Unbiased Nulo Cat Food Brand Review
Here at the Daily Cat, we strive to provide cat owners with the most relevant information possible. Our job is to make sense of this for you, and present it in a manner that is easily digestible, just like the food you should be getting for your cat.
Nulo Cat Food – Nutrition Meets Love in Every Bite
Do you know what’s in your cat’s food? Are you researching brands and want to know more about Nulo cat food?
As a cat owner, it’s important to make informed decisions when it comes to choosing food that fuels your cat’s health and happiness. Ideal cat food should provide your feline friend with all the essential nutrients he or she needs to live a long life by your side.
There’s a lot of information on the internet, and it’s hard to know if you’re making the right decision. Finding a brand that meets your cat’s dietary needs is no easy feat. But talking to your veterinarian and reading online brand reviews are a good starting point.
Nulo is a well-known brand in the cat food world. They are still relatively new but have been growing in popularity thanks to endorsements by athletes and Olympic medalists. Many people give their cats Nulo products, but how good a choice is it for your cat? Read our in-depth, unbiased brand review on Nulo to find out.
Top Nulo products
Dry food
$3.51 per pound (no ounce info listed) or $0.20 per 100 calories
Best for: Kittens & Adults
Overall grade: N/A
Dry food
$3.51 per pound (no ounce info listed) or $0.21 per 100 calories
Best for: Indoor cats & hairball management
Overall grade: N/A
The Daily Cat Ratings
We have analyzed 22 of Nulo cat food products on Chewy. We took into account ingredient quality, guaranteed analysis, price, product variety, customer experience, and recall history. All of these factors combined produced an overall brand score, ratings for their wet and dry food lines (maybe), as well as individual product ratings.
Nulo Cat Food Ratings
Ingredient Quality: #/10
We determine ingredient quality in a brand’s food by looking at these factors:
- AAFCO approved
- Produced and manufactured in human-grade or approved facilities
- The brand has committed to testing and tracing all ingredients
- The ingredients, especially the meat ingredients, are sourced sustainably. We only choose products where the first 3-5 ingredients are real animal protein.
Guaranteed Analysis: #/10
A product’s guaranteed analysis is some of the most important information to use when deciding on a product. When assessing a brand’s guaranteed analysis, we look at how well its products fare in protein, fat, fiber, moisture and carb levels.
Price: #/10
Product variety: #/10
We score a brand’s product variety based on the diverse range of the products they sell, including but not limited to: dry kibble, wet canned food, flaked or minced textures, treats, etc. Then we look at the variety of flavors offered – the more diversity, the higher the score!
Customer reviews: #/10
This score is determined by the average amount of positive reviews a brand has compared to the average amount of negative reviews a brand has.
Recall history: 10/10
This score is based on how many times a brand has been recalled. Each recall loses them a point.
DailyCat Score: #/10
This grain-free formula meets the nutrition levels set out by the AAFCO. It packs a punch by helping your cat or kitten maintain lean muscles without unwanted calories.
The first four ingredients include: deboned chicken, chicken meal, turkey meal and deboned cod, meaning the recipe has been formulated to match your cat’s needs for a heavy protein diet – which is especially significant for dry cat food! By using up to 80% animal protein content, you can feel rest assured that your kitty is getting exactly what they need to be healthy.
Adding to the health benefits of Nulo cat food are fatty acids, pea fiber, ground flaxseed and dried chicory root as a source of prebiotic fiber. Not to mention, added probiotics are present to support your cat’s digestive system. And Vitamin A and Taurine are present to support your cat’s vision and maintain a healthy heart.
This product is certainly a home-run when it comes to dry cat food – offering a complete and balanced blend of high protein, moderate fat, vitamins and moderate carbohydrates. It also comes in a Turkey and Duck flavor.
Nulo Freestyle Chicken & Cod Dry Food Recipe has 486 calories per cup.
Dry Matter Composition:
We compared the Nulo Freestyle Adult & Kitten Dry Chicken & Cod Recipe protein, fat, carb and fiber levels against the average of all Nulo dry foods and the average of all Chewy dry foods in the graph below.
- Protein: 44.23%
- Fat: 22.25%
- Carbs: 21.44%
- Moisture: 0%
- Fiber: 3.84%
- Ash: 8.24%
Nulo Freestyle Adult & Kitten Dry Cat Food - Chicken & Cod Recipe Comparison with other dry food
Guaranteed analysis
| Crude Protein (min) | 40.0% |
| Crude Fat (min) | 20.0% |
| Crude Fiber (max) | 4.0% |
| Moisture (max) | 10.0% |
Common allergens: Chicken, fish
Best suited for: All-life stages
Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Turkey Meal, Deboned Cod, Whole Peas, Lentils, Chicken Fat (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols & Citric Acid), Natural Flavor, Pea Fiber, Ground Flaxseed, Dried Chicory Root, Dried Kelp, Dried Sweet Potato, Dried Cranberries, Calcium Carbonate, DL-Methionine, Taurine, Zinc Proteinate, Choline Chloride, Vitamin E Supplement, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (source of Vitamin C), Iron Proteinate, Niacin Supplement, Copper Proteinate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin A Supplement, Manganese Proteinate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Sodium Selenite, Riboflavin Supplement, Dried Bacillus coagulans Fermentation Product, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Calcium Iodate, Folic Acid, Rosemary Extract.
This grain-free recipe of duck and lentils is exactly what your cat needs to stay in good shape because it fulfills the ingredient profile that cats need. Like the previous dry product mentioned, this one offers plentiful protein, amino acids and fiber—all with low calories. According to their site, 82% of protein comes from real, animal protein such as duck, chicken and turkey. And maintaining the Nulo promise, this product is low in carbohydrates and glycemic ingredients.
This formula is made grain-free with their patented probiotic strain to provide a balanced diet perfect for keeping indoor cats lean, fit and healthy. For a boost of nutrition, it’s supplemented with dried kelp, dried chicory root, Vitamin C and E for overall health, in addition to Vitamin A and Taurine for vision and heart health.
With all of the juicy vitamin, minerals and protein content in this product, it makes an ideal meal for your furry friend.
Nulo Freestyle Grain-Free Indoor Dry Duck and Lentils Recipe has 468 calories per cup.
Dry Matter Composition:
We compared the Nulo Freestyle Grain-Free Indoor Dry Cat Food Duck and Lentils Recipe protein, fat, carb and fiber levels against the average of all Nulo dry foods and the average of all Chewy dry foods in the graph below.
- Protein: 43.78%
- Fat: 19.73%
- Carbs: 23.21%
- Moisture: 0%
- Fiber: 5.17%
- Ash: 8.11%
Nulo Freestyle Grain-Free Indoor Dry Cat Food - Duck and Lentils Recipe Comparison with other dry foods
Guaranteed analysis
| Crude Protein (min) | 40.0% |
| Crude Fat (min) | 17.0% |
| Crude Fiber (max) | 5.0% |
| Moisture (max) | 10.0% |
Common allergens: Chicken, fish
Best suited for: All-life stages, Indoor cats
Deboned duck, Chicken Meal, Turkey Meal, Deboned Cod, Whole Peas, Lentils, Chicken Fat (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols & Citric Acid), Pea Fiber, Natural Flavor, Ground Flaxseed, Dried Chicory Root, Dried Kelp, Dried Sweet Potato, Dried Cranberries, Calcium Carbonate, DL-Methionine, Taurine, Zinc Proteinate, Choline Chloride, Vitamin E Supplement, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (source of Vitamin C), Iron Proteinate, Niacin Supplement, Copper Proteinate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin A Supplement, Manganese Proteinate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Sodium Selenite, Riboflavin Supplement, Dried Bacillus coagulans Fermentation Product, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Calcium Iodate, Folic Acid, Rosemary Extract.
Nulo’s wet food is a great option if you want to feed your cat premium ingredients, while ensuring that they get plenty of hydration. This recipe offers incredible nutritional value because it’s high in protein and free from artificial colors and preservatives. The top three ingredients are industry levels of real animal meat like beef, beef liver and turkey.
Your cat likely won’t be able to resist this palatable texture and taste. Instead of using carbohydrates to thicken the pate, it uses Guar Gum and Agar Agar to keep it all together. This recipe is also enriched with plenty of vitamins and minerals, including Omega 3 & 6 fatty acids and taurine to boost your cat’s health from the inside out! Not to mention superfoods like pumpkin, kelp and cranberries to promote energy and lean muscle mass.
Other flavors include Turkey and Chicken, Salmon and Mackerel, Duck and Tuna, Chicken and Herring, Trout and Salmon.
Nulo Freestyle Adult & Kitten Grain Free Beef and Lamb Recipe has 186 calories per can.
Dry Matter Composition:
We compared the Nulo Freestyle Adult & Kitten Grain-Free Canned Wet Beef and Lamb Recipe protein, fat, carb and fiber levels against the average of all Nulo wet foods and the average of all Chewy wet foods in the graph below.
- Protein: 47.57%
- Fat: 40.08%
- Carbs: 3.37%
- Moisture: 0%
- Fiber: 0.82%
- Ash: 8.16%
Nulo Freestyle Adult & Kitten Grain-Free Canned Wet Food – Beef and Lamb Recipe Comparison with other dry foods
Guaranteed analysis
| Crude Protein (min) | 11.0% |
| Crude Fat (min) | 6.5% |
| Crude Fiber (max) | 0.75% |
| Moisture (max) | 78.0% |
Common allergens: Chicken,Beef and fish
Best suited for: All-life stages
Beef, Beef Liver, Turkey, Beef Broth, Whitefish, Lamb, Natural Flavor, Guar Gum, Potassium Chloride, Agar Agar, Choline Chloride, Taurine, Cranberries, Pumpkin, Menhaden Fish Oil (preserved with mixed Tocopherols), Tomato, Dried Kelp, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Salt, Manganese Sulfate, Iron Proteinate, Sodium Carbonate, Zinc Proteinate, Thiamin Mononitrate, Vitamin E Supplemetn, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Sodium Selenite, Niacin Supplement, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, Biotin, Potassium Iodide, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Folic Acid, Rosemary Extract
Other Nulo products
Nulo Freestyle Perfect Purees (Wet)
Nulo Freestyle Freeze-Dried Raw Cat Food (Raw)
Nulo Freestyle Senior Dry Cat Food – Alaska Pollock, duck & sweet potato recipe (Dry)
Nulo Freestyle 2.8 oz Wet Cat Food Pouches (Wet)What types of cat food does Nulo offer?
Nulo offers a wide range of cat food to suit every feline—from wet to dry food and food tailored for senior cats, indoors cats and kittens. Below are their specific food line ranges currently available:
Nulo Freestyle Line
The Nulo Freestyle line includes dry cat food and wet cat food, including purées and minced meat recipes. The first 3-4 ingredients in every Freestyle product are sourced from quality animal protein. You can also find food tailored to overweight or indoor cats.
Nulo Medalseries Line
Similar to the Freestyle Line, the Medalseries Line includes a wide range of grain-free kibble, wet, freeze-dried, raw, treat and topper recipes. Around 83-90% of the protein in Medalseries diets comes from animal sources. Though it’s important to note that this line is sold exclusively at PetSmart. Within the Medalseries line, they also have Limited Ingredient recipes for cats with sensitive stomachs and allergies.
Blue Buffalo Cat Food Buying Guide
More about Nulo
What began as a dog sitting business, Nulo has grown into the pet food brand today after Michael Landa noticed the amount of overweight and diabetic pets that were receiving insulin injections at home. As a result, he did further research and noticed the sheer amount of high-glycemic ingredients in pet food (basically fast food for pets).
Knowing that a low protein and high carb diet poses many risks for felines, he developed Nulo in 2009 with animal nutritionists and veterinarians. He saw no other solution but to develop a healthy pet food brand that lived up to his standard of what he would feed his own dog.
Nulo is the official pet food partner for Ironman events; and it’s endorsed by athletes, fitness leaders and Olympic Medalists. That’s why they market their products to fitness conscious individuals who want to fuel an active lifestyle for their pet.
Sourcing and Manufacturing
Nulo is headquartered in Austin, Texas. All of their dry, canned and freeze-dried raw recipes are manufactured in the United States. Their meaty pouches, perfect purees and silky mousse recipes are manufactured in a state-of-the-art facility in Thailand. All food is made in facilities approved by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO).
Nulo’s commitment involves ensuring high quality products by tracing and testing all ingredients for safety. Most of their fish, chicken and meat ingredients are sourced from North America, France and New Zealand.
Why choose Nulo?
Nulo’s brand is built on the principle that pet parents and their pets can be healthy together. All of their products contain the finest quality ingredients to nourish a happy and healthy pet. They have been recognized by Forbes Magazine as a “Top 25 Most Innovative Retail Brand.” Besides their accolades and top tier athlete ambassadors, there are several key reasons for why Nulo is a premium food brand:
- High protein content
Nulo ensures that the animal based protein they use comes from sustainable farmers. And all recipes are high protein based to provide your cat muscle-repairing amino acids and satisfy their finicky taste-buds. - No shortcuts or fillers
Nulo recipes are free from artificial preservatives, fillers, chemicals and grains. They never use poultry or meat by-products or GMOs but take care in including fresh meat, free-roam poultry and wild-caught fish. - Powered by patented probiotics
This is what makes Nulo’s products unique. They are formulated with their own BC30 probiotic to facilitate better digestion and support your cat’s immune system. - Slow-burning energy alternative carb sources
By using low-glycemic energy sources like sweet potatoes, chickpeas and lentils, your active cat will get the energy they need without being at risk of diabetes and early obesity.
How much does Nulo cat food cost on average?
Given that Nulo’s products are high quality, Nulo cat food is a moderately-priced brand. According to our research, dry food costs an average of $32.94 or $0.24 per 100 calories. Wet food costs $31.98 or $1.49 per 100 calories.
Where is Nulo cat food sold?
In person, you can find Nulo products in independent pet retailers and PetSmart stores. Online, you can buy from Chewy, Petsmart.com and Amazon to have cat food delivered directly to you!
What is the right amount of Nulo that I should feed my cat?
Each Nulo product has a feeding guideline to go off from. So whether you have a kitten, growing cat or adult cat, you can find the appropriate amount that’s ideal for your furry friend. Keep in mind that pregnant or nursing mothers may require up to 3 times the amounts shown. But when in doubt, ask your veterinarian.
A cat’s requirement may vary from the guidelines due to age, breed, environment and activity level. Adjust food as required to maintain optimal body weight.
Has Nulo cat food ever been recalled?
To date, Nulo has never had a recall.
What do customers think of Nulo cat food?
Nulo has received mostly positive reviews across the board. All of their top recipes have received 4 to 5-star ratings on Chewy. Below are some real customer reviews on Nulo’s Freestyle Chicken and Cod recipe, which has 4.3 / 5 stars based on 149 reviews. And 86% of those reviewers would recommend the product.
The negative reviews seem to stem mostly from owners whose cats don’t particularly find the kibble size or flavor appealing.
Here’s what a few real customers had to say about it.
Positive reviews
“I love this food because the pieces are tiny! My girl doesn’t chew so she was swallowing large pieces of other brands whole. I also love this food because it is made in the USA. I was panicking at the beginning of Covid when I learned most pet food came from China and that it would be scare like toilet paper. Their food is high in protein, low in carbs, and contains probiotics important for their health. I was so happy to find Nulo made in Austin, TX, USA”
-by Carrie on October 28, 2020
“I researched kitten food for ages before I finally decided on Nulo. It was the best quality for the price that I could find, it’s something I feel good about feeding her without breaking the bank. I am giving her a combination of this dry food as well as some wet food to keep enough moisture in her diet but I definitely recommend this dry food, it’s healthy with good ingredients and my kitty loves it. I had to put the bag in a drawer because when she’s hungry she will bite and claw the bag! 5 stars from Hammy and I.”
-by Summer on October 4, 2020
Negative reviews
“Had all the right ingredients but my cats just left it in the bowl. I think it might be the kibble size itself. It’s way too small. They definitely don’t like this one at all”
-by amanda on May 21, 2020
“This smells and appears fine to me. I’ve had other Nulo wet food products that my cats have liked, so really thought they would go for this; however, all 7 of mine have sniffed and walked away. Not one of them will eat any of it at all. Apparently, there is no appeal for them. The ingredients look good/healthy. And I thought that the cod would be pleasing to the feline palette, but this is a no go. The pieces are quite small, perhaps making it a good choice for kittens. Mine are all adults, and all fussy ones at that. I feed a number of feral cats, so will see if they are desperate enough to eat it.”
-By Jilly on April 13, 2020
Conclusion:
Is Nulo a good brand of cat food?
Based on our unbiased research and brand analysis, we stand by Nulo as a good quality cat food brand. It’s currently one of the more popular and well received brands on the market today. With food that’s rich in variety, meat protein, probiotics and free from artificial ingredients, Nulo’s pet food has a lot of qualities worth writing home about.
Ultimately, the decision lies in your hands (and your cat’s taste buds!). But hopefully this gave you more information to choose cat food you can be confident of.