Is Whiskas economy class food good for kittens and cats?

Brand history

The Whiskas brand has been on the market since 1958. Now every developed country has a representative office of this brand, and you can buy finished products in almost any store. The same cannot be said about some other brands for cats, which are sold only in specialized pet stores.

Cat whiskey

Note! Cat owners began to call food from other manufacturers “Whiskas.” The name has become a common noun.

Whiskas feed composition

Cats are carnivores, so their diet should always include meat. The best brands are those with the highest percentage of meat. The manufacturer claims that Whiskas are complete and balanced. Whiskas cat food is formulated in collaboration with the Waltham Research Centre.

Brit: food for cats and kittens, dry and wet

There are several classes of food for cats:

• economy;
• premium;
• super premium;
• holistic.

It is the quantity and quality of meat in the composition that determines whether a species belongs to one of the classes. What class does Whiskas dry cat food belong to? It's worth looking into in detail.

The holistic class option is the most expensive. These foods contain no dyes or flavors, and contain at least 80% meat. Many people may not be able to afford such food, and you can only buy it in specialized stores.

The super premium class contains less meat than holistic products. The composition may contain preservatives, flavors and various additives. This food is a little cheaper than holistic food.

Premium class is a budget segment. Low meat content (no more than 35%), moreover, it is of low quality. The composition contains flavorings and an impressive list of additives. It is to this class that Whiskas manufacturers classify their products.

For reference! Many veterinarians believe that this is just a marketing gimmick and that Whiskas does not actually stand up to the premium requirements.

The name "Economy" speaks for itself - this is the cheapest food for cats. The composition will consist mainly of plant ingredients and animal flour. To ensure that the pet does not refuse such food at all, manufacturers add more flavors and dyes. Preservatives are used for long-term storage of food, and some ingredients are simply not indicated so as not to alienate the buyer.

Composition of dry Whiskas for kittens

In order for a kitten to grow up healthy, its diet must be complete. He must receive all the necessary vitamins and microelements. Kittens are very active by nature and spend the entire day on the move, so the energy value of the food will be an important indicator.

Whiskas cat food for babies consists of pads with a soft filling, the first place in the composition (which means the most of these ingredients in the food) are vegetable and animal flour. It is quite difficult to determine what exactly animal meal was made from. The ideal option would be if it was made from dried meat. But for this price segment, the most you can count on is ground bones.

Whiskas wet food for kittens

There are many more types of Whiskas wet food for kittens. The composition of such mixtures is much more diverse and includes meat.

Variety of Whiskas line

The line is available in various flavors and consistencies:

• pate;
• jelly;
• stew.

Manufacturers made sure that the kitten menu was varied. In the future, the kitten can gradually be switched to dry food for adult cats.

Compound

In the first place in Whiskas dry food for cats are products of plant origin (wheat flour, rice, corn protein), which are carbohydrates. The protein used is animal flour (poultry, turkey, beef, lamb, rabbit). Such generalized concepts often hide low-quality products. The manufacturer decided not to disclose the percentage ratio, so we can only guess which ingredients are more in the composition.

Additional sources of proteins: pork and chicken liver. Animal fat and sunflower oil are sources of fatty acids. Brewer's yeast is a source of B vitamins. Beet pulp and carrots are sources of fiber.

An example of the composition of Whiskas food for adult cats with chicken and turkey

In wet food, meat and offal occupy the first place. Cereals as carbohydrates. Additional components - taurine, vitamins, minerals.

Composition of canned food Sheba Classic assorted chicken and duck

Information on the composition of Whiskas food from the official website of the manufacturer

Which is better: wet food or jelly?

Veterinarians recommend not giving kittens jelly until they are 10 months old. The gelled form may contain components that are not recommended for small kittens. Of course, the manufacturer does not use natural meat broth to make the jelly, which means the composition may be questionable. Therefore, doctors recommend using wet food.

Perfect fit: cat food, dry and wet

Stew or pate can be an excellent option for a growing body. Whiskas has chicken and lamb stew and chicken pate. It is important to note that not all kittens respond well to ready-made food.

Important! If your pet refuses to eat such food for some reason, then it is best to give him only natural food.

Composition information

There is an opinion that economy class food contains only harmful products.

However, the pets themselves love Whiskas and eat it with pleasure.

A detailed analysis of the composition will allow you to determine whether Whiskas is healthy.

Let's look at the composition of Whiskas Kitten Chicken Stew:

1. The total amount of protein is 8.3 grams (per 100 grams), which is insufficient for normal growth and development of a kitten. The source of protein is chicken, however, there is no more than 4% meat, the rest is by-products.
2. Cereals are indicated as the source of carbohydrates, but there is no indication of which ones or their percentage.
3. The source of fat is vegetable oil without a specified exact amount.
4. The manufacturer lists taurine as an additional substance. This is an essential amino acid that is not produced independently in the pet’s body. It also contains vitamins and minerals.
5. The composition turned out to be blurry, which indicates the low quality of the product.

How can you give Whiskas to kittens?

Wet food for cats: rating of the best according to veterinarians

To understand your pet’s taste preferences, it is recommended to buy one small bag at a time. It is worth starting with a small amount if we are talking about a small kitten that is only a few months old. It is best to give one teaspoon of wet food 4-5 times a day, gradually increasing the portion.

Kittens have small stomachs, so they don’t need large amounts of food. It is not advisable to overfeed them, because for normal development the kitten must be playful and active.

Whiskas for the playful and active

You can understand whether the diet offered to him is suitable for a kitten only based on his health and behavior. A normal pet that eats properly and feels well has a healthy and well-groomed coat, is active and playful, and has no bad breath. At the same time, the kitten goes to the toilet normally.

Important! If any changes in behavior are noticeable, it is best to seek advice from a specialist.

It is important to remember that wet food does not last long if opened. You can’t put your pet’s health at risk for the sake of saving money, especially since serious problems can be even more expensive. For example, going to the clinic to see a doctor will cost much more than not eating a jar of food on time.

Pros and cons of Whiskas food

Whiskas for cats causes a lot of controversy among pet owners. Some are convinced that this is an excellent food and it is perfect for their pet, while others categorically urge you to refuse any product from this manufacturer, considering it harmful. But Whiskas is still in huge demand, so those considering this brand for their pet should know exactly all its advantages and disadvantages.

Advantages: favorite food at a low price

Advantages of Whiskas products:

• Affordable price. This is one of the most budget brands that everyone can afford. Feeding cats food from another manufacturer can cost several times more.
• Availability. Whiskas products are sold almost everywhere: from pet stores to regular supermarkets. If the food suddenly runs out, it will not be difficult for the owner of any breed to purchase it.
• Huge assortment. A variety of flavors will help you choose food for even the most picky cat. In addition, the brand has a line of special foods for sterilized and aged cats.
• Favorite pet food. Whiskas food always has an attractive appearance and smell. Cats really like it and they eat it with great appetite.

Food for a good appetite

Disadvantages: save on health

The disadvantages of Whiskas food include:

• Artificial additives. In the composition you can see preservatives, flavorings and many more different “E”. And the more additives there are in the recipe, the more harm they can cause to the health of the animal.
• Hidden composition. The manufacturer is either completely silent about many components or uses veiled concepts so as not to scare away the buyer. No one wants to buy food for their pet, the composition of which takes up a good half of the package and is replete with “chemicals”.
• Addiction. The additives contained in the composition are addictive to the animal. Because of this, the pet eats more than normal and may refuse other food altogether. Many owners have encountered this problem when they decide to replace Whiskas with another brand.
• Low quality. Offal and flour are not exactly what the animal’s body needs. Of course, even on this diet, many animals live a long time, without any health problems. But there is also a risk of disease. The ideal option would be holistic food, but not everyone can afford it.

Possible alternative

When choosing cat food, the principle works: “More expensive is better.” If cat food is more expensive, it means that higher quality products were used to make it.

Of course, switching from economy-class food straight to holistic will greatly affect the budget, so you can consider more economical options: Kitekat, Sheba, Pro Plan, Hills, Monge, 1st Choice, sold in kg.

Whiskas for kittens - finding a budget alternative is not too easy

There are situations when food, even of high quality, is not suitable for an animal. This does not mean that the food is “bad”, it just did not suit a particular animal.

Important! You should always “listen” to your pet; you should not hope that the first option purchased in the store will be ideal for him.

It may also happen that the food will have to be changed 2-4 times, you need to be prepared for this. Therefore, it is recommended to buy new food in small packages; if the cat willingly consumes it, then you can buy a large pack of this brand. In any case, only the owner decides which Whiskas for kittens or an adult cat to buy.

Whiskas cat food - reviews

This food has long been present on the shelves of Russian supermarkets and pet stores, and is also actively advertised on TV and beyond. Therefore, many people managed to try it and there are a lot of reviews about Whiskas on the Internet. Below we publish a few of the ones we found.

Reviews from veterinarians

Evgenia Valerievna, a doctor from the Zoovet clinic, writes in response to a question about Whiskas:

Good afternoon Whiskas is certainly not the best food for cats. It is believed that the high content of flavors in economy class food makes it so attractive to animals, so try to switch your cat to a higher quality food. Taking into account the history of urolithiasis, medicinal food is most likely also needed. To prescribe a suitable diet, I recommend taking a urine test.

Customer Reviews

Alya writes:

Hi all! Today I’m writing a review about food for our little brothers, for cats! I feed my cat natural food, but I always keep dry food in stock. Sometimes I’m not at home for a long time and in such cases you can add dry food for the whole day in advance so that the cat doesn’t go hungry.

I usually buy Purina One, but last time I bought Whiskas. The cat reacted unusually to it, ate it very appetizingly and then hovered around the bag asking for more. The food clearly contains strong flavoring and aroma additives.

Writes IRINA-NIK (source):

Whiskas canned food is a product of MARS. The choice is mine and my cat!!! Yes, comparison with ROYAL CANIN®, Pro Plan (rating based on the cat’s appetite!!!!) Before our beloved cat, he is a simple house cat, we had our beloved Cornish Rex, who left after a long illness……. To the rainbow…………………………………..

So, I only ate ROYAL CANIN®, and not everyone was suitable for it..... Time passed and a new addition appeared in our family, for whom I also bought premium food, because... You won’t immediately understand what he likes, you have to select it. BUT. Neither ROYAL CANIN® nor Pro Plan took root in the diet; I ate without appetite and turned up my nose. And here.

In a conversation with my friend, I find out that he was at the factory where Whiskas is made, and so, all the ingredients there are natural, the only difference is that the percentage of protein in Whiskas is lower. The same goes for other indicators. By the way, Whiskas and ROYAL CANIN® are products of MARS. Only premium class and masses, that's all.

A user with the nickname NewSky writes:

Cat food "Whiskas" stew is very expensive in price, almost 20 rubles per bag. But its quality is noticeably better. Already, as soon as you take Whiskas food in your hands, you feel that the bag itself is pleasant to the touch, soft. It opens easily and is rarely not along the line, i.e., it does not tear askew, as happens with other feeds, for example, with Kitekat.

The smell is really strong and disgusting. In general, the smell of Whiskas canned food surprised me: it smells like dry food, with such a pungent, pungent odor. This is the first time I've seen this. More precisely, I smell it. However, the food itself looks fine, with solid pieces of meat, and the sauce does not spread from it. Sometimes even all the food comes out of the bag in one slab, like Felix.

The cat eats and purrs with joy, but there were no consequences after the “Whiskas” stew. Although it seemed to me that the cat is not very full of Whiskas, since after a bag she immediately asks for more, although I have not observed this with other foods.

And the composition is chemical-free. I take different flavors, but they all smell the same. As for the price. Thus, I recommend "Whiskas" stew for cats.