Rachael Ray Nutrish Cat Food Review of 2023: Recalls, Pros & Cons

Review Summary

Introduction

Chef Rachael Ray shifted her focus from creating cuisine in the kitchen to extending her passion to animals. After deciding that she wanted her beloved Pit Bull, Isaboo, to enjoy the same kind of delicious nutrition she cooked up, she got the idea to use her skills to make pet food up to human standards.

So, just how good is Rachael’s pet food line, Nutrish? We’re going to go over the ins and outs of what makes this food fantastic but point out where any downfalls lie. Let’s explore what sorts of variety and nutritional content Rachael Ray cooked up for cats.

 

At a Glance: The Best Rachael Ray Nutrish Cat Food Recipes:

Rachael Ray Nutrish Cat Food Reviewed

Let’s take an in-depth look at how Rachael Ray Nutrish got started, and all it has to offer.

Who Makes Rachael Ray Nutrish and Where Is It Produced?

Chef Rachael Ray partnered with a company called Ainsworth Pet Nutrition in 2008. She had concrete plans in mind to create a highly nutritious, human-grade food for cats and dogs. Her beloved Pit Bull, Isaboo, gave her the inspiration.

Rachael Rays Nutrish line is 100% manufactured in United States facilities. The headquarters is in Meadville, Pennsylvania, with facilities across several states. You can find Nutrish in most pet stores across the US and online.

Which Types of Cats Is Rachael Ray Nutrish Best Suited For?

Rachel Ray Nutrish offers an abundance of recipes that are sure to tantalize the taste buds of even the pickiest feline kings and queens. It will work for virtually any cat with any preference. There are exceptions, of course. But overall, Nutrish has a vast selection that can appeal to the needs or wants of any kitty.

Which Types of Cats Might Do Better With a Different Brand?

If you have a cat that suffers from disease or illness, your vet may tailor a prescription-based diet. If your cat can’t eat ordinary foods you find in stores any longer, Rachael Ray Nutrish may not work for you.

But if your cat is sensitive to specific ingredients, Nutrish offers several selections formulated for different dietary needs. Nutrish recipes will work for most house cats or outside cats, giving them a balanced, nutritious diet meeting different needs.

Discussion of the Primary Ingredients (Good and Bad)

Rachael Ray Nutrish aims to give cats a healthy, protein-packed meal with only the vital nutrients for optimal health. However, some ingredients may be triggers for some cats, depending on sensitivity levels.

First, in all dry kibble and wet food recipes, real whole meat is the first ingredient, giving each formula adequate protein levels. It’s usually followed up by a meat meal, which is highly concentrated meat that has been ground down.

Corn gluten meal is a controversial additive in recipes, and only certain food lines in Nutrish include this ingredient. Some cats have a gluten sensitivity that triggers allergies, leading to hair loss, skin irritation, and other unfavorable side effects. Several Nutrish lines are grain-free—and some avoid corn, wheat, and soy.

Many recipes in Nutrish use pumpkin to ease digestion. It tends to work in the system softer than other fiber additives to soothe the digestive tract.

Pea protein is an incomplete plant-based protein that isn’t considered a highly beneficial ingredient, but it’s an additive of many Nutrish recipes.

Phosphorus, calcium, zinc, biotin, and ascorbic acid is an ingredient in most of the dry kibble recipes to give a well-balanced nutrient base.

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Different Nutrish Food Line Recipes

Nutrish Dry Kibble

In every dry kibble recipe, real meat is always the first ingredient. Having a protein source as the first ingredient ensures your kitty is getting the best nutrition for their muscles. Dry kibble helps to clean teeth but provides little moisture, so always make sure to offer fresh water.

Super Premium—This kibble is Nutrish’s baseline, everyday cat formulas. Each recipe has vital, valuable nutrients every cat requires in their diet. There are varieties to cover the needs of virtually any cat using ingredients like meat as the first, followed by chickpeas, sweet potatoes, lentils, or brown rice.

Peak—This dry kibble is a high-protein, quality grain-free series. It has a whopping 40% protein content with meat and meat meal as the first several ingredients in each bag. It also has sweet potato and pea protein in place of grain.

Zero-Grain—These recipes have no gluten, fillers, or other harmful ingredients that trigger allergies in felines. Animal protein is always the number one ingredient followed by potatoes, carrots, and peas. There are always added taurine and necessary nutrients for overall bodily health.

Nutrish Wet Food Selections

Nutrish offers several savory wet food dishes for your cat. These options are perfect for giving your cat some extra hydration and something easy to chew. Wet food may cause dental issues for your kitty since it contributes to tooth decay. Remember to brush regularly.

Peak Ultra Premium—This type of wet food is grain-free, high protein with natural vitamins, minerals, and taurine.

Purrfect Entrees—These wet food entrees have no harmful fillers, no grain, and all the good stuff. Meat broth is the first ingredient, followed by animal protein. There are beneficial ingredients like magnesium, taurine, and calcium, with lots of other vitamins and minerals.

Chicken & Salmon Catterole	Beef & Chicken Catterole
Ocean Fish & Chicken Catch-iatore	Tuscan Chicken Dinner
Lip Smackin’ Sardine ‘n Mackerel	Mariners Feast
Ocean Fish-a-licious	Pawsome Paella
Chicken Purrcata	Fin-tastic Primavera
Paw Lickin’ Chicken & Liver	Sea-sational Florentine
Chicken & Shrimp Pawttenesca	Cravin’ Chicken Dinner
Tuna Purrfection

Delicacies and Treats

It doesn’t stop with wet and dry cat food selections. Rachael Ray has also cooked up quite unique offerings to add to your cat’s diet. You should only give these snacks in moderation, but they may satisfy your kitty—even if they’re picky.

Controversy with Ingredients

In June of 2019, the FDA began investigating many pet food companies for the possibility of heart disease due to grain-free recipes put on the market. Nutrish is among the grain-free selections that could link to these issues, but the matter is still under investigation without a definitive scientific conclusion.

In 2018, a lawsuit was filed against the Ainsworth Pet Nutrition company for including a harmful herbicide in their food called glyphosate. Glyphosate is a hidden pesticide in specific recipes of pet food that can cause cancer. The case never reached resolve, being thrown out two separate times.

A Quick Look at Rachael Ray Nourish Cat Food

Rachael Ray Cat Food Recall History

In June 2015, there was a recall for many wet cat food varieties potentially containing elevated levels of vitamin D. Excess vitamin D can damage a cat by depleting calcium from the cat’s bones. Let’s take a look a few of the Rachael Ray cat food recalls below:

Recipes Recalled:

Reviews of the 3 Best Rachael Ray Nourish Cat Food Recipes

1. Rachael Ray Nutrish Indoor Complete Chicken with Lentils & Salmon

Rachael Ray Nutrish Indoor Complete Chicken with Lentils & Salmon is one of the most popular recipes the company offers. Real chicken is always the number one ingredient, followed by chicken meal, corn gluten meal, dried peas, and lentils.

This recipe has 34% crude protein, 12% crude fat, 8% crude fiber, and 9% moisture. There are 354 calories per cup. There is also added biotin, taurine, and vitamin E.

Lentils give this recipe a high dose of fiber, which helps indoor cats with their digestive tracts so they can maintain proper weight and metabolism. Interestingly, this recipe contains dandelion greens—which is something you don’t see every day. These greens actually give your cat prebiotics that aid in digestion, too.

There are also necessary amino acids and fatty acids for a healthy coat and skin. It’s full of antioxidants to reduce free radicals in the body. While this is perfect for most healthy indoor cats, it isn’t for all. This food contains gluten which some cats may be sensitive to.

Calorie Breakdown:

2. Rachael Ray Nutrish Inner Health Turkey with Chickpeas & Salmon

Rachael Ray Nutrish Inner Health Turkey with Chickpeas & Salmon is tailored to give your cat an easy digestion experience. It has your cats gut in mind—free of corn, wheat, soy, animal by-products, and other potential irritants.

This recipe contains 34% crude protein, 12% crude fat, 5% crude fiber, and 9% moisture. It has 375 calories per cup. There are a total of 100,000,000 live microorganisms to help the GI tract function.

It’s a superfood blend that caters to every aspect of digestive health. It’s full of powerful antioxidants, fatty acids, and amino acids. Pumpkin is widely used for calming sensitive tummies, and it’s among the first several ingredients. This can help cats with diarrhea and upset stomach problems.

If you have a healthy kitty with normal stools, you may not need to get this formula. But it won’t hurt your cat if you do choose it.

Calorie Breakdown:

3. Rachael Ray Nutrish Zero Grain Indoor Chicken & Potato

Rachael Ray Nutrish Zero Grain Indoor Chicken & Potato Recipe is a well-balanced diet for gluten-sensitive felines. If your kitty has an allergy to common grains like wheat, corn, or soy—no worries. This recipe is formulated specifically for your cat.

There is 32% crude protein, 12% crude fat, 5% crude fiber, and 9% moisture. There are a total of 437 calories per cup. This is a high-calorie diet, so it’s best for active felines that are frequently exerting energy. It can cause weight can in lazier cats.

This recipe is a perfect balance of vital amino acids, taurine, antioxidants, fatty acids, and whole protein. It’s 100% free of any harmful poultry by-products, artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives. Rather than grain, this selection offers pea flour, dried potato, and pumpkin.

While this is an ideal solution for allergy-prone kitties, be aware of the potential link to heart disease in grain-free recipes. Always speak with your veterinarian to gauge their recommendation on these matters.

Calorie Breakdown:

What Other Users Are Saying

But don’t just take our word for it! See what real-life people who are actually using these products think.

Conclusion

All in all, Rachael Ray Nutrish cat food is an excellent choice for most cats, whether they are inside or outdoors. It caters to various sensitivities and preferences, so you shouldn’t have trouble finding a recipe that works for your cat. You can also try out some treat selections to offer your cat to reward them for being so fantastic.

If your cat needs a specialized diet, you may want to consult with your veterinarian before buying it.

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• Nutro Cat Food Review: Recalls, Pros & Cons
• Pure Harmony Cat Food Review: Recalls, Pros & Cons