19 cans compared

Instinct vs Nulo

The typical Instinct can gets 3.5% of its calories from carbohydrate, against 5.1% for Nulo. Instinct has 5 of 9 recipes under the 10% low-carb line; Nulo has 10 of 10. Below, every number is worked out the same way from each can’s label.

Instinct

Nulo

Instinct vs Nulo at a glance

Typical values are the middle recipe of each brand. Shares are of calories, so textures compare fairly. Marked cells show the better value where the gap is meaningful.

	Instinct	Nulo
Cans we compare	9	10
Typical carbs, % of calories	3.5%	5.1%
Carb range	0–25.9%	2.3–8.5%
Recipes under 10% carbs	5 of 9	10 of 10
Typical protein, % of calories	40%	40%
Typical fat, % of calories	60%	55%
Calories per ounce	38	34
Calories per can	67–122	76–197
Recipes with published phosphorus	0 of 9	0 of 10
Typical phosphorus, mg per 100 kcal	—	—
Confirmed for kittens	9 of 9	10 of 10
Chicken-free recipes	6 of 9	3 of 10
Fish-free recipes	2 of 9	1 of 10
Textures	Pâté, Flaked	Pâté, Shreds in broth

Lowest-carb can from each brand

The recipe with the smallest share of calories from carbohydrate on each side, leaving out toppers meant for supplemental feeding.

Put these two side by side

Instinct3 oz

Limited Ingredient Paté Real Turkey Entrée

Pâté · 113 kcal per can

Carbs: 0%
Protein: 40%
Phosphorus: not listed

Protein 40%Fat 60%Carbs 0%

Low carbNo chickenNo fish

Nulo2.8 oz

Paté Yellowfin Tuna & Shrimp Recipe

Pâté · 89 kcal per can

Carbs: 2.3%
Protein: 54%
Phosphorus: not listed

Protein 54%Fat 44%Carbs 2%

Low carbHigh protein

Same texture, head to head

For each texture both brands make, the lowest-carb recipe from each.

Texture	Instinct	Nulo
Pâté	Limited Ingredient Paté Real Turkey Entrée0% carbs · 40% protein · 113 kcal	Paté Yellowfin Tuna & Shrimp Recipe2.3% carbs · 54% protein · 89 kcal

Which to choose, by what your cat needs

For a diabetic or overweight cat

Instinct is the lower-carb line overall. Its lowest-carb recipe is Limited Ingredient Paté Real Turkey Entrée at 0% of calories; Nulo’s is Paté Yellowfin Tuna & Shrimp Recipe at 2.3%. Both brands have recipes under the 10% line (5 of 9 against 10 of 10), so the right recipe matters more than the brand.

For kidney concerns

Instinct doesn’t publish phosphorus on the pages we checked. Nulo doesn’t publish phosphorus on the pages we checked. Without published values neither brand can be checked for phosphorus from the label alone; ask the maker for a typical analysis.

For kittens

Instinct has 9 of 9 recipes whose label we could confirm covers growth or all life stages; Nulo has 10 of 10. A missing statement doesn’t mean a can is unsuitable, only that we couldn’t verify it.

For allergies and picky eaters

Chicken-free: Instinct 6 of 9, Nulo 3 of 10. Fish-free: Instinct 2 of 9, Nulo 1 of 10. Textures: Instinct makes pâté, flaked; Nulo makes pâté, shreds in broth.

Questions about Instinct vs Nulo

Is Instinct or Nulo lower in carbs?

The typical Instinct can gets 3.5% of its calories from carbohydrate, against 5.1% for Nulo. Instinct has 5 of 9 recipes under the 10% low-carb line; Nulo has 10 of 10.

Which has more protein, Instinct or Nulo?

They are close: 40% of calories from protein for the typical Instinct can and 40% for Nulo.

Which is more filling per ounce?

Nulo. Its cans average 34 calories per ounce against 38 for Instinct, so a cat needs fewer ounces of it to get the same calories.

Do Instinct and Nulo publish phosphorus?

Instinct doesn’t publish phosphorus on the pages we checked. Nulo doesn’t publish phosphorus on the pages we checked.

Which is better for a diabetic cat, Instinct or Nulo?

Carbs are what matter most, and Instinct has the lower-carb line with 5 of 9 recipes under 10%. The best single choice is a specific recipe, not a brand: Limited Ingredient Paté Real Turkey Entrée (0%) from Instinct or Paté Yellowfin Tuna & Shrimp Recipe (2.3%) from Nulo. Change a diabetic cat’s food only with your vet.