Now cat food is a product of Petcurean Pet Nutrition from Canada. The manufacturer classifies this food as a “holistic” food – a new generation of products that contain only high-quality ingredients suitable for human consumption. Should I give food to cats?
NOW does not contain soy, grains or GMO products. All raw materials are grown and mined in Canada and used raw. Production is based on low-temperature technologies, which allow maximum preservation of nutrients in finished diets.
Manufacturer
The food manufacturer, Petcurean Pet Nutrition, began producing its product in 1999.
At first it was a very small production: the idea was born during a conversation between two friends - lovers of domestic animals. They wanted to create a high-quality product that could only bring benefits - and their mission was a success.
By selecting decent suppliers and enlisting the support of professionals in their field - veterinarians, nutritionists - production quickly took off.
At the same time, the company is careful about both resources and the environment. Supports local farmers (to reduce the so-called “ecological footprint”), uses environmentally friendly bags (made from starch), and recycles cardboard, plastic and paper.
Something about the little things
To be fair, we will say that this product contains both salmon fillet and duck fillet, but they are at the “far end” of the list - they are more likely to be protein supplements than key sources of protein in the diet. “Carrying them out” into the product name is another marketing ploy.
On the front of the package there is an important indication “0% rendered meats, by-product meals, gluten, wheat, corn or soy.” This is a good indicator - careful analysis of the ingredients in NOW Fresh Grain Free Kitten Recipe confirms this data.
Beyond the top five, such a large number of inaccuracies have been identified in the list of components that it makes no sense to list them all in detail. We will note only the most egregious ones.
Feed class
Now Fresh cat food belongs to the holistic class for several reasons:
- contains a lot of animal protein, vegetables and an excellent vitamin complex;
- does not contain components harmful to cats;
- is easily absorbed.
The Greek “Holism” means “general”, “whole”, and from the point of view of nutrition for cats, it means that the proposed formula contains the maximum allowable amount of useful substances and components that have better properties compared to other existing food groups.
Reviews of Nau cat food - owners and breeders
Margarita : “My Persian is already 12 years old. Almost all his life he ate premium food - Royal Canin. After reading positive reviews about the Nau brand, I decided to buy cat food for cats over 7 years old. Everything is fine, but I see that the animal is not eating enough. We have to give more than the manufacturer recommends.”
Igor, .
Reviews of kitten food
Maria : “Our “noble girl” recently gave birth to three kittens. We fed her during pregnancy NOW for kittens and pregnant cats. As soon as the kids grew a little older, they began to give them this food. The whole family feels great! The kittens crunch the croquettes with pleasure.”
Reviews from veterinarians - expert opinion
Stepan Aleksandrovich : “The Canadian brand NOW is a step higher than super-premium food. This is why I recommend this food to my clients. The only caveat is that it is not very suitable for sterilized animals, like other high-protein and high-fat foods.”
Andrey : “When my charges grow up, they need special food. Nau does an excellent job for this purpose for aging animals. It takes into account all the features of an aging body.”
Range
Now Fresh Kitten - formula for kittens: includes fresh duck and turkey fillets, specially prepared salmon meat, a sufficient amount of Omega-3 and Omega-6 (from canola and coconut oils).
Also contains an EPA complex for brain development, taurine to support heart function and visual acuity, and probiotics for the stomach. The amount of fat and protein is balanced.
Antioxidants have a beneficial effect on the immune system. Packaged in packs of 1.82 and 3.63 kg.
Now Fresh Adult is an adult formula designed to keep cats active. It contains natural antioxidants, taurine, and probiotics.
Lots of dried herbs and fruits added. Protein - 32.9%, fat - 19.9%, fiber - 2.2%.
Now Fresh Senior - Senior cats need a nutritious, yet easy-on-the-stomach diet, plus probiotics, prebiotics and a special vitamin and mineral supplement.
Suitable not only for older cats, but also for obese cats.
Yucca Schidigera extract removes the unpleasant odor of feces from the tray, lactobacilli acidophilus and enterococcus faecium. Packages of 1.82, 3.36 and 7.26 kg are available for sale.
Now Fresh Adult Salmon - for allergy sufferers and those with sensitive stomachs, you can buy a grain-free formula with fresh fish: trout, herring and salmon.
A large amount of Omega has a beneficial effect on the skin and coat, probiotics and prebiotics support the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. Calorie content: 3988 kcal kg.
The portion of food should be measured taking into account not only the age, but also the activity level and breed of the cat, as well as climatic conditions (in the heat, animals usually eat less).
Advantages and disadvantages of NOW food
The entire line of NOW dry food is hypoallergenic products, as chicken, wheat, corn and wheat gluten are not used in their production.
These are the foods that most often cause allergies in pets. All diets include fruits and vegetables, as well as beneficial herbs, probiotics and prebiotics. The food formulas are perfectly balanced and contain no artificial flavors, preservatives or dyes.
Disadvantages of the NOW Fresh brand:
- the company does not produce medicinal food;
- there is no food for castrated and sterilized animals;
- no packs of pouches;
- contains “controversial” ingredients – phosphoric acid.
Compound
- Meat components: turkey meat (boneless).
- Potatoes (and potato flour), peas, lentils.
- Oil: salmon, canola, flaxseed.
- Yeast, fermentation product of dried Aspergillus mushrooms, grain cottage cheese.
- Fruits, berries and vegetables: bananas, apples, tomatoes, pumpkin, tomatoes, spinach, broccoli, carrots, grapefruit, blueberries, pineapple, papaya.
- Herbs: rosemary, calendula, chicory, seaweed, alfalfa, kelp.
- Food and zootechnical additives.
Attention, top five!
The first five ingredients contain two sources of animal protein - turkey fillet (component No. 1) and dried whole egg (component No. 5). The latter is translated into Russian incorrectly: instead of “whole dried egg,” in Russian it says “fresh whole eggs.” Agree, this is nothing more than a marketing ploy.
The remaining three products are of plant origin and are more likely sources of carbohydrates than vegetable protein. So, ingredient No. 2 is potato flour, which for some reason is simply called “potato”. But in fourth place here are potatoes (potatoes), designated “potato flour”.
In any case, there is a “split” of potato derivatives, which made it possible to formally divide the volume of the root crop into two parts. Since the dosage of the first five components of the NOW Fresh Kitten Recipe is not indicated, we can safely assume that in total, potato flour and potatoes occupy a larger part of the composition than turkey fillet, and only thanks to the “split” the marketers were able to bring the meat ingredient to the first place on the list.
The third place in the food is occupied by peas - a legume ingredient, another source of vegetable protein and carbohydrates.
Advantages and disadvantages
- Wheat, corn, and soybeans are absent here. These products are, of course, nutritious, but they are not welcome in cat food: primarily because they cause various diseases (diabetes, obesity, problems with the heart muscle) and allergic reactions.
- There is no beef and offal (a little fatty, according to manufacturers), gluten (this vegetable protein is poorly tolerated by the cat’s body, causes disruption of the gastrointestinal tract, disruption of the immune system, negatively affects appearance), artificial preservatives, medications, GMOs.
- Antioxidants and preservatives used in feed are natural.
- Safe chicken fat is used as a flavor enhancer.
- Now Fresh foods are common.
- The percentage of ingredients is indicated for some components, but it would be more convenient if as detailed information as possible was printed on the packaging.
- Compared to other similar products, the price of Now Fresh is high.
- No wet food.
Get to know interesting cat breeds with the help of our encyclopedia:
- American Shorthair;
- Cymric;
- Persian cat;
- Javanese (Javanese);
- Bambino.
Dry food is preferable to natural food and table food
With the advent of modern technology, many owners have switched their cats to dry food.
After all, it is simpler, such food has a balanced composition, which frees animal owners from the tedious selection of food containing the necessary components. Over the course of its existence, the pet food industry has changed, and recently a new class of food has emerged - holistic. It is higher in the line than super premium, which means it has an even higher quality and balanced composition. These foods contain a large percentage of meat ingredients. They are completely free of grains - this is the main difference from the products of other companies.
Now is a cat food that has good reviews. The wide range provides a large selection of different flavors and contents; choosing the right food for an allergic or fussy animal will be quite simple. There are products, including those intended for sterilized pets. We also produce a range for weight control in cats and cats with obesity problems.
The harm of cheap products
Remember that bad and inexpensive food always has consequences. Treatment and rehabilitation of your cat will cost you more than dubious savings. And in general, we shouldn’t cut food costs for those for whom we are responsible and who cannot fend for themselves. After all, as a result, you will experience ruined health of your furry pet:
- allergies caused by cheap food containing an unbalanced composition and low-quality ingredients;
- a patient with a gastrointestinal tract, as a result of which the cat will have to be put on a special therapeutic diet. Such animals constantly feel sick and vomit;
- Poisoning with bad food is not a rare occurrence.
All this is clearly not worth the well-being of a four-legged pet. After all, in the end, you will not save, but on the contrary, you will spend money on treating your cat. Visiting veterinarians can be prohibitively expensive, both financially and emotionally.
However, NOW Natural Holistic food will help you avoid all the troubles if you feed your animals it from the beginning. Your mentee will be different:
- Healthy digestive system.
- Shiny, smooth coat.
- Good general health..
- Activity.
The quality and life expectancy of your beloved friend will also improve. This type of food is suitable for animals with delicate and fragile health that require special care
Right choice
Today the choice of dry food is very diverse. However, this does not mean that they are all equally beneficial for your pet.
They should be selected individually and it is important to approach this with caution. In a good and nutritious product, meat or fish will always come first. It is advisable to give preference to options that contain beef or tuna
In addition, it should contain a small amount of vegetables, minerals, vitamins, etc.
It is advisable to give preference to options that contain beef or tuna. In addition, there should be a small amount of vegetables, minerals, vitamins, etc. inside.
It is not recommended to buy cheap food. Manufacturers often add dyes, preservatives and flavors. Of course, the cat will like it, its appetite will increase and it will become addictive. If the owner finds out that one of these products contains bad substances, it is better to gradually switch to another type, because due to low-quality feeding, problems with teeth, stomach and kidneys will begin.
The correct determination of the daily norm depends on the weight, age, and activity of the animal. After a person has received a certain norm, it should be divided into two or three doses. Only a veterinarian can give more accurate results. It is impossible to reduce everything to overeating or undereating.
6 main feeding rules
The first thing you should do is stop buying questionable brands.
In order for the cat to awaken its appetite, the food should be slightly warmed up; To prevent the granules from causing any discomfort, they can be slightly moistened; Low-calorie food is only suitable for older cats, as they are not very active; When the animal is eating, there should be no affection, because it will feel unsafe; When preparing dishes yourself, it is important to strictly follow doctors’ prescriptions, and not take the first option you come across from the Internet; It is recommended to visit a veterinarian at least once a year for a consultation and health assessment.
We need to put things in order!
This food contains two sources of vegetable fat: canola oil, which, instead of its rightful 6th place in the Russian-language composition, for some reason ended up in 11th place, and coconut oil, which, instead of 11th place, occupies place No. 14 in the Russian-language sticker. The Russian translation of these components is also incorrect - strictly speaking, they are preserved with vitamin E, and are not its sources.
The creators of the Russian-language sticker not only mixed up the order of many food ingredients, but also forgot to indicate the last 15 ingredients. This is a serious violation because the information on the label does not correspond to the actual product information printed on the bag.
The source of fiber in this food is ranked #7. This is pea fiber (pea fiber), which they also forgot to indicate in the Russian composition. But lecithin (technological additive, emulsifier) is listed there as many as two times, while in the English composition it occupies position No. 35.
To place correct information on our website, we have brought the sequence of the Russian list of ingredients into full compliance with the English composition printed on the pack. Vitamin and mineral supplements are placed at the very end of the list of ingredients to make the composition look more correct.