December 11, 2021

Great Cats! Should She Be Canned?


Great Cats! Should She Be Canned?
Canny kitties can always find a good can | Abeer Zaki on Unsplash

Shall I slag off the bravery and gumption of adventurous journalist Olga Afanaseva and ask, “What kind of a burning question is the quality of cat food?”

No, no I shan’t, because on November 28, Afanaseva herself tested ten brands of feline vittles to determine which would best nourish our darling comrades for a report in Komsomolskaya Pravda.

The journalist chose to aid creatures who serve many not only as moral support, great entertainment, and part-time therapists, but also as independent and stubborn role models in a world hostile to those who are not afraid to turn up their tails and chase the fresh stink of the day.

The food ranged in price from 20 to 90 rubles (about $0.25 - $1.25 USD) and included brands such as Kitikat, Whiskas, Felix, Royal Canin, and Proplan. Gastroentologist Anna Mateevna assured Afanaseva that the cat food is prepared with meat, bones, and offal from the same farms that provide the fixings for human recipes. In the United States, she added, there is even a law that requires any cat food to prepared with ingredients that are suitable for human consumption. How is that for good stuff?

The journalist’s explorations revealed that some brands were, truly, unpalatable for human sensibilities. One smelled appetizing but came away leaving her wanting for taste; another was like “cheap dumplings with soy,” and the fancier brands tended to be more neutral in flavor. Others, however, were just as delicious as the meat pâté you might find in a more refined grocery aisle.

Veterinarian Alexander Samsonov gave an expert opinion on why much of the food came off as so tasteless, even if the aroma might be appealing. “The [meals] are not salted, no spices are added. We can say that food for cats is made of better quality, nothing is masking the taste of meat… Economy class pouches (food bags) add a lot of flavors… The food smells more appetizing, but cats often give off an allergic reaction to this and the treatment costs a pretty penny. Premium food will be almost tasteless, and there is a lot of protein. But they still try to make the aroma attractive to the animal - hence the various sauces.”

Afanaseva’s conclusion?

Her cats eat better than she does.

Perhaps this is deserved! We mustn’t forget that, as divisive in today’s society as the creatures might be, they do know how to sniff out a good rat.

 

You Might Also Like

Akhmatova's Cat Goes Missing
  • October 20, 2021

Akhmatova's Cat Goes Missing

After a brief scare, the oldest cat at the poet Anna Akhmatova's museum in St. Petersburg has returned safely back home. 
Like this post? Get a weekly email digest + member-only deals

Some of Our Books

Driving Down Russia's Spine

Driving Down Russia's Spine

The story of the epic Spine of Russia trip, intertwining fascinating subject profiles with digressions into historical and cultural themes relevant to understanding modern Russia. 
Survival Russian

Survival Russian

Survival Russian is an intensely practical guide to conversational, colloquial and culture-rich Russian. It uses humor, current events and thematically-driven essays to deepen readers’ understanding of Russian language and culture. This enlarged Second Edition of Survival Russian includes over 90 essays and illuminates over 2000 invaluable Russian phrases and words.
Dostoyevsky Bilingual

Dostoyevsky Bilingual

Bilingual series of short, lesser known, but highly significant works that show the traditional view of Dostoyevsky as a dour, intense, philosophical writer to be unnecessarily one-sided. 
The Moscow Eccentric

The Moscow Eccentric

Advance reviewers are calling this new translation "a coup" and "a remarkable achievement." This rediscovered gem of a novel by one of Russia's finest writers explores some of the thorniest issues of the early twentieth century.
At the Circus (bilingual)

At the Circus (bilingual)

This wonderful novella by Alexander Kuprin tells the story of the wrestler Arbuzov and his battle against a renowned American wrestler. Rich in detail and characterization, At the Circus brims with excitement and life. You can smell the sawdust in the big top, see the vivid and colorful characters, sense the tension build as Arbuzov readies to face off against the American.
Okudzhava Bilingual

Okudzhava Bilingual

Poems, songs and autobiographical sketches by Bulat Okudzhava, the king of the Russian bards. 
Faith & Humor: Notes from Muscovy

Faith & Humor: Notes from Muscovy

A book that dares to explore the humanity of priests and pilgrims, saints and sinners, Faith & Humor has been both a runaway bestseller in Russia and the focus of heated controversy – as often happens when a thoughtful writer takes on sacred cows. The stories, aphorisms, anecdotes, dialogues and adventures in this volume comprise an encyclopedia of modern Russian Orthodoxy, and thereby of Russian life.
The Little Humpbacked Horse (bilingual)

The Little Humpbacked Horse (bilingual)

A beloved Russian classic about a resourceful Russian peasant, Vanya, and his miracle-working horse, who together undergo various trials, exploits and adventures at the whim of a laughable tsar, told in rich, narrative poetry.
Murder at the Dacha

Murder at the Dacha

Senior Lieutenant Pavel Matyushkin has a problem. Several, actually. Not the least of them is the fact that a powerful Soviet boss has been murdered, and Matyushkin's surly commander has given him an unreasonably short time frame to close the case.
Turgenev Bilingual

Turgenev Bilingual

A sampling of Ivan Turgenev's masterful short stories, plays, novellas and novels. Bilingual, with English and accented Russian texts running side by side on adjoining pages.
The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas

The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas

This exciting new trilogy by a Russian author – who has been compared to Orhan Pamuk and Umberto Eco – vividly recreates a lost world, yet its passions and characters are entirely relevant to the present day. Full of mystery, memorable characters, and non-stop adventure, The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas is a must read for lovers of historical fiction and international thrillers.  

About Us

Russian Life is a publication of a 30-year-young, award-winning publishing house that creates a bimonthly magazine, books, maps, and other products for Russophiles the world over.

Latest Posts

Our Contacts

Russian Life
73 Main Street, Suite 402
Montpelier VT 05602

802-223-4955