Rayne Vitamin Cat Meals Assessment

Kate Barrington / Cats.com

Providing an array of therapeutic and upkeep diets made with novel proteins, Rayne Vitamin is gaining recognition amongst homeowners of cats with continual digestive points and meals allergy symptoms. However is it the suitable selection to your cat? Discover out on this unbiased, in-depth evaluation.

The Cats.com Commonplace—Ranking Rayne Vitamin 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.

In whole, we give Rayne Vitamin cat meals a 46 out of 60 score or a B+ grade.

Why Belief Cats.com

One in all my cats has a extreme allergy to poultry (and suspected allergy symptoms for different proteins), so I’ve tried dozens of limited-ingredient and novel protein diets through the years. The one protein Biscuit has constantly tolerated is rabbit. Sadly, rabbit-based cat meals aren’t significantly widespread—particularly merchandise with out different proteins in them.

When a Cats.com reader requested us to evaluation Rayne Vitamin, I used to be keen to take action. Along with totally researching the model and brushing by way of buyer evaluations, I ordered and examined three Rayne Vitamin merchandise with my two cats, Biscuit and Munchkin. They offered their subjective opinions in regards to the meals whereas I utilized the feline diet experience I’ve gained over the previous 12+ years to evaluating the merchandise objectively.

About Rayne Vitamin

Based in 2009 by John Phelps and Dan Pitts, Rayne Vitamin is predicated in Kansas Metropolis, Missouri. Rayne Vitamin is a prescription pet meals model bought solely by way of the model’s web site (and by some veterinary practices). It’s marketed as whole-food diet for pets with “high quality that vets belief.”

Rayne Vitamin’s major objective is to offer full and balanced pet diets made with minimally processed components. Their merchandise are formulated below the steerage of veterinary and animal well being specialists, a few of whom are listed on the Rayne Vitamin web site. Rayne additionally references scientific analysis on the corporate web site that gives additional context for the model’s dietary philosophy and product lineup.

The concept behind Rayne’s Complete Meals Philosophy is that less-processed meals are decrease in superior glycation end-products (AGEs). Scientific analysis means that accumulation of food-derived AGEs may enhance irritation and oxidative stress—two key components that contribute to continual illness.

Not solely are Rayne’s merchandise designed to assist forestall continual illness, however a lot of them are formulated to supply assist for present situations like meals allergy symptoms, urinary stones, and diabetes mellitus. A lot of Rayne Vitamin’s cat meals merchandise are made with novel proteins like rabbit or kangaroo.

Sourcing and Manufacturing

Consistent with Rayne Vitamin’s claims that high quality components matter, the corporate provides full ingredient transparency. Rayne Vitamin merchandise are made in the USA with components sourced primarily from North America. Essentially the most notable exceptions embrace kangaroo from Australia and rabbit from France and Italy.

Along with sourcing components from respected suppliers, Rayne Vitamin prioritizes high quality management. The corporate follows a set formulation coverage—ingredient proportions are stored constant in each batch (some producers alter ingredient ranges primarily based on price). Rayne Vitamin additionally makes use of third-party unbiased labs to check incoming components in addition to the completed merchandise.

Essentially the most important ingredient of high quality management for cats with meals allergy symptoms is Rayne’s thorough product line cleansing course of. Manufacturing traces are absolutely shut down, organically cleaned, and flushed out between recipes to forestall cross-contamination.

Some on-line sources recommend the manufacturing traces are owned and operated by CJ Meals, a personal label firm. I reached out to customer support and was advised Rayne now not makes use of CJ Meals, however they don’t personal their manufacturing traces both. They use third-party manufacturing amenities however implement their very own cleansing procedures earlier than and after manufacturing.

Recall Historical past

Within the firm’s 15-year historical past, Rayne Vitamin has not skilled a product recall. A publish within the firm’s weblog means that cautious ingredient choice and strict high quality management measures are the first motive. Rayne particularly mentions mycotoxin contamination as a standard motive for pet meals remembers and explains intimately what the model does to forestall it.

What Sorts of Cat Meals Does Rayne Vitamin Provide?

Rayne Vitamin provides moist, dry, and freeze-dried merchandise for canine and cats. There are two methods to browse the cat meals product choice on Rayne’s web site: by featured ingredient or by the situation you’re looking for to handle.

All Rayne Vitamin pet meals merchandise are marketed below the model identify TheraDiet. A lot of the recipes are made with kangaroo or rabbit as the only protein supply, although a couple of merchandise function pork as a substitute.

Right here’s an inventory of the cat meals merchandise from Rayne Vitamin:

• Rabbit-MAINT Chunky Stew
• Kangaroo-MAINT Chunky Stew
• Grownup Well being-RSS Chunky Stew
• Development/Delicate-GI Chunky Stew
• Rabbit-MAINT Dry Cat Meals
• Kangaroo-MAINT Freeze-Dried Cat Meals
• Rabbit-MAINT Canned Paté
• Kangaroo-MAINT Canned Paté
• Rabbit-MAINT Paté Cups

The TheraDiet line is split between upkeep and diagnostic diets. The upkeep recipes listed above are nutritionally full; recipes like Kangaroo-DIAG and Rabbit-DIAG are designed to be used as elimination diets. They include a single protein and carbohydrate supply however are usually not full and balanced so they don’t seem to be designed for long-term feeding; they need to solely be used to verify meals allergy symptoms earlier than switching to a nutritionally full weight loss program.

What Did Our Check Cats Suppose?

Kate Barrington / Cats.com

To check Rayne Vitamin, I ordered two rabbit-based and one kangaroo-based product. My choice included one dry meals, one canned meals, and one chunky stew.

Whereas my cats are used to consuming rabbit-based meals, they’ve by no means had kangaroo earlier than. They appeared to benefit from the kangaroo paté however not as a lot as they preferred the chunky stew made with rabbit. My cats’ opinion on the rabbit-based dry cat meals appeared to match what another prospects have reported—their cats eat it however don’t appear significantly excited by it.

After I positioned my order, I used to be required to offer contact data for my veterinarian and the clinic I exploit. As a result of my order shipped virtually instantly, nevertheless, I can’t say for certain whether or not Rayne verified the data. I did obtain an e-mail asking for a written copy of my cats’ prescription however there wasn’t any follow-up.

Rayne Vitamin Cat Meals – High 3 Recipes Reviewed

What Do Clients Consider Rayne Vitamin Cat Meals?

As a result of Rayne Vitamin merchandise are solely bought by way of the model’s web site (and a few veterinary practices), on-line evaluations are sparse. Rayne Vitamin does permit prospects to price and evaluation merchandise on the web site, however it’s at all times arduous to inform whether or not a pet meals model publishes each evaluation or simply the constructive ones.

Optimistic Opinions

Clients typically appear happy with Rayne Vitamin cat meals. Many happy prospects remark that the novel protein diets work higher to alleviate their cats’ meals allergy symptoms and digestive points than different prescription merchandise they’ve tried. That stated, a number of prospects famous that their cats began to lose curiosity within the meals after some time.

“My cat loves his rabbit-MAINT stew!! He has a number of meals allergy symptoms and I struggled to search out meals that he preferred and was good for him. The vet advisable one other model and he selected this one. He’s wholesome once more!”—Juan P. on RayneNutrition.com, September 10, 2024

“Initially, our cats liked this. After a couple of weeks on a strict weight loss program, they’ve been much less enthusiastic about it. General, it is a superb choice, however take into account that it received’t be their favourite meal endlessly.”—MG on RayneNutrition.com, August 16, 2024

Adverse Opinions

The commonest complaints about Rayne Vitamin cat meals contain the value (particularly the price of delivery) and the chunky stew packaging. A number of cat homeowners additionally famous that their cats merely didn’t take care of the Rabbit-MAINT dry meals—even when they liked a number of the moist meals recipes.

“My cat has a meals allergy and GI points however has discovered this single supply protein weight loss program to work properly. Whereas she nonetheless tries to steal our different cat’s meals, she eats each morsel of this! Nonetheless, that is the WORST packaging ever!! I completely hate it! It’s extraordinarily arduous to open and really troublesome to get the meals out in an correct quantity.”—Acarl387 on RayneNutrition.com, January 13, 2024

“She completely loves the moist Rabbit-Maint, much more than her earlier moist meals (we didn’t even need to do a transition hybrid-mix of the 2) however for no matter motive she shouldn’t be proud of the dry Rabbit-MAINT, and hasn’t touched it, even when blended with a beneficiant portion of her standard dry meals.”—Edward on RayneNutrition.com, October 13, 2024

How A lot Does Rayne Vitamin Cat Meals Price?

This model provides a restricted array of merchandise and pricing is comparable throughout the identical product kind. Canned meals, for instance, common $0.67 per ounce whereas novel protein chunky stews price about $0.62 per ounce. Different TheraDiet chunky stews are barely cheaper and the Rabbit-MAINT paté cups are dearer—about $0.82 per ounce.

Dry cat meals is often cheaper than moist cat meals, however Rayne Vitamin’s solely dry meals has the identical per-ounce worth as their canned meals. The product with the very best price ticket is Kangaroo-MAINT freeze-dried meals, which prices greater than $2 per ounce. Even so, it’s roughly half the value of Stella & Chewy’s Completely Rabbit and about $0.85 cheaper per ounce than Open Farm’s freeze-dried cat meals.

Rayne Vitamin provides free floor delivery on orders over $60, in any other case the delivery charge begins at $7.99 and will increase on a sliding scale. Clients who select the AutoShip choice will save a further 5% on subscribed merchandise.

The place Is Rayne Vitamin Cat Meals Bought?

Rayne Vitamin cat meals merchandise are solely bought by way of the model’s web site. You’ll be able to place a one-time order or subscribe with AutoShip to obtain common deliveries. You’ll be able to customise your supply frequency to each one to fifteen weeks.

As a result of Rayne Vitamin prioritizes therapeutic diet, you may be capable to buy it by way of your veterinarian. Some vets may carry it, however it will depend on the veterinarian.

General, Is Rayne Vitamin a Good Alternative?

Though novel proteins and limited-ingredient diets are extra available than ever, cross-contamination remains to be a critical concern for some pet dad and mom. Even common manufacturers like Weruva and Tiki Cat that supply poultry-free merchandise may use shared gear to make these meals. Should you’re on the lookout for a model that takes precautions to forestall cross-contamination and prioritizes single-protein formulation, Rayne Vitamin may very well be the suitable selection.

The draw back of Rayne Vitamin is the meals could also be a bit expensive for some budgets (however nonetheless corresponding to different prescription manufacturers like Hill’s and Royal Canin). Availability is proscribed to the model web site as properly, however which may not be a difficulty for those who store for cat meals on-line anyway.

Related Manufacturers

In search of different cat meals manufacturers much like Rayne Vitamin? Try a few of our different model evaluations.