More problems with sourcing cat foods
I've been fairly long time satisfied with the line up of cat foods that my cats are fed 2 - 3 times a day. Made a change late last year to quit Halo's dry formulas (3) after many years to a new Fromm dry formula Hasen Duckenpfeffer and was rewarded with an most unexpected result. Besides most of the cats liking it, one cat that has been for last 6-8 years licking his fur off his tummy, back legs and one large spot on one side has now had all his bare spots fill in beautifully. No more excessive licking and he had been seen by the Vet several times early on. The thinking was after all the tests were returned neg that Bear does it "because he can" which actually fit his cat personality at that time. Lately because of changes made by the cat food manufactures I've had to make a near complete change over to other cat food formulas both dry and canned. A recent grief has been with Champion Pet Foods(CA) and sold under the Acana brand name opening their huge new pet food factory in Kentucky. The Acana product (2) had been for long time my main dry cat food but now its changed to the USA product only and the new Acana cat food is absolutely no good, all my cats are avoiding it. I'm finished with Acana and probably Orijen too. My new choice for dry is Nature's Variety Ultimate Protein. I'm on my 2nd 10 lb bag and its all the cats fav and so much so that I've got a problem developing with having them finish up the remaining Pure Vita, Acana and other left overs. Now the canned foods are becoming a problem. I've fed the cats both Wellness 12.5, 5.5 oz size same old canned since 2002 and Petguard almost as long. What has become clear is that in recent years their foods vary in quality and taste from batch to batch. Too many times I've had to return case after case to exchange for the same in another formula. Petguard seemed better for awhile but now I think its variable in quality also. But here's my latest grief with Wellness. Long time ago I was advised that the 5.5 size was produced by at different location/factory then the large size cans. Its been probably two years that I only buy the 5.5 oz size but the quality is seemingly variable as judged by the cats. Now there's this. I purchased recently three cases 72 cans total mixed formulas Wellness from Whole Foods. I open 6 cans of the Chicken Formula over 3 days and the cats almost ate none of it. I didn't think it would be possible that a freshly opened can of cat food could be so rejected. It looked about right, not off in color and I didn't notice any odor but then I didn't put my nose in it either. Then I noticed something odd about the remaining unopened cans, the lids on all the cans of that same formula are "puffed up". Compared to other older bb dated cans, the older cans lids are depressed and tight. The case of Chicken Formula bb 11 JAN 19 are all exhibiting pressure buildup under the lids. I returned my case to Whole Foods for an easy exchange but don't think they were much impressed by the implication of a "bad batch" of cat food on the shelf. When I went back to the pet food section in the store there was probably 40-50 cans of the same, all with the same "puffed lid" appearance. I contacted the Wellness "Consumer Loyalty Team" but haven't had a reply comment as of yet.
Anyone here using the Acana product for cats USA or CA?
Anyone have a recommendation on canned cat foods? I think I have to do a complete change over. Problem will likely be to find a product in the more economical 12-14 oz size cans. I'm thinking giving Nature's Variety Instinct canned a try. Seems I remember being told that their dog food formula in the larger cans was identical to a few of their cat formulas. Anyone know about this?
Here's the suspect Wellness cans on the store shelf.
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