Last updated Jun 1, 2026
Amy Brown-Towry / Cats.com
Redbarn discontinued its original cat food line in 2022, but the company has since returned to the feline nutrition space with a new air-dried Powerfood line launched in 2025. This relaunch marks Redbarn’s first re-entry into cat food in several years, offering high-meat, air-dried recipes that differ significantly from their previous canned and kibble formulas.
Redbarn calls itself “Simply the Best,” but how does this new generation of cat food measure up? In this review, we take an unbiased look at the brand’s updated offerings to help you decide if they’re the right choice for your cat.
The Cats.com Standard—Rating Redbarn on What Matters
We’ve analyzed Redbarn 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 – 8/10
- Product Variety – 5/10
- Price – 4/10
- Customer Experience – 7/10
- Recall History – 9/10
Overall Score: 6.8/10
We give Redbarn cat food a 41 out of 60 rating or a B- grade.
About Redbarn
Redbarn began in the mid‑1990s when lifelong friends Jeff Baikie and Howie Bloxam turned their shared passion for pet nutrition into a business, co-founding the company in 1996. For more than 25 years, Redbarn has operated as a family‑owned business and continues to emphasize that identity today.
The company originally focused on dog products, including food rolls and bully sticks, before expanding into cat nutrition with a line of paté and stew formulas introduced in 2014. After discontinuing their previous cat food line in 2022, Redbarn returned to the feline category in 2025 with a new air-dried Powerfood line. This updated range reflects a shift toward high‑meat, minimally processed recipes designed to offer a nutrient‑dense alternative to traditional kibble.
Sourcing and Manufacturing
Redbarn’s manufacturing roots trace back to their early in‑house kitchens, but growing demand led the company to purchase its first production facility in Long Beach, California, in 1998. By 2010, they had outgrown that space as well. Today, the majority of Redbarn’s food manufacturing, including all current cat food production, takes place in their USDA‑inspected plant in Great Bend, Kansas.
The company sources all meat and poultry ingredients from within the United States. While they don’t publicly specify the origins of every supplemental ingredient, Redbarn maintains an extensive quality assurance program. Their QA team conducts thousands of physical, chemical, and microbiological tests each week to ensure product safety and consistency across batches.
Has Redbarn Cat Food Been Recalled?
Redbarn cat food has never been recalled. The company has, however, issued recalls for certain dog products. In early 2018, Redbarn voluntarily recalled a single lot of dog bully sticks due to potential salmonella contamination. No Redbarn cat food—past or current—has been affected by any recalls.
What Kinds of Cat Food Does Redbarn Offer?
Amy Brown-Towry / Cats.com
Amy Brown-Towry / Cats.com
Redbarn’s current cat food lineup centers around their newly relaunched Air‑Dried Powerfood line, introduced in 2025. These recipes differ significantly from the brand’s previous canned paté and stew formulas, which were discontinued in 2022.
The new air‑dried foods are high‑meat, low‑carbohydrate diets designed as a nutrient‑dense alternative to traditional kibble. They’re grain‑free, gluten‑free, and made without artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives. Instead of relying on heavy plant ingredients or starchy binders, the formulas focus on animal‑based proteins and gently air‑dried processing to retain nutrients.
Redbarn Cat Food—Top Recipe Reviewed
| Product Name | Food Type | Price | Our Grade |
| Redbarn Air‑Dried Chicken Recipe | Air‑Dried | $1.8 per oz | B |
#1 Redbarn Air‑Dried Chicken Recipe Cat Food
Chicken appears to be the primary protein source in this air-dried cat food. With 91% real chicken and chicken organs, this recipe is built around species‑appropriate animal ingredients and offers a nutrient‑dense alternative to traditional kibble. The air‑drying process gently removes moisture without high‑heat extrusion, helping preserve nutrients while creating a crunchy, jerky‑like texture.
Amy Brown-Towry / Cats.com
Amy Brown-Towry / Cats.com
Amy Brown-Towry / Cats.com
The food begins with chicken, chicken liver, and chicken hearts, supplying essential amino acids and naturally occurring vitamins and minerals. These organ meats contribute taurine, B‑vitamins, and other micronutrients that support heart, eye, and metabolic health.
The recipe includes natural flavor, typically derived from hydrolyzed animal tissue. Hydrolyzed proteins are broken down into small peptides, making them generally well‑tolerated even by sensitive cats.
Miscanthus grass appears next, which is a high‑fiber, low‑starch ingredient commonly used in air‑dried diets to support digestion without adding significant carbohydrates. It’s not a traditional filler and is often chosen for its low glycemic impact.
Salmon oil, preserved with mixed tocopherols, provides EPA and DHA omega‑3 fatty acids that support skin, coat, and inflammatory balance. Flaxseed contributes additional omega‑3s, though plant‑based ALA is less efficiently converted by cats. The inclusion of green‑lipped mussel powder adds natural glucosamine, chondroitin, and omega‑3s, supporting joint and skin health.
The formula also contains dried yeast, yeast culture, and fructooligosaccharides (FOS), which may support gut health and digestion. A full complement of vitamins, minerals, and amino acids ensures the food is nutritionally complete and balanced.
This recipe is grain‑free, gluten‑free, and free from artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives. It contains no starchy binders, legumes, or high‑carb fillers, keeping the carbohydrate content low.
Overall, this food is high in protein (36% min), high in fat (27% min), and low in carbohydrates, making it more species‑appropriate than most dry foods. With its emphasis on meat, organs, and naturally nutrient‑rich ingredients, it appears to be a strong option for cats who thrive on high‑meat diets or need a more nutrient‑dense alternative to kibble.
This food contains 4610 kcal/kg, or 420 calories per cup, making it significantly more calorie‑dense than typical dry foods. Cats may need smaller portions than usual.
Ingredients
Chicken, Chicken Liver, Chicken Hearts, Natural Flavor, Miscanthus Grass, Salmon Oil (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Citric Acid (A Preservative), Dried Yeast, Flaxseed, Salt, Yeast Culture, Potassium Chloride, Fructooligosaccharides, Choline (Choline Chloride), Green Tea Extract, Magnesium Sulfate, Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate, Vitamin E (d-alpha Tocopheryl Acetate), L-Carnitine, Taurine, Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Sulfate, Vitamin E Supplement, Zinc Oxide, Niacin Supplement, Dried Green Lipped Mussel Powder, Copper Sulfate, Zinc Amino Acid Complex, Manganese Sulfate, Sodium Selenite, Vitamin B1 (Thiamine Mononitrate), Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin B5 (Calcium Pantothenate), Vitamin B7 (Biotin), Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine Hydrochloride), Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (Source of Vitamin K), Vitamin B12 Supplement, Calcium Iodate, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin B9 (Folic Acid), Cobalt Carbonate.
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
Pros
- 91% chicken and chicken organs
- Air‑dried rather than extruded
- Naturally rich in omega‑3s from salmon oil and green‑lipped mussel
- Low carbohydrate content
- Free from artificial additives, grains, and gluten
- High calorie density means smaller portions
Cons
- Palatability is inconsistent
- Some bags arrive with crumbled pieces
- Texture may be too hard for some cats
- Premium price point
What Did Our Test Cats Think?
Redbarn’s air‑dried food made a great first impression. The pieces are dense, meaty, and aromatic, and both of our test cats showed immediate interest as soon as it hit the bowl. They ate the Air‑Dried Chicken Recipe enthusiastically, with one cat especially excited and returning to the bowl multiple times.
Customer reviews show a similar split, with many cats loving the jerky‑like texture, while others are more hesitant. Some buyers also mention that certain bags contain more crumbs than expected.
Overall, our experience was very positive. For cats who enjoy high‑meat, chewy air‑dried foods, Redbarn can be a highly appealing option.
What Do Customers Think of Redbarn Air‑Dried Cat Food?
Customer feedback for Redbarn’s air‑dried cat food is mixed, with strong opinions on both sides. Many reviewers appreciate the high-meat content, simple ingredient list, and jerky‑like texture, especially for cats who prefer crunchy foods or need a more nutrient‑dense alternative to kibble.
Others report that the texture is too firm or unfamiliar, leading some cats to refuse it entirely. Several customers also mention that some bags arrive with the pieces broken into crumbs, which can affect both palatability and value.
Overall, the product tends to work well for cats who enjoy air‑dried or jerky‑style foods, but picky eaters or texture‑sensitive cats may not accept it as readily.
Positive Reviews
“My cat absolutely loves this food. He treats it like a crunchy snack and gets excited every time I open the bag. I like that the ingredients are clean and mostly chicken.”
“This works great as a topper. Even when my cat isn’t interested in her regular food, adding a few pieces of this gets her eating again. The quality seems really good.”
“High protein, smells like real meat, and my cat with a sensitive stomach tolerates it well. It’s pricey, but the bag lasts a long time because it’s so calorie-dense.”
Negative Reviews
“My cat wouldn’t touch it. The pieces are too hard, and even when I broke them up, she still refused them.”
“The quality seems good, but the bag had a lot of crumbs. Almost half of it was powder, which made it hard to use as a meal.”
“It’s expensive, and my cats didn’t like the texture. They sniffed it and walked away.”
How Much Does Redbarn Cat Food Cost?
Redbarn’s new air‑dried cat food is a premium product, and its price reflects that. Air-dried foods are generally more expensive per pound than traditional kibble, but they are also significantly more calorie-dense, meaning cats require smaller portions each day.
Based on current Amazon pricing for the Air‑Dried Chicken Recipe, Redbarn costs considerably more per ounce than the brand’s former canned foods, but the daily feeding cost is moderated by its high calorie content.
A 10‑lb cat typically needs around 200–220 calories per day. With this recipe providing 420 calories per cup, most cats require only a small portion.
Depending on the bag size and retailer, feeding a 10‑lb cat costs about $1.80 to $2.40 per day. This puts Redbarn’s air‑dried food in the same premium tier as other high‑meat, minimally processed brands. It’s pricier than traditional kibble or canned food, but its nutrient density and meat‑focused formula help justify the cost for owners seeking a more species‑appropriate option.
Where To Buy Redbarn Cat Food?
Redbarn cat food is available in independent pet specialty retailers, pet retail chains, farm and ranch stores, and some hardware stores. Use Redbarn’s store locator to find a retail location near you. If you’d rather shop online, you can buy Redbarn cat food on Chewy, Amazon, and other online pet food retailers.
Overall, Is Redbarn a Good Choice?
Redbarn’s relaunched air‑dried line is a clear improvement over the brand’s previous canned foods. With 91% chicken and chicken organs, minimal plant ingredients, and a gently air‑dried format, the recipes are far more species‑appropriate than typical kibble. The ingredient quality is strong, and the formulas are simple and meat‑focused.
However, the texture does not work for every cat. The dense, jerky‑like pieces can be hit or miss for some cats, and a few bags contain more crumbs than expected. The food is also priced higher than typical dry or canned diets, though its calorie density helps offset daily feeding costs.
Overall, Redbarn’s air‑dried food is a good fit for cats who thrive on high‑meat, minimally processed diets. It may not suit picky or texture-sensitive cats, but for the right feline, it offers a clean, nutrient-dense alternative to traditional kibble.
Some of the canned cat foods contain carrageenan! Will not buy!
Thank you so much for all your hard work. I’m confused by the review for Redbarn’s Turkey Pate, particularly this statement: “Overall, this dry food has high protein content with high fat and virtually zero carbohydrate content.”
I don’t think it’s a dry food, it seems to be wet food. But I’m also confused by it saying “virtually zero carbohydrate content”, when below it the “Dry Matter Basis” chart lists carbs as 10.2%, and the “Caloric Weight Basis” chart lists carbs at 7.2%. I’m also confused because on the HIll’s Science Diet page, the entry for Hill’s Prescription Diet Multicare Urinary (etc.) describes the food as “relatively high in carbohydrates”, but their chart doesn’t mention carbohydrates at all, only fiber at 7.7%.
I suspect I just don’t understand these charts more generally – do you have a page where you explain how to interpret them?
Sorry to be a pain, I’m not trying to nitpick. I’m looking into this because my vet recommended Hill’s Science Diet, which I have chosen to avoid. I was hoping to be able to tell her that there are healthier diets that can be even cheaper for the same amount of calories, but I want to make sure I understand what I’m telling her.