Diamond Pet Foods?

I have a purebred lab pup and I am a member of a lab forum, Diamond foods are highly recommended there and my labby is thriving on it. I would love to be able to feed diamond kitty food since I can buy it right here in town. (I live in the middle of nowhere) My main concern is that the first ingredient on the kitten food is Chicken by-product meal. Any advice? There aren't a lot of choices in my area unless I want to buy grocery store junk. Thanks in advance.

Here are the ingredients:

Chicken by-product meal, whole grain ground corn, wheat flour, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), brewers rice, beet pulp, fish meal, egg product, flaxseed, natural chicken flavor, brewers dried yeast, potassium chloride, salt, choline chloride, vitamin E supplement, iron proteinate, zinc proteinate, copper proteinate, ferrous sulfate, zinc sulfate, copper sulfate, potassium iodide, thiamine mononitrate, manganese proteinate, manganous oxide, ascorbic acid, vitamin A supplement, biotin, calcium pantothenate, manganese sulfate, sodium selenite, pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), vitamin B12 supplement, menadione dimethylpyrimidinol bisulfite (source of vitamin K activity), riboflavin, vitamin D supplement, folic acid.

Guaranteed Analysis
Crude Protein
34.0%
minimum
Crude Fat
22.0% minimum

Crude Fiber 3.0% maximum
Moisture 10.0% maximum
Taurine
0.15%
minimum

Omega-6 Fatty Acids 3.5% minimum*
Omega-3 Fatty Acids 0.5% minimum*

I'm not familiar with that brand of food. My main concerns with cat food are with the dyes, ethoxyquin, BHT, etc. I try to stay away from foods that have them in it.

Poultry by-product meal can include: intestines, chicken heads, duck bills, chicken and turkey feet, feathers and bone, soy, cottonseed hulls, corn cobs, peanut hulls, citrus pulp, screenings, weeds, straw, and cereal by-products.

I would try to find a product that actually lists a meat rather than a by product as the first ingredient. But in the end, you have to look at what's available in your area,how much you can afford to feed your cat, and what your cat will actually eat! You can get the best food, but your cat may turn his/her nose up at it! It really is a balancing act.

Also, how long has the company been around? How large are they? How often do they change their ingredient formulas? You may also want to investigate this as well since a food that looks good on the label is useless if the company is not backing up their product with research and ongoing testing.

Ryelee is very cute by the way. And I love the name!

Ryelee's Mom -

I, like Russian Blue, never heard of the Diamond Pet Food brand, so I went to their website to find some info.

I couldn't find the kitten forumla on their page (I found the cat food, but not kitten), but going from your list of ingrediants of it, I'd look for a food that lists either meat meal or meat as the first ingrediant in it.

I know a lot of people on this board feed Royal Canin and Nutro Natural Choice. I feed my cat Nutro Natural Choice, and he's doing really well on it. It doesn't have BHT or BHA in it (chemical preservatives), and has no by-products either.

I also checked out the puppy food from Diamond Pet... it looks like the Large Breed Lamb & Rice Puppy Formula is MUCH better than the regular Puppy Formula. (The regular looks a lot like the kitten food you posted the ingrediants for.)

Anyway, the most important part is that your kitty (and puppy) are well-fed and cared for. Russian Blue really is right when she says:

"But in the end, you have to look at what's available in your area,how much you can afford to feed your cat, and what your cat will actually eat! You can get the best food, but your cat may turn his/her nose up at it! It really is a balancing act."

Click to expand...

Hope you find something both you and Ryelee like. She is adorable, btw!

Yes, I wouldn't feed my lab the puppy food, I feed the LB Lamb & Rice Puppy. It is said that large breed foods are better for labs because they contain less protein and fat, so the pup won't grow too fast and be as prone to hip dysplasia (sp). Here is the link to the kitty food Diamond Kitten Formula

Diamond is a reputible company and has been around for quite some time which is one of the main reasons why I think many dog owners like their foods. Diamond also makes the new Chicken Soup For the Cat Lover's Soul which I have used and was pleased with. If Diamond is the only food available in your town other than grocery store brands I don't think it would be a bad choice. Many of the stores that carry Diamond also carry the Chicken Soup cat food (which has excellent ingredients,IMO) and if they don't the store owners can mostly likely special order it for you so that might be another option for you.
You can check out their website if your interested:
http://www.chickensoupforthepetloverssoul.com

There is a store locator on their website as well.

Thanks, I will look at Nutro and at the Chix soup by Diamond. I am always open to suggestions hehe. If I can buy it here in town it would work best just because I would hate to run out of Premium food and have to dash to the store for a lower grade. Also, what do you all give your kitties for treats? I am growing sweet oats and catnip but I mean more of a food type treat? Thanks again.
Corina

Coolness! The Coop feed store where I buy my Diamond pup food carries Chicken Soup For the Cat Lovers Soul! Geesh now I would hate to have to say that name 3 times fast

I feed the Chicken Soup to my three cats...They all love it. I would also recommend "Solid Gold". My cats also inhale this high quailty pet food as well. You can read about it here.. www.solidgoldhealth.com The company has been around for almost 30 years and is all natural with NO nasty perservatives. I also highly recommend "Wellness" it cost alittle more but is worth it. My cats also love this food www.omhpet.com just giving ya something to think about. I did my homework on pet food.....LOL... All three of these foods are highly respected in the pet food industry.