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Blue Buffalo Tastefuls Hairball Control, Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe, 15-lb Bag: Price & In-Depth Review

Blue Buffalo · 15 lb · Cat

Blue Buffalo Tastefuls Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Adult Dry Cat Food Hairball Control, Real Chicken First, Deliciously Healthy Natural Cat Food, Supports Digestive Care and Coat Health, 15 lbs.
$3.13/ lb·$46.98total

Verified 35 days ago on Amazon.

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Overview

For cat owners seeking a nutritional strategy to combat the persistent issue of hairballs, this 15-lb bag of Blue Buffalo Tastefuls Hairball Control offers a targeted solution rooted in natural ingredients. Specifically designed for adult cats, this recipe combines the palatability of real chicken with the wholesome energy of brown rice. The formulation aims to address hairballs not just as a nuisance, but as a digestive health matter. By focusing on a high-quality protein source, it supports the maintenance of lean muscle mass, crucial for a cat's active lifestyle. This particular dry food moves beyond basic adult maintenance, providing a functional benefit that can lead to more comfort for your cat and less cleanup for you. It represents a thoughtful balance between everyday nutrition and a proactive approach to a very common feline-specific problem, making it a popular choice for owners of long-haired breeds or any cat that grooms excessively.

Key features

  • Formulated to Help Manage and Control Hairballs
  • Real Chicken is a Primary Ingredient for Lean Muscle
  • Includes Wholesome Brown Rice for Digestible Energy
  • Specifically Tailored for the Needs of Adult Cats
  • Made with Natural Ingredients, Vitamins, and Minerals
  • Value-Sized 15-lb Bag

Pros

  • Targets a specific, common feline issue (hairballs) through dietary fiber.
  • Features real chicken as a quality protein source, which is popular with most cats.
  • Priced attractively below the median for its category, offering strong value.
  • Produced by Blue Buffalo, a widely trusted and recognizable brand in pet food.

Cons

  • Recipes containing grains like brown rice may not be ideal for cats with known grain sensitivities.
  • A 15-lb bag may be too large for a single cat, potentially leading to a loss of freshness before it's all consumed.
  • While it focuses on hairball control, it may lack other specialized ingredients for issues like urinary or joint health.

Best for

This Blue Buffalo Tastefuls recipe is an excellent nutritional choice for adult cats, particularly long-haired breeds or any feline prone to developing hairballs. Its formulation is geared towards improving digestive transit to manage this common issue. Given that its price-per-pound is notably below the category average, it represents a fantastic value for budget-conscious families, especially those with multiple cats, who want to provide a specialized, natural food from a major brand without paying a premium price.

Feeding guide

The right amount of food will vary depending on your cat's specific age, weight, and daily activity level. As a general starting point, most adult cats in the 8-10 lb weight range do well on about 1/2 to 3/4 of a cup of dry food per day. This portion should ideally be split into two separate meals. Less active or indoor-only cats may require slightly less, while more active cats may need more to maintain their ideal body condition. Always ensure a bowl of fresh, clean water is accessible. For the most precise feeding instructions for this product, refer to the official feeding chart on the packaging and adjust as necessary.

Ingredients & nutrition note

This recipe is built around chicken as the main protein source and brown rice for carbohydrates. In the pet food industry, chicken is a widely used, high-quality protein that helps cats maintain lean muscle. Brown rice is a whole grain that provides digestible carbohydrates for energy and fiber. As a 'Hairball Control' formula, this food likely contains an enhanced blend of natural dietary fibers designed to help ingested fur pass smoothly through the digestive tract. Foods marketed as 'natural' are typically made without artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives. For a complete and detailed list of all ingredients and the guaranteed analysis, please consult the information printed directly on the Blue Buffalo bag.

Price comparison

At its current price of $3.13 per pound, this 15-lb bag of Blue Buffalo Tastefuls is positioned as a strong value within the medium-bag dry cat food market. Our analysis, which includes over 120 similar products, shows a category average and median price of $4.01 per pound. This places the Blue Buffalo recipe significantly below the market's center point, making it more affordable than a majority of competing specialized foods. While it is not a budget-basement food (the lowest in the category is $1.31/lb), it offers a very accessible price for a well-known brand, striking a balance that is much more economical than premium boutique brands that can escalate to $9.00 per pound.

Frequently asked questions

How does a "hairball control" cat food work?

Hairball control formulas like this one typically utilize a strategic blend of dietary fibers. While the exact ingredients aren't listed here, these recipes often contain sources like cellulose or psyllium husk. These fibers are not fully digested, and they work by trapping ingested hair in the stomach and helping it move through the entire digestive system to be passed in the litter box. This process reduces the likelihood that the hair will be regurgitated as a hairball.

Is chicken and brown rice a good diet for every cat?

For the vast majority of adult cats, a combination of chicken and a whole grain like brown rice provides a healthy, balanced diet. Chicken is an excellent, lean protein, and brown rice offers digestible energy. However, a small minority of cats can develop food sensitivities or allergies to common proteins like chicken or to grains. If your cat has a history of digestive upset or skin itchiness, you may want to explore a grain-free or novel protein formula.

Is buying a 15-lb bag a good idea for my single cat?

Buying in bulk almost always provides a better price-per-pound, which can save you significant money over time. However, the trade-off is freshness. A 15-lb bag may take a single cat several months to finish, and during that time the kibble can become stale and lose its appealing aroma once opened. To maximize freshness, we recommend storing the food in an airtight container in a cool, dark place. If your cat is a picky eater, sticking with smaller bags might be a safer bet.

What 'life stage' is this food for?

The Blue Buffalo Tastefuls Hairball Control recipe is specifically formulated for adult cats. This means it is nutritionally balanced for cats that have finished their growth phase (typically around one year of age) and are in the prime of their life. It is not intended for kittens, who have different requirements for growth, or for senior cats who may benefit from formulas tailored to aging.

Is Blue Buffalo considered a 'premium' cat food?

Blue Buffalo is a major national brand that positions itself as a 'natural' pet food, a step above basic grocery store brands. They emphasize real meat as the first ingredient and avoid artificial preservatives and fillers. While there are more expensive, boutique, or prescription-based 'premium' brands on the market, Blue Buffalo is widely considered a high-quality, reliable choice that sits in the upper-middle tier of the pet food landscape.

Can I mix this food with my cat's current food?

Yes, mixing is highly recommended, especially when you are transitioning to a new food. Switching foods abruptly can cause digestive upset. The best practice is to start by mixing a small amount of the Blue Buffalo food (about 25%) with your cat's old food (75%). Over the course of 7-10 days, gradually increase the proportion of the new food while decreasing the old food until you are feeding 100% Blue Buffalo.

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