Ontario Cat Food

Ontario products from the Czech manufacturer Plácek GROUP only appeared on the Russian commercial pet food market in 2013, although they had already gained popularity in several European countries (Lithuania, Latvia, Denmark, and Norway). It's worth noting that their products have no connection to Canada, as the name or the red maple leaf on the packaging might suggest. This could perhaps be considered a marketing ploy, as products from Canadian manufacturers are often known for their high quality.

The brand positions its products as super-premium, containing a full range of nutrients essential for the health of cats. The descriptions and characteristics of the food will help you understand how true this is and evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of this cat food option.

Content

1 Assortment
- 1.1 Dry food
- 1.2 Wet food
2 Compound
3 Price
4 Reviews

Assortment

Ontario's range of cat food on the Russian market is tailored to suit a cat's age, health, and lifestyle. The products are available in two formats: dry and wet.

Dry food

The dry food line includes 5 types, each available in 0.4 kg, 2 kg, and 10 kg packaging:

Ontario Kitten (for kittens, pregnant and lactating cats).
Ontario Adult (for adult animals).
Ontario Adult Ocean Fish (for adult animals with ocean fish).
Ontario Adult Indoor (for adult indoor cats)
Ontario Adult Castrate (for adult neutered animals).

Wet food

The company produces wet food in 400g cans, which are available in four flavors:

Kitten Chicken, Shrimps and Rice with Salmon Oil (for kittens with chicken, shrimp, rice and salmon oil).
Beef and Salomon (for adult cats with beef, salmon and sunflower oil)
Chicken and Turkey with Salmon Oil (for adult animals with chicken, turkey and salmon oil).
Chicken and Rabbit with Salmon Oil (for adult cats with chicken, rabbit and salmon oil).

Compound

For a more detailed analysis of Ontario's ingredients, let's look at Ontario Adult Cat Chicken dry cat food with chicken. The quality of the food and its health benefits for your pet can be judged by the top five ingredients listed. For this product, the list looks like this:

Chicken meat and chicken products (min. 32%).
Corn.
Rice.
Poultry fat.
Hydrolyzed poultry protein.

Further down the list are dried apples, brewer's yeast, hydrolyzed poultry liver, and salmon oil. The food is balanced in vitamins and minerals, and detailed information about their content is provided on the packaging.

Guaranteed Analysis:

32% crude protein;
14% crude fat;
10% humidity;
6.9% crude ash;
2.3% crude fiber;
1.5% calcium;
1.1% phosphorus;
0.2% sodium;
0.09% magnesium.

Cat

Squirrels

The chicken meat and chicken products listed first are a good source of animal protein, but they are the only source. The lack of specific meat names raises doubts that the product uses the most valuable part of the chicken—the fillet. Despite its image on the front of the packaging, the ingredients do not list "boneless chicken fillet." Two other protein components are also listed: hydrolyzed poultry protein and hydrolyzed poultry liver, but these are more likely to enhance the product's flavor and aroma.

Fats

Ontario Adult Chicken uses poultry fat as its fat source, but unfortunately, the exact source isn't specified. An additional fat source is salmon oil, which has a wide range of beneficial properties: it's a source of omega-3 fatty acids, which support overall health (especially the coat) and help prevent heart disease. However, since salmon oil is listed last on the ingredients list, and its percentage isn't even specified, it's unlikely to have a significant impact on your pet's health.

Carbohydrates

Corn and rice, ranked second and third, respectively, are sources of carbohydrates. Although the dosage is not listed, their presence at the top of the list indicates a relatively high content, which is not a good sign for a super-premium food.

They contain only a small amount of plant protein, so it can be said that the main share of the 32% of protein indicated in the guaranteed analysis comes from animal sources, which is an undoubted plus.

Additional additives

To enrich Ontario feed with nutrients, the following are used in the composition:

Dried apples – contain a large amount of fiber (in the form of pectin), which improves digestion and promotes the elimination of toxins, enriching the body with vitamins and antioxidants;
Brewer's yeast is a source of B vitamins, has a beneficial effect on the condition of the skin and coat of cats, and promotes the formation of favorable intestinal microflora.
Taurine is an essential amino acid that is not synthesized by the cat's body, but is key to the normal functioning of the heart muscle, visual acuity, and bile production processes.

Thus, the main drawbacks of this food are the large amount of grains (including allergenic corn) and the use of generic names for ingredients (poultry fat). Furthermore, the manufacturer fails to specify the exact contents of most ingredients and uses numerous marketing ploys that are unrelated to the actual composition and mislead the consumer. This includes images of chicken fillet on the packaging, which are not directly listed, as well as chicory, which is not even listed among the ingredients. One advantage of Ontario food is the presence of a significant amount of raw chicken, but this does not provide sufficient grounds for classifying this food as super-premium.

Price

Ontario cat food is available in a wide variety of online stores. Prices vary depending on the product type and packaging size:

from 183 rubles for 400 g;
from 580 rubles per 2 kg;
from 1800 rub. for 10 kg
from 138 rubles per 400 g for canned food.

Reviews

Ontario cat food is a relatively new product on the Russian market, so there are virtually no reviews from veterinarians. However, it has earned the trust of pet owners, and given its affordable price, reviews are overwhelmingly positive.

Yuri, owner of a Siamese cat:

"Ontario products are quite satisfactory in terms of quality and price, as some foods with the same ingredients are much more expensive. We usually buy dry food with chicken, and sometimes treat our cat to canned food as a treat. The cat's appearance and condition are excellent: her litter box is fine, her coat has a natural shine, and she's very active. I was a little concerned about the corn in the ingredients, but it's probably only in small quantities, and she hasn't had any allergies."

Julia, Kuzma's owner:

"After his neutering, we decided to switch our cat to a specialized food. We looked at a mid-price range and settled on Ontario, labeled "Castrate." At first, Kuzma wasn't very keen on the food, as we'd previously fed him Whiskas, which likely contains a lot of flavorings, but over time, his appetite improved. Although he's still a long way from the level of a premium food, we're happy with the price and quality, especially compared to cheaper foods. We've been using it as our main diet for a year now, and he hasn't had any problems, including urolithiasis."

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