Finding the best cat food for your feline family member can be a daunting task. This is in part due to the large number of choices out there. It helps to learn more about a brand beyond a cute picture and catchy name. One pet nutrition company that has started to get a lot of attention is Dr. Marty’s Nature’s Feast. The brainchild of a celebrity veterinarian, this brand focuses on holistic, macrobiotic nutrition. In this Dr. Marty cat food review, we get into the details behind the label of this celebrity-backed pet food.
Have you ever heard of Dr. Marty? It is highly likely you have, as he is a well-known figure on major television shows like the Oprah Show, Martha Stewart, and Good Morning America. Is this brand good? Does Dr. Marty’s product live up to the hype? Is this a legitimate pet nutrition company? Owners have many questions; we are here to help find the answers.
Dr. Marty makes high-quality pet food from carefully selected ingredients developed to support animals’ natural diet and whole-body health. Without further ado, let’s learn more about the products and philosophy behind Dr. Marty’s pet food formulas.
Key Features
- Premium freeze-dried raw cat food
- Limited ingredients
- All-natural
- High protein
- Made in house
- Veterinarian designed
- Macrobiotic diet
- Cat and dog meals, treats, and supplements
Brand History
Dr. Marty’s brand was founded by veterinarian Dr. Martin Goldstein. He has over 45 years of experience holistically treating small animals like dogs and cats. Dr. Marty has always promoted holistic treatment methods that support whole-body health. After going through some of his own personal health struggles and learning the benefits of a macrobiotic diet, the doctor decided to apply this same approach to his four-legged patients. According to information from the Better Business Bureau, the company was started in 2017 and has been BBB accredited since 2018.
The brand’s foods are all manufactured in-house in a company-owned facility located in Woodland Hills, California. Currently, they produce raw, freeze-dried cat chow, supplements, and treats. The company also makes freeze-dried raw dog food, treats, and health supplements. Foods use all-natural ingredients, no artificial elements, no fillers, and no unnecessary additives. The brand is committed to nutritional excellence and providing the best possible nutrition for felines.
Dr. Marty’s stands out due to the high-quality ingredients and the no-heat, freeze-drying process. All recipes use meat ingredients. This brand uses first-hand knowledge, over 45 years of medical experience, and an integrative medicine approach to create recipes explicitly developed to support feline nutrition and health.
Recall Information
Fortunately, this brand has never undergone a recall for either feline or canine products. This is excellent news and shows that the brand complies with all safety and quality measures needed to provide a high-quality product.
Ingredients
As obligate carnivores, cats require diets heavy in high-quality animal proteins. They need other ingredients, including fat, carbohydrates, and healthy fiber, to aid digestion. High-quality pet nutrition should use healthy ingredients that are responsibly sourced. Foods that do not use unidentified meat by-products and bulky fillers like corn and wheat gluten are best. A protein-based diet helps cats maintain their overall growth, development, and lifelong health.
Fats help felines by providing energy and assisting in absorbing fat-soluble vitamins like A, D, E, and K. Fat also helps support healthy skin and brain development. It is also essential to ensure felines get enough water, as they have a low thirst drive. Freeze-dried options like this help provide moisture when rehydrated with water or broth.
This brand uses animal proteins, including chicken, duck, salmon, whitefish, turkey, beef, and organ meats from poultry, to provide that high-quality protein.
Other ingredients include fruits and vegetables like apples, carrots, peas, sweet potato, cranberry, blueberry, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, kelp, broccoli, kale, spinach, ginger, and other additives like flaxseed and egg.
One thing that separates Dr. Marty is that they use fresh, raw ingredients. The company is not very transparent about where ingredients are sourced from, but manufacturing all happens in North America.
All recipes created by the Dr. Marty brand use only all-natural ingredients in order to provide the best nutritional value. All recipes are freeze-dried raw. These recipes use 82% to 87% premium cuts of meat.
Dr. Marty’s Cat Food
Currently, the company makes three different varieties of raw, freeze-dried feline meals. These can all be purchased through the company website. All recipes work to support feline-specific health, use high-quality ingredients, and go through the freeze-drying process to retain top nutritional value and meaty flavor. Meals can be served straight from the bag or soaked in water to rehydrate. Combine two parts chow with one part of water and allow it to sit for three minutes. Stir up and serve.
Nature's Feast Essential Wellness Fish & Poultry
- Multiple poultry and fish proteins.
- No artificial ingredients or fillers.
- Includes organ meats.
- 37% minimum crude protein.
- 23% minimum crude fat.
- 3% maximum crude fiber.
This fish and poultry recipe formula supports feline overall health, digestion, energy, and mobility and supports healthy teeth and skin. This recipe aims to help prolong a cat’s lifespan. Every batch uses high-quality meats, vegetables, fruit, and seeds. There are no artificial preservatives, fillers, or synthetic ingredients.
This contains salmon, turkey, whitefish, chicken liver, chicken heart, chicken gizzard, sweet potato, flaxseed, egg, pumpkin seeds, peas, carrot, apple, blueberry, cranberry, ginger, salt, kelp, sunflower seeds, spinach, broccoli, kale, and mixed tocopherols as a natural preservative.
This grain-free recipe has 37% minimum crude protein, 23% minimum crude fat, and 3% maximum fiber. It has 246 kcal/cup. The recipe uses 87% premium cuts of meat and minimal processing. This is one of the brand’s top sellers, packed with meaty flavor in a highly palatable texture.
Nature's Feast Essential Wellness Poultry
- Contains turkey, duck, goose, quail, and turkey liver.
- 88% premium poultry cuts.
- Packed with flavor.
- 37% minimum crude protein.
- 27% minimum crude fat.
- 4% maximum crude fiber.
This unique blend of poultry proteins and fresh vegetables and fruit creates a tasty, nutritionally balanced meal specifically designed for feline nutrition. This contains 88% premium cuts of poultry. This high-protein formula supports healthy muscles and joints and promotes a soft, silky, healthy coat. This one is packed with poultry flavor and appeals to even the pickiest eaters.
This recipe contains turkey, duck, goose, quail, turkey liver, flaxseed, sweet potato, spinach, pumpkin seed, cranberry, blueberry, apple, carrot, ginger, dried kelp, salt, sunflower seed, broccoli, kale, and mixed tocopherols as a natural preservative. This recipe offers 37% minimum crude protein, 27% minimum crude fat, and 4% maximum crude fiber. It provides 227 kcal/cup.
Nature's Feast Essential Wellness Beef, Salmon & Poultry
- Protein blend.
- Turkey, beef, salmon, duck, and organ meats.
- Supports healthy weight and muscle function.
- 37% minimum crude protein.
- 27% minimum crude fat.
- 4% maximum crude fiber.
This protein-heavy recipe supports healthy feline weight, productive, limber muscles, and healthy digestion. It provides plenty of energy to keep your cat happy and active. This recipe features a blend of proteins. It uses turkey, beef, salmon, duck, beef liver, turkey liver, turkey heart, flaxseed, sweet potato, egg, pea protein, apple, blueberry, carrot, cranberry color pumpkin seed, spinach, dried kelp, ginger, salt, sunflower seed, broccoli, kale, and mixed tocopherols as a natural preservative.
This recipe offers 37% minimum crude protein, 27% minimum crude fat, and 4% maximum crude fiber. Contains 82% premium cuts of real meat. Provides plenty of protein as well as nutrients and minerals. Offers 256 kcal/cup.
Cat Treats
Dr. Martin’s also offers three varieties of freeze-dried raw cat treats. These offer a natural source of protein, omega-3 fatty acids, flavor, and more. These tasty, nutritious treats support healthy skin, soft fur, immune system, and overall health. Treats do not need rehydrating and can be served as is. Although these use high-quality salmon and are healthy, cats should stick to one or two daily treats.
Squeeki's Delights
- Freeze-dried raw salmon.
- Premium meat cuts.
- Packed with a meaty flavor.
- 47% minimum crude protein.
- 5% minimum crude fat.
- 2% maximum crude fiber.
This is a salmon-flavored treat made from 100% freeze-dried raw salmon. It helps to support feline skin, fur, immune system, and more. Provides 168 kcal/per scoop. Offers 47% minimum crew protein, 5% minimum crude fat, and 2% maximum crude fiber. Provides a healthy boost of Omega threes.
Topi's Tasties
- Freeze-dried raw chicken breast.
- Packed with protein.
- Elevated chicken flavor.
- 71% minimum crude protein.
- 6% minimum crude fat.
- 1.5% maximum crude fiber.
For cats that like chicken flavor, this is the perfect freeze-dried raw treat—using 100% freeze-dried chicken breast. It provides nutrition and taste to support agile movement, healthy coat, and cardiac health. This one is exceptionally high in protein and packs 71% minimum crude protein, 6% minimum crude fat, and 1.5% maximum crude fiber. Offers 139 kcal/per scoop. It offers a pure, raw chicken flavor that felines adore.
Jasmine's Gems
- Freeze-dried raw chicken liver.
- Packed with protein.
- Pure raw organ meat flavor.
- 62% minimum crude protein.
- 15% minimum crude fat.
- 1.5% maximum crude fiber.
These tasty, freeze-dried chicken liver treats are a feline superfood. They support a strong mind and healthy vision, as well as provide a boost of support to the immune system. These premium treats appeal to cats of all ages and sizes, even the pickiest eaters. These trades offer 62% minimum crude protein, 15% minimum crude fat, and 1.5% minimum crude fiber. Provides 135 calories per scoop. With nothing but freeze-dried raw chicken liver, these treats will surely be a feline favorite.
Our Personal Experience With Dr. Marty’s
I was able to try Dr. Marty’s food with my cats. They are senior cats, about 11 years old. They are both very spry and active. Above all, they love to eat. I normally feed them canned or dry food, so they were very excited to try freeze-dried. Right away, they were excited when I opened the bag. My cats had no problem eating this right out of the bag. They really like the taste. I was not sure if they would, as the food has a very strong aroma, but they both dove right in. Every time I add this to their bowl, they eat it up very quickly.Â
So far, the food has been a big hit. They even picked it over some of the canned food I was feeding them. When I mix it with a little bit of harder kibble is their favorite. They like that bit of crunch and cannot get enough of the fresh, meaty flavor.
I have noticed a bit more energy in both kitties. As well, their coats are very soft, and the little box has not been as smelly. One of my cats has some digestive issues and suffered in the past from crystals in his urine, so he can be picky about food. He loves Dr. Marty’s food, and we have noticed a definite improvement in the litter area. This is very high-quality food and leaves my cats feeling full, so they are not seeking out snacks or getting into other pet foods in search of a treat. I highly recommend this food, especially for older picky cats.
Cat Supplements
Currently, the company offers one supplement formulated to support feline health.
Feline Prime
- Digestive health supplement.
- Less stinky poop.
- Promotes healthy gut bacteria.
- Probiotic digestive enzyme blend.
- Supports mood.
- Contains prebiotic fiber.
The Feline Prime supplement works to promote perfect poops and support feline digestive health. It uses premium probiotics and prebiotic fiber to support a healthy gut. The supplement also promotes oral health, bad breath, and more. Its formula supports healthy gut bacteria and flushes out harmful bacteria. This helpful balance is beneficial to health and happiness. Works to support mood and help make cleaning the litter box less stinky.
This supplement blend includes a probiotic digestive enzyme blend: Protease, Amylase, Cellulase, Hemicellulase, Lipase, Papain, Bromelain, Bacillus coagulans, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacterium lactis/longum, Lactobacillus plantarum, and Fructooligosaccharides (FOS)
It also includes Gum Acacia, Champignon mushroom extract, and bovine bone broth.
Is Dr. Marty’s Cat Food Good
Dr. Marty’s feline line is an above-average, high-quality product. They are using limited ingredients and meat-heavy formulas. These freeze-dried raw offerings provide cats with top nutrition and irresistible flavor. These recipes use plenty of named, easy-to-digest, natural animal proteins. The carefully selected fruits and vegetables balance out the recipes, offering great taste and excellent nutritional value.
Food offers a raw meat flavor and lightly processed food that retains top nutrient value and superior taste. Additionally, it can be served dry or wet, as a standalone meal, or as a Topper. This is an above-average product, which offers much better taste and nutritional value than many other commercially available products.
How Much Is Dr. Marty’s? Is It Worth The Price?
This brand is much more expensive than many others on the market. Customers are asked to purchase directly from the manufacturer’s website and not from any third-party sellers. This is a necessity to guarantee product authenticity. Customers can purchase one bag at a time or set up a 3 or 6-bag subscription. Buying multiple bags saves money in the long run as customers are offered a discount for subscribing.
Products vary in price depending on the recipe purchased. However, single 12-ounce bags start at $29.95. Subscriptions range from $59.95 to $323.70. Treats are also pricey, starting at $17.95 per bag. The feline prime supplement starts at $69.95 for 1 container.
The company offers free shipping on all US orders over $50.
Dr. Marty’s prices are significantly higher than many other pet food options. However, they are comparable to other human-grade, fresh, and raw food delivery options. Owners can start with one bag before committing to a regular delivery to see if their cats like it. If money is no object, this food is a fantastic choice. If you cannot afford this as your cat’s primary nutrition, it can be a tasty addition as a treat or topper.
Pros & Cons
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
Fresh raw ingredients | Very expensive |
High-quality, nutrient-dense feline food | Not very transparent ingredient sourcing |
Suitable for most cats | Some cats do not like the texture of the rehydrated food |
High natural protein content | It may be high in protein for some cats |
Supports mobility, bone, and joint health | |
Very low processing | |
Exceptional flavor | |
Supports whole body health | |
Holistic focus | |
No recalls | |
In-house manufacturing |
Final Thoughts
Dr. Marty’s Nature’s Feast premium freeze-dried raw cat food is an exceptional choice for any feline. It is very high-priced, so it may not be easy on the budget for everyone. If you cannot afford it, your cats will benefit significantly from this top-quality nutrition. The limited ingredient formulas are meat-heavy, providing felines with those animal proteins they crave, and need to survive.
While this food is pricey, it is of exceptional quality. If you are still determining if this brand suits your purr baby, there are many others to look at. Smalls offers another freeze-dried, high-quality kibble option and fresh human-grade meals. Owners can also consider Open Farm, Fromm, and Cat Person if they want higher-quality premium nutrition for their feline family members. Remember, if you are concerned about your cat’s nutrition, discussing this with your veterinarian before making any dietary changes is essential. When you decide to switch your kitty to a new food, do so gradually so as not to cause digestive upset and discomfort.