I wanted to share something with those who think looking at the first ingredient in a pet food is telling them something because it means absolutely nothing about the nutritional value of the food! In some cases, the exact opposite. Many of us are very ignorant, including myself, about pet food ingredients and you have to see the big picture to know what you're buying.  The first ingredient is NOT the basis of the food and if you buy a food that has meat listed as the first ingredient, you could actually be feeding your pet mostly grain. It's a little confusing but these articles explain, you must read, it's very eye opening...

Here is a glimpse into the first article:

"The ingredient list is of special interest to dog owners. Many look at the first ingredient and if it’s not a protein source like beef or chicken they assume that the food is low-quality.  They do this because it’s exactly what some pet food marketers and self-proclaimed pet food experts have taught them to do, even though it goes against all nutritional common sense."

PART I
http://www.animalpetsandfriends.com/Article/Commercial-Pet-Food-Myth-Busters--The-First-Ingredient--Part-1-/272

PART II
In Part 1 we talked about some of the tricks that pet manufacturers use to make their products look more appealing to consumers.
http://www.animalpetsandfriends.com/Article/Commercial-Pet-Food-Myth-Busters--The-First-Ingredient--Part-2-/273

Not trying to boast Kumpi, but the chart here explains it visually very well.
Scroll down to chart
http://www.kumpi.com

Scroll down about pet food labels
http://www.itchmo.com/read/a-pet-food-manufacturer-speaks-up_20070329

from the first link:

"Ingredients are listed in descending order by weight. A protein source like “beef” or “chicken” will appear first in the list of ingredients because the water weight of the protein source simply outweighs the other ingredients. (Whole meat is very high in moisture and actually contains about 75% water.) So in some cases, the first ingredient may contribute a ton of water to the diet and very little nutrition."

so corn meal would contain even more corn by weight than corn?

Thanks for the web sites.  We need all the info. we can get.  I keep adding more and more to my favorites to read.  Gret work.  Thanks again.

i think many will. not everyone can afford the premium brands, but they will be able to chose a better affordable brand and not buy into marketing now that everyone has been through label reading 101, pet food ingredient reality 201, and PFI graduate studies 

in regards to the corn meal, i could see that *might* work with meat but not sure if it would hold up for meat and bone meal and chicken meal as both are basically a dry ingredient? for me, raw and home prepared is easier than always comparing labels, as i learned a few years ago trying to find a good dalmatian diet with low purine proteins. but i guess according to the FDA vet, my dal (and cats) shouldn't be thriving! lol!~

I was amazed when this all started - that the so-called premium foods contained the same Ingredients as the Priority Cat's Delight dry (generic for Deli Cat) did.  That's what woke me up.  This whole recall woke me up to the fact that I may have killed fluffer unknowingly at the age of 14 (I had him since he was a kitten) - by feeding him what I thought was OKay food.

I will never feed trash in a bag/can again.  Siberia no longer throws up anything, neither does Baby Girl (but hers was very rare).  However, we make the best decisions we can - and while the information was helpful - I really don't feel like spending all my pet food dollars on Kumpi - when I can get the equivalent for less (and they also test their foods).

HLM - I applaud your happiness - but I'm not going with the myth of the first ingredient as an endorsement for Corn.  Just my 2 cents.

Well, this happened with a user by the name of Suruli whom posts on EBay's Animal boards (where I did most of my posting prior to here).  Everyone over there was doing the same as here - switching to raw/home diets - trying to switch to raw/home diets and failing  - or trying to research the best alternatives.

I started with a budget of $12 per month for Cat Food.  They recommended Chicken Soup for the Soul Dry, though some were using the more expensive brands.  My cats took very little time for the switch on that one.

Then I realized they needed wet food.  I picked up some cans of Eagle Pack Holistic Chicken & Lamb (since I didn't want the rice formulas).  I later learned it was made at Menu Foods (but because they need to ship the product back and test before distribution, and that was the closest plant).  I wanted to boycott Menu, so I picked up some Felidae.

Now, the guys kinda liked the Eagle, but refused the Felidae.  Baby Girl eats anything  .  So - the determined folk that I am - I went 2/3 Eagle to 1/3 Felidae for the boys, and the opposite from Baby Girl.  At first was struggle, but no longer free feeding kibble, they finally turned aroudn.

Then had extensive conversation with Innova regarding their regular formula.  They sent out some coupons for cases (which I will be using).  Now - I still have the Eagle Pack case, and a few cans of Innova.  The boys are starting to like the Innova better - but because of my last bout with mixing - they will turn up their noses to pure Felidae, but they want partial Felidae in their foods.

So it becomes a total Meal Preparing experience. 

In the morning 1/3 cup Chicken Soup dry for the boys, about 1/4 cup for Baby Girl (she's 14).  In the evening -for the boys - 2 cans of Eagle to be followed by one can of Innova (maybe will turn the rest of the Eagle in, make sure Reber has the case of Innova, and just get it).  I mix some Felidae (about a heaping tablespoon) to the portion averaging about 1/3 can, and split.  For Baby Girl, 1/3 can or 2 large tablespoons of Felidae to about 1/2 tablespoon of the other.  Heat up a tad (add water - just a little - if its refrigerated - this also gives it a gravy flavor).  Sprinkle Parmesan Cheese on top - just a little.  Jimmy Kitty (whom is not used to wet food at all), gets about 6 kibbles of Chicken soup in his bowl.

Walla - happy kitties.

And the food budget went to about $50 or so per month (I must buy the 13.2 oz cans for the sake of budget - can't go much higher - so if the food isn't in a large can to split between kitties - then I won't buy it).