by-products to the recipes as they might be dangerous for the feline. They also avoid including grains, fillers, artificial color or taste enhancers, or carrageenan, which also are not good for the cats’ health.

As all the Filets recipes are wet food, it means that they are a great source of hydration for your pet. If your feline doesn’t drink much water, these foods can save the day and help you avoid cat’s dehydration. Besides, due to the higher moisture content, your feline can enjoy larger servings without consuming more calories (compared to dry food). So, Filets will help you manage cat’s weight if you don’t want to put them on a strict diet.

Redbarn cat food reviews won’t be complete without taking a closer look at one of the recipes. So, let’s see what is in the Redbarn Filets Tuna & Salmon Entrée Flaked in Broth Canned Cat Food. This is a fish-based recipe with added chicken, which is strange for a tuna & salmon flavor. But I believe it’s OK unless they use quality chicken meat as an additional source of proteins. This Redbarn meal is made of wild-caught fish that has been flaked and then cooked in tuna broth for more nutritional value. There are no grains, chicken meal, gluten, or vegetables in the formula, so this is a premium cat entrée with a rich fish flavor.

Redbarn Filets Tuna & Salmon Entrée

Ingredients:

Tuna Broth, Tuna Red Meat, Salmon, Chicken, Sunflower Oil, Tapioca Starch, Pea Protein, Egg Powder.

Redbarn cooks this cat entrée on the basis of tuna broth and several types of proteins like tuna red meat, salmon, chicken, and pea protein. They add red tuna, the metabolically active muscle that allows tuna to swim, which is way better than ordinary tuna meat. This meat has a high protein content, as well as more omega-3 fatty acids and taurine, which are beneficial for the feline’s health. Tapioca is added to be a source of carbs and replace grains in the formula. You’ll also see sunflower oil that serves as the source of fats. I would personally give preference to animal-based fats, but since they include plenty of omega-3 acids (which are already present in tuna and salmon), they decided to balance the formula and add omega-6s.

Warning!

Refrigerate unused portions since they get spoiled easily.

  • Good Stuff about This Redbarn Filets Tuna & Salmon Entrée:
  • Quality ingredients
  • Grain- and gluten-free
  • No fillers or by-products
  • Rich in moisture
What You Might not Like about This Redbarn Filets Tuna & Salmon Entrée:
  • Pricier than average cat food

Redbarn Wet Cat Food Review

As I dived deep into the Filets line-up, it will make sense to pay attention to other Redbarn products.

The Redbarn Naturals cat food comes in two texture types: pâté and stew. I didn’t find these options on their websites, but they are available through online and offline retailers. Anyway, I believe it makes sense to take a look at other Redbarn cat food options.

Stew recipes are available in the case of 24 and are more affordable compared to Filets (you get twice more for the same price). Stews contain chunks of processed meat and vegetables in meaty gravy. These are moisture-rich formulas free of by-products, carrageenan, or artificial additives.

Redbarn Pâté Cat Food has different flavors, including poultry, lamb or beef meat, fish, and other sea products. They are blended to the soft consistent texture and are mixed with the nourishing broth to contribute to the water consumption of your feline. Pâtés come in 3.5 oz cans and are available for sale in the case of 24.

The Redbarn Naturals Lamb Pâté is one of the Redbarn Naturals products made in the USA. According to Redbarn canned cat food reviews, their pâtés have a thick consistency and should be mixed with water if you are a fan of cat food with a higher moisture level. It is made of wholesome ingredients (cuts of real lamb, fruit, and vegetables) to deliver the highest nutritional value to your feline. Compared to the Filets line, this is a more affordable diet that does include some other ingredients but for meat.

Redbarn Lamb Canned Cat Food Lamb Pâté

Ingredients:

Lamb, Lamb Broth, Lamb Liver, Natural Flavors, Agar-Agar, Parsley, Choline Chloride, Calcium Carbonate, Potassium Chloride, Peas, Salmon Oil, Tricalcium Phosphate, Taurine, Blueberries, Cranberries, Alfalfa Meal, Salt.

Lamb and a lamb liver are in the list of the first three ingredients of this wet entrée. Redbarn adds natural flavors to intensify the taste, but it would be nice of them to tell us what type of flavors they exactly use. They add agar-agar as a gelling element, which is good because compared to carrageenan it’s safe for cats. You’ll also see parsley, peas, and berries in the formula, which add some volume to the food and serve as great vitamin sources, but there are doubts if they could be easily digested by the cat. Other ingredients are supplements added to provide your furry friend with a balanced and complete meal.

Warning!

Make a smooth transition to this or any other Redbarn pâté recipe. Start with small servings and then gradually increase the amount of food.

  • Good Stuff about This Redbarn Naturals Lamb Pâté:
  • High protein and low carb levels
  • Includes real lamb meat as the first ingredient
  • Has a smooth consistency

What You Might not Like about This Redbarn Naturals Lamb Pâté:

  • Not enough moisture
  • Some felines refuse to eat it
  • High plant content

Is Redbarn Good For Your Cat?

In general, I believe Redbarn cat food is a good choice to go with if you are looking for a quality diet at an average price. The company prides itself on adding natural and wholesome ingredients we use to cook a meal in our kitchen, and that’s true.

I found no red-flag ingredients in all the recipes I looked at. I saw no traces of grains or gluten that are hard on the feline’s digestive system. Redbarn cat formulas are rich in proteins and contain the optimal amount of moisture and nutrients so that the feline enjoys an active life to the fullest.

But let’s see what the Redbarn customers are saying about this food brand until I say the final word.

What Are Pet Owners Saying About Redbarn?

As I looked through Redbarn cat food reviews Reddit and on other platforms, I discovered that Redbarn cat food recipes get an average rating among the online customers. The products generally score 3-4 stars with both overly-positive and negative reviews.

If you have a picky eater, these Redbarn cat food recipes might be the way out. The customer says they settled for one of the Redbarn recipes after the long search process of the ideal cat food their feline will truly love.

review 1

Chrisper also says she loves the Redbarn brand because it’s quality food that keeps her feline healthy and full for a long time.

review 2

Kind words are said about the Filets line-up as well. The cat parent thinks that the tuna and salmon flakes are similar to what you’d cook on your own. All the pets in the household enjoy this entrée and eat it with pleasure.

review 3

But, of course, there are some Redbarn cat food problems. While some finicky cats love the Redbarn wet recipes, others completely ignore their meals and do not eat this food.

review 4

This review proves that not all felines love the Redbarn meals, even though the ingredient list looks great. The stew recipes look soupy, and perhaps that’s the reason why some pets refuse to eat the dish.

review 5

Because there’s too much broth and very little chicken in Redbarn cat stews, some pet owners are not happy with this brand. They say it’s a little bit pricey regarding the product quality and there are better options out there. Besides, the cat seems to have issues with his tummy after eating the Redbarn stews.

review 6

Redbarn pâtés seem to have the same issues with the texture. The taste has become a concern for the customer’s cat, and the pâté had too much moisture which led to the runny consistency.

review 7

Is Redbarn Worth Trying?

Overall, Redbarn manufactures decent cat food for the price. Of course, there are better options out there, but they are in a different price segment. If you are searching for affordable yet quality cat food, this is a perfect choice for you.

Redbarn Filets recipes are slightly more expensive compared to pâtés or stews, but this food is promoted as premium quality cat food, so no wonder it will cost you more. I would agree that this product line is of better quality compared to other formulas of the brand. They contain more fish & meat and have fewer carbs. Filets also have better texture and are loved by cats. Stews and pâtés have some issues with the texture (at least, customers complain that they don’t like it). Stews contain too much moisture rather than meat, and pâtés look too runny for this type of meal.

The brand uses wholesome and quality meat and fish packed with proteins. Some recipes are also made of veggies or fruit to add more nutritional value to the feline’s meal. However, I found no formulas with toxic additives or poorly digestible grains. Redbarn foods seem to be natural carnivore’s meals with maximum protein and minimal plants.

As you decide to give a shot to Redbarn cat food where to buy it? Redbarn doesn’t have a solid online presence when it comes to distributing their cat foods. They sell through retailers a little bit of here and a little bit of there on Amazon and Chewy. But you can check your local pet stores for the Redbarn cat recipes. If you do not want to waste your time, you can use the website and find the official retailer near you.

Related articles

article card Young Again Cat Food Review in 2021
Is Young Again cat food right for your feline? Let’s dig deep into this question and find out all the perks and cons of this cat food brand.
article card The Honest Kitchen Cat Food Review in 2021
Are you concerned if the Honest Kitchen’s cat food is a good fit for your precious feline? Learn all pros and cons of this cat diet in this review.
article card Halo Cat Food Review in 2021
Are you looking for balanced and healthy nutrition for your cat? Read this Halo cat review and learn if this brand is worth your attention.
article card Taste of The Wild Cat Food Reviews in 2021
Is Taste of the Wild that very cat food your feline craves? Check this article to learn their ingredient quality, and recall history, and more.