Fresh Food for Cats: Two Expert Reviewers Look Under the Hood of CatChi

We’ve brought together two independent reviews of CatChi to help you make the decision on whether switching is right for you. Both these reviewers have reviewed Catchi from different angles, one focussed on the outcomes and what they noticed in their cat and one from the ingredients, and what has gone in. One is a pet nutritionist, the other the editor of Better Homes & Gardens.

Summary

• Better Homes & Gardens, 9/10. Megan Osborne, Editor of Better Homes & Gardens, trialled CatChi with Sunny, her famously fussy grey tabby. It took patience and guidance from the CatChi team and now Sunny is now a full convert. The biggest win turned out to be one she never expected. Read Megan's review

• PetFoodReviews, 9.8/10. Pet nutritionist David D'Angelo went through every ingredient, each human grade, named cuts of meat and organs, single protein and details of the nutrient mix to create a product that is complete and balanced for all life stages from kittens to senior cats. Read David's review

What is fresh cat food?

Fresh cat food can refer to both raw and gently cooked food. CatChi is gently cooked, they exclusively use human grade ingredients, only Australian meat, that once cooked is then snapped frozen. For too long cat food has been processed at high heat and extruded or cooked in a retort to be sterilised and turned into kibble or canned food. By gently cooking, you maximise the nutrients, while minimising the risk, the same as how we eat.

All of CatChi’s recipes are single protein. We gently cook each one at 72°C for two minutes, then freeze it. There are no fillers, gums, binders or preservatives, you’ll know every cut of meat and every ingredient. Each recipe is complete and balanced for kittens, adults and seniors. We think it’s the best thing you can feed your cat, here are the recipes so you can judge for yourself and read below to hear what a few others thought.

Switching my cat to fresh food: the editor's test

Megan Osborne is the Editor of Better Homes & Gardens. At home she has Sunny, a grey tabby who knows exactly what he likes. Megan wanted Sunny eating something she could feel good about. That's how she found CatChi.

She did her homework first. Her review covers how Huw and Matt started CatChi in 2024, including what Matt saw inside a kibble factory that made him walk away from it. She also liked that we only make food for cats.

Then came the real test. Sunny didn’t start with every recipe. There was some cajoling required, cats are often wary of new food. The chicken he sniffed, looked at her like she'd done something unforgivable, and walked away. The beef on the other hand was a hit straight away. So she talked to the CatChi team, they guided her on slowing things down, staying consistent and persistent and giving him time. Over the next week he started eating new recipes.

Sunny is now a full convert. He eats every recipe, and the unexpected benefits? It came in the litter tray. We'll let Megan tell that one in more detail, but she did say that if someone had told her six months earlier that this would be the biggest win, she says she'd have shouted "Take my money!"

The nutritionist's test: what's actually in fresh cat food?

David D'Angelo runs petfoodreviews.com.au He trained as a scientist, holds a diploma in pet nutrition, and has worked around pet food formulation for more than 15 years.

David doesn't hold back about supermarket kibble, and his review opens by explaining about the health benefits of meat for an obligate carnivore. He looks at each recipe, and breaks down why CatChi is so good.

High quality ingredients are the key, named meat cuts, and also organs. The heart, kidney and liver are natural sources of key nutrients for a cat and often the quality of these can be missed in other brands. He also points out what single-protein recipes mean for cats with itchy skin or an upset tummy, what the benefits of this is, as well as that every recipe meets the AAFCO nutrient profiles for every life stage.

David reached out to us to discuss omega oil, and the source. The answer is algal oil, not fish oil, and his explanation of why that pleased him is a fantastic part of the review.

Petfoodreviews scored CatChi 9.8 out of 10, and his summary is simple: "If you want your cat to be healthy, CatChi cat food is an excellent choice!"

Is fresh food better for cats? Where both reviewers agree

Megan tells you whether a cat will actually eat it. David tells you whether they should. 

Both start from the fact that cats are obligate carnivores. Megan highlights the high moisture content, which helps keep cats hydrated. David points to meat and organs over carbohydrates. Both singled out the 95%+ meat, the single proteins and the named cuts. Neither found any fillers to complain about.

They agree on switching, too. Megan's advice is not to give up after the first rejected meal. David recommends giving your cat variety across the recipes. Neither treats switching as a one-meal job, and our own guide to switching says the same.

Is fresh cat food worth the price?

Both reviewers are straight about this. Fresh food costs more than supermarket tins or kibble. We understand why though, fresh, high quality human grade ingredients that you know. All single protein. Not a mixture of random meats, or different recipes based on supply. If you want to feed your cat well, CatChi is an excellent option.

Read the full reviews

I trialled fresh food for my fussy cat, by Megan Osborne, Editor, Better Homes & Gardens

CatChi Cat Food Review, by David D'Angelo, PetFoodReviews