Rating of wet food for sterilized cats

Date updated: 02/14/2021 14:36:52 8296 Share:

Author of the article: Astafieva Ekaterina Alekseevna

*Review of the best according to the editors of simplerule.ru. About the selection criteria. This material is subjective in nature, does not constitute advertising and does not serve as a purchase guide. Before purchasing, consultation with a specialist is required.

Sterilization is a procedure that can not only improve the condition of a pet, but also prolong its life. Removal of reproductive organs in cats can lead to weakening of the body, so it is important to review your pet’s diet after surgery. We have compiled a rating of the best dry and wet food for sterilized cats, which contains all the necessary components to maintain the health of your pet.

What should you consider?

Cats and cats are obligate carnivores. In nature, they hunt birds, small rodents, and insects. The basis of their diet is animal protein. However, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals must also be present. Otherwise, health problems will arise.

Castration and sterilization lead to a decrease in activity and the appearance of excess weight. If the animal drinks little, there is a risk of developing urolithiasis (urolithiasis).

The ratio of calcium, phosphorus and magnesium plays an important role. Imbalance of minerals leads to the formation of crystals, sand and stones in the kidneys or bladder. If phosphorus and magnesium levels are elevated, tripel phosphates (struvite) are formed. They can be dissolved through diet and medication. Excess calcium leads to the formation of oxalates, which are removed surgically.

Prevention of ICD is a properly balanced diet. Industrial feeds include the required amount of proteins, fats, carbohydrates, moisture, fiber, ash (mineral residues), vitamins and minerals. A low-calorie diet with a reduced content of calcium, phosphorus and magnesium has been developed especially for castrated cats.

Veterinarians recommend not feeding pets with special needs homemade food. This is due to the fact that it is difficult to balance microelements on your own. Only a veterinary nutritionist can do this.

It is important to adhere to the feeding rate indicated on the package. Sterilized animals often have an increased appetite. However, the supplement should not be given. Obesity in neutered cats is fraught not only with urolithiasis, but also with heart and liver problems.

Neutered animals should drink plenty of water, especially if they eat dry food. When feeding homemade food, natural or canned food, the need for liquid decreases, since such food already contains 70-80% moisture.

The main thing in choosing a nutritional system for castrated animals is the correct ratio of minerals, reduced levels of fat and ash, and the presence of vitamins and microelements.

The best dry food for sterilized cats

Dry food is convenient to measure into portions and store. It is important to remember: there must be a cup of water next to the bowl of food, because in order to digest the crackers, they need to be soaked, which, by the way, significantly increases their volume in the stomach - for this reason, it seems to us that the manufacturer offers a very small portion per day.

NOW Natural holistic grain-free for cats "Weight Control" with turkey, duck and vegetables

Rating: 4.9

In sterilized cats, the “sick” one has a tendency toward obesity, which can be successfully regulated with the help of a balanced holistic food (from the word “whole”). The pieces are made from fresh turkey meat, vegetables, they contain a high content of animal protein necessary for life, as well as beneficial omega acids and bacteria to improve digestion. The high concentration of protein is absorbed almost completely, and there is little fat in the composition - this is a prerequisite for controlling the cat’s weight.

NOW Natural holistic “Weight Control” does not contain grains and gluten, which can lead to digestive problems, and also contains a large amount of slow carbohydrates. The food is suitable for sterilized cats over one year of age, as well as for adult animals over 7 years old.

Price per kilogram from 538 rubles.

Advantages

Lack of grains, growth hormones and low-value by-products;
Whole meat is used for production;
Ideal balance of BJU;
Prevention of urolithiasis;
Cats like it.

Flaws

Not available in all stores;
High price per kilogram.

Types of wet food

Depending on the components, food additives and energy value, canned food is divided into 2 types:

Full-featured. They are enriched with all essential vitamins and minerals and are suitable as a staple food.
Non-complete (treats). They are a complement to dry food, homemade food or natural food. They contain a lot of protein, but little fat and carbohydrates. Not all vitamins and minerals are included in the treats.

Complete canned food can be easily distinguished from non-complete canned food. The first contains more than 5% fat. In treats this figure is less than 5%. The animal can be fed complete canned food daily. Treats are given no more than 2 times a week.

Depending on the quantity and quality of meat and natural ingredients, wet food is divided into classes:

Economy The product contains no more than 4% meat and its derivatives. This concept covers production waste: feathers, skin, bones, beaks, intestines. Flavorings and taste enhancers are added to economy class food.
Premium Canned food contains 30-40% meat components (meat and offal), but their quality is questionable. There are flavoring and aromatic additives. The composition is balanced, it contains vitamins and minerals.
Super premium. These are high quality products. It contains 60-70% natural meat and offal (lungs, heart, liver, kidneys).
Holistic. Canned food contains more than 70% meat. They are made on the basis of products suitable for human food, do not contain flavoring and aromatic additives, grains and soy. However, such canned food is used as treats.

Wet food is available in:

spiders;
sealed jars;
aluminum lamisters;
plastic pots.

Economy and premium wet food looks like soft croquettes in sauce or jelly. High-quality canned food contains whole meat fibers and pieces of offal. Super premium food is also available in the form of pates.

Advantages and disadvantages

Complete canned food is as close as possible to the natural diet of obligate carnivores. They contain about 80% moisture, minerals, and vitamins. They have balanced analytical components. In terms of energy content, this type of food is suitable for sterilized cats.

The advantages of wet food are:

humidity 70-80% (good for pets who drink little);
the presence of different tastes and medicinal diets;
long-term storage in sealed packaging;
convenience of dosage;
natural texture;
easily digestible components;
high degree of saturation.

The disadvantages of this type of nutrition are:

high cost;
storage of opened packaging for no more than 2 days in the refrigerator;
lack of tartar prevention.

Some pets refuse full-ration canned food and eat only dry food. In this case, treats are suitable. They can diversify feeding and increase the amount of moisture consumed. However, you should not give treats every day.

Let's sum it up

Sterilization of cats is not a complicated procedure, and castration of cats is even simpler - many animals feel great within a few hours after visiting the clinic. However, this manipulation leads to a serious restructuring of the body, and the owner must approach these changes responsibly. First and foremost, you need to review your pet’s diet. Ideally, the daily diet will consist of high-quality dry food marked “for sterilized animals.” Then you can be sure that your cat receives all the necessary substances according to its nature, but does not overeat!

What to look for when choosing wet food?

In order for a cat to feel good, it is necessary to take a responsible approach to the choice of food. When purchasing a wet complete food or treat, you need to pay attention to:

best before date;
the conditions under which the product was stored;
transparency of the composition;
amount of meat and offal;
ratio of calcium, phosphorus and magnesium;
moisture percentage;
the presence or absence of good reviews;
manufacturer and country of manufacture (for example, Royal Canin canned food belongs to a French brand, but can be manufactured in France, Poland or Russia);
individual needs of the animal;
value for money;
absence of flavorings and flavor enhancers.

The more meat in wet food, the better. However, ingredients such as rice, legumes or vegetables are also beneficial in small quantities. Therefore, when choosing canned food for sterilized pets, it is important to review the composition.

If the animal does not gain weight or is hyperactive, the daily dose indicated on the package can be increased. If signs of obesity are detected, the recommended daily amount of feed is reduced.

How to feed pets during the rehabilitation period after surgery

After surgery, pets are weakened and need special care, including gentle nutrition. For 5–7 days after castration, you can feed cats the following foods:

low-fat dairy products: milk, yogurt, cottage cheese;
infant formula;
broth from dietary meats without salt;
boiled egg.

It is prohibited to feed animals with products containing coarse fiber; fatty, salty and spicy foods.

Cats can be switched to specialized food 1–3 weeks after surgery. Your veterinarian should provide more detailed instructions.

Be responsible when choosing food for your pet after castration. If you cannot choose the right diet on your own, be sure to seek help from a specialist.

Premium class

For castrated and sterilized cats, premium wet food is available from the following brands:

Brit Premium;
Royal Canin;
ProPlan;
Hill's;
Stuzzy Cat;
Morando Miogatto and Migliorgatto;
Bozita.

The cost of premium wet food varies between 60-90 rubles per pouch, lamister or jar up to 100 g.

Brief feed table

Table to jump to a specific food review at the end of the article.

Name of food	Type of taste	Basic taste	Price for 1 kg
Pro Plan Sterilized ↓	Cold cuts	Turkey	513 RUR To the store
Hill's Science Plan ↓	Cold cuts	Chicken	556 rubles To the store
Purina One “Sterilized” ↓	Cold cuts	Beef	343 rubles To the store
Royal Canin “Sterilized 37” ↓	Meat and vegetable platter	Chicken	524 RUR To the store
1st Choice Sterilized↓	Cold cuts	Chicken	640 rubles To the store
Bosch Sanabelle “Sterilized” ↓	Cold cuts	Poultry meat	845 RUR To the store
Eukanuba Sterilized ↓	Cold cuts	Chicken	586 RUR To the store
Go! ↓	Meat and fish platter	Turkey	619 RUR To the store
Acana Regionals Wild Prairie ↓	Meat and fish platter	Chicken	648 RUR To the store
Orijien Fit & Trim ↓	Meat and fish platter	Chicken	757 RUR To the store

The calculation of prices per 1 kg was based on packages weighing 2-4 kg. For packages weighing 10 kg, the cost of each kilogram may be more profitable.

Super premium

Super premium canned foods include:

Animonda Vom Feinsten;
Animonda Carny;
Almo Nature;
Brit Care;
Gina;
Baskerville;
Leonardo;
Berkley;
Lovely Hunter;
Nutrilove;
Natures Protection.

Neutered cats should not be given super premium kitten food. It contains an increased amount of vitamins and minerals, which can negatively affect the health of an adult animal.

Useful video

Video review of Hills food for neutered cats:

For a castrated cat, it is better to buy specialized food marked “For castrated cats.” They have a reduced content of salts, phosphorus, magnesium and other trace elements, thereby reducing the risk of getting urolithiasis. Due to good nutritional value and lower calorie content, the cat does not gain weight and remains in good physical shape, delighting its owner.

It is worth giving preference to premium food and higher, and discarding economy food and forgetting it like a bad dream.

Holistics

The best among holistic-class canned foods are:

Applaws;
Schesir;
Gimpet.

They are all treats. They cannot be used as the main food. They are given a maximum of 2 times a week. They contain a lot of animal protein.

However, the vitamins and minerals needed for balance are missing. If you feed your pet only these canned foods, calcium stones (oxalates) may form in the kidneys or bladder.

Veterinarians' opinion

Evgeniy, 49 years old, Samara.

Before choosing food, I always advise having the animal’s urine tested. At a neutral pH level (6-6.5), universal, complete, super-premium canned food is suitable. If the urine is alkaline, it is better to feed the animal dry or wet food specifically for castrates.

Alina, 34 years old, Voronezh.

If castrates eat complete canned food (not necessarily special), the risk of developing urolithiasis is reduced. I recommend diluting wet food with water (10-20 ml) for cats and cats who don't drink enough. This increases moisture consumption.

Mikhail, 52 years old, Irkutsk.

Cats and cats get used to the type of food chosen by their owner. I recommend combining dry and wet food. For example, you can give dry food in the morning and lunchtime, and wet food in the evening. However, this must be done on an ongoing basis so as not to provoke problems with the stomach and intestines.

All information posted on the site is provided in accordance with the User Agreement and is not a direct instruction to action. We strongly recommend that before using any product, you must obtain a face-to-face consultation at an accredited veterinary clinic.

Care after sterilization

The operation affects the cat’s hormonal system, causing physiological changes in the body:

Metabolism slows down in adult cats over 5 years old and older individuals. Therefore, before and after sterilization, it is advisable to feed the animal regular homemade food, while monitoring its weight and increasing physical activity.
The body's energy costs after sterilization are reduced by 20–25%. The lack of unnecessary stress, the instinct to procreate, and care for offspring leads to obesity. It is necessary to ensure that your sterilized cat has a balanced diet.
Decreased frequency of urination is a factor in the development of urolithiasis. Animals of all breeds are prone to urolithiasis; the British variety of cats with normal weight is less susceptible to this disease.

Immediately after the operation, the cat is under the influence of anesthesia in an unconscious state. After 3-4 hours she begins to wake up. At this moment, the coordination of its movements is greatly impaired, so the animal must be placed on the floor in a dark, warm, draft-free place. It may take up to a day for your cat to fully recover.

A cat recovering from anesthesia initially does not eat or drink anything. How long it takes for her appetite to return depends on her general condition. If the animal is completely healthy and the operation went without complications, the desire to eat may appear within 3-4 hours after waking up. At this moment it is not yet advisable to feed her. The first time food should be given no earlier than a day later.

Find out more about how to care for your cat after sterilization.