A Decent Pet Food from a Russian Brand - Nice Packaging, Good Price, But Some Composition Issues

Hello everyone!

I'm a bit late to the party when it comes to reviewing cat food. To be honest, I've been pretty happy with the brands I've been using for my fur babies lately, so there hasn't been much to write about.

But, I guess I'm making up for lost time today, as I'm sharing my thoughts on the AlphaPet MONOPROTEIN dry cat food with white fish.

About the product

• Brand: AlphaPet

• Suitable for: sterilized cats

• Claimed class: super premium

• Flavor: white fish

• Shelf life: 18 months

• Weight: sold in 400g, 1.5kg, and 3kg packs.

• Country of origin: Russia

• Where to buy: marketplaces (Ozoon, Yandex Market), Four Paws

• Price: I initially bought it at Four Paws, but let's just say the prices there are a bit steep. I now get it on Ozoon, and with discounts, I can snag a 3kg pack for 2150 rubles.

Ingredients

White fish 30%, dehydrated white fish 23%, whole rice, chickpeas, whole oats, animal fat, hydrolyzed liver, brewer's yeast, vitamin-mineral mix, dried beetroot, AlphaPetBIO (green-lipped mussel, calendula, dandelion, flaxseed, chicory, cranberry, Yucca schidigera, rosemary), fish oil, DL-methionine, antioxidant*. *Contains natural antioxidants (rosemary, tocopherol).

One thing that stands out about the ingredients is the high content of fish-based components – a whopping 53%! And I'm glad to see that most of it is fresh.

I also appreciate the use of 'good' carbs, which are typical of super-premium cat food. We've got whole rice, chickpeas, and oats here.

However, there are some ingredients that are left unlisted. I'm not a fan of these kinds of components – it's usually a trait of economy-class cat food, where cheap, low-quality products are hidden behind generic names. Even premium cat food often has a clear breakdown of ingredients, although I've noticed that some manufacturers try to keep their recipes under wraps, supposedly to prevent competitors from copying them. Let's be real, though – this secrecy can have serious consequences for your cat's health. I mean, sure, some cats might live a long life on Viskas, but that's just luck, and they're probably healthy to begin with.

In this case, the manufacturer hasn't revealed which type of white fish they're using, and the same goes for the animal and fish oils, liver, and vitamin-mineral mix.

Overall, though, everything looks pretty good. The ingredients are more in line with what you'd expect from a super-premium cat food, which is what the manufacturer claims it to be.

Packaging

I like the packaging – it's matte, with a soothing blue-gray color scheme. The front features an image of fish, cranberries, and rosemary.

AlphaPet MONOPROTEIN dry cat food with white fishThe back has a detailed list of information about the product.

AlphaPet MONOPROTEIN Dry Food from White Fish The packaging shows off the benefits of this food.

AlphaPet MONOPROTEIN Dry Food from White Fish It even tells you what kind of fish they're using - no need to guess!

AlphaPet MONOPROTEIN Dry Food from White Fish On the packaging, you'll find the ingredient list and info about the manufacturer - this food is made in the Moscow region.

AlphaPet MONOPROTEIN Dry Food from White Fish There's even a table with the nutritional content of the food - you can use that to calculate the carb content, which is 37.9% in this case. That's well within the acceptable range.

AlphaPet MONOPROTEIN Dry Food from White Fish I also appreciate that they include a table with feeding guidelines - it's not just a range, but actual numbers for both normal and overweight pets. That's a big plus in my book. One thing that would be nice to see is the amount of dry food and wet food to feed, but I've only seen that with Royal Canin and Pro Plan.

AlphaPet MONOPROTEIN Dry Food from White Fish Of course, they also tell you how to transition your pet to this new food.

AlphaPet MONOPROTEIN Dry Food from White Fish One thing I don't like is that there's no zipper on the packaging, no matter the size. I'm used to having a zipper, and I've got a stash of clips to keep the food fresh, but it would be nice to have a zipper - preferably a resealable one. I know it would add to the cost, but a zipper is a must-have (although, I've seen some low-quality ones that don't even close properly, so maybe that's not the best solution).

Dry Food AlphaPet MONOPROTEIN from White Fish

Food

The food is a pale brown color. It smells strongly of fish, and to my nose, the smell is natural and even pleasant, although I'm not a fan of fish in general.

Dry Food AlphaPet MONOPROTEIN from White FishThe granules are slightly flattened. They're roughly circular in shape, with various colored speckles on them.

Dry Food AlphaPet MONOPROTEIN from White FishThe granules are quite large, measuring about 1 cm in diameter. For me and my pets, this size is perfect – they don't swallow them whole, but instead chew them thoroughly.

Dry Food AlphaPet MONOPROTEIN from White Fish

Pet's Opinion

I always have a hard time getting my most finicky cat to try new food. She's been on the same food for over a year now and shows no signs of wanting to switch (much to my dismay). In general, like with the previous dozen or so foods I've tried, there was no magic – she didn't even bother to try it (my review of this food wasn't affected, but for owners with extremely finicky pets, it's worth noting that you might want to start with a small package before committing to a larger one – I know not everyone does it that way.

Dry Food AlphaPet MONOPROTEIN from White FishOne of my cats is currently eating this food, and she's less finicky than the one I mentioned earlier, but still has the occasional 'I don't like this' reaction to new food. She's been eating it for a while now – I'm not sure exactly when I first bought it, but it's been around a year (I think it was spring last year, or maybe winter). She eats it enthusiastically and always seems happy to see it. She often doesn't finish her portion, but that's just her individual quirk.One of my cats has issues with her stool – if I don't do anything, she might only go once every two or three days. This food hasn't changed that situation. By the way, I can only remember one other food that 'increased' the frequency of her trips to the bathroom, and that was just for a couple of months.

As for the quality of her coat, it hasn't gotten any worse. The food hasn't caused any allergic reactions (she's not prone to them, anyway) or vomiting.

For a while, another cat with a history of allergies was also on this food. It didn't cause any negative reactions in him either – no allergies, no vomiting, and no changes to the frequency or type of his stool.

Owner's Opinion

I'd give it a solid 4.5 stars if I could, but I'd deduct a half star for the ingredients. Otherwise, no complaints about the food. I love the price, except for the prices at Four Paws, but that's a whole different story. What's great is that this food often goes on sale on Ozon, and I'm really glad the manufacturer participates in those sales - my pets are currently on two dry foods from this brand, and I'm hoping they keep offering discounts. Speaking of which, our picky eater loves the AlphaPet wet food, which is surprising, but they're almost never available from the official manufacturer on Ozon, except for one flavor. And they're not that much cheaper than the prices at Four Paws.

I'm not really bothered by the lack of a zipper on the packaging - it's become pretty common, and manufacturers usually add them later, which raises the price. I'd rather have no zipper than a low-quality one. Either way, it's just a hassle with the clips or scooping the food into a separate container - I've been scooping some of it into a tin can, but most of it stays in the original packaging.

What's really important to me, though, is that my cat likes the food. And more importantly, she seems to be doing well on it.