Young Again Kibble?

[bodhibear]

I know most people here are big advocates for feeding raw and I do hope to transition some day but my current work/school/life schedule just will not allow for that right now. However, I've come across a brand of pet food called Young Again and I'm curious as no one has seemed to mention it on here.
They actually sell kibble for ferrets but the zero carb cat food seems to have an even better analysis and list of ingredients.

Just wondering what you all think or have heard about it?

Related links:
Young Again Zero Cat Food
www.youngagainpetfood.com/phone/zero-formula.html
Young Again Ferret Food
www.youngagainpetfood.com/phone/ferret-food.html

Thanks!

[caitmonster]

If I had no choice but those two I would pick the cat formula over the ferret formula, which has carbohydrates (potato starch) and sugar (fructose) in the first 10 ingredients. There's a kibble food chart with rankings here (I'm guessing YA has changed their formulas since this list was created): Ferret Kibble Comparison. The main concern with Young Again food is the brewer's yeast, which can cause blood glucose fluctuations. If any of yours are predisposed to insulinoma that is something to avoid. I'm also not sure about the guar gum.

Have you looked into commercially available raw and freeze-dried raw diets, by chance? Wysong, Stella and Chewys, and Nature's Variety Instinct are the most recommended (tho you have to be careful with NV as many have veggies). They are quite pricey but worth it if you decide to feed them.

[bodhibear]

Why only if you had no other choice? Is there some reason that this is bad (other than it not being on "the list")? Everything I can find online says that brewers yeast controls blood sugar and prevents insulin spikes, that's good no?

I currently do feed NV and Primal freeze dried raw. Both have veggies, as with any other option seems to. YA seems to be the only one that doesn't. So why isn't it a good choice exactly?

Looks to me to be even better than Wysong actually 🤔

ETA: found this on their website re: guar gum www.youngagainpetfood.com/phone/guar-gum.html

[caitmonster]

I wasn't saying it's necessarily bad, just that it wouldn't be my personal preference. If I ever did feed kibble again, I would probably go with either Wysong or Orijen's line for cats (both specify that they are at least 90% meat). The hydrolyzed pork in the Young Again cat diet is what I'm iffy on--it is very high in protein, yes, but it is also very processed: Hydrolyzed Protein.

Essentially, it's pre-digested to its basic components. And from what Young Again says on their website, it's only from one part of the pig (the belly), so you're missing out on all the other goodness from the other body parts (bone, organs, etc). From what I gather, the main utility of hydrolyzed protein is in hypoallergenic diets.

Some links on brewer's yeast that I could turn up--it was thought to act as a blood sugar stabilizer for some time, but the chromium in it could potentially lower blood sugar, which is dangerous for insulinoma. In one of these posts someone mentions that Marshalls specifically might add it to their food to counteract the insulin spike from the carbs.
Brewer's Yeast for Ferrets?
Brewers Yeast
Ferrets for Dummies (warning against including brewers yeast in diet)

And, written for humans but mentions yeast acting to lower blood sugar: Complementary and Alternative Medicine - Brewer's Yeast

[bodhibear]

Thanks for the input, I appreciate the detailed information! I was focussed on foods that contain almost no fruits of veggies (which seems impossible unless raw...) that I didn't consider that some meat sources can be less than ideal as well.

I just realized it is on the list and fairly high up (I don't know how I missed it before...) so I may give it a try as something to add into the mix. I also want to try wysong as well but being able to buy food that I can use for both my cat and ferret is a big bonus for me 😊