Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Uncooked cat meals emulates the composition of a pure feline weight loss program however dietary stability remains to be a should. Not all industrial merchandise are formulated to offer the important vitamins your cat wants however Viva is.
When you’re contemplating switching to a uncooked weight loss program in your cat, a single-protein system from Viva may be choice. Right here’s what it’s essential know concerning the model and its merchandise.
The Cats.com Commonplace—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 penning this assessment, 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 house 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 common enchantment. My cats provided their opinions on the feel and taste of the meals whereas I made observations about how simple 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 contemporary pet meals firm based by Zach and Jenn (with assist from their canine, Karoo). Primarily based in Hillsborough, North Carolina, Viva was based in 2020. Inside two years, the corporate had earned $3 million in income. Viva now gives nationwide transport and its merchandise can be found in over a boutique and specialty pet meals shops.
What units Viva other than different uncooked pet meals producers is the chunky fashion of its pet food formulation. Viva believes “it’s essential for pet dad and mom to see what they’re feeding.” Out of respect for the carnivorous wants of cats, nonetheless, 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 substances 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 way of third-party audit packages. 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 a reasonable various to entire meat in contemporary pet meals. Viva notes that MSM usually has a mushy texture and excessive calcium content material.
Recall Historical past
To the perfect of our data, Viva uncooked cat meals has by no means been recalled. It’s value protecting in thoughts that the corporate is just a few years previous, however Viva appears to prioritize ingredient high quality and protected manufacturing processes.
What Sorts of Cat Meals Does Viva Provide?
Viva gives a restricted assortment of single-protein, nutritionally balanced uncooked meals for cats and canines. These recipes are nutritionally full and balanced in line with AAFCO nutrient profiles for cats.
All Viva uncooked cat meals are made with entire cuts of muscle meat or entire birds. Along with muscle meat and organs, every recipe is supplemented with natural egg yolk, fish oil, and cod liver oil. Different useful substances might embody 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:
- Rooster
- Turkey
- Beef
- Duck
- Rabbit
Although Viva cat meals is meant for uncooked feeding, it will also 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. Make sure you pour any liquid that cooks out into your cat’s bowl.
What Did Our Check Cats Suppose?
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, nonetheless, the meals was simple to scoop right into a bowl and the sleek 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 number of years in the past, buyer evaluations are nonetheless a bit laborious 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 evaluations.
Constructive Critiques
“I’ve transitioned my new 3 yr previous Ragdoll to Viva from a life time of consuming kibble. She loves it! I acquired my pattern pack and he or she’s loved each protein with no downside switching to the subsequent.” – D.N. on VivaRawPets.com, on January 1st, 2024
“I couldn’t be happier with the corporate. I really like seeing the Instagram posts displaying 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 evaluations 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 difficulty and the expertise didn’t bitter their opinion of the model.
Detrimental Critiques
“I ordered the turkey and duck for my kitties and whereas the duck packages have been tightly sealed, the turkey packaging was not the perfect. There have been air pockets which induced the meat to develop into 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 contemporary. The second time (proper now) the meals seemed much less contemporary and my cat legitimately has been taking a chunk or two and losing the remainder each time I give him any.” – D.L. on VivaRawPets.com, on June twelfth, 2023
Critiques on Viva’s web site are overwhelmingly optimistic, nevertheless it’s all the time tough to inform whether or not a model posts all of the evaluations they obtain or simply the nice ones. The restricted unfavorable evaluations of Viva appear to give attention to the value and a few cats refusing to eat it.
There are additionally feedback concerning the 2-pound packages being too giant, however Viva appears to have remedied this concern by promoting the meals in two-packs of 1-pound packages.
How A lot Does Viva Cat Meals Price?
Viva is designed as a subscription service like Smalls the place you present details about your pet and obtain a personalized meal plan. It’s also possible to 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 every day value would vary from $2 to $3.
The place is Viva Cat Meals Bought?
The most effective place to purchase Viva uncooked cat meals is thru the model’s web site. You may place particular person orders or begin a subscription based mostly in your cat’s customized meal plan. Viva can also be offered in a restricted variety of specialty pet meals shops round the US. A lot of the shops are positioned in southern California or main cities alongside the East Coast.
Once you buy by way of the Viva web site, you’ll obtain free transport on orders over $250. Some exclusions apply, reminiscent of Alaska, Hawaii, and sure areas of Texas & Montana. Pricing for transport on all orders underneath $250 is a flat fee of $10-$20, based mostly in your transport zone.
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