Our Verdict
Simply Nourish grain-free dry cat food is made up of seven recipes with ratings that vary from 4 to 5. The average rating of the brand overall is 5 stars.
Pros
- High protein diet
- No meat by-products
- Free of artificial colors
- Added vitamins and minerals
Cons
- Contains Plant protein
- Menadione is included
- More expensive than some foods
The table below shows each recipe in this range including our rating and the AAFCO nutrient profile: Growth (puppy), Maintenance (adult), All Life Stages, Supplemental or Unspecified.
| Product line | Rating | AAFCO |
|---|---|---|
| Simply Nourish® Original Cat Dry Food - Chicken & Pea, Natural, Grain Free | 4 | M |
| Simply Nourish® Source Cat Dry Food - Chicken & Turkey, Natural, High-Protein, Grain Free | 5 | M |
| Simply Nourish® Original Cat Dry Food - Salmon & Peas, Natural, Grain Free | 4 | M |
| Simply Nourish® Source Indoor Cat Dry Food - Chicken, Natural, High-Protein, Grain Free | 5 | M |
| Simply Nourish® Source Kitten Cat Dry Food - Turkey & Chicken, Natural, High-Protein, Grain Free | 5 | G |
| Simply Nourish® Source ™ Indoor Adult Dry Cat Food - Natural, Grain Free, High Protein, Salmon | 4 | M |
| Simply Nourish® Source ™ Indoor Adult Dry Cat Food - Natural, Grain Free, Fish & Chicken | 5 | M |
Recipe and Label Analysis
Simply Nourish® Source Kitten Cat Dry Food – Turkey & Chicken, Natural, High-Protein, Grain Free recipe 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.
Simply Nourish® Source Kitten Cat Dry Food - Turkey & Chicken, Natural, High-Protein, Grain Free recipe
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Protein
Fat
CarbsCarbohydrates
Deboned chicken, chicken meal, turkey meal, dried potatoes, dried peas, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), ground flaxseed, deboned turkey, pea fiber, fish meal, natural flavor, dried chicory root, fish oil ( preserved with mixed tocopherols), (source of dha), dried cranberries, vitamins (vitamin E supplement, niacin supplement, vitamin A supplement, thiamine mononitrate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, d-calcium pantothenate, riboflavin supplement, biotin, vitamin B12 supplement, menadione sodium bisulfite complex, calcium iodate, folic acid, vitamin D3 supplement), choline chloride, taurine, minerals (zinc sulfate, zinc proteinate, iron proteinate, ferrous sulfate, copper proteinate, manganese sulfate, sodium selenite, manganese proteinate, calcium iodate, sodium selenite), mixed tocopherols & citric acid (preservatives), rosemary extract.
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 5.5%
Red denotes any controversial items
Ingredients Analysis
The first ingredient is deboned 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 second ingredient is chicken meal, which is considered a meat concentrate and contains nearly 300% more protein than fresh chicken.
The third ingredient is turkey meal, which is considered a meat concentrate and contains nearly 300% more protein than fresh turkey.
The fourth ingredient is dehydrated potato product usually made from by-products of a food processing plant. This item is equal to corn in calorie content yet possibly with more protein.
The fifth ingredient is dried peas which are a quality source of carbohydrates. And like all legumes, they’re rich in natural fiber.
However, peas contain about 25% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the meat content of this cat food.
The sixth ingredient is chicken fat. Chicken fat is obtained from rendering chicken, a process similar to making soup in which the fat itself is skimmed from the surface of the liquid.
Chicken fat is high in linoleic acid, an omega-6 fatty acid essential for life. Although it doesn’t sound very appetizing, chicken fat is actually a quality ingredient.
The seventh ingredient is ground flaxseed, one of the best plant sources of healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Provided they’ve first been ground into a meal, flax seeds are also rich in soluble fiber.
The eighth ingredient is deboned turkey. Turkey is considered “the clean combination of flesh and skin… derived from the parts or whole carcasses of turkey”.[1. Adapted by the Cat Food Advisor and based upon the official definition for chicken published by the Association of American Feed Control Officials, Official Publication, 2008 Edition].
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.
However this recipe does contain menadione, a controversial form of vitamin K linked to liver toxicity, allergies and the abnormal break-down of red blood cells.
Since vitamin K isn’t required by AAFCO in its nutrient profiles, we question the use of this item in any feline recipe.
Nutrient Analysis
Based on its ingredients alone, Simply Nourish® Source Kitten Cat Dry Food – Turkey & Chicken, Natural, High-Protein, Grain Free recipe looks like an above-average dry 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 42.1% and a mean fat level of 18.6%. Together these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 31.4% for the overall product line, alongside a fat to protein ratio of 44%.
This means that Simply Nourish Grain Free range contains higher than average protein, near-average carbohydrate and higher than average fat, when compared to typical dry cat food.
Final Word
This range of grain free food offers good quality sources of protein and lists animal meat, or fish as the first ingredient in each formula. This food does contain plant based protein, so this needs to be considered when evaluating the protein content in this food.
The Cat Food Advisor recommends this food.
Has Simply Nourish cat food been recalled in the past?
No.
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
Simply Nourish was founded in 2011 in Seattle, Washington and is a subsidiary of Mars Petcare, one of the largest pet food companies in the world.
Its manufacturing facilities are FDA-registered and audited for compliance with the Quality Management System. They are also Safe Quality Food (SQF) certified, which is a rigorous global food safety and quality program.
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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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