These are my top choices of quality canned food for maintenance in cats (for adult cats). Any of them would form a fine basis for your cat's diet, supplemented small snacks of dry food, as needed. The order is based mostly by my own cats' reaction to these foods, and as we know, cats will sometimes turn up their noses today at yesterday's favorite. The bottom line is that the best food is wasted, if your cat won't eat it, so don't be too focused on the numbers.
Like the other foods chosen here, Dick Van Patten's Natural Balance contains no by-products. My cats' favorite formula is Indoor Ultra Formula. Its top named ingredients are Chicken, Chicken Broth, Chicken Liver, Duck, Salmon, Carrots, Brown Rice Flour, and Fish Meal. It has a pleasant aroma, a nice paté consistency, and my test cats dive into it every time it is served.
Natural Balance maintains its own testing center for seven known toxins including melamine, for its Buy with Confidence program - a huge plus, in my opinion.
My cats have eaten Nutro foods from the first, and Nutro remains a consistent favorite. Top listed ingredients: Chicken Broth, Chicken, Chicken Liver, Cod, Turkey, Ground Rice, Herring Meal, Oat Fiber, Lamb, Flaxseed Meal, Dried Beet Pulp, Sunflower Oil, Guar Gum. Please Note: Although Nutro Natural Pouch Packets were recalled by Menu Foods, its canned pate foods do NOT contain wheat gluten, nor were they recalled in 2007. While I continue to feed it, you can certainly form your own conclusions.
Evanger's Cat Food has been in business since 1935, operates its own (kosher-approved) plant, and claims to use the highest in quality, human-grade ingredients, with no additives, preservatives, artificial colors, by-products or salt.
Evanger's rates highly among my Cat Forum members who use it.
Top named ingredients: Organic Chicken, Organic Chicken Broth, Organic Chicken Liver, Organic Brown Rice, diCalcium Phosphate, Potassium Chloride, Organic Guar Gum, Organic Blueberries.
Guaranteed Analysis: Crude Protein min 45.0%, Crude Fat min 22.7%, Crude Fiber max 6.68%, Moisture max 78.0%, Ash max .136%, Magnesium Max 0.025%
Weruva has long been a favorite among cats who prefer juicy canned food rather than pate. It comes in a number of other varieties, many fish or seafood based.
My test cats love the flavor of the chicken formula, and I love the aroma, consistency, and quality control. Top named ingredients are Chicken, Chicken Liver, Chicken Broth, Brown Rice, Egg Product, Whole Ground Flaxseed, Whole Carrots, Whole Sweet Potatoes, Guar Gum, Whole Blueberries, Whole Cranberries, and Kelp. Guaranteed Analysis (dry matter basis): Crude Protein 45%, Crude Fat 32%, Crude Fiber 5%.
A sample "6-pack" case which contains two cans each of three different formulas is also available.
Spots Stew contains no chemicals, fillers, or by-products. Named ingredients are Chicken, Zucchini, Yellow Squash, Celery, Chicken Liver, Carrots, Green Beans, Water, Green Peas, Turkey. One of the original "homemade" cat foods, and still a favorite of many cats.
Wellness presents an enigma to cat owners who appreciate the quality of the food. Some cats love it and will dive right in, while others turn their noses up at it every time. It's on the high end of the price range, so I'd suggest buying a can or two, before investing in a whole case. Top ingredients: Chicken, Chicken Liver, Turkey, Chicken Broth, Sweet Potatoes, Carrots, Natural Chicken Flavor, Guar Gum, Carrageenan, Flaxseed, Squash, Cranberries, Blueberries. Guaranteed analysis (converted): Protein 45.45%, fat 22.27%, fiber 4.55%
Paul Newman's signature cat foods use Bell & Evans Chicken. These chickens are fed a 100% natural all-vegetable diet with NO antibiotics. The named grains are also grown without pesticides or synthetic fertilizer.
First named ingredients: Organic Chicken, Sufficient Water for Processing, Ocean Whitefish, Brown Rice, Flaxseed, Oat Bran, Guar Gum, Dried Kelp. Although pricer than most other premium foods, Newman's Own is well worth rotating in your cat's diet. Several other formulas are available.
My cats' reaction to Evolve is also an enigma. The food smells absolutely wonderful, and is a nice, juicy paté. They loved it when I first introduced it to them, but recently have been spurning it - a shame, because its ingredients are excellent, and the price is very reasonable. Top named ingredients: Chicken, Chicken Broth, Chicken Liver, Turkey, Ocean Fish, Brown Rice, Carrots, Cranberries, Cottage Cheese, and Peas. Guaranteed analysis: Crude protein 45.5%, crude fat 27.27%, fiber 6.82% I alternate this formula with Evolve Seafood Formula for variety.
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