Firstmate Cat Food: First in Healthy Brands?

Firstmate cat food is not a brand I am familiar with. To be completely honest, I have never held a bag of this food, for dogs or for cats. However, because this site is dedicated to finding the best of the best cat foods out there, it was only a matter of time before I came across it.

So, how healthy is Firstmate cat food? Is it worth its price or is it a brand every cat owner needs to stay away from?

We’ll soon find out!

For this Firstmate cat food review, I will be focusing on the Firstmate Indoor Cat formula.

*This post contains affiliate links.*

My Honest Firstmate Cat Food Review

 

Name: Firstmate

Website URL: www.firstmate.com

Flavors Available: Pacific Ocean Fish Meal with Blueberries, Chicken & Wild Caught Pacific Fish, Cage-Free Chicken & Wild Caught Pacific Fish and Chicken Meal with Blueberries

Formulas Available: Indoor Cat, Cat & Kitten and Grain-Free

Sizes Available: 4 pounds, 5 pounds, 10 pounds, and 13.3 pounds

Price: Varies

Overall Rating: 

 

Pros. vs. Cons.

Pros:

• Good for cats who have food allergies
• Many high-quality ingredients used
• Chicken meal is the first ingredient

Cons:

• Expensive price tag
• Mixed cat owner reviews
• Limited flavors and formulas

 

Guaranteed Analysis

Crude Protein (min)	35%	Ash (max)	9%
Crude Fat (min)	12%	Calcium (min)	1.6%
Crude Fibre (max)	4%	Phosphorous (min)	1.2%
Moisture (max)	10%	Magnesium (max)	0.18%
Taurine (min)	0.26%	Calcium / Phosphorous ratio	1.3:1

 

Ingredients

Chicken Meal, Ocean Fish Meal, Oatmeal, Brown Rice, Chicken Fat (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Phosphoric acid, DL-Methionine, Choline Chloride, Dicalcium Phosphate, Taurine, Calcium Propionate, Blueberries, Raspberries, Cranberries, Minerals (Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Calcium Carbonate, Manganese Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Sodium Selenite, Calcium Iodate), Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, Thiamine mononitrate, D-pantothenic Acid, Vitamin A Supplement, Riboflavin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid), Kale, Yeast Extract

 

Ingredient Breakdown

Chicken Meal

This is a high-quality protein ingredient that can contain as much as 300% more protein than chicken contains by itself.

Ocean Fish Meal

This is a high-quality protein ingredient that can contain up to 300% more protein than ocean fish contains alone. It is also a source of Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids, which can help promote a shiny coat and healthy skin,.

Oatmeal

This ingredient is often used in pet food brands as an alternative to wheat or grains as a hypoallergenic carbohydrate source. It is a rich source of linoleic acid.

Brown Rice

This is a high-quality source of carbohydrates and dietary fiber.

Chicken Fat

This is a high-quality fat ingredient that is a source of flavor and omega 3 fatty acids.

Phosphoric Acid

This ingredient is typically used as an acidifier to help the food maintain a pH level between 6.3 and 6.7.

DL-Methionine

This ingredient is used to help reduce the acid levels in urine.

Choline Chloride

This ingredient is typically used as a Vitamin B4 supplement.

Dicalcium Phosphate

This ingredient is typically used as a calcium supplement.

Taurine

This ingredient is an amino acid that is essential to support healthy cardiac muscle function, optical health, and reproduction in cats.

Calcium Propionate

This ingredient is typically used as a preservative to prevent bacteria growth in food.

Blueberries

This ingredient is a known source of folate, potassium, fiber, Vitamin B6, and Vitamin C.

Cranberries

This ingredient is a known source of fiber, Vitamin C, Manganese, Vitamin E, Vitamin K, and Copper. It is typically used in cat foods because they are known to help reduce the risk of urinary tract infections.

 

Formulas, Sizes, and Price

Grain-Free Pacific Ocean Fish Meal with Blueberries Formula

This hypoallergenic formula features 100% real ocean fish meal, making this a formula every cat will love. It is rich in natural antioxidants and grain-free ingredients.

Sizes Available: 4 pounds and 10 pounds

 

Grain-Free Chicken Meal with Blueberries Formula

This formula by Firstmate features real blueberries to load your cat with all of the antioxidants he or she may need. It is made with real cage-free chicken as the first protein ingredient.

Sizes Available: 4 pounds and 10 pounds

 

Indoor Cat Formula

This formula by Firstmate is specially formulated for the nutritional needs of indoor cats. It is made with lower fat content and reduced calories to help indoor cats maintain a healthy weight.

Sizes Available: 5 pounds and 13.3 pounds

 

Firstmate Cat Food Reviews by Cat Owners

Most cat owners who have fed Firstmate cat food to their own cats tend to be happy with the food. However, there are also a few negative reviews out there. Let’s take a closer look at what some cat owners have been saying about this food.

“My cat loves it and seems to be doing fine on it. I bought this food for my cat who is allergic to chicken. He is a pretty picky eater but he eats this food well enough. I just wish it wasn’t as expensive as it is.” -Caroline Kaugher, February 6th

“It has a very fishy smell, but overall it isn’t bad. I have been feeding this food to my cat for 3 years now and so far we haven’t had any issues with it.” -Amazon Customer, April 18th

“My cat isn’t really fond of change, but he was willing to try this brand. His hair is so soft now. I will continue feeding him this food for now.” -Loran Vetter, February 13th

“I give this food five stars! Great brand at a great price.” -Amazon customer, April 11th

“This is my finicky cats’ favorite food. I can’t believe how soft it has made their fur. Top it off, they are much sleeker than they used to be.” -Suzanne Powers, April 29th

 

Firstmate Cat Food: The Bottomline

At the end of the day, Firstmate cat food is a solid brand, especially for cats who suffer from food allergies or sensitivities. Each formula features limited ingredients, all of which are pretty healthy. However, the downside to this food is its price. That being said, it may not be the best food for owners who need to stick with a tight budget.

Final Verdict:

Recommended

 

Have you fed your cat Firstmate cat food? If so, did you agree with my review? Did you disagree with it? Let me know in the comments below!