Instinct3 oz
Limited Ingredient Paté Real Turkey Entrée
- Carbs
- 0%
- Protein
- 40%
- Phosphorus
- not listed
Low carbNo chickenNo fish
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Instinct vs Wellness 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 | Wellness | |
|---|---|---|
| Cans we compare | 9 | 10 |
| Typical carbs, % of calories | 3.5% | 6.2% |
| Carb range | 0–25.9% | 0–25.9% |
| Recipes under 10% carbs | 5 of 9 | 7 of 10 |
| Typical protein, % of calories | 40% | 40% |
| Typical fat, % of calories | 60% | 51% |
| Calories per ounce | 38 | 27 |
| Calories per can | 67–122 | 66–481 |
| Recipes with published phosphorus | 0 of 9 | 8 of 10 |
| Typical phosphorus, mg per 100 kcal | — | 168 mg |
| Confirmed for kittens | 9 of 9 | 3 of 10 |
| Chicken-free recipes | 6 of 9 | 2 of 10 |
| Fish-free recipes | 2 of 9 | 1 of 10 |
| Textures | Pâté, Flaked | Pâté, Flaked, Shreds in broth, Chunks in gravy, Minced |
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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 sideWellness3 oz
Chicken, Turkey & Chicken Liver Recipe
- Carbs
- 0%
- Protein
- 40%
- Phosphorus
- 147mg
Low carbLower phosphorus
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Same texture, head to head
For each texture both brands make, the lowest-carb recipe from each.
| Texture | Instinct | Wellness |
|---|---|---|
| Pâté | Limited Ingredient Paté Real Turkey Entrée0% carbs · 40% protein · 113 kcal | Chicken, Turkey & Chicken Liver Recipe0% carbs · 40% protein · 116 kcal |
| Flaked | Flaked Real Chicken Entrée in Gravy12.4% carbs · 40% protein · 75 kcal | Flaked Skipjack Tuna & Wild Salmon Entrée in Broth0% carbs · 54% protein · 70 kcal |
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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; Wellness’ is Chicken, Turkey & Chicken Liver Recipe at 0%. Both brands have recipes under the 10% line (5 of 9 against 7 of 10), so the right recipe matters more than the brand.
For kidney concerns
Instinct doesn’t publish phosphorus on the pages we checked. Wellness publishes phosphorus for 8 of 10 recipes (typical 168 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; Wellness has 3 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, Wellness 2 of 10. Fish-free: Instinct 2 of 9, Wellness 1 of 10. Textures: Instinct makes pâté, flaked; Wellness makes pâté, flaked, shreds in broth, chunks in gravy, minced.
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Questions about Instinct vs Wellness
Is Instinct or Wellness lower in carbs?
The typical Instinct can gets 3.5% of its calories from carbohydrate, against 6.2% for Wellness. Instinct has 5 of 9 recipes under the 10% low-carb line; Wellness has 7 of 10.
Which has more protein, Instinct or Wellness?
They are close: 40% of calories from protein for the typical Instinct can and 40% for Wellness.
Which is more filling per ounce?
Wellness. Its cans average 27 calories per ounce against 38 for Instinct, so a cat needs fewer ounces of it to get the same calories.
Do Instinct and Wellness publish phosphorus?
Instinct doesn’t publish phosphorus on the pages we checked. Wellness publishes phosphorus for 8 of 10 recipes (typical 168 mg per 100 kcal).
Which is better for a diabetic cat, Instinct or Wellness?
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, Turkey & Chicken Liver Recipe (0%) from Wellness. Change a diabetic cat’s food only with your vet.
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