Our Verdict
Instinct frozen raw cat food receives the Cat Food Advisor rating, 4.5 stars
This food contains good quality, animal protein which is listed as the first ingredient. Protein levels are high, carbohydrates low, with moisture high. This food option provides a nutritious, balanced diet for your cat.
Pros
- High level of protein
- Minimal processing
- Animal based protein
Cons
- High fat content
Each recipe includes its AAFCO nutrient profile: Growth (kitten), Maintenance (adult), All Life Stages, Supplemental or Unspecified.
The Instinct frozen raw product line includes seven cat foods.
| Product line | Rating | AAFCO |
|---|---|---|
| Raw Longevity Frozen Bites, Cage-Free Chicken Recipe for Kittens | 4.5 | G |
| Raw Longevity Frozen Bites, Cage-Free Chicken Recipe | 4.5 | M |
| Raw Longevity Frozen Bites, Grass-Fed Beef & Wild Caught Cod Recipe | 4.5 | M |
| Raw Longevity Frozen Bites, Farm-Raised Rabbit Recipe | 4.5 | M |
| Raw Longevity Frozen Bites, Grass-Fed Beef Recipe for Adults 7+ | 4.5 | M |
| Raw Frozen Bites, Cage-Free Chicken Recipe | 4.5 | M |
| Raw Frozen Bites, Wild-Caught Alaskan Pollock Recipe | 4.5 | M |
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Recipe and Label Analysis
Instinct Raw Longevity Frozen Bites, Cage-Free Chicken Recipe was selected to represent the other products in the line for a detailed recipe and nutrient analysis.
Label and nutrient data below are calculated using dry matter basis.
Instinct Raw Longevity Frozen Bites, Cage-Free Chicken Recipe
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Protein
Fat
CarbsCarbohydrates
Chicken (including ground chicken bone), chicken liver, chicken heart, fish oil, ground flaxseed, montmorillonite clay, vitamins (vitamin E supplement, thiamine mononitrate, vitamin D3 supplement), ground miscanthus grass, potassium chloride, apples, carrots, yellow squash, salt, yeast culture, tricalcium phosphate, spinach, blueberries, cranberries, taurine, minerals (zinc proteinate, copper proteinate, manganese proteinate, calcium iodate), choline chloride, dried bacillus coagulans fermentation product
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 2%
Red denotes any controversial items
Ingredients Analysis
The first ingredient is chicken. Chicken is considered “the clean combination of flesh and skin… derived from the parts or whole carcasses of chicken”. 1
It is naturally rich in the 11 essential amino acids required by a cat to sustain life. The ground bone is an excellent source of natural calcium.
The second ingredient is chicken liver, an organ meat sourced from a named animal and thus considered a beneficial component.
The third ingredient is chicken heart. Although it doesn’t sound very appetizing, heart tissue is pure muscle — all meat. It’s naturally rich in quality protein, minerals and complex B vitamins, too.
The fourth ingredient is fish oil. Fish oil is naturally rich in the prized EPA and DHA type of omega-3 fatty acids. These two high quality fats boast the highest bio-availability to dogs and humans.
Depending on its level of freshness and purity, fish oil should be considered a commendable addition.
The fifth ingredient is ground flaxseed, one of the best plant sources of healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Provided they’ve first been ground into a meal, flax seeds are also rich in soluble fiber.
However, flaxseed contains about 19% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the actual meat content of this cat food.
The sixth ingredient is montmorillonite clay, a naturally occurring compound rich in many trace minerals. Montmorillonite has been approved for use in USDA Organic Certified products.
Reported benefits include the binding of certain mold-based toxins and even controlling diarrhea and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
The seventh ingredient is vitamins (vitamin E supplement). VVitamin E is an essential nutrient and plays an important role as a free radical scavenger to prevent cell oxidation. Through this potent antioxidant function, vitamin E is often also added to cat food as an antioxidant to prevent oxidation of the food itself. The presence of vitamin E within this cat food is a positive addition.
From here the list goes on to include a number of other items. But to be realistic, ingredients located this far down the list (other than nutritional supplements) are not likely to affect the overall rating of the product.
However, we note the inclusion of dried fermentation products which are typically added as probiotics to aid with digestion.
Recipe star rating 4.5
Nutrient Analysis
Based on its ingredients alone, Instinct Raw Longevity Frozen Bites, Cage-Free Chicken Recipe looks like an above-average, Frozen Raw product.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 46.4%, a fat level of 28.6% and an estimated carbohydrate level of 17%.
As a group, the brand features an above-average protein content of 44.1% and an above-average fat level of 28.4%. Together these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 19.5% for the overall product line, alongside a fat to protein ratio of 65%.
This means this Instinct Frozen Raw range contains higher than average protein, lower than average carbohydrate, higher than average fat, when compared to typical frozen raw cat food.
Final Word
This food lists good quality animal based protein as the first ingredient and due to being frozen raw, is less processed as other types of food. The protein content is high and the carbohydrate level in this food is low, which is well balanced for your cat. The fat content is higher than average.
Has Instinct cat food been recalled in the past?
No. Instinct has never had a product recall.
You can view a complete list of all cat food recalls since 2021 here.
To stay on top of any cat food product recalls, sign up for our free email alerts, here.
About
Instinct Pet Food was founded in 2002 and produces frozen and freeze-dried raw pet food from its facilities in Lincoln, Nebraska.
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Article reviewed by
Veterinarian
Dr Georgia Jeremiah has a first class honors degree in comparative pathology with field experience in anatomic and clinical pathology, studying disease processes in a multitude of species.
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