Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Uncooked cat meals emulates the composition of a pure feline food plan however dietary stability remains to be a should. Not all business merchandise are formulated to offer the important vitamins your cat wants however Viva is.
Should you’re contemplating switching to a uncooked food plan in your cat, a single-protein formulation from Viva is perhaps a great choice. Right here’s what it’s worthwhile to know concerning the model and its merchandise.
The Cats.com Normal—Ranking Viva 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.
Scores
- Species-Appropriateness – 5/5
- Ingredient High quality – 5/5
- Product Selection – 3/5
- Worth – 1/5
- Buyer Expertise – 4/5
- Recall Historical past – 5/5
General Rating: 3.8/5
In whole, we give Viva uncooked cat meals a 23 out of 30 ranking.
Why Belief Cats.com
Earlier than scripting this evaluate, I delved into the historical past of Viva to be taught the story behind the model. I gathered particulars about Viva’s product formulation, ingredient sourcing, and manufacturing processes in addition to its recall historical past. I then ordered three Viva uncooked cat meals formulation to check at residence with my three cats Bagel, Biscuit, and Munchkin.
Drawing on my expertise reviewing different uncooked cat meals merchandise, I evaluated Viva cat meals by way of its high quality, species appropriateness, and normal attraction. My cats supplied their opinions on the feel and taste of the meals whereas I made observations about how straightforward it was to retailer and serve. I additionally accomplished an in-depth evaluation of every product’s dietary and ingredient make-up.
About Viva Cat Meals
Viva is a recent pet meals firm based by Zach and Jenn (with assist from their canine, Karoo). Based mostly in Hillsborough, North Carolina, Viva was based in 2020. Inside two years, the corporate had earned $3 million in income. Viva now presents nationwide transport and its merchandise can be found in over a boutique and specialty pet meals shops.
What units Viva aside from different uncooked pet meals producers is the chunky type of its pet food formulation. Viva believes “it’s essential for pet mother and father to see what they’re feeding.” Out of respect for the carnivorous wants of cats, nevertheless, Viva’s feline formulation are extra closely meat-based and have a extra finely floor texture.
Along with following humane and moral ingredient-sourcing practices, Viva ships inexperienced. All pet meals merchandise are shipped frozen in biodegradable or curbside recyclable insulation with dry ice. Viva doesn’t use any styrofoam.
Sourcing and Manufacturing
Viva makes use of UDA human-grade components sourced, as a lot as attainable, from native companies and small farms in the US. The model solely works with farms which might be licensed humane by means of third-party audit applications. Their farms don’t use hormones and antibiotics.
All Viva pet meals is manufactured in USDA-inspected human meals services. Every batch is examined for foodborne pathogens together with Salmonella, E. coli, and Listeria.
Within the FAQ part of the web site, Viva states they don’t use mechanically separated meat (MSM) of their recipes. MSM meets the requirements for human-grade however is usually used as an affordable various to complete meat in recent pet meals. Viva notes that MSM usually has a mushy texture and excessive calcium content material.
Recall Historical past
To the very best of our data, Viva uncooked cat meals has by no means been recalled. It’s price holding in thoughts that the corporate is only some years outdated, however Viva appears to prioritize ingredient high quality and protected manufacturing processes.
What Sorts of Cat Meals Does Viva Supply?
Viva presents a restricted assortment of single-protein, nutritionally balanced uncooked meals for cats and canine. These recipes are nutritionally full and balanced in line with AAFCO nutrient profiles for cats.
All Viva uncooked cat meals are made with complete cuts of muscle meat or complete birds. Along with muscle meat and organs, every recipe is supplemented with natural egg yolk, fish oil, and cod liver oil. Different helpful components could embrace Chilean mussels, dietary yeast, oyster meat, and nutrient dietary supplements like taurine and vitamin E.
The Viva uncooked cat meals lineup contains the next 5 protein choices:
- Hen
- Turkey
- Beef
- Duck
- Rabbit
Although Viva cat meals is meant for uncooked feeding, it can be cooked earlier than serving. Viva recommends gently sauteeing the meals over low-medium warmth till it simply begins to brown, about 3-5 minutes. Be sure you pour any liquid that cooks out into your cat’s bowl.
What Did Our Check Cats Assume?
To check Viva uncooked cat meals, I ordered three totally different recipes: turkey, beef, and rabbit. My order was processed and shipped rapidly, the merchandise arriving safely frozen and full of dry ice and recyclable insulation.
As a result of Viva sells its uncooked meals in two packs, I used to be capable of pop one package deal of every taste within the freezer and the opposite within the fridge to thaw. The meals packets are designed to peel open however I discovered myself having to make use of scissors to chop into them. From there, nevertheless, the meals was straightforward to scoop right into a bowl and the graceful texture blended properly with my cats’ common meals.
Viva Uncooked Cat Meals – High 3 Recipes Reviewed
What Do Prospects Consider Viva Cat Meals?
As a result of Viva was solely based a couple of years in the past, buyer opinions are nonetheless somewhat exhausting to search out outdoors of the model’s web site. On the Viva web site, prospects give the model a median of 4.83 out of 5 stars, with a complete of round 1200 opinions.
Optimistic Opinions
“I’ve transitioned my new 3 yr outdated Ragdoll to Viva from a life time of consuming kibble. She loves it! I obtained my pattern pack and she or he’s loved each protein with no downside switching to the following.” – D.N. on VivaRawPets.com, on January 1st, 2024
“I couldn’t be happier with the corporate. I really like seeing the Instagram posts exhibiting the corporate’s transparency and high quality management of their merchandise.” – W.S. on VivaRawPets.com, on January 2nd, 2024
Viva prospects appear to understand the model’s number of protein choices in addition to the standard of the merchandise and transparency about their processing. A number of opinions point out errors with their first order however those self same prospects additionally report that Viva’s customer support workforce acted rapidly to resolve the problem and the expertise didn’t bitter their opinion of the model.
Unfavourable Opinions
“I ordered the turkey and duck for my kitties and whereas the duck packages had been tightly sealed, the turkey packaging was not the very best. There have been air pockets which prompted the meat to grow to be freezer burnt.” – J.G. on VivaRawPets.com, on August 2nd, 2023
“First time I purchased the meals my cat was going loopy for it. It seemed tremendous recent. The second time (proper now) the meals seemed much less recent and my cat legitimately has been taking a chew or two and losing the remaining each time I give him any.” – D.L. on VivaRawPets.com, on June twelfth, 2023
Opinions on Viva’s web site are overwhelmingly constructive, nevertheless it’s all the time tough to inform whether or not a model posts all of the opinions they obtain or simply the great ones. The restricted detrimental opinions of Viva appear to give attention to the worth and a few cats refusing to eat it.
There are additionally feedback concerning the 2-pound packages being too massive, however Viva appears to have remedied this subject by promoting the meals in two-packs of 1-pound packages.
How A lot Does Viva Cat Meals Value?
Viva is designed as a subscription service like Smalls the place you present details about your pet and obtain a custom-made meal plan. You may as well place particular person orders, although a 10-pound minimal applies.
Viva uncooked meals are priced per pound with prices starting from $6.75/pound for the rooster recipe to $10.50/pound for the rabbit recipe. Per ounce, Viva uncooked meals ranges from $0.42 to $0.66. It’s comparatively priced with different uncooked pet meals producers like Smallbatch Pets and Darwin’s Pure.
The calorie content material of Viva’s uncooked meals recipes varies however averages round 45 energy per ounce. To feed a 10-pound cat Viva uncooked meals, the day by day price would vary from $2 to $3.
The place is Viva Cat Meals Offered?
The perfect place to purchase Viva uncooked cat meals is thru the model’s web site. You may place particular person orders or begin a subscription primarily based in your cat’s customized meal plan. Viva can also be bought in a restricted variety of specialty pet meals shops round the US. Many of the shops are positioned in southern California or main cities alongside the East Coast.
While you buy by means of the Viva web site, you’ll obtain free transport on orders over $250. Some exclusions apply, similar to Alaska, Hawaii, and sure areas of Texas & Montana. Pricing for transport on all orders below $250 is a flat charge of $10-$20, primarily based in your transport zone.
