Confused about grain free cat food

soccergrl76 · 01-21-2013, 12:51 PM

I have started researching grain free cat food so that I can start giving it to Shadow. However, there are a bunch of different brands. How do you know which one is better than another?

Is Blue Freedom Grain Free Indoor cat food good? Or Blue Wilderness?

Or is the Wellness Core Indoor cat food better?

I am sorry if this has been asked. I have gone back and read posts but I couldn't find a post that was specific to brand names.

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cinderflower · 01-21-2013, 01:22 PM

do you mean grain-free dry food? if that's the case, all grain-free is relatively equal (i think) except for lotus. it is baked, not extruded, so read up on both processes and you'll see why.

i had issues with bb's refusal to disclose ingredients (when so many other companies do) and decided not to use their freedom dry any longer.

and be careful about splitting (listing starches or any non-meat/proteins separately to avoid being at the top of ingredients) and animal fat/______ meal, etc.

GhostTown · 01-21-2013, 01:29 PM

All GF wet foods are pretty good, if they are truly grain free.

Once you start feeding wet foods at that level, it becomes more about what they will eat consistently rather than "who thinks what brand is the best."

The only thing we avoid from GF's is fish of any kind. Otherwise, we feed as big of a variety of brands and flavors as our four cats will let us.

**doodlebug** · 01-21-2013, 03:39 PM

If you're talking dry food, in addition to looking for grain free, you also need to look for high protein/fat. Using Blue Freedom and Wilderness for example...the Freedom has a significantly higher carb load....9.5% more. And if you compare Blue Basics Grain Free to Wilderness, the Basics has a 12.5% higher carb content. And if you compare it to Natural Balance Green Pea & Chicken, the NB has 15.5% higher carbs.

soccergrl76 · 01-21-2013, 03:42 PM

Sorry, I meant dry and wet grain free food. I will keep searching. I think that she will eat pretty much anything. Lol

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Blakeney Green · 01-21-2013, 03:48 PM

I find that my cats prefer to have variety in their diet, and they'll get tired of anything if they eat it constantly, no matter how good it is. So for them, I have a list of brands I think will be good for them, and I rotate between them without worrying too much about which is "better." If your cat is not picky, it might be a good idea to use several of the different grain free brands so her diet won't become boring for her.

snowy · 01-21-2013, 08:05 PM

I just found out Acana Wild Prairie has 25% carb and TOTW 27% carb. No wonder, ET puts on weight that easily even when not on 100% kibbles. So far, found only Evo kibbles with the lowest % of carb.

soccergrl76 · 01-21-2013, 09:45 PM

I think that I have narrowed my search down to EVO & Innova brands for my younger cat & dog. I have to ask the vet about EVO for my cat that has the diabetes & bladder issues. He has a skin allergy that I believe to be linked to his prescription diet. It is really bad right now & his medicine is not working.

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Zilla · 01-22-2013, 01:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by soccergrl76

I think that I have narrowed my search down to EVO & Innova brands for my younger cat & dog. I have to ask the vet about EVO for my cat that has the diabetes & bladder issues. He has a skin allergy that I believe to be linked to his prescription diet. It is really bad right now & his medicine is not working.

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Me and I'm sure others on here will say it is not advisable to listen to your vet when it comes to what you should be feeding your cat... Your vet did not get a degree in nutrition he got it in medicine... . If your cat is eating a "prescription diet" ditch it at once.... Not even close to being worth your money and its more than likely doing your cat more harm than good. People on here can advise you what to feed your diabetic cat ten times better than your vet can especially if he prescribed one of those ridiculous "prescription diets"

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Zilla · 01-22-2013, 01:16 AM

I wouldn't even ask him about the Evo. You will get some ridiculous ignorant answer. As far as I know Evo is perfect for diabetic cats because its practically carb free and that's what you want. I'm meaning Evo canned too... not the dry. I would not be feeding your diabetic cat dry at all.

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01-21-2013, 12:51 PM	#1 (permalink)
soccergrl76 Tom Cat Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 407	Confused about grain free cat food I have started researching grain free cat food so that I can start giving it to Shadow. However, there are a bunch of different brands. How do you know which one is better than another? Is Blue Freedom Grain Free Indoor cat food good? Or Blue Wilderness? Or is the Wellness Core Indoor cat food better? I am sorry if this has been asked. I have gone back and read posts but I couldn't find a post that was specific to brand names. Sent from my iPhone using Petguide.com Free App __________________ R.I.P. Patches (1998 - 12/3/10) & KC (4/9/99 - 3/13/13)

01-21-2013, 03:39 PM	#4 (permalink)
doodlebug Super Moderator Join Date: May 2006 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 19,001	If you're talking dry food, in addition to looking for grain free, you also need to look for high protein/fat. Using Blue Freedom and Wilderness for example...the Freedom has a significantly higher carb load....9.5% more. And if you compare Blue Basics Grain Free to Wilderness, the Basics has a 12.5% higher carb content. And if you compare it to Natural Balance Green Pea & Chicken, the NB has 15.5% higher carbs. __________________ And their companion, Jake, the dog. Onyx, Callie May & Maggie forever in my heart.

01-21-2013, 03:42 PM	#5 (permalink)
soccergrl76 Tom Cat Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 407	Confused about grain free cat food Sorry, I meant dry and wet grain free food. I will keep searching. I think that she will eat pretty much anything. Lol Sent from my iPhone using Petguide.com Free App __________________ R.I.P. Patches (1998 - 12/3/10) & KC (4/9/99 - 3/13/13)

01-21-2013, 03:48 PM	#6 (permalink)
Blakeney Green Senior Cat Join Date: Jan 2013 Posts: 711	I find that my cats prefer to have variety in their diet, and they'll get tired of anything if they eat it constantly, no matter how good it is. So for them, I have a list of brands I think will be good for them, and I rotate between them without worrying too much about which is "better." If your cat is not picky, it might be a good idea to use several of the different grain free brands so her diet won't become boring for her. __________________ The Boys: Maisie (seven years old, adopted 2007) and Zephyr (six years old, adopted 2006)

01-21-2013, 09:45 PM	#8 (permalink)
soccergrl76 Tom Cat Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 407	Confused about grain free cat food I think that I have narrowed my search down to EVO & Innova brands for my younger cat & dog. I have to ask the vet about EVO for my cat that has the diabetes & bladder issues. He has a skin allergy that I believe to be linked to his prescription diet. It is really bad right now & his medicine is not working. Sent from my iPhone using Petguide.com Free App __________________ R.I.P. Patches (1998 - 12/3/10) & KC (4/9/99 - 3/13/13)

01-21-2013, 01:22 PM	#2 (permalink)
cinderflower Cool Cat Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: indoors most of the time Posts: 1,283	do you mean grain-free dry food? if that's the case, all grain-free is relatively equal (i think) except for lotus. it is baked, not extruded, so read up on both processes and you'll see why. i had issues with bb's refusal to disclose ingredients (when so many other companies do) and decided not to use their freedom dry any longer. and be careful about splitting (listing starches or any non-meat/proteins separately to avoid being at the top of ingredients) and animal fat/______ meal, etc.

01-21-2013, 01:29 PM	#3 (permalink)
GhostTown Cool Cat Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: IDAHO Posts: 962	All GF wet foods are pretty good, if they are truly grain free. Once you start feeding wet foods at that level, it becomes more about what they will eat consistently rather than "who thinks what brand is the best." The only thing we avoid from GF's is fish of any kind. Otherwise, we feed as big of a variety of brands and flavors as our four cats will let us.

01-21-2013, 08:05 PM	#7 (permalink)
snowy Cool Cat Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 978	I just found out Acana Wild Prairie has 25% carb and TOTW 27% carb. No wonder, ET puts on weight that easily even when not on 100% kibbles. So far, found only Evo kibbles with the lowest % of carb.

01-22-2013, 01:16 AM	#10 (permalink)
Zilla Senior Cat Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Southern California Posts: 748	Confused about grain free cat food I wouldn't even ask him about the Evo. You will get some ridiculous ignorant answer. As far as I know Evo is perfect for diabetic cats because its practically carb free and that's what you want. I'm meaning Evo canned too... not the dry. I would not be feeding your diabetic cat dry at all. Sent from my Petguide.com Free App __________________ Godzilla & Mr. Skeeter

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