Instinct Original Real Chicken Recipe Grain-Free Kitten Dry Cat Food, 4.5-lb bag

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About This Item

Details

  • Cage-free chicken is the first ingredient for high animal protein to support the energy needed for growth and play.
  • Includes 81% real animal ingredients and nutritious oils plus 19% vegetables, fruits and other wholesome ingredients.
  • Tailored nutrition for kittens includes a balanced mix of poultry, fish and meat for healthy exposure to proteins plus natural DHA for brain and eye development.
  • Guaranteed levels of live, natural probiotics, natural omegas and antioxidants to support digestive health, healthy skin and coat, and immune health.
  • Made in the USA using premium ingredients from around the world, with the pure nutrition of raw in every piece.

Ingredient Information

Feeding Instructions

Learn More About Instinct From Our Team of Experts

About Instinct Original Kibble for Kittens

Raw Coated Kibble

Instinct offers a variety of natural dry food recipes with added vitamins and minerals to suit your furry family member’s needs. And with freeze-dried raw coating on every piece of kibble, adding the nutrition and taste of raw into your pet’s diet is easy!

Grain-Free Kibble

Instinct’s grain-free, raw-coated kitten kibble is crafted with 81% real animal ingredients and nutritious oils, along with 19% veggies, fruits and other wholesome ingredients. The balanced mix of poultry, fish and meat provide healthy exposure to proteins, while natural DHA from chicken eggs supports brain and eye development.

Pure, Real Nutrition of Raw on Every Piece

PROTEIN PACKED

With responsibly sourced real meat as the first ingredient, these recipes are packed with animal protein for strong, lean muscles.

OMEGAS 3 AND 6

Naturally occurring omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids support skin and coat health.

ANTIOXIDANTS

Antioxidant-rich vegetables and fruits help support immune health.

PROBIOTICS

Guaranteed levels of live, natural probiotics are included to support your dog’s digestive health.

RAW COATING

Instinct crushes and tumbles their freeze-dried raw with their kibble, ensuring raw is on every piece!

MADE WITHOUT FILLERS

These recipes are made without grain, potato, corn, wheat, soy, by-product meal or artificial colors or preservatives.

The Benefits of Raw

Instinct believes that eating a diet rich in raw, unprocessed foods is just as good for our pets as it is for us. They make every meal with the understanding that real, less-processed, whole raw foods can have the power to transform lives.

Better Digestion

More Energy & Vitality

Weight Improvement

Improved Skin And Coat

Excitement At Mealtime

About Instinct

Instinct has been crafting and perfecting raw recipes for over 15 years. From 100% raw frozen meals to freeze-dried, raw-coated kibble, Instinct gives you a variety of ways to incorporate raw into your pet’s diet. Their raw recipes are crafted in their own kitchens in Lincoln, Nebraska, to ensure the highest standards in quality and food safety according to SQF standards.
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Questions & Answers

19 Customer Questions


How much Vitamin A does this have?


What purpose does the clay in this recipe serve?

Answer by ChewySep 27, 2022
Montmorillonite Clay is approved by AAFCO for use as an anticaking processing aid to absorb excess moisture and to help keep the food from clumping.

How much carbs does this food have?

Answer by ChewyMay 26, 2021
This recipe has a Carbohydrate content of 12.0% as-fed and 13.19% on a dry-matter basis.

Does the kitten dry food have gluten in it? Is it also approved by the AAFCO? Do they have the kitten formula in rabbit?

Answer by ChewyJan 12, 2019
This variety is grain and gluten free. It is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Cat Food Nutrient Profiles for growth. The kitten variety is only made in a chicken flavor by the manufacturer, at this time.

4.3
Rated 4.3 out of 5 stars
376 Ratings

Customers Mention

Chewy identifies key considerations with the help of artificial intelligence and our veterinarians.

Digestibility

79% Positive

Ingredients

83% Positive

Nutritional Value

87% Positive

Palatability

74% Positive

233 Customer Reviews



Rated 3 out of 5 stars
By Eva on Jan 2, 2026

My cats are ok with it

One of my cat loves pretty much anything and the other one is extremely picky. The picky one wouldn’t have any! It’s been so tough trying to find a nice dry food

One of my cat loves pretty much anything and the other one is extremely picky. The picky one wouldn’t have any! It’s been so tough trying to find a nice dry food for him.


Rated 5 out of 5 stars
By Lee-Ann on Dec 1, 2025

Instinct kitten food

The two brothers showed up at our home, only being about 3 months old, they really like this food, & are looking great.

The two brothers showed up at our home, only being about 3 months old, they really like this food, & are looking great.


Rated 1 out of 5 stars
By Anya on Jul 21, 2025

Stomach problems

My cat did not like instinct. Constant accidents outside the litter box, throwing up, and really stinky poops!

My cat did not like instinct. Constant accidents outside the litter box, throwing up, and really stinky poops!


Rated 5 out of 5 stars
By Denise on Sep 22, 2025

Instinct Original Real Chicken Recipe Grain-Free Kitten Dry Cat Food

My cat loves this dry cat food.

My cat loves this dry cat food.


Rated 4 out of 5 stars
By Elizabeth on Jan 2, 2025

Kitties Favorite Kibble!

My kitten is on a primarily wet-food diet, but we supplement her diet with "crunchies" while we're at work. She goes crazy for this food!! I appreciate the quality

My kitten is on a primarily wet-food diet, but we supplement her diet with "crunchies" while we're at work. She goes crazy for this food!! I appreciate the quality of the food, as many kibbles are filled with harmful additives. She gets excited as soon as her bowl is filled with crunchies. The bag lasts us ~3 months for 1 kitten. I rated 4/5 stars because the size of the kibble has gotten larger. Although my kitten can eat it now, she would've had trouble eating the kibble when we first got her because she was so small. The kibble size is for fully-grown cats, not kittens.


Rated 4 out of 5 stars
By Billie on Sep 26, 2025

Diet content

It keeps her weight good.

It keeps her weight good.


Rated 5 out of 5 stars
By Cindy on Jan 1, 2025

Good food

My older cat is always trying to swipe the kitten’s food so it seems to be pretty good. The kitten also likes eating this so it’s a win.

My older cat is always trying to swipe the kitten’s food so it seems to be pretty good. The kitten also likes eating this so it’s a win.


Rated 5 out of 5 stars
By Afton on Feb 11, 2025
Top 25 Contributor

Ferrets love it

They can be picky about food and they absolutely love this one in their rotation

They can be picky about food and they absolutely love this one in their rotation


Rated 5 out of 5 stars
By August on Oct 11, 2024

It smells like real ingredients!

Everyone loves it, from the kitten to the senior cats. The smaller bites does make it easier for my seniors cats to chow down on. I mix it with my adult Instinct

Everyone loves it, from the kitten to the senior cats. The smaller bites does make it easier for my seniors cats to chow down on. I mix it with my adult Instinct cat food.


Rated 1 out of 5 stars
By Amy on Sep 8, 2024

Did not like

My kitten really didn't like it, neither did her older brothers when they tried to sneak in to eat her kitten food. They normally eat the restricted ingredient turkey

My kitten really didn't like it, neither did her older brothers when they tried to sneak in to eat her kitten food. They normally eat the restricted ingredient turkey flavor of this same brand.