AvoDerm (Dry) Review

AvoDerm dry product range is made of five recipes which all receive the Cat Food Advisor rating, 3 stars.

The  food is made with good-quality ingredients and contains omega-rich avocados.  There are multiple types of meat across the product line listed as the first ingredient, however, overall meat content is relatively low.

The table below shows each recipe in this range including our rating and the AAFCO nutrient profile: Growth (kitten), Maintenance (adult), All Life Stages, Supplemental or Unspecified.

Recipe and Label Analysis

AvoDerm Chicken & Herring Meal Formula 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 meal.  Chicken meal is considered a meat concentrate and contains nearly 300% more protein than fresh chicken.

The second ingredient is ground brown rice, another name for rice flour. Ground rice is made from either white or brown rice and is considered a gluten-free substitute for wheat flour.  

The third ingredient is ground white rice, another name for rice flour. Ground rice is made from either white or brown rice and is considered a gluten-free substitute for wheat flour. 

The fourth 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 fifth 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.

The sixth ingredient is herring meal.  Because it is considered a meat concentrate, herring 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

The seventh ingredient is avocado.  Avocado products can be somewhat controversial. Supporters claim the ingredient to be nutrient rich and beneficial to a cat’s skin and coat — while others worry over what are mostly unsubstantiated concerns over potential poisoning. 

These fears appear to originate from a 1984 study in which goats consumed the leaves (not the fruit) of the Guatemalan (not the Mexican) avocado and became ill. ²

Toxicity is based upon the presence of persin in avocado. Cats are rarely affected by persin [Pet Poison Helpline], and therefore consuming products of the avocado flesh are generally safe. Based upon our own review of the literature, it is our opinion that the anxiety over avocado ingredients in cat food appears to be unjustified.

The eighth ingredient is natural flavor.  Natural flavors doesn’t give us much information about the particular ingredients included in this cat food for flavoring purposes.  

We’re pleased that the flavorings used are natural, but more details are required to give any further information about these natural flavoring ingredients. Flavorings are used to make the foods more appealing and tasty for our cats.

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.

Recipe star rating: 3

Nutrient Analysis

Based on its ingredients alone, AvoDerm Chicken & Herring Meal Formula looks like an average dry product.

The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 35.6%, a fat level of 22.2% and an estimated carbohydrate level of 34.2%.

As a group, the brand features a near average protein content of 36.7% and an above-average fat level of 20.6%. Together these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 34.8% for the overall product line, alongside a fat to protein ratio of 56%.

This means this AvoDerm dry cat food  contains near average protein, near average carbohydrate and above-average fat, when compared to typical dry cat food.

Has AvoDerm cat food been recalled in the past?

Yes, AvoDerm has issued recalls in the past. 

For full details, visit the Dog Food Advisor, but in summary:

In September 2012 – there was reported potential salmonella contamination which affected AvoDerm’s Natural Lamb Meal & Brown Rice Adult Dog Food Recipe.

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

AvoDerm was founded in 1982 and is well known for the inclusion of avocado in its ingredient list, due to the founders wanting to offer recipes that targeted better skin and coat quality in pets. 

Since its founding, AvoDerm has significantly expanded its offerings to include cat food and a wide range of dog food.

AvoDerm is owned and operated by Breeders Choice, which is based in Irwindale, California.