Our Verdict
Nulo MedalSeries dry 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.
Pros
- Contains omega-3s
- Contains probiotics
- Grain-free
- Quality protein ingredients
Cons
- Expensive
Each recipe includes its AAFCO nutrient profile: Growth (kitten), Maintenance (adult), All Life Stages, Supplemental or Unspecified.
The Nulo MedalSeries dry product line contains 15 dry cat foods.
| Product line | Rating | AAFCO |
|---|---|---|
| High Protein Kibble Weight Management Salmon & Sweet Potato Recipe | 5 | M |
| High Protein Kibble Indoor Cat Trout & Duck Recipe | 5 | M |
| High Protein Kibble Turkey & Cod Recipe | 5 | M |
| High Protein Kibble Indoor Cat Duck & Cod Recipe | 5 | M |
| High Protein Kibble Chicken & Peas Recipe | 5 | M |
| High Protein Kibble Salmon & Lentils Recipe | 5 | M |
| High Protein Kibble Hairball Management Chicken & Cod Recipe | 5 | M |
| High Protein Kibble Cod & Duck Recipe | 5 | A |
| High Protein Kibble Turkey, Alaska Pollock & Red Lentils Recipe | 5 | M |
| High Protein Kibble Indoor Cat Turkey & Chicken Recipe | 5 | M |
| High Protein Kibble Limited Ingredient Diet Cod Recipe | 5 | A |
| High Protein Kibble Limited Ingredient Diet Turkey Recipe | 5 | A |
| Digestive Health Kitten Chicken & Whitefish | 5 | A |
| Digestive Health Adult Cat Chicken & Whitefish | 5 | M |
| High Protein Kibble Limited Ingredient Diet Chicken Recipe | 5 | A |
Recipe and Label Analysis
Nulo MedalSeries High protein Kibble Weight Management Salmon & Sweet Potato 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.
Nulo MedalSeries High Protein Kibble Weight Management Salmon & Sweet Potato Recipe
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Protein
Fat
CarbsCarbohydrates
Deboned salmon, turkey meal, chicken meal, dried sweet potatoes, deboned cod, whole peas, green lentils, herring meal, miscanthus grass, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols & citric acid), flaxseed, natural salmon flavor, dried chicory root, DL-methionine, dried cranberries, dried kelp, calcium carbonate, choline chloride, yucca schidigera extract, taurine, l-carnitine, zinc proteinate, vitamin E supplement, zinc sulfate, iron proteinate, l-ascorbyl-2- polyphosphate (source of vitamin C), niacin supplement, ferrous sulfate, copper proteinate, copper sulfate, vitamin A supplement, manganese proteinate, thiamine mononitrate, calcium pantothenate, riboflavin supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, manganous oxide, biotin, dried bacillus coagulans fermentation product, vitamin B12 supplement, vitamin D3 supplement, folic acid, sodium selenite, calcium iodate,rosemary extract
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 5%
Red denotes any controversial items
Ingredients Analysis
The first ingredient is deboned salmon. Salmon is an oily marine and freshwater fish not only high in protein but also omega 3 fatty acids, essential oils needed by every cat to sustain life.
The second ingredient is turkey meal. Turkey meal is considered a meat concentrate and contains nearly 300% more protein than fresh turkey.
The third ingredient is chicken meal. Chicken meal is considered a meat concentrate and contains nearly 300% more protein than fresh chicken.
The fourth ingredient is sweet potato. Sweet potatoes are a gluten-free source of complex carbohydrates in cat food. They are naturally rich in dietary fiber and beta-carotene.
The fifth ingredient is deboned cod, a marine species of fish native to both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of North America. Although it is a quality item, raw fish contains up to 73% water.
After cooking, most of that moisture is lost, reducing the meat content to just a fraction of its original weight. After processing, this item would probably account for a smaller part of the total content of the finished product.
The sixth ingredient is peas. Peas are a quality source of carbohydrates. And like all legumes, they’re rich in natural fiber. However, peas contain about 25% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the meat content of this cat food.
The seventh ingredient is lentils. Lentils are a quality source of carbohydrates. Plus (like all legumes) they’re rich in natural fiber. However, lentils contain about 25% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the actual meat content of this cat food.
The eighth ingredient is herring meal. Because it is considered a meat concentrate, herring meal contains almost 300% more protein than fresh fish itself.
Fish meal is typically obtained from the “clean, dried, ground tissue of undecomposed whole fish and fish cuttings” of commercial fish operations. 1.
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.
We note the inclusion of dried fermentation products in this recipe. Fermentation products are typically added as probiotics to aid with digestion.
Nutrient Analysis
Based on its ingredients alone, Nulo MedalSeries High Protein Kibble Weight Management Salmon & Sweet Potato Recipe looks like an above-average dry product.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 44.4%, a fat level of 13.3% and an estimated carbohydrate level of 34.2%.
As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 43.7% and a mean fat level of 19%. Together these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 29.3% for the overall product line, alongside a fat-to-protein ratio of 43%.
This means the Nulo MedalSeries Dry product line contains above-average protein, near-average carbs and above-fat when compared to typical dry cat food.
Final Word
Nulo MedalSeries Dry is high in protein and low in carbohydrates and includes omega fatty acids and antioxidants that promote good health.
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.
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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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