Instinct Original Kitten Grain-Free Recipe with Real Chicken Freeze-Dried Raw Coated Dry Cat Food

Company info
Company HQ
Lincoln, NebraskaParent company
M.I. IndustriesProduct info
Primary proteins
- Chicken
- Turkey Meal
- Menhaden Fish Meal
- Egg Product
Ingredients
Estimated Nutrient Content
To understand the nutrient content of pet food, we visualize its macronutrient composition in three ways. In the charts below, you’ll see a guaranteed analysis on an as-fed basis, a dry matter analysis, and a breakdown of the food’s macronutrients on a calorie-weighted basis.
Remember that all of these values are estimates based on the guaranteed analysis published by the company, and the food’s actual nutrient values may be slightly different.
Guaranteed Analysis
Protein: 42.5%
Fat: 22.5%
Fiber: 3%
Moisture: 9%
Ash: 0%
Carb: 23%
Dry Matter Analysis
Protein: 46.7%
Fat: 24.73%
Fiber: 3.3%
Ash: 8%
Carb: 25.27%
Calorie Weighted Basis
Protein: 35.37%
Fat: 45.48%
Carb: 19.14%
Our Review
- To our knowledge, Instinct has never had a product recall
- Freeze-dried food retains the nutritional value of raw meat
- Supplemented with chelated minerals for optimal nutrient absorption
- Doesn’t contain fillers, by-products, or artificial additives
- Rich in species-appropriate animal protein
- Has all the nutrients your kitten or mother cat needs
- Expensive
- Low in moisture
- Contains a small amount of plant-based proteins
- Freeze dried cat food requires rehydration, which is time-consuming
- Some cats may be allergic to fish
Recall History
The following list (if present) shows all cat food recalls related to Instinct since 2011. If no recalls are listed, no recall events have been reported.
Since 2011 Instinct has never been recalled.
Ingredient Review
Our review of Instinct Original Kitten Grain-Free Recipe with Real Chicken Freeze-Dried Raw Coated Dry Cat Food begins with a detailed look at the food’s ingredients.
The first ingredient is Chicken. Chicken is meat from the domesticated bird of the same name. In pet food, chicken is used as a primary protein source.
The second ingredient is Turkey Meal. The turkey meal in pet food is typically a byproduct of turkey meat production. Turkey meal is high in protein, and is easy for pets to digest. It is a good source of B vitamins and amino acids to support your pet’s overall well-being.
The third ingredient is Menhaden Fish Meal. Menhaden fish meal is dried, ground tissue from menhaden fish. In pet food, menhaden fish meal serves as a source of protein, amino acids, and essential fatty acids to help keep your companion’s skin and coat healthy.
The fourth ingredient is Peas. Pea is a general term to describe whole, split, or milled peas, which are a grain-free, gluten-free source of protein, fiber, and carbohydrates. In pet food, pea products serve as an energy source as well as a supplementary source of vitamins and minerals.
The fifth ingredient is Chicken Fat. Chicken fat is a good source of omega-6 fatty acids including linoleic acid. In pet food, chicken fat also adds flavor, improves consistency, and serves as a source of the animal fat pets need for overall wellbeing.
When we analyzed the ingredients in Instinct Original Kitten Grain-Free Recipe with Real Chicken Freeze-Dried Raw Coated Dry Cat Food, we found that most of the protein is derived from meat based sources.
Price Analysis
Price per lb
Product Price
$5.88
Market Price avg.
$4.86
% From the Avg
+21%
Price per 100 kcal
Product Price
$0.29
Market Price avg.
$0.28
% From the Avg
+4%
Price per day
Product Price
$0.17
Market Price avg.
$0.17
% From the Avg
+3%
Instinct Original Kitten Grain-Free Recipe with Real Chicken Freeze-Dried Raw Coated Dry Cat Food is priced within the average market price for dry kitten food.
Nutritional Analysis
Because kittens are rapidly growing and developing, they have higher requirements for calories, protein, and other nutrients. Kitten foods have a higher caloric density to provide for the energy needs for growth. It’s recommended that kittens consume a kitten diet until they reach 1 year of age.
With that in mind, we’ve compared Instinct Original Kitten Grain-Free Recipe with Real Chicken Freeze-Dried Raw Coated Dry Cat Food to the other 51 dry kitten food recipes in our database:
DM Protein
Product info
46.7%
All Products avg.
40.93%
% From the Avg
+14%
DM Fat
Product info
24.73%
All Products avg.
20.41%
% From the Avg
+21%
DM Fiber
Product info
3.3%
All Products avg.
4.05%
% From the Avg
-19%
DM Carb
Product info
25.27%
All Products avg.
32.98%
% From the Avg
-23%
Analysis Overview
Overall, this is a meat based food that’s high in protein with high fat and low carbohydrate content relative to other dry kitten foods.
Disclaimer and Disclosure
At Pet Food Sherpa, our primary goal is to provide pet owners like you with accurate, relevant, and unbiased information about pet nutrition. As such, we do not accept gifts or incentives as motivation to include certain products in our reviews.
We do, however, participate in affiliate marketing programs and we partner with select brands to fund our site. We choose the products we review carefully and review them thoroughly before publishing a review or accepting any form of payment.
Proceeds from this program and our partners enable us to continue providing high-quality content to our readers. Read more about how we’re funded here.
Explore More Instinct Cat Food Recipes





