The shelves of supermarkets, pet stores and specialized stores for animals are bursting with a variety of canned food and dry food. Loving owners who decide to feed their cat store-bought food try to choose better quality food. However, only cheap food is actively advertised, while higher quality offers remain “in the shadows”. “Milfil” is a new brand of pet food, which is still little known in Russia, but some owners have chosen this particular brand.
A few words about the manufacturer
Mealfeel is a cat food produced by the Russian company. However, the brand's production lines are located abroad. Today, this practice is quite common in the production of pet products. Firms that have the necessary equipment provide services to other brands for the production of turnkey products.
Mealfeel comes out of the assembly line in various countries. Dry cat food is produced at United Perfood, which is located in Belgium.
The line of wet food is produced on the production lines of La Normandise, which is located in France.
Both companies have been working on the development, creation and production of pet products for more than twenty years, so they have accumulated enough experience to allow themselves to take on such orders. The production lines are equipped with modern equipment. Products coming off the assembly line are of high quality, which has been repeatedly confirmed by voluntary certification.
Menu for spayed and neutered animals
The letter S is purple in color on the package of this Mealfeel food. Food for a sterilized cat, according to veterinarians, should contain a large amount of L-carnitine. The substance is necessary for enhanced fat burning and prevents the animal from gaining extra pounds. The brand line meets the specified parameter, so it does not raise any complaints among experts. The composition can contain lamb, salmon or chicken in an amount of at least 15%. Rice, corn and peas are also included.
Nutrition for mature animals
If an elderly cat lives in the house, it needs special nutrition. For this purpose, the Milfil line includes packages with the capital letter S in blue. The basis of the diet is turkey and chicken. The following are declared as additional substances:
- dried potatoes;
- rice;
- peas.
An elderly cat's body requires additional substances to maintain health. For this purpose, the following components are included in the food:
- glucosamine;
- chondroitin;
- complex of vitamins and minerals.
Veterinarians have special nutritional requirements for mature animals. The amount of fat and protein should be reduced. In the presented line, the ratio of these substances is at the level of 13 and 29%, which corresponds to the norm.
Diet for sick animals
Mealfeel is a cat food that doesn’t have many reviews, but all of them prove its quality characteristics. Among the packs on sale, you can find packaging with the capital letter D, which means Digest Sensitive.
This menu is intended for pets who have problems with the absorption of certain nutrients and digestion in general. Includes salmon and turkey. Rice and peas complete the menu. At the same time, judging by reviews from veterinarians, fat and protein levels are at the optimal level for sick animals.
Variety of assortment
Mealfeel food has accumulated quite a few reviews yet. However, it can be argued that buyers are satisfied with the variety of assortments. To date, the brand is represented by six dry items and fourteen concentrated ones. Any breeder will quickly find his way around the dry karma line. For this purpose, each package is marked with a letter of a certain color. By the shades of the capital letter you can find out the characteristics of the recipe.
Wet food diet
The Milfil brand also produces canned products for cats. Reviews from experts indicate a balanced composition and complete content of all necessary minerals and vitamins. The line is divided into wet diet in pouches and canned food in cans.
Depending on the needs of the animal, its age and other individual characteristics, it is necessary to choose the appropriate menu. The taste presented by the manufacturer in pouches is standard:
- beef;
- lamb;
- chicken with fillet pieces;
- Domestic bird;
- chicken fillet and lamb;
- turkey.
Canned food comes in the following flavors:
- white fish;
- turkey with carrots;
- Domestic bird;
- beef and liver.
Milfil food for cats
Mealfeel is a new brand of pet food. The products of this brand are manufactured by large European companies. Mealfeel dry food is produced in (Belgium), and wet food is produced in (France) and New Pet Food (Italy).
Mealfeel manufacturers are certified according to European food industry standards and provide high quality products, and these products periodically participate in international exhibitions
What class of feed does Milfil feed belong to?
Cat food is divided into economy, premium, superpremium and holistic classes. Economy is the cheapest food, in which the basis of the composition is cereals. Among the components of animal origin, budget foods may contain meat and bone meal or processed products (by-products). In addition, economy class products are characterized by a poor vitamin and mineral composition and an abundance of undesirable components: dyes, flavors, etc. This class includes foods such as Whiskas, Felix, Friskies, Gourmet, etc. Economy class wet food may cost from 10 rubles (for a pouch weighing 85 g).
Premium and super premium class feeds have a more “meaty” composition. They contain fewer questionable components and can contain up to 65% meat. Premium foods include Brit, Probalance, Hills, etc. These also include Mealfeel. The cost of dry food in this class reaches 480 rubles per 1 kg; they are advertised less often than economy class food. Super premium products include Leonardo, Summit, Blitz, etc. They are more expensive than premium products and cannot be bought in a regular store.
Holistic feeds are considered the highest quality. These include Acana, Farmina, Grandorf, etc. Humans can also eat these foods, since they can contain up to 100% meat. Holistics do not contain synthetic additives, they do not require advertising, and they can only be purchased from official representatives. Of course, the food is of the highest quality and costs accordingly (up to 1000 rubles per 400 g of dry food).
“Milfil” occupies a position on a par with “Hills”, “Proplan”, “Sheba”, etc.
Advantages and disadvantages of Milfil food
The main advantages of Mealfeel food:
- the composition contains protein of animal origin (meat component);
- the food is rich in minerals and vitamins;
- manufacturers use only natural preservatives;
- assortment (several types of food in various packaging options, several flavors);
- There is food for cats of different ages and a veterinary line.
Disadvantages of the product:
- Milfil food is not sold in every pet store;
- insufficiently clear formulation of the composition (for example, “plant components” can be cereals, herbs, soy, etc.);
- overpriced (pouch can cost up to 60 rubles).
Despite belonging to the premium class, Milfil food can only be purchased in a specialized store, from veterinarians or on online sites
Mealfeel cat food: composition
According to the manufacturer, at least 40% of the total composition is meat products. Also, for the prevention of urolithiasis, the menu includes special additives. The composition of Mealfeel cat food (reviews from veterinarians confirm the information) is quite balanced and suitable for feeding animals with special health conditions.
To analyze the nutritional ingredients included in the menu, you can take the Digest Sensitive universal food as a sample. It is intended for pets over one year old with digestive problems:
- proteins - 32%;
- carbohydrates - 28%;
- fats - 23%;
- fiber is present in the amount of 3.5%;
- as well as moisture in the amount of 6%.
Analyzing the results, we can conclude that the animal receives a large amount of complex carbohydrates along with this diet. But the percentage of fat here is reduced, so the diet does not contribute to weight gain. The animal receives its main calories from lipids, which is important for the normal well-being of cats.
Which food to choose?
When choosing food, a special place is occupied by the age and individual health characteristics of the cat. The Milfil line offers food for cats living indoors, for spayed or neutered animals, for cats over 7 years old and for small kittens. A special place in the product line is occupied by food for cats prone to food allergies, as well as food to prevent urolithiasis and normalize weight.
By choosing any of the offered Milfil brand food, the cat owner can be calm about the health and proper development of his pet, since the product fully complies with the standards of super premium food and can only positively affect the health of the pet.
For kittens
Milfil produces a fairly large range of products for kittens, the formula of which was specially developed taking into account the characteristics of the delicate and growing organism of small pets. These foods are intended for feeding kittens from 1 month to 1 year. The composition of such feeds is rich in vitamins and useful components. It is possible to feed your furry baby both dry and wet food (pates, sauces, meat mousses, with the addition of vegetables).
For adult cats and kittens
The company also cares about the health of adult cats, sterilized animals and elderly pets. The line includes mousses, pates from poultry, lamb and veal, and canned food in lamisters. The composition of food for adult cats is balanced, supporting normal digestion, metabolism and intestinal microflora of animals.
Key feed ingredients
The Mealfeel diet is nutritious, balanced and healthy for your pet. Dry cat food has not accumulated many reviews from breeders and veterinarians, but all of them indicate a high-quality formulation. The basis of any brand nutrition is:
- dehydrated turkey;
- fresh salmon;
- chicken fat;
- split peas;
- pea protein;
- rice;
- dehydrated salmon.
The following are declared as additional ingredients that do not have a significant effect on the main formula:
- dried egg products;
- cranberry;
- flax-seed;
- Brewer's yeast;
- plant extracts and cellulose.
Experts' opinions
Mealfeel cat food does not have as many reviews from veterinarians as we would like. However, experts still assessed the composition and drew their conclusions.
They noticed salmon was on the ingredient list. This means that whole parts of the fish were used to produce food. Seafood is recognized by experts as a source of protein and is also a supplier of essential fatty acids.
However, veterinarians have noticed that fish always contains a large amount of water. But after heat treatment it is lost and in dry food it makes up only 9%. Therefore, it is so important to provide the animal with access to clean water and not limit its consumption.
Veterinarians also believe that the turkey included in the food is most likely high quality, because the ingredient is listed in second place. This means that fresh meat is used, but possibly with bones, skin and sinew. Turkey is a complete source of protein. At the same time, beneficial properties are not lost even during heat treatment.
The presence of chicken fat adds linoleic acid to the menu. The substance is essential for maintaining the health of your pet.
Peas are in fourth place. A similar component is increasingly found in menus for cats. This component does not provoke allergic reactions, unlike common wheat or corn. Veterinarians consider the inclusion of peas in the diet to be a plus. However, you need to consider that it adds nutritional value.
Contains Mealfeel rice. Cat food has mixed reviews from experts. Cereals are classified as complex carbohydrates. It is easily digestible, so it does not require much energy to digest it. However, it has virtually no nutritional value.
Finally, it is worth noting the presence of dehydrated salmon in the feed. Veterinarians believe that these are dried and powdered parts of fish. The components are a high-quality component of any cat’s diet. The ingredient contains a large amount of protein, which is important for the complete saturation of the animal.
Detailed characteristics of Mealfeel feed
Mealfeel’s range of food can hardly be called modest: there are canned foods, spiders, and pelleted diets. Special recipes have been developed for kittens and older cats, as well as for sterilized and neutered pets. The company also produces a line of food for animals with sensitive digestion, but there are no full-fledged preventive and veterinary series.
Packages with pate are very convenient: you just need to pull the edge of the foil film to gain access to the contents
Among the general advantages, the manufacturer highlights the use of only high-quality ingredients and hypoallergenic diets due to a reduced proportion of grains, but this information does not correspond to reality. In the case of wet foods, there are anonymous ingredients present, and some kibble contain corn gluten, which poses the same danger as whole corn. This is unacceptable for products that are positioned as elite, but it cannot be denied that they contain a lot of animal protein.
Table: Mealfeel food range
| Name of food or series of food | Type | Peculiarities |
| Mealfeel Functional Nutriton Sterilized | Dry and wet (pauchi) | The line consists of 4 foods: 2 dry (with lamb and salmon) and 2 wet (with chicken and beef). In fact, the declared meat varieties are present only in the form of additives. Chicken remains the main source of protein. The proportion of additional ingredients is so small that it can be ignored. In the case of dry food, this is 15%, but given that the lamb and salmon are presented fresh, at best, 5% remains after the water has evaporated. Foods for sterilized cats should contain fewer calories, fats and minerals. This is necessary for the prevention of ICD and the prevention of obesity. In general, the manufacturer copes with these tasks, but there are some minor comments. In dry food, the proportions of calcium and phosphorus are 1:1, with an ideal ratio of 1.2:1. This makes it difficult to absorb minerals, which can lead to deficiency and deterioration of the musculoskeletal system while receiving enough substances. Unabsorbed excess will be deposited in tissues and enter the urine, causing its oversaturation. In some cases, in the presence of underlying metabolic disorders, this can trigger the occurrence of urolithiasis. The manufacturer does not indicate calorie content, but there is relatively little fat in the feed, only 12%. The composition contains L-carnitine, which regulates appetite and promotes the breakdown of fatty tissue. Cranberry normalizes the acidity of urine. Ideally, Mealfeel dry food should be combined with wet food to avoid problems associated with a poor calcium-to-phosphorus ratio, but the weak composition of spiderlings does not allow this. |
| Mealfeel Functional Nutriton Junior/Kitten | Dry and wet (pouches and canned food) | The line consists of 5 foods: 4 wet (2 varieties of spiders and canned veal or chicken) and 1 dry. You should not pay attention to taste variations, since in wet food the share of the main declared type of meat barely reaches 4% together with water, with a total content of meat and offal of 40–60%. In canned veal, judging by the composition, there is no veal itself at all, since it is not mentioned. The advantages of the line include the presence of mousse. It has a more delicate consistency, so it is better suited for small kittens up to 2 months. The presence of spiders helps to make the transition to dry food gradual and avoid the development of pathologies associated with a sudden change in diet. The granules contain egg products and dried Antarctic krill, which helps provide kittens with unsaturated fatty acids and vitamins for the harmonious development of the immune system and central nervous system. Macleya has antibacterial properties and strengthens natural defenses. Chicory helps normalize microflora. It should be borne in mind that dry food is very fatty (23%), so if you have problems with the gastrointestinal tract, it is better to choose a different brand. |
| Mealfeel Functional Nutriton Beauty | Wet (spauchi) | Spiders differ from their analogues in their higher content of fish and its derivatives (5% versus the standard 2%), as well as the presence of fish oil. The proportion of the latter is insignificant, so the preventive effect of the feed is doubtful. In any case, spiders can only be given together with dry food, and this line does not contain a granular product, so everyone determines the advisability of purchasing this diet independently. We would recommend that if there are obvious problems, contact a veterinarian, get tested and choose a vitamin and mineral complex. It will be more effective. |
| Mealfeel Functional Nutriton Digest | Dry and wet (pauchi) | The line consists of 1 wet and 1 dry food. The manufacturer states that the spiders contain clay, which helps to gently cleanse the intestines, but they do not contain such an ingredient. In addition, the usefulness of the component is questionable, since it is not edible and can increase the load on the gastrointestinal tract. Spiders have no other advantages. They contain inulin, which helps normalize microflora, but it is also present in other wet foods. The granulated product contains 2 types of meat: turkey and salmon. They are easier to digest, so they put less strain on the gastrointestinal tract. Plant extracts of turmeric, grape and rosemary act as antioxidants and prevent fermentation. Macleya strengthens local immunity. All the advantages are negated by the presence of cellulose in the composition and high fat content (23%). The latter is especially dangerous for cats with sensitive digestion, so such a decision on the part of the manufacturer looks very strange. Cellulose can cleanse the intestinal walls, but it is too coarse fiber, so there is a risk of irritation of the mucous membranes and the appearance of mucus and blood in the stool. |
| Mealfeel Adult canned food for cats | Wet (canned food, mousses and pates) | Wet food from this line contains more meat: 60% instead of 40%. They do not contain grains, but they do contain sugar. This is a questionable decision, since dextrose can cause allergic reactions. It does not have any beneficial properties, so the company could sacrifice the attractive caramel shade of the food and remove sugar from the composition. There is more of the main type of meat declared on the can in canned food: 15% instead of 4%. However, before purchasing, you should study the composition. For example, there is no turkey in the turkey mousse at all. Either this is a typo by the manufacturer or a deception of the buyer. Taking into account the cost of feed, both are unacceptable. |
| Mealfeel Functional Nutriton Senior | Dry and wet (pauchi) | Wet food is practically no different from similar ones. The granulated diet additionally contains chondroitin and glucosamine, which help prevent joint diseases. The disadvantages of dry food include the reduced meat content. If in other products it reaches almost 30%, here only 20% remains after the water has evaporated. Most of the proteins are represented by plant ingredients and anonymous dehydrogenated amino acids of animal origin. This is not very good for a food of this price. Unfortunately, the line consists of 1 wet and 1 dry diet, so if allergies occur, you will have to look for an analogue. Older animals are more difficult to transition to other products, so this is a significant disadvantage. |
| Mealfeel Functional Nutriton | Moist (pates) | Unlike other wet foods, the pates in this line actually contain only the ingredients stated on the packaging. If these are canned goods with liver and beef, then they contain only liver, beef and vitamin and mineral supplements. There are no grains in the composition. The wording “meat and meat by-products” with a clarification instead of the name of a specific variety is a little alarming. This makes it possible to introduce anonymous additives, but the likelihood of this is low: for the manufacturer this is an extra cost. The frustrating thing is that the meat content in the pate is even less than 20%. This is a very low figure. To satiate your cat, you will need more than the recommended 3-4 jars. |
| Mealfeel Functional Nutriton Adult/Indoor | Dry and wet (pauchi) | Standard recipe for adult cats. The line includes 3 wet food and 1 dry food. The first ones are standard and hardly differ from their analogues. Dry food for adult cats contains more meat than most members of the Mealfeel lines: about 35%. There are no grains or legumes, but hypoallergenic varieties are used and there is no corn gluten. I'm glad that there is fish in the composition. It improves the condition of the coat and strengthens the immune system. The composition contains standard preventative additives: chicory, brewer's yeast, yucca, etc. There is no cellulose. |
Compound
To get an unbiased opinion, we will look at several wet foods and one dry food. Let us warn you in advance that diets from different lines sometimes differ greatly in composition, so be sure to read the list of ingredients.
Mealfeel dry food for adult cats contains the following ingredients:
- fresh chicken (15%);
- dehydrated turkey (15%);
- dehydrated chicken (15%);
- peas;
- White rice;
- brown rice;
- animal fats (6%);
- flax-seed;
- dried egg products;
- Brewer's yeast;
- dried carrots;
- dried Antarctic krill;
- dried chicory (source of prebiotic and inulin);
- easily digestible pea protein;
- ammonium chloride;
- dried cranberries;
- rosemary;
- Macleaia cordate;
- Yucca Schidigera.
Unfortunately, the manufacturer does not indicate the percentage of all or at least the first 10 ingredients, so it is impossible to get a complete impression of the proportion of all animal and plant components. Most likely, the proportions are approximately 1:1 or a little less, since fresh meat still comes first. Of course, there are feeds with a more attractive ratio, but this is also a good indicator. Please note that it also contains fish and eggs. Animal proteins are digested better by cats than plant proteins, so this is a tangible advantage.
The granules have the same shape, which indicates compliance with production standards, but are too light: they do not contain as much meat as we would like
The disadvantages include the presence of chicken in the composition. Many cats are allergic to it, although in this case the situation is not so clear. I am the owner of 2 allergic cats and in defense of chicken, I can say that corn and wheat cause reactions much more often. Gluten is found in some Mealfeel foods, but not this one. One of my cats is allergic to chicken food, but selectively, depending on the brand. The veterinarian explained this to me by saying that different manufacturers use raw materials of different quality. While some people add by-products and use hormones and antibiotics when raising animals, others do not do this. As a result, the reaction has to be checked experimentally. There was no allergy to Mealfeel, but the cats ate only 1 packet, so it is possible that the irritant simply did not have time to accumulate.
Mealfeel wet food for cats over 1 year old with lamb contains the following ingredients:
- meat and meat derivatives (min. 38%, of which lamb 4%, chicken fillet 8%);
- fish and fish derivatives (1.7%);
- plant derivatives (1%);
- minerals;
- vegetable protein extract (1.1%);
- sucrose.
The composition is replete with anonymous names. The proportion of muscle tissue is so small that the indicators have to be artificially increased with the help of vegetable proteins. Most likely, the company uses production waste, otherwise it would indicate the grade and type of meat. There is pure fillet in the food, but it is only 8%. Lamb is also present, but it is only 4%, taking into account by-products and derivatives. If you add sucrose to this, you will end up with feed that is far from being of the best quality.
Mealfeel contains too much water, especially considering the already inflated price
The composition of Mealfeel Adult canned duck and rabbit includes the following components:
- meat and meat by-products (60%);
- mineral supplements;
- dextrose.
There is no duck or rabbit. This is an outright deception of the buyer. There is a lot of meat and offal, but in fact the proportion of muscle tissue is probably minimal. The manufacturer uses ingredients of questionable quality. Dextrose further reduces the overall score. Overall the food is better than Mealfeel spiders, but it is advisable to give them as a treat or avoid them altogether.
Even pates contain a lot of liquid, although it is initially contained in sufficient quantities in the mass
Cost and Availability
1 kg of dry food costs on average 750 rubles. The price of spiders (100 g) is 60 rubles, and canned food (85 g) is 50 rubles. This is a bad ratio, but if you are not worried about the financial issue, then you can find good diets among the lines. You can purchase food only in the chain of pet stores “Four Paws”.
Value of additional components
Mealfeel cat food has a balanced composition. What class of animal products always depends on its main and secondary components. In the first place, it is not by-products that are listed, but natural meat and fish. Therefore, the product is deservedly classified as premium. But it is important to study additional ingredients.
Veterinarians note the presence of flaxseed. It is a supplier of omega-3. In addition, the seeds enrich the food with fiber, which is so important for the animal’s normal digestion.
Salmon oil is a valuable source of fatty acids. Experts know that not every ingredient can boast of high bioavailability. But this particular product is distinguished by the presence of this characteristic. Therefore, it is a worthy ingredient.
Chicory root is a supplier of inulin. It is a natural prebiotic, promotes the proliferation of beneficial bacteria in the cat's intestines and improves digestion.
Cellulose is used to enrich feed with fiber. The substance is obtained by processing various vegetables. However, as reviews from veterinarians show, the source of the substance is not indicated. Therefore, this component is controversial.
According to the above, Milfil food can be considered premium. Its composition fully meets all medical requirements with some shortcomings.
Experts' conclusions
Mealfeel food receives positive reviews from veterinarians. Despite some shortcomings, it fully corresponds to the premium class category. If we consider the disadvantages, experts highlight an excessive amount of vegetable proteins, represented by legumes and rice. Such a diet does not meet the needs of a healthy animal’s body and may not be accepted by the stomach of a sick pet.
However, the menu of this brand has good quality characteristics. Here you can note:
- a large amount of animal protein;
- optimal ratio of vitamins and minerals;
- variety of assortment.
It's not just about lamb
When looking at the first five ingredients, it immediately becomes clear that the food contains several sources of animal protein and is not a monoration, as one might think from its name. Moreover, the first place in the list is occupied by 25% of dehydrated chicken, and fresh lamb meat comes second, its dosage is 15%, that is, there is clearly less of it in the Milfil food.
The manufacturer, in the explanations on the packaging, promises us “a high content of ingredients of animal origin (min. 44%),” and the food actually contains 40% of high-quality sources of animal protein, but the next three ingredients of the top five do not please us.
Place No. 3 in the composition belongs to corn gluten, a vegetable protein isolated from corn, followed by rice (place No. 4). Not only does the food contain a fairly impressive amount of vegetable protein and carbohydrates from cereals, legumes are also added to it. Peas round out the top five ingredients, closely followed by split peas.
There is very little difference between these two ingredients, so it appears that we are dealing with a split, where derivatives of the same raw material source are separated in the composition so that they occupy a smaller proportion and are further from the beginning of the ingredient list. The exact proportions of vegetable protein and carbohydrate sources in this diet are not indicated.
The selected sources of fat in the feed are high-quality salmon oil (0.5%) and chicken fat (1.4%), and flaxseed is a “supplier” of vegetable fatty acids. Also added here is 1.5% hydrolyzed animal protein - this is an ingredient that improves the palatability of the food.
General impression of the breeders
Pet breeders like that the Milfil food in question meets all European standards. The brand has repeatedly received various certificates confirming the quality of its products. The composition contains only natural ingredients. At the same time, the nutritional formula is developed taking into account the needs of both healthy pets and animals experiencing health problems.
The manufacturer does not forget about older cats or small kittens. In addition, the components included in the composition contribute to the excellent appearance of the coat and the general well-being of cats.
According to experts, the main components of the menu of this brand are only meat products, and not processed offal. The included peas successfully replace wheat, but do not contribute to allergies in cats. Judging by reviews from breeders, legumes prevent problems after castration, promote the harmonious growth of the cat and at the same time do not provoke excess weight gain.
Pros and weaknesses
Experts and cat owners note the following benefits of Milfil food:
- European quality.
- High percentage of protein feeds of animal origin.
- Natural antioxidants, preservatives, prebiotics.
- Wide selection - dry food, pates, pouches, canned food.
- Specialized food – for kittens, adults, elderly animals, etc.
- No obviously negative reviews.
Cat lovers note the following disadvantages of food:
- Unavailability. Food can only be purchased at the 4 Paws chain of stores.
- High price.
