At Rebel Raw, we believe cats and dogs thrive on the food they were born to eat. Raw feeding isn’t a trend. It’s a return to nature. It’s about giving your dog or cat what their bodies were built for: real, unprocessed, nutrient-rich food. No fillers, no fakes, no compromises.
We make the food nature intended: real, raw meals crafted from fresh produce, premium cuts of meat, bone, and organs. A balanced and complete raw food diet is the healthiest and most natural way to feed our dogs and cats. A growing body of scientific evidence points to the health benefits of raw food and to the dangers of commercial pet food manufacturing (high temps, low ingredient quality standards, little to no traceability).
Feeding raw is more than a diet. It’s a transformation. When you switch to fresh, biologically appropriate raw food, you’re supporting every part of your pet’s health.
Benefits
✨ Healthier skin & shinier coat
Raw diets provide essential fatty acids and nutrients that promote skin health and a shiny, soft coat.
💩 Smaller, less smelly poops
No fillers means more efficient digestion. You’ll see smaller, firmer, less smelly stools.
⚡ Improved energy & vitality
Raw food is rich in natural enzymes and nutrients that help pets feel energized, playful, and more like themselves.
🦷 Better breath & dental health
Raw meaty bones and fresh ingredients support oral hygiene naturally, without artificial breath fresheners.
💪 Strong immune system
Raw diets support immune function thanks to whole, unprocessed foods packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
⚖️ Weight management
High-protein, low-carb meals help pets stay lean and maintain a healthy weight without constant calorie restriction.
🏥 Fewer vet visits
Many pet parents report fewer allergy flare-ups, skin issues, ear infections, and digestive problems after switching to raw.
A quick history of kibble
Kibble was invented in the 1950s to repurpose leftover grains and meat industry byproducts into something profitable. Think of it like fast food for pets. It’s cooked at high temperatures, stripped of nutrients, and then sprayed with synthetic vitamins and fats to appear “complete and balanced.”
What’s actually in kibble?
❌ Meat by-products
These can include non-muscle parts like beaks, hooves, and organs unfit for human consumption.
❌ 4D Meats (Dead, Dying, Diseased, or Disabled)
Kibble manufacturers legally use 4D meats, which come from animals that wouldn’t pass inspection for human food.
❌ Artificial preservatives
Kibble often contains BHA, BHT, and ethoxyquin, which are chemicals banned in some countries for their potential link to cancer.
❌ High in carbs
Most kibble is over 40% carbohydrates. Dogs and cats have no dietary need for carbs, and this can lead to weight gain and chronic inflammation.
❌ Mycotoxins and contaminants
Dry food can contain mold toxins from grains, along with bacteria and storage mites that may trigger allergies.
What’s legally allowed in kibble?
Diseased meats are allowed in dog and cat food if rendered at high heat.
Source: AAFCO
Yes, certain carcasses or parts may be rejected from use for humans and processed into animal feed.
Meat and meat byproducts not directly suitable for animal food that are designated as 4-D (dead, dying, diseased or disabled) are considered adulterated—unless processed in a manner that rids them of disease-causing microorganisms prior to becoming animal feed. This is most often done by rendering, which subjects the materials to heat and pressure to eliminate harmful bacteria.
Common rendered ingredients are “meal” powders (e.g., “chicken meal”).
Source: AAFCO
Rendered product from mammal tissues, exclusive of any added blood, hair, hoof, horn, hide trimmings, manure, stomach and rumen contents except in such amounts as may occur unavoidably in good processing practices.
Unlike meat and “meat by-products,” this ingredient may be from mammals other than cattle, pigs, sheep or goats without further description. However, a manufacturer may designate a species if appropriate (e.g., “beef meal” if only from cattle).
A product needs only 3% of an ingredient to be labeled as made "with" it.
Source: AAFCO
According to AAFCO model regulations, including the words “with” or “similar” allows an ingredient to be included in the product name or anywhere else on the label at an inclusion rate of at least 3% of each named ingredient. “Honest Jack’s Dog Food With Chicken” should contain at least 3% chicken, while “Cynthia’s Super Cat Food with Tuna and Rice” should contain at least 3% tuna and 3% rice.