Louie & Jarrod

Louie had been troubled with food reactions for about a year before finding Raw Essentials. I had tried so many different commercial foods with no success. She would have hot spots along with hives and lick herself almost bald on her sides. While Louie has been with Raw Essentials we've learnt what she can and can't have and what foods she reacts to worse to than others so we know what to avoid. Louie can't have a lot of 'normal' food anymore but Raw Essentials has so much to offer, she's fed mostly a game diet but loves it so much. Rabbit, Salmon and Freeze-dried Lamb Tripe being her favourites!

Louie loves being raw fed and the plus of having a healthy balanced diet has helped her so much. She also has some supplements to help her out too. No more vet visits and no more prednisone needed. Going to Raw Essentials is the best decision I have made for Louie!

Kevi & Catrina

Our easy going cat, Kevin (Kevi), who had been no trouble for 10 years, suddenly stopped eating in March this year. He dropped weight suddenly, was lethargic and had a leaky gut. After a worrying few days, he was diagnosed as being diabetic. Kevi had spent his life eating dry biscuits. He went from being easy going to high maintenance, having two insulin injections per day, plus numerous vet visits (and costs) to ascertain appropriate insulin levels. His diet had to change dramatically and urgently, and a friend recommended Raw Essentials.
Kevi took to the raw diet easily and enjoys the variety of proteins. The team at Raw Essentials, specifically Lizzy and Rebecca (a vet herself) were incredibly supportive and knowledgeable when it came to what he needed to eat and how to transition him. They liaised directly with my vet and checked in with me weekly to offer advice regarding introducing new proteins. Their support was amazing and free! After his diagnosis 2 1/2 months ago, we were thrilled to see Kevi's glucose levels drop back to normal and he is now officially in remission (per a blood test with our vet). No more insulin or injections! This can only be explained by diet. The vet was surprised and we are delighted. I highly recommend Raw Essentials to anyone who is facing a diabetic diagnosis for their pet. Thanks so much Raw Essentials!

Krista & Kaylee

Krista is our 19-year-old cat and with her age, she has started slowing down, her coat started to go a little dull and she has always struggled with different store-bought cat foods but ever since giving her the raw food diet her spritely nature has come back and she's become more active, chirrupy and playful, we have also noticed her coat has started to shine again and her scent has changed for the better. Her Brother is 2 years old rescue that developed PICA syndrome, we got him when he was 3 months old and struggled to keep him away from household items as he would eat them leading to him needing to have surgery, we tried everything possible to try and get him out of this habit but it wasn't until our friend recommended raw essentials that we started noticing positive behavioural changes in him, he slowly but surely started to find household objects less appealing and now lets me know at 7 pm on the dot when it's his dinner time, after dinner time he sprints up and down the hallway chirping and happy, the Protein and Nutrients that raw feeding provides may very well have saved my kittens life. Two Very Happy Guts

Teddy & Skye

Teddy Kruger has been on a raw diet since he was a kitten, but it was never fully raw. After being diagnosed with diabetes in 2021, I struggled to keep his blood glucose levels stable—they bounced up and down no matter what I tried.

Three months ago, I decided to transition Teddy to a fully raw diet. Since then, the results have been incredible. His blood glucose levels have improved significantly, his coat is silky and velvety, his weight has naturally dropped, his breath is fresher, and he’s overall happier with more energy than ever.

Teddy has always been a picky eater, so finding foods he would stick with has been a challenge. But recently, he’s become more open-minded to different tastes and smells, and he’s tried almost all the different preys available.

I couldn’t be happier. Both Teddy and I are now very happy customers! The team at the New Lynn store has been amazing, checking in regularly—especially regarding his diabetes—and offering advice and support throughout his transition. I honestly couldn’t have asked for a better experience. Thank you.

After my cat Peppa was diagnosed with pancreatitis, I began researching ways to support her health and discovered that raw feeding may help. Nervous and unsure where to start, I visited the Raw Essentials Christchurch team — and with their guidance, Peppa transitioned successfully and hasn’t had another pancreatic attack.

The Raw Essentials vets, along with the Christchurch store team, supported me every step of the way, helping me transition both Peppa and my other cat, Frankie, onto raw with confidence. I was initially overwhelmed by the idea of raw feeding. I didn’t know how to begin, what ratios to feed, or how to transition safely.

Since switching, Peppa and Frankie are absolutely thriving. Peppa has not experienced another pancreatic episode, they love the variety of food, their coats are noticeably shinier and softer, and they seem more satisfied after meals than they ever were on processed cat food.

I will never return to supermarket cat food for my cats or any future pets. The Raw Essentials Christchurch team have been incredible — always friendly, helpful, and ready to suggest new options or answer any questions.

Lexi, JJ & Emma

We adopted Lexie and JJ after they were found out on the streets in South Auckland at just approximately 4 months old in June of this year. Initially we had them on a mixture of sachet food and hard biscuits when we first got them. They were constantly drinking water and ALWAYS wanting more food thinking they would be fed every time we entered the kitchen.

After some discussion we decided to start with Raw Essentials. Since starting Lexie and JJ they have been a lot calmer in themselves, sleep better throughout the night, not as ravenous and wanting food all day/as soon as you walk in the door after being out and also not as thirsty after eating. Another amazing benefit is no smelly poop! Since changing to a raw diet, they no longer have smelly poop and being indoor cats using a litter box this is such an amazing benefit! Their fur condition is also so much shinier and healthier as well!

Initially starting was a bit difficult to transition Lexie into eating the raw food however with the help and reassurance from the amazing staff in store we trialed different flavours and also the SuperCat Sprinkle on top of her food and now she will eat any flavour we purchase! Our saviour was the Beef, Wallaby and Heart flavour in getting her to enjoy Raw Food.

Tessa, Deb & Eric

Hi Tessa here! I’m a 9-year-old cat who used to be completely addicted to biscuits. I was free-fed on vet prescription biscuits and loved licking the gravy off the wet food—but the meat? Not so much. When my humans started feeding my brother Marley food from Raw Essentials, I took one look and thought, “Eew, no way!” I went on a full-blown hunger strike. They even had to keep topping up my microchip feeder with biscuits so Marley wouldn’t steal them. Of course, I would eat the biscuits… and then promptly vomit. My tummy was always sore, I was short-tempered, and my skin was dry, itchy, and flaky.

My humans didn’t give up. They worked with Tayla at Raw Essentials Tower Junction, determined to break my biscuit addiction. At first, I resisted every step of the way.Then one day, Meowmy mixed some chicken and duck broth with a little of the wet food I was used to. To my surprise, I actually liked it! Slowly, the wet food decreased, but I still clung to my biscuits… even though they made me sick. Eventually, Marley convinced me to try raw properly. One day, Meowmy served me wallaby and heart mince with a few biscuits hidden in it. I dug through that meat like it was treasure—and discovered it was actually delicious! Day by day, the biscuits disappeared, and my humans added tasty toppers like crushed freeze-dried chicken liver. Now? I am a fully raw-fed cat. I don’t vomit anymore, I’m happier, more affectionate, and my coat is supurr glossy. Thanks to Tayla, Meowmy, Purrdy, and Marley, my biscuit addiction is officially cured!

Marley, Deb & Eric

At 8 years old, Marley began experiencing frequent bouts of acute vomiting that would only stop with a Cerenia injection from the vet. Blood tests ruled out pancreatitis, so the vet suspected a food allergy possibly triggered by occasional “human food” treats.

Marley was already on a vet prescription gastrointestinal diet, but when the formula changed, his vomiting returned. The vet recommended switching him to an anallergenic dry food exclusively, for the rest of his life. Unsatisfied with highly processed pet foods, Deb and Eric began exploring alternatives and asked if a raw diet might be an option. The vet’s response? An emphatic “NO!”

Determined to help Marley, they contacted Raw Essentials via the online questionnaire. The next day, Rebecca, one of our vets, called with questions about Marley’s health and assigned him a case manager, Tayla, at the Tower Junction store in Christchurch.

Together, they created a tailored nutrition plan. As Marley recovered from his latest bout of vomiting, the transition to raw was gradual to protect his sensitive digestion—starting with chicken and turkey poached in broth, then moving to raw turkey, before introducing other novel proteins.

Five months later, Marley is thriving on his raw diet. He enjoys a variety of real meats, broths, and treats (chicken hearts are a particular favourite). Best of all, he hasn’t needed another vet visit, and his owners now believe he was allergic to the highly processed foods he’d been prescribed.

A huge thank you to Rebecca, Tayla, and the Raw Essentials team for supporting Marley through his transition to raw, improving his health and quality of life.

We heard the benefits of raw feeding, and glowing recommendations of Raw Essentials, so we started feeding raw almost as soon as we adopted our cats. We got Beckett, close to her first birthday. Since we switched her to a raw diet, her coat has gotten more glossy and super soft, like velvet. Our second cat, Lanie was a skinny little kitten when we got her. She was keen on food but would always leave behind a little of her kitten kibble. We started giving her some raw food, and she took to it like a fish to water! She scoffed it down and never left any behind, and gained a good amount of weight quite fast and steadily - she now is maintaining a healthy weight.

Fluffy was diagnosed with diabetes in 2021. We had him on a prescription diet and twice daily insulin shots, and at one point he reached the maximum dosage. A friend suggested I try to Raw Essentials, and with the support of their in house vet he slowly he started to stabilise. He is now 1 month insulin free. His daily blood test shows he is stable. He has a lovely coat and is a happier cat overall. Thanks Raw Essentials! - Sharyn

Khan & Cassandra

This is my old boy Khan. He’s coming up 15 years old. I adopted him when he was much younger. He would gulp his kibble down and then spew everywhere. He was also constantly thirsty and drinking water - which seemed like forever!

Since changing him to a raw diet many years ago he hasn’t spewed once and rather gulping it down he has to chew and work through the meat and bone. His teeth and fur look amazing for his age!

Jasper & Paula

Jasper was a 4-year-old rescue cat that we adopted in 2008. He felt at home straight away and fitted in happily with our other two kittens, also recently adopted from the same place. Jasper was fine on a diet of biscuits and tinned for awhile but, in 2010, he developed asthma and was a regular visitor to the vets, including frantic 1am visits.

We persevered with various medications for awhile but we wanted a different approach. So, I researched raw feeding and made the change. He swapped over without fuss and loved it all! I stopped his medication and it wasn't long before he stopped having attacks. Jasper stayed on the raw diet for five years without a single asthma attack and was medication free before he passed in 2017.

I know he appreciated feeling better without regular asthma attacks... you could just tell. I am very grateful that Raw Essentials were available, so I could make that choice for him.

Morty & Emily

When we first got Morty, he was very sick with calicivirus, a cat flu that affected his eyes, nose and overall breathing. He wasn’t eating or drinking, so I had to syringe water and a type of meat paste into his mouth each day. As a kitten he was constantly on antibiotics from the vet due to respiratory infections and any type of food he ate upset his digestive system so much that he was constantly suffering from vomiting and diarrhea.

One day I came across Raw Essentials, and after speaking to the very knowledgeable staff and communicating with their supportive team vet, we got Morty onto a gut healing protocol. This consisted mostly of bone broth with gently cooked meats before gradually moving onto raw mince cubes over time.

Within a week or so of following the protocol, Morty was a different cat. He was toileting normally and overall seemed much happier. Now 2 years on, Morty is so much healthier, has no issues with his digestion and although his calicivirus will be a lifelong condition, he very rarely has a flare up. If he does, he recovers much more quickly.

Thank you Raw Essentials for making such a huge difference to Morty’s health and quality of life!

Everest & Chantel

We got our sweet Everest when she was just 7 weeks old. She had quite a sensitive stomach as a kitten...most of the food we tried her on didn't agree with her and would go straight through her. Finally, we decided to try her on a Raw Essentials diet. We wish we'd found it sooner! As soon as we started her on the raw diet, we noticed a huge difference. Her fur is so soft, her breath doesn’t smell and best of all, it doesn't upset her tummy. She loves the variety she gets through the diet and has so much energy in her now. We still continue to see the difference in her every day, we're so happy we switched her to raw. Thank you to the staff at Hobsonville for all their help and advice in getting us started!

Cheddar & Don

When I got Cheddar, she was totally disinterested in food. She had low energy, and would spend most of her time sleeping. Her coat was also dull, and there were shaggy areas that would mat easily, making it difficult to clean.

She has been on Raw Essentials since February and the change in her appearance, manner and appetite was almost instant.

Her coat is lush and her shaggy fur is now soft and beautiful. She has loads more energy - playing and exploring all day. She loves her food, screaming at me for dinner and waking me at 5:30am demanding breakfast.

Basically, she is like a new cat and its great.

I'm fully converted to the raw diet and have seen great results first hand with a furry little monster that means the world to me.

Bandit & Katie

Our cat Bandit had been struggling with inflammatory bowel disease for a few years and was gradually losing weight and his spark. The vet recommended feeding him a special diet of hypoallergenic biscuits to try and help with the vomiting and gut issues. The vomiting stopped on the biscuits but the weight loss did not. He was barely eating and he seemed miserable.
We decided to look into other options and found our way to Raw Essentials for help.
On their advice, we started him off on the gut healing protocol with bone broth and poached meats. Our boy was in heaven getting real meat after those awful biscuits!
Fast forward a few years and the IBD is no longer a problem. He is such a happy boy, and he absolutely inhales his meat at every meal. His coat is lovely and shiny and he has gained some weight back.
We are so glad we gave Raw Essentials a go, thank you!

Phoenix & Kylie

Phoenix came into my life as a rescue cat about three years ago, and he is now around 5 years old. When I adopted him, he was suffering from urinary tract issues. After multiple relapses and emergency trips to the vets, he was precribed a 100% biscuit diet. At this point I decided enough was enough, and researched his condition and how to keep him alive and healthy for myself. Then I found Raw Essentials. The concept is great for me as I am a vegan and I love keeping my beloved pet as naturally as I can - close to an animal’s nature. The team at Raw Essentials helped me find a diet that suited him, and we haven't looked back. He has now been on the raw diet for over a year and has still not relapsed, which makes me (and him) so happy!

Harley & Megan

Harley is our crazy tortoiseshell cat who didn't have the easiest start to life. This little girl had been waiting all alone at the pet store for three months - so we abandoned our plans for an SPCA adoption and took her home to join the family! 10 months in she developed cystitis. Our vet recommended more meat to help with water intake, so we stopped feeding biscuits and fed her meat only - including supermarket cat meat.

Harley rallied, but fast-forward a year and she was diagnosed with feline leprosy. She had 13 lumps surgically removed and looked like 'franked-kitty'. Her changes of survival didn't look so good either. Months of treatment later, she was still with us but had allergies. Itchy scars made her scratch continuously and her fur fell out.

Our friends who'd recently started their dogs on Raw Essentials recommended switching Harley - as they thought her allergies could be related to fillers like wheat that can be found in supermarket cat meats. After very little convincing with the Power Mix, Harley quickly adapted to her new diet. Her skin was no longer irritated and she stopped scratching - finally giving her scars time to heal. Her fur grew back so soft and shiny! She now loves feeding time and you can see she's a happier, healthier cat. I'm so glad we made the switch.

Tiger & Rebekah

Our Tiger is a very healthy (and 8kg!) tom cat that still lives his best life at 12 years old. Unfortunately, he had some rough times in his life resulting in injuries and surgeries. The vet suggested better quality kibble and supplements for him. I wasn't so sure about this plan though but my local cafe in Hamilton happened to be next door to Raw Essentials. So, I popped in to talk to the staff about Tiger.

I was 100% convinced this was the best plan for Tiger and he has now been on a raw diet since the end of 2019. One of the greatest things, about the change, is that you would never know the injuries he's experienced in the past. His coat is so shiny and smooth now and there are no more furballs that we have to clean up. His energy levels never cease to surprise me even for his age, he often acts like a kitten! He has the brightest eyes now and I just know its a sign of good health. We put this 100% down to his diet. Tiger will always let us know when its time to get up in the morning, as he will meow louder until he gets served his breakfast. At dinner we also add some of the Raw Essentials Power Mix and Bone Broth to his minces for the extra goodness.

Recently we also got a new furry puppy sibling for Tiger, and it was a no brainer that he would be on a raw diet too. When feeding the puppy, Tiger is right there trying to eat his food too. We can't recommend a raw diet more. Thank you Raw Essentials!

Radar & Ellis

Radar had been on biscuits most of his life and after about 5 years, his body started to reject them. He was overweight but would vomit after most of his meals and wouldn't keep food down. I tried a prescription diet for a few months but, still, he kept vomiting.

I started him on a raw diet 3 years ago when I got my dog, who was not interested in biscuits either. Radar is now 9 years old and has lost weight and almost never vomits. Thank you Raw Essentials