Nulo MedalSeries Turkey & Cod Recipe Grain-Free Dry Cat Food
The highest-protein dry cat food here after Purina Pro Plan Kitten - 41% as fed with four named animal ingredients in the top five - at about $2.05 per 1,000 kcal. The legume load and a 330-review base are what you give up for it.
Score breakdown
The overall score of 88/100 is a weighted sum of the six dimensions below. Each dimension shows what we found in this specific formula.
Weight 30% · Algorithm-computed score 95/100
Algorithm: first ingredient “Deboned Turkey” is named whole meat; 4 named animal ingredients in the top five; protein 45.6% 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: Formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Cat Food Nutrient Profiles for all life stages.. 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 99/100
Algorithm: about $2.05 per 1,000 kcal ($$ tier), normalized against same-species peers, wet and dry together (cheapest = 100, most expensive ≈ 15).
Weight 8% · Editorially assessed score 89/100
Owner ratings are consistently high across major retailers, with few recurring palatability complaints.
Pros and cons
What we like
- 41% protein as fed - about 46% dry-matter, second only to Purina Pro Plan Kitten among dry cat foods here
- Deboned turkey, turkey meal, chicken meal and deboned cod: four named animal ingredients in the top five
- About $2.05 per 1,000 kcal - the fourth-cheapest cat food in this ranking
- Declared omega-3 at 0.57% and omega-6 at 3.76%, with calcium 1.3% and phosphorus 0.9% on the label
What we don't
- Whole peas and lentils at five and six - the carbohydrate load is legume-heavy
- 330 PetSmart reviews is a thin base for the 4.7 average
- 20% fat is a lot for a sedentary indoor cat
- Formulated-to-meet only; Nulo publishes no feeding-trial validation for this recipe
Ingredients & nutrition analysis
The first five ingredients tell most of the story:
The protein is the story. 41% as fed converts to about 46% dry-matter against the 28% target the algorithm uses for cats, and the panel behind it is four named animal ingredients - deboned turkey, turkey meal, chicken meal, deboned cod - before the first plant item. Only Purina Pro Plan Kitten's 42% sits higher among dry cat foods here.
The price works because of bag size. The 12 lb bag at $43.99 is $3.67/lb and about $2.05 per 1,000 kcal, fourth-cheapest cat food in the ranking; the 2 lb bag at $12.49 is $6.25/lb, roughly 70% more per pound for the same food. The variant mapping was verified against the page's own variant data - the selected 12 lb variant shows $43.99.
The honest caveats: whole peas and lentils carry the carbohydrate, so this is a legume-forward grain-free formula rather than a low-carb one; the review base is 330 PetSmart ratings; and like every Nulo product the food is co-packed rather than made in company-owned plants, which is why the safety score sits below the brands with forty-year documented records.
Alternatives to consider
Other products ranked in Best Dry Cat Food:
85/ 100 Blue Buffalo Tastefuls Sensitive Stomach Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe
85/ 100 Wellness Complete Health Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal & Rice Recipe
Frequently asked questions
Is Nulo MedalSeries Turkey & Cod Recipe Grain-Free Dry Cat Food right for my pet?
It is our pick for: Active cats and growing kittens that need maximum protein, and multi-cat homes feeding dry only. It is not the best fit for: Elimination trials, and owners who want feeding-trial validation. Individual animals vary — if your pet has diagnosed health conditions, confirm the choice with your veterinarian.
How much does Nulo MedalSeries Turkey & Cod Recipe Grain-Free Dry Cat Food cost?
Expect roughly $3.67 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.
- 2026-10-26 — Product published: guaranteed analysis, ingredient list, AAFCO statement, calorie content, price and owner rating taken from the manufacturer's current US label and current US retail listings. Editorial scores for standards, safety and reviews assessed against that data.