Dry food

DRY FOOD FOR CATS FROM VET-CONCEPT

The majority of the nutritional requirements of the modern domestic cat are usually covered by complete feeds. These are foods which, from an analytical point of view, contain all the substances needed to cover the daily requirements of an average cat. Complete feeds are available in different forms (dry, soft, wet). Which cat food you choose depends on the preferences of both - pet and human. One way to provide your cat with enough food is dry food.

WHAT IS GOOD DRY CAT FOOD MADE OF?

For the production of dry food for cats, Vet-Concept primarily uses meat or fish meal. This is high-quality muscle meat and organs (such as liver, kidneys or stomachs) from which water has been gently extracted. The result is a concentrated meat meal that is specifically used as an energy supplier, e.g. to achieve the desired protein value of a dry food for cats and tomcats. But also trace elements, vitamins or minerals are provided by high-quality meat meal.

Carefully selected cereals and vegetables are also used. Well-digested, complex carbohydrates from whole grains contain valuable vegetable proteins, natural minerals and protective substances. Healthy fibres from fresh potatoes, sweet potatoes or carrots, which can strengthen the metabolism and immune system, are provided through the cat food.

Natural additives such as herbs, seeds, fruits or yeasts can be helpful nutritional supplements and support the cat's organism with all its vital functions.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF DRY FOOD FOR CATS?

Besides providing all the necessary nutrients, dry food also offers other advantages for cats.

The comparatively small and pointed cat teeth and the rather narrow set of teeth are surrounded by strong chewing muscles. In order to strengthen these muscles, they need to be challenged. Crunchy kibbles are the ideal basis for this.

When chewing, the food also rubs against the teeth and can remove unwanted residues on the surface. Thus, the chewing activity when eating dry food also supports tooth cleaning.

Due to the easy handling of the croquettes in storage, feeding, dosing or transport, dry cat food also offers a practical solution for the feeding human.

WHICH DRY FOOD IS SUITABLE FOR MY CAT OR TOMCAT?

Experience shows that only one basic statement can be made for cats: No two are alike.

And this also applies to nutrition. Because in order to find the best cat food for your velvet paw, the individual needs of your pet should be determined.

Questions that can help you with this are the following:

• What is the age of your cat / tomcat?
• Is your cat neutered?
• How active is your indoor (or outdoor) pet?
• Does your pet tend to be overweight?
• Does your cat / tomcat have any intolerances or allergies?
• Does your cat / tomcat have any pre-existing conditions?
• What are your pet's food preferences?

Depending on the requirements, Vet-Concept offers different dry foods for kittens as well as adult cats. You can choose from dry food for growing kittens, active daredevils and cosy indoor cats.

Our diet food series is also designed for sensitive, allergic or sick cats. Your vet or our expert advice service will be happy to help you make the best decision for your cat food from Vet-Concept. Alternatively, use our feed assistant.

FAQS - FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT DRY FOOD FOR CATS

WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO CHANGE THE FOOD?

When your cat is about to change to a new dry food, this means a peak performance for the stomach and intestines.

All the more so if the new cat food also contains new ingredients that the cat's body has not had to utilise before, or only rarely. Digestive organs, mucous membranes and organism are simply not designed for a daily change of food. Just as in nature, prey animals are caught and consumed rather consistently, a frequent change of food is therefore not advisable.

Nevertheless, cat owners in particular are often forced to change food due to their pet's changing preferences, its stubbornness or, in the worst case, due to illness.

Even if your four-legged friend appears to be very robust and seems to tolerate abrupt food changes well, we always recommend a gradual food change in our nutritional counselling.

This means that the old cat food is replaced bit by bit by the new food. The mixing can be carried out for seven to fourteen days, depending on the cat and personal opinion.

HOW IMPORTANT IS THE MEAT CONTENT IN DRY FOOD?

The amount of meat in cat food is a hotly debated topic in nutritional counselling. This makes it all the more important for Vet-Concept - as a responsible manufacturer in the pet food sector - to show transparency and provide precise information on this topic.

Unlike humans or dogs, cats and tomcats are carnivores, and Vet-Concept is guided by this in the production of cat food.

Cat owners should know that the proportion of meat in pet food does not have to be specified by law. Accordingly, the claims of many manufacturers differ considerably and often lead to confusion.

If information is given about the amount of meat contained, this is usually a percentage of the processed meat meal. Since a lot of water has been removed from this meat meal before it is processed into dry food, it must be taken into account that it is a kind of highly digestible meat concentrate. Accordingly, in terms of quantity, much less concentrate is needed to produce food that meets the requirements than would be needed of fresh meat in comparison.

This is also reflected in the feeding quantity. In order to cover a cat's daily requirements, much less dry food must be fed than would be the case if the cat were fed with wet food only.

Much more meaningful than a statement about the amount of meat (fresh or dry) is the information on the usable crude protein. This is the only way to determine how much of the protein supplied can actually be digested.

Vet-Concept products achieve a digestible crude protein of up to 92%.

HOW RELIABLE ARE THE RECOMMENDED FEEDING AMOUNTS?

Every reputable manufacturer of pet food should also provide information on how much of a food should be fed in order to provide the respective cat with a good supply.

Pet owners should adhere to these recommendations in order to avoid under- or over-supply of their beloved cats.

Since not every cat or tomcat utilises food in the same way, or treats and snacks are consumed in addition to good cat food, there is usually some leeway to increase or decrease the daily amount of food.

Cats are no different from humans in this respect. Depending on our disposition, we too tend towards the ever-slim line or towards one or two grams too much.

It may be that your cat is very active and needs a little more than the recommended daily amount to balance its energy. But the tendency to overeat can also be counteracted by a slight reduction in the daily amount fed.

Vet-Concept recommends feeding the recommended daily amount for about 4-8 weeks. If you subsequently find that the amount should be changed, the recommended daily amount of cat food can be increased or reduced by up to one third.

CAN I SIMPLY FEED MY CAT DIET FOOD?

Diet food is not only cat food that is intended to help lose weight and is therefore reduced in fat. Diets are also recommended for a variety of illnesses.

Low-fat cat food can also be recommended by the vet for gastrointestinal complaints, pancreatic disorders or liver problems, for example. Low-protein cat food can relieve sick kidneys. A dry food made from exotic protein sources can be a solution for severe allergy sufferers. And cat foods adjusted in mineral levels are also considered diet foods, as they can counteract the formation of urinary stones.

Feeding unsuitable cat food can aggravate the condition of sick cats or make healthy animals ill. Therefore, Vet-Concept only sells diet food on the recommendation of the attending veterinarian.

Diet foods should never be fed at your own discretion. If you suspect that your cat or tomcat is ill, always consult the vet and ask whether the animal can be supported by special feeding.

WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO STORE DRY FOOD?

Since moisture is a big factor in the perishability of food and pet food, high quality dry cat food is usually already a well preserved product.

Nevertheless, some things should be considered when storing dry food to ensure the longest possible shelf life even after opening the original packaging.

After removing the desired amount of food, it is always advisable to close the bag well and as airtight as possible (see Vet-Concept Powerclip). After delivery by Vet-Concept, the kibble can also be transferred into a resealable container. In this way, as little oxygen as possible reaches the fresh feed and spoilage is delayed.

A cool and dry environment is ideal for storage. This prevents moisture from developing inside the packaging due to temperature differences. Especially in the winter months, for example, care should be taken that the dry food is not placed on a floor that is heated by underfloor heating. In the summer months, direct sunlight should be avoided.

If you have any further questions about dry food for cats, please do not hesitate to contact our expert advisors on the toll-free number.