N&D Dry Cat Food: Calories, Protein, and Package Lifespan
Energy varies by 26% across 29 N&D dry cat food formulas. Check out calories, protein per 1000 kcal, and the package lifespan chart.
A 5 kg pack of N&D Prime lasts about 88 days at roughly 57 g per day for a 4 kg neutered cat. A Quinoa Weight pack of the same size (both options are available in 5 kg in our catalog) lasts about 70 days at 71 g per day: the same brand, the same package size, about 20% less time. The difference isn't just about price; it's about the energy density between the formulas. This article puts side-by-side the manufacturer's published analysis and energy values for the 29 N&D dry cat foods in our catalog, calculating daily grams, package lifespan, and protein density.
Moisture is constant in dry food, energy is not
When comparing raw percentages in wet food, you first need to remove the water; we did this in our wet food articles. The situation is different in dry food: moisture is 8% across all 29 of these products, meaning crude protein and fat percentages can be directly compared among products. Still, it can be misleading on its own because if two foods have different calorie densities, you consume the same percentage in different amounts. That's why we used two additional metrics: energy (the manufacturer's declared metabolizable energy, kcal/kg) and protein per 1000 kcal. The latter shows how many grams of protein your cat receives regardless of which food provides its daily energy.
How daily grams and package lifespan were calculated
As a reference, we took the daily energy of a 4 kg neutered adult cat: resting energy (70 × kg^0.75) multiplied by a factor of about 1.2, which is approximately 238 kcal/day. Daily grams = daily kcal ÷ (kcal/kg ÷ 1000); package lifespan = package kg × kcal/kg ÷ daily kcal. These are averages: your cat's activity, age, and neutered status will change the result; the feeding table on the packaging and veterinary advice should be the basis. For kitten products, daily amounts are much higher according to the growth stage and age-dependent, so no calculation was made.
Table: 29 Products
Ordering is from lowest to highest energy density. The package lifespan column lists the package sizes available in our catalog for each product.
Series by series comparison
| Series | Number of Products | Protein (crude) | kcal / 100 g |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prime | 4 | 42%–46% | 364–420 |
| Ocean | 5 | 36%–46% | 364–420 |
| Pumpkin | 4 | 42%–46% | 363–420 |
| Ancestral Grain | 6 | 36%–38% | 356–417 |
| Quinoa | 6 | 30%–40% | 334–408 |
| Tropical Selection | 4 | 31%–36% | 351–383 |
Six findings from the table
1. There is about a 26% energy difference between the lightest and most dense food. Quinoa Weight Lamb, Quinoa and Broccoli Light Cat Food is the lowest with 334 kcal/100 g, and Prime Grain-Free Chicken and Pomegranate Cat Food is the highest with 420 kcal/100 g. For a 4 kg cat, this means between 57 g and 71 g per day.
2. Protein percentage and protein density do not give the same ranking. Protein per 1000 kcal is lowest in Quinoa Skin Coat Quail, Quinoa and Coconut Cat Food (76 g; crude protein 30%), and highest in Pumpkin Grain-Free Quail, Pumpkin and Pomegranate Neutered Cat Food (127 g; crude protein 46%). Since fat is reduced in weight control or neutered foods, energy decreases while the protein ratio is preserved, thus increasing protein per calorie.
3. The neutered version of the same recipe is significantly lighter. Prime Grain-Free Chicken and Pomegranate (adult) is 420 kcal/100 g, while its neutered version is 364 kcal/100 g. Crude fat is 20% in the adult recipe and 11% in the neutered one; crude protein is 44% and 46%, respectively. The daily grams for a neutered cat adjust accordingly to about 65 g instead of 57 g; feeding adult food to a neutered cat in the same grammage significantly increases energy intake.
4. The energy levels of the series are close to each other, while weight control products stand out. Adult and kitten recipes in the Prime, Pumpkin, and Ocean series range between 417–420 kcal/100 g; the Quinoa series ranges between 334–408. Quinoa Weight Lamb, Quinoa and Broccoli Light Cat Food is the lightest on the list with 334 kcal/100 g; whereas Quinoa Digestion Lamb, Quinoa and Fennel Sensitive Digestion Cat Food is the Quinoa recipe with the highest fat (21.5%) at 408 kcal/100 g.
5. There is a protein difference between low-grain and grain-free formulas. Crude protein is 36% in the Ancestral Grain Low Grain Chicken and Pomegranate recipe and 44% in the Prime Grain-Free Chicken and Pomegranate recipe, based on the exact same chicken and pomegranate foundation. Energy is 417 and 420 kcal/100 g respectively; meaning the low-grain recipe with added grains carries less protein with similar energy.
6. Main ingredient ratios are clearly stated in the manufacturer's composition list. In the Prime Grain-Free Chicken and Pomegranate Cat Food recipe, boneless chicken makes up 30% and dehydrated chicken protein 28%. Since fresh meat and dehydrated meat protein are separate lines, they need to be read together; since the majority of fresh meat is water, its contribution after processing may be smaller than dehydrated protein.
If you feed dry food along with wet food
If you plan to add canned food or pouches, you need to deduct its energy from the dry food portion. Example: N&D Prime Chicken cat canned food contains about 77 kcal in a 70 g can (declared as 1101 kcal/kg). To balance this with Prime Grain-Free Chicken and Pomegranate Cat Food, you need to reduce the daily dry food by about 18 g. If you add wet food without reducing the dry food, the excess energy can lead to weight gain. For wet food analysis of other brands, you can check our Royal Canin wet food article.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is N&D dry cat food sufficient on its own?
Products are formulated according to life stage (kitten, adult, neutered); rely on the "complete food" statement and the feeding table on the packaging. Adjust the amount according to the cat's weight, activity level, and neuter status.
Can adult food be given to a neutered cat?
Adult foods are more energy-dense (about a 15% difference in the same recipe on this list). If adult food is to be given to a neutered cat, the portion size must be reduced and weight monitored; the easiest way is to choose a neutered or weight-control product.
What is the difference between grain-free and low-grain food?
Grain-free recipes in the Prime, Pumpkin, and Ocean series do not contain grains; low-grain (Ancestral Grain) recipes contain small amounts of grains such as spelt and oats. The protein and energy levels of the two differ in the table within this article.
How to transition to a new food?
Make the transition to a new food gradually by mixing it with the old one. Product packaging recommends storing them in a cool, dry place and in closed packaging.
Are these values exact?
Values are the manufacturer's published analysis and energy declarations; raw percentages have also been entered into our product records. If the manufacturer changes the recipe, the values may change; check the packaging for exact values. Daily grams and package lifespan are approximate calculations for an average cat.
Data source and limitations
29 products were compiled from the analytical components and metabolizable energy values on the manufacturer's (Farmina) cat food product pages; catalog products were matched according to recipe, life stage, and protein source. The Quinoa Hairball recipe was excluded from the table as no analysis was available from the source. The article is for general informational purposes; for cats with illnesses, pregnant, nursing, or elderly cats, a veterinary consultation is required for a feeding plan.
For all products, you can check the N&D brand, Adult Cat Food, and Neutered Cat Food pages.