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Looking for a cat formula that will cater for all the nutritional needs of your cat? picking out a cat formula that is ideal for your can be somehow hard for the simple reason that there are too many feeds in the market, all claiming to be the ideal cat foods. You should be warned that there are cat formulas that contain harmful ingredients and claim to be nutritious and safe. This is the reason as to why cat owners are advised not to believe everything that cat formula manufacturing companies claim.
Natures Variety Salmon Meal (dry) cat formula is claimed to be an ideal feed for cats, just like all the other cat feeds in the market. It is a product of the Nature’s Variety Company. How true are the claims being made about this cat feed? Read on to find out.
Ingredients contained in Natures Variety Salmon Meal
Salmon Meal, Herring Meal, Menhaden Fish Meal, Canola Oil (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols and Citric Acid), Tapioca, Pea Starch, Pork Liver, Sun-Cured Alfalfa Meal, Tomato Pomace, Coconut Oil, Natural Pork Flavor, Montmorillonite Clay, Vitamins (Choline Chloride, Vitamin E Supplement, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate, Biotin, Niacin Supplement, Vitamin A Acetate, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Beta Carotene, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid), Minerals (Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Sodium Selenite, Ethylenediamine Dihydriodide), Potassium Chloride, Salt, Dried Kelp, Taurine, Inulin, Carrots, Garlic, Apples, Pumpkin, Freeze Dried Cod, Yeast Culture (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), Dried Enterococcus faecium Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus acidophilus Fermentation Product, Dried Aspergillus niger Fermentation Extract, Dried Trichoderma longibrachiatum Fermentation Extract, Dried Bacillus subtilis Fermentation Extract.
An overview on the first five ingredients
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.
Herring meal
Herring is a silvery fish that is most abundant in coastal waters. Fish provides an excellent source of proteins as well as high amounts of healthy omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. Some people worry about mercury levels in fish. It’s true that all fish contains some degree of mercury, the level in salmon is much lower than other types of fish and the FDA doesn’t believe it causes any problems. Most herring in cat food is likely farmed herring, but higher end cat food (especially those labeled “natural”) can often times be fished from natural environments. The biggest problem with fish ingredients, including herring, is if the fish includes an antioxidant called ethoxyquin (EMQ). It is believe that ethoxyquin could be very harmful to cats and other animals. Always make sure you are using “Ethoxyquin free” cat food blends when they include fish ingredients. When in doubt, call the customer service number and ask.
Menhaden fish meal
This is a meal obtained from processing fish of the menhaden species. It is a good source of high quality fish protein and Omega-3 essential fatty acids, including EPA, DHA, and arachionic acid. Some people worry about mercury levels in fish. It’s true that all fish contains some degree of mercury, the level in salmon is much lower than other types of fish and the FDA doesn’t believe it is cause for much concern. The biggest problem with fish ingredients, including herring, is if the fish includes an antioxidant called ethoxyquin (EMQ). It is believe that ethoxyquin could be very harmful to cats and other animals. Always make sure you are using “Ethoxyquin free” cat food blends when they include fish ingredients. When in doubt, call the customer service number and ask.
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.
Tapioca
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.
Other ingredients that are worth looking at
Pork liver – While beef and chicken livers are the most common liver sources in cat food, occasionally we will find pork liver. Some cat owners believe liver is toxic to cats, but this is only true in very large quantities. When provided in safe quantities, like in this food, it is completely safe. The health benefits of pork liver mostly come from its vitamin A and iron contents. Liver is said to improve eye health, balance energy levels, and improve both red and white blood cell development. Since human demand for pork liver is low, this ingredient is readily available and is a cheaper meat source.
Coconut oil – Coconut oil is an edible oil extracted from the kernel or meat of matured coconuts harvested from the coconut palm. Unique to most oils, coconut oil is not damaged by high heat, making it an ideal cooking oil. Coconut oil is great for skin and coat, helps with hair balls, naturally repels fleas, aids in digestion, is an antiviral, anti-fungal, antibacterial, boosts metabolism, can help reduce bad breath, may help prevent neurological problems, thyroid problems, cholesterol problems and is generally very well tolerated. It is also abundantly available and low priced. While this isn’t a very common ingredient in cat food, the known benefits of this ingredient are vast while there appears to be no real risk to cats consuming coconut oil.
Pea starch – Pea Starch is a natural gluten-free carbohydrate. This ingredient is often added to natural, holistic, and grain-free cat food products, but is used in much the same way as grains. Peas help to boost the protein content in the food, but since cats are obligate carnivores, they are not able to process plant based proteins. Some cats may also have some problems digesting this ingredient. While the risks of this ingredient are pretty low, there is very little, if any, nutritional benefit.
Does this cat feed trigger allergies in cats?
Basing our judgment on the list of ingredients contained in this cat feed, there is very little likelihood that this cat feed will trigger allergic reactions in cats. This is because all the ingredients contained in this cat formula are of high quality and can not harm the cat’s health.
Ingredients to avoid
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.
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.
Conclusion
Natures Variety Salmon Meal (dry) is an ideal cat formula for cats as it contains only high quality ingredients that cater for all the nutritional needs of your cat. The cat formula is an ideal feed even for cats that suffer food sensitivities since it does not contain any harmful ingredient.
