To understand which manufacturers of ready-made food can be trusted and which cannot, cat owners will have to work hard. However, no one died from such a load: all you need to do is study the information about the line you like, ask how the food is prepared, and delve into the ingredients. Then it will become clear whether such food is suitable for your pet or not. Vet Life cat food scores high in the popular food ratings - let's take a closer look at them.
About the manufacturer
Farmina is an Italian manufacturer of cat and dog food, operating since 1965. Initially, the brand was called Russo Feed in honor of the founder Francesco Russo; at that time the company was developing food for large animals. The first dog food production plant was opened in 1999. Today Farmina has many factories in Serbia, Italy and Brazil. It produces several premium medicinal and basic foods for cats and dogs. The main activity remains the production of medical nutrition, which also formed the slogan.
Feed composition
Farmina uses proven and high-quality components. In the composition you can find products that are quite rare for the diet of dogs - pomegranate pulp, orange, wild boar, blueberries. The basic lines use corn as the main component, and the N&D series has a grain-free composition, which is useful for pets with digestive problems and overweight. The source of protein is dehydrated chicken, fish, lamb or lamb.
All Farmina brand products have a balanced composition and contain all the vitamins, micro- and macroelements necessary for dogs. Beneficial substances are contained in additional natural ingredients (turmeric root, currant powder, calendula extract and others), there are no synthetic additives.
Range
Both dry food and canned food are produced for sale.
Vet Life Hairball is designed to remove hairballs from the stomach of an adult. Ingredients: chicken meat and fat, peas, dehydrated fish, herbs, vegetables, fructooligosaccharides, mannooligosaccharides, brewer's yeast.
Vet Life Neutered Female and Vet Life feline are suitable for sterilized and neutered cats. The ingredients include soybean extract, sugar beet pulp, and whole dehydrated eggs.
Vet Life feline is an option for weakened cats, for those with a weak stomach. This is a dietary food that can be given to cats for inflammatory diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Contains: fish protein (hydrosylate) and fish oil, calendula extract, rice starch, calcium carbonate, fructooligosaccharides, potassium chloride.
Vet Life Diabetic is the best option for diabetics. Chicken fillet, spelled, oats, fish, eggs, animal fat, pork.
Vet Life Obesity will help your cat lose those extra pounds. The composition is nutritious, but will not allow you to gain fat.
Vet Life Renal and Vet Life Cardiac are approved for use in chronic heart failure to support renal function in renal failure. There is little sodium in the composition, some phosphorus, and a limited amount of protein. Added mannose oligosaccharides based on Saccharomyces cerevisiae extract.
Vet Life Struvite Management is recommended by veterinarians for urolithiasis and cystitis. Added DL-methionine and ammonium chloride.
Vet Life Struvite helps dissolve struvite uroliths. Added calcium sulfate dihydrate and DL-methionine.
Vet Life Gastrointestinal and Vet Life Hepatic are prescribed for chronic kidney failure and stomach problems. It contains easily digestible carbohydrates, a lot of polyunsaturated fatty acids and a dosed amount of protein.
There are also canned goods:
Vet Life Renal - to support kidney function.
Vet Life Struvite - prevention of struvite urolithiasis.
Vet Life Gastrointestinal is a dietary option for individuals who have problems digesting food pieces and absorbing nutrients. There are a lot of electrolytes here.
Vet Life Convalescence - for cats who have suffered a serious illness and require special nutrition.
Advantages and disadvantages
Farmina has received positive reviews from veterinarians and dog owners, who note the following advantages of the food:
- low consumption due to the high energy value of the ingredients;
- high level of components, meat undergoes mandatory quality control before production;
- the presence of a medicinal line and grain-free, low-grain feed, which is not always found in other manufacturers;
- absence of unnatural substances in the composition.
The disadvantages include the high cost of food, as well as the lack of large packages. The maximum volume is 12 kg, which is not always convenient for feeding large breed and giant dogs.
In addition, Farmina is not sold in small pet stores.
Compound
- Fresh and dehydrated meat (hydrolysates of chicken, lamb, pork): sources of protein and nutrients;
- Fish and fish products: sources of fat;
- oils and fats (vegetable fats): sources of fatty acids;
- Vegetables, herbs, grains (rice, spelled, beet pulp, oats, rice starch): sources of carbohydrates and fiber;
- Useful plants (calendula, plantain): contain lutein, increase digestibility;
- Antioxidants of natural origin;
- Useful supplements (prebiotics to improve the microflora of the digestive tract; calcium salts and DL-methionine - to control urine pH levels; taurine - for teeth, claws and bones, dried brewer's yeast - a source of protein and B vitamins; Omega-3 and Omega- 6 - fatty acids against inflammatory processes and aging of the body; electrolytes - have a beneficial effect on the functioning of the heart muscle, restore cellular energy metabolism; L-carnitine, L-cystine, L-tryptophan, L-lysine - help build muscle mass; microcrystalline cellulose - gives granules form).
- Vitamins (A - for animal growth; group B - for all internal systems and organs, D3 - makes joints more flexible and bones stronger; E - for vision, hematopoiesis and immunity; C - increases the body's resistance to various types of infections; H - improves condition of the coat and skin; beta-carotene - synthesizes vitamin E; niacin - regulates carbohydrate-white metabolism in cells; selenomethionine - keeps the immune system in good shape and acts as an antioxidant; glucosamine - regulates the functions of the genitourinary system).
Why is this food better than others?
Farmina belongs to premium and medicinal class food. A direct analogue is the Monge company, but among its range there are not many products for dogs with problems. The Cibau and Ecopet Natural line can be replaced with Acana and Royal Canin, traditional brands for the Russian market. However, the advantage of Farmina is the availability of products for animals with complex health problems - food intolerance, chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and urinary system. As an alternative, veterinarians recommend medicated foods from Hill's and Purina Pro Plan.
Advantages and disadvantages of Vetlife food
The main advantages of Vet Life food:
- the composition is indicated in more detail than in most premium and super premium foods (Royal Canin, Hills);
- the ingredients used are of higher quality than those of economical and popular brands (Kitekat, All Cats, Darling, Pro Plan, etc.);
- feed is always fresh, thanks to timely production;
- prices for Vet Life food may be lower than for other veterinary diets (for example, 400 g of Vet Life Renal costs 410 rubles, and an analogue from Royal Canin costs 430 rubles);
- Vet Life diets do not contain GMOs, artificial antioxidants or flavor enhancers (unlike the “Every Day” brand food);
- rich vitamin and mineral supplement (the vitamin composition of Oscar, My Lord and other cheap foods is worse);
- contains prebiotics (as in holistic foods, for example, Gina Elit).
Disadvantages of this line of food:
- Not sold in all pet stores (it’s easier to find Royal Canin, Brit, Purina One, etc.);
- some diets contain undesirable components (brewer's yeast, gluten - can cause allergies), fewer allergens are contained in Brit Care, Canidae, Almo Nature foods;
- most Vet Life diets contain grains (oats); Farmina also has a line of grain-free food;
- the percentage of ingredients is not specified (unlike Leonardo and Naturea);
- Some Vet Life foods contain soy derivatives (unlike Husse, Wahre Liebe and Eukanuba);
- The balance of calcium and phosphorus is not ideal (but unlike other feeds, it is not the worst balance).
Video: interview with Farmina veterinarian
Farmina food line
Farmina's assortment includes 5 lines of wet and dry food. Among them there are medicinal formulations, food for daily feeding of puppies, large, medium and small breeds.
N&D (Natural&Delicious)
This is a high-class food - holistic. The line includes formulations without grain components, which is important for feeding dogs with digestive problems. The N&D food series is as close as possible to the natural diet of canines and is enriched with all necessary minerals and vitamins. Each ND flavor includes food for babies as well as adult dogs of medium, large and small breeds.
Chicken & Pomegranate
Complete food for dogs containing spelled, oats, chicken and pomegranate. The meat content reaches 20%; there are no grains in the composition. Additional components include chicken fat, fresh herring, as well as fish oil and vitamin supplements in the form of natural ingredients. Available in packages weighing from 2.5 to 12 kg.
Lamb & Blueberry
The main ingredients are oats, lamb, blueberries and quinoa. The advantage of this line is that it is ideal for dogs and pregnant bitches. Contains a full set of vitamins, no grain is used for preparation. The combination of lamb and blueberry extract is suitable for feeding animals with food allergies to chicken.
Codfish & Orange
Dry and wet food based on oats, cod and orange. The line includes options for puppies and animals of different sizes. The cod content in the composition reaches 24%. The presence of citrus peel does not cause allergies even in pets with high sensitivity to this component.
Vet Life
The series includes formulations for puppies, adults and older animals. This is the classic and oldest Farmin line; today it includes about 2 dozen types of food, some of which are sold in Russia. Main products:
- Growth. Dietary food for puppies with growth and development disorders. Recommended for strengthening the immune system.
- Joint. For dogs with chronic diseases of the musculoskeletal system.
- Convalescence. For pregnant and lactating bitches, recovery after childbirth.
- Gastrointestinal. Farmina Gastro Intensive for dogs with disorders of the gastrointestinal tract and pancreas. Gastro is also recommended during the rehabilitation period after operations.
- Hepatic (Hepatic). Food for animals with liver disorders and chronic liver failure.
- Struvit. For dogs with urolithiasis. Struvite should only be prescribed by a doctor.
- Oxalate (Oxalate). Food for dogs with urolithiasis of the urate or cystine type.
- Renal. To normalize kidney function, feeding animals with renal failure.
- Cardiac. For dogs with heart failure and pathologies of the circulatory system.
- Diabetic. Farmina for pets suffering from diabetes and obesity.
- UltraHypo. Food designed for dogs with food intolerances.
- Hypoallergenic. Hypoallergenic food for animals with food allergies.
Medicinal food should only be selected by a doctor based on the animal’s symptoms, age and weight. In case of chronic pathologies, nutrition is prescribed for life; changing the diet is not recommended.
Ecopet Natural
Premium food from Farmin, produced for puppies and adult dogs. Contains corn or rice, the source of protein is fish, chicken or lamb. To create this food, only natural ingredients are used; there are no synthetic additives.
Cibau
One of Farmina's main lines for complete nutrition. A distinctive feature of this food is its high protein content and the presence of many additional natural ingredients. Chibau dry and wet food is suitable for complete feeding of puppies and dogs of different breeds. Options with game are especially popular, for example, Quinoa with Venison. The assortment of the line is constantly changing, new flavors are added. The food is available in packages weighing from 2.5 to 12 kg. Recommended for breeders.
Fun Dog
Economy class food from Farmina. The line includes only three options – Mix, Adult and Energy. The composition contains a lot of grains, gluten and practically no meat; chicken flour (7%) is used to replace it. Fun Dog has a high calorie content, which is important to consider when feeding overweight pets.
The food is not recommended for dogs with chronic diseases, sterilized males and females.
Comparison of Vet Life line feeds
Vetlife veterinary food is available in packs of 400 g, bags of 2 kg and bags of 10 kg. Crickets are available in chicken (poultry), fish or pork flavors. Rice or cereals are included as side dishes.
Table: comparison of Vetlife feeds
| Name | Main cast | Guaranteed performance | Energy value | Price (400 g) | |||||
| Protein | Crude fat | Cellulose | Raw ash | Calcium | Phosphorus | ||||
| Hairball |
| 34,0% | 15,0% | 8,0% | 7,60% | 1,15% | 0,95% | 3495 kcal (14.6 MJ/kg) | From 315 rubles |
| Diabetic |
| 46,0% | 13,0% | 4,60% | 7,90% | 1,20% | 0,98% | 3503 kcal (14.7 MJ/kg) | From 385 rubles |
| Gastrointestinal (“Gastrointestinal”) |
| 33,0% | 21,50% | 1,70% | 7,30% | 1,0% | 0,90% | 4050kcal (17 MJ/kg) | From 410 rubles |
| Neutered Male |
| 37,0% | 10,0% | 6,50% | 7,80% | 1,20% | 1,10% | 3290 kcal (13.8 MJ/kg) | From 320 rubles |
| Neutered Female |
| 33,0% | 6,40% | 7,60% | 1,0% | 0,90% | 3300 kcal (13.8 MJ/kg) | ||
| Obesity |
| 43,0% | 9,0% | 10,0% | 7,50% | 1,10% | 0,95% | 3128 kcal (13.1 MJ/kg) | From 380 rubles |
| Renal ("Renal") |
| 24,5% | 20% | 0,90% | 5,30% | 0,60% | 0,40% | 4073 kcal (17.1 MJ/kg) | From 404 rubles |
| Struvite |
| 34,0% | 16,0% | 1,20% | 5,90% | 0,80% | 0,60% | 3842 kcal (16.0 MJ/kg) | From 370 rubles |
| Struvite Management |
| 33,0% | 16,50% | 6,60% | 0,85% | 0,70% | 3842 kcal (16.1 MJ/kg) | ||
| UltraHypo (“UltraHypo”) |
| 28,0% | 11,0% | 1,80% | 7,10% | 1,0% | 0,80% | 3530 kcal (14.8 MJ/kg) | From 465 rubles |
| Hepatic |
| 26,0% | 20,00% | 2,20% | 6,90% | 0,85% | 0,65% | 3972 kcal (16.6 MJ/kg) | From 404 rubles |
| Cardiac (“Cardiac”) |
| 27,0% | 21,00% | 2,40% | 4015 kcal (16.8 MJ/kg) | ||||
Photo gallery: Vet Life feeds
The recommended daily amount of food is indicated in the table (on the back of the package) and may vary depending on the breed, living conditions and physical activity
The manufacturer claims that Vetlife food is produced 18 months before the expiration date indicated on the packaging
The daily amount of food can be divided into two or more feedings, but the cat should always have access to drinking water
If your cat is overweight, Farmina experts recommend reducing the daily feeding rate by 15–40%
