Akana dry food for cats: reviews from owners and veterinarians

May 31, 2018

For those who still don’t know which food to choose for their cat, we recommend an article about Akana food. It contains all the relevant information about modern Acana food, customer reviews and the opinion of veterinarians. Surely, it will be a useful aid when choosing a suitable diet for your pet.

The brand is widely known all over the world and has managed to establish itself well in the ready-made pet food market. Products have been manufactured in Canada for over 25 years. All components included in the finished diet are also included. The presence of the “premium class” prefix itself speaks for itself: the feed does not contain preservatives, dyes or cost-reducing raw materials (this includes gluten, low-quality fats, corn flour, offal, ground bones, etc.).

Another good news is that the food from this manufacturer is completely free of grain components. The required level of carbohydrates is compensated by using a special variety of potatoes. Any Akana food consists of 50-65% meat (or fish), and 35% fruits and vegetables. In order to reduce the acidity level of cat urine, the manufacturer even added Colombian cranberries to the composition. Is it possible to take better care of our pets?

In addition, the company produces another food under the brand name Orijen.

Types of cat food Acana (Akana)

The name of the private company producing this food is “Champion Petfoods”. It supplies Acana feed to almost fifty countries around the globe.

On the pages of the Russian-language official website of Akan there is a large amount of information about the philosophy and mission of the brand, but in short, the essence comes down to the fact that the spool is small, but expensive. Acana cat food is produced exclusively in the form of dry crackers, and there are only a few varieties themselves and each of them has a standard packaging of 0.34 kg, 2.27 kg, 6.8 kg.

Do not delude yourself ahead of time, because like any ready-made food for furry pets, the food of this brand is endowed with its own advantages and disadvantages. We invite you to consider them in more detail.

Advantages of Akana cat food:

• fully prepared and balanced feed;
• high quality and the presence of only fresh ingredients in the compositions;
• Suitable for cats of any age and breed;
• has a moderate pricing policy among premium food;
• Hypoallergenic food options are available;
• easy to store and transport, which allows you to stock up on Akana food for future use.

Disadvantages of Acana cat food:

• It is necessary to wash down the food with large volumes of water, like any other dry food;
• The manufacturer does not produce wet food (canned food).

If your cat is cheerful, playful, full of energy, her fur is shiny, and there is no specific pungent odor from her mouth or from her litter box, then you have made the right choice and the food is suitable for your pet. If in any doubt, it is recommended to visit a veterinarian. A specialist can prescribe tests for a furry beauty, the results of which can

Sterilized: Cannot be neglected

As you probably guessed, the whole point of the title is where the comma is placed. And the whole paradox is that the truth will be in both readings. The fact is that the main difference between the diet for sterilized cats and the usual one is the reduced fat content. But let’s start with the fact that not all cats (due to their character, constitution or peculiarities of keeping) begin to gain weight after sterilization, and not all require special food. If your pet from this category continues to frolic, run around, play, and eats no more than before, you can relax and not waste time choosing new food, provided that you follow the basic principles of healthy and proper nutrition for your cat.

Another problem is that the Sterilized label does not automatically guarantee the quality of the food, it is just a technique to attract the attention of the consumer. Accordingly, on sale you can find both decent products for sterilized cats and food with extremely low biological value, so we recommend taking a break from the labels and looking at the composition indicated in small print on the label. Keep Focus:

1. Sources of protein and fat. For cats and kittens, both sterilized and non-sterilized, it is equally important to eat animal sources of protein and fat, therefore food marked Sterilized, where instead of high-quality meat and meat products, cereals are in first place, and there is no chicken, no fish, or any or other fat, but only vegetable oil - immediately cross it off the list.
2. Excess carbohydrates in a cat's diet. You must always remember that cats do not require carbohydrates in principle, and their excess loads the pancreas, leads to digestive disorders and contributes to the alkalinization of urine in predators - the latter factor plays an important role in the occurrence of urolithiasis. If you see that food “for castrates” contains more grain of any kind or potatoes than meat, you should refuse it, even if it contains useful additives that “acidify” urine - cranberries, lingonberries.
3. Correct ratio of minerals. For sterilized cats, this is especially important in their daily nutrition. And although deviations from industry norms in this regard are rare (if we are talking about complete industrial feeds), it still doesn’t hurt to check the “dark horse”. Veterinary experts from AAFCO and FEDIAF (authoritative associations that recommend standards for the food industry) agree that the ratio of calcium to phosphorus in dry cat food should not exceed 2:1. You can find out this value by dividing the proportion of calcium by the proportion of phosphorus. This data should be in a guaranteed analysis on the food label: for example, 1.4% Ca divided by 1.1% P - the result is 1.27: 1 - ideal. The proportion of magnesium is also important - optimally, if it is not lower than 0.045 g per 100 g of dry matter of feed.
4. Feed fat content . If you know that your cat is prone to obesity or has already gained excess weight, choose diets with a fat content in the range of 12–17%. If there is no such problem, do not pay attention to fat content, because fat is very important for the health of predators: it is a source of Omega series polyunsaturated acids and is responsible for many functions in their body.

Which food to choose for your pet

Today, the Akana line is represented by three menus. However, their level is quite comparable to the list of dishes from the best restaurants.

• WILD PRAIRIE CAT & KITTEN "Acana Regionals"

The composition of this grain-free food for cats and kittens is distinguished by the content of unfrozen meat from Cobb chickens raised in Canada, dietary turkey meat containing large quantities of vitamins A and E, wild perch caught in natural conditions and a side dish of vegetables and fruits.

It is necessary to dwell in a little more detail on the list of the last ingredients that are sources of carbohydrates.

The company claims that feed must contain a wide variety of vegetables and fruits.

It is for this reason that each package of Akana food contains a serving of Red Delicious apples, Barlet pears, butternut squash, carrots, spinach, blueberries and cranberries.

In addition, WILD PRAIRIE CAT & KITTEN “Acana Regionals” food is an excellent prevention of the development of urolithiasis and kidney diseases (thanks to the above-mentioned cranberries and the correct level of magnesium).

• ACANA PACIFICA CAT

This type of food is hypoallergenic and is perfect for kittens and cats of any breed.

For this menu, the manufacturer chose the taste of fish, and, of course, included it in the composition, and how! The food is made from fillets of hake, flounder and herring, caught naturally in the Pacific Ocean, and added to the product without being frozen!

In order to lower urine pH, the developers of Akana food decided to add Colombian cranberries to the composition. To remove toxins from the cat's gastrointestinal tract, seaweed was included. In addition, the menu is enriched with such vital substances for cats as taurine and Omega-3 fatty acids.

As a list of phytocomponents, Akana decided to opt for:

• calendula, since it is endowed with anti-inflammatory properties;
• juniper, as a bactericidal and diuretic component;
• rosehip, known for its high mineral content;
• ginger root, which lowers cholesterol;
• chicory root, which improves the functioning of the heart and blood vessels;
• dandelion root, to increase appetite;
• lavender, which calms the cat’s nervous system;
• chamomile, famous for having antimicrobial properties, etc.

• ACANA GRASSLANDS CAT

The food consists of 0% grain, 30% fruits and vegetables, and the rest is highly digestible protein of meat origin!

The meat component of the food is presented in the form of lamb (the main part), duck and wild perch. The list of protein sources has been supplemented with chicken eggs.

In addition to taurine, Akana food necessarily contains prebiotics - a list of living microorganisms that balance the activity of the flora that populates the cat’s intestines. The company that produces ACANA food considers it its duty to emphasize that the bacteria used in their cat food (which is Enterococcus faecium) are completely non-pathogenic! In addition, their activity promotes the growth of the number of necessary bacteria (bifido, lacto, etc.), but at the same time blocks the proliferation of staphylo- and streptococci.

Components: what does it contain?

Veterinarians advise giving preference to food in which the ratio of meat and fish to other ingredients is >65%. The higher the indicator, the better the product.

Canadian premium cat food has passed international quality certification and is recommended as the main component of a pet’s diet. The composition of dry pads consists of 70% meat or fish, which are the main source of protein. There are no vegetable lipids or grains not recommended by veterinarians. Smoked meats, spices and additives are also excluded. The Wild Prairie line combines chicken, turkey meat and liver, the Pacifica includes hake, flounder, herring and pollock, and the Grasslands includes lamb, duck liver, salmon, perch and herring. Additional components that improve the pet’s immune defense and coat structure include the following:

Legumes act as auxiliary components in the diet to strengthen the immune system.

• Beans: peas;
• chickpeas;
• lentils;
• beans.

Reviews of Akana cat food

Oksana P .: “It’s rare that I can speak on every food item, but this is just about Akana, because I bought all three. If we talk about the one that tastes like lamb, the cat liked it, but I didn’t. Due to the fact that the smell from the tray became so disgusting that I decided not to buy it anymore. My cat's favorite is the one that tastes like fish. He eats it quickly and after a certain period of time goes to the toilet. For variety, I buy Akana with chicken, but the cat doesn’t show much pleasure in eating it. We visited the vet a couple of weeks ago and he said the cat was healthy. I think a lot of this is down to good food.”

Kotsareva Elya : “This food was recommended to me by a dog owner whose dog for several years has not wanted to eat anything other than Akana food. I bought the same food, only for cats, of course, and offered it to my Hermione. She turned away and did not eat anything for several days. I continued to insist and did not give anything other than this food. After a few crackers, Hermie would turn away and walk away. I gave up and fed her the usual food, Our Mark. I don’t know why this happened, I’m glad I didn’t buy a big pack, I still had to throw it away.”

Oleg : “Several months ago our friend was deprived of his “farm”, after which I firmly decided that at least I would feed him only high-quality food, since he could not see more joy in his life. I scoured the Internet, found reviews about Akana cat food, and bought it. The sad cat attacked the food and ate it down to the last cracker. Since he liked it so much, I will continue to buy it, especially since no problems with stool arose after using it.”

Advantages and disadvantages

You can hear a lot of positive reviews from veterinarians and owners about Akana dog food.

To decide whether to purchase this food for your pet, it is worth considering its advantages and disadvantages.

The advantages of the food include:

• use of natural high-quality ingredients;
• content of vitamins and minerals in sufficient quantities;
• predominantly protein components;
• low carbohydrate content;
• a wide variety of mixtures for dogs of different breeds and ages;
• compliance with quality standards is guaranteed;
• Availability – can be purchased at most pet supply stores or ordered online.

Food should be selected taking into account the breed and size of the dog

This line has much fewer disadvantages. Worth mentioning:

• quite high price;
• If your pet has problems with the liver, kidneys or gall bladder, food should be given strictly in the recommended amount, due to the high protein content.

Reviews from veterinarians about Acana food

Petrunin Mikhail Eduardovich, 18 years of work experience : “Recently, a female sphinx was brought to my appointment, which has poor digestion and a tendency to constant allergies to a huge number of foods. Having tried various combinations of feeding natural food, I came to the conclusion that the cat was only suffering from this, and then recommended feeding her with Acana Pacifica Cat food. The dynamics of allergic rashes imperceptibly decreased and disappeared by the end of the week. Just a couple of months later the cat gained weight. Yesterday we brought her in for a check-up, and I can say for sure that now she is a happy, healthy animal, distinguished by her smooth skin and an insolent look.”

Okatova Ekaterina Olegovna, 5 years of experience: “I don’t see anything wrong with balanced ready-made super-premium food. Their composition is verified with such precision that the average cat owner cannot maintain it. "Akana food is one of the foods I recommend feeding domestic cats."

Compound

You can consider the composition of food for Akan dogs using the example of hypoallergenic food with lamb and apples for animals of all breeds and ages.

Ingredients:

• dehydrated lamb meat;
• boneless meat;
• lamb liver;
• lamb fat;
• lamb tripe;
• lamb kidneys;
• lentils;
• apples;
• peas;
• seaweed;
• green beans;
• canola oil;
• carrot;
• pumpkin;
• chicory root;
• peppermint;
• lemon balm.

Lamb is the key source of protein in this diet.

Thanks to the content of apples, pumpkins and carrots, the mixture is rich in microelements and vitamins.

The herbal mixture stimulates digestion.

Feed packaging with lamb and apple

Acana Lamb Apple Dog Food does not contain potatoes, grains or tapioca.

These products are sources of fast carbohydrates.

Acana food cost

Prices for Akana cat food are relatively inexpensive in its class of food:

• for 340 g you will have to pay 361 rubles in Moscow (171 hryvnia in Kyiv);
• 1.8 kg will cost 1619-1895 rubles (861-936 UAH);
• The cost of a 5.4 kg package is 3129-3861 rubles (1894-2217 UAH).

If you have already fed your cat Acana food, we will be grateful for your feedback.

Tags: Food reviews

Proper nutrition

Whatever food you give your dog is what he will eat. You decide for the animal: feed it tasty and healthy food or fill its bowl with the first food you find in the store. You need to take the choice of food for your pet very seriously, since not only how your dog will look, but also its health directly depends on it.

Proper, healthy, balanced nutrition will help your pet to be healthy and live an active, joyful life.

For pets with sensitive digestion

If a pet cannot digest even the most delicious food, if it often vomits and any meal turns into a painful process, then the owners of such animals should pay attention to Akana dog food. The reviews indicate that the company has developed a specialized food designed for pets with a sensitive digestive system.

Fifty percent of the food consists of dehydrated and fresh meat, fat and duck entrails. Another fifty percent consists of fruits, plants and vegetables, which ensure normal digestion and do not cause discomfort in dogs.

Quality food is the key to health

Everyone knows: the quality of life largely depends on how well an animal’s diet is composed. If a dog systematically does not receive, for example, vitamins, proteins, fats or microelements, this will affect its health and can lead to illness, and in some cases, to the death of the animal. To avoid this, you need to feed your pet correctly. High-quality Akana dog food will help with this, reviews of which can be obtained from specialists or other dog owners.

For weight loss

Sometimes, due to the fault of the owner, due to poor nutrition, a sedentary lifestyle or poor quality food, dogs develop weight problems. Extra pounds cause discomfort in pets. They cannot move freely and breathing is difficult. A dog cannot cope with excess weight alone. Undoubtedly, in such cases it is necessary to spend more time outside, playing outdoor games with the dog. But besides this, it is important to choose the right type of food that will help your pet lose weight.

also took care of overweight dogs. For this purpose, a special type of food has been developed that helps maintain muscle mass. And thanks to the reduced amount of carbohydrates, fat will no longer be deposited in the pet’s body.

This food consists of sixty-five percent meat and bones of chicken, turkey, flounder, and poultry entrails. Another thirty-five percent are vegetables and fruits.

For medium breeds

Of course, you shouldn’t rely only on reviews of Akana dog food. Every dog ​​is unique. Even pets of the same breed can react differently to the same food. Therefore, you should be very careful when choosing your daily diet.

However, reviews of Akana dog food left by owners agree on one thing. The food is suitable for almost all animals. Allergic reactions occur very rarely. They also note that, although the composition is high in cost, its price corresponds to the quality. This also applies to food for medium breed dogs.

Puppy food consists of seventy percent chicken, turkey, flounder and eggs. Thirty percent of the diet consists of vegetables and fruits. Food for adult dogs of medium breeds consists of chicken meat that was raised in the wild, flounder and eggs. All this makes up about sixty percent of the composition. The remaining forty percent are various vegetables and fruits.