Like many other brands, the Sanabelle range of German cat food includes a special dry food for castrated and sterilized cats - Sanabelle Sterilized. Experts have different opinions about whether it is necessary to switch animals to a special diet after surgery. Some believe that this is necessary to prevent obesity, while others recommend focusing on the condition of the animal.
We are inclined to agree with the opinion of the second group, because not all cats become less active and gain weight after surgery. And besides, very often food intended for sterilized animals does not differ in any significant way from other diets of the same brand.
Let's see if the product's characteristics surprise us in any way. An analysis of the composition of Sanabelle Sterilized should reveal all the pros and cons of this food.
About the main thing: animal proteins
In the top five, we found only two sources of animal protein - they occupy places No. 1 and No. 4. Ingredient No. 1 on the label is designated as fresh poultry meat. In fact, the English name Fresh Poultry does not contain the word “meat”, which means that the translation embellishes the ingredient. The manufacturer states that the food contains at least 20% fresh poultry, and this is the only component whose proportion is clearly indicated in the composition. We will not take the word “minimum” into account, because it is completely impossible to judge the maximum, so we will only take into account the number 20.
In fourth place is “poultry meat” - this translation is also erroneous. In English, this ingredient is called Poultry Meat Meal, that is, poultry meal. These are fundamentally different products - you can read a description of the technology for producing such flour in the Sanabelle Sterilized card by clicking on the component.
Ingredients labeled in general terms (for example, simply “poultry” and any of its derivatives) are generally undesirable, since vaguely specified ingredients allow the manufacturer to change the diet formula, for example, using first one type of poultry, then another, without the buyer knowing about it.
Medicinal feed
Bosch Tiernahrung has also developed specialized food for cats with certain health problems.
For pets with kidney disease
Sanabel food is produced with an ideal composition for:
- Pets prone to allergies;
- Cats with sensitive digestion and diseases of the gastrointestinal tract;
- Pets with diseases of the urinary system;
- Cats for whom it is important to maintain dental health.
Bosch Sanabel medicated food has excellent reviews from veterinarians. Experts often recommend these products for the constant feeding of cats with certain health problems.
Attention! These foods can both stabilize the condition of pets who already have certain diseases, and prevent the development of the disease if the cat has a predisposition. For example, Persian cats are prone to dental diseases, and Siamese cats often have disorders of the gastrointestinal system.
Potato expanse
The “No Grain” symbol on the food label informs the consumer that it contains no grain. This is initially perceived as a plus, but a review of Sanabelle's formulation for sterilized cats revealed some disappointing details. It turned out that the diet is still very high in carbohydrates and vegetable protein, because the other three ingredients in the top five are potato derivatives (No. 2 is potato flakes, No. 3 is potato flour, and No. 5 is isolated vegetable protein from potato tubers).
It is obvious that in total there are more potatoes in the diet than poultry. The manufacturer used a triple “split” of potato derivatives to be able to put fresh poultry at the top of the ingredient list.
Recommendations for use of Bosch Sanabelle cat food
First, when giving Sanabelle cat food (veterinarian reviews complement the ideal characteristics of the product), make sure that your pet is always provided with fresh water at room temperature.
Secondly, dry food can remain in the bowl all day. Your pet can determine when to eat.
Thirdly, choose cat food based on the individual characteristics of the animal. Bosch Sanabelle offers a range of foods differentiated according to the age and special needs of your pet. For overweight animals, a low-calorie food with a lightweight formula is ideal.
What about the fat in Sanabelle?
The food contains several sources of fat: fish oil, animal fat, and flaxseed. It is not indicated from what raw materials the animal fats are obtained.
Pure fat in the Sanabelle diet for castrates is only 9.5%, but the food contains 40.2% nitrogen-free extractive substances - this is probably due to the large dosage of potatoes. These are, in essence, sugars and starch, which, for example, when fattening farm animals, are considered the main components for fattening.
We doubt that food with this composition can maintain a normal weight for cats after sterilization, and the inscription “Weight Control” on the packaging looks strange.
Reviews of Sanabel food for cats
German-made Sanabel cat food is a super-premium product and meets international standards. Dry food is fatty granules in convenient sizes, with a pleasant appearance and smell. After feeding, the pet does not require food for a long time and becomes active and cheerful. The components of the food are natural, the composition is enriched with ingredients also of natural origin, in general the diet is considered balanced and satisfies the needs of the cat’s body.
The food is easy to digest and does not cause digestive problems; the product line contains grain-free, hypoallergenic options especially for pets with sensitive digestion.
The range of products of the Sanabel brand is wide. The needs of all age groups are taken into account. Feeds are offered for the prevention of urolithiasis, problems with gums and teeth. The company also produces a line of Treats. This type of food can be treated to a cat between meals, which is especially important for large breed cats and pets that are switched from ordinary homemade food to dry food.
The food promotes the normal development of the body of small kittens; it is not difficult to find in pet stores. All types of food are low cost.
Reviews from veterinarians
According to the manufacturer, Sanabel food does not contain harmful components, chemicals, or GMOs. The food is prepared from fresh meat that is suitable for human consumption. However, there is some discrepancy. On grain-free foods there is an indication that the composition includes rice, sorghum and millet. The specific preservatives used are not indicated, without which it is not possible to preserve the food for a certain period of time.
Otherwise, the food meets the international standard requirements for super-premium cat nutrition. Particularly highlighted are options with therapeutic and prophylactic compounds, which have proven themselves quite well, their effect has been proven by veterinary practice. There are foods for small pets with a complete, balanced composition that supplies the kittens’ bodies with the necessary substances, food for older cats, cats with food allergies, as well as for neutered and long-haired breeds.
In general, the products of the German company Sanabelle are good; regular use of this food makes it possible to maintain the cat’s health in good condition, control the pet’s weight and provide him with an active lifestyle.
Overview of other feed ingredients
Sanabelle Sterilized contains hydrolyzed protein (No. 6). It is completely unclear what this ingredient is derived from. Animal hydrolysates are often used as a concentrated flavoring additive. Place No. 7 in the composition belongs to a natural flavor enhancer - dried liver (Liver (dehydrated)), which in Russian translation for some reason was simply called “liver”. The source of the raw materials is again not specified.
The composition contains two isolated sources of fiber - these are coarse and undesirable cellulose fibers in ready-made diets (Cellulose Fibres), incorrectly translated into Russian as “fiber”, as well as beet pulp, which is useful for digestion. Sources of prebiotic fiber include dehydrated yeast (contains mannan-oligosaccharides) and chicory powder (a source of inulin).
There are many additives on the ingredient list. Peas, yeast, cranberries and blueberries were added to the composition in dried form, but for some reason this clarification was missed when translated into Russian. Mussel flour contains substances that are beneficial for joints, but its exact amount in the diet is unknown, so it is unlikely that you can count on its effect.
While researching vitamin and mineral supplements, we saw the ingredient “iodine (as calcium iodide, anhydrous).” This is an incorrect translation, since the compound is called Iodine (as calcium iodate, anhydrous), that is, anhydrous calcium iodate. We have provided the correct information on the food card.
It is unclear what exactly the diet is preserved with - it simply says “antioxidant”, without details, so it may well be a synthetic preservative.
Sanabelle cat food - reviews
Sanabelle dry food for cats and cats from the German company Bosch has been sold on the Russian market for a long time. Many pet owners have shared their reviews of these foods, and we've included a few of them below.
Reviews from veterinarians
As always, on the Internet, many sites mention “positive reviews from veterinarians about Sanabelle food,” but we could not find any reviews from veterinarians.
Customer Reviews
Maria writes:
Hi all! My review today will be about the Bosch Sanabelle Sensitive food that our cat eats. Now he is over a year old, we don’t know his exact age since we picked him up on the street when he was still a kitten. For the first months we fed him natural food, but we are constantly at work and it’s difficult to feed him fresh food on a schedule. It’s easier with dry food; just pour a double portion in the morning and the cat will eat it at lunchtime.
The price of food varies from 480 to 590 rubles per package weighing 400 grams. We took these for testing, now he buys 2 kg, order in the online store korm73.ru, they deliver for free. For those who have several cats, it is possible to order large packages of 10 kg, then the cost per kilogram is half that of small 400 g packages.
About the food itself: the granules are small, the same size and color, fatty, with a normal smell. The cat eats them with great eagerness, it’s obvious that he likes them. Looks good, playful, no health problems, no problems with the toilet. That's all, thanks for your attention!
Svetlana writes:
My cat is a British shorthair, she is quite capricious when it comes to food, and of everything previously offered, she only ate Royal Canin. But it seems that I found a worthy replacement for him in the form of Sanabelle GRANDE food, which was recommended by the seller at the pet store.
This food has large granules and is perfect for even the largest breeds, like Maine Coon. Although the British are not small either. My cat eats it with pleasure, no worse than eating Royal Canin. The smell, color and appearance of the food do not cause suspicion; the composition seems to be good.
The two small bags purchased on sale are almost gone, and then I plan to take a large bag. Apparently, Sanabelle food suited my cat.
Ekaterina writes:
Our cat used to live in a shelter, so she is not particularly picky about food. Immediately when they took me, she looked a little exhausted, but now she has already recovered and looked prettier. Bosch Sanabelle dry food helped with this. It is produced in Germany, and not like many foreign feeds now - under license from us.
Contains no wheat, any E-grams, or gluten. Croquettes give off a pleasant meaty smell. The food is packaged in a bag with a good zipper, closes tightly and does not come apart until the end of use. A package weighing 2 kg is enough for almost three months, the consumption is not large. Most importantly, the cat loves this food, I definitely recommend it.
Sanabelle Sterilized: quality in question
In general, the composition of this product raises more questions and doubts than confidence in quality. The first five ingredients are a combination of 20% fresh poultry of unknown species, some poultry meal with three potato derivatives (flakes, flour and potato protein).
There are vague ingredients listed in general terms - primarily derivatives of unknown poultry species, as well as hydrolyzed protein, liver, fish oil, animal fat, antioxidant.
Many inaccuracies in the translation have been identified, and there are marketing tricks involving embellishment of components. Accordingly, for all the reasons stated above, Sanabelle dry food for sterilized cats did not take a high place in our rating, and its score turned out to be quite modest.
Compound
Bosch declares that Sanabel contains only fresh meat, no soy, artificial additives or GMO products. All raw materials are produced naturally and go through gentle processing technology.
In terms of analytical composition, Bosch feeds have approximately the same characteristics:
- proteins at the level of 31-32%% (using the example of ADULT with exotic ostrich and poultry meat);
- fats 16%;
- fiber 3-4%%;
- The ash content is within 6.8%; according to veterinarians, the optimal option is about 7%.
Specific moisture content is about 10%.
Sanabel necessarily includes natural food additives in the form of vitamins and mineral compounds.
In addition to fresh meat, Bosch Sanabelle contains meat and fish meal, animal and fish oil, dehydrated by-products: liver and subcutaneous tissue, as well as vegetables, herbs, berries and fruits.
