Nutrience Cat Food Review

Bagel enjoyed the Prairie Red flavor which was packed with pieces of freeze-dried raw beef liver. Kate Barrington / Cats.com

We’ve rated Nutrience on ingredient quality, species-appropriateness, recalls, and more. Read our Nutrience cat food review to learn how this brand stacks up.

The Cats.com Standard—Rating Nutrience on What Matters

We’ve rated the brand on six key criteria for quality. Here’s how it rates in each of these six crucial areas.

In total, we give Nutrience cat food a 46 out of 60 rating or a B+ grade.

About Nutrience

Nutrience is a Canada-based pet food company. Its mother company, Hagen, was founded in 1955 with a mission to produce high-quality pet food. Today, Nutrience continues to produce pet food formulas made with locally sourced, humanely raised, and sustainably harvested ingredients.

Now in their second generation of family ownership, Nutrience controls every aspect of their dry food production to ensure the quality and safety of their products. Their website states it is their “priority to create every bag of Nutrience to the highest possible standards.”

Sourcing and Manufacturing

All Nutrience dry pet foods are manufactured in a jointly held facility located in Vancouver, British Columbia. Nutrience wet foods and treats are sourced from co-packers who, according to Nutrience, “specialize in the creation of high quality, small batch production using locally sourced ingredients.”

Speaking of ingredients, Nutrience sources theirs from Canada and the U.S. They use locally sourced proteins, fruits, and vegetables as much as possible and produce their pet foods in small batches.

Recall History

To our knowledge, Nutrience has not had a product recall in the company’s history.

What Kinds of Cat Food Does Nutrience Offer?

Nutrience offers a wide variety of products for cats including dry food, wet food, and treats. Their wet cat food products are primarily pate texture, made with premium animal proteins like free-range chicken, turkey, duck, and ocean fish. They also offer several specialized wet food formulas designed to address specific issues like weight control and urinary health.

As for their dry foods, Nutrience offers several different product lines including grain-free, raw-infused, and indoor formulas. They also offer several recipes catered to specific health concerns.

What Do Customers Think of Nutrience Cat Food?

As a Canadian brand, it’s difficult to find Nutrience in stores in the U.S., let alone customer reviews online. We were, however, able to find a few of their products on Amazon and some products had reviews on Canada’s PetSmart website.

For the most part, customers seem to love Nutrience – especially the Subzero recipes. Many customers appreciate the fact that Nutrience offers chicken-free formulas and there are plenty of comments about the high-quality ingredients. Other customers noted improvements in their cat’s skin and coat – one even commented that her cat’s tear stains disappeared.

Negative comments about Nutrience are mostly related to its limited availability and some customers found their cats simply didn’t care for it.

Let’s take a look at a few reviews from some of the most popular recipes from Nutrience.

Positive Reviews

“I feed this to both my cats 2 and 1 . They love this food and it sure makes a difference in their health. Since I discovered this brand and now have been feeding it to my cats for about 4 months , they are so healthy . I love that it’s made in Canada” – by Deborah reviewing Nutrience Grain-Free SubZero Canadian Pacific Dry Food

“Always feed my cat nutrience and try to support Canadian made products.” – by JMC1 reviewing Nutrience Infusion Adult Indoor Canned Cat Food

Negative Reviews

“Been buying this forever. They recently changed the bag “new look, reformulated”. What they really did was remove 1Ibs from both bag sizes of kibbles, also the kibbles themselves are quite a bit smaller and in half a bag I’ve yet to see 1 freeze dried kibble where there used to be some in every scoop. Another company that thinks we’re stupid and won’t notice them marking their products up and making it less quality. I’ll be changing brands from these thieves.” – by Amazon Customer reviewing Nutrience SubZero Prairie Red Dry Food on June 30, 2024

“I ordered this because it was a very healthy option for my cats. Unfortunately, they hated it and refused to eat it. I am not sure that it is the fault of the food or not as my cats may just be picky eaters. I gave the bag to my neighbor and her cat is happily eating his way through the supply. It appears to be a very healthy option and I am glad that it didn’t go to waste. I can’t recommend it based on my cats not liking it, but if you cat is not picky perhaps you will not have the same experience.” – by TAZ reviewing Nutrience Natural Healthy Adult Dry Cat Food on December 6, 2015

What Did Our Test Cats Think?

Though Nutrience is a Canadian cat food, I was able to find a U.S. retailer who had two recipes available: SubZero Fraser Valley and SubZero Prairie Red. I ordered one bag of each but, unfortunately, received two bags of the SubZero Prairie Red instead. That’s the only recipe I was able to try.

Though my experience testing Nutrience was limited, it was incredibly positive. As soon as I took the bags out of the box and set them on the counter, my dog was already going crazy – he could smell it. Once I opened the bag, it didn’t take long for my cats to show up.

I poured a small bowl of the dry food and my test cat Bagel started chowing down. She wouldn’t let the other two in for a bite, so I had to pour them their own.

Overall, I was impressed with Nutrience SubZero Prairie Red. The kibbles were appropriately sized and there were plenty of large, freeze-dried raw chunks. I appreciated the resealable package as well.

Nutrience Cat Food – Top 3 Recipes Reviewed

#1 Nutrience Subzero Prairie Red Grain-Free Dry Cat Food

Buy At Amazon

This dry cat food formula is made with fresh, never-frozen sources of premium Canadian proteins like beef, bison, and wild-caught boar along with Pacific wild-caught fish and freeze-dried beef liver.

What immediately impressed me about this formula is that not only is the first ingredient a premium source of animal protein – the following 13 are as well. This recipe contains a wide variety of fresh meats, fish, and animal organs as well as an assortment of nutritious animal-based fats.

With so many high-quality animal ingredients on the list, I was disappointed to see a significant number of plant ingredients. There are over a dozen plant ingredients listed and the estimated carbohydrate content is pretty high, around 20% (as fed).

Overall, this appears to be a protein-rich dry food with plenty of health animal fats but a significant number of plant ingredients which push the carb content beyond our preferred limit.

Ingredients

Deboned Beef, Deboned Lamb, Deboned Wild Boar, Beef Liver, Lamb Liver, Wild Boar Liver, Deboned Bison, Pork Meal, Lamb Meal, Salmon, Herring, Cod, Cod Liver, Peas, Pork Fat, Whole Eggs, Red Lentils, Sweet Potatoes, Chickpeas, Natural Pork Flavor, Sun-Cured Alfalfa Meal, Freeze-Dried Beef Liver, Freeze-Dried Pumpkin, Freeze-Dried Green Mussels, Freeze-Dried Cod Liver, Freeze-Dried Kelp, Salmon Oil, Herring Oil, Coconut Oil, Pumpkin, Butternut Squash, Carrots, Spinach, Broccoli, Apples, Blueberries, Cranberries, Pomegranate, Juniper Berry Extract, Ginger, Fennel, Chamomile, Peppermint Leaf, Licorice Root, Turmeric, Valerian Root, Vitamin E Supplement, Ascorbic Acid, Vitamin A Supplement, Niacin, Calcium Pantothenate, Inositol, Riboflavin, Pryidoxine Hydrochloride, Thiamine Mononitrate, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid, Zinc Oxide, Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Ferrous Sulfate, Copper Proteinate, Copper Sulfate, Manganese Proteinate, Manganous Oxide, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite, Potassium Chloride, Choline Chloride, Salt, Taurine, DL-methionine, L-lysine, Chicory Root, Glucosamine Hydrochloride, Rosemary Extract, Yeast Extract, Chondroitin Sulfate, L-carnitine, Dried Lactobacillus plantarum Fermentation Product, Dried Enterococcus faecium Fermentation Product, Dried Bacillus subtilis Fermentation Product, Dried Bifidobacterium animalis Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus casei Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus helveticus Fermentation Product Dried Bifidobacterium longum Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus acidophilus Fermentation Product.

Ingredients We Liked	Ingredients We Didn’t Like	Common Allergens
Deboned Beef Deboned Lamb Deboned Wild Boar Beef Liver Lamb Liver Wild Boar Liver Deboned Bison Pork Meal Lamb Meal Salmon Herring Cod Cod Liver Pork Fat	Peas Red lentils Chickpeas Sun-Cured Alfalfa Meal	Beef Fish

Guaranteed Analysis

Crude Protein: 40%

Crude Fat: 20%

Crude Fiber: 3.5%

Moisture: 10%

Ash: 7.5%

Dry Matter Basis

Protein: 44.44%

Fat: 22.22%

Fiber: 3.89%

Carbs: 21.11%

Caloric Weight Basis

Protein: 37.18%

Fat: 45.15%

Carbs: 17.66%

Pros

• First 14 ingredients are animal-based
• Infused with freeze-dried raw pieces for added nutrition
• Rich in nutritious animal-based fats

Cons

• Doesn’t contain the moisture your cat needs
• Fairly high carbohydrate content

#2 Nutrience Original Healthy Adult Chicken Meal with Brown Rice Recipe

Buy At Amazon

Nutrience’s original dry food formula features chicken meal and brown rice as the primary ingredients. Though chicken meal is the main ingredient and primary source of protein, egg product provides supplemental protein later on in the list of ingredients.

Unfortunately, those are the only animal ingredients with the exception of chicken fat and salmon oil. Both of these are nutritious sources of essential fatty acids and other nutrients, including DHA which is important for brain health and strong vision.

This dry food contains a significant number of plant ingredients including gluten-free grains like brown rice and oatmeal as well as peas, fresh fruits, and veggies. The estimated carbohydrate content of this recipe is high as a result, over 30% (as fed.)

Overall, this seems to be a primarily plant-based dry food with moderate amounts of animal protein and fat with high overall carbohydrate content.

Ingredients

Chicken Meal, Brown Rice, Oatmeal, Green Peas, Chicken Fat, Dried Beet Pulp, Natural Chicken Flavor, Egg Product, Flaxseed, Calcium Carbonate, Brewer’s Yeast, Salmon Oil, Blueberries, Cranberries, Carrots, Vitamin E Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, Niacin, Calcium Pantothenate, Inositol, Riboflavin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Thiamine Mononitrate, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid, Zinc Oxide, Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Ferrous Sulfate, Copper Proteinate, Copper Sulfate, Manganese Proteinate, Manganese Oxide, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite, Potassium Chloride, DL-methionine, Lecithin, Taurine, Chicory Root Extract, Choline Chloride, Salt, Yeast Extract, L-lysine, Yucca Schidigera Extract.

Ingredients We Liked	Ingredients We Didn’t Like	Common Allergens
Chicken Meal Chicken Fat Egg Product Salmon Oil	Brown Rice Oatmeal Green Peas Brewer’s Yeast	Chicken

Guaranteed Analysis

Crude Protein: 28%

Crude Fat: 18%

Crude Fiber: 3.5%

Moisture: 10%

Ash: 7.5%

Dry Matter Basis

Protein: 31.11%

Fat: 20%

Fiber: 3.89%

Carbs: 36.67%

Caloric Weight Basis

Protein: 26.74%

Fat: 41.75%

Carbs: 31.51%

Pros

• Concentrated animal protein as first ingredient
• Supplemented with antioxidants for immune support
• Prebiotics and natural fibers for healthy digestion

Cons

• Doesn’t contain the moisture your cat needs
• Fairly high carbohydrate content

#3 Nutrience Infusion Adult Indoor Canned Cat Food Formula

$2.59 At PetSmart

This pate style canned food is inspired by Nutrience’s dry food formulas. It features fresh chicken and chicken liver as the top two ingredients with additional protein from freeze-dried chicken liver.

Unfortunately, most of the ingredients in this recipe (aside from those mentioned and the salmon oil) are plant-based. Not only do we see a concentrated source of plant protein (pea protein), but there are a few legumes and pulses which we generally prefer to avoid. The estimated carb content of this formula is still under 5% (as fed), however, which is a little surprising.

Overall, this seems to be a protein-rich canned food recipe with moderate fat and low carbohydrate content.

Ingredients

Chicken, Chicken Broth, Chicken Liver, Pea Protein, Rice, Green Peas, Red Lentils, Sun-Cured Alfalfa, Freeze-Dried Chicken Liver, Salmon Oil, Coconut Oil, Guar Gum, Carrageenan, Cassia Gum, Calcium Carbonate, Pea Fiber, Pumpkin, Butternut Squash, Carrots, Spinach, Broccoli, Apples, Blueberries, Cranberries, Pomegranate, Juniper Berry Extract, Ginger, Fennel, Chamomile, Peppermint Leaf, Licorice Root, Turmeric, Taurine, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (Source Of Vitamin C), Zinc Proteinate, Vitamin E Supplement, Ferrous Sulfate, Iron Proteinate, Zinc Sulfate, Niacin Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Copper Proteinate, Vitamin A Supplement, Sodium Selenite, Manganese Sulfate, Manganese Proteinate, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin Supplement, Biotin, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Calcium Iodate, Folic Acid.

Ingredients We Liked	Ingredients We Didn’t Like	Common Allergens
Chicken Chicken Liver Freeze-Dried Chicken Liver Salmon Oil	Pea Protein Rice Green Peas Red Lentils Sun-Cured Alfalfa Carrageenan	Chicken

Guaranteed Analysis

Crude Protein: 10%

Crude Fat: 6%

Crude Fiber: 1%

Moisture: 78%

Ash: 2%

Dry Matter Basis

Protein: 45.45%

Fat: 27.27%

Fiber: 4.55%

Carbs: 13.64%

Caloric Weight Basis

Protein: 36.27%

Fat: 52.85%

Carbs: 10.88%

Pros

• High-quality animal protein as the first ingredient
• Rich in moisture your cat needs for hydration
• Rich in nutritious animal-based fats

Cons

• Contains carrageenan and other gums as thickeners
• Significant number of plant ingredients
• Contains a concentrated source of plant protein

How Much Does Nutrience Cat Food Cost?

As a Canadian cat food, it’s difficult to make general comments about the cost of Nutrience cat food. Using prices from Amazon and PetSmart Canada, it looks like Nutrience products are on par for similar products, pricewise.

Their highest quality line SubZero averages about $1.75 per ounce while their most affordable Original recipe is priced under $0.30 per ounce. Canned food prices vary but hover between $0.30/ounce and $0.50/ounce.

Overall, Is Nutrience Cat Food a Good Choice?

Nutrience is a difficult brand to judge because they use a lot of really high-quality ingredients including locally sourced proteins and wild-caught fish. The problem is most of their recipes make heavy use of plant ingredients, including concentrated plant proteins. We’re glad to see Nutrience doesn’t use low-value grains like corn, wheat, and soy, but the overall carb content is high across the board.

Though we can’t give Nutrience a hearty recommendation due to the carb content of their dry foods, their wet foods are much lower in carbs. Another thing to consider is that they do offer some chicken-free formulas which are great for cats with food allergies or sensitivities.

Where Is Nutrience Cat Food Sold?

Though Nutrience is a Canadian cat food company, you can purchase their products in the U.S. through online retailers like Country Max. If you live in Canada, you can find Nutrience in local pet stores or shop online through major retailers like PetSmart, Petland, PetMax, Pet Only, and more. Nutrience also has several international partners in Australia, Chile, Colombia, and elsewhere.