Whole Foods "Tender & True Premium Pet Food"

theperseph

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I was at Whole Foods the other day and noticed a new pet food they are carrying, called "Tender & True Premium Pet Food." They have a conventional line and an organic line. I am curious if anybody has had a chance to use it yet or what they think of it? I am currently feeding 'lil Perseph Science Diet and she likes it just fine. I can't find any information on it other than what is on Whole Foods' website.

On a side note, I've been confused about nutrition and what to feed, as I found a website (catinfo.org) that said that dry food is (basically) the bane of all evil, and fresh home cooked cat meals/wet food is what you should be feeding your cat. However, my vet told me that that was an internet rumor and the best way to feed your cat was to give them dry food (as it also cleans their teeth). Anyway, please help and thanks!
 

mingking

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I think anything grain-free is best for dry foods and protein should be the number one ingredient. The Whole Foods website doesn't say much about the ingredients or guaranteed analysis (unless it's just me and I can't find it). I think it would help others to know what the ingredients and analysis are like. 

To answer your question about dry vs. wet food: you'll have to come to your own opinion. I personally think both types are fine and a cat can live long and healthy on dry food. Just be sure your cat drinks enough water to make up for the dry food or at least get a can of wet food a day if they're not great at drinking water. 

I think catinfo is a good site if you plan to feed wet or raw and, even if you don't plan to, it is overall a good source of information on cat nutrition. 

I've heard multiple things about dry food and teeth. I've heard what your vet has informed you. I have also heard that it's the same logic as a human chewing on crackers and not brushing their teeth. I have also heard that, with a raw diet, gnawing on bones will help with teeth (not necessarily with cleaning teeth though). 

But anyway, as you can see, it really comes down to doing the research and coming to your own conclusion. And then doing what you think is best for your cat and what is doable for you.

Best of luck! I hope someone who has tried the Whole Foods cat food will respond :)
 
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theperseph

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Thank you so much for the helpful info!
 

pravda

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We've been feeding this food exclusively to our cats for the last year.  I think it's great.  It's the only food I have found that has a sustainability/animal treatment scale of 3-4.  It's nice knowing that the food my cat is eating didn't suffer during it's life.  
 

fhicat

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On a side note, I've been confused about nutrition and what to feed, as I found a website (catinfo.org) that said that dry food is (basically) the bane of all evil, and fresh home cooked cat meals/wet food is what you should be feeding your cat. However, my vet told me that that was an internet rumor and the best way to feed your cat was to give them dry food (as it also cleans their teeth).
I don't agree with dry food being the bane of all evil, but I also don't agree with the vet who says it cleans their teeth. 

Basically, take anything you read or hear with a healthy amount of skepticism. The internet is a breeding ground for horror stories, scare tactics and "experts" repeating what they read or hear from someone else. Animal nutrition is not a well-explored field with peer-reviewed research. Nobody knows for sure what *definitely* works and what *definitely* doesn't. Some cats do just fine on dry, some got better once dry was cut out, some can't even handle anything other than dry. What works for one cat is not necessarily what will work on another cat.

About the only reliable source is a certified animal nutritionist. Barring that, go with your instincts. If your current vet's recommendation makes you feel uneasy, get a second professional opinion, but in the end, understand that when it comes to nutrition, many of it are just that, opinions.
 

jenpriester

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Well first off, dry food isn't the BEST. Think about it, do cats in the wild eat dry and processed pellets? Lol. I also believe cats can live long lives on wet or dry too. My cats eat organic and non GMO food lol-they're spoiled! I love "wellness" for dry and "weruva" for wet. They get both every day. :)
 

decaffbean

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I just picked up a couple of cans and my cat appears to really enjoy it.  I had been feeding him Wellness Core Kitten canned, and tried to switch to Newmans Own Organics, but he doesn't like it very much.  I leave dry Orijen cat food out all day for him to graze on and he prefers the dry Orijen, to the canned Newmans Own Organics. Ingredients from a can of the Turkey and Brown Rice Recipe are listed below.

INGREDIENTS: Turkey, Water sufficient for processing, Pea flour,  Chicken liver, Chicken heart, Brown rice flour, Salmon oil, Salt, Dried chicken liver, Calcium carbonate; Agar-agar, DI-Methionine, sodium phosphate, Potassium chloride, Choline chloride, Chicken broth, Taurine, Magnesium proteinate, Zinc proteinate, Thiamine mononitrate, Iron proteinate, Niacin supplement, Vitamin E supplement, Copper proteinate, Vitamin A supplement, Sodium selenite, Caicium pantothenate, Pyridoxine hydrochloride, Riboflavin supplement, Biotin, Manganese proteinate, Vitamin B12 supplement, Vitamin D3 supplement, Calcium iodate, Menadione sodium bisulfate complex, Folic Acid

Guaranteed Analysis: 

Crude Protein: Min 12%

Crude Fat Min: Max 11.5%

Crude Fiber: Max 2.15%

Moisture: 78%

Ash: Max 3.75%

Omega-6: Min 2.25%

Omega-3: Min .75%

.   
 

kimg

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My cat likes the Tender & True - I just switched over.  She's pretty finicky, so I'm happy to find a dry food that works for her.  That said, I have had 2 vets and a pet rescue expert tell me that wet food is definitely preferred and second to that dry foods that are not grain-based or grain-heavy.  My cat of 17 years ate dry food with some wet most of her life because I thought that dry was better for her as an indoor cat.  As soon as I switched her to all wet food she lost weight, her coat improved and she had more energy.  Was a dramatic improvement in a short amount of time on a wet diet.
 

thecatmandew

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My wife only buys our little Tigger the best! So we've recently switched to the Tender & True Organic Chicken & Liver in a can and he absolutely LOVES IT! We tried a few other brands that he would eat but didn't get as excited to eat as he does now, so he's been eating this one for a few months now, pretty sure it's new. Just found them on facebook too so we'll be posting more photos on their. 
 

meow for now

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Loved your response; got a great chuckle out of it.  Made so much sense.

Meow for now.
 

fluffscruff

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One of my cats brings this brand up usually pretty soon after eating it (within the hour). I tried giving her both the turkey and chicken wet food. It looks like ethical, good quality food, but I have no idea what about it causes this reaction with my kitty
so I don't give it to her. She doesn't get this way with any other brands I've fed her, like wellness, natural balance, merrick, blue buffalo, weruva, organix, simply nourish, lotus, trader joe's, nutro natural choice, soulistic. The only other time I've noticed that she regurgitates her food right away is when she's fed duck as the primary protein, no matter the brand.
 

mrstiggywinkle

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I was in Whole Foods yesterday, and also noticed that they had a new line in canned cat food - Tender & True Organic.   The ingredient label looked promising (without all the too-frequently used gums and un-needed fillers, and I certainly liked that this brand is certified organic.   Bought several cans for my multiple cat household, and will be going back to buy more.  Everyone liked it, and ate it with enjoyment, and it both looks and smells appetizing.

Re your questions about dry food:   If you must feed it, make it a minimal amount, and buy the 'best' quality you can find/afford.   I feed just a very small handful of high-quality chow as a night-time 'treat'.   Wet food is always better for your felines, and I would have to take issue with your vet's opinion on dry chow.   After many decades of cat-keeping, I believe it's the worst possible 'food' for them, especially if it's all they receive.   I don't believe it offers any opportunity to help keep their teeth clean, either.   Many vets are 'brainwashed' in veterinary school, as the feline nutrition courses are underwritten by the major pet food manufacturers, and heavily endorse their own products.   Hope this helps!
 

catznlady

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Lack of planning on my part prompted a last minute run to Whole Foods. T&T was on sale -- score! This morning, my particularly fussy queen, who usually takes 10 hours or more to clean her bowl, did so in less than 4! Score again!

Until now, I've been avoiding foods with grain, but even T&T, with brown rice, is 12% protein, which is greater than most canned foods. Deck Hand (all tuna, aka kitty krack), with 14% protein and also sold exclusively at Whole Foods, is the only canned food I've found with a greater percentage of protein.

I don't know how long the queen will be in love with T&T, but while she is, and while it is on sale, I'll be stocking up!
 

emilythechef

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I just bought some T&T food for my foster kittens Ralphie & Eddie, and they like the 4 flavors my Whole Foods had, turns out my two kitties like it too.  It's not as expensive as some other 5 oz can foods at my specialty pet food store  Remember to change foods regularly, a pets immune system gets "lazy" if the eat the same thing all the time.  All of my cats have been so finicky, they usually turn their nose up at a favorite food eventually anyway, so no danger of same-food-itis here :)

I believe a raw food diet is best for cats, I made my own for many years because my boy Blake had food allergies, and it was cheaper to make it than to buy it.  After he died at 18, I continued to feed my other/new kitties raw, but when I replenished my supplements, they turned their nose up at it (see what I mean?!).  Luckily, my foster kittens loved it, so it didn't go to waste.

I currently have Orajen dry out all the time, and I feed them some sort of wet, grain free or re-hydrated raw food.  My vet is *slightly* holistic, and she thinks dry food is pretty bad for cats because they need more moisture. 
 

missmimz

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I looked at this stuff the other day when i was in WF but i thought it was way overpriced for a food that has "pea flour" as the third ingredient. 
 
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