Everyone who once decides to get a cat in the house has to deal with the question of which food is best for the kitten.
Industrial feed or natural food
Natural food is certainly very healthy for the baby. But is it possible to independently balance the daily diet so that the animal receives the necessary daily intake of nutrients, trace elements and vitamins? Given the modern rhythm of life, most owners are unlikely to have time to prepare food for their pet. For many, it is much more convenient to use premium feeds for kittens. A good industrial feed will cost no more than a balanced natural food. In addition, today the market and the price range of these products have expanded. The number of manufacturers that offer premium kitten food has also increased. Considering that these are not adult cats yet, which means that a special approach is required for proper nutrition, special cooking technologies have been developed for these babies.
The benefits of dry food
Which food is better for a kitten: dry or wet? The advantages of "drying" are obvious: such food does not deteriorate, and therefore it can be kept in a bowl for a long time. It is very convenient if you have to leave for a long time. For such cases, you can purchase a special feeder equipped with a timer and dispenser. Universal dry food on a long journey or while at the exhibition. Contrary to prejudice, the likelihood of an animal having various diseases from such food is extremely small. But for this you need to follow some rules: provide the pet with clean water in a bowl; Do not mix natural food with dry food; to dose "drying" strictly according to the weight of the baby. Food for premium kittens must be selected based on the physiological condition of the pet. If these conditions are violated or not observed, there is a risk that the pet will have urolithiasis and digestive problems.
Features of wet feed
Another possible option is canned food. However, such food for premium kittens is not very convenient to use. Due to the fact that it tends to deteriorate quickly, one can not allow a long stay of canned food in a bowl. For the same reason, wet kitten food is sold in compact packages, which significantly increases its price.
In order to provide a pet with high-quality canned food, you need to be ready to pay a round sum. In addition, if you have to leave home for a long time, you can’t feed the animal with canned food, so they are less convenient than dry food.
Premium kitten food: how to choose
When choosing a kitten's nutrition, it is important to focus not on classification, but on composition. Currently, the legislative framework is not accurate enough, in this regard, the division of feed into classes is conditional. For the most part, this applies to feed produced domestically. Premium food may be lower in quality than stated by the manufacturer. This is due to the fact that such producers determine the category of their feed, based on pricing policy.
What is better kitten food
Several brands of food for premium kittens justifiably occupy a leading position in the market. These include:
- Food Hills ("Hills"). Its antioxidants and amino acids contribute to the good digestion of the development of immunity in kittens. This food supports bladder health in order to prevent urolithiasis. Hills is produced in packages weighing 400 grams, 2 kilograms, 5 kilograms and 10 kilograms. Prices range from 219 to 3450 rubles, depending on weight.
- Acana ("Akana"). Since the appearance of this feed on sale, he managed to fall in love with kittens. Thanks to the thoughtful composition of the diet, which includes the egg, lamb, pike perch, pets grow up healthy and strong. "Akana" is available in packages: 400 grams, 2 kilograms, 5 kilograms, 7 kilograms and 18 kilograms. The price of feed is from 250 to 5890 rubles.
- Royal Canin (Royal Canin) is deservedly considered the most affordable premium-class feed in the price category . It contains only the most necessary substances needed by a growing feline organism. It includes L-carnitine, which contributes to the normal formation of the skeletal system in the animal. Royal food for kittens is produced in 400 grams, 2 kilograms, 4 kilograms and 10 kilograms. The price of this food is from 187 to 3280 rubles, depending on weight.
When pricing, one of the main roles is played by advertising costs. In this regard, it is recommended to carefully study the composition before buying food for premium kittens. To do this, it is enough to navigate along the main important points of the ingredients. The protein content of animal origin should form the basis of the feed, that is, this item is at the very beginning of the list. The protein of plant origin does not contain amino acids necessary for the animal, and is also poorly absorbed. The specific gravity of chicken or turkey meat in the feed directly affects the cost of the latter. The meat of tender lamb, salmon, duck is used as a marketing move, and if it is added, then in a minimal amount.
How to evaluate feed class
You can independently evaluate the quality of the feed in accordance with the Fredalina scale. The reference point is considered to be 100 points. Based on the composition of the feed, points are added / taken to the initial amount. Based on the result, a conclusion is made according to a special table.
Thus, before you get a kitten, it is worth deciding on the type of feeding. If you have free time, you can give him natural food, carefully considering the daily diet. It will be necessary to take into account that for normal growth and development the pet needs to consume food, in which the necessary set of microelements, vitamins, nutrients will be present. Otherwise, there is a risk of pathologies of development and diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
A lighter and less hassle-free option is ready-made industrial feed of a premium class. Thanks to the developed technology, they have the right set of nutrients, minerals and vitamins. Using such feeds to feed the kitten, you can be sure that the pet will grow active and healthy.