Our cat's diet is a basic pillar to guarantee its well-being and prevent the appearance of diseases. In the market we find various options, such as feed or cans. Also, if we have enough time and knowledge, homemade cat food can be our choice.
Lately we are hearing about so-called natural feed. In this article on our site, we explain what they are and review the best natural feed for cats.
What are natural feeds for cats?
A feed is said to be natural when it is composed solely of natural ingredients to which no additives have been added, such as coloring or flavoring. Therefore, its conservation capacity is lower. Next, we explain what the ingredients of natural feed are:
Protein: main ingredient
Its main ingredient is protein from meat or fish. This meat can be used dehydrated or desiccated and in some feeds it is indicated that it is fit for human consumption In others, what is used is fresh meat. The problem with fresh meat is that, in the process of making the feed, its weight is reduced by losing water. This means that the amount of resulting meat will be less. It is important to take this fact into account when choosing the best natural feed for our cat. Of course, these feeds will not contain by-products of animal origin.
Carbohydrates
The next ingredient on the list will be carbohydrates. It is common to find natural feed without grains for cats, since they cannot fully digest them. These are replaced, for example, by legumes, although some feeds do contain cereals, almost always whole grains or in a low proportion.
Vegetables and fruits
Another essential ingredient in natural feed for cats is that of vegetable origin. The vitamins or minerals will come from foods such as fruits, plants, or vegetables.
How to know if it is a natural feed for cats?
As a guide, the best natural feeds contain:
- A minimum of 45% ingredients of animal origin.
- Less than 30% carbs.
Within the natural range, we can find varieties that adapt to the vital conditions of the cat. Thus, there are natural feeds for sterilized cats, kittens, senior cats, etc. Other brands, on the contrary, recommend a single variety for different cats. The list of feed that we offer below is an approximation to this type of food. There are many more options available and, as caregivers, our role is to find the one that suits our cat best.
1. Origin
We begin the recommendations of the best natural feed for cats with the Canadian brand Orijen. They make feed with poultry or fish caught in their habitat. They use local ingredients that they receive daily.
There are different varieties depending on the ingredients, which are suitable for all stages of the feline's life. There is also a version with more protein and less fat for overweight cats. The meat offered is fresh or dehydrated. Meat is the main ingredient, containing up to 85% of meat, while vegetable products do not reach 15%. Does not contain cereals.
They also have a range of natural feed for dogs, so it is also a good option if, in addition to cats, you have dogs at home.
two. Acana
If we point out Orijen among the best natural feed for cats, we cannot fail to mention the also Canadian Acana, since it is a similar product. The difference is found in the percentage of meat, which, in this case, represents 75% of meat
Vegetable component increases to 25%, but still does not include grains. It also has several options according to the ingredients that serve for all stages of the cat's life. Contains different meats and fish, such as lamb, bison, chicken, turkey, trout, herring, sardines or hake.
3. Carnilove
The Carnilove brand is among the best natural feed for cats in its Fresh Dry range. Made with fresh meat or fish and dried, it has a variety intended for adult cats, although it also has natural feed for sterilized cats and kittens.
Its feed includes natural ingredients such as chicken, rabbit, salmon, carp and trout None contains cereals or potatoes. Animal protein is accompanied by legumes such as chickpeas and different vegetables such as pumpkin, sage or ginger root. If we talk about percentages, Carnilove feed has a 75% meat and 25% ingredients of plant origin.
4. Natural Greatness
Natural Greatness makes its feed using a natural cooking process, so that it is highly digestible and palatable Like the best natural feed for cats, they do not contain cereals. The total of its meat ingredients reaches 82-86% in the meat variety and 83% in the fish variety.
In addition, the meat used is suitable for human consumption and is used both fresh and dehydrated. They are used for all stages of the cat's life, whether they are kittens, adults or pregnant. They offer varieties of meat, with chicken and turkey or rabbit, and fish, with salmon and lamb. There is also a variety for sterilized, obese or older cats.
If your cat is overweight, you can also consult this other article on Diet for obese cats.
5. Canagan
Canagan is a UK brand offering products with 70-75% animal ingredients and 25-30% fruits, vegetables and plants. These ingredients include free-range chicken, Scottish salmon, herring or trout, as well as game meats They use fresh and dehydrated meat.
The vegetable contribution, grain-free, comes from sweet potatoes, calendula or algae. The different varieties can be given to both kittens and adults. For all these characteristics, we include it among the best natural feed for cats.
6. Purizon
Like the rest of the products that we have considered among the best natural feed for cats, in Purizon the content of meat or fish is 70%. The rest corresponds to fruits, vegetables and plants. Does not contain cereals.
The meat they use is fresh and dried and comes from respectful farming They also include game meat and fish such as salmon or herring. The menu is completed by carrots, apples, blueberries, marigolds or peas. There is a variety for sterilized cats, with less fat, and another for kittens.
7. Applaws
Applaws is another of the best natural feeds for cats as it contains a percentage of dry chicken of 65%, in addition to 17% of minced chicken, so in total it hasmore than 80% meat Your recipe does not include cereals. Vegetables and natural extracts, for their part, remain at 20%.
This English brand is committed to using in its products the best cuts, whether meat or fish. Of course, they work only with natural ingredients. They also have a variety with chicken and salmon that maintains the mentioned parameters.
If you like the idea of a natural diet for cats, you may be interested in this other article on Raw diet or BARF for cats - Example, benefits and tips.
8. Picart
The Picart Select range deserves to be among the best natural feed for cats thanks to its meat percentage, which reaches 50% dehydrated chickenAlso, add egg. This variety does not contain cereals, adapting to the carnivorous origins of the cat.
A product designed for sterilized cats is marketed, with a lower caloric intake. It is recommended to give to cats over 12 months of age, that is, it is for adult cats. Finally, they work with zero kilometer raw materials.
9. Legend
The best letter of introduction to the Lenda brand is that its natural ingredients are fit for human consumption and come from Galicia. They do not use GMOs or hormone-treated meats. On its website, it is possible to know how its production process is.
For all these reasons, it is included among the best natural feed for cats, offering a product with 47% chicken meat, minimum 35, and salmon, minimum 12. It has whole corn and rice. In addition, they do not test on animals. It is a feed suitable for adult cats and kittens.
10. NFNatcane
NFNatcane is a Spanish company that manufactures one of the best natural feeds for cats that can be offered to both whole and sterilized cats. Does not contain cereals and does contain raw materials suitable for human consumption.
Guarantees a minimum of 42% of hydrolyzed meats of beef, duck, turkey and chicken, as well as fish such as salmon and trout. Dehydrated vegetable products reach 35% and include pumpkin, carrot or potato.
eleven. Arion
Finally, among the best natural feed for cats, we highlight the Original range of the Arion brand, which has, among different varieties, one for sterilized cats. The rest are aimed at cats with access to the outside, older, sensitive, skin or urinary care, large breeds and kittens.
Thus, the percentage of dehydrated chicken meat that we found reaches 41 %and also includes dehydrated salmon and hydrolyzed chicken liver.
Cheap natural food for cats
Once we have explained what these types of products consist of and which are the best natural feeds for cats, we must point out that, compared to the average ranges that we can find in supermarkets, they are expensive.
But we must bear in mind that food and he alth, which go hand in hand, should be the items to which we allocate the most resources. Precisely because a well-fed cat is more likely to stay he althy, which reduces visits to the vet
The price will also depend on the amount we buy, since the larger the package, the cheaper the kg. Thus, for example, we can find Natural Greatness at about 7 euros per kg if we buy a bag of 6. This means that it is possible to get cheaper natural feed than some of the well-known brands and sale in veterinary clinics.
