23 cans compared

Instinct vs Rawz

The typical Instinct can gets 3.5% of its calories from carbohydrate, against 9.3% for Rawz. Instinct has 5 of 9 recipes under the 10% low-carb line; Rawz has 11 of 14. Below, every number is worked out the same way from each can’s label.

Instinct

Rawz

Instinct vs Rawz 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	Rawz
Cans we compare	9	14
Typical carbs, % of calories	3.5%	9.3%
Carb range	0–25.9%	1.7–14.3%
Recipes under 10% carbs	5 of 9	11 of 14
Typical protein, % of calories	40%	45%
Typical fat, % of calories	60%	49%
Calories per ounce	38	26
Calories per can	67–122	110–188
Recipes with published phosphorus	0 of 9	14 of 14
Typical phosphorus, mg per 100 kcal	—	252 mg
Confirmed for kittens	9 of 9	7 of 14
Chicken-free recipes	6 of 9	8 of 14
Fish-free recipes	2 of 9	6 of 14
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

Rawz5.5 oz

Chicken & Chicken Liver Pâté

Pâté · 188 kcal per can

Carbs: 1.7%
Protein: 33%
Phosphorus: 248mg

Protein 33%Fat 65%Carbs 2%

Low carbNo fish

Same texture, head to head

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

Texture	Instinct	Rawz
Pâté	Limited Ingredient Paté Real Turkey Entrée0% carbs · 40% protein · 113 kcal	Chicken & Chicken Liver Pâté1.7% carbs · 33% protein · 188 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; Rawz’s is Chicken & Chicken Liver Pâté at 1.7%. Both brands have recipes under the 10% line (5 of 9 against 11 of 14), so the right recipe matters more than the brand.

For kidney concerns

Instinct doesn’t publish phosphorus on the pages we checked. Rawz publishes phosphorus for 14 of 14 recipes (typical 252 mg per 100 kcal). Only recipes with a published value can be checked, so start from those and confirm targets with your vet.

For kittens

Instinct has 9 of 9 recipes whose label we could confirm covers growth or all life stages; Rawz has 7 of 14. 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, Rawz 8 of 14. Fish-free: Instinct 2 of 9, Rawz 6 of 14. Textures: Instinct makes pâté, flaked; Rawz makes pâté, shreds in broth.

Questions about Instinct vs Rawz

Is Instinct or Rawz lower in carbs?

The typical Instinct can gets 3.5% of its calories from carbohydrate, against 9.3% for Rawz. Instinct has 5 of 9 recipes under the 10% low-carb line; Rawz has 11 of 14.

Which has more protein, Instinct or Rawz?

Instinct. Its typical can gets 40% of calories from protein, against 45% for Rawz. Instinct has 0 of 9 recipes over 50% protein calories; Rawz has 6 of 14.

Which is more filling per ounce?

Rawz. Its cans average 26 calories per ounce against 38 for Instinct, so a cat needs fewer ounces of it to get the same calories.

Do Instinct and Rawz publish phosphorus?

Instinct doesn’t publish phosphorus on the pages we checked. Rawz publishes phosphorus for 14 of 14 recipes (typical 252 mg per 100 kcal).

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

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 Chicken & Chicken Liver Pâté (1.7%) from Rawz. Change a diabetic cat’s food only with your vet.