An example of unhealthy food that is marketed towards a human’s idea of healthy eating more than for the needs of cat’s is Purina Cat Chow. As previously stated cats are carnivores and need meat protein.

Following is information about the various formulas that Cat Chow offer.

Purina Cat Chow Indoor Formula

Purina states on their website for the Indoor Formula

“What Makes Purina® Cat Chow® Indoor Formula Unique

* Natural fiber blend helps control hairballs

* Helps your adult cat maintain a healthy weight and lean muscle mass

* Contains the wholesome grains and garden greens your indoor cat craves”

First of all dry food is high in carbs and high in calories so unless you have a hyper cat she won’t burn those calories and can end up over weight. Second “Contains wholesome grains and garden greens that your indoor cat craves” NOT!!! Cats don’t crave or need grains or greens.  Yes a cat will munch on grass outside or if you provide it to your indoor cat, but that is a natural hairball remedy. Cats eats the grass so that they can vomit the hair that has collected in their stomachs.

Next look at the ingredients

Corn meal, poultry by-product meal, corn gluten meal, soy flour, animal fat preserved with mixed-tocopherols (form of Vitamin E), powdered cellulose, salmon meal, animal liver flavor, soybean hulls, malt extract, calcium carbonate, phosphoric acid, salt, choline chloride, potassium chloride, taurine, Vitamin E supplement, zinc sulfate, ferrous sulfate, manganese sulfate, parsley flakes, niacin, added color (Red 40, Yellow 5, Blue 2), Vitamin A supplement, calcium pantothenate, thiamine mononitrate, copper sulfate, riboflavin supplement, Vitamin B-12 supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, folic acid, Vitamin D-3 supplement, calcium iodate, biotin, menadione sodium bisulfite complex (source of Vitamin K activity), sodium selenite. H-4500.

If you notice meat is not the first ingredient, actually there is no meat in this product at all. Plus what greens are in this product?  There are a lot of grains though.

Purina Cat Chow Complete Formula

Next this is what they say for the Complete Formula

“What Makes Purina® Cat Chow® Complete Formula Unique

* Complete nutrition for cats of all ages, ideal for multiple cat households

* Includes the Ulti-Pro Enhanced Protein System® to help maintain a healthy heart and immune system

* Cat-tested, cat-approved great taste”

Not able to find what exactly Ulti-Pro Enhanced Protein System means but here’s the ingredients for the Complete Formula

Poultry by-product meal, corn meal, corn gluten meal, ground whole wheat, brewers rice, soy flour, animal fat preserved with mixed-tocopherols (form of Vitamin E), fish meal, meat and bone meal, brewers dried yeast, phosphoric acid, animal digest, calcium carbonate, tetra sodium pyrophosphate, salt, potassium chloride, choline chloride, calcium phosphate, taurine, zinc sulfate, Vitamin E supplement, ferrous sulfate, manganese sulfate, niacin, Vitamin A supplement, calcium pantothenate, thiamine mononitrate, added color (Red 40), copper sulfate, riboflavin supplement, Vitamin B-12 supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, folic acid, Vitamin D-3 supplement, calcium iodate, biotin, menadione sodium bisulfite complex (source of Vitamin K activity), sodium selenite. F-4501

As you can see this The Complete Formula is not meat based but grain based. Not Good!

Purina Cat Chow Naturals

Now let’s examine Naturals. This is what their website says

“What Makes Naturals from Purina® Cat Chow® Unique

* High in protein, like a cat’s natural diet, including real chicken and salmon

* Contains whole grains and the goodness of leafy greens

* Natural fiber blend helps control hairballs

* No added artificial colors, flavors or preservatives”

Now look at the ingredients, what do you see that is wrong with the above statement?

Chicken meal, corn gluten meal, soybean meal, brewers rice, animal fat preserved with mixed-tocopherols (form of Vitamin E), corn meal, chicken, salmon, powdered cellulose, ground whole wheat, soybean hulls, malt extract, brewers dried yeast, phosphoric acid, natural flavor, tetra sodium pyrophosphate, calcium carbonate, salt, choline chloride, dried spinach, parsley flakes, potassium chloride, taurine, Vitamin E supplement, zinc sulfate, ferrous sulfate, niacin, manganese sulfate, Vitamin A supplement, calcium pantothenate, thiamine mononitrate, copper sulfate, riboflavin supplement, Vitamin B-12 supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, folic acid, Vitamin D-3 supplement, calcium iodate, biotin, menadione sodium bisulfite complex (source of Vitamin K activity), sodium selenite.  B-4521

Purina Cat Chow Healthful Life

The last to look at Healthful Life

“What Makes Healthful Life® Healthy Cat Food from Purina® Cat Chow® Unique

* With delicious real salmon and chicken, plus an added natural fiber blend

* Accented with garden greens, cranberries, carrots and cheese”

Here are the ingredients for Healthful Life.

Chicken by-product meal, corn gluten meal, soybean meal, ground yellow corn, ground wheat, animal fat preserved with mixed-tocopherols (form of Vitamin E), salmon, chicken, powdered cellulose, brewers rice, soybean hulls, animal liver flavor, malt extract, phosphoric acid, calcium carbonate, salt, dried spinach, cranberries, dried carrots, dried cheese powder, choline chloride, taurine, potassium chloride, added color (Yellow 6, Red 40, Yellow 5, Blue 2), zinc sulfate, Vitamin E supplement, ferrous sulfate, manganese sulfate, niacin, Vitamin A supplement, calcium pantothenate, thiamine mononitrate, copper sulfate, riboflavin supplement, Vitamin B-12 supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, folic acid, Vitamin D-3 supplement, calcium iodate, biotin, menadione sodium bisulfite complex (source of Vitamin K activity), sodium selenite. B-4522

Garden Greens! Cranberries! Carrots! Cheese! Are you kidding!!!! I rest my case.

 

All nutritional information can be found on their website www.catchow.com.

Don’t be fooled by the pretty website and the statements of health. You are their target audience not your cat.