Nutrisca dry cat food doesn’t seem to be a very popular brand in the cat food market. At least I never heard about it before. I decided to make a review of this Nutrisca grain-free chicken formula because the main ingredients look good and I wanted to learn more about this recipe. The other reason I picked this cat food is that Nutrisca has a reasonable price, unlike other similar brands.
The first thing I noticed is that this formula contains real chicken and no by-product meats in the main ingredients which is a good sign. I also can see that this formula is insulin-friendly for cats since the carbs are low glycemic. Let’s learn more about this cat food with its pros & cons and my final conclusion.
Key Features of Nutrisca
- Real meat, no by-product meats
- Grain-free, no gluten
- Low glycemic carbs prevent obesity and diabetes in cats
- No artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives
- With vitamins & minerals for the cat’s nutritional needs
- Flax-seed and berries for better digestion
- Healthy fatty acids support the cat’s immune system
Ingredients
Chicken, Chicken Meal, Peas, Turkey Meal, Chickpeas, Chicken Fat (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Natural Flavor, Pea Protein, Tomato Pomace, Sunflower Oil (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Potassium Chloride, Choline Chloride, Dl Methionine, Cranberries, Blueberries, Apples, Taurine, Carrots, Celery, Parsley, Lettuce, Watercress, Spinach, Beets, Zinc Sulfate, Iron Sulfate, Niacin, Vitamin E Supplement, Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Copper Sulfate, Calcium Pantothenate, Manganese Sulfate, Copper Proteinate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin A Actetate, Manganese Proteinate, Iodine Iodate, Folic Acid, Cobalt Proteinate, Selenium Selenite, Biotin, Cobalt Carbonate, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Rosemary Extract.
Guaranteed Analysis
Crude Protein 38.0% min – Crude Fat 16.0% min – Crude Fiber 5.5% max – Moisture 10.0% max – Zinc 150 mg/kg min – Vitamin A 18,000 IU/kg min – Vitamin E 200 IU/kg min – Taurine 0.2% min – Omega-6 Fatty Acids 2.2% min – Omega-3 Fatty Acids 0.35% min
Rating of Main 5 Ingredients Of Nutrisca Chicken Formula
Chicken: 2 stars. Contains between 84% to 85% water weight in the muscles when raw. This adds less protein after being cooked.
Chicken Meal: 5 stars. High concentrated source of protein that is excellent for cats. This ingredient adds a real percentage to the total formula because it’s been already cooked.
Peas: 5 stars. Very good source of fiber for cats. It adds also vegetable protein and low glycemic carbs.
Turkey Meal: 5 stars. High concentrated source of protein since water weight has been removed when cooked. 5 stars
Chickpeas: 2 stars. It adds protein and fiber but is high in calories.
Pros
- First ingredient is 100% cage-free chicken meat
- Chicken meal provides a high source of chicken protein
- Good ratio of Omega-6/Omega-3
- Gluten-free. Gluten can cause allergies or other health issues with some cats
- No corn, soy, wheat, rice, or potato
- A low glycemic formula prevents obesity and diabetes in cats
- A good percentage of protein with a 38%
- Reasonable price
Cons
- It doesn’t list the minimum fiber content
- It contains tomato pomace
- Contains too many supplements
- High level of Phosphorus
Conclusion
Nutrisca grain-free chicken formula doesn’t contain high glycemic carbs in comparison to other very expensive formulas marketed as “Premium” cat foods.
The recipe provides natural and supplementary sources of vitamins and minerals. It’s always better to feed cats foods that contain fewer supplements with nutritional properties that come from natural ingredients. However, all cat foods contain supplements some more than others. The reason for this is the fact that some ingredients get cooked to high temperatures losing their nutritional properties. The good thing is that this formula doesn’t contain a vitamin K supplement that is toxic for pets.
Nutrisca chicken offers a good balance of Omega 6/Omega 3 which is crucial for the cat’s immune system. The Phosphorus content of this cat food is high (1.90) so it’s not a good formula for long-term feeding.
Bottom Line
This is a well-balanced formula of proteins and fats, but I don’t suggest feeding your cat this kibble for too long. The Phosphorus content of 1.9% is too high and could create some urinary issues, especially in male cats.
Check also: Nulo the dry cat food with low Phosphorous content. |
Richard Crum says
What is the phosphorus percentage? I don’t see it listed and trying to compare it to what my cats currently eat.
Lorena Ávila says
Hello Richard, the percentage of Phosphorus is 1.9% on the basis of dry matter analysis (DMA). This may differ from the Guaranteed Analysis (GA) shown in the package.