Types of food for cats. What to feed a cat: advice from veterinarians and ratings of ready-made feeds

Every cat breeder wants his pet to grow up healthy, playful and active. And in order to achieve these indicators, you need to feed quality food.

At present, few non-professional cat breeders will think about how good the food they feed their pet is, and that it contains all the useful trace elements that a cat needs so much.
Below we will look at the most common feeds that exist on the market, see rating of dry cat food, and find out which one is good and of high quality, and which one should never be given to your animal.

To begin with, we will create a scale by which we will measure our feed in terms of quality.

9-10 points - these foods are the highest quality on the market, but also expensive. Dry food of this class, with its high cost, is very economical. For an animal of average build and weight, 3 kilograms of feed is consumed in 1.5, -2 months. Also, all food is digested and perfectly absorbed by the body, which leads to less fecal excretion. You yourself will notice this if you feed or start feeding with such feeds. With constant feeding of these foods, cats stop shedding so much, they become active and cheerful.
For cats with various diseases or any other problems, food can be individually selected. All premium food manufacturers have developed food lines for adult cats, for cats with urolithiasis, for long-haired, for short-haired, etc. You can find out what kind of food your cat needs from your veterinarian or other competent specialist in this matter.

7-8 points - feed of this category is also good, but slightly cheaper than the first category. If you have been feeding your animal with these feeds for a long time, then continue further, it is not at all necessary to switch to the feeds described above. If a kitten has just appeared in your house, and you are ready to feed a little higher quality, but expensive food, then class 1 food will be preferable for you.

5-6 points - these feeds are inexpensive in their price category, but also of lower quality. The daily requirement for food of this class in an animal is higher than in the previous two. The animal with food will not receive all the necessary trace elements and vitamins. You will need to splurge on an additional vitamin complex, which in my opinion will come out at the same price as if fed a higher quality food.

3-4 - economy class feed. Manufacturers of this class of food do not particularly choose the ingredients, the food is not balanced. With the constant use of pedigreed cats with such feeds, various problems with the gastrointestinal tract can occur, purebred cats have better health and no serious problems. With this diet, it is necessary to give an additional complex of vitamins daily. These feeds are mainly fed to animals in shelters or families with below average incomes.

1-2 - this class of feed is cheap and of low quality. There is practically no meat in the feed, mainly meat production waste, bran, offal, and millet are added. There are no essential vitamins and trace elements that every cat needs. Would not recommend feeding this food. Have pity on your animal if it is dear to you.
0-1 - You can feed this food if you want to get rid of your pet. Your cat's diet looks like it would if you ate chips, doshirak and other chemicals for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Such feeds are not very cheap and are highly advertised, which leads all cat owners astray.
In no case do not feed these foods, they contain a drug that is addictive to these foods and the cat, having tried it once, will refuse other normal food. In the process of feeding with these feeds, diarrhea, vomiting often occur, the animal loses weight, sheds and does not look very healthy.
With the description finished, now let's get down to the feed itself:
1. Hills - 10

2. 1st Choice - 10

3. Eukanuba - 10

4. Eagle Pack - 95. Bosch - 9

6. Iams (Yams) - 9

7. Biomill - 9

8. PRO PLAN - 9

9. Royal Canin (France) - 8

10 Nutra Gold - 8

11. NUTRA NUGGETS - 8

12. Pro Pac (USA) - 8

13. Flatazor (Flatazor) - 8

14. Leonardo Cat Food - 8

15. Belcando (Belkando) - 8

16. Diamond Pet Foods - 7

17. Royal Canin (Russia) - 7

18. Gimpet (Jimpet) - 7

19. Gourmet (Gourmet) - 620. Sheba (Sheba) - 6

21. Purina Food Pro Plan - 6

22. Dr. Clauder (Dr. Clauder) - 5

23. Friskies - 4

24. Oscar - 3

25. Four-legged gourmet - 3

26. Max - 2

27. Vaska - 2

28. Perfect Fit - 2

29. Whiskas - 1

30. Kitekat - 1

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

A modern domestic cat should always be fed and happy!

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

We offer you an updated review of the best cat food for 2019 from the most famous and most trusted brands in the world.

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

Super premium cat food. Updated rating 2019

1. Innova EVO (Innova EVO), USA - holistic

Cat food "Innova EVO" produced by the American company "Natura Pet Products" can be called one of the best in the world. The prefix "holistic" means that this food uses food ingredients that can be used in human products.

Advantages:

• - excellent quality and recommendations of veterinarians
• - the presence of raw dietary proteins (meat)
• - the presence of probiotics that improve digestion
• - hypoallergenic
• - increase the lifespan of the animal
• - high energy value
• - Helps prevent kidney stones

Disadvantages:

• - more expensive than most other foods
• - difficult to buy in a store, you need to search on the Internet (but in 2019 this food (especially dry) became more popular in Russia)

Cost in online stores- ranging from 23 to 35 dollars for a package of 12 cans. Can weight - 375 grams.

Dry food:

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

2. Acana (Akana), Canada - holistic

Any Acana cat food contains several meat items and at least three protein sources:

• fresh fish,
• whole eggs,
• the meat of chickens that have grown up on the "free range".

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

Acana foods are perfectly balanced and help cats reach their full potential and achieve excellent health, regardless of age and breed characteristics.

Advantages:

• - increased concentration of natural proteins
• - Minimum content of simple sugars and "empty" calories
• - the presence of a variety of herbal ingredients
• - no preservatives and dyes

Disadvantages:

• - lack of a line of feed 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.

3. Almo Nature (Almo Natur), Italy - super-premium

Dry and "wet" food "Almo Nature" contain completely natural ingredients (up to 99% of fish or meat in whole pieces). During the manufacturing process, these products are checked for quality three times and subjected to minimal processing. As a result, the feed is harmonious in composition, nutritious, and has an excellent biological value. It preserves the natural smell of products and a maximum of useful properties. There are no GMOs, flavorings, preservatives, antibiotics in the entire line of feeds.

Advantages:

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

Disadvantages:

• - dry food of lower quality than "wet"

Price:canned food (wet food):

• from 70 r - bank 0.07 kg
• from 150 r - bank from 0.14 kg.

Dry food in 2019 is worth:

• from 860 rubles - for a bag of 2 kg.
• from 4430 r. for 12 kg.

4. 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 lactating cats and kittens), Adult Cat (with salmon and chicken for feeding normal cats), and Sensitive (hypoallergenic) . These types of food are great for feeding your cat, as they are perfectly balanced in terms of the level of beneficial microorganisms and the natural bacteria found in them.

Advantages:

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

Disadvantages:

• - a narrow assortment (in 2019 - the assortment is unchanged)
• - produced only in dry form (at the time of publication of this feed review)

Price:

• 0.4 kg - 447 rubles
• 2 kg - 1326 rubles
• 4 kg - 2570 r.

5. 1st Choice Indoor (Fest Choice), Canada - Super Premium

1st Choice Indoor is a dry cat food made by Canadian company PLB International. A wide range of these products is designed for animals with different needs: ordinary pets, neutered, fastidious, hyperactive, etc.

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

Advantages:

• - great nutrition and great taste
• - high content of animal proteins
• - the 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 urine and stool odors

Disadvantages:

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

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

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

Now Natural Holistic is a 100% grain-free, super-premium cat food that contains boneless fresh meats, fruits and vegetables and is free of by-products and hormones. The list of ingredients of these feeds 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 product freshness is the main distinguishing feature of these feeds.

Advantages:

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

Disadvantages:

• - no wet food line
• - higher average price position compared to some other feeds in this class

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

7. Orijen Cat (Orijen Cat), Canada - holistic

Orijen Cat is a premium 100% natural freeze-dried cat food, free of preservatives, and of the highest quality in taste and natural value. The content of meat in these feeds is at least 70%, and the remaining ingredients are herbs, fruits and vegetables. The optimal combination of all nutrients makes this food one of the best in the world.

Advantages:

• - made exclusively from high quality natural products
• - the maximum allowable meat content
• - balanced vegetable vitamin formula
• - the presence of Omega-3 - acids of marine origin, useful for wool and skin
• - antioxidant properties
• - prevalence in retail chains

Disadvantages:

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

Cost: from 320 to 12,000 rubles, depending on and from topacking weight.

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

Frank's Pro Gold is a perfectly balanced premium cat food free of grains, GMOs and soy additives. A distinctive feature of these feeds is an acceptable 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
• - the presence of a line of special dietary feeds for diseases of the liver and heart, digestive system, kidney diseases, urinary system
• - no gluten content
• - the presence of preventive feed to strengthen teeth and bones
• - special food for kittens and cats over 11 years old

Disadvantages:

• - average level of quality among premium feeds

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

9. Arden Grange (Arden Grange), England - super-premium

Arden Grange is a super-premium cat food, little known in our country, but quite popular in Europe, which has proven itself from the best side. The key to the success of this feed is the perfect combination of such natural ingredients as meat, vegetables, rice, probiotics, mineral and vitamin complexes. Better than Arden Grange, only grain-free food can be considered, however, such food is much more expensive and not always suitable for the animal. Otherwise, it is a healthy and complete food for your pet.

Advantages:

• - there are no attractants - substances with harmful chemical impurities that contribute to the cat's rapid addiction to a particular type of food (in fact, drugs)
• - well-balanced composition of ingredients
• - high quality components are used
• - favorable price-quality ratio
• - excellent taste qualities
• - recommended for most cats

Disadvantages:

• - 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.

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

NERO GOLD is a complex of high-quality dry and "wet" super-premium cat food with a wide range of flavors: fish, turkey, chicken, lamb, meat cocktail and even venison. The range of NERO GOLD food is designed for both ordinary adult cats and nursing, 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 useful for your pet.

Advantages:

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

Disadvantages:

• - the percentage of meat is not indicated on the packaging
• - hard to find in store (available online)

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

11. Eukanuba (Eukanuba), Canada - premium

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

The presence of all the minerals and vitamins necessary for the animal, as well as their excellent balance, is a guarantee that your pet will be healthy and happy. The therapeutic line of these feeds implies the presence of special ingredients in the composition, which 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 contributes to savings
• - has a positive effect on the coat, which is important for animals participating in exhibitions

Disadvantages:

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

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

12. Hills (Hills), USA, Netherlands - premium

Hills is a high quality, premium daily and medicated cat food, proven in many countries as a healthy and wholesome pet food. It is important to note that conventional Hills food is significantly inferior in quality to medicinal food, and therefore, after one to two weeks of feeding the animal with daily food, it is necessary to take tests for verification and find out how well this food is absorbed by his body. But in general, the food meets all the requirements for quality and the cats really like it.

Advantages:

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

Disadvantages:

• - high content of vegetable proteins
• - excessive concentration of carbohydrates
• - can cause allergies
• - sometimes enhances the smell of excrement

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

13. Bozita (Bozita), Sweden - premium

Bozita is a premium wet (pouch) and dry cat food that is ideal for daily feeding of the cat, providing the 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 only for healthy cats and is contraindicated for animals that have chronic diseases.

Advantages:

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

Disadvantages:

• - the presence of cornmeal, which can sometimes provoke diarrhea
• - insufficient amount of preventive supplements
• - lack of medicinal feed

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

14. Purina Pro Plan (purina Proplan), France - premium

Purina Pro Plan is a premium line of wet and dry cat food with the active participation of veterinarians and nutritionists. In all Purina products, useful microelements and vitamins are optimally concentrated, as well as a balance of natural food components, which positively affects the functioning of the immune and digestive systems of the animal. The coat and skin of your pets will always shine with health. A variety of flavors of Purina food will not leave your cat indifferent.

Advantages:

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

Disadvantages:

• - 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 with reviews from owners and veterinarians, read our article.

15. Royal Canin (Royal Canin), France - premium

Royal Canin is a premium quality cat food from one of the world's largest manufacturers. These feeds are produced in the form of everyday food and medical food, taking into account the needs of each animal individually. Products from Royal Canin are distinguished by the presence in their composition of all the necessary components for the full life of cats. However, these feeds are not the best in their class, but in terms of price and quality, they are much more preferable than others.

Advantages:

• - affordable price
• - higher quality than economy class products
• - an excellent solution for feeding sick animals
• - availability in commercial establishments
• - wide range of

Disadvantages:

• - the presence of chemical preservatives, dyes, odor enhancers
• - increased content of vegetable proteins: gluten, soy, cereals
• - low quality meat by-products

Cost: from 71 to 1300 rubles, depending on the weight of the package.

The feed review was prepared by Natalia Kuznetsova, a veterinarian.

Quite often, for cat owners, finding quality food is a serious problem. Some prefer natural products, some listen to the recommendations of the 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 at all that it is one of the best, and food of an acceptable price category is bad.

There are several categories of cat food.

By type they can be:

• natural;
• industrial;

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

In addition, cooking always takes a sufficient amount of time. In the case of eating ready-made food, these problems disappear, it remains only 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, in turn, are divided into types, which are characterized by the quality of the composition. This is:

• economy;
• premium;
• super premium;
• holistics.

Most cats are quite happy to eat dry food, both economy and premium, but this should be very important for owners, since poor quality food 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 the positive qualities of dry food are the following:

• can be stored in a bowl for a long time;
• thanks to the granulation technology, a lot of vitamins are preserved;
• feed, starting from the premium category, is covered with beneficial bacteria that promote high-quality digestion;
• dry food is concentrated and lasts for a long time.

Many catteries in Russia prefer dry cat food, however, you should choose from premium, super premium and holistic categories (if possible).

How to choose a good cat food?

In order to choose the best food for your pet, it is not enough to look at the packaging and the name. Trademarks lure with various marketing moves, however, the rating of dry food cannot be deceived. Even kenguryatin in the composition will not be able to guarantee that this food meets the standards and requirements.

So how do you choose the right and complete food for cats and not fall for the bait of marketers?

Cat food rating scale

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

7th place

The worst indicators in terms of composition for such brands of economy class:

• Acti-Crog, All cats, Bab'in (cereals and poultry, meat and carrots);
• Catchow;
• Clauder;
• Friskies;
• Kitekat;
• Pro tail;
• Whiskas;
• 5 stars;
• Vaska;
• Terra cat;
• feed, which are produced by hypermarket lines at their own facilities.

Analysis shows that it contains too much cereal, namely corn, as well as low-quality offal, preservatives and dyes. These foods can cause urolithiasis (urolithiasis) in cats, allergies and intestinal dysbacteriosis.

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 (poor-quality by-products and preservatives).

5th place

For cats that are not active in exhibition activities, you can use premium food from the following brands:

• advance affinity;
• Animonda;
• Ardengrange;
• Bab'in (duck; salmon);
• Best friends Bilanx;
• biomill;
• Blitz;
• Brit Premium;
• Caliber
• Farmina Matisse;
• fitmin;
• flatazor;
• Guabi Sabor And Vida;
• Grau, Iams;
• Hills Natures best;
• Hills science plan;
• Katz;
• Nativia;
• Nutram;
• Monge;
• Optimeal,
• optima,
• Organix;

The products of these brands contain a large percentage of meat, and also contain corn, wheat and other cereals. The disadvantages that the rating describes are usually minor: not a pleasant smell, small granules.

4th place

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

• Bosch;
• bozita;
• Defu;
• Eukanuba;
• Frank's pro gold;
• Gina;
• Greenwoods;
• Guabi,
• Husse;
• Mera Cat;
• Nutro;
• Nero gold;
• shesir;
• trainer.

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 nutrition of all cats.

Is your cat's diet right? Most owners will not answer this question. Few people think about counting the proteins, vitamins and micronutrients that enter the pet's body with food. But this is not necessary, because cat food manufacturers have already calculated everything for you. We spoke with three veterinary nutritionists about how to feed a cat and how to find good food for her in the store.

Nigova Ekaterina

Veterinary nutritionist at Zoostatus Clinics

Proper diet is more important for a pet than you might think. If a cat consistently lacks protein, vitamins, important trace elements for it, then its body is forced to constantly turn on internal regulators in order to maintain itself in a normal state. The imbalance of nutrients will not manifest itself for a long time - the cat will be active and healthy. But it is worth some kind of illness or injury, then, in combination with a stable malnutrition, the body will immediately fail.

Dry food

To most, it may seem "frivolous", often it is used as an addition to another, "main" food. However, dry food and water are enough for a complete diet for an animal. If the cat eats this food during the day, it will replenish the entire daily norm of nutrients for health and well-being. True, we are talking about a complete feed, experts specify.

There are a number of vitamins, minerals, micronutrients, and essential fatty acids that a cat needs to replenish daily. There are daily norms, but it is worth considering that the lower bar and the upper bar are usually indicated. As for the lower one, it was derived from laboratory tests, when the animals were fed different amounts of food and any deviations from well-being were recorded, if any. Based on such observations, the upper and lower bars were established.

It is important that it is written on dry food that it is complete, balanced or suitable for daily use: only under this condition can we assume that the pet will not be left without substances important to him.

– Dry food also acts as a prevention of tartar. The norm is usually indicated on the packaging, it is important not to go beyond it, - says Darina Berezina, veterinarian-therapist of the Gemini clinic.

Don't forget to drink. A cat should always have clean water.

- Cats are animals that came from the subtropics, and, like all inhabitants of semi-deserts, their body is designed in such a way that they have a reduced feeling of thirst. It's one thing when a cat eats a mouse - there is enough moisture in the rodent, and you don't need to drink. Here is another case. Therefore, if your cat drinks little, then he may need to soak the food or replace it with wet food, Ekaterina Nigova sums up.

Roskachestvo examined samples of cat food from 39 brands. Three of them are high quality.

wet food

Wet food (meat pieces in jelly - in bags, jars, etc.) is used more as a treat. Usually it does not contain a daily dose of all useful elements, says Darina Berezina. - On the packaging of such food, you should look for a mention that the food is balanced, suitable for a daily diet.

The doctor also considers it a good sign when the same manufacturer produces both dry and wet food. Often these brands offer complete products.

Ideally, a bag or canned food should include all the necessary components. These are meat (or products of its processing), amino acids, vegetable raw materials (it can be potatoes, corn, etc., but most often such details are not specified in the composition), vitamins K, A, D, E, taurine, iron , copper, manganese, zinc, omega-3 and omega-6 acids.

Galina Chernova

Veterinary nutritionist at VetKat clinics

When looking at the composition, pay attention to the ingredient that comes first, since the order of composition is determined by the percentage of components in the product. So, in our case, the first thing should be meat. Our cats are predators that feed on mammals whose meat contains taurine. Unfortunately, cats cannot store this element, so they must consume it regularly. It is necessary for vision, cardiac activity and other physiological processes, - says Galina Chernova, a veterinarian and nutritionist at the VetCat clinics.

Food for sterilized cats, active or lazy couch potatoes

Some may suspect that these are ordinary food, but with different inscriptions on the packages. In fact, we are talking about really special foods designed for the mentioned types, and such foods differ in composition. For example, food for active cats is more high-calorie, since mobile animals spend a lot of energy, and for lazy couch potatoes they are lighter.

- You need to look on the bag of food for castrated or sterilized animals, for example, if it contains L-carnitine. This is a fat burner, which is important for somewhat passive cats prone to weight gain, explains Galina Chernova.

Expensive vs cheap

- There are several classes of feed. "Superpremium", "premium", "economy", as well as "holistic" (Human Grade) - the quality is as if the product is made for people. In the manufacture of such feeds, technologies are used to preserve all the benefits of the ingredients, their digestibility is at least 80%, no by-products, only pure meat. Otherwise, the degree of availability and digestibility of useful components depends on the class, says Galina Chernova.

And Darina Berezina recommends not to get carried away with cheap feed and draws an analogy between them and instant soups like Doshirak. If you eat it all the time, then gastritis will not keep you waiting. Like it or not, in the end, the cat chooses the food itself. You just have to give her a choice first, and then regularly fulfill her preferences.

“If a cat likes food, she feels good after it, she has no problems with digestion, urination, she is active and has good hair, then it suits her,” says Ekaterina Nigova. - Perhaps some cat will like more expensive food, and some will choose cheaper food, there is nothing to worry about.

The doctor also explains that the classification of feed is rather conditional. Of course, the manufacturer understands what kind of quality buyers expect from a certain class of food, and tries to meet the declared level, but in fact there are no prescribed parameters that relate food to one or another group. In Europe and America (from where most feeds come to the Russian market) there are still organizations that certify feeds and are responsible for their safety. However, even if you have a holistic class food in front of you, you cannot say for sure that it is made from the best and freshest, and not yesterday's meat. As for controversial additives, we note that the regulations that determine which additives are safe and allowed for use, and which are not, still exist and the manufacturer is obliged to follow them.

Can you feed cats table food?

Many owners, out of habit, argue that if the food they eat is good for themselves, then it will be good for their pets, and they believe that the main rule in the diet is variety. Nutritionists do not agree with this position and explain that if you give the animals some other food in addition, then the cats will malnourish their own, which is why they will not receive the daily norm of the necessary elements. Of course, if you feed the cat from the table infrequently and a little, then nothing bad will happen to her. 5-10 grams of meat (preferably boiled) or other food, most likely, is not dangerous for a healthy cat.

Is fish harmful?

- There is such a theory that it is not physiological for a cat to eat fish, since in the wild she usually does not eat such meat. But in the same way, in nature, cats do not eat rabbits and do not hunt cows, and in fact the food from these animals is actively sold, and there is nothing to worry about, since the food is designed for normal absorption, - explains Darina Berezina. - For example, salmon and trout can be classified as high-quality fish, but cheaper fish (capelin, herring, blue whiting) is rather undesirable.

This fish may contain too much iodine and other minerals that cannot be absorbed in such a volume, which causes stones in the genitourinary system, adds Galina Chernova.

“As for ordinary raw fish, it is not suitable for everyone, a lot of phosphorus, little calcium,” says Ekaterina Nigova. – If you are a compassionate citizen and consistently feed street cats, then dry food is perfect for them. It is also advisable to bring water to animals, although even here they are likely to get out on their own, because in summer you can drink from a puddle, and in winter they can eat snow

The health of cats, like people, directly depends on what they eat. However, this does not mean that felines should be fed scraps from the human table. On the contrary, it can cause irreparable harm to their health, because the composition of the necessary nutrients for their life is different. Therefore, food for them should be separate, balanced for their body.

What food is best for cats according to the rating - this question will cease to be difficult for you if you read this material.

About the types of food

The ideal option is when you yourself prepare food for your pet, calculating the calories and composition of nutrients according to its age and state of health.

However, doing this is not always enough time even for your menu, and what can we say about animals.

Did you know? The life expectancy of people with cats at home is increasing.

Therefore, we turn to the store for ready-made goods, the variety of which makes it problematic to choose a good cat food.

Let's start with the fact that all goods in this area are divided into types and classes.

Dry, wet, canned

First of all, finished products are divided into:

• dry;
• wet;
• canned.

Important! When feeding with a dry product, it is necessary to ensure that the cat has constant access to clean and fresh water, otherwise the animal's body will become dehydrated.

You may come across the opinion that dry food in cats can cause kidney or bladder stones, but manufacturers of the best modern products claim that they have got rid of this threat. Wet food is food for animals in the form of pieces of meat or fish (sometimes with vegetables) with gravy in foil bags. There is more moisture here than in a dry product, but less than in a canned one. The advantage is its portion size (1 sachet = 1 serving), and the disadvantage is the loss of nutrients if the cat has not mastered the entire sachet, and a very limited storage time for an open sachet.
Cats love canned food the most. They are meat in the form of pates or pieces with gravy with a high moisture content, rolled up in tins.

Animals consuming this type of product require less water. The disadvantage of such food is the short shelf life of an open can.

Classes

Depending on the quality of feed, they can be divided into:

• Economy class;
• premium class;
• super premium class;
• holistic class.

Here is a list of products in this class:

• Pankit;
• Darling (Darling);
• Felix (Felix);
• Allcats (AllCats);
• Vaska;
• Friskis (Friskies);
• Sheba (Sheba) and others.

Important! The danger of such feed lies in the content of chemical dyes and preservatives that can cause various diseases in animals.

At its core, these foods can be equated to hot dogs, pizza and other fast food: the stomach is full, but there is no benefit to the body.

Some people may object: it's not possible that if everything was so bad, my cat would not eat these foods with such pleasure. The answer to this objection is simple - cat flavor enhancers are added to such products.

Compared to the previous one, the premium class of feed contains a larger percentage of meat, but not enough, and offal is also present there. There are more useful substances, less content of preservatives and dyes.

Here is a list of premium cat food:

• Nutro Choice;
• Regal;
• Pro Pack (PRO PAC);
• Karma Organic (Karma Organic);
• Guabi (Guabi);
• Happy Cat (Happy Cat);
• Matisse;
• Flatazor (Flatazor);
• Advance (Advance);
• Natural Choice;
• Brit (Brit);
• Ayems (Iams);
• Belkando (Belcando);
• Dr. Alders (Doctor Alders);
• (Hills) and (Royal Canin) Russian production.

It is not scary to feed a cat with such a product, but unfortunately, not everyone can afford it.

You can buy this product only in veterinary pharmacies or hospitals. Below is the ranking of super premium cat food.

Important! Most likely, your cat will initially refuse to eat this food, especially if she has previously eaten cheap food - this is due to the lack of flavor enhancers in the composition.

Holistic food contains high quality meat without dyes and other harmful substances, a small amount of cereals and the best vegetables or does not contain them at all.

Products from this class of goods can be eaten without fear by a person, since animals for slaughter (calves, lambs, chickens, turkeys, rabbits) are kept in environmentally friendly conditions, and vegetables and cereals grow in specially designated areas and are watered only with clean water without nitrates.
There are no preservatives or other chemicals here.

The composition of the feed is clearly defined - a specific type of meat, cereals and vegetables are indicated. Often they are issued separately for each breed of cat or taking into account the characteristics of behavior.

Buying holistic-class food is not so easy. Due to their high cost, they are almost never in demand, so the number of stores selling them is very limited.

Customers often order it online and wait for delivery for a long time.

The complete absence of flavorings in products contributes to the poor appetite of cats at first.

Important! Such feeds are digested by almost 90%, so the daily requirement for them is much lower than in conventional ones.

List of goods class holistic:

• Nau and Go Natural Holistic (NOW, GO Natural Holistic);
• Chicken Soup (Chicken Soup);
• ANF ​​holistic;
• Innova (Innova);
• Golden Eagle (N&D) and others.

How to make a choice

If you want to choose the best food for your cat, but do not know which one is the most useful for her, ask the opinion of veterinarians.

The criteria for choosing the best product are as follows:

1. The inscription on the package - AAFCO (in the decoding of the American Association for Quality Control of Products).
2. Indication in the composition of a specific type of meat with a content of more than 25%.
3. Additionally, the composition indicates the liver or fish.
4. The presence of vitamins E, C.
5. A small amount of food intake per day.
6. The absence of bone meal and offal.
7. Absence in the composition of products of animal origin.
8. The absence of preservatives propyl gallate, ethoxyquin, BHT, BHA.
9. Cereals and vegetables account for less than 30%.
10. The composition contains protein, fats, taurine and preferably lactobacilli.
11. No sugar.
12. The cat has no bad smell from the mouth and from the toilet, the coat is shiny, good playfulness.

Did you know? Small kittens love milk, but in older cats it can cause vomiting or diarrhea due to lactose intolerance.

Rating of the best

orijen

Orijen has been on the market for over 20 years and is never filled with corn, bone meal or offal. It is not available in canned form and is sold only in specialized stores.

Innova Evo

Innova Evo's highly nutritious, hypoallergenic products are manufactured by Natura Pet Products in the USA. They include only selected meat, probiotics, no chemical additives.

Aras

The company from Germany "Aras" has been on the market for more than 27 years and produces dry and wet food. The meat content is not less than half of the product, and in some types - up to 98%. It does not contain lactose and gluten, as well as chemical dyes and preservatives.

Farms that supply products for the company's feed production have received the corresponding certificate.

Canide

Canidae (formerly Felidae) is based in the USA and manufactures products that mainly include meat, as well as Omega-3 and Omega-6 essential amino acids, vegetables, herbs, and fruits.

Low allergenicity due to the absence of chemicals, gluten and cornmeal. The product is expensive, it is not easy to find it on sale.

Eukanuba

Eukanuba is available for pets of all ages and diseases in dry or canned form. This balanced and highly digestible food does not contain harmful substances.

Did you know? The cat door was invented by the famous scientist Isaac Newton.

Akana

In order for cats to receive a sufficient amount of carbohydrates, a special variety of potatoes was introduced into the composition. Meat and fish are not used for production after freezing.

Under the Acana brand are produced:

• Wild Prairie Cat & Kitten "Acana Regionals" - COBB chicken, turkey, perch, apples, pumpkin, spinach, pear, cranberries, blueberries;
• Acana Pacifica Cat - flounder, hake, herring, seaweed, cranberries, medicinal herbs;
• Acana Grasslands Cat - lamb, duck, wild bass, chicken eggs, prebiotics.

Almo nature

Almo Nature from Genoa has been on the market for 15 years and produces the following products:

• Rouge Label - hypoallergenic;
• Tradition - canned;
• Orange Label - for neutered cats;
• Azul Label - unfortunately includes offal and flour;
• Green Label is a specially prepared wet food.

pronature

Pronature is made in Canada and is considered one of the best because it includes quality meat and vegetable ingredients and is suitable for sick animals. However, some species contain tomato, cellulose and high ash levels.

Bosita

Bozita is a Swedish dry and wet food product. The production of goods takes place under state quality control. The cats love to eat it. However, not all owners like the fact that pork and cornmeal are present in the composition.

Yoser

Josera is made up of products that are certified to be suitable for humans. Harmful substances and little useful additives are absent. Produced in the context of age categories. However, this product is expensive and not easy to find.

Did you know? In terms of the number of domestic cats, Australia ranks first, where only 10% of the population do not have them, but in Gabon and Peru, domestic cats are very rare.

If you have chosen dry food for your pet, follow a few recommendations for feeding:

1. Change the water in the bowl daily.
2. Feed the animal 2 times a day.
3. Store the product in a closed container.
4. Do not combine with feeding with natural products, this can lead to an imbalance of trace elements.
5. Buy goods with small pieces.
6. An ash content of 6 percent or more can lead to kidney or bladder stones.
7. Buy a product that matches the age of the animal.
8. Cats are guided by their own taste - one may love veal food, and the other, refusing to eat this, loves liver.
9. Stick to one brand when choosing a product, as different manufacturers formulate different food compositions, and the animal may not easily tolerate changes.
10. Pay attention to the absence of constipation.

If you do not want or cannot buy an expensive product, it is better to transfer the animal to natural products, then many health problems with your purr can be avoided.