Supermarket tinned foods - Whiskas, Snappy Tom, etc

Hi everyone,

A friend has asked for some advice on feeding supermarket brand foods to her kitty (she isn't willing to feed raw or a premium food as she can't afford it and can't stomach the prep of raw).

I know that these brands typically have bad reputations, and I understand that they would considering how much of them contain mostly cereals. But I have had a look at the supermarket and there are a few varieties of whiskas and snappy Tom that don't contain any grains or cereals, and are simply meats, gelling agents, vitamins & minerals etc.

Does anyone know how these foods (without cereals) would be inferior to more premium brands with the same ingredients? I understand that when pet food companies say "chicken" or "'meat" they could mean all different parts of the animal and by prime cuts, but what's to say premium brands don't do the exact same thing?

Does anyone know what the requirements are for labelling? Does chicken mean chicken cuts and chicken products mean other parts?

.......

If any wet cat food is 90% meat or meat products, grain free, preservative free, and complete and balanced, I would assume it is a great choice. Am I wrong?

The vitamin/mineral mix can vary between brands, and you may find the cat does better on one brand or another for that reason. I've fed Friskies canned for a long time and everyone is very healthy, so, yes, the cheaper brands can be just fine.

Read your labels.  Some formulas sold in supermarkets are very suitable for your cat.  There are several no grain/no cereals varieties of Friskies wet food in a can.  Friskies and Fancy Feast are Purina Nestle brands.  Both brands are economical.