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Are you looking for a cat food that will keep your cat coming back for more? You can easily get stressed when you realize that your cat is not eating or doesn’t like their current food. Maybe it’s time for a switch? With so many formulas on the market, choosing the most ideal cat food can be overwhelming. This By Nature 95% Turkey and Turkey Liver cat food review is designed to help you understand the ingredients in this blend.
By Nature is one of the many pet formula brands that offer protein rich cat formulas. The 95% turkey and turkey liver formula is one of the many formulas under the By Nature brand. According to By Nature, this formula contains 95% turkey and turkey liver. This makes it ideal for cats having a hard time feeding on other meat types.
Is this formula as good as it sounds? Read our full By Nature 95% Turkey and Turkey Liver canned cat food review below.
Ingredients in By Nature 95% Turkey and Turkey Liver Canned Cat Food
Turkey, Turkey Broth, Turkey Liver, Sun-Cured Alfalfa Meal, Flaxseed, Salt, Potassium Chloride, Calcium Carbonate, Choline Chloride, Carrageenan, Guar Gum, Taurine, Iron Proteinate, Zinc Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Sodium Selenite, Calcium Iodate, Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B1), Niacin Supplement (Vitamin B3), Vitamin E Supplement, b-Calcium Pantothenate (Vitamin B5), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Riboflavin Supplement (Vitamin B2), Biotin (Vitamin B7), Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin D2 Supplement, Folic Acid (Vitamin B9).
Top 5 Ingredients Analysis
The most important nutrients in any pet food formula is the first 5 ingredients. This is because they make up the largest percentage of the nutritional value of the formula.
Turkey
As a whole meat ingredient, turkey is a fantastic source of very healthy animal based proteins. We are extremely pleased to see this ingredient listed. Unfortunately, in dry kibbles, there is not as much of this ingredient included as you might initially think. Ingredients are listed by weight prior to the cooking process and since whole turkey is about 70% moisture, the vast majority is cooked off. So while we think this is an excellent and nutritional ingredient, it does need to be complimented by other high quality meat protein ingredients when used in dry kibbles. In wet cat foods, however, this is not nearly as much of a concern.
Turkey Broth
Any type of broth is mostly used as an alternative to simply using water. It adds moisture to the food and a broth helps to make the food more appetizing and tastier for your cat. This ingredient is rather void of much nutritional value, but there is no evidence to suggest there are any problems with this ingredient. It can be commonly found in many different brands of cat food.
Turkey Liver
In the wild, cats almost always eat the liver of their prey. It is a rich source of vitamin A which cats must obtain from their food since they can’t make it in their bodies. This is also a good secondary source of protein. If cats consume too much liver, it could cause toxicity, but the amount needed for liver to become toxic to cats is very high. Liver is provided in safe quantities in this cat food blend.
Sun Cured Alfalfa
Alfalfa is a rich mineral food that has trace minerals such as zinc, iron, and manganese. It also includes vitamin A, vitamin C, as well as other nutrients that are beneficial to cats such as chlorophyll. Even though this is labelled as “sun cured” that is mostly a marketing gimmick.
Flaxseed
Flaxseeds (also called linseeds) are a rich source of micronutrients, dietary fiber, manganese, vitamin B1, and the essential fatty acid alpha-linolenic acid, also known as ALA or omega-3. The seeds come from flax, one of the the oldest fiber crops in the world. It is not only a source of healthy fat, antioxidants, and fiber; modern research has found evidence to suggest that flaxseed can also help lower the risk of diabetes, cancer, and heart disease. The health risk associated with this ingredient is low and in general, flaxseed is considered to be a beneficial ingredient for cats.
The first 5 ingredients suggest that this formula is nutrient rich though the protein source is a bit weak.
Other Ingredients Of Interest
Guar gum
This ingredient is also sometimes called guaran. It is primarily the ground endosperm of guar beans. The guar seeds are dehusked, milled and screened to obtain the guar gum. It is typically produced as a free-flowing, off-white powder. This ingredient is mostly used to thicken the food and give it more texture. It is an FDA-approved, all natural GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) ingredient used by the food and cosmetic industries. It also is used to improve the shelf life of the food and helps lower the glycemic index of food. Many cat food companies claim this ingredient also aids in digestion and weight loss. There is some minor debate about the benefits of this ingredient with some claiming negative impacts, but in general, this is thought to be a relatively non-nutritious yet safe ingredient.
Carrageenan
This is an additive extracted from red and purple seaweeds, consisting of a mixture of polysaccharides. It is used as a thickening or emulsifying agent in food products. There is still much research being done on this additive and while it is generally considered safe, there is room for caution as carrageenan has produced intestinal damage and ulcers in some animal studies. If you would like more information about the ongoing research of this ingredient, you may reference this research study.
Salt
Salt is necessary for a cats body to function properly, but too much salt can be dangerous and even deadly. Usually, salt is added to pet food in order to meet AAFCO nutritional requirements. Salt, or sodium chloride, is indeed necessary so cat food that doesn’t contain enough will have a bit of it included. Salt helps your cats cells move nutrients and waste products where they need to go, and it helps his or her tummy make the right amount of acid to digest food properly. According to the Journal of Nutrition, average-sized cats need about 21 milligrams of salt per day. Many cat foods have higher concentrations than that. The National Research Council recommends no more than 42 milligrams per day. Most of the time, salt in commercial cat food products poses no danger and does have some nutritional benefit.
Allergy Risks Associated With By Nature 95% Turkey and Turkey Liver Cat Food
This cat food blend is free from all of the major allergy causing ingredients. Therefor, we believe the allergy risk associated with this cat food blend is very low. However, all cats are different and may suffer from unique food allergies. When in doubt, be sure to consult a professional.
Conclusion
By Nature 95% Turkey and Turkey Liver canned cat food is an average quality cat food. As the manufacturer says, it is best given as a snack to compliment your cat’s normal diet. It is a bit low on meat protein and we think the top ingredient, turkey, should be complimented by another high protein meat source like turkey meal. On the positive side, the food contains no grain and is, therefore, free from most allergy concerns. Judging by the ingredients alone, we think this is a decent quality cat food.
