My cats really like Earthborn Chicken Catcciatori, so I decided to let them try this flavor. They ate it and someone threw up a couple times. They also left the peas and carrots in the bottom of the bowl. Why peas and carrots were in cat food is beyond me. Later, I also read the label more carefully and realized the can contained Menadione Sodium Bisulfite, an ingredient that is controversial in pet food (See Susan Thixton's writings on the Truth About Pet Food dot com, in addition to other sources). Menadione Sodium Bisulfite is considered a cheaper way of providing for vitamin K. Further, it is most often sourced from China.
I have had trouble with Earthborn Chicken Catcciatori foods being poorly mixed --where I can see evidence of a whitish powder that was not well-mixed into the food. In the past, I contacted the company and was told that the food is hand-mixed to preserve its texture and that the company would address the issue. The problem has continued to be evident. I had been thinking I would continue to give my cats the food as they like it so much, but considering that the company will use what I consider to be a sketchy ingredient causes me to have less trust in them. Their food is expensive...considered ultra-premium. I would think they could do better.
Very disappointed and cannot recommend this food.
Ingredients (from company web site): Salmon, Salmon Broth, Whitefish Tuna, Peas, Carrots, Sunflower Oil, Guar Gum, Tapioca Starch, Tricalcium Phosphate, Carrageenan, Taurine, Potassium Chloride, Choline Chloride, Ferrous Sulfate, Niacin, Vitamin E Supplement, Zinc Oxide, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Manganese Sulfate, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Manganese Sulfate, Vitamin A Supplement, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (Source of Vitamin K Activity), Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Copper Proteinate, Sodium Selenite, Biotin, Vitamin D3 Suppment, Folic Acid, Potassium Iodide.
June 2013 Update on Earthborn foods in general I have had to stop feeding Earthborn chicken foods even though my cats love it. I figured out by feeding trials that one of my cats gets awful diarrhea with tapioca and potato starch. She used to tolerate the ingredients, but no more. Since withdrawal of the offending foods, both cats have nice tootsie roll poops that are not as malodorous. The cat with the main issue had foul-smelling pudding-like stools and flatulence. Both cats stools now are much better smelling (as good as cat poo can be) and better formed. Another cat had increased dander with potato and tapioca starch....and that is now markedly reduced. I have read that cats, obligate carnivores, can have issues with carbohydrates (i.e., tapioca, potato)...and it will manifest as osmotic diarrhea. I certainly saw that. Pet food companies use tapioca and potato starch to make gravies. I now rely on other brands, including TikiCat chicken canned food.
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