IAMS Cat Food Review

Reviews June 10, 2019

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IAMS Cat Food Review

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Why Should You Trust This Review?

  • I’ve been a cat mom for 30 plus years
  • I have volunteered at animal shelters for over 15 years
  • I frequently review and confirm information with veterinarians
  • I conducted 12+ hours of research on this cat food

About Iams Cat Food

Paul F. Iams founded the company and believed that an emphasis on advanced nutrition would give his products a level of quality over other pet food brands. Iams is owned by Mars, Inc., with the exception of their European branch, which is owned and manufactured by Spectrum Brands.

The Iams brand believes that the right diet can do more than nourish your cat’s body by boosting immunity, supporting weight loss, promoting healthy digestion, maintaining muscle mass, and reduces tartar buildup, all while helping to prevent or manage the progression of disease through the power of nutrition.

Iams Sourcing And Manufacturing

Parent Company/ Owned by Mars Petcare
Company Net Worth  35 Billion
Dry Food Manufactured  Ohio, Nebraska,
Wet Food Manufactured North Carolina
Number of Recipes  19
FDA Approved  Yes

Recall History

  • In March 2007, the FDA issued a mandatory recall for several Iams wet cat food products due to potential melamine contamination.
  • In June 2010, the FDA issued a mandatory recall for one Iams canned cat food product due to low levels of thiamine.
  • In July 2010, the FDA issued a mandatory recall for the Iams Veterinary Formulas Feline Renal recipe due to potential contamination with Samonella bacteria.
  • In August 2010, the FDA issued a mandatory recall for the Iams Indoor Weight Control with Hairball Care dry cat food product due to potential contamination with Samonella bacteria.

Top 5 Recipes Reviewed And Analyzed

#1 Iams ProActive Health Healthy Adult Original with Chicken Dry Cat Food

Guaranteed Analysis

  • Crude Protein: 32.0% Min
  • Crude Fat: 15.0% Min
  • Crude Fiber: 3.0% Max
  • Moisture: 10% Max
  • Taurine: .15% Max

Ingredients

Chicken, Chicken By-Product Meal, Ground Whole Grain Corn, Corn Grits, Corn Gluten Meal, Dried Plain Beet Pulp, Chicken Fat (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Natural Flavor, Dried Egg Product, Sodium Bisulfate, Potassium Chloride, Brewers Dried Yeast, Fish Oil (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Calcium Carbonate, Choline Chloride, DL-Methionine, Fructooligosaccharides, Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, Ascorbic Acid, Vitamin A Acetate, Calcium Pantothenate, Biotin, Thiamine Mononitrate (source of Vitamin B1), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Source of Vitamin B6), Vitamin B12 Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement (source of Vitamin B2), Inositol, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid), Taurine, Minerals (Zinc Oxide, Manganese Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Potassium Iodide), L-Carnitine, Rosemary Extract


To better understand the Iams ProActive Health Healthy Adult Original with Chicken Dry Cat Food recipe, we analyzed the first 5 ingredients.

Chicken is a good source of protein, low in fat, low in sodium and is a low-carb food.

Chicken By-Product Meal is made up of the clean parts of the carcass of slaughtered chicken, such as necks, feet, undeveloped eggs and intestines which has been ground or otherwise reduced in particle size. This is a cheap way for pet food companies to keep the protein levels up and the production costs down. This is considered a “suitable” source of protein for pet food.

Ground Whole Grain Corn is a natural and wholesome ingredient that supplies essential fatty acids, protein, carbohydrates and natural antioxidants.

Corn Grits offer very limited nutritional value and they are essentially a filler and just empty calories.

Corn Gluten Meal does contain protein but not the kind of protein that cats digest very well. Cats have to eat twice as much corn to get the same amount of protein that they would from animal proteins.


#2 Iams ProActive Health Indoor Weight & Hairball Care Dry Cat Food

Guaranteed Analysis

  • Crude Protein: 35.0% Min
  • Crude Fat: 14.0% Min
  • Crude Fiber: 2.0% Max
  • Moisture: 12.0% Max
  • Taurine: 1.5% Max

Ingredients

Chicken, Chicken By-Product Meal, Corn Grits, Corn Gluten Meal, Ground Whole Grain Corn, Ground Whole Grain Sorghum, Dried Plain Beet Pulp, Turkey, Powdered Cellulose, Natural Flavor, Brewers Dried Yeast, Dried Egg Product, Caramel Color, Potassium Chloride, Sodium Bisulfate, Choline Chloride, Fish Oil (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Calcium Carbonate, Fructooligosaccharides, Vitamins [Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, Ascorbic Acid, Vitamin A Acetate, Calcium Pantothenate, Biotin, Thiamine Mononitrate (Source of Vitamin B1), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Source of Vitamin B6), Vitamin B12 Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement (Source of Vitamin B2), Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid], Taurine, Minerals [Zinc Oxide, Manganese Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Potassium Iodide], Mixed Tocopherols and Citric Acid (Preservatives), L-Carnitine, Rosemary Extract


To get a better understanding of this Iams ProActive Health Indoor Weight & Hairball Care Dry Cat Food recipe, we analyzed the first 5 ingredients.

Chicken is a good source of protein, low in fat, low in sodium and is a low-carb food.

Chicken By-product Meal is considered a high-quality source of protein. Meal is a concentrated form of clean meat that has already had the majority of its moisture removed. This means that gram for gram it is much richer in protein and other nutrients. Chicken Meal will contain the same vitamins and minerals as chicken but in higher concentrations.

Corn Grits offer very limited nutritional value and they are essentially a filler and just empty calories.

Corn Gluten Meal does contain protein but not the kind of protein that cats digest very well. Cats have to eat twice as much corn to get the same amount of protein that they would from animal proteins.

Ground Whole Grain Corn is a natural and wholesome ingredient that supplies essential fatty acids, protein, carbohydrates and natural antioxidants.


#3 Iams Proactive Health Sensitive Digestion & Skin Turkey Dry Cat Food

Guaranteed Analysis

  • Crude Protein: 33.0% Min
  • Crude Fat: 14.0% Min
  • Crude Fiber: 3.0% Max
  • Moisture: 10.0% Max
  • Taurine: 0.15% Max

Ingredients

Turkey, Chicken By-Product Meal, Ground Whole Grain Corn, Brewers Rice, Chicken Meal, Corn Gluten Meal, Chicken Fat (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Ground Sorghum, Dried Plain Beet Pulp, Fish Oil (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Natural Flavor, Sodium Bisulfate, Caramel Color, Fructooligosaccharides, Dried Egg Product, Potassium Chloride, Brewers Dried Yeast, Choline Chloride, Vitamins [Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, Ascorbic Acid, Vitamin A Acetate, Calcium Pantothenate, Biotin, Thiamine Mononitrate (Source of Vitamin B1), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Source of Vitamin B6), Vitamin B12 Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement (Source of Vitamin B2), Inositol, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid], Taurine, Calcium Carbonate, Minerals [Zinc Oxide, Manganese Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Potassium Iodide], L-Carnitine, Rosemary Extract


Here we analyzed the first five ingredients to get a better understanding of what is included in this Iams Proactive Health Sensitive Digestion & Skin Turkey Dry Cat Food.

Turkey is a high quality protein full of nutrients and is highly digestible. It is low in calories and high in Selenium and Tryptophan both of which benefit the immune system.

Chicken By-Product Meal is made up of the clean parts of the carcass of slaughtered chicken, such as necks, feet, undeveloped eggs and intestines which has been ground or otherwise reduced in particle size. This is a cheap way for pet food companies to keep the protein levels up and the production costs down. This is considered a “suitable” source of protein for pet food.

Ground Whole Grain Corn is a natural and wholesome ingredient that supplies essential fatty acids, protein, carbohydrates and natural antioxidants.

Brewers Rice offers very little nutritional value. The only nutrition that Brewers Rice does offer is carbohydrates which cats do not need.

Chicken Meal is made up of the clean parts of the carcass of slaughtered chicken, such as necks, feet, undeveloped eggs and intestines which has been ground or otherwise reduced in particle size. This is a cheap way for pet food companies to keep the protein levels up and the production costs down. This is considered a “suitable” source of protein for pet food.


#4 Iams Perfect Portions Healthy Adult Chicken Recipe Pate Grain-Free Cat Food Trays

Guaranteed Analysis

  • Crude Protein: 9.0% Min
  • Crude Fat: 5.0% Min
  • Crude Fiber: 1.0% Max
  • Moisture: 78.0% Max

Ingredients

Chicken, Water, Poultry Liver, Chicken Broth, Dried Egg Product, Guar Gum, Potassium Chloride, Sodium Tripolyphosphate, Fish Oil, Magnesium Sulfate, Taurine, Tapioca Starch, DL-Methionine, Choline Chloride, Salt, Calcium Carbonate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin E Supplement, Zinc Sulfate, Iron Oxide Color, Ferrous Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Potassium Iodide, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex


To get a better understanding of this Iams Perfect Portions Healthy Adult Chicken Recipe Pate Grain-Free Cat Food Trays, we analyzed the first 5 ingredients.

Chicken is a good source of protein, low in fat, low in sodium and is a low-carb food.

Water is added to cat food to increase moisture.

Poultry Liver contains high amounts of protein, Vitamin A, Vitamin B, trace minerals and is an amazing source of omega 3 and six fatty acids.

Chicken Broth is rich in vitamins, minerals and collagen. These components can help improve your cat’s digestion and overall immunity.

Dried Egg Product contain essential amino acids, vitamins and minerals, promoting strong and healthy skin, coat, bones and brain function.


#5 Iams Perfect Portions Optimal Metabolism Chicken Recipe Pate Grain-Free Cat Food Trays

Guaranteed Analysis

  • Crude Protein: 9.0% Min
  • Crude Fat: 5.0% Min
  • Crude Fiber: 1.0% Max
  • Moisture: 78.0% Max

Ingredients

Chicken, Water, Chicken Liver, Chicken Broth, Dried Egg Product, Guar Gum, Potassium Chloride, Sodium Tripolyphosphate, Fish Oil, Magnesium Sulfate, Taurine, Tapioca Starch, DL-Methionine, Choline Chloride, Salt, Calcium Carbonate, L-Carnitine, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin E Supplement, Zinc Sulfate, Iron Oxide Color, Iron Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Potassium Iodide, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex


Here we analyzed the first five ingredients to get a better understanding of what is included in this Iams Perfect Portions Optimal Metabolism Chicken Recipe Pate Grain-Free Cat Food Trays.

Chicken is a good source of protein, low in fat, low in sodium and is a low-carb food.

Water is added to cat food to increase moisture.

Chicken Liver contains high amounts of protein, Vitamin A, Vitamin B, trace minerals and is an amazing source of omega 3 and six fatty acids.

Chicken Broth is rich in vitamins, minerals and collagen. These components can help improve your cat’s digestion and overall immunity.

Dried Egg Product contains essential amino acids, vitamins and minerals, promoting strong and healthy skin, coat, bones and brain function.


Is Iams A Good Cat Food?

Iams brand cat food is an average cat food with questionable fillers, corn, meals and animal by-products and tends to be high in carbohydrates. I would not highly recommend Iam’s dry cat foods for your cat or kitten for those reasons. There are many better foods with no meat by-products and no fillers.

When comparing to other store bought brands in the same price range, Iams maybe competitive but still a low quality contender.

The Iams canned and wet cat foods would be a better choice and do contain less fillers and and meals. While they do offer more protein and better quality meats, they do contain some undesirable ingredients.

Where Is Iams Cat Food Sold?

Iams Cat Foods are available in most pet stores, grocery store chains and big box stores, although varieties may vary. You can also purchase Iams online through Amazon, Chewy, and various pet food retailers.

Amy is the founder of Cat Mania and a Certified NAVC Pet Nutritionist. She is the proud owner of two cats and a dog and her love for animals has led her to a successful career as a freelance writer specializing in pet care, nutrition, and product reviews.
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