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Eukanuba is a pet food company that specializes in the manufacture of dog and cat food. One of the products under the Eukanuba brand is the Mature Care Dry Cat Food formula. According to the company, this is a formula suitable for cats above the age of 7. This pet formula is meant to help your cat with the adjusting metabolism that comes with aging. This pet formula provides your cat with special nutrition that is said to keep your cat healthier for longer.

With all that this product promises, it is natural to wonder if it is the right formula for your feline friend. Our Eukanuba Mature Dry Cat Food review will begin with an overview and analysis of the ingredients.

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Ingredients in Eukanuba Mature Care Dry Cat Food Review

Chicken By-Product Meal, Chicken, Corn Meal, Corn Grits, Dried Beet Pulp, Animal Fat (preserved with mixed Tocopherols, a source of Vitamin E), Dried Egg Product, Natural Flavor, Potassium Chloride, Fructooligosaccharides, DL-Methionine, Salt, Brewers Dried Yeast, Choline Chloride, Fish Oil (preserved with mixed Tocopherols, a source of Vitamin E), Vitamin E Supplement, Taurine, Vitamins (Ascorbic Acid, Niacin, Vitamin A Acetate, Biotin, Calcium Pantothenate, Thiamine Mononitrate (source of vitamin B1), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (source of vitamin B6), Calcium Carbonate, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Inositol, Riboflavin Supplement (source of vitamin B2), Folic Acid, Vitamin D3 Supplement), Minerals (Manganese Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Copper Sulfate, Cobalt Carbonate, Potassium Iodide), Rosemary Extract.

Top 5 Ingredients Analysis

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.

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.

Corn Meal

Considered a low quality ingredient, corn meal is usually used as a “filler ingredient” but provides almost no nutritional value to cats. This ingredient is also a known allergy causing ingredient for many cats. We aren’t all that thrilled to see this ingredient listed.

Corn Grits

Many forms of corn are found in pet foods including corn grits. About 85% of all corn grown in the United States is genetically modified (GMO). Since cats by nature are carnivores, this ingredient does not provide much nutritional value if any, although it does add calories to the food. Corn grits can be considered a very low quality ingredient.

Dried Beet Pulp

Beet pulp is a by-product from the processing of sugar beet and is a source of fiber and energy. It is popular among many pet food companies due to its high availability and low price. The most common complaint about this ingredient is that it causes digestion problems, most commonly a very hard stool or diarrhea. It has also been known to cause bloat in some dogs and cats which can be very serious if left unchecked.

Additional Ingredients Of Interest In Eukanuba Mature Care Cat Food

Dried Egg Product

Derived from shell free eggs, this is a cheaper source of protein used in place of higher quality meat proteins. Normally, this ingredient is derived from waste products associated with the egg industry or egg products that have been deemed unfit for human consumption.

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.

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.

Allergy Risks Associated With Eukanuba Mature Cat Food

Eukanuba Mature Care Cat food contains a lot of potentially allergy causing ingredients, including some of the main offenders like corn. It is important to avoid feeding your cat on this product if it is allergic to corn or corn by-products. This food is not recommended for cats with sensitive stomaches or digestion issues.

Poor Quality Ingredients Commonly Found In Cat Food

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.

Animal by-product – One of the worst meat ingredients found in pet food today is animal by product. It’s true that this ingredient provides a very high amount of meat protein that cats need to thrive. However, animal by products are considered to be the lowest form of meat and it isn’t even approved for human consumption. Animal by-products are carcasses and parts of carcasses from slaughterhouses, animal shelters, zoos and veterinarians, and products of animal origin not intended for human consumption, including catering waste. Legally, this ingredient can even contain roadkill or euthanized animals. This ingredient may also contain what is called “4D meat” which is what the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) calls cattle that is dead, dying, disabled or diseased. This meat is considered unfit for human consumption, but is typically found in many pet food products. This is not something we recommend you feed your cat or any other pet.

Artificial coloring and flavoring – 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.

Fortunately, Eukanuba Mature Care Cat Food does not contain these controversial ingredients.

Conclusion

While we aren’t all that pleased with this cat food, many cat owners have given excellent ratings about this food. All cats are different and your older cat may do great on this food. That being said, we are a bit discouraged to see some low quality meat sources as well as the use of corn. It seems strange to us that Eukanuba would use so many potentially allergy causing ingredients in a senior food. Additionally, corn can be difficult to digest for many cats and again, it seems strange this ingredient would be used in a food designed for mature cats. What do you think? Feel free to let us know in the comments section below.

Judging by the ingredients alone, we believe Eukanuba Mature Care Cat Food is a below average cat food blend.

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Are you looking to try out the Eukanuba Lamb and Rice Dry Cat Food formula? The company claims that this formula provides your cat with essential proteins, fatty acids and supports the cat’s urinary system.

Eukanuba is owned by Procter & Gamble and manufactured in their Leipsic, Ohio plant which makes both dog and cat food. In 1969, Paul Iams wanted to find a name to differentiate the new formula from other Iams pet food products. Iams chose to name this new formula “Eukanuba”, a term originated by jazz era personality Hoagy Carmichael, meaning “the tops” or “something supreme” (read more on Wikipedia).

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Eukanuba Pet Food Recall History

Unfortunately, Eukanuba has been involved with several pet food recalls. As of this review (March 2014), the most recent recall was related to possible salmonella contamination. It is important to frequently check the FDA pet food recall website to make sure none of the products you have purchased in the past were recalled.

Ingredients in Eukanuba Lamb And Rice Dry Cat Formula

Chicken, Chicken By-Product Meal, Corn Meal, Corn Grits, Lamb, Animal Fat (preserved with mixed Tocopherols, a source of Vitamin E), Brewers Rice, Dried Beet Pulp, Natural Flavor, Sodium Bisulfate, Dried Egg Product, Potassium Chloride, DL-Methionine, Fish Oil (preserved with mixed Tocopherols, a source of Vitamin E), Fructooligosaccharides, Choline Chloride, Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, Ascorbic Acid, Vitamin A Acetate, Calcium Pantothenate, Biotin, Thiamine Mononitrate (source of vitamin B1), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (source of vitamin B6), Vitamin B12 Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement (source of vitamin B2), Inositol, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid), Calcium Carbonate, Minerals (Zinc Oxide, Manganese Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Potassium Iodide, Cobalt Carbonate), Salt, Rosemary Extract.

Top 5 Ingredients Analysis

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.

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.

Corn Meal

Considered a low quality ingredient, corn meal is usually used as a “filler ingredient” but provides almost no nutritional value to cats. This ingredient is also a known allergy causing ingredient for many cats. We aren’t all that thrilled to see this ingredient listed.

Corn Grits

Many forms of corn are found in pet foods including corn grits. About 85% of all corn grown in the United States is genetically modified (GMO). Since cats by nature are carnivores, this ingredient does not provide much nutritional value if any, although it does add calories to the food. Corn grits can be considered a very low quality ingredient.

Lamb

Lamb is a very high quality source of meat protein. Generally, this ingredient is more nutritious in canned formulas than dry formulas, but in either case, it is nice to see this ingredient listed. Unfortunately, about 80% of this ingredient is lost during the cooking process. That means, there actually isn’t much of this ingredient left once it has all been processed.

Additional Ingredients Of Interest In Eukanuba Lamb & Rice Cat Food

Choline Chloride

Like humans and many other species, cats require choline. Almost all commercial pet food blends will contain supplemental choline. This ingredient mostly helps with cell function.

Rosemary Extract

This ingredient is normally listed pretty low on the ingredients list, but is very common in pet foods, especially with higher end and “natural” pet foods. This ingredient has been mostly used as a taste enhancer and natural preservative. Recently, there have been some growing concerns that this ingredient may increase the risk of seizures in cats, but so far there is no conclusive evidence to substantiate these claims.

Dried Egg Product

Derived from shell free eggs, this is a cheaper source of protein used in place of higher quality meat proteins. Normally, this ingredient is derived from waste products associated with the egg industry or egg products that have been deemed unfit for human consumption.

Allergy Risks Associated With Eukanuba Lamb & Rice Cat Food

The Eukanuba Lamb and Rice Dry Cat Food formula contains corn and corn by-products. These are potentially allergy causing ingredients. Be wary of feeding this blend to cats with corn allergies or cats with sensitive stomaches.

Poor Quality Ingredients Commonly Found In Cat Food

Soy – Soy is another common food allergen for cats and is also known to cause gastric upset. This ingredient is considered a very low priced filler ingredient. While it will certainly help make your cat food more full, the full nutritional benefit in this ingredient is questionable at best. Many cat food brands will tell you the allergy risk is very low with soy, but it is one of the most well known food allergens that cats deal with in commercial pet food. Overall, this is a pretty low quality ingredient.

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.

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.

Fortunately, none of these ingredients are found in the Eukanuba Lamb and Rice formula.

Conclusion

We are not all that excited about the Eukanuba Lamb & Rice dry cat food formula. Some of the meat sources are low quality and the fat source is unnamed. It is also not a good food for cats with digestion sensitivities or cats with corn allergies. Judging by the ingredients alone, we believe this is a below average cat food blend. Do you agree? Disagree? Feel free to tell us what you think in the comments section below.

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Do you have a growing kitten? Or maybe you’re about to get a kitten for the first time and don’t know what food to buy? In order to ensure your little feline friend stays healthy and strong, you need to feed him or her on a cat formula specifically made for growing cats. Eukanuba is one of the cat food brands that makes a kitten food.

The Eukanuba Chicken Dry Cat Food Formula for Kittens is one of the cat formulas specifically blended for kittens. According to the Eukanuba company, this kitten formula is ideal for kittens between the ages of 4 months and 1 year. It can also be used for lactating and pregnant cats.

Eukanuba is owned by Procter & Gamble and uses a manufacturing plant in Leipsic, Ohio. In 1969, Paul Iams wanted to find a name to differentiate the new formula from other Iams pet food products. Iams chose to name this new formula “Eukanuba”, a term originated by jazz era personality Hoagy Carmichael, meaning “the tops” or “something supreme” (read more on Wikipedia).

Our Eukanuba Kitten review will now analyze the ingredients used in this kitten food.

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Ingredients in Eukanuba Kitten Chicken

Chicken, Chicken By-Product Meal, Corn Meal, Corn Grits, Animal Fat (preserved with mixed Tocopherols, a source of Vitamin E), Dried Beet Pulp, Dried Egg Product, Natural Flavor, Potassium Chloride, Fish Oil (preserved with mixed Tocopherols, a source of Vitamin E), DL-Methionine, Brewers Dried Yeast, Fructooligosaccharides, Vitamin E Supplement, Choline Chloride, Calcium Carbonate, Salt, Taurine, Vitamins (Ascorbic Acid, Niacin, Vitamin A Acetate, Biotin, Calcium Pantothenate, Thiamine Mononitrate (source of vitamin B1), Vitamin B12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (source of vitamin B6), Riboflavin Supplement (source of vitamin B2), Vitamin D3 Supplement, Inositol, Folic Acid), Minerals (Manganese Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Copper Sulfate, Cobalt Carbonate, Potassium Iodide), Rosemary Extract.

Top 5 Ingredients Overview

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.

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.

Corn Meal

Considered a low quality ingredient, corn meal is usually used as a “filler ingredient” but provides almost no nutritional value to cats. This ingredient is also a known allergy causing ingredient for many cats. We aren’t all that thrilled to see this ingredient listed.

Corn Grits

Many forms of corn are found in pet foods including corn grits. About 85% of all corn grown in the United States is genetically modified (GMO). Since cats by nature are carnivores, this ingredient does not provide much nutritional value if any, although it does add calories to the food. Corn grits can be considered a very low quality ingredient.

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.

Additional Ingredients Of Interest In Eukanuba Kitten Food

Dried beet pulp

Beet pulp is a by-product from the processing of sugar beet and is a source of fiber and energy. It is popular among many pet food companies due to its high availability and low price. The most common complaint about this ingredient is that it causes digestion problems, most commonly a very hard stool or diarrhea. It has also been known to cause bloat in some dogs and cats which can be very serious if left unchecked.

Natural flavor

The term “natural flavor” is extremely vague and can mean just about anything. In human foods, natural flavor is usually MSG or some similar flavor enhancer. When pet food companies are asked what is in their “natural flavor ingredients, they usually refuse to answer. There are a lot of things in the world considered “natural” and they almost all have a flavor. Such generic terms can be indicative of poor quality ingredients. While that’s not always the case, the fact is, we don’t really know what this ingredient consists of and that is worrying.

Fish oil

Fish oil is a popular supplement used by cat and dog owners. In this case, the food is already supplemented with fish oil. This ingredient is high in very healthy Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids. This can lead to an improved coat, healthier skin, boost to the immune system, lower blood pressure, and help improving cognitive function in older pets. There are also some studies that show fish oil to help assist with certain allergies in dogs and cats. This is a higher quality ingredient.

Dried egg product

Derived from shell free eggs, this is a cheaper source of protein used in place of higher quality meat proteins. Normally, this ingredient is derived from waste products associated with the egg industry or egg products that have been deemed unfit for human consumption.

Allergy Risk Associated With Eukanuba Kitten Formula With Chicken Cat Food

Unfortunately, Eukanuba Chicken for Kittens Cat Food has a rather high amount of corn included in the ingredients list. This is one of the main ingredients associated with food allergies in cats. If your kitten is allergic to corn, you will want to avoid this food. We also note the presence of dried beet pulp which is a known allergen. Overall, kittens with allergies or sensitive digestion should avoid eating this food.

Poor Quality Ingredients Commonly Found In Cat Food

Soy and wheat – Both soy and wheat are known as “filler ingredients” in both cat and dog food products. Filler ingredients are used to help make your cat feel more full, but don’t offer much in the way of nutrition. These are very cheap ingredients for pet food companies to use but also boosts the protein percentage in the food. Unfortunately, cats are obligate carnivores and so they can’t actually process these plant based proteins the same way they can process meat based proteins. Some cats also have allergic reactions to these ingredients or may have a tough time digesting them. In smaller quantities, these ingredients are generally ok, but they are considered lower quality ingredients without much nutritional value and pose some health risks to cats.

Artificial coloring and flavoring – 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.

Fortunately, this formula does not contain these controversial ingredients.

Conclusion

In short, we are not impressed with Eukanuba Kitten with Chicken Dry Cat Food. Seeing so much corn is not a great sign and neither is the presence of some lower quality meat and fat sources. Eukanuba has also had a recall history that is above normal. Based on the ingredients alone, we believe this kitten food is a below average blend.

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Eukanuba is owned by Procter & Gamble and manufactured in their Leipsic, Ohio plant which makes both dog and cat food. In 1969, Paul Iams wanted to find a name to differentiate the new formula from other Iams pet food products. Iams chose to name this new formula “Eukanuba”, a term originated by jazz era personality Hoagy Carmichael, meaning “the tops” or “something supreme” (read more on Wikipedia).

The Eukanuba Adult Sensitive Stomach Dry Cat Food formula is one of the formulas specifically made for cats between 1-6 years of age that have sensitive stomachs. Although this cat food is specifically meant for cats that have stomach and digestive problems, it is also used for kittens as well as nursing and pregnant cats.

Ingredients in Eukanuba Adult Sensitive Stomach Cat Food

Chicken, Chicken By-Product Meal, Corn Grits, Corn Meal, Lamb, Animal Fat (preserved with mixed Tocopherols, a source of Vitamin E), Brewers Rice, Dried Beet Pulp, Natural Flavor, Dried Egg Product, Fructooligosaccharides, Potassium Chloride, Sodium Bisulfate, Fish Oil (preserved with mixed Tocopherols, a source of Vitamin E), Brewers Dried Yeast, DL-Methionine, Choline Chloride, Vitamins (Niacin, Vitamin E Supplement, Ascorbic Acid, Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin A Acetate, Biotin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (source of vitamin B6), Thiamine Mononitrate (source of vitamin B1), Vitamin B12 Supplement, Inositol, Riboflavin Supplement (source of vitamin B2), Folic Acid, Vitamin D3 Supplement), Minerals (Manganese Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Copper Sulfate, Cobalt Carbonate, Potassium Iodide), Salt, Rosemary Extract, Calcium Carbonate.

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.

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.

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.

Corn Grits

Many forms of corn are found in pet foods including corn grits. About 85% of all corn grown in the United States is genetically modified (GMO). Since cats by nature are carnivores, this ingredient does not provide much nutritional value if any, although it does add calories to the food. Corn grits can be considered a very low quality ingredient.

Corn Meal

Considered a low quality ingredient, corn meal is usually used as a “filler ingredient” but provides almost no nutritional value to cats. This ingredient is also a known allergy causing ingredient for many cats. We aren’t all that thrilled to see this ingredient listed.

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.

Additional Ingredients Of Interest In Eukanuba Adult Sensitive Stomach Dry Can Food

Dried Egg Plant

Added as a source of carbohydrates, protein, and other nutrients, this ingredient doesn’t provide much in the way of nutrition for your cat, but there is nothing harmful about it either.

Natural Flavor

The term “natural flavor” is extremely vague and can mean just about anything. In human foods, natural flavor is usually MSG or some similar flavor enhancer. When pet food companies are asked what is in their “natural flavor ingredients, they usually refuse to answer. There are a lot of things in the world considered “natural” and they almost all have a flavor. Such generic terms can be indicative of poor quality ingredients. While that’s not always the case, the fact is, we don’t really know what this ingredient consists of and that is worrying.

Fish Oil

Fish oil is a popular supplement used by cat and dog owners. In this case, the food is already supplemented with fish oil. This ingredient is high in very healthy Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids. This can lead to an improved coat, healthier skin, boost to the immune system, lower blood pressure, and help improving cognitive function in older pets. There are also some studies that show fish oil to help assist with certain allergies in dogs and cats. This is a higher quality ingredient.

Allergy Risks Associated With Eukanuba Adult Sensitive Stomach Cat Food

The Eukanuba Adult Sensitive Stomach Cat Food blend contains quite a bit of corn, which is a bit puzzling since this cat food is designed for cats with sensitive stomaches. Not only is corn a common allergen for cats, but corn can be a difficult ingredient for cats to digest as well. This cat food does have a bit of an allergy risk associated with it, especially if your cat is allergic to corn.

Conclusion

It is rather ironic that a cat food claiming to help with sensitive stomaches… contains corn. Corn is known to cause digestive complications in cats and is also a known allergen. We welcome Eukanuba to contact us and clarify why corn is used in this food. If you have any ideas, feel free to post in the comment section below because quite frankly, we are a bit baffled. Judging by the ingredients in Eukanuba Adult Sensitive Stomach Dry Cat Food, we believe this is a below average cat food.

Are you looking for weight control foods for your cat? If you are a cat owner, you probably can attest to the fact that it is quite hard to get an effective weight control cat formula. This is because the cat food market is awash with products that hardly ever live up to their promise.

The Eukanuba adult weight control (dry) formula promises to help manage your cat’s weight. If your cat is overweight, you might want to give this formula a try. However, it is important to evaluate its quality based on its ingredients. According to the manufacturer, the Eukanuba adult weight control formula contains all the nutrients your adult cat needs to stay healthy, and at the same time control its weight.

The question is, is there substance to the hype? Find out below.

Ingredients in Ekanuba Adult Weight Control

Corn meal, chicken by-product meal (natural source of glucosamine), ground whole grain sorghum, chicken, ground whole grain barley, chicken flavor, dried beet pulp, dried egg product, brewers dried yeast, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols, a source of vitamin E), potassium chloride, dicalcium phosphate, salt, caramel, dl-methionine, flax meal, choline chloride, minerals (zinc oxide, ferrous sulfate, manganese sulfate, manganous oxide, copper sulfate, potassium iodide, cobalt carbonate), calcium carbonate, dried chicken cartilage (natural source of glucosamine), vitamins (ascorbic acid, vitamin E supplement, vitamin A acetate, biotin, calcium pantothenate, vitamin B12 supplement, thiamine mononitrate (source of vitamin B1), riboflavin supplement (source of vitamin B2), niacin, inositol, vitamin D3 supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride (source of vitamin B6), folic acid), l-tryptophan, l-lysine monohydrochloride, l-carnitine, rosemary extract, citric acid.

A Detailed Overview Of The First Five Ingredients In The Formula

Corn meal

Corn meal is some sort of flour derived from ground corn. Although this product is used in many cat foods, it is not advisable to use it. This is because corn meal triggers allergic reactions in canines. Furthermore, the kind of corn used on cat food is the same used on livestock hence unsafe for cats. For this reasons, it is advisable for cat owners to avoid this food to protect their cats from discomfort and stomach pains.

Chicken by-product meal

This is a dry rendered product made of what is left after a chicken is slaughtered. It is processed after the prime parts of the chicken have been removed. While this makes it a rich source of protein (compared to chicken), this is only in theory as the manufacturer has not stated the parts used to make this meal.

Sorghum

This starch has similar nutritional value to corn. Due to the fact that it is gluten free and has no meat makes it an acceptable ingredient in cat food. Like corn, sorghum is also an allergen.

Chicken

Raw chicken has a high concentration of water. This makes it a very poor source of protein for cats. This is because a lot water is lost when the chicken is cooked and processed, and with it nutrients are also lost.

Barley

With barley being a starchy carbohydrate, it supplies healthy nutrients such as fiber to the cat. Barley also gives your cat sugar level stability.

Other ingredients of interest

Dried egg product

This is usually in the form of dehydrated shell. Although it is made of throw away egg products, it is an additional source of protein. However, the nutritional value it adds to the body of your pet is low.

Organic chicken fat

This is rich in linoleic acid and is a great source of energy. This acid is good for your cat’s coat and skin.

Can adult weight control trigger allergic reactions?

The adult weight control cat formula contains quite a number of allergens hence could be considered dangerous for allergic cats.

Ingredients not fit to feed your cat on

BHT and BHA preservatives – these are chemical based preservatives and are highly toxic to pets.

Gluten – this is one of those few ingredients that causes imbalance in cats. For this reason, many cat owners avoid it as it is believed to cause weight gain that results in overweight cats.

None of these ingredients is present in this cat food.

Conclusion

While the adult weight control cat food may work for controlling weight in cats, it contains known allergens making it a risky formula for your cat.

The Wild Caught Salmon (wet) blends its wet convenience with the natural goodness found in wet foods. This wet pet food is part of Breeder’s Choice Pet Foods. It has been formulated to provide your cat with a balanced and healthy nutrition. It also contains high quality oils and fats as well as a balanced ratio of Omega 6 and 3.

This cat food does not have allergic reactants. Therefore, you do not have to worry that your cat will have adverse reactions after eating it. This cat food also contains high hypoallergenic properties. Made by Breeder’s choice Pet Foods, it guarantees you high quality, grain free cat food.

While all this sounds all nice and rosy, does this food actually cut it when the rubber meets the road? Are the ingredients worth giving it a try? Find out below?

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Ingredients that make up the Wild Caught Salmon (wet)

According to the manufacturer, the Wild Caught Salmon is cat food is as natural as can be. This means that it does not contain any grain, fillers, GMO’s, corn, artificial flavors, byproducts, preservatives and wheat. The ingredients that make up this unique cat formula include:

Ingredients in Wild Caught Salmon (Wet) Cat Food

Tricalcium phosphate, Salmon broth, Salmon, Sunflower Oil, Avocado Oil, Guar Gum, Taurine, Choline Chrodine, Potassium Chloride, Supplement of Vitamin D, Folic Acid, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin Supplemnet, Menadione Sodium Bisulfate Complex )(Vitamin K source), Supplement of Vitamin A, Manganese Sulfate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Zinc Oxide, Supplement of Vitamin E.

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Ingredients you should always look for

Tricalcium Phosphate: Dicalcium phosphate is a compound that is present in bone. It is a calcium salt. Usually, when people break their bones, the need to enrich themselves with this compound in order to help bone regeneration. For cat food, it is mostly used as a part of the processing of the food. While this ingredient sounds scary and doesn’t provide any nutrition for cats, it is considered safe and is usually included in very low levels.

Salmon & Salmon Broth: 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 is cause for concern. 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.

Sunflower Oil: Tomato pomace is an inexpensive by-product of tomato manufacturing. Effectively, it is what is left over after processing tomatoes for juice, ketchup, soup, etc. In all likelihood, this is the leftovers of what is cleaned off of the floors and other areas of plants that process tomatoes for other purposes. As such, this is probably used more as a flavor enhancer than for nutritional purposes.

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.

Avocado Oil: Avocado is a pear-shaped fruit that can sometimes be dangerous to pets if the pit is consumed. Obviously when used in cat food, the pit is removed completely. While avocado is toxic to some animals, in dogs and cats, we do not expect to see serious signs of illness. Cat food manufactures will tell you that avocados are nutrient-dense and high in crude fiber. This fruit also contains vitamins A, C and E as well as vitamin B6. Avocados certainly area nutritious, but since cats are obligate carnivores, the nutritional value will be a bit limited. The good news is there doesn’t appear to be any real harm to including avocado and it may even help make the food more palatable.

Can Wild Caught Salmon (wet) Cause Cat Allergies?

Corn, soy and wheat are ingredients that are widely known to cause allergies. Since Wild Caught Salmon (wet) does not contain any of the three mentioned ingredients, it is safe to say that your cat will not suffer from allergies after eating this formula. That’s not all, Wild Caught Salmon has hypoallergenic properties making it an even more suitable choice for your cat; regardless of whether it suffers from allergies or not. However, it is always important for your cat to eat foods that are nutritionally beneficial. The best way to do this is to go over the ingredients list on all cat food packages before making a purchase.

Ingredients To Be Wary Of

The ingredients listed below should be avoided. This is because they are known to give cats health problems. Those ingredients are also the reason why most cat foods have been recalled by the FDA

BHA, Ethoxyquin and BHT: BHA, BHT, and ethoxyquin 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.

Soy and Wheat: Both soy and wheat are known as “filler ingredients” in both cat and dog food products. Filler ingredients are used to help make your cat feel more full, but don’t offer much in the way of nutrition. These are very cheap ingredients for pet food companies to use but also boosts the protein percentage in the food. Unfortunately, cats are obligate carnivores and so they can’t actually process these plant based proteins the same way they can process meat based proteins. Some cats also have allergic reactions to these ingredients or may have a tough time digesting them. In smaller quantities, these ingredients are generally ok, but they are considered lower quality ingredients without much nutritional value and pose some health risks to cats.

By-products of meat: 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.

Conclusion

This food leaves a lot to be desired nutrition-wise. While there may be cat owners whose cats love this food, it doesn’t contribute much in terms of nutrition. It is quite telling that 2 of the first 5 ingredients have no apparent benefit to the cat.

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If you own an adult cat, you should be using an adult cat food blend. Almost all cat food companies offer adult blends specifically formulated for the needs of an adult cat. Eukanuba is no exception.

Eukanuba is owned by Procter & Gamble and uses a manufacturing plant in Leipsic, Ohio. In 1969, Paul Iams wanted to find a name to differentiate the new formula from other Iams pet food products. Iams chose to name this new formula “Eukanuba”, a term originated by jazz era personality Hoagy Carmichael, meaning “the tops” or “something supreme” (read more on Wikipedia).

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Ingredients in Eukanuba Adult Chicken Formula

Chicken, Chicken By-Product Meal, Corn Meal, Corn Grits, Animal Fat (preserved with mixed Tocopherols, a source of Vitamin E), Dried Egg Product, Dried Beet Pulp, Natural Flavor, Sodium Bisulfate, Potassium Chloride, Fish Oil (preserved with mixed Tocopherols, a source of Vitamin E), DL-Methionine, Brewers Dried Yeast, Fructooligosaccharides, Choline Chloride, Calcium Carbonate, Vitamins (Niacin, Vitamin E Supplement, Ascorbic Acid, Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin A Acetate, Biotin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (source of vitamin B6), Thiamine Mononitrate (source of vitamin B1), Vitamin B12 Supplement, Inositol, Riboflavin Supplement (source of vitamin B2), Folic Acid, Vitamin D3 Supplement), Minerals (Manganese Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Copper Sulfate, Cobalt Carbonate, Potassium Iodide), Salt, Rosemary Extract.

The First Five Ingredients; An Overview

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.

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.

Corn Meal

Considered a low quality ingredient, corn meal is usually used as a “filler ingredient” but provides almost no nutritional value to cats. This ingredient is also a known allergy causing ingredient for many cats. We aren’t all that thrilled to see this ingredient listed.

Corn Grits

Many forms of corn are found in pet foods including corn grits. About 85% of all corn grown in the United States is genetically modified (GMO). Since cats by nature are carnivores, this ingredient does not provide much nutritional value if any, although it does add calories to the food. Corn grits can be considered a very low quality ingredient.

Animal Fat (preserved with mixed Tocopherols, a source of Vitamin E)

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.

Additional Ingredients Of Interest In Eukanuba Adult Chicken Formula Cat Food

Dried Beet Pulp

Beet pulp is a by-product from the processing of sugar beet and is a source of fiber and energy. It is popular among many pet food companies due to its high availability and low price. The most common complaint about this ingredient is that it causes digestion problems, most commonly a very hard stool or diarrhea. It has also been known to cause bloat in some dogs and cats which can be very serious if left unchecked.

Natural Flavor

The term “natural flavor” is extremely vague and can mean just about anything. In human foods, natural flavor is usually MSG or some similar flavor enhancer. When pet food companies are asked what is in their “natural flavor ingredients, they usually refuse to answer. There are a lot of things in the world considered “natural” and they almost all have a flavor. Such generic terms can be indicative of poor quality ingredients. While that’s not always the case, the fact is, we don’t really know what this ingredient consists of and that is worrying.

Allergy Risks Associated With Eukanuba Adult Chicken Cat Food

Unfortunately, this formula contains corn and corn extracts which are common allergens. It is important to avoid feeding your cat on this formula if your cat suffers from corn allergies. Many cats also have difficulty digesting corn, so you should keep a close eye on your cat when switching to this formula.

Conclusion

While the Eukanuba Company promises great health for your cat, this formula doesn’t seem to live up to its name. It contains allergens and low quality ingredients that can potentially cause serious health issues in your cat. It is especially important to avoid this cat food if your cat suffers from corn allergies or has difficulty digesting corn. We do note that meat products are listed as the top 2 ingredients and we are pleased to see that. However, by-products are not the highest quality meat products and the fat source is also from an unnamed animal, in addition to the use of corn and corn meal. Other ingredients, such as beet pulp and natural flavor aren’t all that comforting, either. While most cats should do fine on this formula, in our opinion, it is not one of the better cat food blends available. Do you agree? Disagree? Let us know in the comment section below.

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Are you worried about the weight of your cat? Just like humans, cats too need to maintain a healthy weight. The meals they eat have a lot to do with their current weight. If you are looking to take your cat through a weight loss process or if you want to maintain the current weight of your cat, there are formulas specifically formulated for this purpose.

AvoDerm is one of the pet food brands that have formulas for weight management. The indoor weight control formula is an AvoDerm product that is meant for controlling your cat’s weight. AvoDerm claims that this formula contains fiber, antioxidants and all other nutrients required for healthy weight management.

Is this a sales gimmick or is there substance to back the claims?

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Ingredients in The AvoDerm Indoor Weight Control Dry Cat Food

Chicken Meal, Ground Whole Corn, Corn Gluten Meal, Ground Whole Brown Rice, Oat Fiber, Avocado, Tomato Pomace (Source of Lycopene), Pea Fiber, Natural Flavor, Chicken Fat (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Egg Product, Whey, Salt, Chicory Root, Vitamins (Choline Chloride, Potassium Chloride, a-Tocopherol Acetate (Source of Vitamin E), Vitamin A Acetate, Niacin, Thiamine Mononitrate (Source of Vitamin B1), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Source of Vitamin B6), Calcium Pantothenate, Menadione Sodium Bisulfate Complete, Ascorbic Acid (Source of Vitamin C), Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid, Vitamin B 12 Supplement, Biotin), Minerals (Copper Sulfate, Zinc Sulfate, Manganese Amino Acid Chelate, Manganous Oxide, Copper Amino Acid Chelate, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite), Lecithin, Avocado Oil, Taurine, Parsley Flakes, Calcium Carbonate, Kelp Meal, Yucca Schidigera Extract, DL-Methionine, Inositol.

Top 5 Ingredients Breakdown

The first five ingredients in the list represent a large percentage of the formula’s nutritional value.

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.

Ground Whole Corn

Unfortunately, corn is one of the most widely known food allergens for cats. If your cat does not have a pre-existing allergy to this ingredient, he or she should not experience any allergic reactions. However, this ingredient is also difficult for many cats to digest, so you should keep an eye on your cat for any digestion problems or stomach upset. And finally, this ingredient is normally used in cheaper cat food products as a filler ingredient. It will help make your cat feel more full and will also boost the protein percentage of the food. Since cats are obligate carnivores, however, they do not digest plant based proteins like they do animal based proteins. Overall, this ingredient is pretty lousy unless it is only included in smaller quantities. If your cat suffers from digestion issues or food allergies, do not feed this food to your cat.

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.

Ground Whole 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.

Oat Fiber

Oat fiber is produced from food-grade oat hulls and is mostly added for texture and binding purposes. It is sometimes used to help give food a lighter and browner color as well. Cats and dogs have no absolute physiologic need for this ingredient, although animals eating processed commercial foods appear to benefit from the addition of fiber.

Additional Ingredients Of Interest In Avoderm Indoor Weight Control Cat Food

Avocado

Avocado is a pear-shaped fruit that can sometimes be dangerous to pets if the pit is consumed. Obviously when used in cat food, the pit is removed completely. While avocado is toxic to some animals, in dogs and cats, we do not expect to see serious signs of illness. Cat food manufactures will tell you that avocados are nutrient-dense and high in crude fiber. This fruit also contains vitamins A, C and E as well as vitamin B6. Avocados certainly area nutritious, but since cats are obligate carnivores, the nutritional value will be a bit limited. The good news is there doesn’t appear to be any real harm to including avocado and it may even help make the food more palatable.

Natural Flavor

The term “natural flavor” is extremely vague and can mean just about anything. In human foods, natural flavor is usually MSG or some similar flavor enhancer. When pet food companies are asked what is in their “natural flavor ingredients, they usually refuse to answer. There are a lot of things in the world considered “natural” and they almost all have a flavor. Such generic terms can be indicative of poor quality ingredients. While that’s not always the case, the fact is, we don’t really know what this ingredient consists of and that is worrying.

Potassium Chloride

This chemical compound sometimes goes by the name “trace minerals.” It is a “metal halide salt” composed of potassium and chlorine. It is used in medicine, scientific applications, and food processing. Since potassium is an important nutrient for cats, this is a good way to supply it. It is also commonly used as a replacement for salt and to balance the pH level of the food to meet various requirements. Not only is it used in cat food, it is frequently used in human foods and medications as well. There is some evidence to suggest small intestinal ulcers may occur in cats after prolonged exposure to this ingredient, but this has yet to be proven or disproven.

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.

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Is this an allergy causing formula?

Unfortunately, this formula can cause allergies since it contains corn and corn extracts.

Other ingredients to avoid

BHT and BHA preservatives – 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.

Artificial coloring and flavoring – 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.

Corn, soy and gluten – 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.

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Conclusion

Judging from the ingredients, this formula lacks the capacity to facilitate weight management since it contains ingredients known to cause weight gain. Therefore, this formula is not fit for consumption by cats looking to lose weight. This is another case of all hype but no substance. However, user reviews are largely positive.

Is your cat an indoor cat? Nurturing the health of indoor cats is crucial. As the owner, you need to ensure you feed it on foods that support its indoor lifestyle. There are so many brands claiming to offer indoor cat formulas, but very few deliver on the nutritional needs of cats.

AvoDerm is one of the brands that offer indoor formulas. Their indoor care formula is a dry product meant to cater for the health of an indoor cat. According to the company, this formula contains the required ingredients to reduce the formation of hairballs while at the same time boosting the immune system.

Is this formula as good as it is said to be? Read on to find out.

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Ingredients in AvoDerm Indoor Hairball Care Cat Food

Chicken Meal, Ground Whole Corn, Corn Gluten Meal, Chicken Fat (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Ground Whole Brown Rice, Tomato Pomace (Source of Lycopene), Avocado, Herring Meal, Oat Bran, Natural Flavor, Pea Fiber, Egg Product, Whey, Salt, Chicory Root, Potassium Chloride, Vitamins (a-Tocopherol Acetate (Source of Vitamin E), Choline Chloride, Niacin, Thiamine Mononitrate (Source of Vitamin B1), Vitamin A Acetate, Calcium Pantothenate, Menadione Sodium Bisulfate Complex, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Source of Vitamin B6), Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Ascorbic Acid (Source of Vitamin C), Vitamin B12 Supplement, Biotin, Folic Acid), Minerals (Zinc Amino Acid Chelate, Zinc Sulfate, Iron Amino Acid Chelate, Copper Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Manganese Amino Acid Chelate, Manganous Oxide, Copper Amino Acid Chelate, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite), Avocado Oil, Taurine, Lecithin, Calcium Carbonate, Kelp Meal, Parsley Flakes, DL-Methionine, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Inositol.

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Top 5 Ingredients Breakdown

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.

Ground Whole Corn

Unfortunately, corn is one of the most widely known food allergens for cats. If your cat does not have a pre-existing allergy to this ingredient, he or she should not experience any allergic reactions. However, this ingredient is also difficult for many cats to digest, so you should keep an eye on your cat for any digestion problems or stomach upset. And finally, this ingredient is normally used in cheaper cat food products as a filler ingredient. It will help make your cat feel more full and will also boost the protein percentage of the food. Since cats are obligate carnivores, however, they do not digest plant based proteins like they do animal based proteins. Overall, this ingredient is pretty lousy unless it is only included in smaller quantities. If your cat suffers from digestion issues or food allergies, do not feed this food to your cat.

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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 Fat (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols)

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.

Ground Whole Brown 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.

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Additional Ingredients In Avoderm Indoor Hairball Care Cat Food

Oat meal

This ingredient will provide some fiber for your cat, but for the most part, it is simply used as a filler to help make your cat feel more full. Many cats seem to enjoy the taste of oatmeal and since there are no major health concerns associated with it, this ingredient makes for a great alternative filler ingredient instead of using corn and grains.

Pea Fiber

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.

Oat Bran

Bran, also known as miller’s bran, is the hard outer layers of cereal grain. As a grain, it will not provide any nutritional value. In addition, many cats have difficulty digesting grains and grains are also a known allergen for many cats. While probably not unhealthy for your cat in smaller quantities, it isn’t considered to be very nutritious, either.

Herring Meal

Herring is a silvery fish that is most abundant in coastal waters. Fish provides an excellent source of proteins as well as high amounts of 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. Most herring in cat food is likely farmed herring, but higher end cat food (especially those labeled “natural”) can often times be fished from natural environments. 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.

Allergy Risks In Avoderm Cat Food

Unfortunately, this formula contains several allergens amongst the first five ingredients. While most cats are not allergic to any ingredients in this food, it is not recommended for any cats with a sensitive stomach or pre-existing food allergies.

Poor Quality Ingredients Commonly Found In Cat Food

Corn and corn extracts – Unfortunately, corn is a known allergen for many cats and cats do not receive much of any nutritional value at all from corn, even though corn helps to boost the overall protein percentage of the food. Syrup extracts usually aren’t harmful to cats, but they aren’t all that nutritious, either. In fact, many syrup extracts will contain quite a bit of sugar which can lead to weight gain. Since many adult cats have diabetes, it’s probably a safer bet to stay away from syrups.

Soy and wheat – Both soy and wheat are known as “filler ingredients” in both cat and dog food products. Filler ingredients are used to help make your cat feel more full, but don’t offer much in the way of nutrition. These are very cheap ingredients for pet food companies to use but also boosts the protein percentage in the food. Unfortunately, cats are obligate carnivores and so they can’t actually process these plant based proteins the same way they can process meat based proteins. Some cats also have allergic reactions to these ingredients or may have a tough time digesting them. In smaller quantities, these ingredients are generally ok, but they are considered lower quality ingredients without much nutritional value and pose some health risks to cats.

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.

Unfortunately, the Avoderm Indoor Hairball Care dry cat food formula contains most of these potentially harmful ingredients.

Conclusion

This is a low quality cat food formula. It contains numerous ingredients known to cause allergic reactions in many cats and those ingredients are amongst its first five ingredients. We therefor do not advise feeding this cat food to your cat. While most cats will live a healthy life on this cat food, we think there are some far superior cat food blends that are a much better alternative. Judging by the ingredients alone, we believe this cat food is well below average quality.

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The Whiskas choice cuts with beef in gravy is one of the many beef based formulas in the market. According to the company, this formula comes with real beef chunks that have been marinated in delicious gravy. It is also said to contain all the essential nutrients your cat requires for healthy living.

Is this formula any good for your cat?

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Ingredients in Whiskas with Beef in Gravy

Sufficient water for processing, chicken, meat by-products, beef, wheat gluten, salt, starch, flavor, sodium tripolyphosphate, added color, guar gum, magnesium sulfate, potassium chloride, taurine, dl-methionine, Choline chloride, vitamin e supplement, ferrous sulfate, zinc sulfate, thiamine Mononitrate (vitamin b1), manganese sulfate, copper sulfate, pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin b6), vitamin d3 supplement, potassium iodide, menadione sodium bisulfite complex (source of vitamin k activity), folic acid.

Reviewing the main ingredients

Water

As you might expect, water is mostly added for moisture and cooking purposes. It does not add any nutritional value to the 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.

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.

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.

Beef

Beef is considered to be a higher quality ingredient. It is an excellent source of animal protein and contains many other nutrients that are very important for a cat to survive and thrive. Since this is not in “meal” form, that means this ingredient still contains all of its moisture content prior to cooking. Once fully cooked, most of this ingredient will have evaporated due to its high moisture content. That means, even when this ingredient is ranked highly, it will usually only provide a small percentage of the overall protein in the food. There is no dismissing this ingredient, though. It is high quality and we are pleased to see it listed.

Other ingredients worth looking at

Starch

Starch or amylum is a carbohydrate consisting of a large number of glucose units joined by glycosidic bonds. This polysaccharide is produced by most green plants as an energy store. It is the most common carbohydrate in human diets and is contained in large amounts in such staple foods as potatoes, wheat, maize (corn), rice, and cassava. Starch is most commonly found in dry cat food products to help bind the food together. While some cats may have trouble digesting this ingredient and it doesn’t provide a whole lot of nutritional value to a cat food, the risks associated with starch in cat food is pretty minimal. However, since it doesn’t really provide any nutritional value for your cat, many cat owners are shying away from this ingredient and are moving towards the ever increasing number of starch free cat food blends.

Natural flavor

The term “natural flavor” is extremely vague and can mean just about anything. In human foods, natural flavor is usually MSG or some similar flavor enhancer. When pet food companies are asked what is in their “natural flavor ingredients, they usually refuse to answer. There are a lot of things in the world considered “natural” and they almost all have a flavor. Such generic terms can be indicative of poor quality ingredients. While that’s not always the case, the fact is, we don’t really know what this ingredient consists of and that is worrying.

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.

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.

Can this formula cause allergies?

This formula contains wheat gluten and added color. These are ingredients linked to serious allergy attacks in cats. It also contains starch from an unknown source. Therefore, avoid feeding your allergy prone cat on this formula.

Other ingredients to avoid

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.

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.

Conclusion

This formula has quite a number of controversial ingredients. To begin with, it contains wheat gluten a added color. It also contains an unknown source of starch which could be dangerous. Avoid this cat formula is your cat is overly sensitive. The inclusion of water as the very first ingredient also leaves a lot to be desired. There are better alternatives to this formula.

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