"Eukanuba" (Eukanuba) Food For Cats: Review, Composition, Range, Pros And Cons, Reviews Of Veterinarians And Owners

2024 Author: Bailey Albertson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 12:53

Eukanuba dry and wet cat food

Eukanuba has a good reputation as it used to be a super premium food. However, more and more often on the network, you can encounter negative product reviews. This is due to the sale of the brand and the change in the feed formulation.

Content

• 1 General information

• 2 Types of feed "Eukanuba"

  • 2.1 Kitten food

    • 2.1.1 Wet food
    • 2.1.2 Dry food

  • 2.2 Food for adult cats

    • 2.2.1 Wet food
    • 2.2.2 Dry food

  • 2.3 Food for senior cats

    • 2.3.1 Wet food
    • 2.3.2 Dry food
• 3 Analysis of the composition of the feed "Eukanuba"
• 4 Advantages and disadvantages
• 5 Is Eukanuba food suitable for all cats?
• 6 Feed cost and point of sale
• 7 Reviews of pet owners and veterinarians

general information

Officially, Eukanuba feeds belong to the super premium class. The products were of high quality when they were produced by the Procter and Gamble Corporation. In 2014, the company sold the brand to Mars in the summer. Since then, the recipe began to deteriorate, the composition began to include increasingly cheaper ingredients and the proportion of meat was reduced. Despite the assurances of the manufacturers, in fact, the feed belongs to the premium class.

There are several versions of the logo, but this one is the most common and is present on most Eukanuba food packages.

The release of such products reduces the credibility of the manufacturer

The Mars Corporation has a controversial reputation among animal owners. She is engaged in the production of budget feeds: "Whiskas", "Kitiket", "Sheba", "Perfect Fit", "Royal Canin", etc. Additionally, there is a wide range of dog rations.

Types of feed "Eukanuba"

The corporation produces 6 types of dry food and 6 types of wet rations. There are products for kittens, adult and senior cats. There are no therapeutic diets, but there are preventive ones: for overweight animals, for the withdrawal of wool, etc.

Kitten food

The company produces wet and dry food for kittens.

Wet food

Wet food is recommended to be used as an intermediate link in the transition from breast milk to dry prepared rations. Dense pellets with low moisture levels can cause digestive upset in animals. In some cases, gastrointestinal pathologies even develop due to a sharp restructuring of the body. Many kittens give up pellets and prefer soft foods. To switch to adult diets, animals are first offered wet food, then soaked dry and only after that they are given the latter in its original form.

The composition of wet food for kittens includes the following components:

• meat and offal (including chicken at least 26%);
• cereals;
• vitamins and minerals;
• amino acid methionine;
• fish fat.

The manufacturer claims that this is a complete food, that is, it can be fed to a cat throughout its life without additional additives. It already contains the necessary vitamins, minerals and other useful substances. Unfortunately, the manufacturer achieves the balance through individual additives, rather than whole components, but this is a standard situation for wet feed.

It is advisable to introduce wet food into the diet from 4-6 weeks

The company highlights the following benefits of the formula:

1. Optimal protein content for healthy growth and development of internal organs.
2. Supports the immune system with antioxidants.
3. Possibility to control urine pH level.
4. Improved coat and skin health thanks to fish oil.
5. Strengthening the muscle corset with animal proteins.
6. Improving digestion due to plant fibers and the presence of prebiotics in the composition.

In fact, the manufacturer names many imaginary advantages. For example, protein in feed is only 7.6%. That's not a lot, especially when you consider that it includes cereals as a cheap filler. I do not recommend using wet food "Eukanuba" instead of full-feed food: I am familiar with more than one case when a kitten, having matured, then could not eat granulated foods and suffered from gastrointestinal diseases. Often in animals that eat only jellies and sauces, inflammation of the paraanal glands is found. They are cleared naturally during bowel movements, but when eating soft foods, minced meat and mashed potatoes, the feces become too soft and does not cause excess secretion to escape. As a result, the glands become clogged, inflamed, and enlarged. Symptoms can only be eliminated with manual cleansing. Often, even after the normalization of nutrition, pets are worried about relapses.

Dry food

Dry food for kittens is high in fish oil. It contains unsaturated fatty acids, which are necessary for the proper functioning of the brain and nervous system, strengthening the immune system, improving the condition of the skin and coat, etc.

The dry food "Eukanuba" contains the following components:

• proteins of animal origin (43% - poultry, a natural source of taurine);
• animal fat;
• barley;
• wheat;
• Wheat flour;
• rice;
• dry whole egg;
• hydrolyzed animal protein;
• sugar beet pulp;
• fish fat;
• fructooligosaccharides;
• dried brewer's yeast;
• minerals.

The advantages declared by the manufacturer are the same. In addition, the company emphasizes that dry food helps to maintain dental health through mechanical cleaning of the surface. In reality, this is not the case. By itself, dry food not only does not clean the teeth completely, but also provokes the appearance of stones from plaque. My first cat had problems with the oral cavity as early as 3-4 years old. Then I thought that Eukanuba and Royal Canin were the best, so I gave them to her. At first the gums became inflamed, then I noticed tartar. I had to go to the vet. The specialist explained to me that only special medicated feeds with a porous texture are suitable for prevention. They really clean the entire surface, because when pressed, they fall inside. A regular product does not have this effect: the granules simply crack. Chunks of food only clean the ends, moving plaque closer to the roots. As a result, it builds up and transforms into solid deposits.

The manufacturer suggests giving dry food to kittens a month, but even with preliminary soaking of the granules, it is advisable not to transfer the animal to a mono diet immediately

The composition of dry food is slightly better than wet food, but still, it clearly does not reach the super-premium class. In the first place, not meat, but animal proteins - an ingredient of dubious quality. "Bird" is also not a specific component. These designations can include either duck or turkey, or chicken or other questionable protein sources. Judging by the names of the ingredients, the production uses not pure meat, but a mixture of claws, beaks, feathers, etc. If the corporation had nothing to hide, they would indicate the type of component: dehydrated meat, fresh fillets, or at least flour.

The manufacturer does not indicate the calorie content, but the fat content of the feed is quite high - 24%. The company suggests giving the product to pregnant and lactating cats. Due to the high fat content, this can be dangerous for unhealthy animals, so it is advisable to consult a veterinarian first. The share of proteins is 36%. This is a good indicator, but given the predominance of cereals, the advantage is doubtful.

Food for adult cats

For adult cats, the company produces several varieties of dry and wet food.

Wet food

There are 4 types of wet food. The main difference lies in the main ingredient and the taste of the product. Since the composition of different types of food is approximately the same, we will consider only one sample.

Formally, the food is really with a rabbit, but its share is minimal

The Rabbit Wet Prepared Diet contains the following ingredients:

• meat and offal (including rabbit at least 4%);
• cereals;
• vitamins and minerals;
• amino acid methionine;
• fish fat.

4% of meat is very little. The mark "including" indirectly indicates that other varieties are used in production. Considering that there is more main ingredient in feed with chicken (24%), the rabbit is not the main ingredient, but a flavoring additive. This looks like a dubious marketing ploy. As in the case of the analogue for kittens, it is better not to use wet food for systematic feeding.

Dry food

The company produces 3 types of dry food. In this case, they differ not in flavorings, but in specialization. One feed is universal, the rest can be used for prevention. We look at each ready-made ration to see if the manufacturer is delivering on its promise to improve animal health.

The all-purpose chicken feed is suitable for animals without special needs, as it contains a standard amount of nutrients: proteins, fats, vitamins, etc.

Universal chicken feed contains the following components:

• proteins of animal origin (poultry 41%, natural source of taurine);
• rice;
• animal fat;
• wheat;
• vegetable fibers;
• hydrolyzed animal protein;
• sugar beet pulp;
• dry whole egg;
• fructooligosaccharides;
• minerals;
• dried brewer's yeast;
• fish fat.

The food is not suitable for cats that are prone to allergic reactions, due to the presence of wheat in the composition. It often causes intolerance. Beet pulp is a good additive that improves digestion, but against the background of the high content of cereals, it seems superfluous: the product already has enough fiber. Whole egg is the only quality source of animal protein, but the percentage is too low. The only meat component is animal proteins. This is a low quality ingredient that can actually be anything. The proportion of fish oil is very small, so it is present here, rather, to equalize the balance or as a marketing ploy.

The following components are included in the composition of food for spayed cats and overweight animals:

• proteins of animal origin (poultry 35%, natural source of taurine);
• wheat;
• barley;
• Wheat flour;
• animal fat;
• rice;
• dry whole egg;
• hydrolyzed animal protein;
• sugar beet pulp;
• minerals;
• dried brewer's yeast;
• fructooligosaccharides;
• fish fat.

Food for sterilized animals must meet 2 main requirements: low calorie content and prevention of urolithiasis. It is impossible to check whether a product meets the first criterion due to the lack of information: the manufacturer does not indicate the nutritional value of ready-made rations. This can already be attributed to significant disadvantages, since buyers can only take their word for it. With the prevention of urolithiasis, the situation is even worse. The composition not only lacks a single therapeutic ingredient, but also increases the concentration of phosphorus and calcium. This was found out in the course of research by Roskachestvo: the actual amount of trace elements differs from that indicated by the manufacturer. This provokes the formation of calculi. I personally know 2 cases when cats developed ICD after the "Eukanuba" food. Then I did not know what it was connected with, and I thought,it's just a coincidence. When I was faced with negative reviews, I was convinced that these were not isolated episodes.

In fact, the food is categorically unsuitable for sterilized animals: many buyers complain that it contains salt, although the manufacturer hides this

If we compare food for neutered cats with a standard ready-made ration, the former is much inferior. The share of meat in it is even lower (35% versus 41%). There are more cereals, with wheat in second place and is divided into 2 separate ingredients: wheat flour and wheat. Probably, if not for this marketing move, the seeds would have come out on top. It is a potent allergen and is therefore discouraged in feed. Even budget rice is better because it is less likely to cause negative reactions from the immune system. If the animal develops an allergy, the owners of spayed cats will not be able to find an analogue.

The following components are included in the composition of food for removing hairballs from the digestive tract:

• proteins of animal origin (poultry 43%, natural source of taurine);
• animal fat;
• wheat;
• vegetable fibers;
• sugar beet pulp;
• rice;
• Wheat flour;
• dry whole egg;
• hydrolyzed animal protein;
• minerals;
• fructooligosaccharides;
• dried brewer's yeast;
• fish fat.

In general, the feed is able to cope with its task: it contains vegetable fibers and beet pulp. Plant fibers grab the hairs and remove them from the digestive tract before the hair becomes clumped and clogs the intestines. However, there are few nutrients in the ready-made diet, which in itself can provoke increased hair loss.

The manufacturer decided to fight not with the cause, but with the consequences: it is necessary not only to remove wool from the stomach, but also to prevent its excessive loss using a high concentration of animal proteins and fish oil

Despite the presence of therapeutic additives (albeit not of the highest quality), I cannot recommend this food. 2 long-haired Scottish cats live at my friend's house. They used to shed heavily. This not only created aesthetic inconveniences, but also harmed the health of the animals. Vomiting of wool balls was observed in cats. It turned out that the animals eat the Eukanuba preventive food. I advised to transfer them to the "Origen" products. At first, the acquaintance hesitated due to the relatively high price, but then she made up her mind. After 2 months, bouts of vomiting became less likely to disturb the cats. A year later, the problem was forgotten.

Food for senior cats

For older cats, 2 types of food are produced: dry and wet. The line contains only 2 products.

Wet food

The presence of wet food in the series for older cats is in itself commendable, since many animals lose parts of their teeth by the age of 10–12. Due to diseases of the oral cavity, it becomes difficult for pets to chew hard dry granules. Sometimes this becomes the reason for refusal to eat or even the appearance of wounds and their further infection.

Wet food with such a poor composition is a dubious decision, because it is necessary to intensively maintain the health of depleted internal organs

The following ingredients are included in the wet food:

• meat and offal (including chicken at least 26%);
• cereals;
• vitamins and minerals;
• amino acid methionine;
• fish fat.

The composition completely coincides with the list of ingredients for kitten food and partially with the list of components for similar diets for adult cats. Even the amount of added vitamins is the same. The obvious difference lies only in the ratio of BJU: proteins in food for older cats 8.5%, and fats - 4%. This is more than in a ready-made diet for kittens, but the difference is not fundamental. The food is said to support heart health. This is most likely due to fish oil, which is also found in other similar foods.

Dry food

In theory, dry food for senior cats should be fortified with therapeutic additives to maintain the health of the urinary system, musculoskeletal system and heart muscle. Cranberries can act as an oxidizing agent. To obtain glucosamine and chondroitin, cartilage, shellfish extract, crab shells, etc. are used. A high concentration of animal proteins is encouraged. Pets absorb plant compounds less well, and amino acids are required to maintain muscle mass. Fat helps to maintain the health of the brain and cardiovascular system, and also provides the body with energy. The food should be low in calories, since the risk of weight gain increases in old age.

The feed contains the following ingredients:

• proteins of animal origin (poultry 44%, natural source of taurine);
• animal fat;
• wheat;
• barley;
• Wheat flour;
• rice;
• dry whole egg;
• hydrolyzed animal protein;
• sugar beet pulp;
• minerals;
• fructooligosaccharides;
• dried brewer's yeast;
• fish fat.

There are practically no differences between the lists of ingredients. The food resembles ready-made diets for adult cats and kittens in composition. The difference lies only in the ratio of the components: in this product, 19% fats, and 37% proteins. Such a concentration of lipids can worsen the state of health with a tendency to gastrointestinal diseases, so it is advisable to consult a veterinarian in advance. This is especially important if the animal has chronic pathologies.

Dry food practically does not differ from other products of the line in composition, and there is no information on calorie content, so the question of the advisability of switching to another diet involuntarily arises

Food for older cats can hardly be called high-quality. There are no prophylactic additives in it. Even vegetable fibers are missing, which could theoretically relieve the animal of problems with wool lumps. In old age, the digestion of pets becomes more sensitive, the condition of the joints worsens. Such food not only does not contribute to health improvement, but also does harm. Wheat can cause digestive upset. Several times I observed how lameness appeared in elderly cats eating "Eukanuba" food. Improper nutrition increases the risk of cartilage and joint destruction, which in the worst case can lead to disability. Of course, diseases of the musculoskeletal system do not develop because of the "Eukanuba" feed, but because of excessive load and natural destructive processes,but a balanced diet could mitigate the consequences and prevent or slow down the progression of pathologies.

Analysis of the composition of the feed "Eukanuba"

Most often, the most nutritious and useful in the line are food for kittens. Let's take them as examples. Consider 2 ready-made diets: granular and wet.

The following ingredients are included in the dry food:

1. Animal proteins (43% - poultry, a natural source of taurine). Neither type of ingredient (fresh, raw, dehydrated) nor source is specified. "Bird" is a general definition that allows the manufacturer to create a new recipe every time. Since it is indicated that it is proteins that are used, processed feathers, waste, bones, etc. may be added to the feed.
2. Animal fat. Source of ingredient is missing. Dubious component.
3. Barley. It causes allergies less often than wheat and corn, but its presence in cat food in large quantities is inappropriate.
4. Wheat. Hazardous component. Causes allergies.
5. Wheat flour. An ingredient has been added to the list in order to visually reduce the proportion of wheat. This is comparable to trying to defraud a customer.
6. Figure: Grain rarely causes allergies, but it also does not represent anything of value in cat food.
7. Dry whole egg. Good source of animal protein. Unfortunately, this is not a fresh, whole egg that contains more nutrients.
8. Hydrolyzed animal protein. Dubious component. The disadvantages are the same as with animal proteins.
9. Sugar beet pulp. Used in many feeds as a source of plant fiber. Promotes bowel cleansing.
10. Fish fat. Overall a good ingredient, but the quality may be low. If the fat comes from northern fish carcasses, it is a valuable source of fatty acids and vitamins. Otherwise, the component may be damaged or contain impurities of heavy metals.
11. Fructooligosaccharides. They are prebiotics. They contribute to the normalization of natural microflora. Prebiotics improve digestion and reduce the risk of intestinal infections.
12. Dried brewer's yeast. They contain proteins, but they are hardly absorbed by the feline body. The main feature of yeast is the high concentration of B vitamins.
13. Minerals. It is preferable to list specific names and dosages.

With a detailed analysis, it becomes obvious that the manufacturer is trying to achieve the optimal balance of nutrients by any means. Even if you have to add dubious ingredients. The food becomes like a dummy, which has been additionally enriched with vitamin and mineral complexes: there is no whole meat, but there are a lot of cereals and individual substances.

The pellets are very light, indicating insufficient meat content

Wet kitten food contains the following ingredients:

1. Meat and offal (including chicken at least 26%). It's still better than animal proteins, but the quality of the ingredient is questionable. The component is a mixture, about which we know only one thing: 26% of the volume is chicken. With equal success, it can be both fillets and whole carcasses, or even feathers with bones.
2. Cereals. A mixture of unknown varieties of plant materials. Unwanted ingredient, especially in wet food. Its presence indicates that the manufacturer has decided to save money. Grains may include wheat or chicken, so owners of allergic animals should choose a different brand.
3. Vitamins and minerals. Added so that the feed can be considered complete. Specific names are preferred.
4. Amino acid methionine. An indispensable compound that is required to maintain liver health. Cats naturally derive methionine from meat, so its presence as an additive indicates insufficient animal products.
5. Fish fat. Ambiguous component.

The composition of wet food is close to dry: a lot of cereals, little meat. However, it has a too soft texture, which can provoke the development of diseases. In addition, systematic feeding with wet rations "Eukanuba" is not economically feasible: they are inferior in quality to granulated products, and more is required to saturate them.

Advantages and disadvantages

Eukanuba feed has the following disadvantages:

1. Low meat content. Most likely, it was added fresh. Several types of cereals immediately follow the meat components, which in total gives a large share.
2. The presence of cereals. Cats do not need grains, because they practically do not assimilate nutrients from them. For pets, it is preferable to have fruits, vegetables and peas in limited quantities (5-10%) as a source of fiber.
3. Use of components of questionable quality. For many ingredients, source and type are not specified.
4. Attempts to bring the balance to the norm at any cost. The manufacturer adds concentrated proteins, vitamins, minerals and other substances that must be naturally contained in the components.
5. Doubtful marketing moves. Most of the stated advantages are either not true or not so fundamental. For example, by antioxidants, the manufacturer means tocopherols, which are found in any complete feed.
6. Inconsistency of the specialization of preventive feeds with the declared one. Food for sterilized animals can cause the development of diseases of the urinary system. Diet for older cats does not prevent musculoskeletal damage.
7. Attempts to deceive the buyer. In the course of research, it was found that the feed contains more minerals than indicated on the package.
8. Lack of fundamental differences between most feeds. The composition of many diets is almost identical, but the manufacturer still presents them as special formulas.

The advantages include the average cost (among the super-premium class), but for the same money you can pick up better options. A conditional plus is the presence of prebiotics in the composition, but all efforts negate the presence of allergens.

Is Eukanuba food suitable for all cats?

Eukanuba is not suitable for all cats. In unhealthy animals, foods can cause deterioration due to poor composition. Other pets, with prolonged feeding with ready-made rations, may develop diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, musculoskeletal system, skin, etc. This is especially true for castrated animals. In case of occasional feeding, most likely, there will be no problems, but it is better to avoid using Eukanuba products and choose a full-fledged super-premium or holistic category diet.

Feed cost and point of sale

The average cost of feed is 250-300 rubles. for 400 g, 900-1000 rubles. for 2 kg and 2000 rubles. for 5 kg. Sometimes there are packages of 10 kg. The price of such packages is approximately 4000 rubles. The average cost of 1 kg is 400–500 rubles. The price of spiders is 50–60 rubles.

Eukanuba food can be found in some pet stores, but it is better to place an order in the online market. This will save time. There is a Buy button on the manufacturer's website in the upper right corner. The window that opens will indicate online stores that sell Eukanuba feed.

Reviews of pet owners and veterinarians

Eukanuba dry food was once famous for its good quality, but recently the recipe has undergone changes. The result is a mediocre premium product at an overpriced price. For those who want to save money, it is better to choose a more budgetary option with a similar composition. If you want to offer your cat elite products, it is advisable to pay attention to other super-premium and holistic class foods.