by Dr. Abby Huggins Mowinski, DVM
Key Takeaways
- Cats need diets rich in animal-based protein and essential nutrients such as taurine, vitamin A, and arginine.
- Wet food can help increase water intake, while high-protein recipes can support healthy weight and lean muscle.
- Look for named animal proteins, healthy fats, functional nutrients, and highly digestible ingredients when reading cat food labels.
Cats are not small dogs.
This mantra is repeated at veterinary schools and conferences across the world – and it is as applicable to feline nutrition as it is to any other medical issue. Yet, because cats don’t always make the best “test subjects” (anyone who owns cats knows that they do whatever they darn well please, whenever they darn well please…usually at 2:46 in the morning), we are forced to extrapolate much of what we know and what we do from canine medicine.
This isn’t always appropriate, especially when it comes to nutrition. Cats are obligate carnivores, requiring up to twice as much protein as dogs of the same size. A professor of mine once said that the only carbohydrate a cat is designed to eat is the tiny grain of rice the mouse was eating before it became dinner – and that has always resonated with me. Likewise, cats lack certain enzyme pathways that allow other species to convert certain essential nutrients like taurine, Vitamin A, niacin, arginine and arachidonic acid. Hence, these nutrients all need to be provided in higher levels in feline diets to prevent the development of serious health issues.
As pet owners, many of us have brought this ancestrally active hunting species into our homes as indoor pets and have asked them to adapt to a free-fed kibbled diet. I have. My two senior kitties, O.G. and Mason, have lived their entire lives indoors and have eaten dry cat food throughout their 18 years. While this is not inherently wrong, we can do better.
Commercial dry cat food, on average, is typically formulated as 46-76% carbohydrates, 18-32% protein (and, not all of this is meat protein), and 8-22% fat. Why? Because carbs are inexpensive, readily available and offer a longer shelf-life. Remember, cats are obligate carnivores – they have been designed by nature to require meat protein in their diet. It is also many times easier to feed a kibbled cat food – it can be left down throughout the day and readily refilled.
What we compromise, however, with these average cat food diets, is the health of our pets. Excessive weight gain, dull coat quality, and an increased risk for diabetes mellitus may all be improved upon with a transition to a diet which more closely resembles the feline’s ancestral diet and is biologically balanced for their unique nutritional requirements.
Nulo Pet Food offers industry-leading animal meat protein content in all 7 of its cat kibble recipes as well as in the 12 canned recipes. Additionally, all kibble (dry) recipes are grain-free and canned (wet) formulas are carrageenan-free.
I have a special place in my heart for senior pets, and I have been completely satisfied (thrilled, in fact), by my own old guys’ success on the Nulo Indoor Cat Duck & Lentils Recipe. A 2011 longitudinal nutritional study revealed that cats fed a diet supplemented with anti-oxidants, fatty acids, and a prebiotic (specifically vitamin E, beta-carotene, n-3 and n-6 fatty acids, and chicory root as a prebiotic source) lived an average of 11 months longer and had improved health compared to those on a standard diet.
Nulo feline diets contain every single one of those aforementioned supplements, in addition to the essential nutrients like taurine and vitamin A. All kibble recipes also contain the patented BC30 probiotic which helps maintain a healthy natural bacterial flora. Personally, I find the small disk shape of the kibble is especially appreciated by my senior dudes and me, as it is easier for them to eat and reduces the frequency of “cat yuck” (my kids’ name for undigested regurgitation after gobbling). The higher protein content and no filler also yields less solid waste in the litter box, which is appreciated by all.
By improving the quality and design of our cats’ diet, we can help them live longer, healthier, and fuller lives. More 2:46 AM wake up calls, cold noses in my ear, and sitting on my keyboard while I’m trying to type? I’ll take it! Nulo: Healthier Together.
faqs for the best food for your cats
Best Cat Food
When evaluating wet cat food for high-protein nutrition, the key markers to look for are a named animal protein listed as the first ingredient, a protein percentage that meaningfully reflects animal-based sources rather than plant proteins, and an absence of unnecessary fillers or additives such as carrageenan. Cats are obligate carnivores with protein requirements up to twice that of dogs, and they depend on animal-sourced nutrients — taurine, arachidonic acid, vitamin A, and arginine — that can't be adequately synthesized from plant sources. A high-quality wet food should deliver these directly through real meat, poultry, or fish. Nulo's wet cat food recipes are formulated with high animal-based protein, are carrageenan-free, and include essential nutrients like taurine to support heart and vision health. Wet food also meaningfully supports hydration, which is especially valuable for cats who don't drink enough water on their own. Browse Nulo's wet cat food collection to explore options across life stages and flavor profiles.
Indoor cats tend to be less active than cats with outdoor access, which means calorie management matters, but protein quality matters just as much, if not more. The best recipes for indoor cats lead with high animal-based protein to support lean muscle maintenance, use low-glycemic carbohydrate sources to promote stable energy without blood sugar spikes, and keep overall calorie density appropriate for a lower-activity lifestyle. A common problem with average commercial cat food is an over-reliance on carbohydrates as cheap filler, which can contribute to excess weight gain over time in cats who aren't burning those calories through activity. Recipes formulated specifically for indoor cats address this by prioritizing complete, biologically appropriate nutrition in a calorie profile suited to their lifestyle. Nulo's indoor and healthy weight cat food recipes are designed with these priorities in mind — high protein, whole-food ingredients, and controlled fat content to support healthy body composition. Browse Nulo's indoor cat and healthy weight cat food options to find the right fit.
For skin and coat health, the most impactful ingredients are high-quality animal-based protein, which provides the amino acids needed for keratin, collagen, and coat structure, and balanced omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids from sources like salmon oil and flaxseed, which support the skin's moisture barrier and coat shine. Vitamin E contributes antioxidant protection for skin cells, while vitamin A supports healthy skin cell formation. For digestion, look for recipes that include the BC30™ patented probiotic, which supports healthy gut flora and aids nutrient absorption, both of which have downstream benefits for skin and coat health. Prebiotic fiber sources like chicory root help maintain the environment where beneficial bacteria thrive. A 2011 longitudinal nutritional study found that cats supplemented with antioxidants, omega fatty acids, and a prebiotic lived an average of 11 months longer with improved overall health. Nulo cat recipes include all of these functional ingredients, along with the essential nutrients that obligate carnivores require.
They can be, but the label alone doesn't tell the whole story. For cats with sensitive stomachs, what matters most is digestibility and ingredient quality, not simply whether grains are present or absent. Limited ingredient recipes reduce the number of potential triggers in the bowl by featuring a single animal protein source and a streamlined ingredient list, making it easier to identify what your cat tolerates well. Grain-free recipes may also be helpful for some cats, particularly those who seem to do better with lower-carbohydrate diets, which align more closely with the obligate carnivore's natural nutritional needs. That said, digestive sensitivity varies significantly between individual cats, and neither grain-free nor limited-ingredient automatically means the right fit. What to look for in either case: a named animal protein first, highly digestible whole-food ingredients, the BC30™ probiotic for gut health support, and no artificial additives. Nulo offers both limited-ingredient and grain-free cat food recipes formulated with these priorities. Browse the limited ingredient and grain-free cat food collections to explore options, and if your cat's digestive issues are persistent or severe, consult your veterinarian before making dietary changes.
Start with the ingredient list, which is ordered by weight. The first ingredient should always be a named animal protein, like chicken, salmon, turkey, or duck, not a grain, by-product, or vague "meat" listing. Cats require animal-sourced nutrients that plant proteins cannot adequately provide, so the more the ingredient list is anchored in real, identifiable animal proteins, the better. Next, look for the guaranteed analysis, which lists minimum percentages of crude protein and fat and maximum percentages of fiber and moisture. For cats, you generally want to see protein well above the minimum and carbohydrates kept low — though total carbohydrate content isn't always listed directly, you can estimate it by subtracting protein, fat, moisture, ash, and fiber from 100%. Look for a complete and balanced statement, which confirms the recipe meets AAFCO nutritional standards for your cat's life stage. Check for functional additions such as taurine (essential for heart and vision health in cats), omega sources, and probiotics. Finally, scan for what's not there: no carrageenan in wet food, no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives, and no unnamed fillers at the top of the list.