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Cats.com rates Nutro cat food 5.5 out of 10 (33 out of 60, grade C) and concludes “Maybe.” That verdict is an editorial score built from six criteria, not a laboratory test or feeding trial. It also covers the whole brand, while Nutro sells several dry recipes with different ingredients and guaranteed analyses. A fair answer depends on which recipe you are considering, your cat’s life stage, and how much weight you give to the review’s concerns about ingredients and recall history.
What the Cats.com review actually scores
The review, last updated January 6, 2026, grades Nutro across six dimensions: species-appropriateness, ingredient quality, product variety, price, customer experience, and recall history. Each is scored out of 10 by the reviewer, and the overall grade is the combined result. The scores are editorial judgments, so they show how Cats.com weighs the evidence it gathered rather than measured nutrient content or cat health outcomes.
| Dimension | Cats.com score (out of 10) | How the review treats it |
|---|---|---|
| Product variety | 7 | Relative strength |
| Price | 8 | Relative strength |
| Customer experience | 6 | Criticized in part |
| Ingredient quality | 5 | Criticized in part |
| Species-appropriateness | 4 | Low score |
| Recall history | 3 | Criticized |
| Overall | 5.5 (33 of 60) | Grade C; conclusion “Maybe” |
The pattern is clear: the brand scores well on breadth of product line and price, and poorly on the aspects that matter most to a cat’s diet and the brand’s safety record. Read the full review at Cats.com’s Nutro review for the reasoning behind each score.
What the label says for Adult Chicken & Brown Rice
Nutro’s most detailed product page covers the Wholesome Essentials Adult Chicken & Brown Rice dry cat food. The figures below are the manufacturer’s guaranteed analysis and calorie values for that one recipe, as shown on Nutro’s official product page. They are not a complete nutrient profile and have not been independently assayed.
#1 Best Overall
- Wholesome Essentials: Nutro Wholesome Essentials Dry Indoor Cat Food Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe, is made with natural ingredients plus vitamins, minerals & other nutrients
- Real Chicken First: Nutro Wholesome Essentials Dry Indoor Cat Food Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe is made with real chicken as the #1 ingredient
- Supports Whole Body Health: Nutro Wholesome Essentials Dry Indoor Cat Food is made with essential nutrients and antioxidants to support whole body health
- Healthy Immunity: This dry cat food supports healthy immunity with essential antioxidants like Vitamin E and Selenium
- Digestive Health Support: This dry cat food is crafted with natural prebiotic fiber to support healthy digestion
- Crude protein: minimum 33.0%
- Crude fat: minimum 16.0%
- Crude fiber: maximum 4.0%
- Moisture: maximum 10.0%
- Calcium: minimum 1.1%
- Taurine: minimum 0.18%
- Calories: 3,749 kcal ME/kg and 381 kcal ME/cup
Read these numbers as the starting point for comparison. A guaranteed analysis states minimums and maximums, not the exact amount in each bag, and the calorie figure per cup is what you need to translate a feeding amount into daily intake.
Reading the ingredient list
According to Nutro, chicken is the first ingredient, followed by chicken meal, split peas, whole grain sorghum, whole grain brown rice, and pea protein. The company states that this recipe contains no chicken by-product meal, corn, wheat, or soy, and describes its ingredients as non-GMO. Those are manufacturer statements about this recipe, and the review’s lower ingredient-quality score reflects Cats.com’s judgment of the overall profile.
Two points matter for cats in particular. First, a legume-and-grain profile is a different design from a meat-heavy one, and whether a cat tolerates or thrives on it is a question for your veterinarian and your cat’s own response. Second, “chicken first” describes the order of ingredients by weight before cooking, so it does not tell you the proportion of animal protein in the finished kibble. Nutro’s own copy puts it this way: “This Nutro Wholesome Essentials Adult Dry Cat Food, Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe is made with chicken as the #1 ingredient, giving your cat a tasty flavor they will love.” That is brand marketing, not an independent finding about palatability.
Rank #2
- Wholesome Essentials: Nutro Wholesome Essentials Dry Indoor Cat Food Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe, is made with natural ingredients plus vitamins, minerals & other nutrients
- Real Chicken First: Nutro Wholesome Essentials Dry Indoor Cat Food Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe is made with real chicken as the #1 ingredient
- Supports Whole Body Health: Nutro Wholesome Essentials Dry Indoor Cat Food is made with essential nutrients and antioxidants to support whole body health
- Healthy Immunity: This dry cat food supports healthy immunity with essential antioxidants like Vitamin E and Selenium
- Digestive Health Support: This dry cat food is crafted with natural prebiotic fiber to support healthy digestion
Recall history as the review presents it
Recall history received the lowest score after species-appropriateness and is the single most important caveat in the review. Cats.com recounts several Nutro-related events, and the scope of each one is worth reading closely.
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The review says some Nutro foods were part of the broader 2007 melamine recall, which affected pet foods made with contaminated wheat gluten.
2009: cat food recalls and a production material issue
The review describes 2009 cat-food recalls and a separate 2009 recall tied to material found during production. It does not present these as a single event, so treat them as distinct items when you assess the brand’s history.
Rank #3
- High-Quality Protein: This cat kibble dry cat food is made with real salmon as the #1 ingredient, providing a delicious and nutritious meal for your feline friend
- Supports Healthy Skin and Coat: Nutro Cat Food Dry Wholesome Essentials Adult Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe is rich in Omega-6 Fatty Acids to support a healthy skin and coat
- Nutritious and Delicious: Natural healthy cat food recipe plus vitamins, minerals & nutrients, this dry cat food supports your feline's overall well-being
- Essential Antioxidants: This natural cat food healthy cat food recipe supports healthy immunity and provides essential antioxidants like Vitamin E and Selenium
- Supports Healthy Digestion: Nutro Wholesome Essentials Adult Dry Cat Food Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe, a chicken cat food option, is crafted with natural prebiotic fiber to support healthy digestion
2015: dog treats, not cat food
The review describes a 2015 recall of certain dog treats over potential mold contamination. This did not involve cat food, and it should not be counted as a cat-food recall.
The review’s list is the one it chose to present. It does not claim to be a complete register of every recall, and it does not establish the current recall status of any specific Nutro recipe. Check a recipe’s recall status with the manufacturer and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration before you buy, particularly if your cat has a sensitive health condition.
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Nutro’s dry cat food category page lists several recipes, each with its own ingredients and guaranteed analysis. At the time of writing, the category includes:
Rank #4
- Real chicken is the #1 ingredient in this delicious and healthy sensitive cat food that's rich in nutrients and full of flavor
- Crafted with essential antioxidants for healthy immunity, this indoor cat food is rich in omega-6 fatty acids from natural fats for healthy skin and coat
- Limited ingredient cat food with NO corn, wheat, soy protein or chicken by-product meal, NO artificial preservatives, flavors, or colors… just real food for your cat to enjoy
- Easily digestible natural sensitive stomach dry cat food, designed for cats with sensitive digestion
- Nutro Cat Food dry presentation is made with ingredients from trusted farmers and suppliers
- Adult Chicken & Brown Rice
- Adult Salmon & Brown Rice
- Adult Indoor Chicken & Brown Rice
- Kitten Chicken & Brown Rice
- Senior Chicken & Brown Rice
- Sensitive Adult Chicken, Rice & Peas
The category page itself notes that age, weight, and activity affect nutritional needs and directs readers to a veterinarian for individual guidance. Because the listing can change, confirm the current recipe names on the manufacturer’s site before you compare them.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Feeding, transition, and cost
Nutro’s product page gives feeding suggestions by weight and says individual energy needs vary, so the amount should be adjusted to keep your cat at an optimum weight. Because the bag is labeled in calories per cup, you can compare daily cost and intake across recipes.
If you switch to this recipe, Nutro recommends a six-day transition, blending increasing amounts of the new food with the previous food. This is the manufacturer’s guidance, and a slower change may be wise for cats with sensitive digestion. Monitor stool quality, appetite, and weight during the switch.
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Best Value
- High-Quality Protein: This cat kibble dry cat food is made with real salmon as the #1 ingredient, providing a delicious and nutritious meal for your feline friend
- Supports Healthy Skin and Coat: Nutro Cat Food Dry Wholesome Essentials Adult Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe is rich in Omega-6 Fatty Acids to support a healthy skin and coat
- Nutritious and Delicious: Natural healthy cat food recipe plus vitamins, minerals & nutrients, this dry cat food supports your feline's overall well-being
- Essential Antioxidants: This natural cat food healthy cat food recipe supports healthy immunity and provides essential antioxidants like Vitamin E and Selenium
- Supports Healthy Digestion: Nutro Wholesome Essentials Adult Dry Cat Food Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe, a chicken cat food option, is crafted with natural prebiotic fiber to support healthy digestion
How to decide whether Nutro fits your cat
Use the review’s score as one input, then check these factors in order:
- Life stage. Match the recipe to your cat’s stage, such as kitten, adult, indoor adult, senior, or a sensitive-adult formula, and check the package’s nutritional adequacy statement.
- Full nutrient profile. Guaranteed analysis is a minimum or maximum, not a full breakdown. Ask the manufacturer for complete nutrient information if you need it.
- Ingredients and format. Compare the animal and plant ingredients in the exact recipe, and decide whether you want dry, wet, or a mix.
- Calories and feeding amount. Work out the daily calorie target for your cat and the cost per day at the feeding amount, not just the price per bag.
- Health needs. If your cat has a medical condition, diet decisions should be made with your veterinarian, and therapeutic diets should not be substituted without guidance.
- Recall status and preferences. Check the current recall status for the specific recipe and note whether your cat accepts the flavor.
Is Nutro a good choice?
Nutro can be a reasonable option for some cats, particularly if you want a dry food with a clear life-stage line, a relatively affordable price, and a recipe that lists chicken first. It is a weaker fit if you prioritize a meat-first profile, a strong recall record, or a brand-level score above 5.5 out of 10. The Cats.com review’s “Maybe” is the honest answer: the brand has real strengths, and the right recipe depends on your cat’s age, health, and tolerance.
Before you buy, confirm the current recipe, its guaranteed analysis, and its recall status, then monitor your cat through the transition and for several weeks afterward.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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