Italian cat food: list of the best manufacturers

Created: 09.14.2020
Updated: 02.26.2021 13:55:00 Share:
Author of the article: Rudenko Irina Sergeevna

*Review of the best according to the editors of expertology.ru. About the selection criteria. This material is subjective in nature, does not constitute advertising and does not serve as a purchase guide. Before purchasing, consultation with a specialist is required.

Every owner, when getting a pet, wants him to remain active, cheerful and healthy for as long as possible, and does everything in his power to achieve this. Proper selection of food is the key to a cat’s longevity. Some people prefer to give natural food. But many people opt for ready-made food, in which the ratio of nutrients is optimally selected. They are classified into economy, premium, super-premium and holistic. The first type is the most budget option with not always safe compounds. The last one is the most expensive.

We'll talk about super-premium food. They are made from high quality meat. The composition is strictly balanced depending on the age and needs of the animal. It includes vitamins, fats, microelements, and minerals. According to the accepted standard, the addition of flavor enhancers and chemical flavors is not allowed. The food is easily digestible and quickly saturates a hungry pet, which minimizes the risk of obesity and related diseases.

The formulas of super-premium products include special additives: digestive, anti-allergenic, immune-stimulating. There are medicinal feeds with a narrowly targeted effect. To make daily eating processes easy and without side effects, you need to purchase food that matches your pet’s current condition. Separate lines with well-formulated recipes are produced for kittens, sterilized cats, and adult animals.

The experts of our magazine found out which brands and the super-premium food they produce are most in demand among breeders and selected the 15 best from them, highlighting all their advantages.

Features of dry super-premium food

Super premium food is the best food for cats in taste, nutrition and quality. Dry and wet food is prepared only from natural products, enriched with vitamins and nutrients, and does not contain preservatives. All luxury food manufacturers produce medicinal food that cats need for various serious illnesses.

The cat happily eats first-class food

One of the varieties of super premium products is holistic. This is food suitable for consumption not only by animals, but also by people.

For reference! Holistics are made from 100% natural, fresh ingredients. The name comes from the word Holistic or Holism, which means “whole.”

Premium dry cat food has a light natural smell that is extremely attractive to animals. Several features distinguish such food from lesser quality food:

• Natural protein of animal origin. The composition includes meat, fish, eggs, and offal.
• Does not contain corn gluten.
• The ash content does not exceed 6–7%.
• Rice, oats, potatoes, and barley are used as a source of carbohydrates.
• No flavorings, preservatives, dyes. Rosemary and tocopherol are used instead.
• The packaging indicates the ingredients and their quantity in grams or percentages.
• Vitamins, minerals and percentages of proteins, fats, carbohydrates are indicated.

In many soft foods you can see pieces of meat.

Important! Super-premium cat food should not be labeled “meat products” at all.

Premium feed

Primordial

Italian cat food Primordial is produced by Mister Pet, which specializes in producing food for premium class pets and holistic people. In addition to Primordial, the company also owns the brands Crockex Wellness, Meglium Natural Meal, and others.

Products are manufactured in strict compliance with quality standards with further international certification. Ingredients for feed are carefully selected, and during the production process they are treated with steam to preserve more nutrients.

In Primordial food, the meat component comes first and makes up about 35% of all other ingredients. The diets use meat (fresh and dehydrated), which is indicated in the composition on the packaging. This indicates the high quality of the product, since meat is best absorbed by the body of a cat (which, by its nature, is a predator). In the analytical composition, the level of crude proteins ranges from 32-33%.

Peas, potatoes and beans are added to the feed as carbohydrates. They are a good source of energy and do not cause unwanted food reactions. In addition, peas and beans are a source of plant proteins, which are also necessary for optimal body function.

Other nutritional components are: poultry fat, liver hydrolysate, yeast and yeast products, seaweed, dried vegetables and berry concentrates, rosemary extract (preservative), vitamins and minerals.

The Primordial product line includes the following diets:

• for kittens with turkey and duck;
• for adults with turkey and duck, salmon and tuna;
• for sterilized animals with turkey and herring;
• for cats with ICD with turkey and herring.

What is the difference between kitten food and adult cat food?

The kitten should not be fed food intended for cats older than one year. This food does not meet the biological needs of the baby, which means it can cause harm. Food for adult animals differs from food produced for kittens in terms of processing technology, composition of vitamins and minerals, and the amount of proteins, fats and carbohydrates.

The energy value of food also varies, and the energy needs of a kitten are much greater than those of an adult cat. Baby food is higher in calories. The size of granules for adult animals is larger and harder. That is, it will be very difficult for the baby to chew them.

If you feed a kitten food that is not appropriate for its age, it can cause indigestion and other problems.

Schesir Cat

Schesir is a brand of the Italian company Agras Pet Foods, which produces food for cats and dogs. The company was founded in 1986 and was the first to produce portioned wet food consisting of 100% natural ingredients. Today, Agras Pet Foods continues to be an innovator in its field and positions its production as environmentally friendly.

For feed, the best raw materials are selected from reliable suppliers, which undergo strict quality control. Production facilities are certified according to international standards by independent commissions in the field of food manufacturing.

Schesir diets are suitable for all breeds. They can be with chicken, duck, beef, pork, lamb and fish (tuna, salmon). An additional source of protein is dehydrated eggs. The meat component is in first place and makes up a share of 26 to 28% of the total composition. The meat component is indicated as dehydrated chicken, pork, etc., without describing the part of the animal that is used for the diet. Plant protein is represented by corn gluten and potato protein. In the analytical composition, crude protein ranges from 32 to 35% (the largest amount in food for sterilized animals).

Sources of carbohydrates are rice and barley. They are in second place in the composition and have a share of about 19%. The fats are “refined animal fat”, however, it is not specified which animal.

Other ingredients in Schesir include: beet pulp, brewer's yeast, flax selenium, pea flour, FOS, sunflower oil, rosemary (a natural preservative), vitamins and minerals.

The Schesir dry food product line includes:

• for kittens with chicken
• for sterilized animals with fish, chicken or pork;
• for adult pets with lamb, fish, chicken, pork;
• for elderly pets with chicken;
• for removing hairballs from the gastrointestinal tract.

Rating of premium and super-premium food classes

Go cat food: dry natural holistic composition

Veterinarians and pet food manufacturers compile a professional rating of the best cat foods. It, of course, includes elite premium cat food. The list is constantly updated and expanded.

The top 10 best brands today looks something like this:

1. 1st Choice;
2. airi;
3. Arden Grange;
4. Bozita;
5. Brit Care;
6. Brooksfield;
7. Dr Clauder's;
8. Dukes Farm;
9. Fitmin For Life;
10. Guabi Natural.

The super-premium class includes brands such as Acana, Almo Nature, Golden Eagle (Eagle Pack), Now Natural Holistic, Orijen Cat, Frank's Pro Gold, Eukanuba, GRANDORF Natural & Healthy, Go Natural holistic, Hills, Happy Cat, N&D Natural and Delicious, Purina Pro Plan, Royal Canin.

A brief overview of super-premium foods with their comparative characteristics will help cat owners choose the best diet for their furry pet.

The cat should have several bowls of dry and wet food and a cup of water

Acana

Canadian premium Acana food contains 75% meat or fish. The composition includes kidneys, heart, liver, vegetables. The level of artificial components has been reduced to zero. The assortment includes three types, depending on the inclusion of meat or fish:

• Wild Prarie - chicken, turkey;
• Grasslands - lamb, duck, turkey;
• Pacifica - perch, herring, flounder, hake and sardine.

Acana does not contain grains, potatoes or other plant protein sources.

Acana

Brit Care

Excellent Czech-made food Brit Care and Brit Premium for cats contain about 40% meat. It is supplemented with rice, corn, beets, and brewer's yeast. These components are rich in B vitamins, fiber, omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids.

Vitamin E serves as a preservative. Brit Premium cat food is cheaper than many other super-foods. The lines include food for cats of different ages, as well as for active or lazy cats, for animals prone to obesity, for sterilized ones. There are dry and wet foods, and they are all hypoallergenic.

Brit Care

Almo Nature (Almo Nature), Italy - super premium

Italian holistic Almo Nature contains about 14% meat and offal. In addition to these ingredients, the composition includes cereals, rice, and an extensive vitamin and mineral supplement.

However, the composition is not indicated in too much detail on the packaging. The brand is quite common in pet stores, so it is easy to find.

Almo Nature

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

American holistic Golden Eagle or Eagle Pack includes three lines:

• for kittens;
• for adults;
• for cats prone to allergies and digestive disorders.

There is little meat here, so the vegetable protein content is high. The composition includes meat flour, rice, potatoes, vegetables, fruits, dried herbs and even spices.

For reference! The advantage of Golden Eagle is its high fiber content, but the disadvantage is its low meat content.

Golden Eagle or Eagle Pack

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

The Canadian brand 1st Choice is famous for its quality and excellent taste. Meat and offal occupy a significant proportion of the composition. It also includes cereals, grains, and vegetables. Vitamin E plays the role of a preservative.

1st Choice food is rich in omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, essential for cats. It can be found on the shelves of pet stores.

1st Choice Indoor

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

Another Canadian holistic product, Now Natural Holistic, consists of 100% meat, fish, vegetables, berries, and fruits. It contains no grains, cereals, or offal at all. The level of fats, proteins, carbohydrates is carefully balanced.

Now Natural Holistic

Orijen Cat, Canada - holistic

First-class holistic Orijen Cat consists of one third of whole pieces of meat, fish, and contains a lot of protein. In addition, it contains fruits and vegetables, so the food is rich in all vitamins and minerals.

Orijen Cat

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

Frank's Pro Gold is a complete meal with a high meat content. The composition also includes cereals and by-products.

There are food lines for small, adult and older cats. There is a selection of food with different meat and fish flavours.

Frank's Pro Gold

Arden Grange (Arden Grange), England - super premium

British Arden Grange can confidently be classified not only as a super-premium class, but also as a holistic one. It is made from natural meat or fish, supplemented with fruits and vegetables. This is a complete meal for your beloved pet.

Arden Grange

Eukanuba (Eukanuba), Canada - premium

Eukanuba produces dry food and canned food. Due to the high meat content, cats are easily satisfied and receive vital energy directly from their diet.

Eukanuba

GRANDORF Natural & Healthy

GRANDORF Natural & Healthy consists of almost 70% meat. It contains no allergens, so cats tolerate this food well and eat it with pleasure.

GRANDORF Natural & Healthy

Go Natural holistic

Go Natural holistic dry and wet food is made from whole pieces of natural meat, fish, and vegetables. Nutrition will provide cats with energy and improve their health.

Go Natural holistic

Hills (Hills), USA, Netherlands - premium

Hills is a famous brand that has proven itself well. There are dry, wet food and canned food. The composition includes natural meat enriched with vitamins and minerals.

This food is recommended by many veterinarians.

Hills

Happy Cat

Happy Cat offers a wide selection of different flavors. The spiders contain pieces of real meat. Thanks to variety, your cat's diet becomes complete and nutritious.

Happy Cat

Bozita (Bozita), Sweden - premium

Bozita premium Swedish food consists of meat, fish, and fish oil. It is rich in B vitamins, calcium, potassium, fiber, and fatty acids.

For reference! The company produces not only canned food, wet and dry food, but also liquid nutritional drinks that cats really like.

Bozita

N&D Natural and Delicious

N&D Natural and Delicious is made exclusively from natural ingredients: meat, fish, eggs, fruits, vegetables (carrots, pomegranates, beets). In the composition you can see greens and medicinal herbs.

N&D Natural and Delicious

Purina Pro Plan (purina Proplan), France - premium

A wide range of food products includes canned food, dry and liquid food. Many medicinal foods have been developed for various severe chronic diseases of cats.

Proplan is very popular among Russian cat owners. It contains natural meat, vegetables, and grains. Kitten food includes colostrum, which is good for babies.

Additional Information! Any therapeutic food belongs to the super-premium class, but it cannot be given to healthy cats.

Purina Pro Plan

Royal Canin (Royal Canin), France - premium

Royal Canin is very popular in Russia. Its product lines are diverse and include food for cats of all ages, for pets with different hair types, etc. An important place is occupied by therapeutic diets for sick and weakened animals.

Many owners believe that Royal Canin is the best food for kittens. This is the most common and relatively inexpensive food among the super-premium class.

Royal Canin

Monge

The products are manufactured by the Italian concern Monge Natural Superpremium. The company has been on the market for over 50 years and has gained a reputation as one of the best manufacturers of diets for cats and dogs in Europe. For feed, poultry of meat breed is used, which are raised on our own poultry farm. The manufacturer claims that only natural feed is used to feed chickens and ducks, without the addition of antibiotics or growth accelerators.

Diets of Italian cat food Monge are suitable for all breeds. They differ in taste characteristics and can be selected depending on the physical characteristics of the pet. The product line includes diets with chicken, duck, rabbit, salmon, trout and anchovies. Monge offers food for the following categories of animals:

• kittens, pregnant and lactating females (Kitten);
• adult and senior cats;
• sterilized animals (Sterilised);
• for removing hairballs from the intestines (Hairball);
• with sensitive digestion (Sensitive Cat);
• prevention of ICD (Urinary Cat);
• pets living indoors (low-calorie Indoor Cat food);
• diet with a high content of fresh meat (Bwild Cat).

In diets, meat components come first. This means that their quantity in a given diet has the largest share. However, it is not always possible to find meat in the composition. For example, Monge Kitten simply lists chicken as its meat component (dehydrated 26%, fresh 10%). However, it is unknown which part of it is used - meat or offal. The Bwild Cat Hare contains exactly “rabbit meat” (15% fresh, 35% dehydrated). However, in all feeds the protein level is over 30%, which indicates the optimal amount of protein in the diet.

Monge also contains the following useful components: chicken fat, brewer's yeast, flaxseed, taurine, dehydrated vegetables and berries, etc. In some foods, the source of carbohydrates is rice, and in others, corn. Rosemary extract is used as a preservative. All diets are enriched with a complex of vitamins and minerals necessary for the normal functioning of the cat’s body.

Rating of the best domestic manufacturers

Holistic food for cats: what is it, rating of the best

The most popular brands, such as Royal Canin, are produced in Russia using foreign technologies or using imported equipment. But there is excellent food produced domestically:

• Blitz;
• Our Brand;
• ProTail;
• Meal;
• ProBalance;
• Faithful friends;
• Stout;
• Safari.

Important! If the owners decide to sterilize the cat, then they need to transfer it to a new diet in advance and gradually.

All medicinal food belongs to the super-premium class

Meow

Mjau (Meow) feed production is located in one of the most beautiful places in Sweden. It is here that farmers use the least amount of chemicals than in other countries of the world, and Swedish livestock have been a guarantor of the quality and safety of agricultural production for many decades. And according to manufacturers, the raw materials used in Mjau (Meow) feed are of the highest quality, without chemical additives, hormones, dyes and antibiotics.

Reviews for this product are mixed. Some buyers compare it with Kitekat food, but cheaper. However, it is important to understand that Meow food is an economy class food. Its low cost matches its quality.

Advantages: very low price. The food does not have a strong odor, but rather has an appetizing aroma. Almost all the granules are intact, and the food does not feel greasy to the touch. Quite a lot of flavours.

Disadvantages: the composition is veiled. There are animal by-products and grains that are very harmful to the digestive system of cats. Contains preservatives and antioxidants. It is not advisable to use it as a permanent food. Cats become addicted to food.

Choosing the right food for your kitten

Choosing the right foods should be done carefully, especially at an early age. There are several reasons to choose food wisely for your small pet. First of all, the diet must contain the nutritional elements the baby needs for the proper formation of organs and systems, good growth; along with food, the cat’s body must receive everything it needs. At an early age this is more important than ever as the animal grows and develops.

Also read the article about what and how to feed a kitten.

It is necessary to think about the choice of food immediately also because veterinarians categorically do not recommend switching the animal to another diet. This should only be done if absolutely necessary, and keep in mind that this is serious stress for the cat.

Every person, when getting a kitten, must immediately determine what he will feed the pet: ready-made food produced industrially, or natural food.

Many experts favor the latter option, since natural food is as close as possible to what a cat can eat in natural conditions. But today more and more people give preference to store-bought food, as it significantly saves time, and often turns out to be more profitable financially.

Ready-made food for cats is divided into categories:

• economy;
• premium;
• super premium;
• holistic.

The cheapest food is economy class. They are often chosen by cat owners. You need to understand that products in this category are made from cheap, often not very high-quality raw materials. They contain almost no meat, but a lot of grains, soy, flavorings, aromas and preservatives. This set can hardly be called useful for a cat’s body.

Premium kitten food is a good choice in terms of price-quality. Manufacturers select the composition more carefully, try to exclude harmful and useless substances, and do not save much on raw materials. Products in the super premium and holistic categories are, of course, of higher quality, but can scare the consumer with the price. Knowing this, retail chains and stores prefer to sell more affordable products. For this reason, food of the highest quality categories can be difficult to find.

When choosing food for your pet, you should also take into account its age, weight, breed, and individual characteristics. You should not feed your cat food intended for dogs. These are other animals. And even if a cat's weight is comparable to that of a small dog, nutrients and their balance vary greatly in products for different types of animals.

Industrial foods are formulated to meet your cat's needs for minerals, vitamins and nutrients. This applies to both dry and wet food of acceptable quality. Manufacturers of economy class products do not pay much attention to a balanced and rich composition. But companies that produce premium products develop pretty good food.

Experts recommend feeding your pet mostly dry food. It does not spoil and can be left in a bowl so that the cat can have a little refreshment at any time. Wet food is recommended to be given approximately once a day.

A caring owner should also take into account the preferences of the kitten itself. Everyone has individual tastes, and different cats like foods with different flavors.

We recommend reading the article-review of Holistic class food.