What dry food is best to feed a cat: pros and cons

The beauty, health and good mood of our four-legged friends are the best reward for us, their owners. After all, it’s not in vain that we spend so much time, effort and love so that our pets delight us with their spontaneity and magnetism. Beautiful toys, comfortable clothes, fashionable leashes... all this, too, is important and interesting. However, the main thing is nutrition!

A modern domestic cat should always be fed and happy!

How to choose what's right for your pet? And how much does it cost?

We bring you an updated review of the best cat foods for 2021 from the world's best known and most trusted brands.

1. Innova EVO (Innova EVO), USA - holistic
2. Acana (Akana), Canada - holistic
3. Almo Nature (Almo Nature), Italy - super premium
4. Eagle Pack (Eagle Pack), USA - holistic
5. 1st Choice Indoor (Fest Choice), Canada - super premium
6. Now Natural Holistic (Nau Natural Holistic), Canada - super premium
7. Orijen Cat, Canada - holistic
8. Frank´s Pro Gold (Franks Pro Gold), Holland - super-premium
9. Arden Grange (Arden Grange), England - super premium
10. NERO GOLD (Nero Gold), Holland - super-premium
11. Eukanuba (Eukanuba), Canada - premium
12. Hills (Hills), USA, Netherlands - premium
13. Bozita (Bozita), Sweden - premium
14. Purina Pro Plan (purina Proplan), France - premium
15. Royal Canin (Royal Canin), France - premium

Innova EVO (Innova EVO), USA - holistic

American-made Innova EVO cat food can be called one of the best in the world. The prefix “holistic” means that this food uses food ingredients that can also be used in human products.

Advantages:

• - excellent quality and recommendations from veterinarians
• – presence of raw dietary proteins (meat)
• - presence of probiotics that improve digestion
• - no preservatives or dyes
• - hypoallergenic
• - increasing the life expectancy of the animal
• – high energy value
• - Helps prevent urolithiasis

Flaws:

• - more expensive than most other feeds
• - difficult to purchase in a store, you need to search on the Internet (but in 2021 this food (especially dry food) has become more popular in Russia)

The cost in online stores ranges from 23 to 35 dollars for a package of 12 cans. Can weight – 375 grams.

Dry food:

• 400 g - from 250 rub.
• 1.5 kg - 870 rub.
• 4 kg - 1960 rub.

Cat food rating 2021

In different food ratings, some products change places, but the meaning remains the same - only the most popular among pet owners for a certain period are included in the TOP.

Economy class feed

The following brands have been the favorite economy class foods for a long time:

• Purina One;
• "Night Hunter";
• "Every day";
• Whiskeys;
• Wellkiss;
• Felix;
• Kitekat.

Table: comparison of economy class feeds

Photo gallery: the best economy class food in 2021

Kitekat is a cheap food that can be found in any supermarket

Although Purina One is an economy class food, veterinarians often recommend it to their patients

Night Hunter cat food is a relatively new brand of pet food, which from the first days began to enjoy the trust of customers

Veterinarians and breeders of purebred cats are dissatisfied with the quality of Whiskas, but the animals themselves simply adore this product

Felix food is a more budget-friendly option for Purina One

Video: examination of popular cheap cat food

Premium segment products

Popular premium segment foods include:

• Royal Canin;
• Hill's;
• Brit;
• "Our brand";
• Berkley;
• Pro Plan;
• ProBalance
• Sheba;
• Happy Cat;
• Iams;
• 1ST Choica;
• Gourmet.

Table: comparison of the most popular premium foods

Photo gallery: premium cat food

Veterinarians trust Royal Canin food, as manufacturers offer a wide veterinary line

Sheba is only wet food, but this brand has many lines

The Hill's brand has many foods with different flavors and for animals of different ages.

Even with a limited number of Gourmet foods, you can choose the right option with the right taste

Pro Plan is one of the products of Purina, which has long been popular among Russian consumers

Super premium food

The most popular super premium food among buyers:

• Pronature Original;
• Gina;
• Bozita;
• Flatazor;
• 1st Choice;
• Bosch;
• Organix;
• Schesir;
• Brit Care;
• Leonardo;
• Monge.

Super premium foods are harder to find than their cheaper counterparts. Some cat owners have to order them from suppliers (this also guarantees quality). In addition, now you can place an order through online stores, in which case you can receive the goods at home.

Table: popular super premium foods

Photo gallery: super premium cat food

1st Choice super premium food cannot boast of a large number of types

Pronature Original food does not contain dyes or flavors

Gina super premium food is highly valued by veterinarians for its high quality

Unlike many other high quality foods, cats like Bozita

Bosch products do not contain soy protein, all protein comes from animal products

Holistic segment feed

The best holistic foods, according to cat owners, include:

• Innova;
• Acana;
• Almo Nature;
• Farmina N&D;
• Nature Holistic;
• Orijen;
• Gina Elite;
• Grandorf;
• Barking Heads;
• Savarra;
• !;
• Now;
• SUPERPET.

Table: comparison of the best holistic foods

Photo gallery: popular luxury cat food

When purchasing Almo Nature wet food in packaging (for example, 12 cans), their price will be lower

Not all cats eat expensive foods such as Pronature Holistic because they do not contain flavor or odor enhancers.

Even humans can eat food like Innova

Feed Go! can only be ordered directly from class=”aligncenter” width=”600″ height=”588″[/img] Lesser-known holistic foods, such as Now, can be purchased at the price of a premium product

SUPERPET food with turkey will appeal to even picky pets

Food with different flavors

Manufacturers try their best to make food more attractive to consumers and healthier for cats. To do this, recipe developers and veterinary nutritionists create products with different flavors. Moreover, it is absolutely not necessary that the food contains exactly the meat that is indicated on the label. Most economy, premium and super premium class products contain flavorings. Of course, some owners understand this trick perfectly well, but what can you do to please your pet?

However, raw natural food does not suffer from this, since you yourself can see what kind of meat the product is made from; the ingredients are visible to the naked eye. For example, SUPERPET food is made from natural chicken, turkey, beef, duck and rabbit. And without the use of fragrances.

There are foods with the following flavors:

• chicken (Whiskas for kittens with chicken, 1st Choice Vitality);
• beef (Kitekat beef in jelly, Almo Nature Beef&Rice);
• rabbit (Monge Rabbit);
• beef tongue (Sheba from veal and tongue, Dinner Menu No. 7);
• lamb (Acana Grasslands);
• ducks (Innova Evo 95 Duck, Sheba mini, Monge Duck);
• turkey (Sheba with turkey in Bechamel sauce);
• liver (Brit Premium with chicken and chicken liver);
• salmon (Sheba mini, Whiskas for kittens stew with salmon);
• tuna (Monge Tonno Del Pacifico Con Salmone);
• shrimp, seafood (Monge Fantasia Di Mare Con Pollo, Schesir with chicken and shrimp);
• trout (Sanabelle Adult with trout);
• anchovies (Monge Anchovies);
• combinations of meat/fish with vegetables/fruits (Farmina N&D fish and orange, Pronature with turkey and cranberries).

Some manufacturers produce food with “rare” flavors (shrimp, seafood, fruit, etc.)

Acana (Akana), Canada - holistic

Any of the Acana cat foods contains several meats and at least three protein sources:

• fresh fish,
• whole eggs,
• meat from chickens that were raised on a “free range”.

This food is rich in essential acids such as EPA and DHA, Omega 3, vitamin B12, selenium and other beneficial substances. Acana food contains a minimum of carbohydrates.

Acana food is perfectly balanced and helps cats reach their full potential and achieve excellent health, despite their age and breed characteristics.

Advantages:

• - increased concentration of natural proteins
• – minimal content of simple sugars and “empty” calories
• - presence of a variety of herbal ingredients
• - no preservatives or dyes

Flaws:

• — lack of a line of food for specialized corrective and therapeutic nutrition (at the time of publication of this review)

Cost: from 360 to 4900 rubles depending on the weight of the package.

Read more about Akana food in our article: Akana food, composition, cost, reviews from veterinarians and cat owners.

Almo Nature (Almo Nature), Italy - super premium

Almo Nature dry and wet food contains completely natural ingredients (up to 99% fish or meat in whole pieces). During the manufacturing process, these products are checked three times for quality and undergo minimal processing. As a result, the food is harmonious in composition, nutritious, and has excellent biological value. It preserves the natural smell of products and maximum beneficial properties. The entire line of food contains no GMOs, flavors, preservatives, or antibiotics.

Advantages:

• - natural ingredients
• — no chemical impurities
• – a wide range of canned and dry food
• — convenient classification of feed is made using colored stickers
• - relatively low cost

Flaws:

• - dry food is of lower quality than “wet”

Cost: canned food (wet food):

• from 70 RUR – 0.07 kg jar
• from 150 rubles - can from 0.14 kg.

Dry food costs in 2021:

• from 860 rub. - per bag of 2 kg.
• from 4430 rub. for 12 kg.

Golden Eagle or Eagle Pack (Eagle Pack), USA - holistic

Eagle Pack (or Golden Eagle) cat food is a premium product available on the market in three varieties: Kitten Formula (for nursing cats and kittens), Adult Cat (with salmon and chicken for feeding regular cats), and Sensitive (hypoallergenic). . These types of food are excellent for feeding your cat, as they are perfectly balanced in terms of the level of beneficial microorganisms and natural bacteria found in them.

Advantages:

• — optimal composition of ingredients that does not require adjustment with vitamin supplements
• - presence of natural animal proteins
• – balanced amount of digestive probiotics
• — content of branded vitamins Lactohealth™, MicroHealth™, BioHealth™

Flaws:

• - higher average price position compared to some other foods in this class
• — narrow assortment (in 2021 — assortment unchanged)
• — produced only in dry form (at the time of publication of this feed review)

Price:

• 0.4 kg - 447 rub.
• 2 kg - 1326 rub.
• 4 kg - 2570 rub.

1st Choice Indoor (Fest Choice), Canada - super premium

1st Choice Indoor is a dry cat food produced by the Canadian company PLB International. A wide range of these products is designed for animals with different needs: regular domestic, sterilized, picky, overactive, etc.

The company's specialists have developed a balanced composition of ingredients included in this food, which is ideal for cats at different stages of their life and corresponds to their current physical condition.

Advantages:

• - wide range of products
• - excellent nutritional value and great taste
• – high content of animal proteins
• - presence of rice - one of the best sources of carbohydrates
• - presence of probiotics and prebiotics
• - optimal concentration of vitamins
• - balanced antioxidant formula
• - ability to reduce odors of urine and feces

Flaws:

• — lack of a line of wet food (at the time of publication of the review)

Cost: from 280 to 5300 rubles depending on the weight of the package.

Types of cat food

A cat owner can feed his pet in one of two ways:

• natural food;
• store-bought (industrial) feed.

Each method of feeding a cat involves several types of food.

Natural food is food for the cat prepared by the owner from good quality products. We are not talking about home-cooked food for people, but about dishes prepared specifically for the animal (taking into account its age, body characteristics, breed and health status).

You can also purchase ready-made balanced natural diets in online stores. This food is usually delivered frozen and is an excellent choice for those who prefer to feed their pets a natural diet.

Industrial feeds are divided into several categories by type and class. The types may be as follows:

• dry food (in the form of granules);
• wet food (canned food in the form of pates, jellies);
• raw natural food;
• medical lines (for cats with health problems);
• treats (special treats that do not carry a calorie load).

All store-bought cat food is divided into 4 classes:

• economy class (these are budget products that contain almost no meat);
• premium class (they contain natural meat, but also artificial additives);
• super premium (expensive, practically no dyes, contains a lot of meat);
• holistic class (the most expensive, up to 90% meat, do not contain dyes or preservatives).

What food to choose for a cat

When choosing food for your pet, pay attention to a few points:

1. Age and health of the cat. The food must correspond to the condition of the animal: a kitten should not be fed with food for adult cats, a cat prone to obesity should not be fed with fatty food, etc.
2. Type of food (dry or wet, raw natural).
3. Composition of the future purchase.

It is important to decide on the type of food in advance. The fact is that these products are different in their composition and digestibility. Feeding with dry food should be accompanied by plenty of drinking (pellets contain approximately 10% moisture, and this is not enough for the animal to fully nourish itself). Wet food contains 80–85% moisture and does not need to be washed down. But feeding only canned food can be expensive. Some brands of canned food are packaged in small pouches (one pouch is designed for 1 time, but in total you may need up to 7 pieces per day). Raw natural food has the required amount of moisture, is high in calories - sometimes one bag a day is enough, and is perfectly digestible.

Pouches are intended for one complete feeding of a cat.

Mixing different brands of food is not recommended. But to feed a cat, you can combine wet and dry food if we are talking about products of the same brand.

Many of my friends leave their cats dry food in a bowl for the whole day (while they are at work) and a full bowl of fresh water. And in the evening they pamper their pets with wet food. Yes, mustachioed pets prefer wet food. But dry during the day is the best option. Firstly, cat owners can calculate the daily requirement in advance and leave everything at once (and the cat will distribute this food over the required number of times). Secondly, dry food is good for teeth. Cat breeders I know who feed their cats pellets never complain about the health of their cat's teeth.

If you feed natural diets, we recommend feeding them twice a day, morning and evening, with an interval of 6 to 10 hours. This type of food is natural for the animal and has the most beneficial effect on the health of both the entire body and the teeth in particular.

The quality of the food can be determined by its composition. The food should be well balanced - a lot of meat, few carbohydrates. The word “meat” does not necessarily mean pieces of veal pulp or tenderloin from a rack of lamb, but proteins of animal origin:

• natural fresh meat;
• dehydrated meat and fish;
• by-products and processed meat and fish products;
• bone flour.

The record holders for the quality and quantity of fresh meat, fish and eggs used in the production are Acana, Orijen and SUPERPET feeds, 75–85% and even 93% consisting of meat ingredients, up to 2/3 of which are added fresh. In addition to muscle meat, these foods also contain high-quality by-products - heart, cartilage and tripe, which attract animals and are a rich source of nutrients. Considering that Acana and Orijen and SUPERPET foods are grain- and potato-free and have very low carbohydrate content, they are an excellent choice for feeding obligate carnivores such as cats. It is not without reason that Acana, Orijen and SUPERPET belong to the class of biologically appropriate feeds, whose composition is as close as possible to the diet that animals eat in nature.

SUPERPET food consists of 93% meat ingredients

Veterinarian advice

When a cat owner asks a veterinarian which food is best to choose, most likely the advice will be the same - the more expensive option. The fact is that veterinarians often encounter cat diseases that arise from improperly balanced food. Dyes, artificial flavors, allergens - all this leads to various ailments. Therefore, professionals are trusted by high-quality food, which simply cannot be cheap.

However, now Russian-made food of very decent quality and affordable price, belonging to the super-premium class, is appearing on the market. Among such brands we can name the Blitz trademark, which is distinguished by its high content of meat components - chicken, turkey, lamb, as well as the absence of wheat as the most allergenic of grains. Blitz food does not contain dyes or artificial preservatives, but is enriched with live probiotics, Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids and other valuable additives that help maintain animal health.

Excellent quality and attractive prices for the SUPERPET line of food. These natural, balanced foods contain more than 93% meat, do not undergo high-temperature processing, therefore retain all nutrients and, in addition, are enriched with vitamins and microelements. Does not contain grains, dyes, preservatives or flavor enhancers.

Blitz is a Russian-made food of very decent quality, which does not contain wheat, which often causes allergies in cats.

When purchasing food, look at the percentage of meat by-products.
The Pro-Plan that my cat eats contains 20% turkey, which is a super premium food. In Whiskas, Kitiket and others like them - 4%. Good feeds are Pro-Plan, Hills, Eukanuba, Yams, Advance. Royal Canina does not indicate the amount of meat. As for money, a 7 kg bag of Pro-Plan will be cheaper than Whiskas, where you pay mainly for advertising. There is no need to give anything other than food, since it is complete and was invented for this purpose, so that the owners do not fool themselves. Simba, forum user, veterinarian https://www.veterinarka.ru/forum/t15307.html

In addition, one of the veterinarian’s recommendations may be a warning about the diet itself. After all, no matter how good the store-bought food is, the owner of the animal can negatively affect the health of the pet by violating the feeding rules.

Choose among the expensive ones and feed only it; there is no need to dilute or alternate with natural food.
DOCTOR-VeT, forum user, veterinarian https://www.vetmedicus.ru/forum7/topic13573.php

Most often, veterinarians advise feeding pets industrial food.

Experts often advise switching pets to a special (therapeutic) diet. Our family has never had to go to the vet for our cat's diet, but my sister's cat suffers from urolithiasis. A couple of years ago he had a severe exacerbation, the veterinarian said that it was due to a metabolic disorder. Indeed, my sister fed Donut both meat and fish, but he never ate milk or dairy products. A lot of phosphorus accumulated in the body, but there was not enough calcium, so stones formed. The veterinarian recommended that they switch to medicinal food (Urinary) - several brands have such a line.

For a cat who has given birth, I advise you to switch to Hills feeding for kittens, it is higher in calories and will replenish the energy that is spent on feeding kittens and recovering after birth.
Vikki-Vikki, user, veterinarian https://forum.webmvc.com/index.php?/topic/4361-feeding-cats/

According to veterinarians, it is better to immediately discard food if it contains one (or more) of the following ingredients:

• potatoes (this is a product with a high glycemic index, which means it can lead to diabetes);
• the liver of any birds and animals - it is believed that it is capable of retaining toxins for a long time, so its consumption is potentially dangerous;
• soy protein concentrate (it is an allergen; there are cases when soy in the feed is classified as GMO);
• animal mixture (may contain hair, claws, hooves, feathers) - very allergenic;
• corn and its processed products, wheat, flour made from it, gluten are allergens;
• any artificial additives (the letter E will help you detect them);
• salt in any quantity;
• yeast.

By remembering this list, you will be able to choose the most healthy cat food, even from an inexpensive series.

Video: Farmina veterinarian's opinion on cat food

Now Natural Holistic (Nau Natural Holistic), Canada - super premium

Now Natural Holistic is a completely grain-free super-premium food for cats, which contains boneless fresh meat, fruits and vegetables and is free of by-products and hormonal drugs. The list of ingredients in these foods is extremely wide: fresh duck, turkey, salmon, rapeseed or coconut oil, spinach, cranberries, peas, blackberries, pumpkin pulp, alfalfa, carrots, lentils, brown algae. The feeling of freshness of the product is the main distinguishing feature of these feeds.

Advantages:

• - no animal fats
• – absence of low-quality proteins
• - no BHT and BHA toxins
• — optimal content of high-quality proteins
• — presence of a balanced vitamin formula
• - great taste

Flaws:

• — lack of a line of wet food
• - higher average price position compared to some other foods in this class

Cost: from 260 to 4500 rubles depending on the weight of the package.

Super premium dry food for kittens

Dry food designed for the body and jaws of kittens.

WILCAT Karoo Kitten

Food with rabbit, chicken and salmon meat. It is produced in Germany. It costs, as for adults, from 700 rubles. per kg. There are packages of 0.5 and 3 kg. The food has an excellent composition, 51% protein, 20% fat.

Full ingredient list: 34% rabbit meat, 24% chicken jerky, 22% dried salmon, 6% chicken fat, brewer's yeast, minerals, 2% salmon oil, 2% chicken liver, fennel, Jerusalem artichoke, catnip, tomato, prickly pear , barley grass, sea buckthorn, thyme, oregano, marjoram, sage, prebiotic MOS 525 mg/kg, prebiotic FOS 525 mg/kg, spirulina.

Applaws Kitten

A British manufacturer has food for kittens with chicken and vegetables. It is grain-free, the composition is quite good, although there are potatoes in third place. Here it is: 62% dried chicken, 17% ground chicken, potatoes, brewer's yeast, beet pulp, 1% chicken broth, salmon oil, vitamins and minerals, powdered eggs, 0.03% fiber, sodium chloride, calcium carbonate, dried seaweed algae, cranberry, DL-Methionine, potassium chloride, yucca extract, citrus fruit, rosemary.

There are packages of 0.4 and 2 kg. Price about 500 rub. per kg.

1st Choice Healthy Start

Made in Canada, good for 2 months to a year. If we talk about this food as a premium class, then it is the best. But among the super premiums to which the manufacturer classifies it, it occupies the middle position. In the first two places in the composition are fresh chicken and flour from it, 17% each, but then comes rice, without any specifications, after chicken fat, pea protein, etc. The disadvantages, of course, are the presence of rice, it is not clear whether it is white or brown, no specifications, as well as pea protein, it would be better to add just green peas.

There are different packages 0.35; 0.97; 2.72; 5.44; 10 and 20 kg. If you buy the largest one, 1 kg will cost about 500 rubles.

Arden Grange chicken for kittens

In addition to the three adult foods, there is also a grain-free option for kittens with chicken. Costs about 600 rubles. per kg. Sold in packs of 0.4; 2 and 8 kg. The first ingredients include 20% chicken meal, 26% fresh chicken, 26% potatoes. Otherwise, the composition is similar to the food of the same company for adult cats, which we already discussed earlier in the article.

Orijen Cat, Canada – holistic

Orijen Cat is a premium freeze-dried food for cats, consisting entirely of natural ingredients, there are no preservatives in its composition, and its taste and natural value are at the highest level. The meat content in these feeds is at least 70%, and the remaining ingredients are herbs, fruits and vegetables. The optimal combination of all useful substances makes this food one of the best in the world.

Advantages:

• - made exclusively from high quality natural products
• — maximum permissible meat content
• - balanced herbal vitamin formula
• — presence of Omega-3 – acids of marine origin, beneficial for coat and skin
• - antioxidant properties
• - excellent taste
• - prevalence in retail chains

Flaws:

• - relatively high cost compared to other feeds of this level

Cost: from 320 to 12,000 rubles, depending on the weight of the packaging.

Frank´s Pro Gold (Franks Pro Gold), Holland - super-premium

Frank´s Pro Gold is a perfectly balanced premium cat food that does not contain grains, GMOs or soy additives. A distinctive feature of these feeds is reasonable price and excellent quality. A wide range of these products allows you to choose the optimal diet for your pets, regardless of their age, physical condition and breed. Among the rich variety of tastes there are: fresh meat of lamb, rabbit, chicken, turkey, fish.

Advantages:

• - affordable price level and high quality
• — availability of a line of special dietary foods for diseases of the liver and heart, digestive system, kidney diseases, and urinary system
• - no gluten component
• — availability of preventive feeds to strengthen teeth and bones
• — special food for kittens and cats over 11 years old

Flaws:

• — average level of quality among premium feeds

Cost: from 1110 to 3400 rubles depending on the weight of the package.

Arden Grange (Arden Grange), England - super premium

Arden Grange is a super-premium cat food that is little known in our country, but quite popular in Europe, and has proven itself to be very good. The key to the success of this food is the ideal combination of natural ingredients such as meat, vegetables, rice, probiotics, mineral and vitamin complexes. Only grain-free food can be considered better than Arden Grange, however, such food is much more expensive and is not always suitable for the animal. Otherwise, this is healthy and nutritious food for your pet.

Advantages:

• - there are no attractants - substances with harmful chemical impurities that help the cat quickly become accustomed to a particular type of food (in fact, drugs)
• - well-balanced composition of ingredients
• — the highest quality components are used
• - favorable combination of price and quality
• - excellent taste
• - recommended for most cats

Flaws:

• - the presence of cellulose - a substance that sometimes acts as a laxative and in rare cases causes allergies

Cost: from 412 to 5500 rubles depending on the weight of the package.

What dry food to feed purebred cats

When choosing food, breed characteristics also play an important role. Outbred animals are healthier than purebred animals, is this a cliché or the truth? Unfortunately, as long as factory activities are not controlled and fined, this is and remains the truth.

The majority of purebred animals that are purchased at the market, from hands or from friends are carriers of breed ailments or are prone to them.

How to properly feed a Scottish Fold or British cat?

Do you want to get a British or Scottish fold cat? An excellent choice, but there are a few things you need to know. Years of selection by the British and Scots have weakened the breed.

Important! Most successful owners of British and Scottish cats are faced with food allergies in their pets. Fortunately, there are hypoallergenic foods that your pet can eat for life.

Separately, it should be said about Scottish cats obtained from fold-fold mating. When breeding Scottish cats, one of the parents must be straight-eared. If both the mother and father of the kittens are lop-eared, there is almost a 100% chance that the babies will be born disabled.

Developmental defects may not be detected immediately. Symptoms such as thickening of the tail, abnormal structure and paralysis of the hind legs can appear from one month to four years of age.

How to feed sphinxes correctly?

Sphynx lovers who dream of buying a kitten read breed forums and are horrified. It seems that every Sphynx is allergic. In fact, this statement is not far from the truth. Almost all hairless cats can only eat certain foods.

Allergies in the Sphynx manifest themselves in a unique way, ranging from rashes, itching and discomfort, ending with the formation of a sticky brown coating that remains on resting places and other surfaces on which the cat sits.

Practice shows that the body of sphinxes reacts sharply not only to common allergens, but also to gluten, which is contained in most cereals.

Note! Sphynx kittens purchased from reputable breeders or good nurseries are very healthy and rarely suffer from nutritional illnesses.

How to feed a Persian cat?

If you decide to get a Persian cat, there are many more nuances with feeding than you think. Persian cats have long hair, and this requires a balanced diet and a constant presence of hard fibers in the diet. In addition, for normal digestion, the cat must be constantly given a paste that dissolves the hair that has entered the stomach.

Note! Allergy sufferers are not uncommon among Persian cats.

The next nuance concerns the so-called extreme Persians, cats with upturned or depressed noses. The special structure of the skull makes the cat vulnerable to conjunctivitis and other diseases affecting the mucous membranes.

At the slightest inflammation or swelling of the mucous membranes, the cat has breathing problems. Oddly enough, conjunctivitis that occurs against the background of food allergies is one of the common ailments to which amateur-bred Persians are prone.

NERO GOLD (Nero Gold), Holland - super-premium

NERO GOLD is a complex of high-quality dry and wet super-premium food for cats, which has a wide range of flavors: fish, turkey, chicken, lamb, cocktail meat and even venison. The NERO GOLD range of food is designed for both regular adult cats and nursing cats, kittens and elderly animals. It may contain rice, barley kernels, sweet potatoes, beet pulp, brewer's yeast, and other components rich in natural vitamins and beneficial for your pet.

Advantages:

• - hypoallergenic
• - only natural meat is used
• — balanced vitamin formula, the presence of all useful minerals
• - affordable price compared to other foods of the same class

Flaws:

• — the packaging does not indicate the percentage of meat
• - hard to find in stores (available online)

Cost: from 91 to 3500 rubles, depending on the type and weight of the package.

Features of the composition of super premium feed

The source of proteins is high quality meat and offal. Each package indicates their percentage.

Most brands do not contain corn gluten.

Sources of carbohydrates are most often rice and oats, less often potatoes and barley. These components are better absorbed and less allergenic than wheat and corn. Natural preservatives and antioxidants are used in production.

Also read the article about the composition of industrial cat food.

Eukanuba (Eukanuba), Canada - premium

Eukanuba is a premium dry food for cats, divided into two large groups: for daily feeding and medicinal (veterinary).

The presence of all the minerals and vitamins the animal needs, as well as their perfect balance, is a guarantee that your pet will be healthy and happy. The medicinal line of these foods implies the presence of special ingredients that are indicated for specific diseases.

Advantages:

• — high quality of used components
• - optimal granule size
• - high energy value allows the cat to eat a relatively small amount, which helps save
• - has a positive effect on the coat, which is important for animals participating in exhibitions

Flaws:

• - relatively high cost
• — low content of natural meat in food for adult cats (only 20%)
• - presence of vegetable fats

Cost: from 410 to 5700 rubles depending on the weight of the package.

Hills (Hills), USA, Netherlands - premium

Hills is a high-quality premium daily and medicinal food for cats, which has proven itself in many countries as a healthy and wholesome food for pets. It is important to note that regular Hills food is significantly inferior in quality to medicinal food, and therefore, after one or two weeks of feeding the animal with daily food, you should be tested and find out how well this food is absorbed by its body. But in general, the food meets all the quality requirements and the cats really like it.

Advantages:

• - relatively low cost
• - correct balance of magnesium, phosphorus, calcium
• - detailed indication of all ingredients on the packaging
• — a wide range of medicinal feeds

Flaws:

• - increased content of plant proteins
• - excessive concentration of carbohydrates
• - may cause allergies
• - sometimes enhances the smell of excrement

Cost: from 250 to 6000 rubles depending on the weight of the package.

The best specialized cat foods

Specialized foods are those products whose formulation was developed taking into account the characteristics of cats:

1. Belonging to a certain breed. For example, long-haired cats need more fiber, and Siamese and Oriental cats eat a lot, so their food should be more dietary, etc.

   Siamese cats can eat a lot, so their food contains fewer calories.

2. The age of the animal. Kittens need high-calorie foods, but older cats need less energy.
3. Cat activities. For example, animals that spend a lot of time outdoors need more dense food.
4. The physical condition of the animal.

The physical condition of the animal means not only diseases (food still cannot cure them), but also a predisposition to any ailments. Currently, products are produced for mustachioed pets with the following diseases and conditions:

• diabetes mellitus (Monge Diabetic, Royal Canin Diabetic DS46);
• urolithiasis (Hill's K/D or Urinary Care series);
• thyroid diseases (Hill's y/d);
• tendency to be overweight (Monge Obesity, Hill's Metabolic);
• skin diseases (Monge Dermatosis);
• orthopedic problems (Hill's j/d series, Royal Canin Mobility MC28);
• prone to dental diseases (Royal Canin Dental DS029);
• liver pathologies (Monge Hepatic, Royal Canin Hepatic HF26);
• recovering from operations (Hill's a/d);
• disorders of the gastrointestinal tract or sensitive digestion (Bosch Sanabelle Sensitive Lamb, Go! Sensitivity + Shine);
• poor appetite or capricious taste (Royal Canin Savour Exigent 35/30).

In many cats, urolithiasis develops in parallel with weight gain; for such animals, Metabolic + Urinary food from Hill's is suitable

A separate specialized line includes food for pregnant and nursing mothers. It is important that the cat receives a lot of vitamins and nutrients that will be beneficial to both her and future kittens. Most large manufacturers develop baby food lines in such a way that the nutrition meets the needs of the expectant mother:

• Monge Kitten;
• Royal Canin Pediatric Queen;
• Now Natural Holistic (complete food for all cats);
• Royal Canin Mother & Babycat (for kittens, pregnant and lactating cats);

  Kitten food is also suitable for pregnant and lactating cats, as it contains all the nutrients necessary for healthy growth of the baby.

• Pro Plan Junior (for kittens and their mothers);
• Brit Care Cat Crazy Kitten (everyday food for kittens and nursing cats);
• Bozita Feline Kitten.

The best and most popular foods for sterilized cats are the following products:

• Pro Plan Sterilized;
• Monge Sterilized Cat;
• Royal Canin Young male;
• Almo Nature Functional Adult Sterilized;
• 1st Choice Sterilized;
• Grandorf 4 Meat & Brown Rice Sterilized

Foods for sterilized animals and fattening cats have similar compositions - this is a low-calorie diet

Video: how dry animal food is made

Cat food reviews

I have two cats living at home: 1 and 1.5–2 years old.
Both are outbred. For 6–8 months they ate kitiket, whiskey and food “from the table”. Both are still healthy. I decided to switch them to a normal diet. I have very little money, so I can hardly afford to constantly feed them with expensive super-premiums. For now I'm taking perfect fit: in home. Maxim_1, forum newcomer https://www.veterinarka.ru/forum/t15307.html

And we had problems with Royal Canin food at first.
I bought it for Persian cats, it didn’t suit us, although I have a Persian at home. Individual intolerance began. I switched to food for allergy sufferers and everything went back to normal. My Marishka ate the food normally, without much zeal, but then over time she got used to it and eats it with pleasure. The main thing is that the food suits her and her health problems have gone away. I think this is important. Elena, forum user https://www.vetmedicus.ru/forum7/topic13573.php

Any premium food that you like, I advise as a breeder, not as a veterinarian.
I feed mine with royals, there were several attempts to change them, both were not very successful, I decided why bother if the cats like it and their condition suits me with this food. They love digestive, outdoor, and sometimes I take a couple more for variety. Delicate, forum user https://www.u-mama.ru/forum/family/pets/563524/

I only gave canned brit, the cats seemed to like it, now I switched to alma nature, they like canned food more (although they look and smell similar to brit).
sunnik, forum visitor https://www.zoovet.ru/forum/?tid=35&tem=694003

We have been eating Grandorf fish for 2 months.
With gusto. Both cats' stools returned to normal - one became softer, the other's diarrhea decreased, the stool became more regular, she can't eat chicken, so she eats fish food. Eyes and ears are clean. They scamper like trotters. But today I saw abundant dandruff on both of them, large, on the back. Once a day I give each person an additional 50g. Happy cat with jelly + 50 gr. water as additional moisture. But mostly the cat eats. Vuber, forum user https://mauforum.ru/viewtopic.php?p=2771720

But Grendorf's 2 kg bags are gorgeous.
Farmina fell apart after a week. ShotKot, forum user https://mauforum.ru/viewtopic.php?p=2771720

At one time I fed my cat only food from the table, but on one of the stormy days my pet got poisoned.
As a result, I had to take him to the veterinary clinic. The doctor advised me to feed my cats dry food, as it contains a lot of proteins and nutrients. I spent a long time selecting different types of food and now I only use Acana. Valeria, forum user https://forum.veterinar.by/topic/91-a-kto-chem-kormit-koshku/page__st__20

I wonder what the composition of canned GO food is.
We don't have them for sale. But I was disappointed with the composition of Shezir dry food. I saw it on sale here. It turned out to be with corn. brau, forum visitor https://www.zoovet.ru/forum/?tid=35.&tem=800111

Yesterday I bought Hills for older cats and dry and a jar of canned food to try.
I mixed it with whiskey and he eats it with pleasure, and Hills eats it first. Marisol, forum user https://www.veterinarka.ru/forum/t173.html

I transferred the cats to Pronature Holistic.
Grandorf can be added a little to the main food to relieve constipation: this food does an excellent job with this. marlah, forum user https://mauforum.ru/viewtopic.php?f=37&t=53439&start=110

My cat got away from Whiskas earlier, by starving the cat we moved to Hills too.
You just need to not coddle with him, but use tough methods. He won’t die of hunger, but he will switch to normal food and there will be no problems! Mavr, forum user https://www.veterinarka.ru/forum/t173.html

Bozita (Bozita), Sweden - premium

Bozita is premium wet (pouch) and dry food for cats, which is ideal for daily feeding of the animal, supplies its body with the necessary energy, and also contains a maximum of vitamins and minerals for good health. You should know that Bozita food is recommended exclusively for healthy cats and is contraindicated for animals with chronic diseases.

Advantages:

• — all components are subject to state control, which guarantees the absence of harmful substances
• — in addition to fresh meat and fish, there is taurine, proteins, and natural minerals
• - no dyes
• - excellent taste and pleasant smell
• - wide range of products
• - affordable price

Flaws:

• – the presence of corn flour, which can sometimes cause diarrhea
• - insufficient number of preventive supplements
• - lack of medicinal feed

Cost: from 113 to 6100 rubles depending on the weight of the package.

Mr. Cat recommends: how to choose super premium food for kittens

Kittens have much smaller jaws and a weak digestive system. Therefore, manufacturers have developed special lines for growing pets.

About the composition

The percentage differs from drying for adults. Food for small pets is higher in calories, as they expend more energy.

Manufacturers try to keep proteins and fats as natural as possible. Vitamins and minerals are carefully selected, containing substances necessary specifically for the growing body.

Advantages and disadvantages

Ready-made food ensures normal development. The owner does not need to prepare anything specially or calculate the content of proteins, fats, etc. You just need to buy food and pour it into your pet according to the dosage on the package or as recommended by your veterinarian. The dry diet is stored for a long time after opening.

However, there are also disadvantages:

• Considerable cost and limited distribution in stores.
• The product is not suitable for all individuals. Despite the small granules, some pets cannot chew them. You have to specially soak it before giving it.

Criterias of choice

What to rely on when purchasing:

• Price. A quality product cannot be inexpensive.
• Components. Really good food always has meat in the first place.
• Age. The manufacturer writes at what age a cat can be fed the selected diet.
• Individual characteristics of the body. For example, if there is a tendency to allergies, he should be fed a hypoallergenic line.
• Dry or wet food. Both super premium options are of excellent quality, so it’s up to the kitten’s owner to decide which one to choose. However, if your pet has problems with stool and digestion, or a weak jaw, it is advisable to choose canned food, because... They are better digestible and not tough.

Also read the article about choosing premium food for kittens.

Purina Pro Plan (purina Proplan), France - premium

Purina Pro Plan is a line of premium wet and dry food for cats, in the development of which veterinarians and nutritionists take an active part. In all Purina products, beneficial microelements and vitamins are optimally concentrated, and there is also a balance of natural food components, which has a positive effect on the functioning of the animal’s immune and digestive systems. Your pets' coat and skin will always shine with health. The variety of flavors of Purina food will not leave your cat indifferent.

Advantages:

• — high-quality raw components
• – reduces the formation of tartar by 40%
• — the presence of special additives for the prevention of genitourinary diseases
• - a wide range of
• - optimal balance of minerals and vitamins
• — availability of medicinal feed

Flaws:

• – the content of vegetable fats is exceeded
• - Strong smell

Cost: from 260 to 4750 rubles depending on the weight of the package.

For a more detailed review of Purina Proplan food with reviews from owners and veterinarians, read our article.

Mandatory composition of good food

A lack of nutrients and vitamins leads to stunted growth in a young individual and can provoke the appearance of various diseases.

Veterinarians in reviews of kitten food indicate that they should contain the following components:

• Microelements for growth and development: taurine, iron, iodine, zinc, L-carnitine. Without them, the growth of an animal and the full development of all systems of its body are impossible.
• Vitamin A, which is responsible for the kitten’s vision and bone growth.
• Vitamin C is indispensable for the development of the digestive system, excellent immunity and promotes the elasticity of the walls of blood vessels.
• Vitamin D is responsible for blood circulation.
• Vitamin E is responsible for the future reproductive function of the kitten.
• B vitamins improve metabolism, help strengthen blood vessels and muscle tissue.

Therefore, to choose a good food for kittens, reviews from veterinarians should be taken into account. Experts have different opinions about the types of animal diet, which we will consider below.