Notice on can of Evanger's cat food.

buteman

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Our little Ragdoll is fourteen weeks now and the Vet. mentioned last week that she was in excellent condition. Her well being is our concern, her health and nutrition is most important to us.

Of course I'm not alone in stating information and advice regarding nutrition is nothing short of a minefield ! So many different opinions from Vet's and lay persons. At this time we are feeding her Evanger's canned food which she appears to really like ( especially the rabbit and the pheasant ).

We are quite keen on the Evanger's products as they do not contain grain or meat by-products. The following notice was on the can, " This product is intended for intermittent or supplemental feeding only. It makes an excellent mixer with Evanger's canned vegetable dinner or Evanger's dry foods ".

So now we are unsure as to where we are at as far as Henrietta's diet is concerned ,,, should we be using supplements ? if so which kind ?.

Our Vet sells only Hill's " Science Diet " which by the way states one of the primary ingredients as " meat by-products " thanks but no thanks, I'm well educated from a first hand experience as to what " meat by-products " consist of.

We mix about a tablespoonful of high quality kitten kibble in with her wet food and supply her with plenty of filtered water. I've certainly read a great deal about the raw diet for cats but I'm not quite sure if we really want to change to that but that could be a possibility.

I have access to high quality meat and fish products and I have thought about making my own cat food for her but again I'm not quite sure how to go about things at this time.

I defrost a large frozen raw prawn and cut that up for her ,,, that's her daily treat and she just loves that.
 

sarah ann

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I would not feed Evangers.  Evangers is run by some very shady people. I believe the owners of the company have been fined repeatedly for having "flies, sewage, contamination issues etc".  I believe the owners were arrested as well for money laundering, stealing utilities, and bribery.  They got caught by the FDA for false labeling -saying it is rabbit when it is in fact chicken something along those lines.  Of all the pet food companies, I consider evangers to be the worst.  Just google them and I'm sure you can find more.

The reason it is only for supplemental feeding is because it is not balanced (unless it says AAFCO certified).  All you are buying is really expensive meat (not even with vitamins or minerals).  So you are setting your cat up for health issues.  As I said the company is a complete fraud.  You would be better off buying a balanced feed from Purina.

Especially with kittens, it is better to go with a commercial diet. They have very unique nutritional needs, and it is not worth risking their health with something not correctly formulated.

If you want your kitten on a raw diet, make sure it meets AAFCO recommendations. Something like Nature's variety or Natural Balance.  The package should say Meets and exceeds AAFCO recommendations.  That way you don't need to worry about adding vitamins or minerals or about adding bone meal/grinding up bones.
 

sarah ann

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Don't feed fish- it causes urinary issues. In the wild cats don't eat fish.
 

mewlittle

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if you looking for a good wet try natures variety lid
 

mrsgreenjeens

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I really don't know anything about Evangers, but when I checked out their website, the only thing I could find that fit the description of this food was their game meat Rabbit, and it's not obviously clear that you need to add supplements, however, upon further reading at other websites it becomes clear that you DO need to add vitamins and perhaps even calcium to this food
.  And it is true that the owners are in trouble with the law for things not directly related to their food, so THEY at least are not trustworthy.

Have you thought about trying Wysong?  They also make a product very similar to this.  It's rabbit only, therefore needs supplementation, but Wysong at least also sells the supplements, which is helpful.  AND they have a great customer service line to help you with any questions you  might have on the subject.  Here is a link to their Au Jus line, which is their single protein (or game meat) line:  http://www.wysong.net/products/aujus-natural-healthy-dog-cat-ferret-food.php

I would ask them about the rabbit, because on all the other proteins they list liver and animal plasma as an ingredient, but they don't on the rabbit.  But if you decided to try it, definitely ask which supplement you need to add.  I suspect it's Call of the Wild, but there may be something else that works just as well.  I use Call of the Wild to supplement raw, since I feed strips of various meats without bones and do not feed liver since it makes one of mine sick.  It works out great for us. 

As far as feeding fish, you definitely don't want to feed too much.  Have you tried giving her a sardine once in awhile?  They are full of Omega 3's, but be sure to only give her the ones packed in water, with  no additional sodium added. 

We've already sent you some info on raw feeding, haven't we?  If not, let us know
 
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sivyaleah

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Instinct also makes a canned dog food which is appropriate for cats, it has taurine added in.  Look for their large cans in the dog aisle. Plenty for at least 2 days worth of meals for 2 cats, if they don't mind having leftovers.

And I agree about evengers as a brand.  I stopped using it once I found out about their business practices.  
 

mewlittle

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Instinct also makes a canned dog food which is appropriate for cats, it has taurine added in.  Look for their large cans in the dog aisle. Plenty for at least 2 days worth of meals for 2 cats, if they don't mind having leftovers.

And I agree about evengers as a brand.  I stopped using it once I found out about their business practices.  
can you please tell me what that is thanks
 

maewkaew

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 I  think she means Natures Variety Instinct.    They  have rabbit that does have supplements added so it is a complete diet.      http://www.naturesvariety.com/Instinct/cat/can/rabbit

and it's true the dog and cat cans are the same formula.   and the dog ones come in a larger can if you want to buy it that way. http://www.naturesvariety.com/Instinct/dog/can/rabbit

 As mrsgreenjeans menitoned Wysong also makes canned rabbit meat.    Theirs need to be supplemented but you can also buy the supplement from them that she mentioned,  Call of the Wild.  
can you please tell me what that is thanks
 

sivyaleah

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 I  think she means Natures Variety Instinct.    They  have rabbit that does have supplements added so it is a complete diet.      http://www.naturesvariety.com/Instinct/cat/can/rabbit

and it's true the dog and cat cans are the same formula.   and the dog ones come in a larger can if you want to buy it that way. http://www.naturesvariety.com/Instinct/dog/can/rabbit

 As mrsgreenjeans menitoned Wysong also makes canned rabbit meat.    Theirs need to be supplemented but you can also buy the supplement from them that she mentioned,  Call of the Wild.  
I do.  Thanks for clarifying! 
 

raintyger

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Oh, what a lucky kitty, she's going to get good food straight from the start!

I would say introduce her to a variety of foods so she will not be picky later. Right now she is developing a sense of what is "safe" food, so introduce her to a variety of flavors and textures--but NOT dry food!

If you go to catinfo.org the doctor there has some good (but long) articles on cat nutrition. She has also compiled data on the typical nutrient content of various commercial foods at http://www.catinfo.org/docs/FoodChartPublic9-22-12.pdf.
 
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buteman

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Well I thank all of you for your replies, I love the feedback from cat owners which is much more preferable than a company or individual selling their pet food.

We live in central B.C. our city has four outlets that sell quality pet food unfortunately some of the brands you have mentioned are not available.

When I mentioned in my original post about the " minefield " when one is attempting to obtain informative information regarding nutrition for our little family member a " minefield " it certainly is.

Feed this, feed that, don't feed this, don't feed that ,,, and on and on and on ,,,, our Vet. suggested that with a high protein diet there was no need for supplements ,,, some of you say that's not the case.

I was also advised that " Evanger's rabbit and pheasant canned food was of the highest quality ,,, now I'm returning what I recently purchased ,,, too scared to feed her that product now.

Henrietta's daily treat of one raw prawn ( which she loves ) I was told would do her no harm whatsoever ,,, now I read not to feed her fish of any kind ?? Halo " Spot Stew " in reviews from cat owners comes highly rated indeed but in one of the varieties the contents contain shrimp and crab " don't feed her fish " ??

Also noted in the contents of Halo '' Spot Stew " " natural ingredients with added vitamins and minerals " if that is the case why would it be necessary to add supplements to a kittens diet ??

Our Vet. told us that a tablespoonful of high quality kitten kibble mixed in with her wet food was perfectly okay ,,, now I'm reading no kibble whatsoever ??

I guess I have to make my own decisions and hopefully find a middle of the road solution, the expense of her care is not and never will be a factor ,, perhaps she might like steak and lobster !

Thanks again ,,,
 

raintyger

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Well I thank all of you for your replies, I love the feedback from cat owners which is much more preferable than a company or individual selling their pet food.

We live in central B.C. our city has four outlets that sell quality pet food unfortunately some of the brands you have mentioned are not available.

When I mentioned in my original post about the " minefield " when one is attempting to obtain informative information regarding nutrition for our little family member a " minefield " it certainly is.

Feed this, feed that, don't feed this, don't feed that ,,, and on and on and on ,,,, our Vet. suggested that with a high protein diet there was no need for supplements ,,, some of you say that's not the case.

I was also advised that " Evanger's rabbit and pheasant canned food was of the highest quality ,,, now I'm returning what I recently purchased ,,, too scared to feed her that product now.

Henrietta's daily treat of one raw prawn ( which she loves ) I was told would do her no harm whatsoever ,,, now I read not to feed her fish of any kind ?? Halo " Spot Stew " in reviews from cat owners comes highly rated indeed but in one of the varieties the contents contain shrimp and crab " don't feed her fish " ??

Also noted in the contents of Halo '' Spot Stew " " natural ingredients with added vitamins and minerals " if that is the case why would it be necessary to add supplements to a kittens diet ??

Our Vet. told us that a tablespoonful of high quality kitten kibble mixed in with her wet food was perfectly okay ,,, now I'm reading no kibble whatsoever ??

I guess I have to make my own decisions and hopefully find a middle of the road solution, the expense of her care is not and never will be a factor ,, perhaps she might like steak and lobster !

Thanks again ,,,
OK, some clarification is in order. I'm going to make some assumptions about the other postings, so forgive me other members, if I didn't interpret your post correctly.

Supplementation - The Evanger's is not meant to be a meal with all vitamins and minerals provided for daily nutrition. It is meant to be more of a healthy snack. In other words, to get the correct amount of nutrients you'd have to feed food that is meant to be a meal. The Evanger's would then provide nutrients beyond that.

No fish - Fish has high levels of minerals that aren't good for cats. Some of them can cause urinary stones. It is also addicting, so it could cause pickiness. So while I wouldn't say "no fish" at all, don't feed your kitty fish on a daily basis. It's up to you to decide how often, but a fish flavored cat food about once a week should be OK if your kitty has no medical concerns.

Vitamins and minerals are necessary to add to commercial cat food because the meats and other foods have been cooked, thereby decreasing the natural nutrient content.

Definitely no dry food. Dry food causes dehydration and is linked to a multitude of nasty diseases. Do not listen to your vet on this one. Most vets, by the way, don't know diddly about cat nutrition. The education they receive is very little and is provided by the cat food companies who want them to believe feeding kibble and high carb food that they sell is OK.

Hope this clears things up.
 

maewkaew

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 Your vet is right that in MOST cases  you don't need to add supplements to canned cat food. 

You just happened to choose one of the few  kinds of canned cat food that are not supposed to be a complete diet unless supplemented .  

 Even if a food is high in protein,  that doesn't mean it's complete.  for example if it is just meat and doesn't include what would be in bones,  which ordinarily a cat would be eating too when they eat a mouse , that would make it deficient in calcium  ( and other minerals). 

And a cooked / processed meat degrades the taurine,   which is an amino acid that cats must get in their food, or they can go blind or have heart problems.  

But if a food is not a complete diet,  it is supposed to say  somewhere on the label that it is for supplemental feeding only  .   I used to feed that Evanger's Game Meats and it did say something like that. 

 and  I have also fed some of the Wysong Au Jus meats. and I remember it said that.  

But most of them are meant as a complete diet.   and you can check and see if it says it meets the AAFCO standards.  which is at least something. 

I don't feed much fish,  but I don't  think a small amount is the end of the world.  

re kibble, well,  nearly all of it is  higher in carbs than cats should be eating.    but I honestly don't think a tablespoon full of a grain free kibble that is as low in carbs as possible ,  is so very awful.   I  wouildn't recommend feeding kibblet as more than  a fourth of the diet because cats tend not to drink enough to make up for the lack of moisture in the food.    

  
 

raintyger

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I should add that when I said vitamins and minerals are necessary to add to commercial cat food, I meant that the manufacturer adds them to bring them up to AAFCO standards. It should not be necessary to add vitamins and minerals yourself to food that is meant to be a complete daily diet.
 

mewlittle

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 I  think she means Natures Variety Instinct.    They  have rabbit that does have supplements added so it is a complete diet.      http://www.naturesvariety.com/Instinct/cat/can/rabbit

and it's true the dog and cat cans are the same formula.   and the dog ones come in a larger can if you want to buy it that way. http://www.naturesvariety.com/Instinct/dog/can/rabbit

 As mrsgreenjeans menitoned Wysong also makes canned rabbit meat.    Theirs need to be supplemented but you can also buy the supplement from them that she mentioned,  Call of the Wild.  
does it go for NVI LID Turkey? just wondering
 

mrsgreenjeens

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 Your vet is right that in MOST cases  you don't need to add supplements to canned cat food. 

You just happened to choose one of the few  kinds of canned cat food that are not supposed to be a complete diet unless supplemented .  

 Even if a food is high in protein,  that doesn't mean it's complete.  for example if it is just meat and doesn't include what would be in bones,  which ordinarily a cat would be eating too when they eat a mouse , that would make it deficient in calcium  ( and other minerals). 

And a cooked / processed meat degrades the taurine,   which is an amino acid that cats must get in their food, or they can go blind or have heart problems.  

But if a food is not a complete diet,  it is supposed to say  somewhere on the label that it is for supplemental feeding only  .   I used to feed that Evanger's Game Meats and it did say something like that. 

 and  I have also fed some of the Wysong Au Jus meats. and I remember it said that.  

But most of them are meant as a complete diet.   and you can check and see if it says it meets the AAFCO standards.  which is at least something. 

I don't feed much fish,  but I don't  think a small amount is the end of the world.  

re kibble, well,  nearly all of it is  higher in carbs than cats should be eating.    but I honestly don't think a tablespoon full of a grain free kibble that is as low in carbs as possible ,  is so very awful.   I  wouildn't recommend feeding kibblet as more than  a fourth of the diet because cats tend not to drink enough to make up for the lack of moisture in the food.    

  
  I have never actually fed the canned game meats, but I do feed raw, and I add supplements to that, because my furkids don't eat an entire animal, so I have to add stuff in to make up for that (like bones, liver, whatever they would get in the stomach of the animal they might be eating in the wild - if that makes sense)  And I feed them fish once in awhile.  Most raw feeders do.  As I think I mentioned above.  And, believe it or not, I have a bag of kibble on hand, for emergencies.  It's Wysong Epigen 90, which is what I would consider the best of the best.  I, personally would never say "never feed kibble", because I think it's a personal choice.  Do I think canned or raw is a better thing to feed?  Yes.  Do I think kibble has it's place?  Sometimes. 

You've got to remember, when you are a member of a forum, there are going to be hundreds of opinions, and while there may be several that are similar, there may not even be TWO that are exactly alike


Oh, I forgot to add that the internet is definitely our friend when it comes to buying cat food.  I even buy most of my raw food via the internet!  (and since you are thinking maybe about that possibility, have you thought about starting with something like Stella and Chewys dehydrated raw?  It looks and feels like kibble, and my furkids actually eat it that way...they refuse to eat it if I rehydrate it
)
 
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maewkaew

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does it go for NVI LID Turkey? just wondering
Do you mean about the cat & dog canned formulas being the same?      I'm pretty sure I was told all the cat and dog formulas are the same. ( I was told by the owner of an independent pet food store  who had got the information from NV.  )   But I was just feeding the rabbit and venison at the time  so those were what I was specifically asking about.  

And this was about 3 years ago.    I'm not sure when they came out with the LID Turkey.   

The best thing would be to contact them and ask. 
 

sarah ann

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Mewlittle,

Did you ever find out if the natures variety dog and cat food was the same?
 

mewlittle

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yeah it is i contacted them and they said its the same on the wet the dry is different :p
 
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