The Instinct Original Chicken Dry Cat Food: A Closer Look
Instinct Pet Food’s Original Chicken Dry Cat Food is formulated to provide a high-protein, grain-free diet for cats of all life stages. With cage-free chicken as the first ingredient, this food aims to support strong, lean muscles. The recipe boasts 81% real animal ingredients and nutritious oils, combined with 19% vegetables, fruits, and other wholesome ingredients, while containing 0% grain, potato, corn, wheat, or soy. This focus on high-quality animal protein is a key selling point for owners seeking optimal nutrition for their feline companions.
The product is enriched with guaranteed levels of live, natural probiotics, natural Omegas, and antioxidants, which are purported to benefit digestive health, promote a healthy skin and coat, and support the immune system. A distinctive feature of Instinct’s kibble is that each piece is coated with freeze-dried raw ingredients, aiming to deliver the taste and nutritional benefits of raw food in a convenient kibble format. This “raw-coated kibble” approach is central to Instinct’s philosophy of providing “the pure, real nutrition of raw on every piece.”
Key Ingredients and Nutritional Profile
The primary ingredients in Instinct Original Grain-Free Recipe with Real Chicken include chicken, chicken meal, and turkey meal, followed by menhaden fish meal. The inclusion of chicken fat as a preservative, along with tapioca and natural flavors, forms the base of the kibble. Montmorillonite clay, carrots, apples, and cranberries are incorporated for their vitamin and antioxidant properties. The formula is further fortified with a comprehensive blend of vitamins and minerals essential for feline health, including vitamin E, B vitamins, zinc, iron, and copper.
Nutritionally, the dry cat food is formulated to be complete and balanced, meeting the AAFCO Cat Food Nutrient Profiles for all life stages. It features a minimum of 41% crude protein and 21% crude fat, catering to the high protein requirements of cats. The crude fiber is capped at a maximum of 3%, and moisture content at 9%. Notably, the food contains Vitamin E, Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), Omega-3 fatty acids, and Omega-6 fatty acids at specified levels. It also includes Bacillus coagulans, a live, natural probiotic, at a minimum of 60,000,000 CFU/lb.
Feeding Guidelines and Transitioning
Instinct provides feeding guidelines to help owners determine the appropriate amount of food for their cats, acknowledging that ideal intake varies based on age, weight, and activity level. The general recommendation is to divide the total daily amount by the number of feedings. The brand also suggests supplementing dry food with raw or wet food to increase moisture intake. Specific advice is given for kittens, who may require up to twice the adult amount, and pregnant or nursing females, who may need up to three times the adult amount.
For a smooth transition to Instinct Original Chicken Dry Cat Food, the brand recommends a gradual introduction over 5 to 7 days. This involves mixing increasing amounts of the new food with the cat’s current food each day to minimize digestive upset.
Customer Reviews and Feedback
Customer feedback on Instinct Original Chicken Dry Cat Food is varied. While many users express satisfaction with the product, citing its high protein content and quality ingredients, a significant number of reviews highlight concerns. Some customers have reported issues with the most recent batches, including powdery kibble, the presence of foreign objects like rubber chunks, and unexpected ingredient changes, such as the replacement of freeze-dried chicken coating with freeze-dried pollock. A few reviews also mention that their cats experienced digestive issues like diarrhea and vomiting after consuming the food, leading to veterinary visits.
Instinct Pet Food’s customer service typically responds to negative reviews by apologizing, acknowledging the feedback, and offering a 100% satisfaction guarantee for returns or exchanges, often requesting further details to investigate the specific batch. Some long-term customers appreciate the shift to fish as the raw coating due to concerns about avian flu, while others lament the absence of a completely raw-free option.
Instinct Original Chicken Dry Cat Food: A Comprehensive Nutritional Analysis
Instinct Pet Food’s Original Chicken Dry Cat Food is formulated to provide a high-protein, grain-free diet for cats of all life stages. With cage-free chicken as the first ingredient, this food aims to support strong, lean muscles. The recipe boasts 81% real animal ingredients and nutritious oils, combined with 19% vegetables, fruits, and other wholesome ingredients, while containing 0% grain, potato, corn, wheat, or soy. This focus on high-quality animal protein is a key selling point for owners seeking optimal nutrition for their feline companions.
The product is enriched with guaranteed levels of live, natural probiotics, natural Omegas, and antioxidants, which are purported to benefit digestive health, promote a healthy skin and coat, and support the immune system. A distinctive feature of Instinct’s kibble is that each piece is coated with freeze-dried raw ingredients, aiming to deliver the taste and nutritional benefits of raw food in a convenient kibble format. This “raw-coated kibble” approach is central to Instinct’s philosophy of providing “the pure, real nutrition of raw on every piece.”
Key Ingredients and Nutritional Profile
The primary ingredients in Instinct Original Grain-Free Recipe with Real Chicken include chicken, chicken meal, and turkey meal, followed by menhaden fish meal. The inclusion of chicken fat as a preservative, along with tapioca and natural flavors, forms the base of the kibble. Montmorillonite clay, carrots, apples, and cranberries are incorporated for their vitamin and antioxidant properties. The formula is further fortified with a comprehensive blend of vitamins and minerals essential for feline health, including vitamin E, B vitamins, zinc, iron, and copper.
Nutritionally, the dry cat food is formulated to be complete and balanced, meeting the AAFCO Cat Food Nutrient Profiles for all life stages. It features a minimum of 41% crude protein and 21% crude fat, catering to the high protein requirements of cats. The crude fiber is capped at a maximum of 3%, and moisture content at 9%. Notably, the food contains Vitamin E, Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), Omega-3 fatty acids, and Omega-6 fatty acids at specified levels. It also includes Bacillus coagulans, a live, natural probiotic, at a minimum of 60,000,000 CFU/lb.
Feeding Guidelines and Transitioning
Instinct provides feeding guidelines to help owners determine the appropriate amount of food for their cats, acknowledging that ideal intake varies based on age, weight, and activity level. The general recommendation is to divide the total daily amount by the number of feedings. The brand also suggests supplementing dry food with raw or wet food to increase moisture intake. Specific advice is given for kittens, who may require up to twice the adult amount, and pregnant or nursing females, who may need up to three times the adult amount.
For a smooth transition to Instinct Original Chicken Dry Cat Food, the brand recommends a gradual introduction over 5 to 7 days. This involves mixing increasing amounts of the new food with the cat’s current food each day to minimize digestive upset.
Customer Reviews and Feedback
Customer feedback on Instinct Original Chicken Dry Cat Food is varied. While many users express satisfaction with the product, citing its high protein content and quality ingredients, a significant number of reviews highlight concerns. Some customers have reported issues with the most recent batches, including powdery kibble, the presence of foreign objects like rubber chunks, and unexpected ingredient changes, such as the replacement of freeze-dried chicken coating with freeze-dried pollock. A few reviews also mention that their cats experienced digestive issues like diarrhea and vomiting after consuming the food, leading to veterinary visits.
Instinct Pet Food’s customer service typically responds to negative reviews by apologizing, acknowledging the feedback, and offering a 100% satisfaction guarantee for returns or exchanges, often requesting further details to investigate the specific batch. Some long-term customers appreciate the shift to fish as the raw coating due to concerns about avian flu, while others lament the absence of a completely raw-free option.
