Young Again Cat Food Review

Young Again Cat Food Review

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Pets age more quickly than people and, unfortunately, their life spans aren’t nearly as long. The time you have with your cat is precious and you want to make it last as long as you possibly can. The key to long-term health and wellness for your cat is a healthy and balanced diet.

The quality of your pet’s diet is directly related to his health and longevity. If you’re looking for a cat food brand to keep your cat young, try Young Again cat food.

Read on to see what we think of the brand and to see our reviews for their top products.

Young Again Cat Food

Brand

Overall Score

Pros

• No history of product recalls
• High in protein and low in carbohydrates

Cons

• Fairly expensive compared to average
• Heavy use of synthetic supplements

Pros

• No history of product recalls
• High in protein and low in carbohydrates

Cons

• Fairly expensive compared to average
• Heavy use of synthetic supplements

Variety of Recipes

Ingredient Quality

Price Per Pound

Recall History

Availability

Customer Reviews

View on Young Again

How We Review Cat Food Brands

Shopping for cat food can be overwhelming, simply because there are so many options to choose from. You could pour a bowl of five different recipes and have no idea which brand is which. All kibble looks more or less the same, and canned cat food only has slightly more variety.

So, how do you choose? Unfortunately, there’s no easy answer. As a responsible cat owner, it’s your job to do the research to make an educated decision for yourself and, more importantly, for your cat.

The good news is, we’re here to help! Our mission is to be a useful resource for cat owners like you and a trusted source of recommendations for products like cat food. We want to give you an objective but in-depth look at top cat food brands and their most popular recipes so you can make an educated decision for yourself and your cat.

All of our recommendations are based on the nutritional needs of cats.

Cats are obligate carnivores which means they need a meat-based diet. We never recommend a product that doesn’t start with a real source of animal protein as the first ingredient. We avoid products that are very carbohydrate-heavy and anything with artificial additives or fillers. It can be tricky to sort through all the details, but rest assured we’d never recommend something we wouldn’t feed our own cats.

Here are some of the things we look for in a good cat food brand:

• High-quality animal protein as the first ingredient
• Rich in healthy animal fats (ex: chicken fat or salmon oil)
• Few to no carbohydrate ingredients (especially within the top 5)
• Limited number of main ingredients plus supplements
• No low-quality fillers, grains, or by-products

In addition to making sure any cat food brand we recommend is made with high-quality ingredients, we evaluate several other factors as well. We prefer brands that offer a wide variety of recipes and those that provide plenty of information about their ingredients and products. We also consider pricing and recalls as well as the availability of the brand as a whole.

Overview of the Young Again Brand

The Young Again Pet Food company was founded by Michael Massie. After years of research and intensive development alongside veterinarians and nutritionists, the first Young Again pet foods for birds, reptiles, and small mammals were released in 1990.

Today, the Young Again product line has greatly expanded to include foods for dogs and cats. They’ve been working with independent vets and nutritionists for years, researching new ideas and applying the latest technology to constantly improve upon their offerings. Young Again operates their own extrusion facilities which are based on Swiss-made twin-screw extruders – the same technology used to make human foods like breakfast cereal, pasta, and snacks.

Young Again Pet Food was the first to produce a 50% meat-based protein, grain-free cat food without the use of plant proteins. Their products contain less than 6% carbohydrate/starches and are gluten-free. These foods are also rich in nucleotides which benefit the immune system.

Here are the differences Young Again advertises for their foods:

• Superior, species-appropriate ingredients
• Proprietary ingredients
• Safety and quality assurance
• State-of-the-art technology

Young Again sources their ingredients from the United States, Canada, France, Switzerland, India, Finland, Japan, Germany, New Zealand and Scotland. They never use any ingredients from China and their products adhere to AAFCO recommendations.

What Kind of Cat Food Products Do They Offer?

When it comes to their cat food products, Young Again offers six different dry food recipes along with flavor enhancers. Their foods contain at least 50% crude protein (at 10% moisture) with an average of 22% fat or higher. They offer formulas for kittens, adult cats, and mature cats.

Here is the nutritional information for some of the most popular cat food recipes:

Product Recall History

As a pet owner, it’s your job to make a responsible decision regarding your cat’s diet. In addition to checking the label for quality ingredients and adequate nutrient content, you should also do a little digging into the company itself to make sure they are trustworthy.

To determine a brand’s quality, take a look at their website and read through the information they provide about ingredient sourcing and manufacturing. A trustworthy company will be open and honest about these details instead of hiding behind vague generalizations.

If you don’t see any red flags here, there’s still one more thing to check: the brand’s product recall history.

Product recalls can be issued voluntarily by the pet food manufacturer or by the FDA. They usually happen in response to testing results or consumer complaints and, when they do, the product must be removed from sale to protect pets and consumers. Recalls can be issued for things as minor as labeling errors or as serious as contamination with food-borne pathogens.

Though having a recall or two in a brand’s history isn’t a good thing, it isn’t a stand-alone reason to think the brand as a whole is bad. On the flip side, a long list of recalls should definitely be a red flag.

According to research and the Young Again website, the brand has never had a product recall.

Compare Young Again Cat Food

1. YOUNG AGAIN Li’l Bites Kitten Formula 50/22 View on YoungAgain Read Review	2. YOUNG AGAIN Original 50/22 Cat & Kitten Formula View on YoungAgain Read Review	3. YOUNG AGAIN Zero TruCarnivore Cat & Kitten Formula View on YoungAgain Read Review	4. YOUNG AGAIN Zero Mature Health Formula View on YoungAgain Read Review	5. YOUNG AGAIN LID Zero Mature Health Formula View on YoungAgain Read Review
Type of Food Dry	Type of Food Dry	Type of Food Dry	Type of Food Dry	Type of Food Dry
First 5 Ingredients Hydrolyzed pork, chicken meal, chicken fat, potato starch, chicken liver flavor	First 5 Ingredients Hydrolyzed pork, chicken meal, chicken fat, potato starch, chicken liver flavor	First 5 Ingredients Hydrolyzed pork, chicken meal, chicken fat, chicken liver flavor, guar gum	First 5 Ingredients Hydrolyzed pork, chicken meal, chicken fat, chicken liver flavor, guar gum	First 5 Ingredients Hydrolyzed pork, chicken fat, hydrolyzed yeast flavoring, guar gum, DL methionine
Guaranteed Analysis 50% protein, 22% fat, 3% fiber, 10% moisture	Guaranteed Analysis 50% protein, 22% fat, 3% fiber, 10% moisture	Guaranteed Analysis 54% protein, 26% fat, 3% fiber, 10% moisture	Guaranteed Analysis 54% protein, 24% fat, 2% fiber, 10% moisture	Guaranteed Analysis 54% protein, 25% fat, 2% fiber, 10% moisture
Calories per Cup 647 kcal/cup	Calories per Cup 647 kcal/cup	Calories per Cup 650 kcal/cup	Calories per Cup 654 kcal/cup	Calories per Cup 645 kcal/cup
Price Per Pound/Ounce $4.36/pound	Price Per Pound/Ounce $4.36/pound	Price Per Pound/Ounce $5.16/pound	Price Per Pound/Ounce $5.44/pound	Price Per Pound/Ounce $5.48/pound

1.

YOUNG AGAIN Li’l Bites Kitten Formula 50/22

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Product Info

• Type of Food: Dry
• First 5 Ingredients: Hydrolyzed pork, chicken meal, chicken fat, potato starch, chicken liver flavor
• Guaranteed Analysis: 50% protein, 22% fat, 3% fiber, 10% moisture
• Calories per Cup: 647 kcal/cup
• Price Per Pound/Ounce: $4.36/pound

Guaranteed Analysis

Crude Protein: 50%

Crude Fat: 22%

Crude Fiber: 3%

Moisture: 10%

Ash: 5.6%

Dry Matter Basis

Protein: 55.56%

Fat: 24.44%

Fiber: 3.33%

Carbs: 10.44%

Ingredients:

Hydrolyzed Pork, Chicken Meal, Chicken Fat, Potato Starch, Chicken Liver Flavor, Herring Meal, DL Methionine, L-Lysine, Fish Oil, Psyllium Husk (source of soluble dietary fiber), Potassium Citrate, Fructooligosaccharides (FOS), Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate, Brewers Yeast, Potassium Chloride, Calcium Carbonate, Choline Chloride, Taurine, Potassium Carbonate, Vitamin E Supplement, L-Tryptophan, L-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate (source of stabilized vitamin C), L-Carnitine, Guar Gum, Betaine Anhydrous, Magnesium Sulfate, Zinc Sulfate, Salt…

Formulated for kittens, this dry cat food recipe from Young Again contains 50% protein and 22% fat. It also contains less than 6% starch and comes in a small kibble size specifically for kittens.

The first ingredient in this formula is hydrolyzed pork. Though that might sound like a scary ingredient, it’s not as bad as you think. Hydrolyzed proteins are simply proteins that have been broken down into smaller molecules to reduce the risk for triggering food allergies. This process may improve digestibility and could help with inflammatory bowel disease and other digestive issues.

In addition to the hydrolyzed pork, this recipe contains several other proteins including chicken meal and herring meal. You’ll also find a long list of synthetic vitamins and minerals to help ensure nutritional balance along with dried fermentation products for probiotic support.

2.

YOUNG AGAIN Original 50/22 Cat & Kitten Formula

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Product Info

• Type of Food: Dry
• First 5 Ingredients: Hydrolyzed pork, chicken meal, chicken fat, potato starch, chicken liver flavor
• Guaranteed Analysis: 50% protein, 22% fat, 3% fiber, 10% moisture
• Calories per Cup: 647 kcal/cup
• Price Per Pound/Ounce: $4.36/pound

Guaranteed Analysis

Crude Protein: 50%

Crude Fat: 22%

Crude Fiber: 3%

Moisture: 10%

Ash: 5.6%

Dry Matter Basis

Protein: 55.56%

Fat: 24.44%

Fiber: 3.33%

Carbs: 10.44%

Ingredients:

Hydrolyzed Pork, Chicken Meal, Chicken Fat, Potato Starch, Chicken Liver Flavor, Herring Meal, DL Methionine, L-Lysine, Fish Oil, Psyllium Husk (source of soluble dietary fiber), Potassium Citrate, Fructooligosaccharides (FOS), Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate, Brewers Yeast, Potassium Chloride, Calcium Carbonate, Choline Chloride, Taurine, Potassium Carbonate, Vitamin E Supplement, L-Tryptophan, L-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate (source of stabilized vitamin C), L-Carnitine, Guar Gum, Betaine Anhydrous, Magnesium Sulfate, Zinc Sulfate, Salt, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Rosemary Extract,etc...

At first glance, this Original 50/22 formula appears identical to the kitten formula. In fact, the note under the product on the brand’s website says, “formulated for all cats from kitten to adult.” The previous recipe says it is for small kittens and not recommended for adult cats.

The only thing we can gather from these suggestions is that the kitten formula is made in small kibbles while the Original formula comes in larger pieces. The formulas themselves don’t seem to differ significantly, especially considering the Original recipe is approved for adult cats as well as kittens.

3.

YOUNG AGAIN Zero TruCarnivore Cat & Kitten Formula

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Product Info

• Type of Food: Dry
• First 5 Ingredients: Hydrolyzed pork, chicken meal, chicken fat, chicken liver flavor, guar gum
• Guaranteed Analysis: 54% protein, 26% fat, 3% fiber, 10% moisture
• Calories per Cup: 650 kcal/cup
• Price Per Pound/Ounce: $5.16/pound

Guaranteed Analysis

Crude Protein: 54%

Crude Fat: 26%

Crude Fiber: 3%

Moisture: 10%

Ash: 5.5%

Dry Matter Basis

Protein: 60%

Fat: 28.89%

Fiber: 3.33%

Carbs: 1.67%

Ingredients:

Hydrolyzed Pork, Chicken Meal, Chicken Fat, Chicken Liver Flavor, Guar Gum, Herring Meal, DL Methionine, L-Lysine, Fish Oil, Psyllium Husk (source of soluble dietary fiber), Potassium Citrate, Fructooligosaccharides (FOS), Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate, Brewers Yeast, Potassium Chloride, Calcium Carbonate, Choline Chloride, Taurine, Potassium Carbonate, Vitamin E Supplement, L-Tryptophan, L-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate (source of stabilized vitamin C), L-Carnitine, Betaine Anhydrous, Magnesium Sulfate, Zinc Sulfate, Salt, Yucca Schidigera Extract,Rosemary Extract, Vitamin B12 Supplement, etc...

Young Again describes this TruCarnivore recipe as follows: “Our ZERO Premium High Protein Cat Food may be fed to ALL cats in your household and is the best choice for feeding a diabetic cat.”

This recipe is made with 54% crude protein and 26% crude vat but still contains only trace amounts of carbohydrate and starch (<1%). Cats with diabetes typically do well on high-protein, low-carb diets because they help keep blood sugar levels stable. Diets high in starch are not recommended.

This Young Again TruCarnivore recipe features the same primary ingredients as the other recipes reviewed, namely hydrolyzed pork and chicken meal.

Overall, we don’t see any major red flags on the ingredient list here but there are a few things worth pointing out. Though this recipe doesn’t contain starch, it does use guar gum as a thickener and source of fiber. This ingredient is thought to be safer than similar products like carrageenan. Fish oil seems to be the primary source of added fat and it doesn’t come from a specified source.

4.

YOUNG AGAIN Zero Mature Health Formula

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Product Info

• Type of Food: Dry
• First 5 Ingredients: Hydrolyzed pork, chicken meal, chicken fat, chicken liver flavor, guar gum
• Guaranteed Analysis: 54% protein, 24% fat, 2% fiber, 10% moisture
• Calories per Cup: 654 kcal/cup
• Price Per Pound/Ounce: $5.44/pound

Guaranteed Analysis

Crude Protein: 54%

Crude Fat: 24%

Crude Fiber: 2%

Moisture: 10%

Ash: 4.85%

Dry Matter Basis

Protein: 60%

Fat: 26.67%

Fiber: 2.22%

Carbs: 5.72%

Ingredients:

Hydrolyzed Pork, Chicken Meal, Chicken Fat, Chicken Liver Flavor, Guar Gum,DL Methionine, L-Lysine, Fish Oil, Psyllium Husk (source of soluble dietary fiber), Potassium Citrate, Brewers Yeast, Fructooligosaccharides (FOS), Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate, Potassium Chloride, Choline Chloride, Taurine, Potassium Carbonate, Vitamin E Supplement, L-Tryptophan, L-ascorbyl-2polyphosphate (source of stabilized vitamin C), L-Carnitine, Betaine Anhydrous, Magnesium Sulfate, Calcium Carbonate, Salt, Biotin (vitamin B7), Zinc Sulfate, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Rosemary Extract, Vitamin B12 Supplement, etc...

In contrast to the previous recipes, this Young Again formula is designed specifically for mature cats – cats that are no longer growing bone. It contains 54% crude protein and 22% crude fat.

This formula, again, doesn’t look much different from the other recipes. Hydrolyzed pork and chicken meal are the top two ingredients and main sources of protein – this recipe doesn’t contain herring meal like some of the others. Another difference is the use of chicken fat instead of fish oil. We generally prefer chicken fat as a nutritious source of fat, especially since it is specified unlike “fish oil.”

Though we appreciate the use of hydrolyzed protein in these recipes to try to reduce the risk of allergies, it would be nice to see a formula that doesn’t contain chicken.

Chicken is a common allergen for cats and the chicken meal used in these recipes isn’t hydrolyzed like the pork. This may or may not be an issue for your cat, however, and the point of this product line seems to be geared more toward diabetic cats than cats with allergies.

5.

YOUNG AGAIN LID Zero Mature Health Formula

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Product Info

• Type of Food: Dry
• First 5 Ingredients: Hydrolyzed pork, chicken fat, hydrolyzed yeast flavoring, guar gum, DL methionine
• Guaranteed Analysis: 54% protein, 25% fat, 2% fiber, 10% moisture
• Calories per Cup: 645 kcal/cup
• Price Per Pound/Ounce: $5.48/pound

Guaranteed Analysis

Crude Protein: 54%

Crude Fat: 25%

Crude Fiber: 2%

Moisture: 10%

Ash: 5%

Dry Matter Basis

Protein: 60%

Fat: 27.78%

Fiber: 2.22%

Carbs: 4.44%

Ingredients:

Hydrolyzed Pork, Chicken Fat, Hydrolyzed Yeast Flavoring, Guar Gum, DL Methionine, L-Lysine, Fish Oil, Psyllium Husk (source of fiber), Potassium Citrate, Brewers Yeast, Potassium Carbonate, Calcium Carbonate, Fructooligosaccharides (FOS), Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate, Potassium Chloride, Choline Chloride, Taurine, Vitamin E Supplement, L-Tryptophan, L-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate (source of stabilized vitamin C), Betaine Anhydrous, Magnesium Sulfate, Salt, L-Carnitine, Biotin (vitamin B7), Zinc Sulfate, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Rosemary Extract, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Niacinamide (vitamin B3), Thiamine Mononitrate (vitamin B1), Copper Proteinate, Folic Acid (vitamin B9), Vitamin A Acetate, etc...

Though this recipe starts with the same hydrolyzed pork as the others, we noted the absence of the usual chicken meal. In fact, this seems to be a single-source protein recipe. It is, in fact, labeled an LID or Limited Ingredient Diet, which explains it.

Aside from the lack of chicken meal, however, this recipe doesn’t appear to much different from the previous recipes. It contains both chicken fat and unspecified fish oil, along with several sources of fiber and probiotics for digestive support.

Young Again says of this recipe, “LID Zero Mature is formulated to support cats with allergies to chicken protein. LID’s protein is 100% hydrolyzed protein while our other formulas are only 75% hydrolyzed protein.”

What Do Customers Think of Young Again Cat Food?

When shopping for cat food, it’s important to do your own research. You should look into the history and background of a brand to determine how they source their ingredients and how they produce their foods. It doesn’t hurt, however, to look at what current customers have to say.

Unfortunately, we had a hard time finding reviews for Young Again cat food. The company has been around for several decades but still seems to be fairly small and they only sell their products through their own website. They don’t allow reviews from customers on their site, but they do have a page dedicated to testimonials.

The biggest fans of Young Again seem to be owners of diabetic cats who require a very low-carbohydrate diet. The brand seems to be on the higher end of the price spectrum, but it’s worth considering the high caloric density – your cat may not need to eat as much as he would other food.

How Much Does Young Again Cat Food Cost?

You can’t put a price on your cat’s wellness, but you can put a price on cat food. When it comes to cat food, price is often equated with quality – the higher the quality of the cat food, the more expensive it is likely to be. That doesn’t mean, however, that expensive cat food is always good.

So, how much does Young Again cat food cost?

All of Young Again’s cat food recipes cost upwards of $4, some over $5 per pound. This is fairly expensive for a dry cat food, but we do take into consideration the high protein content and the high caloric density. A 10-pound cat only needs about ¼ cup per day. Young Again states on their website that an 8-pound bag can feed a 10-pound cat for over 100 days.

To give you a better idea how Young Again stacks up against other cat food brands, here is a quick chart to show you some average prices:

Where Can You Buy Young Again Cat Food?

Though Young Again cat food is a great option if you’re looking for a low-carbohydrate, high-protein cat food, you may have trouble finding it in stores. In fact, the only place we could find to purchase this brand was through the manufacturer’s website. When you order over $30 worth of product, you’ll receive free shipping. You can also set up recurring shipments with the Bottomless Bag program.

Our Final Thoughts: Is Young Again a Good Brand?

Generally speaking, Young Again seems to be a decent brand and we appreciate the care they put into the formulation and production of their recipes. We can’t complain about a cat food that is so high in protein and so low in carbohydrates.

What you need to keep in mind about this brand is that their recipes are geared toward nutrition for diabetic cats. This doesn’t mean Young Again products aren’t good for other cats, but it may not be worth the extra cost. That being said, the high caloric density of the food means you may actually spend less than with other brands because you don’t have to feed your cat as much.

Overall, we can’t quite make up our mind about this brand. The high protein and low carb content are great and the ingredients don’t throw up any red flags, though we don’t love the long list of synthetic supplements in each recipe. This likely due to the lack of fresh fruits and veggies which could provide natural sources for those nutrients but would increase the carb content.