Premium cat food: ingredients, brands, choices

When a cat appears in the house, I want to create the most favorable conditions for her life, and one of the components of caring for a pet is feeding it. The cat can be fed with natural products or ready-made feeds of industrial production. Veterinarians believe that an absolutely healthy animal can consume only natural products, while ready-made feeds have their own distinctive properties in terms of the composition of the components and can be used for various indicators of the health and age of the pet.

When faced for the first time with the question of choosing the right food for a cat, a person can easily get confused in the variety of cat foods, their qualities and properties.

All feeds are divided into 4 categories: holistic - the best and most expensive food, super-premium - where price and quality are in high ranges, premium - inexpensive food of average quality and economy - the cheapest and lowest quality option.

As a rule, the buyer chooses the product that is available to him at the price. Novice cat breeders mistakenly assume that the word "premium" obliges a product to be of a high level of quality. However, this is not the case in the world of animal feed.

Premium cat food offers a quality that can be called average, as such food contains food flavors, flavor enhancers of synthetic origin, as well as preservative additives. Professional feed does not contain such harmful additives, so their price is higher, but the quality is also better.

Producers make premium-class feeds from low-cost products, most often meat by-products and vegetable cereals. By-products can be understood not only liver or chicken offal, it can also be skin, beaks, tails, chicken legs and so on. However, along with bone or fishmeal, such foods are a valuable source of protein, and for a healthy lifestyle they are simply necessary for a cat, regardless of the source of their receipt.

Gluten is used as an inexpensive filler in the manufacture of inexpensive feed. Gluten is understood as a mixture that consists of molasses and cornstarch.

When comparing quality holistic food and budget premium food, you will notice that professional products with high quality have a uniform brownish color. It may not look very attractive, but there are no dyes in it. The budget segment pellets will always have bright colors - this is how artificial colors manifest themselves.

When feeding a cat, it is very important that the food it receives is absorbed by the cat's body to the maximum. Granulated products of various categories are assimilated by animals in different ways, and this process directly depends on the composition of the feed and its quality. More clearly the difference between industrial dry feed will show us a comparative table:

Analyzing the data in the table, we can come to the conclusion that the premium segment feed has some positive qualities. With a low price of the product and its absolute availability, you can buy cat food that will be well absorbed and not contain components harmful to health. In the premium food segment, you can choose food for cats of any age and health condition.

Canned food is another type of food for cats. At the cost of canned food for the buyer, they are more expensive than dry granules, therefore they are used as an infrequent delicacy for a fluffy pet or as an integral part in a mixed diet, when dry and wet formulas are used for feeding.

Canned food for feeding cats can be of various forms of preparation and packaging.

• Mousse - is a product of soft consistency, where all components are very strongly crushed to a homogeneous mass. It is mainly used to introduce the first complementary foods to small kittens.

• Pate - is a homogeneous crushed mass of a much denser consistency than mousse.

• Chopped meat or fish - all ingredients, including meat or fish, are finely chopped and mixed with jelly, sauce or broth.

• Pieces - meat, fish and other ingredients have a large minced fraction of pieces and are mixed with jelly, sauce or broth.

Cat food in the form of canned food, like dry food, is divided into the same quality classes, they are even produced by manufacturers under the same brands and often make up a common product line.

Premium canned food can contain the following components:

• meat - muscle, connective and cartilage tissue, fat, heart and tongue;
• meat offal - any internal organs, bones, stomach, intestines, lungs, liver, kidneys, intestines;
• bird - muscle tissue, bones, skin;
• poultry offal - any internal organs, bones, neck, head;
• flour from meat or poultry - dried and crushed muscle, connective and cartilaginous tissue and offal;
• meat and bone meal - dried and crushed muscle, connective and cartilaginous tissue, offal and bones;
• hydrolyzed protein - a protein component, divided into individual amino acids;
• broth - a broth obtained from meat and bones, sometimes contains a flavor enhancer;
• chicken oil - melted from the internal fat of chickens;
• skim milk is a natural product, it consists of lactose and protein;
• pork plasma - pork blood as a source of protein;
• egg powder - crushed eggs;
• legume flour - a natural component of low-quality vegetable protein;
• gluten - a mixture of molasses and cornstarch;
• starch or flour from corn, wheat, oats, beer rice, tapioca, potatoes - a natural auxiliary component;
• brown rice is a natural ingredient;
• barley sprouts, sweet potatoes, cranberries, blackberries, alfalfa, zucchini zucchini, carrots, parsley, plantain, pumpkin, blueberries - natural sources of plant fibers;
• molasses - a natural component of sugar cane;
• rosemary, blueberry extract - preservatives of natural origin;
• thyme, garlic - natural products used against worms;
• lactobacilli and prebiotics;
• oat bran, rice;
• oat and pea fibers;
• Brewer's yeast;
• beet pulp, tomato;
• chicory root;
• flax seeds;
• tomato paste;
• cellulose;
• gelatin, carrageenan and guar gum, locust bean cassia;
• vitamins and minerals;
• aromas and flavor enhancers - synthetic and natural;
• synthetic and natural preservatives;
• natural and synthetic dyes;
• sodium nitrite - retains the color of meat products;
• salt.

Premium food belongs to the middle price category, they are significantly inferior to super-premium and holistic formulas, but can still be considered a complete feline diet. Besides the specified ingredients, moisture in canned food can contain up to 80%, while in dry granules this figure is 6%. The moisture content of the feed is always indicated by the manufacturer on the label.

Sometimes the manufacturer writes the phrase “with taste” on the packaging, but this does not mean at all that there is, in general, the declared component, since this taste is given not by the product, but by the flavoring.

In Russia, food for cats and dogs began to be produced on an industrial scale quite recently. The list of domestic manufacturers is increasing every year. Many production process technologies have been borrowed from Western countries, where such products have been produced for many decades. Today Russian feeds are in no way inferior in quality to their foreign counterparts.

The rating of the best manufacturers of cat food in Russia is as follows.

In 2000, the Alpintech company began operating under this brand.Over the past two decades, the company has become popular not only in Russia, but also abroad. Cat food is prepared here using a special technology that preserves valuable nutrients and vitamins. These products always contain a reduced amount of fat.

As a result of cooking, all components have a natural taste and smell - that is why cats love them. This brand of food for cats is often recommended by veterinarians in order to prevent diseases of the stomach and intestines, as well as to restore the body's work after a long and serious illness.

The owner of this trademark is Valta Pet Products JSC. The company produces its feed in Europe, as evidenced by product certificates issued in Austria, the Netherlands and Germany. The quality of the product of this brand is high and meets modern international standards. All formulas are based on increased content of animal proteins, its amount is declared by manufacturers to 93% of the total amount of ingredients, which belongs to the holistic class feed.

For the preparation of feed, natural ingredients are used, processed with a special gentle method, therefore, the nutritional value and digestibility of these compounds is very high and does not require the introduction of additional additives and vitamins into the diet. The company produces not only dry food for cats, but also canned food.

The goods under this brand are produced by ZooGurman LLC, which entered the animal feed market more than 10 years ago and, thanks to the excellent quality of its products, has won high popularity. The food of this brand does not contain genetically modified products, dyes, flavors and preservatives. The formulas are based on only natural ingredients - meat, poultry, fish, offal, vegetables and cereals. The company offers a wide range of nutritional products for cats - dry food, canned food, pates, sausages, stews, mousses and even instant cereals.

Another trade mark owned by Valta Pet Products JSC. Canned food and dry granules from natural raw materials are produced under this brand. The formulas are free of GMOs, soy and flavors. All raw materials are assessed by the Human Grade quality standard. The meat content in the feed is declared by the manufacturer to be up to 97%, in addition, the products contain a gelling additive and sea salt.

According to cat breeders, these canned foods are fatty, but they contain 100% meat. Opened canned food is kept fresh for no more than two days. In addition, beef tripe is added to their composition, due to which the intestinal microflora of the cat is enriched.

The fodder of this trade mark is produced by LLC Pet-Product from St. Petersburg. All production processes for the production of dry granules are carried out by the company in Holland, and canned food - in the Moscow region on the territory of the Naro-Fominsk cannery. As part of the feed, the manufacturer claims 100% natural ingredients without the presence of GMOs, soy and flavorings.

Feed of this brand is produced on the territory of a large agricultural holding JSC "Gatchina feed mill", where other feeds are also produced under other brands. The holding started production of food for dogs and cats in 2006. Cat food is produced in the form of dry granules and canned food. Granulated dry food is made with quail, Norwegian salmon, chicken and beef flavors. The canned food is packaged in pouches and tastes like salmon, quail, as well as lamb, rabbit and turkey liver.

According to cat owners, in dry food there are no flavors and dyes, the granules are not colored, they practically do not smell and do not attract a cat. However, getting used to these foods, the animals feel good, they are full of energy, while drinking water in moderation.

You can buy food for a Russian-made cat not only in specialized stores and on Internet sites. Today, the assortment of these products occupies large spaces even in conventional supermarkets. The choice of food for pets is large and you can always find food that is appropriate for the age, health and activity of the pet.

Foreign food produced for feeding cats is widespread in Russia and competes with the products of domestic manufacturers. Cat breeders on the territory of the post-Soviet space learned about the existence of ready-made feeds from European manufacturers.

Let's take a look at the most famous foreign brands of feed, included in the top 10 best foreign manufacturers.

• Orijen - Produced by the Canadian manufacturer Champion Petfoods. These feeds belong to the holistic class, since the proportion of used natural raw materials of animal origin in them is 85-95%. All natural products are selected for their low hypoglycemic index. The food is quite expensive, it is not always available in the public domain.

• Acana Is another type of cat food produced by the Canadian producer Champion Petfoods. It is a holistic that does not contain cereals. This food is considered complete, it is suitable for daily feeding and contains up to 75% meat or fish natural components. There are no specialized and medicinal feeds in this line.

• AATU - the feed is manufactured in the UK and belongs to the holistic class. The main ingredients are poultry and fish, which make up 80-85% of the volume of the finished product. The rest of this volume consists of fruits, vegetables, berries, legumes, and herbs. Salmon fish oil is used as a source of fatty acids. The product is great for pets with allergies.

• Wildcat - German food of the holistic class. The main component of the product is meat ingredients in the amount of 75-80% of the total volume. The carbohydrates in these feeds are represented by the Jerusalem artichoke vegetable. The food is enriched with herbs, berries, probiotics. This line does not contain medicinal and specialized feeds.

• Go natural holistic Is a Canadian product from Petcurean. The advantage of this brand is the absence or insignificantly small percentage of cereals in the form of rice or legumes, which are included in the feed. It is a balanced food that is suitable for daily consumption and is identical to what a cat would eat in the wild.

• Applaws - a hypoallergenic product of English production is a cat food that does not contain cereals. The food is enriched with proteins of animal origin, and 80% of its composition consists of natural meat components. The line is represented by dry granules and canned food, developed for all ages of cats. The product contains prebiotics, minerals and vitamins.

• Grandorf - Italian and Belgian producers produce these hypoallergenic holistic food for Russian customers. The product has a certified European quality, in its composition dietary meats and fish occupy 70-75% of the formula. It is produced in the form of dry granules and canned food. Maintains the normal level of urine acidity, does not contain preservatives and dyes.

• Carnilove - the Czech manufacturer presents a line of specialized food for cats of all ages, sterilized and neutered individuals, as well as for representatives of especially large breeds.Natural types of meat, poultry and fish act as a protein component - their content is declared to be at least 60% of the total volume of the formula.

• Baskerville - a complete product of German production, belonging to the super-premium class. For the preparation of canned food, up to 70% of meat, fish, poultry and their by-products are used; dry feed contains up to 35-36% of these components. Sweet potato was used as carbohydrates. The goods are distributed mainly through online stores.

• Nutram Total Grain Free - Canadian grain-free product that has two flavors - chicken and fish. Suitable for cats of all breeds of any age. The formula contains up to 35-36% protein of animal origin, and legumes are the source of carbohydrates. Only fresh meat is used for the production of the product, this formula is rich in vitamins and minerals, does not contain GMOs and soy.

The food that we have reviewed has good reviews from Russian cat breeders and veterinarians. The only drawback of these products is high prices and relative inaccessibility. However, it is very advisable to buy these feeds, since they are nutritious, almost completely digestible and economical in consumption.

In order to choose a high-quality, most suitable food for your furry pet, first of all, you should pay attention to the manufacturer. Veterinarians and many experienced breeders believe that the highest quality products are produced abroad - in Canada, Germany, England, USA and Denmark.

The main ingredient in any cat food is its constituent ingredients. In good holistic and super-premium feeds, all components are only of natural origin, and they also do not contain colorants, preservatives and flavors. In contrast, the cheap price segment of feed contains all these ingredients.

If you see sugar, molasses, cellulose, caramel, gluten or propylene glycol in the product, then be aware that all these components are harmful and can cause an allergic reaction or digestive problems in a cat. Synthetic dyes and preservatives are a provoking factor for the development of oncology in your pet, and chemical antioxidants can cause seizures, neurosis and liver disease.

When choosing food, you need to consider the following points.

• Pet age - there are formulas for small kittens and products for adults. At different periods of life, the diet of cats looks different and these features must be taken into account.
• Feed type - some owners feed their cats dry food and add natural ingredients to the diet. There is a feeding scheme that combines dry and wet feeding options. Choosing the right diet is best done by consulting your veterinarian after assessing your furry friend's health.
• Pet breed - food may differ in composition for short-haired cats and for long-haired breeds. Any cat, by virtue of its natural instincts, licks the wool, which at the same time gets into its stomach. In nature, a wild cat eats grass, and it helps to remove hairballs from its stomach. It is especially important to remove long villi from the stomach, since the volume of such a lump in long-haired cats becomes much larger than in short-haired brethren.Specialized foods for long-haired pets are designed to solve this problem thanks to the special formulation of the product, enriched with dietary plant fibers and herbs.
• Digestibility - when feeding a pet, it is very important that the food that it eats is assimilated as fully as possible. Only in this case the animal will be fully provided with proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals. By purchasing products of the holistic and super-premium class, you can be sure that the food eaten will be absorbed by 80-95%, while other types of feed are absorbed at best by 60%, which means that your pet is missing out on what is very important for him. life of components. Lack of nutrients will significantly reduce the vitality of your furry friend, the ability to resist diseases, worsen the condition of joints, hair, teeth, claws.
• Health status - it is one of the most important factors when choosing a cat food. For example, there are specialized products that are used for cats that have undergone neutering or for cats after neutering. The hormonal background of these animals is changed, so nutrition for them should be special in order to avoid problems with the heart, blood vessels, liver and kidneys. If your pet is allergic to this or that product, then you will have to feed it exclusively with hypoallergenic food, so as not to aggravate its condition.

Purchasing ready-made food for cats does not seem to be a problem today. The choice is large and varied. When it comes to high quality and balanced options, veterinarians agree that holistic and super premium formulas are the very best in feline nutrition. They are quite expensive for the price but their quality fully justifies such costs.

When it comes to more economical premium and economy class options, the pet's body reaction to such food can be different - strong and young individuals cope with an increased load of dangerous ingredients, and the general well-being of sick and old individuals can fail.

For the rules for choosing premium feed, see the next video.