Doing the math...

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Okohme

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I initially used the Janet and Binky charts to find a good food for my kitties but my Tater is not responding well to insulin and is often in 400's+. I am trying to get him on the least carbs possible and if I can from something pre-made.
It looks like, unfortunately, the nutrition in Sophisticat varies a lot when you get a bigger can.

The info for one of the flavors I use, Turkey and Giblets Dinner, is as follows:
Water Crude Protein Crude Fat Crude Fiber Ash Taurine
78 10 5 1.5 2.3 0.05 TOTAL: 96.85


100- 96.85 = 3.15 (carbs?)

Protein: 10
Fat: 5
Carbs 3.15

TOTAL = 18.15


Protein: 10/18.15 = 54% (roughly)
Fat: 5/18.15 = 27 % (roughly)
Carbs: 3.15/18.15 = 17 % (roughly)


Did I do those calculations correctly, if so the food I have been giving my kitties, which I thought was pretty low in carbs, is not really...
Back to the store to hunt for kitty noms with lower carbs.
 
In order to do the calculations correctly, you need to call the company and get the actual dry matter values, then calculate. The values listed on the can are inaccurate to calculate carbs. I'm terrible at anything to do with math, but according to Janet & Binky, the 5.5 OZ turkey & giblets (same formula as the 13 Oz. cans AFAICT) is 0% carbs. Even if it's a bit more than that, it's still pretty good. I feed that, the chicken & liver, and the beef & liver regularly.
 
I stressed over this also and decided to just use the list. The list seems to be the most reliable thing we have for identifying a low carb canned product to feed a diabetic cat. I also decided there are enough products on the list for variety.

Sandra and Jack
 
edited to add: I heard that

Sophisticat is being reformulated, and possibly renamed, so don't go to crazy about the numbers for now.

The replacement product is supposed to be out in March, per store personnel in Columbus, OH.

Next post says just being renamed. That'd be great, but I'll believe it when I see it!
 
AFAIK, it is NOT being reformulated, only renamed. My PetSmart has the new stuff in already and the ingredients etc. have not changed at all. Someone also got a letter from the company stating that it was not being changed.
 
Okay, so I called the company regarding the foods.
They had no info for the large size of Mixed Grill.

For the Turkey & Giblets dinner, however I was given the following information, based on the 13.2 ounce can:


Crude Protein 41.9g 146.65
Crue Fat 33g 280.5
total calories = 474.6


Crude Protein 41.9g X 3.5 = 146.65
Crue Fat 33g X 8.5 = 280.5

146.65 + 280. 5 = 427.15

474.6 - 427.15 = 47.45 cal from carbs


146.65 (proten calories)
280.5 (fat calories)
47.5 (carb calories)

474.65 (total)

146.65/474.65 = .3089645 or about 31%
280.5/474.65 = .590961761 or about 60%
47.5/474.65 = .100073739 or about 10%


So it looks like the Turkey & Giblets is around 10% carbs, or 2 X what the ideal maximum would be.


I guess I'm making my own food.
 
It makes no sense to me why the "recipe" would be different just because it comes in the bigger sized can. The 5.5oz cans say "0" from carbs. The Adult "Supreme" T&G in the 3oz cans says 4%. There aren't any 13oz cans listed on the charts. Are you positive that the values they gave you are for the "dry matter" volume?

Carl

edit - I'm not sure I follow your math either. I don't understand the formula, and it doesn't look like anything from Janet's FAQ page or her spreadsheet.
http://binkyspage.tripod.com/foodfaq.html
http://binkyspage.tripod.com/calories.xls
 
Agreed; it doesn't make sense at all. The ingredients are exactly the same on both sizes; they're basically pumping the same food into a bigger can.
 
It isn't set up the same but its the same math.

Per the information provided by the company:

Total calories = 474.6
Protein 41.9g
Fat 33g



Protein is 3.5 calories a gram.
So, 41.9g X 3.5 = 146.65 calories from protein

Fat is 8.5 calories a gram
So, 33g X 8.5 = 280.5

The caloric content of the food is protein + fat + carbohydrates.
Total calories - fat calories - protein calories = carbohydrate calories

Protein calories + fat calories = 427.15 calories
146.65 + 280. 5 = 427.15 (calories from fat and protein)

474.6 - 427.15 = 47.45 cal from carbohydrates



146.65 (protein calories)
280.5 (fat calories)
47.5 (carbohydrate calories)
--------------------------------------
474.65 (total)

Thus:

146.65/474.65 = .3089645 or about 31%
280.5/474.65 = .590961761 or about 60%
47.5/474.65 = .100073739 or about 10%
 
Oh, and I don't know WHY the nutritional information might be different, but I think its possible.

While I am sure the Janet & Binky charts have been helpful.
However I think that some of the information might not be completely accurate.
It is listed as being last updated 6-7 years ago. In that time there has probably been some reformulation.
 
Weird. Then something in the food changed. If you look at the 5.5oz can data, the calories aren't the same (would come out to 439 calories instead of 474. And the fat slightly lower and the protein really lower. But a 10% difference in carbs? They must have added some really crappy ingredients.
 
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