Our Verdict
Lifetime Wholesome Blend dry product range is made up of five recipes with ratings that vary from 2.5 to 3. The average rating of the brand overall is 3 stars.
Each recipe is designed to support different issues in cats from a sensitive stomach to oral health and skin allergies.
Pros
- Contains good quality animal meat
- Includes fish protein
- Added vitamins
Cons
- Recipes contain plant based protein
- Limited range
The table below shows each recipe in the range including our rating and the AAFCO nutrient profile: Growth (kitten), Maintenance (adult), All Life Stages, Supplemental or Unspecified.
| Product line | Rating | AAFCO |
|---|---|---|
| Lifetime Wholesome Blend Grain-Free Salmon | 3 | A |
| Lifetime Wholesome Blend Grain-Free Turkey & Duck | 2.5 | A |
| Lifetime Wholesome Blend Naturally Fresh Chicken & Duck | 3 | A |
| Lifetime Wholesome Blend Naturally Fresh Salmon & Chicken Easy to Digest | 3 | M |
| Lifetime Wholesome Blend Naturally Fresh Turkey & Rabbit Sensitive Skin & Stomach | 3 | M |
Recipe and Label Analysis
Wholesome Blend Grain-Free Salmon recipe 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.
Wholesome Blend Grain-Free Salmon recipe
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Protein
Fat
CarbsCarbohydrates
Deboned salmon, salmon meal, menhaden fish meal, peas, pea starch, canola oil (preserved with mixed tocopherols), sun cured alfalfa meal, whitefish meal, natural flavour, herring oil (dha), olive oil (preserved with mixed tocopherols), pumpkin, carrots, apples, tomato pomace, calcium sulphate, tomatoes, choline chloride, cranberries, spinach, flaxseed, dried chicory root, yeast extract, vitamins (vitamin E supplement, niacin, l-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate (source of vitamin C), beta carotene, vitamin a supplement, thiamine mononitrate, d-calcium pantothenate, vitamin K supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, riboflavin, biotin. vitamin B12 supplement, vitamin D3 supplement, folic acid), minerals (ferrous sulphate, zinc sulphate, copper sulphate, manganese sulphate, sodium selenite, calcium iodate, zinc proteinate, copper proteinate, manganese proteinate, iron proteinate), blueberries, raspberries, dried kelp, taurine, yucca schidigera, pomegranate, dl-methionine, l-carnitine, aniseed, cassia, thyme, chamomile, horseradish, juniper, dried bacillus subtilis fermentation product, dried bacillus licheniformis fermentation product, dried lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, dried lactobacillus casei fermentation product, dried bifidobacterium bifidum fermentation product, dried enterococcus faecium fermentation product, dried aspergillus oryzae fermentation product.
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 4%
Red denotes any controversial items
Ingredients Analysis
The first ingredient is deboned 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 and third ingredients are salmon meal and menhaden 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
Menhaden are small ocean fish related to herring. They’re rich in protein and omega-3 fatty acids. What’s more, in their mid-depth habitat, menhaden are not exposed to mercury contamination as can be typical with deep water species.
This item is typically obtained from the “clean, dried, ground tissue of undecomposed whole fish and fish cuttings” of commercial fish operations. 2
The fourth ingredient is peas which 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 fifth ingredient is pea starch, a paste-like, gluten-free carbohydrate extract probably used here as a binder for making kibble. Aside from its energy content (calories), pea starch is of only modest nutritional value to a cat.
The sixth 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 seventh ingredient is sun cured alfalfa meal. Although alfalfa meal is high in plant protein (about 18%) and fiber (25%), it can be less common to find it in a cat food recipe.
The eighth ingredient is whitefish meal. Whitefish is a marine or freshwater species native to Canada and the California coast.
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, the company appears to have applied friendly bacteria to the surface of the kibble after cooking. These special probiotics are used to enhance a cat’s digestive and immune functions.
Nutrient Analysis
Based on its ingredients alone, Wholesome Blend Grain-Free Salmon recipe looks like an average dry product.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 37.8%, a fat level of 22.2% and an estimated carbohydrate level of 32%.
As a group, the brand features a near-average protein content of 37.1% and an above-average fat level of 20%. Together these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 34.9% for the overall product line, alongside a fat to protein ratio of 54%.
This means this Lifetime Wholesome Blend range contains near-average protein, near-average carbohydrate and higher than average fat, when compared to typical dry cat food.
Final Word
This range of food contains both good quality animal meat and fish protein. Carbohydrate and fat content is high so this might be something to consider if your cat is overweight.
Has Lifetime Wholesome Kibble (Dry) cat food been recalled in the past?
No. Lifetime has not had any product recalls.
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
Lifetime cat food is owned by a company called Trouw Nutrition, which in turn is owned by Nutreco – a leading animal nutrition company founded in 1994.
Based in Ontario, Canada, the company develops and manufactures companion animal products under the brand names of Lifetime and Wholesome Blend.
Ingredients are sourced from Canada wherever possible.
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Article reviewed by
Pet Nutritionist
Laura studied BSc (Hons) Animal Science with an accreditation in Nutrition at the University of Nottingham, before working for eight years in the pet food and nutrition industry.
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