Last updated Dec 1, 2023
The name Nulo is a portmanteau of “nutrition” and “love”, but is this brand really a nutritious, safe choice for the cat you love? Find out in our unbiased Nulo review.
The Cats.com Standard—Rating Nulo on What Matters
We’ve analyzed Nulo and graded it according to the Cats.com standard, evaluating the brand on species-appropriateness, ingredient quality, product variety, price, customer experience, and recall history. Here’s how it rates in each of those six key areas.
Ratings
- Species-Appropriateness – 4/5
- Ingredient Quality – 4/5
- Product Variety – 5/5
- Price – 3/5
- Customer Experience – 4/5
- Recall History – 5/5
Overall Score: 4.1/5
We give Nulo cat food a 25 out of 30 rating or a B+ grade.
Why Trust Cats.com
I’ve purchased and tested a variety of Nulo’s recipes with my cats at home. I also researched the ingredients, quality, customer experience, and brand recalls to get a better feel for the brand as a whole, and to see how it fits into Cats.com standards.
We bought the products at full retail price, and the entire testing process was funded by Cats.com without direct input or influence from the companies involved.
The food was also submitted to a lab for testing. Analytical testing in a food chemistry lab gives us the exact macronutrient and micronutrient content of each recipe. The tests also look at microbial content, yeast, mold, and heavy metals, helping you ensure that you’re only putting the best in your cat’s bowl.
About Nulo
After starting a dog-sitting business, Michael Landa was startled by the number of overweight and diabetic pets who required at-home insulin injections. He started investigating the trend and how it related to nutrition.
According to the Nulo website, Michael’s research led to more disappointment as he learned about the use of high-glycemic ingredients in pet food. With the help of animal nutritionists, veterinarians, and food formulators, he developed a new brand of food for pets. Nulo was launched in 2009.
The brand is marketed to fitness-conscious people who want high-quality fuel for their animal companions. Nulo’s brand ambassadors include Olympic medalists, professional CrossFit athletes, a fitness trainer, and other fitness icons. It’s the pet food partner for Ironman events. In 2017, Nulo supported the “Squat Your Dog Challenge” at PetSmart.
Sourcing and Manufacturing
Nulo is headquartered in Austin, Texas, but its products are made from ingredients sourced around the world. Most of their fish, poultry, and meat ingredients are sourced from North America, France, and New Zealand. Their plant ingredients and vitamin packs are sourced from North America and other regions around the world. Nulo states that all ingredients are traced and tested for quality and safety before being used in their products.
Most Nulo food is manufactured in the United States, including its dry, canned, hearty stew, freeze-dried raw, dog treats, and water enhancers. However, their meaty pouches, Silky Mousse, and Perfect Purees recipes are made in a facility in Thailand.
Has Nulo Cat Food Been Recalled?
No. It doesn’t appear that Nulo has ever been recalled.
What Kinds of Cat Food Does Nulo Offer?
Nulo offers a diverse variety of grain-free wet and dry cat food.
- The Nulo Freestyle line includes both dry and wet cat food. All of the Freestyle recipes are grain-free with high meat content. The first 3-4 ingredients in every Freestyle dry cat food are sources of animal protein, and their wet foods boast “industry-leading meat levels”. It also has multiple options in a freeze-dried raw recipe line.
- Nulo’s Limited Ingredient Diet line includes both wet and dry foods for cats with food sensitivities and allergies. The recipes contain up to 38% crude protein and are the only limited ingredient foods that contain the GanedenBC³⁰ probiotic.
- Nulo Medalseries is the brand’s PetSmart-exclusive line. Behind the high-contrast dark packaging, Medalseries is similar to the Freestyle line. Like Freestyle, Medalseries includes grain-free kibble, canned food, and pouches of shredded and flaked meat.
- Perfect Purées are lickable treats that come in a tube. Nulo Pouches are shredded or flaked recipes that come in a pouch for easy storage and feeding. They’re made without any gums, tapioca, or potato starch. Because they’re not nutritionally supplemented, the contents of these pouches are intended as side dishes, snacks, and food toppers. They’re not complete meals.
- Crunchy cat treats come in multiple formulas, such as Skin and Coat Salmon, Heart Healthy Beef, and Digestive Health Chicken. All are high-protein treats supporting cat’s gut health with prebiotics and probiotics. They also include natural fiber to aid in digestion, plus they are only 2 KCAL per treat to help your cat maintain their weight while still getting to indulge in a tasty treat.
All Nulo dry foods are supplemented with the patented BC30 probiotic, a probiotic strain that’s extremely stable due to the cell’s ability to form a protective spore. This spore doesn’t germinate until it reaches the intestines, allowing it to remain stable during storage.
What Did Our Test Cats Think?
Nulo is one of the better cat food brands on the market. Their foods are rich in meat protein with relatively low carbohydrate content. They’re free of artificial ingredients, and most recipes are supplemented with a high-viability probiotic.
It’s best to opt for the brand’s wet varieties, which have higher percentages of animal ingredients and provide the hydration your cat needs.
Nulo Cat Food – Top 3 Recipes Reviewed
| Product Name | Food Type | Price | Our Grade |
| Nulo Freestyle Chicken & Cod Recipe Grain-Free Dry Cat & Kitten Food | Dry | $4.80 per lb | B |
| Nulo Freestyle Duck & Lentils Grain-Free Indoor Dry Cat Food | Dry | $4.81 per lb | B |
| Nulo Freestyle Turkey & Chicken Recipe Grain-Free Canned Cat & Kitten Food | Wet | $0.36 per oz | A |
#1 Nulo Freestyle Chicken & Cod Recipe Grain-Free Dry Cat & Kitten Food
Chicken appears to be the primary protein source in this dry cat food.
This Nulo Freestyle recipe is primarily made from deboned chicken and chicken meal with turkey meal as an additional source of poultry-sourced protein. Deboned cod is added as a fourth source of animal-sourced protein. These ingredients contribute to the food’s 80% animal protein content.
Like many grain-free foods, this product contains whole peas and lentils, presumably added to give the kibble its structure and increase its protein content.
The food contains chicken fat as a primary source of fatty acids, pea fiber, and ground flaxseed as sources of fiber, and dried chicory root as a source of prebiotic fiber. The food contains small amounts of dried kelp, dried sweet potato, and dried cranberries. The additive “natural flavor” is added as a concentrated source of the meaty taste cats enjoy. It’s typically made from hydrolyzed animal tissue.
The food is supplemented with probiotics for digestive support.
Overall, this kibble is a meat-based food with high protein, moderate fat, and moderate carbohydrate content.
Nulo Freestyle Chicken & Cod Recipe has 486 calories per cup.
Ingredients
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, Pyridoxidine Hydrochloride, Sodium Selenite, Riboflavin Supplement, Dried Bacillus Coagulans Fermentation Product, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Calcium Iodate, Folic Acid, Rosemary Extract.
Ingredients We Liked: Deboned Chicken, Chicken Fat
Ingredients We Didn’t Like: Whole Peas, Lentils, Pea Fiber
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
Pros
- Primarily made from animal protein
- Made with named meats rather than vaguely-labeled by-products
- Relatively low carbohydrate content
- Supplemented with probiotics
Cons
- More plant content than cats need
#2 Nulo Freestyle Duck & Lentils Grain-Free Indoor Dry Cat Food
Duck and chicken meal appear to be the primary protein sources in this dry cat food.
Duck, chicken meal, turkey meal, and deboned cod are the first four ingredients in this food. Animal ingredients account for 82% of the kibble’s total protein content. Plant contributors to the food’s protein content include whole peas and lentils, both of which feature prominently on the ingredient list. Chicken fat is the food’s primary fat source.
Like other foods formulated for indoor cats, this recipe contains several sources of fiber, including pea fiber and dried chicory root.
It’s supplemented with dried kelp, dried sweet potato, and dried cranberries. Like all Nulo Freestyle dry foods, it’s enhanced with the BC30 Probiotic. It contains “natural flavor”, an additive typically made from hydrolyzed animal tissue and used to improve the food’s palatability.
Overall, this is a meat-based food with moderate protein, moderate fat, and high carbohydrate content.
There are 468 calories in each cup of Nulo Freestyle Duck & Lentils dry food.
Ingredients
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, Pyridoxidine Hydrochloride, Sodium Selenite, Riboflavin Supplement, Dried Bacillus Coagulans Fermentation Product, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Calcium Iodate, Folic Acid, Rosemary Extract.
Ingredients We Liked: Deboned Duck, Chicken Fat
Ingredients We Didn’t Like: Whole Peas, Lentils, Pea Fiber, Dried Sweet Potato
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
Pros
- Primarily made from meat protein sources
- Contains named meats rather than vaguely-named meat by-products
- Free of artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives
- Supplemented with probiotics
Cons
- High carbohydrate content
#3 Nulo Freestyle Turkey & Chicken Recipe Grain-Free Canned Cat & Kitten Food
Turkey appears to be the primary protein source in this wet cat food.
This Nulo Freestyle canned food is made primarily from animal protein sources, including turkey, chicken, turkey liver, and tuna. In addition to the flavors of these ingredients, the recipe contains an additive called “natural flavor” to increase its palatability. Natural flavor is made from hydrolyzed animal tissues and is a concentrated source of the meaty taste cats love.
The food contains both guar gum and agar-agar, both plant-derived gums that thicken and stabilize the paté. It contains small amounts of pumpkin, cranberries, and dried kelp, all of which Nulo describes as superfoods.
Menhaden fish oil is added as a species-appropriate source of omega-3 fatty acids, which help to support healthy skin and coat.
Overall, this is a meat-based food with high protein, high fat, and low carbohydrate content.
This food has 193 calories in each 5.5-ounce can or approximately 35 calories per ounce.
Ingredients
Turkey, Chicken, Turkey Liver, Turkey Broth, Tuna, 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, Iron Proteinate, Sodium Carbonate, Zinc Proteinate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin E Supplement, Magnesium Sulfate, 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.
Ingredients We Liked: Turkey, Chicken, Turkey Liver, Menhaden Fish Oil
Ingredients We Didn’t Like: Cranberries, Pumpkin
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
Pros
- Free of artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives
- A meat-based food
- Low in carbohydrates
- Primarily made with animal protein
Cons
- May be on the dry side
What Do Customers Think of Nulo Cat Food?
Nulo receives positive customer reviews. On Chewy, Nulo’s top recipes receive 4 to 5-star ratings. Happy customers praise the food’s quality and palatability, while most unhappy customers say their cats refused to eat it.
Let’s see what a few real customers have to say about Nulo cat food.
Positive Reviews
“I was trying to find a cleaner/healthier dry food for my kitties due to some health and behavior issues. This was my top choice to try, and my kitties instantly approved! Very easy transition. They don’t mind the small kibble, and they seem to love the flavor. The price is less than I was paying for food with more filler, so a win win! I love that they’re eating more meat and no byproducts!” – lwingey, reviewing Nulo Freestyle Duck & Lentils Grain-Free Indoor Dry Cat Food on Chewy.com, on October, 2, 2023
“We love this cat food! The ingredients are good and is high quality. We took a rescue cat that was in very bad shape. She was loosing a lot of her hair from stress and poor diet. Once we started her on Nulo we saw huge improvements. Her coat is nice and shiny and it decreased her shedding by a lot. She also seems to enjoy the flavor. We would highly recommend. It’s a bit on the pricey side but we try and find times to buy it in bulk when there are promotions.” – Jen, reviewing Nulo Freestyle Chicken & Cod Recipe Grain-Free Dry Cat & Kitten Food on Amazon, on November 10,2023
The positive reviews highlight how nutritious and species-appropriate the dry and wet food is and how much their cats enjoy the food. Quite a few of the reviewers mentioned that their cat’s fur was looking healthier than before they started the food.
Negative Reviews
“We have two Senior cats and three kittens. Since the kittens kept eating the senior cat food, I decided to see if this would work for all 5. Sadly, none of them wanted it. The bowl sits untouched. So I tried to give it to our community cats, same thing. The bowl sits untouched. Only our opossums have eaten any of it. Sadly, this isn’t for our household.” – Missy, reviewing Nulo Freestyle Chicken & Cod Recipe Grain-Free Dry Cat & Kitten Food, on Chewy, on November 8, 2023
“My two cats didn’t like it much, so I tried feeding it to abandoned cats left in a vacant apartment building near mine. I’m helping a group called Friends of Feral Felines to catch them and bring to our local animal shelter. They seem to eat it fine. Thank you Chewy.” – Elise, reviewing Nulo Freestyle Duck and Lentils Grain-Free Indoor Dry Cat Food on Chewy.com, on July 1, 2023
Most of the negative reviews state that their cats did not like the food, with numerous cat owners saying the bowls were left full of food for days. Others complained about the size of the kibble. All dry food is in the shape of a small round disc, which reviewers felt was too small for their adult cats.
How Much Does Nulo Cat Food Cost?
Nulo cat food is a higher-priced cat food. A 14-pound bag of dry food varies in price depending on the retailer. On Chewy, it is $51.99, and on Amazon, it is $44.19. Nulo’s wet cat food comes in cases of 12 2.8-ounce cans for $23.88, or cases of 12 12.5-ounce cans for $44.28. Wet food breaks down to $0.30 an ounce, while dry kibble breaks out to $0.90 a cup.
According to the company’s feeding guidelines for an average 10-lb cat, Nulo’s wet foods cost $2.98 to $5.97 per day. On average, a cat of the same size should eat 3/4 cup of Nulo’s dry food a day, costing $0.68 per day.
Overall, Is Nulo a Good Choice?
Nulo is one of the better cat food brands on the market. Their foods are rich in meat protein with relatively low carbohydrate content. They’re free of artificial ingredients and most recipes are supplemented with a high-viability probiotic.
It’s best to opt for the brand’s wet varieties, which have higher percentages of animal ingredients and provide the hydration your cat needs.
Where Is Nulo Cat Food Sold?
Nulo cat food is sold in independent pet retailers and PetSmart stores. Online, you can buy it through Chewy, Amazon, and PetSmart.com. To locate a store near you, use the store locator tool on Nulo’s website.
Some information about Nulo Pate Wet Food. I would highly suggest you “sift” the wet food as a part of your review process and capture “bone” fragment content. Our cat “Marco” loves the food but the bone fragment content on a per can basis is not commensurate with what Nulo customer service is suggesting. A single can produces a significant amount of fragments both large and small that could be a problem for cats with sensitive stomachs. Thank you.
I would think that cats throughout the ages have eaten small amounts and/or pieces of bone(s) when killing and eating their natural prey. Since rodents and other small mammals make up the majority of that prey, it seems to me that there would be an appreciable amount of bone fragments in those carcasses. I’m not all that concerned about the amounts or sizes of the fragments I have seen to date in Nulo’s wet food.
Bone in prey are raw and not cooked. Cooked bones have sharp fragments which could harm cat’s stomach.
Hello can you explain the differences between the Dry Matter Basis results in your report vs. what is stated in your video?
Specifically for Nulo Freestyle Turkey & Chicken Recipe Grain-
Free Canned Cat & Kitten Food Review. Sorry.
Hello there. Our automated system is not complex enough to recognize anything but the guaranteed analysis when calculating nutrient content. It simply pulls the guaranteed analysis from retail sites and uses that information to both infer unlisted nutrients, like carbohydrates, and generate dry matter and percentage-of-calories values. Because the guaranteed analysis is simply a set of minimum and maximum values, these inferences will often differ from typical nutrient values. On the other hand, the video review was based on my own calculations and information from the manufacturer.
Hi Mallory,
Is there a reason why all the Nulo wet food I can find has some ocean fish content? For example the Turkey and Chicken has tuna, and Beef and Lamb has cod, let alone all the others with fish in the recipe name. If I want to feed my cat this food every day I don’t want all of them to contain fish, it could make them too addicted to the fish taste I am afraid.
Tuna/fish is stinky, has a strong taste, and cats love it. So even with chicken or beef some fish is usually added.
A lot of fish is NOT good for cats, esp tuna. https://littlebigcat.com/why-fish-is-dangerous-for-cats/
There is some thing inconsistent with the cases of Nulo Freestyle Turkey and Chicken Recipe that I receive. I always get the exact same kind, yet there are certain batches that my cats refuse to even touch. Chewy has been great working with me, and they will send me a new batch when my 4 cats all refuse one- but after this happening three times in the last six months, I am going to completely switch away from this brand. There must be something that they are doing differently with these batches of food.
Thank you for sharing that!
Agreed my cats has the same reaction all of a sudden
I compared ingredients of an old can (they ate) to newer cans and seemed identical
TY, Consuelo. I experience this with various types of food with my four cats also. With four cats, you know it’s not a pickiness issue.
I’m having the same problem as you with my cat
refusing some of the Nulo Turkey and Chicken and accepting other cans. I’ve also noticed differences in colour and moisture content after opening different cans.
Zoey used to gobble her Nulo, but lately she sniffs and walks away.
Now I will also try a different brand to hopefully overcome this issue.
Hi Helen! Apologies for the late reply. Hope you’re able to sort things out.
Just read reviews on the wet food from Chewy recently. I was super stoked to purchase this for my kitties, but seems like the contents of the can have changed. I definitely think this food review for the wet food should be updated. Thank you so much for the great food advice!
Like Consuelo and LK shared, I received 5 cases of Nulo from Amazon ~$275 that my cat refuses to eat. Looking at a can from a previous batch side by side, the one he won’t eat is much darker/reddish than the ones he’s been eating for a couple years with no problem. Amazon has refunded part of the order but waiting to see if I can get a refund for the remainder. I even tried mixing the old and new but he still won’t touch it. Any recommendations on a similar cat food – I’m sad that I will have to move away from this brand and wondering what Nulo was thinking when they changed the formula
Thanks for sharing.
Been giving my cat Nulo freeze dried raw food in place of treats as she seemed to becoming addicted but have seen same addictive behavior with these freeze dried morsels. And she has a weigh problem.
Hi Sara!
We had a similar issue when our Siberian girl gained 4lbs after 1-2 months of adding freeze-dried raw to her diet. Here’s what we learned:
Raw food contains more than twice as much fat as standard wet or dry cat food. For reference, here’s a comparison of Nulo’s fatcontent as listed on the labels:
– Wet/Pate (Chicken & Turkey) = 8%
– Dry/kibbles (Chicken & Cod) = 20%
– Freeze-dried raw (Turkey & Duck) = 37%
The crude fat content of freeze-dried raw food is closest to what cats would eat in nature — it’s best suited for cats who are outside and burn equivalent calories.
The typical house cat doesn’t have to contend with extended hunting sessions & extreme temperature fluctuations, making them less active day-to-day, so a freeze-dried raw diet is likely to contribute to excessive weight gain (not to mention all that fat makes it extra yummy!).
After extensive research and talking it over with our vet, we transitioned Harper to a low-fat wet food for a few months (Tiki Chicken Consume Shreds is one good option) and increased interactive playtime to help her burn off the extra calories.
I personally decided to stop feeding raw food entirely, but you can also continue to feed it in small portions (e.g. add a couple bits to the wet food or use it as a treat).
It might also be a good idea to wean your cat off this tasty addiction first (by decreasing the amount added to low-fat wet food each day until you run out), to help make your kitty less likely to be mad about the transition 😉
Best of luck, fellow cat mama!
Julia & Harper =^•.•^=
IMO, Julia W’s post reads like an ad for Tiki. I have 4 cats that eat raw. “makes it extra yummy” — They like some and not others in the same way that they treat wet food. “a freeze-dried raw diet is likely to contribute to excessive weight gain” — None of them are fat. “Raw food contains more than twice as much fat as standard wet or dry cat food.” Does your fat content analysis extend beyond Nulo? Could that be bc there’s more meat? Are they all the same type of percentage, dry matter, by weight, of calories? “extensive research” — Cites? Why didn’t you just decrease what you were feeding your cat? I call BS on this comment.
No two cats will respond to the same food in the exact same way. And it’s important to refer to feeding guidelines on the individuals products, as nutrient values and calorie content varies greatly across different food types and specific recipes.
Julia W., the as-fed fat percentages on labels of different forms of food aren’t directly comparable. Because there’s a huge difference in moisture content, you need to convert to dry matter basis (DMB) first. Personally I’d be more concerned with the DMB percentage of carbs than fat.
Mallory, I’m curious what your criteria for categorizing DMB percentages of protein, fat, and carbs as low, moderate, or high.. I notice that you call the 28.89% carbs in the kitten dry food “relatively low,” while you call the 31.11% carbs in the dry cat food high. Those percentages don’t seem terribly different to me.
Also, fyi, the first review in your positive reviews category is actually negative.
Hi Thomas, apologies for the late reply! This is a good question, and I believe a mistake was made in the article. You’re right that the carbohydrate content is pretty much the same in both of these recipes. For a little more context, I based my assessments on the typical carbohydrate content, which may differ from the typical nutrient values referenced for the charts on the page. The Cat & Kitten recipe is typically about 21.6% carbohydrates on a dry matter basis, and the indoor cat recipe sits around 23.2% carbohydrates on a dry matter basis. Since they’re under 25%, these can both be considered relatively low-carb compared to other dry foods. I’m editing the article now to correct this, along with the customer review mix-up. Thanks!
My cat loves the nulo wet food. However, I am a little concerned about the bone fragments I found in the pate (especially the Chicken and Turkey pate). I believe the wet cat food is cooked, thus the bone fragments can cause harm, right? Do I need to pick all of them out? I found the bone fragments in the duck pate is soft, can easily be cut with spoon. Is that fine to serve to the cat?
Hi Sophy, there shouldn’t be any bone fragments in the food! If you’re finding these, I would recommend contacting both the company and the FDA to make a complaint.
Hi! I’ve been binge watching your food reviews as I look for wet foods to incorporate into my cats’ diet and although I’ve heard mixed reviews on the newer Nulo recipe I’m still interested in giving it a try to help with my budget. I couldn’t quite interpret the lab results but wanted to ask – is the calcium/phosphorus/ash content in the wet food you recommended an acceptable level for cats or would you consider it to be a bit on the high side? One of my cats has struggled with urinary crystals and since I’m transitioning him off of carb heavy prescription food I want to be sure I’m paying attention to any factors that could affect that. If it’s a bit high but not too bad I may just include it in the rotation but limit the feeding and include foods with lower levels. Thank you for all your information! I’ve watched and rewatched many of your videos and they’ve been such a huge help in making informed decisions!!
Hi Jen, thanks for the comment! The ash is at the slightly higher side of the normal range. Unfortunately, I can’t comment on the calcium : phosphorus ratio as we don’t test for calcium content, but the phosphorus content here is a bit above AAFCO minimums. Overall, I wouldn’t say that it’s a particularly great option for cats who need that kind of mineral restriction, but it would probably be okay to keep in the rotation (not vet advice). Hope this helps! – Mallory
Most of your scores are taken out of 10 points to get your total but for some reason Nulo is scored out of 5 leading it to have a much higher score than it would if it was out of 10
Hi Pj, we’re currently updating our rating system in order to be able to provide more specific information to our readers about how individual scores are determined. We’re working on getting everything updated across the site, so check back soon!
I can’t thank you enough for your reviews! I find myself on your website all the time. Is it possible for you to review some of the other Nulo wet foods aside from the one listed? Would really love to see you review some of their shredded and minced food offerings. Thank you.
Hi Ana,
We will add it to our list
I looked at your reviews between Tiki brand and Nulo, why is it that Nulo gets a price rating of 3/5 (even though it is one of the most budget brand with good ingredients) and a total of 4.1/5 when Tiki don’t even have a price rating in the summary chart and an overall rating of 4.2/5.
That doesn’t seem like a fair overall review when comparing across brands when reading the full brand review.
Thanks for bringing that to our attention, Jane! We’re currently in the process of updating our ratings, so some reviews haven’t been completely transitioned yet. In our updated rating system, we’re ranking Price as 1, 3, or 5 to indicate whether a product is priced around market average (like Nulo, a 3) or well below average (a 5, like Meow Mix), or above average (a 1). We’ll also be publishing details about how our ratings are determined, so this info will be available soon!
Why are nearly all nulo products labeled as “cat & kitten food?” I purchased Nulo kitten pate and regular medal series pate for my older cat. The kittens will not touch the “For Kittens” food. Is it true that the products labeled for both will meet the nutritional requirements for kittens? I like that the pate is offered in 12.5 oz cans to lessen waste, especially if one owns multiple cats. I also like the idea of feeding the kittens and adult cat the same food.
Good question, Lisa. Nulo products that are labeled “cat & kitten food” are formulated according to AAFCO nutrient levels for all life stages. So yes, they are appropriate for both adult cats and kittens. When in doubt, you can check the product packaging for a statement that reads something like: “XXX recipe is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO cat nutrient profiles for all life stages.” If a product is formulated for adults only, it will say “for maintenance” instead of “all life stages.”
Lisa, you don’t have to buy “kitten food.” Just look for a food that says it’s for “all life stages.”
This review is only looking at the Nulo Freestyle series, but all I can find in my local Pet Stores is the Nulo Medalseries, which is what I’m currently feeding my cats. What is the difference between the Freestyle and Medalseries lines and are you able to also do a review on the Medalseries? Maybe include their minced or shredded wet foods which is what my cats seem to prefer over the pate. Thank you!
Thanks for pointing that out, Millie! It does appear that Nulo is moving away from the Freestyle series a little to focus on the Medalseries—or at least those are the options most readily available in stores rather than on Chewy. I took a quick look at the Freestyle Chicken & Duck vs the MedalSeries Turkey & Duck, and they appear very similar in nutrient breakdown and ingredients. The MedalSeries may just be a different branding used in retail stores like Petco.
Either way, I’ll suggest to our editorial team that we update this review or do a separate one for Nulo’s MedalSeries. Thanks!
I buy Nulo MedalSeries 12.5oz cans through PetSmart’s autoship offering. I alternate between the Turkey & Chicken recipe and the Salmon & Mackerel recipe every other day and my two cats love both. I’ve been feeding this for almost two years now and appreciate the good balance of cost and quality. Buying the bigger cans only costs $1.50 to feed each cat per day a 100% wet food diet with noticable positive effects on their coats in softness and minimal shedding. Observations worth noting: there is an inconsistency in texture between cans/batches of the seafood flavor, with some being very wet and others holding together better – the poultry flavor is a more consistently firmer pate; in some orders nearly every can will have a dent or two in it, even those in the innermost parts of the case; based on the feeding recommendations on the can and how much each cat eats (with no supplemental feeding), my cats should be 6-8 pounds, but they are consistently 9.6#, with a little bit of a tummy on each of them.
While not perfect, this food is a good choice for us balancing cost vs quality.
Thanks for sharing your experience, Jonathon! I’ve been curious about the MedalSeries since noticing at the PetSmart I frequent, so I’m glad to hear you and your cats like it.
My Siamese/Tabby mix will only eat NULO minced or shredded wet cat food – he will never eat pates…and he will not eat other brands – so I’m happy to see that NULO is still considered a “better” brand. My complaint with NULO is an inconsistency in different batches regarding ratio or meat to gravy. Normally the canned wet food is jam-packed with meat with just a little liquid – but on occasion, I have opened have received an entire case of food where the meat is almost invisible and it’s all gravy. I have brought this to the attention to Nulo on two occasions – and they have been receptive and have also sent me new cases of food to compensate. I wish they could work on their quality control more.