The Nutro brand is popular in the cat food market for one thing — for providing the healthiest pet foods in the market by following their “Feed Clean” philosophy.
To make sure that every pack of Nutro cat food delivers the best nutrition for felines, the brand pays close attention to recipe construction, meal preparation, and packaging details.
If you are concerned about your cat’s health and are looking for a way to boost its metabolism, immune system, and overall health, or you are trying to change your cat’s diet to a new brand, then this Nutro cat food review will provide a suitable option for implementation along with useful brand information.
Let’s start with the basic overview of Nutro!
About Nutro Cat Food: A Basic Overview
Nutro is one of the oldest natural cat food brands in the market today, and it’s still running well. The company has its beginnings during the year 1926 when American John Saleen bought an already existing British pet food brand and named it Nutro products. The name of this mega pet food brand remains the same as we know it today.
Later on, during the year 2007, Nutro was eventually acquired by Mars Inc. Likewise, the brand is now a subsidiary company of Mars Incorporated and is the manufacturer and developer of both dog and cat food.
All the products from the brand are manufactured in the US. The company says that its goal is based on prioritizing the safety and health of its customers’ pets. And Nutro makes this possible by following their three-pronged “Feed Clean” concept, which is all about offering simple, purposeful, and trustworthy pet food to your cats.
Now, let’s take a look into the brands’ details about the manufacturing facilities, types of cat food, and much more!
Where Is the Manufacturing Facility Location of Nutro?
While the brand’s headquarters are located in Franklin, Tennessee, just outside of Nashville, the brand has separate manufacturing facilities for dry cat food and wet cat food.
The dry cat food manufacturing facility is situated in Henderson, North Carolina, and Victorville, California.
On the other hand, the wet cat food manufacturing facilities are located in Columbus, Ohio, and Fort Smith, Arkansas, while facilities in North Sioux City, South Dakota for cans and trays.
Likewise, Nutro sources its own ingredients and makes pet food in its own plants. Moreover, in the year 2012, Nutro had become the first pet food company to receive the pet food manufacturing facility certification, which was made by the American Feed Industry Association.
The company has undergone plenty of changes in ownership since then but was bought by Mars in 2007. It has remained under the same owner since and ranks as one of the best cat food brands among other pet food brands such as Whiskas, Royal Canin, Sheba, and Iams.
Overall, all Nutro cat food is produced in the US.
What Sort of Cat Food Does Nutro Offer?
Nutro has a wide selection of dry and wet pet food for cats. They have separate categories for kittens, adult, and senior cats; all the Nutro cat foods are made with a specific formula, ideal for every life stage of cats. Likewise, the brand has two main categories of cat food — Nutro MAX and Nutro Original.
Nutro Original
The first category is Nutro Original, which includes specific formulas for various special needs for cats of all ages. This line includes cat food for indoor cats, hairball control, high-protein content, organ meats, light-weight management, food sensitivity, and finicky eating.
Moreover, the brand always makes use of real animal meat as the first ingredient. Nutro never uses ingredients such as animal by-products, artificial flavors, or artificial preservatives.
Nutro MAX
The second line is Nutro MAX, which is aimed to provide healthy nutrition from selected ingredients with omega fatty acids for optimum health and wellness, particularly formulated for indoor cats. Likewise, real protein and an excellent source of antioxidants support a healthy immune system to enhance your cat’s vision and heart function.
This category (Nutro MAX) is further divided into two types — Nutro MAX Indoor and Nutro MAX Indoor Weight Control.
Which Cats Are Best Suited for Nutro Cat Food?
Nutro has a broad range of cat food, and they have different categories of cat foods, which are formulated using specific formulas, aimed at particular needs of kittens, adult cats, and senior cats. Along with the cat food based on age and activity levels, the brand also produces specific recipes which are grain-free, made for reducing hairballs, high-protein content, and much more.
All in all, Nutro has food for all sorts of cats that can suit their life stage and nutritional requirements without any problem.
What Others Are Saying About Nutro Cat Food
Nutro has an overall positive profile, as it is loved by most of the pet parents. Since its inception, the brand has developed a loyal customer base from both cat and dog owners. Their best-selling products usually receive four-and-five-star reviews from old and new cat and dog parents.
The brand’s Nutro Max Wet Cat Food line and the Perfect Portions line are both excellent choices and seem to appeal to cats of pet parents. However, there are also some bad reviews stating that their pet got sick from eating Nutro pet food, but this was more common in dog food than cat food.
On the other hand, one of the customers stated that he has been feeding Nutro Max Adult Dry Cat Food — Roasted Chicken Recipe for years and his cat had no problem with kidney issues.
Recall History of Nutro Cat Food
Nutro cat food has been recalled several times since it started in the year 1926. The first recall was in 2007 and the latest one was in 2015.
2007
In 2007, Nutro had its first recall. This was one of the big cat food recalls in the pet food industry, including many brands, and Nutro was one of them. And this recall to the melamine-contaminated ingredients that were imported from China.
Likewise, Nutro was one of many suppliers who got caught up in this particular recall in 2007.
2009
The next recall of Nutro was in the year 2009, due to inappropriate and incorrect levels of zinc and potassium. Likewise, many cat parents said that their pets had fallen ill after consuming Nutro pet foods.
It is reported that there were complaints from over more than 800 cat and dog parents, however, it is unclear whether the reports were related to the zinc and potassium imbalances.
Later in 2009, Mars declared a huge recall of a variety of Nutro dry dog and cat foods. This recall happened after tiny pieces of melted plastic had been seen in the production line of the pet foods.
2015
Nutro’s last recall was in the year 2015. However, this recall was not on cat food, but dog treats. And it was related to mold contamination. But this recall was isolated to only Nutro dog treats sold at PetSmart.
Nutro Cat Food: 5 Best Cat Foods Reviewed
The brand name Nutro has become a household name for its usage of natural and wholesome ingredients. Nutro makes their pet food products with real animal proteins, vegetables, fruits, and omega-fatty acids-rich content.
The cat food also contains some essential carbs such as brown rice and oatmeal, these carbs are good sources of soluble fiber that helps in digestion and keeping cats feeling full. And as for the animal protein, it comes from real farm-raised chicken or salmon or turkey and other animals.
Moreover, all the recipes of Nutro pet food are prepared by nutritionists and pet food specialists in the company’s US manufacturing facilities to ensure they are complete and balanced, and that they meet the AAFCO pet food nutritional standards.
But in this Nutro cat food review, we will take a look at the top 5 best-selling cat food products which are the most popular among cat parents.
1. Nutro Wholesome Essentials Indoor and Sensitive Digestion — Dry Cat Food, Chicken Recipe
The most popular choice of dry cat food among the cat parents of indoor felines is the Nutro Wholesome Essentials — Chicken Dry Cat Food. Specifically formulated for indoor cats with sensitivities or allergies, this dry cat food from Nutro offers palatability and easier digestion in all felines.
The recipe is prepared using farm-raised chicken and brown rice recipe as the first ingredient. And the high level of protein makes it an ideal choice for indoor cats and cats with an active lifestyle. Moreover, the additional vitamins and minerals help to maintain the healthy coat, eyes, and brain function of your kitty cat. Likewise, pea protein, alfalfa meal, and potato protein are also high on the ingredient list.
The recipe is also supplemented with natural fiber to help in digestion as well as antioxidants, minerals, and other nutrients. Further, the recipe has a rich omega-6 fatty acids content that is derived purely from natural animal fats. And these nutrients give the cats smooth and healthy skin and coat.
Likewise, other nutrients include calcium, vitamin E, vitamin C, and taurine. Taurine can help your cat with good eye vision along with a healthy heart function. This dry cat food chicken recipe for indoor cats is available in various sizes (3 pounds, 6.5 pounds, 14 pounds) and in chicken and whitefish flavors.
All in all, this dry cat food is ideal for keeping your cat healthy and happy, inside and out.
Guaranteed Analysis:
Caloric Content:
3663 kcal ME/kg, 378 kcal ME/cup
Feeding Instructions:
The table below shows the suggested feeding amounts based on the ideal body condition for adult cats of different body weights. However, individual cats’ energy requirements may differ, so adjust the amount fed to find out or maintain your cat’s optimum/healthy weight.
Always keep fresh drinking water available at all times throughout the day for your cat, and also provide plenty of exercises. Serve Nutro Wholesome Essentials Chicken Dry Cat Food dry or lightly moistened along with other wet cat food.
| Cat Weight | Feeding Amount |
|---|---|
| 4 lbs. | 1/4 |
| 8 lbs. | 1/3 |
| 12 lbs. | 1/2 |
| 16 lbs. | 2/3 |
| 22 lbs. | 3/4 |
Transitioning to new cat food:
When you are feeding Nutro Wholesome Essentials — Chicken Dry Cat Food for the first time or changing recipes in your cat’s diet, we suggest you blend increasing amounts of the new recipe with your old cat food for at least around a week.
2. Nutro Wholesome Essentials Adult — Salmon & Brown Rice Dry Cat Food Recipe
Nutro salmon and brown rice recipe dry cat food is packed with wholesome ingredients, which is sure to be a hit among adult cats. Likewise, this dry cat food recipe is specifically formulated for adult cats who are 1 year of age or older.
It contains a blend of whole grains that offer anti-oxidants for your cats’ healthy and strong immune system, plus vitamins and minerals. Moreover, to promote your feline’s skin, this recipe is crafted with omega 6 fatty acids from fish oil.
The first ingredient of this dry cat food is real salmon meat, followed by the primary ingredients — chicken meal, brewers rice, pea protein, and chicken fat.
However, brewer’s rice is a lower quality carbohydrate which, itself, is considered lower quality than meat or other elements. But it offers the same nutritional value as white rice. Likewise, pea protein is also low quality and boosts the food’s protein ratio without really offering benefits to the cat.
This dry cat food recipe is not suitable for cats that are allergic to grains and gluten, as it contains small amounts of wheat flour and corn gluten meal.
All in all, Nutro Wholesome Essentials Adult — Salmon & Brown Rice Dry Cat Food Recipe is made with Non–GMO ingredients, without the use of any coloring, artificial flavors, or preservatives. This kibble is also rich in lean protein, boasting about 33% of protein content overall. At the same time, lots of omega fatty acids content will provide optimal brain health, too.
Guaranteed Analysis:
Caloric Content:
3788 kcal ME/kg, 414 kcal ME/cup
Feeding Instructions:
You can serve this cat food dry or lightly moistened. And the feeding amounts are based on the ideal body condition for adult cats of different weights. Refer to the below table to find out the daily feeding amounts of Nutro Wholesome Essentials Adult Cat Food — Salmon & Brown Rice Dry Recipe.
Likewise, adjust the amount fed to find out or maintain your cat’s optimum weight.
| Cat Weight | Feeding Amount |
|---|---|
| 4 lbs. | 1/4 |
| 8 lbs. | 1/2 |
| 12 lbs. | 2/3 |
| 16 lbs. | 3/4 |
| 22 lbs. | 1 |
3. Nutro Perfect Portions Grain-Free — Wet Chicken Recipe Twin Packs
Effortless and mess-free way of feeding your cat, with Nutro’s Perfect Portions Grain-Free Natural Chicken Recipe, it’s easy to serve — you just snap the package in two, peel off the top and serve your kitty cat with a scrumptious treat.
This recipe also comes in other flavors such as beef, salmon, and tuna. But the chicken recipe is the most popular one and is loved by all kinds of kitties. Moreover, these pate recipes are portioned perfectly and contain pure animal protein as the first ingredient.
The primary ingredients include chicken broth, pork plasma, chicken, and chicken liver. The chicken meat offers amino acids and nutrients that help build and maintain healthy muscles and ensure the ongoing strength of the immune system in felines.
This cat food comes in a super-saver pack of 24, each one made with natural ingredients, vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients. This wet cat food is manufactured with premium non-GMO ingredients, which are carefully sourced from trusted farmers and suppliers.
The manufacturer claims that the recipe of this cat food is free from corn, wheat, soy protein, chicken by-product meal, and artificial preservatives, flavors, or colors.
Likewise, every tray of this cat food is full of moisture and all the healthy nutrients your cat needs to be healthy and strong. In addition, your feline friend will be savoring the juicy texture that’s in every bite.
Guaranteed Analysis:
Caloric Content:
1,004 kcal ME/kg, 38 kcal ME/serving
Feeding Instructions:
Feed 4 ¼ servings per day per 8 lbs adult cat. Make sure your cat has access to plenty of fresh drinking water after serving.
4. Nutro Wholesome Adult Essentials — Hairball Control, Chicken Recipe & Brown Rice Recipe
As the name suggests, Nutro Wholesome Adult Essentials cat food has been designed to help your cat with hairball maintenance and promote digestive health in adult cats.
The brand partners with trusted farmers and suppliers to get the best, high-quality ingredients for tasty and nutritious recipes for felines. With the brown rice recipe, this cat food has been made with natural fiber to help with proper digestion and contains antioxidants for a healthy immune system.
Likewise, this cat food will promote healthy skin and coat in cats as it is made with nutritious ingredients, being a rich source of vital elements such as omega-6 fatty acids.
Just like most of the products from Nutro, this dry cat food is also free from corn, wheat, soy protein, chicken by-product meal, and artificial preservatives, flavors, or colors.
Looking at the first five ingredients of this cat food, real chicken is at the top, followed by the chicken meal, pea protein, whole brown rice, and dried potatoes. The overall recipe is made with non-GMO ingredients, just like the many other cat food products from Nutro.
Guaranteed Analysis:
Caloric Content:
3697 kcal ME/kg, 404 kcal ME/cup
Feeding Instructions:
The table below shows the recommended feeding amounts based on the ideal body condition for adult cats of different weight ranges. However, individual cats’ energy requirements may differ. Therefore, you should adjust the amount fed to find out or maintain your cat’s optimum weight.
Likewise, keep fresh drinking water available at all times throughout the day; also provide plenty of exercises. Serve this cat food dry or lightly moistened.
| Cat Weight | Feeding Amount |
|---|---|
| 4 lbs. | 1/4 |
| 8 lbs. | 1/2 |
| 12 lbs. | 2/3 |
| 16 lbs. | 3/4 |
| 22 lbs. | 1 |
Transitioning to new cat food:
When you are feeding Nutro cat food for the first time or changing recipes in your cat’s diet, we suggest you blend increasing amounts of the new recipe with your old cat food for around a week.
5. Nutro Perfect Portions Grain-Free — Wet Tuna Cat Food Recipe
The clear difference between the Nutro Max line and this line of Nutro wet cat food is the texture. This type of cat food is easier for cats to consume, making it a great choice for kitten food, considering that their teeth are still forming, and older cats, on the other hand, who might be losing their teeth.
It requires little to no effort to chew, and the chicken broth is an added source of moisture. You can slice slivers of paté to give as little treats to your felines.
This recipe follows the philosophy of using good-quality muscle and organ meat and avoiding any meal and meat by-products of the animal. Likewise, the recipe is also free from corn, wheat, soy protein, chicken by-product meal, and artificial preservatives, flavors, or colors.
Nevertheless, this formula comes in the last place mostly because of the pate texture, which is perfect for some cats but will not appeal to some of the other cats.
Looking at the ingredients of this recipe, chicken broth is the first ingredient, followed by water, tuna, chicken, and chicken meat. Likewise, it is no surprise that cats love this wet food. Aside from other ingredients, the recipe also has dried pork broth.
This product comes in a big save pack of 12 and 24 count twin-packs. And apart from tuna, this recipe is also available in chicken, beef, and salmon. But the tuna recipe is the most popular among the old customer base.
Guaranteed Analysis:
Caloric Content:
ME 875 kcal/kg, 33 kcal/serving
Feeding Instructions:
Feed your cat Nutro Perfect Portions Grain-Free — Wet Tuna Cat Food Recipe 5 ½ servings daily per 8 lbs adult cat. Always keep fresh drinking water available to your cat throughout the day.
Nutro Cat Food: Nutrition in Wet & Dry Food
So, how does Nutro stack up as a pet food brand in comparison to the other cat food brands in the market? Let’s take a brief look at the nutritional value of Nutro cat food and the industry average of dry cat food and wet cat food.
| Nutro Dry Food | Nutro Dry Food (avg) | Industry (avg) | Nutro Wet Food | Nutro Wet Food (avg) | Industry (avg) |
| Protein | 33.8 | 34 | Protein | 10.4 | 10 |
| Fat | 16.4 | 14 | Fat | 5.3 | 4 |
| Fiber | 4.9 | 4.5 | Fiber | 1 | 1.25 |
| Avg Rating Out Of 5 | 4.6 | 4.3 | Avg Rating Out Of 5 | 3.9 | 4.1 |
FAQs
How much does Nutro cat food cost?
Nutro cat food products are relatively low-cost compared to other cat food in the current market. Similar to other cat food brands, Nutro’s line of dry cat food is cheaper than its line of wet cat food products.
On average, wet cat food from Nutro can cost you around $1.50 per day. But on the other hand, Nutro’s dry cat food can cost you about less than $0.50 per day.
Where can I buy Nutro cat food?
Nutro has its own official website where they sell pet food online. You can buy it from there, or other options can include pet specialty retailers, big box stores, and more.
To access Nutro cat food products online, you can also find them on websites such as Amazon, Chewy, Pet360, Petco, Petflow, PetSmart, and Wag.com.
When was Nutro cat food recalled?
Nutro cat food has been recalled due to multiple reasons and several times. The last recall on Nutro cat food was in the year 2009. This was due to inappropriate and incorrect levels of zinc and potassium in cat food.
Moreover, many cat parents reported that their pets had fallen ill after consuming Nutro cat food.
Is Nutro a good cat food brand?
Nutro has a strong and positive customer base from both cat and dog parents. As for cat foods, the brand has two lines, namely Nutro Original and Nutro MAX. The first line includes food for indoor cats, hairball control, high-protein content, organ meats, food sensitivity, and finicky eating.
On the other hand, the second line includes weight-management recipes. Overall, Nutro is an above-average cat food brand when compared with other brands in the market.
Nutro Cat Food: Our Verdict
Nutro is one of the most popular and used natural pet food brands in the market today. The line of their wet cat food and dry cat food discussed in this Nutro cat food review is highly recommendable for cats because the brands’ product contains tasty and healthy ingredients.
Likewise, the brand also makes cat food products that are geared towards felines with sensitive stomachs and other cats that produce too many furballs. Though wet cat food is thought of as much higher quality than the dry food, Nutro is known for using only natural ingredients that are free from GMOs.
Nutro Cat Food
The most popular choice of dry cat food among the cat parents of indoor felines is the Nutro Wholesome Essentials — Chicken Dry Cat Food. Specifically formulated for indoor cats with sensitivities or allergies, this dry cat food from Nutro offers palatability and easier digestion in all felines.
Product Brand: Nutro
Product In-Stock: InStock
4.4