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FirstMate vs Yak9 Chews

FirstMate is made by FirstMate Pet Foods (owned by Nasta Pet Food), and Yak9 Chews is branded by Yak9 Chews (owned by Independent) and made by third-party co-packers. On KibbleLab, Yak9 Chews averages 9.0 out of 10 across its scored foods, compared with 8.7 for FirstMate. Yak9 Chews is accredited by the Pet Sustainability Coalition; FirstMate is not.

FirstMate and Yak9 Chews compared

FirstMate Yak9 Chews
Manufacturer FirstMate Pet Foods Yak9 Chews
Parent company Nasta Pet Food Independent
Founded 1989 2015
Headquarters North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Austin, Texas, USA
Manufacturing Whether a brand makes its own food in-house or has it produced by an outside contract manufacturer or co-packer.
In-house Co-packer
Made in Canada Nepal
Manufacturing region British Columbia Himalayan region
Products listed 56 14
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) 9.0 (avg of 14)
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 Yak9 Chews: how they compare

Scores

Yak9 Chews scores higher on KibbleLab, averaging 9.0 out of 10 across 14 scored foods, compared with 8.7 across 56 for FirstMate. 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. Yak9 Chews is a brand of Yak9 Chews, owned by Independent, based in Austin, Texas, USA, founded in 2015. Its food is made by third-party co-packers in Nepal.

Standards and range

Neither meets WSAVA's published manufacturer criteria. Yak9 Chews is accredited by the Pet Sustainability Coalition; FirstMate is not. KibbleLab lists 56 FirstMate foods and 14 Yak9 Chews foods.

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Common Questions

Which scores higher on KibbleLab, FirstMate or Yak9 Chews?

Yak9 Chews scores higher: it averages 9.0 out of 10 across 14 scored foods, compared with 8.7 for FirstMate. Scores reflect published veterinary science.

Who makes FirstMate and Yak9 Chews?

FirstMate is made by FirstMate Pet Foods, which is owned by Nasta Pet Food. Yak9 Chews is a brand of Yak9 Chews, which is owned by Independent. Its food is made by third-party co-packers in Nepal.

Which brand has more products on KibbleLab?

FirstMate has 56 products in the KibbleLab database, compared with 14 for Yak9 Chews.

Where is each brand based?

FirstMate is based in North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Yak9 Chews is based in Austin, Texas, USA.

Are FirstMate or Yak9 Chews PSC Accredited?

Yak9 Chews 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 Yak9 Chews been recalled?

Neither FirstMate nor Yak9 Chews 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 Yak9 Chews .

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.