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Avoderm Tuna And Crab Wet Cat Food Review

Avoderm Cat Food

Is your cat a sucker for crab and tuna? This Avoderm Tuna and Crab review should help determine if this is the best food for your cat. Finding formulas that are rich in real tuna and crab can be tricky. This is especially so because most cat formula use flavoring instead of real meat. It is very important to ensure you avoid such formulas.

The AvoDerm Company is one of the many companies claiming to offer real tuna and crab formulas. They manufacture the tuna and crab entrée in gravy. According to the company, this formula contains real tuna and crab meat to give your cat optimum protein nutrition. The company also terms this formula as grain free and nutrient rich.

Does this formula really live up to these claims? Read this review to find out.




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Ingredients in Avoderm Tuna And Crab Wet Cat Food

Tuna, Tuna Broth, Crab, Sunflower Oil, Tapioca Starch, Guar Gum, Tricalcium Phosphate, Avocado Oil, Potassium Chloride, Taurine, Vitamins (Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, Riboflavin Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin A Supplement, Folic Acid, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (Source of Vitamin K Activity), Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin B12, Biotin), Minerals (Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Manganese Sulfate, Calcium Iodide, Copper Sulfate, Sodium Selenite), Carrageenan.

These ingredients meet the AAFCO cat formula nutritional guidelines.

An overview of the first 5 ingredients

Tuna

This ingredient is a well known saltwater fish. There is some debate about whether fish products should be included in cat food at all, because cats by nature do not eat much sea food. A lot of cat owners would rather see meat from other animals such as beef, chicken, turkey, or other meat sources. However, tuna does supply a good amount of protein and also contains an excellent amount of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids.

Tuna Broth

Like other types of broth in cat food, tuna broth is used as a flavor enhancer and source of moisture. It is considered to be a better ingredient to use than plain water. While not especially nutritious, your cat will probably appreciate the enhanced flavor and there are no known health risks associated with this ingredient.

Crab

Sea food ingredients first became popular in dog food and have recently found its way into cat food as well. Some cat owners prefer to stay away from sea food ingredients because it is not a part of a cats natural diet. Wild cats do not eat crab very often if ever during their lives. However, crab does supply some excellent nutrient sources including healthy fatty acids and proteins. Overall, there is very little to worry about with this ingredient and unless your cat has a unique food allergy to crab, it should provide beneficial nutrients to help your cat live a healthy life.

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.

Tapioca Starch

Tapioca flour, also known as tapioca starch, is a starchy white flour that has a slight sweet flavor to it. Tapioca flour is an alternative to traditional wheat flours and has a variety of uses in baking. Tapioca is a source of carbohydrate obtained from the roots of the cassava plant (Manihot esculenta), which is indigenous to Latin America. It is not a cereal grain like corn or wheat which have links to food allergies in cats. The benefit to using tapioca in a pet food as the primary carbohydrate source instead of typical grains is tapioca’s biochemical simplicity. Grains are complex in the sense that they contain proteins and other phytonutrients in addition to carbohydrates. Tapioca is just starch – a combination of amylase and amlylopectin. There are no known canine or feline allergies to tapioca, so this is becoming a more common ingredient in many pet foods.




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Other ingredients of intrest

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.

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.

Carrageenan

This is an additive extracted from red and purple seaweeds, consisting of a mixture of polysaccharides. It is used as a thickening or emulsifying agent in food products. There is still much research being done on this additive and while it is generally considered safe, there is room for caution as carrageenan has produced intestinal damage and ulcers in some animal studies. If you would like more information about the ongoing research of this ingredient, you may reference this research study.

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.

Is it an allergy triggering formula?

The AvoDerm tuna and crab wet formula is not prone to causing allergic reactions. It doesn’t contain the common allergens found in many other cat formulas. It is, therefore, ideal for cats with food sensitivities.

Ingredients to avoid feeding your cat

Animal by products – 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.

Soy, corn and wheat – 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.

Artificial flavoring – While it might seem obvious, we have some concerns about the use of artificial flavoring in cat food. This ingredient is usually derived petroleum and there have not been many studies done on the effects it has on cats. Unfortunately, artificial flavor can come from a very long list of sources and there is no way we can verify how safe this ingredient is. We generally recommend not feeding your cat any “flavors” even if it is natural flavor. In the case of artificial flavor, we don’t see any benefit to having this included.

None of these ingredients are found in the tuna and crab wet formula.

Conclusion

Based on the ingredients used, the company has done a fairly good job with this formula. This is mostly because it is grain free and contains no artificial ingredients. This makes it deal for all cat types. However the inclusion of ingredients like sunflower oil (amongst top 5 ingredients) and avocado that have no apparent benefit to cats takes its impact down a notch.




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Avoderm Salmon And Chicken Wet Cat Food Review

Avoderm Cat Food

Do you take your cat’s feeding seriously? So may things can go wrong with your cat’s health if you fail to take time to evaluate what you feed it on. It is important to make sure you feed your cat on formulas that are nutritionally balanced. If you are clueless about checking for nutritional balance in formulas, cat food reviews can be of great help.

The AvoDerm Company is known for the manufacture of numerous pet formulas. Their cat formula brands range from wet formulas to dry and grain free formulas. The salmon and chicken wet formula is one of the formulas under this brand. According to the company, this is a grain free formula that offers your cat all the natural ingredients it requires to grow.

Does this formula live up to the claims? Read on to find out.




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Ingredients in The Avoderm Salmon And Chicken Wet Cat Food

Fish Broth, Chicken, Sardine, Tapioca Starch, Pea Protein,Tricalcium Phosphate, Sunflower Oil, Avocado Oil, Taurine, Potassium Chloride, Guar Gum, Choline Chloride, Thiamine Mononitrate, Niacin, Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin A Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Menadione Sodium Bisulfate Complex (Source of Vitamin K Activity), Folic Acid, Biotin, Vitamin B12, Vitamin D3 Supplement), Minerals (Zinc Oxide, Ferrous Sulfate Monohydrate, Manganese Sulfate Monohydrate, Sodium Selenite, Potassium Iodide, Copper Proteinate), Carrageenan.

According to the company, these ingredients have been formulated to meet the AAFCO cat formula nutritional standards.




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Top 5 Ingredients Breakdown

Fish Broth

Fish broth is a mostly non-nutritious ingredient used to add moisture to the food. It is considered a better alternative to plain water and does provide an enhanced taste for cats. We do wish this broth came from a named fish source as the broth could have been made using almost any type of fish and almost any part of the fish. However, this is still considered a safe ingredient and we aren’t too concerned about the unnamed source this broth comes from.

Salmon

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.

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.

Sardine

A sardine is a young pilchard or other young or small herringlike fish. Some cat owners like to avoid fish in cat food because sea food is not usually a part of a cats natural diet. All fish products also contain a certain level of mercury and some cat owners fear that over time, the ingestion of mercury could be harmful (although there is very little evidence to suggest a significant risk). Overall, this ingredient does supply some extremely nutritious properties including protein and very healthy fatty acids.

Pea Protein

As grain-free cat food becomes more popular, so does the inclusion of peas and pea fiber. That’s because peas can be used as a filler ingredient in similar ways grains are used, but they can still label the food as grain-free. Unfortunately, the full effect on a cats health from pea fiber is largely unknown. There have been some studies shown to suggest pea fiber can cause many dogs to have a runny stool, there is very little research that has been done on how cats are able to digest this ingredient. Overall, it probably will not harm your cat but it will not add much nutritional value to your cats diet, either.

Additional Ingredients Of Interest In Avoderm Salmon & Chicken Cat Food

Tapioca Starch

Tapioca flour, also known as tapioca starch, is a starchy white flour that has a slight sweet flavor to it. Tapioca flour is an alternative to traditional wheat flours and has a variety of uses in baking. Tapioca is a source of carbohydrate obtained from the roots of the cassava plant (Manihot esculenta), which is indigenous to Latin America. It is not a cereal grain like corn or wheat which have links to food allergies in cats. The benefit to using tapioca in a pet food as the primary carbohydrate source instead of typical grains is tapioca’s biochemical simplicity. Grains are complex in the sense that they contain proteins and other phytonutrients in addition to carbohydrates. Tapioca is just starch – a combination of amylase and amlylopectin. There are no known canine or feline allergies to tapioca, so this is becoming a more common ingredient in many pet foods.

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.

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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Allergy Risk In AvoDerm Salmon & Chicken Cat Food

The salmon and chicken wet cat food formula is not an allergy causing food for most cats. Unless your cat suffers from an unusual food allergy, this cat food should be suitable for all cats, even those with sensitive stomachs.

Poor Quality Ingredients Commonly Found In Cat Food

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.

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.

Artificial coloring, preservatives and flavoring – Artificial preservatives are a group of chemical substances added to food, sprayed on the outside of food, or added to certain medications to retard spoilage, discoloration, or contamination by bacteria and other disease organisms. These additives are man-made, though some do exist in some forms in nature. They are generally considered safe despite the fact that some are known to be carcinogenic and toxic. Many side effects and illnesses are related to their consumption. What’s even more unfortunate is that we are not given full information here. The label “artificial preservatives” could include any number of man-made chemical based preservatives. While it doesn’t necessarily mean this ingredient is harmful, it could be. We just don’t know which specific preservatives are being used here. Without adequate labeling and information for cat owners, we remain skeptical.

Artificial color is added to cat food for marketing purposes only. Unfortunately, there may be some evidence linking various food coloring to cancer in cats. Since this provides absolutely no nutritional benefit to your cat and can only harm your cat, we find it rather unfortunate they included it here.

Fortunately, none of these ingredients are present in the AvoDerm salmon and chicken wet formula.

Conclusion

The reviews and ratings on this product are mostly positive and cat owners who use this blend tend to stick with it long-term. This formula is grain free, which seems to please most cat owners. It is also free from most of the common allergy causing ingredients, making this an ideal food for many cats with food allergies. The only major pitfall with this cat food is probably the inclusion of avocado extracts, especially since the benefits of avocado in cat food is yet to be fully determined. Therefore, the AvoDerm salmon and chicken formula is listed as an average quality cat food.




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Artemis Fresh Mix Feline Formula Dry Cat Food Review

Artemis Cat Food

Artemis Fresh Mix Feline Formula Dry Cat Food Review Artemis Pet Food Inc is the name of the company responsible for manufacturing the Artemis Fresh Mix Feline Formula. This company was started in 1988 and is currently headquartered in Hollywood, California. Initially, the company had only a few formulas under its name. However, today the company has expanded its pet formula line to include formulas for cats and dogs. The company has enjoyed quite a bit of success owing to the fact that none of their pet formulas have been recalled. The Artemis brand is not listed on the FDA pet food recall website.




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The fresh mix feline formula is a dry cat formula under the Artemis brand. According to the Artemis website, the feline fresh mix formula is formulated to support the cat’s coat and skin health. This pet formula is said to contain the essential amino acids and is naturally balanced to maintain the required PH levels. It also offers substantial proteins to sustain cats of all life stages.

Is this cat formula as effective as the makers say it is? Well, there is only one way to find out.

Ingredients in Artemis Fresh Mix Feline Formula

Chicken, Chicken Meal, Peas, Barley, Rice Bran, Fish Meal, Chicken Fat (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Flavor Enhancer, Flaxseed, Dried Chicory Root, Sodium Bisulfate, Choline Chloride, Taurine, Kelp, Carrots, Apples, Tomatoes, Blueberries, Spinach, Cranberries, Rosemary Extract, Parsley Flake, Lactobacillus Casei, Green Tea Extract, Barley Grass Extract, L-Carnitine, Enterococcus Faecieum, Lactobacillus Acidophilus, Dried Aspergillus Oryzae Fermentation Extract, Saccharomyces Cerevesiae Fermentation Solubles, Zinc Proteinate, Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, Manganese Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Copper Sulfate, Zinc Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin A Supplement, Biotin, Potassium Iodide, Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Manganous Oxide, Sodium Selenite, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (vitamin B6), Vitamin D Supplement, Folic Acid.




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A Closer Look At The First Five Ingredients

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 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.

Peas – Peas are becoming more and more common in pet foods today, especially those listed as grain-free, holistic, or natural pet foods. While peas are certainly not grains, they serve much the same purpose. It mostly acts as a filler and a cheap way to increase the protein percentage of the food. However, cats receive almost no nutritional value from peas. Since cats are obligate carnivores, they require proteins from meat based ingredients. There is very little research that has been performed on the long term effects of cats consuming peas. We do know that peas can cause runny poop or digestion issues in dogs, but the full effect on cats remains a bit of an unknown. At best, this ingredient will act as a filler and will not provide much nutritional value, if any, to your cat.

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. Ground or pearled barley is produced from whole barley seeds that have been scoured to remove the seed hull and bran. This is a common ingredient in weight control pet foods due to its slow digestibility, starch, and soluble fibers.

Rice bran – Rice bran is what makes brown rice brown. It is the fibrous outer portion of the rice grain. Unfortunately, a study done about 10 years ago found that rice bran depletes taurine when fed to cats. The fact that rice bran specifically depletes taurine in cats is less widely known than it should be. Although rice bran or whole rice products are included in commercial cat foods at levels between 5 and 20% diet (DM), feline diets containing these materials may need a higher content of taurine than that in similar products without them. If you would like to read more about this, here is an excellent article with more detail.

Clearly, this formula is top heavy on useless fillers.

Ingredients of interest

Fish meal – When you see fish listed as “fish meal” on an ingredients list, that means almost all of the moisture was removed from the fish prior to the cooking process. That means fish meal contains a much higher amount of protein as opposed to it’s whole fish counterpart. However, we aren’t pleased that this ingredient is an unnamed fish source. Fish meal can contain almost any type of fish, including fish waste products that are not used for human consumption purposes. Whenever we see an unnamed fish source, we get a little nervous about what may (or may not) be included.

Flaxseed – Flaxseeds (also called linseeds) are a rich source of micronutrients, dietary fiber, manganese, vitamin B1, and the essential fatty acid alpha-linolenic acid, also known as ALA or omega-3. The seeds come from flax, one of the the oldest fiber crops in the world. It is not only a source of healthy fat, antioxidants, and fiber; modern research has found evidence to suggest that flaxseed can also help lower the risk of diabetes, cancer, and heart disease. The health risk associated with this ingredient is low and in general, flaxseed is considered to be a beneficial ingredient for cats.




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Can this formula cause allergic reactions?

Barley is a known allergen, and you should, therefore, be cautious when giving this formula to a cat that is allergic. It is advisable to read through the ingredients list on the formula bag to determine whether the cat formula contains any other ingredients that your cat may be allergic to.

Other ingredients to be wary of

Artificial additives and preservatives – Artificial preservatives are a group of chemical substances added to food, sprayed on the outside of food, or added to certain medications to retard spoilage, discoloration, or contamination by bacteria and other disease organisms. These additives are man-made, though some do exist in some forms in nature. They are generally considered safe despite the fact that some are known to be carcinogenic and toxic. Many side effects and illnesses are related to their consumption. What’s even more unfortunate is that we are not given full information here. The label “artificial preservatives” could include any number of man-made chemical based preservatives. While it doesn’t necessarily mean this ingredient is harmful, it could be. We just don’t know which specific preservatives are being used here. Without adequate labeling and information for cat owners, we remain skeptical.

Fillers – Many ingredients are referred to as “fillers” or “filler ingredients.” Generally, these are ingredients that offer very little to no nutritional value. Fillers are usually in the form of grains or other non-nutritious plant based products. Filler do help to make your cat feel more full without adding many calories, but some fillers are known to cause allergies in cats, as is the case with grains.

While the fresh mix feline formula is partly grain based, the company has done a good job by using quality nutrition grains.

Conclusion

From the ingredients used to make this car formula, fresh mix feline cat formula can be rated as a relatively good cat formula. The client feedback is mostly positive though some clients complain that the grain causes allergic reactions in their cats.

Avoderm Salmon & Brown Rice Dry Cat Food Review

Avoderm Cat Food

Are you searching for the ideal cat formula? Finding the most ideal meal for your feline friend can be made easier by evaluating the quality of the formula based on its ingredients.

AvoDerm is one of the many cat formulas brands in the market. It is known for its dry and wet formulas. One of the dry formulas under this brand is the salmon and brown rice formula. According to the manufacturer, this formula offers quality ingredients for all rounded health. It is said to contain antioxidants and oils that nurture the health of your cat.

Is this formula as good as the manufacturer claims it is?




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Ingredients in Avoderm Salmon & Brown Rice Dry Cat Food

Salmon Meal, Salmon, Ground Whole Brown Rice, Ground Whole White Rice, Egg Product,Potato Protein, Chicken Fat (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Oatmeal, Pumpkin, Avocado, Tomato Pomace (Source of Lycopene), Natural Flavor, Salt, Chicory Root, Whey, Potassium Chloride, Blueberries, Cranberries, 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), Lecithin, Avocado Oil, Salmon Oil, Calcium Carbonate, Taurine, Parsley Flakes, DL-Methionine, Kelp Meal, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Inositol.

Top 5 Ingredients Overview

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.

Salmon

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.

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.

Ground Whole White 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.

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.

Additional Ingredients In Avoderm Salmon & Brown Rice Cat Food

Chicken Fat

Chicken fat is a quality source of essential fatty acids and an excellent source of energy. Fat has a positive effect on the immune system and plays a beneficial role in stress response. Essential fatty acids are required for proper growth, reproduction, normal skin structure and a healthy coat. Because chicken fat contains virtually no protein, it’s use does not cause allergic reactions associated with the use of fresh chicken or chicken meal which contain high amounts of protein. Many times, mixed tocopherols, which are a natural source of Vitamin E activity, are used as a natural preservative to maintain freshness. This is considered a higher quality fat source in pet food.

Potato Protein

We find it interesting they listed potato protein here, since cats do not receive much of any benefit from potato protein. It is unlikely to cause any specific health concerns, but this appears to be an inexpensive way to boost the protein percentage of the food. Unfortunately, since cats are obligate carnivores, this added protein will mostly go to waste as cats are unable to properly utilize plant based proteins. Their protein must come from meat based sources.

Pumpkin

While this ingredient will not provide much nutrition to your cat, pumpkin is quite tasty to cats and seems to aid in healthy digestion. Pumpkin is often a natural remedy that dog and cat owners use to help ease stomach or digestion discomfort. This is also a filler ingredient to help make your cat feel more full after a meal. Unlike many other filler ingredients, there are very few allergy or health risks associated with this ingredient.




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Allergy Risks With AvoDerm Salmon & Brown Rice Cat Food

This is a dry corn free cat formula. Corn is one of the most common allergens found in most pet formulas. It is also free from all of the other most common ingredients that cause food allergies in cats. Therefore, unless your cat suffers from an unusual food allergy, this formula is ideal for cats, especially cats with corn allergies.

Low 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.

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.

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.

Fortunately, none of these ingredients are found in the AvoDerm Salmon and Brown Rice Formula.

Conclusion

This formula can be termed as an average formula. The salmon and brown rice formula is corn-free making it ideal for cats with food sensitivities to corn. This is one of the reasons cat owners seem fond of this product. Most of the reviews have been positive and cat owners typically stick with this product long-term. Based on the ingredients alone, we have determined that this is an average quality cat food.




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Addiction Wild Brushtail and Berries Entree Cat Food Review

Addiction Cat Food
Addiction Wild Brushtail And Berries Review


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The Wild Brushtail and Berries Entrée blends dry convenience with the natural goodness found in raw foods. This raw dehydrated pet food from Addiction Foods Inc. has been designed to lock in the entire meat flavor and also preserve its natural enzymes and vitamins. It uses more than 45% of flavorsome, highly nutritious and exclusive Brushtail from New Zealand. Brushtail is a wild marsupial that is harvested because of the damage it brings to agricultural land.

This cat food has low allergic reactants and is rich in Omega-3 Fatty Acids. This unique cat food also consists of high quantities of hypoallergenic and fresh tasting meats. Made at the Addiction manufacturing plant located in New Zealand, Wild Brushtail and Berries Entrée food guarantees you a grain-free and high quality cat food. It is also a great alternative to lamb, chicken or beef and can be served mixed with some home cooked food, rehydrated with some warm water, dry, mixed with canned food or kibble, or with whatever else your cat loves.

This cat food gives the impression that it is one of those “must have” foods for your cat. Even though some complaints of cats having a hard time adapting to the food abound, it is important to establish whether the ingredients make it a worthwhile investment.




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Ingredients

The Wild Brushtail and Berries Entrée has been specifically formulated to be as natural as possible, and that is why it contains no GMOs, grain, fillers, byproducts, artificial flavors, corn, flavorings, wheat and preservatives. It contains:

Ingredients in Addiction Wild Brushtail and Berries Entree Cat food

Rosemary extracts, Lecithin, Canola oil, Tocopherols (preservatives), Zinc Sulphate, Sodium Selenite, Manganese Sulphate, Potassium Iodate, Ferrous Sulphate, Copper Sulphate, Niacin, Biotin, Pantothenic Acid, Folic Acid, Supplement of Vitamin B12, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin Supplement, Thiamine Hydrochloride, Vitamin E, D and A supplements, Taurine, Potassium Chloride, Sodium Chloride, Choline Chloride, Calcium Carbonate, Spinach, Blueberries, Raspberries, Blackberries, Tapioca, Sunflower seeds, Papayas, Carrots, Potatoes and Brushtail.

The Brushtail is free from steroids and artificial hormones. The berries are rich in anti-oxidants while the Taurine supports your cat’s eye & heart health. The raw fruits & vegetables are rich in Phytochemicals and Vitamins.

Wild Brushtail and Berries Entrée Cat Food Allergy Risk

Cat allergies are mostly caused by soy, corn and wheat. Since the Wild Brushtail and Berries Entrée does not contain any of those ingredients, most cat owners do not have to worry about allergic reactions from this food. What’s more, this cat food contains hypoallergenic properties, which make it a wonderful food choice for your cat; even those that have food allergies. To be on the safe side, you are advised to always check the ingredients list of any cat food before feeding it to your cat. Also, if your cat suffers from an unusual food allergy, you should consult with a veterinarian before switching to this or any other type of cat food.

Poor Quality Ingredients Commonly Found In Cat Food

Some of the ingredients you may find in some cat foods have been known to cause serious problems for cats. Here are some of the more common ingredients found:

Ethoxyquin, BHA and BHT : These chemical preservatives are normally used in the preservation of cat foods.Even so, they are suspected to be carriers of agents that cause cancer. In light of this, many pet foods have been moved towards natural preservatives like Vitamins E and C.

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.

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.

Thankfully, Addiction Wild Brushtail and Berries cat food does not contain these harmful ingredients.

Conclusion

The Wild Brushtail and Berries Entrée is with no doubt a superb raw recipe for almost any cat. Having a combination of premium brushtail, which is known to promote coat & skin health and the exceptional nutritional benefits, your cat will definitely enjoy eating the Addiction Wild Brushtail and Berries Entrée.




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Addiction Viva La Venison Cat Food Review

Addiction Cat Food

The Addiction cat food brand has been in the market for a very long time now. The company that manufactures this cat food formula is called Addiction Foods, Inc.

Pet food formulas from Addiction foods are generally rich in game meat and protein. This is in keeping true to the company’s philosophy of feeding cats and pets on what they were naturally meant to feed on. Pet food formulas under this brand are nutritious and hypoallergenic.

One pet food formula under the Addiction brand is the Addiction Viva La Venison cat food formula. According to the Addiction foods company, Viva La Venison cat food is a premium cat formula that offers your cat a delectable meal.

This cat food formula nutrient rich and is ideal for cats that develop allergic reactions from feeding on lamb, beef or chicken. There is a lot of hype about this cat food but how does it compare to other pet foods?

Ingredients in Viva La Venison Cat Food

It is good to note that the Viva La Venison cat formula has been made to meet the AAFCO cat food nutritional levels.

Ingredients in Addiction Viva La Venison

Venison Meal, Dried Potatoes, Natural Flavors, Chicken Fat (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Dried Egg, Dried Kelp, Dehydrated Alfalfa Meal, Dried Carrots, Dried Cranberries, Dried Apples, Dried Spinach, Potassium Chloride, Salt, Dried Enterococcus faecium Fermentation Product, Brewers Dried Yeast, Lecithin, Dried Lactobacillus acidophilus Fermentation Product, Dried Bacillus subtilis Fermentation Extract, Dried Aspergillus niger Fermentation Extract, Choline Chloride, Zinc Proteinate, Vitamin E Supplement,Dried Saccharomyces cerevisiae Fermentation Solubles, Iron Proteinate, Inulin (from chicory root), Taurine, DL-Methionine, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Niacin (Vitamin B3), Ascorbic Acid (source of Vitamin C), Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Calcium Pantothenate, Thiamine (Vitamin B1), Biotin (Vitamin B7), Riboflavin (Vitamin B2), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Beta Carotene, Folic Acid (Vitamin B9), Rosemary Extract, Sodium Selenite.

When purchasing a cat food formula, the first five ingredients are the most crucial. This is because they basically make up the larger percentage of all the cat food ingredients.

Top 5 Ingredients Breakdown For Addiction Viva La Venison

Venison meal – Since venison in this case is listed as venison meal, we know that it has had almost all of the moisture content removed prior to the cooking process. This enables the ingredient to retain a much higher protein percentage and provides many more nutrients than its whole meat counterpart. This is an extremely high quality ingredient that your cat should love.

Dries potatoes – This is the source of carbohydrate in this cat food formula. This is a healthy alternative when compared to the other options of grain-based carbohydrate sources like soy and wheat. It also offers vitamins and minerals.

Natural flavors – While this ingredient may appear to be healthy and safe because it is “natural”, we believe this is a pretty poor quality ingredient. While it might be a harmless flavoring sprayed onto the food, natural flavors can be obtained from almost anything deemed “natural”. Not all things natural are good and some “natural flavor” sources can be downright harmful. Without being able to verify what chemicals are included into this ingredient, we feel a bit apprehensive about it.

Chicken fat – Chicken fat is a quality source of essential fatty acids and an excellent source of energy. Fat has a positive effect on the immune system and plays a beneficial role in stress response. Essential fatty acids are required for proper growth, reproduction, normal skin structure and a healthy coat. Because chicken fat contains virtually no protein, it’s use does not cause allergic reactions associated with the use of fresh chicken or chicken meal which contain high amounts of protein. Many times, mixed tocopherols, which are a natural source of Vitamin E activity, are used as a natural preservative to maintain freshness. This is considered a higher quality fat source in pet food.

Dried egg – Eggs are healthy for cats and supply quite a bit of protein. Some cat owners prefer only feeding egg whites because the yolks can add a fairly high amount of cholesterol. In addition to the protein content, eggs also supply potassium, magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, copper, zinc, and iron. In moderation, this is considered a healthy ingredient for cats.

Additional Ingredients Of Interest In Addiction Viva La Venison Cat Food

The Viva La Venison cat food formula is also enriched with probiotics that aid in digestion. It also contains tons of vegetables that offer phytonutrients and antioxidants

Addiction Viva La Venison Cat Food Allergy Risk

The Addiction Viva La Venison cat food is non-allergic since it contains no soy, corn, grain or wheat. Soy, wheat, grain and corn are known allergens, and you should not feed your cat these ingredients if he or she has stomach sensitivities. The Viva La Venison cat food formula is also a good alternative to cats that are allergic to lamb, chicken and beef. It also contains zero artificial flavoring and coloring. If your cat has an unusual food allergy, be sure you consult with a veterinarian before switching to this or any other cat food blend.

Harmful Ingredients Commonly Found In Cat Food

BHT and BHA – Both BHA & BHT are preservatives that have been banned in human foods in many countries due to cancer risks. However, they remain approved for use in pet foods. A growing number of pet owners are becoming aware of the potential dangers these ingredients bring and are shunning all foods containing BHA and BHT. BHA and BHT are extremely controversial ingredients in all forms of pet food.

Artificial coloring – We find it quite irresponsible to include artificial coloring in pet food since the health concerns about these added colors are so controversial. Your cat does not care what color their food is and the only reason artificial coloring is added to this product is for marketing purposes. It makes the food look better to you YOU, the human consumer. Of course, many cat food brands are very defensive about their use of food coloring. Here is an example of how the Purina brand defends their use of fool coloring. Notice how even in their explanation, there is no perceived benefit to these ingredients other than changing the color. There is also a growing amount of evidence to suggest food coloring may be linked to cancer in not just dogs and cats, but also humans. Here is an article that explains a bit further. In short, since there is some controversy surrounding this ingredient, we find it a bit strange that cat food companies would spend money adding this ingredient into a product when at best, it has zero nutritional value for your cat and only has marketing value. At worse, it could pose health risks. It just doesn’t seem like the risk of including this ingredient is worth it.

Fortunately, Addiction Viva La Venison Cat Food does not contain these ingredients.

Conclusion

Most cat owners who use Addiction Viva La Venison cat food speak very highly of it. So far, there have been no widespread complaints on the cat food with regard to health or digestion issues. The price may be the only source of concern as it is a bit steep compared to other brands of cat food. However, based on the quality of the ingredients, this cat food is worth every penny as long as it is within your budget. It’s a great option for almost any cat and especially those with food sensitivities.




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Addiction Salmon Bleu Cat Food Review

Addiction Cat Food

The Addiction brand of pet food is manufactured by Addiction Foods Inc. This company is known for manufacturing holistic pet food made from novel protein and game meat. The company also claims that the food is free from harmful additives. The ingredients are known for their hypoallergenic and nutritional benefits. Over the years, the addiction cat food brand has enjoyed a huge following with pet owners with some claiming their cats are addicted to the food. Now you know why it goes by the name Addiction.

Amongst the cat food types under the Addiction brand is the salmon bleu cat food. Featuring salmons from the blue oceans, the Addiction salmon bleu can be termed as a hypoallergenic cat diet that balances all the essential nutrients optimally. Rich in natural antioxidants and omega 3 fatty acids, salmon bleu is a high quality grain-free diet made of smoked salmon to create a gourmet meal that is simply delicious and best for cats.




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Ingredients

A casual look at Salmon Bleu reviews on the internet by cat owners gives the impression of a must-have food for your cat. The only complaints you might run into are of cat owners claiming their cats had a hard time changing over to this food. So let’s establish whether this food is really all that it is cracked up to be.

The salmon bleu cat food is specially formulated to meet the AAFCO nutritional levels for all cat life stages. The list of ingredients in the Salmon Bleu Cat food includes;

Ingredients In Addiction Salmon Bleu Cat Food

Salmon Meal, Potatoes, Dried Blueberries, Dried Raspberries, Dried Cranberries, Chicken Fat (Free from Chicken Protein and preserved with Mixed Tocopherols – a source of Vitamin E), Whole Smoked Salmon, Dehydrated Egg, Calcium Propionate, Zinc Oxide, Zinc Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite, Cobalt Carbonate, Biotin (Vitamin B7), Vitamin E Riboflavin (Vitamin B2), Niacin (Vitamin B3), D-Pantothenic Acid (Vitamin B5), Folic Acid (Vitamin B9), Thiamine (Vitamin B1), Vitamin D3, Vitamin A, Pyridoxine (Vitamin B6), Vitamin B12, Taurine.

Top 5 Ingredients Breakdown

Salmon meat – Protein is hands down the most crucial component of a cat’s diet as it helps build and repair body tissues. Salmon meat is a great source of Omega 3 as well as vitamin E. Salmons are nutritious and very tasty offering nourishment to the cat’s coat and skin. This is a cat healthy alternative to lamb, beef and chicken.

Potatoes – Potatoes provide a lot of carbs and unfortunately, cats do not digest carbs well and it can also lead to weight gain. This ingredient is becoming more popular in “grain-free” cat foods because while potatoes are not grains, they serve much the same purpose by acting as a non-nutritious filler. The good news is potatoes are complex carbs. These complex carbs are easier to digest than whole grains and also don’t spike blood sugar levels like the simple carbs do. But, anyway you cut it… carbs are carbs and cats don’t need them. This is a rather non-nutritious ingredient.

Chicken fat – Chicken fat is a quality source of essential fatty acids and an excellent source of energy. Fat has a positive effect on the immune system and plays a beneficial role in stress response. Essential fatty acids are required for proper growth, reproduction, normal skin structure and a healthy coat. Because chicken fat contains virtually no protein, it’s use does not cause allergic reactions associated with the use of fresh chicken or chicken meal which contain high amounts of protein. Many times, mixed tocopherols, which are a natural source of Vitamin E activity, are used as a natural preservative to maintain freshness. This is considered a higher quality fat source in pet food.

Raspberries – These are the main sources of vitamins in the meal. Very ideal for a healthy, all rounded cat.

Minerals – Only two vitamins (A and C) and two minerals (calcium and iron) are required on the food label. Cat food companies can voluntarily list other vitamins and minerals in the food. So, in this case, they have simply listed “minerals” but we’re not exactly sure what is included here. This ingredient is very unlikely to cause harm to your cat, but it would be nice if they would voluntarily list the minerals being used here.

Additional Ingredients Of Interest In Addiction Salmon Bleu Cat Food

Apart from the main ingredients, Salmon Bleu cat food also contains;

Glucosamine – This is an ingredient ideal for your cat’s joint health.

Blueberries and cranberries – This contains special phytonutrients that offer vitamins C and B required for general health and body development in cats.

Allergy Risk In Addiction Salmon Blue Cat Food

Allergies in cats are more often than not caused by wheat, corn and soy. Addiction Salmon Bleu Cat food is free of all these ingredients, making it an ideal choice of food for cats with food allergies. While its hypoallergenic properties make it a great choice for cats who suffer from food allergies, it is always best to check on the list of ingredients as your cat may be allergic to a specific ingredient (e.g. chicken). If your cat has unusual allergies, be sure to consult with your veterinarian before switching cat food blends.

Poor Quality Ingredients Commonly Found In Cat Food

Artificial coloring – We find it quite irresponsible to include artificial coloring in pet food since the health concerns about these added colors are so controversial. Your cat does not care what color their food is and the only reason artificial coloring is added to this product is for marketing purposes. It makes the food look better to you YOU, the human consumer. Of course, many cat food brands are very defensive about their use of food coloring. Here is an example of how the Purina brand defends their use of fool coloring. Notice how even in their explanation, there is no perceived benefit to these ingredients other than changing the color. There is also a growing amount of evidence to suggest food coloring may be linked to cancer in not just dogs and cats, but also humans. Here is an article that explains a bit further. In short, since there is some controversy surrounding this ingredient, we find it a bit strange that cat food companies would spend money adding this ingredient into a product when at best, it has zero nutritional value for your cat and only has marketing value. At worse, it could pose health risks. It just doesn’t seem like the risk of including this ingredient is worth it.

BHA and BHT – 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 syrup – 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.

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.

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.

Fortunately, these 5 ingredients are not present in Addiction Salmon Bleu cat food.

Conclusion

Most cat owners who have used this brand think very highly of it and view it as being very high quality. Here have been no widespread issues reported and even among cats with gastrointestinal problems, this seems to digest well. The price is a bit steep, but this is normally the case for most cat foods made from exotic protein. Based on the ingredients alone, Addiction Salmon Blue cat food appears to be of slightly above average quality.




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Solid Gold Indigo Moon All Life Stages Cat Food Review

Solid Gold Cat Food


The Indigo Moon All Life Stages is a dry cat food formula that is rich in protein and low on carbohydrates. The cat formula is made with high quality ingredients that ensure your cat gets all the nutrition it requires to remain healthy.

The manufacturers of this cat formula, the solid gold company, claim that the cat formula contains all the ingredients that are needed by your cat. They go ahead to say that the formula is suitable for all cats. However, it is a well known fact that manufacturers hype their products just to get customers.

Is the Solid Gold Indigo Moon All Life Stages all that its cranked up to be? Find out below.




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Ingredients in indigo moon all iife stages

Chicken Meal, Potatoes, Canola Oil (preserved with mixed tocopherols), Chicken, Pea Protein, Ocean Fish Meal, Natural Flavor, Choline Chloride, Taurine, Salmon Oil (source of DHA), Potassium Chloride, Dried Chicory Root, dl-methionine, Parsley Flakes, Almond Oil (preserved with mixed tocopherols), Pumpkin Meal, Sesame Oil (preserved by mixed tocopherols), Thyme, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Blueberries, Carrots, Cranberries, Broccoli, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, Ferrous Sulfate, Calcium Panthothenate, Copper Sulfate, Riboflavin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Thiamine Mononitrate, Zinc Proteinate, Manganese Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Manganese Proteinate, Zinc Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Cobalt Carbonate, Calcium Iodate, Folic Acid, Biotin, Sodium Selenite, Rosemary Extract, Vitamin B12 Supplement.

A review of the first five ingredients

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.

Potatoes

Potatoes provide a lot of carbs and unfortunately, cats do not digest carbs well and it can also lead to weight gain. This ingredient is becoming more popular in “grain-free” cat foods because while potatoes are not grains, they serve much the same purpose by acting as a non-nutritious filler. The good news is potatoes are complex carbs. These complex carbs are easier to digest than whole grains and also don’t spike blood sugar levels like the simple carbs do. But, anyway you cut it… carbs are carbs and cats don’t need them. This is a rather non-nutritious ingredient.

Canola oil

Canola oil comes from the seeds of the canola plant. Once harvested, canola seeds are crushed and the oil contained within the seed is extracted. The average canola seed is 45% oil. Some cat owners like this ingredient because of its favorable omega-3 and omega-6 content. Others claim it can cause nervous system damage, respiratory problems, anemia, constipation and blindness in both humans and animals. In smaller quantities, this ingredient is unlikely to cause health problems for your cat, but since cats are obligate carnivores it is important that the food also contains enough meat based fat.

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.

Pea protein

As grain-free cat food becomes more popular, so does the inclusion of peas and pea fiber. That’s because peas can be used as a filler ingredient in similar ways grains are used, but they can still label the food as grain-free. Unfortunately, the full effect on a cats health from pea fiber is largely unknown. There have been some studies shown to suggest pea fiber can cause many dogs to have a runny stool, there is very little research that has been done on how cats are able to digest this ingredient. Overall, it probably will not harm your cat but it will not add much nutritional value to your cats diet, either.

Other ingredients of interest

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.

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.

Ocean fish meal – While some ocean fish may be naturally caught fish, generally this indicates farmed fish. When ocean fish are farmed, it includes the practice of growing finfish in huge, often over crowded cages out in open ocean waters. When fish are farmed, usually the higher quality fish goes to the human food industry while the fish unsuitable for human consumption is used in the pet food industry. There is some debate about how beneficial seafood is in a cats diet, including fish, but in general it is considered a safe ingredient with a high amount of protein and an excellent source of essential fatty acids like omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. Since this is a fish “meal” that means most of the moisture was removed prior to the cooking process. That means this will provide much higher nutrient values than “whole” ingredients.

Broccoli – This is a very rich source of vitamin C, soluble fiber, calcium as well as other nutrients. While not dangerous to your cat, it has been associated with an increase in flatulence in many cats.

Does this formula cause allergies?

Indigo Moon All Life Stages cat formula does not contain any ingredient that is known to cause allergies or poisoning in cats. You can, therefore, feed your cat on this formula without having to worry about your cat suffering from allergies or from poisoning.

Ingredients to avoid feeding your cat on

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.

BHA/BHT – 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.

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.

Animal by products – 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.

Conclusions

The ingredients in this formula are well balanced and nutritious. This is an above average cat formula. The only down side is the limited amounts of animal protein. Cats are obligate carnivores and thus require sufficient animal protein in their diet.




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Sheba Premium Pates Turkey Entree Wet Cat Food Review

Sheba Cat Food


Is your cat gluten and corn intolerant? Feeding an allergy prone cat is one of the most demanding practices for any cat owner. Nevertheless, the cat has to be fed. Luckily, there are corn and gluten free formulas available. The only challenge is picking the right one.

The Sheba premium pates turkey entrée is one of the many formulas you will find in the market. According to the manufacturer, this is a corn and gluten free formula that is suitable for cats with food allergies. They also claim that real turkey is used in this formula and is the main source of protein

Does this formula live up the hype?




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Ingredients in Sheba Premium Pates Turkey Entrée (Wet) Cat Food

Turkey, Turkey Broth, Meat By-Products, Poultry Giblets, Chicken, Natural Flavor, Poultry By-Products, Guar Gum, Sodium Tripolyphosphate, Added Color, Minerals (Calcium Carbonate, Potassium Chloride, Magnesium Sulfate, Zinc Sulfate, Potassium Iodide, Iron Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Copper Sulfate), Fish Oil (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Vitamins (Thiamine Mononitrate [Vitamin B1], Choline Chloride, Vitamin E Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride [Vitamin B6], Folic Acid, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex [Source of Vitamin K Activity]), Salt, DL-Methionine, Taurine.

An overview of the first five ingredients

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.

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.

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.

Poultry Giblets

This ingredient typically includes the heart, gizzard, liver, and other visceral organs of various types of birds, most commonly the foul. Often times, the neck is included in the giblets. This is not an ingredient generally used for human consumption, but there is nothing especially harmful about this ingredient for cats since they thrive on organ meat. This provides a healthy amount of proteins, vitamins, minerals, iron, and other essential nutrients cats require for a healthy life.

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.

Other ingredients of interest

Minerals

Only two vitamins (A and C) and two minerals (calcium and iron) are required on the food label. Cat food companies can voluntarily list other vitamins and minerals in the food. So, in this case, they have simply listed “minerals” but we’re not exactly sure what is included here. This ingredient is very unlikely to cause harm to your cat, but it would be nice if they would voluntarily list the minerals being used here.

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.

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.

Is this an allergy causing formula?

It is highly unlikely that the Sheba premium pates turkey entrée would lead to an allergic reaction. This is because it is devoid of any harmful allergens like corn, soy and wheat. This makes it ideal for cats with food sensitivities.

Does this formula lack any important ingredients?

Looking at it from an expert’s perspective, it is easy to note that the formula is thin on carbohydrates. These are nutrients common in first class formulas because manufacturers have realized their worth in cats. Carbohydrates are required if the formula is to meet the cat’s daily energy needs.

The formula also lacks in adequate fiber based ingredients. The inclusion of healthy vegetables or other fiber based ingredients would have been commendable. Fibers are great for digestion.

Conclusion

The Sheba premium pates turkey entrée is a wet cat formula that contains all the essential nutrients. This is most notable because they have tried to squeeze them into the prime ingredients category (first five). This formula is, therefore, a great formula for cats with food sensitivities. The only down side is the inclusion of meat by-products whose source is unknown.




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Science Diet Kitten Savory Salmon Entree Cat Food Review

Science Diet Cat Food


Do you own a kitten? The hardest part of owning a cat pet is nurturing it from being a kitten to an adult cat. This transition requires dedication and patience. The larger part of this transition revolves around proper nutrition. Luckily, some cat food manufacturers have formulas meant for kittens.

The Science Diet Kitten Savory Salmon Entrée (wet) is one of the many formulas specifically manufactured for kittens. According to the science diet company, your kitten is bound to love this formula. It is said to contain soft texture ingredients that offer balanced nutrition to your kitten. It is also said to boost the immune system and the digestive system too.

Read on to find out whether this formula is good for your kitten.




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Ingredients in Science Diet Kitten Savory Salmon Entrée

Water, Salmon, Pork By-Products, Liver, Egg Product, Soybean Meal, Chicken Fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols and citric acid), Corn Starch, Fish Meal, Chicken Liver Flavor, L-Lysine, Soy Protein Isolate, Powdered Cellulose, Guar Gum, Brewers Dried Yeast, Wheat Flour, Locust Bean Gum, Choline Chloride, Calcium Sulfate, Carrageenan, Taurine, Vitamin E Supplement, Iron Oxide, Iodized Salt, DL-Methionine, Potassium Chloride, Thiamine Mononitrate, L-Tryptophan, Ascorbic Acid (source of vitamin C), Zinc Oxide, Ferrous Sulfate, Magnesium Oxide, Niacin, Beta-Carotene, Manganous Oxide, Copper Sulfate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Riboflavin, Biotin, Calcium Iodate, Folic Acid, Sodium Selenite.

An overview of the first five 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.

Salmon

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.

Pork 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.

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.

Other ingredients in the formula

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.

Chicken Fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols and citric acid)

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. Citric acid, in this case, is probably used to balance the pH level of the food.

Corn Starch

This ingredient is the starch derived from the corn grain. The starch is obtained from the endosperm of the corn kernel. While not harmful in small quantities, cats obtain virtually no nutritional value from corn. This ingredient is usually used as a cheaper filler by lower priced cat foods. Unfortunately, there is a bit of an allergy risk with this ingredient. And finally, many cats will have a tough time properly digesting corn and that could lead to diarrhea, constipation, or other stomach and digestion issues. Most cats will not have any negative reaction to this ingredient, but it’s not an ingredient we are all that excited to see listed.

Fish Meal

When you see fish listed as “fish meal” on an ingredients list, that means almost all of the moisture was removed from the fish prior to the cooking process. That means fish meal contains a much higher amount of protein as opposed to it’s whole fish counterpart. However, we aren’t pleased that this ingredient is an unnamed fish source. Fish meal can contain almost any type of fish, including fish waste products that are not used for human consumption purposes. Whenever we see an unnamed fish source, we get a little nervous about what may (or may not) be included.

Can this formula cause allergies?

This formula is unlikely to cause allergies to your kitten. This is because it does not contain a lot of allergy causing ingredients. Wheat flour is the only ingredient likely to cause an allergies, but it is available in minimal quantities making it less harmful.

Ingredients never to feed your kitten on

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.

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.

Fortunately, none of these are used in this formula.

Conclusion

This is an ideal formula for any kitten. Indeed, the ingredients are all natural and very essential for kitten development. The only down side is that there are some ingredients whose sources are not given.




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