IAMS ProActive Health Dry Cat Food Review

The IAMS Proactive Health dry product range is made of 13 recipes which all receive 2.5 stars.

It is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO cat food nutrient profiles for all adult and kitten maintenance.

Each recipe in the range is tailored to meet the nutritional needs of cats at different stages of life.

The table below shows each recipe in the range including our rating and the AAFCO nutrient profile.

Recipe and Label Analysis

IAMS Proactive Health Indoor Weight & Hairball Care Cat Food 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.

Ingredients Analysis

The first ingredient is chicken. Chicken is considered “the clean combination of flesh and skin… derived from the parts or whole carcasses of chicken”.¹

The second ingredient is chicken by-products or what’s left of a slaughtered chicken after all the choice cuts have been removed. In addition to organs, this item can also include feet, beaks, undeveloped eggs and almost anything other than prime skeletal muscle. The quality of this ingredient can vary, depending on the caliber of the raw materials obtained by the manufacturer.

The third ingredient is corn grits. Grits are made from ground corn, an inexpensive and controversial cereal grain of only modest nutritional value to a cat. For this reason, we do not consider corn a preferred component in any cat food.

The fourth corn gluten meal. Gluten is the rubbery residue remaining once corn has had most of its starchy carbohydrate washed out of it.

Although corn gluten meal contains 60% protein, this ingredient would be expected to have a lower biological value than meat. And less costly plant-based products like this can notably boost the total protein reported on the label – a factor that must be considered when judging the actual meat content of this cat food.

The fifth ingredient is corn, an inexpensive and controversial cereal grain. Aside from its energy content, this grain is of only modest nutritional value to a cat.

The sixth ingredient is sorghum (milo) a starchy cereal grain with a nutrient profile similar to corn. Since it is gluten-free and boasts a smoother blood sugar behavior than other grains, sorghum may be considered an acceptable non-meat ingredient.

The seventh ingredient is beet pulp. Beet pulp is a controversial ingredient, a high-fiber by-product of sugar beet processing. Some denounce beet pulp as an inexpensive filler, while others cite its outstanding intestinal health and blood sugar benefits. We only call your attention here to the controversy and believe the inclusion of beet pulp in reasonable amounts in most cat foods is entirely acceptable.

The eighth ingredient is turkey which is considered “the clean combination of flesh and skin… derived from the parts or whole carcasses of turkey”.². Turkey is naturally rich in the 11 essential amino acids required by a cat to sustain life.

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.

However, this recipe contains a natural coloring agent made by caramelizing carbohydrates. It’s used by pet food manufacturers to impart a golden brown tint to the finished product. However, the concentrated version of this ingredient, commonly known as caramel coloring, has been more recently considered controversial and found to cause cancer in laboratory animals.³

In any case, even though caramel is considered safe by the FDA, we’re always disappointed to find any added coloring in a pet food. That’s because coloring is used to make the product more appealing to humans – not your cat. After all, do you really think your cat cares what color their food is?  

This recipe receives a  2.5-star rating.

Nutrient Analysis

Based on its ingredients alone, Indoor Weight & Hairball Care Cat  Food looks like a below-average dry product.

The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 33.3%, a fat level of 15% and an estimated carbohydrate level of 43.7%.

As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 36.7% and a mean fat level of 17.3%. Together these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 38.1% for the overall product line, alongside a fat-to-protein ratio of 47%.

This means the IAMS Proactive Health product line contains average protein, below-average carbs and above-average fat when compared to typical dry cat food.

Has IAMS cat food been recalled in the past?

Yes, IAMS has had a number of cat food recalls over the years.

The last one was in March 2013, a voluntary recall of several foods for mold growth.

High aflatoxin levels saw a small batch of foods recalled in December 2011.

In 2010 IAMS went through three recalls in June, July and August for low levels of thiamine and traces of salmonella.

IAMS was the brand most affected in 2007 by the massive melamine recall.

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

IAMS is manufactured by Spectrum Brands. Animal nutritionist Paul F Iams, who was self-taught, established the company in 1946.

IAMS products are found in three main formulas: Proactive Health, Healthy Naturals and Premium Protection.