Special food for cats. food that inspires confidence. High-quality holistic feeds

Food for kittens should take into account the formation of bone tissue, muscles, and fur of the animal. Therefore, it is important to know which kitten food is the best and to provide your baby with adequate nutrition.

All baby food is divided by age category. You should start with food intended for age group 1. It includes the age of fluffies up to 4 months. The second category is from 4 to 8 months, the third is from 8 months. up to 1 year.

Experts do not recommend feeding kittens the usual food that the family eats. For the growing body of the mustache, the supply of all necessary substances is especially important., which will have a beneficial effect on the development of the animal - the formation of the skeleton, the normal functioning of all internal organs, muscle tissue, and hair growth. Therefore, it is important to choose high-quality food for kittens.

Just like for adult cats, we produce a line of dry, wet food, and canned food.

Dry food for kittens

The specificity of dry food is that the food is in the form of pieces or granules, which have virtually no moisture. Therefore, the animal chews food, cleaning the surface of the teeth from plaque, sharpening the teeth, which is important for predators. In the case of children, this type of diet can hardly be called appropriate.

Digestion of kittens is not yet sufficiently established; teeth are just forming. Therefore, resorting to dry food is not advisable for them.

If there is a need to use dry feeding, then this should be done from the age of 8 months, when the fluffy coat has already formed, and the use of this type of food will be tolerated by the animal calmly.

Holistic

Top 5 best holistic foods for babies:

  • Akana (Canada).
  • Chicken soup (USA).
  • Artemis (USA).
  • Eagle Pack (USA).
  • Felide (USA).

This is the highest quality food available in dry form.

Superpremium

Among super premium foods, the best foods, according to experts, are:

  • Brit Keir.
  • Bozita.
  • Gina.

They are somewhat inferior in quality of raw materials, but are quite suitable for a balanced diet for an older pet.

Premium

In the premium class, the most favored were:

  • Hills.
  • About the Plan.
  • Royal Canin.

Royal Canin Kitten

Such food is cheaper than super premium food, but is made from raw materials of satisfactory quality.

It is not recommended to feed your baby economy class dry food. In the production of this type of food, many chemical additives are used, which can cause significant harm to the developing body of a young animal.

Wet food

This type of food for kittens is divided by age and breed of animal. The marking on the product packaging indicates the age for which the food is intended. Some companies make separate types, focused on the specificity of the breed. This approach satisfies the needs of strict breeders. Animal lovers with lesser requirements can feed their pets food based on age indicators.

Many cat owners who fed their kittens wet food from an early age were satisfied with the results. The baby adapts well to the new diet, as it takes into account the needs of the growing body as much as possible.

Features of wet food in their composition. Such food includes natural products - meat, fish, vegetables. Jelly or broth, which contains soft pieces, makes it possible for young, still developing teeth to cope with food without effort. In addition, the food is packaged for 1 meal. This is convenient, since the contents quickly deteriorate during storage. Wet food does not contain preservatives or other chemical additives. This type of food is safe for the health of the animal.

The rating of wet food is no different from the rating of dry food. All companies produce separate lines of food for animals, designed for the age of the animals.. But still, the best wet food according to veterinarians is Akana. He has earned the most flattering reviews from breeders.

Canned food

This is an expensive pleasure; rather, this type of food can be defined as high-quality bait for a kitten. Canned food is the most expensive type of food on the market. This is explained by their composition. Often, they include from 90 to 60% natural meat - animal origin or fish.

Pros of canned food:

  • High calorie content. It is enough for a baby to eat 100 g of such food to satisfy hunger for a long time.
  • High quality raw materials used in production.
  • Disposable packaging.
  • Well-thought-out composition - if vegetables and meat are included, then they complement each other as much as possible.

Disadvantages of canned food:

  • High cost.
  • Small list of components. Often the packaging may consist of 1 or 2 components. Such nutrition can hardly be called completely balanced.

Many veterinarians consider canned food to be a delicacy for animals. The top best canned food for kittens looks like this:

  • Almo Necher Alternative.
  • Leonardo.
  • Applous.
  • Evanges Signeisha Series.
  • Petite Couisin.

Almo Nature Alternative

Should I feed my kitten natural food?

This is not an idle question. For many generations, animal lovers have fed their kittens natural food. Now this approach also exists. At the same time, furry owners who prefer this type of food for their pet should take into account the specifics of the animal. Cats are natural predators, so they require meat and fish.. In addition, wool formation is an important factor. If not fed correctly, she begins to climb a lot. This creates a lot of inconvenience.

Not all owners can fully balance the nutrition of a small mustache. Even if you feed your baby homemade food, you need to take into account a number of nuances.

You cannot feed your kitten raw fish. It may contain worms, worm eggs, and worms.

Without heat treatment, all this “delicacy” will end up in the stomach and then it will be difficult to fight it. In addition, it should be taken into account that there are many small bones in the fish. A baby (and an adult cat) often suffers from bones digging into the throat, palate, etc. Therefore, feeding fish must be very careful.

You should not feed your kitten cow's milk. It is poorly digested by kittens' stomachs and can harm the baby's health.

Many experts advise feeding your pet with balanced food, which is offered by various companies. The choice of food is large and designed for different financial capabilities. The best food for a kitten, according to veterinarians, is wet, selected depending on age and breed. It will help the baby make a normal transition from breastfeeding to denser foods and develop without harming digestion.

Owners who have chosen natural food to feed their kitten must take into account the specifics of the growing organism. It is good to allow your pet at least occasionally special dietary food in the form of canned food.

To maintain good cat health, the owner must choose the right and balanced diet for her. The pet's menu should include vegetables, fruits, meat, cereals, and dairy products in a certain proportion. In addition to natural food, ready-made holistic and super premium food is suitable for this.

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    Feed classification

    All prepared foods can be classified according to different criteria. The most common signs for choosing food for cats:

    SignKinds
    Class

    The following types are distinguished:

    • Economy class;
    • medium class;
    • premium class;
    • super premium;
    • Holistic class (Human Grade)
    Cat breedMany manufacturers produce ready-made food for certain breeds of cats. Their composition takes into account the features and weaknesses of each of them. On the shelves there is a diet for British, Persian cats, Bengals, Maine Coons
    Submission formDry or wet
    Animal age

    Food for each age differs in composition, content of vitamins and nutrients. There are types:

    • for kittens;
    • for adult cats and kittens;
    • for older animals
    Health status and individual characteristics

    Some pets require special nutrition. Special or medicinal food is made for them:

    • for animals suffering from urolithiasis;
    • for animals with long hair;
    • for cats with sensitive digestion;
    • for pets with liver problems;
    • food for weakened cats and animals after surgery

    Economy class

    Veterinarians categorically do not recommend feeding cats with economy-class brands.

    The most common of them:

    1. 1. Whiskas.
    2. 2. Friskies.
    3. 3. Kitikat.
    4. 4. Darling.
    5. 5. Our brand.
    6. 6. Night hunter.
    7. 7. Felix.
    8. 8. Purina.

    They are made from low-grade raw materials and waste from the production of other products: skins, cartilage, bones. They do not contain full meat. To increase volume, a lot of soy texture is added and generously seasoned with flavorings and flavor enhancers.

    Economy feed is poorly absorbed, by a maximum of 50%. If a cat eats cheap food for a long time, its health will deteriorate significantly. The gastrointestinal tract, kidneys, and liver are primarily affected. The risk of urolithiasis increases, especially in cats. The risk of malignant neoplasms increases in adulthood.

    Medium class

    These brands are slightly more expensive than the previous ones. They have less harm, but no benefit either.

    The medium class contains natural meat, but its percentage is small (about 4%). The age characteristics of the cat and the daily need for vitamins and microelements are taken into account. But the basis is still processed products and soy texture. If the animal has a weak immune system or has health problems, it is better not to buy medium brands.

    The most common foods in this class are:

    1. 1. Cat Chou.
    2. 2. Perfect Fit.
    3. 3. Purina One.

    A kitten appeared in the house - what and how to feed it?

    Premium class

    Premium food is sold only in specialized departments. This is a complete diet of good quality, containing meat, vegetables, grains, essential vitamins and microelements in the right proportions. However, they often contain soy, artificial flavors and colors.

    Premium food includes:

    1. 1. Royal Canin.
    2. 2. Hills.
    3. 3. Purina Pro Plan.
    4. 4. Eukanuba.
    5. 5. Belcando.
    6. 6. Yams.
    7. 7. Bozita.

    Super premium class

    Such food is considered professional. This is how animals are fed by nursery owners, owners of kittens with a good pedigree, and ordinary people who want to give their cat the best. The composition of the super premium diet is completely balanced, it includes natural meat and all the substances cats need. The most popular brands:

    1. 1. Arden Grange.
    2. 2. 1st Chois.
    3. 3. Sanabelle.
    4. 4. Acana.
    5. 5. Origen.

    Human Grade

    Holistic class food contains ingredients designated Human Grade - products that are approved for human consumption. This diet is the most natural and healthy of all. Switching a cat from another food to a holistic food is not easy. Manufacturers use only natural ingredients and do not add flavorings or flavor enhancers. After pronounced aromas (especially in economy and medium foods), the animal often does not agree to try high-quality food. You need to change the diet gradually, every few days by 10% of the total amount.

    Representatives of Human Grade food:

    1. 1. Innova Evo.
    2. 2. Pronature Holistic.

    High-quality super-premium and holistic-class feeds are absorbed almost completely - 90%. Thanks to this, food consumption is small and food costs will not be much higher than with the economy menu.

    For the health of the cat, super premium or holistic class is preferable, since they are free of harmful additives, artificial colors and preservatives. They can be produced in dry and wet form.

    Dry food

    Dry food - concentrated dehydrated granules. Pros:

    1. 1. Convenient delivery form. You can give your cat a full bowl of food at once. It will not spoil or dry out.
    2. 2. It is stored for a long time. Pathogenic microorganisms multiply less in it. It is important to strictly follow the storage recommendations specified by the manufacturer on the packaging.

    Because dry kibble is too concentrated, your cat must drink plenty of water. Otherwise, the risk of urolithiasis increases.

    Some cats don't like to drink water. Sometimes experimenting with the shape, size and location of the drinking bowl helps.

    Wet food

    Wet food comes in different forms. These are various canned foods, stews, jellies, pouches, pates, etc. They have one thing in common: significant moisture content. Due to this, food is well absorbed - almost 100%. Wet food minimizes problems with the gastrointestinal tract, kidneys and urinary tract.

    When feeding wet food there are some things to consider:

    1. 1. An open pack should be stored for no more than a day and only in the refrigerator. Therefore, you should choose the volume that the animal can handle in a day.
    2. 2. You need to put as much food in the bowl as your pet can eat at one time.

    With this feeding, the cat also constantly needs fresh water. But the animal will drink a little less than when feeding dry granules.

    Composition analysis

    Any cat food must contain three main ingredients:

    • proteins (protein);
    • fats;
    • taurine

    They are supplemented with necessary vitamins, enzymes, and microelements.

    Proteins are the most important and essential element. The protein must be of animal origin: chicken, turkey, rabbit, beef, veal, seafood, offal. It is better if there are two or more sources: meat and fish or several types of meat. This way, the menu will include more of the amino acids the cat needs. Unlike dogs, cats do not synthesize amino acids by the body themselves, so they must be supplied with food.

    Taurine is the second component necessary for a cat. It is also not synthesized by the animal’s liver. High-quality food must contain this substance as an additive.

    Fats provide nutritional value. The largest amount of them is in food for kittens and pregnant cats. The minimum amount of fat is in food for castrates and domestic cats with low activity.

    In a good food, meat ingredients come first. The types of protein and its percentage must be listed. If by-products are added, their type is also indicated.

    Most foods contain grains. They should not be more than 50%, ideally no more than 25%. Too much “porridge” creates additional stress on the cat’s gastrointestinal tract. For animals with allergies to grains or with sensitive digestion, special grain-free lines are produced.

    High-quality dry food must contain ash. It is a good natural preservative. But it is important to monitor its amount: ash residue over 6% is contraindicated for adult cats. The ash contains a high content of magnesium, the excess of which provokes urolithiasis.

    Cats and toms with light-colored fur (especially pure white) are prone to allergic reactions. Food for them should be chosen with a minimum amount of artificial additives, without dyes and preservatives.

    Feed rating

    The range of ready-made cat food is quite large. Brands with optimal composition that nursery owners prefer to feed their animals:

    1. 1. Origen;
    2. 2. Innova Evo;
    3. 3. Pronature;
    4. 4. ArasCanidae (Felidae);
    5. 5. Go Natural;
    6. 6. Now Natural;
    7. 7. 1st Chois;
    8. 8. Arden Grange;
    9. 9. Acana;
    10. 10. Almo Nature;
    11. 11. Bozita;
    12. 12. Brit;
    13. 13. ProBalance;
    14. 14. Bosch Sanabelle;
    15. 15. Eukanuba;
    16. 16. Pro Plan;
    17. 17. Royal Canin;
    18. 18. Hill's;
    19. 19. Schesir
    20. 20.Iams.

    Under no circumstances should you feed your animal economy brands: Felix, Sheba, Friskies, Whiskas and others.

    A few tips on how to properly feed your cat:

    1. 1. New food should be added to the diet gradually, replacing 10% of the animal’s usual food every few days. If the transition is abrupt, the cat may refuse to eat unfamiliar food. Also, an immediate change in diet negatively affects the state of the animal’s gastrointestinal tract.
    2. 2. Ceramic bowls or stainless steel plates are preferred for food and water. They are easy to clean, do not emit harmful substances, and do not absorb odors. Plastic is not recommended.
    3. 3. If the cat has breed characteristics or health restrictions, you should use specialized food.
    4. 4. You should not mix several types of food or ready-made food with natural nutrition in your diet. Only alternating dry and wet menus from the same manufacturer is allowed. Otherwise, the load on the gastrointestinal tract increases, and problems with the stomach, intestines, and liver are possible.
    5. 5. Some people believe that constantly changing the type of food will benefit the cat and diversify its diet. This is an erroneous judgment. With a well-chosen diet, the cat gets everything it needs. Replacement will be required if the food for some reason is no longer suitable or your health status changes.

    To determine whether the food is suitable for your cat, you should pay attention to its stool, the condition of its fur, and its behavior. A healthy pet should have smooth, shiny fur, a cheerful and playful mood, and regular stools of normal consistency. Otherwise, it is recommended to visit a veterinarian.

As part of a comprehensive study by Roskachestvo, 39 samples of the most popular dry cat food on the Russian market were studied for 147 quality and safety indicators. The cost of products ranged from 190 to 1,700 rubles per unit of goods at the time of purchase. Twelve samples were manufactured in Russia, the remaining 27 were manufactured abroad (in the UK, Germany, Spain, Italy, Canada, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic and Sweden). A study conducted by Roskachestvo showed that among the most popular brands of dry cat food in Russia, there is not a single unsafe one. This is the second case in the history of Roskachestvo research (similar results were obtained during testing of dryers). However, only three out of 39 samples reached the increased standard of Roskachestvo, among which there are no goods of domestic origin: two goods were produced in Canada (ACANA and Orijen) and one in the Czech Republic (Brit). Due to this reason, these products will not be able to qualify for the Russian Quality Mark.

STANDARD OF THE RUSSIAN QUALITY SYSTEM

The standard of the Russian quality system for dry food (for cats), applying for the Russian Quality Mark, has established advanced requirements for the amount of dry matter, raw ash, as well as the acid and peroxide value of fat. In addition, the dry food testing program additionally included determination of the content of amino acids, antibiotics, pesticides, preservatives and dyes. The required level of product localization for the assignment of the Russian Quality Mark is at least 70% of the cost of the product.

According to statistical studies, the most popular pet in Russia is the cat. Moreover, it does not matter at all whether she is purebred or not: the percentage of people who picked up a kitten who was wandering along a deserted street in the rain with a pitiful look is very, very large. It is also very common for Russians to be indiscriminate in feeding their pets. True, this is especially true for dog owners: among them there are many who like to feed the dog what is called “from the table”. However, even among the owners of a meowing friend, as a survey by Roskachestvo on social networks showed, there is no unity.

The survey results showed that the majority of voters - 40.7% - diversify their pet's diet with wet and dry food, 30.3% - give their cat exclusively dry food, 17% - feed their pet only natural food. Only 7.3% get by with wet food. Finally, 4.7% of respondents chose “their option.” So, someone’s cat eats both dry and wet food, chicken and fish, another “gourmet” prefers fresh meat in the form of moles and mice, and a third prefers liver. There were also those who feed the cat “whatever they have.”

Since dry food makes up approximately 80% of the entire “cat food” market (and according to the survey results it turned out to be the clear leader), Roskachestvo decided to study it first.

BZHU for cats: about the nutritional value of dry food

Proper nutrition is an increasingly popular phrase that relates not only to a person’s diet. Balance and nutrition are perhaps the main characteristics of dry cat food. In other words, it should contain the optimal combination of proteins, fats and carbohydrates, or, as a fitness instructor would say, BJU. Crude protein is responsible for the protein content in dry food, crude fat is responsible for fat, and crude fiber is responsible for carbohydrates.

“Raw” is a special term,” explains the laureate of the Council of Ministers of the USSR, Doctor of Agricultural Sciences, Professor of the Moscow State Academy of Veterinary Medicine and Biotechnology named after K. A. Scriabin Lidiya Toporova. – For example, when determining the amount of protein chemically, not only the amount of protein itself is recorded, but also other non-protein nitrogen-containing compounds (amides, urea, etc.). Therefore, by “crude protein” we mean, so to speak, not pure protein, but protein containing a complex of nitrogen-containing compounds.

Test results have shown that most of the samples are balanced and nutritious food for cats. And the proportions of crude fat, crude protein and crude fiber correspond to the amount indicated on the label and are within the recommended limits. However, the study found five products whose protein content was below the established limit, and two with more crude fiber than recommended by the standards. More details about this can be found in the product cards. According to experts, it’s not so scary if the food contains less protein and fat than recommended by standards. The cat is simply not enough to eat: it will meow once again and ask for more.

There were also samples in which the amount of protein and fat differed from the amount indicated on the label. Thus, less fat than stated on the packaging was found in 18 samples, and less crude protein in six. These facts are not violations, but they deprive these products of the opportunity to qualify for the Russian Quality Mark.

“In general, the situation with proteins and fats in dry food is very ambiguous,” notes Lidiya Toporova. – There is a lower limit: there should not be less proteins and fats in the feed than what is established by it. However, this is wrong. There must be an upper limit, because with an excess of protein and fat, the cat may begin to gain weight, and liver and kidney diseases may occur.

Imaginary wealth: about vitamins, micro- and macroelements, etc.

Next after nutritional value comes, perhaps, the benefits of the food: how many beneficial acids, micro- and macroelements, vitamins, etc. are in it, will it make the cat more energetic and healthy? Probably, every caring owner wants his pet’s diet to include the required amount of useful elements. That is why he buys dry food labeled “Rich in vitamins.”

“The wording “Rich in vitamins” is certainly a marketing ploy,” warns Lidiya Toporova. – One word “rich”, without any specifics about the content of these elements, is nothing for ready-made food; you don’t need to blindly believe such formulations.

You can find out which dry food actually contains the recommended amount of vitamins, micro- and macroelements from the Roskachestvo selection.

“In terms of the composition of vitamins, you can focus on Western standards, because our standards only talk about A, D, E and K,” says Lidiya Toporova. – Unfortunately, the required amount of B vitamins in Russia is not controlled, and, for example, nicotinic acid, choline, pyridoxine play an important role for the cat’s body - the health of the skin and hair, liver, mucous membranes, etc.

The test results showed that, in general, dry food actually contains exactly the amount of vitamins recommended by consumption standards. However, during the study, cases of discrepancies between the actual amounts of micro- and macroelements and those indicated on the label were recorded. In particular, we are talking about the content of iron, manganese, selenium, phosphorus, potassium and zinc.

Also, in nine samples, a lack of arachidonic acid, which is an essential component of cat food, was found; in 24 samples, the proportion of calcium was higher than recommended; in two, there was little iron. These disadvantages are not
make manufacturers of dry food under these trademarks violators, but deprive them of the right to claim the Russian Quality Mark.

Expectations - reality: about discrepancies with labeling

As an attentive reader may have noticed from the previous paragraphs, the Roskachestvo study revealed a very important problem: the actual composition of feed does not partially coincide with what is indicated in the product labeling. Thus, according to the test results, in 31 out of 39 samples deviations of the actual composition of the feed from the information stated on the product labeling were recorded. We are talking about deviations:

  • by the amount of crude fat (found in 18 samples);
  • by the amount of crude protein (found in 6 samples);
  • by the amount of iron (found in 8 samples);
  • by the amount of manganese (found in 7 samples);
  • by the amount of selenium (found in 6 samples);
  • by the amount of phosphorus (found in 4 samples);
  • by the amount of raw ash (found in 2 samples);
  • by the amount of potassium (found in 1 sample);
  • by the amount of zinc (found in 1 sample).

The legislation of the Russian Federation and the treaties of the European Union do not establish mandatory requirements for feed labeling, as well as permissible deviations of the actual composition of products from the information stated on the label. However, this legal gap misleads consumers, because deviations in the composition can contribute to the incorrect formation of the animal’s diet.

It is for this reason that Roskachestvo initiated the inclusion in the draft technical regulations of the Eurasian Economic Union “On the safety of feed and feed additives” of requirements for the reliability of feed labeling by nutritional value and the content of individual components (macro- and microelements), and also stated the need to establish an acceptable limit deviations of the information indicated in the labeling from the actual one. This step will not only help the consumer receive reliable information, but also, perhaps, adjust the diet of our little brothers.

All the best for cats: about the safety of dry food

Of course, no matter how nutritious and rich in nutrients the food is, if it is unsafe, you cannot feed it to your beloved pet! That is why the study paid special attention to the presence of toxic elements, nitrites, radionuclides, pesticides, heavy metals in the feed, as well as microbiological indicators, including salmonella (intestinal bacteria that cause infectious diseases), toxin-forming anaerobes (these are causative agents of various infections), intestinal stick, etc.

To the general joy of caring owners and their pets, all the food tested was found to be safe and non-toxic.

However, there is a small caveat regarding pesticides. The fact is that in some samples the presence of trace amounts of various pesticides (for example, permethrin, deltamethrin, etc.) was determined, which could have passed into feed from plant raw materials during production or were used in storage of raw materials and finished products as an insecticidal agent.

“Pesticides should not get into feed,” says Lidiya Toporova. – Most often they come from cereals, dry vegetables and other plant components into dry food. This does not relieve the manufacturer of responsibility: he must check the incoming raw materials so that pesticides do not get into the finished product.

The permissible amount of pesticides is not regulated at the legislative level, however, samples in which they were found, even in small, trace quantities, are deprived of the opportunity to qualify for the Russian Quality Mark.

There is an opinion that dry food is produced from low-quality raw materials, waste, which is scary to even think about. However, research has shown that this belief is nothing more than a myth. All dry food studied was produced from high-quality, fresh raw materials.

You can’t store it, throw it away: about the expiration date

For reference:

When purchasing dry food, be sure to pay attention to the expiration date (as a rule, it is displayed quite large on the packaging). Most often this is one year. However, some manufacturers can extend this period both by introducing new modern technologies and packaging materials, and by adding preservatives to the composition, which should be indicated on the label. Experts do not recommend storing open food for such a long time:

“It’s impossible to say with certainty about the expiration date,” notes Lidiya Toporova. – I allow storage for six months, but it is better to store no more than three months: during storage, especially if the relevant requirements are not met, undesirable chemical and microbiological processes occur in the feed, which leads to a decrease in the content of nutrients and micronutrients.

It can be assumed that if the manufacturer indicates a certain expiration date on the packaging, then, most likely, he vouches for the preservation of the taste and nutritional value of the dry food throughout this period. However, there are indicators in which violations may indirectly indicate that the taste of the food will deteriorate by the end of its shelf life: it will become rancid. We are talking about the acid and peroxide numbers of fat. As the results of the study showed, deviations in this indicator were found in four samples. Thus, from the product cards you can find out which food tastes deteriorate over time.

Bugs, metal and sticks: about foreign impurities in dry food

Unfortunately, as a product made from flour or containing it in its composition, dry food is not immune from uninvited guests in the form of various pest beetles. However, of course, their presence, as well as the presence of foreign impurities (sawdust, sticks), is not allowed by the Roskachestvo standard. The study showed that the food does not contain these unpleasant surprises.

Also, when processing flour, metal shavings can get into the feed. As it turned out, there is no clear “not allowed” in this matter. Dry food can contain no more than 20 mg/kg of particles up to 2 mm in size, and this will not be a violation.

“The presence of such inclusions, strictly speaking, is undesirable at all, since injuries to the digestive tract may occur in domestic animals,” she commented on this fact Lidiya Toporova.

Production of dry pet food

In dry diets, natural ingredients are presented in a dehydrated form - therefore, the words “flour”, “dehydrogenated” or “dry poultry” appear in the composition.

  1. Depending on the product, the raw materials in certain proportions are sent to the grinder, where they are ground and mixed until smooth. This is a very important stage of production, since the better and finer the ingredients are crushed, the easier the food is absorbed in the pet’s gastrointestinal tract.
  2. Next comes the extrusion stage, when granules are formed from the resulting dry mass using steam and very high pressure.
  3. To ensure product safety, the resulting granules are then thoroughly dried. Moisture is an ideal environment for the growth of bacteria, so no more than 10% humidity is allowed in finished granules.
  4. When the granules are ready, they are covered with a special nutrient broth. It provides taste characteristics, as well as a balanced protein and fat content in the finished product. The broth is also responsible for the taste characteristics of the diet.
  5. The final stage is packaging of the finished product.

Many owners give their pets dry cat food, without even thinking about how healthy and safe such food is. As a result, many harmful substances enter the animal’s body, including dyes, flavors, preservatives, and other chemicals. All this leads to allergic reactions and other problems.

Your pussy would buy...

If a cat had the same opportunities as you and I, then she would never buy cat food such popular brands as Whiskas, Friskies, or Kitiket. Because it just smells like meat. The composition may contain any chemicals. In addition, more of this food is consumed, and it creates excess stress on the kidneys.

Veterinarians also speak negatively about Purina One, Felix, Sheba, Darling, Purina Cat Chow, Dr. Clauders, Our Mark, Stout and other well-known and not so well-known products belonging to the economy class.

Premium class

Somewhat better premium cat food. These include Hills, Royal Canin, Bozita, Brit, Purina Pro Plan, Iams, Natural Choice.

There are a lot of nuances associated with these products. Eg, premium cat food from Hills, or Royal Canin from the veterinary series are much better than the products for healthy cats produced by the same manufacturer.

Hills has great ones premium food for kittens up to a year:

  • With chicken – Chicken;
  • With ocean fish – Hills Kitten Ocean Fish;
  • With tuna –

They have a good balance of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. The animal quickly gains weight and remains in excellent shape.

Premium food is much better than budget food. However, the composition still contains a lot of plant proteins that are harmful to animals (soy, gluten, etc.), and contains flavoring additives and preservatives. Therefore it is much preferable to use super premium cat food, which will be discussed below.

Super premium cat food

This class offers high quality products and very affordable prices. Yes, it is more expensive than Whiskas, but the difference between premium and super-premium is not so great as to save on the health of our pets. After all super premium food for cats does not contain many harmful or food allergy-causing substances.

Popular super premium cat food:

  • Bosch SANABELLE;
  • Nutram;
  • ProNature Holistic;
  • Arden Grange;
  • 1st Choice;
  • Profine Adult Cat;
  • Cimiao.

It should be clarified that all these super premium food for cats arranged in random order. The list does not reflect the quality of the products in any way. You should also remember that each animal perceives even the best cat food in its own way. What one cat can live a long and healthy life on may cause allergies in another.

There are other important points:

  • In most cases, super premium cat food are really good only if they are original products. Unfortunately, some manufacturers have opened production in Russia. This had a negative impact on the quality of the products. We can only hope that we will be able to find original samples in warehouses, or order them online.
  • Also some super premium food for cats are named as such only because they have a series of medicinal and specialized products (this could be cat food that helps with obesity, or food for neutered cats).

Number 1. Or the best food in the world

Each specialist has his own opinion about the quality and usefulness of cat food. Sometimes the conclusions of veterinarians and felinologists may not coincide.

So what is the best dry food to feed a cat?? There are a lot of elite brands that do not contain harmful chemicals and preservatives. Among them:

  • Innova;
  • Gina Elite;
  • Orijen;

They also produce very high quality products

  • Golden Eagle Holistic;
  • GRANDORF Natural & Healthy;
  • Chicken Soup;
  • NOW Natural holistic;
  • Eagle Pack Cat Holistic;
  • Wellness;
  • Earthborn Holistic;
  • Nutram Grain Free;
  • Almo Nature Holistic;
  • Natural&Delicious (N&D);
  • Acana;
  • Felidae;
  • ANF ​​holistic.

Are you interested in what is the best wet cat food? Anyone belonging to the holistic class. That is natural. This cat food does not have any significant disadvantages, but it must be selected individually.

However, there is one caveat. If the cat is accustomed to the strong odors that cheap food is famous for, then at first he will not touch the food. By evening, nature in the form of hunger will win, and the animal will eat normally.

Friends, we welcome you to the page of our “educational” project, which unites professionals and animal lovers, experienced cat owners and beginners. We love our graceful, fluffy, funny and at the same time fragile pets very much and we are sure that you will too.

Probably everyone will agree that spending a few minutes on a free analysis of cat food is much faster, easier and, most importantly, more humane than then spending money on expensive tests and treatment of the pets themselves. Yes, don’t be surprised, the correct selection of food for cats lays the foundation for the health of the animal and, to a large extent, is the prevention of many chronic diseases.

Rating Purpose: Cat Food Analyzer

We bring to your attention a rating of cat food - not simple, as they say, and not even golden, but honest, convenient and, we hope, educational. We warn you right away that we are not interested in the marketing classification of food: for cats, such definitions on food packaging as “premium”, “super premium”, “holistic”, etc. mean nothing. What’s more important to animals is what’s inside – the composition of the dry food and, accordingly, their lunch. We think you will too.

Our resource was originally created as a full-fledged cat food analyzer. As the project develops, we will add various filters for users, but currently you can sort the feed database by overall rating, brand or diet name. The last two options are rather convenient for those who have already purchased or are planning to purchase a specific food and want to test it.

How it works?

If your goal is to find cat food that best suits the needs of these adorable predators, we recommend setting the sort in descending order of overall rating. Then, first, those products will appear in front of you that, based on the results of an objective analysis of the main ingredients, have received a greater number of points (max. 50). You can read more about how exactly the components are evaluated in our Criteria section.

The busiest and most devoted readers, of course, can limit themselves to only this information when choosing food; for everyone else, we suggest clicking on the name of the product under the picture and getting an in-depth analysis of cat food. It includes: a list of ingredients (each item can be “expanded” in more detail), a guaranteed analysis and a general expert opinion.

Cat food comparison

Comparing cat food, if necessary, is not difficult. There is no need to memorize, write down or print out information on the products you are interested in (although the print function is also implemented). Just click on the “Add to comparison” service while in the description section of a specific food. The number of items to choose from is not limited - all of them will be stored in the “Delayed feed” tab (always available at the top and bottom of the page).

We are waiting for your response

If our review of cat food was not useful to you: you did not find what you were looking for, or you still have some questions, suggestions, additions - you can always report an error to us (button at the bottom of the page), leave a free request for analysis your food or contact us with other questions (button in the upper right corner of the page).