Cat food rating 2020: how to choose the best

What to look for when choosing and comparing

Cat food analysis takes into account several characteristics. These include:

• country of production (here the leaders are Canada, the USA, Germany, the UK and Denmark);
• consistency of food (dry or wet);
• composition of ingredients (one of the most important factors when choosing and comparing);
• class (economy, premium, super premium, elite).

Among the variety of goods on the shelves of modern stores, it is easy for an ordinary person to get lost. Someone pays attention to the packaging, which is stupid to say the least. Others consider the brand to be popular or not. However, it is easy to make a mistake here too.

The famous name of the manufacturer does not guarantee that the food will be good. Some brands are simply widely advertised, but their quality leaves much to be desired. Other manufacturers are unfairly on the outskirts, but at the same time produce an excellent product.

It is difficult for the average resident to navigate today's variety of products on the shelves of stores and veterinary pharmacies. He simply does not have the knowledge to objectively compare feed composition and other characteristics. The following information, based on expert data, will help solve this problem.

Composition is the main factor in comparison

The composition of the feed is the first thing you should pay attention to when choosing food. cat food research and . A quality product must contain meat , because small predators really need it.

A good meal consists of 35-50% meat. If a product is stated to contain 100% meat (i.e. all), then you should not buy it immediately. Most likely, this is food from an unscrupulous manufacturer who is deceiving the buyer.

The food manufacturer may not be lying in this way, but he is not telling the truth. After all, under the word “meat” there can be something else - cartilage, bone meal, hooves, etc.

There are many such "good" ingredients in cheap food products, and the cat owner thinks that he is buying a real meat product for his pet. That's why you need to look for the decoding (chicken, beef, rabbit) and, if available, take it.

When comparing the composition of cat food, you need to consider how many other ingredients they contain. Ideally, food should contain about 20% protein. Plant fiber (fiber), the product of which consists of a quarter, is good.

Many people are discouraged by the word “offal” on the label. However, it's not bad. Liver, heart, kidneys are very useful for cats and people. It’s good if their composition is about 10%.

When comparing cat food shown on a store shelf, you should pay attention to minerals and vitamins. Their presence is a big plus. In particular, we are talking about B vitamins, as well as C, E, I15, H, K. Of the minerals a cat needs:

• calcium;
• chlorine;
• iron oxide;
• cobalt

. If they are, product comparison wins. Note the owner's favorite sign on the “meat flavored” label. This means that instead of real meat, the food contains only the taste that is provided by harmful additives. The kitten will happily swallow such a dish, attracted by the aroma, but this can negatively affect its health. Such substances have a harmful effect on the furry body:

• cellulose;
• sugar;
• preservatives;
• antioxidants E320, 321, 324;
• icon H127 (causes cancer).

If you see these ingredients in the food, it's best to put the can back on the counter. Compared to the others, she clearly loses. No caring owner would poison their animal. Moreover, today there are many options and there are many alternatives.

When trying to decide on a purchase and compare multiple emissions, you should pay attention to how much of the product the manufacturer recommends giving your cat per day. The lower this percentage, the better the product.

Comparison of feed by class

As noted above, there are budget, medium (premium), high (super premium) and elite human (holistic) cat foods. Buying cat food in an online store is more profitable than in a market or a regular store, since you will have more choice and the opportunity to read reviews and descriptions of the food.

How is chemical analysis of feed carried out?

The quality of feed can be assessed after determining its chemical composition, which depends on many conditions. Thus, the chemical composition of plant feed is influenced by such factors as the type of plant, soil composition, type and amount of fertilizer applied, weather conditions, harvesting methods, and storage conditions. The chemical composition of animal feed depends on the raw materials, methods of its preparation and storage conditions.

In practice, reference materials on the chemical composition and nutritional value of feed can be used, but these indicators are mostly approximate. Therefore, when preparing an animal diet, it is imperative to do a zootechnical analysis of the feed in order to know the real amount of nutrients contained in it.

The chemical composition of feed is usually determined according to a standard scheme for conducting biochemical and zootechnical analyses.

Scheme of zootechnical analysis of feed:

This scheme has been used for more than 50 years.

After detailed feeding standards for various species and age-sex groups of animals were introduced, the number of tested indicators increased from 6 (in 1985) to 40. Now, along with the crude protein content, indicators of protein, some amino acids, nitrites, and nitrates are also determined; the amount of certain fatty acids in crude fat is determined; in nitrogen-free extractives - sugar and starch; in raw ash - macroelements (calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, sulfur, potassium) and microelements (copper, iron, cobalt, zinc, iodine, selenium, manganese). During microbiological analysis of the vitamin composition of the feed, simultaneously with the determination of their quantity, the presence of individual isomers is determined.

The energy value of feed in metabolizable energy is determined separately for each animal species. It is usually equal to the difference between the gross energy of the diet and the energy released in urine, feces, and for ruminants, in intestinal gases.

Metabolizable energy is calculated using indicators obtained experimentally when studying the digestibility of feed nutrients using the formulas below:

For cattle: OE = 17.46 pP + 31.23 pJ + 13.65 pC + 14.78 pBEV. For sheep: OE = 17.71 pP + 37.89 pJ + 13.44 pC + 14.78 pBEV. For horses: OE = 19.46 pP + 35.43 pJ + 15.95 pC + 15.95 pBEV. For pigs: OE = 20.85 pP + 36.63 pJ + 14.27 pC + 16.95 pBEV. For poultry: OE = 17.84 pP + 39.78 pJ + 17.71 pK + 17.71 pBEV, where: OE – metabolic energy (in MJ); pP – digestible protein (kg); PG – digestible fat (kg); pK – digestible fiber (kg); pBEV – digestible nitrogen-free extractive substances (kg).

In order to satiate the ruminant, it is necessary not only to monitor the total amount of crude protein intake, but to create a balance in the rumen between its non-digestible and digestible components. On average it should be like this: 60–70:30–40. To determine protein parts, the methods of VIZH, VNIIFBiP of farm animals and the All-Russian Research Institute of Feed are used.

Comparison of cat food and composition

Many owners choose ready-made food for their pets as a complete diet. It is a source of protein and all the essential nutrients that a cat needs. But it is possible to replace natural food without harming the health of the food only if it is chosen correctly. To do this, you need to know what it should contain, what components are useful, and also conduct a comparative analysis of different brands.

When studying the composition of the feed in detail, it should be taken into account that it may contain harmful substances. Therefore, it is important to ensure that the packaging does not contain ingredients that are harmful to your cat's health. These include:

• Sugar, caramel, glycol, cellulose.
• Artificial paint E127 (contributes to the development of cancer).
• A large number of by-products. In cheap products, this term refers to waste that is not consumed by humans (beak, skin, feathers).
• The word "meat", without further explanation. The packaging should indicate what kind of meat is used and to what extent.
• Antioxidants E324, E320, E321, which ultimately affect the liver.
• Preservatives and flavorings.

Proper nutrition (dry or wet) contains:

• Meat (chicken, beef, turkey, rabbit, fish) should be included first. Mass fraction in the total volume – not less than 35%.
• Protein (egg or milk) – 20%.
• High-quality by-products – 10%.
• Plant components (potatoes, rice, wheat, oats, peas) – no more than 25%.
• Minerals and vitamins (ascorbic acid, calcium, cobalt, iron sulfide, iron oxide, copper, zinc, vitamins E, C, B5, H, K, B3, B6, B2, B1).

When choosing food for your pet, you should pay attention to the daily feeding dose. You should choose the one you should give the least.

Pet stores now have a huge amount of dry and wet pet food. But not all of them are useful. Therefore, when choosing a product, you need to study what is written on the packaging, namely, pay attention to:

• country of origin (it is preferable to take food produced in Canada, Great Britain, Denmark, Germany and the USA);
• company (many brands have a large number of positive reviews);
• according to the composition of the feed.

It is important to study the classification of feed according to a particular class and conduct a comparative analysis.

Scientists have proven that there is no harm from constantly eating good dry or wet food. Their composition is almost identical, only the proportions of the ingredients differ.

First you need to understand how dry food is produced. First, specialists prepare the recipe. Then it is made by a special machine, baked and given the required shape. The fat is then applied to the pieces, making the product appetizing.

According to the law, the manufacturer must indicate on the packaging the share of the final product, and meat that has been processed must not have a share of more than 50%. The ideal ratio of meat to total volume is 35%. Therefore, dry food packaging may list meat far from the first line of the ingredient list.

The difference between dry and canned foods is moisture. If you know the moisture percentage, then you can calculate the exact percentage of protein and carbohydrates. For example, you need to calculate the percentage of fiber. To do this, you need to study the composition indicated on the packaging: humidity - 80%, dry matter - 20%, fiber - 5%. To correctly calculate the fiber ratio, you need to divide it by the dry residue fraction, i.e. 5% is divided by 20%. The result is 0.25 or 25%. In the same way, you can calculate the percentage of proteins and carbohydrates.

It is worth paying attention to vegetable and animal fats. Even if meat comes first in the composition, this does not mean that it contains the highest amount in wet food. It may be like this: flour, bran, corn are represented by small fractions, but if you combine them, it turns out that their total share significantly exceeds the percentage of meat.

Another important detail: if the packaging says “vkus” (meaning “with taste”), then instead of real meat, the food contains various additives that imitate the taste. They are aimed at attracting the pet’s attention, but have a very negative impact on health.

If the food says "100% meat" then you should avoid purchasing that product as the product cannot be made entirely of one food item. The bottom line is that the seller is providing incorrect information, which means you should not trust such a manufacturer.

Choosing food for your four-legged pet is not easy. And before you stop choosing this or that product, you should carefully study the information on the packaging. After all, cat food is very important, and the pet’s health directly depends on it.

Premium food is the minimum required

We continue the comparison of cat food. Premium food costs a little more than economy food, but its composition looks more edible. The food also includes cereals, flour and animal fat, but it also contains chicken by-products and meat. This composition cannot be called ideal, but it no longer harms the health of the animal.

The daily intake of good premium food is much smaller in volume, which means it does not put such a catastrophic load on the kidneys. Many cat owners choose the premium class, since it is inexpensive and does not threaten the health of the pet. This food can be safely given to your cat for the rest of its life.

Premium foods include Royal Canin, Hills, PurinaProPlan, Eukanuba. Moreover, the products of the first two brands are of such high quality that some experts classify them as super-premium. At the same time, there are also unscrupulous manufacturers. For example, the economy-class food Purina Cat Chow has a similar name to the premium and super-premium products Purina ProPlan.

Composition of cat food

What to look for in dry or wet cat food. How to choose quality food.

Now let's talk about how not to get confused in front of the cat food shelf and choose not only the tastiest, but also the healthiest for your pet, by looking at the composition of the cat food!

What to look for when choosing cat food

When you first go to a pet store, it is not surprising that you are overwhelmed by the huge variety of cat food on offer. But to make the right choice, you still need to have a cool head on your shoulders, and when choosing a pet food, you should not only focus on the beautiful packaging and reasonable price, but also the cat food analysis in the following points!

If you're still confused about food brands, look at the country of origin. Of course, the best foods are made in Denmark, Germany, Canada, the USA and the UK. Experienced cat owners should pay attention to the brand of food. The reputation of some products is very tarnished, while others, on the contrary, are undeservedly deprived of the attention of buyers. You can find out more about this in the rating of dry cat food. But the most important thing in any food is its composition. We will teach you to read, analyze and compare cat food and immediately assess its real benefits or harm.

Cat food composition analysis

In what cases is it better to put a jar of food on a store shelf?

• If you read that cat food contains fiber, sugar, caramel and attention, propylene glycol. The latter is considered a sweetener, but in fact it is an icing agent, which is very harmful to the health of the animal.
• If the food contains E127 (an artificial coloring), which often causes cancer.
• If the composition does not hide a large percentage of by-products. Good by-products are good for the cat, but often manufacturers use this name to disguise unattractive things like, say, cow hide or just plain slaughterhouse waste.
• The word "meat" does not mean that meat is part of the food, but the manufacturer is trying to hide the true nature of this component. Only if there is a transcript, i.e. a detailed list of types of meat, can we expect your cat to eat a clean product.
• Do not buy food if you have seen ethoxyquin, BHA (E320) and BHT (E321) in it. These are artificial antioxidants that can affect the liver, causing depression, seizures and skin neuroses.
• Chemical preservatives are also not the best food for your cat.

What makes a good cat food?

• ascorbic acid;
• vitamins H, K, B3, I15, B5, B6, B2, B1;
• Calcium oxide, calcium phosphate, calcium carbonate (calcium);
• Calcium pantothenate (vitamin B5);
• chloride, choline chloride;
• cobalt, copper, copper carbonate, copper sulfite, iron sulfite, iron oxide, manganese, zinc;
• the presence of an amino acid such as taurine in the composition is also a good indicator and incentive to purchase food;
• natural antioxidants (vitamins E and C) will not harm your pet.

Comparison of types of cat food

Keep in mind that the price depends on the quality of the issue!

Budget food of economy class. You will immediately recognize them on the shelf because these foods are actively advertised, are the most widely available on the market and can be purchased in almost any supermarket. Economy class ratings include Whiskas, Kaytekat, Darling, Friskies, Oscar, Four Paws and others.

Economy class food contains many artificial additives (flavor enhancers, dyes and preservatives), but not much meat. It is intended to replace low-quality by-products and plant proteins. Such food will never be properly balanced, and the differences in the line are only in taste, but not in content. The nutritional capacity of economy class feed is 60-65%.

A higher level is premium class. They are also cheap and don't contain much meat. Of those presented in our stores , Royal Canin (Russia), Pro Nature, Nutra, Happy Cat , etc. belong to premium food.

They are supposed to have a little more meat than the previous class of products, and the by-products are better. In first class food products there is already a division according to purpose (cats are adult cats, and normal food has been found for wool production). Nutritional capacity – 70-75%.

The price of super-premium for cats is already significant for the family budget. These foods are practically not advertised, since it is believed that the reputation of Hills, Royal Canin (France), ProPlan, Nutra Nuggets, Orijen, Acana and other brands speaks for itself. Super premium food can be purchased exclusively in pet stores and veterinary stores.

They contain a lot of meat, little vegetable protein, and no artificial additives at all. It is absorbed by 85-95% and already takes into account the breeds of cats and cats.

And finally, the food is holistic, elite class (human), which can only be purchased upon prior request. Eagle Pack Holistic, Evo, Orijen, Felidae - all these are Michelin stars in your pet's bowl.

Elite food contains plant components expressed without treatment with harmful substances (n/a pesticides). Animal sources are raised without the use of hormones or antibiotics. By the way, if you want, you can also try this food together with your pet without injury.

Characteristics of the composition of dry cat food

Leave the myths about the uselessness of dry food in the past, because, in fact, the composition of wet, semi-wet and dry food is the same. The only difference is in proportions.

To understand this, let's imagine how the dry food production process works.

First, nutritionists develop a recipe. Its components are mixed using automatic machines, and this raw material is baked and pressed through sieves, determining the future shape of the dry food. Next comes the decorating process. This means that dry food pieces are “pollinated” with fats and digestive products that make the dry food more palatable. These are the main processes for producing dry food.

Therefore, with a good dry food it will not be stated that the percentage of meat is too high. By law, the manufacturer indicates the proportion of the final product, and dried meat cannot account for more than 50%. Usually it is 35%.

If you do not find dry meat in the composition first of all, do not worry, its weight after drying determines the 4th, 5th and even 10th place in the composition.

The absence of dyes and flavors means that the food is not harmful to the cat.

In addition to the composition of cat food, it is worth looking at the daily feeding course. This food is more nutritious for the animal, the manufacturers of which have stated a low daily dose.

Characteristics of wet cat food

As we said before, the ingredients in dry and wet cat food are almost always the same, but what separates wet from dry cat food is the moisture! Canned food sometimes has a moisture content of up to 80% (dry food is 6%). This indicator is important for those who want to know exactly how much and what their cat will eat. To do this, knowing the percentage of moisture (you need to look at the label), you need to calculate the correct percentage of protein and fat. There, on the label, you can read part of the dry residue.

Holistic class - the best professional food

The holistic category includes the highest quality food in the highest price category. This is the food that the pets of famous nurseries eat. If we continue to compare dry cat food by composition, then the first places on the holistic label will be chicken or salmon, chicken (salmon) flour, starch or potatoes, peas, chicken (salmon) fat.

At the same time, both an advantage and a disadvantage is the absence of chemical flavors and flavoring additives. Therefore, if the animal previously ate food with an abundance of chemical additives, then at first it is not attracted to the new product. Even if a cat initially refuses high-quality food, you should not immediately give it flavored food. You wouldn't feed your child chips just because he likes the taste, would you? Wait a little, and the tailed fussy eater will try new food. Holistic brands include: Innova, Golden Eagle Holistic, GO and NOW Natural holistic, GRANDORF Natural & Healthy.

Comparison of dry food for dogs and cats

Economy dog ​​food

The cheapest ready-made dry food is economy class food. It does not bring much benefit to the animal; on the contrary, constant long-term feeding in most cases leads to problems with the pet’s health. All this is due to the poor composition: there is no real meat in the food, there are only animal by-products of dubious quality; Also, first of all, the composition always includes cheap food additives such as corn, wheat, soy. But dogs are naturally carnivorous; they need meat, not grain.

In addition, such foods have artificial flavors and taste enhancers (the pet must have waste). The latter are dependent, so the dog refuses to eat high-quality food, and owners often mistakenly believe that this is due to its poor quality. But the reason is completely different. In general, we strongly recommend against feeding your pets economy food except in emergency situations.

Economy class dog food list

In fact, the list of economy foods is known to everyone because these brands are the most advertised on television. But no matter how attractive the advertisement, they can't offer anything other than beautiful packaging.

Economy class food is a collection of by-products (waste).

Premium dog food

The most popular products in Russia are premium products. While they still have by-products, they are higher quality and have real meat (depending on the brand). True, the amount of meat ingredients is small - about 25-30%, and the main component is usually rice. These foods can be fed to adult dogs, but they are still far from ideal. For puppies, it is better to buy super premium food, they already contain all the necessary components in the right quantities.

It is worth noting that premium products produced in the EU or the USA are of better quality than in Russia. For example, if there is a choice between locally produced Royal Canin and French, then it is better to take it. On other issues, if you have the opportunity to buy better food, then you should not even look at the list of premium brands.

List of premium dog foods

Many sites write that Hills, Proplan and Royal Canin are super premium. In fact, this is not the case, and it is certainly enough to see their composition. Overall, with less than 25% natural meat (that is, meat, not by-products), it is not super premium.

Premium food is better, but still not good enough.

Premium dog food

All foods of the same class do not differ significantly in quality from each other, so this rating is based on the popularity of brands among dog owners. So, the three most popular food awards in Russia:

• Royal Canin dry food;
• Hills dry food;
• Dry food ProBalans.

Super premium dog food

A really well balanced composition with its own super premium dog food. They already have real meat and at least a quarter of it, and if there is offal, it is high quality and clearly labeled. For example, “poultry by-products (liver, heart)”, that is, they are useful components, and not feathers or just ground bones. Also, the super premium food contains no artificial flavors or taste enhancers.

In principle, you can now safely feed a puppy or an adult dog with products of this class without fear for his health. Of course, the price of super-premium is much higher than that of economy and much higher, but you have to pay for quality. Meat in the store also costs more than the cheapest sausages (often made from offal) and even more expensive than cereals. Simply put, the price is higher due to quality ingredients that cost more than waste.

Super premium list

• 1st Chois (Fest Choice);
• Eukanuba;
• Tregnor;
• Schesir;
• Josera (Yozer);
• Arden Grange;
• Monge;
• Farm at Dukes;
• Brit Care;
• Pronature Original;
• Gina (Gina Elit);
• Nutram;
• Bosch;
• Optima Nova;
• DailyDog;
• Genesis Pure Canada.

Super premium class - at least 25% meat and high quality of other ingredients.

Premium rating

The quality of super premium products from different brands does not differ much; as a rule, the percentage of meat is almost the same, and the difference lies in the presence of certain ingredients (each manufacturer has its own formula). The top 3 ranking is based on the popularity of super premiums in Russia:

• Eukanuba dry food;
• 1st Choose dry food;
• Brit Care dry food.

Holistic dog food (holistic)

The best prepared food you can buy at a pet store is a holistic dog food. They contain a lot of meat, do not contain by-products, and the source of vitamins are vegetables, fruits and berries. These products are truly complete and provide the dog with all the substances necessary for his body. But, as always, you have to pay for quality, the most expensive ones are complete, and not everyone can afford it.

• Acana (Akana);
• SAVARRA;
• Orijen;
• Canidae (Kanide);
• Grandorf (Grandorf);
• Applaws;
• Go Natural holistic;
• Farmina ND;
• Pronature holistic;
• Wolfsblut.

Holistic dog food is the best of all ready-made foods.

Cheap food is the enemy of cat health

Let's start comparing cat food with popular inexpensive foods. No owner who loves his pet should give his cat economy-class food! These brands are well advertised and are available in abundance on the shelves of supermarkets and pet stores. They are often sold by weight.

Read the composition of such food. In the first place there will be ingredients such as corn meal, grits, corn gluten, rice, bone meal, animal fat, soybean meal. And only in last place will you see chicken by-products (some feeds don’t even contain them!). And under the name chicken meal, meat and bone meal or meat products, processed feathers, beaks, hooves, and bones can be hidden. It is clear that there is absolutely nothing edible for a cat in such a product, not to mention any usefulness!

What makes mustachioed predators eat something like this? Aggressive chemical flavorings and flavoring additives! They cause addiction in the animal, clog the taste buds and other, higher quality food seems fresh and tasteless to the cat. Since cheap food contains few nutrients, you need to eat more to fill it. Cats have to eat 2-3 times more cheap food, eat often and in large quantities, but in nature they do not fill their bellies all day long.

For normal digestion, a cat should drink 2-3 times more water than it ate dry food. This does not happen when feeding with economy class food, since its volume is too large. Gradually, such improper feeding leads to diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. A common diagnosis found in cats eating cheap food is urolithiasis. Examples of economy class food are: Kitekat, Whiskas, Friskies, Cat and Food, Purina, Oscar.