Comparison of cat food: classes, compositions, brands

Ready-made food for cats is primarily convenient. No need to cook, calculate the rate of BZHU. But how to choose a product that is balanced in composition and, most importantly, does no harm?

In the first place in a good feed should be such an ingredient as meat. The manufacturer must indicate what type of meat is used. It can be chicken, rabbit, turkey, beef. Instead of meat, there may be fish. In any case, in good feed, the content of these ingredients is at least 35% of the total composition. However, if you compare the economy and super-premium feed, the latter will contain more protein.

Allowed to add protein, which can be represented by the milk or egg component - at least 20%. Offal - at least 10%, it is better if it is the liver, heart, kidneys, and not beak and skin.

Most cat foods contain plant components. They can be represented by wheat and corn, rice, potatoes, oats, peas. Permissible content of plant component up to 25%.

In more expensive options, the plant component is replaced by dried vegetables, berries, various herbs. Examination proves that it is a more useful supplement than corn and wheat.

Good food is enriched with vitamins and minerals. Among the vital for cats are vitamins of group B, ascorbic acid, vitamin K.

In any case, the composition of the product (regardless of its class) should contain the following components.

• Protein (meat, fish, milk protein, eggs). Protein gives the cat strength, energy, is responsible for the condition of its bones, teeth, muscle mass. A lack of protein leads to a deterioration in the coat of the animal - it sheds much, becomes dull.
• Carbohydrates (in small quantities found in meat, higher in vegetables, grains, cereals). Carbohydrates are strength, energy, endurance. In addition to carbohydrates, vegetables contain fiber necessary for the healthy functioning of the animal’s gastrointestinal tract. Carbohydrates also nourish the tissues of blood vessels, heart, and brain. Carbohydrates are needed for the synthesis of glycogen - a substance necessary for the functioning of the liver. Despite the importance of the presence of carbohydrates in the diet of the animal, it is important not to overfeed it with them. Still, cats are predators, so the basis of their nutrition is meat, not grain.
• Fats (meat, vegetable and animal oils). They are also responsible for the presence of energy, endurance in cats, provide the attractiveness of wool. A lack of fat can lead to problems with the skin and mucous membranes of the pet, and reproductive system disorders.

Despite the fact that the composition of some feeds in quality and benefits is much superior to the composition of others, there are ingredients that, in principle, should not be in a product for cats. Even in the most inexpensive options, the presence of these components is excluded:

• sugar and its derivatives (e.g. caramel), glycol, cellulose, propylene glycol;
• artificial pigment E 127, causing a risk of developing cancer in a pet;
• high content of offal (it should be understood that in cheap feeds it is “waste” that is not suitable for human nutrition: beak, feathers, skin);
• “meat” should not appear on the composition without any additional explanation;
• antioxidants E 321, E 324, E 330, which provoke kidney disease.

Depending on the characteristics of the composition, feed is divided into several groups. The summary table will demonstrate the features of individual groups, and then study in more detail the advantages and disadvantages of each of these options.

Summarizing the data in the table, we can draw the following conclusions.

• Economy class. Affordable and affordable, but least suitable for pet food. They use cheap meat protein, however, and it is in short supply. In this regard, the basis of the composition is low-useful vegetable protein.
• Premium class. "Transitional" option from economy to super-premium feed. It combines the qualities of both varieties - there is already more meat here, but it is still the same low-quality, high content of offal. The plant component is closer to normal.
• Super premium. The best option in the ratio of "price - quality". Permissible content of vegetable protein, meat - within normal limits.
• Holistic. High-quality varieties based on natural meat. Herbal ingredients are not cereals, which often cause allergies and are unusual for predators, but dried vegetables.

Comparing different types of feed, you always have to compare their composition. As a rule, the composition primarily indicates the ingredient contained in the greatest amount. Next - in descending order.

The least valuable and nutritious is the feed of economy class (for example, Kitiket, Wiskas, Oscar, Darling). They practically do not contain meat, but in abundance vegetable protein (replaces meat), flavor enhancers, flavorings, preservatives. If the manufacturer indicates meat as one of the ingredients, then most likely it is processed fats, skin, cartilage and tendons.

The digestibility of such feed is 60–65%. In most cases, in the economy-class feed there is no division for different cats. Maximum - food for kittens and adults. Perhaps the only advantages can be called accessibility (sold in all supermarkets and pet stores) and low cost.

Premium feeds (Happy Cat, Royal Canin) can be called better however, in them the content of meat ingredient is usually at least (30–40% of the composition). Often they are called on to replace offal. Naturally, the lack of animal protein is designed to compensate for the high (above normal) content of vegetable protein.

As for artificial additives, they are also present in premium feeds, but already in a much smaller volume compared to the previous version. The digestibility of the premium product is also higher and amounts to 70–75%.

Super-premium feeds (ProPlan, Hills) are of higher quality, and therefore higher in cost. First of all, it should be noted the high content of animal protein in the composition. It is enough for the normal life of the pet. Offal for the manufacture of such a product is rarely used, and if used, they are of high quality.

Vegetable protein is mainly represented not by cereals, but by dried vegetables and berries. Artificial additives are practically absent. In any case, these are not flavor enhancers and fragrances, but preservatives (so that the product can be stored). Super-premium food is absorbed by 85–95%.

“Minus” of some brands can be called the difficulty of acquiring - sometimes they can only be bought on the manufacturer’s website or in online stores. However, a number of super-premium quality products are also sold in ordinary pet stores and veterinary pharmacies.

The most high-quality feeds are considered holistic (Eagle Pack Holistic, Evo). However, there is no clear division between super-premium food and holistic. The “motto" of the producers of the latter can be called the following - only those ingredients that are safe and suitable even for humans are used in feed production.

The basis of the product is meat or fish, and high-quality (without skin and tendons, antibiotics). Plant components are within normal limits, usually dried vegetables, cranberries.

The presence of offal and synthetic ingredients in holistic is unacceptable. It is not surprising that the digestibility of such a product is 100 percent.

Initially, the product lines of holistic feeds were fairly narrow.As a rule, feeds were shared only for kittens and adults. With the growing popularity of high-end products, the product line is also expanding, however, it is still poorer than the analogue of the super-premium class.

Holostics are extremely rare to find in familiar pet stores, except in very large ones.

The most important selection criterion is the composition of the feed.

A high-quality product should primarily contain meat, and at least 35-50% of the composition. A higher content is also possible - up to 70–80%, as a rule, this is feed of holistic. An important point - sometimes the manufacturer talks about the 100% meat content in the feed. However, this is only a marketing ploy, such a product simply could not be stored.

After making sure that the meat is contained in the required quantities, it is important to understand what kind of meat it is. Necessarily - a type of meat (chicken, beef, rabbit). If, on the packaging, the word “meat” simply appears, then most likely the skin, bones, beaks, tendons are hidden under it. They do not carry high nutritional value for the animal.

The most valuable, in terms of amino acid content, are chicken and turkey, in second place is fish, in third is beef and lamb. However, the same chicken can cause allergies.

Of the offal, preference should be given to the kidneys, hearts, lungs, stomachs. In a small amount, the presence of a rumen and chicken heads is permissible. Typically, these offal are found only in super-premium feed.

The word "offal" should not scare the buyer. However, their content is not more than 10-15% of the composition, ideally, there should also be a transcript - the liver, kidneys, heart.

Plant fiber is another essential ingredient. The permissible norm is 20–25%. If these figures are higher, feed should be discarded. Preference should be given to rice, barley.

An essential component is fats. For an adult cat, the food should contain at least 10-15% fat, for kittens - at least 20%. The fact is that fats are involved in the production of substances responsible for strong immunity. A high fat content is required for a cat during gestation and lactation.

However, excessive amounts of fat in the feed can trigger stool disorders and liver disease. Lack of fat is usually found in feed of economy class, some types of premium.

Super-premium feeds and holivics must necessarily contain vitamin and mineral supplements. Among the vital for pussies can be identified B vitamins, vitamin E, ascorbic acid, H, B15, K. Among the minerals are cobalt, calcium, iron, copper.

In addition to the composition, it is important to pay attention to such criteria when choosing food.

Not always widely advertised food is the best option for your pet. Those products that often appear in television commercials, unfortunately, mostly belong to the economy class. The leading positions are occupied by products from the UK, Canada, Germany, Denmark, and the USA.

It’s always better to purchase food Directly from the manufacturer or authorized representative.

It can be wet or dry, and the wet consistency has several varieties - from puree to paste and jelly (small pieces filled with thick broth).

Wet food is primarily intended for kittens, but as the animal grows, it is necessary to “lead” it to dry food. Solid food promotes the development of jaws, cleansing the teeth, and is also necessary for the proper functioning of the intestines.

Kittens should choose solid food with small pellets.Small pieces are also necessary for some cat breeds, for example, British, Persians. This is due to the structural features of their jaw apparatus.

Paste and jelly can be pampered with an adult pet, but you should not transfer it exclusively to wet food. We have already written about the importance of harder food for cats.

Preference should be given to those products that require less. Simply put, the lower the required daily dosage of food, the more balanced and useful it is. Economy-class feeds do not give your pet a long-lasting feeling of fullness.

You can learn more about how to choose cat food.