I have therefore sought over the years to approximate objectification by various information and also asked the manufacturers themselves on the occasion of the review of "Felix Nibble Mix" from the "snack box". Purina has a consumer phone and my request was there answered by an "expert" on the subject - at least it was my impression that this really was a professionally trained scientists and not just a marketing technically trained strategists of Nestlé Purina. Basis of the review is the following summary of the conversation and I'm determined (by memory protocol and as far as I have understood correctly the relationships) on three key questions. My opinion on the various aspects I press this time like this:
+ Has convinced me
? undecided
- Has not convinced me
Why dry food contains a comparatively high proportion of cereal?
Cats are naturally carnivores well, but their prey contains the digestive tract and in the wild, a proportion of plant foods. Protein is essential in the diet. The decisive factor for a cat but only the optimal composition of different amino acids in combination with, for example, iron or taurine. Whether the amino acids of animal or vegetable origin, is not decisive, but rather the optimum combination. Sounds consistent. (+) In theory, a cat to be nourished purely vegan (there's even appropriate meat-free feed), but I doubt that such a lining would encounter much acceptance in most cats. Furthermore, one must then take great care that the cat still gets all the essential nutrients in the right dosage.
How can I exclude that an oversupply caused by the added vitamins?
With vitamins applies to animals and humans not "much better". An oversupply is possibly just as harmful as a deficiency. By the composition is in compliance with the recommended feeding but ensures that you remain in a narrow corridor between over- and under-supply. By soaking from it, but is above all the number of calories and thus obesity problem. The reasoning may sound logical. Indeed me but the implementation of the recommendation seem difficult, especially if you have several cats. An advantage of dry food is that you can leave it (especially in the absence of) standing around and the cat uses when needed themselves. Unfortunately, but often feeds the bowl and not the animal. The result is obesity. In addition, it is difficult to control and influence, if the cat is drinking enough if you only fed dry food. That is why I am on this point rather indecisive (?) To negative, above all due to the next aspect.
Why the product contains sugar and flavorings?
Short answer: To increase the acceptance of the feed in the cat. Whether the flavor enhancer (grilled meat flavor!) Are natural or chemical origin, you could not tell me. For the use of additives to keep strictly to the so-called positive list of permitted substances. The sugar is also on the concentration so low that it does not negatively influencing the calorie balance. Also, the sugar is added because of the smell of the cat as a flavoring agent, so that the cat takes the food better. To this extent, caries is not a problem, because on the one hand the cat's teeth (eg molars) differently constituted either as human teeth and also the composition of saliva. It may be that this is true. I see in terms of flavoring substances as cat owner but a problem in the everyday implementation of Feeding recommendation (see above), namely because the food tastes so good that my fur monster not stop eating, even if they are sick. This is really a problem in everyday life, especially if you have several cats. Therefore, in terms of sugar and flavorings very clear to me is true: Thumb Down! (-)
Conclusion:
My cats liked the product very well. Nevertheless, I will occasionally feed the remaining Probierpackung as extra snack and in coordination with the main meal (canned food). Because of the potential used to the flavors and the possibly associated rejection of other food, I would like in the future even do not put your fingers all over it. I do not think that one harms the animal, if you occasionally fed this kibble addition and controlled. If the cat but did not even get to know, it is therefore not even miss it, even if the advertising of the product is emotionally very appealing to pet owners. At the manufacturer's request and I would like to express the desire to refrain in future products on flavorings and flavor enhancers, not to manipulate the senses of animals, even though it might hurt sales. The assessment should reflect these reservations: my cats like the food, I unfortunately not quite as good.