Nutro Ultra Canned Dog Food Reformulated

Apparently, along with the new packaging, Nutro has decided to change the ingredients in both their Ultra Large Breed Adult and Ultra Puppy canned foods. Previously, the food was corn-, wheat-, and soy-free, but now wheat gluten is listed as the fifth ingredient.

For comparison, here are the top ingredients in both the old and new formulas:

OLD Ingredients - Large Breed Adult Cans

Chicken Broth, Chicken, Chicken Liver, Potato Starch, Lamb Liver, Turkey, Salmon, Lamb, Plasma, Dried Egg White Solids, Carrots, Salt, Guar Gum, Flaxseed, Peas, Whole Brown Rice, Ground Rice [...]

NEW Ingredients - Large Breed Adult Cans

Chicken Broth, Chicken, Chicken Liver, Potato Starch, Wheat Gluten, Lamb, Salmon, Lamb Liver, Turkey, Peas, Carrots, Salt, Ground Flaxseed, Whole Brown Rice, Ground Rice [...]

While Nutro Ultra was not the best food available, it was one of the higher-quality brands available at chain pet stores. I'm extremely disappointed that such a drastic change has been made to a food I once felt comfortable recommending.

To review, wheat gluten is a cheap, low-quality vegetable protein source used to raise the protein level in pet foods at a lower cost than animal protein, which dogs and cats need.

Oddly enough, I can't seem to find any information on the internet regarding this change in formula (besides a new ingredient list - click Ingredients & Nutrition button). Hopefully, I can spread the word in some small way.

Needless to say, we'll be switching foods. And I may have an email to write...

A New Addition + Why Not Clay?

As an author of this blog, it should be obvious that I'm a pet-owner. My husband and I currently share our house with a blue betta (Nero), a three-year-old white cat (Luna), a three-year-old black lab mix (Vinny), and a five-month-old collie mix (Ally).

You may think that sounds like plenty of pets for a couple with two full-time jobs, and I'm inclined to agree. However, when I found a six-week-old male orange tabby sitting on the tire of my car as it was parked in our driveway, I just HAD to keep him.

For the whole story and adorableness in photo form, see my personal blog.

While Luna was started out on inferior food and treats, this kitten will benefit from a lifetime of only the highest quality products. He's on the same organic, grain-free, all-stages foods as Luna and is using pine litter rather than clumping clay (Luna is in the process of being switched).

So why not clay? Clumping clay litters are not recommended for kittens as they contain sodium bentonite, a powerful clumping agent which can cause bowel obstructions if eaten. And crystalline silica dust, also found in clumping litters, is a known carcinogen (see the MSDS for a popular brand of clumping litter for all hazards). Beyond that, most clay litters - clumping or not - contain added chemicals and fragrances. Some of them are strong enough to irritate my nose; I can only imagine what they must smell like to a cat.

In addition to being potentially harmful to your pet and family, clay litter is harmful to the environment: the clay is obtained via strip-mining. Pine litter is a greener alternative, made from renewable resources and 100% biodegradable. As someone making a conscious effort to go green, this is important to me.

Other earth-friendly litters are available and can be made from wheat, corn, and recycled paper. I encourage you to find the one that works best for you. So far, Feline Pine Scoop seems to be working well for our household. Bonus: They'll even refund you for your first purchase.

Meow Mix Review: Revised Edition

This review was originally posted on 12.29.2007. It has been, by far, the most visited post on this blog, so I have revised it to contain the most accurate and up-to-date information.

Strangely, the link used in the previous version of this post no longer directs you to the Meow Mix website. In attempting to correct the link, I found that the Meow Mix site currently does not provide a list of ingredients and only gives Nutritional Information.

However, the ingredients below are still listed on a national pet store chain's website (click ingredients tab).

Meow Mix Original Choice Chicken, Beef, and Salmon Adult Cat Food

Ingredients:

Ground yellow corn, corn gluten meal, chicken by-product meal, soybean meal, beef tallow preserved with mixed tocopherols (source of vitamin E), turkey by-product meal, salmon meal, ocean fish meal, brewers dried yeast, phosphoric acid, animal digest, calcium carbonate, potassium chloride, tetra sodium pyrophosphate, calcium chloride, choline chloride, added color (red 40, yellow 5, blue 2, and other color), salt, taurine, zinc sulfate, ferrous sulfate, l-alanine, niacin, vitamin E supplement, biotin, folic acid, copper sulfate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, thiamine mononitrate, citric acid, menadione sodium bisulfite complex (source of vitamin K activity), calcium iodate, sodium selenite.

Here are the most important ingredients to note:

• Ground yellow corn. Corn shouldn't be the first ingredient in any cat food, as cats are obligate carnivores and need meat. There are many foods out there that are corn-free (or entirely grain-free). Corn is also a common allergen in pets.

• Chicken and turkey by-product meals. AAFCO's definition: Chicken by-product meal consists of the ground, rendered, clean parts of the carcass of slaughtered chicken, such as necks, feet, undeveloped eggs and intestines, exclusive of feathers, except in such amounts as might occur unavoidable in good processing practice. Any by-product ingredient is a lower quality protein source than named meats or meat meals. Named meats are the highest quality proteins in cat foods and this food contains none of them, though it does contain fish meals lower on the list.
  

• Corn gluten meal and soybean meal. These are cheap, lower quality protein sources used to pad the protein percentage on the guaranteed analysis. Cats, as obligate carnivores, are designed to most efficiently process protein from animal sources. Plant proteins also do not contain the same balance of amino acids as meat proteins.
  

• Beef Tallow. While cats need an adequate amount of fat in their diet, beef tallow is another cheap, low-quality ingredient. Poultry fat or healthy oils are much better choices. Beef is also another a common allergen.
  

• Animal digest: material which results from chemical and/or enzymatic hydrolysis of clean and undecomposed animal tissue. The animal tissues used shall be exclusive of hair, horns, teeth, hooves and feathers, except in such trace amounts as might occur unavoidably in good factory practice and shall be suitable for animal feed. That means it contains various unnamed parts of unnamed animals and likely traces of hair, hooves, etc. Ingredients from unspecified protein sources, particularly ones that have been chemically processed, are of poor quality and should be avoided.
  

• Potassium chloride, salt, and added colors (synthetic dyes). Potassium chloride is another type of salt. Salts are added to increase palatability but are unnecessary in quality foods. Synthetic dyes are added to appeal to the human eye only, as both dogs and cats have vision with a very limited color spectrum.

In the end, we can see that Meow Mix contains a large amount of grain filler, as well as poor quality meat by-products, and very few healthy ingredients. This combination makes it a poor choice in a dry food.

If you're looking for a dry food that is better for your cat, please see Cat Foods to Try and Why. You may also be interested in Canned vs. Dry: The Cat Food Debate.

Canned vs. Dry: The Cat Food Debate

Let me preface this article by saying that I have fed predominantly, but never exclusively, dry food to my 3-year-old cat Luna. As I learned about pet foods, I chose brands and varieties with no corn, wheat, by-products, soy, gluten, or unnamed meat sources. However, I continue to learn of new things to avoid.

Several weeks ago, I discovered two online resources advocating an all-canned food diet and decided to switch Luna. More on her current feeding regimen can be found here.

The first website, Little Big Cat, has an article written by Jean Hofve, DVM, entitled Why Cats Need Canned Food. Below are some of the most important points.

• "Cats eating only dry food take in only half the moisture of a cat eating only canned food. This chronic dehydration may be a factor in kidney disease, and is known to be a major contributor to bladder disease (crystals, stones, FUS, FLUTD, cystitis)."
  

• "Recent research has shown that high-carbohydrate diets are to blame in most cases of feline diabetes."
  

• "Pop-top cans, by-products, and fish flavors of canned cat food have been linked to the development of thyroid disease in cats."
  

From another page on the same website, Does Dry Food Clean the Teeth?, the author states in no uncertain terms that "dry food does not clean your cat's teeth!" This is one of the most widespread cat food myths despite evidence to the contrary (from studies which Dr. Hofve goes on to cite). She explains:

Most cats don't consistently chew dry food; they swallow it whole. Obviously, without contacting the teeth, there is zero effect on tartar accumulation. For cats who do chew dry food, whether consistently or occasionally, there is still little or no benefit. The kibbles shatter, so contact between the kibble and the teeth occurs only at the tips of the teeth. This is certainly not enough to make a difference in the formation of tartar and plaque, which most commonly builds up along (and underneath) the gumline at the base of the teeth.

A final helpful page on Little Big Cat is Selecting a Good Commercial Pet Food. Dr. Hofve outlines what to look for and what to avoid when choosing a food, canned or dry (though canned is obviously preferred).

Another useful site containing additional facts about this topic is The Truth About Dry Cat Foods, which includes in-depth discussion of feline digestive tracts as well as diseases linked to dry food diets. The author also strongly discourages moistening dry cat food, citing the presence of mycotoxins in the grain ingredients:

Mycotoxins are naturally occurring fungal by-products that can cause disease and death in dogs and cats. When grains are improperly stored, mycotoxins can develop. [...] Although mycotoxins are found worldwide they only become toxic in temperatures above 82 degrees and over 80 percent humidity at which point they interfere with cellular function, and are extremely carcinogenic and immuno-suppressive.

To summarize, you should avoid:

• "by-product meal," "meat and bone meal," or "beef and bone meal"
• unnamed meat sources
• corn, wheat, and soy in any form
  
• chemical preservatives such as ethoxyquin, BHA, and BHT (known carcinogens), as well as propylene glycol and propyl gallate
  
• colors or dyes
  
• "light" or "senior" or "special formula" foods, as they contain acidifying agents, excessive fiber, and inadequate fats
• fish (linked to thyroid disease and common allergen)
• beef (common allergen)

You should choose a canned food with:

• poultry as the first ingredient
• little or no grains or starches (which include rice and potatoes)
• moisture content of ~78% (for optimal hydration as well as value)
  

If you'd like more information on the brands I feed, see my post Cat Foods to Try and Why.

Cat Foods to Try and Why

As a cat owner, I've tried many different brands, flavors, and varieties of food, both canned and dry, on my very spoiled cat. The quality of her food has only improved with time and knowledge, so I'll share my favorites with you. Keep in mind that Luna has personally tasted each one.

Dry Foods

Please read my post on why to avoid dry cat foods and only use these options if you are unable to feed an all-canned diet. These dry foods are widely available and better than most dry foods, but not the best.

Solid Gold Indigo Moon All Life Stages Cat Food
This is the food Luna is currently fed once a day (her other two meals are canned food). After successfully switching to all-canned for around a week, we got a new puppy (Ally). Luna decided she was jealous of Ally's food and kept sneaking pieces, so we purchased this food for her.

Indigo Moon is labeled as grain-free, and the ingredients can be found at the above link. It doesn't contain the obvious corn or wheat, and it also doesn't contain rice.

However, being a dry food requires carbohydrates and they come in the form of potatoes, fruits, and vegetables, all of which are unnecessary in cats' diets.

All-in-all, this is the best dry food that Luna has been fed.

BLUE Spa Select Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe
This is Luna's previous dry food.

While free from corn and wheat as well, this product is very carb-dense. The third, fourth, and fifth ingredients are brown rice, barley, and oatmeal, with potatoes as the seventh. To compare, this food has a minimum of 34% protein, while Indigo Moon has 46%*.

*Note that because both products have a maximum of 10% moisture, these percentages can be compared. When comparing a dry food to a canned food, the guaranteed analyses are not comparable and further calculations are required due to the higher moisture content of canned food.

This food is a better choice than many, but is not as good as Indigo Moon. BLUE does offer a higher-protein option, Wilderness, but I have not purchased it. The ingredients and protein content are similar to Indigo Moon, but it is even lower in moisture (8%).

Natural Balance Original Ultra Ultra-Premium Dry Cat Food
Luna was fed this food prior to BLUE Spa Select, and the ingredients are practically identical.

It contains no corn or wheat, but has brown rice, barley, oatmeal, and potatoes in the first 8 ingredients. It also has the same protein and moisture percentages (min. 34% and max. 10%).

Again, Natural Balance is a better choice than your average grocery store food, but not as good a choice as Indigo Moon.

Canned Foods

Please read my post on the benefits of feeding canned food exclusively. These foods are widely available and high in quality, but better foods do exist.

by Nature Organics
This is the food Luna is currently fed.

All four flavors contain no grains. Additionally, all flavors except Chicken & Mackerel are organic (it is 70% organic).

Foods contain the optimal 78% water and are sold in economical larger 6 oz. cans.

Luna, who weighs around 10 pounds (but should ideally weigh slightly less), would eat 3/4 of a can daily when fed canned food alone.

This is a pate-type food and is my top choice among the brands reviewed.

AvoDerm Natural Select Cuts
All three flavors contain no grains.

However, the moisture content is higher than necessary at 82%. This means you're paying for more water and less meat.

Cans are 3 oz. each and product is chunks-in-gravy. Luna would eat around 2 cans a day.

AvoDerm Natural
All three flavors list named meats as the first ingredients, as well as kidney from unnamed sources, but they also contain grains in the form of rice flour and oat bran.

Moisture content is optimal at 78%, and cans are 5.5 oz each.

Due to the higher carb content, Luna would require 1 1/2 cans per day.

BLUE Spa Select Tender Turkey & Chicken Entree with Garden Vegetables
Four additional flavors are available.

All list named meats as the first ingredients. However, they also contain brown rice, as well as sweet potatoes, carrots, and berries, which are high in sugars and unnecessary in feline diets.

Moisture content is optimal at 78%. Cans are available in 3 or 5.5 oz sizes.

Due to the higher carb content, Luna would require 2 large cans or 3 small cans per day.

Natural Balance Canned Cat Food
There are many varieties available. Some are grain-free but contain pea flour as an alternate carbohydrate source. The rest contain carbs in the form of brown rice, carrots, and/or oat bran.

Moisture content is optimal at 78%. Cans are available in 3 or 6 oz sizes.

Due to the higher carb content, Luna would require slightly more than one large can or 2 1/2 small cans per day.


I hope the above suggestions are helpful, but please be aware that these aren't the only quality foods available. I encourage you to use the guidelines for ingredient selection found on this site to choose the best food for your cat.

Over a year later...

It's time for an update on your busy authors!

Kristen is now in her second semester of vet school at Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine. I'll let her update you further if she so desires.

I graduated in May 2007 with my BS in Zoology and got married in May 2008. Between May 2007 and January 2009, I worked in retail and insurance to pay the bills while searching for a job related to my degree. I also briefly volunteered at the Montgomery Zoo in the Education Department.

After some minor setbacks, I now work as an Animal Care Group Leader in a barrier facility where colonies of rats, mice, and hamsters are bred for use in research. Unfortunately, my current occupation prevents me from being around outside rodents so volunteering at the zoo is no longer an option.

I still have my cat Luna, who is now nearly three. I also have a black lab mix named Vinny who's around the same age. My husband and I adopted him shortly after the wedding and buying our first home with a large backyard for him to run around in. He stays indoors with us most of the time and sleeps in our bedroom, and Luna is strictly an indoor cat.

Luna currently eats Blue Buffalo Spa Select canned food, though I'm in the process of switching her to a grain-free canned food. She likes by nature Organics so we'll probably stick with that. Vinny eats BLUE adult formula dry food and Nutro Ultra canned food.

I'll try to update with more reviews soon. Thanks for reading!

Q & A: Finicky Cat/Switching Foods

Be sure to read the important disclaimer on the right.

In response to my Meow Mix review, reader Dave Ralis asks:

I couldn't agree more about this being the king of all cat junk food. However, my big former stray turned house cat, Tom, is absolutely addicted to the stuff and clearly prefers its taste to all other dry and even wet foods. I need help! Does anybody know of wet and dry cat food that is both good tasting and nutritious? I tried Blue Buffalo and he looked up at me like I was trying to poison him. Anything that looks like puree is out. He also only drinks the sauce and leaves the slices from Friskies. In less than a year, he's turned from a devourer of anything to the finickiest cat I've ever owned.

Dave,

I'm fortunate to have a cat who will eat anything put in front of her, including canned and dry cat food of every quality level, raw and cooked meat of any kind, and even cheap dog biscuits (she tried to sneak one once; we feed them to our neighbor's neglected dog). Hence, convincing her to eat any sort of food has never been an issue.

One website I've always found helpful and informative is About.com: Cats. Here is an article the author has written about finicky cats and the sacrifices/tradeoffs that must sometimes be made for them. It's certainly food for thought.

On the topic of switching foods or convincing a cat to change their preferences, I'm certainly no expert. I have no direct training in animal nutrition and have only studied it as a hobby. That said, dry cat food switches should always be made gradually. Typical recommendations are to go 25% new/75% old for a few days, then 50/50, then 75/25, then all new food, with the changeover to be completed over the course of 7-10 days. However, for a picky cat, it would probably be wise to make the change even more gradual.

Your cat may still end up rejecting the new food and simply eat around it. In that case, you could try mixing a wet food he enjoys with the dry, and gradually phase that out as well. If these methods don't work, perhaps the author of About.com: Cats could offer some advice. She does request that you read the About.com resources and ask in the forum before directly contacting her though.

On the topic of good foods, I've found that my cat, Luna, absolutely loves AvoDerm Natural Select Cuts. All varieties of this canned food are widely available at Petsmart. They consist of a thick gravy with natural chunks of meat and seafood rather than extruded shapes or a pâté-textured loaf. While probably not THE BEST food available, they are grain- and byproduct-free and smell pretty delicious (nearly like human-grade canned meats!). I plan on writing a full review. If you're curious, Luna eats a small amount of this product or AvoDerm's pâté variety daily in addition to Natural Balance Ultra Premium Dry Cat Food . She also enjoys the Natural Balance pâté-style canned varieties.

About.com: Cats has a list of high-quality canned foods, but most of them also appear to be pâtés. Here are the author's picks for dry foods as well. I actually found the AvoDerm brand on her top picks for canned kitten foods, but it is formulated for all life stages.

I hope some of this information is helpful, and thanks for reading! Feel free to contact us with any other questions and we'll do our best to answer them.

Your resident Cat Lady