Cat food: veterinarian recommendations on how to choose the right food

To ensure complete nutrition for cats, the main types of food are produced - dry and wet. But, unlike dry food, which contains about 10-15% moisture, wet food contains 70-80% moisture and is more similar in consistency to natural food. For convenience, the food is available in pouches or canned food and in appearance resembles jelly or pieces in sauce.

The advantages of wet food are convenient dosage, natural consistency and long shelf life when sealed. The disadvantages include a fairly high cost, lack of protection against the formation of tartar and a short shelf life after opening the container.

To understand which wet food is best to feed your pet, we have compiled a rating of popular brands by class: economy, premium, super-premium and holistic.

Cat food rating

When compiling the rating and selecting nominees, we were guided by responses. They also served as the basis for determining the main characteristics that interested buyers more than others. The most common reviews included the following:

• Type of food – dry, wet, semi-dry;
• Class – holistic, super-premium, premium, economy;
• Granule size – large, small, medium;
• Composition – natural or mixed.

The reviews served as the basis not only for choosing the best foods, but also for determining the strengths and weaknesses of each of the nominees.

How many times a day should you feed a kitten?

With kittens it's a little different. As a rule, newborn kittens are fed by the mother cat, and the owner can only feed the parent in a timely manner. If for some reason you get a single newborn kitten, you need to feed it with a cat's milk replacer, giving a small portion from a pipette every 2 hours. Moreover, this regime must be observed even at night.

Important! Veterinarians do not recommend adopting a kitten under one month old, precisely because of the difficulty with feeding. If possible, the mother cat should feed the kitten for the first month of its life.

An older kitten (2-3 months) needs to be fed every 5-6 hours, continuing to give milk, but introducing vegetables, cereals and chopped meat into the diet and food of adult cats.

When the pet reaches this age, it can be switched to three meals a day (morning, afternoon and evening), and from 8 months onwards it can be switched to feeding twice a day (morning and evening). True, some owners continue to feed their household three times a day for up to a year.

The best holistic cat foods

High quality food. Veterinarians take part in the development. The product does not contain artificially obtained additives, dyes, or flavors. Vegetables, meat and other ingredients are exclusively of organic origin. Three brands meet these requirements.

Grandorf hypoallergenic, 4 meats with brown rice

The top is opened by the manufacturer - the company Grandorf (Belgium). Designed for cats that have undergone sterilization. It is a dry low-grain food for animals older than one year. A special feature of the product is the presence of live probiotics: 109 units per kilogram.

The main component of the product is meat. It accounts for 70%. Among the features one can also highlight a reduced content of fat components against the background of an increased amount of protein. L-carnitine is also present. The substance is responsible for maintaining the pet’s optimal weight.

Does not contain grains, by-products, chicken meat and fat, eggs, salt, as well as artificial flavors, colors, fillers, genetically modified products and soy.

The food is enriched with carob flour. The latter is a digestive regulator of natural origin, so your pet will definitely not have problems with the gastrointestinal tract. The composition also contains a complex of natural antioxidants SYNOX 3D and Antarctic krill - a source of Omega-3 and Omega-6 bioelements.

The manufacturer used natural preservatives - tocopherol and ascorbic acid - as well as careful production. The components were dried at temperatures up to +80°C.

Advantages:

• Well absorbed;
• Normalizes the microflora of the intestinal tract;
• Strengthens immune defense;
• Reduces the likelihood of developing food allergies;
• Prevents pathologies of the urinary tract;
• Improves the condition of the skin and coat.

Flaws:

• Small granules.

Animals like it. Buyers note the convenient wide Velcro fastener on the bag. The packaging lasts a long time due to the low daily requirement.

Summit Three Meats with Salmon, Chicken and Turkey

Manufacturer: Petcurean Pet Nutrition, Canada. To manufacture the product, high-quality raw materials from our own farms are used. Available in 1.8 and 6.8 kilogram packages. Allowed for feeding young animals (up to one year), as well as adults (from one year old) and aging cats (from seven years old) - this is indicated by the mark “All Life Stages”.

It is a complete nutrition in dry granule format. There is a choice of taste. The composition, according to customer reviews, is excellent. Dried rosemary is used as a preservative.

The source of the protein component is dehydrated chicken, salmon and turkey. Several ingredients are responsible for the carbohydrate component: brown rice, peas, potatoes and oatmeal. The manufacturer used high-quality ingredients of animal origin - chicken and salmon fat. These are sources of Omega-3 and Omega-6.

The food is enriched with additives necessary for the health of the animal. Dried chicory rhizome improves the condition of the gastrointestinal microflora. The manufacturer chose extracted dried yeast to play the role of a prebiotic that strengthens immune defense. Yucca Schidigera extract reduces the unpleasant odor of stool.

Advantages:

• Absence of corn and wheat, which cause allergies;
• Balanced vitamin and mineral composition;
• Use of natural preservatives;
• Nice smell.

Flaws:

• The packaging does not close;
• Large packaging - no possibility to sample.

GO! Carnivore, grain-free, chicken, turkey, duck

Manufacturer: GO brand. The product is part of the Carnivore line, represented by high-protein foods consisting of 70–89% animal protein and optimal fat content. Available in 1.36, 3.63 or 7.26 kilogram bags. Designed for all periods of a pet's life.

The product is completely grain-free, i.e. does not contain grains. This type of food is recommended for animals with individual food intolerance.

The composition is represented by dehydrated meat of chicken, turkey, trout, salmon and duck. The vegetables and fruits included in it contain a large amount of natural antioxidants, which are responsible for the quality of the immune system.

Taurine helps preserve the animal's vision and also improves heart function. Pro- and prebiotics included in the diet improve intestinal health and normalize digestive processes. A small percentage of carbohydrates prevents your pet from gaining weight.

The manufacturer maintains the “holistic” status, so the product does not contain by-products, growth hormones, artificial preservatives, as well as corn, soy, wheat, and gluten.

Advantages:

• Minimum carbohydrate components;
• Improves the functioning of the digestive system and brain;
• Prevents obesity;
• Does not contain hormones, grains;
• Strengthens immune defense.

Flaws:

• The granules are small in size, which is inconvenient for adult cats;
• A specific smell that your pet may not like.

Buyers in reviews indicate that cats like the taste. The condition of the skin and coat improves. Animals become more active and cheerful.

Reviews from veterinarians about wet food for kittens

Royal Canin food is made from quality ingredients, but not all ingredients are suitable for feeding cats. The main disadvantage is the presence of plant proteins, which are digested 30% worse than animals. Cereals are responsible for the carbohydrate component, and soybean oil is responsible for the fats. The food turns out to be balanced, but not very healthy, not the most nutritious. The manufacturer solved this problem by adding vitamins, minerals and other beneficial substances. The result is food on which animals feel great and lead an active lifestyle at any age. It is interesting that according to Russian standards the food falls into the premium category, but according to European standards it falls short. It is better to buy food produced abroad. Despite the fact that in Russia they are manufactured under license using good equipment, they are inferior to the original. I would like to draw your attention to the availability of an analogue of cat milk for feeding kittens. In the future, they do not lag behind ordinary kittens in development.

Pavlovskaya Ekaterina Viktorovna

https://otzyvkorm.ru/royal-canin-dlya-koshek/

Hills is the true premium segment. I can’t call it very nutritious, the energy value is average. The specified daily allowance may not be enough; pets feel hungry. However, the food is completely balanced and complete. You can make it the basis of your diet without fear for your health. A significant disadvantage is the overuse of difficult-to-digest carbohydrates.

Pavlovskaya Ekaterina Viktorovna

https://otzyvkorm.ru/hills-dlya-koshek/

"Aplaus" is a VIP-level food, the high quality of which can be judged by the fact that the recipe and manufacturing technology were developed by scientists from the Institute of Nutrition of Great Britain. The manufacturer’s strong point is the absence of cereals and sources of gluten in the feed, both dry and wet. Which causes in animals not only dermatoallergy in the form of dandruff and hair loss, but also swelling and ulceration of the mucous membranes of internal organs. There is no need to write about the assortment, it is wide, there is a diet for all age categories of cats. And not only healthy ones, but also those with problems with digestion and the genitourinary system. The food is optimally balanced and includes a high content of animal products - sources of protein, vitamins, essential amino acids and fiber in sufficient quantities.

Grechany Stanislav Sergeevich

https://otzyvkorm.ru/applaws-dlya-koshek/

The best super premium cat foods

Includes a large percentage of meat components. Vegetable protein is minimal, but it is allowed. The content of cereals is also acceptable, but in small quantities. Based on the reviews, the VyborExpert team selected three nominees.

Royal Canin 37, prevention of excess weight

Manufacturer: Royal Canin. Dry food is developed taking into account the needs of castrated and sterilized animals. Age – from one to six years. Available in packs of 0.4, 1.2, 2, 4 or 10 kilograms. Cat-friendly kibble size.

Neutered pets do not need excessively high-calorie nutrition, as they quickly gain excess weight. Royal Canin food helps reduce it due to its reduced fat content. Properly selected BJU will not allow the development of obesity, but will preserve the required amount of muscle mass and support the health of the urinary system.

The manufacturer has increased the content of protein components in the product, which helps maintain muscle tone. The optimal mineral composition improves kidney function, reducing the likelihood of stone formation. Due to the L-carnitine included in it, the animal’s body actively processes fat reserves.

If a mixed diet is practiced, then feeding standards must be strictly taken into account.

Advantages:

• Appetizing smell;
• Does not cause allergies;
• Prevents the formation of kidney stones;
• Easily digestible;
• High-quality mineral composition.

Flaws:

• There is no zipper on the bag.

According to customer feedback, animals like the product and eat it with pleasure. Improves the condition of the coat, removes the symptoms of urolithiasis.

Hill's Science Plan, with chicken

Manufacturer: Hill's. Food for sterilized cats is designed taking into account the characteristics of the body. Available in packages weighing 0.3, 1.5, 3 and 10 kilograms. Designed for feeding pets aged one to six years.

It's part of the Science Plan line, which means it contains tasty, easy-to-digest ingredients and high-quality protein. The formula maintains healthy skin, improves coat condition and normalizes stool. It also contains natural antioxidants that enhance the animal’s immune defense.

Hill's Science Plan helps keep your pet's weight under control due to the presence of L-carnitine, and thanks to its balanced vitamin and mineral formula, supports the health of the genitourinary system. Reduced fat content and increased L-lysine content make the pet more active.

Advantages:

• Easy to digest ingredients;
• Contains L-carnitine, L-lysine;
• Maintaining ideal weight;
• Balanced set of minerals;
• Low fat content;
• Normalizes digestion;
• Convenient snake clasp.

Flaws:

• Low calorie content.

Berkley grain-free, with poultry, with wild berries

The rating of dry and wet cat food includes the manufacturer - Berkley. The products of this brand belong to the super-premium group, so they contain only high-quality natural ingredients. Canned food is intended for kittens under one year of age and fully satisfies the needs of a growing organism. Available in 200 gram cans.

The food consists of 70% poultry meat and is enriched with vitamins and minerals. Cereal and vegetable proteins are absent. A special feature of the product is the presence of forest berries: cranberries and blueberries.

The canned food contains no soy, artificial flavors, chemical preservatives or dyes. The nutrition is characterized by a thoughtful, balanced formula, which was developed by a team of professional nutritionists and veterinarians.

The product belongs to the grain-free group, so it can be recommended for pets intolerant to grains.

Advantages:

• High quality ingredients;
• Natural composition, does not contain grains;
• Fragrant;
• 70% meat composition.

Flaws:

• A bit expensive;
• Big expense.

What is the difference between wet food for kittens and diets for adult cats?

Wet food for kittens contains more fat and protein, as well as increased concentrations of phosphorus, calcium and magnesium. The difference is due to the characteristics of the body: babies require nutrients for the rapid development of internal organs.

Kitten foods can be dangerous for adult cats. The latter, with poor nutrition, are at risk of developing obesity, diabetes and urolithiasis. Absolutely healthy kittens can eat high-quality wet food for adult cats without negative consequences, but with the slightest deviation from the norm there is a chance of worsening the condition, so experimenting is not recommended. There are universal wet foods that are suitable for both babies and mature animals.

The best premium cat foods

Premium cat food contains natural meat components - most often chicken - and high-quality by-products. The food is easy to digest and safe. The downside is the presence of chemical preservatives.

Brit Premium Family Plate

Manufacturer: Brit. The product is a complete wet food in the format of a set of 12 spiders with different flavors - pieces of chicken, turkey, beef, cod, salmon and trout, filled with delicious jelly. Total weight – 1200 grams, each – 100 grams. Designed for feeding pets aged one to six years.

A serving contains up to 82% meat components. Wet food contains all the vitamins and minerals necessary for the development of the animal. Additionally, taurine is included, which is responsible for maintaining vision and a healthy heart and blood vessels. Pauchi can be considered as a complement to a dry diet.

Advantages:

• Excellent price-quality ratio;
• Taste variety;
• Pleasant aroma;
• Natural composition without preservatives.

Flaws:

• Not suitable for all cats.

The food reacts very sensitively to violation of storage conditions. Therefore, it is important to strictly follow the manufacturer's recommendations.

Bozita with chopped chicken

Manufacturer: Bozita. Complete wet food with chicken flavor in the “meat pieces in jelly” format. Available in convenient Tetra Recart packaging from Tetra Pak weighing 370 grams. Designed for feeding pets aged 1 – 6 years.

The product is designed taking into account the needs of the animal during the most active period of its life. The food is satisfying: the pieces contain up to 93% natural meat. The raw materials are produced on the company’s farms and are not pre-frozen.

The pieces contain a small amount of fat, so your pet will maintain optimal weight, even against the background of decreased physical activity. But he will receive the full amount of fatty acids he needs. Taurine strengthens and protects the nervous system, improves the functioning of the heart muscle and visual analyzer.

The product contains the natural immunostimulant MacroGard. It helps improve your pet's immunity and stress resistance. Vitamin A is a natural antioxidant that improves the quality of vision. The food is additionally enriched with vitamins D and E.

Advantages:

• Fresh, unfrozen meat is used;
• Content of meat components up to 93%;
• Does not contain chemical components, sugar, wheat gluten;
• Includes a natural immunostimulating complex;
• Low fat content;
• Contains taurine.

Flaws:

• Not all cats like it.

Cat owners indicate in their reviews that the animals like the food. Although sometimes cats refuse it. Does not cause intestinal upset, satisfying. The variety of flavors offered is noted. On average, a package is enough to feed a pet of average weight and size for two days.

ProBalance

Manufacturer: ProBalance. Complete dry food intended for sterilized animals. Since the nutrition is balanced, it is suitable for daily feeding. Available in 0.4, 1.8 or 10 kilogram packages. Designed for pets aged 1 – 6 years.

Practicing veterinarians took part in the development of the food formula, so it fully takes into account the characteristics of the body of sterilized cats. After the loss of reproductive function, animals become lazy, eat a lot and move little. This causes weight gain and the formation of kidney stones.

Among the features of Probalance Sterilized, it is worth highlighting the optimal nutritional and calorie levels. The product includes the herbal collection “Fitocare for cat” - a patented development of the manufacturer - that strengthens the immune system and improves overall tone.

Contains L-carnitine, which accelerates fat burning processes. Lysine helps strengthen the immune system, and taurine maintains the cat’s vision at a decent level. The food does not contain artificial additives or preservatives that are dangerous to animals.

The source of Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids that cats need are flax seeds. The substances ensure the pet’s good physical well-being.

Advantages:

• Complete, suitable for daily feeding;
• Reduces the unpleasant odor of feces;
• Good, balanced composition;
• Medium size granules;
• Improves the condition of the coat.

Flaws:

• There is no fastener to ensure the packaging is sealed;
• Strong specific aroma.

Advantages and disadvantages of wet food for kittens

The key benefit of wet kitten food is that it saves time. Product recipes are prepared by professionals, taking into account all age characteristics and biological needs of animals. The owner just has to open the bag and fill the bowl. When eating natural products, owners have to calculate individual daily norms of nutrients. Ideally, you should take into account the breed, weight, age of the kitten and other characteristics. This forces the owners to update the menu from time to time as the kids grow. The worries don’t end there: you need to buy food and cook food from it. At best, it will be a mixture of meat with offal, which you can stock up on for future use and boil as needed. At worst, you will have to stand at the stove every day. You should also consider the time it will take to find reliable sellers and visit the market and shops.

If the owner is not confident that he is able to create a balanced menu on his own, it is better to use ready-made rations

Using wet food reduces the risk of infection. Natural products may contain viruses, worms and protozoa. You can partially protect yourself if you purchase certified products, but in practice it is either not possible to find sufficiently high-quality meat, or the seller does not have the necessary documents. And the threat of infection remains in any case, albeit minimal. Only those who have their own farm can afford to feed their pet high-quality natural products. In the process of preparing wet food, the ingredients are subject to strict control and heat treatment. Preservatives are used to prevent the development of bacterial colonies. However, it must be taken into account that wet food quickly deteriorates when exposed to air: even when stored in the refrigerator, you will have to get rid of the remains after 24–36 hours. Dry granules are safer in terms of safety.

When feeding natural products and wet food, it is strongly recommended to abandon plastic bowls or change them at least every month: the surface is easily scratched and food particles get into the damaged areas

Wet food is close in consistency to natural products, which makes it an intermediate link between the natural menu and dry diets. Pates and pouches are an ideal option for breeders. With such nutrition, future owners will be able to painlessly transfer kittens to both a natural menu and dry food. Pates can also be used as complementary foods for babies up to 4-6 weeks. The soft consistency prevents harsh effects on the gastrointestinal tract and subsequent inflammation, which often occurs when suddenly switching to granules.

Small kittens should only be given soaked dry food until their bite is formed.

The disadvantages of wet food include their high cost. Even economy class products have a significant impact on the budget. For example, 1 Whiskas pouch costs 20–25 rubles. The manufacturer recommends giving 3-4 sachets per day to older kittens over 3 months old. In fact, this quantity is not always enough: my neighbor feeds his kitten with economy class spiders, following the manufacturer’s recommendations. The pet is very thin and constantly hungry. This can easily be explained by the low nutritional value of economy-class feed. Even if the animal has enough food, the owner will have to spend 60–100 rubles per day. In a month it will cost 1800–3000 rubles for a pet. For the same money you can buy a large (3-5 kg) package of dry holistic, which will last for 6-10 weeks.

It is strongly recommended not to purchase wet food with thick sauces: their production uses thickeners that can irritate the pet’s gastrointestinal tract

Another problem with wet food is its poor composition. If you can add not only meat and offal to the granules, but also a complex of herbs, vegetables and fruits, then in the case of pates the manufacturer is limited by the production technology. This creates a paradox: it is almost impossible to purchase a complete holistic diet, since elite diets should not contain vitamins and minerals in their pure form, and it will not be possible to include many sources of nutrients in the composition. At the same time, almost all economy-class wet food is complete. Manufacturers add vitamin and mineral complexes to them, which are poorly absorbed. As a result, theoretically there seem to be enough nutrients in the diet, but in fact most of them leave the body without being absorbed into the gastrointestinal tract. Because of this, kittens develop a deficiency and develop diseases of internal organs.

Without help, fistula formation, tissue infection and further blood poisoning may occur.

The consistency of wet food is both a plus and a minus. With prolonged feeding of such foods, the baby’s gastrointestinal tract adapts to digest only softened food. In the future, this creates problems when switching to another type of diet. In most cases, digestive disorders occur. Wet food does not contain enough coarse fiber, which causes poor peristalsis. The kitten may have constipation or diarrhea. A friend of mine’s cat’s anal glands became inflamed when she was 9 months old. Normally, they are cleaned with dense feces, but with prolonged diarrhea due to poor nutrition, the secretion accumulates and clogs the pouches. The cat had to clean his glands by hand. Despite nutritional correction, they still periodically become inflamed in the pet. For this reason, even complete wet foods should be combined with dry kibble or natural products.

The best economy class cat foods

The content of meat components is no more than 4%. There must be aromatic additives and artificial colors. It is better not to use for constant feeding. Based on numerous positive responses, the VyborExpert team selected three nominees.

Friskies prevention of ICD, with chicken, with liver, with meat

Manufacturer: Purina. Inexpensive food for cats, it is a balanced complete diet in dry granule format. Sold in packages weighing 0.4, 2 or 10 kilograms. Designed for feeding adult pets aged 1 – 6 years. Prevents the development of urolithiasis.

The packaging is designed in eye-catching yellow tones. The overall design is recognizable - a ginger cat happy with life from different angles.

The composition for economy class food is not bad. Includes meat and meat products. But the main component - this is confirmed by the order of its location - is cereals. Additionally, it includes proteins of plant origin, artificial preservatives, dyes, thickeners, and antioxidants.

Advantages:

• Low price;
• Good volume;
• Average granule size;
• Prevention of the development of urolithiasis.

Flaws:

• Strong smell of feces;
• Flatulence.

Cats like the food. Reviews of dry cat food indicate that the cat's coat improves. Pets do not have problems with digestion and stool. Adequate price-quality ratio for economy-class food. Even purebred cats like it.

Whiskas with chicken, with turkey

Manufacturer: Whiskas. Available in the format of crispy pillows filled with delicate pate. Sold in bags weighing 0.35, 0.8, 1.9, 5 and 13.8 kilograms. Intended for feeding adults aged 1 – 6 years. The manufacturer recommends combining dry food with wet spiders from the same line.

The product formula is well optimized. Offers a good combination of nutritional components and nutrients, which ensures the maintenance of metabolic processes at the required level. As in other economy-class feeds, the main ingredients are cereals. In second place on the list of ingredients is chicken and turkey flour.

The composition includes tocopherol and zinc to support immunity, as well as Omega-3 fatty acids for a beautiful coat and healthy skin. Vitamin A and taurine are responsible for the quality of vision, and the incoming fiber improves the digestion process.

Advantages:

• Possibility to select packaging volume;
• Nice smell;
• Improved digestion;
• Normal composition.

Flaws:

• Contains many chemical components.

Animals generally like the food. The smell is pleasant, not aggressive. The packaging, if you take a large volume, lasts a long time.

Kitekat Meat Feast

Manufacturer: Kitekat. The manufacturer positions the food as complete. Designed for feeding adult cats during the most active period of their life - from the first to the sixth year inclusive. Available in bags of different weights - 0.35, 0.8, 1.9 or 15 kilograms.

The composition is not bad, it includes all the components necessary for the animal - meat components, vegetables, vegetable oils, cereals. Contains taurine, which is responsible for vigilance and also supports good functioning of the heart muscle. The manufacturer refused to use flavorings and flavor enhancers.

Feed is given on demand. To ensure that the recommendation is followed, the daily amount is poured into a bowl. The cat eats itself when it has an appetite. With this feeding option, the animal must have free access to water.

Advantages:

• Improves the condition of the coat;
• Inexpensive;
• Possibility to select packaging volume;
• Does not contain flavorings or flavor enhancers.

Flaws:

• Sometimes causes indigestion.

How many times a day should you feed your cat?

There is an opinion that your favorite “murka” needs to be fed at its first request, which it will communicate with an inviting look and a plaintive meow.

However, in reality, uncontrolled consumption of food by your pet will provoke excess weight gain, and can lead to heart pathologies, respiratory diseases, as well as problems with the gastrointestinal tract (constipation, volvulus and other dangerous conditions).

Feeding your little “beggar” from the table is no less dangerous. An extra piece of sausage or chicken is more likely to harm your pet than make it healthier. For this reason, a wise and caring owner should not follow the cat’s lead, but establish his own diet.

It has been experimentally proven that it is enough to feed your furry pet twice a day. It is two meals a day that are most beneficial for a cat’s digestion. At the same time, it is better to feed her in the morning and evening, about 30 minutes after the animal wakes up, and 1-2 hours before bedtime. And it is not so important whether it is dry food, canned food or natural food.

Important! Feeding your pet once, or more than twice a day, is not recommended. More frequent feeding of the cat (4-6 times) is allowed only in special cases, for example, during pregnancy, feeding kittens and certain diseases.

How to choose cat food

Studying reviews when choosing the best feed manufacturer, experts identified several characteristics that were most often mentioned by customers. They are the ones who act as leaders when purchasing a product. This is the class and type of food, the age of the cat, composition, and the special needs of the animal.

Feed class

Classes of cat food differ in the percentage of meat or fish components.

The product classification is as follows:

• Economy The basis is by-products, cereals, soybeans. Low-calorie food. The percentage of meat components is up to 4%.
• Premium It has a close to optimal ratio of macro- and microelements. Minimum vegetable protein.
• Super premium. Balanced product. Contains only ingredients of natural origin - meat fillet, vegetables, eggs, rice.
• Holistic. Completely natural composition, including substances necessary for full growth and development. The share of meat components accounts for more than 50%.

Type of feed

Depending on the consistency of the feed, they are divided into three groups. This:

• Canned. It has a long shelf life and a large selection of flavors. Contains less carbohydrates and almost 70% water. Recommended for convalescent and aging pets.
• Dry. Allows you to feed your cat on a flexible schedule. Prevents the formation of dental plaque. Sold in bags and boxes of various sizes. Provided the packaging is sealed, it can be stored for several months. Contains a large amount of sugar and only 10% water.
• Semi-dry. Available in the form of multi-colored pieces of soft consistency. The smell is less pronounced compared to canned ones. Contains more sugars than all other foods.

Animal age

When choosing food, it is necessary to take into account the age of the pet. The recommendations are as follows:

• For kittens, it is necessary to choose food whose formula takes into account the needs of a growing organism.
• Inactive cats that are prone to gaining excess weight are given foods with a light composition.
• Pregnant and lactating women need to buy food that takes into account the characteristics of their current condition.
• Aging cats need senior food.

Compound

Before purchasing, study the composition of the product. The components are listed in descending order. The food may include meat - natural or dehydrated - by-products, and also have a mixed composition.

In holistic and premium foods, only natural meat or fish is allowed. A prerequisite is to indicate the percentage of the product on the packaging.

The first to be listed in the food composition is the base product – meat or fish. Natural meat can be replaced with dehydrated meat, i.e. devoid of liquid. Added to feed in ground form. The quality is not inferior to natural.

The composition may contain by-products. The specific type of the latter must be indicated. You should refuse to purchase if the composition does not contain specific ingredients.

Economy class food has the poorest composition. It does not contain pure meat, so the animal will need to be supplemented.

Special Needs

When choosing food, you need to take into account not only the period of your pet’s life, but also the individual characteristics of the body. Depending on this, food can be of the following varieties:

• lightweight;
• everyday;
• medicinal;
• for pregnant / lactating women;
• for sterilized ones.

What is better, dry food or canned food for cats?

The composition of both liquid and dry food is almost the same. When choosing the right food, it contains almost the same amount of proteins, fats and carbohydrates, regardless of whether it is dry or liquid.

Adviсe:

• Veterinarians recommend giving preference to dry food, but about a third of the total diet should consist of liquid or canned foods. Please note that the ideal option for a pet is natural food, which is prepared independently from meat and fish.
• The ideal option is boiled fish meat, cut into small cubes. However, this takes time and is quite expensive. This is why we prefer dry food or what is sold as canned food.
• It is worth noting that veterinarians believe that the dry product must be given to animals correctly. There is practically no moisture in it, which can negatively affect the animal’s excretory system. That is, if you do not follow the rules, then soon your cat will begin to have problems with the kidneys or bladder.
• Quite often, kidney stones occur due to the use of a dry product. This is due to a lack of fluid in the body, which removes salts from the kidneys. Therefore, if you provide such food, give the animals plenty of water. In general, veterinarians recommend that the diet consist of a third of canned or liquid goodies for the animal.

Eating

Which cat food is best?

You can determine which cat food is the best, but only after purchasing and taking a “sample” from your pet. The animal will either start eating with pleasure or refuse. And it is impossible to predict in advance what kind of reaction it will give.

The VyborExperta.ru team would like to draw your attention – as a recommendation only – to the following nominees:

• Grandorf hypoallergenic, 4 meats with brown rice - holistic for sterilized cats, does not cause allergies;
• Berkley grain-free, with poultry, with wild berries - canned food for kittens, does not contain grain components;
• Brit Premium Family Plate – complete wet cat food, a set of 12 pouches with different flavors in the format of pieces in jelly;
• Whiskas with chicken and turkey - economy class dry food in the form of pillows with pate inside.

You decide for yourself which dry cat food to choose and buy. But during the search process, it is necessary to take into account the special needs of the pet, as well as the age.

What not to feed a cat

We have already mentioned above that many foods that people or dogs enjoy eating are not suitable for cats. Let's systematize this information. So, the following should not appear in the cat's bowl:

• table food - contains seasonings that can irritate the cat's stomach. Many sausages contain soy and fats, which are also harmful to the animal's digestion.
• fresh milk is not digested by the stomach and can easily cause indigestion;
• pork is too fatty a food that can cause a number of diseases;
• river fish and unprocessed meat - before giving the cat meat, it should be frozen, boiled, or at least doused with boiling water. This will protect your pet from helminth infection. As for river fish, it should also be boiled first and the bones removed;
• tubular and sharp bones (for example, chicken) - can injure the esophagus and lead to the death of the animal;
• coffee and alcoholic drinks are poisonous to cats.

Important! If a cat is diagnosed with obesity or diabetes, starchy and sweet foods should be immediately excluded from the diet. These animals require a low-carbohydrate diet.

Composition analysis

When choosing, you need to carefully study the composition of the product. It should contain useful components to the maximum, and harmful ones - in minimal quantities.

Substances indicated in the composition, the presence of which is undesirable:

• sugar, its analogues:
• dye E12, which increases the likelihood of the formation of malignant tumors;
• high content of harmful by-products (skin, feathers, beaks);
• meat without indicating its source;
• antioxidants that damage the liver: E320, 324, 321;
• flavorings;
• flavor enhancers.

The quality of nutrient mixtures of wet and dry consistency can be recognized if the ratio of healthy products in their composition does not differ significantly from the following indicators:

• meat, with exact indication of name - 35%;
• protein - 20%;
• high quality by-products - 10%;
• plant matter - 25%.

A whole complex of vitamins and mineral components should also be present.

Dry mixes

This type of food is most popular due to the preservation of nutritional properties for a long time. It is convenient because you can pour it in once every few days without worrying about the food spoiling.

Be sure to place a bowl of clean water near the feeder, since a lack of moisture in food provokes increased thirst.

Crispy pieces are useful not only for their composition, but also for their ability to clean plaque from teeth. Store reserves of the dry mixture in closed packaging, since prolonged contact with air reduces the beneficial properties.

Advantages

Dry

• Convenience: Suitable for different diets.
• Long shelf life of opened packaging.
• Supplemented with multivitamins and beneficial substances.
• Premium and higher grade feed granules contain bacteria that improve digestion.
• Balanced, less quantity lasts for a long time.

Semi-moist

• Suitable for pets with sensitive digestion.
• Does not harm teeth, can be easily chewed by older adults.
• Causes appetite in picky cats.
• Suitable for feeding kittens aged 0-3 months.

Wet

• Allowed to be used as a fortified supplement.
• Stimulates interest in regular food in picky individuals.
• Easily chewed by older cats.
• Facilitates the process of digestion and excrement in animals with problems.
• Suitable for cats with dehydration.
• The packaging is already designed by weight for one or two meals.

Canned food

• Pouches (not canned food) are produced, which are designed for one meal.
• When sealed, they are stored for 6-12 months or more.
• Contains natural pieces of meat, poultry, fish and vegetables, not ground into minced meat.
• Well absorbed by the cat's body.
• Suitable for cats who do not want to drink water.
• Contain a large amount of protein.

Economy

• Low cost and calorie content.
• Used as a supplement to a natural diet, so as not to harm the health of the pet.

Premium

• Supplemented with essential nutrients needed to keep pets healthy.
• The composition includes meat products that increase calorie content and are well digestible.

Super premium

• Contains 30-50% animal proteins with protein, high nutritional value.
• Selected to suit the lifestyle, age and characteristics of the cat’s body.

Holistic

• Environmentally friendly, balanced nutritional ingredients.
• Made from fresh meat fillet.
• Do not cause allergies.
• Eating only one food, the animal receives all the necessary substances, as if living and eating in the wild.