I know the reviews for dogs are good. Their various products fall into tiers, some more highly rated and top tier than others. (Dog Food Analysis)
For dogs, Iams is not considered a good food and if I had cats, I would think any BB would be a much better food than the iams.
So you got my opinion even though I don't know anything about the cat food!!

Thanks, Bumblebeez.

And then I go and read something like this, which gives me pause (not "paws" ;-)).

Here is a link that might be useful: BB has been recalled in the past ...

Our dog has been on BB for a few years now without any issues. There are pellets in it that he sometimes leaves on the floor, but that is my only complaint. :)

Have you checked out Halo brand? They've never been recalled. The company is now partly owned by Ellen Degeneres because she was that impressed with their products. I sent a case to a friend and she said her cats love the new grain-free cat canned cat food. I feed my dog Spot's Stew because the ingredients are such high quality (no meal, by-products, gluten,etc) that it's considered "human grade".

Good for you for entering the world of high quality nutrition for your dear ones!

The raw chicken 'franken-mouse' mix we make ourselves has never been recalled : ) We also have a friend who buys containers of frozen free-of-anything-but-meat-and-eggs-and-supplements (no fruits and vegetables!) raw mix for her cat from the local health food supermarket. It's never been recalled either and her little girl has never been sick ever--she's eaten raw her whole life.

The raw mix, with added acidophilus, colostrum and chlorella, saved our most recent guy from *horrible* intestinal problems when he first came to us. Now, of course our cats are gorgeous, relatively illness-free (the eldest lady has kidney issues but she ate cruddy food for her first 7 years...it's purely due to the raw that she has survived to 16 and still playful and a huge jumper), sleek, etc. but one of the main benefits is that their poop doesn't stink! Why? Because they're eating the food that is absolutely best for their digestive systems. There's almost no poop at all, actually, because the food is so optimized.

Making your own raw is more work (DH makes it, actually, and he's gotten it down to a science -- makes a week's worth for our three cats and we defrost a jar every day), it's much less expensive than any other raw mix that you can buy, but our friend has more money than time, so she buys it. She *loves* it and would never go to any other kind of food (barring a civilization-disrupting emergency, or something like that--then we're all on MREs or whatever we've got).

We were told that transitioning would be a challenge, but it was that way only for one guy, our sensitive, gourmet prince. Now, he eats raw happily but has come to insist that we sprinkle chlorella powder on it for him. He gave our dowager empress the idea, and now she insists on it too : )

Flyleft, I'm intrigued. I completely understand and agree with the concept that raw food is best for a cat's digestive system (much as I believe that humans have an optimal diet as well - although most of us don't follow it). Can you tell me a bit more about how your DH prepares the food? And the transitioning part ... Do you think most cats would naturally take to a raw diet, even after having been fed dry bagged food for most of their lives? (I have read that they become "addicted" to certain additives in the processed stuff, which is reason alone to start thinking along different lines IMO.)

Yes, please Fly, do tell. My himmie is VERY rancid and he's got very soft poop and won't use his box. Vet says he's fine but to change his diet. I don't want to try buying expensive brands of dry food...I have cats that eat the same dry food (premium cat food) and they're fine. I can easily feed inside cats the same raw foods (outside cats will have to stick with the dry as we're also feeding strays out there-and lord knows whatever possums roam over from the neighbors house).

I'm gonna stick with the dogs dry food (again, super premium chicken & rice, no corn, gluten, etc) but I HAVE to do something with these inside cats.

Look into Wellness brand too. They have only had one very minor recall (that I know of) and the company seems excellent and the food easy enough to find at local pet stores.
My dogs have been on it for 12 years and are very healthy although they get additional meat protein "treats" several times a day.

Thanks for the Wellness and Halo recommendations. I'll check those brands out too!

We tried Blue Buffalo and it seemed like it was too rich for her tummy or something, she didn't do well on it. It's also been the subject of a recall in 2007 so while it's considered to be a good food, better than Iam's for sure, it's not the best out there.

Fromm's has a good soft cat food. It's made in the US and all the ingredients are sourced in the US as well. Halo is another that is made and sourced in the US. We're currently feeding our puppy Acana dog food made by Orejin, the food is produced in Canada and the ingredients are sourced locally there. I started feeding her this when she got bored with Fromm's and the difference in her coat and over all health is night and day. The specialty store I go to says Fromm's is a very good food but Acana & Orejin are "the best money can buy" (their words, not mine).

Here is a link that might be useful: Orijen Cat food

I forgot to mention I fed these foods to our puppy, not our cat. After buying treats for her that made her ill and subsequently had a recall pending (that I wasn't aware of), I became very careful about buying only US (or Canada) made and sourced foods for her. Which ever food you decide to switch your kitties too, I would make sure it's not manufactured in China or by a secondary source, and I would check to see if the brand has a history of recalls.

Thanks, Lukki. I think we are pretty much ready to stop feeding the dry Iams altogether, and since we'll no longer have the expense of the dry can put that $ saved into buying higher quality canned or making our own. Still very interested in learning more about making our own raw food for the babies. Flyleft ... please chime in again!

Sunny, I feed my 2 furry felines Royal Canin, and have for about 5 years. Along with that , they spilt a can of Fancy Feast. Re:the RC, there is no 'up chucking' which they did before on other hard food brands. As for only giving then canned food, they need the hard food for teeth/guns~w/o it, I think you're asking for problems. ;o)

Thanks, Patty_cakes! I saw Royal Canin advertised when I was last at the vet's office with Pip. I'm really trying to educate myself as much as possible here, and found this that addresses the dry food/teeth-gum connection.

Here is a link that might be useful: Link

Here's a pet food recall list as of April, 2012.

Sunny, BB is on the list as is the RC, along with every other cat/dog food on the market!

Here is a link that might be useful: List

Good heavens - that recall list is frightening! Thanks for sharing it. I was **this close** to going ahead and placing an order for a case of Wellness, but now I want to do further research.

You're welcome. The recall list for pet food is a nightmare and just plain scary. I read in one report that some of the dog foods have things like peanut shells and other really bizarre "fillers" in them. And I could not believe that the chicken jerky treats I had bought our puppy were still (and are still) on the shelf at Sam's Club even though I reported to them that there had been a recall and the package I bought from their shelf made her ill.

Also, if you're switching to soft food entirely, make sure you get their teeth cleaned regularly. The soft food has a tendency to cause dental decay and our older cats got serious infections as a result.

Most of the holistic or healthy foods are only sold at specialty pet stores, but I believe the Halo brand is sold at Petco.

The recalls are indeed scary! I have just now ordered 12 cans of Halo - mostly based upon the fact that the Halo products have not been involved in any recall. I ordered thru Amazon and we should receive the cans tomorrow. I'll let you all know what the kitties think. This may be an interim measure until I explore making our own kitty food a bit more. I just feel like I need to do something now though. Just nursed one little guy back to better health and don't want to send any of my babies down that road again.