Rating of wet food for kittens from premium to holistic class

Cats have always been picky about food. They can sit around a full bowl all day long if the food doesn’t seem tasty enough to them. The same thing happens with small kittens. After your cat stops feeding her baby, it is vital that she continues to receive the necessary vitamins and other beneficial ingredients that will help her grow up strong and healthy.

Manufacturers who care about their reputation constantly come up with new flavors, carefully study the preferences of pets and make the diet healthy by adding natural ingredients. Less respectable brands simply stuff their food with flavorings and other substitutes, worrying only about short-term profit.

Wet food

Despite the saturation of the market with dry food, cats for the most part prefer a wet diet. Therefore, experts strongly recommend adding canned food or some other wet treat to the croquettes.

As for kittens specifically, you should under no circumstances start feeding with a dry diet. After the mother cat's milk, croquettes are like metal balls for the stomach: they are very difficult to digest and contribute to gastrointestinal upset. Veterinarians generally recommend an intermediate option to start with: empty broths and soups without any additives.

Kitten food

On the shelves of specialized stores and other points of sale you can see food for both cats and kittens. Moreover, the latter, as a rule, cost significantly more. Experts in this field have repeatedly made samples and conducted independent examinations to dispel existing myths or, conversely, confirm them.

A good half of manufacturers are disingenuous with this “children’s” segment. On one side of the display case we have ordinary and really high-quality canned food, and on the other side we have the same ingredients, only in a different package. Companies rebrand a particularly successful option and, changing the composition of wet cat food, for example, to a chemical designation (or vice versa - to a trade name), produce food for kittens - healthy, tasty and... very expensive.

Some manufacturers add more proteins and carbohydrates to canned food to increase energy value and focus on this as a marketing ploy. Yes, kittens require a lot of strength, and to replenish it, they desperately need such ingredients. But you can take the usual option for cats and just add a little more food. With proper feeding, kittens will not have problems with metabolism, and the necessary proteins and carbohydrates will in any case be retained in the body.

So there is simply no critical difference between the “adult” and “children’s” versions. Therefore, you should not worry if suddenly there is no special food for kittens on the shelf: regular wet food will do, as long as it is of high quality. We will discuss the last point in this article.

So, we present to your attention a rating of wet cat food from premium to holistic class (super-premium), which includes only high-quality canned food approved by veterinarians and other experts in this field. Almost all of the options listed below can be found both in specialized stores and in hypermarket chains.

Rating of the best food for kittens:

Brit Care.
Petreet nature.
Applaws.
Almo Nature Legend.
Leonardo.

Let's look at each participant in more detail.

Diet requirements

When feeding an aging pet, you should adhere to the following rules:

Use protein that is complete in amino acid composition - a lack of taurine can develop retinal dystrophy with subsequent blindness, and cause a decrease in muscle mass.
Limit sodium and phosphorus content to improve the functioning of the cardiovascular and urinary systems.
Increase the presence of water-soluble (B) and fat-soluble (A and E) groups of vitamins to slow down aging.
Maintain levels of zinc and polyunsaturated fatty acids to maintain the condition of the coat and skin.

Top brands take different approaches to protein intake, advocating:

reducing its content to protect the kidneys and reduce the load on them;
maintaining a high-protein diet due to increased requirements in healthy cats, and in case of renal failure, prescribing veterinary diets.

It is recommended to feed an elderly pet in smaller portions more often. Be sure to drink fresh water from a clean bowl or drinking fountain.

A sharp change in diet is not allowed due to the reduced ability of the gastrointestinal tract to adapt to changes.

Leonardo

Canned food is included in the rating of premium wet food for kittens due to the extremely high quality and well-chosen components of meat and seafood. Leonardo is based on chicken (about 80%), and the rest is additives, which depend on the type of canned food chosen (fish oil, offal, etc.).

Features of older cats

The onset of aging in pets on average begins at seven to eight years of age, when they enter old age. After 10-12 years they are considered to be old individuals. Of course, such figures are completely arbitrary and depend on the animal’s genetics, lifestyle, and diet. Age-related changes cannot be prevented, but it is quite possible to slow down the onset or mitigate the consequences.

Age characteristics are:

Changes in metabolic rate, which causes excess weight.
Reducing the amount of food consumed due to decreased metabolism, chronic diseases, dental problems or deterioration of smell.
The manifestation of a constant desire to eat is due to memory deterioration, as well as the cat’s forgetfulness that she has already eaten.
Reduced ability to absorb nutrients: from seven to eight years - fats (their reduction is required in the diet), over 12 years - proteins, which causes weight loss.
Decreased bowel activity to move food through, causing constipation.
Reluctance to drink water due to loss of sensitivity to thirst with accelerated formation of stones in the urinary tract and a further slowdown of metabolism.
Tendency to chronic diseases - arthrosis, heart or kidney failure, gastrointestinal diseases (colitis, gastritis, pancreatitis, fatty hepatosis).

It is recommended to identify signs of aging at an early stage:

weight loss;
decreased activity;
the appearance of coarser hair;
behavior change;
picky eating;
loss of appetite.

Almo Nature Legend

Canned food is included in the rating of super-premium cat food due to well-chosen ingredients. There is about 75% selected meat or fish, in whole and soft pieces, as well as 24% nutritious broth and 1% rice.

On sale you can find food with the addition of liver, cheese, vegetables and other ingredients that are no less tasty for kittens and cats. Canned food is also enriched with minerals, vitamins and has good energy saturation.

The brand has firmly secured a high position in the ratings of dry and wet (canned) holistic-class cat food and is distinguished by a large number of positive reviews for its products. Therefore, experts strongly recommend these canned foods for kittens and growing cats.

Pros of food:

exclusively natural ingredients;
a huge assortment of all kinds of flavors and additives;
proper enrichment of the composition with minerals and vitamins.

Minuses:

Great for kittens, but for older cats - only as an addition to the main diet.

The approximate price is about 80 rubles for a jar weighing 70 g.

Applaws

Applaws canned food, included in our list of super-premium cat foods, can be found in three varieties: cans, pate and jelly. The composition of canned food is similar to products from other manufacturers: about 75% meat, and the rest is natural additives (broths, cereals, etc.).

The main ingredients to choose from may be fish (for kittens it is better to choose boneless) and several types of meat. There are also gourmet options with shrimp, cheese and other equally attractive ingredients. Judging by the reviews of experts, no synthetic additives were noticed in the canned food.

Benefits of the food:

only natural ingredients;
large selection of meat ingredients;
various flavors and types of canned food.

Flaws:

Suitable only for small kittens, for others - as an additive to the main diet.

The estimated cost is about 80 rubles for a jar weighing 70 g.

Advantages and disadvantages

Holistic cat food has many positive aspects. But even they could not do without negativity.

The undoubted advantages include:

Ideal composition. The balance of all components does not require any additions and does not cause concern for the future of the cat.
The quality of the products used in the preparation. Such ingredients will decorate any table.
Meat diet for real carnivores.
Economical. The high nutritional value allows you to use much less holistic food by weight than lower quality feeds.

The disadvantages directly stem from the advantages:

Holistic treatments are expensive.
They are not available in all stores.
Some do not have treatment lines. If you need a special diet, you have to look for an alternative.

If you decide to transfer your cat from other options to holistic, be prepared that he will flatly refuse to eat the new food. This must be done gradually. Adding a little into your usual food. Holistics do not contain flavorings or flavor enhancers, which is why cats do not immediately understand that this is food.

Petreet nature

These holistic category canned foods are included in our rating of wet food for kittens due to the manufacturer’s extremely careful and thorough approach to the composition. Here you can see only the highest quality fish and meat with the addition of healthy vegetables and grains, which are so necessary for a kitten’s growing body.

Additional ingredients can vary greatly depending on the preferences of your cat (or owner): from plant-based, like asparagus, potatoes or olives, to meat - shrimp, squid, etc. If you want to set your growing cat up for a “sporty” lifestyle, then the manufacturer’s assortment includes pates with chicken breast, where the fat content is minimal (from 0.5 to 1.2%). Despite the apparent modesty of the diet, this option contains a large amount of proteins, so the energy component is normal.

The main rules for feeding kittens with wet ready-made diets

Kittens can be given wet food from 3–4 weeks, when babies begin to be switched to “adult” foods, but it is better to wait until 5–6 weeks. If you do this ahead of time, you can cause indigestion and dehydration in the animal. In some cases, pets develop pancreatitis due to premature cessation of breastfeeding. Often kittens simply refuse to eat. At an older age, wet food can be given, but it is better to decide on the animal’s future diet as early as possible so that the gastrointestinal tract adapts faster.

Wet complete foods are not suitable for systematic feeding, even if they contain all the necessary vitamins and minerals. When converting to pates and jellies, the owner should take this into account. Wet food can be used as a treat, a supplement to the main diet of natural products, or an intermediate step before switching to dry kibble.

Due to its specific consistency, wet food can be prescribed to a kitten by a veterinarian for gastrointestinal disorders, acute diseases of internal organs and in the postoperative period

The need to combine different types of food is related to the consistency of the food. Pates and pieces in jelly contain too much moisture. In addition, during their production, meat is ground, which leads to the destruction of natural fibers. It is more difficult for kittens to absorb nutrients from such food. The gastrointestinal tract gets used to the reduced load and stops working at full capacity. However, this is not the main problem.

Soft food does not contribute to the natural cleansing of the walls of the gastrointestinal tract and anal glands - small sacs with odorous secretions that allow animals to leave marks when defecating. With prolonged consumption of softened foods, rotting particles settle on the intestinal mucous membranes, which release toxins into the blood. As a result, the animal may develop symptoms such as lacrimation, itching, hair loss, etc. When my friend’s cat’s condition sharply worsened, she suspected an allergy. Several veterinarians could not determine the cause of the illness and only advised trying to change the food. Ultimately, she turned to a forum for help, where she was advised to gradually transition the animal to pelleted diets or natural food. This helped, although during the adaptation for another 2-3 months the cat was sometimes bothered by digestive disorders.

Inflammation of the paraanal glands can be diagnosed after a visual examination.

In the case of the paraanal glands, the situation is even worse. If excess secretion is not removed by mechanical action during defecation, the liquid accumulates in the sacs. Later, blockage occurs, due to which the glands are not cleared even with normal stool consistency. The sacs become enlarged and inflamed. They cause discomfort to the pet, which is why he may try to ride on his butt on rough surfaces, pay too much attention to the anus area, and even try to chew out swollen glands. If left untreated, tissue infection occurs and purulent exudate forms. In severe cases, death may occur.

To prevent inflammation of the paraanal glands, it is important to include coarse fibers in the diet to cleanse the gastrointestinal tract and normalize the consistency of stool. Your pet's menu should include meat. 10% of the total volume can be occupied by vegetables and dairy products. Another alternative is dry food.

Wet food should not be mixed with other types of food at the same feeding. If the kitten refuses to eat natural foods without pates and jellies, you can add a little pouch sauce to the main dish, but leave the hard pieces for next time. Up to 3 months, babies are given food 5-6 times a day, later the number of feedings is reduced to 4. After 4 months, the kitten can be offered food 3 times a day. By the age of six months, depending on the size and preferences of the pet, the pet is fed 2-3 times a day.

Wet food should not be left freely available like dry food. It provides an excellent environment for the development and reproduction of bacteria. Once placed in a bowl, the product remains usable for only 1–2 hours, so kittens are fed frequently, but little by little. The daily intake depends on the calorie content of the product and the body structure of the animal and is selected individually based on the manufacturer’s recommendations.

Ceramic bowls are more reliable than plastic ones because they do not react with microelements contained in food

The maximum shelf life of opened packaging is 1 day. To prevent bacteria from contaminating food, food is placed in sealed glass containers. The use of plastic utensils is allowed. You cannot leave food in metal cans, as this will lead to oxidation and premature spoilage. In the case of spiders, you can simply fasten the edges of the package with paper clips, but this does not guarantee maximum safety of the product. It is strictly forbidden to give spoiled food to kittens: due to the delicate gastrointestinal tract, this can cause indigestion, diarrhea, dehydration and rapid death.

Since bacteria multiply better in wet food, it is important to keep the dishes clean. Bowls must be washed after every meal. It makes more sense to use metal or ceramic containers. Plastic ones scratch faster. Due to the impossibility of high-quality cleaning, food particles accumulate in microscopic cracks and bacteria develop. It is recommended to change bowls regularly. The frequency depends on the material. For example, it is recommended to use plastic containers for no more than 1–2 months.

To assess a cat's physique, you need to look at it from the side and above, and also try to feel the hips

When feeding wet food, it is important to monitor the body structure of the animal. It is recommended to weigh your pet regularly in order to notice weight gain in time. You can rely on the tables of the corresponding breed, but due to individual characteristics, the normal weight for a particular cat may differ. It is advisable to evaluate your physique by appearance. The pet's ribs should be felt with moderate effort. The bones on the hips and chest ideally protrude slightly, giving definition, but do not stick out. A barrel-shaped figure, bulging sides and a drooping belly indicate weight problems.

Features of canned food

The brand's products are also included in the rating of wet food for kittens due to a large number of positive reviews. Petreet natura canned food is recommended by even the most picky cat breeders. The ideal balance of ingredients has an extremely positive effect not only on the gastrointestinal tract, but also on the health of the skin and coat. Therefore, owners of rare and finicky breeds will come in handy with this option.

Pros of food:

perfect balance of ingredients;
only natural ingredients;
large assortment of flavors;
there are “diet” options;
It is quite suitable as a complete meal without other additives.

Minuses:

high price tag.

The approximate price is about 130 rubles for a 70 g jar.

Features of nutrition of a pet with gastrointestinal diseases

A cat with sensitive digestion or gastrointestinal diseases can be fed both natural food and special commercial food. Natural oil may include the following components:

fresh lean meat (chicken, veal, rabbit);
low-fat fermented milk products;
a small amount of bran and vegetables without starch (pumpkin, Brussels sprouts, cucumbers).

Fatty foods overload the gastrointestinal tract, so they are excluded from the diet of cats with impaired digestion.

An important element of nutrition for cats with gastrointestinal pathologies is sufficient fluid intake. With a lack of water in the body, the gastrointestinal tract is not able to function normally.

Adequate fluid intake by a cat is a necessary condition for the normal functioning of the digestive system.

When purchasing ready-made food, preference should be given to special dietary products.

Brit Care

These canned foods are included in our rating of wet food for kittens not only due to natural and well-selected ingredients, but also due to the presence of hypoallergenic components. The last point will be especially appreciated by owners of exotic and extremely picky breeds of cats and those whose cats cannot tolerate beef or chicken.

Canned food contains about 40% soft meat pieces, as well as a whole list of vitamins and minerals. Many experts confirm that daily consumption of Brit food as the main diet improves the condition of the pet’s skin, coat, teeth and eyes, and also has an extremely positive effect on its digestive system.

How to tell if your cat has digestive problems

The cat's digestive system is responsible for the following functions:

digestion of food;
providing the body with necessary nutrients;
removal of harmful toxins from the body.

If these processes are disrupted, the cat may experience the following symptoms:

bowel disorders of various types: constipation, diarrhea;
signs of intoxication of the body: nausea, vomiting;
With gastrointestinal diseases, a cat may vomit
pain in the stomach, in which the cat curls up into a ball or meows pitifully;
inactivity;
refusal to eat;
If a cat refuses a favorite treat, this should alert the owner
dulling of fur;
the appearance of dandruff on the lower back near the tail.

Overweight cats have an increased likelihood of developing gastrointestinal disease. Obesity disrupts metabolism and also overloads internal organs, which contributes to the development of constipation and gastritis.

Features of the food

Canned food from this manufacturer is also included in our rating of wet food for kittens because they have entirely positive reviews from veterinarians and experts in this field. The ideally balanced price-quality ratio allows us to recommend Brit products to any owner of small cats, regardless of breed.

Benefits of the food:

hypoallergenic components;
only natural ingredients without a hint of synthetics;
suitable as a main diet;
ideal price-quality ratio.

Flaws:

not identified by experts.

The estimated cost is about 70 rubles for a jar weighing 80 g.

Summarizing

In order to answer the question of which food is best for your pet, you first need to decide for what purpose it is purchased - as a treat and addition to the diet or as the only food.

In the holistic segment, canned foods containing more than 75% meat, such as Applaws, Leonardo and Almo Nature, are more suitable as a complement or treat. For the smallest kittens who have just stopped drinking their mother cat's milk, they will also be suitable as the main food, but only for a week or two. Then you need to transfer your pet to a nutritious diet. Fiber, grains and other healthy ingredients are very important here.

When the kitten grows up a little more, you can switch to a full-fledged diet with 40 percent meat content, but rich in a variety of minerals and vitamins. In this case, you need to pay attention to canned food from Brit and Petreet.

Specifics

Holistic-grade food can be selected for any breed (for example, Snowshoe, Maine Coon, Munchkin, Peterbald and Don Sphynx ), including those suitable for sterilized cats.

You can read more about cat sterilization here:

When choosing a new diet for your pet, you need to focus on the following points:

age of the cat;
size, degree of fatness;
activity;
animal preferences;
manufacturer's recommendations.

Important! When choosing food, it is worth reading the composition and recommendations of the manufacturer. This will help determine whether a particular type of cat food is worth purchasing.

For example, it is worth considering the range of Pronature Holistic food.

Pronature Holistik dry food with duck and orange for adult cats. Orange is a source of vitamins A, B, C, and also contains calcium. The composition contains fresh duck meat, as well as dehydrated chicken meat and herring flour. Among the ingredients, it is worth noting chamomile, which has anti-inflammatory properties, soothes and stimulates digestion. Tomato and beetroot are added as fiber sources. The diet does not include grains, so it is more easily processed by the cat's digestive tract.

Added fruits and vegetables to the diet

Pronature Holistik dry food with Atlantic salmon and brown rice for adult cats. The main component of this mixture is fresh salmon meat. Brown rice provides your pet with B vitamins and fiber, which is essential for digestion. The composition includes avocado fruit, a source of vitamin E. Promotes rejuvenation, improves skin condition, and serves as a prevention of cardiovascular diseases. Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids are also added for healthy skin and coat. To preserve the properties of the product, rosemary extract and tocopherol were used.

Blend for maintaining healthy skin and coat

Pronature Holistik dry food for adult cats with cranberries and turkey. The main component of this mixture is turkey meat. Dried cranberries are included as a source of vitamin C. It also contains flavonoids and antioxidants. The composition of the food is developed in accordance with the latest nutritional research and prevents the development of obesity. The mixture contains green tea extract, mint and cellulose, which support oral health and fresh breath.

Diet with turkey and cranberries Pronature Holistic

Pronature Holistik dry food for older cats with ocean white fish and Canadian rice. In addition to the main ingredients, it contains organic olive oil, which contains monounsaturated fats that take care of heart health. To support digestive tract health in older cats, dried beet and tomato pulp (sources of natural fiber), as well as yeast extract containing prebiotics, have been added.

Mixture for cats over 10 years old