Nature’s Feast

Full review of Nature’s Feast by Dr. Marty Pets

Nutritional Analysis

The ideal nutrition for a cat is a high amount of protein, a medium amount of fat. Cats do not require carbohydrates in their diet. However, they can safely consume small amounts of carbohydrates with minimal effect.

Carbohydrate Content Analysis

Cats use carbohydrates from their diet as a simple energy source. Cats do not require carbohydrates in their diet, and they are commonly added to reduce cost and increase shelf life.

As the chart above displays, a maximum of 23% of Dr. Marty Pets Nature’s Feast calories are derived from carbohydrates.

Please note that this is the maximum amount of carbohydrates as calculated by the guaranteed analysis. In reality, this value of carbohydrates is likely to be a lot lower. This carbohydrate proportion is below average for a Cat Food.

Sadly, the carbohydrate content present is not negligible and is higher than ideal. The carbohydrate content of this cat food is from a mix of plant-based ingredients, including Flax, Sweet Potatoes, and Pea Flour.

While we would prefer if this proportion was lower, it is a vast improvement on most cat food recipes.

Protein Content Analysis

Cats primarily use Protein for growth, development, and maintenance. Despite what many believe, excess Protein can be burned as calories. As the chart above displays, a minimum of 32% of Dr. Marty Pets Nature’s Feast calories are derived from Protein.

Please note that this is the minimum amount of Protein as calculated by the guaranteed analysis. In reality, this value of Protein is likely to be higher. This is above average for a Cat Food.

This is a high proportion of Protein and will be sufficient for most cats and is in line with similar recipes. Nevertheless, the protein proportion could still be higher, and there are some alternative recipes where it is significantly higher.

This Protein is from a range of high-quality meat and fish ingredients such as Turkey and Beef. These are all high-quality sources and provide a full range of amino acids required.

Fat Content Analysis

Cats use Fat from their diet as a concentrated energy source. In addition, fats also play a role in development and maintenance. As the chart above displays, a minimum of 45% of Dr. Marty Pets Nature’s Feast calories are derived from Fat.

Please note that this is the minimum amount of Fat as calculated by the guaranteed analysis. In reality, this value of Fat is likely to be a lot higher. This is significantly above average for a Cat Food.

This is a very high level of Fat which will have the effect of making this food extremely appealing to your cat.

The Fat appears to be entirely sourced from the range of high-quality meat and fish sources present, which are an ideal source. Unfortunately, if this food and its portion size are not properly managed, it could cause a cat to gain weight.

Calorie Density

Overall Dr. Marty Pets Nature’s Feast contains an average of 4734 kcal/kg, 246 kcal/cup.

Disclaimer

Once again, please note that the values in this section are calculated using the product’s guaranteed analysis. The guaranteed analysis only lists the minimum and maximum values, and as a consequence, these can sometimes be an inaccurate representation.

As a rule of thumb, most cat foods will contain slightly more protein and considerably more fat than their guaranteed analysis.

This will have the knock-on effect of reducing the relative amount of carbohydrates present. However, also note that every cat food is different, and some will be considerably closer to the guaranteed analysis than others.

Guaranteed Analysis – Dr. Marty Pets Nature’s Feast

Pet foods in the United States are legally required by the AAFCO to have a guaranteed analysis on their packaging. A guaranteed analysis must display certain nutritional information. This is similar to how nutritional values are now commonly displayed on food for human consumption.

The information that must be displayed includes Crude Protein, Crude Fat, Crude Fiber, and Moisture. Some guaranteed analyses will contain additional information. The guaranteed analysis for this product is listed below.

Ingredient Analysis

The ingredients of a pet food are displayed as a list in descending order. Those listed at the start of the list make up the majority of a pet foods content.

Therefore the quality of these core ingredients is the most important factor in determining the quality of a pet food.

However, later ingredients should not be ignored, especially if they are deemed potentially dangerous or harmful.

In-Depth Meat/Fish Ingredient Review

The meat ingredients found in a cat cat food recipe are without a doubt, the most important ingredients. They are critical given that cats are obligate carnivores.

Thankfully, Dr Marty Pets Nature’s Feast contains more than five sources of meat or fish which is significantly above average.

The primary meat source present is Salmon. Salmon is considered a high-quality source of protein. Salmons’ most abundant minerals are Vitamin B12 and Selenium.

Just like other fish, Salmon contains a large quantity of the Omega 3 Fatty Acids. Unfortunately, just as with meat, Salmon contains a high concentration of water.

Much of this water is evaporated during the cooking process leaving a lesser proportion of Salmon. However, given that Salmon is not one of the primary ingredients, its quantity after cooking is likely to be relatively low.

The secondary meat source present is Turkey. Turkey is considered a high-quality source of protein. Some of the beneficial nutrients contained in Turkey outside of its protein and fat content include Vitamin B6 and Niacin.

Unfortunately, whole Turkey does contain a high concentration of water. Much of this water is evaporated during the cooking process leaving a lesser proportion of Turkey.

However, given that Turkey is the recipe’s primary ingredient, its proportion will be relatively high even after the cooking process.

The tertiary fish source present is Whitefish. Whitefish Meal is considered a high-quality source of protein. Whitefish is a non-specific ingredient and can be made up of several different breeds of fish, including Pollock, Cod, and Haddock.

Whitefish does not tend to contain high levels of vitamins and minerals but does include some such as Phosphorus.

Chicken Liver is considered a high-quality ingredient and source of meat. Liver contains a much higher concentration of some beneficial nutrients than traditional meat cuts. It can also greatly enhance flavor and palatability.

Some of the nutrients present in Liver are Vitamin A, Vitamin B, and Iron. In addition to these beneficial nutrients, Liver also contains a high amount of protein and fat, which can allow it to supplement the core meat and fish ingredients in a recipe.

Eggs are a highly nutritious pet food ingredient and are considered a high-quality source of protein. Eggs are extremely underutilized, and many brands do not use them in any of their recipes.

Eggs contain a huge variety of vitamins and minerals, including Vitamin A, Vitamin B2 and B12, Selenium, Phosphorus, and many others.

In addition to this, they contain a high proportion of protein and healthy fats such as the Omega 3 and 6 Fatty Acids.

In-Depth None-Meat Ingredient Review

Flaxseed is a minor ingredient that is extremely common to find in higher-quality cat food recipes. Flaxseed is best known for containing high levels of the Omega 3 and 6 Fatty Acids, which can provide a range of health benefits such as healthier skin and fur and improved cognitive function.

However, many do not realize that Flaxseed contains high levels of protein for a plant-based ingredient. Finally, Flaxseed can also provide something called Lignans, which can help reduce inflammation and cholesterol.

If you would like to learn more about the benefits of Flaxseed, be sure to check out our article, Flaxseed In Dog Food.

Sweet Potatoes are a starchy vegetable and a source of complex carbohydrates. Sweet Potatoes are considered superior by some to traditional Potatoes as they contain more fiber and a more extensive range of vitamins and minerals.

Some examples of vitamins and minerals that are abundant in Sweet Potatoes are Vitamin A, Vitamin C, and Calcium.
However, they are still a dense source of carbohydrates which means their portion size must be tightly controlled to avoid becoming excessive.

Regardless, the higher amount of fiber and the range of micronutrients in Sweet Potatoes means that they are considered a high-quality ingredient despite containing mostly carbohydrates.

Peas are a legume vegetable and are extremely common to found in grain-free pet food. They are so popular as they offer favorable nutrition that is high in carbohydrates, plant-based protein, and fiber.

Moreover, Peas are extremely cost-effective and easy to source at scale, which is why their use has taken off.

However, Peas are not an ideal component of a cat’s diet, and their plant-based protein should not replace animal-based protein.

Full Ingredient List – Dr. Marty Pets Nature’s Feast

Salmon, Turkey, Whitefish, Chicken Liver, Chicken Heart, Chicken Gizzard, Sweet Potato, Flaxseed, Egg, Pumpkin Seeds, Peas, Carrot, Apple, Blueberry, Cranberry, Ginger, Salt, Kelp, Sunflower Seeds, Spinach, Broccoli, Kale, Mixed Tocopherols (preservatives).