In this comparison article for Natural Balance vs B.F.F. Best Feline Friend, we'll highlight the key differences between these two pet food brands. To properly compare Natural Balance and B.F.F. Best Feline Friend, we'll use up-to-date nutritional and price information.
There are many factors to consider when choosing the best pet food brand for your pet. Factors such as ingredient quality, guaranteed analysis, product safety, brand history, and cost are among the most important factors to consider.
Throughout this B.F.F. Best Feline Friend vs Natural Balance comparison, we've utilized average data to make general comparisons. If you'd like to see individual product reviews, visit our Natural Balance Review Page or B.F.F. Best Feline Friend Review Page.
Guaranteed Analysis: B.F.F. Best Feline Friend vs. Natural Balance
According to AAFCO, all pet food labels must provide a guaranteed analysis of nutrient content. The analysis must provide guaranteed minimum percentages of crude protein and crude fat, and maximum percentages of crude fiber and moisture.
All percentages used in this comparison are averages reported on a dry matter basis.
Natural Balance Cat Food vs. B.F.F. Best Feline Friend Cat Food
Wet/Canned Cat Food
Natural Balance
B.F.F. Best Feline Friend
Crude Protein
46.7%
57.4%
Crude Fat
20.2%
15.3%
Crude Fiber
7.1%
5.8%
Crude Protein Comparison For Cat Food
Protein is an extremely important part of your cat's diet. Without sufficient protein, cats can develop a wide-range of serious health problems.
The comparison table above shows that B.F.F. Best Feline Friend wet cat foods provide significantly more protein than Natural Balance. More specifically, B.F.F. Best Feline Friend guarantees at least 10.63% more protein.
Crude Fat Comparison For Cat Food
There are many ways in which dietary fat contributes to the overall health of our feline friends. Here is a short list of benefits provided by fats (not exhaustive):
Aid in the digestion and absorption of fat-soluble vitamins
Improve the health of skin/coat
Slow the growth of yeast infections
Slow the development and spread of certain type of cancers.
Maintain healthy blood pressure
There is a relatively large difference between the fat content of Natural Balance and B.F.F. Best Feline Friend. On average, B.F.F. Best Feline Friend wet cat food recipes contain 4.86% less fat than Natural Balance recipes.
There is a relatively insignificant difference between the crude fiber content of the two brands.
Natural Balance Pet Food Ingredients vs. B.F.F. Best Feline Friend Pet Food Ingredients
Here are some of the controversial ingredients used only by Natural Balance.
Giblets
Giblets
Giblets may include the heart, liver, gizzards, and other visceral organs of an animal. These organs are very nutritious and species-appropriate for pets. However, the specific source of the giblets are not disclosed (chicken, turkey, etc) and therefore we must classify this ingredient as an anonymous meat.
Beet Pulp
Beet Pulp
Beet pulp is the by-product which remains once sugar has been extracted from sugar beets. The primary contribution of beet pulp is dietary fiber.
We'd also like to note that beet pulp is fairly controversial in pet food. Proponents claim that beet pulp can promote intestinal health and regulate blood sugar. However, opponents claim that beet pulp is an inexpensive filler.
Canola Oil
Canola Oil
Canola oil is a plant-derived oil from the seeds of canola plants. Although fat is an essential component of any diet, canola oil is controversial in pet food. Proponents claim that canola oil provides a better fat profile in comparison to other plant based oils. However, opponents claim that canola oil is typically produced with genetically modified rapeseed and that rapeseed oil has multiple adverse health affects.
Pea Protein
Pea Protein
Pea protein is produced by removing the starchy parts of peas. Pea protein is considered controversial because it provides a substantial plant based protein boost. This boost is undesirable because plant based protein is typically lower in biological value when compared to meat based proteins.
Brewers Rice
Brewers Rice
Brewer's rice is the small fragments of rice kernel that are separated from the larger kernels of milled rice. The fragments do not contain the same nutrition profile of the whole kernel and therefore brewer's rice is a lower quality grain. Brewer's rice is typically regarded as an inexpensive and low quality filler.
Caramel Color
Caramel Color
Caramel color is a concentrated form of caramel, a natural food colorant. Caramel color has been linked to cancer in laboratory animals. Since our pets do not care about food color, caramel color is an unnecessary addition with possible health risks.
Tomato Pomace
Tomato Pomace
Tomato pomace is a by-product of tomato manufacturing. It's considered a controversial ingredient because many people believe it is an inexpensive low quality filler. However, tomato pomace provides a notable amount of dietary fiber, B vitamins, Lycopene, and vitamin A. Although it is a very inexpensive ingredient, it is not nutritionally empty.
Feeding Oatmeal
Feeding Oatmeal
According to AAFCO, feeding oatmeal "is obtained in the manufacture of rolled oat groats or rolled oats". It contains "broken oat groats, oat groat chips, and floury portions of the oat groats." In other words, feeding oatmeal is an inexpensive by-products of rolled oat processing.
Poultry Giblets
Poultry Giblets
Poultry giblets includes the heart, liver, gizzards, and other internal organs of poultry. Organs are nutritiously dense ingredients which provide high quality protein and fat. However, this particular ingredient is considered an anonymous meat ingredient because the type of poultry is not specified. In order words, "named" giblets such as chicken giblets or turkey giblets are preferred over poultry giblets.
Dried Tomato Pomace
Dried Tomato Pomace
Dried tomato pomace is a by-product of tomato manufacturing. It's considered a controversial ingredient because many people believe it is an inexpensive low quality filler. However, tomato pomace provides a notable amount of dietary fiber, B vitamins, Lycopene, and vitamin A. Although it is a very inexpensive ingredient, it is not nutritionally empty.
Canola Oil (Preserved With Mixed Tocopherols)
Canola Oil (Preserved With Mixed Tocopherols)
Canola oil is a plant-derived oil from the seeds of canola plants. Although fat is an essential component of any diet, canola oil is controversial in pet food. Proponents claim that canola oil provides a better fat profile in comparison to other plant based oils. However, opponents claim that canola oil is typically produced with genetically modified rapeseed and that rapeseed oil has multiple adverse health affects.
We believe that certain pet food ingredients are linked to adverse health affects; these ingredients are classified as harmful.
Natural Balance and B.F.F. Best Feline Friend both use the following harmful ingredients in many of their products:
Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex
Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex
Menadione sodium bisulfite complex is a synthetic version of vitamin K that has been linked to many health concerns. Research has suggested possible toxic reactions in liver cells and red blood cells among other serious problems. In fact, one large chemical supplier warns, "The substance is toxic to kidneys, lungs, liver, mucous membranes. Repeated or prolonged exposure to the substance can produce target organs damage."
Here are some of the harmful ingredients used only by Natural Balance.
Menadione Sodium Bisulfate Complex
Menadione Sodium Bisulfate Complex
Menadione sodium bisulfate complex is a synthetic version of vitamin K that has been linked to many health concerns. Research has suggested possible toxic reactions in liver cells and red blood cells among other serious problems. In fact, one large chemical supplier warns, "The substance is toxic to kidneys, lungs, liver, mucous membranes. Repeated or prolonged exposure to the substance can produce target organs damage."
Product Safety: Recall History of Natural Balance & B.F.F. Best Feline Friend?
According to our records, B.F.F. Best Feline Friend has never been recalled.
Price Comparison: Which Brand Is More Expensive?
Wet Cat Food
Natural Balance
B.F.F. Best Feline Friend
Per Pound
$7.63
$6.66
Per Calorie
$0.0183
$0.0170
The average cost-per-lb is heavily influenced by the varying amounts of moisture present in each brand's food products (wet vs. dry food, dry vs. freeze-dried food, etc). However, the average cost-per-kcal eliminates the influence of moisture. Therefore, the average cost-per-kcal is the better metric to consider.
If you'd like to calculate the average cost-per-day or cost-pet-year of feeding Natural Balance or B.F.F. Best Feline Friend, input your pet's weight into our cost analyzer widget.
Averages price data can identify whether or not there exists a significant price difference between two brands. However, the actual price that you'll pay for Natural Balance or B.F.F. Best Feline Friend will depend on your shopping habits.
Cost Analyzer Widget
Cost of Feeding Natural Balance
Cost Per Day:
Cost Per Year:
Cost of Feeding B.F.F. Best Feline Friend
Cost Per Day:
Cost Per Year:
Pet owners who use our price comparison feature typically save more than 25% off retail prices for Natural Balance and B.F.F. Best Feline Friend. In addition, we currently have some great coupons for our readers.
Disclosure: PawDiet has an affiliate relationship with stores featured (or linked-to) in this article. We are compensated for referring customers. Thank you for shopping with our retail partners!
Where To Buy Natural Balance Pet Foods
You can purchase Natural Balance pet foods from the following stores:
96 Recipes In-Stock Today
79 Recipes In-Stock Today
82 Recipes In-Stock Today
16 Recipes In-Stock Today
Where To Buy B.F.F. Best Feline Friend Pet Foods
You can purchase B.F.F. Best Feline Friend pet food products from these retailers:
65 Recipes In-Stock Today
24 Recipes In-Stock Today
20 Recipes In-Stock Today
31 Recipes In-Stock Today
Type Of Pet Foods Available
Product
Natural Balance
B.F.F. Best Feline Friend
Dry Dog Food
39 Recipes
None
Wet Dog Food
27 Recipes
None
Dog Treats
33 Treats
None
Dry Cat Food
16 Recipes
None
Wet Cat Food
43 Recipes
65 Recipes
Cat Treats
None
None
Top Rated Natural Balance Recipes
Dog Food
Natural Balance Targeted Nutrition Fat Dogs Dry Dog Food