Natural Balance Original Ultra Reduced Calorie Formula Dry Cat Food
Company info
Company HQ
San Francisco, California
Parent company
J.M. Smucker CompanyProduct info
Primary proteins
- Chicken
- Chicken Meal
- Salmon Meal
- Dried Eggs
Ingredients
Compare Prices To Find The Lowest Price
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: 35%
Fat: 10.5%
Fiber: 8%
Moisture: 10%
Ash: 0%
Carb: 36.5%
Dry Matter Analysis
Protein: 38.89%
Fat: 11.67%
Fiber: 8.89%
Ash: 8%
Carb: 40.56%
Calorie Weighted Basis
Protein: 36.08%
Fat: 26.29%
Carb: 37.63%
Our Review
- Supplemented with chelated minerals for optimal nutrient absorption
- Made with fiber-rich flaxseed
- Contains dried kelp as a natural source of essential nutrients
- Doesn’t contain fillers, by-products, or artificial additives
- Rich in species-appropriate animal protein
- Affordable
- A good source of omega-3 fatty acids
- Low protein content
- High in carbohydrates
- Low in moisture
- Contains a small amount of plant-based proteins
- The brand has had multiple recalls over recent years
- Some cats may be allergic to fish
Recall History
The following list (if present) shows all cat food recalls related to Natural Balance since 2011. If no recalls are listed, no recall events have been reported.
| Date: | 06/18/2010 |
|---|---|
| Company Name: | Natural Balance Pet Foods |
| Product Description: | Sweet Potato & Chicken Dry Dog Food |
| Recall Reason: | Salmonella |
| Date: | 05/04/2012 |
|---|---|
| Company Name: | Natural Balance Pet Foods |
| Product Description: | Dog Food |
| Recall Reason: | Salmonella |
| Date: | 07/03/2020 |
|---|---|
| Company Name: | Natural Balance Pet Foods |
| Product Description: | Ultra Premium Chicken & Liver Paté Formula |
| Recall Reason: | Due to elevated levels of choline chloride |
| Date: | 05/20/2021 |
|---|---|
| Company Name: | Natural Balance Pet Foods |
| Product Description: | L.I.D. Green Pea & Chicken Dry Cat Formula |
| Recall Reason: | Potential Salmonella Contamination |
Ingredient Review
Our review of Natural Balance Original Ultra Reduced Calorie Formula 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 Chicken Meal. In pet food, chicken meal is often listed as a source of protein. Chicken meal is produced by baking and grinding chicken meat and skin. As a dry form of animal protein, it is most often found in kibble and treats.
The third ingredient is Lentils. Lentils are legumes. In pet food, lentils are a source of protein, fiber, and nutrients including a number of essential vitamins and minerals.
The fourth ingredient is Brewers Dried Yeast. In pet food, brewer’s dried yeast serves as a source of essential B vitamins, zinc, and biotin. Brewer’s dried yeast can help keep your pet’s skin and coat healthy.
The fifth ingredient is Salmon Meal. Salmon meal is ground flesh from any fish in the salmon family, and in pet food, salmon meal might also include other parts of the fish including skin and organs. Salmon meal can be a good source of protein and Omega-3 fatty acids.
When we analyzed the ingredients in Natural Balance Original Ultra Reduced Calorie Formula Dry Cat Food, we found that most of the protein is derived from meat based sources.
Price Analysis
Price per lb
Product Price
$2.72
Market Price avg.
$4.48
% From the Avg
-39%
Price per 100 kcal
Product Price
$0.17
Market Price avg.
$0.28
% From the Avg
-39%
Price per day
Product Price
$0.10
Market Price avg.
$0.16
% From the Avg
-37%
Natural Balance Original Ultra Reduced Calorie Formula Dry Cat Food is priced well below the average market price for dry cat food.
Nutritional Analysis
Adult cat foods can have a lot of variability in calorie density but generally meet requirements for the average active cat. With formulations addressing a wide variety of needs, including weight loss or gain, indoor or outdoor living, or hairball problems, individual recipes may vary greatly in calorie, fiber, and nutritional content.
With that in mind, we’ve compared Natural Balance Original Ultra Reduced Calorie Formula Dry Cat Food to the other 534 dry cat food recipes in our database:
DM Protein
Product info
38.89%
All Products avg.
38.91%
% From the Avg
-0%
DM Fat
Product info
11.67%
All Products avg.
16.8%
% From the Avg
-31%
DM Fiber
Product info
8.89%
All Products avg.
5.11%
% From the Avg
+74%
DM Carb
Product info
40.56%
All Products avg.
37.83%
% From the Avg
+7%
Analysis Overview
Overall, this is a meat based food that’s moderate in protein with low fat and moderate carbohydrate content relative to other dry cat 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.
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