Rachael Ray Cat Food Review
For cat parents, nothing's more important than making sure their beloved furry angels are doing great, and that's why they go the extra mile to pick the best cat food for them. These days, you can find both wet and dry cat food on the market, but finding what works best for your furry friend is the catch. Some brands have managed a more positive reputation, and Rachael Ray Nutrish is one such name. It's easy to find a positive Rachael Ray Nutrish review because there are so many happy customers of this celebrity brand, created by a family-owned company called Ainsworth Pet Nutrition. By reading any Rachael Ray Nutrish review, you'll realize that it's a safe choice to make. Here's the review for some of the most popular Rachael Ray Nutrish wet and dry cat foods.
The Best Rachael Ray Cat Food: Our Top Picks
Rachael Ray Nutrish Natural Chicken & Brown Rice
BEST chicken
Rated by: Amber
Rachael Ray Nutrish Natural Dry Cat Food
BEST OVERALL
Rated by: Amber
Rachael Ray Nutrish Ocean Lovers Variety Pack Grain Free
Best seafood
Rated by: Amber
1. Rachael Ray Nutrish Natural Chicken & Brown Rice
Quick Summary
Rated by: Amber
If you're looking for Rachael Ray's most popular formula, it has to be this cat food with chicken and chicken meal. It means your cat is going get the best quality protein from species-appropriate sources.
To provide your cat with the right amount of fiber as well as vitamins and minerals, the food also contains plenty of plan matter. To keep your cat feel energized, it also provides them with a right amount of carbohydrates, which come from brown rice, ground rice, and dried ground peas.
It implies that this cat food provides at least 34% protein, 14% fat, and 4% fiber with around 9% moisture content. It doesn't contain any artificial flavors, colors, and chemical preservatives. The only thing is that some people may not be happy about the fact that it contains corn gluten meal. Similarly, yeast is one of those ingredients that can cause stomach upset. It shouldn't be a problem though if your cat doesn't have food allergies of any sort.
PROS
CONS
2. Rachael Ray Nutrish Natural Dry Cat Food
Quick Summary
Rated by: Amber
For dry cat food lovers, this cat food is just what you need to satisfy your cat's naturally carnivorous preferences. Not only is it affordable, it's available in three sizes, including 14lbs, 6lbs, and 3lbs. Therefore, you can save some more by going for a larger packaging.
The good thing about this dry food is the presence of real salmon and chicken. Therefore, you should expect premium quality protein for your kitty. Unlike many other variations, this cat food doesn't contain any by-product fillers or meal. That's why you don't need to worry about your cat developing digestive issues, such as hairballs, bloat, or constipation.
The kibble size is not large, so your cat won't face issues eating, swallowing or digesting this dry food. Even if your cat is smaller than 8 pounds, there won't be a problem eating the food. So, overall, it's a great choice, but keep in mind that the food also contains brewer's yeast, which may not be suitable for cats and cause some digestive issues.
PROS
CONS
3. Rachael Ray Nutrish Ocean Lovers Variety Pack Grain Free
Quick Summary
Rated by: Amber
If you're looking for the wet food variety from Rachael Ray, you may want to try this one, as your cat is going to love it. The reason is that it contains real fish, tuna, shrimp, and chicken. Not only will it be delicious, it'll be very high in protein, which is good for your cat's overall health.
The Nutrish food is also fortified with taurine, iron, and vitamins, such as A, B12, and D3. As it contains seafood, your cat is going to get a good dose of omega fatty acids, which will help improve the quality of their skin and coat.
As this is a wet food, it won't be heavy on your cat's stomach. At the same time, it doesn't contain meat by-products, preservatives, or artificial flavors, so your cats with sensitive stomachs won't find it difficult to digest. The high moisture content of this food also makes it a great choice for older cats – they're going to like its taste because its coated with a sauce.
The fact of the matter is that if your cats love fishy flavors, they just won’t be able to resist this food, as it contains chicken, tuna, fish, and shrimp recipes. This grain-free wet food tastes amazing, but the only concern is that it contains guar gum, which may not be the best ingredient to have in cat food.
PROS
CONS
FAQ - A Buyer's Guide
You can find both wet and dry cat food from this brand, and though the Rachael Ray Nutrish dry food line is not that comprehensive, it still manages to provide you with some nutritious and complete products for your picky feline eaters. Some of these dry food products from Rachael Ray Nutrish contain a good dose of prebiotics to support digestion, whereas others have formulas mainly relying on brown rice to provide your cat with a good energy source. You can surely opt for any of the available dry cat food varieties from the Rachael Ray Nutrish line and still manage to keep your cat healthy and happy.
Is Rachael Ray a Good Cat Food?
Overall, yes, Rachael Ray Nutrish cat food is a reasonably good choice for people looking for a budget food solution for their feline companions. Also, the brand was rated the fastest growing pet food in the US in 2017, which is a testament to the fact that they are surely doing something right.
Any Rachael Ray Nutrish cat food review will confirm that it's among the most affordable wet and dry cat foods on the market. It also scores reasonably good in terms of ingredient quality, so some people believe a bit more diversity in ingredients would make it an even better choice, but that's probably the issue you have to deal with when you opt for a budget dry food for your cat. Moreover, some customers are of the view that Rachael Ray Nutrish doesn't do very well when it comes to producing species appropriate cat food.
Speaking of Rachael Ray Nutrish cat food ingredients, it's worth mentioning that the company source them from different parts of the world, including the US, Europe, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia. Unlike many other dry cat food companies, it doesn't source its ingredients from China.
In terms of variety, you won't find so many options, but you can still find products with premium quality ingredients to suit your current requirements to maintain your cat's health. Currently, you can find three lines of dry cat food and four lines of wet food selection. You may want to read a review or two to find out how different lines work for cats, but eventually, it's the unique circumstances of your cat that determine the best product for them.
Is There a Recall on Rachael Ray Cat Food?
As a whole, Rachael Ray Nutrish dry cat food line enjoys a good track record and is considered safe, but it's worth mentioning that Rachael Ray Nutrish cat products were recalled back in 2015. A number of varieties had to be pulled mainly because they were supposed to contain higher levels of vitamin D.
Interestingly, the Rachael Ray Nutrish brand also witnessed a class action lawsuit of $5 million, as the plaintiff claimed that the brand was guilty of mislabeling products. The brand claimed that all the ingredients are natural whereas lab testing showed traces of an herbicide known to cause endocrine disruption and has other detrimental health effects. It's important to note, though, the lawsuit was mainly focused on misleading labeling than anything else.
What is the Healthiest Cat Food?
No one would blame you for doing everything in your control to keep your cats happy and healthy, and finding the best cat food for them is part of that effort. As mentioned already, you can always put your money on the wet and dry cat food line from Rachael Ray Nutrish, but even if you're going for another brand, you need to be ready to check for some important points. Know that the healthiest cat food will always have certain elements, such as the following:
Check the Protein
The healthiest cat food will have a good dose of animal protein in it. Thankfully, Rachael Ray Nutrish dry cat food does well in this regard. Understand that the quality of the ingredients always matter, and you can judge it by checking the labels. Manufacturers list those ingredients as per their weight in the formula, but it can be misleading. For instance, poultry, beef, fish, and chicken might be high up on the list mainly because they weight more due to their moisture level. Some ingredients may be more nutritious but go down the list because of their lower weight. Therefore, you should check the list carefully, and ensure that the dry cat food you're buying contains a good source of animal fat and protein.
It's important to ensure there's protein from animal sources because only they provide your cat with nutrients such as arachadonic acid and taurine, which are only present in animal-derived protein. A dry cat food high on plant-based ingredients, such as beet pulp, potatoes, etc., won't cut it right. But, you should also keep in mind that animal sources could be in the form of poultry, beef, fish, turkey, and other meats, as well as by-product chicken meal and more.
Check Grains
In most cases, you'd be better off buying a food with no grains, especially for indoor cats that don't get enough exercise and may develop digestive issues over time. Some of the Rachael Ray Nutrish foods contain grains and some don't, and some even contain corn gluten meal, which may or may not be suitable for all indoor cats. The healthiest cat food is the one that is according to the current health condition of your cat.
Understand that if your cat doesn't have a healthy issue, going for some grains is never an issue because they serve as the best source of carbs. Your cats are good at metabolizing these carbs and use as energy. Many experts are of the view that cats are the healthiest when they're on a high protein, low carb diet. However, it doesn't mean that sacrificing grains would automatically translate into low carb diet because some manufacturers would include potatoes or even brown rice to increase the carb content. So, be sure to check what works for your cat and then decide accordingly.
Avoid By-Products
Again, some experts believe that by-products actually have a bad rap about them but they're not always harmful. In fact, some Rachael Ray Nutrish cat food products may contain by-products that include nutritious and highly digestible organs, such as the lungs and liver. Many people are of the view that products contain by-products might contain things like horns, hair, or hooves.
However, you shouldn’t always believe that all by-products are created equal because they're not. Some by-products are completely worthless, so you might want to avoid corn gluten meal or even chicken meal when you're paying a high price for a product. Go for actual ingredients with high protein content if you're sold a premium quality cat food.
Suitable for Life Stage of Your Cat
Yet another important feature of the healthiest dry cat food is that it'll be suitable for the current life stage of your cat. To get more information about it, you need to refer to the nutritional adequacy statement you find on the pet food label. A cat food that says "balanced and complete for all life stages" should be your choice. Only that food is going to provide your cat with important nutrients at different life stages. Still, you may have to conduct more research when buying cat food for kittens, as they'll have different nutrient needs as compared to adult cats.
It implies that picking the best cat food can be tricky but going for a popular brand like the Rachael Ray Nutrish may help make things easier. Still, it’s a good idea to talk to your vet and ask for suggestions. Understand that not all cats would require the same amounts of food, so your vet's guidelines should be followed. Your vet can perform a body condition analysis to create suitable guidelines. This way, they can decide if your cat is underweight, overweigh, or at their ideal weight. A simple way to check it is by feeling your cat's ribs, and if you can't, your cat may be overweight and requires a change in their diet.
Is Nutrish Cat Food Safe?
While you may find a positive as well as a negative review for Rachael Ray Nutrish cat food, it's generally safe to use for most cats. By conducting some research, you'll realize that most customers are pretty happy and life the food. The biggest thing is that the Nutris cat food fits in most people's budget. Moreover, your cat is going to like it, which is another big plus point.
The Nutrish is not only safe, but it's also going to help calm your hyperactive cat, which is mainly due to its high quality ingredients. Similarly, the dry cat food is safe for most cats because of its smaller size, which doesn’t result in choking and other health hazards.
That said, you'll also find unhappy customers who believe the company needs to change their misleading labeling. Some people are of the view that though the company says they don't use any ground corn, the Rachael Ray Nutrish products do contain some form of corn gluten meal. It could be because of the corn gluten meal and other similar ingredients that some people complain about their cats developing itching and reactions.
It implies that though the Rachael Ray cat food is generally safe, you might have to experiment a little and see if it works for you cats as well. Start with a smaller portion and stick to it if your cat likes it and doesn't develop any digestive issues or any reactions.
The Best Rachael Ray Nutrish Cat Food to Buy
Rachael Ray cat food is amongst the most affordable dry cat foods currently available on the market. It contains identifiable ingredients and is generally safe to give to your cat at any life stage. Some may think the ingredients are a bit high on plant-based stuff, but you can surely find a better product, such as the Rachael Ray Nutrish Natural Dry Cat Food that contains salmon and chicken for high protein content.
About the Author Steven
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