The scores
Wellness CORE Cat: A (90/100) — Clears the A threshold. Four named animal proteins in the first four positions, grain-free with legumes, multi-strain probiotics.
Nulo Cat: B (82/100) — Mid-B grade. Salmon-first formula with turkey meal and chicken meal, Bacillus coagulans probiotic, chicory root prebiotic.
CORE clears the A-grade threshold of 90 by a whisker, while Nulo sits at B/82 — 8 points below. Both formulas get the fundamentals right: named animal proteins first, no fillers in the top positions, no artificial preservatives, and thoughtful additions like probiotics for digestive health. The 8-point gap comes down to CORE’s unusually protein-dense opening.
How the ingredients compare
Here are the first five ingredients side by side:
Wellness CORE: Deboned Turkey, Deboned Chicken, Turkey Meal, Chicken Meal, Peas
Nulo: Deboned Salmon, Turkey Meal, Chicken Meal, Whole Peas, Lentils
The difference is immediately visible. Wellness CORE dedicates its entire top four to animal proteins — two whole meats and two concentrated meals from two different poultry species. The first plant ingredient (peas) doesn’t appear until position five. That’s an exceptionally protein-dense opening for a dry cat food.
Nulo takes a different approach. It leads with deboned salmon, turkey meal and chicken meal (three animal proteins), then shifts to plant-based carbohydrate sources at positions four and five (whole peas and lentils).
Both formulas are grain-free, relying on legumes for their carbohydrate structure. Neither uses corn, wheat, or soy anywhere in the formula. For cats — obligate carnivores who have limited ability to digest plant starches — this is exactly the kind of approach that earns a high score.
Where Wellness CORE pulls ahead
Four animal proteins before any plant ingredient: Having animal protein at positions one through four is rare in dry cat food. Most premium brands manage two, maybe three animal proteins in the top five. Wellness CORE’s formula reads more like a wet food ingredient list, which is a significant achievement for a kibble. The protein meals (turkey meal and chicken meal) are particularly valuable because the rendering process removes water, concentrating the protein to roughly 3x the density of the whole meats.
Multi-strain probiotics: Wellness CORE includes multiple probiotic strains rather than relying on a single one. A multi-strain approach can support a broader range of gut health benefits, including improved digestion, better nutrient absorption, and a stronger immune response. Gut health is especially important for cats, whose digestive systems are highly specialized for processing animal proteins. Shop on Amazon →
Where Nulo holds its own
Bacillus coagulans probiotic: Nulo uses Bacillus coagulans, a spore-forming probiotic.
Chicory root prebiotic: In addition to the probiotic, Nulo includes dried chicory root, which is a natural source of inulin — a prebiotic fiber that feeds beneficial gut bacteria. Shop on Amazon →
The bottom line
Wellness CORE clears Nulo 90 to 82, earning the A grade with its four-animal-protein opening. Nulo’s solid B/82 hardly means a downgrade.
Read our full reviews of Wellness CORE Cat and Nulo Cat for the complete ingredient breakdowns.
Corrected 2026-10-19: we removed claims we could not support; we corrected factual errors, and grades and score comparisons that did not match our current scores.