Wet food for cats: ingredients, brands, selection, feeding regimen

There is still no consensus among veterinarians about which type of food is preferable for cats - dry or wet. Both products have both their significant advantages and no less significant disadvantages, therefore, when choosing the optimal diet for your fluffy pet, it would be best to follow the recommendations of a specialist. Nevertheless, recent studies have confirmed that wet wet food is more physiological, they are well absorbed and will be liked by any cat, even the most fastidious and moody.

Wet food in stores, as a rule, is presented in two options:

• in the form of small spider sachets - they contain one portion of the nutritional composition;
• tin can of various sizes.

Wet food is food chunks in a jelly-like sauce. A good product is 35% meat. It is usually made from turkey, chicken, beef, veal, rabbit or fish. These are useful components necessary for the growth of a cat, maintaining its health and strong immunity.

20% of any feed consists of protein, it can be egg or milk proteins, which are the optimal natural filler. 10% comes from offal, expensive feed contains heart and liver, cheaper feeds use lung, paws, skin, hooves and other ingredients.

Any products are enriched with vitamin and mineral complexes, they necessarily include vitamins of group B, E and A, as well as calcium, magnesium, zinc, potassium, iron and manganese.

Depending on the components used, feeds of several classes are distinguished.

• Economy - the most budgetary products, well known to all breeders, and not only from active television advertising. These are Whiskas, Kitekat, Friskies and Four-Legged Gourmet. They are cheap, but this is where the list of their advantages ends. The fact is that such feed mixtures contain a large amount of artificial ingredients - preservatives, flavorings and flavor enhancers, the proportion of meat in them is small - usually it is replaced by vegetable proteins. Such food is absorbed by the body of cats no more than 65%.

• Premium class - slightly higher quality products, although they do not differ in a high content of meat, but they contain more of it than in feed marked "economy", and nutritious by-products are also used. Usually they are produced in several lines - for kittens, for pregnant animals, for elderly pets, etc. Such a product is absorbed by 70-75%.

• Super premium - the cost of these products will already be tangible for the family budget, such food as Purina Pro Plan, Royal Canin and others belong to them - the reputation of the brands speaks for itself, so the product does not need advertising. Such mixtures can be purchased exclusively at veterinary pharmacies or pet stores. There is quite a lot of meat in the feed of this segment, and there are very few plant-type proteins, and there are no artificial components at all. Such compositions are assimilated by 90-95%.

• Holistic feed - these are the most expensive products that can be bought only in specialized stores by prior order. Only environmentally friendly products are used here: the vegetable part is made from crops grown without pesticides, and the meat does not contain antibiotics and hormones.

Domestic wet food is little known among Russian breeders, but some deserve attention.

TitBit is a feed based on natural ingredients at a reasonable price. However, veterinarians recommend using it not as a permanent food product, but only as an additive that helps prevent the appearance of various eating disorders.

"Mnyams" is another wet feed from our review, made according to Russian technology at European production facilities in accordance with the highest quality standards. Among domestic products, this is one of the best products that you can offer your furry pet. The food is considered complete, therefore it does not require any vitamins or additives.

"Zoogurman" - her one quite worthy food of Russian production, containing exclusively natural products without preservatives, glutamate and dyes. High-quality offal, duck, turkey, chicken, veal and beef are responsible for the protein component in it.

The "four-legged gourmet" is a product that has a balanced composition, but a study of the label indicates the absence of such important additives as vitamins and minerals. Among the shortcomings, it is also possible to note the presence of a gelling component of unknown origin, therefore it cannot be said with certainty that it is of a non-synthetic origin. However, in the first place in the list of its ingredients is meat, and not little-known cereal mixtures mixed with fishmeal, so the product can be called quite suitable for feeding a pet.

Grandorf - this brand appeared on the shelves of pet shops quite recently, but has already managed to gain recognition from breeders who treat the health of their pets with all their attention. This feed is holistic, which directly indicates its exceptional quality. Despite the fact that the brand is registered in Russia, the product is manufactured in the workshops of Belgium and Italy using raw materials of the Human-Grade category from ingredients suitable for human consumption.

It is quite difficult to get this product, it is not sold in all stores and is not cheap. But the reviews of pet owners claim that pets on this diet are less likely to get sick and do not gain excess weight. We can safely say that this is the best domestic food that ensures the full growth and development of the animal.

Imported cat food is very popular among domestic breeders. Let's dwell on the most popular ones.

Traditionally, this feed is classified as an economy-class product, but, nevertheless, due to its low price and active advertising in our country, it is one of the best-selling.

The benefits of this food include:

• low cost;
• availability at any point of sale;
• a wide range of flavors.

Of the minuses, it should be noted:

• the presence of preservatives, flavors and flavor enhancers;
• reduced content of protein components;
• opacity of the composition.

The reputation of Whiskas is questionable, with some breeders claiming that the product is detrimental to the health of the pet. However, no facts confirming this opinion have yet been received. The feed is produced at the enterprise in accordance with high quality standards. However, veterinarians recommend that you do not use Whiskas on an ongoing basis, but carefully monitor your pet when using it.

The main advantage of this highly advertised product is its low cost and beautiful packaging. The manufacturer positions its food as a delicacy for fluffies, however, meat in its composition is no more than 25% - this is more than in Whiskas, but at the same time it does not reach the dosages recommended by veterinarians. The quality of the meat component also raises doubts, therefore the product is not recommended for frequent inclusion in the menu.

This feed is much more expensive, but at the same time it is of high quality. It is made taking into account the physiological characteristics of cats and is presented in several assortment lines - for kittens, for older cats, for animals with various pathologies. This brand is indispensable for pets with diabetes and obesity.

The benefits of the feed include:

• high protein content;
• the original series of vegetarian food.

Of the minuses, it is necessary to indicate the presence of soy in the composition, GMOs and an insignificant presence of preservatives.

This is a low calorie, wet cat food made from beef or poultry. These products are optimal for medium-sized cat breeds.

Among the advantages are:

• completely natural composition;
• the presence of antioxidants to stimulate the immune defense;
• the presence of additives that protect the condition of the urinary system;
• prevention of obesity.

The reviews about these feeds are mostly positive, breeders note that with regular use of the product, the condition of the animal's fur is noticeably improved, and the stool becomes regular - this is the best indication of the good physical shape of the pet. In addition, the product has a pleasant smell for the owners of the animal, unlike many other feeds.

The composition of these mixtures includes meat or fish products, the feed is optimal for everyday use. In addition to the protein component, the mixture contains cereals, oils, fat and vitamin and mineral supplements. The product has a high nutritional value and does not contain any fragrances or preservatives. Keep in mind that this brand of food is contraindicated for overweight pets. The product does not contain soy and corn, which often cause allergies in animals of any age.

The main advantage of this brand of feed is the highest quality of the products used. It is made from fresh or chilled meat that has not been frozen. The meat comes to the production workshops straight from the farms, therefore it contains the maximum amount of nutrients without loss of taste.

The proportion of meat in the product is 95%, the mixture is rich in taurine, as well as a special bioactive complex MacroGard, thanks to which the pet's body successfully resists viruses. There is a pronounced increase in the effect of vaccination of the animal.

However, its cost is quite high, so feeding it to a pet can create a significant gap in the family budget.

Super premium food, which directly indicates a natural balanced composition and the absence of any synthetic additives and preservatives in the composition. Most often, feed from rabbit meat, poultry and fish is presented on sale. Of the by-products, only the liver is used. The products of this manufacturer are 65% animal protein, as well as fiber, minerals and vitamins that are good for cats.

Due to the balanced composition, the cat fully grows and develops, the animal develops a strong immunity, and after each feeding, a feeling of fullness comes for a long time.

The meat content in the feed of this brand does not exceed 75%, but nevertheless it belongs to the elite category. There are no synthetic additives here, only natural meat is used, as well as fresh vegetables and probiotics. The recipe for the manufacture of feed involves the use of brewer's yeast, which is an excellent source of vitamin B, helps to normalize metabolic processes in the animal's body and protect against allergic reactions. The composition is completely non-cereal.

However, there were some drawbacks here. The products are sometimes not to the taste of animals, especially adult cats, which have been consuming cheaper food for a long time, literally "stuffed" with flavoring aromas.

When choosing a cat food, you need to pay close attention to the information on the package, in some cases it is better to refuse to purchase and return the package back to the shelf.

If you notice that the mixture contains sugar, starch or cellulose, then such food will be extremely harmful to your pet.

The presence of E127 is another reason to choose a different feed. The fact is that this is an artificial dye, which acts as a factor provoking the development of tumor processes and oncological diseases.

By-products in the composition of feed are extremely nutritious and useful, but only if they are of high quality, and their share does not exceed 10%. If this parameter is higher, then most likely the manufacturer has included in the product such unappetizing and lacking nutritional value ingredients, such as beef or pork skin, as well as waste from the slaughterhouse.

The label “meat” does not at all guarantee that the feed contains real meat. It is worth buying only one that contains a decryption, that is, a complete list of those types of meat that were used to make feed.

According to accepted standards, in the list of ingredients, the components are arranged in descending order, that is, the top contains those products whose share is maximum. However, some manufacturers are cunning and include several cereal and plant components in the feed at once with minimal concentrations. Thus, they are all listed at the very end of the list. Be sure to calculate their sum - it is possible that an unpleasant surprise awaits you and the total mass of such components will be greater than the weight of meat.

Another common gimmick of irresponsible producers is the term flavor, which means "tasteful."

By the way, the definitions "100%" or "all" are also a trick of marketers, and in many countries their use on packaging is prohibited. The fact is that they assume the presence of only one ingredient in the can, and this completely contradicts the very technology of making cat food.

Some attentive breeders do not trust liquid factory feeds and prefer to make them at home according to proven recipes.

To prepare such food, you should take:

• 2 kg of beef or poultry meat;
• 300-500 g of the heart of the same animal from which the meat was obtained;
• 100-200 g raw liver;
• ligaments and tendons;

• 2 glasses of water, better still mineral water;
• 4 egg yolks;
• 2 sachets of gelatin;
• 4000 mg of high quality fish oil;
• additionally, 200 mg of brewer's yeast is introduced, best of all with selenium or zinc, as well as oil vitamin E - 800 IU;
• 1/3 spoon kelp powder;
• 5-7 tablespoons of bran.

Grind the meat and mix with the rest of the ingredients until a homogeneous mixture is obtained. Ready food is placed in containers or special bags for the freezer.

The daily requirement for wet feed is:

for an animal weighing up to 3 kg - 200 g;

• 4 kg - 220-250 g;
• 5 kg - 250-260 g;
• 6 and over kg - from 300 g.

Elderly cats, as a rule, have a reduced immunity, their metabolism slows down and the condition of their teeth worsens, therefore, after 7-8 years of age, one feeding a day is enough for them.

When choosing cat food, it is important to consider how beneficial it will be for the pet. According to breeders' reviews, high quality wet mixes contain a sufficient amount of protein and fat, which have a beneficial effect on the well-being of the pet and the condition of its fur. It is desirable that the percentage of carbohydrates is minimal, otherwise the animal may be at risk of obesity.

It is very convenient that wet food contains water, this is useful for those pets who do not like to drink.Cat owners claim that animals using wet mixtures eat faster due to their high protein content, in addition, these foods prevent obesity in cats after neutering.

However, while wet food looks more attractive overall, it still has some disadvantages.

• Wet food is soft and does not protect your cat from plaque and gum disease. Breeders recommend using special balls and bones for dental care.
• The contents of open packages must be consumed as soon as possible - they must not be stored open for more than a day.
• It should also be noted that wet food is much more expensive than dry food.

Many feeds on the market do not inspire confidence in cat owners. According to consumers, they lead to the formation of urolithiasis, so before deciding to transfer your fluffy pet to such a diet, you should definitely consult a veterinarian.

A comparison of wet food can be seen in the video below.