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Maintaining a healthy weight for cats is very important. Obesity in cats can lead to serious health complications and even death. The first step to keeping your cat’s weight under control is to use the right formula.
Choosing an ideal cat formula for your cat can also be a hard task. Blue Buffalo Longevity for Adult Cats (dry) is one of the cat formulas claimed to be ideal for cats. It is claimed that the cat feed helps you to control the weight of your cat. The blue buffalo company is the manufacturers of this cat formula. The company is known to produce high quality cat feeds. Read on and learn more about this cat feed.
Ingredients contained in this cat feed
Deboned Whitefish, Salmon Meal (source of Omega 3 Fatty Acids), Whole Ground Brown Rice, Menhaden Fish Meal (source of Omega 3 Fatty Acids), Peas, Oatmeal, Eggs, Whole Ground Barley, Chicken Fat (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols and Citric Acid), Pea Protein, Potatoes, Natural Flavor, Rice Bran, Carrots, Spinach, Broccoli, Tomatoes (source of Lycopene), Oat Bran, Flaxseed (source of Omega 3 and 6 Fatty Acids), Alfalfa Meal, Taurine, L-Lysine, Oil of Rosemary, Cranberries, Blueberries, Apples, Barley Grass, Dried Parsley, Dried Kelp, Yucca Schidigera Extract, L-Carnitine, Turmeric, Beta Carotene, Vitamin A Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B1), Riboflavin (Vitamin B2), Niacin (Vitamin B3), d-Calcium Pantothenate (Vitamin B5), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Biotin (Vitamin B7), Folic Acid (Vitamin B9), Vitamin B12 Supplement, Calcium Ascorbate (source of Vitamin C), Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement, Iron Amino Acid Chelate, Zinc Amino Acid Chelate, Manganese Amino Acid Chelate, Copper Amino Acid Chelate, Choline Chloride, Sodium Selenite, Calcium Iodate, Salt, Caramel, Dried Yeast (source of Saccharomyces cerevisiae), Dried Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, Dried Bacillus subtilis fermentation product, Dried Enterococcus faecium fermentation product.
A brief overview of the first five ingredients
Deboned white fish
Whitefish is a species of tilefish native to the eastern Pacific Ocean. This ingredient is likely included for its protein content as well as very healthy omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. While this ingredient probably isn’t something most cats would eat in a natural or wild environment, the ingredient does contain some very essential nutrient sources. Some cat owners worry about the mercury content in fish since all fish contains some level of mercury, but the health risk is considered to be pretty low.
Salmon meal
Salmon is an excellent source of high quality proteins for cats and is extremely rich in healthy Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids. Some people worry about mercury levels in fish. It’s true that all fish contains some degree of mercury, the level in salmon is much lower than other types of fish and the FDA doesn’t believe it causes any problems at all. Most salmon in cat food is farmed salmon, but higher end cat food (especially those labeled “natural”) can often times be fished from natural lakes and streams. The biggest problem with fish ingredients, including salmon, is if the fish includes an antioxidant called ethoxyquin (EMQ). It is believe that ethoxyquin could be very harmful to cats and other animals. Always make sure you are using “Ethoxyquin free” cat food blends when they include fish ingredients. When in doubt, call the customer service number and ask.
Whole ground brown rice
Brown rice and white rice have similar amounts of calories and carbohydrates. The main differences between the two forms of rice lie in processing and nutritional content. When only the outermost layer of a grain of rice (the husk) is removed, brown rice is produced. To produce white rice, the next layers underneath the husk (the bran layer and the germ) are removed, leaving mostly the starchy endosperm. While many cat owners like to stay away from grain based ingredients, rice in general is easy for cats to digest and is not likely to cause allergic reactions. The rice will expand in your cats stomach helping him or her feel more full. So while this ingredient may not be especially nutritious, it does have value in the food and is unlikely to cause major problems. You should still avoid this ingredient if your cat has suffered from grain allergies in the past, but overall, this is a very low-risk ingredient even though it is a grain.
Menhaden fish meal
This is a meal obtained from processing fish of the menhaden species. It is a good source of high quality fish protein and Omega-3 essential fatty acids, including EPA, DHA, and arachionic acid. Some people worry about mercury levels in fish. It’s true that all fish contains some degree of mercury, the level in salmon is much lower than other types of fish and the FDA doesn’t believe it is cause for much concern. The biggest problem with fish ingredients, including herring, is if the fish includes an antioxidant called ethoxyquin (EMQ). It is believe that ethoxyquin could be very harmful to cats and other animals. Always make sure you are using “Ethoxyquin free” cat food blends when they include fish ingredients. When in doubt, call the customer service number and ask.
Peas
Peas are becoming more and more common in pet foods today, especially those listed as grain-free, holistic, or natural pet foods. While peas are certainly not grains, they serve much the same purpose. It mostly acts as a filler and a cheap way to increase the protein percentage of the food. However, cats receive almost no nutritional value from peas. Since cats are obligate carnivores, they require proteins from meat based ingredients. There is very little research that has been performed on the long term effects of cats consuming peas. We do know that peas can cause runny poop or digestion issues in dogs, but the full effect on cats remains a bit of an unknown. At best, this ingredient will act as a filler and will not provide much nutritional value, if any, to your cat.
Other ingredients worth looking at
Eggs – While raw eggs can cause some skin problems in cats, cooked eggs are healthy for cats and supply quite a bit of protein. Some cat owners prefer only feeding egg whites because the yolks can add a fairly high amount of cholesterol. In addition to the protein content, eggs also supply potassium, magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, copper, zinc, and iron. In moderation, this is considered a healthy ingredient for cats.
Broccoli – This is a very rich source of vitamin C, soluble fiber, calcium as well as other nutrients. While not dangerous to your cat, it has been associated with an increase in flatulence in many cats.
Apples – Apples provide an excellent source of pectin, a water-soluble fiber. This is an ingredient normally found in higher end brands of cat food.
Can this cat formula trigger allergies in cats?
Judging from the ingredients that are contained in this cat feed, it is very unlikely that your cat will suffer from allergies after feeding on this formula. It is free from the common allergens found in cat foods.
Ingredients to be weary of
Gluten – This ingredient is associated with causing allergies in cats. It is also known to raise sugar levels in cats. Over time, this can lead to diabetes. Gluten refers to the proteins found in wheat endosperm which is a type of tissue produced in seeds that’s ground to make flour. Many pet food manufactures will use this ingredient to help boost the protein percentage of the food.
BHA – This is an antioxidant that is frequently included in both human and pet foods as a preservative. There is rising concern about the long-term health effects of this preservative in both humans and pets. A growing number of research suggests this ingredient could cause cancer. In this recent study, rats and hamsters were given BHA in their diet and developed tumors in their stomaches. Since this is such a controversial and questionable ingredient, it is considered to be somewhat risky.
Conclusion
This cat feed is an above average cat feed. This is because it contains only high quality ingredients that help boost the cat’s general health. The only down side is that it doesn’t have sufficient moisture.
