This is a review of Natural Balance cat food.
As a feline Nutritionist and pet owner, I have bought various types of foods for my cats. My main concern always was how to provide the best nutrition for my pets.
I believe that our pets deserve the best possible food that we can provide.
In this article, I aim to show:
- what ingredients are in branded pet food
- how this affects your loved cat
So you can make an informed choice if particular cat food is best for your pet.
With so many options available on cat food shelves, it is easy to be overwhelmed, which is the best cat food overall.
I have researched Natural Balance cat food products in-depth to help you determine if this cat food brand is the best diet for your cat.
Natural Balance offers wet and dry cat food products for their customers.
This pet food comes in duck, turkey, chicken liver, salmon, venison, and scampi flavors. Includes cat food for all life stages.
Natural Balance cat food range has Limited Ingredient Diet products, crafted using single-source protein and limited carbohydrate sources for a complete and balanced blend. It’s perfect for cats with food sensitivities or pet owners who want to minimize the number of ingredients their pets are exposed to.
Natural Balance cat food is a leading premium brand of pet food that was created in 1989. Their headquarters are based in Pacoima, Los Angeles, California.
The Natural Balance cat food manufacturer sources their high-quality ingredients within the United States, depending on availability.
However, certain ingredients will need to be outsourced (Lamb, Venison, Duck, Rabbit, Vitamin Packs, etc.) to ensure top quality and freshness while meeting a reasonable price point for pets owners.
This comprehensive cat food review will analyze this brand’s ingredients and nutritional content. We will also discuss customer reviews, possible recalls, and potential alternatives for this pet food from Natural Balance.
Keep reading for more details.
Natural Balance Cat Food Overview.
Natural Balance cat food makes dry and wet food products.
Their recipes are made without No Corn, No Wheat, No Soy and are Grain-Free.
Note:
Few of the formulas in the Natural Balance cat food range contain Canola oil. Although it is not harmful or toxic for your cat to consume this ingredient, more natural oils and fats are better for cats—olive oil, fish oil, animal fats, etc.
All formulas meet AAFCO Guidelines for pet food.
Here are their most popular options for Natural Balance cat food:
- Natural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Green Pea & Chicken Formula Grain-Free Dry Cat Food
- Natural Balance Original Ultra Whole Body Health Chicken, Salmon & Duck Formula Canned Cat Food
- Natural Balance Original Ultra Chicken Meal & Salmon Meal Formula Dry Cat Food
- Natural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Green Pea & Venison Grain-Free Dry Cat Food
- Natural Balance Fat Cats with Chicken Meal, Salmon Meal, Garbanzo Beans, Peas & Oatmeal Dry Cat Food
We select Natural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Green Pea & Chicken Formula Grain-Free Dry Cat Food for detailed analysis.
This cat food is designed for adult cats.
Also, the Natural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Green Pea & Chicken Formula Grain-Free Dry Cat Food formula is the most popular option for cats in the Natural Balance food range.
Label Analysis.
Below we have a detailed analysis of the Natural Balance cat food label.
Natural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Green Pea & Chicken Formula Grain-Free Dry Cat Food
Ingredients list: Green Peas, Chicken Meal, Chicken, Chicken Fat (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Pea Protein, Natural Flavor, Salmon Oil (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Calcium Carbonate, Flaxseed, Potassium Chloride, Salt, Choline Chloride, Dl-Methionine, Minerals (Zinc Proteinate, Zinc Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Iron Proteinate, Copper Sulfate, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Sulfate, Manganese Proteinate, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite), Taurine, Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, Thiamine Mononitrate, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin A Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Folic Acid, Biotin), Mixed Tocopherols (Preservative), Rosemary Extract, Green Tea Extract, Spearmint Extract.
Guaranteed Analysis:
| Crude protein | 30.0% min |
| Crude fat | 12.0% min |
| Crude fiber | 4.0% max |
| Moisture | 10.0% max |
Total caloric content:
410 kcal/cup
Ingredients Analysis
Most cat foods contain balanced ingredients range of carbohydrates, protein, fats, added vitamins, and minerals for overall health.
Let us look at the ingredients in this particular formula.
Green Peas are carbohydrates. With Grain-free cat foods becoming more and more popular, this plant food is increasingly added to cat food formulas.
They are called “fillers,” something to hold the dry kibble together.
Source of vitamins C and E, zinc, and other antioxidants that strengthen cat’s immune system.
Chicken Meal:
Dry product from a combination of clean flesh and skin with and without accompanying bone, derived from whole carcasses of turkey, which might include feathers, heads, feet, and entrails.
It’s high in protein and amino acids to help strengthen and maintain your pet’s muscles. It’s also a high-quality source of glucosamine for joint health.
Chicken:
An excellent quality real meat provides lean protein for your cat’s balanced nutrition.
Lean meats provide all necessary for a strong heart, good vision, and a healthy reproductive system.
Chicken Fat (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols):
Fat is an important energy source for your cat. Helps transport nutrients and other substances across the body. Keep your cat’s skin and coat healthy.
Mixed-tocopherols are a natural form of Vitamin E.
Essential vitamin for cats:
- It helps maintain optimal health,
- Antioxidant to protect cells from damage (helps add oxygen to the cell body),
- Improves immune system and fertility,
- Heart health.
Pea Protein:
It’s typically used to increase the protein content in pet foods.
Pea protein is a high-quality protein and a great source of iron. It can aid muscle growth, weight loss, and heart health.
Natural Flavor:
The liver flavor is a palatability enhancer made from hydrolyzed livers. It is a natural product with great nutritional value for your cat.
The natural flavoring is derived from the juices of the protein inside the formula. For this Natural Balance Green Pea and Chicken Recipe, that would mean the natural meat flavor of the chicken.
Benefits:
- Eye vision, especially night vision,
- Skin and fur health,
- Bone formation,
- Immune system support,
- Overall support from over oxidation.
Salmon Oil (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols): This is an excellent source of protein and has Omega 3, which is perfect for your cat’s skin and coat.
Mixed-tocopherols are a natural form of Vitamin E.
Essential vitamin for cats:
- It helps maintain optimal health,
- Antioxidant to protect cells from damage (helps add oxygen to the cell body),
- Improves immune system and fertility,
- Heart health.
Calcium Carbonate:
Ground limestone is an easy-to-use, safe, effective, and economical source of calcium fortification for cat diets.
Some research shows that this can be beneficial for cats with kidney and urinary tract issues.
Flaxseed:
It contains Omega 3 fatty acids, which can be beneficial for your cat’s coat health.
In pet foods, it might be used to aid digestive health and ease constipation. However, there is no conclusive evidence about cats.
Potassium Chloride is a form of flavorless salt. This enhances the flavor of cat food. Also, potassium is a vital mineral:
- It helps regulate fluid balance, muscle contractions, and nerve signals,
- Reduces blood pressure and water retention,
- Prevents kidney stones and osteoporosis.
Salt is a source of essential minerals needed for maintaining good health and the proper metabolism in cats.
It is composed of sodium and chloride, which are two essential minerals for cats. They maintain the balance of body fluids.
Salt can be added to canned food to make the food taste better. Added salt might increase thirst and water consumption. But not to worry, extra salt is excreted in cats’ urine.
Choline Chloride:
A building block for the nervous system, however too much of it can have adverse effects like vomiting in your cat.
Dl-Methionine:
Methionine is an essential amino acid for all animal species.
It is also used to increase the acidity of urine, treat liver disorders, and improve wound healing.
Minerals and Vitamins are essential for your cat’s overall wellbeing and healthy body.
Minerals (Zinc Proteinate, Zinc Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Iron Proteinate, Copper Sulfate, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Sulfate, Manganese Proteinate, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite),
Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, Thiamine Mononitrate, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin A Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Folic Acid, Biotin),
Taurine is a critical amino acid for your cat.
Essential for:
- normal vision,
- digestion,
- heart muscle function,
- maintaining normal pregnancy and fetal development,
- healthy immune system.
Mixed Tocopherols (Preservative) are natural forms of vitamin E.
Antioxidants that help maintain the taste, appearance, and nutritional benefits of your pet’s food.
Rosemary Extract, Green Tea Extract, Spearmint Extract:
A natural preservative that helps prevent oxidation and maintain product quality in the Natural Balance cat food range.
Nutrient analysis
Crude protein 30.0% min
Kittens will need around 30%- 40% crude protein in their diet per day. They are growing fast, so they need as much lean protein as possible to maintain good bone and muscle health. High energy output requires higher protein, minerals, vitamins, and amino acid foods.
Adult cats require 35%- 40% protein in their diet.
But is it possible to feed too much protein to a cat? Generally, if a cat has a shiny coat, is alert, has normal stool and skin, ideal weight. It probably means that the food is okay.
Senior cats
It can be a bit tricky to determine how much protein a senior cat needs. The difficulty is in the fact that elderly cats might develop kidney disease. A high protein diet could harm the kidneys further. On the other hand, a low protein diet will mean muscle mass loss.
The best things to do in this case:
- See your cats veterinarian for a kidney check-up
- Focus on quality rather than quantity in protein.
For example, if your cat’s food label has chicken as the first ingredient. This means that your cat is getting quality lean protein.
- Change your cat’s diet to a lower protein diet.
(do it gradually as cats do not like change in diet).
Crude Fat 12.0% min
Cats get their energy from protein and fat and favor a meal where protein and fat are high.
Some owners might be tempted to feed a cat a low-fat diet to ensure obesity is not a problem. However, cats need more fat content and tend to overeat low-fat food to meet their nutritional needs.
Look for actual animal fat in your cat’s food label. This Natural balance cat food formula contains Chicken fat which is an excellent sign of balanced nutrition.
Crude Fiber 4.0% max
The fiber in cat food has become somewhat a controversial topic. It might seem that cats in the wild only eat meat, but actually, they eat all the animals with their prey’s skin, hoves, intestines, and stomach contents.
This could mean that our felines do need a bit of fiber content in their meals.
Your veterinarian might prescribe a low or high-fiber diet if your cat is experiencing digestive problems.
For example, a high fiber content can help a diabetic cat, and a low fiber diet can help with small intestine problems.
It is always important to speak to your veterinarian for advice on your cat’s diet if digestive problems occur.
Natural Balance Cat Food Reviews
95% of cat owners on Chewy would recommend Natural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Green Pea & Chicken Formula Grain-Free Dry Cat Food formula.
This product in Natural Balance cat food has a 4.6 out of 5 stars rating.
Most reviews share that the cat food:
- It does not have an “offensive” cat food smell
- It is not as filling as some similar brands for cats
- Great limited ingredient formula for cats with skin and upset stomach issues
- Vet recommended product
- Cats did not have a problem with food transfer to the Natural Balance formula.
“My cat has had chronic diarrhea for four years now, and I’ve been searching for help the entire time. Finally, I purchased this food along with Instinct by Nature’s Variety Original Grain-free cat food and Vital Essentials Chicken Freeze-Dried Raw Dog & Cat Food Topper. My cat loves it, and he had regular poop in THREE short days! No more diarrhea or throwing up. I am very thankful!”
You can read more on:
Recalls
There is no current recall for the Natural Balance cat food range.
The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act) require that all animal foods, like human foods, be safe to eat, produced under sanitary conditions, contain no harmful substances, and be truthfully labeled. In addition, canned pet foods must be processed in conformance with the low acid canned food regulations to ensure the pet food is free of viable microorganisms. (2)
You can find a complete list of F.D.A. recalls here.
Alternatives
Suppose you think that Natural Balance cat food is not the ideal choice for your cat. There are a few alternatives to consider.
Blue Buffalo Wilderness Chicken Grain-Free Canned Cat Food
Blue Buffalo is a High Protein Grain Free, Natural Adult Pate Wet Cat Food.
Quality protein is the first ingredient like chicken, meat, or fish.
Designed for all stages of your cat’s life with specific formulas for kittens and older cats included.
Stella & Chewy’s Chick Chick Chicken Dinner Morsels Freeze-Dried Raw Cat Food
Stella and Chewy’s freeze-dried raw cat food is one of the favorites among cat owners when commercial freeze-dried raw food is mentioned.
Never contains grains, gluten, fillers, artificial preservatives, or colorings.
Instinct Limited Ingredient Diet Grain-Free Recipe
Instinct limited ingredient formula is great if your cat develops sensitivity or food intolerance.
Never contain any grain, dairy, eggs, chicken, beef, fish, sweet potato, potato, chickpeas, corn, wheat, soy, artificial colors, or preservatives.
In Conclusion
We recommend Natural Balance cat food for owners looking for a balanced nutrition product for their pets, especially if Limited Ingredient Diet has to be considered.
This review shows that Natural Balance is a cat food brand loved by other cat owners and cats.
It contains omega-3 and 6 fatty acids to nourish skin and fur, with zero grains, wheat, or wheat gluten, so it’s great for cats with sensitivities or food allergies.
Speak with your cat’s veterinarian today to determine if Natural Balance cat food would be an excellent formula for your cat.
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