Tool Reviews

Cat food comes in three varieties: dry, wet and canned. Selecting a treat for a pet should be based on several points: the weight of the animal, breed, age, health status and lifestyle.

For castrated and sterilized cats and cats, separate varieties are produced, taking into account the specifics of the metabolism in the body.

Types of cat food

It is optimal to combine several in the diet feed varieties:

• Dry food. A crushed mixture of useful elements and meat raw materials, baked to the state of crackers.
• Wet. A boiled mixture of vitamins, nutrients, meat or fish in a thin gravy.
• Semi-moist. Soft pieces in jelly.
• Canned food. The same liquid food or pate from a mixture of meat or fish material, nutrients and special additives.

The second selection criterion is the age of the animal and its sex. Products are produced:

• kitten food;
• for the young;
• food for adult cats;
• food for older cats;
• food for neutered cats;
• food for sterilized cats.

When choosing, pay attention to the length of the pet’s coat and its breed, options are available for:

• shorthaired;
• longhaired.

Manufacturers develop series for different dietswhich are prescribed for the individual characteristics and condition of the pet’s body:

• lightweight;
• everyday;
• medical;
• pregnant women;
• lactating;
• sterilized.

Food may include additional elementswho are struggling with the problems of the body. Such foods are labeled as follows:

• for digestion;
• for skin and wool;
• dental care;
• for joints;
• for the kidneys;
• for the immune system;
• to maintain good physical shape;
• for the fastidious;
• hypoallergenic;
• from obesity.

The products are different and three main ingredients: meat, fish or poultry. Percentage of poultry or fish in feed – basis for classification by level:

An important indicator when choosing a package is the weight of a pet. Industrial food is designed for a certain weight group, so when choosing, pay attention to the feeding instructions and the portion in grams.

What types exist

You can not feed a cat with only one kind. Make a nutrition plan for calories, dilute dry options with wet mixtures.

Dry

Sold in different packages:

• bags of 5-10 liters,
• packages of 100-1000 g,
• by weight according to the customer’s order.

Dry mixes are cheaper than other types. Available for all feeding options, ages, with the three ingredients alone or together. The advantage of dry mixes is a long shelf life even when opened.

With obesity, the animal is used to eating everything that the owner puts in the bowl, in which case the food will end before you return home.

When two cats live in the house, one takes a dominant position, which means that the second remains hungry. Dogs eat cat food: if you leave a supply for the day right in the bowl, then the cat will not get food or he will receive insufficient food.

semi-moist

Medium look between dry and canned consistency. The cost is average. Advantage – attracts cats by smell, outwardly looks neat. The disadvantage is the occurrence of dyes and flavors in the composition.

Semi-moist food is not suitable for free feeding, where food is left in the bowl for several meals a day. It is prone to chapping and drying out.

The composition includes nutrients that are not found in other species.

With the help of canned food, you can stimulate a cat’s interest in food, accustom it to eating on a schedule. It is not recommended to reward the animal with food, it is only allowed to adjust the hours of eating with the help of treats.

Wet

Medium consistency between dry and canned, more like chunks in a thin gravy. The food itself is tasteless: vitamins, minerals, flavoring and flavorings are in the gravy.

Sold in packaged form, packing 60-100g. One sachet is designed for a serving for an adult cat or cat weighing 2-5 kg. For kittens, a separate series is produced with special vitamins and reduced calorie content.

Premium wet consistency products contain 60% meat and vegetable ingredients in pieces, and gravy includes natural broth. Pay attention to the calorie content of one serving in a bag, it differs from manufacturer to manufacturer.

For cats with obesity and digestive problems, you should calculate the portion yourself, sometimes it is a smaller number of grams than in one package.

canned food

They belong to the premium class, they are more expensive than dry options. This is a product with a high concentration of meat or fish, the addition of vegetables, vitamins and useful elements. Food is used to enrich the diet and top dressing.

Suitable for animals that cannot chew dry granules.

The advantage is a long shelf life (more than one year when closed). After opening the jar, it is stored in the refrigerator for 1-2 days if the food is clogged with a lid.

The disadvantage is that it quickly loses its beneficial properties in open form, since more than 60% of the composition is natural products.

Manufacturers produce canned food weighing 30-60 grams, which are designed for a single meal by one cat. Cans of 100-250 grams are also sold, designed for two doses by two or three cats in one day.

Characteristics

What packages are sold

• ≤ 1 kg: designed to feed one pet for up to 10-14 days, depending on the diet. Suitable for combining the diet with other species according to the series, purpose or specific features of the animal’s body.

Are issued in packs, packings with a tape for use, boxes.

• 1.1 – 3 kg: intended for the complete nutrition of one adult cat for a week or a month with the addition of other food elements to the diet (wet food or pure products). Is issued in packs, packings from polyethylene.
• 3.1 – 7 kg: packages are produced for feeding two or more animals for one month. Suitable for feeding cats for 2-3 months, subject to the rules for storing open food. Available in bags and packs.
• 7.1 – 10 kg: options for economical bulk purchases, designed to feed animals or one cat for more than 3 months.

Produced in bags, when using, you need to pour out part of the granules for a week or a month in a separate sealed container.

• > 10 kg: are produced only in bags, suitable for the purchase of several cats for use within 3-6 months. One cat eats 10 kg of dry pellets in 8-10 months.

For feeding, you need to pour out part of the food for a week or a month, tightly seal the rest in the bag.

For what ages

When choosing industrial food, pay attention to the age of the animal and the types of food that are categorized. You can’t feed kittens with food for adult animals, but the reverse situation is acceptable, with the recalculation of grams upwards.

• Kittens: special series are produced for animals aged 0-4 months. Food in composition replaces mother’s milk, bait is introduced from the second week of the animal’s life (if there is no possibility of natural feeding, then from the first day).

According to the chemical composition, food repeats milk, in which there is a large amount of fat and protein.

• Young: for growing organisms, feeds are produced with a high content of protein and glucose, which are necessary for building muscles and normal body development. Between 3 and 9 months, young cats eat twice as much as adults.

The average weight of the animal during this period is 1-3 kg.

• Adults: cats eat 150-200 grams of food per day, the indicator is calculated for an individual 1.5-8 years old with a body weight of 2-6 kg (depending on gender and breed). The food contains more protein and less carbohydrates.
• Elderly: for cats aged 8-15 years, a separate series of food is produced, which includes fewer carbohydrates, more protein and useful vitamins, as well as substances for correcting urination.

Food for different breeds

• Longhair: for cats of such breeds, special food is produced with a complex of vitamins and elements for removing wool from the body (an adult long-haired cat accumulates wool in the stomach in seven days, which clogs it by a third).

The species is assigned to short-haired breeds when there are problems with the removal of wool from the body.

• Shorthair: food is produced that is not oversaturated with vitamins for hair growth and substances for removing it from the body.

Cat Food Series

• Everyday food: a series containing a standard set of nutrients and vitamins. Produced on the basis of natural ingredients (poultry, fish, meat), mixed versions are also produced.

It differs from each other not in calories, but in ingredients: rabbit, beef, chicken, salmon.

• Lightweight food: an option for obese cats who are used to eating large amounts.

This is a low-calorie product: if a normal adult cat needs 150-200 g of food per day, then a lightweight version with a low energy value weighs 200-350 g.

• Food for pregnant cats: products rich in vitamins, proteins and fats that support the body of a cat and future kittens. You can not additionally give vitamins and bait to a pregnant cat if she eats specialized food.
• Feed for a lactating cat: food is produced with a high content of proteins and fats, multivitamins. The diet supports newborn kittens through milk. Supports lactation.
• Sterilized: in feed, the amount of phosphorus and magnesium is limited, which cause urolithiasis in castrated animals.

Purpose

• For digestion: The composition includes enzymes that help digest food. Assigned to pets who refuse to eat in the normal mode for their weight category.
• To keep the skin and coat in good shape: the composition includes a set of minerals and vitamins necessary to maintain the body of the animal in a normal state.

It is prescribed for pets with allergies, problems with hair loss, skin diseases.

• Dental care: this is a series with special food fibers that have undergone additional processing. The composition and consistency does not harm the enamel and does not contribute to the formation of tartar. Includes a complex of vitamins against tooth loss.
• For joint health: refers to medicinal, prescribed by a veterinarian. It is not recommended to feed the cat with such food without prior consultation.

• Kidney health food: therapeutic variety, which is prescribed when a cat is found to have kidney failure.
• For the immune system: A type of medicated food given during and after a viral illness. There are two types of feeding: course and constant intake.
• To keep fit: super premium or holistic class series. Consists entirely or 60% of natural balanced ingredients. It is prescribed for thoroughbred and elderly animals.

An excellent food option for indoor cats.

• Food for picky cats: a super-premium class series, which consists of 50% natural ingredients. Produced for fastidious and thoroughbred cats who need a fortified diet.
• Hypoallergenic: a series with a balanced mineral system and the addition of glucose, suitable for cats with problems and allergic reactions to food additives.
• Food for obese cats: a special series for overweight cats (6-10 kg, when the ribs are not palpable, the cat cannot clean the back area near the tail on its own). Contains a reduced amount of fat.

Main Ingredients

Bird: duck, chicken, entrails are used. In the economy class series, processed products are used, above premium – 50-80% natural poultry meat.

Meat: used rabbit, beef, lamb. In elite feeds, natural meat is introduced into the composition. In the middle classes there is only a product of processing.

Fish: salmon, seafood, gobies. In the economy class series it is fish oil, in the premium series it is fish.

Classes

Advertising slogans do not belong to the classification, more often they are only marketing statements. The real class will be written on the back of the package, in the information about the type of food next to the composition.

Economy

Offal (ground cartilage, entrails, skin), some cereals, soybeans are used as the main ingredient. Products are low-calorie. Animal fats predominate over vegetable fats.

May cause allergic reactions due to flavors and dyes. Feed consumption is higher than other classes due to low energy value.

Premium

This premium food is designated with the AAFCO (American Association of Quality Control) abbreviation. In the first place, protein is always indicated, which should be at least 25%. Also, the class is distinguished by the entry of basic vitamins: C and E.

Pay attention to the calculation of servings for an adult cat on the back of the pack: the smaller the number, the better the pet assimilates the product.

Important: flour, offal, preservatives, cereals should not be contained in premium feed, the content of additional ingredients up to 50% is acceptable. If they are included, then you have a fake.

Super Premium

Balanced cat food. The composition includes natural vegetables, chicken, turkey and lamb fillets, eggs and nutritious cereals (rice).

Represents small and average granules of a light brown shade. The composition of the food corresponds to the stage of life of the animal; food is produced for kittens, pregnant, lactating, neutered and elderly cats.

Holistic

These are elite feeds that are specially developed for artificially bred cat breeds. They are hypoallergenic, suitable for problematic digestion and picky pets.

The difference from the super-premium class in 100% ecological composition, the addition of useful plants and substances.

Holistic is used in breeding kennels, winners of exhibitions are fed with it. The components of the feed are selected as close as possible to the natural diet of a wild cat, therefore they are best absorbed.

The class indicator is a natural composition, the share of meat is more than 50%.

Advantages

Dry

• Convenience: suitable for different diets.
• Long shelf life of opened packaging.
• Supplemented with multivitamins and nutrients.
• Premium food pellets and above have added bacteria to improve digestion.
• Balanced, a smaller amount is enough for a long time.

semi-moist

• Suitable for pets with sensitive digestion.
• It does not harm the teeth, it is easily chewed by the elderly.
• Appetite for finicky cats.
• Suitable for feeding kittens aged 0-3 months.

Wet

• It is allowed to use as a fortified top dressing.
• Stimulates interest in regular food in finicky individuals.
• Easily chewed by older cats.
• Facilitates the process of digestion and defecation in animals with problems.
• Suitable for dehydrated cats.
• The packaging is already calculated by weight for one or two meals.

canned food

• Pouches (not tin cans) are produced, which are designed for one meal.
• In a corked form, they are stored for 6-12 months or more.
• Contains natural pieces of meat, poultry, fish and vegetables, not minced.
• Well absorbed by the cat’s body.
• Suitable for cats who do not want to drink water.
• Contain a large amount of protein.

Economy

• Low cost and calorie content.
• It is used as a bait to a natural diet so as not to harm the pet’s health.

Premium

• Supplemented with essential nutrients needed to keep pets healthy.
• The composition includes meat products that increase calorie content and are well absorbed.

Super Premium

• Contains 30-50% animal proteins with protein, high nutritional value.
• It is selected according to the lifestyle, age and characteristics of the cat’s body.

Holistic

• Ecologically clean, balanced nutritional components.
• Made from fresh meat fillet.
• Do not cause allergies.
• Eating only one food, the animal receives all the necessary substances, as if living and eating in the wild.

Problems

• Not all industrial food series go well with natural bait (vegetables, eggs, cereals, fish and meat). Often pets overeat, which leads to obesity.

This is especially noticeable in cats who live indoors all the time, lead an inactive lifestyle.

• An incorrectly selected series can lead to kidney disease, urolithiasis, and obesity. When choosing, pay attention to the data of the animal: age, weight, health status, gender and breed.
• Opened canned food should not be stored for more than two days, you need to wrap it with cling film and put it in the refrigerator. The dry version in the open form is stored for up to one week, it is advisable to tightly seal the box or pour the food into an airtight container.

Problems also include the specific feeding of sterilized animals, especially cats.

The first obvious change is that the cat shows less activity, accumulates fat mass. Castrated cats lack some elements that affect the metabolic rate, while the animal’s appetite increases significantly. The problem is solved:

• switching only to a specialized series for neutered cats;
• control of the level of magnesium and phosphorus in food (minimize);
• feeding strictly by the clock, limiting free access to food.

Typical problems for each class of food are also highlighted.

Economy

• made from low quality raw materials;
• the composition lacks the necessary amino acids and vitamins;
• on such a diet, the cat develops beriberi and may experience more serious consequences, including kidney stones.

Premium

• fillet pieces are not used, mainly chicken or turkey, other types of meat are included in a minimal amount.

Super Premium

• is in a high price range;
• not available for certain breeds of cats.

Holistic

• is very expensive;
• after a short period of use, the animal refuses to eat a lower class food.

How to choose cat food

• When choosing, pay attention not only to the classification of products, but also to the composition. Check the main positions based on the individual characteristics of the pet.

Before the first purchase, it is enough to consult with a veterinarian and continue to adhere to the developed diet.

• The basis of the diet is animal proteins. Carbohydrates are not required for cats in their pure form, as they get energy from glucose, processing protein. Source – offal, meat, poultry and fish.

• Pay attention to the composition written on the package, it should list animal proteins (rabbit meat, chicken, etc.). Pay close attention to the wording: choose “chicken fillet”, not “poultry meat”.

The designation “meat and offal” is an indicator of an economy-class feed that does not contain protein, instead it consists of milled cartilage, skin and tendons that are not saturated with fats. Cats do not digest such foods well.

• Do not buy the product if animal fats have been replaced with vegetable fats. They lack the amino acids needed by the feline predator organism. Vegetable fats are digested by cats by only 30%.
• Price. Pay attention to the feed class and price category. You should not trust the meat composition of the food and the inscription super-premium if the price category corresponds to “premium”.

Most often, the main ingredient is chicken and turkey meat. Salmon, duck and other rare ingredients are often only mentioned in the name.

What is the best cat food

Dry

• Perfect products – super-premium class.
• The composition includes 30-50% meat or fish fillet, vegetables, vitamins and herbs.
• The packaging indicates the class according to the American scale (super-premium).
• The composition directly says the word “fillet” instead of the phrase “chicken meat”, the amount of proteins and fats is indicated.
• The packaging closes hermetically, the material repels light and water.
• Universal series – everyday, for neutered cats or medical (as prescribed by a veterinarian).

Wet

• Ideal food – in portion packs, premium, super-premium or holistic.
• The composition includes 50% natural ingredients and vegetables, no cereals, except for rice.
• Shelf life of unopened packaging is up to 1 month.
• Universal series – everyday, delicacy.

canned food

• Optimal canned food – in portioned packaging, not damaged around the perimeter of the can.
• The consistency is homogeneous and soft, there are no bones. The class is super premium.
• In the composition of 50-60% – fillet of fish, meat or poultry, entrails. Vegetables included: potatoes, carrots, tomatoes.
• The shelf life of a closed jar is no more than 6 months.
• Universal series – everyday, for neutered cats, for a special purpose (medical).

How to feed a cat

The choice of food and diet is based on the types of feeding cats:

• free – food is in abundance in a bowl for 24 hours;
• portioned – limited by the amount of food in a serving;
• limited by the amount of food intake and time of day.

free feeding suitable for dry varieties that do not deteriorate outdoors in 24 hours. The bottom line: the number of servings per day is immediately poured into the cat’s bowl, the animal decides on its own when to eat.

Portion feeding Designed for pets that move little or are neutered. The diet is calculated according to grams of wet and dry food per day, divided into three to five meals. The main rule is not to exceed the weight of food per day.

Feeding by time This is a meal plan. Suitable for people who are tied to a work schedule and whose animals do not fit the free option.

Application Tips:

1. It is important to monitor the ratio of water and food in a cat: if the animal drinks little, wet food should be introduced into the diet.
2. It is not recommended to combine homemade food with industrial feeds, another opinion is that you cannot feed cats only with dry food, it is better to give it as a supplement. If in doubt, it is best to consult a veterinarian.
3. If the animal has digestive or dental problems, dry species should make up to 25% of the diet. The remaining 75% is wet and canned.
4. The structure of the menu is the proteins and nutrients present in the premium class feed in a balanced way. You can not enter additional fortified top dressing without passing tests.

Food calculation

Accurate indicators are displayed only for purebred animals, the parameters of which can be calculated by periods of life, including normal weight.

The first calculation takes into account:

• body mass;
• appetite;
• age;
• pregnancy;
• height;
• castration;
• coat length;
• individual characteristics of the cat;
• typical features of the breed.

Standard generalized recommendations:

1. An adult female weighing 3-4 kg eats 150-300 grams of premium food per day. This is 40-60 grams, which fall on one kilogram of body weight.
2. An adult male with a weight of 3-5 kg ​​eats 200-350 grams of feed per day. 65-100 grams per kilogram of cat weight.

Alternative formula:

1. A kitten from 0 to 9 months of age receives 10-13% of its own weight per day. Example: for 1.5 kg of a cat’s weight, 195 g of food is needed.
2. A cat over the age of 9 months eats 7-8% of its own weight per day. Example: a 3 kg cat should eat 240 g of dry or wet food.

Important: the calculation is based on the body weight of the animal without body fat, an experienced veterinarian can help determine the caloric content of the diet.

How long does cat food last

1. The shelf life of the dry variety is six months in a cool place and a month after opening the package, at a temperature of 18-20⁰ in a dry place, away from sunlight (a closed kitchen cabinet is suitable).
2. The shelf life of the wet and semi-moist type is written individually on the package; when opened, the pack is stored in the refrigerator for up to two days, provided that it is packed in cling film.
3. The shelf life of canned food is 6-12 months when unopened. An opened jar is stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 days, wrapped in cling film.

Cat food manufacturers

1st Choice

Super premium: amino acid balance, more than 30% protein content. Produced dry products, focused on thoroughbred animals. Three series are produced: for kittens, adults and the elderly.

Specially designed fortified bait for sale. Produced in Russia, distributed worldwide.

ACANA

Super premium class: no grains in the composition, a complete formula, the balance of amino acids and nutrients. More than 70% – natural animal protein in the form of meat.

Complete and balanced series are produced: for kittens, the elderly and adults. Dry and wet line developed. The difference is the production of our own fresh ingredients from Canada.

Animonda

The company was founded in Germany, specializes in the production of super-premium class feed: dry, wet. Nutritious treats for adult cats are produced.

The difference is canned food and pouches, which are designed for several meals. Products are produced for large cats, for kittens, the elderly and adults. Contains no antioxidants or preservatives.

Bosch

The company is from Germany, the feed is sold in Europe and the CIS countries. Belongs to the premium class. The difference is the release of series for certain age categories (up to a year, 1-8 years, over 8 years).

The entry of meat products is at least 30% in each type. Dry and wet series, delicacy and top dressing are produced.

Eukanuba

Super-premium food, the series are designed for any age, digestion, health and lifestyle. Products are produced in wet form, in canned food.

Production is concentrated in the USA, products are sold in Europe, America, Asia, and the CIS countries. The composition includes balanced amino acids and more than 50% meat.

happy cat

The products are distinguished by lines for cats with disabilities, allergies. Food is produced in wet and dry consistency.

Attention is paid to the saturation of amino acids and vitamin complexes, which the cat does not find without free movement in nature.

IAMS

Another pioneering American company that has been introducing vegetables into the diet of pets since 1968 is releasing a balanced series.

The difference is the use of the original complex of minerals, vitamins and nutrients, a combination of meat and vegetables. Products belong to the super-premium class.

Purina

American feed, production in the CIS countries. The Pro-Plan series is super-premium, includes 50% organic animal protein and vegetables, with the addition of a vitamin complex.

Series are produced for kittens, adult and neutered cats. Dry granules and canned food are on sale.

Royal Canin

A super-premium company that develops food for cats, taking into account the individual characteristics of the organism. Everyday and medical series are produced, for kittens, adults, the elderly and the sick. The entry of natural ingredients and meat – 50%.

Trainer

Italian company of super-premium class. Products are distinguished by 60% content of natural ingredients: meat, poultry and fish, a balanced complex of amino acids and vitamins. Everyday and medical series are produced.

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