Thread: Cat Food Reviews and Ratings

I went to the Meow Mix site, but wasn't able to easily see any specific ingredients...bad sign. Here's a review from a pet food site...


May. 11, 2012
Meow Mix Cat Food Reviews

Top 5 Ingredients*	Ground yellow corn Corn gluten meal Chicken by-product meal Soybean meal Beef tallow preserved with mixed-tocopherols (source of vitamin e)
Artificial Ingredients	Yes
Contains By-products	Yes
Price Range	$
*Meow Mix Original Choice Dry Cat Food was selected as the recipe for this ingredient list

Our Analysis



Meow Mix Cat Food is like junk food for cats as it tastes good but has little nutritional value. With inferior ingredients at the top of the list as well as the addition of artificial colors and controversial brewer’s yeast, we have no choice but to give this cat food a low rating.

To start with, the first two ingredients on the list are ground corn and corn meal. These supply no essential vitamins or nutrients to a cat’s diet.

Chicken by-product comes next, which is a less than ideal form of protein as it is made up of the bits of the chicken that are unfit for human consumption.

Salmon meal and fish meal do provide better forms of protein, but they are not the main ingredients and do not provide a satisfactory amount of protein for a healthy cat.

Furthermore, the artificial colors are unnecessary, and the addition of brewer’s yeast can cause allergies in cats.

Source: http://petfoodtalk.com/catfoodreviews/meow-mix/

May. 11, 2012
Purina ONE Cat Food Reviews (from petfoodtalk.com)

Top 5 Ingredients*	Chicken Brewers rice Corn gluten meal Poultry by-product meal Wheat flour
Artificial Ingredients	No
Contains By-products	Yes
Price Range	$
*Purina ONE® SmartBlend® Chicken & Rice Formula was selected as the recipe for this ingredient list

Our Analysis



Purina One Cat Food gets a very low rating from us. The company claims to make ‘super premium’ cat food with real poultry and fish and plenty of vitamins for a balanced diet. The ingredient list for the dry food does show that meat is the first ingredient. Unfortunately, the ingredients that follow are somewhat controversial.

Brewer’s rice, corn gluten meal, wheat flour, and whole corn appear very high on the ingredient list. These are cheap, low quality ingredients that generally do not contain sufficient amounts of nutrients for cats. Corn and wheat in particular contribute nothing to a cat’s diet.

In fact, cats are carnivores and they derive most of their nutrients and vitamins from animal tissue. The canned wet food also seems to contain high levels of carbohydrates as well as artificial flavors. The addition of meniodone is especially disturbing, as this has been linked to serious health problems in cats. Although cats may like the taste of this food, we do not recommend it as part of a balanced and nutritious diet.

I haven't used Kirkland brand cat food yet, but I've been using Kirkland Dog Food for quite awhile now. I buy it at Costco, and it is reasonably priced with good ratings and ingredients.


May. 11, 2012
Kirkland Cat Food Reviews (from petfoodtalk.com)

Top 5 Ingredients*	Chicken Chicken meal Whole grain brown rice Ground white rice Chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols)
Artificial Ingredients	No
Contains By-products	No
Price Range	$
*Kirkland Signature Super Premium Maintenance Cat Formula was selected as the recipe for this ingredient list

Our Analysis



Kirkland is a well-known, reputable brand name that seems to be getting it right with their cat food products.

Both the Super Premium Maintenance Cat Formula and the Adult Cat Healthy Weight and Hairball Control blends are produced with a cat’s special nutritional needs in mind. Both products list chicken meal as the first ingredient, with chicken fat following closely behind. This means that healthy proteins and fats are a major component of the food.

Cats need a great deal of protein to keep their energy levels up, as well as good fats for a shiny coat. The food also features ground brown and white rice as grains, and a mix of nutritious ingredients like fishmeal, potato protein, peas, chicory root, and Omega-6 and Omega-3 fatty acids.

The result is an antioxidant-rich blend that gives cats the essential nutrients they need and is easily digestible. Besides the healthy and nutritious ingredients, the affordable price is just another reason why we highly recommend Kirkland Cat Food.

May. 11, 2012
Whiskas Cat Food Reviews (from petfoodtalk.com)

Top 5 Ingredients*	Sufficient water for processing Tuna Soy oil Tricalcium phosphate Carrageenan
Artificial Ingredients	Yes
Contains By-products	Yes
Price Range	$$
*Whiskas Purrfectly FISH Tuna Entree Cat Food Pouches was selected as the recipe for this ingredient list

Our Analysis



Whiskas Cat Food is a bit of a conundrum. Some formulas contain high levels of meat protein, while others contain cheap fillers and inferior protein sources.

Based on this disparity, we give Whiskas Cat Food a middle of the road rating. The brand makes five different types of meals for cats. These are the Whiskas Trays, the Purrfectly Pouch, Whiskas Dry, Whiskas Pouch and Snacks. These all come in a wide variety of fish and meat flavors.

All of the formulas except for the Whiskas Dry seem to have above average levels of protein from whole meat sources, and added vitamins and minerals. This bodes well for the health and vitality of cats.

However, the Whiskas Dry food contains corn and corn gluten as cheap meat substitutes, and the only form of protein is a meat by-product. In addition, wheat flour and brewer’s yeast further muddle the mix, and contain no healthy nutrients for cats. We suggest steering clear of the dry mix, and going straight for the other formulas

I heard that Whiskas is like McDonalds for cats in terms of nutritional value. Looks like the wet variety is a little better, but still not great.

May. 16, 2012
Fancy Feast Cat Food Reviews

Top 5 Ingredients*	Fish broth Tuna Fish Chicken Liver
Artificial Ingredients	Yes
Contains By-products	Yes
Price Range	$
*Fancy Feast® Flaked Tuna Feast was selected as the recipe for this ingredient list

Our Analysis



Fancy Feast is not a particularly well-loved food by the experts. Full of filler and less-than-stellar ingredients, it is considered to be one of the worst foods on the market. While it is quite inexpensive, experts are somewhat taken aback by the popularity of the food. There are relatively few ingredients in the food that can redeem it, and the top two ingredients are usually among the lesser filler portions of most other types of cat foods.

Reviewers would go so far as to say that the food should be avoided altogether, with some claiming that there is absolutely no redeeming value to the food. While the food is certainly not a danger to any pet, it does not fulfill the dietary requirements of a cat. If you are looking to have a healthier cat with a longer lifespan, this food is certainly not the right choice for you

http://petfoodtalk.com/catfoodreviews/fancy-feast/

I've been feeding my kitten some Newman's Own organic beef and liver canned cat food, along with Blue Holistic dry food for kittens. Although the Newman's canned food is expensive ($1.25 for a 3 ounce can), my kitten loooooves it! Here's a good review for their dry foods.


May. 16, 2012
Newman's Own Cat Food Reviews
(from PetFoodTalk.com)

Top 5 Ingredients*	Organic chicken Chicken meal Organic soybean meal Organic sorghum Fish meal
Artificial Ingredients	No
Contains By-products	No
Price Range	$$
*Newman's Own Organics Adult Cat Dry Formula was selected as the recipe for this ingredient list

Our Analysis


We give Newman’s Own Organics Cat Food five stars for its extremely high quality organic ingredients. The company uses only organic meats, grains, and vegetables, and includes no animal by-products, preservatives, or chemical additives.

The meat used in this cat food is certified organic by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which means it is good enough for humans to eat. A look at the ingredient list shows meat as the number one ingredient. Cats need high levels of protein in their diet in order to live healthy lives. The inclusion of grains and vegetables in the formulas supplies some vitamins and minerals, although cats do not necessarily need vegetables in their diet.

We like the fact that Newman’s Own Organics Cat Food also contains probiotics, as these help to boost the immune system and aid in gastrointestinal health. The inclusion of taurine is also great, as cats need this essential amino acid for healthy hearts and vision. We believe that this cat food is a very high quality product, and we thoroughly recommend it.

9 Lives shows a 2 star rating, not the worst, but poor ingredients with fillers, by-products, artificial colors and preservatives. A couple of their wet varieties are acceptable as far as protein and vegetables...http://petfoodtalk.com/catfoodreviews/9lives-cat-food/

It is much batter to feed a cat with homemade food. Pet owners' reviews are pretty negative concerning all types of commercial food. Just have a quick look!

http://www.pissedconsumer.com/consumer-reviews/animal-feed.html But it is not that easy to switch if you have fed your cat with something like Whiskas or Kitekat, and so on.

Originally Posted by Nelly

It is much batter to feed a cat with homemade food. Pet owners' reviews are pretty negative concerning all types of commercial food. Just have a quick look!

http://www.pissedconsumer.com/consumer-reviews/animal-feed.html But it is not that easy to switch if you have fed your cat with something like Whiskas or Kitekat, and so on.

If the homemade cat food is prepared with high quality ingredients, and contains all the supplements they need for health, like Taurine http://www.ehow.com/how_5595392_add-...line-diet.html, then it is likely better than store-bought foods, especially the cheaper low quality ones.

I don't consider customer reviews when considering a healthy pet food. I look at the ingredients. It can't have cheap grain fillers, chemical preservatives or artificial colors or additives. The first ingredient must be chicken, beef, lamb, duck, etc....not chicken meal, for example.