IAMS Proactive Health Indoor Cat Food Review: Read Before Buying

Written by Alan Lemus
Published: July 6, 2022
© Alexander_Evgenyevich/Shutterstock.com

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IAMS Proactive Health Indoor Cat Food is one of the top food options you should be looking out for the next time you visit a store to get food for your cat. Obesity in pets is something that has been a problem, especially in recent times, and what this cat food does, is help to keep your cats at a healthy weight, provided you don’t overfeed them, and this food also helps with hairball management. 

From the ingredients to the price, and how every detail about the cat food focuses on loading your cat with the right nutrients, it just feels pleasing to see a brand that offers something that can be tagged “the complete package.”

Summary

IAMS is, of course, one of the popular brands in the pet food industry, having been around for quite a long time, and their entry with the Indoor cat food ranks among the best for cat owners to get. 

Like with most of their other pet foods, the Indoor Cat food offers a protein-rich source for cats, with chicken identified as its number one ingredient, which is actually not surprising, considering that it represents an important source of protein. 

Despite the ingredients list being quite packed with simply the best things, there have been complaints about the amount of corn contained in it. While this might just be the only major issue, it does represent something that might cause a bit of worry for many pet owners. However, it is still one of the top choices for many cat owners based on reviews from Amazon and Chewy. If you’re looking for an easy weight control food choice, then this has to be it.

Iams Proactive Health Indoor Cat Food Benefits and Features

One of the very impressive things about this cat food is the benefits that your cat stands to gain from eating it. Like it has been said earlier, this cat food is particularly great for controlling weight and preventing obesity, while also helping to reduce the number of hairballs your cat will cough up. A break-down of the cat’s food benefits include;

  • Helps with easy weight control
  • High In fiber to support cat’s digestive health
  • Contains fat-burning L-Carnitine that can help return your cat to a healthier weight
  • Has unique fiber blends that help with hairball control
  • Includes vitamin-rich fish oil for healthier skin
  • Contains essential nutrients like potassium and calcium to help nourish a healthy heart

IAMS Proactive Health Indoor Cat Food Pros and Cons

Pros!Cons!
Rich in crude proteinContains more corn than expected
Packed with a long list of important nutrientsIt’s difficult to find outside of veterinarians offices and pet food stores
Makes use of high-quality animal protein as its main ingredient
No artificial preservatives
Affordable price

Where Is Iams Proactive Health Indoor Cat Food Made?

IAMS is an American brand, and like most of its other products, the Indoor Cat food is made in the United States. IAMS has manufacturing facilities in Ohio, Nebraska, and North Carolina, as well as a European Division in Drenthe, the Netherlands.

The company has been in business since the 1940s when it was first opened by a man named Paul F. Iams. Over the years, the company has been handed over to a number of other major corporations, including Procter & Gamble. As of now, the company is now owned by Mars Petcare Inc., which is one of the best pet food companies in the world with quite a number of other pet food options aside from IAMS.

IAMS Proactive Health Indoor Cat Food Ingredients

The first ingredient that IAMS Proactive Health placed on the ingredients list is chicken. Chicken represents a high-quality animal protein source and it is even one of the things that help the Indoor cat food to have a minimum of 30% crude protein contained in it. To add to that, there’s also L-Carnitine, a naturally produced amino acid that can help your cat to burn fat and maintain weight quite swiftly.

 The cat food also contains a decent amount of unique natural fibers including a blend of beet pulp, which is capable of reducing hairballs and also maintaining good digestive health. This is also one of the reasons why it is recommended for cats that have a problem with digestion. Vitamin-rich fish oil for the omega-fatty acids needed is also present to maintain healthy skin. 

To add to all these nice ingredients, there are also some that are a bit controversial like corn, which is present in quite a number of variants.

Which Types of Cat Is the IAMS Proactive Health Indoor Cat Food
Best Suited For?

The IAMS Indoor Cat food is very well suited for all kinds of adult cats, with no particular exceptions to take note of. If your cat is also suffering from digestion problems, then you’ll be taking the right step by feeding them with this. With obesity among pets also a thing today, this might also be your best bet to help your cat grow at a healthy weight.

IAMS Proactive Health Indoor Cat Food Recalls

As of July 6, 2022, there have been no direct recalls for the IAMS Proactive Health Indoor Cat Food according to the FDA Recalls & Withdrawals database. There have, however, been recalls for some of the company’s other pet foods. 

In March 2007, as part of the larger Menu Foods/ Melamine recall, a number of IAMS cat foods were recalled because of potential melamine contamination. 

Also, in August, June, and July of 2010, different kinds of IAMS cat food were also recalled because of salmonella and low levels of thiamine. The most recent recall occurred in August 2013, and it was also a result of potential salmonella contamination.

IAMS Proactive Health Indoor Cat Food: Where To Buy

You can purchase IAMS Proactive Health Indoor Cat Food at the following retailers:

Best for Fiber
IAMS ProActive Health Indoor Weight & Hairball Care Dry Cat Food
  • Formulated for indoor cats
  • Helps to control obesity and hairballs
  • The first two ingredients and chicken and chicken by-product meal
  • Contains fish oil for omega-3 fatty acid
  • Each cup contains 332 calories
Check Chewy

IAMS Proactive Health Indoor Cat Food Specs

Design

The packaging of the indoor cat food looks extremely nice and if that’s all it would take to probably decide if you’ll be getting it, then there’s no doubt, you’ll be going for it. The kibble is also quite small, though, unlike the old formula that was just chicken, the new formula of chicken, turkey, and garden greens is darker than it used to be. Aside from that, everything concerning the design is all good.

Safety

This is a particular category that has drawn a lot of controversial takes, and while there are a lot of positive reviews on sites like Amazon and Chewy, the negative ones cannot be overlooked. Some cat owners have complained about the new formula being nothing but bad, and also causing serious problems for their cats, with even some cats rejecting the food completely. This is also the reason why there have been several calls for review in the formula.

Durability

To add to its very nice design, the Indoor cat food has also not been shown to have any real problems with how well it can last. Like it can be seen with most of IAMS pet food over the years, the cat food is durable and so far, there have been no reports of it getting spoiled over time, even despite getting a new formula that most people have complained about.

Price

As it has been mentioned much earlier, the IAMS Proactive Health is one of the most affordable options you’ll find in the market, and based on what it can offer, as you’ve seen, it surely makes for a good value for your money. 

The price for the cat food as seen on several sites varies based on the different available sizes. On Amazon, a 1.59 kg pack costs $11.97 and a 3.18 kg pack costs $18.00. 

At Walmart, the 3.18 kg pack costs around $20, while on Chewy, a 7-lb pack costs around $16.75. The prices vary around all the options, but it still all falls within a decent price range.

IAMS Proactive Health Indoor Cat Food vs. Purina Cat Chow Indoor Healthy Dry Food

While there might be a few differences between the two cat food options, IAMS and Purina Cat Chow Indoor Healthy Dry Food have been shown to be really similar in terms of quite a number of things. 

First off, Chicken is also listed as the primary ingredient in Purina Cat Chow Indoor Healthy Dry Food, and it makes up to 30% protein present in the food. It is also good for hairball management and can be seen as a really good option if your cat is also having digestion problems. 

Like IAMS, it has also got a good amount of corn too, however, Purina Cat Chow’s kibble has food coloring unlike in IAMS Indoor cat food. It also contains several nutrients including Vitamin E and D3, which can both be good for immune support. Purina Cat Chow Indoor cat food also costs less as the 3.15-pound bag costs just around $5 at Walmart.

Bottom Line

IAMS Proactive Health Indoor Cat Food is simply one of the best when you look at several things. It is great for easy weight control and also if you’re looking to reduce hairballs. Its protein content is quite great and one of the things that you’ll love about it is how it covers quite a lot for an affordable price.

Up Next…

Check out these other cat food reviews to help you select the best product for your cat.

About the Author

Alan is a freelance writer and an avid traveler. He specializes in travel content. When he visits home he enjoys spending time with his family Rottie, Opie.

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