Stella and Chewy's ingredient change!!

ralphscats · Nov 7, 2016

I just wanted to make you all aware of ingredient changes to Stella and Chewy's. I couldn't find anything posted about this, forgive me if I missed it.
You may have noticed the new sizes and packaging for S & C. Unfortunately that's not all the changed. They are now adding pea powder and synthetic vitamin K, menadione sodium bisulfate. These are changes to their freeze dried. I have contacted the company and told them of my displeasure with these two ingredients. Their response was that leafy greens can cause urinary issues in cats. I would rather take my chances feeding leafy greens for vitamin k than feeding my cats something that has been banned in OTC supplements for humans.
I also have a cat that has FIV. I don't want to give her any thing knowingly that could potentially harm her immune system.
Does anyone have any thoughts on this? Am I overreacting or do you agree?

lisahe · Nov 7, 2016

I won't feed peas in any form and generally avoid menadione, too, so cut Stella & Chewy's from the menu several months ago when I first learned of the changes. I was using it very sparingly anyway because I suspected it of having very high bone and phosphorus content. A good replacement has been Northwest Naturals, which comes in turkey and chicken flavors, either frozen or freeze-dried.

ralphscats · Nov 7, 2016

lisahe . I've never heard of Northwest Naturals. I will look into it. Thank you! I've been trying to switch to homemade raw but so far I haven't found very many sources of meat that are treated with HPP. I only feed raw that has been treated that way due to my FIV girl.
Can I ask what you use for treats? Im searching for something healthy that my cats like. Thanks.

paiger8 · Nov 7, 2016

Ralphscats said:
@LisaHE. I've never heard of Northwest Naturals. I will look into it. Thank you! I've been trying to switch to homemade raw but so far I haven't found very many sources of meat that are treated with HPP. I only feed raw that has been treated that way due to my FIV girl.
Can I ask what you use for treats? Im searching for something healthy that my cats like. Thanks.

RadCat Turkey and Chicken are treated with HPP if you haven't tried those.

You could also try home cooked instead, which should eliminate the need for HPP.

LTS3 · Nov 7, 2016

Lots of people use freeze dried meat or seafood treats or freeze dried raw. Here's a thread with healthy treat suggestions: http://www.thecatsite.com/t/314398/what-treats-do-you-feed-your-cat

I've tried the Northwest Naturals frozen raw before. My cat liked it at first but then decided it was yucky

http://nwnwordpress1.nw-naturals.net/wp/cat-food/

ralphscats · Nov 7, 2016

Paiger8 said:
RadCat Turkey and Chicken are treated with HPP if you haven't tried those.

You could also try home cooked instead, which should eliminate the need for HPP.

Thank you. I haven't looked at Radcat closely before because I've read it's costly. I have eight cats to feed, so I will have to look into how much it would be for them. Maybe I could put it in their rotation occasionally if the cost is too high to use on a daily basis.

LTS3 Thank you so much! I will be checking out those links! I've gone through five different kinds of treats so far and haven't found a winner yet.

lisahe · Nov 7, 2016

Paiger8 said:
You could also try home cooked instead, which should eliminate the need for HPP.

Yes, I was going to suggest homecooked, too: I use the supplement EZcomplete and a variety of boneless grocery store meats. The cats love the food. And humans can grind, chop, or hand pull (our diva cats' preference) the meat however their little eaters prefer it. Pork is particularly cost-effective.

As for treats, Pure Bites, freeze-dried chicken, are a big favorite here: I buy a large dog-sized bag at the cat-only vet office!

As for Northwest Naturals, I order it through an independent pet food store.

ralphscats · Nov 7, 2016

LisaHE said:
Yes, I was going to suggest homecooked, too: I use the supplement EZcomplete and a variety of boneless grocery store meats. The cats love the food. And humans can grind, chop, or hand pull (our diva cats' preference) the meat however their little eaters prefer it. Pork is particularly cost-effective.

As for treats, Pure Bites, freeze-dried chicken, are a big favorite here: I buy a large dog-sized bag at the cat-only vet office!

As for Northwest Naturals, I order it through an independent pet food store.

Thank you. I've tried U Stew and it was only likes by two of my eight. I've wandered about hand pulled or shredded meat and adding suplements. I placed an order of alnutrition for both boneless and with bone supplements. I didn't order the EZComplete because I didn't realize you could use cooked. I will check it out and try it. I think highly of @LDG and know that she is very knowledgable about feline nutrition and FIV. What meats have you found your cats like best with the EZComplete?

lisahe · Nov 8, 2016

Ralphscats said:
Thank you. I've tried U Stew and it was only likes by two of my eight. I've wandered about hand pulled or shredded meat and adding suplements. I placed an order of alnutrition for both boneless and with bone supplements. I didn't order the EZComplete because I didn't realize you could use cooked. I will check it out and try it. I think highly of @LDG and know that she is very knowledgable about feline nutrition and FIV. What meats have you found your cats like best with the EZComplete?

Yes, EZcomplete works with cooked or raw meat, boneless. Both our cats love it. I cook up blends of chicken, pork, and turkey, varying the proportions and cuts (yesterday was chicken breast and some kind of boneless pork chops, the cheap cuts seem to shred the best

) that I use so their meals aren't always the same. I haven't been as good about finding suitable lamb or duck as I should be but would like to include those, too.

Our pickier cat seems to like chicken breast the most, though I think that's partly because it shreds so well: it's the long pieces she likes best! (Turkey tenderloin is good for that, too.) Another thing to consider: the cats seem to like EZc the least just after I've made it (though they still eat it all up) and like it most if it's been frozen. Of course I have no idea why!

If you find a supplement that you feel good about but your cats aren't thoroughly enthusiastic about, it might be worth sprinkling a little bit of something tasty on it to entice them in the beginning, if you haven't already tried that. Pure Bite dust works wonders with our cats, they'll eat just about anything with it!

msserena · Nov 8, 2016

I would definitely try EZ Complete. My cats aren't that particular to it & as I just made a batch last night of ground lamb & EZ, it's so stinky, I think it really flavors the food different & that's why my cats don't like it that much. They like meat just plain, but yet that's not good for them!

You can also try Natures Variety treats, Raw Boost mixers & Raw Boost minis have the same ingredients. I buy the cat & dog versions cause they're both the same ingredients & the dog ones have more varieties like lamb, they're called Munchies. There is ground bone in some of them so just be aware. My cats LOVE all of them. I crumble a couple on top of canned food & they eat it lickity split!

I've also tried NW Naturals chicken & turkey freeze dried, my cats ate both bags so I'm sure it's good.

msserena · Nov 8, 2016

LisaHE said:
Yes, EZcomplete works with cooked or raw meat, boneless. Both our cats love it. I cook up blends of chicken, pork, and turkey, varying the proportions and cuts (yesterday was chicken breast and some kind of boneless pork chops, the cheap cuts seem to shred the best

) that I use so their meals aren't always the same. I haven't been as good about finding suitable lamb or duck as I should be but would like to include those, too.

Our pickier cat seems to like chicken breast the most, though I think that's partly because it shreds so well: it's the long pieces she likes best! (Turkey tenderloin is good for that, too.) Another thing to consider: the cats seem to like EZc the least just after I've made it (though they still eat it all up) and like it most if it's been frozen. Of course I have no idea why!

If you find a supplement that you feel good about but your cats aren't thoroughly enthusiastic about, it might be worth sprinkling a little bit of something tasty on it to entice them in the beginning, if you haven't already tried that. Pure Bite dust works wonders with our cats, they'll eat just about anything with it!

How do you cook the chicken? My cats really like canned food with shreds but I haven't tried making it, I'm not really sure how. I was thinking crockpot.

lisahe · Nov 8, 2016

msserena said:
How do you cook the chicken? My cats really like canned food with shreds but I haven't tried making it, I'm not really sure how. I was thinking crockpot.

In a glass dish, tightly covered with foil, in the toaster oven, at around 350. It takes roughly 25-35 minutes, depending on the size of the pieces of meat and how much I'm cooking. (I don't preheat.) I like getting the cooking done quickly so haven't tried the crockpot.

msserena · Nov 8, 2016

LisaHE said:
In a glass dish, tightly covered with foil, in the toaster oven, at around 350. It takes roughly 25-35 minutes, depending on the size of the pieces of meat and how much I'm cooking. (I don't preheat.) I like getting the cooking done quickly so haven't tried the crockpot.

hmmm I have a toaster oven. Do you use breasts or what kind of meat? So then you just shred it & then do you use a supplement?

lisahe · Nov 8, 2016

msserena said:
hmmm I have a toaster oven. Do you use breasts or what kind of meat? So then you just shred it & then do you use a supplement?

I listed the meats above. And yes, I just cool the cooked meat, shred it, and then use the supplement.

missmimz · Nov 8, 2016

So far I've still been able to get bags of the old product. I only use some S&C for one of my cats. I'm undecided about whether or not I'm going to continue using it. I'm more interested in making sure he eats than worrying about some small changes.

da hoomin · Nov 13, 2016

Ralphscats said:
I just wanted to make you all aware of ingredient changes to Stella and Chewy's. I couldn't find anything posted about this, forgive me if I missed it. <snip>

SOB!

I just ordered a small bag from Chewy.com for my two to try 2 nights ago - and those ingredients were not listed on the website that I'd ordered from. I just went and checked Stella & Chewy's site and yep. Pea fiber. Called Chewy.com and they checked for me and said that the bag they'd sent me was still the old formula.

I am near my wit's end trying to find a healthy food for Malý and Hezký - it's a long story for another thread - but they can not digest any grain or any starch. No potatoes in any form, no peas in any form, no rice, bran, etc, etc. This was my first attempt to try them on something totally new . . .

I just happened upon your post by chance. THANK YOU! The pea fiber would have made them SO sick - Hezký especially! I wouldn't have thought to recheck the bag each time if they liked it and I'd ordered more . . . I sure will from now on!

I guess we'll at least see what they think about the new texture, even though I won't be ordering it again. Glad I got the little bitty bag.

LisaHE said:
I won't feed peas in any form and generally avoid menadione, too, so cut Stella & Chewy's from the menu several months ago when I first learned of the changes. I was using it very sparingly anyway because I suspected it of having very high bone and phosphorus content. A good replacement has been Northwest Naturals, which comes in turkey and chicken flavors, either frozen or freeze-dried.

Yes, peas are bad. Thank you for the recommendation of NN. I hadn't heard of them yet.

missmimz · Nov 13, 2016

da hoomin said:
NOOOOOOO! Please tell me you're not talking about "Stella & Chewy's Chick Chick Chicken Dinner Freeze-Dried Cat Food!"

I just ordered a small bag from Chewy.com for my 2 to try [it hasn't arrived yet, just ordered it Friday night] - and those ingredients are not listed on the website!

I am near my wit's end trying to find a healthy food for Malý and Hezký - it's a long story for another time - but they can not digest any grain or any starch. No potatoes in any form, no peas in any form, no rice, bran, etc, etc.

This has been a struggle for over a year now to figure out the cause of their horrible tummy troubles and I am realizing that we're going to have to eventually totally stop the canned food - I just cannot find more than 2-3 kinds that they like that will not make them sick. This was my first attempt to try them on something totally new . . .

time to call them . . .

Why don't you just go raw? Rad Cat would be a great option for you. Canned food that fits your needs as well are both Ziwipeak and Feline Naturals.

lisahe · Nov 13, 2016

missmimz said:
Why don't you just go raw? Rad Cat would be a great option for you. Canned food that fits your needs as well are both Ziwipeak and Feline Naturals.

Those are all good options. Our cats love Feline Naturals chicken/lamb in both the canned and freeze-dried formulas. We also feed Tiki Cat, particularly Gourmet Carnivore.

Originally Posted by da hoomin

*SOB!*

Yes, peas are bad. Thank you for the recommendation of NN. I hadn't heard of them yet.

They're definitely worth trying! As I said above, our cats like the turkey a lot.

Good luck!

missmimz · Nov 13, 2016

Originally Posted by da hoomin
Yes, peas are bad. Thank you for the recommendation of NN. I hadn't heard of them yet.

S&C added pea fiber, not pea protein (which you see in a lot of canned foods) so it is slightly different. However, a cat sensitive to peas probably shouldn't eat it, regardless.

da hoomin · Nov 13, 2016

missmimz said:
Why don't you just go raw? Rad Cat would be a great option for you. Canned food that fits your needs as well are both Ziwipeak and Feline Naturals.

LisaHE said:
Those are all good options. Our cats love Feline Naturals chicken/lamb in both the canned and freeze-dried formulas. We also feed Tiki Cat, particularly Gourmet Carnivore.

Thank you both! Raw is very prob'ly where we're headed. I'm going to start a new thread later tonight instead of totally hijacking this one.

it's the starch in peas that the kids' tummies can't tolerate. It makes Hezký very sick, very fast. If they've even waved a can of peas over the 10-ton batch of food, I don't want to risk it.

Stella and Chewy's ingredient change!!

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*SOB!*

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NOOOOOOO! Please tell me you're not talking about "Stella & Chewy's Chick Chick Chicken Dinner Freeze-Dried Cat Food!"

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SOB!