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Caru vs Instinct

Caru is made by Caru Pet Food Company, and Instinct is made by Nature's Variety (owned by Agrolimen S.A.), and both make food for cats and dogs. On KibbleLab, Caru and Instinct both average 8.4 out of 10. Instinct is accredited by the Pet Sustainability Coalition; Caru is not.

Caru and Instinct compared

Caru Instinct
Manufacturer Caru Pet Food Company Nature's Variety
Parent company Independent Agrolimen S.A.
Founded 2014 2002
Headquarters Vero Beach, Florida, USA St. Louis, Missouri, USA
Manufacturing Whether a brand makes its own food in-house or has it produced by an outside contract manufacturer or co-packer.
In-house In-house
Made in United States United States
Manufacturing region Florida Nebraska
Products listed 40 108
Serves Cats & dogs Cats & dogs
Price tier A relative price guide, from $ (most affordable) to $$$$$ (most premium), based on the brand's typical retail cost.
$$$$ $$$$$
WSAVA guidelines The World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) publishes criteria for evaluating a manufacturer: qualified nutritionists on staff, feeding trials, and published research. It does not certify or endorse brands.
No No
PSC accredited The Pet Sustainability Coalition is a nonprofit that accredits pet companies on their environmental and social impact, through third-party verification. It reflects sustainability practices, not food quality.
No Yes
Score The average KibbleLab score across this brand's scored foods, on a 0 to 10 scale. Foods are scored on published veterinary science. How scoring works .
8.4 (avg of 40) 8.4 (avg of 108)
Recalls on record We track the FDA's animal food recall listings back to January 2019 and publish every pet food recall automatically. A filing that isn't pet food may not appear here.
None None
Where to buy
Amazon
Amazon

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Caru vs Instinct: how they compare

Scores

Caru and Instinct average the same KibbleLab score, 8.4 out of 10, across 40 and 108 scored foods. Scores apply the same criteria-based rubric to every food, drawn from published veterinary science.

Who makes them

Caru is made by Caru Pet Food Company, an independent maker, based in Vero Beach, Florida, USA, founded in 2014. Instinct is made by Nature's Variety, owned by Agrolimen S.A., based in St. Louis, Missouri, USA, founded in 2002.

Standards and range

Neither meets WSAVA's published manufacturer criteria. Instinct is accredited by the Pet Sustainability Coalition; Caru is not. KibbleLab lists 40 Caru foods and 108 Instinct foods.

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Common Questions

Which scores higher on KibbleLab, Caru or Instinct?

Caru and Instinct average the same KibbleLab score, 8.4 out of 10.

Who makes Caru and Instinct?

Caru is made by Caru Pet Food Company. Instinct is made by Nature's Variety, which is owned by Agrolimen S.A.

Which brand has more products on KibbleLab?

Instinct has 108 products in the KibbleLab database, compared with 40 for Caru.

Where is each brand based?

Caru is based in Vero Beach, Florida, USA. Instinct is based in St. Louis, Missouri, USA.

Are Caru or Instinct PSC Accredited?

Instinct is a PSC Accredited business. The Pet Sustainability Coalition is a nonprofit that Accredits pet companies on their environmental and social impact, through third-party verification.

Have Caru or Instinct been recalled?

Neither Caru nor Instinct has a recall on record in the KibbleLab database. We track the FDA's animal food recall listings back to January 2019 and publish every pet food recall automatically. A filing that isn't pet food may not appear here.

See the full profiles: Caru and Instinct .

More comparisons

KibbleLab provides informational content only. This is not veterinary advice. Always consult a qualified veterinarian before changing your pet's diet.

This is a neutral, factual comparison, not a ranking or an endorsement of either brand. KibbleLab may earn affiliate commissions through links. No one can pay for placement or a higher score.

Brand and manufacturer details are compiled from public sources and not independently verified; they may not reflect contract manufacturing or co-packing. Recall data is compiled from public FDA filings, and a filing may name the parent company rather than the brand. We track the FDA's animal food recall listings back to January 2019 and publish every pet food recall automatically. A filing that isn't pet food may not appear here.

KibbleLab scores and commentary are editorial opinions based on published data. Represent one of these brands? Request a correction. Anyone else can email us. See our Terms.