Hello,

I've browsed around and found a lot of really helpful information. There is just so much information out there it's really hard to know where to look or who is right.

Long story short is that: After many arguments (about cat food), my old room mate and I compromised by each buying a bag of cat food and then mixing it. We didn't agree on what was a good food and couldn't keep the cats from eating each other's food. (She is a die hard fan of Science Diet... because the vet recommended it...and thinks that the internet is a bad place to get facts about cat nutrition...) Anyways I live alone now and can buy whatever I want, but finances are pretty tight and I could never afford Orijen even with my employee discount!

I currently feed my ~3yr old cat Kirkland Brand Super Premium Maintenance Cat food (dry) she also gets Friskies or 9lives brand wet food 1x/day. I do understand the benefits of wet food and am trying to get her to eat more wet, but she will currently not eat more than 1 spoonful at a time even of the more expensive kinds and she really prefers tuna flavors. (I've tried Fancy Feast, Blue Buffalo Spa select, Tiki Cat & Weruva)

The general consensus I've seen is that the Costco brand is a good food for the price. She does seem to be doing fine on it, and has never had a problem with dry food, she will eat whatever I put down. I feel comfortable with the pricing, but am wondering if I need to mix in another brand of dry to ensure that she is getting adequate nutrition. Am I on the right page here?

I guess I'm just wondering if anyone can tell me what they look for (or don't want to see) in a cat food both dry and wet and most importantly WHY this or that is or isn't important?

The basics that I look for are:

- Specific Meat meal (eg chicken meal) as the first ingredient, preferably meats as the first two ingredients (I've read/heard that meal is better than just plain meat as the water content means there is actually less meat and they can list it higher up in the ingredients, versus meat meal which is dried and so you know that there is actually a high concentration of protein)

- Fish should not be the primary protein source (due to mercury content in fish)

- No corn type listings (these are bad... for allergen purposes? and because they are a filler, right?)

- No ground up barely, rice etc (which aren't as good as whole brown rice?)

or if you have resources that I could read up on what should/should not be in a food that would be appreciated too! I just don't know who to believe or ask, I mean if vet aren't even knowledgable, who is there to trust?

Thanks in advance for any help, I really appreciate any advice. I love the price I pay for the Costco food (which I split with my mom who has 2 cats) but would be willing to spend a little more, or buy a small bag of higher quality food to mix in if this would help. Oh, I live in the US, in CA. Through work I can probably order most foods, but some that I've seen and heard about for the dogs are:

TOTW (about $25 for a 15lb bag)

Costco Super Premium Maintenance Cat Food (I think... about $16 for 25lbs)

Nature's Domain (about $18? for 18lbs)

California Natural (I've seen the dog food and heard its pretty good so I assume the cat food is ok?) (about $32 for a 15lb bag, or $42 for the grain free)

Tuscan Natural (not sure about their pricing, but have heard that the dog food has really good oils for skin and coat) ($40 for 15lbs or $44 for grain free)

My first post was getting really long, but in case it helps I'm posting nutrition facts for the foods I've inquired about

(edited to add, that all nutrition information was obtained from the manufacturer's websites)

Nature's Domain

[color= rgb(0, 40, 89)]INGREDIENTS[/color]

Salmon meal, ocean fish meal, sweet potatoes, peas, potatoes, pea protein, canola oil, natural flavor, choline chloride, DL-methionine, taurine, dried chicory root, tomatoes, blueberries, raspberries, yucca schidigera extract, dried Enterococcus faecium fermentation product, dried Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, dried Lactobacillus casei fermentation product, dried Lactobacillus plantarum fermentation product, dried Trichoderma longibrachiatum fermentation extract, zinc proteinate, vitamin E supplement, niacin, manganese proteinate, copper proteinate, zinc sulfate, manganese sulfate, copper sulfate, thiamine mononitrate (vitamin B1), vitamin A supplement, biotin, potassium iodide, calcium pantothenate, riboflavin (vitamin B2), pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), vitamin B12 supplement, manganous oxide, sodium selenite, vitamin D supplement, folic acid.

CALORIE CONTENT

3,564 kcals/kg (333 kcals/cup) Calculated Metabolizable Energy

GUARANTEED ANALYSIS

*Not recognized as an essential nutrient by the AAFCO Cat Food Nutrient Profile.

Kirkland Signature Super Premium Maintenance Cat Food- Chicken and Rice Formula

Ingredients: Chicken, chicken meal, whole grain brown rice, ground white rice, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), natural chicken flavor, flaxseed, sodium bisulfate, potassium chloride, choline chloride, taurine, dried chicory root, 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.

Taste of the Wild- Rocky Mountain Feline 

Ingredients

Chicken meal, peas, sweet potatoes, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), pea protein, potato protein, roasted venison, smoked salmon, natural flavor, ocean fish meal, DL-methionine, potassium chloride, taurine, choline chloride, dried chicory root, tomatoes, blueberries, raspberries, yucca schidigera extract,dried Enterococcus faecium fermentation product, dried Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, dried Lactobacillus casei fermentation product, dried Lactobacillus plantarum fermentation product, dried Trichoderma longibrachiatum fermentation extract, zinc proteinate, vitamin E supplement, niacin, manganese proteinate, copper proteinate, zinc sulfate, manganese sulfate, copper sulfate, thiamine mononitrate (vitamin B1), vitamin A supplement, biotin, potassium iodide, calcium pantothenate, riboflavin (vitamin B2), pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), vitamin B12 supplement, manganous oxide, sodium selenite, vitamin D supplement, folic acid.

Protein: 42% Minimum

Fat: 18% Minimum
Calcium: 1.9%, as-fed

Phosphorus: 1.2%, as-fed
Calories: 3,745 kcal/kg (390 kcal/cup) Calculated Metabolizable Energy

Do they have a non-fish version of Nature's Domain? I've heard it's comparable to TOTW, but I wouldn't want a healthy cat on a fish-based kibble all the time.

Kirkland is a good food and you don't have to add any other food to it. But if you want to mix another decent food in, TOTW (or comparable Nature's Domain) would be good. Just to boost the protein and meat content a bit.

Tuscan Natural Harvest- Turkey and Chicken Recipe
Tuscan Natural Carne- Grain Free

Willowy, no they only have the salmon formula for cats. Which is a good point I forgot to mention about fish not being the primary source of protein, I will add that to my original list. Thanks. 

The Tuscan Naturals foods look good. But pricey! I don't know what price range you're looking at.

 

California Natural

Chicken & Brown Rice Formula Dry Cat & Kitten Food

Ingredients:

• Chicken
• Chicken Meal
• Brown Rice
• Rice
• Chicken Fat (Preserved with Natural Mixed Tocopherols and Citric Acid)
• Natural Flavors
• Sunflower Oil (Preserved with Natural Mixed Tocopherols and Citric Acid)
• Flaxseed
• Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Betaine Hydrochloride, Niacin Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin Supplement, Beta-Carotene, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Biotin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Folic Acid)
• Potassium Chloride
• Minerals (Calcium Carbonate, Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Calcium Iodate)
• Taurine
• DL-Methionine
• Rosemary Extract

 

Calorie Content:

• 3745.0 kcal/kg
• 419.0 kcal/cup

Grain Free Chicken Formula 

Ingredients:

• Chicken
• Chicken Meal
• Peas
• Chicken Fat (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols, a Natural Source of Vitamin E)
• Pea Fiber
• Sunflower Oil
• Natural Flavors
• Potassium Chloride
• Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Betaine Hydrochloride, Niacin Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin Supplement, Beta Carotene, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Biotin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Folic Acid)
• Minerals (Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Calcium Iodate)
• Taurine
• Salt

 

Calorie Content:

• 3703.0 kcal/kg
• 442.0 kcal/cup
• 442.0 kcals per 13.2 oz can

haha good point, didn't even really look at prices. Will add those in...