Shine Cat Meals Evaluation – Cats.com

Shannon Perry / Cats.com

We’ve rated Shine Pet Meals Co. on ingredient high quality, species-appropriateness, recollects, and extra. Learn our Shine cat meals overview to learn the way this model stacks up.

The Cats.com Normal—Ranking Shine Cat Meals on What Issues

We’ve rated the model on six key standards for high quality. Right here’s the way it charges in every of those six essential areas.

We give Shine a 23 out of 25 ranking or an A+ grade.

Why Belief Cats.com

I’m an avid pet lover (and cat mother to 11 ). I’ve spent years studying about all the pieces I must do to take the very best care of my cats, from feline vitamin to methods to enrich their setting. I’ve examined quite a few cat merchandise, providing in-depth critiques and proprietor insights for different pet dad and mom.

The standard of cat meals and the corporate’s values are essential to me. I ordered quite a lot of uncooked and transitional recipes from Shine Pet Meals in order that my cats might pattern completely different flavors. As my cat crew and I examined these cat meals, I seemed on the moisture content material, texture, palatability, and common attraction these recipes had for my cats. I additionally thought of the dietary content material on the label and whether or not they met my cats’ dietary wants.

As soon as I researched Shine’s recipes and examined them with my cats, I ranked the cat meals within the six classes of the Cats.com Normal.

About Shine

Shine Pet Meals Co. was based by Sandra Bosben in 2010 and was initially referred to as Marty’s Meals. Named after her canine and impressed by his degenerative joint illness, Sandra labored with animal vitamin knowledgeable Zarna Carter to develop a contemporary meals weight-reduction plan that had a basis within the work of veterinary vitamin consultants, homeopathists, and herbalists. Sandra’s recipes grew to become so in style with family and friends that she based Marty’s Meals and later added cat meals.

Through the years, the corporate grew to have two places in Boulder, Colorado, and Santa Fe, New Mexico. In 2020, Marty’s Meals went nationwide with their on-line storefront and received a brand new title, changing into Shine Pet Meals.

Sourcing and Manufacturing

Shine Pet Meals sources its meats from small farms in addition to some deer farms in New Zealand. Based on their web site, they use licensed natural, non-GMO components. Due to this, their meats and components are with out components, medicine, or toxins.

Along with cleaner components, Shine additionally prioritizes manufacturing methods that reduce their affect on the setting. Their cat meals is available in biodegradable cardboard with a skinny paper lining between the meals and lid. The one exception is nuggets, that are packaged in clear plastic luggage when shipped. They mail their meals in cardboard containers with reflective bubble wrap lining and two luggage of dry ice to maintain the meals frozen for the journey.

Recall Historical past

We checked the present 12 months and archives, however to our data, Shine Pet Meals (or Marty’s Meals) has by no means been recalled.

What Sorts of Cat Meals Does Shine Supply?

Whereas Shine presents cooked choices for his or her pet food, their cat meals decisions are completely uncooked or transitional recipes designed to transition cats to a uncooked weight-reduction plan.

Each choices are primarily meat-based, with some added greens, like carrots, candy potatoes, and bok choy. Sure components, like kelp, cod liver oil (which is wealthy in omega oils), and sea salt, are in each meals we checked out. Here’s a full listing of the cat meals Shine presents.

Frozen Uncooked

• Beef (we examined this one)
• Rabbit (see overview beneath)
• Turkey (we examined this one)
• Hen (we examined this one)

Transitional Uncooked

• Venison (deer) (see overview beneath)
• Rabbit
• Turkey (see overview beneath)
• Hen (we examined this one)

Freeze-Dried

Besides for his or her Freeze Dried Transitional Uncooked Venison, their freeze-dried choices are solely obtainable for native pickup at their shops in Santa Fe and Boulder. Based on their proprietor, Shine’s recipes are full and balanced and meet the AAFCO’s nutrient profile tips. Moreover, Shine’s cat meals are freed from fillers, like rice or wheat, and components that don’t have dietary worth, like corn. Moreover, their cat meals is grain-free. For cats with meals sensitivities or allergy symptoms, it is a enormous bonus.

One factor to notice about Shine’s cat meals is that they don’t embody the calorie content material of any of their meals, which may make monitoring calorie consumption for kittens and overweight cats difficult.

What Did Our Take a look at Cats Suppose?

Shannon Perry / Cats.com

Shine Cat Meals—High 3 Recipes Reviewed

When delivery their meals, Shine requires a minimal order of 5 kilos. We ordered quite a lot of six meals, reviewed all six, and wrote in-depth critiques for 3 of the alternatives right here. The remaining three recipes have been their transitional uncooked hen, uncooked hen, and uncooked beef.

The cats appeared to benefit from the two hen recipes probably the most. These recipes have been softer out of the bathtub, and for cats like Oliver, who has damaged enamel, and Gizmo, who has persistent gingivostomatitis, softer moist meals are extra in style.

The meat was the one recipe that didn’t go over properly with any of the cats. Throughout the board, all the cats appeared much less enthused about this recipe in favor of the others — significantly the venison and poultry decisions. Rating from most to least in style, right here’s how my cats responded to Shine Pet Meals:

1. Transitional Uncooked Hen Recipe
2. Uncooked Hen Recipe
3. Transitional Uncooked Turkey Recipe
4. Transitional Uncooked Venison Recipe
5. Uncooked Rabbit Recipe
6. Uncooked Beef Recipe

What Do Prospects Consider Shine Cat Meals?

Shine Pet Meals isn’t offered on in style websites like Chewy.com or Amazon, and their critiques aren’t public on their web site. Social media was additionally not significantly useful, however Yelp reviewers did present perception into the experiences clients have with Shine, together with the instance beneath:

“Well mannered and useful and at an important value. My cat loves the rabbit and the rockfish. Additionally they have nice treats like minions and my cat loves.”—Elizabeth R, Yelp

Whereas most critiques are over a 12 months previous, they’re nearly completely optimistic at their Santa Fe and Boulder places. Prospects touch upon the number of merchandise and the employees’s data and well mannered perspective. Some reviewers even talked about customized recipes for particular wants canine and cats. Even non-food objects obtainable in-store are in style with homeowners and pets alike, making an important go to for these native to the areas they serve.

The one unfavorable overview on Yelp states that they’d a unfavorable expertise with a coverage and meals return. Nevertheless, the corporate’s response signifies that this overview was in error as there was no file of the sale and that the coverage talked about within the overview (that the corporate will take the meals again if the pet doesn’t prefer it) isn’t one which Shine has.

How A lot Does Shine Cat Meals Value?

For these native to Boulder, Colorado, and Santa Fe, New Mexico, Shine gives uncooked meals at an reasonably priced value of lower than $1 per ounce. When evaluating Shine’s shelf value to different uncooked meals corporations, they are usually proper within the center. Some uncooked meals, akin to Darwin’s Pure, are cheaper, whereas others, like Uncooked Meow, may cost a little extra.

Earlier than contemplating delivery prices, Shine is a really reasonably priced uncooked meals. Nevertheless, buying their uncooked meals choices could be difficult for patrons who aren’t native to their retail shops. I purchased a number of kilos of cat meals and shipped it from their Santa Fe facility to my house in North Carolina. The one delivery possibility was UPS 2-day air, which price $85.75—round $23 greater than the price of the meals.

Fortuitously, Shine appears open to working with clients for future shipments, and the meals can keep frozen for as much as six months. Prospects with the house might order only some shipments a 12 months, which may help with the prices.

Not factoring delivery and averaging the price of the three cat meals we reviewed, feeding a 10-lb cat Shine’s uncooked cat meals will price round $3.40 day by day.

The place Is Shine Cat Meals Bought?

Earlier than 2020, Shine Pet Meals was solely obtainable at their shops in New Mexico and Colorado. Immediately, Shine ships nationwide, however the one delivery possibility is UPS 2-day air. Buying Shine Pet Meals could be problematic for customers not within the area and out of doors of UPS’ supply space.

 Comparable Manufacturers

Searching for different cat meals manufacturers much like Shine Pet Meals? Try a few of our different model critiques.