What wet food is good for cats. What food is better to feed a cat: advice from veterinarians

Most owners of pet cats do not have the opportunity to cook their pet a balanced full breakfast, lunch and dinner every day.
According to veterinarians, the most ideal food for cats is small pieces of meat or fish. But in addition to such a diet, a mustachioed pet should receive necessary for the body minerals and vitamins. Therefore, it is much more convenient for owners and more useful for cats to purchase ready-made cat food but which ones are better than others? What to choose?

Choice of food for cats

IN wild nature the cat family are carnivores that get all their valuable nutrients from raw meat and stomach contents of their prey. A domestic cat must also receive a certain amount of fats, proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals, which is necessary for any living organism to comfortable life. For caring owner It is very important to choose the right type of food for your mustachioed pet.

Types of cat food

There are three main types of food for domestic cats. They differ in the way of preparation, serving, shelf life and other properties.

Natural

Some owners still do not trust feeding their pet with food from bags and prefer to prepare cat food on their own. The menu is selected individually: for fluffy and smooth-haired, for young and adults, for thin and well-fed cats.

It is important to remember that food from the human table is absolutely contraindicated for a pet. Delicious sausages, scrambled eggs and fried potatoes won't do the cat any good.

Benefits of natural food:

Accurate knowledge of the composition of products;
No dangerous chemical substances and harmful additives;
Food is closer to natural conditions.

Cons of natural food:

The need to frequently prepare new dishes so that the food does not spoil;
It takes a lot of time to prepare;
It is desirable to have certain skills and knowledge in the field of pet nutrition.

Dry

Many owners believe that dry food is the most versatile and balanced diet for domestic cat.

Pros of dry food:

Saving money compared to natural nutrition;
Saving time;
It does not spoil for a long time both in the package and in the cat's plate;
Good dry food is properly balanced.

Cons of dry food:

Lack of water in dry food can lead to kidney and bladder problems in cats if used incorrectly;
Dry food does not give enough load on the pet's teeth;
Cheap dry food is likely to be high in carbs. Its use can cause diabetes in a cat;
Some foods have special additives, addictive.

Wet food (liquid food)

Wet cat food can be used as an alternative to dry cat food when you want to properly care for your pet, but do not have time to cook for him separately. It is often made with "liquid" cat food.

Saving time;
Saving money compared to natural nutrition;
Sufficiently long shelf life in the package;
Close to natural composition, properties and taste.

Cons of wet food:

IN bad food add ingredients that are addictive in animals;
Wet food does not retain vitamins in its composition, compared to dry food;
A large amount of liquid in poor-quality feed leads to poor saturation of the animal;
If you leave wet food in the air, it will quickly dry out and lose its nutritional value.

Cat food classes

Cat food is divided not only by type, but also by other parameters. Food classes are a rating system that distributes food according to composition, benefit and price category.

Economy food

The class of food most often seen in TV commercials. Such food is suitable exclusively for muffling the hunger of the animal. There is nothing useful for cats in it, and there is certainly no meat in its composition. Whole soy, by-products, preservatives, cellulose, flavor enhancers and nutritional supplements- this is not at all what mustachioed pets need.

The only plus is the cheap price. Veterinarians do not recommend using economy class food as the main menu for domestic cats.

Watch the following video, do not pay attention to the quality of the picture, the main thing is information!

There are also feeds of the so-called "commercial" class. Their composition is no different from the economy, and the cost increases due to the promoted brand. Good hosts shouldn't rely on commercials for tips, they're just a good marketing ploy.

Producers: Darling, Meow, Whiskas, Doctor Zoo, Kitekat, Frieskies, Felix, etc.

Medium class food

Medium class feeds have a correspondingly average product quality.

Compared to economy, this feed contains less soy, grains and flavors, and no chemicals. The composition already contains a large number of meat and a balanced vitamin and mineral complex. Also, medium-class food is already divided into categories: for sterilized cats, for kittens, furry animals, for adults, etc.

Manufacturers: Bozita, Happy Cat, Perfect fit, Belcando, Eukanuba, Iams, Brit, PRO PAK, Karma Organic, Natural Choice, etc.

Premium food

Premium food is not seen in TV commercials. They contain an almost perfect balance of micro and macro elements necessary for the animal. Almost missing vegetable protein. The price differs markedly from feeds of a lower class, but everything that is written on the packaging about the ingredients included in the composition can be trusted. After all, each feed of this class has its own quality certificate. You can buy in specialty stores for animals or in veterinary clinics.

Manufacturers: ProNature Holistic, Royal Canin, 1stChoice, Bosch SANABELLE, Pro Plan, Hills, Nutra Gold, Leonardo, Cimiao, etc.

Holistic food

Holistic food is the perfect professional food for your mustachioed pet. But not everyone has the opportunity to purchase a line of these feeds. They can only be ordered directly from manufacturers in online stores. This best food is used mainly for show and breeding animals in special nurseries. All animal and vegetable components of Holistic feed are grown on special farms without the addition of pesticides and hormones. Only natural natural ingredients are also used as preservatives.

Producers: Orijen, Acana, Wellness, Innova, Natural&Delicious, Evo, Felidae, Almo Nature, Golden Eagle, Earthborn Holistic, etc.

Liquid cat food

Quality wet (liquid) cat food can be compared to real meat or fish. The only difference is that the food contains additional food ingredients required for a properly balanced pet diet.

You should not save on the health of your pet and buy food below the medium class - these are the recommendations of veterinarians about dry food. If finances allow, it is better to purchase healthy premium dry food, it has more meat and an excellent set of trace elements necessary for old and young cats for full development. That is, the rating of the feed is not as important as its class. Well, then it all depends on the individual perception of the cat to a certain dry food.

Which food is better dry or wet?

Until now, among both veterinarians and caring cat owners, there are discussions about which food is better for cats, dry or wet. Research scientists have shown that these types of feed have their pros and cons, but, in general, do not differ from each other in nutritional value and composition. Some veterinarians advise balancing your cat's diet by including dry food as the main ingredient and wet food as the complement. Many, on the contrary, do not recommend mixing different types feed, as this can be bad for the cat's stomach. Therefore, the owner will have to choose the optimal nutritional diet for his pet and depends on his desire and capabilities.

Each cat is unique. When choosing a diet for her food, it is necessary to take into account the age of the animal, its weight, health, gender and other individual characteristics.

Which cat food has more meat

The largest amount of natural meat is, of course, found in holistic class feeds. Most foods in this class contain about 70 percent meat or fish. There are some producers in whose products the percentage of meat reaches 95%. These feeds, thanks to special processing, retain all the useful substances necessary for the cat's body.

High percentage of meat in premium feeds. This is enough for optimal nutrition, excellent health and good activity of domestic cats.

Popular medium class foods should contain at least 20 percent meat in their composition.

It’s not worth talking about the economy class - you won’t find meat or fish in these feeds.

A loving owner, as soon as he gets a kitten, tries to provide him with maximum comfort and care. With regard to nutrition for a domestic cat, it will not be out of place to consult with veterinarians, as well as look at reviews of various feeds on the Internet.

Veterinarians advise first of all to provide the cat with constant access to fresh water, especially when feeding dry food. We must not forget about the daily norm of cat food, which is prescribed on each package, it is not advisable to exceed it. The food of a mustachioed pet should be two meals a day. This is enough for the full development of the animal's body.

You should also not save on your pet, because cheap prepared feed not only do not benefit the animal, but can also be harmful.

It is also impossible to change food often, because it is not easy for a cat's stomach to change from one food to another. If it is nevertheless necessary to do this, then it is necessary to gradually add new food to the old one, increasing portions over a period of at least ten days.

You can chat on the forums with a request: “advise good food for a cat." But no one knows their pet better than its owner. In order to properly organize the diet of your pet, you need not only to listen to the advice of breeders and veterinarians, but also take into account the degree of activity, health status and other individual characteristics of your cat.

Is your cat's diet right? Most owners will not answer this question. Few people think about counting the proteins, vitamins and micronutrients that enter the pet's body with food. But this is not necessary, because cat food manufacturers have already calculated everything for you. We spoke with three veterinary nutritionists about how to feed a cat and how to find good food for her in the store.

Nigova Ekaterina

Veterinary nutritionist at Zoostatus Clinics

Proper Diet more important to your pet than you might think. If a cat consistently lacks protein, vitamins, important trace elements for it, then its body is forced to constantly turn on internal regulators in order to maintain itself in a normal state. Imbalance useful substances long time will not manifest itself in any way - the cat will be active and healthy. But it is worth some kind of illness or injury, then, in combination with a stable malnutrition, the body will immediately fail.

Dry food

To most, it may seem "frivolous", often it is used as an addition to another, "main" food. However, dry food and water are enough for a complete diet for an animal. If the cat eats this food during the day, it will make up for all daily allowance health benefits and wellness. True, we are talking about a complete feed, experts specify.

There are a number of vitamins, minerals, micronutrients, essential fatty acids, the supply of which the cat must replenish daily. There are daily norms, but it is worth considering that the lower bar and the upper bar are usually indicated. As for the lower one, it was derived from laboratory tests, when the animals were fed different amounts of food and any deviations from well-being were recorded, if any. Based on such observations, the upper and lower bars were established.

It is important that it is written on dry food that it is complete, balanced or suitable for daily use: only under this condition can we assume that the pet will not be left without substances important to him.

– Dry food also acts as a prevention of tartar. The norm is usually indicated on the packaging, it is important not to go beyond it, - says Darina Berezina, veterinarian-therapist of the Gemini clinic.

Don't forget to drink. A cat should always have clean water.

- Cats are animals that came from the subtropics, and, like all inhabitants of semi-deserts, their body is designed in such a way that they have a reduced feeling of thirst. It's one thing when a cat eats a mouse - there is enough moisture in the rodent, and you don't need to drink. Here is another case. Therefore, if your cat drinks little, then he may need to soak the food or replace it with wet food, Ekaterina Nigova sums up.

Roskachestvo examined samples of cat food from 39 brands. Three of them are high quality.

wet food

Wet food (meat pieces in jelly - in bags, jars, etc.) is used more as a treat. Usually it does not contain a daily dose of all useful elements, says Darina Berezina. - On the packaging of such food, you should look for a mention that the food is balanced, suitable for a daily diet.

The doctor also thinks a good sign when the same manufacturer produces both dry and wet food. Often these brands offer complete products.

Ideally, a bag or canned food should include all the necessary components. These are meat (or products of its processing), amino acids, vegetable raw materials (it can be potatoes, corn, etc., but most often such details are not specified in the composition), vitamins K, A, D, E, taurine, iron , copper, manganese, zinc, omega-3 and omega-6 acids.

Galina Chernova

Veterinary nutritionist at VetKat clinics

Looking at the composition, pay attention to the ingredient that comes first, since the order of the composition is determined by the percentage of components in the product. So, in our case, the first thing should be meat. Our cats are predators that feed on mammals whose meat contains taurine. Unfortunately, cats cannot store this element, so they must consume it regularly. It is necessary for vision, cardiac activity and other physiological processes, - says Galina Chernova, a veterinary nutritionist at the VetKat clinics.

Food for sterilized cats, active or lazy couch potatoes

Some may suspect that these are ordinary food, but with different inscriptions on the packages. In fact, we are talking about really special foods designed for the mentioned types, and such foods differ in composition. For example, food for active cats is more high-calorie, since mobile animals spend a lot of energy, and for lazy couch potatoes they are lighter.

- You need to look on the bag of food for castrated or sterilized animals, for example, if it contains L-carnitine. This is a fat burner, which is important for somewhat passive cats prone to weight gain, explains Galina Chernova.

Expensive vs cheap

- There are several classes of feed. "Superpremium", "premium", "economy", as well as "holistic" (Human Grade) - the quality is as if the product is made for people. In the manufacture of such feeds, technologies are used to preserve all the benefits of the ingredients, their digestibility is at least 80%, no by-products, only pure meat. Otherwise, the degree of availability and digestibility depends on the class. useful components- says Galina Chernova.

And Darina Berezina recommends not to get carried away with cheap feed and draws an analogy between them and soups fast food like "Doshirak". If you eat it all the time, then gastritis will not keep you waiting. Like it or not, in the end, the cat chooses the food itself. You just have to give her a choice first, and then regularly fulfill her preferences.

“If a cat likes food, she feels good after it, she has no problems with digestion, urination, she is active and has good hair, then it suits her,” says Ekaterina Nigova. - Perhaps some cat will like more expensive food, and some will choose cheaper food, there is nothing to worry about.

The doctor also explains that the classification of feed is rather conditional. Of course, the manufacturer understands what kind of quality buyers expect from a certain class of food, and tries to meet the declared level, but in fact there are no prescribed parameters that relate food to one or another group. In Europe and America (from where most feeds come to the Russian market) there are still organizations that certify feeds and are responsible for their safety. However, even if you have a holistic class food in front of you, you cannot say for sure that it is made from the best and freshest, and not yesterday's meat. As for controversial additives, we note that the regulations that determine which additives are safe and allowed for use, and which are not, still exist and the manufacturer is obliged to follow them.

Can you feed cats table food?

Many owners, out of habit, argue that if the food they eat is good for themselves, then it will be good for their pets, and they believe that the main rule in the diet is variety. Nutritionists do not agree with this position and explain that if you give the animals some other food in addition, then the cats will malnourish their own, which is why they will not receive the daily norm of the necessary elements. Of course, if you feed the cat from the table infrequently and a little, then nothing bad will happen to her. 5-10 grams of meat (preferably boiled) or other food, most likely, is not dangerous for a healthy cat.

Is fish harmful?

- There is such a theory that it is not physiological for a cat to eat fish, since in the wild she usually does not eat such meat. But in the same way, in nature, cats do not eat rabbits and do not hunt cows, and in fact the food from these animals is actively sold, and there is nothing to worry about, since the food is designed for normal absorption, - explains Darina Berezina. - For example, salmon and trout can be classified as high-quality fish, but cheaper fish (capelin, herring, blue whiting) is rather undesirable.

This fish may contain too much iodine and other minerals that cannot be absorbed in such volume, which causes stones in genitourinary system, - adds Galina Chernova.

“As for ordinary raw fish, it is not suitable for everyone, a lot of phosphorus, little calcium,” says Ekaterina Nigova. – If you are a compassionate citizen and consistently feed street cats, then dry food is perfect for them. It is also advisable to bring water to animals, although even here they are likely to get out on their own, because in summer you can drink from a puddle, and in winter they can eat snow

Most cat owners are careful when choosing food for him. Pet stores offer a variety of foods. But how do you choose the one that suits your cat?

The most correct answer to this question will be given by qualified veterinarians.

Important! If you like to cook, and it does not take much time, then it is better to feed your pet with freshly prepared food. We must not forget about the balance of food for the pet.

Be sure to supplement the cat's diet with important vitamin complexes containing minerals and trace elements. This opinion is shared by more than half of veterinarians.

Ingredients in a balanced diet:

Poultry (chicken, turkey);
Lean beef;
Sea fish;
Vitamins, amino acids and minerals,
Amino acid - taurine.

Rating of the best feed: dry and wet

The second half of veterinarians believe that the best food is ready-made.

It is already balanced, does not require additional ingredients. What is the best food for cats? This question will help us answer the feed rating according to the reviews of veterinarians.

Don't forget to pour clean water in a bowl if you are feeding your pet dry food. This food is important for teeth and digestive tract. Chewing it, the pet cleans the teeth from plaque.

The food is coarse enough, it cleans well gastric tract from slag. It must be stored in closed plastic containers without air access.

Breeders and veterinarians believe that the daily diet of a pet should include not only dry, but also soft food in the form of canned food.

Canned cat food

Canned food is a favorite treat for cats. They are pleasant to the taste, liquid, as they contain water. This is useful if the cat drinks little water.

One jar of canned food is enough for one feeding. It's comfortable. If the cat has not eaten a portion, put the leftover food in the refrigerator. It will be possible to offer them at the next feeding.

Wet canned food is good for feeding older cats. It is difficult for an older cat to chew dry food. Soft she swallows without difficulty.

by the most the best canned food, according to veterinarians, are:

Almo Nature
Applaws
Animonda
Hill's
Organix
All cats
Barking Heads
Schesir.

Feed types

An important problem that cat owners need to understand is food classes:

Economy class;
premium class;
super premium Class;
holistics.

Economy class. It contains only protein substitutes, it does not include natural ingredients.

If you picked up a cat on the street or took it from a shelter, then calmly feed it with food of this class. These are Kitikat, Whiskas and Friskies. But thoroughbred domestic cats are highly discouraged from feeding such food.

Premium and super premium class. This class of food is made from the highest quality ingredients. Contains no soy protein. And also there are no unnatural dyes and preservatives. In the required amount contain vitamins, minerals and trace elements.

Among premium and super premium feeds, veterinarians recommend: Golden Eagle, Acana, Royal Canin, Arden Grange.

Manufacturers have also taken care of animals that are allergic to certain products. A special hypoallergenic food has been created for them. A good and inexpensive food for allergy sufferers is the Hill's Prescription Diet line.

Manufacturers paid special attention to creating a diet for castrated and sterilized cats. It has less calories and contains less protein. What brand of food is popular for spayed cats? Veterinarians consider Royal Canin Sterilized.

Feed class holistic. This class is made up of the best cat food. Their composition is closest to the natural diet.

Breeders and veterinarians agree that holistics are ideal nutrition for pets. It perfectly combines the highest quality ingredients.

Holistics of different manufacturers differ in composition. Some use only meat, others combine meat and vegetables. Third manufacturers produce grain-free feed.

The owner of the cat must understand whichever holistic he chooses - it will be the best quality food.

The best holistic class veterinarians include:

Innova Evo;
Felidae;
Pronature Holistic;
Orijen;

Read labels

Discussion: 5 comments

Are these foods suitable for all cats and cats? For example, my cat had urolithiasis disease and advised for him certain types. And as a result, he did not eat half, because he did not like it. At acquaintances, the cat eats generally only homemade food. How harmful or helpful is it?

To answer

It is best to feed the cat with natural products. So at least you know exactly the composition of the food. My cat started to feel much better after going off the food!

To answer

After consultation with the veterinarian, they switched to dry food for my cat. Prior to that, they ate exclusively homemade food, and did not observe health problems. While my cat is happy to eat dry food, I buy expensive.

To answer

The health of cats, like people, directly depends on what they eat. However, this does not mean that felines should be fed scraps from the human table. On the contrary, it can cause irreparable harm to their health, because the composition of the necessary nutrients for their life is different. Therefore, food for them should be separate, balanced for their body.

What food is best for cats according to the rating - this question will cease to be difficult for you if you read this material.

About the types of food

The ideal option is when you yourself prepare food for your pet, calculating the calories and composition of nutrients according to its age and state of health.

However, doing this is not always enough time even for your menu, and what can we say about animals.

Did you know? The life expectancy of people with cats at home is increasing.

Therefore, we turn to the store for ready-made goods, the variety of which makes it problematic to choose a good cat food.

Let's start with the fact that all goods in this area are divided into types and classes.

Dry, wet, canned

First of all, finished products are divided into:

dry;
wet;
canned.

Dry food is meat, vegetable, cereal and other products dried in a special way. To date, this species accounts for most of sales in the market.

Its advantage for cats is that by eating pellets, the animal's teeth are self-cleaning; dry food for owners better themes which may not deteriorate for a long time.

Important! When feeding with a dry product, it is necessary to ensure that the cat has constant access to clean and fresh water, otherwise the animal's body will become dehydrated.

You can find the opinion that dry food in cats can cause kidney stones or bladder, however, manufacturers of the best modern products claim to have got rid of this threat. Wet food is food for animals in the form of pieces of meat or fish (sometimes with vegetables) with gravy in foil bags. There is more moisture here than in a dry product, but less than in a canned one. The advantage is its portion size (1 sachet = 1 serving), and the disadvantage is the loss of nutrients if the cat has not mastered the entire sachet, and a very limited storage time for an open sachet.
Cats love canned food the most. They are meat in the form of pates or pieces with gravy with high content humidity, rolled up in cans.

Animals consuming this type of product require less water. The disadvantage of such food is the short shelf life of an open can.

Classes

Depending on the quality of feed, they can be divided into:

Economy class;
premium class;
super premium class;
holistic class.

Economy class is the cheapest, most advertised and most popular. There is probably no person who has not heard of him.

Here is a list of products in this class:

Pankit;
Darling (Darling);
Felix (Felix);
Allcats (AllCats);
Vaska;
Friskis (Friskies);
Sheba (Sheba) and others.

This is a low quality feed, although advertising convinces us that they are balanced and consist exclusively of meat, vitamins and minerals. However, instead of meat, bone meal, feathers, horns, hooves, etc. are used here.

In addition, the percentage of meat is reduced in favor of cereals, which should be present in a small amount in the menu of cats.

Important! The danger of such feed lies in the content of chemical dyes and preservatives that can cause various diseases in animals.

At its core, these foods can be equated to hot dogs, pizza and other fast food: the stomach is full, but there is no benefit to the body.

Some people may object: it's not possible that if everything was so bad, my cat would not eat these foods with such pleasure. The answer to this objection is simple - cat flavor enhancers are added to such products.

Compared to the previous one, the premium class of feed contains a larger percentage of meat, but not enough, and offal is also present there. There are more useful substances, less content of preservatives and dyes.

Here is a list of premium cat food:

Nutro Choice;
Regal;
Pro Pack (PRO PAC);
Karma Organic (Karma Organic);
Guabi (Guabi);
Happy Cat (Happy Cat);
Matisse;
Flatazor (Flatazor);
Advance (Advance);
Natural Choice;
Brit (Brit);
Ayems (Iams);
Belkando (Belcando);
Dr. Alders (Doctor Alders);
(Hills) and (Royal Canin) Russian production.

If the financial side of your pet's nutrition does not bother you, buy super-premium products.

These are balanced feeds containing meat, essential vitamins and minerals, a small amount of cereals, vegetables, fruits.

It is not scary to feed a cat with such a product, but unfortunately, not everyone can afford it.

You can buy this product only in veterinary pharmacies or hospitals. Below is the ranking of super premium cat food.

Important! Most likely, your cat will initially refuse to eat this food, especially if she has previously eaten cheap food - this is due to the lack of flavor enhancers in the composition.

Holistic class food contains high quality meat without dyes and other harmful substances, a small amount of cereals and best vegetables or do not contain them at all.

Products from this class of goods can be eaten without fear by a person, since animals for slaughter (calves, lambs, chickens, turkeys, rabbits) are kept in environmentally friendly conditions, and vegetables and cereals grow in specially designated areas and are watered only with clean water without nitrates.
There are no preservatives or other chemicals here.

The composition of the feed is clearly defined - a specific type of meat, cereals and vegetables are indicated. Often they are issued separately for each breed of cat or taking into account the characteristics of behavior.

Buying holistic-class food is not so easy. Due to their high cost, they are almost never in demand, so the number of stores selling them is very limited.

Customers often order it online and wait for delivery for a long time.

The complete absence of flavorings in products contributes to poor appetite cats at first.

Important! Such feeds are digested by almost 90%, therefore daily requirement they are much lower than in ordinary ones.

List of goods class holistic:

Nau and Go Natural Holistic (NOW, GO Natural Holistic);
Chicken Soup (Chicken Soup);
ANF holistic;
Innova (Innova);
Golden Eagle (N&D) and others.

How to make a choice

If you want to choose the best food for your cat, but do not know which one is the most useful for her, ask the opinion of veterinarians.

Criterias of choice the best product the following:

The inscription on the package - AAFCO (in the decoding of the American Association for Quality Control of Products).
Indication in the composition of a specific type of meat with a content of more than 25%.
Additionally, the composition indicates the liver or fish.
The presence of vitamins E, C.
A small amount of food intake per day.
The absence of bone meal and offal.
Absence in the composition of products of animal origin.
The absence of preservatives propyl gallate, ethoxyquin, BHT, BHA.
Cereals and vegetables account for less than 30%.
The composition contains protein, fats, taurine and preferably lactobacilli.
No sugar.
The cat has no bad smell out of the mouth and out of the toilet, the coat is shiny, good playfulness.

Did you know? Small kittens love milk, but in older cats it can cause vomiting or diarrhea due to lactose intolerance.

Rating of the best

orijen

Orijen product has been on the market for over 20 years and has never been filled with corn, bone meal or offal. It is not available in canned form and is sold only in specialized stores.

Innova Evo

Innova Evo's highly nutritious, hypoallergenic products are manufactured by Natura Pet Products in the USA. They include only selected meat, probiotics, no chemical additives.

It is very expensive and is sold mainly by ordering via the Internet.

Aras

The company from Germany "Aras" has been on the market for more than 27 years and produces dry and wet food. The meat content is not less than half of the product, and in some types - up to 98%. It does not contain lactose and gluten, as well as chemical dyes and preservatives.

Farms that supply products for the company's feed production have received the corresponding certificate.

Canide

Canidae (formerly Felidae) is a company based in the United States that manufactures products that primarily contain meat, but also essential amino acids Omega-3 and Omega-6, vegetables, herbs, fruits.

Low allergenicity due to the absence of chemicals, gluten and cornmeal. The product is expensive, it is not easy to find it on sale.

Eukanuba

Eukanuba is available for pets of all ages and with various diseases in dry or canned form. This balanced and highly digestible food does not contain harmful substances.

Did you know? The cat door was invented by the famous scientist Isaac Newton.

Akana

For cats to get enough carbohydrates, a special variety of potatoes was introduced into the composition. Meat and fish are not used for production after freezing.

Under the Acana brand are produced:

Wild Prairie Cat & Kitten "Acana Regionals" - COBB chicken, turkey, perch, apples, pumpkin, spinach, pear, cranberries, blueberries;
Acana Pacifica Cat - flounder, hake, herring, seaweed, cranberries, medicinal herbs;
Acana Grasslands Cat - lamb, duck, wild bass, chicken eggs, prebiotics.

Champion Petfoods, which makes the line, also makes Orijen.

Almo nature

Almo Nature from Genoa has been on the market for 15 years and produces the following products:

Rouge Label - hypoallergenic;
Tradition - canned;
Orange Label - for neutered cats;
Azul Label - unfortunately includes offal and flour;
Green Label is a specially prepared wet food.

pronature

Pronature is made in Canada and is considered one of the best because it includes quality meat and vegetable ingredients and is suitable for sick animals. However, some species contain tomato, cellulose and high level ash content.

Bosita

Bozita is a Swedish dry and wet food product. The production of goods takes place under state quality control. The cats love to eat it. However, not all owners like the fact that pork and cornmeal are present in the composition.

Yoser

Josera is made up of products that are certified to be suitable for humans. Harmful substances and few useful additives are missing. Available in cut age categories. However, this product is expensive and not easy to find.

Did you know? In terms of the number of domestic cats, Australia ranks first, where only 10% of the population do not have them, but in Gabon and Peru, domestic cats are very rare.

If you have chosen dry food for your pet, follow a few recommendations for feeding:

Change the water in the bowl daily.
Feed the animal 2 times a day.
Store the product in a closed container.
Do not combine with feeding with natural products, this can lead to an imbalance of trace elements.
Buy goods with small pieces.
An ash content of 6 percent or more can lead to kidney or bladder stones.
Buy a product that matches the age of the animal.
Cats are guided by their own taste - one may love veal food, and the other, refusing to eat this, loves liver.
Stick to one brand when choosing a product, as different manufacturers form different composition feed, and the animal may not easily tolerate change.
Pay attention to the absence of constipation.

Cats are pets and depend heavily on their owners for food. Of course, not everyone can afford to buy expensive food for them, but it is not recommended to buy cheap ones.

If you do not want or cannot buy an expensive product, it is better to transfer the animal to organic products, then it will be possible to avoid many health problems with your purr.

Instruction

For adults or? When choosing food, you should focus on the age of the cat. After all, in different ages pets have different vitamin needs, minerals and even calories. Manufacturers indicate on the label the age of the animal for which the product is intended. It can be food for adults or the elderly (animals over 7-8 years old).

Dry or wet? When choosing dry or wet food, remember that you cannot combine them in the diet of one cat. Everything else is up to you and your cat's preferences and budget, since dry food, whatever one may say, is cheaper than wet food.

And what's on the label? And, of course, before buying food, you should definitely read the label. What should be on it? First of all, meat and its type (for example, chicken). And it is meat, and not "meat and offal." Offal is a useful thing, but who knows what the manufacturer had in mind? What if it's not the liver, heart and the like, but the tails, hooves and horns of a large cattle?Further - vegetables and cereals. Their optimal feed should be 25-50%. Any food must contain vitamins and minerals, which is also indicated on the label. The list of chemicals includes flavors, dyes, antioxidants, preservatives. There are practically no flavoring additives and dyes in high-class feeds, or their percentage is very small. Therefore, expensive feeds have a reddish natural color and not an excessive aroma of granules, while economical feeds consist of granules of all colors of the rainbow and even through a sealed plastic bag. It is worth knowing that some antioxidants (E321, E320 and others) can cause cats diseases such as cancer, allergic reactions, organ dysfunction, liver damage. In addition, feeds often contain ballast substances (a cheap, absolutely unnecessary component that serves solely to fill the volume), natural preservatives, as well as sugar and caramel that are absolutely unnecessary for the animal.

Useful advice

Of course, only a cat can be the best food expert for meows. When choosing food, focus on the appetite and condition of your pet. Indicators such as the optimal and constant weight of the animal, its excellent the physical state, shiny coat, not excessive (no more than a quarter of the weight of the food eaten) stool, indicate that the food is suitable for the cat.

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Tasty and healthy

If you decide to feed your cat with dry food, you should approach his choice very responsibly. After all, health and well-being will depend on the composition and balance of all its components. good mood your pet

Why you need dry food

Do you think that only inveterate monsters and lazybones can feed a cat with incomprehensible crackers? This is not true at all. The fact is that high-quality dry food is completely balanced in its composition and contains all the nutrients, vitamins and trace elements that your cat needs. You can, of course, feed your pet fresh tenderloin or fresh milk, but ensure a varied and good nutrition thus most owners fail. Feed solves this problem quickly and without effort on your part.

An important aspect is that it is easier to add certain medicinal components or substances to dry food. This is especially true when choosing medical nutrition or choosing a diet for your pet. In addition, it is really more convenient to feed an animal with dry food: it is stored longer and does not deteriorate in a bowl.

Composition of dry cat food

All of the above is true for high-quality feed. Unfortunately, not all animal nutrition manufacturers make feeds that are truly healthy and balanced. To understand how high-quality food is in front of you, carefully study its label. A good feed will necessarily contain the following ingredients: meat (namely meat, not animal products), cereals and vegetables (no more than 50%), vitamins and minerals (the list should be long). Also, make sure that the preservatives and antioxidants in the feed are natural (for example, vitamins E and C, as well as herbal extracts and oils).

Harmful and undesirable feed components

But what should not be in cat food is artificial colors and preservatives. Some manufacturers add sugar to feed to improve palatability and structure. For animals, such an additive is not useful at all. Sugar causes cavities and is bad for a cat's digestive system.

You should also be wary if you notice animal components of dubious origin in the feed. For example, ground beef skin or turkey flour. Even if the packaging says “offal”, know that this is nothing more than trimmings and waste from meat processing industries. It is not uncommon for unscrupulous manufacturers to make food literally from horns, hooves and feathers. Avoid foods that contain cellulose or nut shells - these ingredients make you feel full without providing nutrients.

Pledge of health and cheerfulness - proper nutrition. Of course, you can cook for your pet yourself, but such food is unlikely to contain the required amount of vitamins. Improper nutrition of a cat affects the condition of its skin, coat and can lead to some diseases.

Instead of the usual homemade food, the cat should be given quality food. Just before buying such food, you need to carefully study its composition, otherwise the food can harm the cat.

What should be in cat food?

It must include meat. Since cats are predators, this product is indispensable for them. But it must be taken into account that the information on the composition of the feed should not contain the words “meat and offal”. Such a phrase implies the content of waste from the carcass of cattle.

The food should contain vitamins and minerals. For normal state The body of an animal needs vitamins A, D, C, E, K, as well as group B and taurine. The following minerals are also important for a cat: magnesium, calcium, potassium, phosphorus, zinc, iron. The packaging should have a complete list of them.

It is necessary that the feed contains the liver, heart, lungs of chicken or cattle. If the feed includes such products, they must be clearly identified and not simply listed under the general word "by-products".

Feed must be selected, taking into account the age of the animal and its breed. Kitten food contains an increased percentage of vitamins and minerals, as the growing body needs it. At persian cats the structure of the skull differs from other breeds; special food is produced for them with a croquette shape that is convenient for eating.

When buying food, it is not recommended to mix several types, especially if the food is from different manufacturers. This may lead to allergic reaction organism. The feed may contain a small percentage of vegetables and cereals (up to 50%, but not more).

Ingredients that should not be in food.

Corn or soy protein (it is used by manufacturers as a meat substitute). Dyes and flavoring additives. Avoid food with bright colors, as it only indicates dangerous additives. And here Brown color characteristic of natural foods.

Fillers. If they are in the feed, then your pet will not be able to get enough of them for a long time, which can lead to rapid eating and subsequently to vomiting.

Chemical constituents. Cornmeal, which is not digested in the stomach of animals. Fish and fishmeal. Such components are processed with a dangerous preservative.

Sucrose. Great content carbohydrates in the feed will cause the animal liquid stool and over time can lead to diabetes.