Holistic food for cats: characteristics and list of manufacturers

The most popular holistic cat food brands

Despite the popularity of holistic diets, their interpretation is quite abstract, not only among buyers, but also among manufacturers, which is why in this category you can find not only high-quality grain-free diets, but also low-grade foods made from cereals, proteins of plant or unknown origin, and flour . Fortunately, there are several popular and trustworthy brands:

Now Fresh.

Well-known Canadian food, characterized by a well-balanced composition with a sufficient amount of easily digestible proteins and at the same time without grains, dyes and other harmful components.

Alleva.

The manufacturer comes from Italy, whose creations are distinguished by their high meat content.

Farmina.

A large Italian food manufacturer, especially loved by cats and their owners thanks to the grain-free and low-grain diets of the N&D series, many of which are recommended for sensitive digestion, allergies, but are also suitable for absolutely healthy animals.

AATU.

A British brand that is often recommended by breeders and veterinarians. It contains not only a high percentage of meat components, but also many healthy vegetables, fruits and berries, including cranberries, which are effective as a preventive measure for ICD.

Primordial.

An Italian brand specializing exclusively in grain-free holistic products, making it a true guru in this field.

Age recommendations

Most manufacturers of Holistic class mixtures produce special lines, divided by age groups and specific veterinary or preventive indicators.

For cats of different groups, the composition includes certain types of meat, some berries and fruits, a certain content of vitamins, micro- and macroelements, Omega-3 and 6 fatty acids, enzymes, prebiotics and probiotics.

Holistic for kittens takes into account the need of babies for a high content of protein, enzymes and probiotics for active growth of muscles, hair and skeletal formation. The offspring raised on these mixtures from the first days of transition to complementary feeding have a good appearance, are not susceptible to diseases, and have a long life span.

There are special foods for young cats, older cats, and sterilized animals.

How to choose the best holistic food for cats

No matter how advertised the food may be, it is first of all important to make sure that it meets the basic requirements for holistic nutrition, and, in principle, healthy nutrition for your beloved cat. The best diet should contain at least 50 percent meat, supplemented with moderate amounts of quality fiber such as peas, chickpeas or sweet potatoes, probiotics, and a few percent of herbs, berries, fruits or vegetables. At the same time, cereals, citrus fruits and sour tropical fruits are undesirable in the diet.

However, a beautiful composition is not the only factor. To choose a good food specifically for your cat, you should take into account its characteristics. If your pet is prone to allergies or digestive disorders, it is better to make sure that the diet is free of corn, citrus fruits and other potential allergens. If your cat is overweight, has liver problems, or is neutered, a high-quality, low-fat meat food would be the best choice. If you are prone to urolithiasis, diabetes and other serious diseases, it makes sense to take a closer look at specialized diets.

Specifics

Holistic-grade food can be selected for any breed (for example, Snowshoe, Maine Coon, Munchkin, Peterbald and Don Sphynx ), including those suitable for sterilized cats.

You can read more about cat sterilization here:

When choosing a new diet for your pet, you need to focus on the following points:

• age of the cat;
• size, degree of fatness;
• activity;
• animal preferences;
• manufacturer's recommendations.

Important! When choosing food, it is worth reading the composition and recommendations of the manufacturer. This will help determine whether a particular type of cat food is worth purchasing.

For example, it is worth considering the range of Pronature Holistic food.

1. Pronature Holistik dry food with duck and orange for adult cats. Orange is a source of vitamins A, B, C, and also contains calcium. The composition contains fresh duck meat, as well as dehydrated chicken meat and herring flour. Among the ingredients, it is worth noting chamomile, which has anti-inflammatory properties, soothes and stimulates digestion. Tomato and beetroot are added as fiber sources. The diet does not include grains, so it is more easily processed by the cat's digestive tract.

Added fruits and vegetables to the diet

1. Pronature Holistik dry food with Atlantic salmon and brown rice for adult cats. The main component of this mixture is fresh salmon meat. Brown rice provides your pet with B vitamins and fiber, which is essential for digestion. The composition includes avocado fruit, a source of vitamin E. Promotes rejuvenation, improves skin condition, and serves as a prevention of cardiovascular diseases. Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids are also added for healthy skin and coat. To preserve the properties of the product, rosemary extract and tocopherol were used.

Blend for maintaining healthy skin and coat

1. Pronature Holistik dry food for adult cats with cranberries and turkey. The main component of this mixture is turkey meat. Dried cranberries are included as a source of vitamin C. It also contains flavonoids and antioxidants. The composition of the food is developed in accordance with the latest nutritional research and prevents the development of obesity. The mixture contains green tea extract, mint and cellulose, which support oral health and fresh breath.

Diet with turkey and cranberries Pronature Holistic

1. Pronature Holistik dry food for older cats with ocean white fish and Canadian rice. In addition to the main ingredients, it contains organic olive oil, which contains monounsaturated fats that take care of heart health. To support digestive tract health in older cats, dried beet and tomato pulp (sources of natural fiber), as well as yeast extract containing prebiotics, have been added.

Mixture for cats over 10 years old

Rules for choosing a grain-free diet for a cat

Choosing a grain-free diet is no different from choosing any other food. So, how to choose grain-free cat food:

1. Consider age. Manufacturers offer brands of food for kittens, adults and older animals.
2. Consider your physiological state. There are brands for pregnant and lactating, spayed and neutered pets.
3. Don't forget about your physical activity level. For sedentary animals and cats prone to gaining excess weight, there are their own diets.
4. Be especially careful when selecting menus for cats with allergies. Mono-protein formulas are best suited for such pets.
5. Consider your taste preferences. Manufacturers have taken care of a varied diet for your cats; choose the one that your pet will like the most.
6. Be sure to consult your veterinarian. Any food, even the most expensive and good one, must be approved by a veterinarian.

Important

If an animal is diagnosed with an allergic reaction to gluten, an exclusively grain-free diet is recommended. All the others are not suitable for a cat!

Advantages and disadvantages

Holistic cat food has many positive aspects. But even they could not do without negativity.

The undoubted advantages include:

1. Ideal composition. The balance of all components does not require any additions and does not cause concern for the future of the cat.
2. The quality of the products used in the preparation. Such ingredients will decorate any table.
3. Meat diet for real carnivores.
4. Economical. The high nutritional value allows you to use much less holistic food by weight than lower quality feeds.

The disadvantages directly stem from the advantages:

1. Holistic treatments are expensive.
2. They are not available in all stores.
3. Some do not have treatment lines. If you need a special diet, you have to look for an alternative.

If you decide to transfer your cat from other options to holistic, be prepared that he will flatly refuse to eat the new food. This must be done gradually. Adding a little into your usual food. Holistics do not contain flavorings or flavor enhancers, which is why cats do not immediately understand that this is food.

Compound

Holistic formulas take the true nature of cats as a basis. Every day, being next to us, having changed their appearance thanks to selection, they remain predators. Instincts are dulled, but the physiology of cats requires meat.

Holistics are prepared in such a way that the predator’s body receives everything it needs. Therefore, the modest data on the analytical composition differ little from foods of other classes: the same proteins, fats, carbohydrates in different percentages, depending on the target audience of cats.

However, the composition is radically different:

1. Proteins and fats. Mainly of animal origin. For cooking, whole meat of different varieties is used, sometimes more than exotic, as well as sea fish and seafood. For some brands, the content is approximately 80% of the composition. Holists do not replace it with vegetable proteins and very rarely add by-products.
2. Fiber and vitamin supplements are represented by a rich variety of plant products: vegetables, fruits, herbs and even medicinal herbs. They guarantee normal digestion and maintenance of the cat’s health with natural ingredients.
3. Carbohydrates. The required amount is provided by the addition of low-carbohydrate cereals and cereals. Some holistic practitioners even suggest grain-free diets. But one thing can be said with confidence: the calorie content of food is provided not by cereals, but by meat.

It is impossible to find artificial colors, flavors, flavor enhancers, preservatives or stabilizers in holistic products.

The mineral composition (ash content) is at the recommended level, which guarantees no problems in healthy cats.

5. Meglium dry food with chicken and fish

This option is suitable for cats from one to six years old; it contains chicken and beef. The food is quite nutritious, providing about 4000 kcal per kilogram. This food contains a lot of protein, which is so necessary for cats prone to obesity, the product will not cause excess body weight.

Meglium with chicken, with fish

Meglium with chicken, with fish

The minerals included are iodine, zinc, potassium, iron and calcium. The dosage is indicated on the package, so you can choose the serving size for any representative of different cat breeds. This food is stored in a cool, dry place at a temperature of +10 to +25 degrees. The food also contains beets, corn, wheat and many other useful substances that have a beneficial effect on the condition of the animal’s body as a whole.

Average rating - 4.6

Average price - 900 rubles per package of 3 kilograms

pros

• It contains a lot of chicken and meat.
• Cats love to eat this food.
• Pleasant natural smell.
• A huge amount of minerals in the composition.
• Balanced food for healthy adult cats.
• Reputable company.
• The food lasts a long time.

Minuses

• Not found.

Reviews

Below are several reviews from owners who switched their pets to holistic food:

Tatyana, Nizhny Novgorod: “I have a cat and a male cat, about a year ago I tried to offer them Go holistic-class food. At first, the cats only sniffed, then decided to crunch. The cat didn’t really like the taste of the fish, but the cat devoured it with pleasure. I buy him chicken pillows.”

Daria, Saratov: “We have been giving our cat Orijen holistic food for several months. I haven’t noticed any weight gain, the coat is in excellent condition. The cat is neutered, but the vet approved our choice and said that he did not need additional mixtures.”

Olga, Samara: “At the pet store I noticed Go! and decided to take it for my pet. To tell the truth, I did not follow the recommendations for switching to a new diet, but the cat tolerated it completely calmly. We prefer mixtures with chicken.”