Not sure about this cat food

We're trying to get Morgan and Luna off Hills Prescription Diet as it's hurting our bank account a bit. We found this food at our local pet food and the owner highly recommends it but I'm still hesitant.
Its called Summet Originals.
http://www.petcurean.com/index.php?page_id=124
Has anyone fed their cats this yet, I don't want to try them on it if its not going to be good for them. She gave us a tester bag to see if they like it.

Better than SD agreed but here is my thoughts

from the link above
GUARANTEED ANALYSIS
Crude Protein \t(min) 30% \t the lowest % for a healthy cat

Available in 4lb and 17.6lb bags
Crude Fat \t(min) 11%on the low low end
Crude Fiber \t(max) 3.5%
Moisture \t(max) 10%
Ash \t(max) 6%
Magnesium \t(max) 0.1%
*Omega 6 \t(min) 1.5%
*Omega 3 \t(min) 0.25%WAY too low ... SD usually is about 2-2.5 if memory serves
Taurine \t(min) 0.10% Not sure if this is a misprint as AFFCO says .12 is the minimum
Vitamin E \t(min) 110 IU/kg
Vitamin C \t(min) 55 IU/kg

*not recognized as an essential nutrient by the A.A.F.C.O. pet food nutrient profile.


INGREDIENTS

Chicken Meal, Turkey Meal, Oatmealthis is a slow digesting grain ie less insulin spike , Barley gluten is the same as wheat but less digestable IMHO I would take wheat , Corn Gluten Mealgood accessory protein and far enough down not to be a main source good for UTI health, Soybean MealNO NO for most ... can cause thyroid issues( some studies suggest) a KNOWN ALLERGEN, Chicken Fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols (vit. E), Chicken DigestIMHO this is a BY PRODUCT and should be avoided , Salmon Meal, Flax, Phosphoric Acid, Potassium Chloride, Salt, Choline Chloride, Taurine, Vitamin A Acetate, Cholicalciferol (vit. D3), DL Alpha-Tocopherol Acetate (vit. E), Ascorbic Acid (vit. C), Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Niacin, Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin, Copper Sulfate, Manganese Oxide, Sodium Selenite, Thiamine Mononitrate, Biotin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin B12, Vitamin K, Folic Acid, Cobalt Carbonate, Calcium Iodate.

Originally Posted by hyperlinked cat food site

INGREDIENTS

Chicken Meal, Turkey Meal, Oatmeal, Barley, Corn Gluten Meal, Soybean Meal, Chicken Fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols (vit. E), Chicken Digest, Salmon Meal, Flax, Phosphoric Acid, Potassium Chloride, Salt, Choline Chloride, Taurine, Vitamin A Acetate, Cholicalciferol (vit. D3), DL Alpha-Tocopherol Acetate (vit. E), Ascorbic Acid (vit. C), Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Niacin, Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin, Copper Sulfate, Manganese Oxide, Sodium Selenite, Thiamine Mononitrate, Biotin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin B12, Vitamin K, Folic Acid, Cobalt Carbonate, Calcium Iodate.

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The positives I can see is that Chicken meal and Turkey Meal are listed first

The negitives It contains corn gluten and chicken digest.


Hills web site

Originally Posted by hills web site

Ingredients

Chicken By-Product Meal, Ground Whole Grain Corn, Brewers Rice, Animal Fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols and citric acid), Corn Gluten Meal, Chicken Liver Flavor, Potassium Chloride, Calcium Sulfate, Choline Chloride, vitamins (L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (source of vitamin C), Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin A Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Folic Acid, Vitamin D3 Supplement), Iodized Salt, Vitamin E Supplement, Taurine, minerals (Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Copper Sulfate, Manganous Oxide, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite), preserved with Mixed Tocopherols and Citric Acid, Beta-Carotene, Rosemary Extract.

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Hills make prescription brand you describe - you can access the same web site and look up your specific type and read the ingredient to see how much of a difference their is

If you buying food whose ingredient read like this list above in my opinion you are stepping up.

If you are in the US and are able to find it chicken soup for the cat lovers soul is an excellent quality for the price. I just switched from Blue spa to Chicken soup for cost reasons.
Chicken Lovers site- dry cat food

Originally Posted by chicken soup site

Ingredients
Chicken, chicken meal, cracked pearled barley, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), ocean fish meal, white rice, potatoes, oatmeal, millet, natural chicken flavor, salmon, turkey, duck, flaxseed, sodium bisulfate, egg product, methionine, potassium chloride, choline chloride, dried chicory root, taurine, kelp, carrots, peas, apples, tomatoes, blueberries, spinach, dried skim milk, cranberry powder, rosemary extract, parsley flake, yucca schidigera extract, L-carnitine, Enterococcus faecium, Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation solubles, dried Aspergillus oryzae fermentation extract, zinc proteinate, vitamin E supplement, niacin, manganese proteinate, copper proteinate, zinc sulfate, manganese sulfate, copper sulfate, thiamine mononitrate, vitamin A supplement, biotin, potassium iodide, calcium pantothenate, riboflavin, pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), vitamin B12 supplement, manganous oxide, sodium selenite, vitamin D supplement, folic acid.

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I look for things that have a specified meat or meat meal list as the first thing, and I aim for food that do not have digest {what ever is in the intestines of named animal at the time of death } corn gluten {nutritionally void for cats like junk food} byproducts {what is made at rendering plants - left over animal parts not fit for human consumption beaks of birds hooves of cows ect = not necessarily the best source of animal protein} , food colorings = are NOT good for man or beast They are just to make the food look good nutritionally useless and possibly harmful. .


Other things I tried to avoid but weren't necessarily deal breakers : corn = my cats are not cows, persertives BTA - they aren't supposed to be good , soy what ever, some thing about enzymes and digestion.

I read cat food labels for a month - I can list most cat foods with l-lysine . . . avoid cat food debates around here you may find yourself knowing stuff ya never thought about before - After reading cat food labels then there is no telling what may happen afterwards You may find yourself actually braving the people food labels -I did

My conclusion - I have considered switching the entire family to cat food but hubby refuses to give it a go

I beleive the above mean BHA and BHT ... BHA is banned in MANY EU countries

CHICKEN soup is a GREAT step up from SD IMHO but it is VERY VERY grainy and the protein mainly is from the grains

More and more research is coming out and the pet food industry is still putting things in food that have no benefit for cats but make profits for the company.

Digest, corn, soybeans and chicken fat are not good ingredients.

Would it be okay to swtich them over to this? I prefer to support my mom and pop pet shop and they have 3 types of cat food, this, purina and something else I can't remember. But she said it was comparable to hills...

Originally Posted by Zooy

Would it be okay to swtich them over to this? I prefer to support my mom and pop pet shop and they have 3 types of cat food, this, purina and something else I can't remember. But she said it was comparable to hills...

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The food is IMHO better than hills... so I would say yeah switch if you want...

IMHO it is a decent food...

Yes we learn more about kitty nutrition every yr and that is why many are going to all canned , raw , homemade or grain free.... BUT NO ingredient is ALL bad remember all AFFCO approved food s do have to pass minimum standards ( not our stds but something other than hey I made this feed it ) ... yes some will argue by products are good , my vet says corn is okay in small amounts( she unlike us actually has a masters in companion nutrition ) , soy is debatable ... I personally avoid them since in my house they don't work... Chicken fat in a dry food is a source of many essential things that since DRY food really should not be feed it helps improve it...