Our Verdict
Nulo Freestyle wet cat food range receives the Cat Food Advisor rating: 5 stars.
It is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by AAFCO cat food nutrient profiles for adult and senior cat maintenance and some recipes support the growth and development of kittens too.
Pros
- Grain-free
- Quality protein ingredients
- No by-products
Cons
- Expensive
Each recipe includes its AAFCO nutrient profile: Growth (kitten), Maintenance (adult), All Life Stages, Supplemental or Unspecified.
The Nulo Freestyle wet product line contains 23 recipes.
| Product line | Rating | AAFCO |
|---|---|---|
| Minced Turkey & Duck Recipe in Gravy | 5 | M |
| Beef & Lamb Recipe | 5 | A |
| Silky Mousse Chicken & Salmon Recipe | 5 | A |
| Shredded Chicken & Duck Recipe in Gravy | 5 | M |
| Salmon & Mackerel Recipe | 5 | A |
| Shredded Turkey & Halibut Recipe in Gravy | 5 | A |
| Minced Salmon & Turkey Recipe in Gravy | 5 | A |
| Silky Mousse Yellowfin Tuna & Shrimp Recipe | 5 | A |
| Cat & Kitten Chicken & Chicken Liver Stew | 5 | A |
| Cat & Kitten Chicken & Chicken Liver Recipe in Broth | 5 | A |
| Cat & Kitten Yellowfin Tuna & Shrimp Recipe in Broth | 5 | A |
| Trout & Salmon Recipe | 5 | A |
| Minced Beef & Mackerel Recipe in Gravy | 5 | A |
| Cat & Kitten Chicken Duck & Pumpkin Stew | 5 | A |
| Cat & Kitten Yellowfin Tuna & Crab Stew | 5 | A |
| Cat & Kitten Chicken & Salmon Recipe in Broth | 5 | A |
| Cat & Kitten Mackerel, Shrimp & Mussel Stew | 5 | A |
| Duck & Tuna Recipe | 5 | A |
| Chicken & Herring Recipe | 5 | A |
| Turkey & Chicken Recipe | 5 | A |
| Silky Mousse Beef & Sardine Recipe | 5 | A |
| Silky Mousse Chicken & Duck Recipe | 5 | A |
| Shredded Beef & Rainbow Trout Recipe in Stew | 5 | A |
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Recipe and Label Analysis
Nulo Freestyle Wet Minced Turkey & Duck Recipe in Gravy recipe was selected to represent the other products in the wet line for a detailed recipe and nutrient analysis.
Label and nutrient data below are calculated using dry matter basis.
Nulo Freestyle Wet Minced Turkey & Duck Recipe in Gravy
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Protein
Fat
CarbsCarbohydrates
Turkey, turkey broth, duck broth, turkey liver, dried egg whites, carrots, duck, dried ground peas, natural flavor, guar gum, ground flaxseed, sodium phosphate, salt, potassium chloride, choline chloride, taurine, cranberries, pumpkin, blueberries, dried kelp, yucca schidigera extract, inulin, iron proteinate, zinc proteinate, flaxseed oil, vitamin E supplement, thiamine mononitrate, 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
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 1%
Red denotes any controversial items
Ingredients Analysis
The first ingredient is turkey. Turkey is considered “the clean combination of flesh and skin… derived from the parts or whole carcasses of turkey”. 1.
Turkey is naturally rich in the 11 essential amino acids required by a cat to sustain life.
The second and third ingredients are turkey and duck broths. Broths are of only modest nutritional value. Yet because they add both flavor and moisture to a cat food, they are a common component in many wet products.
The fourth ingredient is turkey liver. This is an organ meat sourced from a named animal and thus considered a beneficial component.
The fifth ingredient is dried egg whites. Eggs are highly digestible and an excellent source of usable protein.
The sixth ingredient is carrots. Carrots are rich in beta-carotene, minerals and dietary fiber.
The seventh ingredient is duck. Duck is considered “the clean combination of flesh and skin… derived from the parts or whole carcasses of duck”. 2.
Duck is also naturally rich in the 11 essential amino acids required by a cat to sustain life.
The eighth ingredient is dried ground peas. Dried peas are a good source of carbohydrates. Plus they’re naturally rich in dietary fiber. However, dried peas contain about 27% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the meat content of this cat food.
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.
Nutrient Analysis
Based on its ingredients alone, Nulo Freestyle Wet Minced Turkey & Duck Recipe in Gravy looks like an above-average wet product.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 55.6%, a fat level of 19.4% and an estimated carbohydrate level of 17%.
As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 54.9% and a mean fat level of 22.3%. Together these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 14.8% for the overall product line, alongside a fat-to-protein ratio of 42%.
This means the Nulo Freestyle wet product line contains above-average protein, below-average carbs and above-average fat when compared to typical wet cat food.
Final Word
Nulo Freestyle wet cat food provides a combination of rich proteins. It contains no grains, carrageenan, meat by-products, corn, wheat, soy or artificial preservatives, colors or flavoring.
Has Nulo cat food been recalled in the past?
No, there have been no recorded recalls for Nulo
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
Nulo was founded in 2009 by Michael Landa and Brett Montana, after they saw high rates of diabetes and other medical issues in dogs and cats while running their pet-sitting business.
The company is still privately owned.
All ingredients are sourced and all recipes are made in the USA.
Sources
Best cat foods
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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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