Simply Nourish Cat Food Review

Simply Nourish Cat Food Review

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There are so many cat food brands out there it can be difficult to choose one. Many pet owners have no idea where to start when it comes to shopping for pet food, so they turn to their closest pet store.

PetSmart is one of the biggest names in the pet industry and they’ve begun to create their own brands. Simply Nourish is a brand of dog and cat food created and distributed by PetSmart. If you’re looking for an affordable, quality cat food you can easily find when you need it, consider Simply Nourish.

Read on to see what we think of the brand and to see our reviews for their top products.

Simply Nourish Cat Food

Brand

Overall Score

Pros

• Made with high-quality animal protein
• No artificial additives
• Many recipes are grain-free

Cons

• Carbohydrate content is a little high
• Fairly expensive compared to average

Pros

• Made with high-quality animal protein
• No artificial additives
• Many recipes are grain-free

Cons

• Carbohydrate content is a little high
• Fairly expensive compared to average

Variety of Recipes

Ingredient Quality

Price Per Pound

Recall History

Availability

Customer Reviews

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How We Review Cat Food Brands

You love your cat like you love your own child and you want what’s best for him in all things. What many pet owners don’t realize, however, is that love isn’t always enough.

If you want your cat to enjoy a long and healthy life, you need to do your responsibility as a pet owner and provide him with a nutritious diet. The diet you feed your cat plays an essential role in maintaining his long-term health and wellness, so it isn’t something you should skimp on!

We’re not here to judge you about what you’re currently feeding your cat or to tell you which brand is the all-time best. It’s our goal to provide you with the information you need to understand pet food a little bit better so you can make an informed decision for your own pet. The final choice comes down to you, but we’re doing our best to help you get there.

All of our cat food reviews are based on one thing – your cat’s nutritional needs. We aim to provide an in-depth review of the brands and recipes we evaluate but all of our comments are based on the nutritional requirements of cats and how well the product meets them.

The most important thing to remember is that cats are obligate carnivores and require a meat-based diet. Real animal protein should always be the first ingredient in your cat’s food.

Here are some of the things we look for in a good cat food brand:

• High-quality animal protein as the first ingredient
• Rich in healthy animal fats (ex: chicken fat or salmon oil)
• Few to no carbohydrate ingredients (especially within the top 5)
• Limited number of main ingredients plus supplements
• No low-quality fillers, grains, or by-products

In addition to making sure any cat food brand we recommend is made with high-quality ingredients, we evaluate several other factors as well. We prefer brands that offer a wide variety of recipes and those that provide plenty of information about their ingredients and products. We also consider pricing and recalls as well as the availability of the brand as a whole.

Overview of the Simply Nourish Brand

As a person, you have certain tastes and preferences for the food you eat. Though you may not think about it as often, your cat does too. The Simply Nourish brand takes that into account and does their best to provide quality products that taste good too.

Simply Nourish is a brand created and sold by PetSmart. They offer a wide variety of cat food and dog food products including wet food, dry food, and treats.

Of their formulations, Simply Nourish says:

“In every recipe, our first ingredient is carefully sourced meat, poultry, or fish to give your pet real protein. Then we add ingredients you’ll recognize, maybe even from your last trip to the farmer’s market: fruits, vegetable, and whole grains.”

Their recipes are completely free from artificial additives and fillers – they even offer a selection of grain-free formulas. Simply Nourish cat food is made with real, high-quality sources of animal protein and other wholesome ingredients to provide the nutrition your cat needs.

What Kind of Cat Food Products Do They Offer?

The Simply Nourish brand includes a wide variety of wet and dry food products for cats. They typically feature common proteins like chicken, turkey, and salmon but you’ll find some novel proteins in their wet food recipes like duck, venison, and trout.

Not only does Simply Nourish offer a variety of options in terms of wet vs. dry cat food, but they also offer specific formulas for kittens and adult cats. You’ll find a number of recipes formulated to address common concerns like indoor cat health, healthy weight maintenance, sensitive digestion, and more. They even offer limited ingredient diets in their wet food selections.

Here is the nutritional information for some of the most popular cat food recipes:

Product Recall History

As a cat owner, it’s your job to make a responsible choice when it comes to your cat’s diet. You do your best to interpret the information on the pet food label, but that only takes you so far. If you want to get a feel for the brand as a whole, we recommend checking out their product recall history.

A product recall happens when the FDA or the manufacturer sees fit to remove a product from sale, typically for the safety of the consumer.

Product recalls can happen for a variety of reasons ranging from simple issues like labeling errors to major concerns like formulation errors to contamination with food-borne pathogens. The FDA has the authority to issue recalls based on testing or consumer complaints, and manufacturers themselves can issue voluntary recalls as well.

Simply Nourish has no product recalls in the history of the brand.

The fact that Simply Nourish doesn’t have any recalls can only be considered a good thing. That being said, it’s important to remember that recall history isn’t the only thing to think about when evaluating the quality of a brand as a whole. You need to do your research about the quality and sourcing of their ingredients, their manufacturing processes, and the formulation of their recipes as well.

Compare Simply Nourish Cat Food

1. SIMPLY NOURISH Turkey & Oatmeal Indoor Adult Cat Food View on PetSmart Read Review	1. SIMPLY NOURISH Chicken Recipe Tender Morsel Kitten Food View on PetSmart Read Review	2. SIMPLY NOURISH SOURCE Fish & Chicken Recipe Indoor Cat Food View on PetSmart Read Review	3. SIMPLY NOURISH Salmon & Pea Grain-Free Adult Cat Food View on PetSmart Read Review	4. SIMPLY NOURISH Salmon Recipe Morsels Wet Cat Food View on PetSmart Read Review
Type of Food Dry	Type of Food Wet	Type of Food Dry	Type of Food Dry	Type of Food Wet
First 5 Ingredients Deboned turkey, turkey meal, oatmeal, rice flour, dried chicken	First 5 Ingredients Chicken, chicken broth, water, chicken liver, dried egg white	First 5 Ingredients Deboned whitefish, chicken meal, turkey meal, dried potatoes, dried peas	First 5 Ingredients Deboned salmon, salmon meal, dried peas, menhaden fish meal, dried potatoes	First 5 Ingredients Salmon, salmon broth, water, chicken liver, chicken
Guaranteed Analysis 32% protein, 10% fat, 5% fiber, 10% moisture	Guaranteed Analysis 10% protein, 3.5% fat, 1.5% fiber, 82% moisture	Guaranteed Analysis 39% protein, 16% fat, 8% fiber, 10% moisture	Guaranteed Analysis 36% protein, 16% fat, 5.5% fiber, 10% moisture	Guaranteed Analysis 9.5% protein, 2.5% fat, 1.5% fiber, 82% moisture
Calories per Cup 382 kcal/cup	Calories per Cup 79 kcal/can	Calories per Cup 367 kcal/cup	Calories per Cup 403 kcal/cup	Calories per Cup 77 kcal/can
Price Per Pound/Ounce $2.58/pound	Price Per Pound/Ounce $0.34/ounce	Price Per Pound/Ounce $3.09/pound	Price Per Pound/Ounce $2.85/pound	Price Per Pound/Ounce $0.34/ounce

1.

SIMPLY NOURISH Turkey & Oatmeal Indoor Adult Cat Food

View on PetSmart

Product Info

• Type of Food: Dry
• First 5 Ingredients: Deboned turkey, turkey meal, oatmeal, rice flour, dried chicken
• Guaranteed Analysis: 32% protein, 10% fat, 5% fiber, 10% moisture
• Calories per Cup: 382 kcal/cup
• Price Per Pound/Ounce: $2.58/pound

Guaranteed Analysis

Crude Protein: 32%

Crude Fat: 10%

Crude Fiber: 7.5%

Moisture: 10%

Dry Matter Basis

Protein: 35.56%

Fat: 11.11%

Fiber: 8.33%

Carbs: 45%

Ingredients:

Deboned Turkey, Turkey Meal, Oatmeal, Rice Flour, Dried Chicken, Tomato Pomace, Natural Flavor, Canola Oil (Preserved With Mixed Tocopherols), Potassium Chloride, Dried Chicory Root, Whole Ground Flaxseed, Dried Cranberries, Dried Carrots, Dried Sweet Potatoes, Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate, Vitamin A Supplement, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Thiamin Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin D Supplement, Folic Acid, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement), Minerals (Zinc Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite), Choline Chloride, Taurine.

This turkey and oatmeal formula is designed for indoor adult cats. It is a protein-rich dry food made with higher levels of fiber to support healthy digestion and prevent hairballs – it also contains a lower calorie and fat content than some of the other adult cat foods.

We like that this formula starts out strong with two sources of quality animal protein as the top two ingredients. Deboned turkey is fresh turkey and turkey meal is cooked to remove moisture before adding it to the recipe. The combination ensures a high concentration of animal protein.

This formula features oatmeal and rice flour as the primary carbohydrates which makes it a gluten free but not a grain-free formula. The estimated carbohydrate content is, unfortunately, fairly high – over 30%. We usually like to see carb content under 10%, though that’s more common in wet than dry food.

In addition to plenty of protein, this formula contains fat from canola oil and dried fruits and veggies which provide natural sources for key nutrients. We’d prefer an animal source of fat, however, and the fact that the produce is dried before adding it may play a role in the carbohydrate content being high.

3.

SIMPLY NOURISH SOURCE Fish & Chicken Recipe Indoor Cat Food

View on PetSmart

Product Info

• Type of Food: Dry
• First 5 Ingredients: Deboned whitefish, chicken meal, turkey meal, dried potatoes, dried peas
• Guaranteed Analysis: 39% protein, 16% fat, 8% fiber, 10% moisture
• Calories per Cup: 367 kcal/cup
• Price Per Pound/Ounce: $3.09/pound

Guaranteed Analysis

Crude Protein: 39%

Crude Fat: 16%

Crude Fiber: 8%

Moisture: 10%

Dry Matter Basis

Protein: 43.33%

Fat: 17.78%

Fiber: 8.89%

Carbs: 30%

Ingredients:

Deboned Whitefish, Chicken Meal, Turkey Meal, Dried Potatoes, Dried Peas, Deboned Chicken, Pea Fiber, Chicken Fat (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Ground Flaxseed, Dried Egg Product, Natural Flavor, Dried Chicory Root, Dried Cranberries, Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin Supplement, Folic Acid, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (Vitamin K), Vitamin D3 Supplement, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement), Choline Chloride, Taurine, Minerals (Potassium Chloride, Calcium Carbonate, Zinc Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Manganese Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite), Mixed Tocopherols & Citric Acid (Preservatives), Rosemary Extract.

This formula belongs to the SOURCE line of recipes from Simply Nourish which is designed to be high in protein. Featuring deboned whitefish followed by chicken meal and turkey meal, this recipe certain seems to live up to that claim.

Again, this recipe is designed for indoor cats, so we’re not surprised to see the calorie content is fairly low and the fiber content is very high. Cats can benefit from some fiber in their diets but, as obligate carnivores, their ability to digest plant matter is extremely limited – even 5% fiber like the last recipe is a little high, so it’s hard to say 8% is really necessary or even beneficial.

Unlike the previous recipe, this formula is grain-free, featuring dried potatoes and peas as the primary carbohydrates. These aren’t necessarily bad ingredients, but they are fairly high in starch. The estimated carbohydrate content for this formula is lower, however, under 20%.

3.

SIMPLY NOURISH Salmon & Pea Grain-Free Adult Cat Food

View on PetSmart

Product Info

• Type of Food: Dry
• First 5 Ingredients: Deboned salmon, salmon meal, dried peas, menhaden fish meal, dried potatoes
• Guaranteed Analysis: 36% protein, 16% fat, 5.5% fiber, 10% moisture
• Calories per Cup: 403 kcal/cup
• Price Per Pound/Ounce: $2.85/pound

Guaranteed Analysis

Crude Protein: 36%

Crude Fat: 16%

Crude Fiber: 5.5%

Moisture: 10%

Dry Matter Basis

Protein: 40%

Fat: 17.78%

Fiber: 6.11%

Carbs: 36.11%

Ingredients:

Deboned Salmon, Salmon Meal, Dried Peas, Menhaden Fish meal, Dried Potatoes, Canola Oil (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Pea Fiber, Natural Flavor, Potato Protein, Dicalcium Phosphate, Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin Supplement, Folic Acid, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (Vitamin K), Vitamin D3 Supplement, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement), Choline Chloride, Potassium Chloride, Taurine, Minerals (Calcium Carbonate, Zinc Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Manganese Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite), Mixed Tocopherols & Citric Acid (Preservatives), Rosemary Extract.

Part of the grain-free lineup from Simply Nourish, this salmon and pea recipe features real deboned salmon as the first ingredient. In addition to the fresh salmon, this recipe also includes salmon meal and menhaden fish meal as supplemental sources of protein.

This is the first of the Simply Nourish recipes we’ve reviewed that includes plant protein as well – potato protein. Though peas and potatoes contain some protein, plant protein concentrates have the potential to contribute significantly to the total protein content of the recipe. It’s unclear how much it adds in this case, simply because there are three sources of animal protein before it.

Simply because a recipe is grain-free doesn’t necessarily make it low in carbohydrates. Dried peas and potatoes are very starchy, so it’s no surprise the estimated carb content is about 25%.

4.

SIMPLY NOURISH Salmon Recipe Morsels Wet Cat Food

View on PetSmart

Product Info

• Type of Food: Wet
• First 5 Ingredients: Salmon, salmon broth, water, chicken liver, chicken
• Guaranteed Analysis: 9.5% protein, 2.5% fat, 1.5% fiber, 82% moisture
• Calories per Cup: 77 kcal/can
• Price Per Pound/Ounce: $0.34/ounce

Guaranteed Analysis

Crude Protein: 9.5%

Crude Fat: 2.5%

Crude Fiber: 1.5%

Moisture: 82%

Ash: 2.7%

Dry Matter Basis

Protein: 52.78%

Fat: 13.89%

Fiber: 8.33%

Carbs: 10%

Ingredients:

Salmon, Salmon Broth, Water Sufficient For Processing, Chicken Liver, Chicken, Dried Egg White, Potato Starch, Natural Flavor, Guar Gum, Cranberries, Ground Flaxseed, Salt, Sodium Phosphate, Potassium Chloride, Sunflower Oil (Preserved with Mixed Tochoperols), 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, Minerals (Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Copper Proteinate, Potassium Iodide, Manganese Sulfate, Sodium Selenite), Choline Chloride, Dried Chicory Root, DL-Methionine.

Simply Nourish offers a wide variety of wet food options in pate and morsels. This recipe features fresh salmon in tender morsels with a savory gravy. The fact that this recipe is made with a gravy suggests the use of thickeners, so were weren’t surprised to see things like potato starch and guar gum.

This formula is made with fresh salmon as the first ingredient, but while the name might lead you to believe that’s the only source of protein it isn’t. You’ll also find chicken liver, fresh chicken, and dried eggs. This may not be an issue except for cats who are allergic or sensitive to chicken.

In addition to plenty of animal protein, this recipe contains limited carbohydrate content in the form of potato starch, cranberries, and ground flaxseed. The estimated carbohydrate content is under 2%.

5.

SIMPLY NOURISH Chicken Recipe Tender Morsel Kitten Food

View on PetSmart

Product Info

• Type of Food: Wet
• First 5 Ingredients: Chicken, chicken broth, water, chicken liver, dried egg white
• Guaranteed Analysis: 10% protein, 3.5% fat, 1.5% fiber, 82% moisture
• Calories per Cup: 79 kcal/can
• Price Per Pound/Ounce: $0.34/ounce

Guaranteed Analysis

Crude Protein: 10%

Crude Fat: 3.5%

Crude Fiber: 1.5%

Moisture: 82%

Ash: 2.7%

Dry Matter Basis

Protein: 55.56%

Fat: 19.44%

Fiber: 8.33%

Carbs: 1.67%

Ingredients:

Chicken, Chicken Broth, Water Sufficient For Processing, Chicken Liver, Dried Egg White, Potato Starch, Dried Egg Product, Natural Flavor, Guar Gum, Cranberries, Ground Flaxseed, Salt, Sodium Phosphate, Menhaden Fish Oil (Preserved With Mixed Tocopherols) (Source of DHA), Potassium Chloride, Sunflower Oil (Preserved with Mixed Tochoperols), Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Niacin Supplement, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, Biotin, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Folic Acid), Choline Chloride, Calcium Carbonate, Taurine, Dried Chicory Root, Minerals (Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Copper Proteinate, Potassium Iodide, Manganese Sulfate, Sodium Selenite), DL-Methionine, Magnesium Sulfate.

Formulated for growing kittens, this recipe is packed with protein and healthy fats as well as essential nutrients. Compared to the previous recipe, it is indeed higher in protein, fat, and calories.

This recipe features fresh chicken as the primary ingredient with supplemental protein from chicken liver and dried eggs. The main carbohydrates again are potato starch and ground flaxseed with some guar gum used as a thickener.

We’re glad to see this recipe uses menhaden fish oil as the primary added fat, though sunflower oil comes later. This combination helps ensure a balance of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids.

What Do Customers Think of Simply Nourish Cat Food?

Though it’s important to make an educated decision when choosing a cat food brand, it helps to know what other customers think of the brand before you buy. Simply Nourish is a PetSmart-exclusive brand, so you can imagine that it is fairly popular.

Because Simply Nourish is a PetSmart-exclusive brand, you’ll find many reviews on the PetSmart website but we also looked at Chewy.com for customer comments.

Most Simply Nourish products on Chewy.com seem to have a 4-star average rating or higher, most with 10 reviews or more. Customers seem to like that the food is easy to chew and digest, though there are some comments about picky eaters not liking the food.

How Much Does Simply Nourish Cat Food Cost?

Cost is a major factor for many pet owners when shopping for cat food and we can’t blame them. It’s important to keep your cat’s diet consistent as much as possible, taking the time transition your cat when changing recipes. If you’re shopping by price alone, you may end up going with a cheaper product without taking the time to transition your cat and he could end up with digestive distress.

Though cost is certainly important to consider, it should be paired with an objective evaluation of the product itself to ensure the price is a reflection of the quality. After all, not every expensive cat food on the market is good and some of best brands are surprisingly affordable.

When it comes to pricing, Simply Nourish is fairly expensive. The dry food recipes we reviewed were all over $2.50 per pound, one over $3.00 per pound. The wet foods were more affordable, averaging around $0.34/ounce. If you’re going for affordability, consider wet food rather than dry food.

To give you a better idea how Simply Nourish stacks up against other cat food brands, here is a quick chart to show you some average prices:

Where Can You Buy Simply Nourish Cat Food?

Availability is an important factor to consider when shopping for cat food. After all, you don’t want to take the time to carefully choose a brand and put your cat through the transition just to have trouble finding it again later. The good news is Simply Nourish is an easy brand to find.

Because Simply Nourish is a PetSmart-exclusive brand, the best place to find it is in PetSmart stores and online. You won’t find Simply Nourish in local and independent pet stores, but you can find it online at Chewy.com. You may find it on Amazon and from other retailers, but Chewy is the best bet.

Our Final Thoughts: Is Simply Nourish a Good Brand?

Overall, Simply Nourish seems to be a pretty good brand. We love that every recipe starts with a quality source of animal protein and most recipes include more than one. There are no artificial additives and use of plant protein concentrates is very limited. Many recipes were also grain-free.

Though Simply Nourish is a decent enough brand, we have a hard time justifying the cost for the dry foods being over $2.50 per pound. The ingredients themselves were fine, but the carbohydrate content was a little higher than we’d like to see. If you’re going to go with Simply Nourish, we recommend the wet foods rather than the dry foods.