| 🥩 Food Type | Dry Food |
| 📅 Life Stage | All Life Stages |
| 💪 Health Needs | Allergy Relief|Digestive Health|Skin & Coat |
| 🏷️ Brand | FirstMate |
| ⭐ Our Rating | 4.3 / 5 |
Most "limited ingredient" cat foods still lean on a legume protein booster to hit their guaranteed analysis. FirstMate Chicken Meal with Blueberries Formula skips that shortcut, built around a single named animal protein from a small Canadian manufacturer with a three-decade recall-free track record.
FirstMate was founded in 1989 by commercial fisherman Michael Florian, who originally ran a fish feed operation called Taplow Feeds before customers asked him to formulate a dog food. After early experiences with contract manufacturers fell short of his standards, Florian built FirstMate's own kibble factory and cannery in British Columbia, Canada, where the company remains family-owned and still produces its own food today. According to recall-tracking research, FirstMate has never issued a product recall in more than 30 years of operation.
The ingredient list opens with Chicken Meal, the formula's only named animal protein, supplying the label's claimed 92% of amino acids from cage-free chicken. Potato follows as the primary carbohydrate, then Chicken Fat preserved with mixed tocopherols, and Whole Blueberries for antioxidants and fiber. There's no pea protein, lentil, or other plant-based protein booster anywhere on the list, and preservation relies on Calcium Propionate and Rosemary Extract rather than synthetic options. Kale and Yeast Extract, a prebiotic source, round out the recipe's minor ingredients.
Confirmed from Chewy:
FirstMate is one of the few brands in our database that publishes a guaranteed Ash maximum, which lets us calculate dry matter figures with more precision than usual. Converting to dry matter basis (DMB), with dry matter at 90%:
That's protein density on par with some of the highest-protein formulas in our cat food reviews, and unusually clean given the single protein source.
Taurine is guaranteed at 0.2% minimum, standard for a cat formula, and the calcium-to-phosphorus ratio is stated directly on the label at 1.25:1. There's no added glucosamine or probiotic strain count the way some competing limited-ingredient formulas advertise; FirstMate's functional claims rest mainly on the Whole Blueberries and Yeast Extract as a prebiotic fiber source.
Chewy's best per-pound price is the 20-lb bundle of two 10-lb bags at $90.14, or $4.51 per pound; a single 10-lb bag runs $45.99. That works out to roughly 31,389 kcal across the bundle against the label's 3,460 kcal/kg, for a price near $2.87 per 1,000 kcal. For a 10-lb adult cat fed at a less-active pace (roughly 0.4 cup per day at 540 kcal/cup), that's about 225 kcal daily, 6,750 kcal a month, and a monthly cost near $19 at the bundle's price point, inexpensive relative to most limited-ingredient formulas in our database.
FirstMate has no recorded recall in its more than 30-year history, one of the cleanest track records of any brand reviewed on this site. The company's small scale and single-site manufacturing likely contribute to that consistency, though it also means less production redundancy than a large multi-plant manufacturer if a supply issue does arise. Several reviewers did report inconsistent stock availability, with one describing a months-long unannounced discontinuation before the formula returned.
This recipe suits cats with a confirmed or suspected chicken tolerance who need a genuinely single-protein, plant-booster-free diet, several reviewers specifically praised it as one of the only pea-free limited-ingredient options they could find. It's a weaker fit for households with picky eaters or very young kittens, since Chewy's review data shows palatability at 73% positive, meaningfully lower than the formula's ingredient and nutrition scores, and multiple reviewers described the kibble as too large for small mouths.
Owner feedback on Chewy averages 4.5 stars across 414 ratings and 221 written reviews. The strongest praise comes from owners managing chronic diarrhea or suspected food allergies who found relief after switching, including one cat with two years of unresolved digestive issues that resolved within days. The most common complaint isn't the food itself but the bag, which lacks a resealable zip closure, several reviewers noted needing separate storage containers or clips to keep it fresh.
| Weight | Less Active (cup/day) | Active (cup/day) |
|---|---|---|
| 2-5 lb | 1/8 - 1/6 | 1/6 - 1/4 |
| 5-7 lb | 1/6 - 1/4 | 1/4 - 3/8 |
| 7-10 lb | 1/4 - 1/3 | 3/8 - 1/2 |
| 10-13 lb | 1/3 - 1/2 | 1/2 - 3/4 |
| 13-16 lb | 1/2 - 3/4 | 3/4 - 1 |
FirstMate Chicken Meal with Blueberries Formula delivers a genuinely single-protein, high-density formula from a manufacturer with an unusually clean safety record. Palatability is the main open question, some cats take to it immediately while others need a slower transition or won't eat it at all, so a small bag trial before committing to a larger size is worth considering.
This review is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for veterinary advice. Consult your veterinarian before changing your pet's diet, especially if your pet has existing food allergies or health conditions.
Ready to try FirstMate?
Check Best Price →Some links on this page are affiliate links. We may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Yes. Chicken Meal is the first ingredient and supplies the vast majority of the formula's protein, with no peas, lentils, or other plant protein boosters on the list.
540 kcal per cup, or 3,460 kcal per kg, calculated metabolizable energy.
No. FirstMate has no recorded recall in over 30 years of operation, one of the cleanest safety records among the brands in our database.
Yes, FirstMate states the recipe is complete and balanced for all life stages, though several reviewers noted the kibble size is large for very young kittens.
Chewy's review data shows palatability at 73% positive, lower than the brand's ingredient and nutrition scores. A handful of reviewers describe cats refusing or picking around the kibble.
