Thanks to everyone who helped in the "My New Dry Food Challenge!" thread.
In the event that someone at some point needs a Dry food with these same restrictions,
I thought I'd summarize our findings here, and hopefully get some feedback on the contenders.
Note: I feed dry as a between meal snack, as I feel wetter is better for the Kitties.
Restrictions:
Corn, Soy; Over 90% of corn and soy in the US is now Genetically Modified, and has likely been sprayed directly with glyphosate or has pesticide DNA in its genes, which has been shown to pass with the food to the animal who eats it, where it remains in the digestive system.
Peas, Potatoes; 3 of my Kitties seem to have developed an allergy to one or both.
Fish; One of my Kitties has Urinary Tract issues.
The "Baseline" :
(Our regular food which is temporarily off the menu due to a "recallathon.")
California Natural Chicken and Brown Rice
Chicken, Chicken Meal, Brown Rice, Rice, Chicken Fat, Natural Flavors, Sunflower Oil, Flaxseed, Vitamins, Potassium Chloride, Minerals, Taurine, DL-Methionine), Rosemary Extract
Analysis:
Moisture10.00%
Protein 36.00%
Fat16.00%
Fiber 3.50%
I love the short and simple ingredient list. My Kitties love this food.
The "Contenders":
PetGuard Premium Cat & Kitten
Fresh Chicken, Chicken Meal, Brown Rice, Sunflower Oil, Oatmeal, Chicken Fat (Preserved With Mixed Tocopherols), Fish Oil, Dried Whole Eggs, Dried Kelp, Dried Whey, Brewer's Yeast, Calcium Ascorbate (Source of Vitamin C), Apple Fiber, Alfalfa Meal, Sea Salt, DL-Methionine, Lecithin, Taurine, Potassium Chloride, Choline Chloride, L-Lysine, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Vitamin A Supplement, Ergocalciferol (Source of Viatmin D2), Vitamin E Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement (Source of B2), Vitamin B12 Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Thiamine (Source of Vitamin B1), Biotin, Niacin, Folic Acid, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Source of Vitamin B6), Iron Amino Acid Chelate, Zinc Amino Acid Chelate, Manganese Amino Acid Chelate, Cobalt Amino Acid Chelate, Sodium Selenite.
Analysis:
Ash (maximum)5.00%
Calcium (minimum)1.00%
Phosphorus (minimum)0.80%
Magnesium (maximum)0.10%
Taurine (minimum)0.12%
Omega-3 Fatty Acids (minimum)1.80%
Omega-6 Fatty Acids (minimum)7.20%
Moisture (maximum)12.00%
Crude Protein (minimum)30.00%
Crude Fat (minimum)15.00%
Crude Fiber (maximum)3.00%
Cost: About $34. for 18 pounds on PFD with AutoShip.
Not thrilled with the Yucca, but I like the eggs, kelp and brewer's yeast.
This food seems to fit my rather specific requirements.
I researched and learned that Fish Oil is recommended for cats with Urinary Tract issues!
Precise Holistic Complete Adult Chicken Formula
Chicken, Chicken Meal, Ground Brown Rice, Oatmeal, Chicken Fat (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols and Ascorbyl Palmitate), Dried Egg Product, Citrus Fiber, Natural Flavor, Lecithin, Menhaden Fish Oil, Dried Kelp, Dried Carrots, Dried Cranberries, Dried Blueberries, Chamomile, Dandelion, Peppermint, Rosemary, Turmeric, Bacillus coagulans GBI-30 6086, Chicory Root (a source of Inulin), Potassium Chloride, Salt, Calcium Carbonate, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Calcium Ascorbate (source of Vitamin C), Phosphoric Acid, Taurine, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Iron Amino Acid Chelate, Cobalt Amino Acid Chelate, Riboflavin Supplement, L-Lysine, DL-Methionine, Niacin, Calcium Pantothenate, Manganese Amino Acid Chelate, Zinc Amino Acid Chelate, Choline Chloride, Folic Acid, Biotin, Thiamine Mononitrate (B1), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (B6), Sodium Selenite, Calcium Iodate, Copper Amino Acid Chelate.
Analysis:
Crude Protein 32.0% (min)
Crude Fat 20.0% (min)
Crude Fiber 3.0% (max)
Moisture 10.0% (max)
Ash 7.0% (max)
Magnesium (Mg) 0.095% (max)
Calcium (Ca) 1.1% (min)
Phosphorus (P) 0.85% (min)
Taurine 0.2% (min)
Cost: About $34. for 15 pounds on PFD with AutoShip.
Still not sure about the Yucca - thought it was bad for cats? I know it is an anti-inflammatory,
and it is also sold as a supplement on the 1800PetMeds site.
Peppermint? (seems to aid in digestion, with IBS, and has anti-cancer properties.)
Dandelion and Turmeric have many great benefits (I take both myself.)
Dried Egg "Product"?
Does the Ash content seems a little high?
Honorable Mentions:
In terms of perceived quality and reputation, Wysong Epigen 90 is the clear winner.
However, at $72. for 16 pounds, this is way out of my budget range.
As far as value goes, Kirkland Signature Maintenance Cat Food seems like a dream!
Ingredient list is very similar to California Natural, and cost seems to be around $20. for 25 pounds!
Is the quality similar to CN? Personally, I have my doubts, but I will buy a bag to add to the Ferals' rotation, and if it smells good, I might let the Resident Kitties give it a taste.
OK, anyone have any thoughts or observations on the 2 "Contenders"?
Thanks Much!!!
In the event that someone at some point needs a Dry food with these same restrictions,
I thought I'd summarize our findings here, and hopefully get some feedback on the contenders.
Note: I feed dry as a between meal snack, as I feel wetter is better for the Kitties.
Restrictions:
Corn, Soy; Over 90% of corn and soy in the US is now Genetically Modified, and has likely been sprayed directly with glyphosate or has pesticide DNA in its genes, which has been shown to pass with the food to the animal who eats it, where it remains in the digestive system.
Peas, Potatoes; 3 of my Kitties seem to have developed an allergy to one or both.
Fish; One of my Kitties has Urinary Tract issues.
The "Baseline" :
(Our regular food which is temporarily off the menu due to a "recallathon.")
California Natural Chicken and Brown Rice
Chicken, Chicken Meal, Brown Rice, Rice, Chicken Fat, Natural Flavors, Sunflower Oil, Flaxseed, Vitamins, Potassium Chloride, Minerals, Taurine, DL-Methionine), Rosemary Extract
Analysis:
Moisture10.00%
Protein 36.00%
Fat16.00%
Fiber 3.50%
I love the short and simple ingredient list. My Kitties love this food.
The "Contenders":
PetGuard Premium Cat & Kitten
Fresh Chicken, Chicken Meal, Brown Rice, Sunflower Oil, Oatmeal, Chicken Fat (Preserved With Mixed Tocopherols), Fish Oil, Dried Whole Eggs, Dried Kelp, Dried Whey, Brewer's Yeast, Calcium Ascorbate (Source of Vitamin C), Apple Fiber, Alfalfa Meal, Sea Salt, DL-Methionine, Lecithin, Taurine, Potassium Chloride, Choline Chloride, L-Lysine, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Vitamin A Supplement, Ergocalciferol (Source of Viatmin D2), Vitamin E Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement (Source of B2), Vitamin B12 Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Thiamine (Source of Vitamin B1), Biotin, Niacin, Folic Acid, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Source of Vitamin B6), Iron Amino Acid Chelate, Zinc Amino Acid Chelate, Manganese Amino Acid Chelate, Cobalt Amino Acid Chelate, Sodium Selenite.
Analysis:
Ash (maximum)5.00%
Calcium (minimum)1.00%
Phosphorus (minimum)0.80%
Magnesium (maximum)0.10%
Taurine (minimum)0.12%
Omega-3 Fatty Acids (minimum)1.80%
Omega-6 Fatty Acids (minimum)7.20%
Moisture (maximum)12.00%
Crude Protein (minimum)30.00%
Crude Fat (minimum)15.00%
Crude Fiber (maximum)3.00%
Cost: About $34. for 18 pounds on PFD with AutoShip.
Not thrilled with the Yucca, but I like the eggs, kelp and brewer's yeast.
This food seems to fit my rather specific requirements.
I researched and learned that Fish Oil is recommended for cats with Urinary Tract issues!
Precise Holistic Complete Adult Chicken Formula
Chicken, Chicken Meal, Ground Brown Rice, Oatmeal, Chicken Fat (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols and Ascorbyl Palmitate), Dried Egg Product, Citrus Fiber, Natural Flavor, Lecithin, Menhaden Fish Oil, Dried Kelp, Dried Carrots, Dried Cranberries, Dried Blueberries, Chamomile, Dandelion, Peppermint, Rosemary, Turmeric, Bacillus coagulans GBI-30 6086, Chicory Root (a source of Inulin), Potassium Chloride, Salt, Calcium Carbonate, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Calcium Ascorbate (source of Vitamin C), Phosphoric Acid, Taurine, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Iron Amino Acid Chelate, Cobalt Amino Acid Chelate, Riboflavin Supplement, L-Lysine, DL-Methionine, Niacin, Calcium Pantothenate, Manganese Amino Acid Chelate, Zinc Amino Acid Chelate, Choline Chloride, Folic Acid, Biotin, Thiamine Mononitrate (B1), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (B6), Sodium Selenite, Calcium Iodate, Copper Amino Acid Chelate.
Analysis:
Crude Protein 32.0% (min)
Crude Fat 20.0% (min)
Crude Fiber 3.0% (max)
Moisture 10.0% (max)
Ash 7.0% (max)
Magnesium (Mg) 0.095% (max)
Calcium (Ca) 1.1% (min)
Phosphorus (P) 0.85% (min)
Taurine 0.2% (min)
Cost: About $34. for 15 pounds on PFD with AutoShip.
Still not sure about the Yucca - thought it was bad for cats? I know it is an anti-inflammatory,
and it is also sold as a supplement on the 1800PetMeds site.
Peppermint? (seems to aid in digestion, with IBS, and has anti-cancer properties.)
Dandelion and Turmeric have many great benefits (I take both myself.)
Dried Egg "Product"?
Does the Ash content seems a little high?
Honorable Mentions:
In terms of perceived quality and reputation, Wysong Epigen 90 is the clear winner.
However, at $72. for 16 pounds, this is way out of my budget range.
As far as value goes, Kirkland Signature Maintenance Cat Food seems like a dream!
Ingredient list is very similar to California Natural, and cost seems to be around $20. for 25 pounds!
Is the quality similar to CN? Personally, I have my doubts, but I will buy a bag to add to the Ferals' rotation, and if it smells good, I might let the Resident Kitties give it a taste.
OK, anyone have any thoughts or observations on the 2 "Contenders"?
Thanks Much!!!