I recently stumbled across your site while googling some information on cat health. I was fascinated to learn how unhealthy dry food could be to my boys, not having heard any veterinary health professional convey this to me in the past. After reading further, you addressed that concern by referencing that most vets don't seem to consider this a problem, which disturbs me as well; but thank goodness for dedicated people like you reaching out to people like me who wouldn't have a a clue otherwise!

I'm writing to you today because although I have read through your extensive list of recommended wet foods that are store bought, I didn't see one that I have been feeding my 10 month old indoor kittens Jonah & Noah for most of their short lives. I wanted to see if this was something that you hadn't heard of or if it was something that you purposefully didn't not put on your list. I have them on Chicken Soup for the Kitten's Soul wet food brand, and will soon move them to the Adult cat formula, as they are approaching their first year. I had heard a lot of "underground buzz" among cat lover's about this brand and it's homemade ingredients, and so far have been happy with it's results on their coats and growth. I know you answer several questions daily about food products, but I have no way to listen to your radio show, and it's really important to me that I'm feeding them the best I can. Could please let me know your thoughts on this brand? If it's not positive, I will certainly look at the others you have on your list.

Thank you for your time, and excellent advice!
Jenifer B
Bellingham, WA

So Jennifer - below is the very thorough answer from one of my very favorite cat-health-nutrition related websites, www.felineoutreach.com —Take care, Tracie

Hope you're well!

Well, this put me off right away - I went to their website, clicked on "cat products" and see:

"More Fruits and Vegetables! Potatoes, carrots, peas, apples, tomatoes, blueberries, cranberries and spinach added for the total well being of your pet."

ARGH!

Ingredients for kitten formula:

Chicken, salmon, chicken liver, turkey, duck, chicken broth, whole
grain brown rice, white rice, oatmeal, potatoes, barley, egg product, guar gum, flaxseed meal, kelp, carrots, peas, apples, dried skim milk, cranberry powder, rosemary extract, parsley flake, taurine, dried chicory root, carrageenan gum, vitamin A acetate, vitamin D3 supplement, vitamin E supplement, niacin supplement, D-calcium pantothenate, riboflavin supplement, thiamine mononitrate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, vitamin B12 supplement, biotin, folic acid, menadione sodium bisulfite (source of vitamin K), copper sulfate, calcium iodate and sodium selenite.

The grains and veggies are not high up on the list - but boy, are there a lot of them! According to information from the company, compiled by "Janet & Binky", it is under 10% carbs - a general rule-of-thumb for acceptability.

This wouldn't be my first choice, but it is a canned food, so if she
loves it (and her cats love it), I personally wouldn't have a problem with her sticking with it - but I wouldn't make it one of my recommendations. So, I'd tell her you left it off your list on purpose - but it's not a horrible food if she sticks to the kitten canned. I don't like feeding only one flavor/brand (in case you need to make a switch), so maybe add another brand/flavor to the mix.

I trust you'll also advise her there is no need to change to an Adult formula (and definitely avoid their hairball and lite formulas) - just an excuse from the company to lower protein.

Lynette A.
President
Feline Outreach, Inc.
www.felineoutreach.org

Thanks Lynette!

Jennifer, please become part of the www.felineoutreach.org community to learn more all the time. I do! Also, THE CAT BIBLE comes out in October and if you preorder it now from Amazon (which you can do on my website) you'll be the first on your block to have all the information you need between two covers.

Tracie Hotchner