Making wise holistic and natural food choices

[finan]

Nice thread. Thank you so much :D

[candes]

You know right now Teddy Bearz is my problem child yet again. He is so darn picky!

I had him on what is a darn near perfect diet. Not too much dependance on one company. Which is the safest bet to avoid too much of a company specific problem that could arise. Such as too little of a vitamin, too much of a toxin, etc... In other words, it dilutes it out.

His present diet

Before grain chicken kibble
Natures Balance Platefulls
Avoderm tuna and crabmeat

Now he has decided to jump ship with the platefulls. He will only eat them for my husbands between meal snacks! Since I have banned my husband from feeding him Avoderm. (So I can monitor Teddies tuna intake.) The only canned food Teddy will accept from me is Avoderm tuna! And the bloke will walk away from any platefulls I present to him even if it means starving via moms tough love.

Today, I went to a local small petshop that only sells top of the line food. And once again, I have realized that the problems with companies is unimaginable and fraustrating. It is nearly impossible to escape from foods canned at menu, simmons, or diamond.

I did find one that did not use those facilities called Evangers in that store. Home | Evanger's Dog & Cat Food Company, Inc. So what did I find? A company in 2008 that had an emergency FDA injunction to prevent it from transporting food across state lines. Due to problems with proper canning that could lead to botulism. The FDA inspected the plant after complaints of pet deaths. A woman had her own independant lab testing done that found excess copper in a can. 2 years later they were also issued a warning letter by the FDA. It apears the duck and lamb cans both had zero contents of the meats they were supposed to have. They even have a tendancy to join sites to harass folks that report such things. I have a single $1.60 can of Evangers in my possession and am terrified to even give it to Teddy.

I also have a bunch of cans of brands I never heard of before in a bag. Every single one, menu, simons or diamond foods. Please Teddy, eat your platefulls!

There are 2 lonesome cans of a rare brand inside that bag. It is called Dave's grain free cat food. Info about this product is hard to come by. I am presently searching for info right now. Just tried it and Teddy seemed to like it. At first... That could change with the second serving. Dave's Pet Food

I also saw mention on the web of another brand that I want to research. Earthborn Holistic's Primitive Feline Primitive Feline : Earthborn Holistic Pet Food

Here are reminders of some great links.

This site is no longer updated. But these 2 archives are dang good.

Lists info about all brands from A to Z
The Pet Food List. Pet Food brands, manufacturers, products, ingredients, sources, cat, dog, food.

Lists all the manufactureres and what brands they make.
The Pet Food List. Pet Food information, manufacturers, products, ingredients, cat, dog food.

This site here lists recalls
pet food recalls, dog food recalls, cat food recalls, animal food recalls

Speaking of recalls... Iams had one for Aflatoxin not to long agao. Just a reminder... Iams is a proctor and gamble company. Which aquired these companies which all manufacture at Menu foods. ... Innova, Evo, California Natural, Healthwise, Mother Nature, Karma Organic . Lest not I should remind you about the horrifying video I once posted of the pets tortured and killed by them in the name of product testing. Sure they fixed it now (we hope) due to that video.

[candes]

Info is hard to find on Daves. But it is less than a dollar for a 5 oz can. Which I feel is comparable in meat weight to BeforeGrain since it has more water. Which is actually better. Teddy Bearz tried the beef and chicken in the 5 oz. You do have to watch, some of the flavors have potatoes in them. The beef and Chicken do not. I do need more info before I can commit to this product. This here is dave.




Grain free Formulas in 5 oz can :

Red Meat Tuna with Shredded Salmon:.

Water Sufficient For Processing, Tuna, Salmon, Sunflower Oil, Locust Bean, Carrageenan, Guar Gum, Tricalcium Phosphate, Choline Chloride, Taurine, Vitamin E Supplement, Zinc Sulfate, Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B1), Nicotinic Acid (Vitamin B3), Calcium Pantothenate, Manganese Sulfate, Vitamin A Supplement, Potassium Iodide, Ferrous Sulfate, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement (Vitamin B2), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Copper Sulfate, Folic Acid, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (Source of Vitamin K), Vitamin B12 Supplement.

.

Turkey & Giblets Dinner Formula:.

Water Sufficient For Processing, Turkey, Chicken, Poultry Giblets, Egg Product, Guar Gum, Potassium Chloride, Salt, Carrageenan, Vitamins (Vitamin E, A, D3, B12 Supplements, Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B1), Niacin, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Riboflavin Supplement (Vitamin B2), Folic Acid, Biotin), Choline Chloride, Minerals (Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Sulfate, Potassium Iodide, Sodium Selenite), Taurine.

.

Beef & Chicken Dinner Formula:

Water Sufficient For Processing, Beef, Chicken, Beef Liver, Poultry Liver, Egg Product, Guar Gum, Potassium Chloride, Salt, Carrageenan, Vitamins (Vitamin E, A, D3, B12 Supplements, Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B1), Niacin, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Riboflavin Supplement (Vitamin B2), Folic Acid, Biotin), Choline Chloride, Minerals (Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Sulfate, Potassium Iodide, Sodium Selenite), Taurine.

.

Chicken & Whitefish Dinner Formula:.

Water Sufficient For Processing, Chicken, Poultry Liver, Whitefish, Egg Product, Guar Gum, Potassium Chloride, Salt, Carrageenan, Vitamins (Vitamin E, A, D3, B12 Supplements, Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B1), Niacin, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Riboflavin Supplement (Vitamin B2), Folic Acid, Biotin), Choline Chloride, Minerals (Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Sulfate, Potassium Iodide, Sodium Selenite), Taurine.

.

Chicken Formula:.

Chicken, Chicken Broth, Chicken Liver, Poultry, Sweet Potatoes, Carrots, Guar Gum, Carrageenan, Cranberries, Blueberries, Potassium Chloride, Dicalcium Phosphate, Calcium Carbonate, Taurine, Iron Proteinate (A Source of Chelated Iron), Beta-Carotene, Zinc Proteinate (A Source of Chelated Zinc), Vitamin E Supplement, Choline Chloride, Cobalt Proteinate, (A Source of Chelated Cobalt), Thiamine Mononitrate, Copper Proteinate (A Source of Chelated Copper), Folic Acid, Manganese Proteinate (A Source of Chelated Manganese), Niacin, Calcium Pantothenate, Sodium Selenite, Vitamin D-3 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin B-12 Supplement, Potassium Iodide, Biotin..

.

Turkey Formula:.

Turkey, Chicken Broth, Chicken Liver, Chicken, Sweet Potatoes, Carrots, Guar Gum, Carrageenan, Cranberries, Blueberries, Zucchini, Potassium, Chloride, Dicalcium Phosphate, Calcium Carbonate, Taurine, Iron Proteinate (A Source of Chelated Iron), Beta-Carotene, Zink Proteinate (A Source of Chelated Zinc), Vitamin E Supplement, Choline Chloride, Cobalt Proteinate (A Source of Chelated Cobalt), Thiamine Mononitrate, Copper Proteinate (A Source of Chelated Copper), Folic Acid, Manganese Proteinate (A Source of Chelated Manganese), Niacin, Calcium Pantothenate, Sodium Selenite, Vitamin D-3 Supplement, Pyridozine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin B-12 Supplement, Potassium Iodide, Biotin. .

.

Chicken and Herring Dinner Formula:.

Chicken, Chicken Liver, Whitefish, Chicken Broth, Herring, Flaxseed, Natural Flavor, Carrots, Dicalcium Phosphate, Calcium Carbonate, Choline Chloride, Potassium Chloride, Carrageenen, Guar Gum, Sweet Potato, Salt, Taurine, Blueberries, Cranberry, Thiamine Mononitrate, Niacin Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement, Calcium Pantohtenate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin Supplement, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin D2 Supplement, Menadione, Sodium Bisulfite Complex, Folic Acid, Iron Proteinate (Source of Chelated Iron) Zinc Proteinate (Source of Chelated Zinc) Manganese Proteinate (Source of Chelated Manganese) Copper Proteinate (Source of Chelated Copper), Sodium Selenite, Calcium Iodate, Beta-Carotene. .

.

Gobbleicious Gourmet Dinner Formula.

Turkey, Chicken Liver, Chicken, Chicken Broth, Flaxseed, Natural Flavor, Carrots, Potassium Chloride, Choline Chloride, Carrageenan, Guar Gum, Sweet Potato, Salt, Taurine, Squash, Zucchini, Cranberries, Blueberries, Thiamine Mononitrate, Niacin Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin Supplement, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin D2 Supplement, Menadione Sodium Bisulfate Complex, Folic Acid, Iron Proteinate (Source of Chelated Iron), Zinc Proteinate (Source of Chelated Zinc), Manganese Proteinate (Source of Chelated Manganese), Copper Proteinate (Source of Chelated Copper), Sodium Selenite, Calcium Iodate, Beta-Carotene. .

.

Turkey & Salmon Dinner Formula.

Turkey, Chicken Liver, Whitefish, Chicken Broth, Salmon, Natural Flavor, Calcium Carbonate, Flaxseed, Carrots, Salt, Choline Chloride, Potassium Chloride, Carrageenen, Guar Gum, Sweet Potato, Taurine, Blueberries, Cranberry, Thiamine Mononitrate, Niacin Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement, Calcium Pantohtenate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin Supplement, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin D2 Supplement, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex, Folic Acid, Iron Proteinate (Source Of Chelated Iron), Zinc Proteinate (Source Of Chelated Zinc), Manganese Proteinate (Source Of Chelated Manganese), Copper Proteinate (Source Of Chelated Copper), Sodium Selenite, Calcium Iodate, Beta-Carotene.

.

Poultry Platter Dinner Formula.

Chicken, Chicken Liver, Turkey, Chicken Broth, Flaxseed, Natural Flavor, Carrots, Potassium Chloride, Choline Chloride, Carrageenan, Guar Gum, Sweet Potato, Salt, Taurine, Squash, Zucchini, Cranberries, Blueberries, Thiamine Mononitrate, Niacin Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin Supplement, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin D2 Supplement, Menadione Sodium Bisulfate Complex, Folic Acid, Iron Proteinate (Source Of Chelated Iron), Zinc Proteinate (Source Of Chelated Zinc), Manganese Proteinate (Source Of Chelated Manganese), Copper Proteinate (Source Of Chelated Copper), Sodium Selenite, Calcium Iodate, Beta-Carotene .

.

Tuna & Mackerel Dinner In Gravy Formula.

Fish Broth, Tuna, Mackerel, Natural Flavor, Ground Tapioca, Soybean Oil, Calcium Sulfate, Guar Gum, Tricalcium Phosphate, Natural Cure, Vitamin E Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Folic Acid, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Zinc Sulfate, Iron Amino Acid Complex, Manganese Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Taurine .

.

Tuna & Shrimp Dinner In Gravy.

Fish Broth, Tuna, Shrimp, Natural Flavor, Ground Tapioca, Tricalcium Phosphate, Guar Gum, Natural Cure, Vitamin E Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Folic Acid, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Zinc Sulfate, Iron Amino Acid Complex, Manganese Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Taurine .

[new2mcs]

So I'm do your cats like Dave's? Not exactly a slick advertisement is it? Maybe that's a good thing?

[candes]

So I'm do your cats like Dave's? Not exactly a slick advertisement is it? Maybe that's a good thing?

Teddy doesn't like it, but he doesn't like anything besides Before Grain kibble and Avoderm Tuna and crabmeat. Anything else is a struggle. And he has allergies so he can't get just any old thing. I even gave him some cheap food without grains, preservatives etc.. and nada. I can get him to eat platefulls sometimes.

Nope not a slick advert. But it is a budget grainless food. 5 oz for less than a buck. Vs 3 oz of Before Grain for about a buck. But the before grain is solid meat with little water. Anyways, mr picky won't eat either.

[new2mcs]

Can anyone tell me what the difference is between kitten and cat/kitten food? Which should I be feeding a 13 week old kitten? The breeder feeds Iams but I want to transition him slowly to a grain free premium wet and dry food when he comes home.

[new2mcs]

Can anyone tell me what the difference is between kitten and cat/kitten food? Which should I be feeding a 13 week old kitten? The breeder feeds Iams but I want to transition him slowly to a grain free premium wet and dry food when he comes home.

OK so now I'm even more confused. I stopped at the pet store on the way home and found several foods labeled for "all life stages". The sales clerk was little to no help, telling me they all three; kitten, cat and kitten and all life stages are all the same. Does anyone know what distinguishes them if anything?

[candes]

Ok I am sorry. I saw your post before I went to bed and was trying to fix my video. And forgot to come back. Whoops! Anyways, the difference is that dedicated kitten food has the extra nutrients they need. You will notice things like extra protein and fat etc... Here are just a couple reasons out of many to feed dedicated kitten food. Brains are comprised of mostly fat. So a developing brain needs extra fat. The nervous system needs extra protein etc...

Anyways, my vet insists upon dedicated kitten food, if that helps any. And all life stages is not acceptable from what they tell me also. If you compare nutritional analysis online for various kitten brands vs all life stages you will see what she is talking about.

This is why my Sasha has been getting the Wellness kitten. It is difficult to find a grainless dedicated kitten food otherwise.

[new2mcs]

Thank you for your help. My vet didn't even know much about Maine Coons so I'm going to a different well recommended cat vet when we get him home. I have a list of questions already but didn't want to bother her before our first appointment.

[candes]

Thank you for your help. My vet didn't even know much about Maine Coons so I'm going to a different well recommended cat vet when we get him home. I have a list of questions already but didn't want to bother her before our first appointment.

Well, vets don't see many Maine Coons. So I wouldn't let that cloud your judgement. Just remember this... Do not let your cat get blood in an emergency without being typed. Maine coons are often not the same blood type as most moggies.