Nulo MedalSeries Shredded Chicken & Duck Recipe in Gravy Wet Cat Food
The cleanest ingredient panel of any grain-free can here - four animal ingredients first, no by-products, no carrageenan - at roughly $22.22 per 1,000 kcal and with peas in the top six.
Score breakdown
The overall score of 80/100 is a weighted sum of the six dimensions below. Each dimension shows what we found in this specific formula.
Weight 30% · Algorithm-computed score 89/100
Algorithm: first ingredient “Chicken” is named whole meat; 2 named animal ingredients in the top five; protein 55.6% on a dry-matter basis (target for this stage: 28%).
Weight 20% · Algorithm-computed score 80/100
Algorithm: first ingredient is a named animal source; among the top five, 0 by-product/unnamed and 0 plant-protein concentrate items.
Weight 18% · Editorially assessed score 80/100
AAFCO statement: MedalSeries Cat & Kitten Shredded Chicken & Duck Recipe in Gravy is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Cat Food Nutrient Profiles for all lifestages.. Formulated-to-meet profiles are acceptable but weaker evidence than feeding trials, which caps the score here.
Weight 14% · Editorially assessed score 86/100
No recall, withdrawal or safety alert for any Nulo product appears in FDA's animal food listing or in the independent recall archives we check. Two caveats keep this below the score we give Champion Petfoods: Nulo only began production in 2010, so the clean run is sixteen years rather than forty, and it is co-packed - its own FAQ describes a network of manufacturing partners rather than company-owned plants - so a co-manufacturer's problem would arrive under the Nulo label.
Weight 10% · Algorithm-computed score 38/100
Algorithm: about $22.22 per 1,000 kcal ($$$ tier), normalized against same-species peers, wet and dry together (cheapest = 100, most expensive ≈ 15).
Weight 8% · Editorially assessed score 82/100
Owner ratings are generally positive, with a minority of owners reporting picky eating or digestive transition issues.
Pros and cons
What we like
- Chicken, chicken broth, duck broth and chicken liver lead - four animal ingredients before any gum, and no water in the top five
- Complete for all life stages including kittens, so one can works for a mixed-age household
- No grains, carrageenan, meat by-products, corn, wheat, soy or artificial preservatives
- Nulo publishes the guaranteed analysis, calorie content, full ingredient list and verbatim AAFCO statement as selectable page text - better label disclosure than most brands here
What we don't
- Dried ground peas in sixth is a plant protein in a formula sold on animal-protein content
- About $22.22 per 1,000 kcal, which is expensive for a food at 10% protein as-fed
- Formulated-to-meet only; we found no feeding-trial statement on any Nulo label
- Co-packed rather than made in Nulo-owned plants, and the brand does not publish its plant list
Ingredients & nutrition analysis
The first five ingredients tell most of the story:
This is the label the grain-free category keeps claiming to offer. Chicken, chicken broth, duck broth, chicken liver and dried egg whites in the first five - four animal-derived ingredients and no added water, which is unusual even among premium cans - followed by no grains, no carrageenan, no meat by-products, no corn, wheat or soy. It is also complete for all life stages, so a household with a kitten and an adult can feed one product.
Two honest limits. Dried ground peas sit sixth, which is a plant protein contributing to the 10% crude protein figure, and the calorie cost is real: about $22.22 per 1,000 kcal, well above the grain-free Pro Plan 5.5 oz can at roughly $13.01. Nulo also has no feeding-trial statement on any label we checked, and it is co-packed through a network of partner plants rather than its own facilities - which is why its standards and safety scores sit below Hill's and Royal Canin despite a spotless recall record.
Alternatives to consider
Other products ranked in Best Wet Cat Food:
78/ 100 Fancy Feast Classic Pate Chicken Feast Wet Cat Food
77/ 100 Purina Pro Plan Complete Essentials Chicken & Spinach Entree Grain-Free Classic Wet Cat Food
Frequently asked questions
Is Nulo MedalSeries Shredded Chicken & Duck Recipe in Gravy Wet Cat Food right for my pet?
It is our pick for: Mixed-age households with kittens and adults, and owners who want a clean ingredient panel with no by-products or carrageenan. It is not the best fit for: Strict budgets, and anyone who wants feeding-trial substantiation rather than a formulation calculation. Individual animals vary — if your pet has diagnosed health conditions, confirm the choice with your veterinarian.
How much does Nulo MedalSeries Shredded Chicken & Duck Recipe in Gravy Wet Cat Food cost?
Expect roughly $9.01 per pound ($$$ tier) depending on bag size and retailer. Check the linked retailers for current pricing; our value score compares cost per 1,000 kcal against comparable formulas.
How should I switch to this food?
Transition over 7–10 days, mixing increasing proportions of the new food into the old. Go slower for puppies, kittens, seniors and pets with sensitive stomachs, and watch stool quality during the switch.
Score history
Every change to this product's score is logged here, including the reason. Scores are recomputed by algorithm whenever ingredient or price data changes.
- 2026-10-22 — Product added. Guaranteed analysis, ingredient list, calorie content, AAFCO statement, price, star rating and review count taken from the current US retail listing and the manufacturer's own label. Editorial scores for standards, safety and reviews assessed against that data.
- 2026-10-19 — Protein quality & source: 0 → 89. Scoring algorithmized: computed from ingredient and price algorithms instead of manual assignment
- 2026-10-19 — Ingredient transparency: 0 → 80. Scoring algorithmized: computed from ingredient and price algorithms instead of manual assignment
- 2026-10-19 — Value for money: 0 → 38. Scoring algorithmized: computed from ingredient and price algorithms instead of manual assignment