Aatu — cat food

Aatu is a new brand of high-protein holistic cat food for the Russian market from Pet Food UK, a UK company that until recently served only the domestic market. The brand's holistic status indicates that its diets are based on the diets of wild animals, and the ingredients used in its production are safe for human consumption.

Brand assortment

Aatu dry food is available in 3 grain-free and gluten-free diets for adult animals:

• Chicken – food based on chicken meat (43% fresh and 42% dehydrated).
• Salmon & Herring – a “fish” diet based on salmon meat and dried herring (45% and 40% respectively).
• Duck – a food containing duck meat (45% fresh and 40% dehydrated). This formula has a higher fat content (20%) and is therefore not recommended for neutered or spayed animals, or for overweight pets.

The food is available in 200g, 3kg, and 5kg packages. A nice bonus is the multi-layer zip closure and a plastic check valve, which allows for quick air release to create a vacuum effect.

Aatu wet food is available in 85g pouches in 5 flavours:

• Duck & Chicken Liver (duck and chicken liver).
• Salmon, Chicken & Prawn (salmon, chicken and shrimp).
• Chicken & Pheasant (chicken and pheasant).
• Chicken & Quail (chicken and quail).
• Turkey & Goose (turkey and duck).

Although chicken liver and pheasant meat are included in the names of two products, their percentage in the ingredients is quite small: 7% in each. Listing these ingredients can be considered more of a marketing ploy by the manufacturer.

Each product contains 90-97% fresh meat and meat or fish broth. Pouches can be used as a staple diet or as an occasional treat in addition to dry food.

Composition analysis

The manufacturer markets Aatu dry foods as single-protein diets, meaning they are based on a single source of animal protein (meat or fish). This determines not only the name but also the basis of the food, as the meat content reaches 85%. Most of the remaining ingredients are repeated in all products (their total content is 15%), with the exception of certain components, such as the presence of salmon broth in the fish diet instead of chicken broth in the chicken or duck diet.

For a more detailed analysis of the ingredients, consider Aatu Duck food. Quality is usually judged by the top five ingredients. In the selected product, these are the places where

• Duck meat (85%) (45% fresh and 40% dried) forms the basis of the food and is essentially the only source of animal protein, which is essential for cats given their carnivorous nature. Furthermore, the manufacturer uses meat from free-range birds (as evidenced by the "Free Run Duck" label on the packaging), which is considered to be of higher quality and more nutritious.
• Sweet potatoes are a source of carbohydrates and fiber. They are more easily digested by cats than grains and regular potatoes, and they help normalize blood sugar levels.

• Chickpeas are another source of carbohydrates and fiber with high calorie content and a low glycemic index, meaning their consumption does not provoke spikes in blood sugar.
• Chicken broth. It's primarily used as a flavoring agent. It also contains chicken protein, albeit in small amounts, which somewhat undermines the concept of a "monoprotein diet." This nuance should also be taken into account for pets who have had negative reactions to chicken and its derivatives.
• Salmon oil is a source of essential omega-3 fatty acids, essential for the proper functioning of all body systems and maintaining a healthy, shiny coat, which is especially important for long-haired cats.

A distinctive feature of this and other Aatu foods is the "Super 8" formula, which contains a variety of vegetables, fruits, spices, and herbs that serve as a source of vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients necessary for maintaining the health of cats.

Advantages and disadvantages

The advantages of Aatu feeds are mainly due to their good composition:

• formula based on animal proteins;
• absence of potentially allergenic grains, potatoes, gluten.
• balanced vitamin and mineral complex;
• no artificial flavors, flavor enhancers, preservatives or GMO components;
• Possibility of feeding dry and wet food from one manufacturer.

The disadvantages are primarily related to the brand's recent presence on the Russian market:

• sales only in selected pet stores or online;
• high price (even in comparison with other holistic products);
• lack of food for animals with specific needs (pregnant, sterilized, elderly, etc.) and therapeutic diets.

Price

Aatu cat food is available for purchase at pet stores online or at major retailers. Approximate prices:

• 0.2 kg – from 414 rubles.
• 1 kg – from 1559 rub.
• 3 kg – from 2837 rub.
• pouches (85 g) – from 126 rub.

Veterinarian Reviews

Victoria, veterinarian:

"Aatu cat food is a worthy representative among holistic cat foods on the Russian market. I consider its main advantages to be the high proportion of animal protein, the absence of grains, and the excellent vitamin and mineral composition. If your budget allows, I see no obstacle to using Aatu products as a regular diet."

Gleb Petrovich, veterinarian:

"This is a truly holistic food; all manufacturer claims on the packaging are factual and not just marketing gimmicks. Unfortunately, there are no therapeutic foods in the range, so Aatu diets are only suitable for animals without any health issues. I have not yet encountered any adverse reactions in cats to the food."

Owner reviews

Zhenya, the owner of two Persian cats:

"For me and my pets, Aatu has proven to be one of the best options. When switching from the previous food, there were no gastrointestinal upsets, the amount of excrement decreased, and there is no unpleasant odor from the litter box. Another important factor for me is that on Aatu, the coat became silky, tangles did not appear, and the shedding was also within the "normal" range.

Nina, owner of Maine Coon Mars:

"My cat gets full with the portion size recommended on the package and doesn't constantly beg for food. I usually buy him pretzels with chicken, and when I open the package, the smell of chicken is clearly noticeable. Even for a holistic cat, the price is quite high, but I think it's entirely justified given the natural ingredients, meat base, and how well my cat feels. The only downside is that I have to order a large package online, as Aata is quite hard to find in regular pet stores, especially the fish flavor (with salmon and herring), which Mars loves."

Read also:

• One Only — cat food
• Now Natural Holistic cat food
• Grandin cat food