Nutro Wholesome Essentials ™ Kitten Dry Cat Food - Non-GMO, Natural, Chicken & Brown Rice

by Nutro

Overall Score: 78/100

Ingredients

1. Chicken (protein)
2. Chicken Meal (protein)
3. Pea Protein (protein)
4. Chicken Fat (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols) (protein)
5. Brewers Rice (carbohydrate)
6. Whole Grain Brown Rice (carbohydrate)
7. Potato Protein (other)
8. Dried Plain Beet Pulp (fiber)
9. Whole Grain Oatmeal (other)
10. Fish Meal (protein)
11. Natural Flavor (additive)
12. Dehydrated Alfalfa Meal (other)
13. Potassium Chloride (mineral)
14. Soybean Oil (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols) (other)
15. Choline Chloride (vitamin)
16. Fish Oil (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols) (protein)
17. Taurine (additive)
18. Citric Acid (preservative) (other)
19. Mixed Tocopherols (preservative) (other)
20. Salt (mineral)
21. DL–Methionine (other)
22. Vitamin E Supplement (vitamin)
23. Zinc Oxide (other)
24. Manganese Sulfate (other)
25. Calcium Carbonate (mineral)
26. Ferrous Sulfate (mineral)
27. Niacin Supplement (vitamin)
28. Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C) (other)
29. Copper Sulfate (other)
30. D–Calcium Pantothenate (other)
31. Vitamin A Supplement (vitamin)
32. Biotin (vitamin)
33. Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B1) (other)
34. Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6) (other)
35. Vitamin B12 Supplement (vitamin)
36. Sodium Selenite (mineral)
37. Vitamin D3 Supplement (vitamin)
38. Riboflavin Supplement (Vitamin B2) (other)
39. Folic Acid (vitamin)
40. Potassium Iodide (other)
41. Rosemary Extract (preservative)

Ingredient concerns

• Pea Protein (medium concern): Plant-based protein concentrates like pea protein can artificially inflate the total protein percentage on guaranteed analysis without providing the same amino acid profile as animal proteins. Associated with the FDA investigation into grain-free diets and dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in dogs, though a causal link has not been definitively established.
• Sodium Selenite (low concern): Sodium selenite is an inorganic form of selenium with a narrower safety margin than organic forms (such as selenium yeast). It has lower bioavailability and higher potential for toxicity at elevated levels compared to organic selenium sources. Some premium pet foods use selenium yeast instead as a safer alternative.

Guaranteed analysis (dry-matter basis)

On a dry-matter basis (water removed for a fair wet-vs-dry comparison): protein 40%, fat 21.1%, fiber 4.4%, ash 7.5%, carbohydrate 26.9%. By calories: 33.9% from protein, 43.4% from fat, 22.8% from carbohydrate.

AAFCO compliance

This food meets the AAFCO growth cat nutrient minimums we can verify — protein 40% vs 30% minimum, fat 21.1% vs 9% minimum.

Dry food, with grains, for the kitten life stage.

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