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FirstMate vs K9 Natural

FirstMate is made by FirstMate Pet Foods (owned by Nasta Pet Food), and K9 Natural is made by K9 Natural Foods Limited (owned by KKR (Natural Pet Food Group)). On KibbleLab, FirstMate averages 8.7 out of 10 across its scored foods, compared with 8.3 for K9 Natural. K9 Natural is accredited by the Pet Sustainability Coalition; FirstMate is not.

FirstMate and K9 Natural compared

FirstMate K9 Natural
Manufacturer FirstMate Pet Foods K9 Natural Foods Limited
Parent company Nasta Pet Food KKR (Natural Pet Food Group)
Founded 1989 2006
Headquarters North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Christchurch, New Zealand
Manufacturing Whether a brand makes its own food in-house or has it produced by an outside contract manufacturer or co-packer.
In-house In-house
Made in Canada New Zealand
Manufacturing region British Columbia Canterbury
Products listed 56 13
Serves Cats & dogs Dogs
Price tier A relative price guide, from $ (most affordable) to $$$$$ (most premium), based on the brand's typical retail cost.
$$$$ $$$$$
WSAVA guidelines The World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) publishes criteria for evaluating a manufacturer: qualified nutritionists on staff, feeding trials, and published research. It does not certify or endorse brands.
No No
PSC accredited The Pet Sustainability Coalition is a nonprofit that accredits pet companies on their environmental and social impact, through third-party verification. It reflects sustainability practices, not food quality.
No Yes
Score The average KibbleLab score across this brand's scored foods, on a 0 to 10 scale. Foods are scored on published veterinary science. How scoring works .
8.7 (avg of 56) 8.3 (avg of 13)
Recalls on record We track the FDA's animal food recall listings back to January 2019 and publish every pet food recall automatically. A filing that isn't pet food may not appear here.
None None
Where to buy
Amazon
Amazon

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FirstMate vs K9 Natural: how they compare

Scores

FirstMate scores higher on KibbleLab, averaging 8.7 out of 10 across 56 scored foods, compared with 8.3 across 13 for K9 Natural. Scores apply the same criteria-based rubric to every food, drawn from published veterinary science.

Who makes them

FirstMate is made by FirstMate Pet Foods, owned by Nasta Pet Food, based in North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, founded in 1989. K9 Natural is made by K9 Natural Foods Limited, owned by KKR (Natural Pet Food Group), based in Christchurch, New Zealand, founded in 2006.

Standards and range

Neither meets WSAVA's published manufacturer criteria. K9 Natural is accredited by the Pet Sustainability Coalition; FirstMate is not. KibbleLab lists 56 FirstMate foods and 13 K9 Natural foods.

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Common Questions

Which scores higher on KibbleLab, FirstMate or K9 Natural?

FirstMate scores higher: it averages 8.7 out of 10 across 56 scored foods, compared with 8.3 for K9 Natural. Scores reflect published veterinary science.

Who makes FirstMate and K9 Natural?

FirstMate is made by FirstMate Pet Foods, which is owned by Nasta Pet Food. K9 Natural is made by K9 Natural Foods Limited, which is owned by KKR (Natural Pet Food Group).

Which brand has more products on KibbleLab?

FirstMate has 56 products in the KibbleLab database, compared with 13 for K9 Natural.

Where is each brand based?

FirstMate is based in North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. K9 Natural is based in Christchurch, New Zealand.

Are FirstMate or K9 Natural PSC Accredited?

K9 Natural is a PSC Accredited business. The Pet Sustainability Coalition is a nonprofit that Accredits pet companies on their environmental and social impact, through third-party verification.

Have FirstMate or K9 Natural been recalled?

Neither FirstMate nor K9 Natural has a recall on record in the KibbleLab database. We track the FDA's animal food recall listings back to January 2019 and publish every pet food recall automatically. A filing that isn't pet food may not appear here.

See the full profiles: FirstMate and K9 Natural .

More comparisons

KibbleLab provides informational content only. This is not veterinary advice. Always consult a qualified veterinarian before changing your pet's diet.

This is a neutral, factual comparison, not a ranking or an endorsement of either brand. KibbleLab may earn affiliate commissions through links. No one can pay for placement or a higher score.

Brand and manufacturer details are compiled from public sources and not independently verified; they may not reflect contract manufacturing or co-packing. Recall data is compiled from public FDA filings, and a filing may name the parent company rather than the brand. We track the FDA's animal food recall listings back to January 2019 and publish every pet food recall automatically. A filing that isn't pet food may not appear here.

KibbleLab scores and commentary are editorial opinions based on published data. Represent one of these brands? Request a correction. Anyone else can email us. See our Terms.