Iams--who do they think they're kidding?

Question

Back in June I bought a small bag of Iams for my cats. I was out of food, we were going out of town for the weekend and didn't have time to go to Petco for their regular food. I ran into Walgreens thinking I'd buy a box of Cat Chow to get them through the weekend, but saw they carried Iams. I always thought it was at least as good as the stuff I feed them (Science Diet), and figured I'd give it a shot.

The cats loved it, but we noticed they were pooping more and it stunk to high heaven. I guessed that it was because there was a lot more filler in the food and immediately switched back to their regular food.

A few weeks ago I signed up on line for coupon book for Swiffer, Dawn dishsoap and Cascade dishwasher detergent, all products made by Proctor and Gamble. I got the coupon book in the mail yesterday and guess what else Proctor and Gamble makes? IAMS!!! I was shocked to say the least, but it now explains why Iams went from a respected pet store only food to a mass marketed grocery store food.

You might also notice that their ads say that more veterinarians recommend it over any other GROCERY STORE brand. In my opinion, that's not saying much.

So my question: did anyone else know this pet food manufacturer is now owned by a company that is know for it's cleaning products? If you were feeding your pet Iams before they started selling it in grocery stores, did you notice a change in the food or has it always been the same quality?

Answer 1

You'd be surprised who owns what... coke anyone?

I have used the cheaper brands for years.... I feel they are just as good.

I supplement my cats so they get the extra vits.

This is a big business... and cleaning products / cat food is not the same department any more than in your home.

So If they don't agree with your cat ... don't buy them.

Personally some of the brands that were on the "KILLER" cat food list a year or two ago were mostly the specialty brands.

Why not try Paul Neuman brand.... at least his brand gives all proceeds to charity... oh and he does make salid dressing too!

Answer 2

I knew it but then I'm a cat food nerd!  

It's possible that your kitties reacted badly because their diet was changed suddenly.  That can happen even when you're using good foods.

Not that I'm defending Iams which IS a low quality food.  (Although some varieties tend to be at least slightly better than others of a comparable quality.)

For that matter, Science Diet is also a low quality food.  Check the ingredients and all you see is corn.

Answer 3

vets are probably paid to suggest Iams and science diet foods eventhough they are both crappy foods

Answer 4

I thought Science Diet was bought out by Iams some time ago, or was it Pedigree.  Doesn't matter I wouldn't feed my baby either.  Check out the preservatives they're using and see if they're approved for human consumption, I think you might be suprised.  I feed my baby a combination, half is Nature's Variety raw (in lamb, chicken, beef, or buffallo, whatever I happen to have bought that week since I change it up) and half Nutro Ultra.  I prefer to use Innova Evo for the dry half, but they carry up here so Nutro is the lesser of the Petsmart evils.

Answer 5

I'm convinced that no dry food takes the stink out of poo like Royal Canin Indoor #37. We have been using it exclusively on our two spayed 8 year old ladies for the last year and of all the foods that went before this one is the best overall.

The cats maintained their body weight--and my chubby girl actually lost a lb!

Iams gives the supermarket shopper an opportunity to get a better quality of cat food without going too far out of their way to get it. My cats won't eat it or I might have given it to them when my last vet suggested it...both my cats hated Iams and chose to starve rather than eat it.

Just because P&G is a cleaning product company doesn't impact their pet food business. I think you can trust the product and it is popular.

***EDIT***

I was shocked to find out that IAMS runs a torture chamber for animals at their research center. I will never again say a good word about the company.

http://iamscruelty.com/ <---*gag*

Answer 6

so you think Science Diet is a "high quality food" do you?  have you looked at the ingredients?  doesnt even start with real meat.. but meal.. full of fillers such as corn, rice and corn gluten.  Heck, it can't even tell you which kind of fat is in it.. just "animal fat"  could be ANYTHING..

Chicken By-Product Meal, Ground Whole Grain Corn, Brewers Rice, Animal Fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols and citric acid), Corn Gluten Meal, Chicken Liver Flavor, Potassium Chloride, Calcium Sulfate, Choline Chloride, vitamins (L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (source of vitamin C), Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin A Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Folic Acid, Vitamin D3 Supplement), Iodized Salt, Vitamin E Supplement, Taurine, minerals (Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Copper Sulfate, Manganous Oxide, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite), preserved with Mixed Tocopherols and Citric Acid, Beta-Carotene, Rosemary Extract.

SC is produced by Hills, which is owned by - wait for it - Colgate-Palmolive Company  Yet another company known for its cleaning products.

Want to know what food is good for your kitty?  check out http://www.catinfo.org a website run by a vet who studies feline nutrition

Answer 7

http://www.naturalpetfood.com/index.html

Answer 8

This is a good website to go on http://iamscruelty.com/ be prepared  though as its quite shocking. IAMS test on dogs & cats they are kept in horrible conditions.Please visit this site.

Hope this answers your question.

Answer 9

IAMS is a HORRIBLE and HORID food to feed your cats.  the only reason it says vets "Recommend" it is because they are paid to sponser their products.  Its soo sad but true. Science diet is also a nasty food, try feeding feliday, just like Canidae but for cats! =) it's great! I fed my cats Iams a while ago but then started to notice difference in behavior and they ate more and pooped more and stunk more and their coat wasnt as shiny.  but as soon as we switched i noticed huge differences. I don't lkike the idea of buying from a company that ALSO makes cleaning products =/

Answer 10

Its the same garbage it always was. Just like the stuff you are feeding

Pure garbage and not appropriate for cats





Nutrition since there are so many bad things out there is very important to your cat’s health

Contrary to what you may have heard; dry foods are not a great thing to feed a cat.

Please read the label on what you are feeding? What are the ingredients? Do you know what they mean? Is the first ingrediant a muscle meat like chicken or meal or other things?

http://www.catinfo.org/#Learn_How_To_Rea...

http://iml.jou.ufl.edu/projects/Spring04...

Dry foods are the number 1 cause of diabetes in cats as well as being a huge contributing factor to kidney disease, obesity, crystals, u.t.i’s and a host of other problems. Food allergies are very common when feeding dry foods. Rashes, scabs behind the tail and on the chin are all symptoms

The problems associated with Dry food is that they are loaded with grains and carbohydrates which many cats (carnivores) cannot process.  Also, Most of the moisture a cat needs is suppose to be in the food but in

Dry, 95% of it is zapped out of dry foods in the processing. Another thing, most use horrible ingredients and don't use a muscle meat as the primary ingredient and use vegetable based protein versus animal. Not good for an animal that has to eat meat to survive.

http://www.catinfo.org/#My_Cat_is_Doing_...

You want to pick a canned food w/o gravy (gravy=carbs) that uses a muscle meat as the first ingredient and doesn't have corn at least in the first 3 ingredients if at all.    The best food for cats does not contain any grains at all.

Fancy feast is a middle grade food with 9lives, friskies  whiskas lower grade canned and wellness and merrick upper grade human quality foods. I would rather feed a middle grade canned food then the top of the line dry food.

Also, dry food is not proven to be better for teeth. Does a hard pretzel clean your teeth or do pieces of it get stuck? http://www.felinefuture.com/nutrition/bp...

Please read about cat nutrition.

                               http://www.newdestiny.us/nutritionbasics...

                               http://www.catinfo.org/feline_obesity.ht...

      http://maxshouse.com/feline_nutrition.ht...

Vetinarian diets  The reason your vet thinks so highly of the pet food they sell probably has more to do with money than nutrition. In vet school, the only classes offered on nutrition usually last a few weeks, and are taught by representatives from the pet food companies. Vet students may also receive free food for their own dogs and cats at home. They could get an Iams notebook, a Purina purse and some free pizza.  http://iml.jou.ufl.edu/projects/Spring04...