Hills Ideal Balance Cat Food Review
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Hill’s cat food is produced and manufactured by the Colgate-Palmolive Company and its headquarters are located in Topeka, Kansas. The Hill’s pet food brand was created in 1907 under the name Hill’s Pet Nutrition and its original purpose was to provide rendering services to the Shawnee County area in Kansas. In 1930, Hill’s began to produce dog food using horse meat. Since then, Hill’s has created and developed a number of product lines for both dog food and cat food products, including prescription diets and specialized veterinary diets.
Today, Hill’s is one of the largest pet food producers in the United States. Hill’s uses ingredients sourced from suppliers whose facilities are required to meet high quality standards, though the website does not state where these suppliers are located. The Hill’s website also states that products are compliant with Good Manufacturing Practices as well as Hill’s own rigorous quality standards. Hill’s opened a 500,000 square foot manufacturing plant in Emporia, Kansas in 2010 and they have three other production facilities located in Topeka. Hill’s operates seven different manufacturing plants, five of which are located in the United States.
Why Hills Cat Food?
The Hill’s cat food brand began in the late 1930s when Dr. Mark Morris, Senior began developing a specialized diet for Buddy, an ailing German Shepherd.
What started as a very small company has blossomed into one of the world’s leading producers of pet food products, available in 86 countries with annual sales surpassing the $1 billion mark.
According to the Hill’s website, all of Hill’s cat food products are designed to follow sound nutritional principles because quality nutrition is vital to ensuring a long, happy life for pets.
Not only does Hill’s claim to use high-quality ingredients, but this company also claims that extensive research has led them to discover the ideal proportions for those ingredients.
Hill’s cat food products are made with a precise blend of essential nutrients to meet the specific dietary and nutrition needs of cats in all life stages. The Hill’s pet food brand employs over 220 veterinarians and animal nutritionists to develop their products and they own a 180-acre Pet Nutrition Center where they analyze ingredients, test new recipes, and conduct research.
Overall, the Hill’s brand is equated with quality nutrition, especially for pets with special dietary needs. A review of several Hill’s cat food products reveals, however, an entirely different story.
While some Hill’s cat food products are made with chicken as the first ingredient, some list Brewer’s Rice and other carbohydrates first. Many Hill’s cat food products also include low-quality ingredients and fillers like chicken by-product meal, corn gluten meal, whole grain corn, and various wheat ingredients.
It is understandable that a cat food designed for certain health problems might not meet the same ratios as a traditional product, but it is hard to imagine that corn, wheat, and soy ingredients are good for a cat, regardless of any health problems.
Products
Hills Ideal Balance is made for kitten, adult and senior cats. It comes in dry and wet food formulas and offers all natural and grain free options.
Hills Ideal Balance Chicken Recipe -Discontinued
This Hill’s Ideal Balance Chicken & Brown Rice Adult Recipe is formulated to meet the basic nutritional needs of adult cats between 1 and 6 years of age. This formula is made with fresh chicken as the first ingredient, with the second being brown rice for fiber. There are no corn, soy or wheat ingredients in this recipe and also no artificial colors, flavors or preservatives.
Ingredients
Chicken, Brown Rice, Yellow Peas, Brewers Rice, Pea Protein Concentrate, Chicken Fat, Dried Egg Product, Flaxseed, Chicken Liver Flavor, Lactic Acid, Vegetable & fruit blend (Green Peas, Apples, Cranberries, Carrots, Broccoli), Fish Oil, Calcium Sulfate, Choline Chloride, Potassium Chloride, DL-Methionine, Iodized Salt, Taurine, vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (source of vitamin C), Niacin Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin A Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin Supplement, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Folic Acid, Vitamin D3 Supplement), minerals (Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Copper Sulfate, Manganous Oxide, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite), L-Lysine, Mixed Tocopherols for freshness, Phosphoric Acid, Beta-Carotene, Natural Flavors.
The Good
- Chicken #1 ingredient
- High in fiber
- No corn, no wheat or soy
- No artificial colors, flavors or preservatives
The Bad
- High in carbohydrates
- Some cats refuse to eat it
Recalls
In 2007, All lots of Science Diet Savory Cuts canned cat food were recalled due to melamine-contaminated food.
Where To Buy?
Hill’s cat foods can be purchased at a variety of local and national pet food chains including specialty stores and some veterinary offices. You can also buy Hill’s products from some online pet food retailers like Chewy.com and Amazon.com.
Conclusion
Hills Ideal Balance is made for cats of all life stages with perfect balance. With optimal levels of more than 50 important nutrients, it provides the perfect balance of nutrition for your cat’s health. All formulas are made with natural, high quality, human grade ingredients, free from artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives meaning your cat will be happy and healthy.
