Animal sources of protein
No fresh or raw (frozen) meat or fish ingredients were used in the production of this food.
Ingredient No. 1 in the composition is indicated in Russian as “bird”. In fact, it is Poultry Protein - poultry protein. In the English-language composition of this food, this ingredient is about, which, according to data.
It’s bad that the type of raw material from which this product is obtained is not indicated. The mistranslation serves as a marketing ploy to make the ingredient more attractive.
In total, there are four sources of animal protein in the food: in addition to poultry, these are meat products (Meat Meal), salmon (Salmon Meal) and dried whole eggs. As you can see, the translation of these names is also not accurate (“meat products” instead of “meat meal” and “salmon” instead of “salmon meal”).
Poultry and “meat products” are in the top five ingredients, which means that the animal protein content in the food is generally average.
Compound
The components of Happy Cat are as follows:
- meat and meat products: lamb, poultry, venison, beef, rabbit, turkey;
- fish and seafood (salmon, herring, New Zealand shellfish, seaweed);
- dry whole egg;
- potatoes (in the form of flakes), corn;
- flour: rice, corn (carbohydrates);
- poultry fat (unsaturated fatty acids);
- vegetables, berries and fruits: apple and beet pulp (fiber), figs, cranberries;
- plants (artichoke, milk thistle, dandelion, chicory root, birch leaves, nettle, chamomile, sage, rosemary, coriander, mint, thyme, licorice root, yucca Schidigera);
- other components: lignocellulose, extracted yeast, etc.
Plant based protein sources
Happy Cat food for sterilized cats contains 3 different grain derivatives (corn flour, rice flour and corn). The first two of them are in the top five ingredients. Since all these products are sources of vegetable protein and carbohydrates, the content of the latter in this food is extremely high.
Cornmeal and corn are essentially the same thing. The presence of two different types of corn may indicate the so-called “split” of ingredients - the addition of several different protein and/or carbohydrate ingredients (most often plant-based) from the same source to the feed.
In fact, their total content may exceed that of animal protein sources. If you combine cornmeal and corn, poultry (24%) may no longer be the No. 1 ingredient in the composition. Its share individually may be less than the next one on the list, corn.
This is just a guess, but its likelihood makes you think about the quality of this food. Note that grains are not included in the natural diet of carnivores, and therefore in large quantities, and especially as the basis of food, are not recommended for them.
Reviews of Happy Cat food for cats
If you are interested in hearing the opinions of furry pet owners, then read on.
Maria: “When I got a British cat, I was determined to feed him only natural homemade food. But such food did not suit him. According to the vet, my cat falls into the category of “cats with sensitive digestion.” He also recommended Happy Cat ready-made food to me. It's amazing that this food came right away. The cat eats the food with pleasure, has gained noticeable weight and his fur has stopped falling out. I am pleased".
Andrey: “We have an ordinary mongrel kitten Vaska, whom we picked up from the street. He was dirty, shabby, sick and terribly hungry. At first we fed him pure meat, but it was clear that the kitten had difficulty chewing it. After this, my wife bought Happy Cat dry food to feed the kittens. We pre-soaked the food in water and gave it to Vaska to try. At first he refused, but gradually he began to eat. Within a month, we noticed that the kitten had become noticeably stronger and grown. I’m glad that the company has a very large selection of food, although you can’t buy it in all pet stores.”
Yasmina: “I started feeding my Persian cat Pouchi food from Happy Cat. He was absolutely delighted with them and ate the entire portion. Over time, I realized that the cost was hitting my pocket hard and decided to try Happy Cat in preserves and canned goods. The cat's reaction remained unchanged, and the portions were also eaten completely. However, in canned food the pieces are larger, a lot of broth and vegetable additives are not visible at all.
The brand has a large assortment, a lot of different tastes, which I alternate every day. The pet’s stool is regular and there is no strong odor.”
Cellulose
The diet contains the following types of fiber: beet pulp (#9 in the ingredient list), cellulose (#5 in the ingredient list) and apple pulp (#10).
Beet pulp in small quantities is completely acceptable and beneficial for the intestines of dogs and cats. But the so-called “fiber” (the proportion of which is quite large) is, in fact, just cellulose - a cheap ballast filler of unknown origin.
In English, this ingredient is designated as “cellulose” - the inaccuracy of translation can be regarded as a marketing ploy. The unpleasant thing is that cellulose is absolutely not nutritious for dogs and cats, and it is best to avoid it in the diet of animals.
Apple pulp (0.8%) is a source of healthy pectin; in small quantities it is quite acceptable and beneficial for the intestines of dogs and cats.
Plant products are poorly digestible by predators, and a large amount of fiber in the food increases the volume of the food bolus. Cats experience a deceptive feeling of fullness, but the fiber is not digested in their body and leaves it without benefit.
Happy cat Edult Sterilized Alpine Beef
Happy Cat Adult Sterilized Voralpen-Rind food is specially developed for neutered and neutered male cats. This nourishing and tasty food, rich in ballast substances, contains only 10.5% fat and a large amount of valuable animal protein from easily digestible beef and tasty poultry.
Neutered cats are predisposed to urolithiasis (KD) and to becoming overweight.
DL -methionine is a substance that acidifies urine so that struvite stones cannot form.
Fiber in the stomach swells and creates a feeling of fullness. Thanks to the increased fiber content, the cat eats less food than usual. Accordingly, she does not gain weight.
All complex is included in this food:
Removing wool from the stomach: insoluble fiber, passing through the stomach, captures hair hairs and removes them naturally, preventing them from clumping
Taurine is an essential amino acid needed by cats for vision, normalization of cardiac function and obstetrics.
Prevention of urolithiasis: DL-methionine acidifies urine and thereby prevents the formation of struvite-type stones
Cleansing teeth from plaque and preventing tartar: granules have a porous structure. Mechanical cleaning occurs when the cat chews the granules.
Skin and coat care: Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids strengthen and nourish hair follicles
Guaranteed palatability: a variety of protein sources in the food meets the physiological needs of cats
Large percentage of animal protein from total protein
Natural Life Concept complex (apple pectin, chicory root, flaxseed, herbs, microelements to maintain normal functioning of the whole body)
Ingredients
Ingredients: meat products (17% beef), poultry** (15%), corn meal, corn, potato flakes, lignocellulose, meat (3% beef), rice flour, beet pulp* (unsweetened), poultry fat, beef tallow , hemoglobin, apple pulp* (0.8%), potassium chloride, yeast*, sodium chloride, dried whole egg, seaweed* (0.2%), flax seed (0.2%), Yucca Schidigera* (0 .1%), chicory root (0.05%), New Zealand clam*, yeast* (extracted), milk thistle, artichoke, dandelion, ginger, birch leaves, nettle, chamomile, coriander, rosemary, sage, licorice root, thyme ( total volume of dry herbs: 0.19%); *) dried, **) dried, with partial hydrolysis
Analytical composition
Crude protein 37%, crude fat 10.5%, crude fiber 5.0%, crude ash 6.5%, calcium 1.25%, phosphorus 0.8%, sodium 0.45%, potassium 0.65%, magnesium 0.08%, Omega-6 fatty acids. 1.9%, Omega-3 fat. sour 0.2%
Supplements
Vitamins / kg: vitamin A (3a672a) 18000 IU 18000 IU, vitamin D3 (3a671) 1800 IU. Antioxidants 1800 IU, tocopherol extracts from vegetable oils 1b306(i). Trace elements / kg: iron (E1 100 mg, iron (II) sulfate 5 mg, monohydrate) 120 mg 6 mg, copper (E4 4 mg, copper (II) sulfate 700 μg, pentahydrate) 12 mg 12 mg, zinc (zinc oxide 3b603 120 mg 45 mg, zinc amino acid chelate 75 μg, hydrate 3b606 30 mg) 150 mg 75 mg, manganese (manganese (II) oxide 3b502) 30 mg 120 mg, iodine (anhydrous calcium iodate 3b202) 2 12 mg, 5 mg 150 mg, selenium (E8 30 mg, sodium selenite) 0 2.0 mg, 2 mg. Amino acids/kg: DL-methionine (3c301) 4700 mg 0.15 mg, taurine (3a370) 1000 mg. 4700 mg
Healthy Ingredients
Yeast is a source of B vitamins, but it is not known what type of yeast is added to the feed. Interestingly, this product lists two very similar ingredients - simply “yeast” and “dried (extracted) yeast.”
Seaweed (0.2%) – contains amino acids, Omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins and minerals.
Chicory root (0.04%) is a source of the prebiotic inulin. Prebiotics promote gut health by normalizing the balance of good and bad gut bacteria. It’s good that its exact percentage in the composition is indicated.
This diet also includes a variety of herbs and seasonings (milk thistle, artichoke, dandelion, ginger, birch leaf, nettle, chamomile, coriander, rosemary, sage, licorice root and thyme).
All of them are quite useful, but they are at the end of the ingredient list and the exact quantities are not indicated. This means that there are too few of these components in the food to have a real beneficial effect on the animal’s body.
Happy Cat food for sterilized cats also contains a variety of vitamin and mineral supplements. They are added partly due to a lack of minerals and vitamins in the raw materials, partly due to the peculiarities of the technological process for the production of dry food (this is the industry norm, and therefore is not a direct indicator of high or low quality of the diet).
Let's look at just one of these additives. Taurine is a vital amino acid for cats. However, adding it to the diet as a separate component is an indicator of the low quality of the protein components of the diet or their insufficient quantity. Since they cannot provide the cat’s body with the necessary amount of taurine, the manufacturer has to add it additionally.
Happy Cat cat food - reviews
Since Happy Cat dry food for cats has been sold in Russia for a long time, a lot of reviews have been collected on the Internet. We have shared a few of them below.
Reviews from veterinarians
In advertising for most foods, you can hear that it is supposedly “recommended by veterinarians,” and Happy Cat is no exception. Usually this is just a marketing ploy that has nothing to do with reality. In the case of Happy Cat, we were unable to find reviews from veterinarians about this food; we only have reviews from customers.
Customer Reviews
Ekaterina writes:
Although Happy Cat is a well-known German brand, these foods did not inspire much confidence due to their composition. But the manufacturer does not stand still and has released a new line of grain-free food, with any flavors (venison, fish, rabbit, duck). I was interested in the new formulations without corn and wheat, so I bought a package of rabbit food. The price then was about a thousand rubles for 1.4 kg, such a package lasts about a month for a cat weighing 4 kg.
The first thing I want to note is the convenient packaging with a zip fastener; there is no need to pour the food into the container. The second is a special QR code on the packaging, which allows you to check the originality of the food using a smartphone.
The food itself is made of rather large granules, the cat has to chew them and cannot swallow them whole (which is good). The cat liked it and ate well. There were no problems with digestion, although sometimes there was bad breath. During the month of feeding, the weight did not increase or decrease.
In principle, you can completely switch your cat to this food, for now the only thing stopping you is that you have to order online and take a large 4 kg package so that delivery is free.
Svetlana writes:
Hello to all four-legged furry owners! I have a neutered cat, and I know firsthand about the problem of excess weight after castration. Therefore, the review will be about food for castrated and sterilized cats Happy cat Adult Sterilized. I chose this brand on the recommendation of the seller, and I don’t regret it. The composition of the food is natural, even different herbs are added. The price is not small, 250 rubles for 300 grams. Produced in Germany.
A plastic bag with a zip fastener, foil-lined on the inside. The food granules are round, flattened, with a pleasant smell. The cat eats willingly but in moderation, is always full, cheerful and playful. After the meal, there are almost no crumbs left in the bowl, as happened after most other foods. In general, I am satisfied with Happy cat food for neutered cats, I recommend purchasing it!
Larisa writes:
I bought this food when the pet store didn’t have the usual one, the seller pointed to Happy Cat as an alternative, and said that they sell well. I took it with lamb, it has greenish-brown granules and not the most pleasant smell. The cat ate it for a whole month and everything was fine. And then problems began in the form of bloody diarrhea. I had to visit the vet and get treated!
Later I read on the Internet that this food was tested in the growth control and the results did not meet the standards. I don’t know what it was made of that caused such a reaction in the cat, but it’s obvious that the ingredients are not of the highest quality! I highly do not recommend Happy Cat dry food.
Cons of Happy Cat Sterilized food
Firstly, no fresh meat or fish ingredients were used in the production of this food.
Secondly, the diet contains the ingredients indicated in the composition without specification: poultry (poultry protein), meat products (meat flour), poultry fat and fiber. Generic names may hide the inconsistent composition of the feed, changing depending on the cost of these questionable ingredients.
Thirdly, the manufacturer deliberately used a “split” of vegetable protein source ingredients and other marketing techniques to make the diet look more attractive.
Finally, it contains useless fiber of unknown origin.
Happy Cat Cat Food Review
Happy Cat dry and wet cat food is produced in Germany by Interquell GmbH and imported to Russia by Grand Alpha LLC.
The official website (Russian) and https://www.happycat.de (main), the information about feed indicated on them (compositions, feeding rates, etc.) is the same. This food belongs to the premium class. In addition to Happy Cat, the same company produces Happy Dog dog food, which also belongs to the premium class.
Composition of Happy Cat food
Let's study the composition of Happy Cat food using the example of the Adult Weide-Lamm option (Pasture Lamb, for all adult cats). It can be seen in the image below (for ease of reading, left-click on the image):
On the left is a photo of the composition from the food packaging, on the right are screenshots from the official website.
The first ingredient is poultry (21%). It is not clear what kind of bird it is and what its parts are. 21% is a lot, but there is no * symbol next to this ingredient, like there are other dried meat components. From this we can conclude that “birds” are 21% raw, and after cooking in dry food the percentage will be 3-4 times less.
Other sources of animal proteins include meat products, lamb 8%, dried whole egg. Given the general formulations, the first two of the three components are likely to consist of by-products.
In second and third place are rice flour and corn flour, respectively, which are mainly sources of carbohydrates, as are corn and potato flakes placed a little further down.
In addition to Happy Cat's regular everyday foods, there is also a grain-free line called Grainfree Rentier, which uses potatoes instead of corn and wheat (present in some regular options).
Poultry fat is a source of saturated fatty acids. Fiber, beet pulp and apple pulp are sources of fiber. All other ingredients of the composition are added to the food in order to enrich it with certain beneficial substances.
Advantages and disadvantages
The advantages of this food include:
- the main source of protein is meat ingredients (since there is no soy, vegetable gluten and other rich sources of vegetable protein);
- wide range (grain-free food, medicinal food, canned food, treats);
- good content of vitamins and minerals;
- natural antioxidants (tocopherols - vitamin E) are used.
Among the disadvantages are:
- a small percentage of meat ingredients, their quality is unknown;
- high price, comparable to many feeds of a higher class.
