Cat and dog foods

Chicken by-product meal comes first in this dry food for cats of all ages, ahead of ground yellow corn, corn protein meal and whole grain wheat; chicken itself is eighth. It's 32% protein, about 36% once the water's out, and 411 calories a cup. Purina says it's formulated to meet AAFCO's Cat Food Nutrient Profiles for all life stages.

The salmon on the bag is eighth on the ingredient list, which labeling rules allow for a “with” name (they ask for 3%); chicken by-product meal and ground yellow corn lead. Protein is 32% (about 36% with the water out), a cup is 410 calories, and Purina says it meets AAFCO's Cat Food Nutrient Profiles for all life stages.

Ground whole grain corn, meat and bone meal and soybean meal lead this adult dog kibble with soft bites, and chicken by-product meal doesn't show up until eighth. The “flavor” in the name only promises a taste you can detect. It's 21% protein (about 24% with the water out) and 321 calories a cup.

The “wholesome grains” in this refrigerated roll for adult dogs are brown rice, rice bran and ground oats, listed after chicken and chicken broth. At 78% water, its 7.5% protein is about 34% with the water out, and half a pound is 308 calories. The maker says it meets AAFCO's adult maintenance profile.

Deboned chicken and chicken meal come first in this dry cat food, then millet, oats and brown rice, with the duck from the name seventh. It's 40% protein on the label (about 44% with the water out) and 441 calories a cup. Nulo says it meets AAFCO's profile for all life stages, so kittens and adults can share it.

Protein is the headline here: 40% on the label, about 44% once the water's out, led by deboned turkey, chicken meal and turkey meal. The salmon from the name is eighth, after millet, oats and brown rice. A cup is 433 calories, and Nulo says it meets AAFCO's Cat Food Nutrient Profiles for all life stages.

Whole ground corn leads the ingredient list for this adult dry cat food, with chicken by-product meal and salmon meal further down. It's 28% protein on the label, about 32% with the water out, and 310 calories a cup. 9Lives says it's formulated to meet AAFCO's maintenance profile for cats.

Brewers rice edges out chicken by-product meal for first place in this dry food, which Royal Canin aims at adult cats' digestion. It's 36% protein on the label (about 39% with the water out) and 333 calories a cup, and the maker says it meets AAFCO's Cat Food Nutrient Profiles for maintenance.

With at least 32% protein and 25% fat, this kibble is built for very active adult dogs, and a cup carries 466 calories, a number to watch if your dog is less of an athlete than the name. Chicken meal and chicken lead the list, and Diamond Naturals says it meets AAFCO's maintenance profile.

The frittata in the name shows up as dried egg product, third behind beef and beef broth, and lentils and peas follow where grains might be. It's 30% protein on the label, about 33% with the water out, and 399 calories a cup.

Sweet potatoes are the first vegetable here, sixth on a list led by chicken, chicken broth and chicken meal. This Four-Star kibble is 24% protein (about 27% with the water out) and 389 calories a cup, and Fromm says it meets AAFCO's profiles for all life stages, including growth of dogs 70 lb or more as adults.

Duck and duck meal lead this Four-Star recipe, but chicken is third, with chicken meal and chicken fat further down, which matters if you're trying to keep chicken out of the bowl. A cup is 387 calories, and Fromm says it meets AAFCO's profiles for all life stages, including growth of dogs 70 lb or more as adults.

The birds in this Game Bird recipe are turkey and duck meal, first and second, but chicken meal turns up ninth, after lentils, chickpeas, peas and potatoes. It's 29% protein on the label (about 32% with the water out) and 393 calories a cup, and Fromm says it meets AAFCO's profiles for all life stages.

The applesauce in the name appears on the list as apples, 13th, well behind pork, pork meat and bone meal, oatmeal and barley. A cup of this Four-Star kibble is 379 calories, and Fromm says it meets AAFCO's profiles for all life stages, including growth of dogs 70 lb or more as adults.

Salmon, salmon meal and fish broth make up the first three ingredients of this Four-Star kibble, with oatmeal, brown rice and barley next. Chicken fat is seventh, though, so it isn't chicken-free. It's 25% protein (about 28% with the water out) and 385 calories a cup.

Beef and beef broth come first in this shredded entrée, then potatoes, carrots, green beans, peas and three kinds of beans. It's 82% water and 2.5% fat, a 12 oz can is 250 calories, and Fromm says it meets AAFCO's profiles for all life stages, including growth of dogs 70 lb or more as adults.

Chicken broth is listed before the chicken in this shredded entrée. That's allowed: for an “entrée”, labeling rules only require the named ingredients together to make up 25% of the food, not counting added water. It's 84% water and a can is 220 calories, and Fromm says it meets AAFCO's profiles for all life stages.

Nulo's adequacy claim for this small-breed kibble covers all life stages except growth of dogs 70 lb or more as adults, which matches who it's made for. Deboned turkey and turkey meal come first, then chickpeas and sweet potato; it's 30% protein (about 33% with the water out) and 422 calories a cup.

Salmon is first, but turkey meal is second, ahead of menhaden fish meal, so this isn't a fish-only recipe. It's 30% protein (about 33% with the water out) and 411 calories a cup, and Nulo says it's complete and balanced for maintenance of adult dogs, meeting AAFCO's Dog Food Nutrient Profiles.

Shredded and sold refrigerated in a bag, this home-style food for adult dogs starts with chicken and eggs, then cranberries. Its 15% protein comes to about 48% once the 69% water is out, and a cup is 189 calories. Freshpet says it meets AAFCO's Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for adult maintenance.

Chicken, chicken broth and liver lead this paté for adult dogs, with the carrots and peas from the name fourth and fifth. It's 78% water, so the 9% protein is about 41% on a dry-matter basis, and a container is 307 calories. Purina says it meets AAFCO's profile for adult maintenance.

Chicken is the first ingredient in this Turkey Dinner paté, with turkey second. For a “dinner”, labeling rules only require the named ingredients together to make up 25% of the food, not counting added water. It's 10% protein, about 45% with the 78% water out, and a container is 280 calories.

Lamb comes fourth in this paté for adult dogs, after chicken, chicken broth and liver, with the kale and carrots right behind it. It's 78% water, so the 11% protein on the label is about 50% on a dry-matter basis, and a container is 307 calories.

Salmon gets top billing on this paté, but it's fifth on the list, after chicken, chicken broth, liver and beef. It's 78% water, so the 8% protein is about 36% on a dry-matter basis, and a container is 307 calories. Purina says it meets AAFCO's profile for adult maintenance.