For our Chewy product review this month, we reviewed Evanger’s Wild Salmon Freeze-Dried Dog & Cat Treats. We got a big ol’ tub of them, too!
I forgot to get a picture of the label on the back, but the information over at Chewy says this:
Wild Salmon is high in protein and low in calories and saturated fat. Excellent for pets with food allergies and finicky eaters. Also available in the canned Hand Packed line. Because of the palatability and wholesomeness of these treats, they are excellent for finicky pets or pets with food sensitivities, as well as for use as a training reward or food mixer.
Key Benefits
Grain and Gluten Free
Only 1 ingredient
Nutrient dense
What did the cats think?
Newt was all “What’s THIS?”
He gave it a try.
Not a fan.
Archie ate what I gave him, but when I offered him more, he sniffed it, gave me a look, and walked away.
Joe Bob ate what I gave him, showed me his filthy feet, and turned his nose up when I offered him some more.
Stefan ate what I gave him, and then followed me around, but when I offered him more, he looked at me like I was crazy.
Tommy waited patiently for me to give him some treats.
“Oooh, I bet this is gonna be good!” But he didn’t eat any at all.
Kara ate what I gave her…
Then refused any more. Are we sensing a theme here?
Suggie was sacked out on the electric blanket on my bed (spoiled rotten).
Don’t expend the energy to actually sit up or anything, Suggie.
And, again: ate what I gave him, wouldn’t eat any more.
Then we had to pause for a while, because Jake – who will show up if you so much as think the words “snack” or “treat”, and if you start giving out treats will show up and dance at your feet in an agitated manner – was nowhere to be found. I looked all over the house, then I looked all over the back yard, and then I raised the alarm and told Fred that Jake must have gotten out of the back yard somehow. I tromped ALL OVER the property, calling and calling for him. Fred went through the house and looked under the bed and up the chimney, and nothin’. I fretted and worried and fretted some more.
And then Jake just… appeared. Walking down the hallway, all loony-like. We later decided that he’d been sleeping in the padded cube in the corner of my bedroom, and that somehow neither of us had looked in there. I don’t know how he slept through all the calling and the shaking of the treat jar, but I guess he did!
Jake thought these treats were tasty…
But like everyone else, when his little pile of treats were gone, didn’t want any more.
I thought that perhaps the treats were just really filling – I mean, it says up there that they’re “nutrient dense.” But when I offered them to the cats another day, they didn’t want any of them, so I don’t know. I’d accuse them of being picky, but Stefan and Archie could never be accused of being picky, so I just don’t know. Not their thing, I guess. Fred gave the rest to George and Gracie, who ate them with no complaints – but of course I wasn’t there with the camera, because that would have been far too organized and on top of things for me.
Thank you to Chewy.com and Evanger’s for the opportunity to review these treats, even though my weird cats didn’t like them. You can find these treats here.
As always, the product was provided to us free of charge; the opinions are the cats’, as interpreted by me.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Previously
2014: Gracey and Kaleb.
2013: Eyeball check!
2012: Then she hits the ground and is like “Wait. I’m a CHICKEN. I can’t FLY. Hmph.”
2011: “There are no other cats. There is only Maggie.”
2010: “That’s right, I done it, copper. I done it, and I’d do it again. I was loopy on catnip, no judge in the world is going to convict me. They’ll send me to rehab, I’ll come out clean and UNREPENTANT. So get out those cuffs and slap ‘em on, I AIN’T SCARED.”
2009: (I like to think that maybe someone who lives down the road was sitting in front of their TV and was struck with the sudden urge to grab the camera and go upstairs, and that they said “But I don’t HAVE an upstairs!”)
2008: No entry.
2007: No entry.
2006: No entry.
2005: No entry.
What about Dennis? Or did he not want any treats this morning?
He was snoozing up on top of the kitchen cabinets and wasn’t interested enough to come down.
Healthy food, with no added anything = no wonder they didn’t like them 😉 I suspect it was a bit bland and lacking in flavour. There’s a reason salt is added to most salmon recipes for people.
Ha – no kidding, like if I wanted a cupcake and someone offered me a salad. 😀
At least the dogs liked them
They must have smelled tasty — but didn’t live up to the promise! I don’t remember anything else you’ve tested on all the residents that hit 100% agreement, whether negative or positive (but my memory is crap these days…WAS there ever complete agreement before?)
Friskies Party Mix is our go-to cat treat, and everyone likes them. Even Miz Poo, who is rarely interested in treats, will eat one or two.
There’s something in those Friskies Party Mix treats that’s evil! Probably illegal, too. Bruiser never, ever wanted any kind of treat whatsoever until she was around 5 or so and a friend gave me a sample bag of them. She absolutely freaks out now whenever she hears that bag (or any bag that sounds the same) crinkling. Plus, she becomes extremely demanding when she thinks it’s time for one. We no longer need a clock to tell time.
I may have told this story before, but a few years ago, after our last dog died, we had to train her to come in from the backyard before it was coyote/bobcat/owl feeding time. We would give her three pieces of Party Mix when she came in on time. It only took a couple of days before she started coming in and out several times a day, demanding treats each time.
My two dogs pretty much like ANYTHING, except certain veggies. Cats, not so much! Interesting review. In fact, even the stray cats I feed will NOT touch cheap dry cat food. Now THAT is picky!
Friskies Party Mix is the go-to around here too. But I’ve had to stop buying them because of cost. We feed them dry Purina One, a favorite, since they quit eating the good grain-free stuff I was trying to make them eat. Now we buy “treats” which are the 16 lb bags of dry Friskies. Their current fave is the new 7 flavor mix they have. It’s ridiculous around here really.
Robyn, how did you get into the taste-testing panel for Chewy? What’s the criteria? If it’s a bunch of cats they want, I gotcher 17 cats right here!
The lenght of Newt’s tongue is just…wow 😀 On the topic of snacks… I can’t imagine what it’d be like to have the amount of cats as you do and for all of them to be finicky eaters. I have just one cat and he wants his food to be in gele, definately not in sauce and only a precious few brands will even do – at the moment it’s down to 3 different brands of catfood that His Majesty will even lick, let alone eat.
My kitties Love the Wellness Kittles, all 3 flavors so that is the go to around here.
My little Lion cat treats – http://www.petsmart.com/food-health/soft-treats/my-little-lion-grain-free-cat-treat-zid36-3062/cat-36-catid-200053;pgid=n.B6mPzNCldSRpB66qkSUE340000Yt0S07zT?_t=pfm%3Dsearch%26SearchTerm%3Dmy+little+lion
and Temptations (chicken) are my kid’s favorites!!
you do get some pretty impressive tongue shots don’t you?
I read the reviews on those and decided on going with the Halo ones instead. I’m kinda glad I did now..
In that last pic of Jake, he look like the frog in that video: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/15199717468727671/