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DRY CAT FOOD COMPARISON CHART Updated September 26, 2011 |
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What are you feeding your cat? This is what we are feeding our cats and kittens.
NOT ALL GRAIN FREE CAT FOODS ARE EQUAL….the latest trend in grain free cat food is to include vegetable protein, for example peas, which are inexpensive compared to the cost of meat. The manufactures’ hope is that you will consider your diet appropriate for your cat. Cats are carnivores and can only utilize MEAT protein. Any vegetables in a food are fiber and not metabolized.
· Some GRAIN FREE cat foods have a lower percentage of carbohydrates. The higher the MEAT protein percentage and fat percentage is: the lower the carbohydrate percentage. Remember that the cats will eat less of the high meat protein food so it will cost you less to feed a top quality high protein GRAIN FREE cat food.
· Chicken, turkey, salmon, lamb, fish: excellent protein source
· Chicken meal, turkey meal, fish meals are more processed/concentrated: excellent protein source
· The EPA documents that euthanized cats and dogs from animal shelters can be rendered and used in pet food. Avoid foods containing: ANIMAL FAT, BY-PRODUCTS, generic “MEAT” and bone meal, ANIMAL DIGEST. Read the article by Susan Thixton. These products are marked in blue on the chart.
· The best fats in dry cat food are chicken and poultry fat. Cats need 20-24% fat in their food.
· Cereal GRAINS are inexpensive protein/carbohydrates which do not supply the nutrition cats need.
· Diets high in carbohydrates may cause health issues: diabetes, obesity, food allergies, and IBD. Cats do not need to be over weight to develop diabetes: long with a wealth of information.
· Because heat destroys TAURINE, the cat food may be lacking the necessary amount cats need to maintain optimum health. I recommend adding a little taurine to any dry and canned food. Taurine is available at a health food store.
· READ the cat food labels. How to read a label to know how much and what kind of meat is present.
Know what you are feeding your cat! Read the post Food not Fit for a Pet by Dr Wendell O. Belfield, D.V.M A cat is a carnivore and NEEDS QUALITY MEAT. This information convinces me that feeding a homemade raw diet. I also am supplementing my cats’ diet with a very low carbohydrate 50% meat protein grain free dry food. Every pet guardian needs to watch this video about the horrors uncovered in the manufacturing of an ingredient used in some pet food. This is a very disturbing video.
The nutritional profile of a cat’s favorite food: an adult mouse. Protein: 55.8. Fat: 23.6.
Diabetic cats will benefit from ZERO carbohydrate Young Again Cat food. See information below in chart.
Additional links for the protein, fat, carbohydrates in most CANNED and DRY cat foods.
Information about ingredients and cost was obtained from PetFoodDirect . COST updated on September 26, 2011 The cost of food does not include shipping Ingredients marked in red are cereal GRAINS and blue are animal products that need to be eliminated from your cat’s diet.
Evaluate a food by the ingredients that are before the fat. Since you know the fat content, the other ingredients make up the bulk of the food. Are they a grain, a vegetable or a meat? Cats need only meat. |
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CAT FOOD
1st ingredient 2nd ingredient 3rd ingredient 4th ingredient 5th ingredient 6th ingredient Protein % Fat % Carbohydrate % K/cal per cup COST **includes shipping |
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Innova EVO
Turkey Chicken Chicken meal Herring meal Potatoes Chicken fat 50 22 8% Grain free 602 15.4# @ $2.98/# |
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Taste of the Wild Chicken meal Peas Sweet Potato Chicken fat Potato protein Venison 42 18 Grain free 390 15# @ $2.07/#
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Wellness Core
Deboned turkey Deboned chicken Chicken meal Whitefish meal Potato Salmon meal 50 18 11% Grain free
12# @ $3.39/# |
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Solid Gold Indigo Moon Chicken meal Potato Canola Oil Chicken Chicken Flavor Salmon oils 46 20 13.5% Grain free 450 15# @ $2.57/# |
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Nature’s Variety Instinct Chicken meal Chicken fat Tapioca Pumpkinseeds Salmon Meal Alfalfa Meal 50 22 7.47 % Grain free 491 12.1# @ $2.75/# |
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Young Again Cat Food Pork protein consent Chicken meal Poultry fat Potato starch Tomato pomace Herring meal 50 22 5% Grain free 590 25# @ $3.96/# ** |
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Orijen 6 Fresh Fish Salmon Salmon meal Russet potato Herring meal Whitefish Sweet potato 42 20 16% Grain free
15.4# @ $3.87/# |
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Orijen Cat and Kitten Chicken Chicken meal Turkey meal Russet potato Whitefish Chicken fat 45 20 15% Grain free 15.4# @ $3.47//# |
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CAT FOOD
1st ingredient 2nd ingredient 3rd ingredient 4th ingredient 5th ingredient 6th ingredient Protein % Fat % Carbohydrate % K/cal per cup COST |
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Blue Buffalo Wilderness Chicken Chicken meal Turkey meal Potato starch Fish meal Chicken fat 40 18 Grain free
12# @ $3.00# |
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California Natural GF Chicken Chicken Chicken meal Peas Chicken fat Pea fiber Sunflower oil 42 16 Grain free
15# @ $2.87/# |
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Before Grain Chicken Chicken Chicken meal Potato dehydrate Turkey meal Chicken fat Sweet potato 36 18 Grain free
11.1# @ $2.55/# |
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Breeder Choice Pinnacle Chicken meal Chicken Pea protein Potato flour Chicken fat Ocean fish 42 18 Grain free
15# @ $3.20/# |
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CAT FOOD
1st ingredient 2nd ingredient 3rd ingredient 4th ingredient 5th ingredient 6th ingredient Protein % Fat % Carbohydrate % K/cal per cup COST |
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Natural Balance Pea and Chicken Peas Chicken meal Chicken Pea protein Chicken fat Flaxseed oil 30 12 Grain Free
10# @ $2.05/# |
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Natural Balance Alpha Chicken Chicken Chicken meal Potato Turkey meal Garbonzo bean Pea 35 12 Grain free
10# @ $2.34/# |
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Young Again Cat Zero Carb Food Pork protein consent Chicken meal Poultry fat Soya oil Fish oil Herring meal 55 24 0% Grain free 590 8# @ $5.00/# ** |
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CAT FOOD |
Young Again Cat Zero Carbohydrate Food |
Young Again Cat Food |
Purina Veterinary Diets UR Urinary St/Ox |
Purina Veterinary Diets NF Kidney Function |
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1st ingredient |
Chicken meal |
Chicken meal |
Corn Gluten Meal |
Brewers Rice |
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2nd ingredient |
Pork protein concentrate |
Pork protein concentrate |
Chicken |
Corn |
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3rd ingredient |
Poultry fat |
Poultry fat |
Poultry By Product Meal |
Corn Gluten Meal |
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4th ingredient |
Soya oil |
Potato starch |
Brewers Rice |
Soybean Meal |
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5th ingredient |
Fish oil |
Tomato pomace(source of fiber) |
Oat Fiber |
Animal Fat |
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6th ingredient |
Herring meal |
Herring meal |
Wheat Gluten |
Animal Digest |
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7th ingredient |
Cellulose(source of fiber) |
Vegetable Oil |
Corn |
Fish Meal |
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Fruit/Veggies/Grasses* |
NO |
NO |
NO |
NO |
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Protein % min |
55 |
50 |
40 |
25 |
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Fat % min |
24 |
22 |
11 |
10 |
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Crude Fiber % max |
4 |
4 |
4 |
2 |
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Total Dietary Fiber % |
9 |
9 |
Not Available |
Not Available |
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Ash % max |
7 |
7 |
Not Available |
Not Available |
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Moisture % max |
10 |
10 |
12 |
11 |
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Carbohydrate % |
0%-trace Grain free |
4.63% Lab analysis Grain free |
27.48% *NFE Estimate |
47.02% *NFE Estimate |
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Promotes increased water intake |
NO |
NO |
PROMOTES INCREASED WATER INTAKE |
NO |
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CAT FOOD |
Royal Canin Veterinary Diets Urinary SO |
Royal Canin Veterinary Diets Urinary SO Moderate Calorie |
Purina One Urinary Tract Health Formula |
Purina Pro Plan Urinary Tract Health Formula |
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1st ingredient |
Chicken meal |
Chicken meal |
Corn Gluten Meal |
Corn Gluten Meal |
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2nd ingredient |
Brewers Rice |
Brewers Rice |
Corn |
Chicken |
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3rd ingredient |
Corn Gluten Meal |
Corn Gluten Meal |
Chicken |
Wheat Flour |
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4th ingredient |
Corn |
Corn |
Brewers Rice |
Brewers Rice |
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5th ingredient |
Chicken Fat |
Powdered Cellulose |
Wheat Flour |
Corn |
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6th ingredient |
Natural Flavors |
Wheat Gluten |
Animal Fat |
Animal Fat |
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7th ingredient |
Soy Protein Isolate |
Natural Flavors |
Egg Product |
Egg Product |
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Fruit/Veggies/Grasses* |
*YES |
NO |
NO |
NO |
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Protein % |
33 |
32 |
31 |
31 |
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Fat % |
14 |
9 |
12.5 |
14 |
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Crude Fiber % |
4.5 |
9 |
2 |
2 |
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Total Dietary Fiber % |
Not Available |
Not Available |
Not Available |
Not Available |
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Ash % |
Not Available |
Not Available |
6.2 |
6.2 |
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Moisture % |
9 |
9 |
10 |
10 |
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Carbohydrate % |
30.7% *NFE Company Supplied |
36% *NFE Company Supplied |
39.58% *NFE Estimate |
38.03% *NFE Estimate |
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Promotes increased water intake |
CONTAINS INGREDIENT TO INCREASE THIRST |
CONTAINS INGREDIENT TO INCREASE THIRST |
??? |
??? |
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CAT FOOD |
Iams Veterinary Formula Urinary-S Low pH/S |
Iams Veterinary Formula Urinary-O Moderate pH/O |
Hills Prescription Diet c/d Multicare Feline Bladder Health |
Hills Prescription Diet c/d Multicare Feline Bladder Health with Chicken |
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1st ingredient |
Corn Grits |
Corn Grits |
Brewers Rice |
Brewers Rice |
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2nd ingredient |
Chicken Liver |
Chicken |
Corn Gluten Meal |
Corn Gluten Meal |
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3rd ingredient |
Chicken By product meal |
Chicken By product meal |
Chicken - By - Product Meal |
Chicken - By - Product Meal |
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4th ingredient |
Chicken |
Chicken Liver |
Pork Fat |
Pork Fat |
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5th ingredient |
Herring Meal |
Chicken By products |
Chicken Liver Flavor |
Chicken |
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6th ingredient |
Brewers Rice |
Herring Meal |
Fish Oil |
Chicken Liver Flavor |
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7th ingredient |
Dried Egg Product |
Dried Egg Product |
Potassium Chloride |
Fish Oil |
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Fruit/Veggies/Grasses* |
NO |
NO |
NO |
NO |
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Protein % |
32 |
32 |
36.1 |
34.6 |
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Fat % |
15.5 |
15.5 |
16.7 |
16.2 |
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Crude Fiber % |
2.5 |
2.8 |
0.5 |
0.5 |
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Total Dietary Fiber % |
Not Available |
Not Available |
Not Available |
Not Available |
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Ash % |
7.2 |
7.2 |
Not Available |
Not Available |
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Moisture % |
10 |
10 |
0 |
0 |
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Carbohydrate % |
33.89% *NFE Estimate |
33.58% *NFE Estimate |
41.1% NFE Company Supplied |
43.3% NFE Company Supplied |
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Promotes increased water intake |
??? |
???? |
??? |
??? |
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CAT FOOD |
Hills Prescription Diet k/d Feline Renal Health |
Hills Prescription Diet s/d Feline Dissolution |
9 Lives Plus Care |
Wysong Uretic |
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1st ingredient |
Brewers Rice |
Brewers Rice |
Corn |
Chicken |
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2nd ingredient |
Corn Gluten Meal |
Chicken - By - Product Meal |
Corn gluten meal |
Chicken Giblets |
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3rd ingredient |
Pork Fat |
Pork Fat |
Poultry By P meal |
Oat Groats |
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4th ingredient |
Chicken - By - Product Meal |
Corn Gluten Meal |
Wheat |
Fish Oil |
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5th ingredient |
Dried egg Product |
Dried Egg Product |
Animal Digest |
Salt |
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6th ingredient |
Dried Chicken |
Calcium Sulfate |
Animal Fat |
Dried Whey |
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7th ingredient |
Powdered Cellulose |
Lactic Acid |
Meat and bone meal |
DL-Methionine |
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Fruit/Veggies/Grasses* |
NO |
NO |
NO |
*YES |
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Protein % |
27.9 |
33.6 |
31 |
32 |
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Fat % |
21.9 |
26.2 |
9 |
15.5 |
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Crude Fiber % |
2.1 |
0.6 |
3 |
4 |
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Total Dietary Fiber % |
Not Available |
Not Available |
Not Available |
Not Available |
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Ash % |
Not Available |
Not Available |
Not Available |
Not Available |
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Moisture % |
0 |
0 |
12 |
12 |
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Carbohydrate % |
43.5% NFE Company Supplied |
32.6% NFE Company Supplied |
40.16% *NFE Estimate |
31.18% *NFE Estimate |
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Promotes increased water intake |
??? |
??? |
??? |
??? |
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NFE Company supplied= pet food company supplied Guaranteed analysis for Protein, Fat, Fiber, Moisture and Ash which can then be added together and |
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subtracted from 100 to estimate the carbohydrate contents of the food or NFE. |
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*NFE Estimate = Companies have supplied the percent contained of Protein, fat, fiber and moisture but did not supply the Ash Content. |
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Young Again Pet Food has estimated the carbohydrate content of these diets by assuming an ash content of 7%. |
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Typical ash content for almost all cat foods is usually between 6-10%. |
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Ingredients marked in red are cereal grains, fruits, vegetables, plant proteins, or ingredients that contain plant proteins. |
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Fruit/ Veggies/ Grasses* - Contains one or more of the following groups of food: Fruits, Vegetables, Grasses or Forage materials. |
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All information was taken from Individual company websites between Sept 8th- Sept 22, 2011. |
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Young Again Pet Food Company will update this information when any company supplies us with any new published data. |
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Felidae Cat and Kitten Chicken meal Turkey meal Lamb Potatoes Potato protein Peas 39 20 Grain free
15# @ $2.20/# |
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Now Turkey/Duck Kitten Turkey Potato flour Peas Potato Dried egg Canola oil 33 20 Grain free
10# @ $4.34/# |
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Acana PrairIe Feast Chicken meal Russet potato Chicken Peas Whitefish Chicken fat 35 19 Grain free
15.4# @ $2.75/# |
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CAT FOOD
1st ingredient 2nd ingredient 3rd ingredient 4th ingredient 5th ingredient 6th ingredient Protein % Fat % Carbohydrate % K/cal per cup COST |
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Life Abundance
Chicken meal Brown rice Chicken fat Beet pulp Dried egg Catfish meal 33 21 28
16.5# @ $3.04/# ** |
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Natural Balance Pea and Duck Peas Duck meal Canola oil Flaxseed Natural flavor Methionine 30 12 Grain free
10# @ $2.34/# |