Consider This Before Feeding Merrick

[jenny]

And in simpler terms
•   Diabetes in the cat is a man-made disease, which is completely preventable by avoiding the "kitty junk-food" that is dry kibbled cat food. Without question, it is the continuous, day-in, day-out consumption of this poor-quality, highly processed, carbohydrate rich "breakfast cereal for cats" that causes so many felines to become diabetic…. obesity and diabetes simply have the same cause, non-nutritious, high carbohydrate commercial cat food. To prevent both obesity and diabetes, we need only avoid such junk food when we feed our cats. Instead, we must feed the cat what it evolved to eat: meat. Fortunately, there are many canned and pouched cat foods, as well as many recipes for raw meat diets, that provide good quality nutrition of the obligatory carnivore that is the cat….. It is dietary CARBOHYDRATE, pure and simple, not high fat or low protein that leads to diabetes in cats.


Yes, Gary there are, most of which are quite new.  However, they are very high in calories.  All I've looked at so far are over 500 kcal/calories a cup!  That is way too much for two of my cats.  They still eat some dry food - but it comes in at 235 kcal/cup

[garypen]

And in simpler terms: THERE ARE A NUMBER OF HIGH-PROTEIN LOW-GRAIN DRY FOODS AVAILABLE.

[jenny]

Yes, Garypen there are, most of which are quite new.  However, they are very high in calories.  All I've looked at so far are over 500 kcal/calories a cup!  That is way too much for two of my cats.  They still eat some dry food - but it comes in at 235 kcal/cup.

In fact when I first read about EVO I wondered about the calorie content.  And happened to stumble upon this:
Catinfo.org:  EVO dry food is also very high in calories and often results in an unhealthy weight gain for many cats fed this diet.  very high in phosphorus so this food is not recommended for cats with compromised kidney function - even for a short period of time

I'm sure this is a great option for some people, but if your cat tends to be overweight I think canned is a much better option. 

[garypen]

I'm just saying that there are plenty of wet OR dry options for protein. But, there are only wet options for water in food.

Water is the main reason for feeding cats wet food.

BTW, a good way for dry eaters to get more protein and less carbs, without too big an increase in calories, is to mix a quality dry with one of the high-protein dry formulas. For instance, if I were to mix California Natural Chicken and Rice with Evo 50/50, it would make a dry food that is:
Protein 43%
Fat 19%
Carb 18
Water 9%
Phos 1.18%

There are other dry foods that can provide better amounts of whatever component one requires.

BTW, what dry food do you use that is only 235 kcal per cup? When I used to require a weight management formula, I was never able to find one that low. I'd like to know for future reference.

[jenny]

Hi garypen.  Waltham/Royal Canin weight control is 235 kcal/cup  and 38.5 % protein (41 % dry matter)  - one of the highest without going into the EVO type foods that are so high in calories.  I also tried their prescription diabetic food before the recall but it made one cat sick and the other wouldn't eat it.  It is about the same in calories but higher in protein.  However, they both contain corn gluten - so my obvious reason to switch to canned. 

I haven't found a dry food that is higher or equal in protein but about the same in calories, so canned food was the best option.  And still most of the experts also seem to agree to this.

My cats are now about 50/50 canned and the RC weight control.  By the way, the RC weight control was pushed by the vets prior to the recalls because it was so low in calories.

[garypen]

I used to use Royal Canin Light 37, myself! (Over-the-counter, not prescription.) It was around 300 kcal/cup, I believe. Actually, the cats did quite well on it. I liked it. And, if it wasn't for the Menu recall, probably would never have cared it had corn gluten, and would have continued to use it! But, that was then and this is now.

If I could feed them exclusively wet food, or even mostly wet food, I would. But, I can't. The older one only eats a little at a time, and the little one would eat it all. As it is, she finishes the wet food he leaves behind in the dish.

I did stumble upon an idea, when trying Sheba wet food. It seems that the big guy loves it, and the little one won't touch it. If I can find a complete, made in USA wet food like that, it would solve the problem.

But, in the mean time, I am perfectly happy to feed them a mixed diet of quality wet and dry foods. I know I'm not poisoning them by feeding them some dry food. (as long as the food doesn't contain actual poison.) And, they are happy, healthy, and hearty.

[Desiree]

So Garypen, did you quit using Merrick and switch over to Sheba? Many years ago I used Sheba as a treat with dry, but the vet I had didn't like it much. He felt I should use only the dry diet and eventually he coaxed me into giving it up and using only the Hills diet. The Sheba was probably better for my cats than the Hills.

[garypen]

Oh no. I only tried Sheba just to see if they'd like it, just in case. Merrick is still my wet food brand right now.

[JJ]

But...It's everything but the moo.

But, seriously, if you take Menu, ANI, and the mainstream canned foods out of the picture, that only leaves Merrick and Evangers-made products, as far as I can tell. And, I wasn't happy with Evangers or Felidae. So, that leaves Merrick for me.

If there turns out to be a problem with Merrick, I may be forced to go all dry. I am already thinking of mixing Evo and CalNat for increased meat/decreased carb. Unfortunately, all-dry creates its own problems. Most notably, lack of water. (One of my cats doesn't drink water AT ALL. She apparently gets all of her water from the canned food.)

So, I'm also conidering something like Sheba. It's from a mainstream brand, Mars. But, it has the moisture they need to ingest with their foods, high meat, and low/no carb. Check out this ingredient list: Water, Chicken Breast, Tapioca Starch, Guar Gum. That's it. It's not complete and balenced. But, as an adjunct to a dry balanced food, it should be OK. (Analysis: Protein 13% min, Fiber 0.4% max, Fat 0.3% min, Moisture 85% max. )

Of course, this is only if something bad is discovered about Merrick.

on Itchmo.com forum 4luvofpets did a post on the Ethylenediamine Dihydriodide that is in Merrick wet and dry. She posted link from toxnet that claims when cows eat any of this then their milk is unfit for human consumption. It is Anti-Freeze. I emailed Merrick prior to seeing info on Itchmo asking them what this was and they told me organic iodine? huh? My dog was eating grass again to make herself throw-up so no more Merrick of any kind in my house ever. I now use Evangers canned and Karma dry. My dog has actually started to put on a lil wt as she seemed a lil thin for a husky/shepherd mix but now is thriving. Just thought I'd let you know about Merrick in case you decided to use it. Take care.

[jenny]

ED is pretty widely used from what I can tell. 

I've tried Felidae - and was very concerned about quality.  I had three cans out of the 10 I tried that were of poor quality (bones, rubberized meat).  The cans from date lots that looked ok - my cats didn't like those much.

I've been using EVO canned since April 27.  My cats really, really like it.  I've also noticed their appetite seems to have decreased, in a good sense (they aren't so hungry all the time).  I think the high protein is satifying them.

I've also been using Wellness for about 4 weeks, but just opened a new case and one of my three cats will not touch it (he loved it until now).  I notice that it smells different.  I'm using this as more of a snack food - splitting a 3 oz can between 3 cats before bed.  Since the one cat will not touch it, I will be stopping to get some Merrick today.  Garypen - what is your cat's favorite?

Hey gary - regarding the Royal Canin, the over-the-counter had more calories than the prescription.  In our case, the cats had several bags we had bought before the recalls started so figured they were safe.  But all my reading has me convinced that canned is better for the health as long as it isn't contaminated!

[garypen]

I guess JJ has chosen to ignore the previous post about ED being used in MANY brands of pet food, mostly the so-called holistic brands. I'm not defending its use, if it is that harmful. Just pointing out that singling out Merrick is ignorant, and unfair. (Just as singling Blue Buffalo for menadione was.)

However, pet owners should keep being vocal about their disapproval of it. And, maybe, just as Blue, Evangers, and others have decided to remove menadione, the manufacturers will cease using ED.

Jenny - My cats seem to like the turkey-based Merrick cans the best (Turducken and Thanksgiving). And, they have a love/hate relationship with Pot Pie (chicken).

Just an FYI, Evo canned is made by Menu, as is all Natura canned food. I don't buy their canned foods for that reason. If they get their own plant, as they promised, I will consider it at that time.

[jenny]

Yeah - I know about the EVO from Menu.  Not a favorite with me either.  But when you start excluding any company that has had food recalled, all ANI companies, all Evanger companies (product quality, not recalls), etc.  I felt pretty good about Natura's statements - hope that doesn't come back to get me.  I guess we all have to gather the facts and make decisions.

I just picked up Tarducken today - hope they like that. 

As for the ED, I did check on dogfoodproject and didn't see anything from them on it.  I don't know if it is good or bad, really. 

[garypen]

Actually, it's not the quality of the Menu-made Natura products that concerns me. (I've been tempted to buy them, myself.) I just don't want my money going to Menu.

But, if Merrick turned out to be crap, I suppose I'd almost have no choice.

[jenny]

Well, I hope they like the Merrick - at least that would replace the Wellness and they also use Menu.

[reddancer]

My kitties don't like Merrick anymore. They were never really crazy about it... it was hit or miss. One would like a flavor while the other hated it and vice versa. They both HATED Turducken. I had to throw most of it away! The only one they both ate was Southern Comfort but even that wasn't a huge hit. We still have 2 more flavors to try but I don't think I'll be buying it anymore.

Another good grain free food to try is California Natural Salmon & Sweet Potato. Both of my kitties absolutely loved this one! I know it's made by Menu, but since Natura is testing all of its products now, I feel safer feeding it.  Right or wrong, I really trust Natura. I believe they're sincere about wanting to keep pets safe. I hope I'm right!