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Vital Essentials Cat Food Review

Company HQ

LocationGreen Bay, Wisconsin us-flag

Parent company

Carnivore Meat Company

Sourcing and Manufacturing

LocationUnited States us-flag

Type of food

Freeze-Dried Cat Food

Ratings

59%
? This rating is determined by comparing the food’s nutritional content to AAFCO standards and other foods in our database. Nutrient Value 66%
? Each recipe is evaluated based on a 5-point ingredient rating system that measures ingredients’ nutritional value, safety, and more. Quality of Ingredients 82%
? We scan the FDA’s database and rate each brand by the number of recalls in its history. Brands with fewer recalls receive higher ratings. Recall History 27%
? By comparing the prices of foods in our database, we determine if a food is above or below market average price. Lower-priced foods receive higher ratings. Price 51%
? This metric is based on customer ratings from various retailers. Customer Experience 55%
? Our rating system evaluates each food’s manufacturing method, assigning higher ratings to manufacturing processes that promote higher nutritional value. Manufacturing Method 70%

Where to Buy

Amazon 55 recipes available View Chewy 58 recipes available View PetFlow 20 recipes available View Only Natural Pet 8 recipes available View Walmart 7 recipes available View
Pros
  • High protein content
  • Affordable
  • All recipes are free of artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives
Cons
  • Some recipes contain plant-based protein
  • The brand has been previously recalled

Brand Overview

Vital Essentials is a family-owned company based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The product line features raw food and treats for dogs and cats. In addition, Vital Essentials offers hemp chews for dogs and a range of supplements for dogs and cats.

How Much Does Vital Essentials Cat Food Cost

We’ve compared Vital Essentials cat food price to the other 197 cat food brands in our database.

Vital Essentials Freeze-Dried Cat Food Price Comparison

Brand AvgMarket Avg% From the Avg
Price per oz$2.82$3.06-8%
Price per 100 kcal$1.87$1.78+5%
Price per day$1.12$1.07+5%

Vital Essentials Freeze-Dried Cat Food is priced above the average market price for cat food.

Vital Essentials Nutrient Profile Comparison

We’ve compared Vital Essentials cat food recipes nutrient profile to the other 197 cat food brands in our database.

Freeze-Dried Cat Food

Brand AvgMarket Avg% From the Avg
DM Protein 48.97% 48.66% +1%
DM Fat 25.45% 26.93% -5%
DM Fiber 8.22% 5.52% +49%
DM Carb 17.36% 18.57% -7%

Recall History

The following list (if present) shows all cat food recalls related to Vital Essentials Cat Food Review since 2011. If no recalls are listed, no recall events have been reported.

Vital Essentials - Pet Foods (07/08/2015) -+
Date:07/08/2015
Company Name:Carnivore Meat Company, LLC
Product Description:Pet Foods
Recall Reason:Listeria monocytogenes
Read the Full FDA Report
Vital Essentials - Frozen Chicken Patties Entree for Dogs (01/15/2016) -+
Date:01/15/2016
Company Name:Carnivore Meat Company, LLC
Product Description:Frozen Chicken Patties Entree for Dogs
Recall Reason:Potential for salmonella
Read the Full FDA Report
Vital Essentials - Freeze-dried beef nibblets for dogs (02/23/2018) -+
Date:02/23/2018
Company Name:Carnivore Meat Company, LLC
Product Description:Freeze-dried beef nibblets for dogs
Recall Reason:Potential to be contaminated with Salmonella
Read the Full FDA Report
Vital Essentials - Dog/pet food Freeze-Dried Beef Toppers and Frozen Beef Chub (04/15/2018) -+
Date:04/15/2018
Company Name:Carnivore Meat Company, LLC
Product Description:Dog/pet food Freeze-Dried Beef Toppers and Frozen Beef Chub
Recall Reason:Salmonella
Read the Full FDA Report

Explore All Reviews of Vital Essentials Cat Food Recipes

Overall Score
75%
Compare
Vital Essentials Chicken Mini Nibs Entree Freeze-Dried Cat Food Vital Essentials Chicken Mini Nibs Entree Freeze-Dried Cat Food
Cost per day $1.01
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Overall Score
71%
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Vital Essentials Turkey Mini Nibs Entree Freeze-Dried Cat Food Vital Essentials Turkey Mini Nibs Entree Freeze-Dried Cat Food
Cost per day $0.99
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Overall Score
71%
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Vital Essentials Rabbit Mini Nibs Entree Freeze-Dried Cat Food Vital Essentials Rabbit Mini Nibs Entree Freeze-Dried Cat Food
Cost per day $1.63
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Overall Score
70%
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Vital Essentials Chicken Mini Nibs Freeze-Dried Cat Food Vital Essentials Chicken Mini Nibs Freeze-Dried Cat Food
Cost per day $1.15
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Overall Score
70%
Compare
Vital Essentials Freeze-Dried Raw Chicken Mini Nibs Entree Cat Food Vital Essentials Freeze-Dried Raw Chicken Mini Nibs Entree Cat Food
Cost per day $1.23
Read Review
Overall Score
69%
Compare
Vital Essentials Turkey Mini Patties Grain Free Limited Ingredient Freeze-Dried Cat Food Vital Essentials Turkey Mini Patties Grain Free Limited Ingredient Freeze-Dried Cat Food
Cost per day $1.02
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Overall Score
69%
Compare
Vital Essentials Freeze-Dried Raw Turkey Mini Nibs Entree Cat Food Vital Essentials Freeze-Dried Raw Turkey Mini Nibs Entree Cat Food
Cost per day $1.42
Read Review
Overall Score
69%
Compare
Vital Essentials Rabbit Mini Patties Grain Free Limited Ingredient Freeze-Dried Cat Food Vital Essentials Rabbit Mini Patties Grain Free Limited Ingredient Freeze-Dried Cat Food
Cost per day $1.81
Read Review
Overall Score
68%
Compare
Vital Essentials Vital Cat Freeze-Dried Turkey Mini Nibs Cat Food Vital Essentials Vital Cat Freeze-Dried Turkey Mini Nibs Cat Food
Cost per day $0.87
Read Review
Overall Score
67%
Compare
Vital Essentials Turkey Mini Nibs Freeze-Dried Cat Food Vital Essentials Turkey Mini Nibs Freeze-Dried Cat Food
Cost per day $1.06
Read Review
Overall Score
67%
Compare
Vital Essentials Chicken Mini Patties Grain Free Limited Ingredient Freeze-Dried Cat Food Vital Essentials Chicken Mini Patties Grain Free Limited Ingredient Freeze-Dried Cat Food
Cost per day $1.11
Read Review
Overall Score
67%
Compare
Vital Essentials Freeze-Dried Raw Chicken Mini Patties Entree Cat Food Vital Essentials Freeze-Dried Raw Chicken Mini Patties Entree Cat Food
Cost per day $1.47
Read Review
Overall Score
67%
Compare
Vital Essentials Rabbit Entree Cat Food Mini Patties Grain-Free Freeze-Dried Raw Cat Food Vital Essentials Rabbit Entree Cat Food Mini Patties Grain-Free Freeze-Dried Raw Cat Food
Cost per day $1.92
Read Review
Overall Score
67%
Compare
Vital Essentials Freeze-Dried Raw Rabbit Mini Patties Entree Cat Food Vital Essentials Freeze-Dried Raw Rabbit Mini Patties Entree Cat Food
Cost per day $2.23
Read Review
Overall Score
67%
Compare
Vital Essentials Freeze-Dried Raw Rabbit Mini Nibs Entree Cat Food Vital Essentials Freeze-Dried Raw Rabbit Mini Nibs Entree Cat Food
Cost per day $2.23
Read Review
Overall Score
66%
Compare
Vital Essentials Duck Mini Patties Grain Free Limited Ingredient Freeze-Dried Cat Food Vital Essentials Duck Mini Patties Grain Free Limited Ingredient Freeze-Dried Cat Food
Cost per day $1.32
Read Review
Overall Score
66%
Compare
Vital Essentials Freeze-Dried Raw Turkey Mini Patties Entree Cat Food Vital Essentials Freeze-Dried Raw Turkey Mini Patties Entree Cat Food
Cost per day $1.47
Read Review
Overall Score
66%
Compare
Vital Essentials Chicken Entree Cat Food Mini Patties Grain-Free Freeze-Dried Raw Cat Food Vital Essentials Chicken Entree Cat Food Mini Patties Grain-Free Freeze-Dried Raw Cat Food
Cost per day $1.51
Read Review
Overall Score
66%
Compare
Vital Essentials Chicken Entree Cat Food Mini Nibs Grain-Free Freeze-Dried Raw Cat Food Vital Essentials Chicken Entree Cat Food Mini Nibs Grain-Free Freeze-Dried Raw Cat Food
Cost per day $1.55
Read Review
Overall Score
66%
Compare
Vital Essentials Turkey Entree Cat Food Mini Patties Grain-Free Freeze-Dried Raw Cat Food Vital Essentials Turkey Entree Cat Food Mini Patties Grain-Free Freeze-Dried Raw Cat Food
Cost per day $1.74
Read Review
Overall Score
66%
Compare
Vital Essentials Rabbit Dinner Patties Grain-Free Limited Ingredient Freeze-Dried Cat Food Vital Essentials Rabbit Dinner Patties Grain-Free Limited Ingredient Freeze-Dried Cat Food
Cost per day $1.92
Read Review
Overall Score
65%
Compare
Vital Essentials Duck Mini Nibs Entree Freeze-Dried Cat Food Vital Essentials Duck Mini Nibs Entree Freeze-Dried Cat Food
Cost per day $1.33
Read Review
Overall Score
65%
Compare
Vital Essentials Rabbit Mini Nibs Freeze-Dried Cat Food Vital Essentials Rabbit Mini Nibs Freeze-Dried Cat Food
Cost per day $1.84
Read Review
Overall Score
65%
Compare
Vital Essentials Vital Cat Freeze-Dried Rabbit Mini Nibs Cat Food Vital Essentials Vital Cat Freeze-Dried Rabbit Mini Nibs Cat Food
Cost per day $1.95
Read Review
Overall Score
64%
Compare
Vital Essentials Turkey Dinner Patties Grain-Free Limited Ingredient Freeze-Dried Cat Food Vital Essentials Turkey Dinner Patties Grain-Free Limited Ingredient Freeze-Dried Cat Food
Cost per day $0.99
Read Review
Overall Score
64%
Compare
Vital Essentials Chicken Dinner Patties Grain-Free Limited Ingredient Freeze-Dried Cat Food Vital Essentials Chicken Dinner Patties Grain-Free Limited Ingredient Freeze-Dried Cat Food
Cost per day $1.24
Read Review
Overall Score
63%
Compare
Vital Essentials Vital Cat Freeze-Dried Pork Mini Nibs Cat Food Vital Essentials Vital Cat Freeze-Dried Pork Mini Nibs Cat Food
Cost per day $0.88
Read Review
Overall Score
63%
Compare
Vital Essentials Duck Dinner Patties Grain-Free Limited Ingredient Freeze-Dried Cat Food Vital Essentials Duck Dinner Patties Grain-Free Limited Ingredient Freeze-Dried Cat Food
Cost per day $1.53
Read Review
Overall Score
63%
Compare
Vital Essentials Freeze-Dried Raw Duck Mini Nibs Entree Cat Food Vital Essentials Freeze-Dried Raw Duck Mini Nibs Entree Cat Food
Cost per day $1.66
Read Review
Overall Score
63%
Compare
Vital Essentials Freeze-Dried Raw Duck Mini Patties Entree Cat Food Vital Essentials Freeze-Dried Raw Duck Mini Patties Entree Cat Food
Cost per day $1.75
Read Review
Overall Score
62%
Compare
Vital Essentials Pork Entree Cat Food Mini Patties Grain-Free Freeze-Dried Raw Cat Food Vital Essentials Pork Entree Cat Food Mini Patties Grain-Free Freeze-Dried Raw Cat Food
Cost per day $1.33
Read Review
Overall Score
62%
Compare
Vital Essentials Duck Entree Cat Food Mini Patties Grain-Free Freeze-Dried Raw Cat Food Vital Essentials Duck Entree Cat Food Mini Patties Grain-Free Freeze-Dried Raw Cat Food
Cost per day $1.85
Read Review
Overall Score
62%
Compare
Vital Essentials Duck Entree Cat Food Mini Nibs Grain-Free Freeze-Dried Raw Cat Food Vital Essentials Duck Entree Cat Food Mini Nibs Grain-Free Freeze-Dried Raw Cat Food
Cost per day $1.89
Read Review
Overall Score
61%
Compare
Vital Essentials Duck Mini Nibs Freeze-Dried Cat Food Vital Essentials Duck Mini Nibs Freeze-Dried Cat Food
Cost per day $1.58
Read Review
Overall Score
60%
Compare
Vital Essentials Vital Cat Freeze-Dried Beef & Chicken Mini Nibs Cat Food Vital Essentials Vital Cat Freeze-Dried Beef & Chicken Mini Nibs Cat Food
Cost per day $0.96
Read Review
Overall Score
59%
Compare
Vital Essentials Vital Cat Freeze-Dried Beef & Chicken Dinner Patties Cat Food Vital Essentials Vital Cat Freeze-Dried Beef & Chicken Dinner Patties Cat Food
Cost per day $0.98
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Overall Score
59%
Compare
Vital Essentials Beef & Chicken Entree Cat Food Mini Nibs Grain-Free Freeze-Dried Raw Cat Food Vital Essentials Beef & Chicken Entree Cat Food Mini Nibs Grain-Free Freeze-Dried Raw Cat Food
Cost per day $1.27
Read Review
Overall Score
58%
Compare
Vital Essentials Beef & Chicken Entree Cat Food Mini Patties Grain-Free Freeze-Dried Raw Cat Food Vital Essentials Beef & Chicken Entree Cat Food Mini Patties Grain-Free Freeze-Dried Raw Cat Food
Cost per day $1.25
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Overall Score
53%
Compare
Vital Essentials Pork Mini Nibs Freeze-Dried Raw Cat Food Vital Essentials Pork Mini Nibs Freeze-Dried Raw Cat Food
Cost per day $0.86
Read Review
Overall Score
52%
Compare
Vital Essentials Pork Dinner Patties Freeze-Dried Raw Cat Food Vital Essentials Pork Dinner Patties Freeze-Dried Raw Cat Food
Cost per day $0.94
Read Review
Overall Score
52%
Compare
Vital Essentials Freeze-Dried Raw Pork Mini Nibs Entree Cat Food Vital Essentials Freeze-Dried Raw Pork Mini Nibs Entree Cat Food
Cost per day $1.32
Read Review
Overall Score
52%
Compare
Vital Essentials Freeze-Dried Raw Pork Mini Patties Entree Cat Food Vital Essentials Freeze-Dried Raw Pork Mini Patties Entree Cat Food
Cost per day $1.32
Read Review

FAQ

faq-item-image Who owns Vital Essentials cat food?

Vital Essentials is owned by Carnivore Meat Company.

faq-item-image Where is Vital Essentials cat food made?

Vital Essentials is manufactured in the United States us-flag.

faq-item-image Is Vital Essentials AAFCO approved?

Yes, all of Vital Essentials recipes are AAFCO approved.

faq-item-image Has Vital Essentials cat food been recalled?

Vital Essentials has been recalled 4 times in the years 2015, 2016, and 2018.

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