Nulo Cat Food is a brand of high-protein, grain-free canned, and dry cat food made without fillers or artificial ingredients. Nulo aims to provide cats with natural nutrients through quality animal proteins and probiotics for digestive and immune health. Their recipes contain no corn, wheat, soy, white potatoes or tapioca.
Is Nulo Cat Food Good? With so many pet food options lining store shelves, discerning cat owners rightly question if Nulo’s ingredients and nutritional claims measure up. Specifically, they ask if it improves cats’ well-being over other brands. Determining this requires examining Nulo’s formulations, quality control, and real-world pet owner experiences.
Nulo commissions feeding trials and undergoes routine audits to substantiate their quality and safety processes. However, some veterinarians and owners remain skeptical or report inconsistent results when transitioning cats to Nulo foods. Overall, reviews are largely positive but inconclusive regarding Nulo’s superiority over competitor brands.
Ingredients: High-Quality Animal Proteins & Probiotics
Nulo distinguishes itself by minimizing cheap fillers in favor of premium animal proteins and probiotics. Its canned and dry foods showcase chicken, salmon, venison, and egg proteins delivering essential amino acids. As obligate carnivores, cats require sufficient animal meat proteins for muscle development, organ function, and nutrient absorption.
Additionally, Nulo supplements recipes with patented probiotic strains to support digestive and immune health via enzymes for nutrient absorption, gut inflammation and pathogen reduction, and bowel regulation. However, some veterinarians contend too few studies validate probiotics’ specific benefits for cats.
Nutritional Standards: Meeting or Exceeding AAFCO Profiles
Nulo adheres to cat food nutrient profiles standardized by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) governing ingredient quality and quantified nutrition levels. By satisfying AAFCO Cat Food Profiles for all life stages, Nulo aims to provide complete and balanced nutrition so cats thrive eating Nulo foods exclusively sans additional supplements. Alternatively, brands can demonstrate nutritional adequacy through feeding trials.
Feeding Trials: Inconsistent Signals After 6 Months
As evidence of its foods’ safety, nutritional adequacy, and ability to sustain cat health, Nulo cites studies, where cats fed only Nulo for six months, maintained normal health indicators and weight. However, longer independent trials showed mixed results. In one 439-cat, 6-month trial, 96.6% demonstrated adequate health and weight. But in months 7-12, gastrointestinal issues, kidney problems and death emerged. Another 846-cat trial reported 15 deaths in four months. Researchers attribute this to shelter cats’ preexisting conditions rather than Nulo’s food. Still, the studies raise questions versus conclusively confirming Nulo’s nutritional claims.
Real-World Reviews: Positive But Transitioning Concerns
While public clinical trial data is limited, Nulo references thousands of glowing testimonials regarding weight loss, increased vitality, better skin/coats, and improved digestion. However, some cat caregivers additionally report acute vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration, and hypoglycemia after transitioning cats to Nulo too rapidly. Nulo’s high protein levels without fillers can overwhelm certain cats’ metabolisms, says veterinarian Dr. Margie Scherk. She advises gradual diet shifts over two weeks when introducing Nulo to enable adjustment and prevent adverse events mostly concentrated among transitioning cats.
How Does Nulo Compare to Competitors?
Unlike many cat food companies focused predominantly on minimizing production costs, Nulo invests heavily in quality ingredients and nutritional research. However, evidence remains inconclusive as to whether this yields superior health outcomes versus affordable competitors.
For owners prioritizing health-conscious, natural high-protein formulas, Nulo foods represent a solid option. However, introducing cats should transition slowly with health monitoring to ensure tolerance. Given mixed feeding trial results and transition issues for some cats, determining Nulo’s true superiority requires more research. Birds Eat Cat Food
Finding ideal cat food ultimately depends on cats’ individual needs, sensitivities, and preferences in consultation with veterinary professionals. While Nulo meets and exceeds baseline quality standards, cat caregivers must weigh its pros/cons relative to their specific circumstances.
Ingredient Sourcing and Manufacturing
Nulo sources proteins from animals raised without antibiotics or added hormones and stocks from sustainable fisheries. Nulo manufactures its dry foods at facilities in Indiana, Minnesota, and North Dakota. Canned foods come from co-manufacturing plants meeting USDA standards for human food production.
Product Line Variety
Dry Foods
Nulo currently offers 8 grain-free dry food recipes advertising 33-87% animal protein:
- Freestyle: 6 recipes targeting kittens, adults, and matures across various activity levels
- MedalSeries: Limited-ingredient diets ideal for cats with food sensitivities
Canned/Topper Foods
Nulo’s cans/toppers total over a dozen SKUs from pates to stews featuring various proteins. All recipes mix 85-95% premium animal ingredients with broths and supplements.
Recipe Spotlight: Freestyle Turkey & Sweet Potato
This top-selling dry recipe sources deboned turkey and turkey meal for 70% crude protein. Protein-rich sweet potatoes provide complex carbs for energy. The Limited Ingredient diet aids digestion for sensitive cats. It contains dried fermentation products and probiotic strains too.
Pricing Compared to Competitors
As a premium brand with no cheap fillers, Nulo’s pricing matches its high-quality ingredients but exceeds mass-market foods. Suggested retail prices fall around:
- Dry: $16-$20 per 5lb bag
- Canned: $2.50-$2.75 per 5.5oz can
- Average Cat Feeding Cost: $1.50-$2/day
Nulo costs roughly 2x the prices of basic foods from Iams or Purina but aligns with pricing from comparably higher-end brands like Blue Buffalo and Wellness.
Where to Buy Nulo Cat Food
Nulo sells directly online but mainly distributes through 6,000+ independent pet stores in 50 states. Limited major chains like PetSmart, Petco, and Chewy.com recently began stocking Nulo too. Use Nulo’s online store locator to find retail locations.
FAQ’s:
What ingredients does Nulo cat food contain?
Nulo features high-quality animal proteins and probiotics.
Does Nulo meet nutritional standards for cats?
Yes, Nulo formulas meet or exceed AAFCO cat food nutrient profiles.
Did feeding trials prove Nulo’s health claims?
The results were mixed regarding Nulo’s long-term health impacts on cats.
What do reviews say about transitioning cats to Nulo?
Some cats have experienced digestive issues shifting to Nulo’s high-protein recipes too rapidly.
Is Nulo better than big-name cat food brands?
While Nulo invests more in ingredients, evidence is inconclusive if it yields superior health results.
Conclusion:
In evaluating if Nulo Cat Food merits its claims to be optimal nutrition for cats, we find a brand investing significantly in high-quality ingredients and meeting baseline nutritional standards set by regulators. evidence from independent feeding trials and experiences of some pet owners transitioning cats to Nulo’s high-protein recipes remain inconclusive as to whether it yields superior health outcomes to mass-market cat food brands with more affordable pricing.
while Nulo champions itself as food for the greater good. with formulation consciousness of feline nutrition and natural ingredients, determining if it is truly “good” for your unique cat requires factoring in your cat’s preexisting health conditions and sensitivities. Gradual transitions alongside veterinary advice can illuminate if making the switch to this premium brand generates observable improvements for your individual
