Question:
Since I never heard back from Merrick after many repeat emails to them, I have decided to start looking at alternate canned cat foods for Orangey and Donovan. Today I decided to pick up some 'Dick Van Patten's Natural Balance': http://www.naturalbalanceinc.com It seems very similar to Merrick in content. It is a bit higher in fat, ofcourse the fat percentages are only given as minimums, so the Merrick could indeed have the same fat (3% MIN to 5 % MIN). The only down side being that it is again another 'all stages of life' food. I am hoping that they will be more willing to contact me and provide me with some actual percentages for their food. Unfortunatly at the store I was at, they only had 2 kinds, both with fish, so only Orangey will be allowed to try it out (Donovan is not allowed fish products as it could be a trigger for him to block again). I will let you know how he likes it.The two I picked up are:

OCEAN FISH FORMULAOcean Fish, Fish Broth, Turkey, Chicken Liver, Brown Rice Flour, Carrots, Fish Meal, Lecithin, Dried Cranberries, Dicalcium Phosphate, Sodium Tripolyphosphate, Potassium Chloride, Sodium Chloride, Taurine, Calcium Carbonate, Choline Chloride, Carrageenan, Zinc Sulfate, Iron Sulfate, Vitamin E Supplement, Copper Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Niacin Supplement, Sodium Selenite, Thiamine Mononitrate, Calcium Pantothenate, Calcium Iodate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Riboflavin, Vitamin A Supplement, Folic Acid, Vitamin K Supplement, Biotin, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement.

and:

ULTRA FORMULAChicken, Chicken Broth, Chicken Liver, Duck, Salmon, Carrots, Brown Rice Flour, Fish Meal, Lecithin, Dried Cranberries, Dicalcium Phosphate, Sodium Tripolyphosphate, Potassium Chloride, Sodium Chloride, Taurine, Calcium Carbonate, Choline Chloride, Carrageenan, Zinc Sulfate, Iron Sulfate, Vitamin E Supplement, Copper Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Niacin Supplement, Sodium Selenite, Thiamine Mononitrate, Calcium Pantothenate, Calcium Iodate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Riboflavin, Vitamin A Supplement, Folic Acid, Vitamin K Supplement, Biotin, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement.


p.s. Candice, are you still considering a pet nutrition section? Or did that get squashed?


Answer:
I use a variety of canned foods for my cats.. Natural Balance, Wellness & Innova Lite at the moment. I was impressed by the ingredients..


Answer:
Natural Balance has a bit more filler than other wet foods (rice flour) but I agree that it's a good food. It's too bad Merrick never got back to you. I just bought a Merrick variety back and it is awesome!! So far, the kitties have enjoyed Surf 'N' Turf, Grammy's Pot Pie and Thanksgiving Dinner. I think there is 6-8 different kinds in the pack.

Lizz, have you tried Innova?


Answer:
Hi,

My hedgie don't like Natural Balance they like Innova and New Prarier Chicken.


Answer:
Originally Posted by Candycane
Natural Balance has a bit more filler than other wet foods (rice flour) but I agree that it's a good food. It's too bad Merrick never got back to you. I just bought a Merrick variety back and it is awesome!! So far, the kitties have enjoyed Surf 'N' Turf, Grammy's Pot Pie and Thanksgiving Dinner. I think there is 6-8 different kinds in the pack.

Lizz, have you tried Innova?
I noticed the more filler. I am not sure I'll stick with it. Merrick is so great in the can. Though I have noticed, it is very inconsistant from one case to the next (of the same flavor). Which is why I suspect they won't get back to me with those guaranteed percentages-they change with every batch

On the NB website, they have this : In Nature, your pets would not have the choice of kitten formulas, nor lighter formulas for their senior years; they would simply live on a diet of mostly meat and and some grain. In a natural free environment, animals instinctively eat more or less, depending on their age and activity level.

Which again shows the side for all stages of life. And while this is true, I guess it's a point of where do you decide that 'human' intevention comes in, versus the 'true' natural diet.

Nope, haven't tried Innova yet. Maybe I'll do that one next What's the texture like?


Answer:
I find that Innova is a bit drier than Natural Balance but still moist enough that it mixes up well with a bit of warm water.