TOP 7 Holistic class feeds, review and selection tips

The most popular holistic cat food brands

Despite the popularity of holistic diets, their interpretation is quite abstract, not only among buyers, but also among manufacturers, which is why in this category you can find not only high-quality grain-free diets, but also low-grade foods made from cereals, proteins of plant or unknown origin, and flour . Fortunately, there are several popular and trustworthy brands:

Now Fresh.

Well-known Canadian food, characterized by a well-balanced composition with a sufficient amount of easily digestible proteins and at the same time without grains, dyes and other harmful components.

Alleva.

The manufacturer comes from Italy, whose creations are distinguished by their high meat content.

Farmina.

A large Italian food manufacturer, especially loved by cats and their owners thanks to the grain-free and low-grain diets of the N&D series, many of which are recommended for sensitive digestion, allergies, but are also suitable for absolutely healthy animals.

AATU.

A British brand that is often recommended by breeders and veterinarians. It contains not only a high percentage of meat components, but also many healthy vegetables, fruits and berries, including cranberries, which are effective as a preventive measure for ICD.

Primordial.

An Italian brand specializing exclusively in grain-free holistic products, making it a true guru in this field.

Description of holistic class feeds: how they differ from others

Diets are developed by specialists who study the effect of artificial foods on the health of cats. Here are the main features:

• Only natural meat is used in production. Moreover, it is not bought from farmers; many companies create their own farms because they do not trust other producers.
• It also contains a lot of coarse fiber. It has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract of cats.
• There are very few grains in the product; we can say that the manufacturers create healthy nutrition. Its difference lies in the fact that it is identical to the food that cats could eat in natural conditions of life in nature.
• You can find a different number of flavors and ingredients on sale.

This category of product for cats is more expensive than the premium class. Therefore, its purchase is carried out in branded stores, pharmacies or online stores. The composition contains no components that could provoke the development of allergic reactions.

How to choose the best holistic food for cats

No matter how advertised the food may be, it is first of all important to make sure that it meets the basic requirements for holistic nutrition, and, in principle, healthy nutrition for your beloved cat. The best diet should contain at least 50 percent meat, supplemented with moderate amounts of quality fiber such as peas, chickpeas or sweet potatoes, probiotics, and a few percent of herbs, berries, fruits or vegetables. At the same time, cereals, citrus fruits and sour tropical fruits are undesirable in the diet.

However, a beautiful composition is not the only factor. To choose a good food specifically for your cat, you should take into account its characteristics. If your pet is prone to allergies or digestive disorders, it is better to make sure that the diet is free of corn, citrus fruits and other potential allergens. If your cat is overweight, has liver problems, or is neutered, a high-quality, low-fat meat food would be the best choice. If you are prone to urolithiasis, diabetes and other serious diseases, it makes sense to take a closer look at specialized diets.

Feedback from cat owners

Alena: Pronature Holistic dry food is perfect for my beloved Siamese cat Fedor. I used to buy whiskey in the supermarket, but when the cat started having health problems, the doctor recommended switching to a healthy, balanced diet. Now I wouldn’t exchange Pronature for anything, because after using it my cat feels great. I recommend!

Victor: I always fed my cats Acana, but six months ago apparently there was a supply failure, and so I had to switch to NOW FRESH. I take different flavors as my cats only like certain flavors, they especially like wild boar and duck. I did not notice any problems with stool or allergic reactions.

Svetlana: I started using AATU six months ago, when I adopted a kitten from a friend. Very high quality, and my Simon eats it very quickly, and also licks the bowl completely. But I cannot help but note the cost, since it is too high; for a package of 200 grams you have to pay more than 450 rubles. In general, I give it a solid 5, but I will look for a replacement, since in my opinion it is expensive.

Rating of quality feeds

Below we present to your attention a rating of dry and wet holistic cat food for 2022.

Grandorf

This brand offers dry and wet food in the holistic class. The diet is hypoallergenic and contains probiotics for normal digestion of the animal. Suitable for pets with food intolerances and allergic animals. The line includes several flavors (lamb, rabbit, 4 types of meat, etc.). Whole brown rice is used as a source of protein. Vitamin supplements: B vitamins, carrots, Omega 3 and 6, citrus fruits, turmeric. Some foods contain cranberries. This berry is a powerful natural antiseptic, helps gently cleanse the liver and kidneys, and improves the functioning of the urinary system. The products have convenient packaging. In terms of price, the holistic cat food of the Grandorf brand belongs to the middle segment among its analogues.

Also, the advantages of most of the brand’s lines include:

• nice smell;
• helps remove hairballs;
• prevents the appearance of urinary stones;
• cares for the cat's oral cavity.

GO!

This brand is also not accidental in the list of holistic cat food. The manufacturer offers high-quality balanced nutrition for different age groups - for kittens, adults and elderly individuals. The food contains no GMOs, hormones or artificial colors, which corresponds to the holistic philosophy and is confirmed by the results of testing at the state level in the country of production (Canada). The food contains meat and fish, flaxseed, pre- and probiotics. Some products contain sodium chloride, a safe ingredient that maintains acid-base balance and regulates water metabolism in your pet's body.

Wellness CORE

This brand of food is produced in the USA, France, and Thailand. The brand occupies one of the highest places in the list of quality holistic cat food. Contains protein (meat and fish, average content of 40-50%), natural preservatives, minerals, antioxidants, vitamins A, E, Omega-3, calcium, phosphorus, taurine, Omega-6. The manufacturer offers food for kittens and adult cats.

Savarra

The British company does not use plant proteins or gluten. The volume of meat ingredients often exceeds 70% (fresh and dehydrated meat is used). The list of ingredients also includes flax seeds, turkey fat, brown rice, taurine, apples, tomatoes, algae, cranberries, blueberries, and salmon oil. The composition is hypoallergenic, rich in vitamins and minerals. According to some owners, the food has smaller granules compared to other popular brands, making them easier for pets to chew on.

Farmina N&D

The rating of holistic dry cat food is continued by the Farmina N&D brand. The food is produced at factories in Italy, Brazil, and Serbia. Natural fresh meat, as well as dehydrated meat, is used as protein sources. Often in the list of ingredients you can find eggs and fresh/dehydrated herring. The rating of the best foods also includes grain-free holistic cat food from this brand. The food is easy to buy, it is quite common, and belongs to the above-average price segment. Owners note an improvement in the condition of the coat and the level of energy of their pets after switching to this food.

NOW FRESH

The rating of grain-free holistic cat food also includes Now Fresh brand products. The balanced composition is suitable for pets with sensitive digestion. Legumes and their derivatives are used here as vegetable protein. There are no dyes in the composition. Suitable for daily feeding.

Feed specifics

The cat family is an obligate carnivore; in the wild, the diet of this species is based on animal meat. Holistic cat food contains a large amount of animal proteins, which the domestic cat’s body can easily digest, in contrast to carbohydrates, which are high in mass-market foods. However, some nutritionists emphasize that you shouldn’t give up carbohydrates completely - it’s more advisable to reduce their amount to a maximum of 10% of the entire diet. This proportion ensures proper and high-quality digestion and sufficient absorption of micro and macroelements. As carbohydrates for a domestic cat, it is better to choose foods such as:

• oats;
• sweet potato;
• brown rice;
• tapioca;
• vegetables;
• fruits.

In general, carbohydrates are not physiological for cats, so good premium holistic cat food is grain-free.

It is worth noting that many people consider this type of food to be expensive, but this is not entirely true, because due to better digestibility, the animal eats less food than usual.

Age recommendations

Holistic specialists also have different purposes, including depending on the age of the pet. However, there are universal options available for cats of any age.

Holistic treatment for kittens is a good option, suitable for babies from the first months of life. With it, the kitten will receive the necessary vitamins and nutrients important for the growth of bones, teeth, and the formation of the nervous system. The best food contains everything for the proper development of the baby, including probiotics, folic acid, and fatty acids.

Already grown kittens switch to the option for adult animals, which will support their formed body. This is an important stage in nutrition and maturation, requiring a gradual transition. New granules are mixed with old ones, giving the kitten the opportunity to get used to the diet. It is important that they contain enough vitamins to strengthen bones, ensure proper brain function, and keep your pet active. If your cat is overweight, you need to choose a diet with the addition of L-carnitine, which helps with weight loss.

Compound

To appreciate the advantages and benefits of holistic food, it is important to break down its basic composition.

The basis of the diet, as mentioned above, should be meat. Suitable protein sources for domestic cats include:

• fresh and dehydrated meat (chicken, chicken, turkey, lamb, beef);
• fish fillet.

The meat and fish content of the best holistic cat foods can exceed 70%, and the amount of healthy protein often approaches 30%.

Important: with this volume, even with minimal food consumption, the pet will receive the required amount of easily digestible protein, and this in turn will minimize digestive problems. In addition, protein is a key component of animal muscles.

Therefore, when consuming high-quality animal protein as part of holistic food, the animal is always in a cheerful mood, the pet is active, energetic and properly developed.

The second largest component of this class of feed is natural fruits, vegetables, and berries. This is the main source of vitamins for a cat. The best holistic cat foods may contain ingredients such as carrots and dried apples. Animals need vitamins in the same way as humans. Thanks to natural additives, the animal’s coat improves, the pet has strong healthy teeth, sharp eyesight, and strong bones. With a diet rich in vitamins, the animal’s immunity is strengthened.

A distinctive feature of holistic food is also the absence of all kinds of “improvers” that are easy to find in economy-class bags. There are no artificial additives or enhancers that improve the taste, color or aroma of the finished food. As veterinary practice shows, if an animal has been consuming flavor enhancers in its diet for some time, then in order to completely switch to a higher quality diet, the cat will need time to get rid of the formed habit.

Naturally, holistic practitioners also need substances that will help maintain the freshness of food while it sits on the store shelf. But premium brands use safe ingredients for their products, again of natural origin. For example, a mixture of tocopherols, rosemary oil, vitamin C supplements and more.

Note: The best holistic cat foods will not contain synthetic ingredients, even if they are included in the list of safe additives.

The absence of preservatives in the composition is the key to good digestibility of the food, which leads to healthy digestion and the absence of allergies. The latter has been the scourge of many pets in recent years. Allergy sufferers are especially recommended to switch to holistic food.

What holistic food should not contain:

• corn gluten;
• wheat gluten.

The naturalness of the composition is also reflected in the shelf life. Economy class food is edible for one and a half to two years or more, while holistic food, as a rule, has a maximum shelf life of one to one and a half years.

An indisputable advantage of such food is the absence of contraindications to its use.

Advantages and disadvantages of such feeds

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The main advantages of holistic cat nutrition include the following:

• pleasant taste and aroma;
• useful substances in the composition;
• convenient packaging of different sizes;
• different sizes of dry food granules for animals of different ages.

Your pussy will likely prefer quality food over cheap food.

Among the disadvantages, it can be noted that such food is expensive (especially those that are included in the list of the best), and it is quite difficult to get them.

Chain stores aimed at the mass market sell mainly economy-class food for cats. Therefore, if you have the opportunity to purchase a “holistic” product, it is better to buy a large package at once. Perhaps later, when the packaging runs out, this product will be difficult to find on sale again.

Despite these disadvantages, dry and wet nutrition of this category is very popular. Cat owners believe that “holistics” help animals grow and develop properly throughout their lives, especially if they plan to castrate or sterilize their pet. Most veterinarians share exactly the same opinion. The health of the animal is, without a doubt, worth the money spent on food.

When choosing ready-made food for your pet, you should not buy the most expensive food. The main thing is not the price, but whether the animal likes the food from the top rating.