Nulo Prowess Cat Food Review

Kate Barrington / Cats.com

Featuring real meat as the first ingredient, Prowess is a science-based cat food line from Nulo. This brand promises purposeful, high-protein recipes that mirror your cat’s natural carnivorous needs. But how do the products hold up to real-world testing? Find out in this detailed review.

The Cats.com Standard—Rating Nulo Prowess on What Matters

We’ve analyzed Nulo Prowess and graded it according to the Cats.com standard, evaluating the brand on species-appropriateness, ingredient quality, product variety, price, customer experience, and recall history. Here’s how it rates in each of these six key areas.

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Ratings

Species-Appropriateness – 9/10
Ingredient Quality – 9/10
Product Variety – 7/10
Price – 6/10
Customer Experience – 8/10
Recall History – 10/10

Overall Score: 8/10

We give Nulo Prowess a 49 out of 60 or a A grade.

About Nulo Prowess Cat Food

Prowess is a premium cat food line launched by global cat food brand Nulo in late 2025. The Nulo company was founded in 2009 by Michael Landa, its name a portmanteau of “nutrition” and “love.” Nulo’s products are formulated with functional ingredients and they’re designed to deliver high-protein, low-carb nutrition that’s full of the meaty flavor cats crave.

While all of Nulo’s products feature animal proteins as primary ingredients, the Prowess line places particular emphasis on species-appropriate nutrition. Animal protein is the first ingredient in every Prowess product, and the recipes are developed by animal nutritionists and veterinarians to provide science-backed nutrition for specific life stages, from kitten to senior.

Every ingredient in Prowess products serves a purpose. From functional fiber and probiotics for digestive regularity to omega-3 fatty acids for skin and coat support, Prowess cat food has what cats need to enjoy full-body health, from the inside out. Whether your cat could use some extra support for healthy weight maintenance, an easily digestible diet to prevent stomach upset, or simply a balanced diet that provides all the essentials, there’s a Prowess product to fit their needs.

Sourcing and Manufacturing

The Prowess product line is owned by Nulo, which is headquartered in Austin, Texas. There’s some conflicting information available online about the sourcing of ingredients and manufacture of Nulo products, but it appears that most of the dry foods are made in the USA in a network of partner manufacturing facilities. Wet cat foods in the Prowess line are made in Thailand.

Nulo places a lot of emphasis on the inclusion of animal proteins and functional ingredients in Prowess recipes but doesn’t get specific about where those ingredients come from. The only information available on the dry food packaging states, “Manufactured in the USA with the finest ingredients from around the world.” No details are offered about the ingredients in Prowess wet food, but pet food made in Thailand often includes domestically sourced ingredients.

Products in the Prowess line appear to be formulated by animal nutritionists and veterinarians. Nulo does employ two full-time animal nutritionists, and most of the products are designed to meet the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) nutrient guidelines for cats.

Has Nulo Prowess Cat Food Been Recalled?

No, Prowess cat food has never been recalled. The Nulo brand hasn’t had any product recalls since it was founded in 2009.

What Kinds of Cat Food Does Nulo Prowess Offer?

The Prowess line includes a variety of wet and dry cat food products. Every product features real meat (generally poultry or fish) as the first ingredient, and the recipes are free from animal by-products as well as corn, wheat, and soy. Most of the recipes are designed to provide complete and balanced nutrition for adult cats or cats in all life stages, though there are several recipes specific to kittens or senior cats.

Prowess cat foods are formulated to support key aspects of feline health such as sensitive digestion, weight management, skin and coat support, and life stage-specific nutrition for kittens or senior cats. The brand offers both wet and dry cat food products in each of these categories, and some of the wet foods come in multiple flavors and textures (pate or shreds in broth).

Here’s a quick overview of the science-backed formulas included in Nulo’s Prowess line:

Bright Beginnings – Tailored for kittens under 12 months old with high protein and energy density, plus supplemental DHA for healthy brain development.
Skin & Coat – Features turkey or fish protein fortified with balanced omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids to support skin health and reduce shedding.
Sensitive Stomach – Formulated with easily digestible proteins, functional fiber, and added probiotics to promote gut motility and normal stools.
Healthy Weight – Features lean protein like chicken and whitefish paired with functional fiber and L-carnitine to support satiety and healthy metabolism.
All-in-One Essentials – Formulated to support optimal health and nutrition in all life stages with a variety of flavors and food textures.
Mature 12+ – Tailored for senior cats aged 12 and older, featuring soft pate and shreds in broth to support kidney health, regular digestion, and aging joints.

Prowess dry cat foods are generally sold in small, resealable bags ranging from 3.5 to 6 pounds in volume (several recipes also come in larger 13-pound bags). The wet cat food is only sold in 2.8-ounce cans, either in 4-packs or cases of 12. Prowess wet cat foods are also available in variety packs divided by product line, including All-in-One Essentials, Bright Beginnings, and Mature 12+.

What Did Our Test Cats Think?

Kate Barrington / Cats.com

With the help of my cats, Biscuit and Munchkin, I tested three dry cat food recipes from the Prowess line and over half a dozen of the wet foods. Munchkin was a particular fan of the pate-style wet foods while Biscuit enjoyed the chunkier shreds in broth. I usually have to add water to my cats’ food, so I appreciated that the Prowess pate was very soft and moist, almost mousse-like in texture.

Even having read some customer reviews before testing the products myself, I was surprised to see how small the kibbles were in Prowess dry cat food. They’re tiny little discs that measure under ¼-inch in diameter, a size that appears to be standard across all the cat food recipes. I’m a fan of the small size, since both of my senior cats have had several of their teeth removed, but I can see how it might make volume control a little challenging for cats who tend to wolf down their food.

Overall, I liked the packaging for Prowess cat foods. All the dry food bags were resealable and featured hook-and-loop strips rather than press-to-close zippers, which I personally feel offer a tighter seal. The wet food cans were easy to open and I’ve come to prefer the smaller cans, so my cats get a fresh serving at every meal.

Nulo Prowess Cat Food—Top 4 Recipes Reviewed

Product Name	Food Type	Primary Protein	Calories Per Ounce	Price	Our Grade
Nulo Prowess Sensitive Stomach Chicken & Duck Pate Wet Cat Food	Wet	Chicken	33	$0.75 per ounce	A-
Nulo Prowess All-in-One Essentials Salmon & Duck Shreds in Broth Wet Cat Food	Wet	Salmon	24	$0.75 per ounce	A-
Nulo Prowess All-in-One Essentials Adult & Kitten Dry Cat Food	Dry	Chicken	104	$0.22 per ounce	A-
Nulo Prowess Healthy Weight Adult Dry Cat Food	Dry	Chicken	97	$0.22 per ounce	A-

#1 Nulo Prowess Sensitive Stomach Chicken & Duck Pate Wet Cat Food

$24.89 At Chewy

Featuring protein from chicken and duck as the main ingredients (aside from chicken broth), this recipe is designed for easy digestibility. Not only does it rely primarily on animal-sourced protein and fat, but it contains limited carbohydrates with a little functional fiber from pumpkin, cranberries, blueberries, and inulin.

Nulo Prowess Sensitive Stomach Chicken & Duck Pate Wet Cat Food

Kate Barrington / Cats.com

Measured as dry matter, this Prowess wet cat food contains about 45.5% protein and 27.3% fat. It’s very energy-dense at about 33 calories per ounce and contains plenty of hydrating moisture. The recipe does contain a little concentrated plant protein (pea protein) but appears to be well tolerated by many cats and the formula is fairly simple overall.

What I liked most about this recipe was the texture. It’s very moist and soft, which made it easy for my oldest cat, Munchkin, to eat. I always add water to her food and found that this recipe mixed easily into a puree-like consistency instead of getting chunky. Munchkin seemed to really enjoy the flavor of this food as well as the lappable texture.

Ingredients

Chicken, Chicken Broth, Duck, Chicken Liver, Natural Flavor, Pea Protein, Brown Rice, Guar Gum, Potassium Chloride, Choline Chloride, Tricalcium Phosphate, Ground Flaxseed, Salmon Oil, Magnesium Sulfate, Taurine, Pumpkin, Cranberries, Blueberries, Dried Kelp, Iron Amino Acid Chelate, Zinc Amino Acid Chelate, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Inulin, Vitamin E Supplement, Vitamin C (L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate), Vitamin B1 (Thiamine Mononitrate),Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin B3 (Niacin), Manganese Amino Acid Chelate, Copper Amino Acid Chelate, Calcium Iodate, Vitamin B5 (Calcium Pantothenate), Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin), Sodium Selenite, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine Hydrochloride), Vitamin B9 (Folic Acid), Vitamin D3 (Cholecalciferol), Biotin, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (source of Vitamin K activity).

Ingredients We Liked: Chicken, Duck, Chicken Liver, Salmon Oil

Ingredients We Didn’t Like: Pea Protein, Guar Gum

Guaranteed Analysis

Crude Protein: 10%

Crude Fat: 6%

Crude Fiber: 0.5%

Moisture: 78%

Ash: 3.5%

Taurine: 0.05%

Dry Matter Basis

Protein: 45.45%

Fat: 27.27%

Fiber: 2.27%

Carbs: 9.09%

Caloric Weight Basis

Protein: 37.63%

Fat: 54.84%

Carbs: 7.53%

What We Liked:

Formulated for easy digestibility in cats with sensitive stomachs
Features a protein-rich blend of chicken and duck
Good source of hydrating moisture for cats
Has a soft pate texture that’s easy for cats to eat

What We Didn’t Like:

Contains some plant protein concentrate (pea protein)

#2 Nulo Prowess All-in-One Essentials Salmon & Duck Shreds in Broth Wet Cat Food

$24.89 At Chewy

Formulated to provide balanced nutrition for cats in all life stages, this All-in-One Essentials recipe features protein from salmon, duck, and egg. In addition to plenty of protein and healthy fat, this recipe is enriched with 25 essential nutrients to support key aspects of feline health including cardiovascular function, healthy skin and coat, lean muscle mass, and balanced digestion.

Nulo Prowess All-in-One Essentials Salmon & Duck Shreds in Broth Wet Cat Food

Kate Barrington / Cats.com

The top five ingredients in this recipe are all animal-sourced (including salmon broth, the main source of moisture), though there’s still some concentrated plant protein from peas and the first source of added fat is plant-based. Measured as dry matter, this recipe contains 56% protein and 17% fat, and it’s just a little lower in energy density than the previous formula with about 24 calories per ounce.

This Prowess recipe is described as “shreds in broth” but it doesn’t have the typical shredded texture you might expect. Instead, it consists of chunks of meaty food in a slightly thickened broth that has a similar consistency to gravy. Though I was a little surprised by the texture when opening the can, my cats loved the food and didn’t even seem to mind the little chunks of carrot.