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

Name: Nutro Wholesome Essentials Kitten Dry Cat Food - Natural, Chicken & Brown Rice
Brand: Nutro

Dry food for cats · Puppy · by Nutro

70/100 · Good

We have not seen this label’s AAFCO statement yet.

See the full breakdown in Beagly

What to watch for

Pea protein Moderate risk
Protein extracted from peas, used to raise the protein number without more meat. The FDA has been investigating reports of heart disease (DCM) in dogs eating diets high in peas, lentils and other legumes, often grain-free. No cause has been proven, but it is worth knowing when legumes sit near the top of the list.
Brewers rice Low risk
Small broken pieces of rice left over from milling. Digestible energy but fewer nutrients than whole rice.
Potato protein Low risk
Protein extracted from potatoes, used to raise the protein number in grain-free foods.
Fish meal Low risk
Rendered fish. A concentrated protein, but 'fish' does not name the species, so it is harder to avoid if your dog reacts to a particular fish.
Natural flavor Low risk
Flavoring from natural sources. Normally safe, but the term can hide which animal or plant it came from, which matters for allergies.
Salt Low risk
Salt supplies sodium and chloride, which dogs need. Pet foods use small amounts; high salt is mainly a concern for dogs with heart or kidney disease.
Copper sulfate Low risk
A source of copper, an essential trace mineral. Some breeds accumulate copper in the liver, and vets have raised concern that some dog foods supply more than dogs need.

What it does well

High protein 40.0%
40% or more on a dry-matter basis (cat).
Named meat first
First ingredient is chicken.
Taurine added
Cats need taurine in their diet; this label lists it.

Ingredients

Chicken, Chicken Meal, Pea Protein, Chicken Fat (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Brewers Rice, Whole Grain Brown Rice, Potato Protein, Dried Plain Beet Pulp, Whole Grain Oatmeal, Fish Meal, Natural Flavor, Dehydrated Alfalfa Meal, Potassium Chloride, Soybean Oil (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Choline Chloride, Fish Oil (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Taurine, Citric Acid (preservative), Mixed Tocopherols (preservative), Salt, DL–Methionine, Vitamin E Supplement, Zinc Oxide, Manganese Sulfate, Calcium Carbonate, Ferrous Sulfate, NiacinSupplement, Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), Copper Sulfate, D–Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin A Supplement, Biotin, Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B1), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Vitamin B12 Supplement, Sodium Selenite, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement (Vitamin B2), Folic Acid, Potassium Iodide, Rosemary Extract.

Guaranteed analysis

Crude protein (min)	36%
Crude fat (min)	19%
Crude fiber (max)	4%
Moisture (max)	10%

What the label cannot tell you

Ingredient order is by weight before cooking; fresh meat counts water.
Mineral levels are not printed on this label.
We could not find the AAFCO nutritional adequacy statement for this product. Scan the bag to confirm it is complete and balanced.

Sizes and barcodes

Nutro Wholesome Essentials Kitten Dry Cat Food - Natural, Chicken & Brown Rice - 3 Lb UPC 079105117425

Higher-scoring dry food for cats

Instinct Ultimate Protein Adult Cat Food - Natural, Grain Free, Chicken 89/100 · Excellent
Instinct Ultimate Protein Cat Food - Grain Free, High Protein, Chicken 89/100 · Excellent
ACANA Regionals Grain Free Dry Cat Food - Grasslands 87/100 · Excellent
The Honest Kitchen Dehydrated Grain Free Chicken & Fish Cat Food, 4 lb Box 86/100 · Excellent
Nature's Logic Chicken Meal Feast Dry Cat Food 85/100 · Excellent

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Informational, not veterinary advice. The score is our opinion of a food, built from the facts on its label with our published method. No brand pays to rank higher. Recipes change: check the bag you have, or scan it in the app.

Score version 2026.11.6 · Page updated 2026-11-03