Composition of cat food: what to feed your tailed pet

The health and activity of a cat largely depend on the chosen diet. That is why you should learn to correctly read and understand the composition of dry cat food, and not believe advertising and colorful packaging. The staff of the Murkosha shelter will help you understand the nuances.

1) What is the main thing in the composition of dry food 2) About the ingredients in dry food 3) What healthy fats should be included 4) Are carbohydrates necessary? 5) Additional important ingredients 6) Which food is better to leave in the store 7) Which food to choose

Protein

Chicken Uses meat, skin and sometimes bones. Heads, paws, entrails and feathers are not used. The most “gentle” product. Dogs that do not digest meat ingredients well often digest chicken ingredients very well.

Chicken meal Obtained from chicken meat and skin. Chicken meal is perhaps the best protein product used in commercial feeds. Tasty, easily digestible and very expensive.

Chicken by-product meal Consists of ground up body parts of a slaughtered chicken such as neck, legs, undeveloped eggs and innards.

Turkey Uses meat, skin and sometimes bones. Heads, paws, entrails and feathers are not used. In no way inferior to chicken.

Turkey meal A very nutritious, easily digestible and appetizing product.

Duck Uses muscle tissue, skin and sometimes bones. Heads, paws, entrails and feathers are not used. An excellent source of proteins, which also contains amino acids important for the skin of dogs.

Salmon An excellent source of protein and Omega 3 fatty acids.

Salmon meal An excellent source of protein and Omega 3 fatty acids.

White fish Deep-sea fish of the whitefish family. An excellent product, rich in protein and Omega fatty acids.

Fish Cleaned fish and trimmings are used. An excellent component rich in proteins. It has a strong effect on the coat due to the content of phosphorus and other elements.

Ocean fish An excellent resource of fatty acids and proteins.

Fishmeal The dried, ground tissue of half-broken whole fish or pieces of fish, either or both, with or without the extraction of some of the oil. A nutritious product slightly inferior to whole fish. The specific varieties of fish are unknown.

Chicken eggs are rich in protein and amino acids.

Dry egg powder Egg powder is produced from egg processing waste (shells, undeveloped eggs, etc.). Their value is much lower than a whole egg.

Chicken liver is potentially dangerous. Primarily used to improve the palatability of feed. Like any liver, it can contain toxins.

Poultry liver is potentially dangerous because... Without identifying a specific animal in the name, it is impossible to say which liver (goose, duck, chicken) was used in the production of feed. In addition, the liver of animals often retains remnants of toxins.

Poultry by-product meal is potentially dangerous. Includes liver, kidneys, brains, etc. Almost any part of the animal carcass, except meat, can be part of this ingredient. Much less nutritious than meat. The specific composition is unknown.

Soy protein concentrate is potentially allergenic! Protein concentrate is obtained from dehydrated and defatted soybeans. Used to reduce the cost of feed. Often the raw material used to obtain the concentrate is a genetically modified product. In addition, soybeans often cause allergies in some animals.

Animal mixture - potentially allergic. Dry material obtained by chemical and/or enzymatic hydrolysis of clean and undisintegrated tissue. Animal tissues used must be free from hair, teeth, hooves and feathers, except in the minimum amount that is inevitably present even with good production processes and is suitable for animal feeding.

What else to pay attention to

• Compare the daily feed intake. The more your animal needs per day, the worse this diet is.
• The ratio of proteins and fats. High-protein foods are those with 36 percent or more protein. Fat should be no more than 20% in regular food, and no more than 13% in food for overweight cats. Higher values ​​are acceptable in kitten diets.
• The food must indicate what animal and vegetable fats are used . Of the vegetable oils, only flaxseed or sunflower oil is acceptable.
• Cellulose is harmful to animals . This is a low-quality component that can cause gastrointestinal problems and allergies.
• Yeast, both regular and brewer's, is used by the manufacturer to increase the volume of feed and causes allergies. Food with yeast is not the best choice for a caring owner.
• Cats do not need sugar or sweeteners . Choose food without them.

Carbohydrates

Potatoes are used with the peel, which contains all the useful substances. Potatoes contain carbohydrates, zinc, copper, iron, potassium, magnesium, vitamins B and C, and niacin.

Sweet Potatoes Potatoes contain carbohydrates, zinc, copper, iron, potassium, magnesium, vitamins B and C, and niacin. Sweet potatoes are also rich in beta-carotene, etc. They do not cause allergies.

Flaxseed meal A source of Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids. Thanks to this component, the wool looks soft and shiny. An anti-constipation remedy with anti-carcinogenic properties. The best plant source of alpha-linoleic acid.

Barley Whole grain barley is a very good and high-quality source of carbohydrates.

Crushed barley Crushed grain is not a particularly valuable component, since during the processing all useful substances were removed from it.

Hercules Dry product from purified oat grains. An excellent source of carbohydrates, rich in vitamin B. Sometimes used as a binder for dry food, which avoids artificial fixatives.

Oat gluten Gluten from oat processing products. Poorly absorbed by the body.

Rice Whole, refined grains of rice without bran, called white rice, are a high-quality source of carbohydrates, protein and gluten. In addition, it is a natural remedy for consolidating stool and lowering cholesterol levels. The least allergenic grain product.

Rice Flour Rice flour, like broken rice, is much less valuable than whole grains.

Beer rice Dry extracted grain residue formed after the production of wort (the liquid part of malted grain) or beer and may contain dusty dry spent hop cones in an amount not exceeding 3%. Cheaper and less valuable product compared to whole rice.

Millet is quite a nutritious filler. But biologically less suitable for animal nutrition than other grain crops.

Sorghum is a nutritious product that is extremely difficult for animals to digest. Can lead to severe digestive disorders!

Corn is potentially dangerous because... widely used in feed as a cheap source of protein, not always of high quality.

Corn gluten/corn flour - potentially allergic! Grain vegetable protein. The shelled part of the grain that remains after most of the starch and protein have been extracted in the process of producing starch or molasses. Cheap filler. It is an allergen for many animals.

Cellulose powder is potentially dangerous. Usually made from corn milling. Used as a filler and binder to reduce the cost of feed.

Wheat/Wheat flour - potentially allergic. A good source of carbohydrates, nutritious filler, rich in vitamins and minerals. Unfortunately, it causes an allergic reaction in many dogs.

Wheat gluten is potentially allergenic. A cheap by-product formed during grain processing. It has virtually no nutritional value and serves mainly as a binder.

Beet pulp An extract isolated during the processing of beets for the production of sugar, as well as its dried version. Natural stool fixative.

Dried beet pulp Dry extract obtained from the processing of sugar beets. Natural stool fixative.

Vegetable Blend A source of plant fiber from a mixture of various plants and vegetables.

Carbohydrates in cat food

It is impossible to make dry food without carbohydrates at all: the granules will fall apart during the packaging and transportation process, and as a result, only crumbs will end up in the cat’s bowl. The only question is what sources of carbohydrates to use and in what quantities. The worst option is grains, which are extremely poorly digested by predators, cause spikes in blood sugar and put additional stress on the pancreas. Therefore, it is better to give preference to biologically appropriate foods in which plant components are represented by foods with a low glycemic index: legumes, vegetables and unsweetened fruits.

If you do choose food with grains, make sure that there are a minimum of them: they should not be at the top of the list of ingredients. Sometimes the manufacturer uses several types of grains, due to which they are shifted to positions below meat. But if you add up their number, it turns out that they are the most abundant in food. Such nutrition goes against the biological needs of the cat and can cause disease over time. It's like filling a car with a gasoline engine with diesel fuel: it might move, but it won't last long.

Fats

Chicken fat A very important component for skin and coat. The richest animal source of linoleic acid (>23%).

Sunflower oil is especially beneficial for the skin and fur of animals. In terms of its usefulness, it ranks first among other oils used for the production of dry food.

Fish oil - salmon/anchovy. Fish oil is an excellent source of Omega fatty acids and vitamins.

Rapeseed oil

Poultry fat is potentially allergic! A product obtained from poultry through an industrial rendering or extraction process. Poultry fat, when the specific type of poultry (chicken, duck...) is not specified (unknown), contains a very small amount of linoleic acids, and various preservatives (antioxidants) may be used during the production process.

Animal fat Animal fat is inferior in the content of beneficial acids to chicken fat.

Pork fat Pork fat. - no comments!!!! The presence of this component in cat food is, to put it mildly, upsetting!

Which kitten food to choose – dry or wet?

All types of industrial food are balanced and contain all the necessary substances for the harmonious development of the cat’s body. They differ only in production technology. The dry one is compressed, the moisture is evaporated from it, and the wet one is sterilized and then packed into cans or pouches (bags). The main advantages of these types of feed:

• Wet. It is easily chewed by animals, contains moisture, and therefore partially satisfies the daily need for water. Give in small portions, as it is not recommended to store uneaten food in the refrigerator.
• Dry. It is used sparingly; uneaten granules can be poured back into the original packaging. By eating this food, the cat gets rid of plaque and tartar. However, there should always be fresh water in the diet.

Many manufacturers also provide specialized food, for example, medicinal food for removing hair from the stomach, preventing urolithiasis, for cats with a sensitive digestive system and those who are obese.

To avoid trouble, it is important to strictly follow the feeding recommendations indicated on the packaging.

Fruits and vegetables

Alfalfa Alfalfa contains a number of proteolytic enzymes that break down proteins and promote their absorption. Alfalfa is an essential source of chlorophyll, vitamins and protein, including iron and magnesium. Promotes the healing of erosions, ulcers, open wounds, helps in the fight against infection. In addition, it increases lactation in nursing mothers. Sprouts, Leaf, Meal and other components of alfalfa are often used in feed.

Apples are rich in soluble carbohydrates and gluten, vitamins and pectin. Contains beta-carotene, potassium and boron.

Carrots The best source of vitamin A is beta-carotene.

Cranberries are very beneficial for the kidneys and genitourinary system. Natural urine acidity regulator.

Peas Green peas are rich in vitamin A and are a source of vegetable protein.

Cranberry powder Grinding dried cranberries

Blueberries can sometimes be found in expensive foods for capricious animals. Rich in useful substances.

Spinach Fresh spinach leaves are rich in vitamins A and C and also contain iron.

Parsley This plant is valued not only for its taste. It has powerful healing properties. Parsley is rich in vitamin C, b-carotene, and contains a lot of chlorophyll, a plant pigment that has been called a “natural disinfectant” for its ability to reduce body odor and reduce the carcinogenic effect of oxidation. Parsley has a diuretic effect, accompanied by increased release of salts from the body, increases the tone of the smooth muscles of the uterus, intestines and bladder.

Tomatoes are very rich in vitamin C. Whole tomatoes are used and then boiled. Heat treatment of tomatoes makes them very beneficial for the reproductive system, especially for males.

Tomato mixture is potentially allergic! A mixture of tomato skin, their seeds and pulp, a second-class product. Leather makes up a large percentage of this mixture, which increases the likelihood of a high content of pesticides in this component, since they are used almost everywhere when growing tomatoes.

Potentially Hazardous Ingredients

Unlike the previous group, these components can provoke the rapid development of diseases or the occurrence of exacerbations in the presence of chronic pathologies. First of all, these are various dyes, preservatives and nameless flavoring and aromatic additives. If their type is not specified, there is a high probability that the manufacturer does not use the safest components. If there are specific names, it is advisable to check the ingredient in the database. Most of these additives are difficult to identify by name without special knowledge in the field of chemistry.

The dyes in the composition are of interest exclusively to buyers; for cats, the shade of the granules does not affect the attractiveness of the product

Sugar and caramel are often used in wet food to produce a light brown tint and soften the kibble. Eating such prepared diets causes watery eyes, itching and other allergy symptoms. Cats are carnivores, so they do not digest sugar well. Some of it is deposited in the form of glycogen, the rest enters the blood along with toxic metabolic products. This is what causes the uncharacteristic reaction. I had to deal with this personally when my cat’s eyes started running because of budget food. Due to my inexperience, I gave her Whiskas pouches as a treat. After red, flaky patches appeared on my skin, I stopped doing this. After a few weeks, the symptoms disappeared.

When choosing wet food, you need to pay attention to the consistency and color of the meat, as well as the texture of the sauce: the presence of jelly and unnatural, identical pieces of pink color without fibers is undesirable

The presence of cellulose in feed is not recommended. Some manufacturers add it to clean teeth, but this is not necessary because cats do not chew granules. Cellulose can cleanse the walls of the gastrointestinal tract, but with the same success, coarse abrasive particles can cause increased sensitivity and inflammation. With long-term consumption of food containing cellulose, cats develop gastrointestinal diseases.

It is advisable to avoid wet food that contains additional thickeners, gelling components and analogues. In some cases, it is impossible to avoid their use, so their presence is due to the peculiarities of production technology, but these substances are not included in the natural diet of predators. There are no third-party thickeners in high-quality feed.

Medicinal plants

Dandelion Dandelion contains active substances: sesquiterpene lactones, a complex of vitamins and minerals, especially a lot of potassium, etc. Biological effects of dandelion: pronounced choleretic and diuretic, detoxifying, stimulates the activity of the digestive glands, etc.

Chamomile Chamomile is used in medicine as a sedative, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, analgesic, antispasmodic, carminative, diaphoretic, choleretic, and antiallergic agent.

Calendula extract has anti-inflammatory, bactericidal (especially against staphylococci and streptococci), wound healing, astringent and diuretic effects. It has an antimicrobial effect and promotes tissue regeneration. Alcohol infusion is used for stomatitis and periodontal disease.

Preservatives and binders

Rosemary A cancer preventative, it is also an excellent preservative, which is why it is added to dry food.

Citric acid Natural preservative. It is found in large quantities in lemons, from which it was first obtained. Currently, it is obtained from shag stems, currants, lingonberries, rowan berries and much more.

Phosphoric acid Antioxidant, acidity regulator

Starch

Chemical preservatives BHA/BHT (aka BHA/BHT) In some countries, they are banned for use in canned food for humans, but they continue to be used for animals!

BHA (Additive E320, Butylhydroxyanisole) The International Agency for Research on Cancer says that BHA is a human carcinogen. BHA also chemically interacts with nitrates, as a result of which the compounds acquire mutagenic properties, that is, they cause changes in the DNA of cells. In many countries, BHA is listed as a red food additive, meaning it has the highest level of danger.

BHT (additive E321, Butylhydroxytoluene) is of synthetic origin and has a high level of danger (if systematically used, it is significantly harmful to health). It is thought to cause hyperactivity in some children and may also increase the risk of cancer.

Propyl gallate has an effect on the body similar to the effect of the female sex hormones estrogen. The food additive E310 causes asthma, stomach irritation and allergic skin rashes, as a result of which the use of this additive is prohibited in the production of baby food, especially for young children, and it can easily be present in kitten food! Some scientists have suggested that propyl gallates may cause the growth of malignant tumors, but this issue has not been fully studied.

Feed classes

Premium food is most often food with less advertising, a moderate price segment, always in packaging, but with a relatively low meat protein content. The most famous representative of the class is Royal Canin. This food is digestible by 70-75%.

Super-premium foods are never advertised; they are most often harder to find on the open market, but you can easily place regular orders through veterinary clinics or large pet stores. The composition of such feeds is always written down in detail; there are no dark horses in the format of general formulations in the composition. Everything I use to make cat food is written on the packaging and is beyond doubt. These foods include Royal Canin, but only produced in France, and ProPlan, which is widely distributed in our country.

Is there no ideal dry cat food? Yes and no. The fact is that food, selected according to its composition for a specific cat, is holistic food. They are produced according to special orders from the following companies: Eagle Pack Holistic, Evo, Orijen and Felidae.

INTERESTING: dry food or soft canned food - for a healthy cat with a full set of teeth there is no difference. It is recommended to switch exclusively to canned food only if the cat has difficulty eating dry food due to illness or simple old age.

Flavors and flavoring additives

Chicken seasoning Natural food flavoring additive. An excellent natural “apitizer” obtained through the hydrolysis of chicken parts and tissues.

Chicken liver seasoning Natural food flavoring additive.

Sea salt Table salt, extracted from sea water, is practically no different from ordinary salt.

Iodized salt Table salt is used to improve the palatability of food.

Salt Most ingredients already contain salt, and an excessive amount of it in food will in no way benefit the animal.

Garlic seasoning Flavor and flavoring addition to the menu

Natural flavors Contain no artificial ingredients. Basically, these are various extracts of strong broths: chicken, beef and lamb with the addition of herbs and spices.

Peppermint Refers to spices used as aromatic and flavoring additives. Peppermint is believed to help with stomach upsets and inhibit the growth of some bacteria.

Savory The homeland of garden savory is the eastern regions of the Mediterranean and Black Sea region. It was well known to the ancient Greeks and Romans. In the manuscripts of Virgil there are recommendations for using it in food to flavor it. It was especially popular in England, Germany, Scandinavia, etc.

Fennel In appearance it resembles dill, in taste and aroma it is closer to anise, but with a sweeter and more pleasant taste.

Cat, cat and kittens

Every cat owner faces a difficult choice: which food is best to purchase for their pet. Here we are faced with a dilemma: buy premium food or buy cheaper food and save. It is important to know that cat food is divided into several classes - economy, premium, super-premium.

Oddly enough, the most advertised foods are economy class foods. These foods are often produced by large corporations that own several well-known brands. Due to financial capabilities and large production capacity, the advertising campaign does not increase the cost of products too much. At the same time, waste from other industries is often used as ingredients in animal feed. We hear every day that these foods are the best, fully balanced, satisfy all the cat’s needs and are recommended by veterinarians. A naive buyer with the best intentions goes to the nearest store and buys a bag of Whiskas, Kitekat, Darling or any other food for his pet, being completely confident that this is the best option, but, unfortunately, this is far from the case. Do you know what you are really giving your pet instead of the tasty and beautiful piece of meat shown in the advertisement? Let's first compare the composition of economy class feed (" Whiskas ") and super-premium class (" ORIJEN "). Ingredients of “ Whiskas ” (take Whiskas Delicious pillows with delicate pate Sea platter): cereals, protein plant extracts, meat and offal (including salmon and tuna min. 4% in pink and beige granules), shrimp (min. 4 % in pink and beige granules), animal fats and vegetable oils, brewer's yeast, vegetables, vitamins and minerals. As we can see, the composition is dominated by grains (the ingredient that has more in the composition is located in first place, and so on in descending order), while cats are carnivores, moreover, they are obligate predators. Grain does not provide any benefit to the cat's body, so this food does not satisfy its physiological needs. In addition, such foods contain preservatives and antioxidants, dyes and other synthetic chemicals. Synthetic additives have no nutritional value but can cause cancer or even be toxic to your cat's internal organs. They gradually accumulate in the body until finally they cause organ failure. Economy class food is not recommended for use as a cat’s main diet due to the low quality of the ingredients and the small amount of animal protein, and additional dyes, flavors and flavoring additives “load” the food with unnecessary chemicals. Unfortunately, cats eat this food with pleasure, as they are strongly attracted to these substances. We take food “ ORIJEN CAT & KITTEN (for cats and kittens).” Here's what it contains: fresh boneless chicken, dehydrated chicken, fresh boneless salmon, dehydrated turkey, fresh chicken liver, dehydrated herring, potatoes, chicken fat (preserved with a mixture of tocopherols), sweet potatoes, peas, fresh pike perch fillets , fresh whole eggs, fresh boneless turkey, fresh lake whitefish fillet, sun-dried alfalfa, pea fiber, fresh herring fillet, dried organic seaweed, pumpkin, chicory root, carrots, spinach, turnip tops, apples, cranberries, blueberries, licorice root, angelica root, fenugreek, calendula flowers, fennel officinalis, peppermint leaves, chamomile, dandelion, savory, rosemary, vitamin A, vitamin D3, vitamin E, niacin, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, calcium d-pantothenate, pyridoxine, folic acid, biotin, vitamin B12, zinc proteinate, iron proteinate, manganese proteinate, copper proteinate, selenium yeast, dried fermentation products of Lactobacillus acidophilus and Enterococcus faecium. Looking at the composition of "ORIJEN", we see that each ingredient is named exactly, all additional compounds are written. We can also see that the content is higher in meat than in grains. The truth is that manufacturers of cheap commercial cat foods use grain as a food base because grain is cheaper than meat, thus "it will cost more" to the manufacturers. ORIJEN food also contains preservatives (additional substances without which food spoils very quickly), but it is not synthetic. These are mainly natural preservatives - vitamins A and C, or tocopherol (a form of vitamin E), which are even beneficial for the cat's body. Owners are often intimidated by the prices of super-premium products. But please note that the daily intake of economy class food is significantly higher than super-premium food. In addition, the cat eats more economy food because the nose is irritated by synthetic additives that increase appetite. However, the highest price does not mean the highest quality. Be careful and read the ingredients of the food. The main indicator is the amount of meat. Meat should top the ingredient list. Vegetables or grains should be placed next, but the amount of grain should be small. Make sure it's rice or oatmeal - these are the only grains that are at least partially digestible by your cat. The composition should not contain corn or its gluten, they increase the risk of cancer. Also make sure that there are no chemical additives in the composition. A good cat food should contain 28% or more real meat; chicken fat is used in the production of the food, not pork fat. Chicken fat is better, but much more expensive, so pork fat in the composition shows that the manufacturer wants to save money. There should be very, very little carbohydrates and corn in the feed. The cat does not need carbohydrates, but their presence makes food much cheaper. The presence of preservatives is acceptable, but they must be natural and not chemical, as they can cause tumors. Now let's study the composition of some more and less well-known foods. Let's start with the good stuff - super premium food.

Let's start with HILL's . Here's the ingredients for one of HILL's popular Adult Chicken products: Chicken (44% chicken minimum, 59% chicken and turkey minimum): Chicken and Turkey Meal, Ground Corn, Milled Rice, Animal Fat, Corn Gluten Meal, Digest, Potassium Chloride , DL-methionine, salt, calcium carbonate, taurine, vitamins and microelements. Contains natural preservatives: a mixture of tocopherols, citric acid and rosemary extract.

Apart from the presence of ground corn and its gluten (as we already know, they increase the risk of cancer and can also cause allergies in animals), the food is not bad. Unfortunately, many manufacturers of super-premium food are guilty of adding these very ingredients to the composition, even knowing that cats, at best, digest rice, and corn passes by. For example:

Royal Canin Savor Sensation (I quote it because my beauty eats only this food and categorically ignores everything else, both higher and lower levels): corn, dehydrated poultry, rice, vegetable protein isolate*, animal fats, corn gluten, hydrolyzed animal proteins, vegetable fibre, minerals, beet pulp, yeast, soybean oil, sodium phosphate, powdered eggs, fructooligosaccharides, paprika extract, borage oil. In this case, the big disadvantage is that corn is not only available, it is also in first place on the list, displacing poultry meat into second place, which generally raises questions about the status of a super-premium product. Ingredients of Eukanuba Adult Rich in Chicken with Liver: freeze-dried chicken and turkey (20%, natural source of taurine), chicken by-products, chicken liver (9%), rice, corn grits, fish meal, animal fat, dried whole egg, dried pulp sugar beets (3.3%), chicken digest, dried brewer's yeast, potassium chloride, calcium carbonate, sodium chloride. We can rate this food quite highly - meat and offal are first on the list; although corn is present, it is closer to the middle in the list of ingredients. Bosch Sanabelle Adult with Trout has a very pleasant composition (dehydrated), fresh meat meal, whole egg (dehydrated), dietary fiber (cellulose), beet pulp, flaxseed, fish oil, yeast (dehydrated), potassium chloride, cranberries (dehydrated), blueberries (dehydrated), mussels, New Zealand green sponge clam extract (natural product to support tissue, cartilage and joint function), chicory powder, marigold flowers (dehydrated), yucca extract (dehydrated). The only problem is the presence of maize - it is considered an undesirable ingredient, and it can also cause allergies in some animals. At the same time, reviews about this food are mostly positive, the owners note that cats eat it with pleasure, their coat improves, their stool is normalized, the animals are playful, active and full of energy. Nature's Protection food also belongs to the super-premium class (although in foreign sources this food is considered simply premium). Here is the composition of Nature's Protection cat adult indoor (Lithuania): chicken meal, rice, corn, corn gluten, chicken fat, sugar beet pulp, egg powder, fish meal, yucca extract, rosemary extract, brewer's yeast, marigold flour, chicory extract, calcium monophosphate. But who definitely doesn’t qualify for the declared super-premium class is “ Stout ”. Here's the ingredients: corn gluten (plant protein extract), corn, poultry meal, rice, sunflower oil, mineral supplements, hydrolyzed liver, sugar beet pulp (pulp), powdered eggs, brewer's yeast, vitamins, antioxidants/preservative, lysine/methionine , taurine. Meat is only in third place, although what kind of chicken meal is there and what it is made of is a big question (it is possible that it is from chicken legs, heads and feathers). Judging by the composition, “Stout” is a little better than whiskey, but not premium class and certainly not super premium. Stout is economy class food. This opinion is shared by many other cat owners. The same one also produces food, according to them, premium class - “ Our brand ”. For fun, let’s take the composition of Our Brand for picky cats with salmon and rice: corn, poultry meal, corn gluten (vegetable protein extract), rice, sunflower oil, fish and fish by-products (including salmon), mineral supplements, hydrolyzed liver, sugar beet pulp (pulp), brewer's yeast, vitamins, antioxidant, taurine. As you can see, very mediocre food. Again, you yourself understand what can be meant by “bird meal”. And corn should not be the basis of feed. Would a picky cat really eat this? Mine certainly never in my life! Let's consider another product - Balmax catfood (by the way, they also indicate premium cat food). Ingredients: Wheat, corn, meat meal, chicken meal, fish meal, chicken fats, sugar beet schnitzels, salt, vitamins/minerals, yeast. Again, this is economy class at best - grains take the first two places of honor, followed by meat, chicken and fish meal of unknown origin. So be careful - just because the manufacturer writes premium or super-premium on the packaging does not mean that it contains high-quality food! The last food I would like to talk about is KOTIKORM . Again, be extremely careful and study the ingredients!!! Here are the ingredients of KOTIKORM for long-haired cats: naked oats, corn, rice, flaxseed, dried pulp, egg powder, poultry meal, fish meal, meat and bone meal, chicken fat, sunflower oil, dried brewer's yeast, lysine, DL-methionine, monocalcium phosphate, thermox (fat stabilizer), flavor enhancer for cats, myco-carb dry, premix. The first meat ingredient - poultry meal - 7!!! place (in the sixth place egg powder). I don’t even want to think about what feed flour is made from. It will cause all the hair to come out not only on a long-haired cat, but also on any other cat! Judging by the comments on the forums, KOTIKORM is a rare muck that has caused serious digestive problems in many cats. I agree with the opinion that KOTIKORM cannot be considered food; some people use it as a filler - this is probably the best use for it.

So choosing food is an extremely difficult task; you need to have a good understanding of the ingredients, be careful, constantly read labels and not trust advertising. I hope you have figured out the problem, and now your cat will be well-fed, healthy and happy.

Feed compositions are indicated at the time of writing and may be changed by manufacturers.

2012

Money from advertising goes to food and medicine for cats:

Enzymes and probiotics

Lactobacilli Diseases, stress, dietary errors, unfavorable environmental conditions, radiation therapy, long-term antibiotic therapy disrupt the normal balance of intestinal microflora, which leads to the growth of pathogenic microorganisms and, as a result, dysbiosis. The ability to suppress the proliferation of pathogenic microorganisms in the intestines is a distinctive property of lactic acid bacteria (Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus acidophilus). Lactic acid bacteria take an active part in the formation and homeostasis of the immune system; their metabolic products weaken the harmful effects of toxic substances entering the body due to environmental pollution.

Bacillus Probiotics. Freeze-dried bacteria to restore the microflora of the stomach and intestines. Bacillus subtillus, Bacillus lichenformis, Bacillus coagulins

Inulin is a polysaccharide found in the tubers and roots of dahlias, artichokes and dandelions. It is a fructosan because its hydrolysis produces fructose. It has been shown that inulin, in addition to stimulating the growth and activity of bifidobacteria and lactobacilli, increases calcium absorption in the large intestine, i.e. reduces the risk of osteoporosis, affects lipid metabolism, reducing the risk of atherosclerotic changes in the cardiovascular system and, possibly, preventing the development of type II diabetes mellitus, there is preliminary evidence of its anticarcinogenic effect.

Mannanoligosaccharides Enterococcus faecium

Features of the body of kittens: what the owner needs to know

In the first year of life, kittens grow rapidly, gain weight, and master the necessary skills. It is important for their owner to know what changes occur in the baby’s body during a specific period, so as not to miss anything. So:

• 10 days. At the age of 1.5 weeks, a kitten is considered a newborn; it weighs about 100 g. Its eyes are not yet open, it cannot hear, there is no thermoregulation, and the sense of smell is not developed. He finds his mother cat thanks to the warmth emanating from her. During this period the baby only eats and sleeps. Newborns cannot be picked up unless there is a threat to their life and health.
• 2 weeks. The cat gains weight (approximately 100-150 g), its eyes begin to open, it hears, and its sense of smell appears. The kids communicate with each other and their parents and try to crawl. Since the skeleton is not yet strong, the kitten can be carefully picked up, lifting it to a small height from the soft bedding.
• 3 weeks. All sense organs are formed and begin to work. However, it is still difficult for kittens to navigate indoors. The muscles are still weak, but there are attempts to stand on their feet. Nutrition during this period can be mixed - mother's milk and some complementary foods.
• 4 weeks. The baby is growing up, gaining weight, and moving actively. About 25 teeth appear.
• 5-6 weeks. Weight is 600-900 g. Deworming can be carried out. It is best to show your pet to a veterinarian, who will assess the state of health and development and give the necessary recommendations.
• 7-8 weeks. You can wean him from his mother, transfer him to industrial and natural food, and get his first vaccinations. Weight is about 1 kg.
• 3 months. The animals are active, playful, curious, display individual character traits, and become independent. They can be taken to a new home; the small animal quickly adapts to new conditions and its owner. During this period, gender is already clearly determined.
• 4-6 months. The cat is quite well formed, the features of an adult animal appear. With proper care - socially adapted, weighs 1.5 kg. Teeth begin to change, the process is completed by 8 months.
• 7-8 months. Kittens reach a weight of 2 kg, large ones - about 3 kg, and begin to wash themselves regularly. The “children’s” fur falls out and is replaced by “adult” fur, which feels a little rougher to the touch. The owner can help the pet by cleaning its ears and eyes with special hygiene products for animals. You can castrate or sterilize.
• From 9 months to 1 year. The pet’s body is almost formed, the animal masters all the skills of an adult cat, gains weight, and reaches optimal growth.

From the age of 1 year, the animal is considered an adult, fully formed.