“Feed Review 2019-2020” - an annual feed review from independent experts of the KPP resource

Cat owners always want to please their pet with tasty and healthy nutrition. Animals, like people, must receive all the necessary nutrients, so it is important to choose the best cat food that will suit its characteristics and properties. Thanks to such a diet, you can influence the health, quality of the coat and the functioning of the digestive system.

For many, the choice seems very easy, but in reality it is not. There are many factors that influence food, so you should know the features of the product from different manufacturers and the TOP rating of the best cat food is suitable for this.

Types of feed

First of all, you should know that the basic components of nutrition that are essential for a cat are:

• proteins from beef, poultry or fish (protein is necessary for the normal formation and growth of the body, it is a kind of building material);
• taurine is an essential amino acid that is of great importance for the cat’s vision, heart, and reproductive system;
• fatty acids, enzymes, vitamins and minerals.

There is no clear opinion on the choice of food type. However, dry food is the most common and easiest to use. Below is more detail about each type.

Dry food

The lowest moisture content in this type of food requires a constant supply of fresh water in sufficient quantities for your cat. This type of food is very useful for cats’ teeth, since when they bite the croquettes, the animal’s teeth are cleared of plaque.

Dry cat food can be left in a bowl for easy access without worrying about it spoiling. The main thing is not to forget that such cat food should be stored in hermetically sealed containers in order to maintain its nutritional and taste value.

Canned food

Usually, even the pickiest eaters like this food. The high moisture content of the food satisfies the animal's need for liquid, and this is especially important when the animal drinks little. Canned food in sealed jars has a long shelf life.

As soon as the jar is opened, the canned food should be consumed as soon as possible (up to 12 hours). It is advisable to give the cat as much as she will eat at a time, and the rest of the canned food should be transferred to a glass container and placed in a cool place. This will protect the Converse from oxidizing on the packaging.

Wet food

This is a cross between dry food and canned food. Appetizing soft pieces in the sauce have a moisture content of around 35%, which is almost two times lower than in canned food. Usually one bag of such food is intended for one meal.

If your pet has not eaten everything, then the liquid cat food should be removed, as after a fairly short time the pieces dry out and lose their nutritional value.

Raw food

This is a new generation of super-premium food. Every day this species is gaining more and more supporters of healthy natural feeding. This is a holistic food made from products that are intended for people. Raw food is the closest approximation to the natural diet of animals in the wild.

The most famous brands:

• Balanced Blends, USA.
• Darwin's Natural Pet Products, USA.
• Primal, USA.
• Love Your Pet, USA.
• PurrForm, UK.
• Superpet, Russia.

In Russia, raw natural food is represented by the Superpet brand.

It contains raw fresh meat, offal, vegetables, quail eggs and bran. This food is as balanced as possible, has a full range of vitamins and microelements necessary for the cat’s digestive system. Superpet does not contain vegetable protein, preservatives, flavoring agents or substances that enhance taste. The products of this brand are 100% natural and healthy. Superpet is stored and delivered frozen, like all raw foods.

Do you still have a kitten? Read in detail about the diet of kittens.

We distinguish five categories of feed

When analyzing feed according to the criteria of the feedsmart.ru project and compiling our ratings, we deliberately refused to use the generally accepted classification of feed, since we believe that it is just an advertising tool. Definitions like “holistic”, “premium”, “economy” in most cases are not supported by anything and do not reflect the real quality of feed. This is typical for both the Russian and foreign markets.

Instead of the traditional and opaque division of feed, we have developed our own classification. It consists of 5 categories, which are formed on the basis of an objective assessment of food components - in relation to brands, this is the AVERAGE score of those products that we have already analyzed and added to the rating.

For clarity, in each category we have separately designated food for dogs and cats, and also divided them into dry and wet diets. Please note that brands in the tables below are listed in descending order of overall score.

Elite in a bowl

Four plus

Solid average

Could do better

*
Karmy brand food in our rating previously had a higher average score - 28 points for cat food, 26 points for dog food. After changing the compositions, this brand, alas, moved from the “Solid Average” category to the “Could Do Better” category with an average score of 11 for both diets for dogs and cats.

Everything is sad

* During the study of the food of this brand, it turned out that the composition on the label does not correspond to the actual composition of the food (the manufacturer provided information that this diet does not contain fresh ingredients, all ingredients are added in dry form). Due to erroneous information on the packaging, it is impossible to calculate the score of this brand’s food, and it automatically falls into the “Everything is sad” category.

Check which category according to feedsmart.ru includes the food brands you know - perhaps you will choose the best option for your pet!

Rating of cat food by class

After the types of food, the next thing that may confuse you is the classes of professional food.

Economy class food

This is food that simply suppresses the animal’s feeling of hunger, filling the stomach and nothing more. This kind of food costs a penny, and of course there is no benefit from it. There is no trace of meat in this food; everything is replaced with soy protein.

Economy class kitten food includes:

• Meow,
• Kitikat,
• Darling.

Commercial grade cat food is exactly the same quality as economy grade cat food. Price difference. Commercial grade food, advertised and in bright packaging.

Such cheap cat food comes in a variety of flavors, although if you carefully read the information on the packaging, the compositions will be absolutely identical.

These foods include:

• Whiskas,
• Friskies.

Economy and commercial grade cat food is highly undesirable to use as a staple food product. The low quality of raw materials, the lack of animal protein, and the content of dangerous dyes and preservatives make these foods unbalanced, unnutritious and extremely dangerous to the health of pets.

Premium and super premium cat food

According to standards, they are made from high quality raw materials, they contain very low content or complete absence of soy and grains. These foods do not use dangerous dyes or carcinogenic preservatives.

Premium and super premium cat food contains vitamins, minerals, they are complete and very nutritious, so the animal needs to eat much less of this product to be satisfied.

Premium and super premium cat food:

• Superpet,
• Optimal,
• Pro Plan,
• Acana,
• Royal Canin,
• Bosch Sanabelle,
• Hill's.

Holistics

These are top cat foods. Nothing to add here. Only the high price can deter you from purchasing such elite food.

We have already written more about holistics here.

Holistics include:

• Orijen,
• ProNature,
• Go,
• Innova Evo
• Canidae
• Superpet.

What is “Feed Review 2021 – 2020”?

“FEED REVIEW”, made by specialists of the resource “Feed your pet correctly” (KPP), differs from marketing lists and “recommendations” of search engines.
This is the result of a year of painstaking work by our entire team. We analyze feed compositions (focusing on user requests), study and describe ingredients, check the compliance of labels in the original language with the translation, and update data on brands. We do not raise or lower product ratings at the request of interested parties, so you can be sure that our opinions are unbiased. From the “Feed Review” of the checkpoint for 2019-2020 you will learn:

• the average score of feed brands in our rating and what it means;
• the category to which this or that brand can be attributed;
• data on the presence of “fines” and incentive bonuses for brand products.

The information presented in the document expresses the position of veterinarians and specialists working on the “Feed your pet correctly” project. You can take our materials into account if you see fit.

Important information on packaging

How often when buying food for your family do you read what is written on the packaging?

Judging by myself, I can say with confidence that we don’t do this very often. So, before you shell out a round sum for a bag of food, learn to read and understand what is written on the packaging.

The following should make you ready to buy cat food:

• the inscriptions “balanced, complete, optimal balance, nutritional”, the abbreviation of AAFCO (American Association of Food Quality Control);
• in the first place there should be not just a generalization of protein, but a specifically indicated type of meat contained in the food and its percentage - at least 25%;
• also sources of protein should be liver or fish, it is very good if there are at least 2 sources of protein in the food;
• preservatives such as vitamin E and C;
• high quality of feed is an indicator of its digestibility. The smaller the amount of feed indicated in the feeding recommendations per day, the better and higher quality the product;
• Don't forget to pay attention to expiration dates.

Immediately leave the bag of cat food on the shelf if:

• the word “bone meal” should alert you, believe me, this is not what your pet should eat;
• high feeding rate, i.e. the animal, according to the instructions on the packaging, must eat a lot of food per day;
• a bad product uses dangerous chemical preservatives, so the inscriptions BHA, BHT, ethoxyquin, propyl gallate should alert you;
• dyes, flavors, high content of fillers (corn, wheat) more than 50% in dry food are unacceptable.

In addition, it is useful to know what you should not feed your cat.

Premium class

Royal Canin GIM35 for gastrointestinal problems and sensitive digestion

pros

• pets eat with gusto
• doesn't bother the cat
• improves digestion
• active and good appearance
• Convenient packaging with zip fastener
• no smell
• no harmful ingredients
• is used sparingly

Minuses

• a bit expensive

From 1,600 ₽ for 2 kg

Packaging dry cat food in the form of a zip-lock bag allows you to maintain a fresh smell. Suitable for any age. Contains rice, fiber, gluten, proteins, fats, carbohydrates, poultry, fish oil, lutein. The granules are small.

Orijen Fit & Trim

pros

• lack of cereals
• no fat
• balanced
• can be stored for a long time and does not spoil
• economical consumption
• the cat does not overeat and gradually loses weight

Minuses

• box without zip lock
• you can't buy it everywhere

From 1,960 ₽ for 1.8

The food is ideal for passive cats that spend most of their time at home and those prone to obesity. Contains meat and vegetables.

It’s worth choosing this food for kittens if your pet doesn’t move much or is overweight. Half of the components are meat and fish in various proportions. The rest is legumes (lentils, chickpeas, peas) and vegetables (pumpkin, carrots, zucchini, parsnips), fruits (pears and apples), greens and the fruits of some berries (blueberries, rose hips, cranberries), algae. Protein - 44%. There are practically no carbohydrates. Included in the top advice from veterinarians for combating excess weight.

GO! Sensitivity + Shine grain-free, salmon, trout

pros

• low consumption
• the pet is delighted
• the result is super
• suitable for sensitive gastrointestinal tracts

Minuses

• price

From RUB 3,212 for 7.3 kg

The quality rating of dry food for kittens is not complete without this brand, although it is less popular than the previous ones reviewed, it is also of high quality - fish predominates here (herring, fresh meat and oil of salmon, trout), many berries, fruits and vegetables , cottage cheese, lactobacilli, a huge amount of minerals and vitamins and dried herbs.

Cat food reviews

Below are reviews of all types of cat food.

Economy class cat food - reviews

Gennady : “Dry food “Meow” - cheap and merciless! Yes, the food is convenient for even a small kitten’s teeth, because the granules themselves are microscopic and quite soft. This is the very plus where all good things end. The “Meow” package arrived in our house by accident - we were just passing by a promotional point and accidentally won this thermonuclear food. The cat attacked him, which is typical for cheap food. But by evening she began to vomit, and the feces smelled terribly unpleasant. The vomiting continued on the second day. Only then did we realize that the ill health was associated with “Meow” and began to feed the cat the usual food. The vomiting stopped instantly! The experiment with cheap food failed.” Margarita : “They shouldn’t criticize cheap food. Our experience with Darling is proof of this. My principle is to alternate food and monitor the amount of drink. I can’t say that my cats don’t get sick, but so far veterinarians have never linked illnesses to food. Therefore, I can recommend Darling with a pure heart.”

Premium cat food - reviews

Miroslava : “Different sources classify Royal Canin either as premium food or as super-premium. I found options there for both my pregnant cat and subsequently – for a sterilized cat, and for a picky one. And this is all, by the way, about the same cat))). There have never been any problems with digestion or constipation - the stool is normal, regular, the coat (I have a Persian breed) is shiny, and the look is mischievous and cunning. She eats the food that is used to prevent urolithiasis without appetite, but still, once a year I definitely feed her a pack of this food!”

Andrey : “Have you ever eaten ostrich meat? I don’t, but our cat does regularly! I buy premium Bosch Sanabelle Adult in large quantities (10 kg each). The packaging is zippered and comes with a measuring cup. The food is expensive, but little is consumed per day, so it seems to me that this is a case of expensive but cheap. The cat has been feeling great on Bosch for five years now. The obvious positives are the absence of acute periods of shedding and the fact that the food helps remove hairballs from the intestines.”

Ekaterina : “I needed dietary food for my cat and the veterinarian advised me to try Hill’s food for weight correction. I bought Hill's Prescription Diet Metabolic Advanced Weight Solution to try first in a small pack (250 grams). It turned out to be extremely difficult to force a cat, who had been eating natural food for 6 years and had gained 8 kg, to switch to ready-made food. Like all super-premium food, Hills does not have an attractive aroma and taste. Therefore, Timoshka literally starved himself for three days, but then the fortress fell and little by little Timofey began to gnaw on Hills’ croquettes. Apparently, he doesn’t like the food so much that the cat doesn’t eat at the bowl and is losing weight. Mission Possible!".

So what is the best cat food?

The best food is one that suits your cat and is truly complete. If the food is based on cereals, there are only a couple of percent of meat ingredients, and the vitamin and mineral supplement includes only 3-5 vitamins, then it cannot be called the best or even good.

It is also impossible to call any particular food the best, even if its composition is very good. The reason is simple - there are at least a dozen more foods from other manufacturers with the same good composition. And, by the way, no one knows what the composition should be that is 100% ideal for a cat.

Food from the table

Some people treat their pets with their food: pasta, cereal, fish, sausage, even desserts and alcohol. Owners think that in this way they are pampering their pets, but in reality they are doing them a disservice.

Human food is harmful to small carnivores because cooked food contains too many spices and food additives. Vegetables in large quantities can cause gastrointestinal diseases: colitis, gastritis and stomach ulcers. Pasta and flour products lead to constipation, colitis and obesity. Fish, often considered a cat treat, contains too much protein and minerals. Giving fish to your pets frequently can lead to urolithiasis and vitamin K deficiency. Experts do not recommend giving cats milk because lactose in milk causes stomach upset. Yeast baked goods are dangerous due to bloating, flatulence and intestinal colic. Chocolate, ice cream, cakes, and alcohol are not acceptable in a cat’s diet, because this can lead to serious disorders of the digestive system and diabetes.

You can't feed cats food from the table.

It is impossible to provide cats with complete and healthy nutrition using table food. Human food can easily harm them. Such food should not be in the diet of cats.

At what age should I start feeding my kitten dry food?

Immediately after birth, the kitten feeds exclusively on its mother's milk. If for some reason natural feeding is not possible, special formulas must be used. At approximately 1 - 1.5 months, specialized dry food can be introduced into the kitten’s diet. It is better to do this when the baby is still feeding on milk, but begins to show interest in food in his mother’s bowl.

Trainer Natural Kitten Fresh Chicken food, intended for kittens from 1 month, can be an excellent first food. Its composition is completely balanced and contains all the necessary nutrients.

If you have a purebred kitten - for example, a Maine Coon, British or Persian kitten - it makes sense to buy food for a specific breed, such as Royal Canin Kitten Persian.