Worst Cat Food Brands?

[maggiedemi]

Maybe try the Sheba Cuts sometime, the two sides of the perfect portions cups are the same size as a 3oz can of Fancy Feast. My cats really like it. It actually went on sale a couple weeks ago for 50 cents.

 

[maggiedemi]

Is it bad that Sheba comes in plastic now though? It's weird that they are all about the healthy ingredients, but then they switched from cans to plastic.

 

[Furballsmom]

Hi - If I may provide a comment from some of my research after my boy's liver numbers came back elevated a couple years ago (and NO help, information or guidance from my vet), things that can be considered questionable in Fancy Feast are the guar gum, as mentioned the artificial flavors, and the menadione (synthetic vitamin K). This one is scary, yet if a person looks at the Material Safety Data Sheet for it there are no specifics regarding the quantity or time frame that it causes liver and other organ damage.

Also, some people take issue with meat by-products.

With that said; I'm feeding it because the Big Guy won't be enticed, begged or forced off of it. I'm getting around that (so to speak) after several years worth of testing different brands, by rotating a few foods I've found that he'll consume since I think it gives his digestive system a chance to deal with/expel the additives.

Bottom line, my big black furry fellow is a poster child for "The best food is the one the cat will actually eat" .

 

[maggiedemi]

By products don't bother me too much. I figure that's the bones, kidney, liver. All that stuff that raw feeders use?

 

[1CatOverTheLine]

Bottom line, my big black furry fellow is a poster child for "The best food is the one the cat will actually eat" .

Nail, meet hammer.
.

 

[Furballsmom]

That's my thinking too, regarding the byproducts.
Unfortunately there isn't a disclosure requirement for specifics regarding rendered meat/whether euthanized animals were used. I think the only way to keep up with that is to be alert for recalls due to the euthanasia drug, maybe...? Cornucopia pet food database includes this as one of their analysis points, at least to a degree.
Pet Food Guide

I'm wondering whether Sheba is trying to avoid bpa issues in the can lining? Is the plastic they are using bpa free? Although I guess the alternative they use isn't much better, but I don't know...

I swear, some of this can keep a person up at night. On the other hand, I just don't have a comfort level making the move to home made raw, at least not yet.

 

[maggiedemi]

I don't know. How do I tell if it's bpa free?

 

[Furballsmom]

If there's nothing on the packaging that states it, or on their website, I'd guess they made the change purely to "enhance" their overhead costs.

 

[Daisy6]

No corn, no wheat, no soy, no artificial colors. It will be $42 to $63 dollars per month depending on how much I feed. That's still kinda affordable I think.

It depends on how many cats you are feeding. For only one cat, $42 is expensive.

 

[maggiedemi]

2 cats. Maggie and Demi.

 

[Furballsmom]

I've never put pen to paper (didn't dare to previously!) but I am working on finding less pricey means of taking care of my big furball.
Now that I'm not in test mode of buying this 'n that food, having him eat a few cans and then no more, and he and I are settling on some brands that are working, things are improving on the cost front as well as for my sanity LOL,!

 

[Daisy6]

By products don't bother me too much. I figure that's the bones, kidney, liver. All that stuff that raw feeders use?

Liver is specifically listed every time, so no, it is not a byproduct. Bones can't be a wet food ingredient because they are dangerous after cooking. If you feed freeze-dried raw kibbles or treats bone, heart, liver, kidney, and stomach will be listed on the bag. Byproducts must be identified as chicken, turkey, etc. because if not, the pet food maker is keeping a nasty secret.

 

[maggiedemi]

When I Googled it, it said:
It includes, but is not limited to lungs, spleen, kidneys, brain, livers, blood, bone, partially defatted low temperature fatty tissue, & stomachs & intestines freed of their contents.

 

[mia26]

Normally, I'd agree. But we've fed holistic brands and now feed a raw diet (have for many years!) but one cat in particular did not do well on any of these but does OK on FF classic pates. It's frustrating to realize the cat that needs the best nutrition is the only one who seemingly does poorly on "good" food but doesn't puke, get constipated, have liquid diarrhea 6 feet high on the wall, etc., when fed less than better brands.
We've been working very closely with a few vets (holistic and not) to improve his immune system, and so far (4 months or so in) little improvements have been made.
I'd love to feed this cat a quality food. Right now, it seems like I can't. so I kind of identify with people here that feed these "bad" foods because their cats eat them and do well and have tried other methods that failed =/

I don't feed my cats holistic food, I don't think I even mentioned what I feed them and what brands I think are good, because it is each to their own as I said.
I am lucky the kitties eat the quality food I want them to eat as one of them kept vomiting because the previous owner had her on whiskas food, she would eat it and then vomit after, hence my desire to look into feline nutrition for myself.
Every owner will know what works for their cat but my post was merly a suggestion.

 

[1 bruce 1]

1CatOverTheLine- have you actually seen Tender Vittles at Walmart? That's a blast from the past. I hadn't thought of that cat food for years. I bet it would be expensive to feed today as a dry food in those little pouches.

I don't feed my cats holistic food, I don't think I even mentioned what I feed them and what brands I think are good, because it is each to their own as I said.
I am lucky the kitties eat the quality food I want them to eat as one of them kept vomiting because the previous owner had her on whiskas food, she would eat it and then vomit after, hence my desire to look into feline nutrition for myself.
Every owner will know what works for their cat but my post was merly a suggestion.

Understood, and thank you!!
I said later on I didn't want you to think I was picking on you. I was and am not, truly! =)
But I have one cat that cannot tolerate the normal quality diet and it's frustrating to think he needs GOOD food but can only seemingly handle food I wish he didn't have to have =( When you're "into" this nutrition thing, it's frustrating feeding all your pets a really good diet aside from one.
The only thing about Whiskas I really like is that commercial. It's very touching but a good point that marketing is 99% of the game...but it's a cool commercial nonetheless.

Thank you for your list! And thank you for the reminder of my babyhood cat eating those tender vittles with that annoyed "nom nom nom" noise. It was so comical =D

 

[Furballsmom]

Awww .

 

[Daisy6]

I totally understand cats refusing to eat what they are supposed to. Anyone would tell you bad food is better than no food. But that does not mean the best food is the one your cat will eat. I would still call it bad food.

 

[yeva2292]

I think the worst offenders among the wet food manufacturers are those that sell food that are incomplete diets or supplemental feeding only, but don't label clearly. I have seen a few brands put "supplemental feeding" on the front of the cans in big letters, which is great. Others, like Applaws and Almo, place it in tiny font on the back. Considering that the font in the back of most cans is small enough that some people have a hard time reading them, I think this is really inexcusable.

 

[2BSH]

Purina also bought Merrick and Natural Balance, which are supposed to be good. I read too many critical Amazon reviews about longtime Merrick and NB eaters who had no problems in the past getting sick after Purina bought the companies. So in fact you still can't trust the label when they say meat first ,grain-free, etc.

My cats have been eating merrick since they were 12 week old kittens and they have done fantastic on it. They are so healthy, a perfect weight, gorgeous soft fur, purrrfect (lol) litter box habits etc. and they love love love it. So I think if you research enough you can find negative reviews about any food.

 

[Daisy6]

My cats have been eating merrick since they were 12 week old kittens and they have done fantastic on it. They are so healthy, a perfect weight, gorgeous soft fur, purrfect (lol) litter box habits etc. and they love love love it. So I think if you research enough you can find negative reviews about any food.

You are missing the point. I was saying Merrick used to be a good brand, but after Purina bought the company, its quality went way downhill.