Review of cat food Four-legged gourmet: types, composition, reviews

Manufacturer

The brand appeared on the Russian market a little over 14 years ago. And it is produced, oddly enough, in the vast expanses of our vast Motherland. The products first appeared in 2005, then it was instant porridge for dogs. Two years later, the “Four Paws” chain of pet stores began selling “Four-Legged Gourmet” dog food. Currently, the manufacturer focuses on producing canned meat for dogs, cats and ferrets.

Reviews

We feed the kitten natural food, but sometimes we spoil it. We chose the Four-Legged Gourmet for ourselves. Satisfied with the appearance, smell, consistency. The kitten eats with pleasure. Elena, 26 years old

We were looking for canned food for the cat and came across Four-Legged Gourmet. In general, I’m happy with everything, especially the price, but lately the quality has been noticeably lacking. There are suspicious lumps in the food: either fat or something generally unidentifiable. Alexandra, 20 years old

What I liked the most was the canned cold cuts. Unlike the rest of this company, the meat content is indicated there. It is clear that the food could be better, but for this price the quality is good. Veronica, 21 years old

Compound

The company characterizes its product as super premium. If you believe the manufacturer, then the first place for him is high-quality and natural ingredients that make up the food. On the official website this composition is described as very “tasty”, it makes you want to buy a jar for your beloved dog to try. And when you open the jar, you catch a delicate meat aroma. The contents look quite attractive: pieces of meat under a thin layer of jelly. And the composition of canned food (food) for dogs “Gourmet” pleases the owner’s eye. Just read what is in a jar of lamb food for adult dogs:

• In first place is lamb (lamb), as the manufacturer reports on the packaging.
• The second is a gelling additive.
• Salt is on the third line, and water is on the last line.

There are only four ingredients in the composition that delight the owners. But is it really worth praising Gourmet dog food so much?

Lamb is very healthy, it is healthy and low in calories. In addition, it does not cause allergic reactions, but meat does. What is hidden behind the vague word “lamb”, in what quantities? The answer to the question asked remains on the conscience of the manufacturer. The thing is that it can mean natural meat, offal, and industrial waste such as leather, wool and bones.

Now about a certain mysterious gelling additive. Why is its specific composition not indicated, what is hidden under this phrase? And again, what is the percentage of the declared additive? We don’t know; the manufacturer chose to remain silent when describing the composition of its product.

The most common complaint is the salt in the Gourmet dog food. Experienced dog owners know that this supplement is not at all beneficial for pets. Moreover, you should not regularly give salty food, this leads to serious health problems for dogs.

Water is a harmless product, but how much of it is in our food is unclear. We will not dwell on the water; from the above it becomes clear how honest the manufacturer is with customers.

By the way, “Gourmet” dry dog ​​food is also produced. There are a lot of incomprehensible things in its composition, but for such a price you can buy a better quality product.

Review of cat food “Four-Legged Gourmet”

Wet cat food “Four-Legged Gourmet” is produced in Russia by order of the company of the same name.
The official website contains information about the manufacturer, the composition of all lines of feed, and recommended feeding rates. This food belongs to the premium and super-premium class (depending on the line). The Four-Legged Gourmet brand also produces wet dog food and ferret food.

Composition of the food “Four-legged gourmet”

At the time of writing this review, four lines of canned cat food are produced - Golden Line, Cold Cuts, Soufflé, and Pates. Below we will separately look at examples of the compositions of each of them.

Gold Line

Let's look at the composition of the Four-Legged Gourmand canned food from the Golden Line line using the example of the "Chicken with Veal in Jelly" option for kittens:

Photo of the composition indicated on the can of canned food.

The basis of the food is chicken and veal, these two ingredients are in first and second place, respectively. Meat is a good source of protein, which contains at least 11.5% (indicated in the “Nutritional Value” section).

In third place is chicken fat, which is a source of fats and fatty acids. Contains no more than 10% fat. Fermented rice is a natural food coloring for meat products. Taurine is an essential amino acid for cats.

Brewer's yeast is a source of B-group vitamins. Fish oil is a source of fats and fatty acids. Seaweed - contains a lot of iodine and other trace elements. Yucca schedigera - reduces the smell of excrement. Gelling additive - needed to create jelly. Water is needed to create jelly.

In general, the composition of canned food in the Golden Line line is very good, corresponding to the super-premium class.

Cold cuts

Let’s look at the composition of canned food in the “Assorted Meats” line using the example of the “chicken” option:

Photo of the composition indicated on the canned food.

The first ingredient is chicken meat, 45% of it, which is a good source of protein. Next come meat by-products - heart (14%), lung, liver. These three ingredients are rich in protein, vitamins, minerals (especially liver).

Collagen-containing raw materials - it is not specified what exactly (it could be tendons, bone, skin trimmings, etc.). Animal protein - it is clear what serves as a source of protein, but it is not known from what raw materials this protein is obtained.

Manufacturer information.

Vegetable oil serves as a source of fats and fatty acids. Taurine is an essential (very necessary) amino acid for cats. Water - probably needed for the liquid with which the meat ingredients are poured.

In general, the composition of the canned food Four-Legged Gourmet “Meat Line” is quite good, it more than corresponds to the premium class.

Pates

Let’s get acquainted with the composition of the “Pate” line using the example of the “beef for kittens” option:

Screenshot of the composition listed on the official website of the food.

The basis of pates is meat and meat by-products, in this case it is beef (30%), meat by-products (which ones are not specified) and chicken. All of them serve as sources of protein and other nutrients.

Rice cereal (3%) is a source of carbohydrates. Blood plasma is a source of protein and also serves as a stabilizer and emulsifier of fats. Gelling agent - needed to create jelly. Fiber (it is not specified which one) is needed for normal digestion.

Sunflower oil and fish oil are sources of fats and fatty acids. Yeast is a source of B-group vitamins. Taurine is an essential amino acid for cats.

Souffle

Let’s take a look at the composition of the “Soufflé” line using the example of the “veal and rabbit for kittens” option:

Screenshot of the composition listed on the official website of the food.

In these canned foods, the first place is no longer meat, but chicken by-products. It is not specified which by-products and what percentage, but if it is the heart, liver, then very good, because they are rich in protein, vitamins and minerals. Next comes veal and rabbit, but again it is not clear what lies behind these names (meat or some kind of offal).

Blood plasma is a source of protein and also serves as a stabilizer and emulsifier of fats. Animal protein is a source of protein, but it is not clear from what products it is obtained. Gelling agent - needed to create jelly.

Amino acids (taurine and glycine) are needed by the cat’s body and play an important role in many biological processes. Natural caramel dye - gives canned food a certain color.

In general, the “Souffle” line has the most questionable composition in terms of quality. However, it can still be classified as premium.

Advantages and disadvantages

The advantages of canned food Four-Legged Gourmet include:

• the basis of the composition is meat and meat by-products;
• good content of vitamins and minerals for canned food;
• wide range, including 4 lines and many feed options;
• They are quite common and can be purchased at many pet stores.

The disadvantages of this food can be considered:

• Not all lines are equally good, some are excellent, others are a little worse.

Ruler

The manufacturer's choice is quite extensive. The buyer is offered food for puppies and dogs in the form of canned food, noodles and instant porridge, and dry food. The most common are canned foods, so we will indicate here what they are:

• With chicken and rabbit for feeding puppies.
• Children are also offered to try canned beef and chicken.
• You can pamper your little ones with a jar of food with chicken and giblets.
• Adult dogs will appreciate horse meat food.
• For them, a product is produced that contains rabbit.
• If your dog is too picky about food, you can offer him a jar of lamb food.
• The most inexpensive would be chicken food.
• Beef is a must-have product for a dog's diet.
• And finally, turkey, already known to the reader, is one of the most popular ingredients in Gourmet dog food.

Assortment and features of feed

The entire range of the Gourmet brand consists only of wet food for cats:

• pates with different flavors;
• pates with liquid filling;
• fillet pieces in sauce;
• pieces of meat in pate;
• bits in jelly;
• “soups” - pieces of meat or seafood in liquid jelly (special series).

The manufacturer manages to achieve a wide range of products due to different tastes. Moreover, the recipe developers claim that this is the merit not of artificial flavors (unlike most other inexpensive foods), but of natural ones, because the types of meat and offal are indicated in the composition. Of course, it all depends on the “type” of wet food. For example, meatballs and pieces of fillet in sauce are essentially the same thing, the difference is in the name and wording of the recipe.

I had to buy gourmet food from different brands. Almost all of them had the same appearance - pieces of “something” in a translucent jelly. There is also a “Gourmet” of the same type, but the last time our cat tasted a pate with a liquid filling. Indeed, not every brand has this form of canned food. True, the pictures on the plate and on the packaging are radically different.

Reality doesn't always live up to expectations

Lines and composition of Gourmet food

They offer several lines of wet food:

• Perle;
• Mon Petit;
• Gold;
• Gold Terrine;
• Gold Delicate bits;
• Gold Delicate filling;
• Gold Double pleasure;
• A la carte.

The lines differ from each other in the shape of the dish, composition, and even packaging. In addition to these regular offers, special series are sometimes released. Perhaps this is due to the fact that the manufacturing company needs to study the demand (for example, canned shrimp “Gifts of the Ocean” are very loved by cat breeders, but are unprofitable). The main difference in the composition of canned food is the type of meat, but otherwise the same ingredients are used:

• meat and processed meat products (up to 4%) - lamb, beef, rabbit, liver, as well as poultry (up to 4%) - chicken, turkey, chicken, duck;
• vegetable protein extract;
• fish and fish products - salmon, tuna;
• vegetables: carrots, spinach, green beans up to 5%, tomatoes up to 7% (from dry tomatoes), eggplant, zucchini;
• yeast and bakery products (including pasta), cereals, sugars;
• preservatives and dyes;
• minerals mg/kg: iron - 9, iodine - 0.2, copper - 0.8, manganese - 1.8, zinc - 15;
• vitamins IU/kg: vitamin A - 800, vitamin D3 -120, vitamin E -18.

Photo gallery: some types of Gourmet food

Cans for Gourmet cans are made of tin, so such food lasts longer than spiders

Pauchi does not last long, but customers like it more than canned food in jars

Pouches for “Gourmet” have an inner foil layer (this allows you to increase the shelf life)

“Tender filling” is a pate with a jelly-like filling inside

“Tender bits” are pieces of the usual wet food with meat fibers in jelly

Regardless of the series chosen, the developers promise that the following ratio will be observed in the food:

• protein - 79%;
• fat - 14%;
• raw ash - 2.5%;
• fiber - 0.5%.

Carbohydrates are not listed at all in Gourmet, although plant ingredients are still contained. However, the main emphasis is on meat and offal.

Comparison table: types of Gourmet food

The table does not include special editions as they are not currently on sale. But these products may reappear. One of the most striking special offers is food with seafood (shrimp, tuna, flounder, etc.).

Unfortunately, Purina does not produce dry or medicated foods. There are also no offers for treats, but the owners of furry dogs consider the canned food itself a treat, because cats eat them with pleasure. Some include such food in the diet of a pet that eats dry food or natural food, for example, once a day. And there are also owners who give such treats to older kittens (for example, 7–8 months).

Wet food can be selected according to the physiological characteristics of the animal. For example, fillet in jelly is suitable for cats that are prone to obesity. The jelly contains little fat, and if the recommendations of the manufacturer and veterinarians are followed, the cat will not gain weight. Using the same principle, you can choose food for a cat that has recently had an illness or surgery. But for very active cats, on the contrary, “thicker” food is suitable, for example, pate.

Differences between Gourmet and other Purina brands

The limited form of the food is what sets Gourmet apart from other Purina foods. The fact is that wet food consists of almost 80% water, and this is an important nutritional element on which the cat’s health depends. Water affects metabolism, the functioning of the excretory system, etc. In addition, wet food is easier to digest and does not cause problems with the gastrointestinal tract. True, this requires regular consumption of this type of food.

Moisture is the main difference and advantage of Gourmet wet food

Positive reviews

By tradition, we start with positive reviews of the “Four-Legged Gourmet” dog food. Here's what owners whose pets eat it say:

• The appearance is pleasing. The pieces of meat are cut coarsely, but neatly, you can see them under the layer of jelly.
• As soon as you open the jar, a hungry person begins to drool, this food smells so delicious.
• The dog eats it with great pleasure.
• The owners note the high-quality composition; many people like it.
• The price category, according to most, is quite worthy for super-premium food.

Reviews of food Four-Legged Gourmand

Sasha from St. Petersburg writes a review about the Four-Legged Gourmet food for cats. I feed my cat dry food, but for a change I decided to try some canned food. I was guided in my choice by price, quality and reviews on forums - I settled on the Four-Legged Gourmet brand. The local pet store only had canned kitten food (with turkey), but my cat had just turned one, so I took it to try. It looks and smells very similar to regular pate.

The daily norm is 20-30 grams (indicated on the package), I poured it into a bowl with a spoon, called the kitty, and waited. Come, sniff, and let's eat! I also ate a portion and licked the bowl) The jar is enough for three times, the cat is happy, but without fanaticism - “there is canned food - good, no - oh well, I’ll dry it”