What will you learn from the article?
- What to look for when choosing cat food
- Analysis of the composition of cat food
- Comparison of types of cat food Features of the composition of dry cat food
- Features of wet cat food
There are different types of food
Budget and classy
Cheap, available,
Wet and large
Dry, dear,
Well, in general, at least some!
In this material we will talk about how not to get confused in front of the shelf with cat food and choose for your pet not only the tastiest, but also the healthiest by studying the composition of cat food!
TOP 10: Rating of the best dry dog food for 2021
On a note
Holistic and super-premium diets are very similar in composition, but there are significant differences between them. Firstly, holistic foods belong to the “Human grade” category, that is, they are completely suitable as a food source even for people. Secondly, they completely lack freeze-dried products, but some super-premium varieties already contain such a source of proteins. Thirdly, the ingredients of the diet are carefully balanced, thanks to which holistic varieties are universal and, in most cases, can be fed to dogs of any age group.
Which brand of food should I choose?
The specific manufacturer is not particularly important. The most important indicator is the class and composition of the feed. Note that many popular manufacturers have several factories in different countries. And although they indicate the same composition on the packaging, the quality of the food can vary significantly depending on the country in which the food is produced.
The main condition is that the food must meet the dog’s needs; the company does not matter. At the same time, the ranking is topped by the same brands from year to year, so the owner will have to make a choice among a small list.
The Best Holistic Dog Foods
"NOW FRESH"
Manufactured by Canadian, which produces several other popular lines of food for cats and dogs.
The “NOW FRESH” product brand has proven itself well: this holistic variety has a varied composition, which, in addition to a large amount of meat, also includes fruits and medicinal herbs. Grain-free diets are available. Advantages of dog food:
- Only meat is used as a source of proteins, not grains;
- Diverse composition;
- Availability of minerals and vitamins that dogs need;
- Only high-quality organic matter is used for production;
- You can buy it at most pet stores.
Flaws:
- High price.
"Grandorf"
This brand from the Belgian company of the same name has always earned only positive reviews from customers; some negative comments were associated with dogs being allergic to certain meats in the diet, so they do not count. Several different types of food are produced with fish, poultry and cattle meat, and there is a lot of meat - at least 60%. For carbohydrate supplementation, sweet potatoes are usually taken; there are no grains in the diet.
Advantages of dog food:
- Lots of natural meat;
- No grain crops;
- Natural vitamins are preserved;
Flaws:
- Not available everywhere, you may have to order online;
- Price.
"Orijen"
Canadian has been noted in our rating several times: almost every line of food from it is an order of magnitude better than its competitors’ products. For example, Orijen food boasts a high protein content - about 40%. And this is not surprising, because four-fifths of the diet consists of meat. Due to the abundance of proteins, the brand is recommended for large breed dogs leading an active lifestyle.
Advantages of dog food:
- The vast majority of the diet is meat;
- No grains;
- Availability of all necessary minerals and vitamins;
- Products are tested according to Canadian quality standards;
- Common: Easy to find in pet stores.
Flaws:
- Expensive.
“GO! NATURAL Holistic"
Another high quality food brand from Canada. Like all holistic products, it boasts a high meat content in its composition. Grain crops are not used, there are diets for sick dogs, and they are also divided by age groups. The price is the best among foods in this class, although what is confusing is the fact that some of them contain meat ground into flour, but do not say what exactly was ground.
Advantages of dog food:
- Canadian quality;
- Extensive and varied composition of the diet;
- No artificial colors or flavors;
- Balanced composition of vitamins and minerals;
- There is food for sick and obese animals.
Flaws:
- High price.
"Acana"
This brand has long been known among dog breeders and has rightfully won their trust. The products are again made in Canada. The line includes a wide variety of diets: for dogs of any size and any age. The manufacturer is proud that it has completely abandoned the use of meat production waste: only natural meat is present in dog food. Most of the food is made without the use of grains, but there are fruits, vegetables and even medicinal herbs.
Advantages of dog food:
- Two thirds of the feed composition is meat;
- Only plant organic matter that is beneficial for dogs is used;
- A complete set of essential vitamins and minerals;
- All antioxidants are natural.
Flaws:
- High price.
What to look for when choosing cat food
When you go to a pet store for the first time, it’s not surprising to be overwhelmed by the huge variety of cat food on offer. But in order to make the right choice, you still need to have a cool head on your shoulders and, when choosing food for your family pet, focus not only on beautiful packaging and reasonable cost, but also on analyzing cat food on the following points!
- If you don’t yet understand food brands, then pay attention to the country of origin. By all accounts, the best food is made in Denmark, Germany, Canada, the USA and the UK.
- Advanced cat owners need to pay attention to the brand of food. The reputation of some foods is very tarnished, while others, on the contrary, are undeservedly deprived of the attention of buyers. You can learn more about this in the article rating dry cat food.
- But the most important thing in any food is the composition. We will teach you how to read, analyze and compare cat food and instantly assess its real benefits or harm.
The best super premium dog foods
"Arden Grange"
A good brand of food from the UK, under this label you can find diets for dogs of any age and size. There are separate varieties for dogs with sensitive stomachs; many dog breeders recommend them. In composition, they consist of 35-45% meat, most of which is meat ground into flour. The large number of herbal ingredients is a little disappointing; among them there is also corn, which is practically useless for pets.
Advantages of dog food:
- No by-products;
- Contains only natural meat;
- Common;
Flaws:
- Price;
- The presence of cereals, especially corn.
"Eukanuba"
The composition of the food line is quite good: at least 30% natural meat in the food. The rest is carbohydrates from cereals, fiber from beets, fish oil and supplements consisting of minerals and vitamins. Whole chicken eggs are an additional source of protein. When purchasing, you should choose diets made abroad; there have been many complaints recently about feed produced at Russian production facilities.
Advantages of dog food:
- No synthetic additives or ingredients;
- High percentage of natural meat;
- Varied assortment.
Flaws:
- Price;
- Russian food is worse than its foreign counterparts.
"Gina Elite"
Some of the varieties of the Gina brand have received many dissatisfied and angry reviews, but they relate to premium products. The Elite line deserves nothing but praise. The feed contains 25-30% crude protein and up to 15% fat. The meat in each set comes from several animals, and the diet also includes fish. Herbal ingredients consist of medicinal herbs and several varieties of cereals, mainly rice. There are no synthetics or harmful antioxidants.
Advantages of dog food:
- Several types: dry food, canned food, soups;
- The composition does not contain freeze-dried products or synthetic flavoring additives;
- A lot of protein and fat;
- Dry food has a long shelf life.
Flaws:
- Rarely found in regular stores, especially canned goods and soups;
- Price.
"1st Choice"
A well-established brand that produces several types of dog food. Meat ingredients account for approximately 30-35% of the diet; fish and cattle meat are used as protein sources. The composition itself is balanced and contains a large amount of vitamins and minerals. There are sets of food for dogs with sensitive skin and coat and diets for pets with delicate stomachs.
Advantages of dog food:
- Variety of assortment;
- Balanced composition;
- High quality workmanship;
- Long shelf life.
Flaws:
- Rarely found;
- Quite expensive.
"Brit Care"
A line of super-premium food from a Czech manufacturer. It came in first place thanks to numerous positive customer reviews. It will serve as a complete source of protein even for very large dogs and fighting breeds. Due to its calorie content, it is consumed sparingly: for example, for an animal weighing 16 kilograms, 200 grams of feed is enough per day, that is, 12 kg of packaging is enough for two months. The ingredients are purely natural, although in some formulations the manufacturer is disingenuous and does not fully indicate the description of the components.
Advantages of dog food:
- No freeze-dried products;
- High calorie content;
- A complete set of vitamins and minerals;
- All preservatives and antioxidants are natural.
Flaws:
- Difficult to find;
- “Opaque description” of some diets;
- Price.
Kitten food
The weight and height of a kitten grows at an incredible rate in the first year of life. The need of kittens for fats, fatty acids and vitamins is the same as for adult cats. And more proteins, amino acids and minerals are required. Kittens should consume 30% of their energy from protein, as they have three times more energy. It is not advisable to feed your small pet universal cat food that says “also suitable for kittens.” It is better to choose diets designed specifically for babies, preferably recommended by your veterinarian. At the same time, use additional supplements and vitamins only for their intended purpose. Excessive intake of healthy food is also harmful to the body.
When transitioning a kitten from mother's milk, use wet food that is safe for small, fragile teeth.
Economy and premium food: is it worth buying?
Varieties of these classes deserve attention only because of one factor - price. Yes, super-premium and holistic food are really expensive, but any quality product costs much more than junk food. Therefore, it is worth feeding your pets premium food only if, in addition to it, you also add natural protein and carbohydrate supplements to your dogs’ food, and you can use economy food only in hopeless situations when there is no other alternative.
Source
Analysis of the composition of cat food
In what cases is it better to put a jar (bag) of food back on the store shelf?
- If you read that cat food contains cellulose, sugar, caramel and, attention, Propylen glycol. The latter is considered a sweetener, but in fact it is a de-icing agent, which is very harmful to the health of the animal.
- If the food contains E127 (an artificial dye), which often provokes cancer.
- If the composition does not hide a large percentage of by-products. Good offal is good for cats, but often under this name manufacturers disguise such unappetizing things as, say, beef skin or simply waste from slaughterhouses.
- The inscription “meat” does not mean that the food contains meat, but that the manufacturer is trying to hide the true nature of this component. Only if you have a transcript, that is, a detailed list of types of meat, can you count on the fact that your cat will eat a pure product.
- Do not buy food if you see it containing Ethoxyquin, BHA (E320) and BHT (E321). These are artificial antioxidants that can damage the liver, cause depression, seizures, and skin neuroses.
- Chemical preservatives are also not the best food for your cat.
What makes a good cat food?
- Meat will come first in a good food! It must be at least 35%! Beef, chicken, turkey, rabbit or fish are healthy meat ingredients.
- The next component that must be present in the feed is protein. 20% protein is a good number. Egg or milk whites are an excellent natural filler.
- Only 10% comes from high-quality offal.
- Plant fibers needed by cats should not exceed 25% of the composition. Oats, wheat, rice, corn are useful for cats only if the manufacturer does not add them in order to save on meat.
- Additional mineral and vitamin supplements are only a plus for the manufacturer’s karma.
Safe and necessary supplements include:
- ascorbic acid;
- vitamins H, K, B3, I15, B5, B6, B2, B1;
- Calciumoxide, Calcium phosphate, Calciumcarbonat (calcium);
- Calcium pantothenat (vitamin B5);
- chloride, choline chloride;
- cobalt, copper, copper carbonate, copper sulfite, iron sulfite, iron oxides, manganese, zinc and copper;
- the presence of an amino acid such as taurine in the composition is also a good indicator and incentive to purchase food;
- natural antioxidants (vitamins E and C) will not harm your pet.
