Pet Food Reviews

Earthborn Holistic Catalina Catch

Ingredients

Mackerel, Mackerel Broth, Shrimp, Sunflower Oil, Tricalcium Phosphate, Taurine, Potassium Chloride, Choline Chloride, Ferrous Sulfate, Niacin, Vitamin E Supplement, Zinc Oxide, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Manganese Sulfate, Vitamin A Supplement, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (Source of Vitamin K Activity), Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Copper Proteinate, Sodium Selenite, Biotin, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid, and Potassium Iodide.

GUARANTEED ANALYSIS: Crude Protein (min.) 14.0%; Crude Fat (min.) 2.0%; Crude Fiber (max.) 1.5%; Moisture (max.) 82.0%; Ash (max.) 3.0%; Taurine (min.) 0.05%

CALORIE CONTENT: (ME Calculated) 1,007 kcal/kg; 157 kcal/5.5 oz

Earthborn is Ella's favorite brand. This particular recipe is a fairly simple, high-meat seafood wet food with a short ingredient list and no obvious plant fillers, gums, or carbohydrate thickeners.

The primary ingredients are:
  • Mackerel: An excellent animal protein source, rich in omega-3 fatty acids, and highly palatable for most cats. It provides protein, fat, vitamin D, selenium, and natural taurine.
  • Mackerel Broth: Primarily moisture and flavor, it helps hydration but adds little nutritional value beyond trace nutrients. Hydration is very important.
  • Shrimp: Additional animal protein source that adds flavor and texture; generally low-fat and highly digestible.
Added Fat: Sunflower Oil, which provides calories and essential linoleic acid (an essential fatty acid for cats), although it is less desirable than fish oil as an omega-3 source because it is primarily omega-6; but since mackerel already supplies omega-3, that's not a major concern.

The rest of the ingredients are essentially there to make the food nutritionally complete:
  • Tricalcium Phosphate: calcium/phosphorus source.
  • Taurine: An essential amino acid that cats require.
  • Potassium Chloride: Electrolyte support.
  • Choline Chloride: Liver and nervous system support.
  • Ferrous sulfate, zinc oxide, manganese sulfate, copper proteinate, sodium selenite, potassium iodide: trace minerals.
  • B vitamins, vitamin A, D3, E, and K sources.
GUARANTEED ANALYSIS

As Fed Basis
  • Protein: 14%
  • Fat: 2%
  • Moisture: 82%
  • Ash: 3%
  • Fiber: 1.5%
The fat number looks low, but then, fish recipes are low in fat, and wet foods contain a lot of water.

Approximate Dry Matter Basis

Removing moisture:
  • Dry matter = 18%
  • Protein: 14 ÷ 18 × 100 ≈ 77.8% dry matter
  • Fat: 2 ÷ 18 × 100 ≈ 11.1% dry matter
  • Ash: 3 ÷ 18 × 100 ≈ 16.7% dry matter
  • Estimated carbohydrate: 100 − 77.8 − 11.1 − 16.7 ≈ ~0-2% dry matter
This is an extremely low-carbohydrate food.

Calories

157 kcal per 5.5 oz can is a fairly moderate-calorie food. By comparison, many pate foods contain 150-220 kcal/5.5 oz can, and many "tuna in broth" style foods contain 80-120 kcal/can. So this is in the middle. Because the fat level is low, most calories are coming from protein.

Strengths
  • Very short ingredient list.
  • High animal protein.
  • Extremely low carbohydrate.
  • Excellent hydration.
  • Rich natural marine omega-3 from mackerel.
  • No carrageenan.
  • No grain ingredients.
  • No potatoes, peas, or other starches.
  • No artificial colors or preservatives.
Potential Concerns
  • Low fat: At about 11% dry matter fat, it is lean by cat-food standards. For overweight, diabetic, or less active indoor cats, this may be beneficial. For underweight cats, kittens, or very active cats, it may not provide enough fast density. However, the assumption is that even someone who wanted to stay within the Earthborn line, the cat wouldn't be fed a steady fish-recipe diet.
  • Fish-based diet: Mackerel is nutritious, but feeding fish-heavy diets exclusively for years can have drawbacks, such as potential accumulation of heavy metals and lower levels of fat than cats need. Some cats become "fish addicts" and may refuse other proteins. Fish foods are best as part of a rotation rather than the sole diet.
  • Ash content: The ash content is somewhat high, probably due to the tricalcium phosphate and mineral supplementation. This is not necessarily problematic, but feeding this as a steady diet could be a concern in managing urinary or kidney issues. Again, though, this should be part of a rotating diet plan, not a staple.

Overall

The ingredient quality is excellent. Any potential problems would not come about unless you fed your cat nothing else. It is available on Amazon as a standalone order or as part of a variety pack. I recommend the variety pack. Currently, it sells on Amazon for $0.57/oz.

This is a high-protein, very-low-carbohydrate, hydration-focused seafood formula.

Anecdotally, every cat I have offered it to liked it, and I can say that about any of the Earthborn recipes.
 
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Shirley Martin said:
Ken, can you do a review of some dog foods and rate them as to how dogs like them? I hate to keep buying canned food for Niki and have her not eat them.
Click to expand...
I can evaluate the ingredient lists for those ingredients that dogs should like, but while I have five cats to help me evaluate the tastes of cat foods, I don't have a dog, so I couldn't give personal experiences. We did have dogs when I was a kid, and I have known a lot of dogs, and get the sense that cats are far picker than dogs.
 
If anyone is looking at the moisture content of a cat food and feeling like they're being cheated, paying so much money for a can of something that is 80% water, keep in mind that a mouse is 75-80% water; much the same would be true of any other prey that a cat might eat in the wild, so wet cat foods are designed to mimic the moisture content of prey.

Buying dry content and adding water doesn't work because the moisture content is incorporated into the protein during the canning process, which is what gives it the taste that encourages the cat to eat it, thus getting the hydration that is so important to a cat. From personal experience, I will say that, although some manufacturers, including Blue Buffalo, market a kibble that is designed to be mixed with warm water, that doesn't work nearly as well as wet food. For me, it didn't work at all because neither Ella nor the outside cats would eat it. Cats need wet food because they are unlikely to drink enough water to be properly hydrated otherwise.

Dogs will drink enough water to properly hydrate, but most cats won't. For a dog, canned food might be more of a treat than anything else. Although canned dog food might be better for your dog than kibble, and raw foods might be better yet, that can get quite expensive, particularly if you have a large dog. Dogs don't have the same critical need for wet food that cats have.
 
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Open Farm Wet Cat Food, Harvest Chicken Canned Pate

5.3 oz can $0.56/oz

Ingredients

Chicken, Chicken Broth, Chicken Liver, Tapioca, Pumpkin, Natural Flavor, Agar Agar, Potassium Chloride, Choline Chloride, Taurine, Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, Niacin Supplement, Pantothenic Acid, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Folic Acid, Biotin), Minerals (Zinc Amino Acid Chelate, Iron Amino Acid Chelate, Copper Sulfate, Manganese Amino Acid Chelate, Sodium Selenite, Calcium Iodate), Magnesium Sulfate, Salt

While marketed as a "topper," this looks more like a complete wet food formulation than a typical "topper."

Animal ingredients lead the list: Chicken, Chicken Broth, Chicken Liver.

That's a solid protein foundation. The liver provides natural vitamin A, iron, copper, and other nutrients cats need.

It contains taurine, an essential amino acid for cats, and most conventional toppers don't bother adding supplemental taurine.

It contains a full vitamin premix: Vitamin A, Vitamin D3, Vitamin #, and several B vitamins (niacin, riboflavin, thiamine, B12, folic acid, biotin).

It contains a mineral premix: zinc, iron, copper, manganese, selenium, and iodine.

Again, this is characteristic of a food designed to provide balanced nutrition rather than just flavor enhancement.

It contains choline chloride, an important nutrient included in complete cat foods, which is not present in simple toppers.

Pumpkin is probably included for fiber, stool quality, and texture.

From its ingredients, I'd rate it high - very high for a topper, and almost equally as high as a meal.

Positives
  • Meat-first formulation.
  • Organ meat included.
  • Added taurine.
  • Full vitamin premix.
  • Full mineral premix.
  • No obvious plant protein boosters.
However

I'm not seeing a guaranteed analysis, but some manufacturers place that on the outside packaging rather than on the label of each can. The can does have the statement: "A Complete & Balanced Meal with Non-GMO Veggies," so, while it is marketed as a topper, it could also be used as a meal.

The ingredient list alone can't tell us whether calcium and phosphorus are balanced correctly, the food meets minimum protein and fat requirements, essential fatty acids are sufficient, or trace minerals and vitamins are present in the right amounts.

Calcium would be the largest concern. Chicken meat and liver are high in phosphorus and relatively low in calcium, so it might be that it is marketed as a topper because the calcium/phosphorus ratio isn't appropriate for long-term feeding as the sole diet.

I'd think it would be easier to simply add calcium.

Still, it's a good cat food, although I wouldn't use it as the sole diet for the cat.
 
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Most Pets we’ve taken care of simply refuse to eat Aldi dry food / treats ….so the likes of the strap ~ like treats usually go in the bin
yet if we offer Smacko’s brand that look identical most will eat them …..so what’s different in the Aldi brand I wonder ?
 
Kate Ellery said:
Most Pets we’ve taken care of simply refuse to eat Aldi dry food / treats ….so the likes of the strap ~ like treats usually go in the bin
yet if we offer Smacko’s brand that look identical most will eat them …..so what’s different in the Aldi brand I wonder ?
Click to expand...
I have neither a dog nor a nearby Aldi store, so can you tell me if there is an Aldi brand of dog food?
 
Pedigree Adult Complete Nutrition Dry Dog Food, Steak & Vegetable

Ingredients: Ground Whole Grain Corn, Meat and Bone Meal, Soybean Meal, Animal Fat (Source of Omega 6 Fatty Acids [Preserved with BHA and Citric Acid]), Ground Whole Grain Wheat, Corn Protein Meal, Natural Flavor, Dried Plain Beet Pulp, Salt, BHA (Preservative), Citric Acid (Preservative), Potassium Chloride, Choline Chloride, DL-Methionine, Calcium Carbonate, Dried Peas, Natural Grilled Steak Flavor, Zinc Sulfate, Vitamin E Supplement, L-Tryptophan, Red 40, Dried Carrots, Yellow 6, Niacin Supplement (Vitamin B3), Blue 2, D-Calcium Pantothenate (Vitamin B5), Copper Sulfate, Sodium Selenite, Potassium Iodide, Yellow 5, Vitamin A Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement (Vitamin B2), Vitamin B12 Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B1), Vitamin D3 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Folic Acid.

Guaranteed Analysis
  • Crude Protein (min.): 21.0%
  • Crude Fat (min.): 10.0%
  • Crude Fiber (max.): 4.0%
  • Moisture (max.): 12.0%
  • Linoleic Acid (Omega-6 Fatty Acid)(min.): 1.5%
  • Calcium (min.): 1.0%
  • Phosphorus (min.): 0.8%
  • Zinc (min.): 80 mg/kg
  • Vitamin A (min.): 10,000 IU/kg
  • Vitamin E 100 IU/kg

This is a below-average to lower-quality dry dog food as compared to many modern premium foods.

It has a heavy reliance on inexpensive plant ingredients. Among the first ingredients are:
  • Ground Whole Grain Corn.
  • Soybean Meal.
  • Ground Whole Grain Wheat.
  • Corn Protein Meal.
These are largely low-cost agricultural ingredients used to provide calories and boost protein percentages on the label. While they are not inherently harmful for most dogs, they are considered less biologically appropriate than animal-based protein sources.

A primary concern is that the stated 21% protein is supported significantly by plant proteins rather than by meat.

The main animal proteins are meat and bone meal. This ingredient can vary in quality because it is a rendered product, and the animal species are not identified.

Compare this with chicken meal, turkey meal, beef meal, or deboned chicken, which would be more specific and generally preferred.

The fact that the ingredient is listed as "meat and bone meal" rather than naming the source suggests that the source may be low-quality or something that you wouldn't want to see on an ingredient list.

Higher-quality foods usually identify the source: chicken fat, salmon oil, beef fat, and so on. Unspecified animal fat is generally viewed as lower quality because the source can vary.

A significant negative is the use of artificial preservatives: BHA and citric acid. BHA (Butylated Hydroxyanisole), an older synthetic preservative, is listed twice. It is still allowed in pet foods, but many premium manufacturers have moved toward mixed tocopherols (natural vitamin E preservatives) instead.

The formula contains artificial food dyes: Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, and Blue 2. These colors are added for the humans buying the product, not for the dog. Dogs don't care what color their kibble is.

Positive Aspects
  • Vitamin A
  • Vitamin D3
  • Vitamin E
  • B vitamins
  • Zinc
  • Copper
  • Selenium
  • Iodine
This indicates that the recipe is formulated to meet basic nutritional requirements.

Also, there are added amino acids. The presence of DL-Methionine and L-Tryptophan shows some attention to amino acid balance.

Dried beet pulp can provide fermentable fiber that helps improve stool quality in many dogs.

For a normal adult dog, the guaranteed analysis is not alarming. The bigger concerns are the quality and sources of those nutrients rather than the percentages themselves.

Overall Assessment

Pros
  • Meets basic nutritional needs.
  • Adequate protein and fat for many adult dogs.
  • Contains vitamins, minerals, and amino acid supplementation.
  • Likely affordable.
Cons
  • Corn, wheat, and soy dominate the recipe.
  • The meat source is unspecified (meat and bone meal).
  • The fat source is unspecified (animal fat).
  • Uses BHA preservatives.
  • Contains multiple artificial food dyes.
  • Relatively low animal-derived protein content.

Nutritionally, it is adequate. The ingredient quality is lower, and the ingredient transparency is lower yet.
 
Nulo Duck & Tuna Recipe
12.5 oz can $0.30/oz.

Ingredients
Duck, Chicken, Duck Broth, Chicken Liver, Tuna, Natural Flavor, Guar Gum, Potassium Chloride, Agar-Agar, Choline Chloride, Taurine, Pumpkin, Cranberries, Menhaden Fish Oil (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Tomato, Kelp, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Salt, Iron Proteinate, Sodium Carbonate, Zinc Proteinate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin E Supplement, Magnesium Sulfate, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Sodium Selenite, Niacin Supplement, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, Biotin, Potassium Iodide, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Folic Acid, Rosemary Extract

Guaranteed Analysis
  • Crude Protein (min.): 11.0%
  • Crude Fat (min.): 8.0%
  • Crude Fiber (max.): 0.75%
  • Moisture (max.): 78.0%
  • Taurine (min.): 0.10%
Calorie Content (ME Calculated): 1,231 kcal/kg or 436 kcal/can.

"Nulo Duck & Turkey Recipe Cat & Kitten Food is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Cat Food Nutrient Profiles for all life stages."

This looks like a high-quality, meat-focused wet food overall.

Positives, Based on the Ingredients
  • Named animal proteins dominate the recipe. The first five ingredients are Duck, Chicken, Duck Broth, Chicken Liver, and Tuna. The food is built around animal ingredients rather than plant proteins or fillers.
  • Chicken liver is a nutritionally valuable organ meat providing Vitamin A, B vitamins, iron, and copper. Organ meats are a natural part of a feline diet and are a good sign.
  • Low carbohydrate content, with no obvious starchy fillers like corn, wheat, rice, potatoes, or peas. The pumpkin, cranberries, tomato, and kelp are far down in the ingredient list and likely contribute minimal carbs.
  • Added taurine: cats absolutely require taurine, and Nulo supplies it at a guaranteed minimum of 0.10%.
  • Fish oil: Menhaden fish oil provides omega-3 fatty acids that support skin and coat health, inflammation control, and joint health.
  • AAFCO All Life Stages: the food is formulated for kittens, adults, and seniors, meeting established nutrient profiles for growth and maintenance.
Possible Concerns
  • Multiple protein sources: Although it is marketed as "Duck & Tuna," it also contains Chicken and Chicken Liver. This is not a problem, and may even be a plus, unless your cat has a suspected chicken allergy.
  • Tuna content: Tuna is fifth on the ingredient list, so it's not excessive, but some cat owners prefer to limit tuna because it can encourage picky eating in some cats and because fish-heavy diets may increase exposure to certain contaminants over time. In this recipe, although it's on the label, tuna appears to be a supporting protein rather than the primary one.
  • Gums and thickeners: Guar Gum and Agar-agar are common wet food stabilizers, and most cats tolerate them well, although they may contribute to softer stools in sensitive cats.
Nutritional Analysis

As-fed basis
  • Protein: 11%
  • Fat: 8%
  • Moisture: 78%
Dry-matter basis
  • Protein: 50%
  • Fat: 36%
  • Fiber: 3.4%
These are excellent carnivore-oriented numbers.

Calories, at 436 kcal/12.5 oz, come out to about 35 kcal/oz, which is a fairly calorie-dense wet food, a good thing for kittens, active cats, and cats needing to gain weight, although portions should be measured carefully for very sedentary cats.

At $0.30/oz, this is a good price for a meat-heavy premium wet food.

Summary

Strengths
  • Meat-first recipe
  • High animal-protein content
  • Includes liver
  • Low carb content
  • Added taurine
  • Contains omega-3 fish oil
  • Good calorie density
  • Very reasonable price
Weaknesses
  • Not suitable for chicken-sensitive cats
  • Contains gum thickeners
  • Includes some tuna, which isn't ideal if you prefer fish-free diets
The weaknesses are all qualified, and shouldn't have any adverse effects on most cats. For a healthy cat with no poultry sensitivities, this is a nutritionally solid wet food, and one of the better values among premium canned foods. The ingredient profile is stronger than many foods in the same price range.

It just arrived today, so my personal experiences are limited. I dished a whole can of it out on the porch for Siyah, and he ate 12.5 oz in about five minutes. Later, I brought most of a can out for Sobaka, giving the rest (about 3 oz) to Ella. Both cats ate what I gave them.
 
Earth Animal Wisdom Homestyle Paté Artisan Game Bird Recipe Wet Cat Food, 5.5 oz Box

$0.62/oz.

With some concern about my cats becoming hippies, I ordered a case of this stuff tonight. I just ordered it, so it hasn't been taste-tested yet.

Ingredients
Vegetable Broth, Duck, Quail, Goose, Quinoa, Dried Yeast, Duck Liver, Duck Gizzard, Carrots, Butternut Squash, Dried Seaweed Meal, Spinach, Dicalcium Phosphate, Coconut Oil, Marine Microalgae Oil, Sea Salt, Fenugreek, Yeast Culture, Dried Chicory Root, Choline Chloride, Vitamin A Supplement, Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Taurine, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Vitamin E Supplement, Calcium Iodate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Niacin, Calcium Pantothenate, Sodium Selenite, Folic Acid, Biotin.

Guaranteed Analysis
  • Crude Protein (min.): 9%
  • Crude Fat (min): 6%
  • Crude Fiber (max.): 1%
  • Moisture (max.): 78%
  • Omega 3 Fatty Acids (min.): 0.05%
Calorie Content (calculated) M.E.: 1,075/kcal/kg5, 167 kcal/box

There are a few odd things about this recipe, but it looks like a fairly high-quality wet food, with a few caveats.

The Good
  • Multiple named animal proteins: Duck, Quail, and Goose are the first ingredients after broth. It also contains Duck Liver and Duck Gizzard, which are nutritious organ meats that provide natural vitamins and minerals, and there are no vague ingredients like "meat byproducts" or "animal digest."
  • The moisture level is appropriate, meeting hydration needs.
  • There is added taurine, which is essential for cats.
  • There are limited carbohydrate sources. The main plant ingredient is quinoa, with smaller amounts of carrots, squash, spinach, chicory root, and seaweed. This is likely much lower in carbohydrates than most dry foods, even.
  • There is an omega-3 source. Marine microalgae, although uncommon in cat food, seem to be a nice addition, providing DHA/EPA-type fatty acids without relying solely on fish oil.
Potential Concerns
  • Vegetable broth is the first ingredient. As ingredients are listed by weight before cooking, this doesn't necessarily mean the food is low in meat, but it does inflate the prominence of the broth component.
  • Dried yeast: Most cats do well with yeast ingredients, but some owners prefer to avoid them due to sensitivities. It's not automatically a negative, however.
  • There is a fair amount of plant matter. While the vegetables are likely there in small amounts, cats don't have nutritional requirements for quinoa, carrots, spinach, or fenugreek. They are probably included for fiber, texture, and micronutrients - and possibly because people regard these as healthy ingredients.
  • The protein level looks modest at first glance. The guaranteed analysis is 9% protein, 6% fat, and 78% moisture. However, because wet foods contain so much water, it's more meaningful to look at a dry matter basis, which is 22%, of which 41% is protein and 27% is fat.
These are actually solid numbers for a wet food, and consistent with many premium canned diets.

At 167 kcal/box and 1,075 kcal/kg, the calorie density is neither unusually high nor low. A 10 lb indoor cat needs roughly 180-250 kcal/day, depending on age, activity level, and body condition, so one box would provide a substantial portion of a day's calories for many cats.

Overall, the ingredient quality is very good. There are excellent named animal ingredients, good organ meat inclusion, no obvious fillers, appropriate moisture, and added taurine and micronutrients.

It is meat-focused, but contains more plant ingredients than I'd like to see in a strictly carnivore-oriented formula.

However, as part of a varied rotation, this deserves a place. It's significantly better than most grocery-store canned foods and better than many premium foods.

"Dr. Bob Goldstein's Wisdom cat food has been formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Cat Food Nutrient Profiles for All Life Stages."

I've ordered a case of the stuff. I am doubtful that it will meet Ella's standards, given that she tends to lean away from exotic poultry, or even turkey, for that matter, but I'm sure someone will like it.
 
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