Last updated Feb 13, 2023
Primal is a leader in meat-based raw food, but is it a safe, healthy choice for your cat? Find out in our Primal cat food review.
The Cats.com Standard—Rating Primal on What Matters
We’ve analyzed Primal and graded it according to the Cats.com standard, evaluating the brand on species-appropriateness, ingredient quality, product variety, price, customer experience, and recall history. Here’s how it rates in each of these six key areas.
Ratings
- Species-Appropriateness – 8/10
- Ingredient Quality – 10/10
- Product Variety – 9/10
- Price – 5/10
- Customer Experience – 7/10
- Recall History – 4/10
Overall Score: 7.2/10
We give Primal cat food a 43 out of 60 rating or a B grade.
About Primal
In 2000, Matt Koss’ dog, Luna, was diagnosed with early stage renal failure. After experimenting with various treatment routes, Matt visited a holistic veterinarian, who recommended a diet of raw meat and bones. Inspired by Luna’s renewed vitality, Matt started developing a company that would bring fresh, raw food to other pets.
Primal Pet Food was founded in 2001. All Primal foods attempt to simulate the natural feline and canine diet. They’re made from fresh meat, bones, and organs, along with other ingredients intended to mimic a whole prey diet.
Sourcing And Manufacturing
Instead of feed-grade ingredients, Primal uses only USDA edible-grade meat, including wild-caught fish and cage-or-crate-free poultry and pork.
Primal’s proteins are sourced from the United States, New Zealand, Australia, and Europe. Other ingredients, including supplements, are sourced from the United States, Iceland, New Zealand, and Northern European countries. The company refuses to source any ingredients from China.
Primal cat food is made in the United States in facilities certified by the USDA and State Department of Agriculture.
Has Primal Cat Food Been Recalled?
Primal cat food has been recalled at least three times.
In December of 2017, the company recalled several varieties of freeze-dried cat and dog food, explaining that the bone grind size had “deviated from the ideal”.
Two years prior, the company recalled a limited quantity of raw frozen cat food due to potentially low thiamine levels.
In 2011, potential salmonella contamination prompted the recall of a limited supply of Primal’s Feline Chicken & Salmon Formula food.
What Kinds Of Cat Food Does Primal Offer?
The Primal cat food lineup includes raw frozen nuggets, raw frozen nibbles, and freeze-dried nuggets. All of their recipes are meat-centric, featuring minimally-processed meat, bones, and organs alongside a smattering of fruits, vegetables, and supplements.
These products include a variety of mixed-protein and single-protein recipes. Primal’s protein sources include pork, rabbit, turkey, quail, venison, and other allergy-appropriate choices.
In addition to these complete formulas, Primal offers a variety of supplements and treats, including bone broth, raw goat milk, and slow-roasted or freeze-dried treats.
Primal Cat Food – Top 3 Recipes Reviewed
| Product Name | Food Type | Price | Our Grade |
| Primal Chicken & Salmon Formula Freeze-Dried Nuggets | Freeze-Dried | $2.66 per oz | A- |
| Primal Turkey Formula Freeze-Dried Nuggets | Freeze-Dried | $2.66 per oz | A- |
| Primal Pork Formula Freeze-Dried Nuggets | Freeze-Dried | $2.66 per oz | B |
#1 Primal Chicken & Salmon Formula Freeze-Dried Cat Food Review
Chicken appears to be the primary protein source in this freeze-dried cat food.
These freeze-dried nuggets are made from a mix of fresh salmon and wild-caught salmon. Chicken ingredients account for the bulk of the recipe. Chicken meat, chicken necks, and gizzards are the first three ingredients. Salmon is the fourth ingredient and represents roughly 5% of the food. After salmon, the food contains chicken livers as the food’s final organ meat. In total, the food is about 9% organs. That’s close to the amount you might find in your cat’s whole prey diet.
In addition to meat, bone, and organs, the food contains a mix of kale, squash, carrots, and other produce. These fruits and vegetables represent about 8% of the total recipe. The food is also supplemented with montmorillonite clay, which Primal explains is used as a source of essential trace minerals. Using this clay allows Primal to avoid using a synthetic vitamin pack.
The food contains salmon oil, cod liver oil, and coconut oil as sources of fat. Both salmon oil and cod liver oil are carnivore-appropriate fat sources and are rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Cod liver oil is also a natural source of preformed—carnivore-appropriate—vitamin A. Coconut oil isn’t a species-appropriate fat source and is of negligible benefit for cats.
By using a combination of fresh meat, bones, organs, and produce, the food stands on its own nutritional feet without the need for synthetic vitamin supplementation. Primal says their food provides “complete and balanced nutrition for all life stages and is comparable in nutritional adequacy to a product which has been substantiated using AAFCO feeding tests.”
Overall, this food is high in protein with moderate fat and extremely low carbohydrate content.
This food appears to have a macronutrient distribution similar to that found in a cat’s whole prey diet. It also seems to deliver prey-inspired ratios of muscle meat, organs, and bones. The food is approximately 10% bone, which is close to the bone content of the average rabbit or mouse.
Ingredients
Chicken, Chicken Necks, Chicken Gizzards, Salmon, Chicken Livers, Organic Kale, Organic Squash, Organic Carrots, Organic Apples, Organic Broccoli, Cranberries, 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, Alfalfa, Vitamin E Supplement, Mixed Tocopherols (Natural Preservative).
Ingredients We Liked: Chicken, Chicken Necks, Chicken Gizzards, Chicken Livers, Salmon Oil, Cod Liver Oil
Ingredients We Didn’t Like: Kale, Squash, Carrots, Apples, Broccoli, Cranberries, Blueberries
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
Pros
- Unlike some other commercial raw foods, it doesn’t have excessive bone content
- Free of artificial ingredients
- Species-appropriate macronutrient distribution
- Low carbohydrate content
Cons
- Contains fruits and vegetables
#2 Primal Turkey Formula Nuggets Grain-Free Raw Freeze-Dried Cat Food Review
Turkey appears to be the primary protein source in this cat food.
This recipe features a combination of turkey, turkey necks, turkey hearts or gizzards, and turkey liver.
In addition to these turkey ingredients, the food contains a variety of fruits, veggies, and supplemental ingredients. While not contributing significantly to the food’s carbohydrate content, these ingredients act as sources of vitamins and minerals that would otherwise have come from synthetic supplements.
Supplemental ingredients include apple cider vinegar, which helps to increase the food’s acidity and may help to prevent urinary tract disease, and organic quinoa sprout powder as a source of B vitamins, and kelp as a concentrated source of vitamins and minerals.
The food contains a blend of sardine oil, cod liver oil, and coconut oil as sources of fatty acids.
Overall, this food has high protein content with moderate fat and low carbohydrate content.
Because it features turkey as its only significant protein source, this food is appropriate for cats with foods sensitivities and allergies. Despite the long list of fruits, vegetables, and plant-based supplements, the food appears to have a species-appropriate macronutrient distribution with a healthy ratio of muscle meat, organs, and bone. The food is 93% turkey in total and about 8% organ meat. Bones account for about 10% of the food.
The food has 148 calories per ounce.
Ingredients
Turkey, Turkey Necks, Turkey Hearts, Turkey Livers, Organic Collard Greens, Organic Squash, Organic Celery, Cranberries, Blueberries, Organic Pumpkin Seeds, Organic Sunflower Seeds, Montmorillonite Clay, Organic Apple Cider Vinegar, Sardine Oil, Taurine, Organic Quinoa Sprout Powder, Dried Organic Kelp, Organic Cilantro, Organic Coconut Oil, Cod Liver Oil, Organic Ginger, Vitamin E Supplement, Mixed Tocopherols (Natural Preservative).
Ingredients We Liked: Turkey, Turkey Necks, Turkey Hearts, Turkey Livers, Sardine Oil, Cod Liver Oil
Ingredients We Didn’t Like: Collard Greens, Squash, Celery, Blueberries, Pumpkin Seeds, Sunflower Seeds
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
Pros
- Free of animal by-products
- Rich in animal protein
- Healthy distribution of muscle meat, organs, and bones
- Low carbohydrate content
Cons
- Contains several plant ingredients
#3 Primal Pork Formula Nuggets Grain-Free Raw Freeze-Dried Cat Food Review
Pork appears to be the primary protein source in this freeze-dried cat food.
The freeze-dried nuggets are primarily made from antibiotic-free, hormone, and steroid-free pork hearts and organs.
The remaining 7% is constituted of produce and supplements, including collard greens, squash, green beans, cranberries, sunflower seeds, and more. Like all Primal recipes, the food relies on food ingredients instead of synthetic additives, but contains additional taurine.
Sardine oil, coconut oil, and cod liver oil provide nutrients and essential fatty acids. Note that animal-sourced fat is ideal for cats. Coconut oil is a rich source of lauric acid, which has antibacterial properties, but isn’t particularly beneficial for cats.
Overall, this food is rich in protein with moderate fat and moderate carbohydrate content.
Pork ingredients represent 93% of the recipe. It’s about 8% organs and 6% bones, percentages that roughly reflect the composition of your cat’s natural prey.
The food has 147 calories per ounce.
Ingredients
Pork Hearts, Pork Livers, Ground Pork Bones, Organic Collard Greens, Organic Squash, Organic Green Beans, Cranberries, 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, Mixed Tocopherols (Natural Preservative).
Ingredients We Liked: Pork Hearts, Pork Livers, Ground Pork Bones, Sardine Oil, Cod Liver Oil
Ingredients We Didn’t Like: Collard Greens, Squash, Green Beans, Blueberries, Pumpkin Seeds, Sunflower Seeds
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
Pros
- Uses a combination of muscle meat and organs
- Species-appropriate distribution of muscle meat, organs, and bones
- Rich in animal-sourced protein
- Free of artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives
- Free of synthetic ingredients
Cons
- High carbohydrate content compared to other Primal recipes
- A significant percentage of buyers said their cats didn’t like this recipe
What Do Customers Think of Primal Cat Food?
Primal is a generally well-received brand. Customers like that Primal cat food is made primarily from raw meat and aligns with a whole prey-inspired diet. Unhappy customers complain that the food is inconsistent, saying that some batches smell strange or have an odd texture.
Positive Reviews
“My cat did not eat in one sitting using dry kibble. I switched him to this stuff and he devours it in one sitting. He wasn’t eating enough and now I have to scale back on his intake!! We’ve tried the Turkey Formula, Chicken & Salmon Formula, and now we’re on the Pork Formula. The Turkey and Chick/Salmon nuggets were very easy to break apart and add water. He enjoyed the Turkey but he LOVED the Chicken & Salmon. The Pork formula was so dry it took extra effort to break apart and re-hydrate. My cat was not happy with the 40 extra minutes of waiting. Neither was I!! So this is our new go-to bag. It lasted a week. Most of these do.” – KristynRene, reviewing Primal Turkey Freeze-Dried Nuggets
“Needed a low carb option for my cat that was also missing many of the common fillers and proteins due to health reasons and food allergies. Since we have been using the Primal Freeze Dried Nuggets, he has trimmed down and grown a soft, shiny coat. He loves the 3 formulas we’ve tried so far (venison, rabbit, pork) and cleans his bowl every time. Rabbit is my favorite of the three because it is easiest to rehydrate. Personally, I don’t feel like the recommended 1 tablespoon of water per nugget is enough, so I use 3 tablespoons of water per nugget (mostly because of his urinary trouble) but besides that it’s been great. Thank you Primal!” – Richie, reviewing Primal Pork Freeze-Dried Nuggets
Negative Reviews
“I agree with the other reviewers regarding the odor of rancid oil that this food has. I have had this on occasion since I started feeding the turkey nuggets a few years ago. I have not noticed it with the chicken and salmon variety, but the turkey has always been a problem. What was an occasional instance of the foul odor has progressively become more regular to the point that now the rancid smell of the food has become the norm. Chewy has been great about handling the problem and making it right, but I am done with this and will be returning to Stella & Chewy where I have never encountered this issue. It’s a huge drag since my cats love the turkey variety when it is as it should be.” – 4SafeFood, reviewing Primal Turkey Formula Freeze-Dried Nuggets
“According to my research on the best food for cats was a prey diet, that being how cats eat in the wild. The majority of the raw freeze-dried foods contained raw meats but fell short in my opinion when they started adding fruits and vegetables which cats are incapable of processing. When the raw animal meat is ground whole, bones and all, plus the organ meats, such as heart and liver, there is not even the need to add any vitamins or minerals. Everything the cat needs in found within the donor body just as found in the wild prey. The only food on this website that I found that does this is Vital Essentials. There may be others but I give this one 5 stars.” – Mamacat, reviewing Primal Chicken & Salmon Freeze-Dried Nuggets
How Much Does Primal Cat Food Cost?
If you feed your 10-lb cat 1.5 ounces of Primal cat food per day—about 200 calories—it would cost about $3.18 per day.
This makes it one of the more expensive products on the market. It’s significantly more expensive than the average dry food, comparable to some high-end canned products, and a bit more expensive than Stella & Chewy’s, another popular raw cat food brand.
Overall, Is Primal a Good Choice?
Primal raw cat food is made from top-quality ingredients and provides a species-appropriate, whole prey-inspired diet rich in the muscle meat, organs, and bone your cat needs. Though their foods rely on plant ingredients rather than synthetic supplements, they’re relatively low in carbohydrates and provide a species-appropriate macronutrient distribution.
Though it’s one of the better brands on the market, Primal isn’t without its drawbacks.
Like many raw foods, Primal products tend to be relatively high in phosphorus, with typical phosphorus content around 1.0% or roughly 2 grams per 1,000 calories. That’s close to the recommended amount for growing kittens and certainly too high for a cat with kidney disease.
While most customers seem to love Primal cat food, some say that the food tends to be inconsistent. The company has issued several recalls over the years. Coupled with those customer complaints, this brings the company’s quality control into question.
Other than these concerns, Primal appears to be one of the best cat food brands you can buy.
Where To Buy Primal Cat Food?
Primal is exclusively sold by pet specialty retailers. Click here to find a Primal retailer near you. If you’d prefer to shop online, you’ll find Primal on Chewy and Amazon.
My cat lives the Lrimal frozen Pork nuggets. I have often wondered what nutritional score that specific food item would receive. Please do an evaluation of this raw food type. He’s been on it for 4 1/2 years (his age). Plus supplement with combo Wild Buffalo and Purina One kibble. He likes to have both.
I imported my Maine Coon girl from Europe at nine months old (now 11 months). I switched her to wet food in preparation for converting her to raw, and the poor thing had diarrhea every day. We transitioned slowly, and I moved her to 100% raw (Primal Chicken & Salmon frozen nuggets) a week ago. The bowel issues were resolved immediately. She loves the taste. I haven’t noticed any off-odors. She weighs 12 pounds and gets 6 nuggets a day, split into 3 meals. I’m using the feeding guidelines on the ba, but I am a little concerned that she’s not getting enough, considering Maine Coons continue to grow well into their second and third year of life. I’m not supplementing with any additional foods (treats are kept to a minimum, freeze-dried proteins ONLY) until I’m sure her guts have stabilized. But… so far, so good. And with the recent speculation that there might be an issue in the synthetic vitamin, mineral and trace element supply chain, I’m OK with the inclusion of the fruits and veggies to provide a natural source for the missing nutrients, even though they might be less bioavailable than their synthetic counterparts.
Thanks for sharing, Elizabeth! I’m so glad to hear your lovely girl is doing well. Keep up the good work!
Thank you! In response to the concern I posted above, I increased her ration to three nuggets three times a day to account for the fact that Maine Coons and other slow-maturing breeds should be on a kitten ration (x 1.5 adult maintenance) for at least 18 months. She’s been much more content over the past 24 hours, and while she might not need the extra calories today or tomorrow, at least I know that I’m accounting for some of those oddball growth spurts people see in Maine Coon cats. I’ll just keep the scale handy and check her kangaroo pouch frequently.
How often will this get updated? I’ve recently had some negative experiences with Primal and feel like their quality has gone down.
Hi Gillian! This review is a couple years old, so I’ll see if we can get it on the list for an update!
I am also wondering about their quality, the most recent bag of frozen raw nuggets I bought was not as pink as it used to be inside, and isn’t leaking the same kind of reddish liquid into the container I thaw them in the fridge. Doesn’t seem as ‘raw meat’ like as my previous bags.
I had a similar experience with a bag of Venison nuggets… they were extremely hard and dry (more than usual). Several recipes were out of stock on Chewy for a while but are back now, so hopefully they’ve fixed the problem with this latest batch!
Hi, have you considered updating this review with information about the 2023 FDA warning letter to Primal? Guessing I can’t post links in comments but there’s a fair amount of info online.
I think it would be really good info to add. I fed my cat Primal for several years after reading your review (she LOVED it and thanks you very much!), but I stopped after I read about it. Seems like they’ve had some pretty serious issues since at least 2019.
Thanks for bringing this to our attention, Ali! I’ll see if we can get this one scheduled for an update.