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The Addiction cat food brand has been in the market for a very long time now. The company that manufactures this cat food formula is called Addiction Foods, Inc.
Pet food formulas from Addiction foods are generally rich in game meat and protein. This is in keeping true to the company’s philosophy of feeding cats and pets on what they were naturally meant to feed on. Pet food formulas under this brand are nutritious and hypoallergenic.
One pet food formula under the Addiction brand is the Addiction Viva La Venison cat food formula. According to the Addiction foods company, Viva La Venison cat food is a premium cat formula that offers your cat a delectable meal.
This cat food formula nutrient rich and is ideal for cats that develop allergic reactions from feeding on lamb, beef or chicken. There is a lot of hype about this cat food but how does it compare to other pet foods?
Ingredients in Viva La Venison Cat Food
It is good to note that the Viva La Venison cat formula has been made to meet the AAFCO cat food nutritional levels.
Ingredients in Addiction Viva La Venison
Venison Meal, Dried Potatoes, Natural Flavors, Chicken Fat (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Dried Egg, Dried Kelp, Dehydrated Alfalfa Meal, Dried Carrots, Dried Cranberries, Dried Apples, Dried Spinach, Potassium Chloride, Salt, Dried Enterococcus faecium Fermentation Product, Brewers Dried Yeast, Lecithin, Dried Lactobacillus acidophilus Fermentation Product, Dried Bacillus subtilis Fermentation Extract, Dried Aspergillus niger Fermentation Extract, Choline Chloride, Zinc Proteinate, Vitamin E Supplement,Dried Saccharomyces cerevisiae Fermentation Solubles, Iron Proteinate, Inulin (from chicory root), Taurine, DL-Methionine, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Niacin (Vitamin B3), Ascorbic Acid (source of Vitamin C), Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Calcium Pantothenate, Thiamine (Vitamin B1), Biotin (Vitamin B7), Riboflavin (Vitamin B2), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Beta Carotene, Folic Acid (Vitamin B9), Rosemary Extract, Sodium Selenite.
When purchasing a cat food formula, the first five ingredients are the most crucial. This is because they basically make up the larger percentage of all the cat food ingredients.
Top 5 Ingredients Breakdown For Addiction Viva La Venison
Venison meal – Since venison in this case is listed as venison meal, we know that it has had almost all of the moisture content removed prior to the cooking process. This enables the ingredient to retain a much higher protein percentage and provides many more nutrients than its whole meat counterpart. This is an extremely high quality ingredient that your cat should love.
Dries potatoes – This is the source of carbohydrate in this cat food formula. This is a healthy alternative when compared to the other options of grain-based carbohydrate sources like soy and wheat. It also offers vitamins and minerals.
Natural flavors – While this ingredient may appear to be healthy and safe because it is “natural”, we believe this is a pretty poor quality ingredient. While it might be a harmless flavoring sprayed onto the food, natural flavors can be obtained from almost anything deemed “natural”. Not all things natural are good and some “natural flavor” sources can be downright harmful. Without being able to verify what chemicals are included into this ingredient, we feel a bit apprehensive about it.
Chicken fat – Chicken fat is a quality source of essential fatty acids and an excellent source of energy. Fat has a positive effect on the immune system and plays a beneficial role in stress response. Essential fatty acids are required for proper growth, reproduction, normal skin structure and a healthy coat. Because chicken fat contains virtually no protein, it’s use does not cause allergic reactions associated with the use of fresh chicken or chicken meal which contain high amounts of protein. Many times, mixed tocopherols, which are a natural source of Vitamin E activity, are used as a natural preservative to maintain freshness. This is considered a higher quality fat source in pet food.
Dried egg – 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.
Additional Ingredients Of Interest In Addiction Viva La Venison Cat Food
The Viva La Venison cat food formula is also enriched with probiotics that aid in digestion. It also contains tons of vegetables that offer phytonutrients and antioxidants
Addiction Viva La Venison Cat Food Allergy Risk
The Addiction Viva La Venison cat food is non-allergic since it contains no soy, corn, grain or wheat. Soy, wheat, grain and corn are known allergens, and you should not feed your cat these ingredients if he or she has stomach sensitivities. The Viva La Venison cat food formula is also a good alternative to cats that are allergic to lamb, chicken and beef. It also contains zero artificial flavoring and coloring. If your cat has an unusual food allergy, be sure you consult with a veterinarian before switching to this or any other cat food blend.
Harmful Ingredients Commonly Found In Cat Food
BHT and 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.
Artificial coloring – We find it quite irresponsible to include artificial coloring in pet food since the health concerns about these added colors are so controversial. Your cat does not care what color their food is and the only reason artificial coloring is added to this product is for marketing purposes. It makes the food look better to you YOU, the human consumer. Of course, many cat food brands are very defensive about their use of food coloring. Here is an example of how the Purina brand defends their use of fool coloring. Notice how even in their explanation, there is no perceived benefit to these ingredients other than changing the color. There is also a growing amount of evidence to suggest food coloring may be linked to cancer in not just dogs and cats, but also humans. Here is an article that explains a bit further. In short, since there is some controversy surrounding this ingredient, we find it a bit strange that cat food companies would spend money adding this ingredient into a product when at best, it has zero nutritional value for your cat and only has marketing value. At worse, it could pose health risks. It just doesn’t seem like the risk of including this ingredient is worth it.
Fortunately, Addiction Viva La Venison Cat Food does not contain these ingredients.
Conclusion
Most cat owners who use Addiction Viva La Venison cat food speak very highly of it. So far, there have been no widespread complaints on the cat food with regard to health or digestion issues. The price may be the only source of concern as it is a bit steep compared to other brands of cat food. However, based on the quality of the ingredients, this cat food is worth every penny as long as it is within your budget. It’s a great option for almost any cat and especially those with food sensitivities.
