Worried about Evo?

P&G had to keep the original ingredients for the first year after the buyout. The year is up now, and they will very likely end up changing the food for the worse, IMO.

Before Grain and Nature's Variety Instinct both have 13 ounce cans. It is actually the dog ones, but I'm 95% sure that the ingredients and guaranteed analysis is the exact same. I can make sure of that later if you want. Those could be other options to look into.

I stopped feeding Natura foods when I ran out, after the buy out. I figured I was going to have to eventually anyway, so I started right away trying to find other foods. It was tough, but the cats have adjusted.

I'm now feeding Merrick Before Grain, and one other Merrick formula, some Avoderm, some Castor and Pollux, some Weruva and Soulistic.

Dog food rarely has taurine added which cats need, since dogs can synthesize it. Insufficient taurine can result in blindness, heart failure, and other serious diseases.

Yes California Natural is made by Natura, the company which was bought out by P&G

Please read this link on Evanger, they have been shown to be lying abut what is in their foods, and this is not the first time Evanger has been up for scrutiny, I remember seeing some bad press a few years ago when I was researching foods.

http://www.fda.gov/ICECI/Enforcement.../ucm255000.htm

Please do NOT feed your cat ANY dog food. This issue with Nature's Variety claiming their foods are "exactly the same" is really starting to disturb me. Since they make these claims, I would not feed this food to my cats, not the dog food OR the cat food.

Cats and dogs have extremely different nutritional needs. It is not possible to make one food that meets the needs of both species. It's just not possible. So I don't know what Nature Variety's game plan is doing this, but don't fall for it. Stay AWAY from Nature's Variety.

Yes, I have heard bad things about Evanger as well, agree with Otto (thanks for posting that link)

I just switched my cats onto EVO!!!!!!!!!!! Now I am concerned about what you said about P&G keeping the ingredients the same for one year. I also feed about 50% EVO wet food to my cats. Along with Instinct and Wellness. Instinct is VERY expensive. It is $2.29 a can at my Pet store. OUCH!!! But I love their food and so do my cats.

I will keep my cats on EVO still for now, but will be very watchful for ingredient changes.......

Nature's Variety Instinct, 95% chicken dog food:

Sizes Available
5.5 oz and 13.2 oz


Ingredients
Chicken, Turkey, Chicken Broth, Chicken Liver, Ground Flaxseeds, Montmorillonite Clay, Eggs, Peas, Carrots, Lecithin, Vitamins (Choline Chloride, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate, Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Biotin, Riboflavin Supplement, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid), Dried Kelp, Potassium Chloride, Tricalcium Phosphate, Salt, Taurine, Minerals (Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Sodium Selenite, Ethylenediamine Dihydriodide), Artichokes, Cranberries, Pumpkin, Tomato, Blueberries, Broccoli, Cabbage, Kale, Parsley. Visit the Ingredient Glossary to learn about each ingredient.

Complete & Balanced for All Life Stages
Nature’s Variety Instinct Chicken Formula for dogs is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for all life stages.


Daily Feeding Guidelines
For information on how much to feed your pet, please use our interactive Feeding Guide tool.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Calories
531 per 13.2 oz can
222 per 5.5 oz can


Guaranteed Analysis
Crude Protein (min): 11.0%
Crude Fat (min): 8.0%
Crude Fiber (max): 3.0%
Moisture (max): 75.0%
Calcium (min): 0.25%
Phosphorus (min): 0.20%
Vitamin E (min): 25 IU/kg
*Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C) (min): 30 mg/kg
*Omega 6 Fatty Acids (min): 1.00%
*Omega 3 Fatty Acids (min): 0.20%

Vitamins
Vitamin A: 44125.652 IU/kg
Vitamin D: 346.645 IU/kg
Vitamin E: 34.396 IU/kg
Thiamin (Vitamin B1): 4.336 mg/kg
Riboflavin (Vitamin B2): 5.239 mg/kg
Pantothenic Acid: 9.947 mg/kg
Niacin: 46.437 mg/kg
Pyridoxine (Vitamin B6): 3.136 mg/kg
Folic Acid: 1.139 mg/kg
Biotin: 0.199 mg/kg
Vitamin B12: 0.026 mcg/kg
Vitamin C: 41.211 mg/kg
Choline: 1779.957 mg/kg
Minerals
Calcium: 0.384%
Phosphorus: 0.307%
Magnesium: 0.029%
Sodium: 0.114%
Potassium: 0.273%
Chloride: 0.181%
Iron: 41.824 mg/kg
Zinc: 54.763 mg/kg
Copper: 5.965 mg/kg
Manganese: 9.221 mg/kg
Iodine: 0.756 mg/kg
Selenium: 0.089 mg/kg
Ash: 2.206%
Amino Acids
Arginine: 0.665%
Histidine: 0.269%
Isoleucine: 0.517%
Leucine: 0.787%
Lysine: 0.852%
Methionine: 0.270%
Methionine-Cystine: 0.508%
Phenylalanine: 0.432%
Phenylalanine-Tyrosine: 0.772%
Threonine: 0.411%
Tryptophan: 0.136%
Valine: 0.489%
Taurine: 1020 mg/kg

Nature's Variety Instinct Chicken cat food:

Sizes Available
3 oz and 5.5 oz


Ingredients
Chicken, Turkey, Chicken Broth, Chicken Liver, Ground Flaxseeds, Montmorillonite Clay, Eggs, Peas, Carrots, Lecithin, Vitamins (Choline Chloride, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate, Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Biotin, Riboflavin Supplement, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid), Dried Kelp, Potassium Chloride, Tricalcium Phosphate, Salt, Taurine, Minerals (Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Sodium Selenite, Ethylenediamine Dihydriodide), Artichokes, Cranberries, Pumpkin, Tomato, Blueberries, Broccoli, Cabbage, Kale, Parsley. Visit the Ingredient Glossary to learn about each ingredient.

Complete & Balanced for All Life Stages
Nature’s Variety Instinct Chicken Formula for cats is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Cat Nutrient Profiles for all life stages.


Daily Feeding Guidelines
For information on how much to feed your pet, please use our interactive Feeding Guide tool.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Calories
121 per 3 oz can
222 per 5.5 oz can


Guaranteed Analysis
Crude Protein (min): 11.0%
Crude Fat (min): 8.0%
Crude Fiber (max): 3.0%
Moisture (max): 75.0%
Calcium (min): 0.25%
Phosphorus (min): 0.20%
Vitamin E (min): 25 IU/kg
Taurine (min): 0.05%
*Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C) (min): 30 mg/kg
*Omega 6 Fatty Acids* (min): 1.00%
*Omega 3 Fatty Acids* (min): 0.20%

Vitamins
Vitamin A: 44125.652 IU/kg
Vitamin D: 346.645 IU/kg
Vitamin E: 34.396 IU/kg
Thiamin (Vitamin B1): 4.336 mg/kg
Riboflavin (Vitamin B2): 5.239 mg/kg
Pantothenic Acid: 9.947 mg/kg
Niacin: 46.437 mg/kg
Pyridoxine (Vitamin B6): 3.136 mg/kg
Folic Acid: 1.139 mg/kg
Biotin: 0.199 mg/kg
Vitamin B12: 0.026 mcg/kg
Vitamin C: 41.211 mg/kg
Choline: 1779.957 mg/kg
Minerals
Calcium: 0.384%
Phosphorus: 0.307%
Magnesium: 0.029%
Sodium: 0.114%
Potassium: 0.273%
Chloride: 0.181%
Iron: 41.824 mg/kg
Zinc: 54.763 mg/kg
Copper: 5.965 mg/kg
Manganese: 9.221 mg/kg
Iodine: 0.756 mg/kg
Selenium: 0.089 mg/kg
Ash: 2.206%
Amino Acids
Arginine: 0.665%
Histidine: 0.269%
Isoleucine: 0.517%
Leucine: 0.787%
Lysine: 0.852%
Methionine: 0.270%
Methionine-Cystine: 0.508%
Phenylalanine: 0.432%
Phenylalanine-Tyrosine: 0.772%
Threonine: 0.411%
Tryptophan: 0.136%
Valine: 0.489%
Taurine: 1020 mg/kg

Before Grain 96% chicken canned CAT food:

INGREDIENTS
Chicken, Chicken Broth, Dried Egg, Yeast Extract, Glycine, Calcium Carbonate, Sodium Phosphate, Potassium
Chloride, Salt, Guar, Choline Chloride, Taurine, Carageenan, Mixed Tocopherols, Vitamin E Supplement, Zinc
Amino Acid Complex, Iron Amino Acid Complex, Manganese Amino Acid Complex, Vitamin B12 Supplement,
Copper Amino Acid Complex, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin A Acetate, Niacin, Lecithin, Vitamin D3
Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement, Folic Acid, Ethylenediamine Dihydriodide, Cobalt Glucoheptanate,
Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Biotin, Thiamine Mononitrate, Sodium Selenite.
GUARANTEED ANALYSIS
Crude Protein (Not Less Than) 9.0%
Crude Fat (Not Less Than) 6.0%
Crude Fiber (Not More Than) 1.4%
Moisture (Not More Than) 78.0%
CALORIE CONTENT
984 kcal/kg - A 5.5 oz. can provides 157 kcal of
metabolizable energy, calculated value. A 3.2 oz.
can provides 89 kcal

Before Grain 96% chicken canned DOG food:
Chicken, Chicken Broth, Dried Egg, Yeast Extract, Calcium Carbonate, Sodium Phosphate, Potassium Chloride,
Salt, Guar, Choline Chloride, Taurine, Carageenan, Mixed Tocopherols, Vitamin E Supplement, Zinc Amino Acid
Complex, Iron Amino Acid Complex, Manganese Amino Acid Complex, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Copper
Amino Acid Complex, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin A Acetate, Niacin, Lecithin, Vitamin D3 Supplement,
Riboflavin Supplement, Folic Acid, Ethylenediamine Dihydriodide, Cobalt Glucoheptanate, Pyridoxine
Hydrochloride, Biotin, Thiamine Mononitrate, Sodium Selenite
GUARANTEED ANALYSIS
Crude Protein (Not Less Than) 9.0%
Crude Fat (Not Less Than) 6.0%
Crude Fiber (Not More Than) 1.4%
Moisture (Not More Than) 78.0%
CALORIE CONTENT
984 kcal/kg - A 13.2 oz. can provides 374 kcal of
metabolizable energy, calculated value.

________________________________________
Same thing goes for EVO 95% - it is the exact same formula for both the cat AND dog food. I don't find it that hard to believe...dogs and cats eat the exact same thing on a prey model raw diet. They don't have special rabbits meant for dogs and special rabbits meant for cats in the wild. Why can't a company make the same food for cats and dogs, if it is a canned food that is 95% meat? The companies that are adding taurine to dog foods are doing the right thing - actually, the low taurine levels in most dog foods, is thought to be one of the causes of seizures. They can manufacture taurine themselves, yes, but is it actually enough?

I'm not going to worry about it until I see a change in the ingredients. I buy at Petsmart and Petco, so I'd be able to return any changed cans.

If it makes you feel better, unless your cat has sensitivities to grains, a little grain is okay in the diet. I learned a while ago that even though Before Grain is free of grains (obviously :P) it still contains 25.6% carbs, which is over the amount that I would ideally like to feed (and still way over the amount that cats need). A better way to feed is to calculate carbs in the food and compare that way. http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/choosi...-matter-basis/ It will also open up the door to some other foods that you can feed your kitties. =^.^=
California Natural and Innova are part of the buy-out unfortunetely, yes. http://www.naturapet.com/

I'm still feeding canned Evo, at least until I hear or read of them changing ingrediants, the price is good on the big cans and my cat loves them more than anything. I buy Felidae in big cans too which is similarly priced, I'm not a huge fan of the whole peas and varied protein sources in it but the cat likes it fine.

Just want to correct you on this point.

The mid to premium end dog foods do include taurine, as a lot of large breeds do not synthesize it properly, leading to dilated cardiomyopathy.

Since these findings, I have noticed that only the crappiest of dog foods do not add it, or they relegate it to their 'large breed' formulas.
Since I do have a large dog, I do look for taurine in my dog foods.