Our Verdict
Dynamite Premium Feline dry cat food receives the Cat Food Advisor rating, 4 stars.
Pros
- First ingredient is quality animal meat
- Contains animal organs
- Added vitamins and minerals
Cons
- More than one controversial ingredient
- High in fat
The table below shows our rating and the AAFCO nutrient profile of the food: Growth (kitten), Maintenance (adult), All Life Stages, Supplemental or Unspecified
| Product line | Rating | AAFCO |
|---|---|---|
| Dynamite Premium Feline Cat Food | 4 | A |
Recipe and Label Analysis
Label and nutrient data below are calculated using dry matter basis.
Dynamite Premium Feline Cat Food
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Protein
Fat
CarbsCarbohydrates
Chicken, chicken meal, pearled barley, white rice, salmon meal, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), chicken liver, dried tomato pomace, dried egg product, potatoes, duck, salmon oil (preserved with mixed tocopherols), flaxseed, brewers dried yeast, alfalfa meal, dl-methionine, potassium chloride, vitamins [choline chloride, vitamin E supplement, niacin supplement, ascorbic acid, calcium carbonate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, vitamin A supplement, folic acid, calcium pantothenate, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin supplement, vitamin D; supplement, biotin, vitamin B supplement], chicken cartilage, chicory root extract, salt, monosodium phosphate, minerals [zinc sulfate, manganese sulfate, ferrous sulfate, magnesium sulfate, zinc proteinate, ferrous proteinate, manganese proteinate, copper sulfate, magnesium proteinate, copper proteinate, calcium lodate], sorbic acid (preservative), yucca schidigera extract, sodium selenite, taurine, dried pediococcus acidilactici fermentation product, dried lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, dried lactobacillus plantarum, fermentation product, dried bifidobacterium longum fermentation product.
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 4.5%
Red denotes any controversial items
Ingredients Analysis
The first ingredient is chicken, which is considered “the clean combination of flesh and skin… derived from the parts or whole carcasses of chicken”. 1
Chicken is naturally rich in the 11 essential amino acids required by a cat to sustain life.
The second ingredient is chicken meal. Chicken meal is considered a meat concentrate and contains nearly 300% more protein than fresh chicken.
The third ingredient is pearled barley. Pearled barley is produced when the seed hull and bran is removed from barley grain. Fiber is distributed throughout the barley grain, rather than being contained within the hull meaning that cracked pearled barley is still a source of fiber. However, aside from its energy content, this cereal grain is of only modest nutritional value to a cat.
The fourth ingredient is white rice, a less nutritious form of rice in which the grain’s healthier outer layer has been removed.
The fifth ingredient is salmon 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. 2
The sixth ingredient is chicken fat. Chicken fat is obtained from rendering chicken, a process similar to making soup in which the fat itself is skimmed from the surface of the liquid.
Chicken fat is high in linoleic acid, an omega-6 fatty acid essential for life. Although it doesn’t sound very appetizing, chicken fat is actually a quality ingredient.
The seventh ingredient is chicken liver. This is an organ meat sourced from a named animal and thus considered a beneficial component.
The eighth ingredient is dried tomato pomace. Tomato pomace is a by-product remaining after processing tomatoes into juice, soup and ketchup. Many praise tomato pomace for its high fiber and nutrient content, while others believe it’s often used as an inexpensive pet food filler.
As the presence of fiber in a cat’s diet is shown to have great importance, we view the inclusion of tomato pomace in this food as a positive.
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.
One ingredient to note is brewers dried yeast, which can be a controversial item. Although it’s a by-product of the beer making process, this ingredient is rich in minerals and other healthy nutrients.
Fans believe yeast repels fleas and supports the immune system.
Critics argue yeast ingredients can be linked to allergies. This may be true, but (like all allergies) only if your particular cat is allergic to the yeast itself.
In any case, unless your cat is specifically allergic to it, yeast can still be considered a nutritious additive.
What’s more noteworthy here is that brewers yeast contains about 48% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the actual meat content of this cat food.
This food also contains chelated minerals that have been chemically attached to protein. This makes them easier to absorb. Chelated minerals are usually found in better cat foods.
Finally, 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, Dynamite Premium Feline Cat Food looks like an above-average dry product.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 35.6%, a fat level of 20% and an estimated carbohydrate level of 36.4%, alongside a fat to protein ratio of 56%.
This means this Dynamite Premium Feline Cat Food contains near-average protein, near-average carbohydrate and higher than average fat, when compared to typical dry cat food.
Final Word
This food lists the first ingredient as good quality animal meat and contains other animal organs. It also contains probiotics and omega-3 fatty acids which can help skin and coat health.
Has Dynamite Premium Feline cat food been recalled in the past?
No. Dynamite cat food has not been recalled.
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
Dynamite Marketing Inc was founded in 1982 by Jim Zamzow and is a family-owned business.
Dynamite offers a holistic solution to animal health and its product line includes pet food and a variety of supplements tailored
to the specific needs of different animal species.
The foods are made from the same small manufacturer with 100% USDA-inspected ingredients.
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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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