Formulas for Life™ for Cats FAQ

Our pet parents have all kinds of questions about Lucy Pet Formulas for Life™ for Cats. We've broken them down under the following headings:

Cat Health and Formulas for Life™

Formulas for Life™ Ingredients

Formulas for Life™ vs. Other Dry Food

Quality Assurance and Manufacturing

Cat Health and Formulas for Life

• What makes Lucy Pet Formulas for Life™ different?
  Lucy Pet is proud to work with Dr. George C. Fahey, one of the world’s leading experts in animal nutrition. Our Formulas for Life™ diets are based on Dr. Fahey’s 40+ years experience. His extensive body of published nutrition research has established him as a bona fide expert in the pet industry worldwide. He heads our team of nutritionists to ensure our diets are precisely balanced and formulated. The beauty of Lucy Pet is the science behind our diets, so each kibble has the extensive experience of our team of nutrition experts. We go above and beyond to source quality ingredients such as French and USA-grown duck meat, US grown quinoa, pumpkin, sweet potatoes, wild Alaskan salmon, and more. Our diets focus on Gut Health by creating a healthy digestive system to feed the entire body system. It is so special we developed our P.B.F Prebiotic Balanced Fiber™ blend with unique ingredients such as quinoa, pumpkin, and chickpeas. Learn more about our P.B.F Prebiotic Balanced Fiber™.
• What is a healthy immune system?
  A healthy immune system means that the immune system is able to respond appropriately when faced with different challenges. Every day your pet’s immune system is challenged by viruses, bacteria, environmental toxins and other pathogens. In addition stress and poor nutrition can also affect immune health.
• Why don’t you have a Kitten Formula?
  All Lucy Pet Formulas for Life™ diets are formulated to be complete and balanced for all life stages of kittens to adults and senior pets. Our formulas are nutrient-dense, with high-quality proteins, carbohydrates, fats, and fiber, as well as the essential vitamins, minerals, supplements and antioxidants necessary for growth and development.
• Why don’t you have a Senior Formula?
  All Lucy Pet Formulas for Life™ diets are formulated to be complete and balanced for all life stages, including senior pets. Our formulas are nutritious with high-quality proteins, carbohydrates, fats, and fiber, as well as the essential vitamins, minerals, supplements and antioxidants necessary for growth and development. One very important factor in senior pets is to maintain a healthy weight. Obesity is the leading health issue in senior pets, so we recommend following our feeding guidelines based on the age and weight of your pet. Equally important with senior pets is to ensure regular exercise to keep them fit and healthy.
• Is your food recommended by Veterinarians?
  Yes. Our foods are recommended by Dr. Karen “Doc” Halligan is the Chief Veterinary Officer of the Lucy Pet Foundation and is a renowned veterinarian, author, and celebrity spokesperson. She has developed a distinguished veterinary medical career while establishing herself as a national authority on animal health. She is a sought-after pet health expert and featured spokesperson in the media. As a practicing veterinarian, she understands the importance of feeding high-quality nutrition in the overall health of an animal.
  
  We recommend consulting your veterinarian for specific health questions for your pet.
• Is this a good food for Pets with medical conditions?
  Lucy Pet formulas are not designed to address any specific medical condition. We advise that you consult your veterinarian regarding any specific health issues.
• How can I determine if my cat is overweight or obese?
  Generally for most pets you should be able to see a defined tucked abdomen and distinct waistline. You should be able to feel the ribs if you gently rub your hand over the ribcage. Obesity is the #1 health issue for cats, and most pet parents are in denial about their pet’s weight. Consult your veterinarian to check your pet’s weight. A diet of restricted calories, measured feeding, and regular exercise will usually make a big difference in keeping your pet at a healthy weight. If your pet is overweight, be sure to cut back on the treats, those add calories too!

Formulas for Life Ingredients

• Are your Formulas Natural? 
  Lucy Pet Formulas for Life ™ are made with natural ingredients, plus vitamins and minerals to ensure proper absorption. We do not add any Artificial Preservatives, Flavors, Colors.
• Does Lucy Pet pet food contain any meat by-products?
  No. Lucy Pet Formulas for Life™ does not include any meat by-products.
• What are the phosphorus and magnesium levels in your dry cat food?
  Our dry cat food is formulated to meet all life stages, from a kitten, adult, and senior ages. The phosphorus levels are .29 grams per oz. and magnesium level is .17%, on an as fed basis, which is in accordance with AAFCO guidelines for feline nutrition. This diet is formulated for healthy cats and is not intended for cats with specific dietary restrictions. If your cat is on a restricted diet, consult your veterinarian to discuss if these levels meet their specific needs.
• Is your cat formula low ash?
  The chicken meal we source for our cat food has a low ash specification. Low ash ingredient chicken meal costs more to procure, but we understand that this is important to pet parents for the health of some cats, in particular for senior cats. A variety of ingredients in a formula (other than chicken meal) contribute to total ash, and we take that into consideration when we formulated this diet to be within the specifications for our diets.
• Why do your Salmon, Pumpkin & Quinoa formulas contain Chicken Meal?
  We developed the Lucy Pet Formulas for Life™ Salmon, Pumpkin, and Quinoa Grain-Free Formula to include high-quality chicken meal to meet required protein levels and to ensure the formula does not exceed the newly AAFCO established maximum levels for vitamin D.
  The Association of American Feed Control Officers (AAFCO) substantially lowered (by 60%) the maximum levels of vitamin D for dogs & cats in pet food.
  AAFCO ruling allows existing pet foods to reformulate and comply by 1/1/2018
  Fish is naturally high in vitamin D, so existing fish-only formulas will need to reformulate to lower the percentage of fish and add another source of protein (either poultry, meat or plant protein source).
  Symptoms of excessive vitamin D include vomiting, weakness, muscle atrophy, calcification of soft tissue, dry, brittle hair, lethargy and more.
  Lucy Pet is proactively compliant with new AAFCO regulations and added high-quality chicken meal to its Salmon based formulas to achieve proper protein levels.
• Does your Duck or Chicken Meal contain antibiotics or growth-hormones?
  No. Since we buy our duck and chicken meal only from a specific supplier, we can trace every ingredient lot back to the farm to be certain that are free of antibiotics and artificial growth hormones.
• Does your Salmon or Salmon Meal contain Ethoxyquin?
  We do not add any ethoxyquin to any of our ingredients and do not purchase any ingredients that have it added. We carefully source our salmon and salmon meal from the cold waters of Alaska and preserve it naturally with mixed tocopherols and citric acid.
• Do you test your Salmon for metals such as Mercury?
  Yes. We source our salmon from Alaska and test for metals. Additionally, all of our finished diets are tested for heavy metals post production.
• Do you use any BHA, BHT, Ethoxyquin or Propylene Glycol?
  No, we do not.
• Do you use any artificial preservatives?
  No, artificial preservatives, flavors, colors or sugars are added.
• Where do you get your meat and fish from? Is it factory farming?
  Lucy Pet cares about your pet and the source of proteins used in our diets for your pet. As such, we are committed to only use the highest quality, safe ingredients from trusted suppliers with Safe Quality Food (SQF) Level 2 Certification, a recognized standard by the Global Food Safety Initiative. These suppliers are fully vetted and government inspected for their practices starting from ranch or farms. Our supplier controls the entire supply chain, we can vouch for the quality of all our products. From farm to manufacturing, full health & traceability documentation. We do not source any ingredients from China. Our Duck is from France, USA, and Canada, Salmon is Wild Alaskan Salmon, and our Chicken is from the USA.
• I have read about calcium and phosphorus levels, are yours correct?
  Yes, we follow AAFCO guidelines for our formulas. High levels of Calcium and Phosphorus can interfere with absorption of some trace minerals and cause deficiencies over time. Lucy Pet has carefully formulated our diets to ensure our levels meet the correct specifications of AAFCO.
• I read that taurine is essential for cats. Is it in your food?
  Yes. Taurine is essential for cats and kittens for the proper functioning and health of the eyes and heart. It is also beneficial for dogs, so it is added to all our diets.
• Why don’t you use wheat, corn or soy in your products?
  While these ingredients are not “bad”, over the years, some pets have been exposed to those ingredients and have developed food sensitivities to wheat, corn and soy. Therefore, we do not include these in any of our diets.
• I thought cats were carnivores, so why are there carbohydrates in the cat diet?
  It is true that cats are obligate carnivores, but carbohydrates perform an important function in the diet and digestive process. They provide a source of energy, and also a source of fiber. The fiber-rich, complex carbohydrates we use as part of our P.B.F. Prebiotic Balanced Fiber ™ offer significant benefit to a cat’s overall health and wellness. Carbohydrates also play an important role regarding texture and shape of the kibble. When the starch in carbohydrates is cooked with other ingredients, they help bind the mixture to produce kibble with a specific texture and shape that is appealing to dogs and cats. The texture and shape are also important to support healthy teeth and gums. Carbohydrates in pet food can come from many sources, such as chickpeas, peas, pea flour.
• I’ve read articles online saying that carbohydrates are bad for pets because they cause obesity and diabetes. What are the facts on carbs?
  Carbohydrates are the PREFERRED source of energy for dogs and cats and are well utilized by both species. There is no scientific or nutritional reason to reduce their concentration in dog and cat foods.The cooking process of extruding and retorting pet food cooks the starch ingredients, making them nearly completely available to the animal, similar to other ingredients.
  
  There are many examples of carbohydrates (such as peas, lentils, chickpeas, sweet potatoes, tapioca, potato, and others) that are very healthful ingredients. These all have an excellent carbohydrate, fiber, and protein composition, and are excellent carbohydrate sources in quality pet foods.
  
  It is critical for pet parents to understand that obesity is NOT caused by carbohydrates. Obesity is caused by poor feeding practices of dog and cat pet parents who do not follow the feeding directions of the food manufacturer.
  
  Health conditions such as inflammation, diabetes, and metabolic issues are caused by many factors, some of dietary origin and some not of dietary origin. To blame carbohydrate ingestion on these conditions is scientifically unsound. Both carbohydrates and proteins (such as animal proteins) have the same caloric value (4 kcal/g). Management of total caloric intake by the dog and cat parent would go a long way in solving the obesity problem currently experienced by pet animals.
• Is your formula low glycemic?
  Regarding low glycemic claims, AAFCO recently ruled that there is no standard for what constitutes “low glycemic” ingredients or products for pet food. Such claims could also be false and misleading because the claims imply an effect on the structure/ function of the body that has not been substantiated in dogs and cats, and they are implied drug claims (treat or prevent diabetes). AAFCO has now ruled that any claims of low glycemic foods should not be made any longer.
• What is miscanthus grass and why do you use it in your formulas?
  Miscanthus grass is a non-GMO, perennial warm-season plant grown and harvested in the USA. It is one component of our exclusive P.B.F Prebiotic Balanced Fiber blend because it is an excellent source of fiber not commonly used in pet foods. Fiber is essential for a healthy digestive tract, and we utilize miscanthus grass to compliment our variety of fibers to achieve prebiotics in the gut. Grass also contains some nutrients for pets. You may have observed your dog or cat eating grass when they are outdoors or when it is available, in part because they simply enjoy it. Some will instinctually eat grass as a natural remedy to help soothe their stomach or aid in digestion.

Formulas for Life™ vs. Other Dry Food

• Why does the kibble color vary slightly?
  Lucy Pet Foods™ does not use any artificial colors or dyes, and we never bleach ingredients. We prefer to use ingredients as nature provides from the farm or ranch. Normal factors in nature such as soil, weather, climate and season can affect the color of vegetables and proteins. Just as you might notice in the produce department at your local grocery store, vegetables sometimes vary in nature.
• How is your kibble different from other brands of kibble?
  To answer your question directly, our food is designed to provide very high quality ingredients that will be utilized in digestion, and will also deliver our blend of prebiotic fibers to the large intestine. Our kibble is designed to provide gut health benefit, while most other kibbles nutrients break down and digest in the stomach or small intestine, and offer little benefit to the gut.
  
  Experts now say that 70% of the immune system is based in the gut, so our prebiotic fiber blend will help boost immunity and overall health.

Quality Assurance and Manufacturing

• Where are your foods made?
  All Lucy Pet Formulas for Life™ dry dog and cat foods are manufactured in the United States at trusted facilities, right here in Southern California. We source ingredients globally from trusted suppliers, but absolutely no ingredients are from China. We believe that every pet deserves the very best, including nutrition with natural ingredients from trusted, responsible suppliers, and manufactured in American facilities to provide jobs for Americans. Manufacturing plants are HACCP certified and, exceed FDA, AAFCO, CGMP, and USDA industry-wide standards.
  Our Kettle Creations™ stews canned formulas are made in Thailand and are inspected regularly by the USFDA agency to ensure the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) standards.
• How do I know your foods are safe?
  Lucy Pet Formulas for Life ™ are made with truth in labeling, honesty in formulations and attention to detail. Our Quality Assurance Program gives you peace of mind that what you feed your cat or dog is safe and the highest quality. The health and safety of your pet are our top priority. We check every production run of our products for 9 known contaminants before distribution so that you can be assured they meet our strict Quality Assurance Standards. Our manufacturing plants are HACCP certified and exceed FDA, AAFCO, GCMP and USDA industry-wide standards. Our partner plant staff are also certified with Preventive Controls Qualified Individuals (PCQI) to comply with the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act. Visit our Quality Assurance page to learn more.