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Authority vs 4health

post #1 of 12
12/19/11 at 9:13pm
Thread Starter 

I'm having a little trouble getting one of my cats to CONSISTENTLY eat canned food since we're in the early stages of them starting to actually eat it. Since they are overweight, I need to feed them a little dry to make sure they eat enough so they don't get sick. My problem being that they are eating Purina ONE currently and after reading the problems others are having with that food and the potential for a recall, I want to go ahead and switch them to something else before trouble happens. So, which do you prefer, Authority or 4health? .


Edited by xcourtney3 - 12/19/11 at 9:30pm
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post #2 of 12
12/19/11 at 9:19pm
I think 4Health has a better ingredient list. But of course that doesn't mean that it'll agree with them more than Authority will, so it'll take a bit of experimentation. I would try 4Health first, though. I think it's cheaper, too biggrin.gif.
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post #3 of 12
12/19/11 at 9:45pm

I do not see any recalls listed for Purina One products at this time, so I wouldn't worry about hearsay "friend of a friend told me" internet banter and unverified accounts (a single angry consumer can create a thousand reports in a week online which is quite common and often called "ballot stuffing").  If concerned, you can always get an older bag, as you aren't going to have contaminated food out on the market months without notice.

 

So others can help:

Quote:
AUTHORITY
Chicken, Chicken Meal, Brewers Rice, Ground Corn, Corn Protein Concentrate, Poultry Fat (Preserved with mixed Tocopherols), Natural Flavor, Dried Beet Pulp, Dried Egg Product, Rice Flour, Fructooligosaccharides, Potassium Chloride, Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, L-Ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate, Niacin, Vitamin A Supplement, Thiamin Mononitrate, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin D3 supplement, Riboflavin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Folic acid, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement), Choline Chloride, Minerals (Zinc Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite), Taurine
 
Crude Protein (not less than) 32.0%
Crude Fat (not less than) 16.0%
Crude Fiber (not more than) 4.0%
Moisture (not more than) 10.0%

vs

Quote:
4HEALTH
Chicken, chicken meal, cracked pearled barley, egg product, ground rice, powdered cellulose, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), salmon, potatoes, millet, natural chicken flavor, flaxseed, ocean fish meal, sodium bisulfate, potassium chloride, methionine, 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, dried fermentation products of Enterococcus faecium, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus casei and Lactobacillus plantarum, dried Trichoderma longibrachiatum 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.
 
Crude Protein 32% (min.),
Crude Fat 14% (min.),
Crude Fiber 8% (max.),
Moisture 10% (max.)

 

They actually seem kinda close to be honest.  Unless there are specific allergies, I'd just go with the cheaper of the two.  Remember to switch slowly if you decide you need to.

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post #4 of 12
12/20/11 at 8:56pm
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/pets/ralston.html
Seems people are reporting problems with feeding Purina products........

I have never tried either Authority or 4Health but can say that 4Health has been used by the lady who runs the shelter where I volunteer. She feed this to her own eight cat's with great success, she swears by that brand clap.gif. Good luck in the changeover, I think they both are very similar. agree.gif
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post #5 of 12
12/20/11 at 11:51pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ducman69 View Post

I do not see any recalls listed for Purina One products at this time, so I wouldn't worry about hearsay "friend of a friend told me" internet banter and unverified accounts (a single angry consumer can create a thousand reports in a week online which is quite common and often called "ballot stuffing").  If concerned, you can always get an older bag, as you aren't going to have contaminated food out on the market months without notice.

IMHO, for the sake of the cats on this community, potential recalls and food issue warnings should not be discounted as hearsay "or a friend told me" type of thing.
When the 2007 recall happened, and I am sure you are aware of it, and no, I am not going to go into a debate here, by the end of the first month there was 100 deaths, 10 days later 3,600, and the FDA receive reports of about 8,500 deaths from that incident alone - that by the way, by the end of the second month. It happened very very fast. When the recall hit, the Companies, wholesalers and sellers took action and the product was out of the shelves, it was too late for all those thousands of kitties. The Company took action because of reports - reports like these, that are being called hearsay. I am sure they were not hearsay for the those pet parents though, who lost their kids so suddenly frown.gif

Before that, in 2004, there was another, a Mars food recall, that sickened 6,000 pets.

Let's not forget that this is a cat community - and yes, we do need to be on alert.

I am not an advocate of any type of specific diet. I do feed Dry and wet, from extremely high quality, to prescription, to Purina - and I am concerned too. I am well aware of the mayhem that can be caused online, with false information and gossip.

I also know that We need to watch out for valid information and reports. I do not think, for example, that all those pet parents reporting that their pets got sick with Purina on consumeraffairs.com are doing that just to have fun. That IMHO would be just a waste of time and absurd. I choose to believe human beings are better than that.

God forbid a TCS kitty get sick.... We are the only ones who can protect them, and the only thing we can do is watch..... If that stuff is not real, it will die out. IMHO the very least we can do is watch carefully to what can potentially harm our kids - ourselves - as relying on the food companies to do so, well, might just not be fast enough sometimes.
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post #6 of 12
12/21/11 at 2:21pm
Excellent post, Carolina, thank you.
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post #7 of 12
12/21/11 at 2:32pm

The companies took action because of reports from consumers and veterinarians directly to their hotline and the FDA, product testing, verified contamination and recall.   They were not browsing internet forums or checking consumer review sites and the like.    An older bag as I mentioned would alleviate concerns since that food would have been on the market for an extended period.   That is in fact why I have a large bag of Blue Wilderness in the pantry, even though it will be at least a month or two before I run out of what we have.   Just pointing out that gossip and ballot stuffing on some consumer sites are real issues on the internet to be taken with a grain of salt else you'd be in perpetual panic mode as it does not die out and there are always a few among the millions throwing out red flags.

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post #8 of 12
12/21/11 at 3:02pm

While it's always prudent to be alert for legitimate recalls (and not blamethose  companies that are very conservative and proactive in recalling foods that may have issues), I think people should take anything printed on consumeraffairs.com with more than a grain of salt - it's basically a shell for some very aggressive attorneys (and I like attorneys - I just don't like attorneys who pop out a site that looks like it''s a not for profit or functions solely on behalf of the poor beleaguered consumer, when it's really a site trolling for possible clients). 

 

Now, if a .gov site lists a recall, that's one thing - but a site like consumeraffairs.com?  That's been sued numerous times itself?  Not exactly what I would call a site that I personally have confidence in.  They're usually scouting for deep pockets to sue - no matter if there's a real basis for a suit or not.

 

While some may disagree, I believe if a pet parent has a question regarding a given diet or food, they talk to their own vet (who actually treats their pet), or a certified feline nutritionist, or both - and not depend on the internet.  Or, at least be very wary as to the background and credentials of anyone seeking to offer 'authoritative' advice on the internet.  On this site - as far as I know we are all sharing our experience as lay people only - no one here can substitute for your own vet.

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post #9 of 12
12/22/11 at 11:48am

Ok, maybe this is a silly question, but what do the issues having to do with Purina have to do with the original post here?  I've never heard of 4Health (don't think it's sold here in the west), but cannot find any relationship to Purina, and Authority seems to be Petsmart's own brand.

 

Just curious smile.gif

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post #10 of 12
12/22/11 at 11:50am
Quote:
Originally Posted by mrsgreenjeens View Post

Ok, maybe this is a silly question, but what do the issues having to do with Purina have to do with the original post here?  I've never heard of 4Health (don't think it's sold here in the west), but cannot find any relationship to Purina, and Authority seems to be Petsmart's own brand.

Just curious smile.gif

Here is the original post:
Quote:
I'm having a little trouble getting one of my cats to CONSISTENTLY eat canned food since we're in the early stages of them starting to actually eat it. Since they are overweight, I need to feed them a little dry to make sure they eat enough so they don't get sick. My problem being that they are eating Purina ONE currently and after reading the problems others are having with that food and the potential for a recall, I want to go ahead and switch them to something else before trouble happens. So, which do you prefer, Authority or 4health? .

That is what Purina has to do with this thread - she asked it specifically wink.gif
Edited by Carolina - 12/22/11 at 1:04pm
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post #11 of 12
12/22/11 at 1:36pm


 

Quote:
Originally Posted by Carolina View Post

Quote:
Originally Posted by mrsgreenjeens View Post

Ok, maybe this is a silly question, but what do the issues having to do with Purina have to do with the original post here?  I've never heard of 4Health (don't think it's sold here in the west), but cannot find any relationship to Purina, and Authority seems to be Petsmart's own brand.

Just curious smile.gif

Here is the original post:
Quote:
I'm having a little trouble getting one of my cats to CONSISTENTLY eat canned food since we're in the early stages of them starting to actually eat it. Since they are overweight, I need to feed them a little dry to make sure they eat enough so they don't get sick. My problem being that they are eating Purina ONE currently and after reading the problems others are having with that food and the potential for a recall, I want to go ahead and switch them to something else before trouble happens. So, which do you prefer, Authority or 4health? .

That is what Purina has to do with this thread - she asked it specifically wink.gif


OMG, How did I MISS that???? laughing02.gif  thanks for pointing out my obliviousness wink.gif

 

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post #12 of 12
12/22/11 at 8:23pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Carolina View Post

IMHO, for the sake of the cats on this community, potential recalls and food issue warnings should not be discounted as hearsay "or a friend told me" type of thing.
When the 2007 recall happened, and I am sure you are aware of it, and no, I am not going to go into a debate here, by the end of the first month there was 100 deaths, 10 days later 3,600, and the FDA receive reports of about 8,500 deaths from that incident alone - that by the way, by the end of the second month. It happened very very fast. When the recall hit, the Companies, wholesalers and sellers took action and the product was out of the shelves, it was too late for all those thousands of kitties. The Company took action because of reports - reports like these, that are being called hearsay. I am sure they were not hearsay for the those pet parents though, who lost their kids so suddenly frown.gif
Before that, in 2004, there was another, a Mars food recall, that sickened 6,000 pets.
Let's not forget that this is a cat community - and yes, we do need to be on alert.
I am not an advocate of any type of specific diet. I do feed Dry and wet, from extremely high quality, to prescription, to Purina - and I am concerned too. I am well aware of the mayhem that can be caused online, with false information and gossip.
I also know that We need to watch out for valid information and reports. I do not think, for example, that all those pet parents reporting that their pets got sick with Purina on consumeraffairs.com are doing that just to have fun. That IMHO would be just a waste of time and absurd. I choose to believe human beings are better than that.
God forbid a TCS kitty get sick.... We are the only ones who can protect them, and the only thing we can do is watch..... If that stuff is not real, it will die out. IMHO the very least we can do is watch carefully to what can potentially harm our kids - ourselves - as relying on the food companies to do so, well, might just not be fast enough sometimes.

hugs.gifhugs.gifhugs.gif Thank you, sweetie!! We have to look out for our TCS kitties heartpump.gif
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