Ready food for cats is first of all convenient. No need to cook, count rate BZHU. But how to choose a product that will be balanced in composition and, most importantly, does not harm?
Ingredient Analysis
In the first place in a good feed should be such an ingredient as meat. The manufacturer is obliged to indicate which specific type of meat is used. It can be chicken, rabbit, turkey, beef. Instead of meat there may be fish. In any case, in good food, the content of these ingredients is at least 35% of the total composition. However, if you compare economy and super-premium feed, then the latter will contain more protein.
Allowed to add protein, which can be represented by the dairy or egg component - not less than 20%. Offal - at least 10%, it is better if it is the liver, heart, kidneys, and not the beak and skin.
Most of the cat food contains plant ingredients. They can be represented by wheat and corn, rice, potatoes, oats, peas. Acceptable content of the vegetable component to 25%.
But it should be remembered that by nature cats are predators, therefore the plant elements in their food should be at a minimum.
In more expensive versions, the vegetable component is replaced by dried vegetables, berries, and various herbs. Examination proves that it is a more useful additive than corn, wheat.
Good food is enriched with vitamins and minerals. Among the vital for cats - vitamins B, ascorbic acid, vitamin K.
In any case, the composition of the product (regardless of its class) must contain the following components.
- Protein (meat, fish, milk protein, eggs). Protein gives the cat strength, energy, and is responsible for the condition of her bones, teeth, and muscle mass. The lack of protein leads to the deterioration of the hair of an animal - it sheds heavily, becoming dull.
- Carbohydrates (in small quantities found in meat, higher content - in vegetables, grains, cereals). Carbohydrates are power, energy, endurance. In addition to carbohydrates, vegetables contain fiber, necessary for the healthy functioning of the gastrointestinal tract of the animal. Also, carbohydrates nourish the tissues of the blood vessels, heart, brain. Carbohydrates are needed for the synthesis of glycogen - a substance necessary for the functioning of the liver. Despite the importance of the presence of carbohydrates in the diet of the animal, it is important not to overfeed it with them. Still, cats are predators, so the basis of their nutrition is meat, not grain.
- Fats (meat, vegetable and animal oils). They are also responsible for the presence of energy and endurance in cats, provide attractive hair. Lack of fat can lead to problems with the skin and mucous membranes of the pet, disorders of the reproductive system.
Despite the fact that the composition of some feeds in terms of quality and benefits is in many ways superior to that of others, there are ingredients that, in principle, should not be in the product for cats. Even in the most inexpensive cases, the presence of these components is excluded:
- sugar and its derivatives (for example, caramel), glycol, cellulose, propylene glycol;
- artificial pigment E 127, causing the risk of developing cancer in the pet;
- high content of by-products (it should be understood that cheap feed is “waste” that is not suitable for human nutrition: beak, feathers, leather);
- on the composition should not appear "meat" without any additional explanation;
- antioxidants E 321, E 324, E 330, which provoke kidney disease.
The composition of the feed, depending on the class
Depending on the composition, feed is divided into several groups. The summary table will demonstrate the features of individual groups, and then examine in more detail the advantages and disadvantages of each of these options.
Species name | Protein (meat) | Vegetable component |
Economy | Meat is absent or “remnants” are used - skin, tendons. As a rule, meat is replaced by low-grade offal, animal fat. All this is “masked” by flavors and flavor enhancers. | Corn or soy flour (or another vegetable component, but more often it is more cheap corn), gluten. The content is above the norm. |
Premium | Animal fat, meat, offal, cereals, vegetable flour. | Corn or soybeans, usually in the form of flour, cereals, potato starch. Due to an insufficient amount of animal protein, the producer has to exceed the rate of vegetable protein, add flavors to the feed. |
Super Premium | The manufacturer uses meat (as a rule, it is 35–40% of the composition), necessarily indicating its type. By-products may also be present in this feed. | Vegetable protein - within normal limits (some brands may be slightly overestimated). It does not use corn and soy, but more nutritious and less starchy rice, barley. Often added dried vegetables, legumes (lentils, peas). |
Holistic | High-quality meat, lack of offal, skin, bones. | The vegetable component is represented by dried vegetables, cranberries (antioxidant). |
Summarizing these tables, we can draw the following conclusions.
- Economy class. Affordable and inexpensive, but the least suitable for pet nutrition. Use cheap meat protein, however, and he is in short supply. In this regard, the basis of the composition - low-grade vegetable protein.
- Premium class. "Transitional" option from economy to super-premium feed. Combines the qualities of both varieties - the meat here is more, but it is still the same low-quality, high content of by-products. The vegetable component is closer to normal.
- Super premium class. The best option in the ratio of "price - quality." Permissible content of vegetable protein, meat - in the normal range.
- Holistic. High-quality varieties based on natural meat. Herbal ingredients are not cereals, often causing allergies and unusual as food for predators, but dried vegetables.
Comparison of different types
Comparing different types of feed, one always has to compare their composition. As a rule, in the composition of the first specified ingredient contained in the highest quantity. Next - descending.
The least valuable and nutritious is the economy class fodder (for example, Kitiket, Whiskas, Oscar, Darling). They contain almost no meat, but in abundance vegetable protein (replaces meat), flavor enhancers, flavors, preservatives. If the manufacturer specifies meat as one of the ingredients, then most likely it is processed fats, skin, cartilage and tendons.
May contain a small amount of offal.
The digestibility of such feed is 60–65%. In most cases, in the economy-class feed there is no division for different cats. Maximum - food for kittens and adults. Perhaps the only advantages can be called affordability (sold in all supermarkets and pet stores) and low cost.
Higher quality can be called premium food (Happy Cat, Royal Canin), however, the content of meat ingredient in them is usually at least (30–40% of the composition). Often, they are designed to replace offal. Naturally, the lack of animal protein is designed to compensate for the high (above normal) content of vegetable protein.
As for artificial additives, they are also present in premium class feeds, but already in a much smaller volume compared to the previous version. The digestibility of the premium product is also higher, at 70–75%.
Almost all manufacturers product line includes several versions for cats of different ages, with those or other health features.
Higher quality, and therefore higher cost, are super-premium feeds (ProPlan, Hills). First of all, it should be noted the high content of animal protein in the composition. It is enough for the normal life of the pet. By-products for the manufacture of such a product are rarely used, and if they are used, they are of high quality.
Vegetable protein is mainly represented not by cereal, but by dried vegetables and berries. Artificial additives are practically absent. In any case, these are not flavor enhancers and flavors, but preservatives (so that the product can be stored). Super premium feed is assimilated at 85–95%.
The advantage is the extended product line - here you can find food for cats of different ages and breeds, medical and dietary options, including gluten-free.
“Minus” of some brands can be called the complexity of the acquisition - sometimes they can be bought only on the manufacturer’s website or in online stores. However, a number of super-premium quality products are sold in regular pet stores and veterinary pharmacies.
The highest quality feeds are considered holistic (Eagle Pack Holistic, Evo). However, there is no clear division between super premium fodder and holistic. The “motto” of the latter’s producers can be called the following - in the production of feed, only those ingredients that are safe and even suitable for humans are used.
The basis of the product is meat or fish, with high-quality ones (without skin and tendons, antibiotics). Vegetable components - within the normal range, usually dried vegetables, cranberries.
Mandatory component - polyunsaturated fats (within normal limits), vitamin-mineral complex.
The presence of by-products and synthetic ingredients in holistics is unacceptable. It is not surprising that the absorption of such a product is 100 percent.
Initially, the holistic food product lines were quite narrow. As a rule, feed was shared only for kittens and adults. With the growing popularity of luxury products, the product line is expanding, however, it is still poorer than the analogue of the super-premium class.
Holistics are extremely rare to find in the usual pet stores, except in very large ones.
The main method of purchase - the purchase on the website of the manufacturer or distributor.
How to choose?
The most important selection criterion is the composition of the feed.
A quality product must first of all contain meat, and at least 35–50% of the composition. A higher content is also possible - up to 70–80%, as a rule, this is holistic feed. The important point - sometimes the manufacturer says about the 100% content of meat in the feed. However, this is only a marketing ploy, such a product would simply be impossible to store.
After making sure that the meat is contained in the required quantities, it is important to understand what kind of meat it is. Required - type of meat (chicken, beef, rabbit). If the package simply says the word "meat", most likely, under it hide the skin, bones, beaks, tendons. They do not carry high nutritional value for the animal.
The most valuable, in terms of amino acid content, are chicken and turkey, in second place is fish, and in the third place beef and lamb. However, the same chicken can cause allergies.
The best option is to buy food that combines several types of meat.
Of the by-products, preference is given to the kidneys, hearts, lungs, and stomachs. In a small amount, the presence of the rumen and chicken heads is permissible. Typically, these by-products are found only in super-premium feeds.
The word "offal" should not deter buyers. However, their content is not more than 10–15% of the composition, ideally, there should also be a transcript - liver, kidney, heart.
Plant fiber is another essential ingredient. Allowable rate - 20–25%. If these figures are higher, feed should be discarded. Preference should be given to rice, barley.
Less trust is caused by feed, where wheat, corn (cornmeal), potato (starch) are in the composition.
Fats are an essential component. For an adult cat, the feed should contain at least 10-15% fat, for kittens - at least 20%. The fact is that fats are involved in the development of substances responsible for strong immunity. Increased fat content is required for a cat during gestation and lactation.
However, an excessive amount of fat in the diet can cause stool disorders and liver disease. Lack of fat is usually found in the economy class feed, some types of premium.
Super premium feeds and holists must necessarily contain vitamin and mineral supplements. Among the vital for the Fuzzies can be identified B vitamins, vitamin E, ascorbic acid, H, B15, K. Among the minerals are cobalt, calcium, iron, copper.
In addition to the composition, it is important to pay attention to such criteria when choosing food.
Producing country
Not always widely advertised food - this is the best option for your pet. Those products that often flash in television advertising, unfortunately, most of them belong to the economy class. The leading positions are occupied with production from the Great Britain, Canada, Germany, Denmark, the USA.
It is always better to buy food directly from the manufacturer or official representative.
Super premium and holistic are often sold exclusively in online stores.
Feed consistency
It can be wet or dry, and the wet texture has several varieties - from puree to pate and jelly (small pieces, filled with thick broth).
Wet food is primarily intended for kittens, but as the animal grows, it is necessary to “lead” it to dry food. Solid food contributes to the development of the jaws, cleansing the teeth, and is also necessary for the proper functioning of the intestines.
Kittens should pick a solid food with small pellets. Small breeds are necessary and some breeds of cats, for example, the British, Persians. This is due to the peculiarities of the structure of their jaw apparatus.
Pate and jelly can be pampered and an adult pet, but do not translate it exclusively to wet food. The importance of more solid food for cats, we have already written.
Availability of feed dosage information on the package
Preference should be given to those products that require fewer. Simply put, the lower the required daily dosage of feed, the more balanced and useful it is. Economy class feeds do not give the pet a long-lasting feeling of fullness.
You can learn more about how to choose cat food.
