Chicken Soup for the Cat Lover's Soul Adult Cat Formula

Chicken Soup for the Cat Lover's Soul Adult Cat Formula costs less than other premium dry cat foods, and some experts recommend it. But a recent ingredient switch -- and a recall due to possible salmonella contamination -- has damped some cat owners' enthusiasm for this food.

Ingredient quality

Food-grade, antibiotic-free meat -- but lots of grain, too. Chicken Soup for the Cat Lover's Soul Adult Cat Formula recently changed its ingredients -- and some cat owners wish it hadn't. Salmon and whole-grain brown rice used to be high up on the ingredient list, but they've been substituted with barley and chicken fat. One reviewer's cats won't eat it anymore, and another cat started vomiting after meals.

Five of the top nine ingredients are grains or potatoes -- too many for some experts, who note that cats are strict carnivores that can develop health problems from eating too many grains and carbohydrates. In addition, many say that cats shouldn't eat dry food at all, because cats have a low thirst drive and need to get moisture from their food. Still, many veterinarians see no problem with dry food, and plenty of cat owners praise Chicken Soup's Adult Cat Formula.

Chicken Soup states on its website, "All of our meats are purchased from food grade suppliers and are certified hormone and antibiotic free." The veterinarians and nutritionists at 1800PetMeds.com give it points for that, as well as for eschewing byproducts and artificial ingredients. But they wish it used more meat and less meat "meal" (rendered meat and bone).

Another reviewer likes that it includes chelated minerals (although not that they're sourced from China) and probiotics to boost digestion and immunity (although they're not listed in the guaranteed analysis, so there's no assurance that the bacteria are viable). Chicken Soup also includes sodium bisulfate -- an FDA-approved synthetic vitamin K that raises a red flag for this reviewer, who says it can damage organs with prolonged or repeated exposure. Despite these drawbacks, the reviewer gives Chicken Soup for the Cat Lover's Soul Adult Cat Formula the highest possible 5-paw rating.

Product safety

Recalled for possible salmonella contamination. Some lots of Chicken Soup for the Cat Lover's Soul were recalled in April 2012 because they could have been contaminated with salmonella. The manufacturer, Diamond Pet Foods (which makes pet food for several brands), said only four bags of Diamond-made dog food -- no cat food -- tested positive for salmonella. However, The Christian Science Monitor reports that Diamond cat food did sicken and kill some cats in Canada, and several people got salmonella poisoning after handling the pet food.

Food and Drug Administration inspectors found "numerous violations" at Diamond's South Carolina factory, The Christian Science Monitor reports. For example, there weren't enough hand-washing stations, and the factory was using damaged equipment with cuts and holes that would be hard to clean properly.

Diamond says it has "taken corrective action" and the factory is making pet food again.

Value

Less expensive than some competing foods, but not as highly recommended. Chicken Soup for the Cat Lover's Soul Adult Cat Formula costs less than other premium brands -- but it's not rated as highly. Natural Balance Original Ultra (*Est. $16 for a 6-lb. bag) has similar ingredients, and it's also made by Diamond Pet Foods. But Natural Balance has an in-house testing program in place that checks for nine contaminants (including salmonella), and its cat food wasn't recalled.

The bottom line

Chicken Soup for the Cat Lover's Soul Adult Cat Formula is less expensive than Natural Balance Original Ultra and has similar ingredients. But for now, safety concerns relegate the cat food to also-ran status.