Nature’s Variety is a pet food company known for making natural and raw pet food products for cats and dogs. If you are considering introducing your cat to natural or raw food, Nature’s Variety Instinct may be the brand for you.
To help guide you in picking the best food for your cat, we created this Instinctcat food review of their top-rated foods available on Chewy or Amazon websites.
Nature’s Variety is owned by Agrolimen – a company based in Barcelona, Spain. The brand’s manufacturing facilities are all owned by the company. All of Nature’s Variety Instinct’s frozen and freeze dried raw foods are made in their Lincoln, Nebraska facilities. Their wet and dry foods are made in Kansas. Their headquarters is based in St. Louis, Missouri.
The Instinct recipes are developed by an in-house team of vets, veterinarian nutritionists, and food scientists. All of their products are preserved naturally. The dry products are preserved with mixed tocopherols (vitamin E), rosemary, and citric acid. Instinct Raw and Raw Signature products are frozen, while their wet food products are canned.
Instinct’s cat food lineup now spans a wide range of raw, freeze-dried, dry and wet nutrition options. Its raw offerings include FreshDried Raw Meals, which are shelf-stable freeze-dried raw meals, and FreshDried Patés, which can be rehydrated to create a soft pâté-style meal. The brand also offers Raw Boost, which combines high-protein kibble with freeze-dried raw pieces, along with Raw Boost+ Mixers and Shakers for adding raw nutrition to your cat’s regular food.
For dry food, Instinct offers Original, Ultimate Protein and Limited Ingredient Diet recipes. Original features grain-free kibble coated with freeze-dried raw, Ultimate Protein focuses on high levels of real-animal protein and Limited Ingredient Diet recipes use simplified ingredient lists with a single animal protein and vegetable to accommodate cats with food sensitivities.
Its wet food selection includes Original Patés, Flaked Entrées, Minced Cups, Split Cups Patés, Limited Ingredient Diet Patés and Healthy Cravings pouches, giving cat parents a variety of textures and serving formats to choose from. Instinct also offers additional meal toppers and complementary products, making it easy to add more raw-inspired nutrition to a cat’s daily diet.
Instinct Cat Food Review
1. Original Real Chicken Recipe
First 5 ingredients:
Chicken, Chicken Meal, Turkey Meal, Menhaden Fish Meal, Peas
This is a high-protein, nutrient-rich meal designed to nourish your cat from the inside out.
Cage-free chicken is the first ingredient, delivering a high level of animal protein to support strong, lean muscles.
This carefully crafted formula is made up of 81% real animal ingredients and nutritious oils, complemented by 19% wholesome fruits, vegetables, and other natural ingredients.
Free from grains, potato, corn, wheat, soy, by-product meal, artificial colors, and preservatives, it provides clean nutrition you can trust.
Every bite is packed with guaranteed levels of live, natural probiotics for digestive health, natural omegas for a soft, shiny coat and antioxidants to promote a strong immune system.
Proudly made in the USA with premium ingredients sourced from around the world, this grain-free recipe offers the pure, real nutrition your cat instinctively craves.
This food is specially crafted to deliver the benefits of a raw diet in a convenient kibble form, offering one of the highest levels of animal protein available in dry cat food.
Made with real, cage-free duck, chicken, and eggs, 90% of the protein in this recipe comes directly from these high-quality animal sources—never from any kind of animal meal.
This premium, grain-free formula is thoughtfully designed for easy digestion and optimal nutrient absorption, helping your cat thrive with every bite.
It’s enhanced with live probiotics for digestive support, natural omegas for healthy skin and a glossy coat, and antioxidants to strengthen the immune system.
You’ll never find any grains, potatoes, corn, wheat, soy, by-product meals, artificial colors or preservatives in this food—just clean, pure nutrition.
Pros
Zero grains or gluten
Multi-protein formula
High quality protein source
Ideal kibble size
Promotes better fur and skin health
Cons
Pricey
Contains chicken, allergic pets beware
3. Raw Boost Real Salmon Recipe
First 5 ingredients:
Chicken, Chicken Meal, Turkey Meal, Menhaden Fish Meal, Peas
This is a premium blend of high-protein kibble and freeze-dried raw pieces, crafted to deliver the pure nutrition cats crave.
Made in Instinct’s own facilities in Lincoln, Nebraska, this unique recipe combines the irresistible taste of wild-caught salmon and real meat with the wholesome goodness of raw.
Each bite is all-natural, minimally processed, and freeze-dried to lock in nutrients and flavor.
Rich in omega fatty acids and antioxidants from carefully selected fruits and vegetables, it supports healthy skin, a shiny coat and a strong immune system.
Plus, it’s enhanced with a boost of live, natural probiotics to aid in digestive health.
Grain-free and packed with high-quality ingredients, this recipe offers the benefits of raw nutrition in every delicious bowl.
Pros
High in protein
Healthy skin and coat
No soy, corn or wheat
Supports digestive health
Wild caught salmon is top ingredient
Cons
Too crumbly
Kibble bits are way too large for seniors and kittens
Here we have a thoughtfully crafted for cats with food sensitivities or allergies, offering simple, clean nutrition without compromising on taste.
Made with just one animal protein and one vegetable, this limited ingredient recipe features farm-raised rabbit as the first ingredient—a flavorful, easily digestible protein ideal for sensitive stomachs.
The smooth, delicious pâté is enriched with essential vitamins and minerals to provide complete and balanced nutrition.
Free from common allergens like chicken, beef, fish, dairy, eggs, grain, potato, corn, wheat and soy, this grain-free formula is a gentle yet nourishing option for cats with special dietary needs.
This food is specially crafted to support the healthy growth and development of your kitten during their most critical life stage.
Made with a nourishing blend of real chicken, beef liver and salmon, this recipe offers a balanced mix of poultry, fish and meat to provide wholesome protein variety and healthy exposure to different animal sources.
Free from gums, grains, potatoes, corn, wheat, soy, by-product meals, artificial colors and preservatives, it delivers clean, natural nutrition you can feel good about.
Enriched with natural DHA, this smooth and delicious pâté helps promote healthy brain and eye development, giving your kitten the strong foundation they need to thrive.
Pros
Easy to digest
Locally made (US)
Recyclable packaging
95% animal protein
No guar gum or carrageenan
Cons
Varying textures
Notable recipe change
6. Minced Cups Tuna Entree
First 5 ingredients:
Fish Broth, Tuna, Pork Liver, Natural Flavor, Egg Product
Packed in a convenient 3.5-oz cup, it is crafted to deliver high-quality, protein-rich nutrition your cat will crave.
Real wild-caught tuna is the star ingredient, providing plenty of animal protein to help support strong, lean muscles and everyday energy. The tender minced pieces are served in a savory gravy that adds delicious flavor and moisture to every bite.
This grain-free and gluten-free recipe is made without potatoes, corn, wheat, soy, by-product meals, artificial colors or preservatives—just wholesome nutrition you can feel good about serving.
It’s enriched with nutritious fruits and vegetables like carrots, spinach and cranberries, providing essential vitamins, minerals and antioxidants to support overall health and vitality.
Proudly crafted in the USA with high-quality ingredients sourced from around the world, this complete and balanced recipe delivers irresistible taste and wholesome nutrition in every serving.
This is a nutritious, flavorful way to support your cat’s skin and coat health naturally.
Made with real, cage-free chicken as the first ingredient, this raw food topper is blended with other wholesome ingredients like wild-caught cod, salmon oil, cranberries and chia seeds—all rich in healthy omegas that promote soft skin and a shiny coat.
These soft, easy-to-chew pieces are minimally processed and never cooked, then gently freeze-dried to remove moisture while preserving raw nutrients and delicious flavor.
Free from grains, wheat, soy, potato, artificial flavors and preservatives, this clean, protein-rich topper is the perfect boost to your cat’s bowl.
Give your feline the benefits of raw nutrition in every bite with this simple, natural and effective addition to their daily meals.
This unique meal delivers unmatched raw nutrition in a convenient, scoop-and-serve format.
Part of Instinct’s Raw Meals line, this recipe provides your cat with three times more real meat and nutrient-rich organs than their Original Kibble, fueling their body with the natural power of raw.
Made with 95% fish, meat and organs—including freeze-dried Wild-Caught Alaskan Pollock—every bite is packed with high-quality protein and fat levels of 36% and 34% respectively, to help build leaner muscles, stronger bones and a healthier coat, while boosting your cat’s energy and vitality.
The gentle freeze-drying process removes moisture while locking in powerful nutrients and flavor, making it easier to digest and more biologically appropriate for your feline.
Free from artificial colors, preservatives, grain, corn, wheat, soy or legumes, this minimally processed food gives your cat everything they need and nothing they don’t.
This is a premium freeze-dried raw meal crafted to deliver complete and balanced nutrition with every bite.
Made with 85% protein-rich cage-free chicken and 15% wholesome non-GMO fruits and vegetables, this recipe provides the high-quality animal protein your cat needs to support lean, strong muscles, healthy bones and everyday energy.
Each bite retains the powerful nutrients found in raw ingredients through a gentle freeze-drying process that removes moisture while helping preserve their nutritional value. The result is a nutrient-dense meal packed with essential vitamins and minerals to support vibrant skin, a healthy coat and overall wellness.
Free from grains, corn, wheat, soy, legumes, artificial colors and preservatives, it offers clean, wholesome nutrition without unnecessary fillers.
Proudly made in the USA, this convenient raw meal delivers the benefits of raw feeding in an easy-to-serve freeze-dried format, helping your cat thrive with every nourishing bite.
Packaged in a convenient 3-oz bag, this nutrient-rich freeze-dried raw meal delivers a savory, protein-packed alternative to traditional canned wet food.
Featuring pollock, beef and nutrient-dense beef organs like spleen, liver and kidney, this recipe provides high-quality animal protein and essential nutrients to support your cat’s everyday health and vitality.
Whole-food ingredients like carrots, apples, butternut squash, ground flaxseeds and salmon oil add valuable vitamins, minerals and healthy fats, while the gentle freeze-drying process helps preserve the natural nutrients and flavor of the ingredients without high-heat processing.
Simply add water or broth to create a smooth, customizable paté texture that can satisfy even picky eaters while helping increase your cat’s moisture intake.
Designed for everyday feeding, this convenient raw meal delivers the benefits of raw nutrition without the mess of cans, smelly leftovers or wasteful packaging, making wholesome mealtimes easier from bowl to cleanup.nt moisture for healthy hydration, making mealtime both nourishing and irresistible.
Pros
Easy to prepare
Extra flavor and hydration
Less mess and leftovers
Gentle on the stomach
No carrageenan
Cons
Unusual smell
Consistency too lumpy for some
Takeaway
This review has proven that Nature’s Variety Instinct deserves their reputation of being one of the highest quality cat food brands in the market. With all of their cat foods having real animal protein as the first ingredient, you are sure to find a variant that is best suited for your feline friend.
The ingredients are all high quality meat such as cage-free chicken and farm-raised rabbits. All of their cat foods are free from grains, wheat, soy, corn, and potatoes. The brand does not use artificial enhancers such as flavors, colors, or preservatives.
Their wet foods are free from carrageenan. The plant-based ingredients are all healthy and rich in nutrients. You can rest assured that your cat is getting only nutritious meals.
Their cat foods have received great reviews regarding the health benefits they have given to numerous cats. From healthier skin and coats, to regulating weights, to higher energy levels. Many pets seemed to have thrived on their cat foods, especially those with food sensitivities.
Cats who have food allergies or sensitive stomachs have been given relief from symptoms such as skin problems, diarrhea, and vomiting. Their conditions have significantly improved or were completely resolved. Nature’s Variety Instinct foods has been called a life saver more than once by cat parents.
All these benefits do come with a higher price. Their cat foods cost more than the average food. However, many feel that the extra cost is worth all the health benefits and possibly the vet bills they are able to save on.
Based on ingredient quality, results delivered, reviews from cat parents, and cost, Nature’s Variety Instinct is overall a highly recommended brand of cat food. They offer a variety of choices to those who wish to introduce raw food into their cat’s diet.
They are likely to have some of the best foods available for kitties with food sensitivities or those who just seek a high protein, high quality food to keep their cats healthy and happy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Have Nature’s Variety Instinct cat foods ever been recalled?
Yes. In 2010, some chicken-based raw food from Nature’s Variety Instinct were recalled due to possible salmonella contamination. 2015 saw a recall for some of their chicken-based products due to salmonella. Another recall was issued that year due to pieces of plastic found in some products. No recall has been issued for their cat foods since.
Is Instinct good cat food?
Instinct Raw Boost Chicken is one of the top 5 choices for best dry cat food overall for most reviewers. Here's a few important points: Packed with high-quality meat ingredients. Utilizes some organ meat for extra protein and nutrients.
Who owns instinct food?
It's now owned by Agrilomen, a Barcelona-based firm. Agrolimen also owns Affinity Petcare, a leading European pet food supplier and holds 50% stake in Mogiana, a Brazilian pet food company.
Is Instinct Raw cat food good?
Instinct is a high-quality cat food brand offering superior products at a relatively affordable price. Instinct's original dry cat food is also high in meat-based protein and low in carbohydrates for a dry cat food. It even contains a bit of freeze-dried raw meat in the kibble recipe for an extra boost.
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