Description of holistic class feeds: how they differ from others
Diets are developed by specialists who study the effect of artificial foods on the health of cats. Here are the main features:
- Only natural meat is used in production. Moreover, it is not bought from farmers; many companies create their own farms because they do not trust other producers.
- It also contains a lot of coarse fiber. It has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract of cats.
- There are very few grains in the product; we can say that the manufacturers create healthy nutrition. Its difference lies in the fact that it is identical to the food that cats could eat in natural conditions of life in nature.
- You can find a different number of flavors and ingredients on sale.
This category of product for cats is more expensive than the premium class. Therefore, its purchase is carried out in branded stores, pharmacies or online stores. The composition contains no components that could provoke the development of allergic reactions.
Summit
Summit dry food from the holistic category is made in Canada .
The packaging bears the AAFCO seal of approval, which means that the chicken and turkey meal included in the food contains only meat, and also contains mineral supplements and fiber. Dry cat food comes in 3 flavors: turkey, chicken and salmon. The composition of the food is impressive, the only negative is that it is not written down in percentage terms.
But you can trust the Canadian company - the carbohydrates included are oatmeal, brown rice, potatoes, and Yucca Schidigera extract (it reduces excrement odors).
Types of holistic feeds
- Dry. This type is considered the most popular, probably because its cost is much lower than wet. It also lasts 1.5-2 times longer compared to wet canned food.
- Wet. Canned food is more suitable for adult or older cats.
- For kittens. The composition is calculated perfectly, all the necessary components are strictly calculated. This food promotes rapid growth of the cat. In appearance it differs only in the size of the granules and pieces of meat.
- For older cats. He often specializes in the treatment of many diseases. Therefore, you can purchase this diet with a prescription from a veterinarian. Such diets are sold exclusively in branded stores or veterinary pharmacies.
Age recommendations
By age it is divided into 3 main categories:
- kittens up to 1 year;
- adult cats aged from 1 to 6 years;
- older cats over 6 years old.
It is important to buy the one that suits the age of your pet. Because they are intended for a certain age, and their composition is completely different. For example, kitten food contains more vitamins and carbohydrates for faster development, and adult food contains more calcium to strengthen bones.
List of manufacturers
Every year more and more companies are switching to the production of high-quality feed, so the choice in this category is simply huge. The following will be a list of manufacturers who have already established themselves in the market.
Acana
Acana products are manufactured by the Canadian company Champion Petfoods, which over the decades has become a leader in the manufacture of super-premium and platinum-class pet food (that is, holistic). Acana food is designed for cats of different breeds and ages. They contain the highest (up to 80%) percentage of natural proteins and few carbohydrates, which promotes better absorption of the product.
The basis of the feed is high-quality fish or meat: chicken, duck, turkey with the addition of offal (no more than 9%), fruits, vegetables and herbs. They are gluten free and come in a grain-free version. Acana food is quite widely represented on the domestic market and is available in any store, although the price is not low.
Grandorf
Grandorf food is produced by United Petfood Producers, whose production facilities are located in Belgium (dry foods) and Italy (canned food). Most products contain probiotics that support intestinal microflora. The food is based on natural meat (65-70%), there are no vegetable proteins. The rest consists of gluten-free grains (rice, lentils), sweet potatoes, vegetables, dried berries, and flax seeds.
Carnilove
Czech holistic providers Carnivore are the most affordable and not the worst in quality. The composition is slightly different from previous foods, which obviously affected the price. For example, the fish version contains fishmeal (sometimes up to 30%). The meat composition is very diverse: wild boar, pheasant, duck, turkey, venison. There are also many useful ingredients: dried berries, seeds, herbs. The line includes food for different age groups and breeds, for sterilized cats and those with sensitive digestion.
Go Natural
Canadian Go Natural food is widely known in our market. Holistics here are represented by three types of meat (duck, chicken, turkey) and salmon (the percentage is not specified by the manufacturer). The composition also contains cereals (chickpeas, lentils), herbs, dried berries, vitamins, and minerals. The line includes a grain-free option, with probiotics, for adult cats and kittens.
Now
Now Fresh Holistics are manufactured by Canadian company Petcurean Pet Nutrition. These are high-quality grain-free foods containing a high percentage of protein from natural meat (turkey, duck, salmon). There are few carbohydrates here, mainly potatoes. The rest is represented by dried berries, seeds and fruits (apples, bananas), carrots and vitamin supplements. Now food is widely available in domestic pet stores and is affordable.
Feedback from cat owners
Alena: Pronature Holistic dry food is perfect for my beloved Siamese cat Fedor. I used to buy whiskey in the supermarket, but when the cat started having health problems, the doctor recommended switching to a healthy, balanced diet. Now I wouldn’t exchange Pronature for anything, because after using it my cat feels great. I recommend!
Victor: I always fed my cats Acana, but six months ago apparently there was a supply failure, and so I had to switch to NOW FRESH. I take different flavors as my cats only like certain flavors, they especially like wild boar and duck. I did not notice any problems with stool or allergic reactions.
Svetlana: I started using AATU six months ago, when I adopted a kitten from a friend. Very high quality, and my Simon eats it very quickly, and also licks the bowl completely. But I cannot help but note the cost, since it is too high; for a package of 200 grams you have to pay more than 450 rubles. In general, I give it a solid 5, but I will look for a replacement, since in my opinion it is expensive.
Rating
Nutrition ratings are constantly changing, but based on reviews from experts in their field, we can name the best holistic treatments for cats.
The best food in terms of popularity, price and quality:
- Acana (from RUB 1,500 for 2 kg);
- Grandorf (from 1,300 rubles for 2 kg);
- Orijen (from 1,800 rubles for 2 kg);
- Go! (from 1,300 rub.);
- Superpet (from RUR 1,400).
These foods top the ranking of the best holistic foods. Their only disadvantage is their high price. Food No. 5 - Superpet, unfortunately, is difficult to find in stores; it can only be ordered via the Internet. On the company's website you can familiarize yourself in detail with all the foods on the list, and if you still have questions about holistic nutrition, ask them to professionals in your field.
Advantages and disadvantages
The main advantage of holistic products is the natural composition, which significantly reduces the risk of developing allergies and diseases in your pet. Another “plus” is the balanced composition - the food includes everything a pet needs for health, including vitamin and mineral complexes. Thanks to Holistic's high nutritional value, this food costs less than cheaper, less nutritious options. So we can talk about cost-effectiveness as one of the advantages. In addition, holistic products are already enriched with vitamin and mineral supplements; the pet owner does not need to purchase and give them separately. This also saves time and money.
The main difference between holistic food and other food is that the animal’s diet is as close as possible to the diet of a wild cat. And this is primarily meat and only a small percentage of grains and fiber. In Holistic class food, meat occupies 50-70% of the composition.
Naturally, the natural composition of the product dictates its higher cost, which is perceived as a disadvantage. In addition, not every pet store sells holistic products. And a number of manufacturers, even in large cities, sell such food only via the Internet. In addition, well-known manufacturers do not yet offer holistic treatments according to the type of animal breed. Due to the lack of flavor enhancers and synthetic additives, your pet may not appreciate the treat. The likelihood of this happening is especially high if the animal previously ate food with enhancers and flavors.
Distinctive features
Special nutrition is recognized by a special Holistic label. The main differences between food and other food classes are high quality, natural and balanced composition, useful for small breeds, sterilized ones, and kittens. Of course, the individual characteristics of the pet’s body themselves manifest themselves, and you are already deciding whether to purchase food of a similar class, or choose others.
Real holistic food is made from healthy ingredients, and some manufacturers claim that sometimes even a person can eat the food, and he won’t get anything from it at all! But still, cats will like this food more than you, so we advise you not to experiment.
By the way, sometimes there is no special labeling, and its presence is not a 100% guarantee of the safety and naturalness of the food.
Therefore, pay attention to a number of other signs:
feed from American and Canadian companies is designated with a special AAFCO brand (a mark of the American Association for State Food Control); always pay attention to the composition, since it cannot contain cheap additives and components; protein comes first, and ideally holistic foods contain at least 2 types of proteins.
How to determine a good dry cat food based on composition and appearance?
In order not to make a mistake when choosing cat food, you must be guided by two criteria:
Appearance. If you are buying food for your pet for the first time, it is better to take some food in bulk. This will make it much easier to evaluate its appearance, since it will be impossible to see the pieces in a packed box or bag.
If the food crumbles easily right in the bag, it is not worth buying.
In appearance, dry food should not be too bright. Its structure should be homogeneous, the pieces should be whole.
In addition, cat food should include fruits, vegetables, herbal extracts, offal, meat and other elements. Their content depends on which class the product belongs to.
High-quality feeds are usually labeled “premium” or “super-premium”
Beautiful and bright packaging is the last thing you should look at before buying dry cat food, but the composition of the product is definitely worth studying - the more concise the composition of the food, the cheaper its cost. And this means that there will be no particular benefit from it.
