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Instinct vs Nulo

Instinct is made by Nature's Variety (owned by Agrolimen S.A.), and Nulo by Nulo, Inc. (owned by Apax Partners), and both make food for cats and dogs. On KibbleLab, Instinct averages 8.4 out of 10 across its scored foods, compared with 8.3 for Nulo. Instinct is accredited by the Pet Sustainability Coalition; Nulo is not.

Instinct and Nulo compared

Instinct Nulo
Manufacturer Nature's Variety Nulo, Inc.
Parent company Agrolimen S.A. Apax Partners
Founded 2002 2009
Headquarters St. Louis, Missouri, USA Austin, Texas, USA
Products listed 108 291
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.
Yes No
Score The average KibbleLab score across this brand's scored foods, on a 0 to 10 scale. Foods are scored on published veterinary science, and no one can pay for a higher score. How scoring works .
8.4 (avg of 108) 8.3 (avg of 291)
Recalls on record KibbleLab began logging recalls in July 2026, so earlier recalls may not appear.
None None
Where to buy Amazon Amazon

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Instinct vs Nulo: how they compare

Scores

Instinct scores higher on KibbleLab, averaging 8.4 out of 10 across 108 scored foods, compared with 8.3 across 291 for Nulo. Scores apply the same criteria-based rubric to every food, drawn from published veterinary science, and no one can pay for a higher score.

Who makes them

Instinct is made by Nature's Variety, owned by Agrolimen S.A., based in St. Louis, Missouri, USA, founded in 2002. Nulo is made by Nulo, Inc., owned by Apax Partners, based in Austin, Texas, USA, founded in 2009.

Standards and range

Neither meets WSAVA's published manufacturer criteria. Instinct is accredited by the Pet Sustainability Coalition; Nulo is not. KibbleLab lists 108 Instinct foods and 291 Nulo foods.

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Common Questions

Which scores higher on KibbleLab, Instinct or Nulo?

Instinct scores higher: it averages 8.4 out of 10 across 108 scored foods, compared with 8.3 for Nulo. Scores reflect published veterinary science, and no one can pay for a higher score.

Who makes Instinct and Nulo?

Instinct is made by Nature's Variety, which is owned by Agrolimen S.A. Nulo is made by Nulo, Inc., which is owned by Apax Partners.

Which brand has more products on KibbleLab?

Nulo has 291 products in the KibbleLab database, compared with 108 for Instinct.

Where is each brand based?

Instinct is based in St. Louis, Missouri, USA. Nulo is based in Austin, Texas, USA.

Are Instinct or Nulo 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 Instinct or Nulo been recalled?

Neither Instinct nor Nulo has a recall on record in the KibbleLab database. KibbleLab began logging recalls in July 2026, so earlier recalls may not appear.

See the full profiles: Instinct and Nulo .

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 and manufacturer notices, and a notice may name the parent company rather than the brand. KibbleLab began logging recalls in July 2026, so earlier recalls may not appear.

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.