Nulo Cat Food Reviews

Picking the best food for your cat is a big task. There are countless brands to choose from, and more are added to the market every day. One brand many owners ask about is Nulo. The brand makes all-natural cat and dog nutritional options. We take a closer look at their feline products in our Nulo cat food review.

Nulo offers both wet and dry cat food, as well as products with freeze-dried raw components. Recipes are formulated for different age groups and needs. Nulo offers a wide flavor selection and is available online and in select brick-and-mortar retailers. The brand also has many brand ambassadors and endorsements from the fitness and athletic world.

We all know that the product appearance and name of cat food catch our eye, but owners need to understand what is behind the label to know if a brand is suitable for their cat. Is Nulo cat food good? We jump in and learn more about the brand, its products, and more.

Key Features

• All-natural Ingredients
• Limited ingredient recipes
• Grain-Free
• No corn, wheat, or soy
• Wide selection of wet and dry food
• Low carbohydrate and low glycemic nutrition
• Freeze-dried recipes
• USA based company
• Species-specific nutrition

Brand History

The Nulo brand was started in 2009 by Michael Landa, a former biomedical engineer and dog owner. Michael found himself frustrated with the pet care industry. He found a need for quality pet care options. He was also surprised by the fillers and poor ingredients in many pet food products. Seeing a connection between poor diet and diabetic and obese pets needing insulin, he decided to start making fitness-conscious food for dogs. After research, he and his dog Max moved to Austin, Texas, to start the company. Recipes are marketed towards fitness-focused owners and partners with many kinds of athletes, from fitness trainers to Olympic athletes, CrossFit, and more. The brand even serves as the official pet food partner for Ironman competitions.

Nulo makes recipes high in animal-based protein, low carbohydrate content, and low glycemic ingredients to promote a healthy body and plenty of energy. The company uses patented probiotics to help with digestion. Starting with better nutrition for one dog has led to a brand that makes several lines of nutritional options for both canines and felines.

Has Nulo Been Recalled?

As of the date of writing, there are no recalls for Nulo cat food. This is excellent news and shows that the company is committed to safety and quality. Keep in mind that recalls can happen for a variety of reasons to both new and old companies.

Where Is It Made?

Currently, Nulo Pet Food is headquartered in Austin, Texas. The company states that all dry, canned, hearty stew, freeze-dried raw, dog treats, bone broths, and water enhancer products are made in the United States. Meaty pouches, Perfect Purees, and Silky Mousse recipes are made in Thailand. The facilities there use sustainable ingredient sourcing.

Ingredients are sourced from different places around the world. Products made in Thailand source ingredients there, as well as from other places. Animal proteins like poultry, meat, and fish are sourced in North America, New Zealand, and France. Other ingredients like fruits, vegetables, and vitamin supplements come from North America and some global sources. The company shares that ingredients are tested and traced for quality and safety before being included in their manufacturing process.

Ingredients To Look For

Felines need a balanced diet. This is essential to support healthy growth, immune system, digestive health, and energy. Feeding cats a nutritionally balanced, species-appropriate diet is also beneficial to help prevent common health concerns, including dental problems, urinary tract infections, and obesity. Some cats may have specific dietary needs, such as allergies or certain medical conditions.

Protein

Cats are obligate carnivores, which means they must eat meat to survive. Animal protein is one of their diet’s most important and essential elements. Taurine is a crucial amino acid found in animal protein that cats need to ensure proper development, healthy heart function, vision, muscle, and reproductive health. Taurine deficiencies can lead to critical health issues, including dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), central retinal degeneration, and reproductive failure.

Fats

Along with healthy and high-quality animal proteins, cats need fat in their diet to provide energy and aid in absorbing fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, and K). Fats are critical to skin and coat health and support brain development and mental function.

Carbohydrates

Felines do not need carbohydrates in their diets, though they are included in many commercial cat foods. However, carbohydrates are found in some fruit and vegetable ingredients, which offer energy, dietary fiber, which aids in digestion, and antioxidants.

Water

Ensuring a cat has enough water in their diet is essential. Hydration is crucial to their body function and survival. Without enough moisture, your cat can become dehydrated. Including wet meals and toppers in your pet’s nutrition is a good water source, as it can be hard to control and monitor what cats drink.

Nulo Ingredients

Nulo’s recipes are grain-free and use no corn, wheat, soy, or other fillers. Protein choices include chicken, salmon, cod, turkey, duck, beef, lamb mackerel, tuna, trout, and other fish. Some recipes contain organ meats, which is a good sign. Most recipes are meat-heavy, though some contain plant ingredients like pumpkin, cranberries, dried kelp, peas, lentils, sweet potato, and more for healthy carbs, antioxidants, extra protein, and fiber. No recipes contain fillers, artificial ingredients, flavors, dyes, or preservatives.

Nulo Cat Food Reviews

Nulo makes several lines of feline-focused nutrition. Some are only available in select locations, so we review some of the more widely available and popular wet and dry recipes below.

Nulo Dry Cat Food Review

The Freestyle grain-free duck and lentil dry kibble recipe is formulated specifically for indoor cats. It contains no potatoes or tapioca. This recipe starts with deboned duck, chicken meal, turkey meal, and deboned cod and is made up of 82% animal-based proteins. It contains Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids along with a pure probiotic strain to support gastrointestinal health. It is formulated to be low carbohydrate and low glycemic. Includes ingredients like dried kelp, vitamins A, E, and C, as well as taurine to support healthy heart function.

Freestyle kibble is a high-protein formula and contains 40% crude protein (min), 17% crude fat, and 5% crude fiber. It only contains 10% moisture, so as with any dry kibble diet, owners will want to mix in wet meals and extra water to their pet’s diet. The Freestyle Duck & Lentil recipe kibble contains 468 kcal/cup.

The Chicken & Cod grain-free formula is suitable for both cats and kittens. Crunchy kibble is made in a special disk shape with a texture and flavor kittens adore. The Chicken & Cod recipe contains no tapioca or potatoes. Kibble starts out with deboned chicken, chicken meal, turkey meal, and cod. Kibble has 83% animal-based proteins. It also contains a functional probiotic strain to support gastrointestinal health and is a low-carb, low-glycemic recipe.

Along with animal proteins, the kibble recipe also contains peas, lentils, chicken fat, pea fiber, ground flaxseed, dried kelp, sweet potato, dried cranberries, and more. It has 40% crude protein (min), 20% crude fat (min), and 4% crude fiber (max). The kibble packs 486 kcal/cup.

This senior recipe gets 78% of its protein from poultry and fish and has no white potatoes or tapioca. It contains natural fibers and L carnitine to maintain a healthy weight and digestion. Includes Nulo’s patented probiotic to support healthy digestion and immune system health. The senior kibble is made with Alaskan Pollock, duck, and sweet potato. It has red and green lentils and other ingredients like dried kelp, salmon oil, dried cranberries, and vitamins and minerals.

Protein comes from pollock, chicken meal, turkey meal, deboned duck, chicken fat, and salmon meal. Senior kibble has slightly less protein but more fiber, coming in at 38% crude protein, 14% crude fat, and 6% crude fiber. Contains 431 kcal/cup. The high-meat recipe is formulated to be tasty, provide plenty of protein, and support aging felines’ digestive system and nutritional needs.

Nulo’s Freestyle Freeze-Dried Raw formula provides a boost of raw nutrition and a meaty taste. It is made from 98% animal ingredients. The freeze-dried kibble is protein-rich, including chicken, salmon, organ meat, and bones. The recipe starts with chicken, salmon, chicken necks, chicken liver, chicken hearts, ground flaxseed, spinach, salmon oil, cranberries, coconut oil, in Newland, dried kelp, as well as added vitamins and minerals. Kibble contains 200 kcal/cup.

The freeze-dried raw recipe contains 46% crude protein, 23% crude fat, and 2% crude fiber. It can be served directly out of the bag or crumbled over your cat’s kibble. Some cats may like it soaked in water, but that is up to the individual owner and feline. Many owners report picky eaters enjoying the freeze-dried kibble. The recipe is safe for kittens and adult cats, though kittens will need to eat significantly more than adult cats to have their nutritional needs met. Freeze-dried raw kibble is a complete meal served alone, but many owners report their cats liking it mixed with crunchy chow. Kibble is also available in a turkey and duck recipe.

Nulo Wet Cat Food Review

The Freestyle wet recipe contains chicken and duck as animal proteins. Shredded meat in a tasty gravy that is full of flavor and nutrition. Cats enjoy the meaty bits and taste. The recipe contains chicken, chicken broth, duck broth, chicken liver, dried egg whites, duck, dried ground peas, spinach, and more, including dried flaxseed, blueberries, pumpkin, cranberries, flaxseed oil, and dried kelp.

No hard-to-digest grains or unnecessary fillers are in this recipe. These recipes are made in the USA with quality ingredients. The wet recipe contains plenty of taurine for heart health. It also contains 10% crude protein (min), 3.5% crude fat (min), 1% fiber (max), and 82% moisture (max).

Nulo offers a smooth pate recipe with turkey and chicken as the primary protein sources. It provides a complete and balanced diet full of protein, vitamins, and minerals. The recipe starts with turkey, chicken, turkey liver, turkey broth, and tuna. Though a meat-heavy formula, the pate also contains Menhaden fish oil, cranberries, pumpkin, tomato, dried kelp, and vitamins and minerals.11% crude protein (min), 6.5 % crude fat (min), and 0.75% crude fiber (max). 78 % moisture. Several pate flavors are available, including Beef & Lamb, Chicken & Herring, Duck & Tuna, Salmon & Mackerel, and more.

Nulo offers a protein-rich mousse that can be served as a side dish or mixed in with your cats’ regular diet. Creamy and smooth, the light mousse is full of flavor. Made from chicken broth, chicken, duck, coconut oil, dried egg, and a few other ingredients, this is a tasty addition to your cat’s bowl. Safe for all ages of cats but will not provide complete nutrition alone. This is a popular pick for kitties and can make mealtimes a lot more fun. Mousse also comes in Beef & Sardine, Chicken & Salmon, and Tuna & Shrimp. We should note this product is made in Thailand.

Is Nulo Cat Food Good?

Nulo cat food is good for cats. Overall, it is an above-average option made with natural ingredients. Recipes are limited ingredients, grain-free, and contain no fillers or artificial additives. The brand offers a large selection of products and a flavor variety. Some products can be harder to find as they are sold exclusively through specific retailers. That said, a good selection is available online through third-party sellers like Amazon and Chewy.

The brand makes formulas for kittens, adults, and seniors. Additionally, they have healthy weight and hairball management formulas. Recipes do not contain hard-to-digest fillers like corn, soy, and wheat. All recipes start with named animal proteins. There are no highly processed meat by-products or questionable fillers. We also appreciate the addition of the freeze-dried line. This allows owners to give cats the benefits of fresh, human-grade nutrition easily and at a lower cost than fresh food subscription meals.

The company has no recalls and is dedicated to giving animals whole food and all-natural nutrition. This is a better choice than many foods on the shelf and is not full of unnecessary carbs and sugars. For owners who want better-than-average kibble and wet meals that will not break the bank, Nulo is a healthy, nutritious pick.

How Much Is Nulo? Is It Worth The Price?

Nulo is moderately priced. It is far more affordable than some premium options but not the cheapest pick on the shelf. Dry food starts at $12.99 for a 2-lb. bag. Prices vary by recipe and size. Canned food is slightly more expensive, and pricey again varies by recipe and seller. While slightly more than more commonly found brands like 9Lives, Nula offers very good nutrition for the price. It is less expensive than many other premium options.

Pros & Cons Chart

Pros	Cons
Natural ingredients	No fresh meals offered
Real animal proteins	Higher priced than some other premium products
Limited ingredient recipes	Some cats may not like the flavor of certain recipes
Wide selection	Product availability can be limited.
Wet and dry products	Some products are made in Thailand
Suitable for adults and kittens
Special dietary needs are addressed
Supports healthy digestion
Recipes meet AAFCO guidelines
Many ingredients are sourced in North America
Dry and canned meals made in the USA

If you still are not sure Nulo is right for your purr baby, there are plenty of other options. Smalls offers fresh, human-grade options delivered right to your door. Open Farm is another top-of-the-line, human-grade pet nutrition option. Applaws, Rachel Ray, Fromm, and Weruva are all other high-quality choices.

Final Thoughts

Nulo is an above-average, limited-ingredient cat food. Pet foods use natural ingredients, no fillers, and are easy to digest. Real animal proteins make the brand’s recipes tasty and nutritious. All recipes are meat-heavy and meet cats’ need for animal protein. Many picky cats and those who need a limited-ingredient diet respond well to these products. If you have any specific questions or concerns about your cat’s nutrition, it is best to discuss these with your veterinarian first before making any significant changes or adding supplements.