Our Verdict
The Farmina N&D Quinoa wet product range is made up of six recipes with ratings varying from 4 to 4.5 stars. The average rating of the whole range is 4.5 stars
This food lists quality protein sources as the first ingredient across all recipes. Protein content is high and carbohydrate low, with moisture levels high to ensure hydration. This is a good quality range catering for adult cats.
Pros
- Contains high protein which is from animal sources
- Fish oil is included in all recipes
- Low carbohydrate content
- Good fat sources
Cons
- Expensive versus other wet cat foods
The table below shows each recipe in this range including our rating and the AAFCO nutrient profile: Growth (puppy), Maintenance (adult), All Life Stages, Supplemental or Unspecified.
| Product line | Rating | AAFCO |
|---|---|---|
| Farmina N&D Quinoa Digestion | 4 | M |
| Farmina N&D Quinoa Skin & Coat - Duck & Coconut | 4.5 | M |
| Farmina N&D Quinoa Skin & Coat - Herring & Coconut | 4.5 | M |
| Farmina N&D Quinoa Skin & Coat - Quail & Coconut | 4.5 | M |
| Farmina N&D Quinoa Urinary | 4.5 | M |
| Farmina N&D Quinoa Weight Management | 4 | M |
Recipe and Label Analysis
Farmina N&D Quinoa Skin & Coat – Herring & Coconut recipe was selected to represent the other products in the line for a detailed recipe and nutrient analysis.
Label and nutrient data below are calculated using dry matter basis.
Farmina N&D Quinoa Skin & Coat - Herring & Coconut recipe
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Protein
Fat
CarbsCarbohydrates
Herring, hydrolyzed fish protein, quinoa seed extracted, fish oil, coconut, fructo-oligosaccharides, chondroitin sulphate, glucosamine, vitamin A, vitamin D3, vitamin E, choline chloride, zinc (zinc chelate of hydroxy analogue of methionine), manganese (manganese chelate of hydroxy analogue of methionine), iron [iron(ii) chelate of glycine hydrate], copper (copper chelate of hydroxy analogue of methionine), dl-methionine, taurine, l-carnitine
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 0.9%
Red denotes any controversial items
Ingredients Analysis
The first ingredient is herring. Herring is a fatty marine fish naturally high in protein as well as omega 3 fatty acids, essential oils needed by every cat to sustain life.
The second ingredient is hydrolyzed fish protein. Hydrolyzed fish protein is considered a meat concentrate, as fish protein contains almost 300% more protein than fresh fish itself. Being hydrolyzed means that the fish has been chemically broken-down into its component amino acids. Hydrolyzed proteins are considered hypoallergenic as they are not identifiable by the body to trigger allergy reactions.
The third ingredient is quinoa seed extracted. Quinoa (pronounced keen-waa) is not a true cereal grain but a plant prized for its gluten-free seeds.
Compared to most other grain-type ingredients, it is high in protein (about 12-18%), dietary fiber and other healthy nutrients.
The fourth ingredient is fish oil. Fish oil is naturally rich in the prized EPA and DHA type of omega-3 fatty acids. These two high quality fats boast the highest bio-availability to cats and humans.
Depending on its level of freshness and purity, fish oil should be considered a commendable addition.
The fifth ingredient is coconut. Depending upon the quality of the raw material, coconut is rich in medium chain fatty acids.
The sixth ingredient is fructo-oligosaccharides. This recipe contains an alternative sweetener [1. Wikipedia definition] probably used here as a prebiotic. Prebiotics function to support the growth of healthy bacteria in the large intestine.
The seventh and eighth ingredients are chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine.
Chondroitin sulfate is included within cat food as a joint support. Chondroitin sulfate inhibits destructive enzymes in joint fluid and cartilage, it may also contribute to the creating cartilage building blocks (glycosaminoglycans and proteoglycans).
Glucosamine is included within cat food as a joint support. Glucosamine regulates the synthesis of collagen in cartilage and may provide mild anti-inflammatory effects, it may also contribute to the creating cartilage building blocks (glycosaminoglycans and proteoglycans).
However, despite some evidence that a combination of glucosamine hydrochloride and chondroitin sulfate nutraceuticals improves symptoms associated with joint disease in dogs and cats,strong clinical evidence of efficacy is lacking, and these compounds are understudied (Evidence Based Veterinary Medicine, 2010). In summary, although further research is needed to confirm the effect of Glucosamine in cat foods, we see the addition of Glucosamine in this product as a positive addition.
From here the list goes on to include a number of other items. But to be realistic, ingredients located this far down the list (other than nutritional supplements) are not likely to affect the overall rating of the product.
This food also contains chelated minerals that have been chemically attached to protein. This makes them easier to absorb. Chelated minerals are usually found in better cat foods.
Recipe star rating 4.5
Nutrient Analysis
Based on its ingredients alone, Farmina N&D Quinoa Skin & Coat – Herring & Coconut recipe looks like an above-average wet product.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 51.2%, a fat level of 21.6% and an estimated carbohydrate level of 19.2%.
As a group, the brand features an above-average protein content of 50.3% and an above-average fat level of 18.9%. Together these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 22.8% for the overall product line, alongside a fat to protein ratio of 38%.
This means this Farmina N&D Quinoa range contains higher than average protein, lower than average carbohydrate, higher than average fat, when compared to typical wet cat food.
Final Word
This food comes recommended by The Cat Food Advisor.
It is full of quality ingredients. The protein content is high, the carbohydrate level low and all recipes have fish oil for fat sources, so all recipes are a good formulation for adult cats.
Has Farmina cat food been recalled in the past?
No. To the best of our knowledge, Farmina cat foods has never had a product recall.
You can view a complete list of all cat food recalls since 2021 here.
To stay on top of any cat food product recalls, sign up for our free email alerts, here.
About
In 1965 Francesco Russo founded Russo Mangimi, a company which specialized in animal nutrition.
In 1999, the company’s focus shifted to the pet food industry – its aim was to develop foods based on scientific studies around pet well-being. It then teamed up with Farmina, an English company, which specialized in food research and formulation.
Mangimi’s manufacturing facilities are based in Europe and Farmina foods are mostly sourced from Italy.
Sources
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Article reviewed by
Veterinarian
Dr Georgia Jeremiah has a first class honors degree in comparative pathology with field experience in anatomic and clinical pathology, studying disease processes in a multitude of species.
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