The best holistic food for cats

Characteristics of food Holistic

The name of this class comes from the Greek word “Holism”, meaning “everything”, “whole”, “common”. There is such a concept in philosophy. Aristotle’s famous saying from his treatise Metaphysics states: “Integrity is more than the sum of its parts.”

From the point of view of animal nutrition, these principles suggest that “Holistic” is not only a set of specific components and substances, but also a general whole that has better properties than any other food. These are new generation mixtures made from products intended for people using special technologies.

The ingredients in these foods are selected taking into account the concepts of nutrigenomics - a science guided by the principles of genetics and nutrition. All products are considered from the point of view of their effect on the heredity and health of living beings. “Human” gene diets are also known, created according to the principles of testing detoxification, lipid metabolism, vitamin B, folic acid, calcium, insulin, and oxidative stress.

The founder and popularizer of healthy food for pets, Joseph Coquitt, was the first to put forward the postulate - “We are what we eat.” He stated that only natural ingredients can be beneficial for pets (cats and dogs).

The difference between Holistic and other foods

Holistic differs significantly from economy, premium and super premium mixtures in the following parameters:

• Made only from products intended for human consumption.
• It contains certain types of meat (turkey, lamb, chicken, duck) and fish. Does not contain pork or beef.
• It has a natural taste that is attractive to cats.
• Be sure to contain Omega-3 and 6 fatty acids, micro- and macroelements, vitamins.
• For 100% digestibility and improved motility of the cat’s gastrointestinal tract, the composition includes enzymes and natural probiotics.
• The content of harmful artificial additives (attractants - taste enhancers, dyes, preservatives) is completely excluded.
• The content of plant ingredients is kept to a minimum, no more than 10%.
• It is not advertised like Whiskas and Kiteket on television and on the Internet.
• In order to exclude trade in counterfeits, it is sold only in expensive pet stores, elite veterinary clinics, and by order on the official distributor’s website.
• It has a very high cost, at least twice as expensive as premium food made from high-quality raw materials.

The packaging of Holistic class mixtures must contain the following information:

• name of the brand, manufacturer, trademark;
• mass of the product in grams or kilograms;
• date of manufacture;
• best before date;
• composition (indicated in descending order of quantitative content);
• daily norm;
• distributor contact information;
• quality certificate mark.

Read the article about the composition of cat food.

Age recommendations

Most manufacturers of Holistic class mixtures produce special lines, divided by age groups and specific veterinary or preventive indicators.

For cats of different groups, the composition includes certain types of meat, some berries and fruits, a certain content of vitamins, micro- and macroelements, Omega-3 and 6 fatty acids, enzymes, prebiotics and probiotics.

Holistic for kittens takes into account the need of babies for a high content of protein, enzymes and probiotics for active growth of muscles, hair and skeletal formation. The offspring raised on these mixtures from the first days of transition to complementary feeding have a good appearance, are not susceptible to diseases, and have a long life span.

There are special foods for young cats, older cats, and sterilized animals.

List and rating of Holistic class food

TOP 7 Holistic class feeds, taking into account the price-quality ratio.

Now Natural Holistic

Dry grain-free food, production located in Canada. Made by Petcurean from fresh meat (pulp), with the addition of vegetables and fruits. It does not contain:

• By-products are waste from meat production (lungs, heart, stomach) and animal husbandry (bones, feathers, skin).
• Animal fats are products of processing of lard, interior fat from slaughterhouses.
• Grains to which many cats become allergic. It contains berries (cranberries), vegetables (beans, peas, spinach, lentils, carrots) and fruits - natural antioxidants.
• Bottled hydroxyanisole and hydroxytoluene (BHA and BHT) are fat-soluble artificial preservatives that are most often used as stabilizers in the production of low-quality feed. Instead, the natural antioxidant vitamin E was introduced - oils from rapeseed and flaxseed.

It is worth clarifying that the food of this class maintains a balance of protein, fats and carbohydrates, which allows them to be included in the diet of castrated cats without the threat of obesity.

The following types of feed are produced for:

• Adult cats: with turkey, duck and vegetables;
• with sensitive digestion with trout and salmon;
• "Fish Recipe"

The following packaging is provided:

• 230 g;
• 1,82;
• 3,63;
• 7.26 kg.

The average price for 1 kg in online stores and distributors of the manufacturer is from 700 to 1,000 rubles.

Read more in the article about NOW cat food.

Go! Natural Holistic (Go! Natural Holistic)

Go Natural is produced by the same company Petcurean as Know Natural Holistic.

Its recipe was developed and certified by the best veterinarians and nutritionists in the world. Contains pieces of chicken and salmon fillet made from fresh ingredients.

Other ingredients include:

• brown rice;
• oats;
• potato;
• carrot;
• garlic;
• cranberry;
• apples;
• Yucca Schidigera.

Vitamin E (sunflower and flaxseed oil) serves as antioxidants.

Benefits of Go Natural Holistic:

• It has a general formula and composition for animals of all breeds and age groups. When feeding your pet with these mixtures, excellent health and shape are maintained throughout its life; only the portion of food changes.
• Allows you to save on cat nutrition (consumption is reduced by 40%) due to the fact that it contains significantly higher (2 times) protein content than in cheaper mixtures. The natural fiber contained in Gou comes from fruits and vegetables. It contributes to the normalization of digestion and the ideal functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.
• Made from Human Grade products - for human nutrition. They have been tested by renowned nutritionists and have undergone all inspections in accordance with Canadian law. Chicken fillet is made from chickens raised on natural grain without GMOs and hormones. Salmon is used only immediately after catching. All fruits, vegetables and berries are collected before preparing the feed. It contains Omega-3 and 6 fatty acids, natural probitoics and prebiotics, glucosamine, chondroitin and taurine.
• It has a unique composition and guaranteed quality. Manufactured according to the standards of CFIA - Canadian Food Inspectorate, FDA - American Food and Drug Administration and EU - European Community. Guarantees are backed by independent audits by NSF-Cook and Thurber and the American Food Institute.

The following types of Gou brand dry cat food are produced, all in the Adult and Kitten category - for adult cats and kittens:

• Lightweight - made from whole chicken, fruits and vegetables; grain-free version of trout, salmon and herring.
• For picky pets - grain-free options with various fish (trout, salmon, herring) and several types of meat: chicken, duck, turkey and salmon.
• For active individuals in options: whole chicken, salmon and vegetables and two grain-free options - trout, salmon, herring; the second option is chicken, turkey, duck and salmon.

Packaging 1.82; 3.63; 7.26 kg at prices from 450 to 720 per kilogram.

There are also wet, grain-free canned foods: Adult category, packaged in 100 grams - with turkey; with Chiken; with stewed chicken, turkey and duck meat. The cost of one can is from 110 to 150 rubles.

Golden Eagle Holistic Health

The food is produced in the UK by Golden Eagle® Petfoods UK Ltd using innovative technologies.

Golden Needle recipes were developed using world achievements of nutritionists and veterinarians. They found that artificial additives and chemicals contained in many industrial mixtures cause irreparable harm to animal health and can lead to DNA destruction.

The meat, fish, grains, fruits and vegetables from which Golden Eagle food is made represent the five main human food groups and are carefully selected. A complete list of ingredients is always published on the packaging with a full description; the composition of the feed is approved by the European Community.

Advantages of Golden Eagle feed:

• It contains only high-quality components from natural raw materials.
• The grains used are non-GMO, not processed, only whole grains.
• Ready-made mixtures and the entire process of their production are subject to careful control - the company has more than a hundred different inspection procedures.
• No attractants, chemical preservatives or dyes are used.
• Particular attention is paid to ensuring that the food provides healthy skin and coat.
• The food is not tested on laboratory animals.
• Scientific research is constantly being carried out to develop new types of Gou mixtures.
• The health and lifespan of cats fed Golden Eagle food are continuously monitored.

The company produces the following types of dry grain-free mixtures:

• For kittens and young cats with chicken and salmon, packaged in 400 g, 2 and 4 kg. The price from official distributors is from 700 to 1,000 rubles per kilogram.
• For adult cats with chicken and salmon in bags of 400 g, 2.4 and 10 kg. The cost of a kilogram is 695-980 rubles.
• For cats with sensitive digestion - potatoes and chicken. Packages of 400 g, 2 and 4 kg. Price from 680 to 890 rubles per kilogram.

Acana

The Canadian company of the same name produces only Holistic class food.

The company explains the choice of natural ingredients by the fact that cats remain carnivores no matter what lifestyle they lead and are not considered a fully domesticated species. Therefore, the main component of any food should be animal protein.

The company considers its main achievement to be the use in production of high-quality ingredients from the Human Grade series of products (for humans). Meat content - 75 and 85%.

The peculiarity of Akana food is that up to 50% of the meat in their content is raw, the remaining part is liver, heart and kidneys, included in the mixture in accordance with the WholePrey technology (whole prey), which allows you to preserve all the beneficial substances contained in them.

Akana food is available in three types, all of which are intended for cats and kittens:

• Wild Prairie - with chicken and turkey
• Grassland - with lamb, duck and turkey
• Pacifica - with perch, herring, flounder, hake and sardine.

Available in 340 g packaging; 1.8; 2.27; 5.4 kg. The cost in distributor stores is from 630 to 860 rubles per kilogram.

Read more in the article about Acana cat food.

Orijen

Also produced in Canada. This is a line of grain-free foods that are high in protein and low in carbohydrates.

Poultry fillets (turkey, chicken) and fish fillets (salmon, trout) are used as a source of protein.

Other components serve as a source of carbohydrates, vitamins, natural enzymes, micro- and macroelements:

• vegetables and fruits steamed using special technology;
• herbs - chicory, mint, dandelion, fennel.

Orijen does not contain GMOs, artificial colors, attractants, or chemical preservatives.

The manufacturing company does not divide the food according to the age of the animals; they are suitable for both adult cats and kittens and are packaged as follows:

• with chicken, turkey and fish - 340 g; 1.8; 2.27; 5.4; 17 kg;
• for animals prone to obesity - 1.8 kg;
• with goat, wild boar and deer meat - 340 g, 1.8; 5.4 kg;
• with chicken, turkey and fish for overweight cats - 5.4 kg;
• with six types of ocean fish - 340 g; 2.27;1.8; 5.4 kg.

The average price per kilogram in stores of official distributors is from 740 to 830 rubles.

Hill's Ideal Balance

Hill's brand formulas are manufactured in the United States and the Netherlands by Hill's Pet Nutrition, a subsidiary of Colgate-Palmolive Company.

Not long ago, along with premium food, the production of holistic products Hills Ideal Balance opened. The food contains chicken, vegetables, flax seeds, fruits and cranberries.

Packaged in 300 g; 1.5 and 2 kg. The cost is 700-800 rubles per kilogram.

Pronature Holistic

The Canadian company Pronature, widely known throughout the world as a manufacturer of super premium food for cats and dogs, recently began producing Holistic mixtures.

The following types of food are produced in this group:

• Asian cuisine - grain-free monoprotein mixture with fresh fish and shiitake mushrooms is intended for picky pets.
• Nordico - Nordic diet. Ingredients: turkey, potatoes, alfalfa, tapioca, salmon, cranberries.
• Mediterranean Sea - fish, fresh fruits and vegetables.
• Atlantic salmon and brown rice.
• With ocean white fish and rice.
• Lightened up for kittens with sweet potato and chicken.

The mixtures are sold in 340 g bags; 2.72; 5.44 kg at prices from 680 to 830 rubles per kilogram.

We recommend an article about Pronature food.

Dry food

Most manufacturers produce only dry holistic food for dogs, but in their assortment there is a menu for the most picky pet. In order not to fall for the bait of advertisers, when buying food you need to read its composition. In the list of ingredients, the main ingredient always comes first, so meat should be there. Also a big plus is the content of several types of meat at once; the more varied, the more complete. Ideally, the amount of meat and fish should vary within 70%.

It is important to note that only natural preservatives and flavors are added to holistic dry dog ​​food, so there should be no artificial components in the ingredient list. They also do not contain grains that create ballast: wheat, corn, and soybeans.

In the category of holistic dog food, the price is per 1 kg. varies between 450 - 600 rubles. (when calculating, we take the average prices of large packages of food). It is important to note that the daily consumption rate of this class of food is much lower than others, so the cost of such food will not increase much in comparison with super-premium class food.

Each manufacturer strives to create its own unique diets, for example, duck with oranges or lamb with venison, but still, in order to choose the optimal nutrition for your pet, you must first of all take into account its age, activity and size.

Small breeds

Small dogs have their own special nutritional needs. Taking them into account, special holistic food has been created for small breed dogs. They contain a large amount of proteins, which increases the energy value of food. The carbohydrate content is also reduced to maintain the dog's ideal weight. The pet gets the necessary vitamins and antioxidants from berries, fruits and herbs. All components of such feeds are fresh and do not contain GMOs, and are not frozen or processed. The shape and size of the granules are adapted to the pet's small teeth. For example, Nau Holistic dog food offers perfectly balanced nutrition for mini breeds, which is suitable for both a puppy and an adult animal.

The cost of a small package of such food (800 g - 1 kg) is approximately 650 - 750 rubles.

Large breeds

Large dogs need substances that support joint function more than others, because it is among large breeds that the highest percentage of diseases associated with impaired musculoskeletal functions is found. Another important aspect in the nutrition of large pets is the gain of excess muscle mass. Taking these and other nuances into account, manufacturers produce separate lines of holistic food that are optimally balanced for large dog breeds.

A large package of food for large breed dogs (bag from 11 to 15 kg) costs about 4500 - 6500 rubles.

Food allergies

For pets suffering from food intolerance or food allergies, a specialized hypoallergenic dry food for dogs in the holistic segment has been developed. It does not contain grains, which often cause rejection by the animal’s body (wheat), as well as soy. Chicken meat is also replaced with a hypoallergenic protein source, such as duck or lamb. Oats can be a source of carbohydrates; components that have a positive effect on intestinal function are also added. Holistic hypoallergenic food for dogs with sensitive digestion helps eliminate the problem once and for all and restore the joy of life to your pet.

Average prices for small packs of food in this category are 250 – 350 rubles.

Table with the approximate composition of Holistic food

The approximate composition of Holistic feed is given below:

About the holistic concept

The creation of this food segment is a modern approach to dog nutrition. It is difficult to apply a characteristic to them: better or worse than the superpremium class, or more precisely, it would be a special category of the superpremium line of food. The food development philosophy of this group is based on the fact that the dog should eat the same as in the wild. In addition, when developing formulations for holistic diets, attention is focused not only on the quality of the components, but also on their complex interaction with each other and the effect on the dog’s body as a whole.

Having founded a special class of holistic nutrition for dogs, professionals adhere to a simple concept: to ensure good health and avoid many diseases, two things are enough - choose the right diet and the degree of activity of the dog (full walking, physical activity). Following this statement, these foods contain only natural products: meat and fish, wild or brown rice, various berries, vegetables and natural fruits, healthy herbs and spices. Special production technology at lower temperatures allows the maximum amount of vitamins and microelements to be preserved in the ingredients.

Advantages and disadvantages of Holistic food

These natural foods are the latest word in veterinary medicine and cat nutrition. Their advantages include:

• Composition balanced in the content of proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, micro- and macroelements.
• All components are made only from natural food products intended for human consumption.
• Special manufacturing technologies allow you to preserve the ideal composition of nutrients.
• High content of fresh meat, above 70%.
• High nutritional value.
• Economical, one serving is at least two times less than cheap food.
• Small granules are convenient for use by both adult cats and kittens.

The disadvantages of this class of feed are few:

• Very high cost. Many nursery owners, having cooperated, buy Holistic at wholesale prices with discounts.
• Not widely available, sold only through official distributors of manufacturers.
• Exclusion from the assortment of many manufacturers of therapeutic and age-related lines; there is no division by breed.
• It is difficult to transfer some animals to Holistics due to the absence of artificial flavors and taste enhancers in their composition.

Wet food

If it is difficult for you to please the tastes of your four-legged pet, or you just want to pamper your pet with something tasty, holistic canned food for dogs would be the ideal choice. Among them there are both complete diets for every day, and gourmet food that can be given as a treat. This food is also prepared for animals with special needs, for example, for dogs with sensitive digestion or overweight. They contain all the necessary ingredients for a balanced diet: a large amount of meat, essential vitamins, amino acids and minerals. Even the most picky gourmet will appreciate holistic wet food for dogs, as it has a very appetizing aroma and great taste.

The average price of a jar is 400g. varies from 150 to 300 rubles.