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Score: 8/10
Bottom Line
A single-source cat food, perfect for cats of all life stages.
PROS
CONS
We’ve done this Meat Mates cat food review with the help of our cat taste testers.
Meat Mates may well be the most underrated cat food on the market. It’s a high quality New Zealand brand, specializing in wet cat food.
Review summary:
The good?
Great nutrition.
Chock full of animal protein, Meat Mates hits the spots cats need as carnivores. Suitable for all life stages.
All products (if available) are single source (e.g. beef contains only beef). Great for allergies.
The bad?
Mixed taste.
Whilst our cats seemed to love Meat Mates, online reviews are less favorable. Pricey too.
The ugly?
Low availability.
If your cat enjoys Meat Mates, good luck. It’s hard to find anywhere, and seems to have problems getting on shelves.
In short:
Great.
Meat Mates is the the perfect cat food for a cat of any age. Filler free and meat rich.
Both wet cat food and treat are single protein source cat foods.
Just what cats need. But can you find it?
Best for:
- Allergies
- Food intolerance
- Senior cat health
>> Check out Meat Mates here.
Want to find out more about whether Meat Mates is best for your cat?
In this Meat Mates review I’ll test this product with a few of our cat testers to see if it gets the meow of approval.
I’ll also take a deep dive into the nutrition of this cat food to find which cats benefit most from this product.
I am not a veterinarian and I recommend seeking the advice of a vet for any further questions. This article is not intended as a replacement for medical advice.
Meat Mates Cat Food Review: Top Foods
We’ve tested Meat Mates and looked at:
- Ingredients
- Nutrition
- Taste
- Value for money
Here’s our results from both their treat and wet cat food range.
1. Meat Mates Beef Treat
Pros and Cons
Nutrition
Great.
This is a high protein treat, best suited for older cats with an easy-to-chew texture.
Nothing bad here, although it lacks water due to it’s freeze-dried nature.
Meat Mates beef treat meets AAFCO’s nutrition guidelines for all life stages.
In short:
- High protein
- Low carb
- Suited for all ages
Nutrition (Dry Matter Basis)
- Protein: 42% (min)
- Carbs: 0-7% (max)*
- Fat: 40% (min)
- Ash: 8% (estimated)
- Fiber: 2%
- Calcium to Phosphate Ratio: N/A
- Energy: 5,500 kcal/kg
*No added carbohydrate
Nutrition: 9/10
Ingredients
Excellent.
All four ingredients are beef. Great for allergies, as it’s a single source protein.
Closer look:
| Ingredient | Rating | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Beef | A | High in essential amino acids for strength |
| Beef liver | A | High in vitamin A for eyesight and Vitamin K for skeletal health |
| Beef kidney | A | High in iron for energy production |
| Beef heart | A | High in B vitamins for energy metabolism |
In short:
- 100% meat
- Gluten free
- Soy free
Ingredients: 10/10
Taste
Just ok.
I offered Meat Mates beef treat to our cat Felicia on three occasions.
Only once did she start eating it, other times she nibbled it, or wasn’t interested. Mixed bag.
Customer reviews seem to agree, with mixed results.
The treat is easy to crumble down, which might help entice some cats.
Testing results:
- Product Test: Meat Mates Beef Treat
- Amount Eaten: 50% (varied)
- Time to Finish Eating: Varied (sometimes ignored)
- Food Appearance: Soft crumbly light colored pellets
- Smell: Faint pleasant meaty smell
Pictures of Felicia testing Meat Mates beef treat:
Taste: 7/10
Value for Money
Really expensive.
This is well above what you’d pay for anything in the cat food world.
Worth it?
Maybe.
It’s a high quality treat, and offers a single-protein source.
It’s soft and crumbly texture suits cats with dental problems.
The mixed taste results give me some doubts though.
Similar alternatives:
- Ziwi Peak
- Feline Natural
Value: 2/10
Final Thoughts
A high quality single source protein treat for cats of any age.
Meat Mates is best for cats with dental problems, senior cats, and convenience.
The main drawbacks are the iffy taste and expensive price.
Best for:
- Easy soft chewing
- Senior cats
- Convenience
Where to find Meat Mates treat?
2. Meat Mates Wet Cat Food
Pros and Cons
Nutrition
Awesome.
All Meat Mates wet cat foods are complete for all life stages.
It’s a sole feeding source. That means you can feed your cat only Meat Mates (although it’s a good idea to mix it up with different flavors).
The only gripe with Meat Mates is taurine information is missing for two products.
This amino acid is likely in high amounts due to the animal products used in Meat Mates, but it would be nice to know.
In short:
- High protein
- High calcium to phosphate ratio
- Suited for all ages
Nutrition (Dry Matter Basis)
- Protein: 42% (min)
- Carbs: 2% (max)
- Fat: 42% (min)
- Ash: 11%
- Fiber: 4%
- Calcium to Phosphate Ratio: 2.4:1
- Moisture: 82%
- Energy: 1,084 kcal/kg
Nutrition: 10/10
Ingredients
Excellent.
Ingredients in Meat Mates match what cats need as carnivores.
Here’s a snapshot of the ingredients in Meat Mates canned cat food range:
- Named free-range meat sources (e.g. chicken liver)
- Grain-free
- Soy-free
- Pea-free
- Carrageenan-free
- Added flaxseed flakes (can help with constipation)
All Meat Mates use an amount listed label. All products are over 95% animal-based ingredients.
This is the best type of label as it means you’re getting all the good stuff, without crappy fillers.
Flaxseed is high in soluble and insoluble fiber. This mixture can help with constipation in some cats.
The lamb dinner option is also novel protein friendly. This makes it suitable for allergy relief.
The other choices (if available) are chicken and beef. Both are single-source, meaning if you want only that meat, you’ll get it.
Meat Mates does not contain any artificial colors and flavors.
Check out more about Meat Mates over at their website.
Ingredient Score: 10/10
Taste
Cats loved it.
We offered Meat Meats chicken and beef dinner to 5 cats. Of 10 offerings we only got one rejection.
Reviews online are mixed however. Whilst there’s not many to look at, it’s concerning.
Here’s the results from our taste testing with Meat Mates:
5/5 cats enjoyed Meat Mates chicken dinner wet canned cat food.
4/5 cats enjoyed Meat Mates beef dinner wet canned cat food.
Here are some of the results below:
Here’s what Meat Mates chicken dinner cat food looks like out the tin.
The product has a lot of moisture and is a loaf texture. Meat Mates chicken dinner is strong smelling out the tin, but the beef dinner is pleasant.
Below is my grading for taste with Meat Mates. This factors in customer satisfaction from online retailers with our own results.
Taste Score: 9/10
Value for Money
Steep.
At the high end of price on the market you’ll expect premium quality. Meat Mates wet cat food delivers on that.
But is it a trustworthy brand that your cat will love?
Hard to say.
Similar brands:
Value: 6.5/10
Final Thoughts
Meat Mates is a high protein and low carb wet cat food with a single protein source.
It’s best for older cats, kidney disease, and allergies.
The price and limited availability are drawbacks.
Best for:
- Senior cats
- Kidney care
- Allergy relief
Where to find Meat Mates canned cat food?
- Amazon (may not be available)
- Chewy (not available)
Frequently Asked Questions
Who Makes Meat Mates Cat Food?
Private company.
Meat Mates is a New Zealand based pet food company. They launched in 2018.
They source and manufacture all their food in New Zealand.
Is Meat Mates Good for Cats?
Yes.
Meat Mates is an excellent cat food option. Their products contain 99% animal based foods from named meat sources.
Meat Mates wet cat foods meet AAFCO’s nutrition guidelines for all life stages.
Related:
Does Meat Mates Contain Real Meat?
Yes.
Meat Mates canned cat food contains real meat products. There are no plant protein or grain based products in the foods.
Is Meat Mates Good for Picky Eaters?
Maybe.
Meat Mates is high in fat and animal based protein foods. Cats prefer meat.
Our cats loved Meat Mates for the most part, but has mixed reviews online.
It’s a coin toss here.
Learn More:
What Is the Healthiest Food Brand for Cats?
The healthiest cat foods we recommend are:
- Tiki Cat After Dark (see review)
- Tiki Baby Cat (see review)
- Ziwi Peak (see review)
- Feline Natural (see review)
- Dr. Elsey’s Clean Protein
Learn More:
Conclusion
Meat Mates is an excellent cat food.
They offer wet cat food and treats, both suitable as a sole feeding options for all life stages.
The wet cat food is great for allergies, kidney health, and senior care. Their treats are suitable for cats with dental issues.
The main issues with Meat Mates are the price and lack of availability.
>> Check out Meat Mates here
