Steve's Real Food Quest Pork Recipe Freeze-Dried Cat Food (10 oz)

Free-Range Pork Prey Model Freeze-Dried Raw Cat Food for Sensitive & Selective Cats

Product Description

Steve's Real Food Quest Pork Recipe Freeze-Dried Cat Food is a complete and balanced prey model raw diet made with 95% free-range pork — including muscle meat, liver, heart, and ground bone — and 5% purposefully selected superfoods including goat's milk, flaxseed, chia seeds, kelp, and sesame seeds. Pork is a novel protein that is naturally low in sodium and fat, making this recipe an excellent option for cats with sensitivities to more common proteins like chicken or beef, or for those requiring a lower-fat diet. Cold freeze-dried without cooking to preserve natural nutrients, taurine, and flavor, these small bite-sized nuggets are easy to rehydrate and serve a clean, convenient, and species-appropriate choice even for the most selective of cats.

Benefits

• Novel Protein for Sensitive Cats: Pork is a less commonly used protein in commercial cat food, making this recipe a suitable rotation option for cats with known sensitivities to chicken or beef, or those benefiting from dietary variety to reduce the risk of developing food intolerances.
• 95% Free-Range Pork, Organ & Bone: Made with responsibly sourced free-range pork, pork liver, and pork heart from a five-generation family farm in Idaho, raised without antibiotics, hormones, or artificial preservatives, and processed using high-pressure processing for safety.
• Low Fat, Low Sodium Profile: Pork is naturally low in sodium and lower in fat than beef, making this an appealing option for cats that need to manage their weight or are on a lower-fat feeding plan under veterinary guidance.
• Complete & Balanced for All Life Stages: Formulated to meet and exceed AAFCO Cat Food Nutrient Profiles for all life stages, making it a suitable full daily diet for kittens, adult cats, and seniors.
• Convenient Freeze-Dried Raw Nuggets: Cold freeze-dried without cooking to preserve nutrients at their peak — shelf-stable, no refrigeration needed before opening, and easy to rehydrate with warm water, bone broth, or raw goat's milk.

Ingredients

Ground Pork, Pork Heart, Pork Liver, Ground Pork Bones, Goat's Milk, Premix (Potassium Chloride, Salt, Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Taurine, Calcium Carbonate, Vitamin E Supplement, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Niacin Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Folic Acid, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement), Coconut Oil, Salmon Oil, Mixed Tocopherols (For Freshness), Taurine, New Zealand Green Lipped Mussels, Organic Dried Kelp, Choline Chloride, Rosemary Extract.

Guaranteed Analysis

How to Use

General Daily Feeding Guideline

Directions for Use

• Always Rehydrate Before Serving: Add ¾ cup of warm water per 1 cup of freeze-dried food, stir well, and allow approximately 5 minutes for the liquid to fully absorb before serving. Warm water, low-sodium bone broth, or raw goat's milk are all suitable rehydration liquids.
• Dry Nuggets as Treats Only: A few dry nuggets are acceptable as treats, but do not serve the full meal dry — unhydrated food absorbs moisture in the digestive tract and may cause dehydration, constipation, or discomfort in cats.
• Transition Gradually: Transition over 1 to 2 weeks by mixing increasing amounts of this food with your cat's current food, starting with 1 part Steve's to 3 parts old food and slowly adjusting the ratio over each day.
• Refrigerate After Rehydrating: Once water has been added, any uneaten portion should be covered and refrigerated; consume within 3 days.
• Store Properly: Keep the bag sealed and stored in a cool, dark cupboard away from direct sunlight, moisture, and extreme temperature fluctuations; use within the shelf life indicated on the package.

Additional Information

Precautions

• Always Rehydrate Fully: Never serve the full daily meal portion dry — moisture is essential for feline digestion and urinary tract health; always rehydrate with warm water, broth, or goat's milk before serving as a meal.
• Consult Your Vet for Health Conditions: Cats with kidney disease, urinary tract issues, pancreatitis, or other chronic health conditions should only be transitioned to a raw diet under direct veterinary supervision.
• Monitor Weight on Lower-Fat Diet: The pork recipe is naturally lower in fat than the beef variant; monitor your cat's body condition and adjust portion size accordingly if unintended weight loss is observed.
• Raw Meat Handling: Treat this product as you would any raw meat — wash hands, bowls, and surfaces thoroughly before and after each serving to reduce the risk of cross-contamination for human family members.
• Goat's Milk Sensitivity: This recipe contains goat's milk; cats with known dairy sensitivities should be monitored closely during the transition period and a veterinarian consulted if any adverse reactions occur.

Possible Side Effects

• Digestive Adjustment: Some cats may experience loose stools, mild vomiting, or temporary digestive upset during the first 1 to 2 weeks of transitioning to raw; a gradual 1–2 week transition significantly reduces the likelihood and severity of these symptoms.
• Detox Response: Cats transitioning from highly processed dry kibble may experience a brief period of adjustment with temporary changes in stool quality, coat condition, or energy levels as their body adapts to a biologically appropriate raw diet.
• Constipation if Fed Dry: Serving the full meal without rehydrating can dehydrate cats and cause digestive discomfort or constipation; always serve fully rehydrated as a meal.
• Food Sensitivity Reaction: Cats with known sensitivities to pork or dairy (goat's milk) may experience vomiting, skin irritation, itching, or digestive upset; discontinue use and consult a veterinarian if any adverse symptoms appear.
• Appetite Changes: Cats transitioning from kibble may be initially hesitant to accept the new texture and aroma; warming the rehydrated meal slightly and introducing it gradually typically improves acceptance over time.

Shipping & Returns

We offer ground, express, priority, and international delivery; see our shipping policy for details.

For return instructions or product concerns, please refer to our detailed refund policy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: Is this a complete and balanced meal for cats?

Ans: Yes, Steve's Quest Pork Recipe is formulated to meet and exceed AAFCO Cat Food Nutrient Profiles for all life stages. It is designed to serve as a cat's full daily diet and is appropriate for kittens, adult cats, and seniors when fed in adequate daily amounts.

Q2: Why is pork considered a good option for cats with food sensitivities?

Ans: Pork is a novel protein that is less commonly used in commercial cat food, which reduces the likelihood of prior sensitization. It is also naturally low in sodium and lower in fat, making it a suitable choice for cats with sensitivities to chicken or beef, or those needing dietary variety.

Q3: Is it safe to feed pork raw to cats?

Ans: Yes. Steve's Real Food takes specific steps to ensure the pork is safe, including sourcing from high-quality, USDA-verified family farms, using high-pressure processing to eliminate harmful pathogens and parasites, and freezing the pork to temperatures well below CDC recommendations to eliminate trichinella.

Q4: Must this freeze-dried food always be rehydrated before serving as a meal?

Ans: Yes. While a few dry nuggets as treats are acceptable, the full daily meal must always be rehydrated before serving. Unhydrated food absorbs moisture in the digestive tract, which can dehydrate cats and may lead to constipation or intestinal discomfort.

Q5: How do you rehydrate this freeze-dried pork cat food?

Ans: Add ¾ cup of warm water per 1 cup of freeze-dried food, stir to ensure even coverage, and allow the liquid to fully absorb into the nuggets for approximately 5 minutes. Warm low-sodium bone broth or raw goat's milk is also an excellent rehydration options that enhance palatability.

Q6: How much should a cat be fed daily?

Ans: A general starting guideline is approximately 2.5% of your cat's body weight per day, divided across two or more feedings. Use the feeding calculator at stevesrealfood.com/feeding-calculator for a personalized daily recommendation based on your cat's weight, age, and activity level.

Q7: Where does the pork in this recipe come from?

Ans: The pork is sourced from a five-generation family farm in Twin Falls, Idaho. The pigs are fed a biologically appropriate diet, roam freely, and are raised on a USDA-verified natural farm committed to sustainability and humane farming practices, free from added hormones, antibiotics, and pesticides.

Q8: How does the pork recipe compare nutritionally to the chicken and beef variants?

Ans: The pork recipe has the highest crude protein (49% min) of the three variants, a moderate fat content (29% min), and is classified by Steve's Real Food as both low-fat and low-sodium. Beef has the highest fat content (37% min) while chicken is the leanest at 22% min fat.

Q9: Is this recipe suitable for kittens and senior cats?

Ans: Yes, the Quest Pork Recipe is formulated for all life stages. Steve's Real Food confirms that raw feeding from kittenhood is encouraged, and recommends starting with easy-to-digest proteins. Pork is appropriate for adults and seniors, particularly those who benefit from a lower-sodium, moderate-fat diet.