Economy Class Cat Food: A List Of The Best Inexpensive Brands, Composition, Reviews Of Veterinarians And Owners

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

Economy class food for cats

Economy class foods are those products that it is advisable not to give to cats due to the unbalanced composition and lack of vital substances. In such diets, the proportion of meat is minimal, there is no or lack of many amino acids, and vitamins and minerals are presented in the form of individual additives that are poorly absorbed. For cats, it is preferable to eat super-premium food or higher or natural products.

Content

• 1 Distinctive features of economy class feed
• 2 Pros and cons of economy class feed

• 3 Overview of popular economy class feeds

  • 3.1 Whiskas

    • 3.1.1 Wet food
    • 3.1.2 Dry food

  • 3.2 Kitekat

    • 3.2.1 Wet food
    • 3.2.2 Dry food

  • 3.3 Friskies

    • 3.3.1 Wet food
    • 3.3.2 Dry food
  • 3.4 Felix
  • 3.5 Sheba

  • 3.6 "Meow"

    • 3.6.1 Wet food
    • 3.6.2 Dry food
• 4 Pet Owner Reviews
• 5 Reviews of veterinarians

Distinctive features of economy class feed

There are 4 classes of finished pet food:

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

The lower the class position, the worse the quality category representatives. Low-cost products are among the cheapest and least nutritious. This is due to the almost complete absence of meat. This class is characterized by the presence of cereals in the composition. In dry food, they are in the first place or are split into several positions.

Many of the names are easy to recognize, unlike super premium brands

In wet diets, cereals may be lower on the ingredient list than animal products, but this is not an indicator of better quality. In jellies, stews and pâtés, the proportion of liquid is much higher, and the meat is used fresh. If moisture evaporates when preparing dry food, and the amount of animal products ultimately becomes lower, then this does not happen in the case of stews. This allows the producer to add some of the water to the meat to make it the top priority.

For feed of economy class, the use of granules of different shapes is typical; this is impractical, since buyers like it more than animals

Another characteristic feature of economy class feed is the use of low-quality raw materials and the lack of specific information on the composition and balance of nutrients. Most often, manufacturers do not indicate a specific type of meat and its type, as well as the type of cereals. This can be due to either attempts to hide low-quality components, or the ability to change the recipe with impunity at any time. If the manufacturer wrote that the feed contains cereals, he can independently adjust the composition of the mixture and include new ingredients in it or change the proportions at his discretion. Formally, this will not be cheating.

In the composition of economy-class feed, you can often find such common names as "chicken", "bird" or "animal protein". This suggests that the manufacturer is using not only pure meat, but also unclaimed by-products. For example, chicken heads, scallops, claws, etc. These supplements can sometimes be helpful in small amounts, but most often they act as cheap fillers that help create the appearance of quality animal protein. Due to the imbalance in the diet, animals receive insufficient fat and amino acids. I have observed the consequences of such nutrition more than once: cats become passive and lethargic, digestion is disturbed, and the condition of the skin and coat deteriorates. These are the most harmless symptoms. In the future, chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract or urinary system may occur.

Pros and cons of economy class feed

The only advantage of cheap feed is its availability. You can find similar products in any pet store. The most popular brands are found in regular hypermarkets and even small stores. The cost of economy-class feed is relatively low, but in reality, such feed does not always save money. Firstly, these diets are of lower nutritional value, so the cat needs more food to fill it. Secondly, often after systematic feeding with economy-class products or a sharp transition, animals develop chronic diseases. Then the owners have to spend extra money on visits to the veterinarian, diagnosis and treatment. In some cases, it becomes impossible to rid the animal of the disease, so the owners can only maintain the satisfactory condition and quality of life of the pet.

Among the disadvantages of feed in this category are the following factors:

1. The use of low-quality raw materials. Some manufacturers are fair in warning about the presence of corn and wheat in the composition, but many companies limit themselves to the generic name "cereals" to hide the presence of allergens. Not all corporations indicate the type of yeast. Almost no one specifies the type of meat components. Many manufacturers hide the presence of preservatives and dyes. If there were quality ingredients in the feed, companies would hardly be limited to generic names.
2. Create an acceptable balance of nutrients through supplementation. All economy class feeds are enriched with minerals, vitamins and amino acids in their pure form. Plant extracts are added as proteins. Such substances are absorbed worse and are used only to increase the attractiveness of products in the eyes of the buyer.
3. Inconsistency of the list of components and the information provided by the manufacturer with reality. In the course of research, it is often found that a company overestimates the proportion of fat or underestimates the amount of minerals. For example, this is the case with Whiskas. This can provoke weakness or the development of ICD in animals. Almost all manufacturers do not disclose which preservatives they use. Some do not even include them in the composition, although without antioxidants the food would quickly deteriorate.
4. Aggressive marketing and highlighting perceived advantages. For example, many manufacturers begin to describe what vitamins and minerals the feed contains. In fact, in a complete product, in any case, all the necessary nutrients must be present.
5. The presence of unsafe feed in preventive and therapeutic lines. Most often these are products for sterilized animals. Foods differ only in low calorie content, but in no way contribute to the prevention of the development of ICD.
6. The presence of questionable ingredients in the composition. Some wet foods contain sugar, which often causes allergy-like symptoms. Dyes that are of no interest to animals can irritate the gastrointestinal mucosa.
7. High risk of developing allergies. Many feeds contain wheat, corn, and poor quality poultry protein. If an allergy develops, it will be difficult to identify the irritant due to the lack of an exact composition.
8. Possibility of progression of chronic diseases. Preservatives and dyes can provoke the development of pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract and urinary system. Due to a lack of nutrients, diseases of the internal organs are possible.

Despite the fact that economy class food does not meet the needs of animals, they should not be completely ignored. Unlike holistic and super premium products, you can buy cheap "Whiskas" or "Friskis" in almost any store. This makes it easy to feed, for example, a stray animal. A budget food will help out if you unplanned adopted a cat. However, I would still prefer to give the new pet natural products or a better quality ready-made diet whenever possible. Once I gave shelter to a kitten and was forced to feed him with "Whiskas" spiders, because for some reason he refused regular food, and the nearest pet stores had already closed. After about an hour, he vomited. After switching to super-premium food, digestion improved.

Review of popular economy class feeds

For an unbiased and honest review, we will consider several of the most popular brands and analyze the composition of feed.

Whiskas

Both wet and dry granular foods can be found in the feed. Let's consider both types.

Wet food

Wet feed is the main specialization of the manufacturer of products "Whiskas". In the 1950-1960s, the brand became famous due to the appearance in the line of rations with different flavors. It was considered an innovation then, but now you won't surprise anyone with it.

The logo can be seen on all Whiskas packaging

Wet food compositions differ only in the presence of additional structure-forming additives (for example, a thickener for jelly) and the main meat component, therefore we will consider only one sample. For analysis, let's take kitten food, since in most cases in the entire line it is the most nutritious.

At first glance, the feed series seems wide, but, unfortunately, this is only an appearance: the proportion of additives does not exceed 4%, and this is too little to feel any difference.

The composition of "Whiskas" food with lamb for kittens contains the following components:

• meat and offal (including lamb at least 4%);
• vegetable oil;
• taurine;
• vitamins;
• minerals.

The positive aspects of the food include the absence of cereals, but this is not inherent in all Wiskas wet diets. The benefits end there. In the list of ingredients, meat and offal are in the first place, but the manufacturer does not specify the type of components. It can equally well be clean meat or waste left over from making better quality feed. Vegetable oil is less assimilated by predators and is less beneficial. It is cheaper, but for cats it is preferable, for example, salmon oil. Taurine has been added so that the feed can be considered complete. Naturally, the amino acid is found in meat. Its addition indicates an insufficient concentration of animal proteins in the feed.

Despite the manufacturer's recommendations, it is better to start giving the animal a little wet food only from 6-8 weeks, so as not to provoke indigestion

The cost of spiders (85 g) is 18-24 rubles. The price practically does not depend on the type of wet food. It is relatively expensive for economy class, but the cost of spiders is much lower than in the case of higher quality counterparts. For example, a jar of grain-free canned food (100 g) Go! will cost 100-120 rubles. However, a package (810 g) of Nero Gold, which is close to premium or super premium class in composition, costs 130–140 rubles on average. It is both more profitable and better in quality.

There is very little meat in the feed, as sauce and water take up most of the packaging.

Wet food "Whiskas" is a mixture of low-quality meat products and a mineral and vitamin complex. Despite the manufacturer's assurances, the diet should not be used for an extended period of time. Cats get too few nutrients from plant-based ingredients and questionable animal sources. Such food is most dangerous for kittens: their digestive tract is just being formed, so there is a high probability of digestive disorders and the development of chronic pathologies. A friend of mine fed her cat with Whiskas products since childhood until she found out that it was dangerous. Later, she was unable to transfer the animal to quality feed. The cat either refused or vomited after eating. Most likely, the animal's gastrointestinal tract has already adapted to such food.

Dry food

The line of dry food "Whiskas" contains both daily rations and prophylactic ones for animals with special needs. The latter are intended for spayed and neutered pets. Consider a preventative product to see if it contributes to optimal health.

Filled pillows for cats are a dubious decision, since such a consistency is atypical for animals and can cause injury to the gums when sharply biting the granules

In the list of ingredients of "Whiskas" dry food with beef for castrated animals, the following ingredients are indicated:

• Wheat flour;
• flour of animal origin (including beef flour at least 4% in brown granules);
• protein plant extracts;
• rice;
• animal fats and vegetable oil;
• dried chicken and pork liver;
• Brewer's yeast;
• vitamins and minerals.

Wheat flour is in the first place. This is already a significant disadvantage for cat food in general, but it is standard for economy class products. Flour is considered less preferable than whole grains, as it can be produced from waste: partitions, outer shells and other parts that have low nutritional value. In addition, it is wheat, that is, a dangerous allergen. Animal flour is also not the best quality component: anything can be included in the mixture. Together with rice and protein extracts, the share of cereals significantly exceeds the amount of meat.

The manufacturer does not write that the composition contains dyes, but it is difficult to obtain such a color of granules without synthetic substances using a small amount of meat and carrots.

The average cost of feed is 95 rubles. for 350 g (about 300 rubles per 1 kg), 200 rubles. for 800 g, 470 p. for 1.9 kg and 1140 p. for 5 kg (about 230 rubles per 1 kg). This is a relatively high figure for the economy class. The price is not due to the composition, but the premium for the brand.

There is practically no beef in the feed with beef. It is not only only 4%, which is very small, but it is, judging by the specification, not in all granules. Beef is included in the composition in a minimum amount so that it can be mentioned in the name. This could be forgiven if the food did its job. I often came across people whose animals, after the prophylactic products "Whiskas", began to walk with difficulty into the tray. Blood was found in the urine, sometimes pus. These are the main signs of urolithiasis. Not surprisingly, the manufacturer does not indicate what preservatives are used in the feed. Most likely, salt, contributing to fluid retention, urinary stagnation and the formation of calculi. The food copes with the problem of excess weight a little better. Despite the normal calorie content (360 kcal per 100 g), cats do lose weight. But this is not due to a healthy diet, but to poor nutrition and a deterioration in overall well-being.

Kitekat

Kitiket is another brand of the large Mars corporation. Due to the fact that the manufacturer of the feed of this brand and the products of "Whiskas" is the same, the quality of the rations also differs little.

A recognizable logo is on all Kitekat food packaging

The line also includes canned food, jelly and stews with various flavors. There are dry food "Kitiket". Let's consider both types.

Wet food

The main line includes 8 varieties of wet food. The key difference lies in the consistency of the product and the additional meats. There are no special preventive diets, so it is enough to consider only one type of feed.

As with other economy class foods, wet rations differ only in name.

The ingredients list for turkey sauce includes the following items:

• meat and offal;
• cereals;
• vegetable-based dry cream;
• taurine;
• vitamins;
• minerals.

Perhaps turkey is part of the mixture of meat and by-products, but the manufacturer did not specify this, so the name of the feed can be considered a marketing ploy. In second place are cereals - a bad sign. If we consider that water is also referred to meat and offal, then the proportion of plant components may be higher.

Sometimes you can find Kitekat on sale in banks; theoretically, such packaging is more convenient, since the excess can be left in the container, but usually cats still do not gorge themselves in half portions

The composition of dry cream is not specified, which causes mistrust. This is an extra component that cats do not need. Claims to wet food "Kitiket" are the same as in the case of "Whiskas" products: it is a mixture of cereals and animal products of dubious quality, enriched with vitamins and minerals.

The appearance of wet food raises many questions, as the meat pieces are too pale and have an uncharacteristic color, and the broth is cloudy

The average cost of spiders is 12-15 rubles. This is lower than in the case of Whiskas products, but the proportion of cereals in Kitiket wet food is also higher.

Dry food

The dry food line contains only daily complete food products. In composition, they practically do not differ from each other.

Despite the promising name and attractive design, the proportion of pure meat in the feed is small, and its variety has not been specified.

The following items are mentioned in the list of components of the Meat Feast feed:

• meat and meat products;
• cereals;
• protein plant extracts;
• animal fats;
• vegetable oils;
• Brewer's yeast;
• beet;
• minerals;
• vitamins.

The manufacturer actually crushes cereals into several positions, supplementing the composition with protein plant extracts. Both ingredients are undesirable, as their origin and type are not specified. In addition, cats do not need herbal ingredients as much. The good news is that meat is in the first place, but the quality of the ingredients also cannot be determined. Surely the manufacturer means the product in its original form, that is, together with water. After the moisture has evaporated and the plant ingredients have been combined, the position of the meat ingredients will change.

Kitekat pellets are less bright, but there are still doubts about the absence of preservatives

The average cost of dry food is about 120–140 rubles. per 1 kg, if you purchase large (15 kg) packages. This is a relatively low price despite the fact that the quality of the granulated Kitiket is slightly better than that of the Whiskas products. However, in any case, it is recommended to avoid any feed of economy class, since they are dangerous to animals.

Friskies

The Friskis brand belongs to Purina, the main competitor of Mars in the field of cat food. The brand is less well known than Whiskas, but it can also be purchased at almost any store.

The main logo complements the logo of Purina - the producer of Pro Plan feed

The quality of the products almost does not differ from analogues. The line includes dry and wet food. Among the first, you can find several preventive diets: for spayed cats and for controlling hair removal.

Wet food

For a detailed analysis, consider the composition of canned food. Let's take kitten food as an example.

In theory, the food contains all the necessary substances, but they are only partially absorbed, so kittens may be deficient in nutrients.

Its list of components includes the following items:

• meat and products of its processing (including chicken);
• cereals;
• fish and products of its processing;
• minerals;
• Sahara;
• vitamins;
• amino acids.

The general picture is typical for economy class feeds: the presence of cereals, the use of generic names in the composition, the addition of vitamins, minerals and amino acids in their pure form, etc. Doubt is caused by the fact that the manufacturer added “including chicken” in the specifications. This is the cheapest type of meat. If the corporation hides the rest of the ingredients, but indicates the chicken, then it is scary to assume what is included in the meat mixture.

Judging by the appearance, there are more thickeners in this feed than in analogues

The cost of the spiders is 19 rubles. for 85 g and 25 rubles. per 100 g. This is comparable to the price of Whiskas feed, but it is impossible to say unequivocally whose products are better. On the one hand, the composition includes fish, which could be a good source of unsaturated fatty acids, but the quality of the component is questionable. On the other hand, there is sugar in the list of ingredients that cats do not need. It is hardly absorbed by the predator's organism. I once gave my cat some wet Friskis food as a treat. After 2 days, his eyes began to leak, and itchy spots appeared on the skin. After a week, everything went away. It may have been an allergy, but I suspected it was sugar. He often elicits a similar reaction.

Dry food

Since there are both regular daily and preventive feeds in the lineup, we will consider one of the latter. Its composition must be better thought out as the formulation is intended to support the normal health of cats with special needs.

The range of Friskies is wider than the Whiskas brand and includes preventive products: in this way Purina tries to create trust among consumers.

In the list of food ingredients for neutered animals, you can see the following items:

• cereals;
• vegetable protein;
• meat and products of its processing (including rabbit);
• vegetable processing products;
• fats and oils;
• yeast;
• minerals;
• vitamins;
• preservatives;
• vegetables (dried green peas);
• colorants and antioxidants.

There are several disadvantages to dry food. First, plant components occupy the top 2 positions at once. The proportion of meat in the finished ration is minimal. Secondly, the type of yeast is not specified. As part of "Kitiket" there was brewer's yeast, but here culinary yeast can be used, which are not so safe for the health of the digestive tract of cats. Thirdly, colorants, preservatives and antioxidants are indicated. The first ones look superfluous. Preservatives are needed to keep the feed fresh, but specifying the type is preferable. These can be hazardous to pets.

The expediency of the presence of the recipe in the line is questionable, since it does not possess any medicinal properties, and in some ways is even inferior to other products of the series.

The average cost of feed is 85 rubles. for 400 g, 350 p. for 2 kg and 1500 rubles. for 10 kg. Large packages are much more profitable than small ones, but it should be borne in mind that after opening the package, the feed begins to deteriorate due to contact with air and oxidation. Spoilage can be slowed down by moving the pellets into an airtight container.

Friskies food with dyes and granules of different formulas is categorically unsuitable for animals with digestive disorders, since they can provoke intestinal irritation

The pluses include the presence of peas in the composition. There are enough plant materials and fibers in the composition, but beans in small quantities help to normalize digestion. However, this is not enough for the food to be considered good. He does not cope with the main task. There are no prophylactic additives in the composition. Preservatives can irritate the lining of the urinary system and cause inflammation. The manufacturer did not indicate the calorie content and amount of most minerals. Personally, I have not had to deal with a deterioration in the health of an animal due to this Friskis food, since I do not give it to my pets, but twice I heard negative reviews about it from my friends. In one case, the cat had a lot of hair loss and itching, in the other - problems with digestion and urination appeared.

Felix

Felix is another brand owned by Purina. In this case, the corporation focused on the release of a series of budget wet food.

As with Friskies, the official logo includes the Purina corporation mark

There are no granular products in the line. There are more than 10 varieties of canned food, in addition, the company produces sets of 3 spiders and packs with crispy topping.

In most cases, Felix does not contain the additives stated in the names.

For example, consider the composition of canned food with salmon, trout, cod and crispy topping. The list includes the following components:

• meat and meat products;
• vegetable protein extracts;
• fish and fish products;
• amino acids;
• minerals;
• thickeners;
• various sugars;
• vitamins.

To the general disadvantages that are inherent in feeds of this class, you can add customer deception. There is no cod, trout and salmon in the composition, there is only fish and products of its processing. Any variety can be included in this mixture.

Externally, wet Felix foods look worse than competitors' canned foods because the compressed chunks alternate with individual fibers

Crispy topping and jelly do not increase the palatability of cats, but the thickeners and sugars used by the corporation in production can harm the health of animals. The cost of feed is higher than that of analogues. A small spider (85 g) costs 25 rubles, sets of 3 spiders and topping (267 g) - 100 rubles.

Sheba

The Sheba brand is owned by the Mars corporation, as are the Whiskas and Kitiket brands. The line includes only wet food. There are a lot of varieties, but most of the products are almost the same. This helps the manufacturer create the appearance of a wide range of products.

The brand logo is graphically more detailed compared to competitors, but less striking

As an example, let's analyze the composition of Sheba with tuna and salmon. The following items can be found in the list:

• meat and offal (tuna min. 4%, salmon min. 4%);
• taurine;
• vitamins;
• mineral things.

The composition is very laconic, which is commendable for wet food: ideally, only meat and liquid should be present in it. For the product to be considered complete, vitamins and minerals were added to it. However, wet food in any case cannot be used for systematic nutrition, since it does not contain enough nutrients and can cause digestive disorders due to its specific consistency.

In this case, the company changed its approach to marketing: photographs of packages are always accompanied by decorations in the form of delicious dishes.

It is commendable that tuna and salmon are indeed present in the composition. However, their concentration is very low, so this cannot be attributed to significant advantages. Separately, in the plus column, you can add the fact that there are no cereals in the feed. In theory, it can be used to alleviate animal allergies to cereals, but we advise against doing so. Extra ingredients, poultry protein and other irritants may be present in economy class foods.

Despite the delicious photos, wet food, of course, looks about the same as its counterparts

The cost of spiders (85 g) is 30 rubles. This is a relatively high price, however, in some ratings, Sheba feed is even considered a premium class.

Meow

Meow feeds are more common in Ukraine than in Russia, but sometimes they can be found in online stores. Products are manufactured at the Ukrainian plant "Kormotech" and Swedish enterprises. The line includes dry and wet rations.

The range of feeds is quite wide, but in reality, many diets do not even differ in composition from each other.

Wet food

Several varieties of wet food can be found on sale, but they differ only in additives. For example, consider the composition of the Meow diet with veal. The list of components contains the following names:

• meat and offal of animal origin (including veal meat at least 4%);
• cereals;
• vegetable protein extracts;
• minerals;
• vitamins (including taurine);
• sugar;
• dye E171.

Despite its low cost, wet food looks better than some similar products from competitors

In general, the standard composition for the economy class. The disadvantages are the same as with other feeds. It is commendable that the manufacturer openly admits that he uses dyes, and even indicates their type, but it would be better to refuse such additives. Officially, E171 is considered a safe substance, but there is unconfirmed information that overdose or accumulation in the body of the compound impairs the functioning of the liver and kidneys. The cost of the spiders is relatively low - only 16 rubles. for 100 g.

Dry food

The compositions of dry food "Meow" are either the same or differ in the presence of flavorings, so we will consider only one sample - with fish. It contains the following products:

• corn;
• protein and mineral concentrate (meat, offal);
• wheat;
• rice;
• animal fat;
• fish flour;
• feed additive to improve appetite (hydrolyzed liver);
• mineral premix;
• sunflower oil;
• vitamin premix (including taurine);
• brewer's yeast;
• antioxidant (Termoxa);
• preservative (potassium sorbate);
• dye E124.

Despite the frankly weak composition, the manufacturer wins over with honesty. Not only the type of cereals is indicated, but also the type of preservative and colorants. However, such food is not suitable for cats either. The proportion of cereals is too high. In addition, the company uses wheat and corn, which are the most dangerous allergens. The presence of general formulations, for example, "protein-mineral concentrate", is also alarming. 1 kg of dry food costs 100 rubles on average. In terms of quality, the brand is not inferior or slightly inferior to other brands.

Pet owners reviews

Veterinarian reviews

Pet owners often buy economy class feed out of ignorance or because of financial problems. The first is caused by mass advertising of such products. Due to affordability and aggressive marketing, shoppers mistakenly think these are the highest quality diets, but this is not the case. In case of financial difficulties, it is better to transfer the pet to natural food. This will allow you to independently control the quality of products and their list.