Unlocking Tuscan Natural Carne for Cats: An Unbiased Review

I have always made reviews of high-quality cat foods to help people find healthy formulas to feed their pets. However, I have never considered the price of these brands in my analysis. After I read some comments about people not being able to afford some brands that cost between US$35 and US$45 I found a formula that is not cheap, but it has a reasonable price. That’s why I am making a review of Tuscan Natural Carne Grain-Free Dry cat food. I bought a bag for my cat Sophie to try it. My review contains the result of how my cat Sophie reacts to the food, but I also analyze the recent changes in the formula. Here’s my review.

Tuscan Natural Carne Cat Food Key Features

• Grain-free formula, no grains, corn, wheat, or soy.
• No artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives are added to the food. It’s all-natural.
• High-protein diet. The first three ingredients come from poultry, and the fifth ingredient is fish.
• Made with sustainably-farmed fruits and vegetables.
• For all life stages
• Humanely-raised chicken and turkey (requirement that chickens and turkeys be non-caged birds with room to move, stretch, and receive sunlight).
• With vitamins and minerals, prebiotics, and probiotics.
• With omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids for healthy skin and a shiny coat.
• Kibble contains extra virgin olive oil for a shiny coat and soft skin.
• Made in the USA

Tuscan Natural Carne Ingredients (current formula)

Humanely Raised Turkey, Humanely Raised Chickens, Chicken Meal from Humanely Raised Chicken, Sustainably Farmed Pea Protein, Herring Meal from Ocean Caught Herring, Sustainably Farmed Peas (Dried), Essential Fatty Acids from Chicken Fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), Turkey Meal from Humanely Raised Turkeys, Sustainably Farmed Flaxseed, Sustainably Farmed Russet Potatoes, Olive Oil from Old Growth, Trees (preserved with mixed tocopherols), Natural Flavor, Sustainably Farmed Pea Fiber, Herring Oil from Ocean Caught Herring, Sustainably Farmed Dried Chickory Root, Sustainably Farmed Dehydrated Alfalfa Meal, DL-Methionine, Sustainably Farmed Apples, Sustainably Farmed Carrots, Sustainably Farmed Cranberries, Sustainably Farmed Tomatoes, Sustainably Farmed Pumpkin, Vitamin E Supplement, Calcium Carbonate, Vitamin B-3 Supplement Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin B-12 Supplement, Vitamin A Acetate, Biotin, Riboflavin Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Folic Acid, Iron Proteinate, Zinc Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Sodium Selenite, Cobalt Protenate, Ethylenediamine Dihydroiodide, Dried Lactobacillus Acidophilus Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus Casei Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus Plantarum Fermentation Product, Dried Enterococcus Faecium Fermentation Product.

Caloric Content: 3,903 kcal/kg 514 kcal/cup | 1 cup=4.8 oz. (130 g)

Tuscan Natural Carne Ingredients (Previous Formula)

Chicken Meal, Chicken, Turkey Meal, Turkey, Peas, Chicken Fat (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Herring Meal, Olive Oil (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Potatoes, Pea Fiber, Natural Flavor, Flaxseed, Apples, Carrots, Cranberries, Herring Oil, Tomatoes, Pumpkin, Dried Chickory Root, Dehydrated Alfalfa Meal, DL-Methionine, Vitamin E Supplement, Calcium Carbonate, Choline Chloride, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin D-3 Supplement, Niacin Supplement, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin B-12 Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Thiamine Mononitrate, Biotin, Folic Acid, Zinc Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Ascorbic Acid, Dried Lactobacillus Acidophilus Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus Casei Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus Plantarum Fermentation Product, Dried Enterococcus Faecium Fermentation Product.

Guaranteed Analysis of Tuscan Carne Cat Food

Crude Protein 40% min – Crude Fat 22% min – Crude Fiber 3.0% max – Moisture 11% max – Magnesium 0.10% max – Vitamin E 300 IU/kg min – Taurine 0.20% min – Omega-6 Fatty Acids 4.0% min – Omega-3 Fatty Acids 0.40% min – Ascorbic Acid 500.00 mg/kg min – Docosahexaenoic (DHA) 0.10% min – Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA) 0.10% min- Total Microorganisms 90,000,000 cfu/lb Minimum.

Analyzing Changes: First 8 Ingredients in Tuscan Natural Carne

Here are the changes in ingredients and how they impact the formula. As a side note, the guaranteed analysis of the updated formula kept all the percentages but added information, such as magnesium, ascorbic acid, and total microorganisms.

• Chicken Meal (Old) vs. Humanely Raised Turkey (New): This switch trades in concentrated chicken meal for fresh turkey raised humanely. While both pack protein, the change might mean slightly less protein after cooking due to turkey’s moisture loss.
• Chicken (Old) vs. Humanely Raised Chickens (New): Both bring animal protein, but the new batch highlights ethically sourced, humanely raised chickens.
• Turkey Meal (Old) vs. Chicken Meal from Humanely Raised Chicken (New): Swapping turkey meal for chicken meal from humanely raised chickens keeps protein concentrated but switches up the flavor slightly.
• Turkey (Old) vs. Sustainably Farmed Pea Protein (New): Turkey steps aside for pea protein. While both offer protein, this change may affect amino acid balance and digestibility.
• Peas (Old) vs. Herring Meal from Ocean Caught Herring (New): Out go the peas, in comes herring meal, an excellent source of protein, but very little omega 3 due to the cooking processing.
• Chicken Fat (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols) (Old) vs. Sustainably Farmed Peas (Dried) (New): Fat gets swapped for dried peas, potentially altering fat content and fatty acid profile depending on quantities.
• Herring Meal (Old) vs. Essential Fatty Acids from Chicken Fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols) (New): Herring meal bows out for essential fatty acids from chicken fat. How it stacks up depends on fatty acid concentrations.
• Olive Oil (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols) (Old) vs. Turkey Meal from Humanely Raised Turkeys (New): Olive oil gives way to turkey meal, shaking up fat content and overall nutrition.

Analyzing Tuscan Natural Carne Cat Food’s Top 5 Ingredients

• Humanely Raised Turkey (2 stars): Fresh turkey while packing protein, it might slightly provide less protein after cooking due to turkey’s moisture loss. Turkeys have been raised in conditions that prioritize the welfare and well-being of the turkeys.
• Humanely Raised Chickens (2 stars): Same as the first ingredient, chicken provides less protein proportionally after the cooking process in comparison to the initial weight on the list of ingredients. Same as humanely-raised turkeys humanely-raised chickens, it means they are more ethically raised.
• Chicken Meal from Humanely Raised Chicken (5 stars): Chicken meal adds a concentrate of protein from humanely raised chickens. It’s cooked, dry, and pulverized chicken.
• Sustainably Farmed Pea Protein (3 stars): This is a good source of vegetable protein, but if it replaces an animal source of protein in the first 5 ingredients, the ranking lowers. Peas may affect amino acid balance and digestibility.
• Herring Meal from Ocean Caught Herring (5 stars): Excellent source of animal protein, but almost no fatty acids since the oils have been extracted in the cooking process.

My cat’s transition from Wellness to Tuscan Natural

 

What are the Pros & Cons of Tuscan Natural Carne Cat Food?

Here’s the breakdown of the formula’s pros and cons.

PROS

• Grain-free, no corn, rice, soy, or wheat.
• High protein level (40%)
• Meat used is humanely raised and herring is wild-caught.
• Doesn’t contain salt. This is much better if your cat doesn’t drink enough water.
• Higher level of moisture (11%) regarding most dry cat foods.
• Circular kibble fits most felines’ jaws (my cat prefers this kibble. It’s larger and it’s easier for her to chew).
• Low ash content of 6.35%

CONS

• Flaxseed is gimmicky since cats can’t convert flaxseed’s omegas efficiently to DHA and EPA. Omegas coming from fish are much better.
• Carbohydrates of approx. 18.17% on an as-fed basis is considered on the higher side for cats.
• Herring meal provides a poor source of fatty acids because the oil is pressed out of the fish during the water extraction. However, herring oil and chicken fatty acids compensate for it.
• 1.37% Phosphorus on an as-fed basis is on the higher side. However, this phosphorous comes from highly digestible poultry so cats can get rid of it naturally with appropriate water consumption.
• Not available on Chewy or Amazon.

My thoughts about Tuscan Carne cat dry food formula

Tuscan Natural Carne is a grain-free recipe which makes it already much better. The formula is high in proteins, with most of the first ingredients coming from animal sources. The carbs are a little high but you need to feed your feline following the instructions. My cat Sophie was eating Wellness Core Grain Free Turkey & Duck, but I decided to switch to Tuscan to review it. During the transition she ate mostly the Tuscan Natural Carne’s kibble, leaving the other food uneaten. Tuscan is more crunchy and she loves it because the kibble is larger and it’s easier for her to chew her food. The phosphorous content is a little high and that’s why it’s important for you to always feed your cat a mixed diet of dry and wet food, and provide your cat with a source of fresh water at all times.

Bottom Line

Tuscan Natural Carne is a solid formula featuring wholesome ingredients that offer great value for your money. The recent ingredient swap seems to have both positive and negative aspects in terms of protein quality and taste. While the addition of high-quality animal proteins like herring meal could enhance protein quality, the inclusion of plant-based ingredients like pea protein might affect overall nutritional balance and taste. Ultimately, whether the change benefits an adult healthy indoor cat depends on individual preferences and specific dietary needs. All in all, this is a good formula and I recommend it over grain-based cat foods. Remember always to feed your cat a mixed diet consisting of dry and wet food. It’s also crucial to provide your cat with a permanent source of fresh water for hydration.

Tuscan Natural Carne cat dry food formula is available for purchase at select local stores. Additionally, it can be bought directly from Tuscan’s official website at https://shoptuscannatural.com/cat/ (note: no affiliate links are on this post).