All about dry food for cats and cats

Dry cat food is not easy to pick up - the market today represents a huge number of ready-made food options. They differ in composition, balance and variety of names. To choose a dry food specifically for your cat, you must consider some of the dietary habits of the representatives of the cat family. In addition, it is desirable to understand the various types of this product, designed for different periods of your pet's life.

There are many myths about making the right diet for cats. Every pet owner, veterinarian or cat nutrition specialist has an opinion on this matter. That's why Creating an ideal diet for each pet is almost impossible.

When buying dry food you need to pay attention primarily to the amount of animal protein that is part of the food. As we know, cats are carnivores. Therefore, such ingredients must be ingested by the pet at each meal. However, manufacturers of low-calorie feed replace animal protein with proteins derived from plant foods. Unfortunately, the consequences of such nutrition can be very unpleasant, because the cat's digestive tract is not adapted to the digestion of vegetable proteins.

Feeding cats has its own characteristics, depending on the age of the animal.

During the first month of life cats for feeding is better to use a special food for kittens, which is available as a substitute for mother's milk. Such food give the kitten, separated from the mother, every 2-4 hours. During this period, food for kittens can become the staple food.

From 3–5 weeks of age, kittens are fed with a milk replacer, which is poured into shallow dishes in order to stimulate weaning from the bottle. You can also apply moisturized, easily chewable food, consisting of a mixture of warm milk replacer and high-quality dry feed for kittens. This mixture is given 4-6 times a day.

By 5-8 weeks, the kitten must learn to chew food with confidence. He needs a diet rich in proteins. Feed pet need 3-4 times a day. Here a good diet option can be combination of canned food and dry food.

Kitten food usually contains a lot of protein, calories and fat, which are necessary to maintain healthy growth and functioning of the animal's body. Proper feeding of a kitten is that he is given a certain amount of food at a certain time. This is extremely important for growing animals.

Starting at about 7 years of age, cats begin to move to the vital stage of the aging stage. This transition causes changes in the health and lifestyle of the animal, expressed in variability:

• weights;
• skin;
• joints;
• teeth;
• internal organs.

If your cat is happy with its current diet, then perhaps there is no need to switch to another diet. Some manufacturers produce special food for older cats. It contains ingredients that are easier to digest than standard animal feed.Elderly pets are more likely to have health problems associated with bowel problems and kidney disease. There are specially designed diet products that help slow the progression of diseases.

A veterinarian can help choose the best feed for your cat. Taking into account the medical indications and contraindications, the current state of health and the lifestyle of the animal (is always indoors or outdoors; leads a passive or active lifestyle), the veterinarian will prescribe a dry food type or its combination with other types of food.

Cats, like all living things, need certain nutrients. Therefore, when used in the diet of feline dry food, you must comply with their presence.

Water is the most important ingredient for maintaining healthy cells and the overall functioning of the body. Cats lose water through:

• lungs;
• skin;
• urine;
• feces.

During the evolution of the cat adapted to get most of the water through food. Therefore, proper cat food includes a diet rich in protein in combination with constant access to water.

Protein is the main component of cat nutrition, which is necessary to maintain:

• muscles;
• bones;
• ligaments;
• tendons.

All proteins have a different absorption ratio. Some foods, such as fish and chicken, contain proteins that are better absorbed by the body of cats than vegetable and dairy sources of protein. In dry feed, there can also be proteins from both animal and vegetable origin.

Essential fatty acids - as well known as fats, are a source of energy for cats. This property of the organism of representatives of the cat family makes it unnecessary to use carbohydrates as energy-supplying ingredients. Fats also contain vital fat-soluble vitamins: D, E, A and K. In addition, they contain linoleic and arachidonic acids, which play an important role in maintaining the overall health of the animal. Fat-deficient cats will exhibit the following symptoms:

• growth retardation;
• dry hair, dandruff;
• lethargy;
• susceptibility to infections.

4. Vitamins are organic substances (found in plants or in animals), which are very important components of cat nutrition as they help regulate various biochemical and physiological processes in the body, including:

• increase immunity;
• growth and development support;
• help cells and organs function normally.

There are 2 types of vitamins: fat soluble and water soluble. The difference between them is:

• fat soluble vitamins processed and stored in fat cells (the so-called fat depots) of the animal organism;
• water soluble vitamins must be dissolved in water before the body can use them, they cannot be stored and therefore must be constantly replenished with food.

Raw or minimally processed cat food usually meets vitamin requirements. Getting natural products such as chicken, meat and fish, the cat's body gets almost all the necessary vitamins. Synthetic vitamins are usually added to dry foods. They compensate for the lack of natural vitamins that are removed during food processing during feed production.

In addition to vitamins, cats need a certain amount of various micro and macro elements for the normal functioning of the body.

Minerals are inorganic substances that can be found in soil or water. Plants and animals consume macro and micronutrients to regulate:

• acid-base balance;
• proper metabolism in cells and tissues;
• enzymatic reactions of the body.

The following types of minerals should be present in the cat's diet:

• calcium;
• phosphorus;
• sodium;
• potassium;
• magnesium;
• iron;
• copper;
• zinc;
• iodine.

All dry foods have their positive and negative sides. They have many advantages in contrast to wet ones.

• First of all, feeding with dry food is pretty conveniently for pet owner. If the owner of the cat is not able to prepare a special cat food, then the option of feeding dry food will be an excellent solution to this issue.
• Dry food contains fewer artificial ingredients. Thanks to the drying process, the nutrients contained in the feed can be stored for a longer time, without spoiling and losing their value.
• An additional advantage of quality dry food is its beneficial effect on oral hygiene: feed pellets systematically rub over the tartar and thus reduce the risk of gum disease.
• Feeding dry food costs cheaperthan fresh food.
• Save time - just open the package and pour the food in a bowl.
• Dry food does not spoil and therefore it is possible to leave it in a bowl “with a reserve” for a pet. Cats usually eat a certain amount of dry food and do not overeat.
• Dry food have the right balanced composition of ingredientsspecially designed for the physiological needs of cats.

But there are some disadvantages.

• Dry food does not contain water, and the cats organism is adapted to receive a certain amount of moisture through food. Therefore, dry food can lead to dehydration. Therefore, you must always put a bowl with clean water next to it, constantly replenishing it. To prevent dehydration or kidney disease, cats need to drink a little more than when feeding with moist food. Do not forget that the cat should have access to fresh water constantly, regardless of whether it is fed dry or wet food. Especially during the summer heat.
• Food low-quality dry food relieves animal teeth from stress, which adversely affects dental health. In addition, the carbohydrates contained in cheap varieties of the product, leave a raid, which eventually turns into tartar.
• Carbohydrates, which are part of many inexpensive brands of dry feed, violate the metabolism of cats, which can later lead to diabetes.
• In cheap feed there may be flavor enhancersthat addictive animals to these types of food.

When viewing the list of ingredients on the dry food label, it is very important to remember that it does not say anything about the exact amount of each ingredient. Nevertheless, it helps in some cases. For example, if we know which particular allergen our pet has a reaction to, then we will not purchase feed containing this ingredient. In this case, the label indicating the composition of the feed does matter.

Below are a few general guidelines on how to use the composition indicators indicated on the feed label.

• In the main part of the cat's diet should be poultry meat (chicken, turkey) or rabbit. Therefore, it is better to buy food, where a large meat content is indicated in the composition of the feed.

• Liver contains a huge amount of vitamins A and D. If the cat receives an excess of liver food, it can lead to hypervitaminosis. Therefore, the liver should be only about 5% of the diet of the cat.However, the liver is a cheap product, and therefore in some feed, it often appears first in the list of ingredients.

• A fish cats are not always desirable for the following reasons:
  • allergy is highly likelythat manifests as skin rashes or inflammatory bowel diseases and possibly asthma;
  • fish toxin / mercury contaminationwhich will lead to poisoning or intoxication of animals;
  • addictive - then the cat does not want anything else to eat.

• Beef It is often a food allergen for some cats, although many cats tolerate this type of food well.

• Feed with high protein and low fat Especially important for cats who need to lose weight. However, high-protein foods often contain a large amount of fish. Therefore, you must choose the feed carefully.

• note that wheat is an allergenic ingredient that is undesirable to give to cats. Some companies add wheat to feed to increase the profitability of their business.

• Another important point. Do not blindly believe the labels with the inscription - "95% meat." After all, the "meat" may be just a meat filling with a high fat content. By this word, a manufacturer can mean the inclusion of both fats and proteins. If the company writes on the label "meat" - this does not mean that the feed will be high in protein.

• So called by-products, or differently offal, are normal components of the carnivore diet. They consist of quite nutritious meats such as liver, spleen and kidneys. On the other hand, by-products can also include paws and feathers, which have a very low nutritional value. The problem is that the consumer cannot correctly assess the quality of the by-products contained in the feed. And the quality may vary depending on which company produces feed, and the batch of raw materials that were used in the production process.

The fact that cats eat offal in the wild is beyond doubt. Nevertheless, it is preferable that there is more muscle meat in the stern. (chicken or turkey) and only a few by-products. The combination of muscle meat with side components mimics the natural, natural nutrition of cats, which nevertheless remain potential predators.

Many cats love Friskies, 9-Lives and Fancy Feast, which contain by-products. And we all know what cats can be picky about food, and how important good food is for them. This is especially important when they are sick or have diabetes, and should eat on a schedule.

It is much more reasonable to include animal by-products in the predator's diet than to add allergenic cereals with a high carbohydrate content, such as corn, wheat, rice, or soy.

Those who choose feed for the first time notice that the choice is truly stunning. Food for kittens, dry food, semi-dry, dietary and natural products, food with the addition of additional nutrients, medicinal diets, canned food, food in sealed bags, food with a taste of chicken, food for cats with tuna, cereals and so on. The list goes on and on in terms of ingredients, flavors and types of available cat food.

Usually dry food is divided into several main classes.

• Economy class. These are feeds that consist mainly of bone meal and vegetable components. And to enhance the taste and appeal for cats include flavors and flavoring agents.In these feeds almost no natural meat or fish.

• Premium class. This type of food contains selected meat and fish components. They have a balanced composition of vitamins and microelements. From plant substances add corn. For these feed issued a veterinary certificate. This food is well absorbed by the cat's body, and due to this, the consumption of food is quite economical.

• Super Premium. The food consists of pellets, which may contain salmon fillet, selected meat (turkey or mutton), eggs, rice groats and other components of the highest quality. All nutrients are balanced according to standards for healthy nutrition of cats.

• Holistic. This is a dry feed elite series with environmentally friendly ingredients. In addition to the high content of meat components, this type of diet includes natural fruit, vegetable and cereal supplements. This super-balanced composition has excellent taste and is easily digested.

Despite differences in grades, all dry foods have common qualities.

• In general, these feeds are quite reasonable prices.
• Long shelf life. One packet of food may last for several months.
• Dry foods are not very palatable, but there is an advantage. Cats are known for being picky eaters. They can easily turn away from the proposed food if their diet consists solely of dry-looking food. But the feeling of hunger will still force the cat to consume dry food. And that is why your pet will always have a decent appetite. But at the same time, you can be sure that your pet will not overeat.

Nutritional needs of the pet change throughout life, so it is important over time to make adjustments to the diet. For example, kittens should consume about 2 times more nutrients per 0.5 kg of body weight than an adult cat. Also, pregnant and lactating cats need more food to stay strong and healthy.

The main contents of the cat bowl should be food containing high-quality dry food. But when buying dry food, keep in mind that the price is not always a reflection of quality. Below is an overview of the best brands that produce cat and cat food.

One of the best dry cat food on the market. The manufacturer reports:

• 95% of the protein in its feed comes from chicken meat from farms;
• Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids derived from turkey and salmon oil;
• very high level of protein with low fat content - all of animal origin (protein 52%, fat 21%);
• does not contain potatoes, flakes, peas;
• includes probiotics, which are very important for the proper functioning of the digestive system;
• the amount of taurine is up to 3.3 mg;
• the percentage of carbohydrates in dry matter is 4% (the food is ideal for diabetic cats);
• contains supplements of vitamins A, D, E and the minerals of iron, iodine, calcium, copper, zinc, selenium, potassium.

Minuses:

• possibly high price, but for such quality it is worth it;
• relatively small amounts of calcium and phosphorus, but in such high-protein foods, this is probably inevitable.

In second place in the ranking among dry cat food.

Pros:

• Omega-3 and Omega-6 acids from New Zealand mussels;
• the manufacturer writes that the feed contains meat of lambs;
• lack of cereals, potatoes;
• a lot of taurine - 2.8 mg;
• jerky, thanks to which nutrients and vitamins are preserved;
• the carbohydrate content in the dry matter is 10%;
• contains supplements of vitamins A, D, E and the minerals of iron, iodine, calcium, copper, zinc, selenium, potassium.

Minuses:

• high price;
• produced in small packages;
• It is very difficult to get it online.

Benefits:

• a source of various sorts of meat - fresh chicken (20%), dried chicken (15%), fresh chicken liver (4%), fresh herring (4%), fresh turkey meat (4%), dried turkey meat (4%), fresh turkey liver (3%), fresh eggs (3%), fresh boneless perch (3%), fresh salmon (3%), fresh bird hearts (3%), bird cartilage (3%), dried herring (3 %), dried salmon (3%), chicken liver oil (3%), chicken liver fat (2%);
• good ratio of protein and fat (respectively, 42% and 20%);
• it contains chicken meat, which comes from free range chickens;
• Omega-3 and Omega-6 acids from marine fish;
• a lot of taurine - 2.5 mg;
• supplements of vitamins A, D, E and minerals of iron, iodine, calcium, copper, zinc, selenium, potassium;
• contains many fruits.

Minuses:

• unfortunately, it includes lentils and peas;
• rather high carbohydrate content - 18%.

Benefits:

• quite a lot of meat of different origin - rabbit, bird;
• many fruits, vegetables and spices - thyme, marjoram, oregano, parsley, sage;
• protein - 43%, the optimal amount of fat - 18%;
• a large amount of taurine - 3.25 mg;
• no corn, soy, cereals;
• many omega-3 and omega-6 acids;
• A large amount of vitamins and minerals - A, D, E, B, C, zinc, niacin, copper, iron, iodine, selenium.

Disadvantages:

• little calcium and phosphorus

Benefits:

• dried bird protein - absorbed by cats much better than any vegetable protein;
• corn - in cats, corn is well digested and absorbed in any way;
• vegetable protein isolate is a secreted and dried protein in a form that provides fairly good digestion;
• plant fibers, which make up a small percentage of feed, contribute to normal and healthy bowel function;
• animal protein hydrolyzate is one of the best forms for digestion;
• animal fats in cat food are better digested and more beneficial than vegetable fats.

There are drawbacks too.

• Bird protein is obtained not only from meat, but also from feathers, beaks or claws of various species of birds.
• Corn Gluten Free. One of the additional fillers in cat food. It is not very useful for the cat's body - it is difficult to digest, difficult to digest.

Choosing cat food seems like an easy task. But go shopping with pet food and you’ll come across a huge number of options.

When choosing food, you can use the advice of professional canine.

• According to GOST R 55984–2014 The composition of the feed on the package should begin with the ingredients that are contained most, then the ingredients are listed as their quantity decreases.

• It is advisable to purchase food whose composition starts with meat ingredients. It is better if their number exceeds 35%.

• Number of by-products should not be higher than 10%.

• Protein content should be from 30 to 40% (in holistics not more than 60%).

• It is better if the feed contains whole eggs, not egg powders (the latter have no nutritional value).

• It is advisable to buy food in which corn and wheat are at the end of the list of ingredients. Plant fiber should be no more than 25%.

• The fat content should not exceed 20%. Not recommended feed containing pork fat and soybean oil.

• Ash content should not exceed 10%.

• Ratio calcium and phosphorus should be from 0.9 to 1.5 parts of calcium to 1 part of phosphorus.

• The lower the daily feed rate recommended by the manufacturer, the better the quality of the food. This means that a smaller amount of feed is required to saturate the cat due to better quality and balanced nutrients.

• Pay attention on the shelf life of feed.

• Buy developed feeds specifically for cats of a certain age. In addition, special feeds are available for:
  • lactating cats;
  • pregnant females;
  • growth-enhancing kittens;
  • pets kept in the apartment;
  • cats kept outside.

• When it comes to choosing cat food, product name plays a major role. For example, cat food "chicken" is very different from the name of cat food "chicken" in terms of how much chicken is in the product.

• After you figure out the riddle of the product name, Take a picture of the ingredients indicated on the product label. This photo will come in handy in the future in order to fix the type of feed that contains your cat's favorite ingredient.

• Do not spend too much time trying to decipher the entire list of ingredients. Sherry Sanderson, MD, of the University of Georgia says that animals need nutrients, not ingredients. This is where the so-called "Guaranteed Analysis" comes into play. It lists the main and auxiliary nutrients contained in cat food. These animals need a variety of nutrients to survive, including protein, water, carbohydrates (fiber), vitamins and minerals.

• Preservatives in pet food got a bad name, but in fact they perform a very important function in dry feed. These are antioxidants that prevent fat loss in foods. As soon as fat begins to deteriorate, it loses its nutritional value, not to mention the fact that it can become dangerous when eaten. Preservatives can be natural or artificial. Natural foods commonly found in cat foods include vitamin E (tocopherol) or vitamin C (ascorbic acid). Artificial substances include bottled hydroxytoluene and bottled hydroxyanisole. Both chemical compounds are synthetic derivatives of vitamin E.

• When it comes to pet foodThere are no official divisions of the terms "natural" and "organic." But these two terms are not the same thing. “Organic” is a way to get a food source using organic substances that are determined by the certification body. "Natural" may mean that the product does not have artificial flavors or dyes, although chemical compounds can be used for cultivation.

From the proper nutrition of the cat will depend on its health and physical activity. We list the basic rules for feeding cats.

• Many cat and dog owners give their pets the leftovers from the table. This is very irresponsible, because human food cannot be used for quadrupeds. In cats, the gastrointestinal tract and body metabolism is different from human. Their digestive system is not adapted to the digestion of spices, including salt or Vegeta type mixture.

• However, nothing prevents feed the cat ready meals. But such a diet will require a lot of effort. First, you will need to get acquainted with the needs of the cat's body and make the diet necessary for providing four-legged nutrients. Such feeding will require cooking every day. It will take too much time.

• Cats are carnivorous animals, and the introduction of a vegetarian or vegan diet can lead to health problems, they even face blindness from such a diet. They will suffer from other debilitating diseases and will eventually die if they eat only vegetarian food. Unlike dogs, for which the shortage of meat will not be so acute, cats need meat products for the proper functioning of the body. Vegetables and plant products should be added to the diet. But they should not be its foundation.

• Feeding cats in the view of most people should consist mainly of milk. In fact, milk is not needed for adult animals for normal life. In too large quantities, it can even lead to digestive problems. In bowls for cats should always be fresh water, while milk can sometimes appear as a diet food. If you decide to water your pet milk product, then make sure that you feed only specially prepared "cat milk".

• When your cat reaches maturity (after about 12 months), you can start its regular feeding. For a healthy pet, the diet should include the right balance of the main nutrient groups: proteins, fats, minerals, vitamins, carbohydrates and water.

• Many types of feed are developed to meet the specific needs of the cat. For example, if a cat leads an inactive “home” lifestyle and is mostly indoors, you can feed it with a special mixture that prevents the animal from gaining weight. If the circumstances of the pet's life do not change dramatically, you can continue the usual feeding procedure until your cat reaches old age.

• You can feed the cat dry food or a mixture of dry and wet, depending on the preferences of the pet. For example, some cats like it when they are fed wet food in the morning, and during the day they are given a snack with dry food.

• If you choose dry food, expect your cat to chew it more actively, eat for a longer period and drink more water. Dry food stays fresh all day. Leave it with a reserve that the cat could have a bite during the day.

• Serve all room temperature food so that the cat can taste and smell food. You may need to withstand any food taken out of the refrigerator for a while, it takes about 2 hours. You can warm up food for a short time, but be careful with hot "dishes." Avoid serving too hot or very cold food.

• Fresh, clean drinking water should always be available to the cat. It is better to pour water into a large metal or ceramic bowl. Continuous availability of fresh water helps maintain the health of the animal’s kidneys and reduces the risk of urinary tract infections.

• Carefully developed cat food technology allow you to get great taste and can be used as an addition to other main dishes without disturbing the balance of food ingredients. Many foods contain special useful "additives", for example, to strengthen teeth.

• In cats, digestion is sensitive to changes in the composition of food. It can quickly become upset if you drastically change your pet's diet in any way. Therefore, go from one type of food to another gradually, gradually increasing the amount of new food during the period from 7 to 10 days. During this time, your pet will have time to get used to the new food.

• Adult cats have a natural tendency to gain weight. Overweight animals often develop diabetes, heart and breathing problems, bladder stones are formed, and joints are affected. If the pet's weight is constantly growing, try feeding the pet a specially designed dry food. This food contains less fat. At the same time, it contains a sufficient concentration of all the necessary vitamins and minerals.

Veterinarians claim that in order to live a long and healthy life, a cat must be given proper, balanced nutrition.

When choosing a suitable diet for cats, it is desirable to be guided by the recommendations and expert reviews.

• The composition of high-quality dry food always contains a lot of meat and a little less fat. Cats are carnivorous animals, which means that they need nutrients contained only in animal products. Therefore, choosing food, look at the composition of the food. It should include a large amount of protein, a moderate amount of fat and a minimal amount of carbohydrates. This balance of ingredients is optimal for cats.
• Good dry food contains more than 10 nutrients, such as vitamins, minerals, fatty acids and amino acids. Therefore, it is necessary to observe the right balance of ingredients and caloric content in dry feed.
• Reading the composition reflected on the feed label is the best way to compare different types of food for cats to make the right choice. These data allow you to choose a balanced feed for your cat, given its age, illness and other individual characteristics.
• When choosing a feed, read the list of ingredients. They are listed in order of weight reduction. Choose food, on the label of which the meat ingredients go first. This means that the meat content will be relatively more than the amount of other cat food ingredients.
• Veterinarians recommend Royal Canin feed. According to their experience, cats consuming this type of food become more active and playful. Their wool becomes shiny and beautiful. In cats, the wool ceases to fall out (if there was such a problem).
• Grandorf feeds are also recommended. They are hypoallergenic because they do not contain corn, soybeans, cereals, flavorings, bone meal and flavor enhancers. The composition also does not include eggs and beef.
• Some experts do not recommend dry food for cats because of the risk of urolithiasis. However, with proper selection of the type of feed and the recommendations mentioned above, it is possible to avoid the appearance of this pathology.

For an examination of dry cat and cat food, see the video below.