Natural Balance is a pet food company that’s been around for more than 30 years. Even after multiple changes in ownership and a brand revitalization in 2021, it has remained a popular choice among pet parents thanks to its wide range of high-quality foods, including limited ingredient diets for cats and dogs with food sensitivities.  

Natural Balance offers balanced nutrition, unmatched transparency, and ongoing exceptional support so that pet parents can “Feed With Confidence.”

 

But is Natural Balance the right food for your cat? Read on to learn about this brand’s product ranges, pros and cons, recall history, and more!

Natural Balance offers a variety of dry and wet cat foods across five product lines. Let’s take a closer look at each one!

All Natural Balance cat foods are complete and balanced, meeting the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) nutrient profile guidelines for all life stages, adult maintenance, or growth. Treats and toppers are for supplemental feeding only.

Read the guaranteed analysis printed on each cat food label for more information. 

The Limited Ingredient line comprises wet and dry foods that are formulated to support your cat’s skin, coat, and digestive health. 

Though they’re created with sensitive felines in mind, cats without food sensitivities can also enjoy these complete and balanced meals. Overall, Natural Balance Limited Ingredient foods are a good options for cats with food allergies and sensitivities. 

Limited Ingredient recipes are made with single-source animal proteins such as chicken, turkey, salmon, tuna, venison, and duck, as well as plant-based proteins like chickpeas, lentils, and peas. They also contain essential vitamins, minerals, and fatty acids for full body health.

Natural Balance Limited Ingredient dry cat foods have run-of-the-mill protein and fat contents. Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Salmon & Green Pea contains 33.3% protein as dry matter and 13.3% fat as dry matter.

Natural Balance Limited Ingredient wet foods have slightly better protein levels, but are higher in fat. Limited Ingredient Chicken & Green Pea wet cat food contains above-average protein (40.9% as dry matter) and above-average fat (22.7% as dry matter) compared to standard wet cat foods. 

Original Ultra offers essential everyday nutrition through an assortment of wet and dry options. The recipes in this line take a holistic approach to feline well-being and are formulated for all breeds and life stages, from kittens to adult cats. 

Ingredients include chicken, salmon, tuna, shrimp, and mackerel for protein; carrots, brown rice, and oat groats for healthy digestion; sweet potatoes, cranberries, and blueberries for antioxidants; and added taurine for heart health. 

Each kibble is coated in dry vegetable broth while the canned foods are made with chicken or fish broth for added flavor. Both dry recipes list meat meals as a primary protein source. The Chicken Meal & Salmon Meal dry recipe lists brown rice as the second ingredient. While high in fiber, brown rice has low nutritional value to cats. 

Original Ultra dry cat foods contain above-average protein (37.1% as dry matter) and slightly above-average fat (17.6% as dry matter) on average compared to standard dry cat food. 

Original Ultra Chicken & Liver Paté wet cat food has above average protein (40.9% as dry matter) and above-average fat (27.7% as dry matter) contents compared to typical wet cat foods. 

Platefulls are savory entrees that feature tender morsels in tasty gravy. Each recipe combines animal-based protein like mackerel, sardine, turkey, salmon, chicken, crab, duck, and shrimp with fruits and vegetables like carrots, potatoes, pumpkin, spinach, cranberries, peas, and kelp. 

Plus, they contain organ meats like chicken liver for extra flavor and protein, salmon oil and ground flaxseed for a healthy skin and coat, and taurine for heart health. Platefulls come in convenient “open and serve” pouches that make mealtimes easy.

Platefulls have similar fat and protein levels to Ultra wet foods. The Turkey & Duck recipe has above-average protein  (41.1% as dry matter) and above-average fat (23.5% as dry matter) compared to your average wet cat food. 

Fat Cats is especially created for adult cats who need to shed some extra pounds. It’s lower in calories but higher in protein and fiber to help your feline friend feel fuller longer and lose weight in a healthy way. 

Ingredients include protein sources such as chicken meal, salmon meal, pea protein, and alfalfa meal, as well as nutritious vegetables like chickpeas, oat groats, peas, spinach, parsley, and carrots. It also has targeted levels of L-carnitine, which aids in achieving and maintaining a healthy weight. 

There's only one Fat Cat flavor: Chicken Meal & Salmon Meal. Fat Cat Chicken Meal & Salmon Meal contains above-average protein (38.8% as dry matter) and slightly below-average fat (10.5% as dry matter), making it a good choice for cats looking to lose weight. 

Here are some of the reasons why we like Natural Balance cat food!

While Natural Balance cat foods aren’t considered human-grade, they contain high-quality ingredients such as animal-based protein, nutritious produce, and whole grains. Many recipes list a named meat as the first ingredient.

Natural Balance cat food is rigorously tested at industry-leading accredited food laboratories to ensure its safety and quality. Pet parents can request test results by entering the UPC and lot number from their package label on the Natural Balance website. 

Natural Balance offers several dry and wet food options for cats with food allergies or sensitivities through its Limited Ingredient line. These simple recipes are made with a single source of animal protein and help prevent upset stomachs and other allergy symptoms. 

All Natural Balance wet cat foods are formulated to be complete and balanced. Whether it’s from the Limited Ingredient, Original Ultra, Platefulls, or Delectable Delights line, you can serve it on its own or as a meal topper. 

Dr. Georgia Jeremiah, pet nutrition expert and one of Wag!’s veterinary consultants, personally recommends Natural Balance to her clients. 

Dr. Jeremiah says, “Natural Balance cat food offers high-protein, grain-free diets that are free from artificial additives. They also provide limited ingredient diets with single protein sources for cats with known dietary allergies. In addition to a higher price tag, some formulations contain carrageenan thickeners and guar gum, which may contribute to digestive conditions such as IBD.”

Here are some things to take into account before buying Natural Balance. 

Most Natural Balance recipes are formulated for adult cats, with some being suitable for all life stages. If you want to feed your kitten or senior cat a food that’s specially made for their particular life stage, you’ll have to consider another brand.  

Despite popular belief, fish isn’t a natural part of the feline diet and an entirely fish-based diet won’t give your cat all the nutrients they need. Additionally, fish is actually an allergen for cats and may contribute to urinary tract problems and hyperthyroidism. 

Natural Balance has had recalls in the past, with the most recent one being in 2021.

“We have nine cats, one of our cats [has] some serious stomach issues and we needed to find a food that all of them could eat as we free feed. This particular cat food has been a game changer for us 10 out of 10 would recommend.”

“This ‘limited ingredient’ cured my cat from allergies and horrible break out scabs caused by regular cat food.”

“I have two cats, one of which is a diabetic with recurring pancreatitis, IBD, and food allergies. Trying to find foods he can eat (limited ingredient, novel proteins, not high in carbs...) has been an absolute nightmare. While this food is higher in carbs than he should be eating, it’s a GREAT alternative to crunchy treats after he gets his injections :) he primarily eats a REALLY low carb canned food so that we can work these kibbles into his diet. I can’t give him more than a few at a time, though; he’ll scarf down a whole bowl and barely take breaks to breathe if he’s given the opportunity. Because of his dietary needs, my other cat has had to adjust what she eats just in case he gets into her food. She loves this kibble more than any of the others she’s eaten recently! Anytime either cat hears the rattle of something that could be kibbles, they come running for a handful.”

Read more reviews on Chewy.

Natural Balance was launched in 1989 by actor Dick Van Patten, who first had the idea for a quality pet food when he appeared as a guest on The John Davidson Show in 1982. Van Patten was actively involved in the marketing and became the face of the company.

In 2006, Natural Balance achieved significant growth under the leadership of co-founder Joey Herrick and executive Frank Koch. Less than 10 years later, Natural Balance merged with Del Monte Pet Products in 2014 and was acquired by J.M. Smucker in 2015. In late 2020, it was sold to Nexus Capital Management, which announced it was revitalizing the brand the following year.  

In 2023, Natural Balance merged with Canidae. As of 2022, the company had revenues of $280 million and 400 employees.

Natural Balance has been recalled a few times over the years. It was one of the brands affected by the huge melamine pet food recall of 2007, with specific variants of dog and cat foods recalled due to potential melamine contamination. 

On July 3, 2020, one lot of Ultra Premium Chicken & Liver Pate Formula canned cat food was recalled as it possibly contained elevated levels of choline chloride; the company received reports of adverse reactions. 

On May 20, 2021, Natural Balance voluntarily recalled 5- and 10-pound bags of Green Pea & Chicken Formula dry cat food due to potential salmonella contamination. No illnesses were reported, but pet parents could return the product to their retailer for a refund. 

In 2010 and 2012, Natural Balance issued voluntary recalls for several dry dog food formulas. 

For more information, check out our guide Natural Balance Dog Food Review 2025.