Do gourmet cat foods tempt finicky felines? Our two Oriental shorthair cats, Dr. Hush Puppy and Sir Hubble Pinkerton are to say the least extremely fussy about what they will eat. Trying to figure out what will suit their fancy leaves my head spinning.
What makes this situation even more anxiety-producing is the meager selection of commercial grain-free, high protein cat foods that receives their stamp of approval, causing my fear that by serving them the same food over and over will quickly result in two exasperated felines going on strike; turning up their noses and refusing to eat at all.
What’s a loving fur-mom to do, given such a precarious situation? It was time for me to put on my thinking cap and get proactive. So one day while leisurely strolling down the cat food aisle at our local pet supermarket, I started noticing that some of the higher-end cat food brands were marked “Gourmet”.
“Gourmet Cat Food”! What a concept. It certainly got my ears perked forward; eager to check them out. I figured, “what do I have to lose? Since my fussy felines might be willing to try them, especially if I entice them to taste the food by whispering softly the word “gourmet”. It goes without saying that by now y’all can figure out that our two fussy kitties are beyond spoiled.
The attractively designed label that promised meal-time Nirvana sucked me in. I started pulling cans down off the shelves and feverishly read the ingredients to determine what, if anything, distinguished these products from the more “ordinary’ high-end brands.
A can of grainless Weruva Asian Fusion Cat Food immediately caught my eye. Featured on the label is a picture of a delicate sashimi dish¹ replete with a pair of chopsticks. I nearly went bonkers trying to figure out where I could get kitty-size chopsticks and then teach them how to use them! But much to my disappointment; in spite of the label’s mouthwatering appearance, the first ingredient listed was Tuna Red Meat.
Since cats can quickly become addicted to tuna, and the type of red tuna used in cat food often contains very high levels of methyl mercury, red meat tuna can not only lead to mercury poison, it can also cause Steatitis (Yellow Fat Disease), an inflammation of the liver in kittens and cats.
The second ingredient, Shirasu (baby anchovies in Japanese), while this might seem enticing to some folks, I have yet to meet a cat who’s crazy about anchovies.
Carbohydrates are difficult for cats to digest since their systems are ill equipped to utilize plant protein. As obligate carnivores they require meat protein, not carbs. Cats also require fat in their diet. And even though this Weruva product doesn’t contain grain (according to their label), it contains 1.6% crude fat and a minimum of 0.05% taurine. Taurine is an essential part of the feline diet since it promotes intestinal absorption of lipids (fats) as cholesterol. It also helps prevent heart disease and feline retinal atrophy; a condition that generally leads to blindness.
While it’s not touted as a “gourmet” product, Wellness Core Turkey and Duck grainless formula contains 7.5% crude fat and 0.10% taurine. After reading the labels of several other “flashy” gourmet cat foods and comparing them with the high-end grainless varieties in the same price range, it seemed to me that the word “gourmet” is just another marketing strategy targeted at humans.
So my trip to the store wasn’t a total loss I bought a couple of cans of Wellness Core, crossing my fingers that our two furry gourmands would go “quackers” over it and gobble it down.
Are “gourmet” cat products necessary? Are they truly the cat’s meow? Tell us what you think in a comment.
Jo
- Photo credit Flickr user: Klara Kim
- (1) raw fresh meat or fish
kylee,
For several months our cats LOVED rabbit formula. They thought it was spectacular. But they soon tired of it, and refused to eat it.
Unfortunately, this is one protein that doesn’t seem to cause sensitivities- but there are no manufacturers now that are producing rabbit formulas that don’t include other meats.
They did enjoy the rx rabbit formula, but those manufacturers claim that rabbit is very hard to find, so it is frequently unavailable.
LOL DW,
I think that was me that described A/D that way! It is only for sick kitties that won’t eat. To be honest, while most cats are tempted by this product, I am not a fan of Hills anything. But it is far more important to get a kitty to eat. It also contains a lot of water, so it practically melts in their mouths.
Additionally it is quite easy, by adding more water, to get it into a syringe if force feeding is necessary.
The Wellness Core- I feed the duck and turkey formula seems to have tickled their fancy. They also like Wellness kitten food. So if they like it and eat it- I serve it to them.
I would imagine that feral cats might not be accustomed to such fancy food- and would prefer something that has a very strong odor. Sardines are great- when push comes to shove I have offered them sardines which are met with enthusiasm when we have a kitty emergency. But it lacks some of the very necessary ingredients, including taurine- on a long-term basis.
Our kitties turned up their noses to many Wellness products, and I try to stay away from beef and chicken since they have some food sensitivities and those proteins can commonly cause problems.
We are working toward raw-very slowly, and I am researching some recipies that may be more acceptable to them. While they love chopped liver- they are not keen on raw liver- one day I hope they will.
Jo, I’m curious if your beautiful cats ate the Wellness Core. I cannot get even the feral cat to eat it. What gives? It lacks the right smell or something. All the ingredients look right, and they charge enough money that you at least ‘think’ you are doing right by your cat! But alas…if they don’t eat it, they don’t eat it.
Eventually, I’ll find the right cocktail if home made and store bought that will entice even the most finicky. Just don’t anyone hold your breath waiting!
I remember Dee saying that the vet brand of A/d was like eating sliced mouse to a cat. I haven’t tried that yet. Am I right Dee? Is that what you said?
And the beat goes on………
my kitites prob would touch it was had enough when i cooked roast Rabbit they just looked at it. Ozzie had some of it but otherwise was left
I love your articles Jo – you are an amazing writer. 🙂
I would prefer standard high quality wet food or raw homemade but answering the question in the article: gourmet cat food tempts people into buying it but not necessarily a cat into eating it!
I am a bit cynical but….the word “gourmet” and the way the ingredients are presented indicate that the marketing is directed at human taste. It is almost as if the product is for people and the person is buying for a family member (a child). I think the product is all based on human psychology and humankind’s relationship (for the best and most concerned cat owners) with the domestic cat.
Thanks for the article Jo.