Opinions on these dry foods for my cat?

What I'm looking for in a dry food for Matilda:
- grain free (necessary)
- high in omega fatty acids (preferred)
- good for cats with hairball issues (preferred)
- good for cats who are not active (preferred)
- not so rich that it will make litter box issue worse (not super important, but would be nice)
- $ not really an issue

I don't need an ingredient analysis on each one, I just posted the ingredients for reference. Mostly I am wondering what ingredients and percentage levels to look for in finding foods that best fit the above categories.

This is what Matilda is eating now, Natural Balance Green Pea & Duck:
Peas, Duck Meal, Duck, Canola Oil, Flaxseed, Natural Flavor, Methionine, Choline Chloride, Taurine, Natural Mixed Tocopherols), Zinc Proteinate, Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, Manganese Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Zinc Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B-1), Vitamin A Supplement, Biotin, Potassium Iodide, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin (Vitamin B-2), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B-6), Vitamin B-12 Supplement, Manganous Oxide, Sodium Selenite, Vitamin D-3 Supplement, Folic Acid (Vitamin B).

Crude Protein 30.0% minimum
Crude Fat 12.0% minimum
Crude Fiber 4.0% maximum
Moisture 10.0% maximum
Calcium 1.0% minimum
Phosphorous 0.9% minimum
Taurine 0.16% minimum
Omega 3 Fatty Acids* 0.4% minimum
Omega 6 Fatty Acids* 2.6% minimum

Am also considering Wellness Core:
Deboned Turkey, Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Whitefish Meal, Potatoes, Salmon Meal, Natural Chicken Flavor. Chicken Fat (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols, a natural source of Vitamin E), Tomato Pomace, Cranberries, Chicory Root Extract, Salmon Oil, Flaxseed, Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), Thiamine Mononitrate, Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Beta-Carotene, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin D-3 Supplement, Folic Acid, Biotin, Vitamin B-12 Supplement), Choline Chloride, Minerals (Zinc Proteinate, Zinc Sulfate, Iron Proteinate, Ferrous Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Manganese Sulfate, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite), Yucca Schidigera Extract, Dried Kelp, Taurine, Lactobacillus Plantarum, Enterococcus Faecium, Lactobacillus Casei, Lactobacillus Acidophilus, Rosemary Extract.

Crude Protein- Not Less Than 50.0%. Crude Fat- Not Less Than 18.0%, Crude Fiber- Not More Than 3.0%, Moisture- Not More Than 11.0%, Calcium Not More Than 1.8%, Phosphorus Not More Than 1.45%, Magnesium Not More Than 0.10%, Vitamin E Not Less Than 400 IU/kg, Taurine Not Less Than 0.3%, Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C)* Not Less Than 200 mg/kg, Omega 6 Fatty Acid* Not Less Than 3.50 %, Omega 3 Fatty Acid* Not Less Than 0.80 %, Total Micro-Organisms* Not Less Than 90,000,000 CFU/lb

Innova EVO:
Turkey, Chicken, Turkey Meal, Chicken Meal, Potatoes, Herring Meal, Chicken Fat, Natural Flavors, Egg, Garlic, Apples, Carrots, Tomatoes, Cottage Cheese, Alfalfa Sprouts, Dried Chicory Root, Taurine, Lecithin, Rosemary Extract, Vitamins/Minerals, Viable Naturally Occurring Microorganisms


Moisture........10.0 %
Protein........42.0 %
Fat........22.0 %
Linoleic Acid........4.2 %
Omega 3........0.50 %
Carbohydrates........12.0 %
Calories........1929 Kcal/lb
Calories........4243 Kcal/Kg
Calories........557 KCals/Cup

Taste of the Wild:
Chicken meal, peas, sweet potatoes, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), potato protein, roasted venison, smoked salmon, natural flavor, ocean fish meal, methionine, taurine, choline chloride, dried chicory root, tomatoes, blueberries, raspberries, yucca schidigera extract, Enterococcus faecium, Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Saccharomyces cerevesiae fermentation solubles, dried Aspergillus oryzae fermentation extract, vitamin E supplement, niacin, manganese proteinate, copper proteinate, zinc sulfate, manganese sulfate, copper sulfate, thiamine mononitrate (vitamin B1), vitamin A supplement, biotin, potassium iodide, calcium pantothenate, riboflavin (vitamin B2), pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), vitamin B12 supplement, manganous oxide, sodium selenite, vitamin D supplement, folic acid.

Crude Protein - 42.0% Min
Crude Fat - 18.0% Min
Crude Fiber - 3.0% Max
Moisture - 10.0% Min
Zinc - 120 mg/kg Min
Selenium - 0.4 mg/kg Min
Vitamin E - 150 IU/kg Min
Omega-6 Fatty Acids * - 2.4% Min
Omega-3 Fatty Acids * - 0.4% Min
Calorie Content: 3,745 kcal/kg (375 kcal/cup)

Solid Gold Indigo Moon
Chicken Meal, Potatoes, Canola Oil, Chicken, Natural Chicken Flavor, Salmon Oil, Ocean Fish Meal, Taurine, Choline Chloride, Dried Chicory Root, Parsley Flakes, Pumpkin Meal, Almond Oil, Sesame Oil, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Thyme, Blueberries, Cranberries, Carrots, Broccoli, Zinc Proteinate, Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, Manganese Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Zinc Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin A Supplement, Biotin, Potassium

Crude Protein 46% Minimum
Crude Fat 20% Minimum
Crude Fiber 3% Maximum
Moisture 10% Maximum
Ash 7.5% Maximum
DHA 0.05% Minimum
Calories 450 kcal/cup

What I'm looking for in a dry food for Matilda:
- grain free (necessary) ALL
- high in omega fatty acids (preferred)
Evo
Core
Natural balence
Taste

cant rank solid as it give s 3 not 6
- good for cats with hairball issues (preferred)
Taste
- good for cats who are not active (preferred)
Depends on cat
Protein needing CORE
Cats who need a balence of carb protein and fat ... Taste
Carb needing Natural balence
- not so rich that it will make litter box issue worse (not super important, but would be nice)
IMHO Taste works well here YMMV .... the ingrediants I would say Solid gold and Natural Balance may also not be to rich as they are simplier formulas
- $ not really an issue
I have tried EVO ... two out of two couldnt handle ... CORE I like it as did the cat but the litterbox had issues ... Taste no issues so far

DUE to low protein and being mostly starch I usually DO NOT recommend the Natural balance

Out of the foods you posted, Natural Balance Duck is the simplest, but duck can be too rich for some kitties. Solid Gold seems the least rich to me.
I would stick with something with not as many protein sources. I like Solid Gold out of the ones you posted. But you would have to email them for omegas.
I personally was looking for a grain-free before and was really interested in Pinnacle Peak Protein Allergen-Free Chicken & Ocean Fish Dry Formula.
It has mainly chicken and is very simple with good fatty acids.

Chicken Meal, Chicken, Potato Protein, Potato Flour, Chicken Fat (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols and Ascorbic Acid), Ocean Fish, Natural Flavor, Tomato Pomace, Dried Egg Product, Dried Cranberries, Salt, Potassium Chloride, Choline Chloride, Taurine, Dried Yucca Schidigera, Bromelain, Papain, Dried Bacillus Subtilis Fermentation Product, Dried Aspergillus Oryzae Fermentation Product, Ferrous Sulfate, DL-Alpha Tocopherol Acetate (Source of Vitamin E), Zinc Oxide, Copper Sulfate, Cobalt Proteinate, Riboflavin Supplement (Source of Vitamin B Complex), Zinc Methionine, Iron Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Niacin, Sodium Selenite, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Biotin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Source of Vitamin B6), Calcium Iodate, Thiamine Mononitrate (Source of Vitamin B1), Folic Acid, Potassium Iodate, Vitamin D3 Supplement.

Crude Protein \tnot less than \t42.00%
Crude Fat \tnot less than \t18.00%
Crude Fiber \tnot more than \t2.50%
Moisture \tnot more than \t10.0%
Ash \tnot more than \t6.60%
Magnesium \tnot more than \t0.095%
Taurine \tnot less than \t0.23%
Omega-6 \t \t4.40 \t%
Omega-3 \t \t0.34 \t%

Serenity absolutely loves EVO as an occasional treat! It's too high in protein for Sierra, though.

My 2 cents: I'm not crazy about the NB Gr Pea and Duck because the 1st ingredient is green pea rather than an animal protein source.

Thank you everyone! I think I have narrowed it down to either Taste of the Wild or Wellness Core. I'm just not super happy with the Natural Balance, but it's the easiest to find where I live. I have samples of the Wellness stuff from an acquaintance who is a pet food rep for them. There is a great pet store by my mom's house so I got there when I visit her, but it won't be for another few weeks. I may have to order Taste of the Wild online, which is kind of a pain.

I was actually asking about Taste of the Wild a little while back and decided to try a little on my Matilda. I mixed it with her regular food each time and she ate it right up! I haven't switched her to it completely but she has been doing well on the mixture. I would definitely call the company for a sample - Here is the number they list on the website - 800-977-8797. Good luck!

Originally Posted by mschauer

My 2 cents: I'm not crazy about the NB Gr Pea and Duck because the 1st ingredient is green pea rather than an animal protein source.

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Exactly. I have been wondering why feeding the cat green pea is a good thing.

My cats don't like any of them

Originally Posted by yiplong

Exactly. I have been wondering why feeding the cat green pea is a good thing.

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Pea is a alternative carb source .. it is rich in many micro nutrients ...UNFORTUNATELY it is TOUGHTED as hypo allergenic when in fact it rank s quite high in cats for a veggie