Questions about commercial raw

nerdrock

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Thank you for emailing them about that question Carolina! I will be able to pass that information on to any of my customers during a demonstration. It's very helpful!
 

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carolina

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Those links you provided are great!  Thanks!  I have a question about ziwipeak air dried food.  It says the product is air dired, but it never says if it is cooked before drying.    Is it raw?   I was going to buy one bag, but I thought I should ask first.
You know.... This is really an acquired taste.... No, it is not cooked.... But good luck getting them to eat! It feels just like little pieces of jerky meat... quite tough. You feed very little of it though.
You can feed it exclusively, or as a topping.
Ziwi is great food - their wets are top-notch too..... very $$$, but very worth it. :nod:
 
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space1101

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Thanks carolina.  It does look hard from the picture....hmm.....I'll think three times before I buy.
 

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FYI, http://www.onlynaturalpet.com/cats/ seems to have some better prices for most of the commercial raw foods than PetFoodDirect.com.

And there is "free shipping" (apart from the $9.95 frozen surcharge for packing) for quite a number of commercial raw products. The coupon code is not being automatically applied, which is PIA, but I'm sure if you call them, it can be sorted.
 
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Willowy

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FYI, http://www.onlynaturalpet.com/cats/ seems to have some better prices for most of the commercial raw foods than PetFoodDirect.com.
And there is "free shipping" (apart from the $9.95 frozen surcharge for packing) for quite a number of commercial raw products. The coupon code is not being automatically applied, which is PIA, but I'm sure if you call them, it can be sorted.
Wowzer! Those are good prices, and free shipping (besides the $9.99 which is entirely reasonable)! I'm definitely making an order with them soon. I actually had an order all worked out, but then I realized I wouldn't be home next Friday to get the FedEx order. . .so I'll order next weekend, I guess. I had a bunch of stuff in my cart (around 20 pounds of various brands) and still hadn't reached the $60 free shipping minimum. . .:D..

I plan on getting some Bravo---both the meal blend and the meat-and-bone-only mix---and some Nature's Variety medallions and chubs, to see if the convenience of the medallions justifies the higher price. The others are too expensive. I'd like to get some rabbit-based foods but they're so pricey! I'll probably stick with chicken and turkey. Bravo and the NV chubs are almost cheaper than regular meat at the grocery store. . .
 

ldg

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Just thought I'd update this thread with information from Carolina's transition to raw ( http://www.thecatsite.com/t/239771/...lucky-bugsy-and-hope-to-raw-challenges-galore ). There's been a fair bit of information posted in that thread that would be useful information here. :nod:

Only relevant sections of posts included here.

A question about whether Bugsy was becoming constipated inspired this post. Note: too much calcium can cause constipation (though for the record, Nature's Variety raw frozen foods meet AAFCO standards, which do have max and min calcium content requirements).

I just spoke with a Nature's Variety representative and she says their foods are not actually 95% meat; instead, they're approximately 15% bone, 30% organs (incl. heart) and 50% meats.

That bone percentage is half again as high as I believe it should be, given the frankenprey guideline is 5 - 10% bone, with 7% being the average, so there is a chance there's more bone content in this food than Bugsy is comfortable with (especially coming off a year and a half with no solid stool at all).

Raw fed cats usually poop every other or every third day. I'd watch Bugsy and if he looks like he's straining or he goes beyond three days, I think I'd do whatever is normally done with a constipated kitty (some kind of kitty laxative?). I would also start replacing an ounce or two of the NV raw with fresh raw meat every day to lower the daily concentration of bone he's eating, or start feeding another brand of food in rotation with the NV.

Not saying that's what's going on here, just giving you a heads-up that it's a possibility.

AC

For those who might be confused, when discussing the 80-10-5-5 (meat, bone, liver, other [secreting] organ) ratio, heart is considered to be a meat so the meat component of NV is actually higher than 50% although we don't know how much higher.

I second that 15% bone is kinda high. With my cats when I go over 10% I start seeing caulky poops. 

And to clarify...

:yeah:

Also, they don't say 95% Meat, as in muscle..... they say: "95% Meat, organs and bone" - which means that all combined is 95%. "5% of vegetables, fruits, and other wholefoods" (eggs for example), "0% of Grains and Gluten" :nod:

In researching alternative "safe" commercial raw foods (from a pathogen perspective), it was found that Primal Pet Food also uses the High Pressure Processing process with their poultry products :


On the store, I found out a VERY good thing while talking to Laurie on the phone - I was on a mission to find a food for them..... I did bring home Venison from Nature's Variety..... However, I found out that Primal also uses the same High Pressure Processing to ensure pathogen free poultry - so I just got three more choices for Bugsy: Pheasant, Quail and Turkey :clap::clap::clap:
.
For more on the HPP process, you can read about it here: http://www.primalpetfoods.com/education/foodsafety . From the Primal site:

HPP Products
Canine Formulas: Chicken, Duck, Pheasant, Quail, Turkey & Sardine
Feline Formulas: Chicken & Salmon, Pheasant, Quail, Turkey
Mixes and Grinds: Chicken, Turkey
All Raw Meaty Bones: Chicken Backs, Chicken Necks, Chicken Wings, Turkey Necks


Non-HPP Products
Canine Formulas: Beef, Lamb, Rabbit, Venison
Feline Formulas: Beef & Salmon, Rabbit, Venison
Mixes and Grinds: Beef, Buffalo, Lamb, Sardine
Recreational Bones: All Recreational Bones
Primal Treats: All Primal Treats



More on quality of commercial raw options, and further discussion of bone content:

Feline's Pride is akin to Rad Cat in quality, if anyone is interested. Both companies make their foods without adding any non-essentials like fruits and veggies.

Generally-speaking, cats on a raw diet shouldn't be on either laxatives or fiber supplements. If a particular recipe is too bone-heavy for a given kitty, then balancing the diet by rotating it with either another recipe (there are some that are bone-free) or a meal of fresh, raw meat is the most natural method of addressing the issue. Alternatively, of course, the bone-heavy product can just be dropped from rotation altogether.

I'm guessing that Bugsy's system is still getting used to actually forming solid poops. Between that and the 15% bone in the NV, it's understandable that he's pooping less frequently. And like someone's already mentioned, depositing waste in the litter box every three days is not outside what's normal for a raw fed kitty. Given a bit of time, I'm sure Bugsy's system will adjust enough to not need the fiber supplement he's getting now..

AC

On dehydrated raw vs. frozen raw:


I wonder...... Is the nutrition in the dehydrated food the same as in the regular raw? :scratch:
AC, want to chime in?

Nature's Variety doesn't recommend freeze-dried raw for daily feeding, and from everything I've seen and read so far - dehydrated raw is great for treats and for the occasional meal (such as when you're traveling!), but not as the primary diet.

Although I've read several articles that rave about it, I haven't seen anything that I could positively get behind and say, yeah, it's ok to feed full time. Until I do, I won't recommend the practice.

Not a very definitive answer, I know, but I hope it helps a bit!

AC
Note: Stella & Chewy's dehydrated cat foods ARE complete meals. Obviously they recommend rehydrating before feeding.
 
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carolina

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I wanted to add something to Laurie's post above :hugs: Laurie :hugs:

I found THE food :clap::clap::clap:

Rad Cat :thud:

$$$, but OMG, SO worth it!!!!! Unbelievable quality :clap::clap::clap: -
I will just cut and paste from my thread the reasons why I like and my impressions -
:thud: OMG Can I just say OMG :thud:

Now.....THAT is quality meat right there :woohoo::clap::clap::clap:
Here is an impressed momma with RadCat! Wow! You open that pack and mix it up...... mix it up.... and you see nothing, nothing but meat. And that's what it is - meat. This is definitely a no-BS-commercial raw food, not that the others are, but on this one, you SEE it :nod:
The only part of momma's that's not impressed is her pocket - at $8.99/lb, it would definitely be a problem to feed :nod:

I LIKED it though - the look, the feel, the texture.... the moisture content.... This looks exactly like the very fresh meat with all the juice you get from the market, red, bright and beautiful, as soon as you grind it clap.gif Totally impressed :bigthumb:
With all that stated:
Bugsy and Hope:
Hope was pretty disappointed she only got 1/4 of the turkey mixed into 3/4 of the rabbit :disa: Nothing that a little Fortiflora wouldn't do.... Ha! Yeah Hope - you need to wait until tomorrow...... but momma has her tricks! biggrin.gif

For Bugsy, even this little bit of RadCat made a difference biggthumpup.gif It is just SO much easier on him agree.gif It has more moisture (blood), the meat is softer and clumpier, his bites are more effective...... He eats faster and it required less fortiflora - he also ate a bit more - 1.60oz clap.gif And with no bones to chew on, nothing gets stuck on his teeth! :clap::clap::clap:
There are some interesting things about RadCat, especially for Bugsy:

For example:
Quote:
Why Does Rad Cat Use Human-Grade Bone Meal Instead Of Ground-In Bone?
Here are a couple of reasons why we made the choice to use a high quality completely human-grade bone meal over ground in bone:

#1) Many people and veterinarians have serious concerns about feeding raw ground bones. Ground bone is challenging for a cat's digestive system. We agree that this is good, but cats with sluggish digestive systems might have problems digesting bone shards. You are a better judge as to the value of bones in your cat's diet. That is why we recommend feeding bones in the natural condition a cat might find it - whole and chewable! You are at the mercy of the manufacturers on the size of bone shards in their grind. In a typical 'kill' for your backyard carnivore, he or she would most likely consume far less bone than is in a typical serving of food with bone ground in.

#2) It is difficult to guarantee the ratio of bone to meat unless every bone ground is exactly the same size. We have chosen to use a human-grade bone meal powder so that we can closely regulate the calcium and phosphorus content in our diets, which is so important for cats.

Also:

Quote:
Is Rad Cat Good For My Cat With IBS/IBD (Irritable Bowel Syndrome/Disease)?
As irritable bowel syndromes and diseases may have many causes, a healthy diet to support their digestion and immune system is paramount. Rad Cat is formulated to be the most easily digestible raw cat food and to provide support to maintain a healthy digestive tract. This issue was the driving force behind the formulation of Rad Cat (see About Us for Juno's story)!
Raw diets are easily digestible due to the presence of naturally occurring enzymes in the meat and high moisture content. At Rad Cat, we add gelatin to our diets to enhance the digestive process. Gelatin is high in the amino acid proline (as well as many others), which increases the hydrocloric acid (HCl) content of the stomach. This is very beneficial for cats that are eating a high protein diet. Cats generally have very acidic stomachs, but many cats come to eat raw after being ill and have compromised immune systems and sluggish digestion. Cats without digestive problems can also benefit from the presence of the added amino acids that gelatin provides.
Gelatin is also a wonderful source of collagen that is necessary for maintenance and repair of the digestive lining (as well as all epithelial tissue and joints). IBD and IBS cause a breakdown of this lining which not only contributes to many of the bowel symptoms associated with IBS and IBD, but can lead to general lower immunity. A healthy gut leads to a healthy immune system.
We, at Rad Cat, have also eliminated ground bone from our products. While we agree that chewing on raw bones is extremely beneficial for cats and dogs, ground bone can be difficult to digest for cats with inflammatory or irritable bowel diseases. Ground bones can provide some roughage and be challenging to the digestion. While this may be fine for healthy cats, in general, often it is too challenging for cats with digestive issues and can exacerbate their symptoms.

(this might also be easier for Bugsy to chew with his stomatitis :nod:

And finally, I like that they post their complete analysis against the AAFCO nutrient/dry matter analysis:
Quote:
http://www.radfood.com/site/856/LabAnalysis.pdf
Here are the ingredients for the Turkey:
Free-range turkey thigh and leg meat, free-range turkey heart, free-range turkey liver, filtered water, organic egg yolk, human-grade bone meal, organic kelp, organic dulse, gelatin, organic psyllium husk powder, wild salmon oil, manganese gluconate.
 
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ldg

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Thank you for adding that, Carolina! :clap: I actually thought I'd included that information on Radcat, but it's not in my post. :lol3: VERY interesting reasoning by the company about using the human grade bone meal rather than grinding. For kitties with sensitive tummies and digestion issues, that could be important. :nod:

LOL - now AC's post about Feline's Pride being of similar quality to Radcat will make sense. :flail:
 
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ldg

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Because of the difference in nutritional quality between grain-fed and grass-fed red meats, some people are looking for commercial raw products that use grass-fed beef, lamb, venison or bison. So far I've found:

Aunt Jeni's (note: Aunt Jeni's makes both dog and cat with the same recipe, but cat is made with a ratio of bone/meat/organs to veggies at an 85:15 ratio, where dog is 65:35, so make sure you order the cat product). No chinese rabbits. Lamb and cattle are free-range and grass fed. "we do our best to support small, local farms that follow organic farming practices." http://www.auntjeni.com/html/sources.html This company uses only single-source proteins in the meals. Aunt Jeni's rabbit uses the whole rabbit (except for head, feet, and intestines). Red meat meals include liver & heart; poultry typically includes gizzards. All meats are hormone, antibiotic & steroid free.

Bravo. Lamb and beef is 100% pure grass fed and hormone-free (http://www.bravorawdiet.com/bravodifference.html). Poultry is antibiotic-free, but not necessarily hormone-free. I'm not finding the info about ratio of meat/bone/organs to other stuff. Bravo is also single-source proteins in the meals. Organs includes liver, heart, gizzards or kidney.

Countrypet Naturals. APPEARS to be grass fed lamb, and APPEARS to be pasture raised. Hormone-free & antibiotic-free. The only (cat) food is a combo of lamb & chicken. It is only meat, bone, organs, & supplements but we don't know the ratios. http://www.countrypet.com/catfood/lambChicken.html#guaranteed. Edited to add: OK - forgot I'd found this on the site. "Is CountryPet Naturals raw pet food? No, CountryPet Naturals foods are pasteurized, NOT raw. Our foods are heat treated at 80 degrees Celsius for 10 minutes, packaged immediately and blast frozen to eliminate any harmful bacteria or parasites. [/quote]

Darwin's Zoologics meals. http://www.darwinspet.com/why-feed-darwins/ No antibiotics or hormones: no info about grass-fed. But they state, "Out of respect for the animals that are used as livestock for our products, we seek sources for our meats that employ humane raising and slaughtering practices." Single-source proteins, nothing but meat/bone/organs and supplements. Chicken & Turkey only, both free-range. http://www.darwinspet.com/our-cat-food/ Organs include only heart & liver.

Feline's Pride. 40-70% of products contain organic meats humanely & locally raised. Don't know about grass-fed. All meat/bone/organs with supplements; single-source protein meals; ratios mimic composition of mouse. No antibiotics or hormones. https://www.felinespride.com/#/company Organs include liver, heart, and gizzards.

K9's Feline Natural. http://www.felinenatural.co.nz/ All meat from free-range, grass fed animals. No hormones/antibiotics. "Feline Natural has been created to be as close as possible to the diet of the African Wild cat." It is a chicken & lamb meal, all meat/bones/organs (& supplements?). Not sure it's available in the US yet (it's a NZ company).

Nature's Logic. While the meals are single-source protein and "over 90% meat or poultry," organs are typically liver & heart, and the calcium appears to come from egg shell meal (which isn't necessarily a bad thing - I don't know) and the Montmorillonite Clay (as does Nature's Variety, if I remember correctly, though NV includes some bone). http://www.natureslogic.com/products/dp_rf_chi.html. They say nothing about grass-fed, sources, humanely raised sources, or hormones or antibiotics in source meats.

Nature's Variety. Many meals are not single-source protein. All are 95% meat/bones/organs. Organs typically include only liver & heart. Nothing said about hormone-free or antibiotic-free meats, humanely raised sources, or grass-fed. Rabbits sourced from China. http://www.naturesvariety.com/learning/questions/5

Primal. Some single-source proteins though clearly labeled. No assurances red meat is grass-fed, but site says, "All of our meats, poultry and game are purchased through farms and ranches that take pride in producing wholesome sources of protein through natural, sustainable agriculture. Primal Formulas only contain meats, poultry and game that come from 100% natural, vegetarian-fed protein sources that are processed and inspected under strict USDA guidelines for safety and sanitation." http://www.primalpetfoods.com/education/benefits/type/meats Other than quail and rabbit, which are whole animals, meals appear to be light on organs (typically including only liver & heart).

Rad Cat. Single-source proteins. Organs include liver & heart. "It is important to us that all of the meats we use come from farms that practice sustainable agriculture. All of our meats are US sourced (west coast, actually), are free-range or pasture-raised, USDA inspected, and are hormone and antibiotic free. All meats we use are the very same cuts that are found in fine supermarkets. On our label, we list the actual cuts of meat we use. Our free-range chicken is sourced from Petaluma Poultry, Petaluma, CA or Fulton Valley Farms, Fulton, CA. Our free-range turkey is from Diestel Turkey Ranch, Sonora, CA. Our pasture-raised lamb is from Anderson Ranch, an Oregon farm." Does not specifically say the lamb is grass-fed. http://www.radfood.com/faq/where_does_rad_cat_source_their_meat. Uses human-grade bone meal rather than ground-in bone.

Raw Advantage. "All of our ingredients are grown and produced in the USA and all of the companies we work with practice sustainability for the lowest carbon footprint possible." Lists where each meat is sourced. Single-sourced protein products. APPEARS beef is grass-fed. All Raw Advantage products are made with Certified Organic ingredients, so no hormones, antibiotics, steroids, etc. http://www.rawadvantagepetfood.com/AboutUs.html From what I can tell, there is one cat "meal," (Turkey). The rest is meant to be rotational, and includes 70% meat with bone ground in, and 30% organ meats.

Stella & Chewy's. "Every Stella & Chewy’s product is made with raw, naturally raised meat, poultry or fish, sourced from USDA-inspected facilities, without added hormones or antibiotics." Nothing indicates whether red meats are grass-fed. http://www.stellaandchewys.com/why.php Cat products are only available in dehydrated, but frozen dog products are supplemented with taurine. HAS single-source protein products, products are clearly marked. Poultry includes gizzards, beef includes tripe & kidney. Products (including dog frozen raw) is 95% meat/bones/organs (AC contacted the company to get that information :) ). I contacted the company to ask about the ratios of meat/bones/organs. The information is "proprietary," and though it varies, "the meats (beef and lamb) are at approximately 4-5% bone and the poultry and fish (chicken, duck, salmon) are at approximately 6-8%.

Wild Kitty. No info about sources but does say chicken is free-range. They (incorrectly, I believe) claim to be the first raw cat food using all human grade ingredients. "It's truly the first cat food made with Human-Grade Ingredients, All-Natural Meats, Fresh Atlantic Clams, Organic Vegetables, and Natural Taurine. It's 100% complete and balanced with No Preservatives, No Steroids, No Hormones, No Fillers, No Artificial Colorings, No Artificial Flavorings, No Nitrates, No Ethoxyquin, and No Pentobarbitol." (Now maybe the claim for "the first" includes that entire list - and they're right, no other commercial raw companies are using clams). http://www.wildkittycatfood.com/ourcompany.htm All foods have either clam or conch in them in addition to the named protein. Mixes proteins, organs are liver and heart, and recipes include rice bran, wheat germ, and yeast.

Note: Nature's Variety, Stella & Chewy's, and Primal's poultry all use High Pressure Processing, which provides a higher level of assurance that the product is pathogen-free.
 
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carolina

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Thank you for the great information Laurie :hugs:

For Rad Cat - I just checked - it is correct..... they do actually label the cut of meat they use for the food. For Turkey, for example: They use Turkey thighs and leg, Turkey heart for muscle in that order; plus the organs - starting with the liver - and for the lamb, Lamb Shoulder and lamb heart for the muscles respectively, and the first organ is the liver :nod:

Here is the info on their farms:
http://www.petalumapoultry.com/poultry
http://www.fultonvalley.com/about_us.php
http://www.diestelturkey.com/our_ranch.htm
http://www.oregonlamb.com/
 
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feralvr

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Laurie :thud:......... OMgosh - You have done so much leg work on the subject and I can't thank you enough for the hard work you put into gathering all of this information for us. A zillion :thanks: :thanks: :thanks: :thanks: for you taking the time to prepare this!!!!! :D :hugs::hugs::hugs::hugs::hugs: IF we still had the option of gifts I would give you a bunch and a loads of those bags of money :D. I really appreciate this list.

p.s. I returned the frozen raw rabbit from Nature's Logic I purchased yesterday only because I opened the bag and it was filled with frozen ice crystals amongst the patties. And the patties looked like they had freezer burn. The date on the bag said it was good until July 1012 but I didn't like the look of it - too much ice inside the bag. They took it back :D and I exchanged it with NV rabbit and a bag of NV chicken. :sigh: about the NV rabbit's in china - and a concern now about the meat not being antibiotic/hormone free, humanely raised animal's and grass-fed.... :(.
 
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carolina

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Laurie :thud:......... OMgosh - You have done so much leg work on the subject and I can't thank you enough for the hard work you put into gathering all of this information for us. A zillion :thanks: :thanks: :thanks: :thanks: for you taking the time to prepare this!!!!! :D :hugs::hugs::hugs::hugs::hugs: IF we still had the option of gifts I would give you a bunch and a loads of those bags of money :D. I really appreciate this list.
p.s. I returned the frozen raw rabbit from Nature's Logic I purchased yesterday only because I opened the bag and it was filled with frozen ice crystals amongst the patties. And the patties looked like they had freezer burn. The date on the bag said it was good until July 1012 but I didn't like the look of it - too much ice inside the bag. They took it back :D and I exchanged it with NV rabbit and a bag of NV chicken. :sigh: about the NV rabbit's in china - and a concern now about the meat not being antibiotic/hormone free, humanely raised animal's and grass-fed.... :(.
Lauren, Their meats (NV's are USDA Meats, therefore fits all the standards for the human-grade USDA meats - including hormone-free poultry & Pork (hormone is prohibited in poultry and Pork)
In fact, I think that this is a perk we have in feeding raw - the meats are USDA meats/cuts, just like the ones we eat...... which is nice to know :nod: If I am not mistaken, Raw pet food can not be made otherwise.

All of the materials used in our raw diets and raw frozen bones are obtained from USDA-inspected facilities (or meet USDA requirements in the case of imports) and from animals that have passed ante- and post-mortem inspection. Our quality control and quality assurance programs include but are not limited to: Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures (SSOP’s), Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP’s), a Hazard Analysis & Critical Control Points (HACCP) program, regular lot segregation, and other industry best practices. That said, our manufacturing facilities are used to produce pet food rather than human food, and since this is not in line with the USDA's definition of human grade, our foods cannot be classified as being human grade.http://www.naturesvariety.com/learning/questions/5
From the USDA:
NO HORMONES (pork or poultry):
Hormones are not allowed in raising hogs or poultry. Therefore, the claim "no hormones added" cannot be used on the labels of pork or poultry unless it is followed by a statement that says "Federal regulations prohibit the use of hormones."
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Factsheets/Meat_&_Poultry_Labeling_Terms/index.asp
On the link above you will also find some answers on labeling of the meat, according from the USDA
 

ritz

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Laurie thank you so much for all your hard work.

Note to self:  print this Thread.

Note to Moderator/Huddler Families:  make it easier to Print Thread....

Note to self:  I really MUST become more computer literate!
 

ldg

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I can no longer edit that post. BUT.. it MUST be noted that

Primal Quail is NOT the whole animal! There is no organ meat in the formula. But all of Primal's formulas target the meal to be about 10% bone.
 

nerdrock

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Nature's Variety. Many meals are not single-source protein. All are 95% meat/bones/organs. Organs typically include only liver & heart. Nothing said about hormone-free or antibiotic-free meats, humanely raised sources, or grass-fed. Rabbits sourced from China. http://www.naturesvariety.com/learning/questions/5

Note: Nature's Variety, Stella & Chewy's, and Primal's poultry all use High Pressure Processing, which provides a higher level of assurance that the product is pathogen-free.
Nature's Variety meats are hormone and antibiotic free. The animals used for the meat are also fed only crops that are not genetically modified, they're fed the same crops that are used in the foods that the company produces. 
 

ldg

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There's also http://www.darwinspet.com/our-cat-food/ and vital essentials has frozen/freezedried cat food.  Personally I have had no luck getting my cat to eat freeze dried, either mixed in canned or rehydrated on it's own or dry.  I've started breading raw chicken/turkey in the powder from the freeze dried bags and she ate some yesterday.  We'll see.  I'd like to try a frozen option but can't get any locally and not paying shipping. 
Thanks for those! Darwin's looks great - and for anyone interested, though their regular order is a minimum of 20 pounds, they have an INTRODUCTORY OFFER of 10 pounds for $14.95 with FREE shipping! :wow: http://www.darwinspet.com/our-cat-food/
 
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