Our Verdict
Monge Natural Superpremium dry product range is made of five recipes which all receive the Cat Food Advisor rating, 3.5 stars.
This range of food lists animal protein in all, but one, recipe. Each formula is specialized for particular health needs. Some recipes contain salmon oil, which is a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids and each food has added vitamins and minerals.
Pros
- First ingredient listed as animal protein
- Relatively high in fiber
- Added vitamins and minerals
Cons
- High in carbohydrate
- Contains plant based proteins
- Some recipes contain wheat which is controversial
The table below shows each recipe in the range including our rating. Monge Natural Superpremium is not formulated to meet AAFCO nutrient profiles. It is formulated to be complete and balanced for adult cats, meeting the FEDIAF nutrient guidelines. FEDIAF is the equivalent to AAFCO within Europe.
| Product line | Rating | AAFCO |
|---|---|---|
| Monge Natural Superpremium Urinary | 3.5 | U |
| Monge Natural Superpremium Sterilized Chicken | 3.5 | U |
| Monge Natural Superpremium Senior | 3.5 | U |
| Monge Natural Superpremium Monoprotein Kitten Trout | 3.5 | U |
| Monge Natural Superpremium Light Turke | 3.5 | U |
Recipe and Label Analysis
Monge Natural Superpremium Sterilized Chicken 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.
Monge Natural Superpremium Sterilized Chicken
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Protein
Fat
CarbsCarbohydrates
Chicken, wheat, corn gluten, corn, hydrolysed animal protein (liver), animal fat, pea fiber, dried egg, fish (dried salmon), fish oil, minerals, yeast products, xylo-oligosaccharides, products from the processing of herbs, yucca schidigera. Vitamin A (retinyl acetate) 26,000 IU/kg, vitamin D3 1,830 IU/kg, vitamin E (all-rac-alpha-tocopheryl-acetate) 130 mg/kg, Selenium (Sodium selenite 0.2 mg/kg) 0.09 mg/kg, manganese (manganous sulphate monohydrate 32 mg/kg) 10.4 mg/kg, Zinc (Zinc oxide 150 mg/kg): 120.4 mg/kg, Copper (Copper (II) sulphate pentahydrate 13 mg/kg) 3.3 mg/kg, Iron (Iron (II) sulphate monohydrate 110 mg/kg) 39.2 mg/kg, iodine (valcium iodate anhydrous 1.8 mg/kg) 1.17 mg/kg; L-Carnitine 700 mg/kg; technically pure DL-Methionine: 2,500 mg/kg, taurine 2,400 mg/kg.
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 5%
Red denotes any controversial items
Ingredients Analysis
The first ingredient is chicken which is considered “the clean combination of flesh and skin derived from the parts or whole carcasses of chicken”. 1
Chicken is naturally rich in the 11 essential amino acids required by a cat to sustain life.
The second ingredient is wheat. Like corn, wheat is an inexpensive and controversial cereal grain. And aside from its energy content, this grain is of only modest nutritional value to a cat.
For this reason, we do not consider wheat a preferred component in any cat food.
The third ingredient is corn gluten, a by-product from the manufacture of cornstarch and corn syrup. However, corn gluten feed should not be confused with corn gluten meal.
That’s because corn gluten feed contains about 30% protein, about half that of corn gluten meal. And when compared to meat, glutens are inferior plant-based proteins lower in many of the essential amino acids cats need for life.
In addition, this ingredient would be expected to have a lower biological value than meat.
It’s unusual to find this feed item in a commercial cat food. As its name suggests, corn gluten feed is primarily used as an ingredient in cattle feed.
The fourth ingredient is corn. Corn is an inexpensive and controversial cereal grain. And aside from its energy content, this grain is of only modest nutritional value to a cat.
The fifth ingredient is hydrolyzed animal protein (liver). This is organ meat that’s been chemically broken-down into its component amino acids. Hydrolyzed proteins are considered a protein concentrate.
The sixth ingredient is animal fat. Animal fat is a generic by-product of rendering, the same high-temperature process used to make meat meals.
Since there’s no mention of a specific animal, this item could come from just about anywhere: salvaged roadkill, spoiled supermarket meat, even dead, diseased or dying cattle.
For this reason, we do not consider generic animal fat a quality ingredient.
The seventh ingredient is pea fiber, a mixture of both soluble and insoluble dietary fiber derived from pea hulls. Aside from the usual benefits of fiber, this agricultural by-product provides no other nutritional value to a cat.
The eighth ingredient is dried egg, a dehydrated powder made from shell-free eggs. Eggs are easy to digest and have an exceptionally high biological value.
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.
Recipe star rating 3.5
Nutrient Analysis
Based on its ingredients alone, Monge Natural Premium Sterilized Chicken recipe looks like an average dry product.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 37.6%, a fat level of 10.8% and an estimated carbohydrate level of 43.6%.
As a group, the brand features a below-average protein content of 35.3% and a near-average fat level of 15.1%. Together these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 41.7% for the overall product line, alongside a fat to protein ratio of 44%.
Final Word
This range of food offers a small range of recipes, all of which provide either animal meat, or fish. Each recipe also has added vitamins and minerals, so these formulas provide a good diet option.
Has Monge Natural Superpremium Dry cat food been recalled in the past?
No. Monge cat food has not 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
Monge was founded in Italy in 1963 and has a pet food factory in Monasterolo di Savigliano, in the Italian province of Cuneo.
The company exports to more than 90 countries around the world.
Monge has a production and logistics facility at its main site in northern Italy and as it is part of the European Union the company follows the FEDIAF directives rather than AAFCO.
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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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