Age
Age category for which the food is designed.
Different ages are associated with different needs for energy, nutrients, vitamins and trace elements. For example, kittens need large amounts of proteins, fats and minerals to grow properly. It is for small kittens that the largest number of nutrition gradations by age has been introduced (from 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 12 months). Young cats use a lot of energy, while older cats tend to have dental and digestive problems, and need easily digestible and non-solid food. These features are taken into account when creating feed.
Specifically, by age, cats in this case can be divided into the following categories:
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Kittens - from birth to reaching the size of an adult cat (8 - 12 months). Solid foods can be given to kittens from about 1 month of age; before that, if there is no lactating mother cat nearby, it is recommended to use milk replacers.
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Young - from one to two years.
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Adults - from 2 to 7 - 8 years.
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Elderly - from 7 - 8 years and above.
Food class
The overall quality and, accordingly, the price of the feed depends on the class.
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Economy. The cheapest and most affordable food, designed only to ensure that the cat is not hungry; there is no talk of any benefit for the body, moreover, with prolonged use, such food can even harm the health of the pet. Economies are made from vegetable raw materials, low-quality by-products and food waste, and in order to make this mixture attractive to the animal, aromatic and flavoring additives are used. Because of these additives, by the way, many cats "sit down" on low-quality food and refuse to eat a more expensive and high-quality product — it does not have such a pronounced taste and smell. In light of all this, it is worth using food of this class only in the most extreme cases, and it is definitely not recommended to feed a cat with “economy” all the time.
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Premium. Tolerable, and sometimes quite a good compromise between cost and quality. Such feeds are somewhat more expensive than “economists”, however, they also differ favorably in composition — they already contain meat, and the quality of other components is noticeably higher, although additives (including flavoring and aromatic) are often also enough. This class of food is very popular among ordinary cat owners who care about a more or less normal diet for their pets and at the same time do not want to spend large sums on food for the
...animal.
— Super premium. This class will be appreciated by those cat owners who care about the health of their pets and at the same time can afford something more expensive than the usual "premium". This variety is the highest quality of the ubiquitous feeds: there is a lot of meat in such products, high-quality harmless by-products are used for them, and often vitamin-mineral complexes are also added to the composition. We can say that if “premium” is a normal class of food for an ordinary domestic cat, then super-premium is very good.
— Holistic. Elite food, produced primarily for professional cat breeders and catteries involved in the maintenance and breeding of thoroughbred cats. The composition of such feeds is, if not perfect, then as close to perfect as possible, they contain absolutely all the substances necessary for the cat's body in the optimal proportion. However, the cost of "holistics" is extremely high, so it hardly makes sense to buy such food for an ordinary domestic cat, even a thoroughbred one.General purpose
The series describes the general purpose of the food; at the same time, feeds of the same series can have different purposes (see below).
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Everyday. This food is perfect for active and agile cats that do not suffer from pronounced diseases and do not need special care.
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Medical. Feed used for certain diseases as a main or auxiliary drug. It is possible to give such food only as directed by a veterinarian and only as part of the prescribed course; For permanent use, this type of feed is not intended.
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Dietary. Special food for cats suffering from digestive problems, as well as animals with a low level of activity and a tendency to obesity. As a rule, it has a reduced calorie content and is easier to digest than conventional feeds.
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Pregnant. Food for pregnant cats. Both for the health of the mother and for the normal development of kittens, enhanced, high-quality power supply is required; this is taken into account in special feeds.
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Nursing. Feed intended for cats that feed kittens with milk. A significant part of the nutrients that enter the cat's body during this period goes to the production of milk and is transferred to kittens. Accordingly, one of the features of such feeds is their high nutritional value. Note that some types of such
...food are also suitable for kittens over the age of 1 month.
- Sterilized. Feed intended primarily for sterilized (castrated) cats. The two main problems that such animals are prone to are overweight and urolithiasis. Accordingly, feeds in this category usually have a lightweight composition, including additional support for the health of the genitourinary system.Special purpose
Purpose of feed. This is a specific parameter, more highly specialized than the series (see above): food should be selected first of all according to the series, and only then according to its intended purpose. We also note that often one composition has several purposes at once - for example, “for skin and wool” and “hypoallergenic”.
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For leather and wool. Foods that help improve the condition of the skin and coat. They contain an increased amount of “building materials” from which skin cells and fur hairs are formed. Please note that this type of food may also be intended for short-haired cats.
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Taking care of your teeth. Food for improving dental health and preventing problems with them. As a rule, they provide cleaning of teeth and disinfection of the oral cavity, and also supply the body with calcium and other substances that strengthen teeth.
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For joints. Feeds that strengthen joints and prevent the development of diseases associated with them. They contain an increased amount of chondroprotectors - substances used to build cartilage tissue and protect it from wear and tear. Such foods are especially useful in old age.
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For the kidneys. Feeds that improve kidney function. The main function of such compositions is the prevention and treatment of urolithiasis.
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For the immune system. Foods designed to strengthen the immune system. They are characterized by a high content of vitamins and microelements; they may also contain specific immunomodulatory ingredients (for example, extracts of medicinal plants). Please note that if your pet is prone to allergies, such foods should be used with extreme caution.
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For the picky ones. Food for cats that have specific taste preferences and are able to refuse food due to the fact that it is “tasteless”. Such compositions are developed with an emphasis on the taste component, and their specific tastes may be different. Please note that food for picky pets may be useful when switching from cheap formulations rich in flavor enhancers to higher quality food.
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Hypoallergenic. Compositions selected in such a way as to minimize the likelihood of allergies. In addition to cats prone to allergies, such food is also used for show animals: on the eve of exhibitions and competitions, owners switch their pets to hypoallergenic food in order to minimize the likelihood of illness before the big day.
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From obesity. Feeds intended for the prevention and treatment of obesity. As a rule, they have a reduced calorie content; In addition, the composition may contain ingredients that accelerate metabolism. Especially useful for animals leading a sedentary lifestyle.
- For bones. Foods that strengthen bones. They contain an increased amount of substances used to build bone tissue - in particular calcium. They are especially useful at a young age, while the musculoskeletal system is just developing, as well as for older animals whose bones weaken with age.
- From hairballs in the stomach. Foods designed to remove hairballs from your pet's stomach. They contain a large amount of natural plant fibers and insoluble fiber. Together, they promote safe, fast and natural removal of hair from the digestive tract. Regular consumption of such foods reduces the risk of new hairballs forming in the stomach.
— For diabetics (sugar maintenance). Dietary complete food for cats that helps regulate blood glucose levels. These foods usually contain carbohydrates with a low glycemic index. At the same time, the diet provides all the needs of a pet with diabetes in vitamins, amino acids and microelements.
- For vision. Special purpose foods designed to meet the needs of the cat's visual system. They can be very helpful for pets with certain eye conditions or for aging cats whose vision is deteriorating. These foods often contain vitamins A and E, antioxidants, lutein and taurine - these nutrients are included in the diet formula to support healthy eye tissue and retina.
- For heart. Food for maintaining cardiovascular health. They are introduced into the diet of aging cats, as well as pets with a predisposition to heart disease. Heart foods are low in sodium and contain various antioxidants, taurine, and Omega-3 fatty acids. They help regulate heart rhythm, maintain efficient heart muscle function and vascular health.
There are also more specific purposes found in special feeds (see “Series”). Here are some options for such appointments:
— For cats with sensitive skin and digestive system;
— For exhibition animals;
— For street cats;
— For domestic cats;
— For cats of large breeds (Maine Coon, Siberian, Norwegian, etc.);
— With anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects;
— Preventative to prevent a particular problem (most often urolithiasis).
Ingredients
This parameter lists the main ingredients that make up a particular food and determine its taste and nutritional qualities. It is mainly
meat,
fish, and
poultry.
Calories
Calorie content (energy value) of the product in terms of 100 grams of weight. Knowing the calorie content of the feed and the animal's energy requirement per day, it is possible to determine the optimal daily portion size. The recommended number of calories depends on many factors — age, body type, breed of cat, the presence of certain features or diseases, etc.; This amount can be determined from special tables.
