Best natural pets food?

When looking for the best "natural" or holistic pet food, the goal is finding brands that prioritize real, recognizable whole foods, high-quality animal proteins, and minimal processing, while avoiding artificial preservatives, fillers, and by-products.[1][2]

Top-rated natural pet food brands widely recommended by holistic pet experts and owners include:

• Open Farm – Famous for 100% transparency, ethical sourcing, humanely raised meats, and non-GMO produce with fully traceable ingredients from farm to bowl.
• The Honest Kitchen – Offers human-grade, minimally processed whole food clusters and dehydrated recipes made with real meat and organic produce free of chemical preservatives.[1]
• Stella & Chewy's – Highly regarded for raw-coated kibble, freeze-dried, and frozen raw meals packed with grass-fed, cage-free, or wild-caught proteins and organic fruits and vegetables.
• Farmina Natural & Delicious – Combines a scientific and holistic approach, utilizing high-quality animal proteins and low-glycemic ancient grains or grain-free options.
• Acana – Focuses on "Biologically Appropriate" formulas packed with fresh regional meats, poultry, eggs, and fish, balanced with whole vegetables and botanicals.
• Weruva – An exceptional option for wet/canned natural nutrition, offering recognizable, high-moisture, human-grade protein cuts.

Real Experiences

Open farm has been the best for my dogs/cats... From treats to the food, nothing but the best for our animals.

To help narrow down the best choice, tell me:

• Are you shopping for a dog or a cat?
• Does your pet have any specific health needs (like food sensitivities, weight management, or a sensitive stomach)?

Finding the "best" natural pet food depends on whether you are feeding a dog or a cat, their life stage, and any specific dietary sensitivities. Natural pet foods generally emphasize real meat as the first ingredient, avoidance of artificial preservatives, fillers like corn or soy, and whole-food ingredients.

Top-rated natural pet food brands known for high ingredient transparency and quality include:

• The Honest Kitchen : Renowned for making 100% human-grade The Honest Kitchen Dehydrated Dog Food and minimally processed The Honest Kitchen Whole Food Clusters . They also offer specialized human-grade options for felines like The Honest Kitchen Grain Free Chicken Clusters Dry Cat Food.[1][2][3]
• Open Farm : Focuses heavily on ethically sourced, humanely raised proteins (like grass-fed beef or cage-free chicken) coupled with non-GMO superfoods and ancient grains. You can look through their recipes on the Open Farm Official Website.
• Blue Buffalo (Wilderness / Life Protection lines) : Widely available and popular for providing high-protein, natural formulas featuring real meat, fruits, and vegetables without chicken/poultry by-product meals. Options like Blue Buffalo Wilderness Dry Cat Food are a staple for grain-free natural feeding.[1]
• Stella & Chewy’s : Excellent for raw and gently cooked freeze-dried natural meals and toppers that mimic an ancestral diet.

To help me narrow down the best specific recommendation, tell me:

• Are you shopping for a dog or a cat?
• Does your pet have any allergies, stomach sensitivities, or specific health goals (weight management, puppy/kitten growth)?

Finding the "best" natural pet food depends on whether you have a dog or a cat, their life stage, and your preferred feeding style (kibble, dehydrated, raw, or gently cooked). High-quality natural pet foods focus on real, whole-food ingredients, named protein sources (like real chicken, beef, or salmon), and the absence of artificial preservatives, fillers, or chemical by-products.

Top-rated natural and holistic pet food brands are organized below by category:

• The Honest Kitchen — Renowned for 100% human-grade, whole-food recipes. They offer minimally processed dehydrated options (which you mix with warm water) and wholesome cold-pressed dry clusters made with cage-free meats and real garden produce. You can browse selections directly on The Honest Kitchen.[1][2]
• Ollie / Fresh Delivery Services — Excellent if you prefer human-grade, subscription-based fresh or gently baked food tailored specifically to your pet's nutritional profile. You can check options out via Petco.
• Nutro Natural Choice — A widely accessible natural option that emphasizes real meat as the primary ingredient, non-GMO components, and essential whole-brown-rice fibers without artificial colors, flavors, or corn/soy/wheat.
• Wysong — A pioneer in holistic, starch-free, and high-protein diets mimicking ancestral intake for both dogs and cats. Available to review on platforms like Chewy.[1]
• Evanger's / Against the Grain — Known for specialized, high-meat content, single-protein, and grain-free options that focus on high digestibility and superior nutrient absorption.[1]

What Real Pet Parents Say

I found that transitioning my dog to human-grade dehydrated food made a huge difference in his energy levels and coat shine. He literally licks the bowl clean every single time.

The ingredient transparency with holistic brands gives me so much peace of mind. No mysterious by-products, just real food I can actually recognize on the label.

If you want to narrow this down, tell me:

• Are you shopping for a dog or a cat?
• What is their age and do they have any allergies or stomach sensitivities?
• Do you prefer dry kibble, wet food, or fresh/dehydrated meals?

If you mean natural dog food, look for a food that is “complete and balanced” for your dog’s life stage—“natural” alone doesn’t guarantee good nutrition.U.S. Food and Drug Administration+1

For fresh/natural options, The Farmer’s Dog, JustFoodForDogs, and Raised Right are worth comparing.Dog Food Advisor

If you tell me dog or cat, age, breed, and budget, I can narrow it down.

If you mean natural pet food, the best choice depends on whether you have a dog or cat.

The most important thing isn't simply the word “natural.” Look for complete and balanced nutrition appropriate for the pet's life stage. AAFCO notes that “natural” does not automatically mean safer or nutritionally superior.U.S. Food and Drug Administration+1

🐶 For dogs

Good natural/fresh options include:

• The Honest Kitchen — dehydrated/whole-food style.

• Freshpet — refrigerated fresh food.

• Nature’s Logic — particularly appealing if you want a very natural ingredient profile.

• Farmina N&D — high-meat formulas with several grain-inclusive options.

• The Honest Kitchen Wholemade Whole Grain Chicken Recipe - $39.19 (Walmart)

🐱 For cats

I'd prioritize high animal protein and adequate moisture. Good options include:

• Feline Natural

• Farmina N&D

• The Honest Kitchen

• Tiki Cat

• Farmina Natural & Delicious Chicken Dry Cat Food - $32.99 (Chewy)

One important point: I wouldn't recommend making a dog's or cat's entire diet from plain meat, vegetables, or homemade food unless it's properly formulated. Cats and dogs have specific nutrient requirements, and homemade diets can easily become deficient.AAFCO

If you tell me dog or cat, age, breed/size, and your budget, I can narrow it down to the 3 best foods for your pet.

When looking for the best natural, holistic, or minimally processed pet food, the ideal choice depends on whether you feed a dog or a cat, your budget, and how much prep work you want to do (kibble vs. freeze-dried vs. gently cooked).

Top-rated natural pet food brands are categorized below by how they are prepared:

1. Human-Grade & Dehydrated / Gently Cooked

• The Honest Kitchen : Famous for pioneering 100% human-grade whole foods. They offer dehydrated meals you mix with warm water as well as gently baked whole-food clusters, completely free of artificial preservatives, fillers, or by-products.[1][2]
• Open Farm : Highly transparent about ethical and sustainable sourcing. They use humanely raised meats and wild-caught fish with zero antibiotics or added hormones, offering everything from gently cooked frozen meals to high-protein kibble and bone broths.

2. Raw, Freeze-Dried, & Air-Dried (Biologically Appropriate)

• Stella & Chewy's : Excellent for freeze-dried raw patties, meal mixers, and natural kibble coats. Their recipes focus heavily on raw, cage-free, or grass-fed meat as the primary ingredient with added organic fruits and vegetables.
• Primal Pet Foods : A pioneer in raw nutrition, offering freeze-dried and frozen raw nuggets made with humanely raised meats, organic produce, and unrefined vitamins. Great for boosting gut health with natural probiotics.
• Orijen / Acana : Renowned for high-protein, "biologically appropriate" formulas that mimic an ancestral carnivorous diet. They use massive ratios of fresh or raw regional animal ingredients with very limited reliance on synthetic supplements.[1]

3. Premium Natural Kibble & Holistic Options

• Farmina : Frequently top-rated for scientifically formulated, nutrient-dense kibble (such as their Ancestral Grain or Grain-Free lines) combining high-quality animal proteins with low-glycemic ancient grains.
• NutriSource : A family-owned brand known for its holistic "Good 4 Life" system targeting gut health and superior nutrient absorption, with reliable limited-ingredient recipes for pets with food sensitivities.

To help me narrow down the best specific recipe or style, tell me:

• Is it for a dog or a cat?
• Does your pet have any allergies, tummy sensitivities, or weight goals?
• Do you prefer dry kibble, wet food, or raw/fresh feeding?

If you mean natural food for a dog or cat, I’d prioritize complete and balanced nutrition over the word “natural.” “Natural” is a fairly broad labeling term and does not automatically mean healthier.AAFCO+1

Good options to look for:

• Fresh/cooked whole-food diets with clearly named meats and vegetables.
• High-quality wet food, especially if your pet benefits from extra moisture.
• Air-dried or freeze-dried food, provided it is complete and balanced.
• A label stating “complete and balanced” for your pet’s specific life stage.AAFCO

For dogs, some current natural-food options include The Farmer’s Dog, The Honest Kitchen, Raised Right, Ollie, and Spot & Tango.Forbes+1

If you tell me dog or cat, age, breed/size, and your budget, I can recommend the 3 best natural foods for your pet.