Another of the "which food?" threads, I'm sorry. T_T
Right now I am feeding a nursing queen and her six 5 week old kittens. Currently mom eats a mix of Purina ONE kitten, Chicken Soup (Kitten), and Taste of the Wild (with the eventual goal of moving her off the ONE) and wet foods include Newman's Own (which she has decided to not eat more than a bite at a time), Meow Mix Market Select, Merrick, 9 Lives (super supper), and if she is in a mood to eat pate style (rare) Wellness grain free kitten and Nutro Max Kitten.
Kittens eat from mom and also a mix of KMR and either the Wellness Kitten or Max kitten wet food. Some of them will also nibble on mom's dry.
Now my current predicament is not only what to feed but WHERE I want to buy the food.
There is a foster only "shelter" in my area called Vicky's Pet Connection and they semi-recently opened a small shop, Critter Cottage, for food and some accessories that more importantly has two cat rooms in this shop that provide a nice home for kitties waiting for adoption. I was in there buying a new collar for my dog (old collar was a victim of skunk)
and I decided I really want to support Critter Cottage and would really appreciate any help you guys can give me regarding their foods! I searched for each of them on the forum and it seems none of them are foods people would tell me to stay away from but hopefully some of you have experiences or opinions on them you can help me became more educated about.
CRITTER COTTAGE DRY FOODS:
Premium Edge ($1.33/lb), Wellness Complete ($2.58/lb), Nature's Variety Prairie ($1.86/lb (chicken)), Nature's Variety Instinct (grain-free) ($2.45/lb)
So I _think_ I can spring for all of those (especially if I can bike there) but given those prices and ingredients and such what do you guys think? Would you prefer one (or some) over the other or discount another (all in comparison of these foods). Right now I'm either looking at kitten or all life stages but of course eventually Smudge (mama) will be off kitten.
Premium Edge Kitten:
INGREDIENTS: Chicken, chicken meal, ground rice, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), egg product, potato protein, oatmeal, potatoes, salmon, powdered cellulose, natural chicken flavor, flaxseed, salmon oil (a source of DHA), ocean fish meal, potassium chloride, choline chloride, taurine, dried chicory root, kelp, carrots, peas, apples, tomatoes, blueberries, spinach, dried skim milk, cranberry powder, rosem
Guaranteed Analysis
Crude Protein \t34.0% \tMinimum
Crude Fat \t22.0% \tMinimum
Crude Fiber \t3.0% \tMaximum
Moisture \t10% \tMaximum
Taurine \t0.15% \tMinimum
Wellness Complete Kitten:
INGREDIENTS: Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Rice, Ground Barley, Ground Rice, Chicken Fat (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols, a natural source of Vitamin E), Natural Chicken Flavor, Salmon Meal (Source ofDHA, Docosahexaenoic Acid), Chicken Liver. Cranberries, Tomato Pomace, Olive Oil, Chicory Root Extract, Cranberry Extract Powder, Cranberry Fiber, Flaxseed, Potassium Chloride, 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, Chondroitin Sulfate, Glucosamine Hydrochloride, Lactobacillus Plantarum, Enterococcus Faecium, Lactobacillus Case, Lactobacillus Acidophilus, Taurine, Rosemary Extract.
Guaranteed Analysis %:
Crude Protein, minimum \t36
Crude Fat, minimum \t18
Moisture, maximum \t11
Crude Fiber, maximum\t3
Ash, maximum \t\t6.5
Taurine, minimum \t0.2
Nature's Variety Prarie (Chicken):
INGREDIENTS: Chicken Meal, Brown Rice, Oatmeal, Chicken Fat (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols and Citric Acid), Menhaden Fish Meal, Ground Flaxseeds, Montmorillonite Clay, Natural Chicken Flavor, Alfalfa Meal, Chicken Liver, Potassium Chloride, Sea Salt, DL-Methionine, Vitamins (Choline Chloride, Vitamin E Supplement, Ascorbic Acid, Biotin, Niacin Supplement, Vitamin A Acetate, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Ethylenediamine Dihydriodide, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Beta Carotene, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid), Minerals (Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Sodium Selenite), Taurine, Dried Enterococcus Faecium Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus Acidophilus Fermentation Product, Inulin, Flaxseed Oil, Apples, Cottage Cheese, Chicken Eggs, Cranberries, Freeze Dried Chicken, Freeze Dried Turkey, Freeze Dried Turkey Liver, Freeze Dried Turkey Hearts, Pumpkinseeds, Ground Chicken Bone, Carrots, Butternut Squash, Broccoli, Lettuce, Spinach, Dried Kelp, Salmon Oil, Apple Cider Vinegar, Parsley, Honey, Blueberries, Alfalfa Sprouts, Persimmons, Olive Oil, Duck Eggs, Pheasant Eggs, Quail Eggs, Rosemary Extract, Sage, Clove
CALORIES 450 per cup
GUARANTEED ANALYSIS
Crude Protein (min): 34.0%
Crude Fat (min): 20.0%
Crude Fiber (max): 2.5%
Moisture (max): 10.0%
Taurine: 0.16%
Nature's Variety Instinct:
INGREDIENTS: Chicken Meal, Chicken Fat (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols and Citric Acid), Tapioca, Pumpkinseeds, Salmon Meal, Alfalfa Meal, Montmorillonite Clay, Chicken Liver Flavor, Chicken Liver, Dried Kelp, DL-Methionine, Vitamins (Choline Chloride, Vitamin E Supplement, Ascorbic Acid, Biotin, Niacin Supplement, Vitamin A Acetate, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Riboavin Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Ethylenediamine Dihydriodide, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Beta Carotene, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid), Sea Salt, Minerals (Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Sodium Selenite), Taurine, Dried Enterococcus faecium Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus acidophilus Fermentation Product, Inulin, Flaxseed Oil, Apples, Chicken Eggs, Cottage Cheese, Cranberries, Freeze Dried Chicken, Freeze Dried Turkey, Freeze Dried Turkey Liver, Freeze Dried Turkey Hearts, Carrots, Ground Chicken Bone, Butternut Squash, Ground Flaxseeds, Broccoli, Lettuce, Spinach, Salmon Oil, Apple Cider Vinegar, Parsley, Honey, Blueberries, Rosemary Extract, Alfalfa Sprouts, Olive Oil, Persimmons, Duck Eggs, Pheasant Eggs, Quail Eggs, Sage, Clove.
CALORIES 491 per cup
GUARANTEED ANALYSIS
Crude Protein (min): 50.0%
Crude Fat (min): 22.0%
Crude Fiber (max): 2.8%
Moisture (max): 10.0%
Taurine: 0.203%
Thank you for any help you can offer!
(And on a completely OT note my dog is also looking to switch to one of the dog varieties of these brands from Purina One Lamb and Rice...)
Right now I am feeding a nursing queen and her six 5 week old kittens. Currently mom eats a mix of Purina ONE kitten, Chicken Soup (Kitten), and Taste of the Wild (with the eventual goal of moving her off the ONE) and wet foods include Newman's Own (which she has decided to not eat more than a bite at a time), Meow Mix Market Select, Merrick, 9 Lives (super supper), and if she is in a mood to eat pate style (rare) Wellness grain free kitten and Nutro Max Kitten.
Kittens eat from mom and also a mix of KMR and either the Wellness Kitten or Max kitten wet food. Some of them will also nibble on mom's dry.
Now my current predicament is not only what to feed but WHERE I want to buy the food.
There is a foster only "shelter" in my area called Vicky's Pet Connection and they semi-recently opened a small shop, Critter Cottage, for food and some accessories that more importantly has two cat rooms in this shop that provide a nice home for kitties waiting for adoption. I was in there buying a new collar for my dog (old collar was a victim of skunk)
CRITTER COTTAGE DRY FOODS:
Premium Edge ($1.33/lb), Wellness Complete ($2.58/lb), Nature's Variety Prairie ($1.86/lb (chicken)), Nature's Variety Instinct (grain-free) ($2.45/lb)
So I _think_ I can spring for all of those (especially if I can bike there) but given those prices and ingredients and such what do you guys think? Would you prefer one (or some) over the other or discount another (all in comparison of these foods). Right now I'm either looking at kitten or all life stages but of course eventually Smudge (mama) will be off kitten.
Premium Edge Kitten:
INGREDIENTS: Chicken, chicken meal, ground rice, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), egg product, potato protein, oatmeal, potatoes, salmon, powdered cellulose, natural chicken flavor, flaxseed, salmon oil (a source of DHA), ocean fish meal, potassium chloride, choline chloride, taurine, dried chicory root, kelp, carrots, peas, apples, tomatoes, blueberries, spinach, dried skim milk, cranberry powder, rosem
Guaranteed Analysis
Crude Protein \t34.0% \tMinimum
Crude Fat \t22.0% \tMinimum
Crude Fiber \t3.0% \tMaximum
Moisture \t10% \tMaximum
Taurine \t0.15% \tMinimum
Wellness Complete Kitten:
INGREDIENTS: Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Rice, Ground Barley, Ground Rice, Chicken Fat (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols, a natural source of Vitamin E), Natural Chicken Flavor, Salmon Meal (Source ofDHA, Docosahexaenoic Acid), Chicken Liver. Cranberries, Tomato Pomace, Olive Oil, Chicory Root Extract, Cranberry Extract Powder, Cranberry Fiber, Flaxseed, Potassium Chloride, 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, Chondroitin Sulfate, Glucosamine Hydrochloride, Lactobacillus Plantarum, Enterococcus Faecium, Lactobacillus Case, Lactobacillus Acidophilus, Taurine, Rosemary Extract.
Guaranteed Analysis %:
Crude Protein, minimum \t36
Crude Fat, minimum \t18
Moisture, maximum \t11
Crude Fiber, maximum\t3
Ash, maximum \t\t6.5
Taurine, minimum \t0.2
Nature's Variety Prarie (Chicken):
INGREDIENTS: Chicken Meal, Brown Rice, Oatmeal, Chicken Fat (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols and Citric Acid), Menhaden Fish Meal, Ground Flaxseeds, Montmorillonite Clay, Natural Chicken Flavor, Alfalfa Meal, Chicken Liver, Potassium Chloride, Sea Salt, DL-Methionine, Vitamins (Choline Chloride, Vitamin E Supplement, Ascorbic Acid, Biotin, Niacin Supplement, Vitamin A Acetate, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Ethylenediamine Dihydriodide, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Beta Carotene, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid), Minerals (Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Sodium Selenite), Taurine, Dried Enterococcus Faecium Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus Acidophilus Fermentation Product, Inulin, Flaxseed Oil, Apples, Cottage Cheese, Chicken Eggs, Cranberries, Freeze Dried Chicken, Freeze Dried Turkey, Freeze Dried Turkey Liver, Freeze Dried Turkey Hearts, Pumpkinseeds, Ground Chicken Bone, Carrots, Butternut Squash, Broccoli, Lettuce, Spinach, Dried Kelp, Salmon Oil, Apple Cider Vinegar, Parsley, Honey, Blueberries, Alfalfa Sprouts, Persimmons, Olive Oil, Duck Eggs, Pheasant Eggs, Quail Eggs, Rosemary Extract, Sage, Clove
CALORIES 450 per cup
GUARANTEED ANALYSIS
Crude Protein (min): 34.0%
Crude Fat (min): 20.0%
Crude Fiber (max): 2.5%
Moisture (max): 10.0%
Taurine: 0.16%
Nature's Variety Instinct:
INGREDIENTS: Chicken Meal, Chicken Fat (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols and Citric Acid), Tapioca, Pumpkinseeds, Salmon Meal, Alfalfa Meal, Montmorillonite Clay, Chicken Liver Flavor, Chicken Liver, Dried Kelp, DL-Methionine, Vitamins (Choline Chloride, Vitamin E Supplement, Ascorbic Acid, Biotin, Niacin Supplement, Vitamin A Acetate, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Riboavin Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Ethylenediamine Dihydriodide, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Beta Carotene, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid), Sea Salt, Minerals (Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Sodium Selenite), Taurine, Dried Enterococcus faecium Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus acidophilus Fermentation Product, Inulin, Flaxseed Oil, Apples, Chicken Eggs, Cottage Cheese, Cranberries, Freeze Dried Chicken, Freeze Dried Turkey, Freeze Dried Turkey Liver, Freeze Dried Turkey Hearts, Carrots, Ground Chicken Bone, Butternut Squash, Ground Flaxseeds, Broccoli, Lettuce, Spinach, Salmon Oil, Apple Cider Vinegar, Parsley, Honey, Blueberries, Rosemary Extract, Alfalfa Sprouts, Olive Oil, Persimmons, Duck Eggs, Pheasant Eggs, Quail Eggs, Sage, Clove.
CALORIES 491 per cup
GUARANTEED ANALYSIS
Crude Protein (min): 50.0%
Crude Fat (min): 22.0%
Crude Fiber (max): 2.8%
Moisture (max): 10.0%
Taurine: 0.203%
Thank you for any help you can offer!