A Budget-Friendly Cat Food That Didn't Quite Hit the Mark

summarizeEditor's Summary

I recently tried a budget-friendly cat food that promised a lot but delivered a little less. The food itself is okay, but it's not worth the hype for me. I've been feeding my cat this stuff for a few weeks now, and while it's not terrible, I'm not blown away either. The kibble is decent, but it's not as fresh as I'd like, and the packaging could be better. My cat seems to like it, but I'm not convinced it's the best value for money. If you're on a tight budget, it might be worth a try, but I wouldn't recommend it as a top pick. I'm hoping to find a better option soon.

settingsSpecifications

KararOrta

Bileşim4/10

Paketleme8/10

Ürün Özet7/10

Hello everyone, I'm still trying to get back into the swing of things after the holidays.

I hit a snag with delayed orders on pretty much every marketplace during the holidays. It would've been less of a problem if the food my cat's been eating was available in stores around here, but unfortunately, it's not. The delivery was pushed back indefinitely, and we were running low on food, so I had to rush to the nearest Magnit to get some for my kitty. The selection was limited, and since the economy-class food isn't that different, my choice fell on Viskas. The food with those fun little pads on the kibble should appeal to my fussy cat.

✅Manufacturer: OOO 'Mars', Moscow Oblast, Stupino

✅The 350g pack cost 160 rubles.

I also picked up the wet food – it's a nice change of pace sometimes.

So, let's break it down.

📌Packaging

I think it's pretty self-explanatory – it's bright, colorful, and has a super cute striped cat design.

Everything's clearly laid out on both sides – the marketing team really went all out.

The packaging is super glossy, making it hard to capture all the details in a photo.

Here are the promises and recommendations from the manufacturer – everything's nicely presented and visually appealing.

📌Composition

Plant-based products (including rice, carrots), animal-derived meal (including beef), animal and plant fats and oils (including sunflower oil), hydrolyzed animal-derived products, mineral substances, brewer's yeast, vitamins, amino acids (including taurine), antioxidants, and colorants.

If I'm being honest, the composition doesn't really make sense to me:

- what exactly is animal-derived meal made of?

- what other plant-based oils are used aside from sunflower oil? I'm guessing they just listed the most normal-sounding one.

- I've got to admit, I'm not entirely sure what hydrolyzed animal-derived ingredients are. I mean, there are so many different animal-derived products out there.

- And then there are the colorants - what's the point of those? Are they just there to make the owner happy? Newsflash: cats don't eat with their eyes, they eat with their taste buds. And let's be real, who cares what color the kibble is?

One thing I do like is that this food doesn't contain any salt or artificial flavorings.

📌Product Overview

The product itself looks interesting and not your run-of-the-mill cat food. It's got a mix of different kibble shapes - the classic round ones and some green-colored ones (which I'm pretty sure are just colorants, not actual green ingredients). There are also little pâté-like pieces that look like cat treats. The kibble itself is not too large, not too greasy, and easy for my cat to chew.

The pâté-like pieces do have a real pâté-like texture.

The aroma of this food is strong, to say the least. It's not unpleasant, but it's definitely noticeable. My cat seems to be okay with it, but I'm not so sure. I'm starting to think that there might be an artificial flavoring in there, despite the manufacturer's claims. The smell lingers on my hands even after I've washed them.

My cat from Viskas hasn't completely rejected this food, but it's not his favorite either. We managed to scrape by for a few days until we could get our regular food delivered. Now we're slowly working our way through this stuff.

It's like a ghost appeared out of nowhere, and I'm starting to think that if I ever buy this food again, I'll have to eat it myself...

📌Conclusion

I'm giving this food 3 stars with a big caveat - my finicky cat did eat it, and we managed to survive for a few days without our regular food.

❌Cons:

- The ingredient list is a mystery, with no actual meat in sight. And let's be real, cats are predators - they're meant to eat meat.

- I'm pretty sure there's an artificial flavoring in there, even if it's not explicitly listed.

- My cat eats it without much enthusiasm, which is probably a good thing. I wouldn't feed this to my cat on a regular basis.

✅Pros:

- The price is right

- It's widely available

That's about it, to be honest. The only other positive thing I can think of is the ziplock packaging, but I think the manufacturer could have invested a bit more in the actual ingredients rather than the packaging.

I wouldn't recommend this food to anyone, unless you're looking for a temporary solution to get you through a few days. It's basically a do-it-yourself cat food kit, but without the DIY part.

Thanks for reading, folks! If you want to see more reviews, check out my profile - I've got a whole bunch of them there❤️

✅My cat's story: is it worth adopting a stray?

✅ I've been impressed with the premium pet food's price and impressive ingredient list - my cat actually eats it!

✅ And I've also got to give a shout-out to another market brand that we tried and loved: the dry food and the wet food

live_helpFeatured FAQ

Is this cat food good for my cat's health?

While it's not the worst option out there, I'm not convinced it's the healthiest choice for my cat. I'd recommend looking into other options for a more balanced diet.

Can I trust the ingredients?

The ingredients are okay, but I'm not a fan of some of the additives. If you're concerned about what goes into your cat's food, you might want to look elsewhere.

How long does it last?

The packaging could be better, but it's decent for a few weeks' worth of food. Just be sure to store it properly to keep it fresh.

Is it easy to digest?

My cat seems to handle it fine, but every cat is different. If your cat has sensitive stomach issues, you might want to start with a small amount to see how they react.

Can I return it if my cat doesn't like it?

I'm not sure about the return policy, but it's always a good idea to check with the manufacturer or retailer before making a purchase.

Is it available in different flavors?

Unfortunately, no. The flavor options are pretty limited, which is a bummer if your cat gets bored easily.

How does it compare to other cat foods?

Honestly, I'm not impressed. There are better options out there that offer more value for money and better nutritional options.

Can I use it as a long-term solution?

While it's not the worst option, I'm not convinced it's the best long-term solution for my cat's health. I'd recommend looking into other options for a more balanced diet.