The scores
Instinct: B (78/100)
Merrick: B (78/100)
An exact tie at 78 points. Both land squarely in the B tier alongside Nutro and just two points above Taste of the Wild and Blue Buffalo. The identical score masks genuinely different formulation philosophies — one leans raw-inspired, the other leans traditional premium. The difference is in what each formula prioritizes, not overall quality.
Read our full reviews of Instinct and Merrick for complete ingredient breakdowns.
How the ingredients compare
Here are the key ingredients side by side:
Instinct: Chicken, Chicken Meal, Peas, Chicken Fat, Tapioca, Herring Meal, Fish Meal, Freeze-Dried Chicken, Freeze-Dried Chicken Liver
Merrick: Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Sweet Potatoes, Peas, Salmon Meal, Chicken Fat, Natural Flavor, Salmon Oil, Cranberries
Both formulas lead with chicken and chicken meal — a solid animal protein foundation for obligate carnivores. After that, the strategies diverge. Instinct adds herring meal and fish meal as supporting proteins, then distinguishes itself with freeze-dried raw pieces. Merrick goes with salmon meal as its second protein species and invests in targeted supplements like salmon oil and cranberries. Both are grain-free, relying on peas and starchy carbohydrates instead of traditional grains — a shared weakness that contributes to the DCM conversation.
Where Instinct stands out
Freeze-dried raw pieces. Instinct’s signature feature is the inclusion of freeze-dried chicken and freeze-dried chicken liver mixed into the kibble. Liver is one of the most nutrient-dense foods available — packed with vitamin A, B vitamins, iron, and taurine that cats need as obligate carnivores. No other B-tier cat food in our database includes raw freeze-dried organ meat in its formula.
Dual fish meals for omega-3s. Herring meal and fish meal both appear in the ingredient list, providing marine-sourced omega-3 fatty acids from the protein itself rather than relying solely on supplemental oils. This builds omega-3 content into the protein foundation of the food.
Probiotics. Instinct includes Bacillus coagulans, a shelf-stable probiotic that survives the kibble manufacturing process. For cats with sensitive digestion, this is a meaningful differentiator — Merrick’s formula doesn’t include any probiotic strains.
Named fats. Chicken fat is clearly identified as the primary fat source. Named fats tell you exactly what species the fat came from, which matters for cats with specific protein sensitivities. Shop on Amazon →
Where Merrick stands out
Deboned chicken first. Merrick leads with deboned chicken rather than just “chicken,” specifying that the primary protein is a whole muscle meat with bones removed. It’s a small labeling distinction, but it signals a higher-quality starting ingredient.
Named salmon meal as a second protein species. While Instinct uses herring meal and generic fish meal, Merrick specifies salmon meal — a named, single-species protein source. Named proteins are always preferable to generic “fish meal” because you know exactly what your cat is eating, which matters for allergy identification and ingredient transparency.
Dedicated salmon oil for omega-3s. On top of the omega-3s already present in salmon meal, Merrick adds salmon oil as a standalone supplement. This double dose of salmon-derived EPA and DHA gives Merrick a stronger targeted omega-3 profile — beneficial for skin, coat, and inflammatory conditions.
Cranberries for urinary health. Cranberries contain proanthocyanidins that may help prevent bacteria from adhering to the urinary tract wall. For cats prone to urinary issues — one of the most common feline health concerns — this is a practical functional ingredient that Instinct doesn’t offer. Shop on Amazon →
The bottom line
This is a genuine tie — not a cop-out, but a reflection of two equally strong formulas built around different priorities. If your cat benefits from probiotics and you like the idea of nutrient-dense freeze-dried raw liver in the kibble, Instinct is the better fit. If omega-3 support and urinary health are higher priorities — especially for cats prone to skin issues or UTIs — Merrick’s salmon oil and cranberry combination is the smarter pick. Both share the same grain-free concern, and neither breaks into the A tier. But within the B grade, these are two of the more thoughtfully formulated options available for cats.