Vital Essentials Freeze-Dried Raw Beef & Chicken Entree & Mixer Soft Nibs Cat Food, 12-oz bag

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About This Item

Details

  • These freeze-dried soft nibs are packed with extra protein from premium, butcher-cut beef and chicken and offer complete, balanced nutrition for your cat.
  • Made in the USA using high-quality proteins sourced from local American farms.
  • Premium raw muscles and organs provide a natural source of vitamins and minerals to support energetic play, healthy skin, a shiny coat, strong teeth, and essential gut health.
  • Vital Essentials cat food and treats are crafted with farm-raised, humanely harvested proteins, going above industry standards to preserve their natural flavor and nutrients.
  • Made with whole animal protein and no additives, fillers, dyes, flavorings, artificial preservatives, legumes, grains, or rendered by-products—perfect for picky eaters and pets with allergies.

Ingredient Information

Feeding Instructions

The Raw Truth

Just 20% raw can boost your pet’s health, and Vital Essentials makes it easy! Made with whole animal Butcher Cut Protein, these entrees contain no fillers or artificial additives. Feed as a meal or mixer for simple, complete raw nutrition.

Even 20% Makes A Difference

Every pet deserves the benefits of raw protein. Add raw meals weekly, mix with kibble, or offer as a treat. Even a small amount—just 20% of their daily intake—can make a big difference in their health.

No Shortcuts. Only Butcher Cuts.

Butcher Cut Protein is made with carefully sourced, farm-raised meats. It’s ground once and freeze-dried a full 48 hours at Vital Essentials’ state-of-the-art USA facility to lock in the nutrients your pet deserves.

Today’s Special: Lifelong Vitality

Support your pet's health with Vital Essentials. These protein-rich diets promote strong muscles—ideal for active pets. The recipes also help boost immunity and heart health and come in a range of delicious options.

About Vital Essentials

Vital Essentials creates healthy, delicious, and biologically appropriate food using real, ethically sourced meat and premium ingredients. Made right here in the USA, because your best friend deserves nothing less.

Shop Vital Essentials

Questions & Answers

2 Customer Questions


Are you able to crush these pellets with your fingers, like the patties?

Answer by ChewySep 08, 2025
The nibs are soft and can be crumbled.

About how many cups are in a bag?

Answer by ChewyJul 15, 2025
The 12-oz bag contains approximately 7 cups.
4.0
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
32 Ratings

Customers Mention

Chewy identifies key considerations with the help of artificial intelligence and our veterinarians.

Freeze-Drying Process

88% Positive

Ingredients

84% Positive

Nutritional Value

87% Positive

Palatability

87% Positive

24 Customer Reviews



Rated 2 out of 5 stars
By Melanie on Nov 1, 2025

Gave my cats diarrhea

Unfortunately my cats started to have diarrhea with this food. Once I stopped it so did the diarrhea. I love vital essentials and have never had an issue with their

Unfortunately my cats started to have diarrhea with this food. Once I stopped it so did the diarrhea. I love vital essentials and have never had an issue with their other food but this one specifically was a no go!


Rated 5 out of 5 stars
By Anthony on Aug 18, 2025

Quite Large but Exquisite “Pebbles.”

These thumb-sized pellets require several bites to consume, but the two beasts absolutely love them. One drawback is that they tend to flake and can create a mess,

These thumb-sized pellets require several bites to consume, but the two beasts absolutely love them. One drawback is that they tend to flake and can create a mess, especially since the animals prefer to take the pellets out of the bowl one at a time, using their paws and claws, as if they were hunting prey, eating them bite by bite. However, this can be addressed by crushing the pellets, but where’s the fun in that? On particularly hot days, I add a bit of water to help keep the animals hydrated - they don’t seem to mind. Crushing up the pellets can aid in better water absorption.


Rated 5 out of 5 stars
By Mom of Bruce on Apr 24, 2025
Received Free Product

Cats love this!

The Vital Essentials freeze-dried soft nibs do not require refrigeration (so easy to pop in a sack for travel or handy treats), they’re versatile (easy to feed whole/break

The Vital Essentials freeze-dried soft nibs do not require refrigeration (so easy to pop in a sack for travel or handy treats), they’re versatile (easy to feed whole/break in half/crumble), and delicious (the cats told me). These little nibs can be used dry or rehydrated. I’ve crumbled them and used them as a topper on top of canned food, soaked them in water for a bit to rehydrate them and then used as a mix in with dry food, and I’ve also broken them into halves and used them as dry treats. One of my cats accidentally got outside and I was thinking of how to get him back inside. I took half of a dry nib and tossed it toward him. He immediately smelled it (they’re a little stinky, but that’s what cats like) and ate it up. Then all I had to do was shake the bag and he came running right back inside. That’s how much my cat loves these little nibs. I also like that they’re raw protein, so I feel like I’m giving my cats a special treat without all the extra junk.


Rated 3 out of 5 stars
By REG2 on May 27, 2025
Received Free Product

My Cats are Apparently More Finicky than I Thought

In an effort to give this product a fair chance, I attempted to work this into my four cats diet slowly. They wanted no part of it in the beginning and still wanted

In an effort to give this product a fair chance, I attempted to work this into my four cats diet slowly. They wanted no part of it in the beginning and still wanted nothing do do with it six weeks later. The best I could get them to do was sniff and then bat it around. My thoughts are that my two youngest cats are 4 years old and the other two are 14+. It may work well if they're started off on it at a young age but, mine wouldn't touch it.


Rated 5 out of 5 stars
By Patti S on Apr 21, 2025
Received Free Product

Versatile food choice.

My cats loved this! Each nugget is approximately 1 inch long. They are soft and do crumble easily to mix into their food. After opening the bag, I gave each

My cats loved this! Each nugget is approximately 1 inch long. They are soft and do crumble easily to mix into their food. After opening the bag, I gave each cat one nugget to try. One of the cats took his time consuming it, but the other cats gobbled theirs up with delight. I crumbled a bunch up and mixed it with their dry food. They are happy with it, so I am happy with it. There is no foul odor at all. I think this is a very versatile food. It can be a snack, a meal, or a mix-in. I didn’t try adding water to try as a moist food, but I think it would be just as great. It would definitely be a good choice for senior cats or cats with dental issues as it is gentile for their teeth.


Rated 4 out of 5 stars
By Lucys Mom on Apr 15, 2025
Received Free Product

Great Topper for Picky Cats

We used the Vital Essentials Freeze-Dried Raw Beef & Chicken Nibs as a topper to our cats’ regular wet food. It came at the perfect time since our picky cats get

We used the Vital Essentials Freeze-Dried Raw Beef & Chicken Nibs as a topper to our cats’ regular wet food. It came at the perfect time since our picky cats get bored easily and needed a little flavor variety. The pieces were a bit large but easy to crush over their food. The cats loved it, the smell wasn’t overpowering, and the resealable bag keeps everything fresh. We also like that the ingredients are clean with nothing extra or strange. It is made in the US which is a plus.


Rated 5 out of 5 stars
By Emily on Apr 19, 2025
Received Free Product

Clean kitty food!

Absolutely incredible ingredients list! I love knowing that I’m feeding my kitties something with clean ingredients and no fillers. The first time we tried the food,

Absolutely incredible ingredients list! I love knowing that I’m feeding my kitties something with clean ingredients and no fillers. The first time we tried the food, I mixed it with their previous food but my girls kept grabbing the nibs and eating those first. The bag is resealable to maintain freshness. The food can be used as a mixer or complete meal which are both great options. I have two cats so we’d go through the bag pretty quickly but it’s worth it for the quality of food!


Rated 4 out of 5 stars
By Jennifer Q on May 1, 2025
Received Free Product

Good quality, maybe tough for picky eaters

The freeze dried food is very lightweight and easy to rehydrate. It definitely compares favorably to other freeze dried pet foods I've used. If you object to the

The freeze dried food is very lightweight and easy to rehydrate. It definitely compares favorably to other freeze dried pet foods I've used. If you object to the smell of liver this variety might not be for you as it's very distinct. My main issue is my cats simply don't like it. My dogs will happily take the leftovers, but the cats are not interested, dry or rehydrated. My cats do tend to prefer raw hard kibble so it is probably a texture issue. My outdoor barn cats are less selective (and are fighting off the chickens.)


Rated 3 out of 5 stars
By Georgia Sarah on Apr 25, 2025
Received Free Product

Great ingredients, cats wouldn’t eat

I had high hopes for these, but my picky felines weren’t fans. They seemed interested at first and seemed to enjoy the smell, but left them uneaten. I tried giving

I had high hopes for these, but my picky felines weren’t fans. They seemed interested at first and seemed to enjoy the smell, but left them uneaten. I tried giving them to the cats dry and also crushed in water. The pellets reconstituted fairly well, but took a little time to soften up. I found it was easier to break them up dry and then add water. Good concept and amazing ingredients, just not a good fit for my kitties.


Rated 5 out of 5 stars
By Joanna on Apr 18, 2025
Received Free Product

Cat approved freeze dried nibs.

It seems to be delicious. Even my male cat, who never likes anything, devours the nibs. They are made with clean, simple ingredients. I love to offer my kitties

It seems to be delicious. Even my male cat, who never likes anything, devours the nibs. They are made with clean, simple ingredients. I love to offer my kitties freeze dried food. It's almost like giving them fresh meat. The nibs are quite big, so the cats enjoy hunting them when I throw them on the floor. I use these nibs as treats, and all four cats are ecstatic. The other day they pulled the whole bag down from the shelf on to the floor, and tried to rip it open. They were very disappointed when I heard the crinkling of the bag and took it away. Overall, great quality.