There are thousands of cat food options on the market. As animal lovers, we always want to make sure we provide the best care for our pets.
One of the best brands out there is Royal Canin. However, this food isn’t widely available to the masses.
So, if you’re looking for Royal Canin Ultamino cat alternatives, you’ve come to the right place. Let’s take a look at what makes for a good substitute for feline treats.
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5 Royal Canin Ultamino Cat Alternatives
Let’s take a look at some of the most popular Royal Canin ultamino alternatives.
1. Best Overall: Hill’s Science Diet Adult Indoor Cat Food, Chicken Recipe
Hill’s Science launched over 100 years ago in 1907. The company started out as a rendering facility, producing goods from animal by-products.
A few years later, the brand started making pet feed to diversify its portfolio. However, it wasn’t until 1940 that the mixes gained traction.
That’s because Hill partnered with Dr. Mark Morris, a veterinarian. Since then, the brand has focused on producing the best quality pet food possible.
Today, Hill’s Science Diet is one of the world’s leading brands of cat food. It supplies hundreds of healthy mixes all around the globe.
One of the company’s main selling products is the adult indoor dry mix. It combines all the necessary ingredients to keep your cat healthy.
All the components are as fresh as can be. Hill sources the raw materials for each meal carefully to ensure its quality.
That way, the brand can guarantee that your cat is getting all the nutrients it needs.
On top of that, Hill produces a variety of prescription food. This is a branch of the company that makes mixes for pets with specific dietary needs.
Pros
- Partnered with a veterinarian to ensure the safety of the cat food
- Produce many mixes with varieties for pets with specific dietary restrictions
- Sources fresh ingredients to guarantee excellent quality
Cons
- Some pets can find the flavor to be a little lackluster
- Can be too expensive to use on a daily basis
2. Runner-Up: Merrick Purrfect Bistro Grain Free & Healthy Grains Food
Merrick opened its doors in 1988. It started out by producing dog treats in Hereford, Texas. After 25 years of massive success making canine food, it branched out into feline diets.
Today, the company has a variety of cat meal plans for all sorts of pets. That includes the popular Bistro Grain-Free mix.
To ensure high quality, Merrick imports ingredients from local growers exclusively. That way, the brand knows exactly what’s going into each of the different food plans.
Other than that, it provides a wide range of options to keep your pet happy. All of their products include anywhere between 50% to 80% of protein.
So, the mix should have everything your cat needs on a daily basis.
On the website, you’ll find both dry and wet cat food. Even though the wet variety is excellent, the company’s dry food is exceptional.
It provides a well-balanced diet with all the fiber and minerals your feline friend will need. On top of that, dry food contains a mix of healthy fats and carbohydrates for extra energy.
Some meal plans can help treat medical conditions. For example, the grain-free options are for pets with diabetes.
Pros
- Grain-free mix is excellent for diabetic cats
- Most of the meal plans include the correct protein-to-carbohydrate ratio
- Wide range of dry and wet food options
Cons
- Meal portions are on the smaller side
- Cat mixes have a relatively short shelf life
3. Best Budget: Nutro Wholesome Essentials Sensitive Digestion Chicken
One of the major drawbacks of specialty cat food is that it can be quite pricey. So, if you’re on a budget, you may want to check out the Nutro Wholesome Essentials mix.
This dry food can ensure your pet stays healthy without costing you an arm and a leg.
The Sensitive mix excludes all ingredients that may potentially cause an upset stomach.
For example:
- Corn
- Wheat
- Soy protein
- Chicken by-products
- Artificial preservatives
Removing these ingredients may produce bland food, but it’s better for digestion. Therefore, Nutro can ensure the food is safe for all cats, even those with medical conditions.
Plus, the company insists on using real, fresh chicken in each package. That means you should have no problems introducing the mix to your cat’s diet.
Besides that, the dry food contains antioxidants to help keep your pet’s immunity in tip-top shape.
Wholesome Essentials also contains a substantial amount of omega-6 fatty acids. These fats ensure your pet has energy without the risk of gaining too much weight.
That makes it ideal for tiny kittens and older, geriatric cats.
Pros
- Easy to add to any pet diet, even if the cat has medical issues
- Excellent for kittens and geriatric cats
- Relatively affordable compared to other dry mixes on the market
Cons
- Can be a little bland, so your cat may get bored easily
- Isn’t healthy over long periods of time
4. Best Flavor: Farmina Natural & Delicious Lamb and Blueberry
A lot of the time, healthy cat food mixes tend to struggle when it comes to flavor. This makes it much more difficult to introduce the food into your pet’s diet.
So, if your feline is an especially picky eater, try out the Farmina Natural & Delicious mix.
As the name suggests, this is one of the tastiest options on our list. The main ingredients are protein and blueberries.
Lamb has a high-fat content, which is always good for flavor. It adds an extra dimension to the overall taste of the mix.
For a secondary source of protein, Farmina uses eggs in this dry food. That way, there’s more flavor variation, and it can help with some forms of allergies.
As for blueberries, these will increase the sugar level in the food. In small doses, this will keep your pet interested in the mix, and give it a boost of energy.
Users Also Read: the best hydrolyzed cat food alternatives on the market
On top of that, the fruit is incredibly rich in antioxidants.
Farmina also prides itself on not using any artificial flavorings or colors. So, your pet will get to enjoy a delicious meal that’s entirely healthy for it.
Pros
- One of the most flavorful mixes on our list
- Contains multiple sources of proteins
- Doesn’t rely on any artificial flavorings or colors
Cons
- Slightly expensive compared to similar products
- Isn’t ideal for small kittens
5. Best for Allergies: Purina Pro Allergen Reducing Chicken and Rice
As cat owners, most of us have heard of Purina. Since it launched in 1894, the company mainly deals with pet food.
However, over the years, it started its own line of healthcare centers for furry friends. People could bring their pets to the institutions to get a check-up from a vet.
Then, the doctor would prescribe specific food mixes to help your feline out.
That’s how the idea for Purina Pro Plan Allergen came about. As you can guess by the name, this is hypoallergenic dry food.
The mix focuses on neutralizing the common allergen Fel D 1. This is a protein found in cat saliva that can cause rashes and respiratory issues.
So, Purina relies on key ingredients in eggs to calm down the autoimmune reaction.
Other than that, since chicken is the main ingredient, this mix should have all the protein your cat needs.
In addition, there’s plenty of rice in the food to give your pet an extra energy boost.
Purina also sneaks in a few vitamins for healthy skin and a luscious coat.
Pros
- Contains egg proteins that help neutralize Fel D 1
- Includes all the carbohydrates and proteins your cat needs
- Extra vitamins provide healthy skin and fur
Cons
- May take a while for your cat to get accustomed to the taste
- Excessive use can cause other issues like urinary tract infections
Choosing Royal Canin Ultamino Cat Alternatives
When you notice your cat is having digestive issues, the first thing you do is take them to the vet. There, the doctor should be able to tell you what’s wrong with your pet.
In addition, chances are, the vet will recommend Royal Canin Ultamino. This is a veterinary-exclusive food that can help keep your cat’s digestive system in check.
Unfortunately, that means you need a prescription to get your hands on it. So, if your feline friend still has an upset stomach, you may want to look for substitutes.
To help you do that, let’s take a look at what makes Royal Canin Ultamino special.
Hydrolyzed Proteins
Since cats are obligate carnivores, they mainly rely on animal protein to survive.
These proteins consist of giant amino acid chains. In order to use the material, the felines will have to break all the bonds between the molecules.
This can consume a lot of energy and cause sensitivity in the digestive tract.
For that reason, Royal Canin uses hydrolyzed proteins in its mixes. These are compounds with small amino acid chains.
That makes them much easier to break down later on.
Extra Fibers
While protein is a major part of your pet’s diet, it’s not the only one. Even though cats prefer eating meat, they still need plenty of other nutrients.
For example, fibers are an essential component of any animal’s meals.
These are materials that cats can’t break down. Instead, it’ll simply pass through their digestive tract.
As they do that, they absorb excess water to help regulate your feline’s stool.
Healthy Additives
Most pet food mixes on the market include some form of additives, like dyes or minerals. Unlike Royal Canin, most of them don’t take cat allergies into account.
Some substances like carrageenan can cause sensitivity in a feline’s stomach.
So, Royal Canin ensures that all of its additives are good for your pet. In addition, it includes some vitamins that will help reduce skin rashes and give your cat a shinier coat.
Balanced Diet
There’s a delicate balance that you have to maintain when it comes to your cat’s diet. Generally, felines will need around 50% of their food to consist of proteins.
This will make sure your furry friend has enough energy to carry out basic life functions.
Other than that, the carbohydrates shouldn’t exceed around 10% of the meal. That’ll reduce the chances of your pet developing an allergic reaction.
To cut down on costs, some pet food manufacturers don’t pay attention to this ratio. So, when picking out an alternative for Royal Canin, you need to ensure to keep this balance.
Flavor Profile
Another excellent aspect of the Royal Canin Ultamino is that cats tend to like the taste. That will make introducing the mix into the pet’s diet much easier.
Related: Top Royal Canin Gastrointestinal cat food alternatives
Unfortunately, this isn’t the case with many food brands. They focus on the health benefits of the meals and they forget about the flavor.
While this may not seem all that important, if your cat doesn’t like the taste, it’ll stop eating. So, it’s crucial that you make sure the food is appetizing.
FAQs
Can I Get Royal Canin Ultamino Without A Vet Prescription?
Unfortunately, you need a prescription to buy Royal Canin Ultamino. This is because the pet mix includes a few chemicals that can affect your cat’s health.
So, it’s generally not a good idea to give your cat the food without a doctor’s supervision.
What Should I Look For In An Alternative To Royal Canin?
The first aspect you should consider when looking for a substitute is the quality of the meat. Cats will depend on the protein in the mix to perform daily activities.
So, make sure the protein is as fresh as possible and it’s easy to digest, like chicken.
Is Expensive Cat Food A Better Substitute For Royal Canin?
Typically, healthier cat mixes will be more expensive. However, this isn’t always the case. Some brands like Nutro provide excellent cat food at reasonable price points.
For that reason, avoid deciding based on the price tag and look at the ingredient list instead.
