Wednesday 23 April 2014

they were delish!

Sccrrrrmmmpph....  nmnmnmnmnm....   sccrrrmmmpph....   sccrrrmmmpph... nmnmnmnmnm...

MOUSES!  What's goin' on in my house? What are those noises?  Oh Peepers....   I think there's a wild animal in the kitchen. You wanna check that out?  See what kind of beast is in my house?  Perhaps a horde of raccoons broke in and are makin' a mess in there.

Oh Peepers...  Oh Peepers....  OH PEEPERS!  You gonna check on that for me?  No?  Why not?  FINE.  I'll go check on it myself.  MOUSES!

This occurred at my house, last night and when I went to investigate further, what did I find?  I found my brother Rushton munching away at a bowl of dry food.  He was munchin' so voraciously - bet you didn't know I knew the word voraciously - that he was practically inhalin' the kibble and makin' all those weird noises.  MOUSES!

A few hours earlier I, too, had been munchin' away on that very same food.  It was delish!

A little while ago, my good pal Basil who works over at Harringtons - The Natural Choice pet foods, asked me to do a product review of their cat food.  I don't do a lot of product reviews but I had heard good things about the Harringtons foods and Basil is a super great pal so for my pal Basil, I decided that a review was in order.

I was oh-so-very-excited when the peep came home one day and told me I had received mail.  I love gettin' mail and when the mail is a box filled with food, well...  Well let's just say that that's some pretty good mail, indeed.  A few days later, a courier arrived with a smaller package, also for me.  In that parcel were four packages of treats from Harringtons.  Four of 'em!  Another great delivery.

Unfortunately, it was around that time that the Great Flood of 2014 occurred and knocked out the furnace, leaving us without heat or hot water for two whole weeks and so Peep #1 put the box of food and treats away in my office until things were sorted and life was back to normal.  As if life livin' with a cat like me could ever be considered normal.  Silly peeps.

I was waitin' and waitin' and WAITIN' to do my product review.  Okay, I was waitin' and waitin' and WAITIN' to do the taste test really, until I could wait no longer.  Finally, one day about a week ago, I decided to just help myself to a package of those treats.  Yup, that's just what I did.  I got into that box and hauled out a bag of treats.

Apparently, once you claw a hole in a treat bag, the delicious aroma of the treats inside overwhelms you to the point where not havin' those treats becomes absolutely unbearable which gives you the necessary motivation to give your peeps those looks that will eventually, undoubtedly, make your peeps give you some of those treats.  So then there were three...  three bags of treats left 'cause I ate a whole bag myself over the course of a couple of days in my office.  They were delish!

After that, the box containin' the food and treats was packaged up with the ends tucked in, in a manner preventin' me from any further access.  MOUSES!

But yesterday was the day that the furnace was repaired and heat and hot water were restored to my house so yesterday was the day of the great unveiling.  The day for the taste test had arrived.

Peep #1 filled up two bowls of Harringtons food for us.  In one bowl she put Chicken with Rice and in the other, Salmon and Rice.  Both bowls were placed, side by side, on a tray in the kitchen.  I immediately went for the chicken variety as did my auntie Blossom later on and even my brother Seville who, I don't think is supposed to be havin' anything other than his special-special 'cause of his crystals issues but Peep #1 let him have a bit 'cause he was pretty excited about the whole taste testin' thing that was goin' on.  My brother Rushton went straight for the salmon variety.  I would have liked to have tried the salmon one too but Rushy was hoggin' the bowl and not givin' the rest of us a chance to test it out.

Turns out, both varieties passed the taste test with flying colours 'cause this mornin', the bowls were completely empty.  COMPLETELY EMPTY, I say.  Yup, overnight we cats ate every single piece and let me tell you, they were delish!

I did some checkin' on the Harringtons - The Natural Choice website and found some stuff out. Firstly, their foods are suitable for all cats, eight weeks and older.  That means that all ten of us at my house are old enough.  Good news.

Secondly, I discovered that both the Chicken with Rice and the Salmon with Rice varieties have some super good ingredients.  They contain REAL chicken and salmon and REAL rice and some extra-special things to promote good health.  Probiotics for healthy digestion, taurine for a healthy heart and eyes, cranberry for urinary tract health and omega 3 for supple skin and a glossy coat.  There were also some vitamins, a good supply of calcium and protein levels at almost thirty percent.  EXCELLENT.  Yup, lots and lots of good stuff to keep us kitties healthy.

Finally, there are some things these foods do not contain.  Both formulae are completely free from dairy, soya, beef, artificial colours, artificial flavours and preservatives.  Oh, and there is no added wheat, either.  Apparently, these ingredients are things that might be unhealthy for kitties to eat so you'll find none of 'em in Harringtons cat food.

Now let's see...  Harringtons - The Natural Choice cat food seems to have some pretty high standards, nutritionally and as I said before, it passed the taste test with flying colours.  What about the final test?  The final test would be price and availability.

I did some checkin' and found that here in Canada, the price of the 2kg sized bags of Chicken with Rice and Salmon with Rice is very reasonable.  It's right in the same range as what the peeps have been gettin' at the grocery store.

Availability, however, is a bit of an issue.  I could only find one Canadian supplier of the food which was Walmart.  We have a Walmart locally so I'll send the peep to check out whether or not they carry it in their store.  The peep has been avoidin' goin' to stores for the past couple of weeks 'cause of the lack of hot water issue in our house but now that that has been resolved, she will be able to run errands for me once more.  But the food was definitely available to purchase on-line so it IS available here in Canada.  Unfortunately, I could not find those delicious liver or hairball formula treats anywhere but I shall keep on looking 'cause, like I said, they were delish!

On the other paw, Harringtons - The Natural Choice is available at lots of stores in the UK, a couple of which I even recognised.  Yup, I knew the name Sainsbury's 'cause I think it was once mentioned on Are You Being Served and I'm sure there's a Tescos on Coronation Street.  Clearly, we cats learn lots of stuff from watchin' British television.  But I digress...

But my digression has reminded me of somethin' really important.  Harringtons - The Natural Choice cat foods are manufactured in the UK.  My peeps try very hard to buy Canadian whenever possible but really, buyin' from the UK is the next best thing 'cause as a Canadian kitty, I have a British heritage.  We share the same Queen!  And you know what they say about cats bein' able to look at queens....

And that reminds me.  It sure would be nice if Prince George someday had a baby sister named Princess Nerissa.  Yeah, Princess Nerissa...  What a great name that would be. Don't you agree?


***  And now to make everythin' all legal and whatnot.  I was not paid in any way, shape or form by Harringtons - The Natural Choice Pet Foods to do this product review.  I did receive two, two kilogram bags of food along with four bags of treats but absolutely no monetary payment was made. Neither the free food, my prior friendship with Basil nor the complementary box in which the food was shipped influenced my opinions of the products.  My opinions are my own, are not for sale and cannot be influenced.   MOUSES!

31 comments:

  1. Taste tests are so much fun! But what a bummer that you had to wait so long!

    ReplyDelete
  2. guys...grate ree view N may bee ya can find harringtons on amazon !! ??? N we gotta a gree with rushton on thiz...salmon all de way !! ♥

    ReplyDelete
  3. At least, it was worth of waiting ! Purrs

    ReplyDelete
  4. Must have taste furry good if you sound like Raccoon´s when you eat it *MOL*

    xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  5. It looks like that food was well received! MOL! Glad to hear you got the heats back.

    Happy Wednesday, Nerissa!

    Pee Ess - we like "Princess Nerissa", too!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Those look delicious. Bon appétit :)

    ReplyDelete
  7. Yes,indeed we share our Queen Elizabeth with you Canadian kitties and peeps!So glad you've got your furnace back we couldn't have the peeps missing their showers and getting a bit wiffy!!!Hope you can get some more yummy,delish treats.I LOVE the idea of a Princess Nerissa!will have a word with the cambridges!!!Love and PurrsXXX

    ReplyDelete
  8. That was a darn good review and very nice of Basil to send yums your way!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hopefully you got to try the salmon and rice Nissy. Exciting that your mom might be able to feed you something that is healthy and everyone likes it!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Making you wait so long for your taste tests is just not fair!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Boy, I would LOVE to try those noms. But they aren't available here I guess. xxoo

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Katie, I am afraid we don't ship to the US. But you could always road trip to Canada, see Nerissa and pick up some Harringtons - win win!! BOL

      Delete
  12. Dat wus pawful nice of Harrington's tu send yous food and tweats. Glad yous' enjoyed 'em. Hav a Pawsum day!!

    Luv and Hugs and Kitty Kisses :)

    Dezi

    ReplyDelete
  13. Hmmm.....worth the wait?! Yummmmmmmmy!
    ღ husky hugz ღ frum our pack at Love is being owned by a husky!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Thank you so so much for agreeing to reviewing my food. I was so honoured when you said yes and I am so so pleased that you enjoyed it and have been keeping all 4 paws crossed. I mean I know it's good stuff but when your asking someone you admires so much opinion....

    Thank you all so so much! And here's to a Princess Nerissa - you should so start a campaign!!

    ReplyDelete
  15. We love Basil AND have read many reviews of Harrington's all of which say it's PAWSOME food....sadly it's not available in the US of A (booooo). If you all give it a paws up then I KNOW it's gotta be yummy though!

    Hugs, sammy

    ReplyDelete
  16. Hey Nissy, did mew miss me? MOL Only kidding!!!

    Mew got food in the mail, how pawesome is that, and it's available here in the UK, I'll be getting the P.A. to get a bag fur us to try asap!

    Thanks fur sharing

    Purrs

    Basil xox

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I so love ho you have a Personal Assistant. All I've got is a peep. MOUSES!

      Delete
    2. Panky: Haiz Nerissa. Nice reviews of fuds. Glad you and your furblings liked it.
      Panfur Purrs

      Delete
  17. Tasty treats are the best and to taste test them is the best job ever!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Hi Nerissa, my cats here at the Sanctuary thank you for your review. Apparently the food, both the chicken and salmon are available at Greenwood Walmart and Digby Walmart but could find Harrington puppy treats but no Kitty treats at those locations. My Kitties got to taste it for the first time tonight and the reviews are in from them, they report this in unison, mmmmmmmmmmmmmmsmack smack smack , munch, crunch Yummmmmmmmmy.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yup. Sent Ol' Peepers out on an errand for me yesterday and she reported back that she found the salmon and chicken varieties at Greenwood, too. Yoo-hoo! YOO-HOO! purrs

      Delete
  19. So I'd say Peep #1 needs to get out the plastic money card and order up, eh? Too bad it's not available hereabouts. Maybe word will spread, and demand will grow and one day . . . ;-)

    Um, so you don't think George's little BROTHER would enjoy being named Nerissa?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hmmm.... Yeah.... 'bout that.

      On the one paw, I'm a MANcat and my name is Nerissa so really, the name clearly works for either boys or girls.

      On the other paw, I have been known to criticize Peep #1 for givin' me, Nerissa, a MANcat, a girls' name.

      On the third paw, a Prince Nerissa really would solidify Nerissa as one of those names that are for BOTH boys and girls.

      On the fourth paw (Thank goodness we cats have four paws.), if the Royal family wants to remain traditional, perhaps Nerissa would be best for a little girl.

      Still say Princess Nerissa would be EXCELLENT though. purrs

      Delete
  20. Meow-Wow. These all look really tasty. I wish you would talk to our Dad Nissy as we are on the meal plan and have to eat breakfast and dinner. We want to be able to have a nice snack way late in the night and...
    Dad: Timmy, give it a rest. You know brofur Buddy had a big kibble addiction. Now if you wanted the treats...
    Thanks Dad. I want the treats!
    Thanks fur this great post Nerissa
    Timmy and Dad
    Hey Nissy, we do eat a little

    ReplyDelete
  21. Oh Cat! I sure do wish we could get Harrington's here in the good ole US of A...but nope! They don't ship to us, bummer for sure

    ReplyDelete
  22. Yow Nerrisa dat food lookz nommie n da proof iz in da eatin ;)
    Ya n Rushton n Seville n da rest made short werk of dat food...
    Wish me cuud eat sum...butt not wif me bowel disease....*sighz* aask yer Hu'Man to give ya sum fer me okayz?? Den ya getz more!!!!!!!!
    Lub Nylablue =^,,^=

    ReplyDelete

I love hearin' from my pals. I really, REALLY do. PURRS.