Cat food “Cat Chow”: composition - disadvantages and its advantages, reviews + Video

When a furry pet appears in your home, many people wonder what to feed it.
Cat food Cat Chow is a cross between premium and economy class food. Produced by Purina. Dry complete food Cat Chow is developed taking into account the activity and age of cats.

Among the offered foods, you can choose food for kittens and cats, with different flavors, as well as for certain categories of animals, taking into account the characteristics of the body.

Who is Cat Chow food for?

• small kittens;
• mature and adult cats;
• castrated and sterilized cats;
• animals that are prone to allergies;
• prevention of various diseases;
• removing hairballs from the stomach.

By choosing Cat Chow food, you will provide your pet with a tasty and happy life.

Important! If you feed your cat dry food, be sure to ensure that there is clean water in the bowl.

Veterinarians' opinion

Alla, 39 years old, Moscow

When compiling a diet for sterilized and neutered animals, their characteristics must be taken into account. It is important that the food contains a lot of meat (at least 50%), as it acidifies the urine and prevents the formation of stones in the bladder. Instead of Cat Chow, I recommend super-premium products, hypoallergenic foods, or holistic foods. They are more expensive, but in the future you will not have to spend money on treating your pet.

Maxim, 43 years old, Lipetsk

If the animal is healthy, then after surgery it can be fed Cat Chow products, periodically adding fresh frozen meat to the diet. It is important to regularly have your pet's urine, feces and blood tested. If the food is poorly digested or causes health problems, the diet can be adjusted in time.

Feed composition

As a rule, the main component of economy-class food is cereals; they are the main source of carbohydrates. In second place are meat and processed meat products (at least 30%, 14-15% of them are poultry meat). Further, the composition contains vegetables and herbs (beets, green peas, carrots, parsley, spinach, rosemary, etc.). It also contains vitamins, minerals, preservatives, fats and oils, and antioxidants. All this ensures maximum variety in your pet’s diet.

What class does it belong to?

In the hierarchy of feeds, industrial diets under the Cat Chow brand occupy the penultimate step, as they are classified as premium class . In terms of benefits/nutritional value, they are inferior to products labeled “holistic” and “super-premium”, surpassing only economy diets.

Premium feeds are vulnerable in several ways, including questionable sources of carbohydrates and proteins. The latter are usually represented by chicken protein, chicken and corn gluten, and behind the “chicken” there is not necessarily meat, but also its processed products or poultry parts. Corn gluten contains a lot of protein, but it is of a plant nature, so it is poorly digestible by the cat and often provokes allergies.

Important! Carbohydrate suppliers, corn and wheat, are also often rejected. They are not only potentially allergic, but also occupy the lion's share of the composition (thanks to the manufacturers).

Another disadvantage is the lack of specifics on antioxidants and preservatives, which suggests that they are unsafe for the cat’s body. A significant flaw of any premium food is hidden numbers for the main ingredients, which is why the consumer does not see the ratio of plant and animal proteins.

Advantages and disadvantages

Advantages:

• low cost;
• a large assortment;
• widespread, can be bought at any pet store;
• contains meat;
• balanced composition.

Disadvantages include:

• the composition does not contain antioxidants or preservatives;
• the food is based on cereals, not meat products;
• Very few minerals, vitamins and other beneficial substances are stated.

Compound

Despite the fact that in large letters on the packaging it is written about a large percentage of meat content, grain crops come first in the composition. Which ones are not indicated, the percentage of content is the same.

In second position is meat, which occupies 33%. But even here, not everything is so smooth - the composition says that it can be both meat and processed meat products.

Whose meat exactly it is, as well as with grains, is not indicated.

Then, finally, the specific ingredients are indicated. Products of processing of plant raw materials are added to the feed: 2.7% dry beets, 0.07% parsley. This is where the specifics end, followed by various vegetable protein extracts, vegetables, minerals and preservatives, yeast, vitamins and antioxidants and flavorings.

Since there is no way to know which preservatives were added, it is unknown how such a composition may affect the health of the animal.

Energy composition and value

The food contains 40% proteins, 12% fats, 8.5% minerals, 2.5% dietary fiber.

Calorie content, oddly enough, is not indicated on the packaging.

Types of feed

Purina has a fairly extensive range; you can choose food that suits your cat's needs. The type depends primarily on the age, weight and health of the pet.

There are eight varieties of dry food in total:

• Cat Chow for kittens containing chicken. It’s easy to determine the age category from the name: the food is great for kittens up to one year old. It would also be wise to buy it for pregnant or lactating cats.
• Cat Chow Adult with chicken and turkey. If your adult cat leads an active lifestyle, then Purina marketers advise you to buy this particular food. However, it is worth considering that the promised chicken and turkey are very small there, about 4%. Instead of meat there may be offal.
• Cat Chow Adult with rabbit and liver. The liver of what is the secret of production. This food is the second option for adult animals leading an active lifestyle. In terms of performance, it is no different from previous feeds; the composition is identical.
• Cat Chow 3 in 1. Amazing food that saves you from all diseases. Serves as a preventive measure against tartar and plaque on teeth, protects the stomach and urinary system.
• Cat Chow Special Care Hairball Control. Special hair-reducing food containing more fiber.
• Cat Chow Special Care Urinary Tract Health. Contains less magnesium, i.e. safer for the urinary system. Indicated for the prevention of urolithiasis.
• Cat Chow Special Care Sensitive. Created for cats with digestive problems, it tidies up the skin and coat. Enriched with omega acids, contains chicory.
• Cat Chow Special Care Sterilized. Food for sterilized cats. One of the most popular foods. Designed to support your pet's optimal body weight.

However, in stores there are not only budget dryers from Purina, but also spiders for cats. The buyer is offered a choice of 4 types of canned food with pieces in jelly: with chicken and zucchini, with lamb and green beans, with salmon and peas for true gourmets and, finally, with beef and eggplant.

The manufacturer promises a completely natural composition without preservatives, however, feeding the food to animals under one year of age is not recommended.

Feeding standards

Since the food is not expensive, its energy value is low. Therefore, feeding rates are much higher than any holistic food, or even super-premium. For small cats weighing up to 4 kg, you need from 35 to 70 g of food per day. For cats that weigh more than 4 kilograms, from 70 to 105. Further - the larger the cat, the more food.

Among the features: since the food is not wet, it is necessary to always give the cat enough clean drinking water.

Advantages and disadvantages

Let's summarize. It's not all that good, it's not all that bad. One of the advantages of food is its low cost and availability. You can buy it in any store, even in a supermarket. Cats eat food with great pleasure, they like it. The disadvantages are the not very high-quality composition, the use of by-products and preservatives, and flavoring additives. Much is hidden from the buyer; the composition does not contain complete information. Has low energy value.

Cat Chow Kitten Chicken

The product line includes several types of food.

Food developed for kittens from 2 months to 1 year. This type of food is available only in granular form, so for very small kittens it must be soaked in order to avoid digestive upset. The main component of this food is poultry meat. Contains all the beneficial substances necessary for the growing kitten's body, so it is also suitable for pregnant cats.

For adult animals, two types of food are available: dry and wet in bags with various nutritional additives.

You can buy Cat Chow food not only in pet stores, but also in large supermarkets. Manufacturers package food in 0.4 kg, 1.5 kg and 15 kg.

The average price per package is:

• 0.4 kg - 140-220 rubles:
• 1.5 kg - 500-600 rubles;
• 15 kg - 5000-5200 rubles;
• You can buy food in soft packages for 50-55 rubles per package of 85 grams.

Super premium food

It makes sense to purchase such food if:

• the pet has undergone castration or sterilization;
• the cat is many years old;
• the cat is expecting kittens or has recently given birth;
• The animal has a sensitive stomach or other chronic diseases since birth.

Such feeds have a more balanced and rich composition. When asked what the best cat food is, according to veterinarians, experts answer unequivocally - super premium varieties.

Any quality rating of cat food in the super-premium segment includes the items listed below.

Hills Science Diet (Prescription Diet)

This is the so-called therapeutic or dietary food for sick, weakened, elderly animals.

The food, rich in nutrients, is quickly absorbed, stimulates active metabolism and proper intestinal function. The only drawback in comparison with other types is the high cost.

Eukanuba

Included in the list of the best fitness products. Easy-to-eat granulated dry food, thanks to its high fiber content, helps animals lose weight.

Veterinarians recommend it for cats over one year old who suffer from excess weight and lack of physical activity. Nutrition normalizes stool, recommended for adults from one year old.

For reference! Eukanuba nutritional analysis has proven that the product contains large amounts of vitamin C.

1st Choice

Premium food is suitable for animals from two weeks of age, hence the name “First Choice”. There are virtually no bad reviews of the product online. It does not cause stomach upset, it tastes good, animals quickly get used to the food and eat it willingly.

The only difficulty is that it cannot be found in all stores. Usually cat lovers order it online. This is the best and highest quality food for kittens, according to veterinarians.

Reviews

What do veterinarians and cat owners who bought Cat Chow food for their pets say? The reviews are completely different, and both positive and negative are almost equally common.

The cat's owner Sergey:

I would like to share my impression of Cat Chow food. I recently neutered my cat and he stopped eating Friskies food, although he used to only eat it. I looked through a lot of information on the Internet and decided to opt for Cat Chow food for castrated and sterilized cats. The cat liked the new food, at least he doesn’t refuse it. After the operation, the cat tolerated it well. After reading a lot of reviews, I realized that everything is individual. For some, when introducing this food, problems begin; for others, everything is fine. In general, I recommend the food. If you don’t have the financial means to overpay for premium food, take this one.

Veterinarian Lyudmila:

Based on my many years of experience in the field of veterinary medicine, I can note several advantages of Cat Chow food: the skin stops itching and cleanses; animals stop scratching their wounds; improvement of the quantitative and qualitative composition of gastric juice, activation of peristalsis; animals behave much calmer when examined, which means a decrease in the level of anxiety and aggression.

Kitten owner Anna:

From about 5 months old, we began to slowly feed the kitten Cat Chow. The first 2 weeks everything was fine. Then I began to notice that the pet had a bad breath, and it was quite strong. I immediately removed the food from the diet and, indeed, the smell disappeared after a couple of days.

Cat Chow didn't suit us, I definitely won't buy it again. Even the composition shows that the manufacturer saves a lot on components. There are a lot of by-products, even among vegetables. In addition, there are also preservatives and flavorings. I'll look for better food.

Owner of the cat Felix:

I have been living with a British-looking cat for a long time, and over several years of living with him, I managed to experiment with different types of cat food.

For the last year, my little furry has been feeding exclusively on Kitikat, and during this time he has become incredibly thin, began to shed, eat less, and became lethargic. After this, I decided to consult a specialist about food and they advised me to buy Cat Chow.

Within a couple of months, the cat stopped shedding and became more well-fed and contented. The food helps him recover well, and he always eats with pleasure. Without a doubt, the food is wonderful. I recommend it to anyone and everyone.

Cat owner Maria:

Despite the fact that the food is better than Kitecat or Whiskas in some respects, I can’t call it good either. All Cat Chow foods contain grains as the first ingredient on the list, not meat. All natural ingredients in the food are marked with an asterisk; the “preservatives” ingredient is not marked with an asterisk. From this we can conclude that unnatural preservatives are used in the food. But the most unpleasant thing for me was the price, equal to the price of premium food, although it is clear that it consists mainly of the costs of brand promotion and advertising.

Classic cat food Cat Chow: owner reviews

Cat owners are ready to obey the requirements drawn up by the manufacturer, which must be followed when introducing mixtures into the diet of their pets. The owners like that the purrs absorb the treat with pleasure, as if feeling its usefulness. Surveys conducted by independent agencies showed that 90% of owners are satisfied with the choice. In the column “Positive changes” they indicated such wonderful changes in the condition of their four-legged friends as:

— increasing the shine and thickness of the coat (important for those who breed and sell purebred animals); - cleansing the oral cavity (first of all, the repulsive odor from the mouth disappears); - increased mobility, normalization of night sleep.

In online magazines and blogs that study the subject, cat lovers praise the line's versatility and affordability. You will read and be surprised at how many different people leave reviews for Cat Chow cat food: there are breeders, and owners of ordinary cats, and organizers of shelters for stray animals, and simply feeding stray dogs and cats. Everyone in the line, which includes products of all varieties, finds a suitable position.

The only thing that pet cat owners are slightly annoyed about is the limited range. Nestle Purina PetCare currently only offers dry options. However, cat lovers found an excellent way out of the situation. Some soak the mixtures in water and cook puree soups from them, others grind “crackers” in a meat grinder and make steamed cutlets, others combine the product with sour cream, cream, milk, and others simply alternate meals with human food. But this is when the pet has already grown up, is healthy, and walks. If the pet needs treatment or support, the owners create a menu exclusively from the products of the line.

Advantages and disadvantages

Like any industrial product, Cat Chow has certain advantages and disadvantages. You need to familiarize yourself with the pros and cons of this food first and only then switch your pet to it.

The advantages of Cat Chow include:

• balanced composition;
• the presence of natural meat components in the composition;
• a wide range of;
• availability;
• budget cost.

As for the disadvantages, they include:

• the basis of the product is not meat, but cereal components;
• in the production of products, by-products are widely used, which are not clearly indicated in the composition;
• ash content above 7%;
• minimum amount of vitamins and microelements in the composition;
• The exact amount of preservatives and antioxidants is not indicated on the packaging.

Another relative disadvantage is that Cat Chow is produced exclusively in the form of dry food; this brand does not have wet canned food.

Gourmet food is produced, more precisely, by its subsidiary, which specializes exclusively in creating ready-made food for animals. Its products first appeared on the markets in 1985, and over the 30 years of existence, they have gained popularity and trust among pet owners.

Prepared food for animals is developed by teams of nutritionists, which makes it possible to create a product tailored to their needs. Before it hits store shelves, it is tested for nutritional value and safety for pets. located all over the world, but Gourmet food is produced in France.

Wet food is produced under the Gourmet brand; there are no lines of dry granules. The production of the product is strictly controlled, its composition is always the same. Ingredients are purchased from regular suppliers and are tested.

The food is premium and contains meat and by-products. It can be used in conjunction with dry kibble or as a complete diet for your pet. The product is considered balanced in all ingredients necessary for the normal functioning of the animal’s body. When a cat eats food, it receives the necessary minerals and vitamins, as well as carbohydrates and protein, which provide it with energy.

The products do not have a separate line for kittens - all canned food is intended for animals over 1 year of age. Its cost is not much higher than the price of an economy class product - for one unit you will need to pay only 30–40 rubles.