2. Things to know before the review...
The review is about the ingredients used in the
formula.
Protein, carbohydrate, and fat levels are not
really taken into consideration.
The ingredients list can give you a good idea of
the kind of cat food you are dealing with.
Seeing real meat sources and minimal filler ingredients
tells you that animal protein is more prominent.
It can also tell you if artificial ingredients are present, bringing
the quality of the food down.
However, it is not 100% accurate.
3. Example
For this review, the BLUE Wilderness Chicken
Recipe has been used.
Each Blue Buffalo formula is very similar; they all
follow the same pattern.
In this instance, the Wilderness line is used.
According to Blue Buffalo, the Wilderness line is
grain-free and protein rich, providing cats with
the nutrients they need.
6. Looking at these ingredients more
closely…
Potatoes
Ingredients like this are almost always present in cat foods
labeled ‘grain-free.’
These ingredients are grain, and carbohydrate, substitutes.
While potatoes are not necessarily harmful, carbohydrates are
not needed in a cats’ diet.
Consistently over-feeding carbohydrates will cause weight
gain.
However, potatoes are considered healthier than grains like
corn.
Therefore, this ingredient can be considered good or bad,
depending on how you want to look at it.
7. Guar Gum
This is a naturally occurring substance found in guar
beans. It is common in cat food, as well as food for us
humans.
In cat foods, it is a thickening agent. It gets added in
powder form. It thickens the fluids and acts as a stabilizer.
It can also improve the shelf life of the food.
It really has no nutritional value. It is mainly used for the
reasons above.
In fact, it can decrease protein intake. It can cause GI
upset and diarrhea too.
With that being said, there are more controversial
thickening agents used in cat food. Guar gum is one of
the better ones.
8. Carrageenan
Speaking of controversial thickening agents, this is probably the
most controversial one. Like guar gum, carrageenan is a naturally
occurring substance. It comes from a certain seaweed.
And like guar gum, it is used for its thickening and stabilizing
properties.
This ingredient is controversial because it is linked with cancer.
Non food grade carrageenan is harmful. The carrageenan that is
used for humans and animals is food-grade carrageenan; it is
safe.
Many pet owners still like to avoid carrageenan just because of
the reputation. There is a certain risk factor when it comes to
carrageenan.
In addition, it can also cause gastrointestinal upset and diarrhea.
Carrageenan is found in many commercial cat foods.
9. Cassia Gum
Cassia gums are mainly used in pet foods, unlike
other thickening agents that are used in human
foods too.
It is a naturally occurring substance coming from
the cassia plant.
Cassia gum is often used with another thickening
agent. It is rarely used alone.
This is because cassia gums are good at forming
gels with other thickening agents.
While it is not ideal, in correct doses it is not
harmful. It may cause GI upset as it is not easy to
break down.
10. Sodium Selenite
This ingredient is very common in commercial cat foods. It
is an ingredient that is usually at the bottom of the
ingredients list and goes unnoticed.
This is an artificial source of selenium.
The problem with this ingredient is the concern for
selenium toxicity.
Many ingredients in cat food, such as meat and grain,
already have selenium naturally present.
Combine this with the additional selenium due to the
sodium selenite, and there's the potential for too much
selenium.
However, sodium selenite is in cat foods in trace amounts.
This ingredient does have the potential to be hazardous, but
there hasn’t been widespread reports of selenium toxicity.
11. The longer, chemical sounding
names…
Ingredients such as Riboflavin, d-Calcium
Pantothenate, and Pyridoxine Hydrochloride are
not to be worrisome.
These are supplements for needed vitamins.
Sometimes these long, chemical like names can be
concerning.
In commercial cat foods, supplements are used.
There are very, very few commercial cat foods that
don’t use supplements because the
supplementation is provided in the ingredients
already.
13. Why?
• Potatoes are present as a carbohydrate substitute.
While this isn't terrible, it isn’t necessary. These
additional carbohydrates aren't great.
• Sodium Selenite is present. Again, this ingredient is
about your opinion of it. The rating takes a bit of a hit,
but not a significant one because of it.
• Three thickening agents: guar gum, carrageenan, cassia
gum. This is where the rating falls. The addition of all
three of these ingredients could be avoided.
– Each of these can attribute to upset stomach.
– They all serve the same purpose so why couldn’t only one
do?
14. Disclaimer
This review is the opinion of one person.
I have no training in the pet care industry.
I am just providing information based on my own
personal research.
This review should be taken on an ‘as is’ basis. It should
not be used as professional advice, diagnosis, or
treatment.
Because this is only opinion, it is okay if you disagree with
any of the previous slides.
If you have any questions, asking your veterinarian is your
best option.
15. Thank you!
If you wish to view reviews for most of Blue
Buffalo’s cat food, please visit:
bestcatfoodforcats.com/blue-buffalo-cat-food-
reviews/
