Gina Elite cat food: reviews, composition analysis, price

GINA for cats is a food that fully meets the needs of your pet.

You don't need to be an expert to feel the difference between cat and human diets - it's huge. Under no circumstances should you feed your cat the same food you yourself eat. Some products that are firmly established on our table are harmful to the animal’s body.

What, then, can you offer your pet? Of course, high-quality industrially produced food. GINA is one of them.

About the manufacturer

GINA feeds are produced by the Russian company Magna, founded in 1996 in the northern capital of our country - St. Petersburg. Today it is one of the leaders in the production of pet food.

The Magna company produces such popular foods as:

• Mi-Mi;
• Wildy;
• X-Cat;
• X-Dog;
• GINA Elite.

It should be noted that practically no feed is produced in Russia - production facilities are located abroad, from where the finished products are supplied.

Thus, X-Cat food is produced in Denmark, at the Vital Petfood Group A/S plant, one of the largest manufacturers of food for cats and dogs in Europe. This plant also produces dry food under the same brand.

GINA canned food is produced in Thailand by the Thai Union Manufacturing Co. factory. Ltd. Frozen and canned seafood and fish come from there to many countries around the world, including Russia.

GINA dietary food is produced in the UK, at Golden Acres Pet Food factories, specializing in dry food. They produce more than 500 types of feed for 350 companies around the world.

Gina Elite legacy foods are manufactured in Canada by Spectrum Feed Services Ltd.

The manufacturer assures that all of its food can be classified as “human grade”. In other words, not only the cat, but also its owner can taste this food, and without the slightest harm to his health.

Feed manufacturer

The production of Gina cat food belongs to the Russian limited liability company Magna. The products are created in specialized factories abroad, and the specified company has been a customer and importer of ready-made diets for animals of its own brands since 1996. The organization owns several food series at once; its product portfolio includes the following brands of cat food:

• Gina - made in Denmark and Thailand;
• Gina Elite - factories are located in Canada and the UK;
• X-Cat - Italian production;
• Mi-Mi is a canned food produced in Thailand.

Range

GINA food belongs to the super-premium class, and GINA Elite belongs to the holistic class.

GINA Elite has ten dry foods, four of which are produced in the UK. You can distinguish them by their packaging - it is bluish-gray, and in the upper left corner there is an English flag on it.

Figuring out which food is suitable for whom is not so difficult, since they are all divided into several lines.

• Kitten

Food for kittens up to one year old. Also ideal for adult pregnant and lactating cats. This type of food is based on chicken, fish and grains such as rice, oats and barley.

• Cat Complete

This line of food is ideal for active adult animals. On sale there is a hypoallergenic food with duck and rice, as well as two foods based on chicken and rice - one additionally contains corn, and the other contains barley and oats.

• Adult Cat

Similar to the Cat Complete line. The only difference is the manufacturing plant where this line of feed is produced. Otherwise, they are identical, right down to the composition and names of the products.

• Grain Free

There are two varieties of this food on sale - Actibe and Salmon. The first, which is suitable for very active cats, contains turkey meat. The second, hypoallergenic, is made from salmon and sweet potato.

• Sterelized

Food for sterilized cats. They contain chicken, rice and salmon. Available in two versions - with and without corn. Both foods are practically no different, so all you have to do is offer both to your pet and decide which one she likes best.

• Sensitive

Dietary food for animals with weak stomachs. The composition includes easily digestible types of meat - turkey and lamb. As a side component, the manufacturer adds probiotics that restore intestinal microflora. This food received the most positive reviews from both veterinarians and pet owners. If you believe them, this diet is highly likely to solve the problem of intestinal disorders.

• Hairball Control

Food designed to remove ingested hair from the stomach and intestines of an animal. It also reduces the risk of the formation of bezoars - hairballs in the digestive system.

GINA food is sold in 400-gram packs, as well as in packs of 1, 3, 8 and 18 kilograms. Elite food is packaged only in packages of 1, 3 and 15 kilograms.

Features of Gina food

Gina cat food belongs to the super premium category. This means that high-quality ingredients with low allergenicity were used in its creation. So, products of this type should not contain either corn or wheat, which are often poorly tolerated by cats. The assortment includes two product lines: dry diets and wet food in pouches.

Dry diets

The supply of dry food is limited to only 4 types of diets:

• Kitten 33 - for kittens, pregnant and lactating cats;
• Cat 33 - for active and show cats;
• Cat 30 - for adult cats with a normal activity level;
• Cat Rabbit&Rice - for adult cats with a normal activity level.

Photo gallery: dry cat food “Gina”

Rabbit&Rice is a complete food that is suitable for all adult cats Kitten 33 food is intended for kittens, pregnant and lactating cats Cat 33 food is designed for active pets, as well as for show specimens Cat 30 is positioned as food for adult pets of all breeds

Feed is available in several packaging options: 1, 3, 7.5 and 18 kg. In all types, the granules are rounded triangular in shape, flat, measuring 6 by 6 mm (only food for kittens and nursing cats measures 10 by 10 mm). The cost of feed, according to the official website, is 400–455 rubles per 1 kg.

The number in the name of the food has a specific meaning - it indicates the percentage of protein contained in the diet.

Let's take a closer look at the main components of food for adult cats Cat 30:

• Chicken meat and sea fish fillet were used as protein sources (the manufacturer does not specify which one). The wording “chicken meat” allows us to judge that a mixture of poultry muscle tissue and skin was used without the addition of entrails, feathers and bones. This component is easily absorbed in the cat’s body, and its location in the first position in the composition indicates its large share. Sea fish fillet is in 5th place in the composition and is also a valuable product for animals.

  The main source of protein in the feed is chicken, which is in first place among the ingredients

• Contains many grains - a source of carbohydrates. Rice, barley and oats are located in 2, 3 and 4 places in the list of ingredients, respectively, which indicates their large share in the composition. All of these products can be used in cat food, are well digested and rarely cause allergic reactions, however, their large quantities may raise questions - nevertheless, for cats, the predominance of meat ingredients is preferable to cereals.
• The food contains fats: animal fat is a recycled product that helps form the structure of cat food and ensures the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins in the animal’s body;
• Sunflower oil is a popular source of Omega-6 fatty acids, essential for healthy skin and coat.

The calorie content of food for adult cats is 3880 Kcal per kg. According to the manufacturer's recommendations, an animal weighing 4 kg should receive 62 grams of product per day, which is 240 kcal. Considering that the average requirement of an adult healthy 4-kilogram animal with moderate activity is about 200–240 kcal (50–60 kcal per 1 kg of weight), the food fully satisfies such needs.

Feeding rates are indicated on the official website and on each pack of food.

Table: comparison of dry food from the Gina line

The following conclusions can be drawn about the composition of dry food:

• the manufacturer does not indicate the percentage of protein components, which makes it impossible to judge their quantity;
• animal and fish oil in the diets are not specified, and products of unknown origin among the ingredients do not inspire confidence, because their benefits cannot be judged;
• lack of variety of vegetables;
• the additional presence of synthesized taurine indicates that there is not enough animal protein in the feed, so the most important amino acid is added separately;
• in general, the composition, although not rich, consists of natural ingredients and provides the animal with both calories and nutrients.

Wet food

Canned food "Gina" is produced in pouches and comes in several types:

• chicken with tuna;
• tuna and sardine;
• tuna and beef;
• tuna in sauce;
• tuna with vegetables;
• tuna with squid.

The cost of one pack is from 62 to 82 rubles, depending on the specific taste; one pack contains 85 grams.

Table: comparison of compositions of canned food for cats

Gina wet food is available in 6 flavors, each of which contains tuna

In general, the canned food has a good composition, a large number of meat and fish ingredients, and of high quality (tuna fillet, chicken, beef, etc.). A big plus is the indication of the percentages of ingredients - this allows the buyer to understand how well the food meets the needs of the animal. The disadvantages include a lot of embellished descriptions, which are a marketing ploy.

So, the broth among the ingredients in the English list sounds like water, the sauce in the name description is, based on the composition, just water thickened with gelatin, and in the “Tuna with Vegetables” food there is only one vegetable, so it would be more honest to name his "Tuna and Carrots".

Advantages and disadvantages

Gina food can easily compete with other products in its category. So, they have a lot of advantages:

• The composition contains no allergenic components, in particular wheat, corn and potatoes. For example, Sanabelle food, which belongs to the same class, contains potato protein.
• The value of the feed fully meets the nutritional needs of the animal.
• The meat ingredients used are described with the words “fillet” and “meat”, which emphasizes their quality and the absence of low-quality carcass parts (heads, feathers, non-valuable offal). In 1st Choice food, one of the ingredients includes the wording “fresh chicken,” but this does not guarantee that the food contains only high-quality meat.
• Price. This is another important advantage of the product - it is inexpensive for its class. So, for 1 kg of Gina the owner will have to pay 400-450 rubles (without special offers and discounts), while 1st Choice will cost 550 rubles, and Sanabelle - 600-650.

  The price of Gina food is relatively low, and stores often have additional promotions and discounts

The disadvantages of Gin products include:

• Imperfect and undiversified composition (primarily concerns dry food, which is positioned as a complete diet). For example, in 1st Choice dry food, which belongs to the same super-premium category, the ingredients are described more specifically (the diet with chicken states that it contains 17% fresh chicken and 17% poultry flour), and the list of vegetables and herbs is longer (pulp beets, tomatoes, dried parsley). But in Bozita food the problem is similar - no specifics.
• Lack of animal proteins in the feed, as evidenced by the addition of synthesized taurine. This disadvantage is a common problem for super premium feeds; the situation is similar in the Bozita, Fitmin For Life, Sanabelle diets.
• Lack of specialized feed. The line of dry diets consists of only 4 items and includes separate food only for kittens and pregnant cats, as well as for pets with increased activity. For example, Bozita food has separate offers for cats with excess weight and sensitive digestion, for neutered cats and large breed pets.

Evaluation and analysis of feed composition

Please note that the new Gina Elite lines differ significantly from those produced according to the old recipe and, unfortunately, not for the better.

The analysis is carried out on the basis of Adult Cat Duck&Rise food - a hypoallergenic holistic food for adult animals. This food contains all the basic components that are also found in other foods.

According to the manufacturer, GINA Elite food contains no flavors, dyes or preservatives.

The energy value of the feed is listed below:

• Proteins – 30%;
• Fats – 18%;
• Carbohydrates – 35%;
• Fiber – 1.5%;
• Humidity – 7.5%;
• Ash – 8%;
• Calcium – 1.6%;
• Phosphorus – 1.1%.

Despite the fact that the food is positioned as holistic, it should be noted that products containing cereals can, at most, be classified as super-premium. Old GINA foods do not contain such components.

The composition of the feed has twelve points. It omits vitamin and mineral nutritional supplements and is prescribed separately from the main composition. There are no synthetic components among them, which is one of the main advantages of this food.

The food is based on components such as duck meat (almost a third of the weight), white and brown rice, poultry fat, and potatoes. It is worth noting that the manufacturer did not indicate the proportion of certain components in the composition, limiting itself to only indicating the amount of meat.

Other ingredients include chicken broth, tomatoes, salmon oil, chicory, carrots, cranberries and Yucca Schidegera extract.

Now you have an idea of ​​the composition of the food and can judge whether the mass of positive reviews about it is justified.

Squirrels

The only component that enriches the food with proteins is duck meat. The label does not provide details about dehydration of the meat or fillet, so it can be assumed that it is present in the composition in its raw form. Despite the lack of heat treatment, this component is perfectly absorbed by the cat’s body.

Please also note that the feed should not be subjected to additional heat treatment. At the same time, the moisture content of duck meat can decrease by 70% and as a result, out of the declared 31%, only 9-12% will remain. Keep this in mind if you are going to prepare new dishes for your pet using this canned food.

It should also be noted that the main source of energy for a cat is primarily carbohydrates, so there is no need to feed it exclusively protein foods. Fortunately, the food already contains all the necessary nutrients.

Fats

The main fatty component of GINA feed is poultry fat. Unfortunately, behind the generalized formulation it is impossible to understand what is actually added to this food, so we can assume that the manufacturer adds rather low quality products to the composition.

The food contains another source of Omega-3 fatty acids - salmon oil. Unfortunately, there is quite a bit of it in GINA food. However, it is an extremely valuable product. Suffice it to say that it is added exclusively to holistic foods.

Carbohydrates

Almost all remaining components are a source of the main nutrient - carbohydrates. The main supplier of carbohydrates in GINA food is potatoes, the share of which is close to that of meat.

This is followed by cereals:

Brown rice, easily digestible by the body, is therefore often added to feed instead of wheat and corn. It does not contain gluten, and its carbohydrates structurally take a long time to dissolve, thereby prolonging the feeling of fullness in the animal.

White rice, although it has a similar composition, is somewhat inferior in properties to brown rice.

Potatoes are a source of not only carbohydrates, but fiber, as well as vegetable protein - necessary components to ensure the normal functioning of a cat. A small amount of potatoes in cat food only shows its high quality. Unfortunately, when found in large quantities, potatoes are simply cheap fillers.

Other components

Other components do not play a significant role in the nutritional value of the feed, but they are also worth paying attention to.

• Chicken broth is a natural flavoring agent that makes the food attractive and delicious from the cat's point of view. It is present as a dry concentrate.
• Tomatoes and carrots are excellent sources of fiber. These vegetables are rich in carotenoids, vitamins and minerals. Unfortunately, there are very few of them in the composition, so their benefits for cats are questionable.
• Chicory – thanks to inulin, this component helps treat dysbiosis and diarrhea. The content of chicory in cat food helps to actively restore intestinal microflora and improve digestion. Many veterinarians advise giving it to animals for digestive disorders such as constipation and diarrhea.
• Yucca extract – reduces the specific “aroma” of the cat’s litter box, making it much less pronounced. A similar effect occurs due to a decrease in the activity of enzyme-secreting glands in the animal. Unfortunately, there is no benefit to the animal’s health from this component - it is used solely to irritate the owners’ sense of smell less.

What food to replace “Gina”

Foods that can replace “Gina”:

• premium: Royal Canin, Science Plan;
• super premium: Pronature Original, Bozita, Monge;
• holistic: Farmina N&D (“Farmina”), Grandorf (“Grandorf”), Now (“Nau”).

Photo gallery: replacement feed

Royal Canin is a popular brand not only among cat owners, but also among veterinarians

Hill's has a wide veterinary line - there are foods for cats of different ages and with various diseases

Bozita" is different in that this food also contains exotic products (for example, lobster and venison)

Pronature food does not contain grains, corn and soy, which are often included in cat food to increase volume.

Holistic foods such as Go can also be consumed by humans, since the product is based on high-quality natural ingredients

Table: replacement feed

Advantages and disadvantages of the recipe

GINA food has its advantages and disadvantages. You can judge them not only according to the opinion of veterinarians. Having carefully studied the composition of the feed, you can draw your own logical conclusions based on it.

The advantages include:

• high quality meat as the main source of animal protein;
• the use of grains that do not cause an allergic reaction;
• adding high quality fats;
• healthy additives and vegetables included in the food;
• absence of chemical flavors, dyes and other synthetic components.

The disadvantages of the food also arise from the composition:

• too many plant components compared to meat;
• the main source of fat is in great doubt;
• low amount of fiber compared to analogue feeds.

GINA food has more advantages than disadvantages and is quite suitable for providing your pet with complete nutrition. However, its composition does not fully meet the requirements of high-class feed. Whether or not to buy this product for your cat is up to you.

Cat food Gina Elite - reviews

Despite the fact that food under the Gina Elite brand has been sold in Russia for a long time, there are not so many reviews about it. We've shared a few of the ones we found below.

Reviews from veterinarians

There is a video online where a veterinarian explains how good this food is, but these are promotional videos from. We did not find any reviews from independent veterinarians.

Customer Reviews

Tatyana writes:

My cat has been using Gina Elite food for sterilized cats for a couple of years now. I always ordered 3 kg bags, they are more economical in price and need to be purchased less often. The cat ate with pleasure, there was no stomach upset, and his fur was shiny. But the cat refused to eat the food from the last bag she bought, and when she looked closely at it she saw mold! The shelf life was still half a year.

I contacted the store, apologized and offered to replace the food. I thought a little and decided to try a different brand. Now we eat Gou, it is more expensive, but there are almost no negative reviews about it, and after the mold situation I found a lot of negative reviews about Gin.

Valentina writes:

We have been feeding the entire nursery with Gina Elite dryer for two years now, there are no complaints, I recommend it to everyone. Before this, for about seven years, all cats ate Royal Canin, and everything was fine too. They changed the food only because the imported cat’s fur began to look flattering. We tried Gina Elite on the recommendation of someone from our breeders club. Within about a month, the cat's fur was restored.

The other cats were transferred to make it more convenient, otherwise it would be difficult to ensure that one did not eat food from the others. No one had any negative consequences, and in the end they stayed at Gin. In terms of price, this food is no more expensive, especially when bought in large bags.

Alexander writes:

Our cat ate Bozita for a long time, but 2 months ago, in order to save money, we switched to Gina Elite, his friends recommended it. The first Canadian-made package went well, but the second time they took it in a different English-made package. As a result, the cat became constipated and could not go to the toilet normally for a couple of days.

Price

Average cost of GINA Elite food for cats and female cats:

• 1 kilogram – 550 rubles;
• 3 kilograms – 1600 rubles;
• 15 kilograms – 7500 rubles.

Food for sterilized animals is somewhat cheaper:

• 1 kilogram – 500 rubles;
• 3 kilograms – 1500 rubles;
• 15 kilograms – 7000 rubles.

The cost of GINA food is relatively low for a super-premium class, so if you are looking for an inexpensive, high-quality product, you can safely buy it.

Feed class

Despite the fact that Gina Elite cat food is declared as holistic, it cannot be classified as holistic. And, to be honest, it doesn’t even reach the super-premium food group. There are several reasons for this.

Holistic food is the best of all existing lines of ready-made food. Its main characteristics are:

1. Large amount of meat.
2. Lack of vegetable protein, allergens, artificial preservatives and dyes, flavor enhancers.
3. There are fruits, vegetables, healthy plants.
4. Added a good vitamin and mineral complex.

If you look at Gina Elite food on all these points, you can clearly see what the difference is. Specifically:

• allergens are present;
• little fiber;
• the percentage of meat ingredients is not specified.

From this we can conclude that this line cannot belong to the group of holistic foods.

Reviews from veterinarians about Gina food

GINA foods receive mixed reviews from veterinarians, both positive and negative. In the overwhelming majority of cases, experts speak positively about it: the food turned out to be excellent for its price - better than the super-premium class, although it falls slightly short of the holistic class due to its low protein content. True, many veterinarians do not advise buying food that contains corn. But if your pet is accustomed to this component, there will probably be no harm from it.

Thus, GINA food is an excellent and relatively inexpensive solution for those who care about the health of their pet and prefer to feed him a truly high-quality product.

Compound

Gin’s positioning in the super premium segment speaks volumes: the composition excludes the presence of artificial colors, preservatives or flavors.

Wet food contains from 46.5% to 55% meat declared on the package.

Dry diets under the same brand have digital markings that determine the specific gravity of proteins in the analytical composition. Simply put, Gina Cat 30 is supposed to contain at least 30% protein. The food contains supplements of vitamins and mineral compounds essential for cats.

The composition of holistic formulas takes into account the individual characteristics of cats. Gina Elite states that raw materials for cat food undergo maximum quality control in its own laboratories. All products are at a level suitable for human consumption. The Gin Elite recipe uses only natural ingredients with a high protein content.

Actually, the analytical composition of Gina Elite using Complete as an example: proteins 32%, fats 12%, vegetable fiber 4%, and ash content - 6.5%. The holistic level will ensure 100% absorption by the body.

Advantages and disadvantages

Feeds of this level often have the same disadvantages:

• they are not widely available;
• high price.

By purchasing Gina and Gina Elite, you can be absolutely sure that your cat is provided with the best nutrition, because:

• the product meets the declared quality;
• the composition is maximally adapted to the needs of the pet;
• A large selection of not only dry, but also wet food guarantees satisfaction of the whims of any gourmet.