Our Verdict
Instinct Flaked Entrees wet cat food is made up of six recipes which each receive the Cat Food Advisor highest rating, 5 stars.
Pros
- High in protein
- Multiple sources of animal meat, meat organs and fish
- Low in carbohydrate
- Rich in fat and moisture
Cons
- More expensive than some other cat foods
The table below shows each recipe in the range including our rating and the AAFCO nutrient profile. Growth (kitten), Maintenance (adult), All Life Stages, Supplemental or Unspecified.
| Product line | Rating | AAFCO |
|---|---|---|
| Instinct Flaked Chicken Entrée | 5 | M |
| Instinct Flaked Salmon Entrée | 5 | M |
| Instinct Flaked Rabbit Entrée | 5 | M |
| Instinct Flaked Duck Entrée | 5 | M |
| Instinct Flaked Lamb Entrée | 5 | M |
| Instinct Flaked Tuna Entrée | 5 | M |
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Recipe and Label Analysis
Instinct Flaked Salmon Entrée was selected to represent the other products in the line for a detailed recipe and nutrient analysis.
Label and nutrient data below are calculated using dry matter basis.
Instinct Flaked Salmon Entrée recipe
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Protein
Fat
CarbsCarbohydrates
Salmon broth, salmon, chicken, chicken liver, natural flavor, egg product, spinach, carrots, dried ground peas, salt, guar gum, montmorillonite clay, sunflower oil, sodium phosphate, calcium carbonate, potassium chloride, menhaden fish oil (preserved with mixed tocopherols), ground flaxseed, minerals (iron proteinate, zinc proteinate, copper proteinate, manganese proteinate, sodium selenite, potassium iodide), choline chloride, vitamins (thiamine mononitrate, vitamin E supplement, niacin supplement, D-calcium pantothenate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, riboflavin supplement, vitamin A supplement, biotin, vitamin D3 supplement, vitamin B12 supplement, folic acid), taurine, dried kelp, cassia gum, xanthan gum, artichokes, cranberries, pumpkin, tomato, blueberries, broccoli, cabbage, kale, parsley.
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 1%
Red denotes any controversial items
Ingredients Analysis
The first ingredient is salmon broth. Broths are of only modest nutritional value. Yet because they add both flavor and moisture to a cat food, they are a common component in many wet products.
The second ingredient is salmon. Salmon is an oily marine and freshwater fish not only high in protein but also omega 3 fatty acids, essential oils needed by every cat to sustain life.
The third ingredient is chicken, which is considered “the clean combination of flesh and skin… derived from the parts or whole carcasses of chicken”. 1
Chicken is naturally rich in the 11 essential amino acids required by a cat to sustain life.
The fourth ingredient is chicken liver. This is an organ meat sourced from a named animal and thus considered a beneficial component.
The fifth ingredient is natural flavor. Natural flavors doesn’t give us much information about the particular ingredients included in this cat food for flavoring purposes.
We’re pleased that the flavorings used are natural, but more details are required to give any further information about these natural flavoring ingredients. Flavorings are used to make the foods more appealing and tasty for our cats.
The sixth ingredient is egg product, an unspecified (wet or dry?) form of shell-free eggs. Quality can vary significantly. Lower grade egg products can even come from commercial hatcheries — from eggs that have failed to hatch.
In any case, eggs are easy to digest and have an exceptionally high biological value.
The seventh ingredient is spinach. Due to its exceptional vitamin and mineral content, spinach exhibits a remarkably high nutrient Completeness Score 2 of 91.
For cats who are predisposed to oxalate stones spinach should be avoided, due to its high oxalate content.
The eighth ingredient is carrots. Carrots are rich in beta-carotene, minerals and dietary fiber.
This food also contains chelated minerals that have been chemically attached to protein. This makes them easier to absorb. Chelated minerals are usually found in better cat foods.
From here the list goes on to include a number of other items. But to be realistic, ingredients located this far down the list (other than nutritional supplements) are not likely to affect the overall rating of the product.
Nutrient Analysis
Based on its ingredients alone, Instinct Flaked Salmon Entrée looks like an above-average wet product.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 44.4%, a fat level of 22.2% and an estimated carbohydrate level of 25.3%.
As a group, the brand features an above-average protein content of 44.4% and an above-average fat level of 20.8%. Together these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 26.7% for the overall product line, alongside a fat to protein ratio of 47%.
This means this Instinct Flaked Entrees range contains higher than average protein, near-average carbohydrate and higher than average fat, when compared to typical wet cat food.
Final Word
This range of food is high in protein derived from good quality sources of animal and fish protein. Fish oil is used to provide omega-3 fatty acids and vitamins and minerals are also included.
Has Instinct Flaked Entrees cat food been recalled in the past?
No. Instinct has never had a product recall.
You can view a complete list of all cat food recalls since 2021 here.
To stay on top of any cat food product recalls, sign up for our free email alerts, here.
About
Instinct Pet Food was founded in 2002 and produces frozen and freeze-dried raw pet food from its facilities in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Sources
Best cat foods
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Article reviewed by
Pet Nutritionist
Laura studied BSc (Hons) Animal Science with an accreditation in Nutrition at the University of Nottingham, before working for eight years in the pet food and nutrition industry.
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