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The Addiction pet food brand is a product of Addiction Foods, Inc. This company is located in New Zealand and is well known for manufacturing whole pet foods made from game meat and novel protein. According to Addiction Foods Inc, their pet foods are additive free. Ingredients in the Addiction Pet Foods brands are famous for their nutritional and hypoallergenic benefits.
One of the many types of cat foods under the Addiction Foods Inc. umbrella is the Addiction Black Forest Rabbit & Blueberries Entréee (wet). This cat food features a combination of wild forest flavors making it a wonderful grain-free gourmet meal. Featuring low-fat protein (rabbit), this cat food is unmistakably great for your cat’s heart. It also makes a suitable alternative to lamb, chicken and beef.
Ingredients In Addiction Black Forest Rabbit & Blueberries Entree Wet Cat Food
It is a well-known fact that cats love rabbit meat. With the Addiction Black Forest Rabbit & Blueberries, you can give your cat a treat of this low fat premium protein at any time. The ingredients used are filled with nutrients that will benefit the health of your cat’s heart. The natural rabbit flavor paired with ripe and juicy blackberries not only adds sweetness to the food, but also makes the meal a dietary powerhouse thanks to the powerful antioxidants present.
The formulation of the Addiction Black Forest Rabbit & Blueberries Entréee (wet) has been done in a manner that meets the AAFCO’s nutrient profile expected for all Cat Foods.
Ingredients in Addiction Black Forest Rabbit & Blueberries Entrée
Blueberries, Liver, Sweet Potatoes, Water, Rabbit, Supplements of Vitamins D2 and B12, Riboflavin supplement, Biotin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Folic Acid, Supplement of Vitamin A, Calcium Pantothenate, Thiamin Mononitrate, Calcium Iodate, Sodium selenite, Manganese sulfate, Copper sulfate, Vitamin C sources (L-Ascorby-2-polyphosphate) Niacin supplement, Supplement of Vitamin E, Ferrous sulfate, Potassium Chloride, Zinc Sulfate, Taurine, Brewer’s yeast (dried), Guar Gum.
What’s more, this cat food formula does not contain any by-products, corn, grain, gluten, or artificial preservatives.
Ingredients overview
Rabbit – This is a great alternative meat source that provides excellent meat protein. When listed as “rabbit” that means this is whole rabbit. It contains the flesh, meat, and skin of the rabbit without the fur, bones, or intestines. While this is considered a very high quality meat source, it loses about 80% of its volume during the cooking process in dry cat foods. That means, in reality, this ingredient would be listed lower on the ingredients list if the ingredients were weighed after the cooking process. In wet cat foods, however, this is not as big of an issue since the cooking process is much different. In either case, this is a very high quality meat source and we are pleased to see it listed here.
Blueberries – Blueberries are a great source of fiber, vitamin C, and antioxidants. This ingredient is thought to help or prevent certain forms of cancer, dementia, heart disease, and asthma. While there are some exceptions, blueberries are usually only found in higher end cat foods.
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.
Sweet Potato – While sweet potatoes boost the protein percentage of the food and add other nutrients, it is mostly used as a filler ingredient. Even though cats are obligate carnivores, there is some evidence to suggest that sweet potatoes actually help aid in proper digestion. Unlike other filler ingredients like grains, this is not a known allergen for cats and the health risks associated with it are very low.
Water – As you might expect, water is mostly added for moisture and cooking purposes. It does not add any nutritional value to the food.
Additional Ingredients Of Interest In Addiction Black Forest Rabbit & Blueberries Cat Food
Brewer’s Yeast: Brewers yeast is made from a single-celled fungus, called Saccharomyces cerevisiae. It is a very rich source of B vitamins and supplies minerals and amino acids. It is known to support a normal healthy coat. This is also an old remedy for flea and tick protection. This ingredient is generally a by-product of alcohol production and there are no major health risks associated with this ingredient.
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.
Allergy Risk In Addiction Black Forest Rabbit & Blueberries Cat Food
Most cat allergies are caused by soy, corn and wheat. The Addiction Black Forest Rabbit & Blueberries Entréee (wet) does not contain any of the mentioned ingredients making it an ideal choice for cats that suffer from allergies. To be on the safe side, always confirm by checking the ingredients on the cat food packaging or consulting with your veterinarian.
Ingredients To Avoid
BHT & BHA: Both BHA & BHT are preservatives that have been banned in human foods in many countries due to cancer risks. However, they remain approved for use in pet foods. A growing number of pet owners are becoming aware of the potential dangers these ingredients bring and are shunning all foods containing BHA and BHT. BHA and BHT are extremely controversial ingredients in all forms of pet food.
Soy: Soy is another common food allergen for cats and is also known to cause gastric upset. This ingredient is considered a very low priced filler ingredient. While it will certainly help make your cat food more full, the full nutritional benefit in this ingredient is questionable at best. Many cat food brands will tell you the allergy risk is very low with soy, but it is one of the most well known food allergens that cats deal with in commercial pet food. Overall, this is a pretty low quality ingredient.
Wheat: Most cat food brands that use wheat in their products will tell you that wheat is a grain used as a high-quality carbohydrate source in dry dog and cat foods and biscuits. They will tell you that it provides energy for daily activity, as well as processing characteristics for the food. And finally, they will tell you that the allergy risk associated with wheat is low. However, many experts not associated with the pet food industry will seemingly say the opposite. From them, you’ll hear that wheat and wheat by-product is a very common allergy for dogs and cats. You’ll even find sources that claim wheat has also been linked to epileptic seizures and celiac diseases. Cats are not able to digest grains nearly as well as humans or dogs, so many cats may also experience digestion issues if given too much wheat. In general, wheat is considered to be a very low priced filler ingredient with essentially no nutritional value for cats. As the debate rages on, you be the judge.
Luckily, the Addiction Black Forest Rabbit and Blueberries does not contain these or any other harmful ingredients.
Conclusion
Most cat owners who have used this cat food brand highly recommend it. It is sweet tasting and does not cause any negative gastrointestinal complications in cats. Even though it may not be the cheapest in the market, the ingredients make the Addiction Black Forest Rabbit & Blueberries Entréee (wet) worth every penny.
