Choosing a cat food can be challenging, especially when you’re looking for a formula suitable for both kittens and adult cats.
NutriSource Grain Free Cat & Kitten Chicken & Salmon Select is a dry cat food formulated for all life stages. It combines several animal-protein ingredients with a grain-free recipe and includes additional ingredients such as taurine, flaxseed, pumpkin, cranberries, and blueberries.
In this NutriSource Chicken & Salmon Cat Food review, we’ll examine its ingredients, potential advantages, disadvantages, and which cats may be a good fit.
If you’re comparing different foods before making a decision, our Best Cat Food Guide can help you understand what to look for.
Affiliate Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. If you purchase through one of our links, CatJoyLife may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.
NutriSource Chicken & Salmon at a Glance
Brand: NutriSource
Product: Grain Free Cat & Kitten Chicken & Salmon Select
Flavor: Chicken & Salmon
Food Type: Dry kibble
Life Stage: All Life Stages
Formula: Grain-Free
Size Reviewed: 4 lb
Primary Animal Ingredients: Deboned chicken, chicken meal, turkey meal and salmon
The Amazon listing shown offers both 4-lb and 12-lb bags. Prices and availability can change, so it’s best to check the current listing before purchasing.
Check Current Price on Amazon →
What Makes NutriSource Chicken & Salmon Different?
One of the biggest differences between this product and many standard dry cat foods is its combination of multiple animal-protein ingredients.
The ingredient list begins with:
Deboned chicken, chicken meal, turkey meal, potato starch, chicken fat, salmon…
This gives the recipe several animal-derived protein sources near the beginning of the ingredient list.
The product is also marketed as a grain-free formula suitable for cats across different life stages.
1. Multiple Animal Protein Sources
Deboned chicken is the first listed ingredient.
It’s followed by chicken meal and turkey meal, while salmon appears shortly afterward.
Using several animal-protein ingredients can help provide essential amino acids that cats require as obligate carnivores.
However, ingredient lists alone don’t tell you everything about the overall nutritional quality of a food. The complete nutrient profile and suitability for the individual cat are also important.
If you’d like to learn more about protein when choosing food, read our Best High-Protein Cat Food Guide.
2. Grain-Free Formula
NutriSource Chicken & Salmon Select is marketed as a grain-free cat food.
Instead of common grains such as corn, wheat, or rice, the ingredient list includes alternatives such as potato starch, garbanzo beans, and lentils.
Grain-free doesn’t automatically mean that a food is healthier for every cat. Many cats can tolerate grains without problems.
For a more detailed explanation, see Grain-Free Cat Food: Benefits, Risks, and Is It Right for Your Cat?
Owners whose cats have known food sensitivities should discuss dietary changes with their veterinarian rather than choosing food based solely on a grain-free label.
3. Suitable for Cats and Kittens
One particularly interesting feature is that the product is labeled Cat & Kitten and the Amazon listing identifies its age range as All Life Stages.
That makes it different from many of the adult-only IAMS products we’ve reviewed.
Kittens have different nutritional needs from adult cats because they’re growing rapidly and require appropriate levels of energy and essential nutrients.
When selecting food for a kitten, always confirm that the specific product is nutritionally appropriate for growth and follow its feeding instructions.
For more information about feeding young cats, read our Best Kitten Food Guide.
4. Additional Ingredients
Beyond its primary protein sources, the ingredient list contains several noteworthy ingredients.
These include:
- Flaxseed
- Pumpkin powder
- Dried cranberries
- Dried blueberries
- Fish oil
- Taurine
- Vitamins
- Minerals
- Fermentation products
Taurine is particularly important because cats require adequate dietary taurine for normal physiological function.
The inclusion of attractive-sounding ingredients such as blueberries or cranberries shouldn’t by itself determine whether a food is appropriate. They make up only part of a much larger formulation.
5. Digestive Support
The formula contains ingredients such as pumpkin, inulin, yeast-derived ingredients, and fermentation products.
These ingredients are commonly included in pet-food formulations with digestive health in mind.
A cat’s response to any food can vary, however.
When introducing a new food, pay attention to stool quality, appetite, vomiting, and general behavior.
If you’re interested in understanding digestive problems in cats, see our Cat Health Guide.
6. Chicken and Salmon Flavor
Chicken is the primary animal ingredient while salmon adds another animal-protein source and fish flavor.
This combination may appeal to cats that enjoy both poultry and fish.
NutriSource also offers other flavor choices on the listing, including Chicken & Duck and Trout, Whitefish & Salmon.
This gives owners some alternatives if their cat doesn’t prefer the Chicken & Salmon recipe.
NutriSource vs IAMS Indoor Cat Food
Since CatJoyLife already covers several IAMS formulas, this is a useful comparison.
NutriSource Chicken & Salmon and IAMS Indoor formulas target somewhat different buyers.
NutriSource Chicken & Salmon offers a grain-free recipe, multiple animal-protein ingredients, and suitability across life stages.
IAMS Proactive Health Indoor Chicken & Turkey is specifically designed for adult indoor cats and emphasizes healthy weight and hairball care.
Meanwhile, IAMS Proactive Health Indoor Salmon provides another fish-flavored option specifically aimed at indoor adult cats.
Owners should therefore choose based on their cat’s age, lifestyle, dietary needs, ingredient tolerance, and preferences rather than simply selecting the product with the longest ingredient list.
Dry Food and Hydration
NutriSource Chicken & Salmon is dry kibble.
One important consideration with dry food is moisture intake.
Cats should always have access to clean, fresh water, and owners should monitor whether their cat is drinking adequately.
Some owners use a combination of wet and dry foods to increase dietary variety and moisture.
Our Wet vs Dry Cat Food Guide explains the major differences between the two approaches.
You can also read How Much Water Should a Cat Drink? for more information about feline hydration.
Pros and Cons
Pros
✓ Deboned chicken is the first listed ingredient
✓ Chicken meal and turkey meal appear high on the ingredient list
✓ Contains salmon
✓ Grain-free formula
✓ Suitable for multiple life stages according to the listing
✓ Contains taurine
✓ Contains fish oil and flaxseed
✓ Includes pumpkin and fermentation-derived ingredients
✓ Several flavor options available
Cons
✗ More expensive per pound than some mainstream dry foods
✗ Grain-free isn’t necessary for every cat
✗ Contains legumes such as garbanzo beans and lentils
✗ Multiple animal proteins may not suit cats requiring a limited-ingredient diet
✗ Dry kibble contains relatively little moisture
What Do Amazon Customers Say?
At the time shown in the Amazon listing, NutriSource Chicken & Salmon displayed a 5.0-star rating, although it had only 14 ratings.
The listing also showed 50+ bought in the past month.
This is worth putting into context.
A high rating can look impressive, but 14 reviews is still a relatively small sample size compared with products that have accumulated thousands or tens of thousands of ratings.
For an affiliate site, it’s better to explain this honestly rather than presenting a 5-star rating as proof that the product is superior.
Is It Good Value?
The screenshot shows:
4 lb — approximately $33.99
12 lb — approximately $50.99
Based on those displayed prices, the 12-lb bag offers substantially better value per pound.
However, someone trying NutriSource for the first time may prefer the smaller bag before committing to 12 pounds of food.
Amazon prices frequently change, so avoid putting the current price in your affiliate button.
Check Latest Price on Amazon →
Who Should Consider NutriSource Chicken & Salmon?
This product may be worth considering for owners looking for:
- A grain-free dry cat food
- Chicken as the first listed ingredient
- Multiple animal-protein sources
- A chicken-and-fish flavor combination
- A formula designed for cats across different life stages
It may be less attractive for owners looking specifically for a budget dry food, a single-protein diet, or an adult indoor formula focused specifically on hairball and weight management.
Cats with diagnosed medical conditions or special nutritional requirements may need a diet recommended by their veterinarian.
How to Transition Your Cat to NutriSource
Changing cat food suddenly can cause digestive upset in some cats.
Gradually mix increasing amounts of NutriSource with decreasing amounts of your cat’s previous food.
Monitor your cat during the transition.
Watch for changes in:
Appetite, stool quality, vomiting, energy level, and general behavior.
If significant or persistent digestive problems occur, contact your veterinarian.
Is NutriSource Chicken & Salmon Worth It?
NutriSource Grain Free Cat & Kitten Chicken & Salmon Select stands out because of its combination of deboned chicken, chicken meal, turkey meal, and salmon alongside a grain-free formulation.
It’s particularly interesting for households looking for one product formulated for different feline life stages.
The biggest drawback is value. Based on the prices shown, the smaller 4-lb package is relatively expensive compared with many mainstream dry foods.
Overall, NutriSource Chicken & Salmon is worth considering if its ingredient profile and life-stage suitability match what you’re looking for, but there’s no single food that’s best for every cat.
CatJoyLife Rating
⭐ 4.6/5
Protein Sources: ★★★★★
Ingredient Variety: ★★★★★
Life-Stage Versatility: ★★★★★
Value: ★★★★☆
Availability: ★★★★☆
Best for: Cats and kittens whose nutritional needs are compatible with the formula
Flavor: Chicken & Salmon
Food Type: Dry kibble
Standout Feature: Multiple animal-protein sources + grain-free recipe
Check NutriSource Chicken & Salmon on Amazon →
Frequently Asked Questions
Is NutriSource Chicken & Salmon grain-free?
Yes. This particular product is marketed as a grain-free formula.
What is the first ingredient?
Deboned chicken is listed first.
Does it contain salmon?
Yes. Salmon appears among the ingredients alongside chicken and turkey ingredients.
Is it suitable for kittens?
The product is labeled Cat & Kitten and the Amazon listing shown describes its age range as All Life Stages. Always follow the manufacturer’s current feeding and life-stage guidance.
Is NutriSource better than IAMS?
Not necessarily. They’re different formulations. NutriSource may appeal more to someone looking for a grain-free, multi-protein formula, while products such as IAMS Indoor Chicken & Turkey are specifically formulated around the needs of adult indoor cats.
Where can I buy NutriSource Chicken & Salmon?
It’s available through Amazon and other pet-food retailers. Check current pricing and availability before purchasing.