Detailed feed overview
The manufacturer of Sheba food is the well-known brand Mars, which has been producing cat food for many years. Sheba is a premium food , and Mars also produces the popular budget brands Whiskas and Kitiket. Of course, Sheba differs from these feeds in its higher quality and it is unlikely to contain waste in the form of hooves, horns and bones, which successfully replace meat in budget feeds.
All Sheba brand food is produced in Thailand , but the Mars brand itself, which has been operating on the market since the mid-20th century, is transnational. Sheba appeared on the shelves in the 80s of the last century, first in Germany and only 10 years later, it spread throughout Europe. This food became popular almost immediately after the release of a successful commercial, but buyers were unlikely to be attracted only by the beautiful picture on the TV screen.
The manufacturing company confidently asserts that control over compliance with production standards and product composition is carried out by scientists from the Waltham center .
One of the main features of this cat food is that it is produced exclusively in the form of wet food and canned food .
On store shelves you can only see disposable bags or neat small jars of Sheba, but not large bags or boxes of drying. The second, important feature of Sheba is that it does not contain products that can cause allergies in a cat.
Compound
Now it is advisable to move from the features of this product to its contents, that is, to the composition. Sheba contains approximately 20% pure animal protein . Depending on the type of wet food, it may vary. The food line includes dishes from rabbit, poultry, beef, veal, sea fish and shrimp. One of the main advantages of this food is that it does not contain soy, various flavors, dyes and vegetable protein.
In addition to healthy animal protein, it contains fiber, a complex of essential minerals and vitamins, which includes taurine and polyunsaturated fatty acids.
Perhaps the most questionable ingredient in the product is cassava sago or tapioca. But there is no need to worry in vain, since these are original starch substitutes . Cassava sago is nothing more than a cereal that is obtained from the cassava plant and, unlike many well-known corn or wheat cereals, is not capable of causing food allergies or gastrointestinal problems in a cat.
What is the difference between wet food and canned food?
There are also clear differences between the composition of bagged and canned food of this brand. Cans contain a larger amount of meat or fish compared to bags, since thanks to preservation, the freshness of the product is preserved much longer . But this does not make the composition in the bags worse or poorer in quality; they also contain all the vitamins and animal protein, only in reduced quantities.
Composition, class and type of feed
Manufacturers present Sheba as a premium food. It differs from economy in its better composition, but veterinarians consider the protein and fat content to be insufficient, so the food, in their opinion, cannot be premium. Such food must have high-quality ingredients, a sufficient amount of animal proteins, vitamins and minerals.
Sheba line
The composition is not fully disclosed, which is not typical for premium feeds. In different series of the brand, the protein content varies slightly, on average from 8 to 11%, fat from 2 to 3%.
Manufacturer's guaranteed performance:
- proteins 11 g per 100 g of feed;
- fats 3 g per 100 g;
- fiber 0.3 g;
- purified ash 2 g;
- moisture 82 g.
As you can see, the nutrient standards are significantly underestimated. But the moisture content is quite high, which in combination with food has a positive effect on digestion.
The main ingredient is meat and offal, but the exact ratio is not specified. Different series contain a minimum of 8% meat and offal, resulting in 8 g per 100 g of product. Also, nothing is said about the quality and origin of these meat products.
There is no vegetable protein in the form of soy, as the manufacturer writes. But even an animal in the form of meat is not enough to satisfy a cat. This means that the amount of feed will have to be increased, which is not economically beneficial for the owner.
The source of fat is also not specified, most likely it is fish oil. There is no information available about the carbohydrates found in regular grains. But Sheba uses tapioca in cat food, which is collected from the cassava tree. This is a cereal, but unlike corn or wheat, it does not cause allergic reactions. In addition, it is a natural source of starch.
Additional components include:
- vitamins A and E;
- taurine;
- omega acids;
- minerals.
Taurine must be in cat food, since this substance is not produced in their bodies. Omega fatty acids improve heart function, make the coat shiny, and the skin healthy and elastic. The manufacturer claims that Sheba does not contain artificial colors or preservatives, and all raw materials are strictly checked by veterinary and sanitary supervision.
Tidbits
It is also not indicated whether the food contains vegetables, herbs, or fruits. It is possible that they are available in separate series.
The brand produces only wet food in jars and bags. Portion packaging is convenient to open, it is designed for one time, so there is no need to store the food open. There is a wide variety of flavors - rabbit, chicken, fish, duck, veal, shrimp, lamb, turkey.
There are no separate series for certain categories of animals. Sheba food is not suitable for kittens, since the diet does not contain substances necessary for the growing body. Of course, you can give it to the kitten as a treat, but be sure to give your baby additional vitamins and protein. The same applies to older animals and sterilized cats, to whom it is not recommended to feed food frequently, since it is too high in calories.
Product advantages and disadvantages
Advantages of Sheba canned food and spiders:
- presence of meat and/or fish;
- using not frozen, but natural, fresh products;
- the presence of a complex of vitamins necessary for cat health;
- special packaging technology that helps preserve nutrients;
- a varied range of flavors and a wide range of “recipes”;
- absence of various dyes and flavoring additives;
- convenient packaging, designed just for one meal.
To all of the above, you can also add that important advantage of this product - the food does not cause extreme thirst in the cat. Thus, the pet does not consume a large amount of liquid, and the load on the kidneys does not increase. And if you believe numerous reviews, then these spiders can be fed to your pet all the time.
The disadvantages of this brand's products include:
- lack of a specialized line for cats suffering from certain diseases;
- lack of dry food in the line;
It is also undesirable to feed your cat this food all the time; it is better to use it as a treat . It is not suitable for animals under one year of age, as well as for pregnant cats.
One way or another, most reviews from veterinarians and experienced owners about Sheba are positive.
Pros and cons of food
The advantages of the food include the following characteristics:
- You will not find soy or grains in the composition.
- Various flavor options
- Very common, available in any store.
- Sheba feeds are cheap.
Among the disadvantages are:
- According to doctors, the food is not a complete diet. (but the packaging says otherwise)
- The composition is not detailed. Perhaps something is hidden.
- There are no dry food options.
Types of food and main differences from other well-known brands
As mentioned above, Sheba is available in the form of canned food and bags. The choice of flavors is quite diverse and therefore any, even the most picky cat will be able to choose the most suitable one for herself. Sheba food is divided into three collections, such as:
- Pleasure spiders;
- Classic canned food;
- Fusion canned goods.
The spider collection includes wet food that is treated with steam . Any bag of premium food is ready for consumption and there is no need to process it thermally. Each bag contains a dish consisting of two meat or fish ingredients.
Spiders Sheba Pleasure
Thus, the Pleasure collection presents such exquisite dishes as:
- chicken and turkey (30% - chicken meat, and 4% - turkey meat);
- chicken and rabbit;
- veal and tongue (20% - veal meat, 5% - tongue);
- beef and lamb;
- beef and rabbit;
- tuna and salmon.
Canned food Sheba Classic
Canned products come in a smaller variety of flavors, but each dish is created according to an individual recipe . A small jar contains poultry or fish in a surprisingly delicate sauce. According to the manufacturers, each jar is packed by hand. As for flavors, this collection includes tuna with shrimp, tuna in sauce, sautéed chicken breast and assorted duck and chicken.
Canned food Sheba Fusion
Fusion's most sophisticated and limited collection of canned food, with large pieces of meat and other unusual ingredients, includes just two dishes:
- chicken and duck tournedos (a French meat dish consisting of pieces of tenderloin no thicker than a finger);
- chicken tagliata with beef (an Italian dish consisting of pieces of meat cut into strips).
More information about Sheba's recipes and tastes can be found on the official website.
What is the difference between Sheba and other famous brands?
Of course, cat food does not end with Mars brand products. No less popular and advertised cat food is Felix spiders. But if you compare Sheba and Felix, you can find a number of visible and important differences that will clearly not be in favor of the latter. Thus, Felix spiders belong to economy class food and contain a much smaller amount of natural meat in their composition.
The same applies to vitamins, and because of this, the cat is unlikely to be able to satisfy its daily need for microelements with one packet of Felix. In addition, Felix contains flavoring additives and aromas that attract the animal. Thus, it can only be fed to cats in excellent health and in limited quantities.
The same can be said for Gourmet, which contains various additives and dyes. More detailed information about Felix and Gourmet food can be found on their official websites.
Sheba feed types
The peculiarity of Sheba is that there is no dry food in its assortment, but you can find wet food to suit every taste. But this does not in the least frighten those who have chosen this natural, tasty and healthy food; they continue to buy it and pamper their furry, and maybe non-furry, friends.
The range of feeds is represented by the following types:
- Sheba Pleasure is a delicious dish of two types of meat combined with a sophisticated sauce.
- Sheba Appetito – two types of meat that intertwine their flavors in a delicious jelly in a special way.
- Sheba Naturalle ( Sheba Naturel ) - whole meat pieces of two types under a delicate and, as always, tasty sauce.
- Sheba Classic is a canned dish with a high content of selected pieces of meat, which reveal the fullness of taste thanks to an amazing sauce.
A “mini food” line has also been released, represented by a collection of assorted flavors (Sheba spiders, 50 g each).
Advantages of Sheba wet food , five reasons to buy this food:
- No preservatives or dyes.
- High meat content and wide range.
- They contain a sufficient amount of moisture, so the cat does not need to drink large amounts of water as after dry food.
- One package – one serving. Every time the food is fresh, just opened.
- High class feed is a guarantee of quality.
Cons of Sheba wet food :
- There is no food for kittens.
- There is also no medicinal food available. For example, a castrated or sterilized cat requires specialized food.
- There is no line of food by breed; for example, it would be better for a British cat if the composition of the food was different from that of a Persian cat. The thing is that each breed has its own characteristics.
Reviews from veterinarians
Sheba food contains all the necessary microelements for a cat's health. Despite the fact that most breeders prefer to feed their pets natural food, the use of ready-made food is most advisable.
Yarygina A., veterinarian
Sheba pouches and canned food are perfect for feeding any breed of cat.
Unlike popular dry food, canned food is much healthier for the animal, since the cat’s risk of developing urolithiasis is significantly reduced. Stolyarov E., veterinarian
