All About Freeze Dried Cat Foods

Cats, like all felines, are obligate carnivores, which means they must eat meat and meat
by-products. But commercial food and treats, in addition to meat and/or meat by-products,
also contain vegetables, grains, and other ingredients that do not hold much nutritional
value. In the long run, these foods and treats can lead to food allergies, gastrointestinal
disorders, or urinary problems.

Some specialists also say that poor-quality commercial cat food can even lead to cancer1
due to all the unnecessary ingredients. Overall, cat food that contains non-nutritional
ingredients can make your pet sick, leading to suffering and unnecessary expenses at the
vet.

As a veterinarian, I have dealt with cats suffering from various health problems due to the
diet they ate. To avoid the consequences of poor-quality food, you can try a freeze-dried cat
diet, which is a healthy alternative to most commercial pet foods.

Before talking about the pros and cons of freeze-dried cat food, let me tell you a little about
the manufacturing process. So, how does the freeze drying process work?

What is Freeze-Drying?
Freeze-drying, or lyophilization, involves the sudden freezing of food and the extraction of
water vapor with the help of a suction device. The product obtained is dehydrated food. The
temperature of the food is lowered below the freezing point, and then the vapors are
extracted through a high-pressure vacuum.

The manufacturers do not use any preservatives, and the process can take up to two days.
Essentially, the freeze-drying process preserves the nutritional value of foods and, at the
same time, gives them a longer shelf life. The food also keeps its physical structure and can
be rehydrated later before use.

This process was first used during the Second World War for drugs that required
low-temperature storage conditions. Later, the freeze-drying process was extended to
various products, including pet food.

In other words, the freeze-drying process is a safe process that ensures better preservation
of food products without altering their nutritional value.

5 Top Benefits of Freeze-Dried Cat Products

1. Retain the Nutritional Value Better Than Foods From Other
Manufacturing Processes.
Due to the minimal processing of the ingredients, freeze-drying preserves the essential
nutrients almost entirely. The resulting products are clean, without preservatives, dyes, or
other ingredients without nutritional value (e.g. vegetables, fruits, and cereals). Thus, cats
will consume a diet similar to a natural one, and your fluff ball will have a healthier life.

In other words, cats receive all the essential nutrients their body needs if they consume
these types of products.

Commercial cat food is usually ultra-processed and lacks essential nutrients. Cats feel full
and gain extra weight due to fillers and carbohydrates, which are ingredients that contribute
nothing to their nutrition. For these reasons, freeze-dried food is a healthier alternative to
traditional cat food. If you want to try it, choose those that contain only high-quality
ingredients (meat, bones, and organs).

2. Less Poo and Less Stinky Poo

Freeze-dried products contain less or zero fiber compared to traditional food, which
translates into less animal waste. Wild felines do not eat fruits and vegetables, but they do
consume the stomach contents of the animals they hunt. Commercial cat food usually has
added fibers in its composition to help with cats' digestive function. But too much fiber in your
cat's diet can promote intestinal gas, abdominal bloating, and cramping, which lead to more
waste.

Freeze-dried cat food is made with natural and healthy ingredients that allow your cat's body
to absorb more essential nutrients (vitamins, minerals, and amino acids). As a result, your
pet's excrement will be smaller and less smelly.

3. Make Taurine Easier to Absorb - An Amino Acid That Helps With

Digestion.
Commercial wet or dry cat food often contains ingredients that can harm your cat in the long
term. Fruits, vegetables, and grains cause an excess of soluble carbohydrates and prevent
the absorption of taurine - an amino acid vital to your cat's health that is found in meat. Cats
can’t synthesize taurine, so they have to get this amino acid from their diet.

Cats need taurine for metabolizing energy and for healthy digestion. This amino acid is also
important for brain development in kittens, sexual organs and heart health. When cat food
has a low taurine content, a deficit usually occurs. Taurine deficiency can have severe
consequences on your cat's health. For example, it can lead to dilated cardiomyopathy
(DCM)2, a relatively rare heart disease in cats. To avoid nutritional deficiencies, it is best to
feed your cat a proper diet.

4. Help With a Sensitive Stomach

Because freeze-dried pet food has no fillers, cereals, or other useless ingredients, it
promotes healthy digestion. The common ingredients found in traditional cat food, especially
in poor-quality diets, can lead to stomach upset/food intolerance (e.g. diarrhea, vomiting, and
bloating).
Also, cats cannot digest cellulose, a major fiber component in cereal grains. Grains are often
added to traditional cat food just to add volume and are not a nutritious ingredient. Over
time, cats can develop a sensitivity to grains, which can lead to skin and gastrointestinal
problems. Freeze-dried products do not contain grains, which makes them easy to digest.

5. Help With Maintaining a Healthy Weight.

Poor quality food usually leads to obesity in cats because of the fatty foods and carbs. Cats
become obese when the food they eat turns into fat instead of being metabolized. The fat is
stored in different organs or areas, such as the liver, heart, arteries, or joints. The health
risks of obesity are numerous -

● The risk of developing diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, joint problems,

various forms of cancer, heart disease, etc.3
● Weakening of the immune system;
● Hepatic lipidosis, a disease that can be fatal to cats;
● Joint and locomotion problems.

Because freeze-dried diets contain few ingredients and are minimally processed, you can
keep your cat at an ideal weight. These products have more animal protein and less fat and
carbohydrates than wet or dry food.

Cons of Freeze Dried Cat Food and Things to Keep In Mind

Here are some things to consider when you decide to feed your cat a freeze-dried diet:

Higher Costs
Compared to traditional wet or dry food, freeze-dried diets can be a little pricey. But the price
shouldn’t matter when your cat’s health is at stake! In the long run, you will spend less
money because your cat won't need the vet so often. Think of this as an investment.

Nutritional deficiencies
Make sure it says “complete and balanced cat food” on the package. Some manufacturers
make treats instead of complete freeze-dried cat food. Treats make a great snack between
meals or when you want to reward your cat during training. But treats aren’t considered
complete food because they lack some essential nutrients, and your cat can get sick.

Wet or Dry?
You can feed your cat with the freeze-dried bits as they are or add warm water or broth to
rehydrate them. It is better to rehydrate because cats are known not to be fans of drinking
water (not all of them). But be careful with how much liquid you add. Adding too much water
or broth can lead to diarrhea. So it's best to add just enough liquid to soften the dry bits
without making a soup out of your cat's food.
Risk of bacteria development
The freeze-drying process is one that reduces the initial number of bacteria right from the
start. But this does not mean that once the food is rehydrated, bacterial development is not
possible. If you choose to rehydrate the freeze-dried bits, keep in mind that they must be
consumed within a maximum of two hours. To avoid bacterial growth, you can keep the
leftovers in the fridge or dispose of them properly.

Gastrointestinal disorders due to changing your cat’s diet

If you choose freeze-dried food but your cat is still on a traditional wet or dry diet, ensure a
smooth transition. This means you will add the freeze-dried food gradually to your cat’s diet.
Sudden changes in your cat's diet generally lead to digestive problems (vomiting and
diarrhea).

Lastly, always feed your cat according to the instructions on the package or your vet.
If you don’t want to make your cat fat, follow the feeding guide on the package or talk to your
vet.

Conclusion
Prolonged shelf life, better absorption, no grains or fillers, and less poo are just some of the
benefits freeze-dried products have compared to traditional cat food. But like any food
product, they also have some downsides. Make sure you talk to your veterinarian before
changing your cat’s diet. This way, you can avoid certain health problems.