Merrick Before Grain no longer avail. in stores???

Hello!

Does anyone know if Merrick's Before Grain cat food is still sold in stores anywhere? The Petcos and Petsmarts that I have called both say that the food has been renamed to Merrick's Purrfect Bistro and that they are the same thing. I was able to find a bag at a Pet Supplies Store, but it was not being restocked after what they had was sold out. The lady I spoke with also told me that she had been told that Merrick had renamed their Before Grain "Purrfect Bistro" and that they were the same thing. That is definitely not true. Over the summer, I was told that was the case when I went to get my two cats (Mia, 8 and Jack, also 8) their food. I switched them over to the new stuff very gradually because I was wary of what I had been told. The whole process took about 2 months before they were on only the Purrfect Bistro. Probably within the first month of the change, both cats had drastically reduced the amount they were eating, which was very unusual. They both usually eat like their food is going to run away. I thought maybe it was just the heat, because we were right in the middle of the summer and had had some very warm temps. Towards the time where it was strictly Purrfect Bistor, Jack started throwing up and had runny stools. He had lost a pretty noticeable amount of weight, too. I took him into the vet, and she was convinced it was the fact that his food had changed. I was able to order some more Before Grain on Amazon, and after a few weeks, he was feeling 100% better. No more loose stool, throwing up, and he had gained back the weight he had lost (which he could have stood to keep off, but oh well). Now, I am trying to figure out if Before Grain is only sold online on the Merrick website (or on Amazon), or if it is available in stores? And if it is only online, does that mean they really are phasing it out??  I don't know why they would still offer it on their website if Purrfect Bistro is supposed to be the same thing. They sell it as two separate lines. Has anyone else run into this issue? If Before Grain is being phased out, that really stinks. Guess I'll have to go back to the drawing board. Any good, comparable suggestions for switching, if it turns out that BG is done?

Thanks, Raya

The BG line is being phased out. The Purrfect Bistro line is replacing it. It is not the same unfortunately. I really don't know what to suggest as a replacement.

EVO's Turkey & Chicken Cat & Kitten. They also make a Herring & Salmon cat food, but I'm not very familiar with it.

The selling point for me is that the carb content of the Turkey & Chicken is 6-7%. That's pretty low without going to special (i.e. very expensive) foods like Young Again.

I'm not sure what the Merrick is going for, but I picked up a 6.6lb bag of Evo the other day for about $25.00.

Check out the above links and you'll see a "where to buy" link at the top of the page.

I was thinking EVO, too. Sounds like it is about the same price so I'll look into that. I'm just so nervous to change their food after Jack's reaction to the Purrfect Bistro. Guess I'll do the transition extra slowly.

All you can do is call around to some other stores.  I happened to find some BG (canned) in a smaller store the other day and was kind of surprised that they still had some.  I am still searching for their old cans of Cowboy Cookout.  My cats HATE the new Merrick line.  And I've written to Merrick a few times asking how they could possibly think the new stuff is "better" than the old, when it's got less protein, etc., but they just give me the run around.    Honestly, so far I haven't talked to anyone whose cats like the new Purrfect Bistro. 

Yeah, I hate that they told the stores that it's the same thing as BG, just new packaging, etc. It really messes with cats, just changing things like that, and it's so frustrating that they're saying there's no difference. And it makes the sales associates, etc. look stupid.

I found a store about an hour away that only had 4 small bags (that just happened to be chicken flavor of BG which is what they eat) left, so I drove over to pick them up. We were on critical low levels and I didn't think there'd be enough to last until the Amazon order comes in on Wednesday. Now I'm thinking I might just buy a bunch of bags and stockpile a bit. I am so nervous about switching them. :-/

I went through the same disappointment, but sadly, it is true...

Before Grain canned cat food is gone.

I feed EVO 95% Chicken & Turkey and occasionally the other 95% EVO Flavors.

My Kitties don't like the one type of Evo that isn't "95%"

I had experimented with Merrick 96% DOG food cans, but now the only flavor I buy is the "Beef, Lamb & Buffalo"

which I mix half & half with Evo to give them some variety.

They also liked the 96% Pork,

but I quit buying it due to the "Dried Egg Product."

One of my kitties has developed a sensitivity to eggs lately.

mrsgreenjeens said:

 
All you can do is call around to some other stores.  I happened to find some BG (canned) in a smaller store the other day and was kind of surprised that they still had some.  I am still searching for their old cans of Cowboy Cookout.  My cats HATE the new Merrick line.  And I've written to Merrick a few times asking how they could possibly think the new stuff is "better" than the old, when it's got less protein, etc., but they just give me the run around. 

  Honestly, so far I haven't talked to anyone whose cats like the new Purrfect Bistro. 

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I'm disappointed as well.  I was able to find the Before the Grain cans for several months in local pet stores (not, the big box stores).  It's been at least a month or so since that has occurred.  These were a staple in my cats diet rotation and they really enjoyed all the flavors - one of which I can't get in any other brand (Quail).  I don't understand what their rational was for the change at all but it does seem customers who were knowledgeable about ingredients, are not pleased.

sivyaleah said:

 
I'm disappointed as well...  These were a staple in my cats diet rotation and they really enjoyed all the flavors - one of which I can't get in any other brand (Quail).  I don't understand what their rational was for the change at all but it does seem customers who were knowledgeable about ingredients, are not pleased.

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I agree completely.

We loved the #5 Quail.

I ran around to the local Petco stores and bought up all of their #5, #1 and #3 cans when they put them on clearance,

but we are almost completely out of them all now. Had I known that the "New" Line would not be anywhere near as good,

I would have hit the online suppliers and really stocked up!