All cat food must list its ingredients clearly in decreasing amounts by weight. So, the first ingredient on the list is the top ingredient – in most high-quality foods this is protein from a named meat or fish source. Protein should feature in at least the top two ingredients, but the more the better. If your cat is prone to some serious hairballs, Royal Canin Feline Health Nutrition Indoor Intense Hairball Dry Cat food might be their ideal food.
It appears that nutritionally, the Blue Buffalo food is likely a bit better than the Hill’s Science Diet, but you also have to consider both company’s histories. While Hill’s has a good record of quality control and safety, Blue Buffalo has some red flags in its past. Neither are perfect—a more meat-heavy food would be ideal—but the Blue Buffalo is certainly not that far ahead of the Hill’s diet your kitten was eating previously. I noticed that the pet foods are rated based on recall history/nutritional value etc. Heavy metals/ lead etc are often found at dangerous levels based on previous lab studies, I feel like that would be one of the biggest deciding factor for how to rate a pet food.
While the two foods have much in common, we feel that one has the edge over the other. Read on to find out which one earned the nod in this head-to-head battle. Pet Insurance covers the cost of many common pet health conditions. Prepare for the unexpected by getting a quote from top pet insurance providers.
To help pets feel rewarded for good behavior, Blue Buffalo has fine-tuned dog treats made with ingredients that help provide specific health benefits. The remaining 19% is made from other wholesome ingredients, including fruits and vegetables. This high protein food includes omega fatty acids for skin and coat health, as well as added probiotics to support healthy digestion. It’s made without animal by-product meals, corn, wheat, potatoes, and soy, and is free from artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives. The minimally processed kibble is also uniquely covered in freeze-dried raw food to improve its taste and nutritional value, making it ideal for sensitive kitties. For a wider selection of choices, check out our freeze dried cat food guide.
For this reason, it’s recommended that dry food should never be left down for longer than 48 hours. It also recalled some treats in 2015 due to levels of propylene glycol, and in 2019, they were listed by the FDA as one of 16 pet brands that could be linked to heart disease in dogs blue buffalo cat food and cats. Nothing has been proven so far, but it’s obviously not a list that they want to find themselves on. One of the company’s grain-free options, Wellness CORE is specially designed for indoor cats. It’s loaded with fish, which means it’s also loaded with omega fatty acids.
Options advertising two ingredients, such as turkey and chicken, must meet a combined total of 95 percent. Foods that feature platter, dinner or entree have to have 25 percent of the listed ingredient, and foods with a particular flavor must have a detectable amount of it in the formulation. Dry cat foods that say with beef, chicken or cheese must contain 3 percent of the specified ingredient. In2015, the company also had to recall a single series of cat foods and treats, and once before that in 2007.
However, there are also turkey and red meat versions for cats with other tastes. Poultry flavored dry kibble is the most popular category of cat food within the US. For Blue Buffalo, we like this Multi-Cat Health chicken and turkey recipe, which goes above and beyond the average dry food, using two whole types of meat and named chicken meal. Blue Buffalo is another excellent way to treat your dog with a healthy diet. With enhanced vitamins and minerals it’s another option to help your dog get the proper nutrition to live an active and balanced life. The collection offers Gastrointestinal support to help care for dogs and cats with gastrointestinal disease.
It relies heavily on animal proteins, with chicken and chicken meal being the first two ingredients. None of its foods use ingredients like corn, wheat, or soy, and its grain-free foods use peas, potatoes, and the like in their place. They also have quality fruits and veggies like cranberries, lentils, and kelp.