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What is the healthiest food for cats? What should be the composition of cat food? The best super premium food

Surely, every owner wants to give their pet only the best. And this applies not only to a sleeping place, toys, tray, filler. First of all, this concerns food. Which food is better to choose: natural or dry (industrial)? Which company should you choose? What to look for when choosing dry food? What is better to choose: cat food super premium class or holistic class? Many questions arise, so you need to figure it out.

Common Myths

Let's start studying the questions posed with common myths.

Dry cat food can cause urolithiasis. There is no clear answer here. If a pet develops urolithiasis, it is a consequence (80%) of the lack of sufficient water in the animal’s bowl. When consuming industrial pellets, a cat requires a large amount of water. The carelessness of the owners leads to disastrous results. It should not be surprising that after a short period of time the pet will need the help of veterinarians.
Dry food for adult cats can cause gastrointestinal diseases. Again, there is no clear answer. Stomach and intestinal diseases can occur due to excessive consumption of granules. If the cat has eaten everything, this does not mean that she needs to add more. Especially if it is economy class food.
The composition of dry food contains solid chemicals, natural ingredients Absolutely none or there is a minimal amount of them. If the choice fell on economy class pellets, then naturally it will be so. But premium, super premium and holistic food contains only natural ingredients (in different mass fractions). All products, starting from the premium class, undergo the strictest control. If in doubt, it is best to consult a veterinarian.

Feed classification

The division into classes promotes what a kitten owner can do right choice for the benefit of your pet's health.

Economy class products - the composition of these products cannot please cat owners. The ingredients do not contain natural meat, fish or poultry; only bone flour and herbal ingredients. The quality of such granules leaves much to be desired. This food seems attractive to cats only because of the presence of flavorings and flavoring additives.
Premium products - manufacturers use selected meat and fish to make pellets, containing minerals and vitamins in the required quantities. Corn is supplied here as a vegetable component. All ingredients contained in the composition have a veterinary certificate. A distinctive feature is economical consumption and high digestibility.
Super premium class products - only the highest quality ingredients become the basis of the granules. These include: salmon fillet, lamb, turkey, rice, egg, etc. The composition contains proteins, fats, carbohydrates in a balanced form. When consuming this food, the cat will receive everything it needs. Super premium products belong to a specialized and balanced diet.
Holistic class products are elite food that contains only environmentally friendly ingredients. Distinctive features Such products are considered to have excellent digestibility and high taste. In addition to the main components there are fruits, vegetables, and grains.

Before choosing dry cat food, you need to read numerous reviews from cat owners and experts. They may vary, but you need to draw your own conclusions. The best option is to contact a veterinarian regarding nutrition.

List of manufacturers of economy class dry food

Dry food for kittens and cats contains many chemical components and low-quality raw materials. Chemical additives, flavors, and taste enhancers cause persistent addiction in your pet.

In addition, to keep the animal well-fed, twice as many pellets are required as in products over high class. To prevent kidney failure, the cat must consume 2-3 times more water than food. To get enough food, the cat eats a lot (!) of food; she is not able to consume as much water, so her kidneys become clogged, and this is the root cause of diseases of the urinary system.

Having studied the classes and composition of dry food for kittens and cats, experts came to the conclusion which products belong to the economy class.

List of premium industrial pellet manufacturers

Dry food for adult cats, which belongs to the premium class, is not as harmful as economy, but still not as healthy as superpremium and holistic. It will contain meat and fish as a base, but in addition to them it will contain soy, additives and substitutes. The amount of dry food for premium cats will be lower than that of economy class, and accordingly, there will not be such a load on the kidneys.

It has been noticed that most owners buy premium dry cat food because it is expensive (but not as expensive as super premium or holistic food), but does not cause much harm to the pet’s health. Many cats eat this way and live long and healthy (!) lives.

Rating of premium dry cat food:

Royal Canin is one of the most popular manufacturers, supplying the market with a wide range of products;
PurinaProPlan;
Hills is a renowned manufacturer of industrial pellets with a wide range of products;
Natural Choice;
Belcando;
Brit is also a popular food that has won the trust of many cat owners;
Happy Cat;
Advance;
Matisse.

Royal Canin, Brit and Hills stand out from this list. Experts often classify them as super-premium pellets, since these manufacturers have a large assortment of medicinal foods in their product line. But you need to choose the food that was packaged and produced in Europe. They monitor quality better and control all products. In Russia there is no such control yet.

List of super premium industrial feed manufacturers

Choosing dry cat food is not a problem; Which one is better - every cat owner will decide for himself. In super-premium class granules the amount of protein is balanced, there are practically no dyes or flavors. When feeding such granules, the animal’s risk of getting sick is significantly reduced.

The best manufacturers of super premium cat food:

1st Choice;
ProNature Holistic;
Profine Adult Cat;
Cimiao;
Nutram.

Rating of holistic class dry food manufacturers

The best dry food for cats is holistic grade granules. In nurseries, their children are fed exactly these pellets, produced by professionals for professionals. This food has, perhaps, only 2 disadvantages:

high cost;
lack of flavorings and additives, which is why a cat, accustomed to eating premium food, will turn up his nose at expensive food (in the evening he will still go to eat, no one wants to sit hungry).

Rating of holistic dry cat food:

Such food does not cause allergies in animals. Each component in the composition is designed to preserve the health of the animal and prolong life. When feeding, the pet receives all the necessary substances, which eliminates the need to purchase an additional vitamin and mineral complex. The ingredients are selected in such a way that they do not interfere with the absorption of each other. The cat owner needs to remember that feeding holistic granules should not be combined with other foods and, especially, with natural food. If you add meat or fish to the bowl in addition to holistic food, your pet will develop kidney problems, which will be caused by an excess of protein.

Alternative rating of feed manufacturers

First place is rightfully taken by:

1st choice;
Acana is a Canadian manufacturer that has won the trust of millions of cat and dog owners (products undergo the strictest control at all stages of production);
Brit Care Cocco;
Grandorf - this line includes 6 hypoallergenic foods, two varieties contain probiotics necessary for digestion;
Nutrivet;
Orijen is a Canadian manufacturer that produces granules with high content protein and vitamin-mineral complex (the composition contains 75% meat (fish), eggs);
Pro nature holistic.

Why were they given the palm? The composition contains only natural ingredients and high-quality meat. Food from these manufacturers is suitable for daily feeding of your pet. Their only drawback is their high cost.

Second place was given to such manufacturers as:

Animonda (grain-free);
Brit Care;
Hills Ideal balance;
Nutram Sound;
Power of Nature.

In third place are:

Brit;
Golden Eagle is an American manufacturer that for the first time put on the market a product developed by nutritionists, geneticists, and famous veterinarians;
Holistic Blend Perfect;
Pronature Original.

These super premium and holistic foods are suitable for the treatment of allergic reactions and certain diseases. Such food for every day is not suitable for healthy animals.

Knowing that feed is divided into classes, the owner should pay attention to the composition. If it mentions by-products or bone meal, you can safely refuse such a product.

Super premium cat food, as well as holistic class, contains selected beef, rabbit, chicken, and fish. No chemicals, no by-products.
The shorter the ingredient list, the better.
First on the list of components are those mass fraction which predominates in the feed. Meat, fish, and poultry should be among the first.
You shouldn’t buy industrial granules because of their beautiful packaging or enticing slogan. Dry food for adult cats and kittens must be of the highest quality, tested by time and the technical control department.
You should not purchase food from different manufacturers. It turns out that cats are very picky, so they have a hard time getting used to a change in food.
If the list of ingredients contains grains, then it is better to avoid such granules. It is desirable that the composition contains legumes, since grains can cause allergies. Reviews from veterinarians indicate that problems with gastrointestinal tract animals will not have food that contains rice.
If the list of ingredients contains flavors and dyes, it is better to avoid such a product. Responsible manufacturers have long abandoned the addition of chemicals.

Principles of cat nutrition: how to feed and how much to give?

Before switching their pet to industrial granules, many owners wonder: can cats eat dry food? The answer from the professionals: you can. But in moderation and following the recommendations.

The amount of dry cat food is indicated on the packaging from the manufacturer. It is strictly forbidden to overfeed your ward with such food. You can use premium dry cat food, but the diet should be monotonous. Unlike humans, cats do not require constant variety in their diet. Ideally, one food will last a lifetime. Tough, but true. The less variety in an animal’s diet, the less problems he will be in good health. If the owner is satisfied with the state of health, fur, and teeth of the cat, then the best dry food for cats has been found, and there is no need to replace it with other granules.

If the owner has purchased dry cat food based on veterinarian reviews, he must remember several rules regarding the cat’s diet.

There must always be access to water. Ideally, the water in the bowl should be changed 1-2 times a day.
If you use holistic or super premium dry cat food, then you need to remove natural food from your pet’s diet.
The amount of food given depends on age, physical health, activity and breed characteristics. It is best to consult your veterinarian about the amount of kibble your cat should consume.
The cat should eat 2 or 3 times a day. If a pet wakes up its owner early in the morning, then the last meal can be moved to late evening.

From personal experience

When we got a British Fold kitten, we immediately turned to the veterinarian for advice on many issues. Among them was the question of nutrition. In the first minutes of the conversation, the veterinarian indicated that it was not worth buying Friskas, Whiskas and similar cheap food for our baby (of course, if we don’t want to have a bunch of diseases at the end of the day). We were recommended Royal Canin, Hill's, Pro Plan and Brit. A little expensive, but it won’t cost our pet’s health and life. Subsequently, when the kitten got stronger and gained strength, we chose Brit.

Initially, we bought Royal Canin by weight; our growing baby devoured it at the speed of light. Feedback from the seller at the veterinary clinic regarding Royal Canin is only positive. She advised us to put the daily amount in a bowl so that the kitten would not think that he had run out of food, and he would not later pounce on a new portion. That's what we did. At first he tried to eat everything, but then he realized that he had enough food, no one was taking anything from him and he would not starve. So it happened that in the morning I pour him a cup of food, it lasts him until the night. He eats when he wants. There is always fresh water in the bowl.

As for 2 or 3 meals a day, we do not adhere to this principle. Because the cat just walks around and begs for food. And so, if there are granules in the plate, he comes up, eats about 3-5 pieces, washes it down with water and goes about his business. Everyone wins. It may be wrong, but the cat is used to eating this way. And he has no health problems.

Rating of cat food - there are many ratings of food for cats, dogs and other pets. It is interesting that the positions of the same food in different ratings can differ very significantly. There are at least 100 explanations for this: after all, the market for food for domestic cats and dogs is a very important commercial niche: it has its own wars for buyers, its own paid ratings and reviews, sponsorships of veterinary clinics and clubs. You should not focus ONLY on ratings, as well as on brand awareness. Not always behind a big name, you will find good composition and feed balance. Read how to choose the right dry food for cats.

Any rating of cat food usually has a commercial background. Online stores make their ratings based on their product range and sales plans. Veterinary clinics They are also not always disinterested in compiling such ratings. Breeders and clubs often become attached to one brand and don’t even want to hear about other foods, although it happens that their choice is also not the best. Cat owners are guided by their own experience, which is different for everyone, because cats are all different. Someone “sits” on Whiskas for 15 years and everything is fine with him, but there are such cats, they are allergic to everything and generally have serious digestive problems, although they are fed only the very best food. We have prepared 4 separate ratings of cat food of different classes: super-premium, premium, holistic and grain-free, as well as wet food. Naturally, no one rating can include all the good foods at once; in fact, there are much more excellent foods than in our ratings. We took those that can be bought everywhere or almost everywhere (different regions of Russia) in city stores or online stores. If you feed your pet another food that is not on our list, just read its composition and you will understand for yourself how good or bad it is. Holistic foods are not suitable for all cats, and they also have a high price, so they are included in a separate rating. Sometimes there is a significant difference between super-premium and premium food, and sometimes there is almost no difference. Pay attention to the meat content in %, the absence of dyes, preservatives and large amounts of grains. We wrote more about this.

Cat food rating 2019 according to:

Why did we choose these particular cat foods for our rating?

Our cat food ratings are based on our love for pets and their owners. Expensive food is not always the best, but the stingy always pays twice. We choose the golden mean. Holistic class food, although considered the best in the world this moment, are not suitable for all cats because they usually contain a high percentage of protein and fat. Strictly speaking, most holistic foods are suitable for young, active and healthy animals. Older animals with problems usually do not like this kind of food. Grain-free food - can also be called best choice, but there are very few such feeds on the market and the prices are usually high. Therefore, it would be a mistake to recommend them exclusively.

The foods are listed in order from best to least best, but we also tried to take into account the price factor. Good, but very expensive or hard-to-find food, despite its composition, may be at the bottom of the rating. All these foods will benefit your pet and will not cause harm. However, do not forget that everything is very individual. Please also note that one manufacturer has compositions different types feeds sometimes differ significantly from each other. These are not empty words, sometimes the percentage of meat in one line of food, but with different tastes, differs by 2 or more times! Read the ingredients carefully! In addition, one brand may offer several lines of food at once, so when reading our rating of cat food, do not forget to read the composition.

Addition from the editor. Our cat food rating was published in April 2015, and it must be said that a lot has changed since then. We are updating all our ratings and will closely monitor manufacturers, since during 2015 a number of brands have changed their composition and, accordingly, their quality. In addition, the economic crisis, exchange rate and problems with imports have caused extremely irregular supplies of some types of feed that we recommended. Prices have changed, and in some places prices have remained the same, but the volume of packages has changed. In general, everything changes, but we try to track these changes and take them into account in our ratings.

What is holistic (cat food)?

Only natural ingredients. No chemical substances or artificial flavors. No antibiotics, hormones, pesticides or dyes.
Used in production whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables. Quality meat products. All ingredients can be used for human food. No ground horns or hooves.
Ingredients selected for the recipe are intended to benefit the animals.
This food contains many vitamins and minerals in highly digestible forms.

The best food for a cat is in no way a desire to stand out, no, it is a desire to take care of your pet so that he feels it. Poor quality food can have a serious impact on the health of the animal. Cases of death of cats aged three to four years from kidney stones, cancer, liver failure, etc. plenty. It is worth adding that this is the prime of their powers. The main thing is that experts believe that it is inadequate, low-quality nutrition that is the reason for such statistics.

It is unfortunate that many cat owners, in principle, do not want to understand the composition of food, wanting to choose only what is acceptable to them at a price. In this article we will provide lists of food from which you can choose the one living in your home through trial and error. Don't be confused by the way the question is posed. The fact remains that some animals react negatively to even the highest quality foods. Therefore, you should closely monitor your pet for a month after introducing food from a new manufacturer. If you are satisfied with everything, that is, the cat is gaining weight, its coat is shiny, it is playful and does not shed, then this food is suitable for it. If you think that there are any changes not in better side, if the animal feels unwell (for example, allergic rashes, hair falls out), then it is necessary to remove food from the diet urgently or gradually, over the course of a week, if not everything is so unfortunate.

It's created by professionals for professionals. If your animal gets sick, be sure to get well soon The veterinarian will advise switching him to these foods. The only downsides are the high price and the lack of flavorings, which does not cause such a strong appetite as other foods. These include: Wellness, Innova, Canidae, Orijen, Chicken Soup, Acana and many others.

Super-premium foods are those that contain real meat, no chemicals or dyes, but an ideal ratio of vitamins and minerals, balanced protein: Hills, 1st Choice, Eukanuba, Eagle Pack, Bosch, Iams, Biomill, PRO PLAN . We can safely say that you will find the best cat food among these brands. It is worth noting that the high price of these products will ultimately turn out to be a good saving. The fact is that perfectly balanced, nutritious food saturates the animal twice as quickly as economy-class products, which are much inferior in price to super-premium ones. Eventually adult cat One and a half kilograms of food per month is quite enough.

The next thing I would like to discuss is premium nutrition. The feeds are cheaper than the previous ones, but are not capable of causing serious harm animal health. Moreover, they are much more common in a wide network of hypermarkets, meaning they are easier to purchase. These include Royal Canin, Pro Pac, Belcando, Diamond Pet Foods, etc.

Which one can you buy that is not expensive? Such products also exist, but the cheapness in this case is conditional, since these feeds are not balanced, and you will have to spend money on an additional complex of vitamins. If you eat this food the cat will like it more than the previous ones. So you don’t have to think about saving. These varieties include Sheba, Purina, Friskies, etc.

We have described which foods are best and then I would like to give a list of what should not be included in an animal’s diet under any circumstances. These products do not contain meat, it is replaced by meat waste and millet. The animal is not satisfied and is forced to eat beyond measure. Contains narcotic additives, addictive. These include: Kitekat, Perfect fit, Daling, Whiskas, etc.

For supporting good health The owner of the cat must choose the right one for her and balanced diet. On the menu pet vegetables, fruits, meat, cereals must be included in a certain proportion, dairy products. In addition to natural food, ready-made holistic and super premium food is suitable for this.

Show all

Feed classification

All prepared foods can be classified according to different criteria. The most common signs for choosing food for cats:

Sign	Kinds
Class	The following types are distinguished: Economy class; medium class; premium class; super premium; Holistic class (Human Grade)
Cat breed	Many manufacturers produce ready food for certain cat breeds. Their composition takes into account the features and weak spots each of them. On the shelves there is a diet for the British, Persian cats, Bengals, Maine Coons
Submission form	Dry or wet
Animal age	Food for each age differs in composition, vitamin content and useful substances.There are types: for kittens; for adult cats and kittens; for older animals
Health status and individual characteristics	Some pets need special nutrition.Special or medicinal food is made for them: for animals suffering from urolithiasis; for animals with long hair; for cats with sensitive digestion; for pets with liver problems; food for weakened cats and animals after surgical interventions

Economy class

Veterinarians categorically do not recommend feeding cats with economy-class brands.

The most common of them:

They are made from low-grade raw materials and waste from the production of other products: skins, cartilage, bones. Full meat they don't have it. To increase volume, a lot of soy texture is added and generously seasoned with flavorings and flavor enhancers.

Economy feed is poorly absorbed, by a maximum of 50%. If a cat eats cheap food for a long time, its health will deteriorate significantly. The gastrointestinal tract, kidneys, and liver are primarily affected. The risk of urolithiasis increases, especially in cats. The risk of malignant neoplasms increases in adulthood.

Medium class

These brands are slightly more expensive than the previous ones. They have less harm, but no benefit either.

The medium class contains natural meat, but its percentage is small (about 4%). Are taken into account age characteristics cats, daily need in vitamins and microelements. But the basis is still processed products and soy texture. If the animal weak immunity or have health problems, it is better not to buy medium brands.

The most common foods in this class are:

1. Cat Chou.
2. Perfect Fit.
3. Purina One.

A kitten appeared in the house - what and how to feed it?

Premium class

Premium food is sold only in specialized departments. This is a complete diet good quality, containing meat, vegetables, grains, essential vitamins and microelements in the required proportions. However, they often contain soy, artificial flavors and colors.

Premium food includes:

Super premium class

Such food is considered professional. This is how animals are fed by nursery owners, owners of kittens with good pedigree and ordinary people who want to give their cat the best. The composition of the super premium diet is completely balanced, it includes natural meat and all the substances cats need. The most popular brands:

1. Arden Grange.
2. 1st Chois.
3. Sanabelle.
4. Acana.
5. Origen.

Human Grade

Holistic class food contains ingredients designated Human Grade - products that are approved for human consumption. This diet is the most natural and healthy of all. Switching a cat from another food to a holistic food is not easy. Manufacturers use only natural ingredients and do not add flavorings or flavor enhancers. After pronounced aromas (especially in economy and medium foods), the animal often does not agree to try high-quality food. You need to change the diet gradually, every few days by 10% of the total amount.

Representatives of Human Grade food:

1. Innova Evo.
2. Pronature Holistic.

High-quality super-premium and holistic-class feeds are absorbed almost completely - 90%. Thanks to this, food consumption is small and food costs will not be much higher than with the economy menu.

For the health of the cat, super premium or holistic class is preferable, since they are free of harmful additives, artificial colors and preservatives. They can be produced in dry and wet form.

Dry food

Dry food - concentrated dehydrated granules. Pros:

1. Convenient delivery form. You can give your cat a full bowl of food at once. It will not spoil or dry out.
2. It is stored for a long time. Pathogenic microorganisms multiply less in it. It is important to strictly follow the storage recommendations specified by the manufacturer on the packaging.

Because dry kibble is too concentrated, your cat must drink plenty of water. Otherwise, the risk of urolithiasis increases.

Some cats don't like to drink water. Sometimes experimenting with the shape, size and location of the drinking bowl helps.

Wet food

Wet food is available in different forms. These are various canned foods, stews, jellies, pouches, pates, etc. They have one thing in common: significant moisture content. Due to this, food is well absorbed - almost 100%. Wet food minimizes problems with the gastrointestinal tract, kidneys and urinary tract.

When feeding wet food Some features need to be taken into account:

1. An open pack should be stored for no more than a day and only in the refrigerator. Therefore, you should choose the volume that the animal can handle in a day.
2. You need to put as much food in the bowl as your pet can eat at one time.

With this feeding, the cat also constantly needs fresh water. But the animal will drink a little less than when feeding dry granules.

Composition analysis

Any cat food must contain three main ingredients:

proteins (protein);
fats;
taurine

They are supplemented essential vitamins, enzymes, microelements.

Proteins are the most important and required element. The protein must be of animal origin: chicken, turkey, rabbit, beef, veal, seafood, offal. It is better if there are two or more sources: meat and fish or several types of meat. So there will be more on the menu needed by the cat amino acids. Unlike dogs, cats do not synthesize amino acids by the body themselves, so they must be supplied with food.

Taurine is second necessary for a cat component. It is also not synthesized by the animal’s liver. Quality food necessarily contains this substance as an additive.

Fats provide nutritional value. The largest amount of them is in food for kittens and pregnant cats. The minimum amount of fat is in food for castrates and domestic cats with low activity.

In a good food, meat ingredients come first. The types of protein and its percentage must be listed. If by-products are added, their type is also indicated.

Most foods contain grains. They should not be more than 50%, ideally no more than 25%. Too much “porridge” creates additional stress on the cat’s gastrointestinal tract. For animals with allergies to grains or with sensitive digestion, special grain-free lines are produced.

High-quality dry food must contain ash. It's a good preservative natural origin. But it is important to monitor its amount: ash residue over 6% is contraindicated for adult cats. The ash contains a high content of magnesium, the excess of which provokes urolithiasis.

Cats and cats with light-colored fur (especially pure white) are prone to allergic reactions. Food for them should be chosen with a minimum amount of artificial additives, without dyes and preservatives.

Feed rating

The range of ready-made cat food is quite large. Brands with optimal composition that nursery owners prefer to feed their animals:

Under no circumstances should you feed your animal economy brands: Felix, Sheba, Friskies, Whiskas and others.

A few tips on how to properly feed your cat:

1. New food should be added to the diet gradually, replacing 10% of the animal’s usual food every few days. If the transition is abrupt, the cat may refuse to eat unfamiliar food. Also, an immediate change in diet negatively affects the state of the animal’s gastrointestinal tract.
2. Ceramic bowls or stainless steel plates are preferred for food and water. They are easy to clean and do not emit harmful substances, do not absorb odor. Plastic is not recommended.
3. If the cat has breed characteristics or health restrictions, you should use specialized food.
4. You should not mix several types of feed or ready-made food with natural nutrition. Only alternating dry and wet menus from the same manufacturer is allowed. Otherwise, the load on the gastrointestinal tract increases, and problems with the stomach, intestines, and liver are possible.
5. Some people believe that constantly changing the type of food will benefit the cat and diversify its diet. This is an erroneous judgment. With a well-chosen diet, the cat gets everything it needs. Replacement will be required if the food for some reason is no longer suitable or your health status changes.

To determine whether the food is suitable for your cat, you should pay attention to its stool, the condition of its fur, and its behavior. A healthy pet should have smooth, shiny fur, a cheerful and playful mood, regular bowel movements, normal consistency. Otherwise, it is recommended to visit a veterinarian.

Quite often, for cat owners, choosing high-quality food is a serious problem. Some prefer natural products, some listen to the recommendations of sellers in pet stores, and some follow the lead of intrusive advertising.

In order to provide for your pets, you should also understand what dry food is, what rating they have and what it is based on. After all, it often happens that expensive food does not mean that it is one of the best, and food of an acceptable price category is bad.

There are several classifications of cat food.

By type they can be:

natural;
industrial;

In the first case, the animal owner independently determines what to feed his pet, but the big difficulty is that he does not always have all the necessary knowledge and will be able to provide the fluffy with everything important substances and microelements.

In addition, preparing food always takes a sufficient amount of time. If you feed with ready-made food, these problems disappear; all that remains is to choose a quality one, based on the advice of experienced breeders and a reliable rating.

All industrial feeds are divided into 2 types:

dry;
wet.

Dry ones, in turn, are divided into types, which are characterized by the quality of the composition. This:

economy;
premium;
super premium;
holistic

Most cats quite easily accept dry food, both economy and premium class, but for owners this should be very important, since poor quality nutrition can significantly reduce the number of years a cat lives.

What are the benefits of dry food?

Some cat owners are afraid to feed their pets dry food. This is due to the myth that they allegedly cause kidney stones in animals. Such conclusions are unfounded, however, kidney stones can indeed appear when using cheap food. Also, when using dry food, the animal must drink clean water.

Among positive qualities dry food can be distinguished as follows:

can be stored in a bowl for a long time;
thanks to granulation technology, many vitamins are preserved;
feed, starting from the premium class category, is covered beneficial bacteria, promoting quality digestion;
dry food is concentrated and lasts for a long time.

Many Russian catteries prefer dry cat food, however, you should choose from the premium, superpremium and holistic categories (if possible).

How to choose good cat food?

In order to choose the best food for your pet, it is not enough to look at the packaging and name. Trade marks lure with various marketing moves However, you can’t fool the dry food ratings. Even kangaroo meat in the composition cannot guarantee that this food complies with standards and requirements.

So how do you choose the right one? good nutrition for cats and not fall into the trap of marketers?

Cat food rating scale

The rating of industrial food is created so that owners of mustachioed pets can easily navigate what they can feed their cat and what not. We invite you to familiarize yourself with the main positions of the brands and names of food that are currently available in Russia on the shelves of supermarkets and pet stores.

7th place

The most worst performance according to the composition of the following economy class brands:

Acti-Crog, All cats, Bab’in (cereals and poultry, meat and carrots);
Cat chow;
Clauder;
Friskies;
Kitekat;
ProTail;
Whiskeys;
5 stars;
Vaska;
Terra cat;
feed that produce hypermarket lines at their own facilities.

Analysis shows that it contains too large a percentage of cereals, namely corn, as well as low-quality by-products, preservatives and dyes. These foods can cause urolithiasis (urolithiasis) in cats, allergies and intestinal dysbiosis.

6th place

Also, the following brands cannot be used for daily nutrition:

Club 4 paws, Purina one, Best choice, Darling, Josera, Porta 21, Oscar, Skif, Stout. They contain a high percentage of flour and preservatives;
Mera cat, Perfect fit (unspecified meat);
Katinka, Lara (low-quality by-products and preservatives).

5th place

For cats that are not actively exhibiting, you can use premium food from the following brands:

The products of these brands contain a large percentage of meat, and also contain corn, wheat and other grains. The disadvantages that the rating describes are usually minor: unpleasant smell, small granules.

4th place

Slightly higher in the positions offered by the premium food rating:

These brands represent premium quality dry food. They are designed for the middle price segment and are quite consistent with the price-quality ratio. Suitable for daily feeding of all cats.