Whole Earth Farms Cat Food: Is It a Good Brand?
We know that choosing a perfect and healthy diet for our feline friends can be intimidating and challenging. There's a multitude of brands out there all claiming to use only the best all-natural ingredients in their products. Only a few brands, like Whole Earth Farms cat food, live up to what they claim.
How are we sure that Whole Earth Farms is as natural and good as it claims to be? First, let's have a look at the company.
What You Need To Know About Whole Earth Farms Cat Food
Merrick Pet Care Inc manufactures Whole Earth Farms cat food. The company is known for being one of the best all-natural pet food providers on the market.
Before you continue, we must discuss a significant development regarding Merrick Pet Care Inc.
As it turns out, Purina PetCare purchased Merrick Pet Care in 2015, which caused concern in many Merrick brand consumers.
Purina is a large company with several recognizable pet food brands including, Beneful, Pro Plan, Friskies, Fancy Feast, and others.
Unlike Merrick's Whole Earth Farms brand, most of these pet foods tend to contain unnatural additives. Purina is also infamous for using low-quality ingredients such as anonymous meats, known as by-products.
Like most companies, Purina tries to produce and design marketing campaigns which can attract as many pet owners as possible. That means they target all consumers and not just those who want an all natural product.
Purina recognizes the high demand for natural pet food, knowing that maintaining a reputation for its premium brands is essential. That fact is why you won't see Whole Earth Farms and other similar natural brands mentioned on Purina's website.
With all that said, Whole Earth Farms cat food is still a great premium brand of pet food!
It’s important to highlight that Whole Earth Farms continues to use all natural ingredients in its products. The brand hasn't changed anything about its recipe since it was purchased.
Whole Earth Farms only uses high quality, natural ingredients, delivering complete and balanced nutrition to your pet.
What To Look For When Buying Cat Food
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If you've ever heard of the saying, you are what you eat; it is equally true for our furry, four-legged friends.
Your cat must depend on you to fulfill all their basic nutritional needs.
Cats are carnivores, which means that they get the essential nutrients from their prey. They evolved as hunters by consuming high amounts of protein, fats, and acids.
They also require more than a dozen other nutrients, including vitamins and minerals. In fact, keeping your cat on a proper diet can help prevent or delay the risk of severe medical conditions.
So when choosing cat food, it's essential to know what to look for on the label. It is also just as important to know what to avoid.
What's On The Label
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Whole Earth Farms cat food contains high-quality proteins and all-natural ingredients throughout their products.
You always want a meat-based cat food with protein and natural ingredients to help support easier digestibility. Sometimes food brands may supplement natural protein with meat by-products that aren't healthy for your cat.
It is also good to stay away from artificial colors, flavors or preservatives.
The Whole Earth Farms brand uses a specific grain-free recipe that contains no corn, wheat, or soy.
Did you know that your cat only requires minimal carbohydrates in their diet? Excessive amounts of carbohydrates in grain-based cat food may occasionally cause problems in cats, including obesity, diarrhea, and maldigestion.
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Whole Earth Farms ensures the best nutrition by providing the necessary omegas, taurine, and essential amino acids to fuel all your cat's furry adventures.
Amino acids are the building blocks of protein. Your cat cannot produce enough essential amino acids so they must be supplied in the diet. The brand also includes an excellent source of vitamins and minerals.
The most familiar of these minerals include calcium, iron, copper, magnesium, potassium, sodium, and zinc. The list of vitamin supplements contains B12, A, D3, E, riboflavin, folic acid, biotin, and more.
Looking for brands that list these vitamins and minerals on their labels is key to keeping a healthy cat. From wound healing to immune system function, vitamins and minerals are critical to your pet’s overall health and well being.
Dry Cat Food Vs. Wet Cat Food
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There’s no right or wrong answer about whether you should feed canned or dry food to your cat. Although some people have extreme opinions on which is best.
Most nutritionists agree that cats should get a mixture of food, both dry and wet. The Whole Earth Farms brand supports this by offering a wide variety of the two.
Whole Earth Farms Dry Cat Food Products
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Many people find dry food to be more convenient.
Dry food is more cost effective with a much longer shelf life, even after opening. That is due to the lower moisture content kibble contains.
There is also less risk of bacterial growth with dry food so that you can leave it out all day.
Other than its convenience, many vets feel that dry food is also better for a cat’s teeth. The crunchy food may help reduce plaque and tartar buildup, but it's not a substitute for dental hygiene.
The only thing about dry food is that it contains kibble, which relies on the use of carbohydrates. However, Whole Earth Farms ensures minimal use of carbs in their dry food products by using a no-grain recipe.
But what does it cost?
Whole Earth Farms dry cat food is more affordable than most premium brands. It is available at most retail stores with an average price between $ to $ depending on the size of the bag. At this time, reviewers on Amazon gave this food 4.3 out of 5 stars.
Whole Earth Farms Wet Cat Food Products
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In the case of wet food, it's often more expensive and has a shorter shelf life. But many cats seem to find it more palatable, which can help if your cat has a finicky appetite.
Canned food also provides a much higher water content than dry kibble. Sometimes cats don’t consume enough water on their own. So you may want to select wet food for that reason.
The moist texture may also be more comfortable for your cat to chew. However, it is less convenient.
Unlike dry food, you should never leave wet cat food out more than 30 to 60 minutes at a time. It's essential to keep this in mind to prevent the risk of bacterial growth.
And the price?
Just like the brand's dry food, Whole Earth Farms wet cat food line is affordable, at a decent average of $ to $ per can. This food currently has earned a rating of 3.3 out of 5 stars on Amazon.
Other Important Factors When Buying Cat Food
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In total, Whole Earth Farms offers more than 20 different varieties of wet and dry cat food in their product line.
Both of the canned and dry cat food is balanced and can be an essential part of any cat’s diet. Deciding on which is better will ultimately come down to personal preference.
Mostly that of your cat's.
Speaking of your cat, there are other essential things you should consider when choosing the right food. Many things factor when it comes to your cat's personal needs.
Most brands, including Whole Earth Farms, provide unique blends specifically based on your cat's age, shape, and body type.
Age And Body Matters
Adult cats should eat enough high-quality, nutritious food to meet their energy needs and to maintain and repair body tissues. Most food is targeted towards an adult cat's needs.
But not all cats are adults.
Kittens And Cats Under One Year
When you have a kitten, it's vital that the food you offer is specially formulated for kittens. Kittens can be fed from a can or given constant access to dry food.
Kitten food is usually higher in protein, calories, and fats, which are necessary to support healthy growth and body function. The right formula is essential for happy, growing cats.
Whole Earth Farms offers grain free kitten food that is formulated to meet all the nutritional needs of your kitten. Your kitten will need to eat this formula food until they reach maturity -- at about one year of age.
Senior And Geriatric Cats
Beginning around seven years of age, cats begin transitioning from adulthood to the older stages of life. As your cat ages, health issues may arise, which is why your senior cat might require a specific blend of food.
If your cat is doing well on the current diet, then there may be no need to change to a different formula.
However, food specifically made for older cats delivers ingredients which can be digested easier than standard adult cat foods.
Senior cat food is made to maintain the health and optimum body weight of your cat. This blend of food may also slow or prevent the development of chronic diseases.
If Your Cat Is Overweight
Obesity is a prevalent problem in cats and, like humans, can be detrimental to their overall health.
The majority of cases of obesity are related to merely overfeeding your cat.
Being overweight will add stress upon the body and will put your cat at an increased risk of diabetes. An obese cat can also develop liver problems and chronic joint pain.
It is essential to contact your veterinarian before you choose to put your cat on any special dietary food.
How Whole Earth Farms Stands Against Its Competitors
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If you're still concerned about the Purina connection, there are some great alternatives similar to Whole Earth Farms cat food.
Brands such as Blue Buffalo, Natural Balance, and Taste of the Wild all use natural ingredients and make suitable substitutes. They also offer unique blends for kittens and senior cats. However, you may run into some slight differences between the brands.
Let's have a look at these alternative pet food brands below
Blue Buffalo Freedom Grain Free Cat Food
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Inspired and named after the founder's Airedale terrier Blue, Blue Buffalo is one of the best alternative natural food brands.
Even though the company began with dog food, they also offer five different cat food lines. Two of which are from a grain-free formula.
These two grain-free cat food lines are original BLUE and BLUE Freedom.
When compared to Whole Earth Farms cat food, BLUE Buffalo contains a moderate amount of natural protein content and fat. The brand does not use any meat by-products or other artificial additives.
BLUE Buffalo cat food also includes a natural blend of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals.
As with all products on this list, this cat food is grain-free and omits the use of corn, rice, or wheat. Overall, it rewards the BLUE Buffalo brand a slightly lower carbohydrate level.
The only drawback some people may find is that the company has had some recalls in the past. However, BLUE Buffalo hasn't had any issues in the last few years.
Compared to other brands targeted as premium and natural, BLUE Buffalo is relatively inexpensive. It's available at most retail stores with an average price between $ to $ for dry food. This food has a 4.2 out of 5 stars on Amazon.
You can also find wet food at an affordable price at about $ to $ per can. It has a 3.4 out of 5 rating on Amazon at this time.
Natural Balance Limited Ingredients Cat Food
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Natural Balance is one of the first to take advantage of the growing demand for organic and natural pet food.
This brand is an excellent alternative because of its optimal amino acid profile, which includes vitamins, minerals, and veggies.
A wide variety of natural protein is used in Natural Balance cat food. Venison, lamb, bison, buffalo, and duck are some of the more unique offered meat sources.
This company also offers limited ingredient products, which appeals to cats with food sensitivities and allergies. Instead of commonly allergenic proteins from chicken and beef, the food is made primarily from pea and duck protein.
Unlike Whole Earth Farms, the company tends to use large amounts of plant ingredients, which makes it higher in carbohydrates.
But, with its broad selection of limited ingredient foods, Natural Balance may be the best choice for cats who struggle with digestion.
Natural Balance has a mid-range price with its dry food averaging around $ to $ depending on the size of the bag. The dry food also earned an impressive rating of 4.2 out of 5 stars on Amazon at the time this article is written.
The brand's wet food is also relatively inexpensive costing anywhere from $ to $ per can, and has a 3.8 out of 5 star rating on Amazon at the time this article is written.
Taste of the Wild Rocky Mountain Cat Food
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Like Whole Earth Farms cat food, this brand ensures the use a grain-free recipe.
Diamond Pet Foods manufacture Taste of the Wild. It's a family owned and privately held business with each formula produced by their nutritionists to fulfill nutritional needs.
Many cat owners like the philosophy behind the brand, which is including only the ingredients your cat would eat in the wild.
As stated, the brand uses premium formulas without any unnatural additives such as artificial coloring or flavors.
Where both brands offer top-quality grain free cat food in a variety of flavors, Taste of the Wild includes venison. Whole Earth Farms cat food focuses more on common meats with its most exotic being duck.
Both brands offer similar all-natural ingredients and the right amount of vitamins and minerals your cat needs.
Unfortunately, you can expect a higher price tag if you go with Taste of The Wild.
The average price of a bag of dry food will cost you anywhere from $ to $. It has also earned 4.3 out of 5 stars from its customers on Amazon at the time this article is written.
You should also expect to pay around $ to $ per canned wet food, which earned the best wet food rating here at 4.1 stars out of 5 on Amazon at the time this article is written.
Other than price, another drawback is that this brand is not available at most retail stores, unlike Whole Earth Farms. With that aside, Taste of the Wild is still a great natural brand that meets all your cat's needs.
Final Thoughts On Whole Earth Farms Cat Food
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Whole Earth Farms cat food is a pretty decent source of nutrition for the cost. The brand takes care in ensuring that all its products are safe, natural, and free of unnecessary ingredients and harmful additives.
It does seem like the company puts the health of your pet first.
Not only that, to this date, unlike other major pet food brands, Whole Earth Farms has never experienced a recall of its products. So there is no reason to question the safety or the quality of the company's cat food.
And in my opinion, that says a lot.
For cat owners looking for an affordable, safe, and nutritious brand, Whole Earth Farms cat food is a great choice.
But enough about our opinion, what do you and your furry friend think? Please let us know in the comments section below!
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