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Friskies Indoor Delights Dry Cat Food Review

June 2, 2015

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Are you looking for the perfect indoor dry formula for your feline? Nurturing an indoor cat can be a challenge for most owners. With the perfect formula, you can make this experience a breeze. Today, it is possible to get indoor dry formulas in different brand names. It is, therefore, advisable to take your time when selecting a formula for your cat. Reading through the list of ingredients can go a long way in helping you through the selection process.

The Friskies indoor delights is amongst the numerous dry formulas for cats. The company that manufacturers this formula claims that this cat food is made with ingredients that have been formulated to promote healthy weight in cats while at the same time aiding in hairball control.

Is this dry formula the best for your indoor cat?

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The ingredients

Ground yellow corn, corn gluten meal, chicken by-product meal, meat and bone meal, soybean meal, beef tallow preserved with mixed-tocopherols (form of Vitamin E), turkey by-product meal, powdered cellulose, animal liver flavor, soybean hulls, malt extract, phosphoric acid, calcium carbonate, salt, choline chloride, potassium chloride, dried cheese powder, parsley flakes, added color, taurine, zinc sulfate, Vitamin E supplement, ferrous sulfate, Yellow 6, manganese sulfate, niacin, Yellow 5, Red 40, Vitamin A supplement, calcium pantothenate, thiamine mononitrate, Blue 2, copper sulfate, riboflavin supplement, Vitamin B-12 supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, folic acid, Vitamin D-3 supplement, calcium iodate, biotin, menadione sodium bisulfite complex (source of Vitamin K activity), sodium selenite.

An overview of the first five ingredients

Ground yellow corn

As you might expect, this ingredient is simply yellow corn that has been ground into meal or flour. As with any other corn ingredient in cat food, this is a very controversial ingredient. Cats are obligate carnivores and do not receive much of any nutritional value from plant based and grain based ingredients. While it’s true that cats will eat the stomach contents of their prey in the wild, which usually includes plant based products, it is only consumed in small amounts and doesn’t really add any health benefits. Usually, this ingredient can be found in lower priced cat food because it can be used as a very cheap filler to help make your cat feel more full. However, since corn is a rather difficult to digest, many cats may have problems with this food. In addition, corn is one of the most well known food allergens for cats. While your cat may not suffer from corn allergies, it is a very common problem and one of the big reasons why this ingredient is so controversial.

Corn gluten meal

This is the dried residue from corn after the removal of the larger part of the starch and germ, and the separation of the bran by the process employed in the wet milling manufacture of corn starch or syrup, or by enzymatic treatment of the endosperm. The expression “corn gluten” is colloquial jargon that describes corn proteins that are neither gliadin nor glutenin. Only wheat, barley, rye and oat contain true gluten. For the most part, this ingredient is normally only found in cheaper “grocery store brand” cat foods. Corn is frequently used as a filler ingredient to help make your cat feel more full, but it does not add much of anything to the nutritional value in the food. In addition, this is a common allergen for many cats and corn based ingredients can often be difficult for cats to digest. That’s why we can’t recommend this food for cats with food allergies or sensitive digestive systems.

Chicken by-product meal

While this ingredient does provide a high amount of meat protein, this meat source is considered to be of lower quality than many other meat sources. Chicken By-Product Meal is produced through a process of cooking, drying and separation of fats and proteins from animal carcasses. It contains a dehydrated combination of meat (or cuts or parts) including lungs, spleen, kidneys, brain, livers, blood, bone, necks, undeveloped eggs and intestines. Usually, by-products are the “left overs” that can’t be used for human food consumption. The greatest fault of this ingredient is the same trait that makes it so affordable and so commonly found in pet foods. The unpredictability of what might (or might not) be included.

Meat and bone meal

Meat and bone meal is the dried and rendered product from mammal tissues. It does not contain horn, hair, hide trimmings, manure, stomach contents, added blood meal or poultry by-product. The calcium content should not be more than 2.2 times the phosphorus content. While this ingredient probably provides a high amount of animal based proteins, it is generally considered to be a very low form of animal proteins. With such generic labeling, we are unable to tell where the meat and bones are coming from. It could be coming from almost any animal. As with other unnamed meat sources, we remain very skeptical about this ingredient.

Soybean meal

This ingredient is created after grinding the soybean to extract soybean oil. In addition to being used in dog and cat food, it is widely used as a filler and source of protein in other animal diets including pig, chicken, cattle, horse, sheep, and fish feed. This ingredient can often be found in “hairball relief” cat foods as it is believed to help eliminate hairballs. While some cats are allergic to soy based ingredients, the pet food industry is pretty defensive of this ingredient claiming that despite the attempts of researchers to prove a link between soy and bloat, no studies to date show this link. Rather, breed, body type, weight and stress level are significant risk factors. The pet food industry also claims that soy products are a superb source of bodybuilding protein, coat-nourishing vegetable oil and healthful fiber for cats. As long as your cat isn’t allergic to soy based ingredients, this ingredient shouldn’t pose any problems, but it isn’t included without controversy.

Other ingredients in this cat formula

Beef tallow preserved with mixed-tocopherols (form of Vitamin E)

Tallow is a rendered form of beef or mutton fat, processed from suet. Suet is the hard white fat on the kidneys and loins of cattle, sheep, and other animals, used to make foods including puddings, pastry, and mincemeat. In short, Beef tallow is to beef what lard is to pork. Bottom line is that this is a fat source used in the food. Like all other carnivores, cats require a certain amount of fat in their diet. Beef tallow is also able to stay fresher for longer – another reason this is a popular ingredient in cat food. We have no problems with this ingredient being used and is probably beneficial to your cat.

Turkey by-product meal

Turkey is a fantastic source of very healthy animal based proteins. Since this is listed as turkey meal, that means almost all of the moisture was removed prior to the cooking process. This is actually a good thing as it will contain many times more protein than turkey that was cooked without the moisture being removed. Since this is a by-product, it may not include the most nutritious parts of the turkey including beaks and bones.

Powdered cellulose

Powdered cellulose is a cheap filler ingredient. It is obtain as a pulp from fibrous plant material and highly refined. Once processed, it looks and feels very similar to sawdust. Cellulose is used in a wide number of ways. In addition to being added to pet food, it is used quite a bit in human foods, but can also be used for things like insulation, rope making, and textiles. Just like in humans, this ingredient is indigestible for cats. There is no hard evidence to suggest this ingredient is unhealthy, but it wouldn’t be considered a higher quality ingredient, either.

Animal liver flavor

When the ingredient “animal liver flavor” is used, what animal did this liver flavor come from? We don’t know, and either do you. The only one who really knows this answer is the manufacture. You can try calling them to ask, but most pet food companies are tight lipped about their “proprietary information.” To put things in perspective, this ingredient is so processed that it’s just the FLAVOR of an unnamed animal liver. This ingredient can even be synthetically derived to imitate liver flavor. While it probably won’t pose much harm to your cat, the fact this is a flavor coming from an unnamed animal leaves us wondering, and that doesn’t instill much confidence or imply quality.

Is this formula ideal for allergic cats?

From the list of ingredients, this cat food does contain several allergy causing ingredients. It is, therefore, advisable to avoid feeding your cat on this dry formula if it suffers from allergies.

Healthy ingredients that should be used in cat foods

Meat based protein sources – This ingredient is considered to be low quality because it is almost impossible to tell what is included here. When labels are very generic, it can be an indication the company is trying to hide a certain controversial ingredient. In this case, meat based protein sources can mean almost anything. There are a lot of different types of meat out there and they all will supply “protein sources” for a cat, but what animal is the meat coming from? What protein sources are they talking about. This is a labeled ingredient that is highly questionable and we are very untrusting of it.

Vegetables – This is a pretty generic ingredient and it can include virtually any vegetable. Because of this, we are unable to properly analyze this ingredient. However, since cats are obligate carnivores, they do not gain much of any nutritional benefit from vegetables. That being said, in nature, cats almost always consume the stomach contents of their prey which usually includes various fruits and vegetables. It’s unfortunate this labeling is so generic as we are unable to vouch for the quality of the vegetables included.

Conclusion

Judging from the list of ingredients on the Friskies indoor delights (dry) cat formula, it is a low quality formula. It contains low quality ingredients comprising of allergens. This formula is unsuitable for cats with food sensitivities.

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Friskies Crispies Salmon Flavor Puffs (Dry) Cat Formula

June 2, 2015

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Cat Food Reviews

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As a cat owner, it is obvious that you want only the best for your cat. This is the reason why cat owners tirelessly look for cat formulas that are ideal for their cats. Crispies salmon flavor puffs is one among the many cat formulas available today. According to the manufacturer, the formula boasts a combination of a new crispy texture and loads of flavors that your cat is bound to enjoy.

Friskies is a cat formula manufacturer well known for the manufacture of high quality pet foods. Being the manufacturers of the crispies salmon flavor puffs, they claim that the cat formula is safe for use as an adult cat feed.

Read this review and conclude for yourself whether or not this cat formula is ideal for your cat.

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Ingredients that are used to make the cat formula

Brewers rice, chicken meal, corn gluten meal, animal fat preserved with mixed-tocopherols (form of Vitamin E), animal liver flavor, malt extract, natural and artificial flavors, phosphoric acid, brewers dried yeast, salmon meal, added color (Red 40 and other color), salt, L-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate (source of Vitamin C), citric acid, BHA (a preservative), BHT (a preservative), calcium carbonate. A-6217

An overview of the first five ingredients

Brewer’s rice

Brewers rice is the small milled fragments of rice kernels that have been separated from the larger kernels of milled rice. It is a processed rice product that is missing many of its nutrients, but does provide a source of carbohydrates. It is a by-product of rice milling and considered a lower quality filler ingredient usually used in lower priced cat food blends. Usually, brewers rice is used to make rice flour, but if the quality is too poor for rice flour, it will then be sold to pet food or dairy feed companies. For many cats, this ingredient can cause allergies or digestion issues. Most cats will not have any problems processing this food, but it’s not one of the better ingredients, either.

Chicken meal

Chicken meal is ground up chicken meat that has been carefully dried to a moisture level of 10%. The protein content is 65% and the fat level is 12%. Many pet owners feel that chicken is a superior ingredient to chicken meal. It would seem logical that feeding a pet a whole, non-rendered chicken would be good. However, whole chicken still contains its moisture content prior to cooking and since whole chicken consists of about 80% moisture, after the cooking process is over there isn’t much left. With chicken meal, the moisture was removed prior to cooking. That means, chicken meal actually has a much higher protein percentage and provides far more beneficial nutrients to your cats than whole chicken. Meals consist of meat and skin, with or without the bones, but exclusive of feathers/hair, heads, feet, horns, entrails etc. and have the proper calcium/phosphorus ratio required for a balanced diet. It’s also important to note the quality difference between “chicken by-product meal” and “chicken meal.” While we do take exception to chicken by-products, chicken meal is actually a very high quality and nutritious ingredient. We are happy to see this listed.

Corn gluten meal

Animal fat

Animal fat provides essential fatty acids, energy, and fat soluble vitamins. This ingredient can also support a healthy skin and coat. Unfortunately, when it comes to fat sources, animal fat is considered to be a lower quality ingredient. This is because it is an unnamed fat source. Usually, we like to see a named fat source (such as “chicken fat”). In this case, we are forced to guess what animal or animals this fat source comes from. Animal fat, also called tallow, is a product of rendering. In the rendering process, pieces, parts, and even whole animals are put through a gigantic grinder, then boiled in vats for 30 minutes to several hours. High heat is necessary to kill bacteria, viruses, molds, and other pathogens. The boiling process also allows the fat to separate and float to the top, where it is skimmed off for use in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, industrial lubricants, and, of course, pet food.

Animal liver flavor

Other ingredients of interest

Natural and artificial flavors – Both artificial and natural flavor ingredients are considered to be lower quality ingredients. Since we are looking at two different ingredients here, let’s check out what natural flavor is first. The actual definition of natural flavor is very long and confusion, but basically states that the flavor of an item can be extracted, then sprayed onto other products. Natural and artificial flavors are produced in the same factories these days. Both are considered safe, but artificial and natural flavors alike can be dangerous depending on what they are. It is actually best to avoid flavoring altogether, both natural and artificial.

Artificial flavor is usually derived from petroleum. Most have not been studied for safety or toxicity. They are all synthesized chemicals that don’t even have common names. Most artificial flavors actually contain many chemical ingredients, not just one. Many of those chemicals are volatile. In short, both natural and artificial flavors are chemical based ingredients and we don’t get all that excited when we see either one of those ingredients listed, let alone both together. Both of these ingredients have potential allergy risks and other possible health problems in cats.

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.

Brewers dried yeast – Brewers dried 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.

Added color – There is absolutely no reason to included added color into any cat food, ever. It’s extremely disappointing to see this ultra-low quality ingredient included. Added color is used for marketing purposes only. They want their product to stand out sitting on the shelf at the store, so they add coloring to their product. Essentially, the coloring is added to entice YOU (the human) to purchase the food over other brands. Your cat could care less what color the food is. Unfortunately, added color is quite controversial as there is growing evidence suggesting cancer in cats from too much food color exposure. At worse, this is a harmful ingredient and at best, it is a marketing ploy with no nutritional value or positive benefit to your cat. We usually have a tough time recommending any cat food that includes such a controversial ingredient.

Does this cat formula cause allergic reactions in cats?

From the list of ingredients given above, this cat formula contains ingredients that are very harmful to cats. Ingredients like corn products are known to cause allergic reactions in cats. This cat formula also contains BHT and BHA preservatives that are made form chemical compounds and are known to cause cat poisoning.

Ingredients that you should avoid

Artificial flavor and color – Both artificial and natural flavor ingredients are considered to be lower quality ingredients. Artificial flavor is usually derived from petroleum. Most have not been studied for safety or toxicity. They are all synthesized chemicals that don’t even have common names. Most artificial flavors actually contain many chemical ingredients, not just one. Many of those chemicals are volatile. Both natural and artificial flavors are chemical based ingredients and we don’t get all that excited when we see either one of those ingredients listed. Both of these ingredients have potential allergy risks and other possible health problems in cats.

We also 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.

Soy, wheat and corn – All three of these ingredients are known allergens for many cats. In addition, many cats have problems digesting these grain based ingredients. Since cats are obligate carnivores, their digestive systems are designed to digest meat and not grains. All of these ingredients will help to boost the protein percentage in cat food, but not all protein is created equally. Cats do not digest plant based proteins in the same way as meat proteins and in fact, gain little to no nutritional value from these grains. Several “grocery store brand” cat foods include these products to keep the price down as it is a cheap filler to help make your cat feel full as well as a cheap way to add protein to the food.

Conclusion

Crispies salmon flavor is a harmful cat formula, as it contains harmful ingredients that are known to cause cat poisoning and allergic reactions in cats. It can however serve as a snack for cats that are not allergy prone.

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Friskies Crispies Milk Flavor Puffs (Dry) Cat Food

June 2, 2015

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Cat Food Reviews

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Are you looking for a cat formula that is ideal for your adult cat? Claims have been made suggesting that the Crispies Milk Flavor Puffs cat formula is enriched with ingredients that ensure that all the nutritional requirements of your cat are met. The combination of ingredients that are used to make the cat formula ensures that your cat will enjoy every bite of the cat formula. The cat feed is an ideal feed for adult cats.

This cat formula is one of the new products that are manufactured by the Friskies Company. The company is well known for the manufacture of high quality cat formulas. Read through this review to find out more about the cat formula.

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Ingredients that are used to make the cat formula

Brewers rice, wheat flour, chicken meal, animal fat preserved with mixed-tocopherols (form of Vitamin E), soy flour, soybean meal, animal liver flavor, ground yellow corn, milk, malt extract, added color, phosphoric acid, natural and artificial flavors, salt, citric acid. B-6218

A review of the first five ingredients

Brewer’s rice

Wheat flour

Wheat flour is a powder made from the grinding of wheat. It helps with the cooking process and also helps to increase the nutrient values of the food. However, cats do not digest wheat in the same way they digest other meat based products. Wheat does not provide much nutrition to cats and is considered a lower quality ingredient. Some cats have problems digesting wheat and others may experience allergic reactions to this ingredient. In lower quantities, this is considered to be a safe ingredient for cats, but it isn’t considered to be a high quality or nutritious ingredient, either.

Chicken meal

Animal fat

Soy flour

Many pet food companies seem pretty headstrong about defending their use of soy products, even calling health concerns associated with soy to be a myth. Wysong is one of those companies and to be fair, you can read their opinion about this ingredient here. However, we tend to agree with many of those outside the pet food industry that see major problems using any form of soy in cat food. There is no doubt this ingredient has been the subject of much controversy over the years and the benefits claimed by pet food companies is questionable at best. Why would pet food companies insist on using such a controversial ingredient? They claim it’s for health benefits, but we think it’s rather convenient that soy four is so cheaply made. It’s safe to say this is not considered a high quality ingredient by most experts and at best, it is a mediocre ingredient that we, in general, do not recommend for cats.

Other ingredients that might be of interest

Soybean meal – This ingredient is created after grinding the soybean to extract soybean oil. In addition to being used in dog and cat food, it is widely used as a filler and source of protein in other animal diets including pig, chicken, cattle, horse, sheep, and fish feed. This ingredient can often be found in “hairball relief” cat foods as it is believed to help eliminate hairballs. While some cats are allergic to soy based ingredients, the pet food industry is pretty defensive of this ingredient claiming that despite the attempts of researchers to prove a link between soy and bloat, no studies to date show this link. Rather, breed, body type, weight and stress level are significant risk factors. The pet food industry also claims that soy products are a superb source of bodybuilding protein, coat-nourishing vegetable oil and healthful fiber for cats. As long as your cat isn’t allergic to soy based ingredients, this ingredient shouldn’t pose any problems, but it isn’t included without controversy.

Ground yellow corn – As you might expect, this ingredient is simply yellow corn that has been ground into meal or flour. As with any other corn ingredient in cat food, this is a very controversial ingredient. Cats are obligate carnivores and do not receive much of any nutritional value from plant based and grain based ingredients. While it’s true that cats will eat the stomach contents of their prey in the wild, which usually includes plant based products, it is only consumed in small amounts and doesn’t really add any health benefits. Usually, this ingredient can be found in lower priced cat food because it can be used as a very cheap filler to help make your cat feel more full. However, since corn is a rather difficult to digest, many cats may have problems with this food. In addition, corn is one of the most well known food allergens for cats. While your cat may not suffer from corn allergies, it is a very common problem and one of the big reasons why this ingredient is so controversial.

Milk – Generally speaking, milk is not recommended for adult cats, as many of them are lactose intolerant and have problems digesting it. There is a belief out there that milk is good for cats, but that isn’t usually the case. If your cat is not lactose intolerant, this ingredient probably will not harm your cat and it will provide your cat with some vitamins, nutrients, and calcium. However, there are many lactose free alternatives that are normally used in place of milk and we are not sure why they decided to include this ingredient instead.

Does this cat formula cause allergic reactions in cats?

Crispies milk flavor puffs cat formula contains ingredients that can be harmful to your cat. Derivatives of corn and wheat are known to cause allergic reactions in cats and should, therefore, be avoided.

This cat formula also contains artificial additives that are known to cause poisoning in cats.

Ingredients that you should avoid

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.

Soy and corn – Both of these grains are commonly found in cheaper cat foods you can normally find in the grocery store. They are cheap filler ingredients that will help to make your cat feel more full, but corn and soy provide almost no nutritional value to cats. These ingredients can also be difficult for some cats to digest, so we do not recommend this product for cats with sensitive digestion issues. And finally, these are two of the most widely known allergens for cats. Most cats are not allergic to these ingredients, but many are. Cat food companies like to use these ingredients because they are cheap and boost the protein percentage in the food. However, cats digest meat proteins and plant based proteins differently. Since they are obligate carnivores, they require meat protein to live a healthy life and do not process plant proteins very well.

Conclusion

Contrary to the claims that are made in regards to the crispies milk flavor puffs cat formula, this cat feed is not an ideal cat formula for your cat this is because it contains ingredients that are harmful to cats.

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Friskies Crispies Cheese Flavor Puffs (Dry) Cat Food

June 2, 2015

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Cat Food Reviews

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Are you finding it hard to choose the most ideal cat treat? Today, almost every cat food manufacturer is offering cat treats as part of their cat food product line. This makes the selection process as tad bit hard. Even with the wide selection of treats available, not all of them offer the required nutrition for your cat.

The Friskies crispies cheese flavor puffs (dry) are one type of cat treats you will find in the market. The Friskies Company claims that this cat treat contains ingredients that give it a taste your cat will delight in.

Is this the most ideal treat for your cat? Read on to find out.

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The ingredients in this cat treat

Brewers rice, chicken meal, corn gluten meal, animal fat preserved with mixed-tocopherols (form of Vitamin E), animal liver flavor, malt extract, natural and artificial flavors, phosphoric acid, brewers dried yeast, dried cheese powder, added color (Yellow 6, Yellow 5 and other color), salt, L-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate (source of Vitamin C), citric acid, BHA (a preservative), BHT (a preservative), calcium carbonate.

An overview of the first five ingredients

Brewers rice

Chicken meal

Corn gluten meal

Animal fat preserved with mixed-tocopherols (form of Vitamin E)

Tocopherol is a naturally occurring chemical element found in a variety of foods. It is commonly called vitamin E in a generic sense, as vitamin E substances are made up of tocopherol and similar elements. The main purpose of this ingredient is to provide a natural preservative for the food. Since this is a natural preservative, it is generally considered safe.

Animal liver flavor

Other ingredients in this cat treat

Brewers dried yeast

Brewers dried 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.

Dried cheese powder

We’re not really sure why they would include this ingredient as a large number of cats are lactose intolerant. Even a small amount of dairy could cause digestion problems and stomach upset. While this may add some calcium to the food, overall cats will not receive a lot of nutrition from this ingredient. It is probably used to improve the cooking process or to help increase the taste of the food.

Malt extract

Malt is germinated cereal grains that have been dried in a process known as “malting”. Malt can be further processed to produce liquid or dried sweeteners called malt extracts. Interestingly, malt extract has been shown to be a possible laxative for cats, but with the quantity of the ingredient found here, it is unlikely to cause any messy digestion issues. More likely, this ingredient is included to make the food taste better to your cat. While it does not provide any nutrition to your cat, it doesn’t appear there are any known health risks associated with this ingredient.

Natural and artificial flavors

Both artificial and natural flavor ingredients are considered to be lower quality ingredients. Since we are looking at two different ingredients here, let’s check out what natural flavor is first. The actual definition of natural flavor is very long and confusion, but basically states that the flavor of an item can be extracted, then sprayed onto other products. Natural and artificial flavors are produced in the same factories these days. Both are considered safe, but artificial and natural flavors alike can be dangerous depending on what they are. It is actually best to avoid flavoring altogether, both natural and artificial.

Is this treat ideal for allergic cats?

The Friskies crispies cheese flavor puffy (dry)cat treats are not suitable for cats with allergies. This is because this food contains a few allergens that can trigger allergic reactions in allergy prone cats.

Common harmful ingredients used in cat foods

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. A quick internet search on these preservatives will show that the backlash is gaining steam with many cat food companies abandoning these ingredients. BHA and BHT are extremely controversial ingredients in all forms of pet food.

Corn and soy – Both of these grains are commonly found in cheaper cat foods you can normally find in the grocery store. They are cheap filler ingredients that will help to make your cat feel more full, but corn and soy provide almost no nutritional value to cats. These ingredients can also be difficult for some cats to digest, so we do not recommend this product for cats with sensitive digestion issues. And finally, these are two of the most widely known allergens for cats. Most cats are not allergic to these ingredients, but many are. Cat food companies like to use these ingredients because they are cheap and boost the protein percentage in the food. However, cats digest meat proteins and plant based proteins differently. Since they are obligate carnivores, they require meat protein to live a healthy life and do not process plant proteins very well.

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.

Gluten meal – 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.

Conclusion

The Friskies crisps cheese flavor puffs (dry) cat treat is not meant to serve as your cats main dish. It is best used as a treat in between meals. It contains several low quality ingredients as well as allergens making it only suitable for cats with no food sensitivities.

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Friskies Classic Pate Mixed Grill Wet Cat Food Review

June 2, 2015

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Cat Food Reviews

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Is your cat a sucker for canned foods? There is a wide selection of canned foods you can pick from. For this reason, you have to take time to analyze the ingredients in the formulas just to be sure what you choose for your cat is nutritious and healthy.

The Friskies brand of pet food is one of the many cat foods available in the market today. According to the manufacturer, this formula supplies your cat with quality ingredients that enable it to live longer and healthier.

So, are the above claims true or this is just a marketing gimmick? Read on and find out.

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All the ingredients use to create this formula

Meat by-products, water sufficient for processing, poultry by-products, liver, chicken, rice, artificial and natural flavors, salt, calcium phosphate, guar gum, added color, potassium chloride, Choline chloride, carrageenan, magnesium sulfate, Taurine, thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin E supplement, zinc sulfate, ferrous sulfate, niacin, calcium pantothenate, Vitamin A supplement, copper sulfate, manganese sulfate, Menadione sodium Bisulfite complex (source of Vitamin K activity), pyridoxine hydrochloride, riboflavin supplement, Vitamin B-12 supplement, biotin, folic acid, Vitamin D-3 supplement, potassium iodide.

A closer look at the first five ingredients in this formula

Meat by-products

This is about the lowest quality meat product that can be included in any cat food. We are very disappointed to see this ingredient listed. Meat By-Products are parts of slaughtered animals including the lungs, spleen, kidneys, brain, liver, blood, bone, partially defatted low-temperature fatty tissue, and stomach and intestines freed of their contents. In addition, meat by-products can also legally contain animals that were dead, dying, or diseased before slaughtering. Many times, animals with tumors are ground and processed, meaning, ground up cancerous tumors could legally be included in your pets food. While unlikely, it can even legally include road kill. Perhaps worst of all, this ingredient COULD include meat from euthanized cats, dogs, horses, or other animals. Meat by-product is an unnamed meat source and you never know for sure where it is coming from or what animals are being used. Also note that meat by-products are not approved for human consumption. It consists of unwanted parts only acceptable in the pet food or feed industries. This is one of the most controversial meat ingredients that could be included and there is much to be concerned about when purchasing any pet food that includes meat by-products.

Water sufficient for processing

For canned foods, water being at the top of the ingredients list is normal. As you could probably guess, water doesn’t do anything in the way of providing nutritional value, but it does help to keep the food moist. Sometimes a broth will be used instead of water, but all canned foods will require a high amount of moisture content.

Poultry by-products

This ingredient is made from grinding clean, rendered parts of poultry carcasses and can contain bones, offal and undeveloped eggs, but only contains feathers that are unavoidable in the processing of the poultry parts. The quality and composition can change from one batch to another. For the most part, this ingredient contains the “non-meat” poultry products like feet, beaks, and bones. While you probably wouldn’t want to eat poultry by-products on your own dinner plate, cats tend to love this stuff. This ingredient does provide a high amount of protein, but we are unable to tell exactly what parts of the animal they are using and that is a bit troublesome.

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.

Chicken

Chicken is a very popular ingredient for pet food and in this case, they are referring to whole chicken. This is a very high quality meat source and we are pleased to see it listed. However, whole chicken loses about 80% of its content during the cooking process since the majority of whole chicken is water. After the cooking process is complete, the amount of whole chicken remaining is substantially reduced. Therefor, while whole chicken is a great source of meat protein, this ingredient alone is not enough to provide sufficient levels of meat protein in a cats diet.

Ingredients worth mentioning in the formula

Rice

This is a grain that many cat owners are trying to avoid because it is a known allergen for many cats. The ingredient doesn’t supply much of any nutritional value, either. However, of all the grain products used in cat food, this grain has the lowest risk of causing allergies. There is also a growing risk of arsenic in rice. So far, the FDA believes the arsenic levels are low enough to be safe for humans and pets. However, you might want to read more about this, just so you are aware. Many cat food companies like to use this ingredient because it helps to make your cat feel more full and it is one of the easier grains for cats to digest.

Artificial and natural flavors

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.

Is this an allergy causing cat food?

Looking at the list of ingredients used in this formula, the food has a number of allergens. Although the allergens are not likely to trigger any allergic reactions, truth is they are harmful to pets. For this reason, it is advisable not to feed this food to cats with a sensitive stomach.

Harmful ingredients mostly found in pets foods

Wheat, corn and soy – All three of these ingredients are known allergens for many cats. In addition, many cats have problems digesting these grain based ingredients. Since cats are obligate carnivores, their digestive systems are designed to digest meat and not grains. All of these ingredients will help to boost the protein percentage in cat food, but not all protein is created equally. Cats do not digest plant based proteins in the same way as meat proteins and in fact, gain little to no nutritional value from these grains. Several “grocery store brand” cat foods include these products to keep the price down as it is a cheap filler to help make your cat feel full as well as a cheap way to add protein to the food.

Added color and flavor – Both artificial and natural flavor ingredients are considered to be lower quality ingredients. Artificial flavor is usually derived from petroleum. Most have not been studied for safety or toxicity. They are all synthesized chemicals that don’t even have common names. Most artificial flavors actually contain many chemical ingredients, not just one. Many of those chemicals are volatile. Both natural and artificial flavors are chemical based ingredients and we don’t get all that excited when we see either one of those ingredients listed. Both of these ingredients have potential allergy risks and other possible health problems in cats. We also 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.

Conclusion

This formula is short on high quality proteins. Liver and chicken should have appeared higher in the ingredients list. You also cannot ignore the fact it contains allergens and might trigger an allergic reaction in your pet. Steer clear of this formula if you care about the health of your cat.

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Fancy Feast Gourmet with Savory Chicken and Turkey Cat Food Review

June 2, 2015

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Fancy Feast is one of the most popular cat food brands on the market today. As such, it is readily available in many grocery stores, pet food stores, and is also available online.

Fancy Feast is owned by Nestle Purina PetCare. They introduced the Fancy Feast brand name in 1982 and only had 7 flavors of wet cat food initially. The brand name was introduced as their “gourmet line” of cat foods.

Nestle Purina PetCare has been the subject of several pet food recalls over the past several years. Be sure to frequently check the FDA pet food recalls website. You might want to sign up for their email alerts as well.

Ingredients In Fancy Feast Gourmet With Savory Chicken And Turkey Dry Cat Food

Brewers rice, poultry by-product meal, corn gluten meal, animal fat preserved with mixed-tocopherols (form of Vitamin E), ground yellow corn, soybean meal, animal liver flavor, chicken, turkey, phosphoric acid, calcium carbonate, salt, natural and artificial flavors, potassium chloride, dried yeast, choline chloride, added color (Red 40, Yellow 5, Blue 2 and other color), taurine, zinc sulfate, ferrous sulfate, Vitamin E supplement, niacin, manganese sulfate, Vitamin A supplement, calcium pantothenate, thiamine mononitrate, copper sulfate, riboflavin supplement, Vitamin B-12 supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, folic acid, Vitamin D-3 supplement, calcium iodate, biotin, menadione sodium bisulfite complex (source of Vitamin K activity), sodium selenite.

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Top 5 Ingredients Analysis

Whenever you are reviewing a commercial cat food blend, it is good practice to pay special attention to the first 5 ingredients listed. These ingredients make up the vast majority of the nutritional content in the food. Let’s take a look at the top 5 ingredients in this cat food.

Brewers rice

Poultry by-product meal

This ingredient is made from grinding clean, rendered parts of poultry carcasses and can contain bones, offal and undeveloped eggs, but only contains feathers that are unavoidable in the processing of the poultry parts. This ingredient is not approved for human consumption, but is used frequently in pet foods. This is because it can contain a lot of non-meat products like beaks, feet, heads and bones. Since this ingredient is dried prior to cooking, the protein percentage is quite high and that’s a good indicator. However, poultry in general can legally contain a number of birds and we aren’t able to tell exactly what bird species have been used in this ingredient. Be aware that the consistency of this ingredient may change from time to time with a variation of poultry products being used.

Corn gluten meal

Animal fat preserved with mixed-tocopherols (form of Vitamin E)

Ground yellow corn

Additional Ingredients Of Interest In Fancy Feast Gourmet With Savory Chicken And Turkey Cat Food

Soybean meal

Animal liver flavor

Chicken

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.

Allergy Risk Associated With Fancy Feast Gourmet With Savory Chicken And Turkey Cat Food

Unfortunately, this Fancy Feast Gourmet Cat Food contains some ingredients linked to allergies and other health issues in cats. While most cats will do ok on this food, you should avoid this blend if your cat has shown any allergy problems associated with corn. Usually, corn allergies show up in the way of itchiness, unhealthy skin, an unhealthy coat, or digestion problems leading to diarrhea, constipation, or upset stomach. We also not the presence of food coloring that many believe has ties to causing cancer in cats. It’s unfortunate Fancy Feast decided to include ingredients such as food coloring, which are only beneficial for marketing purposes and add zero benefit to your cats health or well-being.

Conclusion

It didn’t take us long to find our first undesirable ingredient in this food because it’s listed at the top. Seeing brewers rice listed as the #1 ingredient had us discouraged from the start. Further down the list, we can see that this food is full of corn based ingredients. We can even see corn listed several times as they split the corn ingredients. This basically means they use two different names for corn so that no single corn ingredient shows up too high on the list. Ingredient splitting is common practice in the pet food industry and we think it’s a bit unethical. We also see unnamed animal fat sources meaning it can come from just about any animal. We even see the use of food coloring which is simply appalling considering there is evidence linking food coloring to cancer in cats. The only reason food coloring is used is so it looks more appealing to cat owners at the store. That means, Fancy Feast has chosen to put their marketing tactics ahead of your cats well being. For these reasons, we believe this Fancy Feast Cat Food blend is a below average cat food.

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Fancy Feast Gravy Lovers Chicken Feast Wet Cat Food Review

June 2, 2015

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Cat Food Reviews

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Fancy Feast is one of the most popular cat food brands on the market today. As such, it is readily available in many grocery stores, pet food stores, and is also available online.

Ingredients In Fancy Feast Gravy Lovers Chicken Feast Wet Cat Food

Poultry broth, chicken, liver, wheat gluten, meat by-products, turkey, corn starch-modified, artificial and natural flavors, soy flour, salt, calcium phosphate, added color, potassium chloride, natural grilled chicken flavor, Taurine, Choline chloride, magnesium sulfate, thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin E supplement, zinc sulfate, ferrous sulfate, niacin, calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin A supplement, copper sulfate, Menadione sodium Bisulfite complex (source of Vitamin K activity), manganese sulfate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, riboflavin supplement, Vitamin B-12 supplement, biotin, folic acid, Vitamin D-3 supplement, potassium iodide.

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Top 5 Ingredients Analysis

Poultry Broth: The main purpose if this ingredient is to add moisture and taste to the food. It is not considered to be a nutritional ingredient, but it considered to be a better alternative to using plain water. Poultry broth is safe to use and cats usually love the taste of it.

Chicken: Chicken is a very popular ingredient for pet food and in this case, they are referring to whole chicken. This is a very high quality meat source and we are pleased to see it listed. However, whole chicken loses about 80% of its content during the cooking process since the majority of whole chicken is water. After the cooking process is complete, the amount of whole chicken remaining is substantially reduced. Therefor, while whole chicken is a great source of meat protein, this ingredient alone is not enough to provide sufficient levels of meat protein in a cats diet.

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.

Wheat Gluten: We don’t think any grain is “good” for your cat. It doesn’t mean wheat gluten is “bad” for your cat, either, but the fact it provides almost no nutritional value makes us question the quality of the ingredient. Wheat gluten can be a decent protein source for animals with digestive systems that can break it down, but as obligate carnivores, cats are not one of those animals. Their digestive systems produce only the enzymes necessary for processing animal-based proteins. There are also some allergy risks associated with wheat gluten. In addition, too much of this in a cats diet can potentially lead to weight gain and diabetes. Unfortunately, diabetes in cats is a very serious health problem, so it is important to keep a close eye on your cats weight and diabetic risk when feeding a cat food containing ingredients like wheat gluten.

Meat By-Products: This is about the lowest quality meat product that can be included in any cat food. We are very disappointed to see this ingredient listed. Meat By-Products are parts of slaughtered animals including the lungs, spleen, kidneys, brain, liver, blood, bone, partially defatted low-temperature fatty tissue, and stomach and intestines freed of their contents. In addition, meat by-products can also legally contain animals that were dead, dying, or diseased before slaughtering. Many times, animals with tumors are ground and processed, meaning, ground up cancerous tumors could legally be included in your pets food. While unlikely, it can even legally include road kill. Perhaps worst of all, this ingredient COULD include meat from euthanized cats, dogs, horses, or other animals. Meat by-product is an unnamed meat source and you never know for sure where it is coming from or what animals are being used. Also note that meat by-products are not approved for human consumption. It consists of unwanted parts only acceptable in the pet food or feed industries. This is one of the most controversial meat ingredients that could be included and there is much to be concerned about when purchasing any pet food that includes meat by-products.

Other ingredients used

Turkey: This is an ingredient that is rich in minerals like zinc, iron, potassium and calcium. All these minerals help to maintain your cat’s overall health and also provide it with energy. Turkey also has low cholesterol levels making it easy to digest.

Corn-starch modified: This ingredient has been used in the formula as a thickener. It has very low nutritional value is, therefore, unnecessary. Corn-starch modified is basically formula filler.

Salt: This ingredient gives the formula electrolytes. The electrolytes i.e. sodium and chloride, help to maintain and regulate water balance, muscle contraction, nerve transmission as well as acid-base balance.

Choline chloride: This ingredient provides the formula with a source of Choline. Choline is a vitamin that helps in the building of cell membranes.

Artificial colors: This ingredient provides the formula with a source of Choline. Choline is a vitamin that helps in the building of cell membranes.

Allergy Risk Associated With Fancy Feast Gravy Lovers Chicken Feast Cat Food

Unfortunately, this Fancy Feast Cat Food blend contains corn, soy, and wheat – all of which have links to allergies in cats. We also see added color with possible cancer risks and meat by-products which can include some incredibly low quality meat products. We also find artificial flavoring. This ingredient can cause problems in some cats. If your cat has a history of stomach sensitivities or allergies, it is best not to feed this formula.

Conclusion

The Fancy Feast Gravy Lovers Chicken Feast Wet cat food is a protein rich formula featuring both chicken and turkey. Initially it might seem like this is a high quality food, but we can see the use of meat by-products, corn, soy, wheat, artificial flavors, and other less desirable ingredients. They have even included food coloring which is very surprising considering the controversy surrounding the use of food coloring in pet food. Judging by the ingredients, we have determined this is a low quality cat food. Do you agree? Disagree? Have some information about this food you want to share? Let us know in the comment area below.

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Fancy Feast Classic Chopped Grill Feast Wet Cat Food Review

June 2, 2015

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Fancy Feast is one of the most popular cat food brands on the market today. As such, it is readily available in many grocery stores, pet food stores, and is also available online.

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Ingredients In Fancy Feast Classic Chopped Grill Feast Wet Cat Food

Meat by-products, meat broth, poultry, poultry by-products, artificial and natural flavors, calcium phosphate, guar gum, potassium chloride, salt, magnesium sulfate, taurine, added color, zinc sulfate, thiamine mononitrate, Vitamin E supplement, ferrous sulfate, niacin, sodium nitrite (to promote color retention), manganese sulfate, calcium pantothenate, Vitamin A supplement, copper sulfate, menadione sodium bisulfite complex (source of Vitamin K activity), pyridoxine hydrochloride, riboflavin supplement, Vitamin B-12 supplement, biotin, folic acid, Vitamin D-3 supplement, potassium iodide

Top 5 Ingredients Analysis

Meat by-products

Meat broth

Used as a source of moisture and flavor, meat broth is normally considered a higher alternative to plain water, even though it doesn’t provide much nutritional value. It’s unfortunately this broth is from an unnamed meat source. Normally, we like to see named meat sources for the broth such as chicken broth or turkey broth. In this case, we are left guessing what meat source is used to create the broth. I can literally be from almost any animal and that is a bit concerning.

Poultry

Contrary to popular belief, poultry does not always consist of chicken products. Poultry can include a number of different birds including chickens, fowl, quail, turkeys, ducks, geese, and even pigeons. All of these birds must be “domesticated” birds, meaning they must be raised in a human environment like a farm. While we would feel much more comfortable knowing exactly which type of poultry is being used, generally poultry is considered to be a higher quality meat protein ingredient. Unfortunately, poultry contains quite a bit of water weight prior to the cooking process. Since all ingredients are listed by weight prior to cooking, most of this ingredient is lost during the cooking process. That means, it is important for this meat protein source to be complimented by another quality meat protein source.

Poultry by-products

Artificial and natural flavors

Additional Ingredients Of Interest In Fancy Feast Classic Chopped Grill Feast Cat Food

Taurine

Taurine is an essential amino acid that is critical for normal heart muscle function, vision, and reproduction in cats. Since cats are unable to create proper levels of taurine in their body naturally, it must be supplemented in their food. That’s why you’ll see this ingredient listed for so many different cat food blends. For cat foods that contain enough high quality animal based proteins, a taurine supplement may not be needed. However, most cat foods will need to add in additional taurine in the form of a supplement to the food. Even when included as a supplement instead, there is very low to almost zero health risk associated with this ingredient. In fact, a lack of taurine can cause a slew of issues, so it’s very important to make sure your cat is receiving enough taurine in his or her diet.

Added color

There is absolutely no reason to included added color into any cat food, ever. It’s extremely disappointing to see this ultra-low quality ingredient included. Added color is used for marketing purposes only. They want their product to stand out sitting on the shelf at the store, so they add coloring to their product. Essentially, the coloring is added to entice YOU (the human) to purchase the food over other brands. Your cat could care less what color the food is. Unfortunately, added color is quite controversial as there is growing evidence suggesting cancer in cats from too much food color exposure. At worse, this is a harmful ingredient and at best, it is a marketing ploy with no nutritional value or positive benefit to your cat. We usually have a tough time recommending any cat food that includes such a controversial ingredient.

Salt

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 Associated With Fancy Feast Classic Chopped Grill Feast Cat Food

Fortunately, this cat food is free from the main allergy causing ingredients. Every cat is unique in their own way and your cat may suffer from a rare food allergy, but in general, we believe the allergy risk associated with this food is quite low.

Conclusion

Unfortunately, the first ingredient in the Fancy Feast Classic Chopped Grill Feast cat food is a low quality ingredient. Meat by-product is about the lowest quality meat source available. It is not approved for human consumption and can include some really disgusting ingredients that you don’t want your cat eating. It’s really unfortunate such a controversial ingredient is at the top of the list. We also see artificial flavors and even added color. Judging by these ingredients, we think this is a below average cat food.

What do you think? Are we being too hard on this Fancy Feast cat food or do you think we were spot on? Let us know in the comment area!

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Fancy Feast Chunky Turkey Feast Wet Cat Food Review

June 2, 2015

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Fancy Feast is one of the most popular cat food brands on the market today. As such, it is readily available in many grocery stores, pet food stores, and is also available online.

Ingredients In Fancy Feast Chunky Turkey Feast Wet Cat Food

Turkey broth, turkey, meat by-products, liver, fish, chicken, wheat gluten, natural and artificial flavors, soy flour, added color, soy protein concentrate, calcium phosphate, sodium tripolyphosphate, poultry by-products, guar gum, salt, potassium chloride, carrageenan, locust bean gum, taurine, zinc sulfate, choline chloride, Vitamin E supplement, thiamine mononitrate, ferrous sulfate, copper sulfate, niacin, manganese sulfate, Vitamin A supplement, calcium pantothenate, menadione sodium bisulfite complex (source of Vitamin K activity), riboflavin supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, Vitamin B-12 supplement, folic acid, biotin, potassium iodide, Vitamin D-3 supplement.

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Top 5 Ingredients Analysis

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 – 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.

Meat by products – This is about the lowest quality meat product that can be included in any cat food. We are very disappointed to see this ingredient listed. Meat By-Products are parts of slaughtered animals including the lungs, spleen, kidneys, brain, liver, blood, bone, partially defatted low-temperature fatty tissue, and stomach and intestines freed of their contents. In addition, meat by-products can also legally contain animals that were dead, dying, or diseased before slaughtering. Many times, animals with tumors are ground and processed, meaning, ground up cancerous tumors could legally be included in your pets food. While unlikely, it can even legally include road kill. Perhaps worst of all, this ingredient COULD include meat from euthanized cats, dogs, horses, or other animals. Meat by-product is an unnamed meat source and you never know for sure where it is coming from or what animals are being used. Also note that meat by-products are not approved for human consumption. It consists of unwanted parts only acceptable in the pet food or feed industries. This is one of the most controversial meat ingredients that could be included and there is much to be concerned about when purchasing any pet food that includes meat by-products.

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.

Fish – The fish used in canned pet foods usually includes parts of the fish not typically used for human consumption. It is high in phosphorus and magnesium, which can be an issue in cats with a history of urinary tract disorders or kidney disease. Most fish used in pet food is that of very low quality, including farmed fish and discarded fish that is deemed unacceptable for human consumption. There is also a risk of mercury exposure as many types of fish contain a high mercury level. Over long periods of time, this can become hazardous. It is also important to try and find a cat food with ethoxyquin free fish. Most cat food brands do not disclose if their fish is ethoxyquin free and if it isn’t, that could pose some problems. Most cats love the taste of fish and will be happy to eat it, but it isn’t part of a regular diet for wild cats. Nonetheless, this is a high protein source with essential omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids.

Additional Ingredients Of Interest In Fancy Feast Chunky Turkey Feast Cat Food

Chicken – Chicken is a very popular ingredient for pet food and in this case, they are referring to whole chicken. This is a very high quality meat source and we are pleased to see it listed. However, whole chicken loses about 80% of its content during the cooking process since the majority of whole chicken is water. After the cooking process is complete, the amount of whole chicken remaining is substantially reduced. Therefor, while whole chicken is a great source of meat protein, this ingredient alone is not enough to provide sufficient levels of meat protein in a cats diet.

Soy protein – Soy protein is a protein that is isolated from soybean. It is made from soybean meal that has been dehulled and defatted. Some cat food producers will say that their research continues to show that soy products are a superb source of bodybuilding protein, coat-nourishing vegetable oil, and healthful fiber for cats. Unfortunately, soy in cat food is becoming even more controversial as time goes on due to soy being a known and common allergen for many cats. While soy protein does boost the protein percentage in the food, it is much more important for cats to receive meat based proteins. Despite what cat food companies claim, there is no question soy protein is a controversial ingredient with some possible negative health effects.

Soy flour – Many pet food companies seem pretty headstrong about defending their use of soy products, even calling health concerns associated with soy to be a myth. Wysong is one of those companies and to be fair, you can read their opinion about this ingredient here. However, we tend to agree with many of those outside the pet food industry that see major problems using any form of soy in cat food. There is no doubt this ingredient has been the subject of much controversy over the years and the benefits claimed by pet food companies is questionable at best. Why would pet food companies insist on using such a controversial ingredient? They claim it’s for health benefits, but we think it’s rather convenient that soy four is so cheaply made. It’s safe to say this is not considered a high quality ingredient by most experts and at best, it is a mediocre ingredient that we, in general, do not recommend for cats.

Allergy Risk In Fancy Feast Chunky Turkey Feast Cat Food

Unfortunately, this Fancy Feast Cat Food contains soy and what – two known allergens included in many cat foods today. Most cats will not have a problem with those two ingredients, but they are of almost no nutritional value to your cat and many cats are allergic to them. We also note the presence of meat by-products in this food as well as artificial flavors and added color. None of these ingredients are without controversy due to their possible negative health effects.

Conclusion

This cat food starts off well as it includes turkey for one of the main meat sources. However, that is quickly followed up with meat-by-products, a very controversial ingredient that can include some very low quality meat. We also see the inclusion of fish, but we have no way to identify what kind of fish is included. It could just be waste products like scales and bones. We don’t know. It’s really disappointing to see controversial food coloring added as well, considering they only use it as a marketing ploy.

After examining the ingredients, we believe this is a below average cat food blend. What do you think? We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comment section below.

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Fancy Feast Chunky Chopped Grill Feast Wet Cat Food Review

June 2, 2015

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Cat Food Reviews

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Fancy Feast is one of the most popular cat food brands on the market today. As such, it is readily available in many grocery stores, pet food stores, and is also available online.

Compare Pricing And Read Customer Reviews Here

Ingredients In Fancy Feast Chunky Chopped Grill Feast Wet Cat Food

Chicken broth, chicken, meat by-products, liver, fish, wheat gluten, turkey, poultry by-products, soy flour, natural and artificial flavors, soy protein concentrate, sodium tripolyphosphate, calcium phosphate, guar gum, added color, potassium chloride, salt, taurine, locust bean gum, carrageenan, zinc sulfate, choline chloride, ferrous sulfate, thiamine mononitrate, Vitamin E supplement, manganese sulfate, niacin, calcium pantothenate, copper sulfate, Vitamin A supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, menadione sodium bisulfite complex (source of Vitamin K activity), riboflavin supplement, biotin, Vitamin B-12 supplement, folic acid, potassium iodide, Vitamin D-3 supplement.

It is important for cat owners to pay attention to the first five ingredients as they make up the bulk of the formula’s nutritional content.

Top 5 Ingredients Analysis

Chicken

Chicken broth

While chicken broth does not add much nutritional value to the food, it does add flavor and is considered to be a better alternative to water. The main reason for adding this ingredient is simply to add moisture.

Meat by-products

Liver

Fish

The fish used in canned pet foods usually includes parts of the fish not typically used for human consumption. It is high in phosphorus and magnesium, which can be an issue in cats with a history of urinary tract disorders or kidney disease. Most fish used in pet food is that of very low quality, including farmed fish and discarded fish that is deemed unacceptable for human consumption. There is also a risk of mercury exposure as many types of fish contain a high mercury level. Over long periods of time, this can become hazardous. It is also important to try and find a cat food with ethoxyquin free fish. Most cat food brands do not disclose if their fish is ethoxyquin free and if it isn’t, that could pose some problems. Most cats love the taste of fish and will be happy to eat it, but it isn’t part of a regular diet for wild cats. Nonetheless, this is a high protein source with essential omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids.

Other Ingredients of interest

Calcium phosphate

Calcium phosphate is the name given to a family of minerals containing calcium ions together with orthophosphates, metaphosphates or pyrophosphates and occasionally hydrogen or hydroxide ions. It is a natural product used to supplement the major minerals, calcium and of course, phosphorus. Many people wonder if this can be a toxic substance, but fortunately, not one case of lead toxicity has ever been reported that we are aware of. In proper quantities, this can be a very beneficial ingredient. However, when ingested in too high amounts, cats could possibly form a urinary tract infection or kidney stones over time. Overall, however, this is considered a pretty safe ingredient with various nutritional benefits.

Salt

Vitamin A supplement

Vitamin supplements are normally added to cat food when the mixture does not contain enough of certain vitamins naturally. Vitamin A can be found in many fruits, vegetables, eggs, whole milk, butter, fortified margarine, meat, and oily saltwater fish. It can also be made in a laboratory, which is usually the case for pet foods. A deficiency in vitamin A can cause very serious health problems for cats, so you will see lots of cat food supplement their foods with vitamins, including vitamin A. There is little to no risk associated with this ingredient and while we’d prefer to see enough vitamins and minerals included naturally, supplemental vitamins do have positive benefits to maintaining a proper vitamin balance in your cat.

Added Color

Allergy Risk Associated With Fancy Feast Chunky Chopped Grill Feast Cat Food

This cat food contains wheat and soy ingredients which many cats are sensitive to. The food also contains meat by-products, artificial flavoring, and added colors. All of these ingredients can pose both short term and long term risks.

Conclusion

The ingredients list in this food starts off pretty well with Chicken being the top listed meat ingredient. Unfortunately, the next meat source is meat by-products and that is one of the most controversial ingredients in cat food today. We also note the presence of some potentially allergy causing ingredients and even the inclusion of added color. With all of these ingredients in ind, we think this is a below average quality cat food. Do you agree? Let us know what you think in the comment area below.

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