Is Twin Pet Catfood Okay to Feed a Cat
The worst cat food brands are filled with plant-based proteins, low-quality meat ingredients, and chemical preservatives.
To compare cat food brands you need to learn AAFCO's cat food label rules.
Cat food brands use clever marketing and fancy gimmicks to trick you to buy their product.
Even the FDA says this.
Before you think that I do not offer helpful solutions, read the whole guide and see my many options to feed your cat better at the end of the guide.
Watch the video below so you can understand why these cat foods are the worst. Please educate yourself!
Here are the worst cat food brands:
- Mars Petcare cat food brands (Royal Canin, Sheba, Whiskas, Iams, Nutro, Temptations, Greenies)
- Nestle cat food brands (Friskies, Fancy Feast, Beyond, Deli Cat, Muse, Kit & Kaboodle, Kitten/Cat Chow, Purina ONE, Purina ProPlan, Purina ProPlan Veterinary Diet)
- JM Smucker cat food brands (Rachel Ray Nutrish, 9Lives, MeowMix, Natural Balance)
- Colgate-Palmolive cat food brands (Hill's Science Diet)
- General Mills cat food brands (Blue Buffalo, Blue Wilderness, Blue Basics, Blue Carnivora, Blue True Solutions, Blue Freedom, Blue Natural Veterinary Diet)
IMPORTANT: Cats are sensitive to dietary changes.
Please transition cat food slowly if you decide to switch brands. I've included 100+ better options in my cat food reviews and at the end of this guide.
This is not an all-inclusive list. Just the major brands most people know about.
Check out the guide today or pin the image below to your cat food board on Pinterest.
Disclaimer : Nothing I say is medical advice. All photos were taken by me at local stores.
***IMPORTANT! BEFORE YOU READ!***
At the end of the day, YOU are responsible for your cat. And YOU have the option to feed or avoid whatever you want.
Just like these manufacturers have the option to produce these brands.
Additionally, cats are sensitive to dietary changes. If you decide to change your cat's food, transition cat food slowly.
I'm reporting the facts, based on these 4 things:
1. Cat food manufacturer
Not just the brand. But who is actually MAKING the products.
2. AAFCO product name rules
AAFCO cat food label rules tell us the minimum and maximum amount of the named ingredients.
3. AAFCO ingredient definitions
AAFCO states that meat by-products can include 4D meats (dead, diseased, dying, disabled) as long as the by-products are rendered.
Additionally, meat meals are rendered meats.
According to a CRS Report to Congress on animal rendering, rendered meats can include dead animals from feedlots, ranches, marketing barns, ANIMAL SHELTERS, and food waste from restaurants, groceries, and stores.
4. Guaranteed analysis
The NRC says that carbohydrates are not essential to the cat's diet.
Unfortunately, AAFCO does not require carbohydrates on the guaranteed analysis.
So you must use a carb calculator and then convert to a dry matter basis to figure this out yourself.
If you don't understand these facts, you will not understand this article. I get many comments about this article. But remember, these are the facts.
Please educate yourself on AAFCO labeling requirements and definitions. And heavily research the manufacturer that's making your cat's food (not just the brand name).
I have an entire YouTube playlist dedicated to how to read cat food labels properly.
If you decide to change your cat's food, check the bottom of the article to see what I recommend.
Mars Petcare cat food brands (Royal Canin, Sheba, Whiskas, Iams, Nutro, Temptations, Greenies)
Mars is a major conglomerate corporation that owns dozens of brands (human food and pet food).
You're probably familiar with candy bars, gum, and frozen foods made by Mars.
M&Ms, Tasty Bites, Big Red, Combos, etc.
Let's look at their cat food.
Royal Canin
- Product name rule = no rule, no minimum requirement of meat
- Carb amount = approx 46% dry matter basis
- First 5 ingredients = Chicken meal, corn, brewers rice, chicken fat, wheat gluten
This food is marketed as oral care. It says it helps reduce dental plaque.
3 of the first 5 ingredients are carbohydrates. And almost half the food is made from carbohydrates.
Cats can't produce amylase in their saliva. Amylase breaks down carbohydrates.
So cats can't break down carbohydrates in their mouth. How can carbohydrates promote healthy cat teeth?
Also, there's not much whole meat in this product.
Cats need meat to survive and thrive.
Greenies
- Product name rule = flavor rule, no minimum requirement of meat
- Carb amount = approx 48% dry matter basis
- First 5 ingredients = Chicken meal, ground wheat, brewers rice, corn gluten meal, poultry fat
Greenies technically isn't food. But a lot of vets recommend it for dental care.
These treats have even more carbohydrates. And again we see not much meat in the product.
Notice that the first 5 ingredients are almost identical to the "oral care" product mentioned above?
Check the label and you'll see Mars Petcare US.
Temptations
- Product name rule = flavor rule, no minimum requirement of meat
- Carb amount = approx 37% dry matter basis
- First 5 ingredients = Chicken by-product meal, ground corn, animal fat, brewers rice, wheat flour
Temptations actually list feeding instructions.
Please, do not feed these to your cat. Avoid it as treats and as food.
Seriously. I cannot believe they recommend feeding this as a meal.
Again, we see the same first 5 ingredients.
The product name includes the words "chicken flavor".
That means the product has no minimum requirement of chicken. And that minimum is guaranteed less than 3%.
If it contained at least 3% chicken, the product name would say "with chicken" instead of "chicken flavor".
This is why learning cat food label rules is so important!
And you'll see a big Mars Petcare on the label.
Nestle cat food brands (Friskies, Fancy Feast, Beyond, Deli Cat, Muse, Kit & Kaboodle, Kitten/Cat Chow, Purina ONE, Purina ProPlan, Purina ProPlan Veterinary Diet)
Nestle is responsible for almost half the cat food brands on the market today.
Did you know this?
They're also responsible for junk cereal, drinks, and chocolate.
Let's look at their cat food.
Friskies wet
- Product name rule = with rule, 3% minimum requirement of meat
- Carb amount = approx 23% dry matter basis
- First 5 ingredients = Water, meat by-products, beef, wheat gluten, chicken
The name is "with beef in gravy". The label shows a slice of beef.
Would you suspect chicken to be in this food? What about turkey and fish?
What about meat by-products? We have no idea what type of animal that is. And we have no idea what type of by-products this is.
Think about it like this…
I can buy liver, kidney, pig ears, turkey tails, etc. at my local grocery store.
How do we know by-products in cat food are actually clean sources of organs and bones?
Good-quality cat food products will list the exact by-products. The ingredients will read turkey heart, turkey liver, turkey kidney, turkey bones, etc.
So why do some products list exact ingredients and others just say by-products?
Friskies dry
- Product name rule = flavor rule, no minimum requirement of meat
- Carb amount = approx 47% dry matter basis
- First 5 ingredients = Ground yellow corn, corn gluten meal, chicken by-product meal, soybean meal, beef tallow
There's no actual meat in this product! And 3 out of 5 first ingredients are carbohydrates.
Not suitable for cats.
Further down the list, you'll see color additives yellow 5, yellow 6, and red 40.
These color additives can damage DNA cells and contribute to cancer.
Fancy Feast
- Product name rule = no rule, no minimum requirement of meat
- Carb amount = approx 19% dry matter basis
- First 5 ingredients = Fish broth, salmon, wheat gluten, liver, meat by-products
3 out of the first 5 ingredients are mystery meats.
What type of fish is used for the fish broth?
Where did the liver come from?
What type of meat by-products are in this food? Is it chicken? Pork? Beef? Turkey? Lamb?
Do you see what I mean?
We have absolutely no idea what type of meat is in this product.
Purina ONE
- Product name rule = recipe rule, 25% minimum requirement of meat
- Carb amount = approx 11% dry matter basis
- First 5 ingredients = Chicken, liver, broth, pork lungs, fish
Again we have some mystery ingredients.
Where did the liver and broth come from? What type of fish?
You'll notice it says "premium" on the label.
Guess what?
AAFCO states, "'premium' is a totally unregulated term in feed law…premium pet food doesn't have special requirements that differ from any other pet food."
Purina ProPlan
- Product name rule = formula rule, 25% minimum requirement of meat and rice combined
- Carb amount = approx 27% dry matter basis
- First 5 ingredients = Lamb, rice, corn gluten meal, dried egg product, soy protein isolate
I'm sure you're thinking, "but lamb is the first ingredient".
Ingredients must be listed in predominance by weight.
When it's added to the food.
The USDA states muscle meat is approximately 75% moisture.
Moisture is removed during the 3 cooking (extrusion) processes in which kibble is made.
So 75% of that lamb is gone by the time the kibble is done.
Carbohydrates, however, are already dried when they're added to kibble.
So again most of what you're buying is carbohydrates your cat isn't designed to digest.
If cats cannot digest a lot of these ingredients, how can this be good for a sensitive stomach?
JM Smucker cat food brands (Rachel Ray Nutrish, 9Lives, MeowMix, Natural Balance)
JM Smucker is another conglomerate that has its hands in pet food.
I'm sure you're familiar with some of their brands like Dunkin Donuts, Crisco, and Jif.
Let's take a look at their cat food…
Rachel Ray Nutrish
- Product name rule = recipe rule, 25% minimum requirement of meat and potato combined
- Carb amount = approx 39% dry matter basis
- First 5 ingredients = Chicken, chicken meal, dried peas, pea flour, turkey meal
This product is marketed as grain-free.
But approximately 39% of the product comes from carbohydrates.
Grain-free does not mean carb-free.
Potatoes, peas, and pumpkin all contribute carbohydrates.
Not to mention, there are several class-action lawsuits against Rachel Ray pet food.
One of her dog foods actually contained dog DNA.
9Lives wet
- Product name rule = no rule, no minimum requirement of meat
- Carb amount = approx 18% dry matter basis
- First 5 ingredients = Meat by-products, water, poultry by-products, chicken, fish
We have more mystery meats!
What type of meat? What type of by-products?
Which kind of poultry?
What type of fish?
9Lives dry
- Product name rule = with rule, 3% minimum requirement of meat
- Carb amount = approx 47% dry matter basis
- First 5 ingredients = Whole ground corn, chicken by-product meal, corn gluten meal, soybean meal, whole wheat
Almost 50% carbohydrates.
And 4/5 first 5 ingredients are carbohydrates.
MeowMix
- Product name rule = with rule, 3% minimum requirement of meat
- Carb amount = approx 27% dry matter basis
- First 5 ingredients = Fish broth, chicken, fish, wheat gluten, ocean fish
The first 5 ingredients vary with each product in this variety pack.
But the first ingredient in all of them is…
Mystery meat!
Fish broth? What kind of fish?!
A few other questionable ingredients include sugar, guar gum, carrageenan, modified food starch, and the list goes on.
Carbs break down into sugar. And sugar fuels obesity and related diseases.
Colgate-Palmolive cat food brands (Hill's Science Diet)
Colgate-Palmolive owns Hill's Pet food.
Hill's Pet is popular because it's "vet-recommended" cat food.
In 2007, Colgate breached advertising laws in their claim "80% of dentists recommend Colgate".
The advertising claim made it seem like Colgate was recommended 80% of the time over other brands.
But the survey actually asked dentists and hygienists to recommend several brands.
Additionally, the dentists and hygienists that participated in the survey were unaware that the survey was being conducted by Colgate.
So what does this have to do with cat food?
Well, Colgate-Palmolive uses the same clever marketing to sell Hill's Science Diet cat food.
It says it right on the label: veterinarian recommended.
Some of Hill's Pet foods are even prescription diets.
By the way, Hill's Pet trademarked the term "prescription diet".
Hill's Prescription Diet
- Product name rule = flavor rule, no minimum requirement of meat
- Carb amount = approx 31% dry matter basis
- First 5 ingredients = Chicken by-product meal, brewer's rice, corn gluten meal, powdered cellulose, dried tomato pumice
No actual meat in this food.
According to AAFCO's cat food label rules, there's no minimum requirement of chicken.
If there were at least 3% chicken in this product, the name would be "with chicken" instead of "chicken flavor".
Additionally, AAFCO states that by-product meals are rendered meats.
And you need a prescription for this product…
Hill's Wet
- Product name rule = entree rule, 25% minimum requirement of meat
- Carb amount = approx 43% dry matter basis
- First 5 ingredients = Water, chicken, turkey giblets, pork by-products, pork liver
We see more by-products.
By the way, some people love to tell me that by-products aren't that bad. But again, I can buy pork by-products at the grocery store. We have no way of knowing what type of by-products are used in cat food and how clean they are.
This is for hairball control, but the rest of the ingredients aren't good for digestion.
Powdered cellulose, corn starch, corn gluten meal, wheat flour, brewers dried yeast, etc.
How can this help hairball control if cats can't digest most of these ingredients?
General Mills cat food brands (Blue Buffalo, Blue Wilderness, Blue Basics, Blue Carnivora, Blue True Solutions, Blue Freedom, Blue Natural Veterinary Diet)
Hopefully, by now you're seeing a trend.
We have major corporations that make junk food for humans. And they're also making junk food for our cats.
General Mills, a cereal company, owns all Blue Buffalo products.
At this point, it should come as no surprise that a cereal manufacturing company also owns cat food companies.
Many of these products contain high amounts of cereals and grains.
Also, think about it like this…
All companies say that their cat food is the best. But why are there so many brands within the same company?
If it was truly the best, they wouldn't need to create 7 different brands, right?
Blue Freedom
- Product name rule = with rule, 3% minimum requirement of meat, peas, and potatoes combined
- Carb amount = approx 41% dry matter basis
- First 5 ingredients = Deboned chicken, chicken meal, tapioca starch, peas, pea protein
Free of grains and gluten.
But, again, grain-free does not mean carb-free.
Peas and potatoes have carbohydrates.
And peas and potatoes are listed on the product name in the same size font as the chicken.
So these ingredients are grouped in the product name rule.
And the minimum requirement is 3% of these ingredients combined.
Blue Basics 
- Product name rule = entree rule, 25% minimum requirement of meat and potatoes combined
- Carb amount = approx 29% dry matter basis
- First 5 ingredients = Turkey, turkey broth, turkey liver, potatoes, natural flavor
Here's another grain-free cat food full of carbs.
It says limited ingredients…
But still contains questionable ingredients like carrageenan, cassia gum, guar gum, and mystery fish oil.
Blue Wilderness
- Product name rule = with rule, 3% minimum requirement of meat
- Carb amount = approx 40% dry matter basis
- First 5 ingredients = Deboned chicken, chicken meal, tapioca starch, pea protein, peas
This one says high-protein and grain-free. The brand is called Wilderness.
It's gotta be fit for carnivores, right?
Nope.
40% carbohydrates.
Powdered cellulose, a bunch of pea products, potato starch, flaxseed, dried yeast, and so on.
NOT part of a cat's natural diet.
Now I hear you saying, "That's every single cat food brand, what do you expect me to feed?"
GOOD quality food!
I've analyzed hundreds of cat food brands. There are many, many better options out there.
I provide so many solutions for every situation. Please read below.
First, educate yourself!
How to Read Cat Food Labels (AAFCO Guidelines) – education is the best tool you have.
YOU are responsible for your cat.
So YOU should understand how to decode the cat food label (rather than relying on someone else to tell you what to feed or avoid).
I also hear you saying, "My cat's too picky to eat good-quality food!"
ALL cats are picky about food changes. Not just yours (:
In fact, this is the #1 complaint I get from dozens of people.
So I created a transition plan specifically formulated for picky cats.
Check out my free 5-step plan how to feed your picky cat new better food (text version) or the video version below.
The plan gives you everything you need to feed your cat better.
What are the best cat food brands?
Visit cat food reviews for 100+ records of all types of good-quality cat food brands. Available in and outside the US.
Watch the video below to understand how to use the list.
One page guides:
- Best and Worst Cat Food
- Best Dry Cat Food
- Supplementing Kibble with Raw
- High Protein Low Carb Wet Cat Food
- Best Cheap Wet Cat Food
- Freeze Dried Raw Cat Food Reviews
- Best Raw Cat Food Brands
- Homemade Cat Food
Or you can shop for the best of the best in one place on my Amazon storefront or Only Natural Pet.
Disclaimer: I earn a commission through qualifying purchases through the Amazon storefront and Only Natural Pet.
Want everything in one place? Buy my Switch Your Cat to Raw eBook Course! Even if you're not ready for raw, you'll benefit from this course.
Source: https://www.caticles.com/worst-cat-food-brands/
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