The Eukanuba brand has been known in the dog food market for more than half a century. The Polish brand positions its products as a super-premium diet.
For example, Eukanuba lamb food for dogs contains up to 30% freeze-dried chicken or turkey meat. This is a source of animal protein - the most important nutrient that provides the dog's body with energy.
Who produces Eukanuba food?
Previously, Eukanuba food was produced abroad. Now the rights to the brand belong to the Mars Corporation, which owns many factories, including several Russian ones. After the sale of the brand, the quality of Eukanuba feed deteriorated. The Mars company played a significant role in this, changing the composition to reduce the cost. The corporation began to spend more money on promotion, reducing costs on the food itself. In addition, in Russia there are different standards and the list of permitted additives is wider, so often diets of the same brand, but made in Russia, are inferior to foreign ones.
The logo is present on all food packaging
A series of dog foods are produced under the Eukanuba brand. Mars also owns the rights to many well-known brands: Whiskas, Royal Canin, KiteKat, Sheba, etc. The corporation's product range includes not only food, but also various products for animals: tray fillers, treats and other products. Almost all of the brands listed have a controversial reputation.
Manufacturer information
Eukanuba brand food has been known in the USA since 1969. They were created by the Iams corporation, but in 1999 it was sold to Procter & Gamble, and in 2014 to Mars. Today, the production of animal feed for the Russian market has been transferred to the Royal Canin plant in the Moscow region.
On the official website eukanuba.ru, the manufacturer talks about the high-tech process of creating pet food, as well as recipes that continue to be improved for the health of dogs. Products regularly undergo quality tests comparable to those of human food products. More than 120 different checks are carried out on each batch.
Table: range of feed "Eukanuba"
| Name of food or series of food | Type | Cost of 1 kg or pouch | Peculiarities |
| Eukanuba Kitten Healthy Start | Dry and wet | For dry food 600 rubles, for wet food - 60 rubles. for 85 g | Food for kittens. The formula developers claim that due to the optimal balance of nutrients, the product promotes healthy growth of the body, but doubts arise about this. This is one of the fattest foods: the proportion of lipids reaches a record 24%! If a kitten has diarrhea or any other abnormalities in the gastrointestinal tract, this diet may cause an exacerbation. The amount of minerals is increased, so after castration the pet is recommended to switch to a less saturated diet. The manufacturer attributed the advantages of the formulation to the fact that the share of animal proteins is 86% of the total amount of amino acids. Perhaps this is indeed the case, but only due to the isolated protein, and not whole meat, so this plus is doubtful. Spiders have a worse composition than dry food, but are better balanced. According to the manufacturer, they help control the acidity of urine, so they can be used as additional nutrition after castration. |
| Eukanuba Adult Top Condition | Dry and wet | For dry food 600 rubles, for wet food - 60 rubles. for 85 g | Regular cat food without health problems. The balance of nutrients resembles the variety for small kittens. There is less fat here (22%), but this is still too high for adult animals. Because of this, there is a risk of liver dysfunction if the cat regularly eats Eukanuba food. There are also relatively many minerals:
This can trigger the formation of kidney stones even in unsterilized animals. At the same time, among the benefits there is an indication that the food should support the health of the urinary tract, although it is better to switch neutered pets to a different diet. There are several varieties of spiders in this line, but in fact they are identical in composition. The type of meat that the manufacturer indicates on the packaging is almost absent from the food, but in all products the list of ingredients begins with anonymous meat and offal. Theoretically, nothing prevents the corporation from distributing the same food into different containers, positioning it as a line of spiders with different tastes. |
| Eukanuba Adult Sterilized/Weight Control | Dry | 500 rub. | The food is intended for adult sterilized cats and overweight animals. The manufacturer resolved the issue of preventing obesity by reducing the proportion of fat to 13% and adding L-carnitine. The latter promotes the breakdown of fatty tissue and prevents the formation of new ones, while improving metabolism and reducing the feeling of hunger. The manufacturer does not indicate calorie content, which is a significant disadvantage for such feeds. It will be difficult for pet owners to calculate their individual daily intake; they will have to rely on general recommendations and monitor progress. It is not entirely clear how exactly food prevents the formation of stones in the urinary system. The proportion of minerals is average, magnesium is even more than in some varieties - 0.1%. There are no ingredients in the composition that could additionally acidify or alkalize urine. |
| Eukanuba Hairball Control | Dry | 600 rub. | Food for preventing the formation of hairballs. The composition is almost identical to the regular diet, but contains more beet pulp. This is a dubious method of prevention, since there is already a lot of fiber in feed. Conventionally, the product contains fish oil, which could partially prevent hair loss, but it is at the end of the list. Its proportion is not high enough to have any effect, so pet owners are unlikely to notice the changes. Vitamin and mineral indicators are generally similar to standard feed. |
| Eukanuba Senior Top Condition | Dry and wet | For dry food 600 rubles, for wet food - 60 rubles. for 85 g | The food is suitable for pets over 7 years old. The packaging claims many benefits: antioxidants support the immune system, prebiotics help improve digestion, the food heals teeth, etc. In practice, we observe that most of the benefits are imaginary, and the composition is almost completely identical to regular food. For example, antioxidants include vitamin C, which is found in almost all vegetables and fruits. It should be present in any complete food. We can say that all diets contain antioxidants and support immunity. Eukanuba does not stand out from other foods. The food contains 19% fat, so for unhealthy older animals it is advisable to choose a different diet or undergo regular examinations to monitor their general condition. |
History of creation
Dry food for cats and dogs "Eukanuba" was developed by Procter&Gamble. In 2014, the brand was purchased. A special feature of the product was the addition of natural meat, which improved the composition. It undergoes sublimation, during which all liquid is removed, but the nutrients are retained.
Specialists have developed unique formulas of ingredients. Cats are carnivorous animals and need protein for proper nutrition. The body does not absorb it from plants, so most cheap feeds are not beneficial. They contain large amounts of soy and corn, which are harmful.
The Eukanuba product contains only high quality animal proteins. Meat is used for this:
- lambs;
- Chicken;
- salmon
Specialists cooperate with well-known breeders. This allows you to observe how animals grow on dry food "Eukanuba"
It is important to monitor the occurrence of allergies, digestive disorders and other disorders - this is necessary to correct the formula
Review of the composition of Eukanuba feed
To get an unbiased, objective opinion, we will look at several types of food. Although the manufacturer classifies its products as super-premium, in fact granular food corresponds to the premium class in quality, and wet food is closer to the economy category. This contrast arises due to the concealment of the composition. This allows us to rightly assume that the manufacturer uses low-quality raw materials.
Composition of dry food "Eukanuba"
We took kitten food as a sample. Since the gastrointestinal tract of babies is not yet fully formed, most often manufacturers of budget products add higher quality ingredients to such diets. In the case of holistic specialists, a similar picture is not observed, because in the wild, adult cats and kittens eat the same food, and companies do not skimp on the ingredients.
In the list of ingredients of Eukanuba Kitten Healthy Start you can see the following items:
- animal proteins (43% – poultry, a natural source of taurine);
- animal fat;
- barley;
- wheat;
- Wheat flour;
- rice;
- dry whole egg;
- hydrolyzed animal protein;
- sugar beet pulp;
- fish fat;
- fructooligosaccharides;
- dried brewer's yeast;
- minerals.
The composition shows that the manufacturer does not use meat in its natural form at all. The only animal ingredients that inspire confidence are dried whole eggs and fish oil. However, the share of the latter is too small to talk about the positive impact of the feed. It contains a lot of anonymous ingredients. For a super-premium food, this is a significant drawback. It is difficult to find another representative of this category with the same classified composition. It seems that the company either uses low-quality components that it cannot disclose directly, or constantly changes the recipe depending on the situation on the global market. This is dangerous for cats with allergies because they may develop intolerance to multiple ingredients at once.
Previously, food pellets were dark and oily, indicating a high meat content
Why do we consider the lack of meat in the composition to be a disadvantage? To answer this question, we need to consider the technology for producing dry food. Proteins of animal origin are obtained by removing fat and liquid from soft tissues, offal, bones, etc. Most often, the source is those animals that are unsuitable for human food. This is a completely anonymous ingredient. In most cases, it contains components with low nutritional value. It is believed that pure protein puts less strain on the gastrointestinal tract, but cats get more different nutrients from fresh meat, including vitamins and minerals. The use of such supplements may cause deficiency. This is due to the fact that formula developers try to achieve an optimal balance, but do not take into account that some of the nutrients in their pure form, when digested, pass through the intestines without being absorbed. In addition, the gastrointestinal tract gets used to digesting already processed isolated protein, which is fraught with digestive disorders when changing food in the future. My colleague had to deal with a similar problem: when switching to Farmina diets, his cat experienced diarrhea. I had to go to the vet and undergo additional treatment.
Currently, the feed pellets appear light and dehydrated due to cereals making up most of the composition
The food contains a lot of grains. They occupy third, fourth, fifth and sixth positions. Most likely, their total share exceeds the amount of meat. For carnivores, this is a bad menu option. They receive grains in small quantities and only in digested form from the stomach of killed game. Grains mainly serve as a source of fiber and help stimulate the movement of food through the intestines. The gastrointestinal tract of predators is more adapted to digesting protein foods, so an excess of carbohydrates causes metabolic disorders, obesity and diabetes in them. Barley is a less harmful ingredient than wheat, since it is less likely to cause allergies and sudden spikes in glucose levels, but in any case it is an undesirable component.
Composition of wet food "Eukanuba"
In the case of wet food, we chose a diet for adult cats with fish, since this is the most controversial variety. For some reason, the salmon pouch does not contain salmon, but it does contain beef. It is possible that this is a simple typo, but this is unacceptable on the part of the manufacturer. The buyer has the right to receive reliable, complete information about the composition. However, such a typo is only scary for owners of allergic cats, and they are unlikely to purchase Eukanuba spiders because of the many anonymous components.
Adult Top Condition wet food contains the following items:
- meat and offal (including beef at least 4%);
- cereals;
- vitamins and minerals;
- amino acid methionine;
- fish fat.
The only positive thing is the presence of fish oil. However, its quantity is not reported, and it is located at the very end, so this is not the most significant advantage. The meat in the feed is not of the best quality. It is combined with offal. Most likely, this is done in order to visually increase the proportion of meat. The presence of grains is a significant disadvantage, since cats practically do not need them. There are probably about as many of them in the food as there is meat. In addition, the manufacturer does not provide specific information about the composition of the cereal mixture, so it is unknown which varieties are used. The addition of methionine indicates that the feed does not contain enough meat.
Wet food is not meat fiber, but compressed pieces from a mixture of offal and grains
In terms of composition, Eukanuba wet food is practically no different from Whiskas spider food. This is unacceptable for a super-premium diet. Typically, such foods contain only meat and water or a small amount of grains (up to 3–4%). My cat, when I offered her the Eukanuba wet diet, refused to eat. She does the same with budget food. Another ate well but vomited a few hours later. This was most likely due to questionable ingredients. Of course, I can’t say for sure, but in any case, I won’t buy this food again.
Cons of Kitekat brand cat food
This food, like any other economy-class ready-made cat food, has significant disadvantages:
- Low meat and protein content, a significant part of which is of plant origin. These factors do not allow us to call the product balanced.
- Presence of artificial ingredients. Dyes, flavors and preservatives do not have the best effect on animal health. Their content in food causes a high risk of your pet developing an allergic reaction.
- Use of flavor enhancers in production, which leads to addiction.
- Lack of a line for kittens and medicinal food.
- “Blurred” information about the composition. The product manufacturer provides only analytical data. He prefers to remain silent about the specific gravity and detail of the components. The packaging of the food does not indicate which grains are used in its production. This is a significant drawback, since some cereals can cause allergies in members of the cat family.
- The presence of a pronounced odor. High-quality food has a specific aroma, but it is not as strong as its cheap counterparts.
The Kitiket packaging contains information about the total amount of protein ingredients. In addition, it indicates the minimum meat content, only about 4%. This information scares many consumers. Animals do not necessarily need to receive fresh meat, the main thing is the required amount of animal protein. However, here the food manufacturer is being cunning by indicating its composition in such a way that the exact origin of this component is not specified. However, it does not provide information about the presence of carbohydrates at all.
Advantages and disadvantages of Eukanuba feed
The Eukanuba diets have more disadvantages, but there are also advantages. The main one is accessibility. Food can be purchased at most pet stores. The brand's products can be found in almost all specialized online stores. Even some hypermarkets are engaged in sales. This can help out if you need to feed your cat urgently, but she refuses natural products.
Among the disadvantages of feed, the following factors can be identified:
- Intrusive marketing. Formula developers are trying to present standard feed properties from a more advantageous side or even play up the shortcomings so as to hide them. For example, adding taurine and methionine is not an advantage at all. These amino acids are present in meat. If there is enough of it in the feed, there is no need to use additives. Such tricks raise at least doubts about the quality, since good products do not need such aggressive advertising.
- Poor assortment. The line consists of a minimum number of varieties. There are 2 preventative foods and 3 diets for animals of different age categories. Spiders are produced mainly for adult cats without health problems. Wet food is not produced for sterilized animals. This is a minus, since sufficient moisture intake with food in itself reduces the risk of developing diseases of the genitourinary system. The liquid helps remove microbes and excess minerals, which prevents the progression of infections and the formation of stones.
- There is no veterinary line. Previously, the company produced good medicinal food under this brand. After the rights to the brand were transferred to Mars Corporation, the veterinary series was removed. Most likely, it has lost relevance due to the availability of Royal Canin medicated food. However, the quality of the Eukanuba veterinary rations was higher, so it would be better to leave them in the assortment.
- High price. The quality of the food is not much different from the premium class, and in some ways even closer to the economy category, but the manufacturer positions its own products as super-premium. Hence the incomparable price, which is 2–3 times higher than the cost of analogues. For the same money you can buy a good super-premium food or even not the best holistic food.
- Risk of deterioration of health status. Excess grains increase the load on the pancreas. She has to produce enzymes that are uncharacteristic for her in order to cope with the digestion of plant foods. As a result, inflammation occurs, the ducts narrow, and the pancreas begins to damage itself. The food also has a negative effect on the liver due to excess fat and on the kidneys due to the increased mineral content. There is a high risk of allergic reactions.
- Almost the same composition for different feeds. I would like to see specialized preventative supplements on the list. For example, castrated cats need additional acidification of their urine. Fruits and berries do this job well. It is advisable for older cats to receive an additional portion of chondroitin and glucosamine, since age-related degenerative changes increase the risk of joint diseases.
Price
The cost of feed produced under the Eukanuba brand is slightly higher than the average cost of similar super-premium class feed.
The price of a package weighing 400 g of dry food in the daily line ranges from 290 to 440 rubles, 2 kg of food will cost 1250-1850 rubles.
The price of dietary dry food is on average 1,220 rubles per package weighing 2 kg.
Cost of Eukanuba feed for daily feeding
| Type of feed | Average price, rub | Package weight, g |
| dry food | 1500 | 2000 |
| spiders | 57 | 85 |
Cost of medicinal feed Eukanuba
| Type of feed | Average price, rub | Package weight, g |
| dry food | 1220 | 2000 |
| canned food | 116 | 170 |
Photo gallery: Eukanuba food
Due to excess fiber, the food may cause aggravation of sensitive digestion.
It is advisable to decide on the issue of switching to food for older cats individually with a veterinarian, since for pets 7 years is not yet old age
Due to the weak composition, it is better to avoid switching kittens to this food altogether; in extreme cases, it is necessary to accustom it to it only from 2–3 months, so as not to cause digestive upset.
The manufacturer suggests giving regular food to cats from 1 to 7 years of age.
Features of the line
The manufacturer provides food for small pets.
The manufacturer that produces Eukanuba cat food has taken care not only of healthy pets, but also of those who have abnormalities in the kidneys and other internal organs. They also produce products for sterilized cats, and for very small kittens the line includes Eukanuba Kitten. Owners have the opportunity to buy “Eukanuba” for adult cats and insufficiently active breeds of the cat family. The line includes the following foods from the Veterinary Diet series, recommended for various deviations:
- Dermatosis LB - diet for inflammatory diseases of the epidermis;
- Intestinal;
- Oxalate Urinary Formula;
- Renal for renal failure in cats;
- Restricted Calorie;
- "Eukanuba struvite urinari" in case of struvite formation in the urinary system.
Table: what can replace Eukanuba food
| Brand | Composition of daily food (first 10 ingredients) | Average cost 1 kg | Peculiarities |
| Monge |
| 700 rub. | The manufacturer indicates the percentage of ingredients, so we have an idea of the overall ratio of meat and plant components. Whole meat is used without additives, most of it is dried raw materials. Herbal ingredients are relatively safe and rarely cause allergies. |
| Organix |
| 200 rub. | Inexpensive premium food. You shouldn’t expect much from it, but in general its quality is comparable to Eukanuba products, despite the fact that the price difference reaches 400 rubles. for 1 kg. Some cereals are sources of slow carbohydrates. Whole dried meat is used, with additional fishmeal present. |
| Go! |
| 500 rub. | The manufacturer uses not just whole meat, but fresh meat, which undergoes minimal processing and retains maximum nutrients. The overall share of meat components is impressive: the first 7 positions are occupied by muscle tissue. |
