4 classes of cat food, tips for choosing

Like humans, cats require a balanced diet in order to be well and active. However, it can be difficult to decide which cat food is best for your pet because there are so many varieties available. Generally speaking, there are four primary classes of cat food, each with varying levels of quality and nutrition.

The food class that you choose for your cat can have a significant impact on its health. Comprehending the distinctions between premium quality and affordable options will facilitate your decision-making process.

We’ll examine the four categories of cat food in this post and offer helpful advice on which to choose based on your cat’s requirements.

Classification of cat food

Cats can be fed in a variety of ways, including natural, prepared industrial mixes, mixed, dry food and fresh meat, fermented milk, and other items.

Finding organic, cruelty-free, pesticide- and hormone-free food that is also reasonably priced is nearly impossible these days. As a result, the majority of cat owners tend to switch their animals to commercially prepared feeds. However, not all of them are risky and good for cats’ health.

Industrial ready-made feeds are separated into the following categories based on the moisture content and the preservation strategy used:

• dry;
• wet;
• canned.

Depending on their price and quality, manufacturers worldwide currently produce four types of ready-made mixtures:

• economy;
• premium;
• super premium;
• holistic.

Economy class

Everyone is well aware of these feeds. They have the most aggressive and widely distributed television and other media advertising.

Because economy mixes are the least expensive cat food on the market, they appeal to the average consumer. However, their quality is also the lowest.

Only 60% of the ingredients in these meals are absorbed by pets. They are available for purchase online, in pet supply stores, supermarkets, grocery stores, markets, and kiosks.

Producers of economy feeds guarantee their customers—cat owners in this case—that the ingredients are entirely natural and balanced.

Simultaneously, research by veterinarians and cat nutritionists reveals that economy class mixtures include a lot of grain components—specifically, wheat, soy, and corn—which cats have trouble digesting. They also contain inexpensive cellulose, starch, and dangerous chemical additives that irritate animals’ allergies and degrade their skin and fur.

These mixes either contain virtually no meat at all or meat in the form of flour made from offal, bones, and other animal waste. In any event, less than 4-6% of the composition contains it.

However, cats frequently eat economy class feeds with pleasure because they are popular. This occurs as a result of the attractants—artificial additives that behave on pets similar to drugs, drawing them in and producing an alluring flavor.

Owners of cats should be aware that consistently feeding their pets such mixtures has a toxic effect on their bodies and impairs the liver, kidneys, and gastrointestinal tract. Pets’ joints, fur, and skin suffer, and their vision deteriorates.

If the owner of a cat does not have the opportunity to buy high-quality food, then it is better to transfer the pet to natural food. The pet’s health will suffer less as a result.

You can also select better options from the economy food line by consulting a veterinarian. The cat on this diet also needs to drink a lot of clean water and take a vitamin and mineral complex.

Food brands like Whiskas (210), Kitekat (145), Felix (315), and Nasha Marka (from 142) are examples of economy class food. In brackets is the average cost per kilogram of the mixture.

Premium class

This class of ready-made, dry mixes for cat food is middle class and is marketed at a much lower price point. Cats can digest them more easily and with a slightly higher quality than those in the economy group. They have between 10 and 20 percent meat content, mostly in the form of chicken or offal, and animal proteins. The most common crops used as sources of carbohydrates are corn and wheat.

Premium feeds contain artificial additives and preservatives, but they also contain a lot less attractants. Cats do not become addicted to these mixes, but pets are not protected against allergies.

The packaging must always state the composition. Usually, it is in balance. Numerous producers offer lines categorized by breed, age range, and occasionally by preventive and therapeutic qualities.

Premium cat food is available online, in large supermarkets, and in specialty pet salons.

The following brands are available in premium class feeds: Perfect, Purina (300-500), Cat Chow (250-400), Hills (600), Royal Canin (Russian production – 500), Proplan (400-600), and Happy Cat (500-600). In brackets is the average cost per kilogram of the mixture for the whole line.

Super premium

These combinations are regarded as elite diets. They don’t need it, are more expensive, and hardly ever get advertised.

Here’s a quick rundown of super premium feeds:

• The packaging must indicate the detailed composition of the product.
• There is a certificate and quality control.
• Meat and its ingredients act as a source of proteins, their content in the mixture should be higher than 50%. Corn gluten is categorically not used, usually there is no wheat, but there is protein from potatoes and peas.
• Carbohydrates are most often represented by rice and oatmeal, barley and potatoes can also be used. These components are better absorbed and do not cause allergies in cats.
• Natural tocopherols are oxidants and preservatives, vitamin E is usually found in the form of rosemary. If its quantity is not indicated on the pack of the mixture, then it can hardly be classified as super premium.
• The composition is much more diverse – several types of meat, fish, seafood, various vegetables and fruits are used. Mineral and vitamin supplements are of higher quality and usually natural.

Bozita (600-800), 1St Choice (750-900), Monzhe (600-900), and Leonardo (650-900) are a few feed examples of this type. For each type, the price per kilogram of the mixture is shown in brackets.

Holistic

Dry mixtures of this class are a new group that appeared on the market of industrial pet food about twenty years ago.

The following characteristics set them apart from other mixtures qualitatively:

• Made exclusively using Human Grade technology, that is, from products intended for the human table.
• The packaging must indicate all ingredients of the mixture without exception and their percentage composition.
• The highest quality meats, most suitable for cats, are used as the protein component. This is turkey, duck, lamb, venison, rarely chicken. Never add pork and beef.
• Holistics do not contain attractants, their taste is natural. Sometimes cats are reluctant to eat these mixtures, especially if they previously had economy class food.
• Have very high digestibility – 80% and above.
• Colors, vitamin and mineral complexes, amino acids, probiotics, prebiotics are contained only in the form of natural additives.
• Very many manufacturers produce completely grain-free products. As a source of carbohydrates and fiber in their composition – vegetables, fruits, berries.
• If grain crops are present in mixtures of this class, then there are no more than 10% of them, this is brown rice and legumes.
• Almost all manufacturers produce specialized lines of food – by age groups, breeds, for therapeutic and preventive purposes.
• Not advertised, sold only in elite veterinary clinics, large specialized pet stores or on the websites of official dealers of the manufacturing company.
• Mandatory certified, quality guarantee.
• Holistic products are produced using products that do not contain GMOs, hormones, antibiotics, usually from farms and organic class.

The cost of holistic cat food is high; the price per kilogram is shown below for each brand. Acana (980-1200), Orijen (850-1100), Grandorf (700-900), and Nau Fresh (600-900) are the most widely used brands.

It’s critical to comprehend the differences between the four primary categories of cat food: economy, premium, super-premium, and holistic. The quality, ingredients, and nutritional value of each class vary, which has an immediate effect on your cat’s health. While higher-quality food may be more expensive, it offers superior nutrition, promoting your pet’s health and longevity. For your cat’s individual needs, always read the ingredients list, make real meat the main ingredient, and speak with your veterinarian to determine which option is best.

Mr. Cat explains: what you need to know about the composition of the food

The following guidelines must be followed when selecting food for your pet:

• You should carefully read its composition on the packaging. The percentage of ingredients is indicated in descending order. If it is not there, then this is a product of the cheapest price category and low quality.
• The meat component is always indicated on the first line. If it says "dehydrated" next to it, then the numerical expression of the quantity is correct. If there is no such designation, then the meat in the mixture is raw and its true volume is three times less than the indicated figure. This is due to the evaporation of moisture during the food manufacturing process.
• If it is indicated what type of meat the mixture contains, then this product is not lower than premium class.
• The lower the content of cereals in the mixture, the better. Predators, which cats are, practically do not need this component. If this component occupies the first line in the list, you should not buy such food – it will bring nothing but harm to the animal.
• It is desirable that rice, legumes, potatoes, oats are used as plant crops. Wheat, soy, corn often cause allergies in animals. It is preferable to contain fiber in whole, and not in the form of flour, state.
• It is good if the composition of by-products is indicated. If they contain liver, lungs, heart, tripe, this indicates an acceptable quality of the mixtures. With the general phrase "of animal origin" – hooves, horns and other low-grade waste are definitely used in the feed.
• It is welcomed that the mixtures contain fruits, vegetables, berries, probiotics, prebiotics in whole form.
• The indication "animal" or "bird" fat in the composition of the dry mixture indicates its low quality. It is desirable that "chicken" or "fish" is written next to this component.
• A certificate and quality guarantee should always be present on super premium and holistic feeds.
• If your pet suffers from urolithiasis, leads a sedentary lifestyle, is prone to excess weight and obesity, is castrated or sterilized, then it is better to purchase feeds from special therapeutic and prophylactic lines.
• For pregnant and lactating cats, kittens, you should choose only products with high calorie content, preferably from a specialized line.

Class of Cat Food	Tips for Choosing
Dry Food	Look for high protein content and avoid fillers.
Wet Food	Choose options with real meat as the first ingredient.
Raw Food	Ensure it"s balanced and sourced from reputable brands.
Grain-Free Food	Check for essential nutrients to avoid deficiencies.

Selecting the proper cat food class is essential to maintaining the health and happiness of your companion. Knowing the quality and ingredients of any food—cheap, premium, super-premium, or holistic—will help you make the best choice.

Always carefully read labels, taking note of the additives and protein sources. Steer clear of foods that contain an excessive amount of artificial ingredients or low-nutrient fillers.

Your decision should be based on your cat’s individual needs, including age, health, and activity level. When in doubt, seek the counsel of a veterinarian for specific guidance.

You can give your cat the nutrition they need to thrive by making wise decisions.

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