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Rachael Ray Nutrish Cat Food Review of 2024: Recalls, Pros & Cons

Written by: Christian Adams

Last Updated on February 16, 2024 by Catster Editorial Team

racheal ray review

Rachael Ray Nutrish Cat Food Review of 2024: Recalls, Pros & Cons

Review Summary

Our Final Verdict

We give Rachael Ray Nutrish cat food a rating of 4.0 out of 5.0 stars. 

Chef Rachael Ray shifted her focus from creating cuisine in the kitchen to extending her passion to animals. After deciding that she wanted her beloved Pit Bull, Isaboo, to enjoy the same kind of delicious nutrition she cooked up, she got the idea to use her skills to make pet food up to human standards.

So, just how good is Rachael’s pet food line, Nutrish? We’re going to go over the ins and outs of what makes this food fantastic but point out where any downfalls lie. Let’s explore what sorts of variety and nutritional content Rachael Ray cooked up for cats.

 

cat face divider 2At a Glance: The Best Rachael Ray Nutrish Cat Food Recipes:

Image Product Details
Our Favorite Rachel Ray Nutrish Indoor Complete Chicken with Lentils & Salmon Rachel Ray Nutrish Indoor Complete Chicken with Lentils & Salmon
  • Overall complete diet
  • Designed for indoor cats
  • Promotes healthy digestion
  • Rachael Ray Nutrish Inner Health Turkey with Chickpeas & Salmon Rachael Ray Nutrish Inner Health Turkey with Chickpeas & Salmon
  • Has live probiotics
  • No harmful additives
  • Helps sensitive tummies 
  • Rachael Ray Nutrish Zero Grain Indoor Chicken & Potato Rachael Ray Nutrish Zero Grain Indoor Chicken & Potato
  • Zero grains
  • Specially tailored for sensitive cats
  • No by-products or artificial additives
  • Rachael Ray Nutrish Ocean Fish & Chicken Catch-iatore Rachael Ray Nutrish Ocean Fish & Chicken Catch-iatore
  • Real ocean fish is the #1 ingredient
  • Ocean fish is naturally rich in omega fatty acids
  • There's no grain, glutens, corn, wheat, or soy.
  • Rachael Ray Nutrish Natural Salmon & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Cat Food Rachael Ray Nutrish Natural Salmon & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Cat Food
  • Real salmon is the #1 ingredient
  • Contains no ground corn,
  • Source of B vitamins
  • 3 cat face divider

    Rachael Ray Nutrish Cat Food Reviewed

    4Rachael Ray Nutrish Ocean Fish & Chicken Catch-iatore Natural Grain-Free

    Let’s take an in-depth look at how Rachael Ray Nutrish got started, and all it has to offer.

    Who Makes Rachael Ray Nutrish and Where Is It Produced?

    Chef Rachael Ray partnered with a company called Ainsworth Pet Nutrition in 2008. She had concrete plans in mind to create a highly nutritious, human-grade food for cats and dogs. Her beloved Pit Bull, Isaboo, gave her the inspiration.

    Rachael Rays Nutrish line is 100% manufactured in United States facilities. The headquarters is in Meadville, Pennsylvania, with facilities across several states. You can find Nutrish in most pet stores across the US and online.

    Which Types of Cats Is Rachael Ray Nutrish Best Suited For?

    Rachel Ray Nutrish offers an abundance of recipes that are sure to tantalize the taste buds of even the pickiest feline kings and queens. It will work for virtually any cat with any preference. There are exceptions, of course. But overall, Nutrish has a vast selection that can appeal to the needs or wants of any kitty.

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

    If you have a cat that suffers from disease or illness, your vet may tailor a prescription-based diet. If your cat can’t eat ordinary foods you find in stores any longer, Rachael Ray Nutrish may not work for you.

    But if your cat is sensitive to specific ingredients, Nutrish offers several selections formulated for different dietary needs. Nutrish recipes will work for most house cats or outside cats, giving them a balanced, nutritious diet meeting different needs.

    Discussion of the Primary Ingredients (Good and Bad)

    Rachael Ray Nutrish aims to give cats a healthy, protein-packed meal with only the vital nutrients for optimal health. However, some ingredients may be triggers for some cats, depending on sensitivity levels.

    First, in all dry kibble and wet food recipes, real whole meat is the first ingredient, giving each formula adequate protein levels. It’s usually followed up by a meat meal, which is highly concentrated meat that has been ground down.

    Corn gluten meal is a controversial additive in recipes, and only certain food lines in Nutrish include this ingredient. Some cats have a gluten sensitivity that triggers allergies, leading to hair loss, skin irritation, and other unfavorable side effects. Several Nutrish lines are grain-free—and some avoid corn, wheat, and soy.

    Many recipes in Nutrish use pumpkin to ease digestion. It tends to work in the system softer than other fiber additives to soothe the digestive tract.

    Pea protein is an incomplete plant-based protein that isn’t considered a highly beneficial ingredient, but it’s an additive of many Nutrish recipes.

    Phosphorus, calcium, zinc, biotin, and ascorbic acid is an ingredient in most of the dry kibble recipes to give a well-balanced nutrient base.

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    Different Nutrish Food Line Recipes

    Nutrish Dry Kibble

    In every dry kibble recipe, real meat is always the first ingredient. Having a protein source as the first ingredient ensures your kitty is getting the best nutrition for their muscles. Dry kibble helps to clean teeth but provides little moisture, so always make sure to offer fresh water.


    Super Premium

    This kibble is Nutrish’s baseline, everyday cat formulas. Each recipe has vital, valuable nutrients every cat requires in their diet. There are varieties to cover the needs of virtually any cat using ingredients like meat as the first, followed by chickpeas, sweet potatoes, lentils, or brown rice.

    • Real Chicken & Brown Rice
    • Real Salmon & Brown Rice
    • Indoor Complete Chicken with Lentils & Salmon
    • Longevity Chicken with Chickpeas & Salmon
    • Inner Health Turkey with Chickpeas & Salmon

    Peak

    This dry kibble is a high-protein, quality grain-free series. It has a whopping 40% protein content with meat and meat meal as the first several ingredients in each bag. It also has sweet potato and pea protein in place of grain.

    • Woodland Catch
    • Open Water
    • Indoor Formula Rustic Woodlands

    Zero-Grain

    These recipes have no gluten, fillers, or other harmful ingredients that trigger allergies in felines. Animal protein is always the number one ingredient followed by potatoes, carrots, and peas. There are always added taurine and necessary nutrients for overall bodily health.

    • Whitefish Pea & Potato
    • Chicken & Potato

    Nutrish Wet Food Selections

    Nutrish offers several savory wet food dishes for your cat. These options are perfect for giving your cat some extra hydration and something easy to chew. Wet food may cause dental issues for your kitty since it contributes to tooth decay. Remember to brush regularly.


    Peak Ultra Premium

    This type of wet food is grain-free, high protein with natural vitamins, minerals, and taurine.

    • Coastal Range
    • Wetlands
    • Woodland Catch

    Purrfect Entrees

    These wet food entrees have no harmful fillers, no grain, and all the good stuff. Meat broth is the first ingredient, followed by animal protein. There are beneficial ingredients like magnesium, taurine, and calcium, with lots of other vitamins and minerals.

    • Chicken & Salmon Catterole
    • Ocean Fish & Chicken Catch-iatore
    • Lip Smackin’ Sardine ‘n Mackerel
    • Ocean Fish-a-licious
    • Chicken Purrcata
    • Paw Lickin’ Chicken & Liver
    • Chicken & Shrimp Pawttenesca
    • Tuna Purrfection
    • Beef & Chicken Catterole
    • Tuscan Chicken Dinner
    • Mariners Feast
    • Pawsome Paella
    • Fin-tastic Primavera
    • Sea-sational Florentine
    • Cravin’ Chicken Dinner

    Delicacies and Treats

    It doesn’t stop with wet and dry cat food selections. Rachael Ray has also cooked up unique offerings to add to your cat’s diet. You should only give these snacks in moderation, but they may satisfy your kitty—even if they’re picky.

    • Purrfect Broths—These broths give your cat a flavor-packed, hydrating experience. There are chicken, tuna, and seafood varieties. The packages are saturated in broth with real meat as the second ingredient. There are other veggies, and seasonings added to amp up your cat’s palette—and all recipes are grain-free.
    • Love Bites Treats—These treats have a crunchy outer shell with a soft center. It comes in two flavors, salmon and chicken, which is always the first ingredient.
    • Wheelies Treats—These treats have a smooth and crunchy swirl with real chicken as the first ingredient.
    • Soft Spots Treats—These treats are soft and easy to chew, so they’re perfect for cats with dental issues. Real salmon is the first ingredient.

    Controversy With Ingredients

    In June 2019, the FDA began investigating many pet food companies for the possibility of heart disease due to grain-free recipes put on the market. Nutrish is among the grain-free selections that could link to these issues, but the matter is still under investigation without a definitive scientific conclusion.

    In 2018, a lawsuit was filed against the Ainsworth Pet Nutrition company for including a harmful herbicide in their food called glyphosate. Glyphosate is a hidden pesticide in specific recipes of pet food that can cause cancer. The case never reached resolve, being thrown out two separate times.

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    Feeding your cat a high-quality diet is important for keeping them healthy and happy. But it goes beyond the food you choose; the dishes they use also matter. The Hepper NomNom Cat Bowl is our favorite for its unique, five-star design that protects from whisker fatigue and promotes good posture which also aids in better digestion. As an added bonus, it’s beautifully crafted and offers a modern take on the traditional cat bowl that fits seamlessly with all home stylings. Learn more about the NomNom by clicking here.

    At Catster, we’ve admired Hepper for many years and decided to take a controlling ownership interest so that we could benefit from the outstanding designs of this cool cat company!

     

     

    Cat ball divider 1

    A Quick Look at Rachael Ray Nourish Cat Food

    Pros
    • Meat is always the number one ingredient
    • High-quality, lower price
    • Nutrish is produced in the USA
    • Many recipe varieties
    • Wholesome ingredients
    Cons
    • Some recipes contain gluten meal
    • Grain-free recipes may cause heart disease

    Rachael Ray Cat Food Recall History

    In June 2015, there was a recall for many wet cat food varieties potentially containing elevated levels of vitamin D. Excess vitamin D can damage a cat by depleting calcium from the cat’s bones. Let’s take a look at a few of the Rachael Ray cat food recalls below:

    Recipes Recalled:

    • Paw Lickin’ Chicken & Liver—Best by August 17, 2015
    • Ocean Fish & Chicken Catch-iatore—Best by December 1, 2016
    • Ocean Fish-a-licious—December 1, 2016
    • Tuna Purrfection—December 1, 2016
    • Lip Smackin’ Sardine & Mackerel—December 1, 2016
    • Chicken Lovers Variety Pack—Best by December 1, 2016
    • Ocean Lovers Variety Pack—December 1, 2016

    cat + line divider

    Reviews of the 3 Best Rachael Ray Nourish Cat Food Recipes

    1. Rachael Ray Nutrish Indoor Complete Chicken with Lentils & Salmon 1Rachael Ray Nutrish Indoor Complete Chicken with Lentils & Salmon

    Rachael Ray Nutrish Indoor Complete Chicken with Lentils & Salmon is one of the most popular recipes the company offers. Real chicken is always the number one ingredient, followed by chicken meal, corn gluten meal, dried peas, and lentils.

    This recipe has 34% crude protein, 12% crude fat, 8% crude fiber, and 9% moisture. There are 354 calories per cup. There is also added biotin, taurine, and vitamin E.

    Lentils give this recipe a high dose of fiber, which helps indoor cats with their digestive tracts so they can maintain proper weight and metabolism. Interestingly, this recipe contains dandelion greens—which is something you don’t see every day. These greens actually give your cat prebiotics that aid in digestion, too.

    There are also necessary amino acids and fatty acids for a healthy coat and skin. It’s full of antioxidants to reduce free radicals in the body. While this is perfect for most healthy indoor cats, it isn’t for all. This food contains gluten which some cats may be sensitive to.

    Calorie Breakdown:

    rachael ray indoor chicken + lentils

    Pros
    • Designed for indoor cats
    • Promotes healthy digestion
    • Overall complete diet
    Cons
    • Not for all sensitivities

    2. Rachael Ray Nutrish Inner Health Turkey with Chickpeas & Salmon 2Rachael Ray Nutrish Inner Health Turkey with Chickpeas & Salmon Recipe

    Rachael Ray Nutrish Inner Health Turkey with Chickpeas & Salmon is tailored to give your cat an easy digestion experience. It has your cats gut in mind—free of corn, wheat, soy, animal by-products, and other potential irritants.

    This recipe contains 34% crude protein, 12% crude fat, 5% crude fiber, and 9% moisture. It has 375 calories per cup. There are a total of 100,000,000 live microorganisms to help the GI tract function.

    It’s a superfood blend that caters to every aspect of digestive health. It’s full of powerful antioxidants, fatty acids, and amino acids. Pumpkin is widely used for calming sensitive tummies, and it’s among the first several ingredients. This can help cats with diarrhea and upset stomach problems.

    If you have a healthy kitty with normal stools, you may not need to get this formula. But it won’t hurt your cat if you do choose it.

    Calorie Breakdown:

    Rachael Rayâ„¢ Nutrish Inner Health Turkey With Chickpeas & Salmon

    Pros
    • Helps sensitive tummies
    • Has live probiotics
    • No harmful additives
    Cons
    • Not necessary for all kitties

    3. Rachael Ray Nutrish Zero Grain Indoor Chicken & Potato 3Rachael Ray Nutrish Zero Grain Indoor Chicken & Potato Recipe Grain-Free

    Rachael Ray Nutrish Zero Grain Indoor Chicken & Potato Recipe is a well-balanced diet for gluten-sensitive felines. If your kitty has an allergy to common grains like wheat, corn, or soy—no worries. This recipe is formulated specifically for your cat.

    There is 32% crude protein, 12% crude fat, 5% crude fiber, and 9% moisture. There are a total of 437 calories per cup. This is a high-calorie diet, so it’s best for active felines that are frequently exerting energy. It can cause weight can in lazier cats.

    This recipe is a perfect balance of vital amino acids, taurine, antioxidants, fatty acids, and whole protein. It’s 100% free of any harmful poultry by-products, artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives. Rather than grain, this selection offers pea flour, dried potato, and pumpkin.

    While this is an ideal solution for allergy-prone kitties, be aware of the potential link to heart disease in grain-free recipes. Always speak with your veterinarian to gauge their recommendation on these matters.

    Calorie Breakdown:

    Rachael Rayâ„¢ Nutrish Zero Grain Chicken & Potato

    Pros
    • Zero grains
    • No by-products or artificial additives
    • Specially tailored for sensitive cats
    Cons
    • Potential risks with grain-free diets
    • Could cause weight gain in inactive cats

    What Other Users Are Saying

    But don’t just take our word for it! See what real-life people who are actually using these products think.

    • Amazon—“Kitty Favorite! We recently switched from Purina One to Rachael Ray Nutrish Super Premium Dry Cat Food and our three kitties love us for it. We did the blind taste test with two bowls side by side with each cat food and all three fought to eat out of the same one; the one with Rachael Ray Nutrish Super Premium Dry Cat Food in it. To say we are pleased is an understatement. It is more cost-effective and not only are our kitties loving the new food choice, but it seems to fill them up more so they are eating less.” Read more reviews of this product here.
    • Chewy—“Great product! I have had my clan on this for about a year. Of course we get a different flavor every month. But their coats look great. Dandruff at a bare minimum. They love this food. I used to use Purina Complete and they always had poop/diarrhea issues. Now their stools are fine, no more vomiting or dull fur. They also seem more active. I have age range from 3 months to 9 years all doing great on this!” Check out similar reviews here.

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    Conclusion

    All in all, Rachael Ray Nutrish cat food is an excellent choice for most cats, whether they are inside or outdoors. It caters to various sensitivities and preferences, so you shouldn’t have trouble finding a recipe that works for your cat. You can also try out some treat selections to offer your cat to reward them for being so fantastic.

    If your cat needs a specialized diet, you may want to consult with your veterinarian before buying it.

    Related Reads: 

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