Dry cat food - features, types and reviews

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

After the appearance of dry food, cat owners and veterinarians were divided into two opposing camps: opponents and adherents of such fragrant crunchy kibbles. Inveterate cat lovers quite often prefer dry food, being sure that such a product contains the necessary amount of trace elements and vitamins for their pet. An important role is played by the fact that ready-made granules relieve the owner of the daily need to prepare food for the animal. After all, it is much easier to just pour a little food into a bowl than to specially boil meat for a cat or butcher a fish. Today we will take a closer look at what dry cat food is, and also present a rating of such products.

Production technology. Preparation of raw materials

The first step in the manufacture of dry cat food is the selection of raw materials. This moment is very important, since it depends on which class the final product can be attributed to. Any manufacturer who is serious about his work and cares about the consumer, strictlyadheres to all requirements regarding the original products. Moreover, these are not some abstract requirements, but specific numbers that determine the amount of certain vitamins and microelements for a certain type of feed.

The final product must be balanced and be sure to pass laboratory tests. If there are certain rules, then it is impossible to break them in any case. Some manufacturers, for example, can easily replace one fish with another without taking into account the amount of protein, which is absolutely unacceptable. Of course, small deviations are possible for each parameter, but when producing high-class feed, this moment is monitored very closely.

Making the mixture

After receiving the original ingredients and checking for compliance with all parameters, the production process itself begins. It is worth noting that for each type of dry cat food, the production line is set up separately, and a certain amount of one or another component is taken. This is a responsible and rather laborious process, since a balanced diet implies a clear dosage of ingredients.

All components are ground by means of a special mill, until as a result they take on the specified dimensions. Then the particles enter the mixer, where they mix well. The ground dry mixture passes into another container, where it is moistened, and then enters the feed mixer,to completely mix. Next, the composition is heat-treated, in which harmful bacteria and microbes die, and beneficial trace elements remain intact.

Moisturizing and drying

At the next stage, the mixture is moistened with hot boiled water. The resulting porridge is fed under high pressure into a meat grinder, where the feed acquires a certain size and shape. Further, the obtained granules are dried and useful microorganisms are sprayed on them, which have a beneficial effect on the animal's digestive system. Then they add a special fat with vitamins C and E, which contribute to long-term preservation.

Finished product packaging

At the final stage, dry cat food is packaged in bags, on which the technological process and production date are affixed. Now the product is sent to retail outlets, where consumers are already waiting for it. If you follow all the rules, then the finished food can be stored in the package for up to a year or more.

Unfortunately, many manufacturers deliberately do not indicate the presence of preservatives in the composition of the product, and this affects both the quality of the feed and its shelf life.

What ingredients does dry food contain

Many experts argue that any prepared food, no matter what it is - frozen, canned or dry, cannot improve the he alth of either a person or an animal. Food should be not only fresh, but also varied. After all, it is clear that the food that was exposedrepeatedly heat-treated and stored for a long time in packaging, can not compete with natural food.

Unfortunately, many, even the best dry cat foods, do not contain the right amount of minerals, vitamins, fats, proteins and carbohydrates. However, often the composition of such products includes all kinds of inedible fillers, food and slaughterhouse waste, heavy metals, pesticides, sugar, herbicides, artificial colors, drugs, preservatives, and synthetic flavor additives.

What are the pitfalls

Unfortunately, today many producers, trying to be competitive, produce feed from the cheapest raw materials. With the help of computer analysis, they select the ingredients so that the finished composition meets at least the minimum norms of dietary standards for cats. When choosing food for our pet, we, of course, look at the packaging, namely the composition of the product, after which we make a comparison. However, not everything is so simple.

For example, some proteins may be less digestible or not digestible at all. In addition, it is impossible to compare the amount of crude protein on the label without taking into account the moisture content of the feed. This can only be done when comparing canned and dry product.

Opinion of veterinarians

Don't know which dry cat food to choose? Hear what the veterinarians have to say. Often, experts position such products as fast food for cats, considering it as unacceptable as crackers or chips. ExceptIn addition, if you constantly feed your cat exclusively dry food, he may be diagnosed with urolithiasis, which happens not so rarely. In fact, if you choose the right product, then sometimes you can give it to your pet, but at the same time, he must also receive natural food, rich in all the components necessary for the body.

Pros of dry food noted by cat owners

Here are some of them:

• Does not deteriorate for a long time, which makes it possible to buy it for the future.
• Does not require cooking.
• Dry granules clean the animal's teeth.
• Availability of the product, since you can buy it even in a regular supermarket.

Cons of dry food

The most common voices are:

• Same menu.
• Produces addiction, so many animals do not recognize any other food.
• Poor-quality product can provoke the development of diabetes and urolithiasis in an animal.
• High content of harmful chemical components.

Is dry food harmful to cats and cats? It is difficult to answer this question unambiguously. Some are in favor of such a menu for their pet, others are against it. In any case, the final choice lies with the owner of the four-legged purr. However, veterinarians advise carefully choosing a manufacturer that produces only the best dry cat food.

Classification

Dry cat food, reviews of which were discussed above, are presented in a wideassortment. It is sometimes difficult for pet owners to decide on the choice of the optimal menu for their pet. To make it easier, it is worth considering the classification of such products and highlight the best food for cats:

• Cheap economy class feed. These include the following brands: Felix, Friskies, Kitekat, Oscar, Meow, Whiskas. Despite the fact that manufacturers actively advertise their products, veterinarians still do not advise buying such products for cats, since they replace meat with soy, and also add various sweeteners, colors, flavor enhancers and other harmful components.
• Medium-priced feeds are slightly more expensive than the previous ones, but the quality does not differ much. They include the same soy, as well as various stabilizers and preservatives. The following brands can be noted here: Gourment, Sheba, Purina.

• Expensive products are products whose manufacturers try to maintain their reputation by complying with all rules and regulations. They produce their products, as a rule, from good and high-quality raw materials. The premium class includes: Nutram, Matiss, Hills, Royal Canin, Bozita. Veterinarians have noted these foods are quite suitable for feeding cats and cats, since, in addition to natural meat and cereals, such products contain the necessary vitamins.
• Dry cat food, with the best reviews and recommendations, are holistic-grade products used by breeders in elite catteries. Here you are notYou will find no flavor enhancers and preservatives, so veterinarians position these foods as the most useful.

Helpful tips

We all know that cats are quite finicky animals, with their own tastes and preferences. For example, a pet can gobble up cheap food on both cheeks and not tolerate elite food. Let's take a look at some helpful tips for keeping a furry home:

• if you took a cat from a cattery, then ask the seller what product the animal was fed;
• when buying new food, don't take too much of it, your picky eater may not like it at all;
• please note that dry granules may stain a cat's snow-white coat, but this is temporary;
• Try not to change brands of food as often as a new product may cause stomach upset or allergies in the pet;
• if you give your cat dry food, be sure to put a bowl of clean and fresh water next to it.

Rating dry cat food

According to reviews, consumers prefer:

1. The first place is occupied by food recommended for show animals. They are distinguished by the optimal combination of vitamins and useful components. Also, they do not contain harmful components, since the product itself is based on high-quality raw materials. These foods include: Meowing heads, Wild cat, Orijen, Acana, 1st choise, ZooMenu.
2. In second place are feed, whichwill be useful even for cats suffering from allergies and gastric disorders. These products do not contain dyes, chemical preservatives, flavor enhancers and corn. They are distinguished by a high content of meat proteins and meat flour. Of these feeds, the following brands should be distinguished: Summit, Taste of the wild, Porcelan, Holistic Blend Perfect.
3. The third step is occupied by feed from selected meat and first-class cereals. However, there are some drawbacks here: very small granules, an unpleasant color and smell. These products include: Safari, ProPac, Leonardo, Gina Elite, Royal canin.
4. Next are foods that are not recommended on a regular basis, as they can contain offal and meat of undetermined origin, as well as chemical additives that can lead to allergies and stomach cramps. These include the following brands: KirAmore, Perfect fit, Katinka, Purina one, Oscar, What You Need!.
5. The last place is occupied by foods containing a large amount of vegetable proteins, as well as chemical additives that provoke urolithiasis and allergic reactions: Happy Cat, Friskies, Kitekat, "Meow!", "Terra Cat", " Pan cat.”

As you can see, there are many choices, you just need to decide and find the most suitable food for your pet.