By: The Critter Corner Research Team | 5-Minute Read Topic: Feline Nutrition & Bioavailability
If you pick up a standard bag of cat treats and flip it over, you will often find a list of 20+ ingredients.
You will see terms like Wheat Gluten, Animal Digest, Glycerin, and Yellow #5.
But if you look at the biology of a cat, none of those ingredients belong there. Cats are obligate carnivores. Their digestive systems are short, acidic, and evolved to process one thing efficiently: Raw Protein.
In today’s lecture, we are exploring the physics of Freeze-Dried Chicken. We will explain the process of sublimation, why "heat" is the enemy of nutrition, and why this single-ingredient treat is the gold standard for feline health.
The Physics: Freeze-Dried vs. Dehydrated (Jerky)
Many pet owners assume "freeze-dried" and "dehydrated" are the same thing. They are not. The difference comes down to temperature.
1. Dehydration (The "Cooked" Method) Standard jerky treats are made by applying heat to evaporate water.
The Problem: High heat destroys temperature-sensitive nutrients. It denatures proteins and kills natural enzymes and amino acids (like Taurine) that cats need to survive.
2. Freeze-Drying (The "Sublimation" Method) Our Just Try Freeze-Dried Chicken undergoes a process called sublimation.
The Process: We freeze raw chicken breast to sub-zero temperatures and introduce a vacuum pressure. This pulls the water out of the meat in the form of vapor without the ice ever melting into liquid.
The Result: Because no heat is used, the cellular structure of the meat remains intact. The enzymes, vitamins, and minerals are locked in just as they were in the raw state. It is technically Raw Meat, just without the water weight.
The Chemistry: Bioavailability & The "Single Ingredient" Rule
When we say "Bioavailability," we mean: How much of this food can the body actually use?
Cats have a very difficult time processing carbohydrates (corn, wheat, soy). When a treat is full of fillers, the cat's body treats it as waste.
Freeze-Dried Chicken is 100% bioavailable.
The Ingredient List: Chicken Breast. That’s it.
The Benefit: Because there are no starchy binders blocking digestion, your cat absorbs nearly 100% of the nutrients. This means more energy for them and less waste (smaller litter box deposits) for you.
The Application: The "Magic Dust" Strategy
One of the most powerful uses for freeze-dried chicken isn't just as a treat—it's as an appetite stimulant.
Indoor cats are notorious for being picky. If your cat is refusing their wet food or you are transitioning them to a new diet, you can use the "Crumble Technique."
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Take one cube of Just Try Freeze-Dried Chicken.
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Crush it between your fingers (it will turn into a fine powder because it lacks moisture).
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Sprinkle this "meat dust" over their meal.
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The Science: The potent aroma of the raw protein triggers the olfactory (smell) system, signaling to the cat that the food is safe and high-value. It is a natural flavor enhancer without the MSG or sodium found in artificial sprays.
The Bottom Line
Nutrition doesn't have to be complicated. In fact, the best nutrition is often the simplest.
By choosing 100% Freeze-Dried Chicken, you are respecting your cat's biology. You are providing a treat that mimics the prey they were evolved to hunt: high protein, zero carb, and raw.
