NOW Senior Cat Food Recipe: review, analysis and personal feeding experience

• Posted by Maria
• Date: August 31, 2018

Nowadays, most owners feed their pets with industrial food, because natural food for animals is not table scraps, but a large amount of meat, issued according to strict rules, plus special additives. Dry food is not only convenient, but should theoretically provide the animal with all the necessary substances. But this cannot be said about every food.

• 2 Composition analysis
  2.1 Table: comparison of the required amount of nutrients in the diet of adult cats and kittens and the content of these substances in Now food
• 2.2 Video: review of Now food

What the manufacturer promises:

Now Fresh Grain Free Senior Cat Recipe (weight control - grain-free cat food with turkey, duck and vegetables) - a completely balanced holistic food from fresh turkey and duck fillets raised on Canadian farms, from boneless salmon caught in the lakes of British Columbia . Recommended for cats over 7 years old, as well as for adult (1-6 years old) cats prone to obesity. Also, many recommend this food for spayed/neutered animals. This food has a balanced protein and fat content to maintain the animal's optimal weight.

Ingredients: Turkey fillet, potatoes, peas, fresh whole eggs, tomatoes, flax seeds, apples, salmon fillet, duck fillet, canola oil (source of vitamin E), alfalfa, natural flavor, coconut oil (source of vitamin E), lecithin, carrots , pumpkin, bananas, blueberries, cranberries, raspberries, blackberries, papaya, pineapple, grapefruit, lentils, broccoli, spinach, cottage cheese, alfalfa sprouts, etc. According to a guaranteed analysis, this food contains 30% protein and 14% fat.

This food also contains glucosamine and chondroitin for healthy joints and ligaments. Additionally, this product promotes urinary tract health, which is extremely important for older cats. The coconut oil used in the Now Fresh Grain Free Senior Cat Recipe is absorbed directly through the stomach lining and broken down into simple sugars that are used as energy.

Coconut oil also has an antiviral effect and reduces the risk of gastrointestinal diseases (inflammatory bowel disease, pancreatitis and food allergies). The food contains the optimal amount of calories to help your pet live a long, healthy life without gaining weight and meets their specific needs. The food contains natural antioxidants, enzymes and probiotics that support the cat's immune system. The Now Fresh Grain Free Senior Cat Recipe will help your cat stay in tip-top shape so you can enjoy your pet's golden years together.

Analysis:

Proteins (min) - 30%, Fats (min) - 14%, Carbohydrates (max) - 5%, Moisture (max) 10%, Ash (max) 6.5%, Phosphorus - 0.6%, Magnesium - 0.1%, Taurine – 2800 mg/kg, Omega 6 fatty acids (min) – 2.6%, Omega-3 fatty acids (min) – 0.52%, Lactobacillus (Lactobacillus acidophilus, Enterococcus faecium) – 90,000,000 cfu/lb.

Composition analysis

A food that claims to be in the holistic class must have an impeccable composition. Let's look at the ingredients of Now Adult food.

• Like all cat food from this company, it is grain-free. This sets them apart from products from other manufacturers. Even Hills and Royal Canin recommended by veterinarians always contain corn and corn starch or flour in the first place. Since cats are carnivores, they do not need grain crops at all. Moreover, their intestines are shorter than those of herbivores and are not designed to digest such food, so cats may become constipated from a large amount of grain in their food;
• Like all Now foods, it does not contain gluten and chicken - the two foods that most often cause allergies in cats;
• Turkey fillet comes first in this food; trout, salmon and herring fillets take the first place in Now Fish food. During production, raw meat was used, and not “dehydrated animal proteins”, as in lower-class feeds, which can mean any by-products and waste;
• the next places are occupied by potatoes and peas, which are sources of carbohydrates, that is, energy for the animal;
• Next comes canola oil - it is obtained from rapeseed seeds of the Canola variety. It is a source of Omega-3 and Omega-6, as well as vitamin E. A little further in the composition is coconut oil, which is valuable for the same ingredients. Moreover, it should be noted that the oils are preserved in a natural way, without the use of chemicals;
• Also, the top five ingredients include eggs, which are highly recommended to be included in a cat’s diet. Along with meat and fish, they are a source of protein, and essential amino acids are necessary for animal health. Phosphorus, calcium and magnesium contained in eggs have a beneficial effect on joints, bones and blood vessels. This is especially useful for the growing organism of large breed cats;
• towards the end of the composition there are vegetables and fruits, among which there are many exotic ingredients such as papaya, pineapple and grapefruit. In the wild, cats naturally do not eat these fruits. There will be no harm from these products in the composition, especially since they are contained there in minute quantities, but perhaps a certain amount of vitamins will enter the animal’s body;
• Taurine is an amino acid that cats primarily obtain from meat. Strengthens the immune system, improves vision and coat condition, normalizes the functioning of the liver, kidneys and heart;
• aitamines A, E, C, D-3 and group B, minerals;
• L-Lysine is another amino acid that strengthens the immune system, musculoskeletal system and cardiovascular system;
• chicory is a source of oligosaccharides that promote the growth of beneficial microflora in the intestines;
• dried seaweed is a source of iodine and has a beneficial effect on the thyroid gland and metabolism. However, do not forget that algae can change the color of the fur. If you notice that your cat has turned brown, it is better to avoid food containing algae or liver. Although this is more relevant for breeders whose cats participate in exhibitions, owners of light-colored cats are also unlikely to like this effect;
• Yucca Schidigera extract is added to reduce the smell of cat waste products;
• Rosemary extract is a natural preservative.

Meat comes first in Now adults food

Below the composition on the package is an analysis of the ingredients.

• proteins - 31%. Growing cats need 30% protein, adults 25–30%. An increased amount can put too much strain on the kidneys, so there is no need to strive for a high percentage of protein in the feed;
• fats - 18%. Adult cats need approximately 15–20% fat, young cats - 20%. No longer necessary to avoid gaining excess weight.
• Fiber - 2.5%. Cats need approximately 3% fiber in their food. Older cats and animals suffering from excess weight and constipation need higher amounts of it;
• humidity - 10%. Don't forget that dry food's own moisture content will never be enough! A cat sitting on a drying mat should always have access to water. If your animal does not recognize liquid, then you can soak the dry food with water, obtaining some kind of canned food;
• ash - 6.5%. When they see the word “ash”, many buyers think that the food is of poor quality, since waste is added to it. In fact, the ash content of the feed shows the content of inorganic substances in the feed, that residue that does not burn, that is, minerals;
• phosphorus, magnesium, taurine, fatty acids, lactobacilli - all these are useful substances.

Table: comparison of the required amount of nutrients in the diet of adult cats and kittens and the content of these substances in Now food

Video: Now food review

My impressions and observations from feeding Now Natural Fresh Grain Free Senior Cat food

Let me remind you that at the time of writing this article, my British cat Marsik is 6 years old, he is neutered and has sensitive digestion. The food content of 30% protein and 14% fat allows this food to be fed to castrated and sterilized animals.

For my cat, food has ceased to be the meaning of his life. Marsik began to be more active, play, take an interest in the world around him, and sleep less. I tore up a new sofa and is actively interested in my little daughter’s toys.

He eats very little food. According to the norm, he is supposed to have 90 grams, I measure out 50 grams for him, but he rarely eats even this amount.

After 12 months of feeding this food, the cat lost excess weight and his eyes stopped watering. Marsik has become so slender! But I also noticed a change in the blue color - a brown tint appeared on the fur. Most likely this will be a problem for show cats, but for my pet Marsik it is not a problem.

A cat’s intestines (mine have a weak spot) work like clockwork. Never during the entire feeding period did I have any constipation or diarrhea.

Now about removing wool. I can’t say that this food completely copes with removing hair from cats. During the period of active molting, the cat vomited fur a couple of times with a frequency of 2-3 weeks. But when the shedding ended (after 3 months!) the cat stopped occasionally tearing up hairballs. It should be noted that a large accumulation of hair in the stomach followed by catarrhal gastritis with the addition of a bacterial infection was not observed in the cat. I do not give malt paste for hair removal.

My Marsik still refuses to drink clean water, so he eats food mixed with water in the proportion of 1 part food and 3 parts water. At first I turned my nose up and didn’t eat right away, but then I got used to it. Now he even likes this soup with food.

Everything is clear with the advantages, now let’s talk about the disadvantages of this excellent food. In today's environment, the most significant drawback is the price. A 7.26 kg bag of food cost us about $75, but feeding organic food was even more expensive.

The price raises the problem of availability: the food is only available in a few online stores, and is very rarely found on store shelves in the city, and only in small bags. We always buy food at the zoomapa pet store https://zoomapa.com.ua/tovay-dlja-koshek/korm/now-grain-free/now-kontrol-vesa-bezzernovoj-dlja-koshek-s-indejkoj-utkoj-i -ovoshami-fresh-grain-free-senior-cat-recipe-3014-182-kg/ Excellent delivery and service!

I would also like to be more specific about the composition of the food. The packaging states: turkey fillet 18%, duck fillet 2.5%, salmon fillet 2.5%, total 23%. I would like for the remaining 77% of the food composition to also indicate the percentage of ingredients.

A little tip: when you buy in a big bag, be sure to check the expiration date. You understand that the product is expensive and relatively little-known; it is not bought as often as, for example, Royal Canin, so it is possible that it has been in the warehouse longer than expected. To protect yourself as much as possible, it is better to immediately check the expiration date with the manager when ordering a product in an online store, and check it again when receiving the product.

Now about storing open food packaging. It is best to immediately pour the food into jars or hermetically sealed containers to minimize moisture getting into the food. Jars with vacuum sealed lids are ideal. Food should be stored away from sunlight.

Cat food Now - reviews

Finding Now Fresh cat food on the shelves of Russian pet stores is not a problem; it has been there for many years. During this time, many pet owners tried it, some shared their reviews on the Internet. Below we publish several of these reviews.

Reviews from veterinarians

The PetObzor website team was unable to find direct reviews from veterinarians about Nau cat food.

Customer Reviews

Polina writes:

Hi all! I have an ordinary mongrel cat, sterilized. Previously, I fed her Purina Pro Plan dry food produced in France, but then it was replaced on the shelves of pet stores by food produced in Russia. Then I decided to try something different; on some website I read about holistic food Now. Reviews were good, made in Canada. In general, I bought the smallest package of 230 g.

I transferred the new food without mixing it with the old one, there were no negative consequences. When I was convinced that the cat was eating the new food well, I ordered a large 3.6 kg package. The packaging itself is matte and looks stylish. The large package contains a convenient Velcro that closes tightly and the food does not lose its smell. I also have a small container into which I pour some of the food so that I don’t have to constantly take out a large package, it’s even more convenient.

By the way, the food smells quite pleasant even to the human nose. This is probably due to the no less pleasant composition, which is written on the packaging sticker. The Now granules are small compared to the Pro Plan granules, at first I even thought that it wouldn’t be suitable for this reason. But the cat quickly adapted, successfully chews it, and does not swallow it whole. The general impressions of the food are good, both me and the cat liked it.

Out of curiosity, I wanted to buy holistic food for our cat. Holistic is the highest quality food, where the composition is completely natural and real meat is used. Our usual diet is Royal Canin premium food; of course, its composition is not nearly as good, but the price is half as much. Actually, this is the reason why they didn’t hire holistic specialists before.

And so, we bought two 230 g bags of Now Fresh Adult at once, enough for a week. Our cat is a big guy, one of these bags is barely enough for him for 3 days. The results for the week are as follows: pros - the cat eats appetizingly, digestion is normal, active, happy; Cons: bags without a zipper, the granules are quite small, which is not convenient for large cats.

My husband tried the granule, he says the taste is normal, not salty, not greasy)) The smell of Now is no different from regular cat food. I think from time to time you can take such food to warm your soul, I think I’m buying the very best for my pet. However, we won’t be able to afford it financially to feed the big cat all the time.

Five months ago we got a kitten, a Don Sphynx (a breed without hair - hairless). At first, on the recommendation of the breeder, they fed him Proplan, later I started reading about dry food and it turned out that it was far from the best. On the pet store's website, Petshop began to choose a better manufacturer; there was just a promotion for trial bags of GO food! and NOW, I ordered them. Both have a very good composition: meat, fish, vegetables, fruits, no “processed products”. Perfect