Our Verdict
4health, Untamed dry cat food receives the Cat Food Advisor rating, 3.5-stars.
This dry product range has meat or fish as its first ingredient.
It is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO cat food nutrient profiles for all life stages.
Pros
- Meat or fish are the primary ingredients
- Grain-free
- No artificial colors or flavors
- Contains taurine
- Contains probiotics
Cons
- Limited recipes
Each recipe includes its AAFCO nutrient profile: Growth (kitten), Maintenance (adult), All Life Stages, Supplemental or Unspecified.
The 4health Untamed product line has three dry cat foods.
| Product line | Rating | AAFCO |
|---|---|---|
| Untamed Glacial Stream All Life Stages | 3.5 | A |
| Untamed Stillwater Marsh All Life Stages Grain-Free Duck & Lentils Formula | 3.5 | A |
| Untamed Deep Woods All Life Stages Grain-Free Turkey & Lentils Formula | 3.5 | A |
Recipe and Label Analysis
4health Untamed Glacial Stream All Life Stages Grain-Free Salmon & Lentils Formula was selected to represent the other products in the line for a detailed recipe and nutrient analysis.
Label and nutrient data below are calculated using dry matter basis.
4health Untamed Glacial Stream All Life Stages Grain-Free Salmon & Lentils Formula
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Protein
Fat
CarbsCarbohydrates
Salmon, ocean fish meal, lentils, chickpeas, peas, pea flour, canola oil (preserved with mixed tocopherols), natural flavor, flaxseed, sodium bisulfate, potassium chloride, choline chloride, DL-methionine, taurine, dried lactobacillus plantarum fermentation product, dried bacillus subtilis fermentation product, dried lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, dried enterococcus faecium fermentation product, dried bifidobacterium animalis fermentation product, zinc proteinate, vitamin E supplement, niacin, manganese proteinate, copper proteinate, zinc sulfate, manganese sulfate, copper sulfate, thiamine mononitrate, vitamin A supplement, biotin, potassium iodide, calcium pantothenate, riboflavin, pyridoxine hydrochloride, vitamin B12 supplement, sodium selenite, vitamin D3 supplement, folic acid, contains a source of live (viable), naturally occurring microorganisms
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 3%
Red denotes any controversial items
Ingredients Analysis
The first ingredient is salmon. Salmon is an oily marine and freshwater fish not only high in protein but also omega 3 fatty acids, essential oils needed by every cat to sustain life.
The second ingredient is fish meal. Because it is considered a meat concentrate, fish meal contains almost 300% more protein than fresh fish itself.
Fish meal is typically obtained from the “clean, dried, ground tissue of undecomposed whole fish and fish cuttings” of commercial fish operations. 1
Unfortunately, this particular item is anonymous. Because various fish contain different types of fats, we would have preferred to have known the source species.
The third ingredient is lentils. Lentils are a quality source of carbohydrates. Plus (like all legumes) they’re rich in natural fiber.
However, lentils contain about 25% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the actual meat content of this cat food.
The fourth ingredient is dried chickpeas. Chickpeas (also known as garbanzo beans) are a good source of carbohydrates. Plus they’re naturally rich in dietary fiber.
However, dried chickpeas contain about 27% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the meat content of this cat food.
The fifth ingredient is peas. Peas are a quality source of carbohydrates. And like all legumes, they’re rich in natural fiber.
However, peas contain about 25% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the meat content of this cat food.
The sixth ingredient is pea flour, a powder made from roasted yellow peas. Pea flour contains as much as 25% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the meat content of this cat food.
The seventh ingredient is canola oil. Unfortunately, canola can be a controversial item. That’s because it can sometimes (but not always) be derived from genetically modified rapeseed.
Yet others cite the fact that canola oil can be a significant source of omega-3 fatty acids.
In any case, plant-based oils like canola are less biologically available to a cat than fish oil as a source of quality omega-3 fats.
The eighth ingredient is natural flavor. Natural flavors doesn’t give us much information about the particular ingredients included in this cat food for flavoring purposes.
We’re pleased that the flavorings used are natural, but more details are required to give any further information about these natural flavoring ingredients. Flavorings are used to make the foods more appealing and tasty for our cats.
From here the list goes on to include a number of other items. But to be realistic, ingredients located this far down the list (other than nutritional supplements) are not likely to affect the overall rating of the product.
We also note the presence of taurine, an essential amino acid for cats associated with the healthy function of heart muscle and eye sight, and is crucial for maintaining good health in cats. We view the presence of taurine in this recipe as a positive addition.
This recipe also includes dried fermentation products which are typically added as probiotics to aid with digestion.
This recipe receives a 3.5–star rating.
Nutrient Analysis
Based on its ingredients alone, 4health Untamed Glacial Stream All Life Stages Grain-Free Salmon & Lentils Formula recipe looks like an above-average dry product.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 33.3%, a fat level of 14.4% and an estimated carbohydrate level of 44.2%, alongside a fat-to-protein ratio of 43%.
As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 33.7% and a mean fat level of 14.4%. Together these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 43.9% for the overall product line, alongside a fat-to-protein ratio of 43%.
This means the 4health Untamed dry product line contains below-average protein, above-average carbs and near-average fat when compared to typical dry cat food.
Final Word
4health Untamed dry product range is packed with nutrients that are essential for your cat’s overall health and well-being.
Has 4health cat food been recalled in the past?
Yes, 4health has had two recalls.
In 2012, Diamond Pet Foods, which makes 4health, recalled all 4health foods manufactured in Gaston, South Carolina, due to potential salmonella contamination.
In 2013, Diamond recalled several cat food brands, including 4health, due to potentially insufficient thiamine levels.
You can view a complete list of all cat food recalls since 2021 here.
To stay on top of any cat food product recalls, sign up for our free email alerts, here.
About
4health is a pet food company owned by Tractor Supply Company, a home and ranch company based in Tennessee.
This company was founded in 1938 as a mail-order tractor part supplier. However, it has now grown to sell a wide variety of products including pet food and supplies. 4health brand is one of its biggest selling products made by Diamond Pet Foods.
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Article reviewed by
Veterinarian
Dr Georgia Jeremiah has a first class honors degree in comparative pathology with field experience in anatomic and clinical pathology, studying disease processes in a multitude of species.
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