I haven’t reviewed many cat foods lately, but I wanted to do a review of Dr. Elsey’s Cleanprotein Chicken cat food. It is so well positioned in the cat food reviews that I was curious about its ingredients and quality. I am always researching new cat foods for my kitty that could potentially improve her health and energy levels. I discovered interesting facts about Dr. Elsey’s Chicken formula that I want to share with you. First, let’s look at the ingredients of this dry food recipe. This review has been updated since some ingredients in this formula have changed.
Ingredients of Dr. Elsey’s Cleanprotein Chicken (original formula)
Chicken, Dried Egg Product, Pork Protein Isolate, Gelatin, Chicken Fat (Preserved With Mixed Tocopherols), Flaxseed, Natural Flavor, Salmon Oil, Potassium Citrate, Calcium Carbonate, Fructooligosaccharide, Calcium Carbonate, Choline Chloride, Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin Supplement, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin A Acetate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Folic Acid), Minerals (Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Calcium Carbonate, Manganous Oxide, Copper Sulfate, Iron Amino Acid Chelate, Manganese Amino Acid Chelate, Zinc Amino Acid Chelate, Copper Amino Acid Chelate, Sodium Selenite, Cobalt Carbonate, Ethylenediamine Dihydroiodide), Potassium Chloride, Mixed Tocopherols (Preservative), Taurine, Salt, Rosemary Extract.
Ingredients of Dr. Elsey’s Cleanprotein Chicken New Formula
Chicken, Hydrolyzed Pork, Pork Plasma, Gelatin, Chicken Fat (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Ground Flaxseed, Natural Flavor, Calcium Carbonate, Salmon Oil, Potassium Chloride, Choline Chloride, Fructooligosaccharides, Vitamins (Niacin, Vitamin A Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Folic Acid, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin, Vitamin D Supplement, Biotin, Vitamin B12), Minerals (Zinc Proteinate, Zinc Sulfate, Iron Proteinate, Ferrous Sulfate, Copper Proteinate, Copper Sulfate, Manganese Proteinate, Manganese Sulfate, CalciumIodate, Sodium Selenite), Taurine, Magnesium Oxide, Mixed Tocopherols (Preservative), Salt, Vitamin E Supplement, Rosemary Extract.
Guaranteed Analysis Dr. Elsey’s CleanProtein Chicken Formula
Crude Protein 59.0% min – Crude Fat 17.0% min – Crude Fiber 4.0% max – Moisture 12.0% max – Eicosapentaenoic Acid 0.06% min – Docosahexaenoic Acid 0.06% min – Vitamin E 150 IU/kg min – Omega-3 Fatty Acids 0.9% min.
Analysis of the First 5 Ingredients of Dr. Elsey’s Chicken
Chicken: 2 stars. When chicken meat is weighed it contains water mass (about 80%) which puts this ingredient as the first on the list due to its weight, but in reality, it has less protein nutrition once it’s cooked.
Hydrolyzed Pork: 3 stars. Hydrolyzed pork is derived from the hog’s belly. In general hydrolyzed proteins are well tolerated by cats since proteins are broken down. Hydrolyzed proteins are hypoallergenic and reduce food sensitivities. On the other hand, hydrolyzed diets may draw more water into the cat’s intestines and in some cases could create runny stools. (source).
Pork Plasma: 4 stars. This ingredient contains high digestibility and biological value. It also contains prebiotic, immunomodulatory, and neuroprotective properties, however, more studies are needed on pets (source).
Gelatin: 4 stars. Pure protein that is derived from collagen. It aids the cat’s joints, tendons, and ligaments health. Good binding ingredient for high protein cat food. It helps for kibble durability.
Chicken Fat (Preserved With Mixed Tocopherols): 4 stars. This is a good source of energy for felines.
Caloric content & requirements for cats
Metabolizable energy: 3,953 kcal/kg, 523 kcal/cup
According to wsava.org the calorie requirement for a healthy adult cat that is not overweight is 28 calories per pound if it’s a relatively active cat. However, the perfect calorie content will depend on the cat’s size and activity level. Dr. Elsey’s Cleanprotein chicken cat food contains 523 calories per cup. This means you must feed your cat no more than ½ cup per day if you have an average-sized indoor cat (up to 11 pounds).
A side note: If you use a timed cat feeder, to feed your feline friend 2 or 3 times per day you must provide portions of 1/8 cup or less at a time.
Ingredient changes in Dr Elsey’s Clean Protein new formula
Most of the first five ingredients kept the same, except the second and third ingredients. The second and third ingredients are important in a cat formula because the first ingredient (in this case chicken) doesn’t represent most of the formula after being cooked. That’s why the second and third ingredients are important since they represent the main part of the cat formula in percentage terms once cooked.
Dried Egg Product ➝ Hydrolyzed Pork: This change pointed in a good direction. Dried egg product is a cheap source of protein for cats. It usually comes from the waste of industrial egg processing so it is not 100% pure clean egg. The good thing is that dried egg products are free of shell, but this is not enough to make this a good ingredient. This ingredient is being rated with 2 out of 5 stars by Dr. Lisa Newman and Mike Adams in NaturalNews (source).
Hydrolyzed Pork is more easily digested by cats since the proteins are broken down into such small protein pieces that won’t cause allergic reactions in cats. This cat food is called Clean Protein for this reason. A good change for cats with digestive issues, but it’s recommended that a hydrolyzed diet in cats should be consulted by a veterinarian first.
Pork Protein Isolate ➝ Pork Plasma: Pork Protein Isolate is a pure source of protein that comes directly from pork that’s been heated and dry to preserve its properties. Pork Plasma is a highly digestive ingredient that contains immune and neural properties for the cat’s biological functions. Pork plasma is a result of a process of the pork’s blood, so it is not an ingredient found naturally in the wild. For this reason, there are no long-term studies of cats being fed with this type of protein on a long term. This change means that the formula is switching protein coming directly from pork to protein coming from treated pork’s blood to extract the plasma. Good change for cats with digestive issues. It’s better to consult a Vet if this type of ingredient is suitable to feed your cat in a long term.
What I like about this formula
- High-protein cat food
- The formula has low carbohydrate content, which reduces the risk of blood sugar peaks in cats.
- This recipe contains pure and broken-down forms of protein that are easily digested by cats.
- Most of the formula comes from animal-based ingredients. This is excellent considering that cats are pure carnivores that need proteins, not carbs.
- The formula is gluten-free, which helps to prevent allergies or inflammation in the cat’s digestive system.
- The ingredients have been carefully chosen to prevent bladder stones or crystals.
- A good quality binder such as gelatin provides protein and helps with the cat’s joints and ligaments. Other binders such as starches are bad fillers that promote obesity and diabetes.
- The lack of fiber from vegetables is compensated by ground flaxseed as the 6th ingredient. This helps to prevent constipation.
- Good ash level under 8%
- Cats really like this food. The Pork Plasma ingredient provides high palatability (source).
What I don’t like about this cat food
- The first ingredient Chicken doesn’t take most of the formula proportionally, due to being weighed with water mass weight.
- Hydrolyzed pork has broken down protein particles which makes it much easier to digest by cats, they are a pure clean source of protein. However, it could create some runny stool issues due to an increase in water concentration in the cat’s intestines. More studies are needed to learn the real nutritional value of amino acid breakdown with hydrolyzed ingredients. Your cat may do excellent with this formula or may cause runny stools or other reactions in your pet.
- Contains Manganous Oxide. It provides manganese in pet food, essential for bone development and metabolism. However, it’s less bioavailable than other sources, and excessive consumption, especially in this form, can lead to toxicity.
- Contains Potassium Chloride. It provides potassium and affects pH balance, but excess intake may cause small intestinal ulcers, hinting at inadequate supplementation in the formula.
Conclusion
—Dr. Elsey’s Cleanprotein Chicken dry cat food has taken a step in a good direction by providing clean sources of protein and a lack of cheap fillers to their formula. This cat food has a good protein level and low carb content which is appreciated for felines. Excess of carbs and fillers is the reason for cat obesity, diabetes, and diseases. Minerals are at a healthy level too. However, you need to feed your cat based on the guidelines, which is no more than ½ cup per day to keep your cat at a healthy weight and free of other diseases.
—The downside of this formula is the fact that most of the proteins come from hydrolyzed and plasma from pork. Though these ingredients are easy to digest and gentle on the cat’s intestine, long-term feeding with a diet based on hydrolyzed pork and pork plasma has not been analyzed yet. We can agree that cats don’t eat broken-down proteins in the wild.
Bottom line
I think this is a good formula with a low content of carbs and fillers, and high clean protein levels, but I suggest not feeding this cat food for a long period. The big downfalls are the Manganous Oxide and Potassium Chloride in the formula, which are not good for feeding cats long term. If your cat has digestive sensitivities you may want to try this formula previous consultation with your Vet, but watch in the beginning if any runny stools appear. If you need this formula for your cat with food sensitivities, get it on Chewy by visiting this link with fast shipping. Or visit Amazon and get it on this link.
i been feeding my cat viand dry cat food is that a good food for my cat
Hello, I checked the ingredients of this cat food. The second ingredient is ground brown rice and the third ingredient is Ground Barley. I don’t believe cats would eat brown rice or barley in the wild. I hope that helps.
Hi, I’m thinking of switching my 6 year-old Tabby girl to Smalls Chicken Kibble recipe, whose ingredients are: Chicken, chicken meal, sweet potatoes, peas, egg product, pea protein, chicken liver, natural flavor, chicken fat, fish oil, lecithin, sun-dried miscanthus grass, yeast culture, calcium carbonate, choline chloride, sea salt, potassium chloride, yeast extract, fructooligosaccharides, taurine, DL-methionine, L-tryptophan, tricalcium phosphate, cranberry extract, chamomile flower, fumaric acid, lactic acid, citric acid, malic acid, thyme extract, zinc sulphate, ferrous sulphate, zinc proteinate, iron proteinate, nicotinic acid, copper sulphate, manganous oxide, vitamin E supplement, vitamin A supplement, copper proteinate, thiamine mononitrate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, calcium pantothenate, riboflavin, manganese proteinate, vitamin D3 supplement, vitamin B12 supplement, biotin, menadione sodium bisulfite complex (source of vitamin K activity), calcium iodate, folic acid, sodium selenite, rosemary extract.
Crude Protein (min): 40%
Crude Fat (min): 17%
Crude Fiber (max): 4%
Moisture (max): 10%
Phosphorous: 285 mg/100 kcal
Calcium: 363 mg/100 kcal
Taurine: 63 mg/100 kcal
Sodium: 85 mg/100 kcal
Does this food sound like it’s worth trying out? Thank you SO much!
Warmest regards,
Christian
Hello Christian, this formula contains menadione sodium bisulfite complex, a source of vitamin K. This ingredient is toxic for cats and should never be present in any cat formula. I suggest you pick another formula.
So…What dry food do you recommend?
I feed my cat about 3-4 months one food and then I switch temporarily to another. The base food I feed my cat is Petcurean Go grain-free, I would recommend this food to any healthy cat. The Sensitive Limited ingredient and Grain-Free Chicken, Turkey + Duck are my favorites.
Are you using the pet curing wet food line or dry food line? Bob
Hello Bob, currently I have my cat on a chicken-free diet so I am feeding her with Instinct Original grain-free pate with real Duck recipe.
Is it healthy to switch your cats food every 4 months? And what foods do you have in their rotation? Wet and dry food recommendations please. I just bought Dr Elsey’s turkey recipe dry food for my cats after being on Iams chicken Adult food for a year (orange bag) before that it was Iams (purple bag) chicken kitten food. I tried Tiki Cat luau wet cat food chicken but they don’t like the real chicken. I was trying to avoid wet foods with guar gum and carrageenan. I don’t normally feed them wet food only friskies pate as a after vet treat but I’m trying to get my cats to have more liquid. My boy kitty drinks from the fountain no problem but my girl doesn’t drink as much. I worry about them both having kidney issues that’s why I chose Dr Elsey’s due to low ash content. Sorry for the long comment
Hi Britt, switching cat foods is not unhealthy as long as the food you are switching to is a healthy formula and you make the right transition when switching, First meal: 3/4 old food with 1/4 new food; Second meal: 2/3 old food with 1/3 new food. Second Day: First meal: 1/2 old food with 1/2 new food; Second meal: 1/3 old food with 2/3 new food. Third-Day: All new food. Also, consider the type of protein you are switching to, you don’t want to jump from turkey to buffalo or from chicken to mostly fish. I have switched formulas with my cat Sophie to avoid food allergies and so far she enjoys a healthy life, but considering the factors I just mentioned.
The rotations diets I have tried with her are Petcurean Sensitivities Limited Ingredients and Wellness Core Turkey & Duck. I used to feed her with Wild Calling but that Company closed, unfortunately. Wet foods that I can recommend are Wellness Healthy Indulgence (either morsels or gravy), for a rotational diet without chicken I suggest Instinct Original Pate Duck Recipe. Hope that helps!
Hi. I just decided to try and keep a stray who has been staying outside my apartment for a few months now, even though I’m allergic to cats and have a very tight budget as is.. She decided to walk in with me one night and had an open wound so I kept her long enough to get a vet tech friend to take a look at her and I fell in love while waiting… She’s fine and healing up on her own, but my friend said she may be pregnant. If so its too soon to tell without an ultrasound. I’ve done a lot of research on my days off to find everything I need for her and possible kittens and Dr elsey’s clean protein has stayed in my top 2 food choices. My other choice is Purina Pro Plan Live Clear Probiotic chicken and rice recipe because its intended to reduce human allergies to cats, but im not sure i approve of the ingredients… could i mix the 2 together or mix the Purina with frozen raw using Instinct frozen raw bites grain free cage free chicken recipe cat food to get the extra protein and nutrients… I don’t know which route to go or have found a wet food I approve of in my budget yet…
My choice of dry kitten food is Farmina N&D prime chicken and pomegranate recipe kitten dry food in case I need that in 3-4 months as well… any advice would be appreciated
I forgot to mention my friend and I both think my new kitty is about 8 months old, so she’s still basically a kitten herself.
That and I’m trying to keep everything from her food to her litter as free and clear as I can to help reduce toxins and allergens for the both of us and my 10 lb chihuahua mix who will be 6 in May. He has a sensitive stomach and allergies. I’ve already done a lot of research on dog foods in the last few years and after finding a good kibble for him- Victor, have had to switch again recently due to the brand changing their formulas and using more veggie protein instead of animal protein and I can’t afford raw dog food. The food I finally chose that is the closest to raw i can do is the Simple Food Project, which also has cat food but not in bulk sizes to make it a little cheaper. I only buy for my dog if bought in bulk and still am continuing his old brand mixed in 75/25 to help make it go even further.
Suddenly informed by Chewy that Dr Elsey’s Cleanprotein chicken dry cat food is out of stock. Ditto when I checked Amazon and Walmart. The Dr. Elsey’s website mentions a stock problem for the canned food, but nothing about the dry food. Last time this happened my cats were eating Evo, which suddenly vanished from the market. It took months to find a substitute they would eat. Can I expect the same from Dr. Elsey’s?
Please, I would love to know your analytical comments regarding the cat food that I am currently using which is called Young Again cat food and I use the 50/22 version. Can be found at the website: youngagain catfood.com
(With a specific mention regarding the use of Guar gum as the binding agent)
I also just noticed that there is no mention of Vit. K? Your thoughts and thank you
Hello Robert, if you give me the list of ingredients I could help you. Thanks for visiting my site!
Hello,
What are the best premium cat foods for rotational eating. Right now I have my cats on the natures variety, high protein chicken flavor, and I feed them a high protein wet food,
I try to get them food that is high in protein with meats and vitamins and no fillers, like peas or chickpeas or some thickener. Those ingredients hurt my cats health.
I have a very very picky eater. These are some of the wet foods I give them.
Hound and Gatos, Essence, nature’s Logic, and Dr. Elsey. Vital Essentials,
What others are there that are good for my picky cats.
Hello Terri, rotational foods are the type of cat foods that don’t contain the typical ingredients that cause allergies in cats over a long period of time of being consumed, like fish, eggs, chicken. The rotational foods are meant to be a sort of break from the typical ingredients in cat foods. The best rotational dry cat food I have found is Wellness Core Turkey & Duck, but that formula has peas. Dry cat foods usually use starches to form the kibble, it will be very hard to find a rotational dry food without the typical proteins that cause allergies if consumed for a long period of time by cats, and also that doesn’t contain any starch in the recipe. Regarding wet food, the only one without chicken, eggs, or fish I have found so far and that is healthy is Instinct Original Duck Pate, here’s the review of that one https://www.catfooddispensersreviews.com/instinct-original-pate-duck-canned-cat-food-review/. Hope that helps!
Hello,
My cat is a diabetic for 3 years now. He just turned 11 years old. I feed him Rawz pate 96% chicken and chicken / liver and 96% turkey and turkey/ liver. I know the carbs are low, but are the other ingredients healthy for him?
Thank you, Rose
What are the ingredients of that recipe?
My cat has been eating Royal Canin senior 12+ dry food for a few years. Approximately 2 years ago She had her teeth cleaned and they removed six teeth. She had been on a dry food only diet but after the surgery we fed her canned food in addition to her dry food. We felt like we couldn’t take the canned food away so we kept it in her diet. The only canned food she likes is Fancy Feast Pate. We fed her 1/4 can Fancy Feast 2 times a day and she can graze on kibble as she likes. She is healthy and her weight is good. The Royal Canin senior 12+ has become impossible to get so I recently bought Dr. Elsey’s Rabbit Clean Protein Dry Food.
First ingredient is rabbit, second ingredient is chicken and third ingredient is egg product. Do you recommend this food for her?
Hi Brenna, as my review states, I am not particularly fond of the types of protein in this formula and I suggest feeding this dry food, not for the long term. The other thing that calls my attention is that several customers are complaining that the latest bags of Chicken formula comes with half of the kibble into crumbs.
What is the best dry cat food?
Hi Daniel, you can find a list of cat food reviews on my website. Here’s the link https://www.catfooddispensersreviews.com/cat-food-reviews/ Personally, I am feeding my cat Wellness Core Grain-free Chicken & Duck formula. This dry food doesn’t contain fish, eggs, or chicken so it’s a good formula to prevent food allergies in cats. Hope that helps!
Hi – What about Dr. Elsey’s CleanProtein Salmon? I believe it is a new flavor with a different analysis.
Hi Beth, I would need to review the salmon formula to analyze the ingredients and see if there’s a different conclusion. I will take note for my next review. Thanks for bringing the salmon formula to my attention.