Cat Chow Food For Cats: Review, Composition, Pros And Cons, Reviews Of Veterinarians And Owners

2024 Author: Bailey Albertson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 12:53

Cat Chow food for cats

Cat Chow cat foods are some of the least healthy ready-to-eat diets. It is recommended to avoid their inclusion in the menu because the list of ingredients does not match the natural needs of predators. Due to aggressive marketing, many buyers believe that Cat Chow products are of high quality, but analysis of the composition proves the opposite.

Content

• 1 General information

• 2 Types of food "Cat Chow"

  • 2.1 Kitten food

  • 2.2 Food for adult cats

    • 2.2.1 Wet food
    • 2.2.2 Dry food

  • 2.3 Cat Chow medicated feed

    • 2.3.1 Cat Chow Adult Sterilized
    • 2.3.2 Cat Chow Adult Urinary Tract Health
    • 2.3.3 Cat Chow 3 in 1 High in Turkey
    • 2.3.4 Cat Chow Adult Sensitive High Salmon
    • 2.3.5 Cat Chow Adult Hairball Control to remove hairballs
• 3 Analysis of the composition of the feed "Cat Chow"
• 4 Advantages and disadvantages of "Cat Chow" food
• 5 Is Cat Chow suitable for all cats?
• 6 Feed cost and point of sale
• 7 Reviews of pet owners and veterinarians

general information

Cat Chow feeds belong to economy class. This is the lowest quality level. Products in the budget category are characterized by an abundance of cereals, the use of anonymous ingredients and an almost complete absence of pure meat without unnecessary impurities.

The Purina logo appears on all of the company's products, including the Cat Chow packaging

Cat Chow is produced by Purina. She owns the rights to several other brands of popular ready-to-eat pet foods: Felix, Friskies, Gourmet, Purina ONE, Purina Pro Plan, etc. All products are of economy and premium class, which rightly causes distrust among buyers. The corporation does not specialize in the production of elite feeds.

The company spends a lot of budget on advertising, so most brands are easy to recognize, but the formulations leave much to be desired.

Types of food "Cat Chow"

Purina produces several varieties of food. You can find dry and wet products in the line. There are different formulas for kittens and adult cats. Additionally, specialists have developed medicinal formulations.

Kitten food

For kittens, only one type of feed is produced - granular. The lack of a wet ready-made ration in the line is a significant minus, since with a sharp transition to dry foods, the animal may experience digestive disorders. Most often this leads to the development of pancreatitis. When adding "Cat Chow" to complementary foods, the granules must be soaked before offering them to small (3–6 weeks old) kittens. The proportion of water is gradually reduced so that the animal has time to get used to it.

It is advisable not to accustom a small kitten to budget food from childhood, since then it will be difficult to transfer it to high-quality food

The composition of dry food "Cat Chow" for kittens contains the following ingredients:

• cereals (whole grains);
• meat and processed meat products (33%, equivalent to 66% of rehydrated meat and processed meat products, at least 14% of poultry);
• processed plant products (2.7% dry beet pulp; 0.07% dry parsley, which is equivalent to 0.4% parsley);
• vegetable protein extracts;
• vegetable and animal fats;
• vegetables (dried chicory root, dry carrots, dry spinach);
• minerals;
• preservatives;
• yeast (0.3%);
• vitamins;
• antioxidants.

The manufacturer claims the following benefits of the formula:

1. The presence of the Naturium complex of natural fibers and prebiotics helps to improve digestion. Most likely, the company is referring to products of vegetable raw materials and vegetables. It is commendable that the food contains not only cereals, but there is already enough fiber here, so there is nothing innovative in the diet.
2. Vitamins E and B strengthen the immune system and help to use the received energy more efficiently. In reality, this advantage is also imaginary, since any complete feed must contain nutrients in sufficient quantity to satisfy the daily feed. The difference lies in the form in which the micronutrients are added.
3. The food does not contain artificial preservatives, flavors or colors. The information is questionable, since the composition contains anonymous antioxidants and preservatives. Previously, the manufacturer specified their appearance, but later stopped. This is due to the fact that the supplements were not the most harmless. Advantage borders on cheating buyers.
4. The ready-to-eat diet is high in chicken and high in digestible protein sources. In fact, the share of poultry is only 14%. In holistic-class feed, the amount of meat reaches 50–85%. In addition, poultry is not just chicken. Most of the protein in the feed is derived from plant-based components that are virtually indigestible to cats.
5. The use of natural ingredients increases the aromatic appeal of the feed. The manufacturer includes parsley, carrots, spinach, whole grains, yeast and chicory among these ingredients. In fact, plant ingredients are of little importance to animals. For them, meat and liver are more attractive. Yeast can improve taste, but baking yeast can negatively affect health.

The angular shape of the pellets makes the food more attractive to kittens, but the pieces can irritate the digestive tract

Almost all the advantages cited by the manufacturer either turned out to be imaginary or presented in a more favorable light than they should have. Cereals are in the first place, which is already bad for cat food. This should not be given to animals. Once I picked up a street kitten. There was no time to choose food, so I had to take a Cat Chow from the nearest supermarket. The kitten ate with appetite, but the next morning he vomited. Just in case, I immediately went with my pet to the veterinary clinic to get tested, but my health was fine. I also bought super-premium food there. After him, everything was fine. Obviously, "Cat Chau" did not fit the kitten.

Food for adult cats

For adult cats, the company produces dry food and pouches with different flavors.

Wet food

The line includes several types of wet food: with chicken and zucchini, with beef and eggplant, with salmon and green peas, and with lamb and green beans. The compositions of different products are identical, only the main varieties of meat and vegetables differ, so it will be enough to consider one sample.

It is advisable to offer wet food only as a treat or supplement to the main diet

Cat Chow Lamb & Green Beans Wet Food Ingredients include:

• meat and processed meat products (of which lamb min 4%);
• vegetable protein extracts;
• fish and fish products;
• minerals;
• amino acids;
• thickeners;
• vegetables (including 0.8% dry green beans, equivalent to 7% green beans);
• Sahara;
• yeast;
• vitamins.

The manufacturer's stated advantages are the same. There are more meat components (including water) in wet feed, since they are in the first place, but their quality is questionable. The jelly is prepared with thickeners. For cats, when choosing, this does not matter, however, the component used in the composition can increase the load on the internal organs.

Caramel color is not natural for meat and is most likely due to colorings or sugar

When a person buys wet food for his cat, he expects his animal to receive clean meat. We are used to thinking of pouches as analogous to canned food. In this case, wet food is a small amount of meat products, which can actually be hooves, viscera and waste products, with added cereals and vitamins. The latter allows us to call the product a complete rationale, although in fact it is impossible to give it to animals all the time. In addition, the manufacturer added sugar to the composition, which most likely replaces the dyes and helps to get the usual caramel shade. However, the company does not consider that this ingredient is harmful to health. My neighbor used to feed his cats Cat Chow and Friskis. As a result, one pet died due to decomposition of the pancreas,and in the other, the paraanal sacs are constantly inflamed. The latter is associated with feeding soft foods that are not able to remove excess secretion outside.

Dry food

There are also several flavors of dry food. The compositions practically do not differ, therefore, when choosing, one should start from the preferences of the animal. If you have specific health problems, develop allergies and symptoms of sensitive digestion, it is recommended to switch to natural food or other brands of ready-made diets.

The manufacturer is not shy about indicating on the packaging that the feed contains poultry, although the names of specific varieties are preferred.

The most interesting composition of a feed with a high salmon content. The list of ingredients includes the following items:

• cereals (44% whole grains);
• meat and processed meat products (20%, equivalent to 40% of rehydrated meat and processed meat products, at least 14% of poultry and 4% of duck);
• processed plant products (2.7% dry beet pulp; 0.07% dry parsley, which is equivalent to 0.4% parsley);
• vegetable and animal fats;
• vegetable protein extracts;
• vegetables (dried chicory root; dry carrots; dry spinach);
• preservatives;
• minerals;
• yeast;
• vitamins;
• antioxidants.

Below is additional information that the ingredient marked "**" corresponds to 14% reconstituted fish and fish protein, and also contains a minimum of 14% fish. It is not known what component is in question, since no position has this mark. Perhaps the manufacturer forgot to specify the fish in the composition or accidentally replaced it with meat. This is already a significant drawback, since a potential buyer cannot get detailed information about the product.

Even taking into account the manufacturer's error in a feed with a high salmon content, judging by the composition, the presence of salmon is not implied. 14% of the fish is of any variety. The manufacturer probably uses the cheapest raw materials. In addition, the lack of specific names allows you to change the composition at any convenient time without additional measures. The proportion of fat is only 11%. This is a borderline indicator. In the course of research by Roskachestvo it was revealed that the information indicated in the balance sheet of the BJU does not correspond to reality: there are less lipids than it should be. Food for cats with sensitive digestion was chosen as the sample, however, in most cases, deviations are observed in different batches of different foods. Some of the fats are vegetable oils, which are less digestible.therefore, when cats are fed with Cat Chow products, there is a deterioration in their general condition: weakness, lethargy, hair problems, etc. A year later, my friend's cat developed urolithiasis and pancreatitis.

Medicinal food "Cat Chow"

The treatment line consists of 5 complete feeds. They should be considered separately, since, depending on the needs of the animals, the compositions should be very different.

Cat Chow Adult Sterilized

The manufacturer claims that dry food helps prevent excess weight and diseases of the genitourinary system. After castration, these are 2 main problems, as the animals become less mobile and visit the litter box less often. Pet food for spayed pets should be low in calories and contain preventive additives to control urine acidity.

The manufacturer cannot in any way confirm the effectiveness of the feed, including the composition, so it remains to take our word for it

Cat Chow Adult Sterilized contains the following ingredients:

• cereals (39% whole grains);
• meat and meat products (20%);
• processed plant products (2.7% dry beet pulp; 0.07% dry parsley, which is equivalent to 0.4% parsley);
• vegetable protein extracts;
• vegetable and animal fats;
• vegetables (dried chicory root, dry carrots, dry spinach);
• preservatives;
• minerals;
• yeast (0.3%);
• vitamins;
• antioxidants.

The composition is almost identical to other Cat Chow foods. Calorie data are not available, but from my own experience, cats do lose weight with this type of diet. A friend's pet was able to lose 0.5 kg in 2 months after the operation. However, such weight loss can hardly be called healthy, because the calorie content is reduced by reducing the proportion of fat. In this feed, it is 9%, which is below the permissible norm. The actual amount of fat may be even less. Given the poor digestibility of plant components, the animal receives a minimum of lipids. This can lead to the development of liver disease. There are no prophylactic additives to prevent the occurrence of pathologies of the urinary system, therefore the feed cannot be used as a medicinal one.

Cat Chow Adult Urinary Tract Health

Cat Chow Adult Urinary Tract Health Dry Food is designed to help control the health of the urinary system. The manufacturer claims that the product helps to normalize the acidity level of urine. This prevents the formation of calculi and the rapid spread of bacteria in infectious diseases.

Paradoxically, food for maintaining the health of the urinary system can worsen the condition of the animal.

The following ingredients are included in the composition of the medicinal dry food:

• cereals (42% whole grains);
• meat and meat products (20%);

• processed plant products (2.7% dry beet pulp; 0.07% dry parsley, which is equivalent to 0.4% parsley);

  oils and fats (including fish oil 0.7%);

• vegetable protein extracts;
• vegetables (dried chicory root, dry carrots, dry spinach);
• preservatives;
• minerals;
• yeast;
• vitamins;
• antioxidants.

The presence of fish oil is perhaps the only thing this formula can boast of. The advantage is also questionable, since it is unlikely that the ingredient was obtained from carcasses of inhabitants of the northern seas. There are no prophylactic additives in the feed. The manufacturer may have reduced the mineral content to reduce urine saturation, but there is no information available on this. The description gives the proportions of manganese, zinc, iodine, iron, selenium and copper, but does not indicate the amount of calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and potassium. In addition, the composition contains all the same anonymous preservatives that can irritate the lining of the urinary tract and increase inflammation. The use of this feed as a medicinal food is impractical.

Cat Chow 3 in 1 High Turkey

The manufacturer claims that the food helps to reduce the amount of plaque formed on the teeth, remove wool lumps from the stomach and improve the condition of the urinary system due to the minerals in the composition. It is impossible to verify the last statement, since the data on the content of many trace elements are hidden.

Dry food 3 in 1 is the embodiment of good advertising: despite the multiple promises of the manufacturer, it only copes with the withdrawal of wool

The dry food contains the following components:

• cereals (34% whole grains);
• meat and meat products (20%);
• processed plant products (5.4% dry beet pulp; 0.07% dry parsley, which is equivalent to 0.4% parsley);
• vegetable and animal fats;
• vegetable protein extracts;
• vegetables (dried chicory root, dry carrots, dry spinach);
• preservatives;
• minerals;
• yeast;
• vitamins;
• antioxidants.

Visually, the composition practically does not differ from analogues. The food can really promote the production of wool, as it contains a lot of plant fibers. They allow hairs to catch and pull away before they become dense clumps. With the prevention of diseases of the oral cavity, the situation is not so clear. It is almost impossible to check whether the feed reduces the amount of plaque produced. In any case, it does not facilitate its removal from the entire surface, therefore there is no preventive effect. From personal observations, I can say that tartar appears when fed with standard Cat Chow products, and when using this diet. When my friend's cat had a smell from the mouth, he transferred it to medical nutrition. Later it turned out that the symptom arose due to infection with worms,but after taking the anthelmintic, the preventive feed was left. After a few years, dark yellow deposits began to appear on the teeth of the cat.

Cat Chow Adult Sensitive High Salmon

The manufacturer claims that Cat Chow dry food for cats with sensitive digestion helps animals get rid of a number of symptoms associated with the gastrointestinal tract: diarrhea, constipation, vomiting, mucus and blood in the stool, bloating, etc. It should be borne in mind that in most In some cases, such prepared rations simply contain more easily digestible and less allergic components. This reduces the stress on the stomach, but does not cure chronic diseases, if any.

The feed contains unknown preservatives, potential allergens and coarse plant fibers, which does not contribute to the improvement of the animal's condition

The ready-made diet includes the following ingredients:

• cereals (40% whole grains);
• meat and meat products (20%);
• vegetable protein extracts;
• vegetable and animal fats;
• fish and fish products;
• processed plant products (2.7% dry beet pulp; 0.07% dry parsley, which is equivalent to 0.4% parsley);
• vegetables (dried chicory root, dry carrots, dry spinach);
• minerals;
• preservatives;
• yeast;
• vitamins;
• antioxidants.

The word "salmon" appears in the name, most likely, to attract attention, since it is not included in the composition. Food for cats with sensitive digestion must first of all be hypoallergenic. Unfortunately, the diet in question does not meet these criteria. Salmon could be a great substitute for cheap chicken, which often causes allergies, but fish is only present here as a supplement. The main type of meat used is not named. This is most likely a bird, since it is the most accessible. The type of cereals is also not named, but they most often cause allergies and symptoms from the gastrointestinal tract. I have seen more than once how cats that eat Cat Chow, Friskis and Whiskas food have their fur clumps and skin peeling. These are some of the main signs of allergies. Antioxidants and preservatives can additionally irritate the wall of the GI tract and worsen symptoms. Cat Chow Adult Sensitive is not suitable for cats with sensitive digestion.

Cat Chow Adult Hairball Control for Hairball

Cats are very clean animals. During licking, they remove dead hair to facilitate the growth of new ones. Unfortunately, animals swallow hairs in the process. When they accumulate, tight lumps form in the stomach. They can block the digestive tract and cause intestinal obstruction. To prevent digestive disorders, animals need to eat food with coarse plant fibers. They grab the hairs and pull them out before clumps appear. Let's check if Cat Chow Adult Hairball Control meets these requirements.

The food copes with the removal of wool, but because of it, hair loss may increase as a result of a general deterioration

The dry food contains the following ingredients:

• cereals (38% whole grains);
• meat and meat products (20%);
• processed plant products (5.4% dry beet pulp; 0.07% dry parsley, which is equivalent to 0.4% parsley);
• vegetable and animal fats;
• vegetable protein extracts;
• vegetables (dried chicory root, dry carrots, dry spinach);
• minerals;
• yeast;
• preservatives;
• vitamins;
• antioxidants.

The composition does not differ from the standard, but the food copes with the removal of wool. Sometimes in an unusual way: a friend told me that her cat, after using Cat Chow Adult Hairball Control, was vomiting with hairballs. The problem could lie in the weak composition and the fact that the food simply did not suit the animal. However, due to the absence of a difference between this ready-made ration and other products of the line, the presence of an additional formula is impractical. The rest of the Cat Chow feeds also do a good job of removing wool.

Analysis of the composition of the feed "Cat Chow"

To get a more detailed picture, consider the lists of ingredients for several foods: wet and dry. Let's start with the first one.

Lamb Wet Food contains the following ingredients:

1. Meat and processed meat products (of which lamb min 4%). Not the highest quality ingredient. In theory, this is a source of animal protein and amino acids, but in reality, the mixture may include industrial waste and various parts of carcasses, so its nutritional value is questionable. The share of the lamb is embarrassing, because 4% is very little for cat food. It may be present to live up to the name, or as a flavoring.
2. Vegetable protein extracts. Worse than just grains. The mixture can include any plant material, including individual parts. These ingredients are difficult for cats to absorb and can cause allergies.
3. Fish and fish products. Same as the first ingredient. Doubtful additive.
4. Minerals. Introduced into the composition so that the feed can be called complete. It is preferable to use nutrients in their natural form.
5. Amino acids. Most likely these are taurine and methionine. Amino acids are naturally present in meat, therefore, with its high content, additional feed enrichment is not required. The presence of substances as separate additives indicates an almost complete absence of animal products in the composition.
6. Thickeners. Used to make jelly. An ambiguous component, since the manufacturer did not indicate a specific name. At best, the substance insignificantly increases the load on the internal organs, at worst, it can provoke the development of diseases.
7. Vegetables (including 0.8% dry green beans, equivalent to 7% green beans). A good source of fiber.
8. Sahara. Allergies and watery eyes are common in cats. Toxins that enter the bloodstream during sugar processing can accumulate in the animal's body. The ingredient is most likely added to add a caramel color, but it is an unnecessary ingredient in cat food.
9. Yeast. In theory, they are a source of B vitamins and improve the taste of food. Baker's yeast can negatively affect the state of the gastrointestinal tract, therefore, the absence of the full name of the component causes distrust.
10. Vitamins. Added so that the feed can be considered complete. It is preferable to indicate the individual positions and the amount of each ingredient.

In general, the composition is weak and does not meet the requirements for wet feed. In fact, it is almost the same as a granulated ready-to-eat diet, but with a higher water content.

This dry food for sensitive cats contains the following ingredients:

1. Cereals (40% whole grains). Virtually no different from the "cereals" ingredient. The use of whole grains is of course commendable, but there are separate parts in the feed. I would like to see not a common name, but individual names. The mixture may contain corn and wheat, which are common allergies.
2. Meat and meat products (20%). Questionable source of animal protein. Unfortunately, meat is only in second place. If you subtract the proportion of industrial waste and moisture evaporated during the process, the ingredient can move even lower.
3. Vegetable protein extracts. Individual parts of plants. It is a cheap bulking agent that helps you get the protein you need.
4. Vegetable and animal fats. Source of ingredient is not specified.
5. Fish and fish products. Questionable source of animal protein.
6. By-products of vegetable raw materials (2.7% of dry beet pulp; 0.07% of dry parsley, which is equivalent to 0.4% of parsley). Not a bad source of plant fiber in theory, but confusingly, the manufacturer doesn't list the ingredients separately.
7. Vegetables (dried chicory root, dry carrots, dry spinach). It is preferable to indicate individual items. Additional ingredients may be included in the mixture.
8. Minerals. Better the manufacturer would indicate the specific ingredients and their quantity.
9. Preservatives. The lack of names causes mistrust, since preservatives can harm the animal.
10. Yeast. If it is brewer's yeast, then it is a good source of B vitamins. If it is baker's yeast, it can cause digestive upset.
11. Vitamins. It is preferable to list additives and their quantities.
12. Antioxidants Same as preservatives.

The composition is standard for economy class feed. Better than most of the category, but still not suitable for cats. Cat Chow food is a mixture of unknown cereals with processed meat products, to which a vitamin and mineral complex has been added.

Advantages and disadvantages of Cat Chow feed

The advantages include only a reasonable price. The cost of the feed is several times lower than that of super-premium or holistic rations. However, such foods are less nutritious, so animals eat more per day. In addition, when diseases develop, treatment costs have to be included in the list of expenses.

The feed pellets are very light due to the low meat content

The disadvantages include the following factors:

1. Use of questionable components. If it is meat, then it is processed products. The balance of substances is brought to the norm with the help of individual protein extracts. The type of cereals is not indicated.
2. The presence of hazardous substances in the composition. Previously, additives E320, E321, E310 and E338 were indicated in Ukrainian feeds as preservatives and antioxidants. E320 and E321 are carcinogenic. E310 and E338 can cause irritation of the gastrointestinal mucous membranes and the appearance of dermatological disorders. Of course, it's not a fact that these preservatives are still present in the composition, but the fact that Purina used hazardous substances and now hides the list of ingredients does not inspire confidence.
3. High cereal content. Cats don't need an abundance of botanicals. In this case, cereals are used as a cheap filler.
4. Almost complete lack of meat. Its actual content reaches 5% at best. Meat is indicated fresh, taking into account the water that evaporates during the preparation of dry food. It is not known how much of the mixture is flesh without unnecessary additives.
5. Doubtful marketing moves. The manufacturer indicates perceived benefits. In some places, advertising borders on deception. For example, the absence of salmon in the feed with the name, where the phrase "with salmon" appears.

The key disadvantage is that the producer withholds almost all feed data. The buyer is not provided with full information about the vitamins and minerals contained, nor the type of preservatives, nor the composition of meat and cereal mixtures.

Is Cat Chow suitable for all cats?

Cat Chow foods are not suitable for cats. In unhealthy animals, they can aggravate. In the absence of problems, the development of chronic pathologies is possible. Food has an equally negative effect on cats of different age categories and breeds.

Feed cost and point of sale

Purina has its own online store. Their products can often be found in large hypermarkets and pet stores. The average cost of dry food is 150-200 rubles. for 400 g, 450-550 rubles. for 1.5 kg and 4200-4800 rubles. for 15 kg. The price of spiders (85 g) is 45–55 rubles.

Reviews of pet owners and veterinarians

Cat Chow food is strictly forbidden to give to cats. They contain a conditional set of nutrients, but have almost zero nutritional value. Carnivores have a hard time absorbing compounds from plant components and selected supplements, so they need meat and small amounts of vegetables to improve digestion. Cat Chow food does not meet these requirements.