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Made by Nacho Cat Food Review 2024: Recalls, Pros & Cons

Written by: Kathryn Copeland

Last Updated on February 13, 2024 by Catster Editorial Team

Made by Nacho Cat Food Review 2024: Recalls, Pros & Cons

Review Summary

Our Final Verdict

We give Made by Nacho Cat Food a rating of 4.0 out of 5 stars.

Made by Nacho is a love letter from celebrity chef Bobby Flay to his gorgeous orange tabby, Nacho, and his other tabby, Stella. Nacho is even considered a co-founder!

Bobby Flay is an advocate for high-quality and tasty food, which he wanted to extend to cats by only choosing the healthiest and best ingredients for them. The ingredients are sustainably and responsibly sourced, with an emphasis on the protein, a critical component in a feline diet.

Made by Nacho Cat Food has kitten and adult cat food in various recipes. If you’re interested in learning more about this brand, keep reading as we discuss it in more detail, which might help you determine if it’s the right food for your kitty.

Made by Nacho Recipe

Image Product Details
Our Favorite
Winner
Made by Nacho Skin & Coat Support Whitefish & Pumpkin Recipe Made by Nacho Skin & Coat Support Whitefish & Pumpkin Recipe
  • Made with ethically sourced ingredients
  • Doesn’t contain by-products or artificial ingredients
  • Made in the U.S.A.
  • Made by Nacho Cat Food Reviewed

    About Made by Nacho Cat Food Products

    Made by Nacho is a fairly new cat food brand that came onto the market in 2021. Here, we break down the essential information that you should know before trying Made by Nacho.

    Who Makes Made by Nacho and Where Is It Produced?

    The founders of Made by Nacho are Nacho Flay himself (he’s listed as a co-founder), Bobby Flay, Stella Flay, and Nacho’s own veterinarian, Katja Lang, DVM. The cats did a great deal of taste-testing to develop the recipes and the texture of the food, to ensure that all felines would enjoy it and find it easy to eat.

    Made by Nacho is made in the U.S.A. with ingredients that come from ethically sourced and sustainably caught proteins, such as whitefish and cage-free chicken.

    cat eating food in the bowl
    Image Credit: Okssi, Shutterstock

    Which Types of Cats Is Made by Nacho Best Suited For?

    Made by Nacho features many types of food, including:

    • Dry food
    • Bone broths
    • Cuts in gravy
    • Minced and flaked
    • Pâté
    • Shreds

    There are several different proteins to choose from:

    • Beef
    • Chicken
    • Duck
    • Salmon
    • Tuna
    • Turkey
    • Whitefish

    You can also choose a recipe based on the benefit that you’re seeking:

    • Bone and joints
    • Digestion
    • High protein
    • Hydration
    • Immunity
    • Skin and coat

    Many cats can benefit from Made by Nacho, including kittens. There are also meal toppers, treats, kibble, and wet food. It’s hydrating (almost all recipes feature bone broth, including the kibble) and doesn’t contain by-products or artificial ingredients.

    persian cat eatin dry food
    Image Credit: Patrick, Foto_Shutterstock

    Which Types of Cats Might Do Better With a Different Brand?

    Cats with chicken allergies should stay clear of Made by Nacho. Every recipe, even those with a novel protein like duck, contains chicken.

    It’s always essential to read the ingredients in your cat’s food if they have a food allergy. Instead of Made by Nacho, you can try Orijen Six Fish Grain-Free Dry Cat Food, which contains no chicken.

    You should also check with your vet if your cat has a health condition, such as kidney disease or diabetes.

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    Recall History

    To the best of our knowledge, Made by Nacho hasn’t had any recalls.

    Discussion of the Primary Ingredients (Good and Bad)

    When you are looking at the ingredients in your cat’s food, you should know that the first five listed are what the food is primarily composed of. This is why they’re the most important.

    Let’s break down the ingredients found in Made by Nacho’s whitefish and pumpkin dry cat food recipe.

    tabby cat eating on metal bowl
    Image Credit: Krakenimages.com, Shutterstock

    Whitefish

    The whitefish is sustainably sourced and an excellent source of protein and amino acids, which helps build and maintain your cat’s muscles.

    Whitefish is also rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which aid cats’ joints and keep their coats and skin healthy. It’s also quite low in fat, making it a great source of protein for felines with weight issues.

    Whitefish Meal

    Fish meal is coarsely ground powder composed of the cooked flesh, bones, and offal of the whitefish. It’s a high source of protein and in some cases, can offer up to 300% more protein than regular protein sources.

    Brown Rice

    Brown rice is nutritionally better than white rice because it’s higher in fiber. However, feeding cats only small amounts of rice is generally recommended because it’s usually only necessary for stomach issues like diarrhea.

    Salmon Meal

    Salmon meal is just like whitefish meal, except it is composed of salmon.

    Chicken Fat

    Chicken fat is the fifth ingredient and supports healthy skin and coat and the immune system.

    You can see that this recipe is quite high in protein, as four of the five main ingredients are sourced from animal proteins.

    Chicken Bone Broth

    The chicken bone broth is actually the ninth ingredient, but we want to call attention to it. Almost every recipe from Made by Nacho has bone broth for added hydration and nutrition, which makes this brand stand out among the rest.

    Cat ball divider 1

    Made by Nacho Cat Food Review

    Made by Nacho Bone Broth Infused Dry Cat Kibble Skin & Coat Support

    Made by Nacho Skin & Coat Support Whitefish & Pumpkin Recipe Dry Cat Food is made with sustainably sourced whitefish. The healthy ingredients provide cats with prebiotics and probiotics, which aid healthy digestion, and there’s marine microalgae oil for added DHA.

    Each recipe is formulated by pet nutritionists, veterinarian Dr. Katja Lang, and Bobby Flay and his faithful cats Nacho and Stella. But it is pricey, and some cat owners aren’t happy with the smell.

    Pros
    • Made with ethically sourced ingredients
    • Made in the U.S.A.
    • Doesn’t contain by-products or artificial ingredients
    • Includes bone broth

    Cons

    • Pricey
    • Some cat owners don’t like the smell
    • Almost every recipe contains chicken

    Ingredients Analysis

    Crude Protein: 32.0%
    Crude Fat: 14.0%
    Crude Fiber: 4.5%
    Carbohydrates: 39.5%
    Moisture: 10.0%
    Zinc: 100 mg/kg
    Vitamin E: 60 IU/kg
    Taurine: 0.2%

    Calories per Cup Breakdown

    ½ cup: 225.5 calories
    1 cup: 451 calories
    2 cups: 902 calories

    3 cat face divider

    What Other Users Are Saying

    Before you make any decisions, look at what other cat owners think about Made by Nacho.

    • Chewy — “My cat can be picky at times, so I was not sure how much she would like this food. She surprisingly loved it! The pumpkin has also been great for her digestive tract, and she has not had a hairball at all with this food!”
    • Made by Nacho — “Our cat loves this food! Noticed a huge change in his coat! Seems great on his digestion, too!”
    • Amazon — Checking user reviews on Amazon before making any decisions is something that we do frequently, especially when it comes to our pets. Check out the selection here.

    cat paw divider

    Conclusion

    Overall, Made by Nacho has quality cat food that is healthier than many of the more mainstream choices out there. We also love the strong involvement of Bobby Flay’s cats, particularly Nacho, in creating and selling the food!

    However, we wish that more of the recipes had limited ingredients and were more allergy-friendly for cats sensitive to chicken. Still, it’s a good idea to support a company that uses ethical sourcing to create food that most cats will love.

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