Rachael Ray Cat Food Review 2024 – Is Nutrish a Good Cat Food?

If you’ve ever wondered if Rachael Ray Nutrish is named after the same woman you saw on TV every day, then you are right. In 2008, Ray came up with a line of premium pet food called Rachael Ray Nutrish, in partnership with Ainsworth Pet Nutrition. It all began when the Ainsworth people saw Ray and her husband speaking about animals on TV, and they reached out to work with her.

Ainsworth Pet Nutrition was founded by George Ainsworth Lang more than 75 years ago, because he wanted to provide dogs and cats with the safest and the best quality food. Back then it was a small regional business, which has now grown into a large American organization, but the commitment for pets that was started by Lang is still the same. The Lang family still leads the business, and makes sure the same high standards are maintained throughout. The company has gone through a lot of changes over the years, adding products and altering formulations, but the focus on pets is always the top priority.

Besides having her own pet food line, Rachael Ray is also part of many other animal-related causes. Nutrish was created following a number of dog deaths from artificial fillers in food. That same year Rachael’s Rescue was also started, a project through which Ray donated her personal proceeds from the pet food sales to no-kill shelters in the US for food and medical treatments for needy animals. Then there is the Rachael Ray Foundation, which helps animals in need. A part of the profits from each sale of Nutrish is donated to The Rachael Ray Foundation. Until December 2017, over $23.5 million have been donated to animal charities.

Each recipe of Nutrish cat food is made from specially picked ingredients. High protein ingredients include animal meat, fish, poultry, eggs, while vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants come from fruits and vegetables like apples, blueberry, cranberries, and carrots. Grain free recipes with a low carb and low glycemic index are the best for cats, and Nutrish aims for the same with specialty recipes, which are delicious, aromatic, and nutritious.

Rachael Ray Cat Food Coupon 2024

Types of Cat Food

Since Ray herself is well versed in the culinary arts, it goes without saying that her pet food recipes will also be nothing less than tasty, wholesome and nutritious. In fact, most of the recipes in Nutrish come from Ray’s kitchen. We are familiar with the recipes that Ray has shared with us over the years through her food shows and magazine. What happens when the same level of goodness is available for your pets? Your pets get the same quality of food that you have enjoyed so long.

There are three lines of Nutrish cat food: Zero-grain, Indoor Complete, and Longevity. Although all of them can be fed to all adult cats, they have specially formulated for different feline needs and life stages.

With so much talk about how unhealthy grains can be for cats, grain-free food products are a big draw among pet parents. Like many other brands, Nutrish also offers a grain-free range of food for cats, which has been developed by Rachael Ray in conjunction with a team of expert pet nutritionists. Cats are predatory in nature, and their intestinal system is designed to digest meat, not grains. When fed grains, cats are unable to digest them, which results in allergic reactions, digestive disorders, diarrhea and various other health disorders.

Nutrish Grain Free

Nutrish grain-free foods are made from real meat or fish. They are free from corn, wheat, or soy, which may cause allergic reactions in your cat. Along with meat or fish, the products contain carefully selected veggies and fruits to provide the right balance of carbs, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. All ingredients are natural.

Indoor Complete

The Indoor Complete formula by Nutrish is made especially for cats that remain indoors and don’t get much exercise. These cats are more prone to obesity and weight-related disorders like diabetes. If indoor cats are given an excess of carbs and fats, without any energetic exercises, they put on weight quickly and develop several diseases. Indoor Complete is specially formulated for maintaining the right weight and proper metabolism for the indoor cat, along with prebiotics and natural fiber for a healthy digestive system and natural antioxidants for a healthy immune system. The fatty acids promote the health of the skin and coat while reducing shedding.

Longevity

Finally, there is the Longevity formula, aimed specifically at adult and middle aged cats for a long, healthy life. This doesn’t mean you cannot feed this product to other cats. This formula is suitable for all life stages, including kittens and senior cats. Cats are prone to age related disorders, like weak bones, poor eyesight, diabetes, urinary problem, renal disorders and more. Since the digestive system gets weaker with age, older cats are more likely to get obese. That’s the reason why such cats need to be on a special diet.

Superfoods aren’t just for humans; Rachael Ray also makes cat kibbles from superfoods like lentils, pumpkin, chickpeas, cranberries and blueberries, and dandelion greens, all of which provide natural nutrients to help give your cat a long, healthy life.

All ingredients are sourced from within the US, and the products manufactured in the country. Only the highest quality ingredients derived from organic sources are used in the products, manufactured in American facilities following strict safety and quality standards.

Recall History

If you have been wondering if Nutrish has ever had a product recall, yes they have. In 2015 and 2016, some of the wet cat food products had to be recalled following a FDA announcement, because of elevated vitamin levels in the foods. There were several reports of pets falling sick after consuming the five varieties of cat food, which were then recalled. These are the only recall instances of Nutrish so far.

Where To Buy

Nutrish products are widely available all over the US and Canada. They are available at small grocery stores, pet stores, chain stores, as well as online stores. Whenever you buy a Nutrish product, you are donating part of the money for animals in need, not only benefiting your own pet’s lives but also that of other animals.

What Customers Think

This review wouldn’t be complete without talking about what pet parents think of this brand. Since grain-free recipes are much in demand, Nutrish is a top pick among cat owners because of the healthy ingredients, safe manufacturing process, and competitive pricing. Plus, people also like that a part of the proceeds are used to help other animals in need.

On Chewy.com, Rachael Ray Nutrish Natural Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Cat Food scores a 4.7 out of 5, going on to show the popularity of the product. Out of the 284 reviewers, 94 percent recommend this product for their kitties. Here are some good things and not-so-good things that cat parents had to say about this product.

Positive

“Both of my spoiled cats will eat many different varieties of dry food, but they really enjoy chomping into this one. As soon as their bowls get low, they make no bones about letting me know! My 12 year old furry really likes the smaller size kibble.” – catguy1

“My cats devour this food. I’ve never seen them like a food so much. I like that the pieces are small. I have a senior cat and this makes it much easier for him to eat dry food.” – Natasha

“Our cat is 15 years old, missing a few teeth and pretty spoiled. He loves this food and the small kibble makes it easy for him to eat. He was having some issues before we changed his food and this having no artificial colors and decent ingredients has helped those issues.” – Mismonster

Negative

“My cats don’t like this for some reason, they do really like the chicken and oats from Nutrish so I’m switching back to that. This sounds weird but it’s like the pieces are too small for them….none of the 3 will eat it.” – Kristy

“I would not recommend this product. Waste of food and money.” – Nick

“This food was ordered for a 2 year old cat. I thought for sure he would be okay with it, but he literally turns his nose up, walks away and whines…he is actually eating the dog’s food instead (different brand). I bought a large bag and would suggest trying something smaller until your critter offers you a “thumbs up” on the food.” – Catfood

Rachael Ray Nutrish Natural Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Cat Food

Rating: 4.1/5

First five ingredients: Chicken, Chicken Meal, Corn Gluten Meal, Ground Rice, Brown Rice

This grain-free product has been made from high quality ingredients sourced from within the US. Natural farm-raised chicken is the primary source of protein, along with added vitamins and minerals. Besides that, the chicken meal provides essential Omega 6 fatty acids that help in keeping the skin and coat healthy and shiny. The product also contains beet pulp, which is rich in fiber and controls hairballs, while the prebiotics aid in proper digestion.

However, the product also contains corn gluten meal, which is a potential allergen for a lot of cats. If your cat suffers from corn allergies, then this isn’t what you should be feeding her.