Our Verdict
The Grandma Mae’s Country Naturals wet product range is made up of nine recipes with ratings varying from 4.5 to 5 stars. The average rating of the whole range is 5 stars.
This range of food comes in pate form and has high protein content, derived from good quality animal and fish. Carbohydrates are low and this food is rich in fat and moisture.
Pros
- Contains animal and fish protein
- Rich in fat and moisture
- No artificial flavors or preservatives
Cons
- Contains plant based protein
The table below shows each recipe in the range including our rating and the AAFCO nutrient profile: Growth (kitten), Maintenance (adult), All Life Stages, Supplemental or Unspecified.
| Product line | Rating | AAFCO |
|---|---|---|
| Grandma Mae’s Country Naturals Chicken & Vegetable Dinner | 5 | A |
| Grandma Mae’s Country Naturals Ocean Fish & Chicken Dinner | 5 | A |
| Grandma Mae’s Country Naturals Sardine & Ocean Fish Dinner | 5 | A |
| Grandma Mae’s Country Naturals Chicken & Liver Dinner | 5 | A |
| Grandma Mae’s Country Naturals Chicken Slices in Gravy | 4.5 | A |
| Grandma Mae’s Country Naturals Salmon Slices in Gravy | 4.5 | A |
| Grandma Mae’s Country Naturals Whitefish Pâté | 5 | A |
| Grandma Mae’s Country Naturals Tuna & Chicken Pâté | 5 | A |
| Grandma Mae’s Country Naturals Tuna Pâté | 5 | A |
Recipe and Label Analysis
Grandma Mae’s Country Naturals Sardine & Ocean Fish Dinner 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.
Grandma Mae’s Country Naturals Sardine & Ocean Fish Dinner
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Protein
Fat
CarbsCarbohydrates
Fish broth, sardines, mackerel, tapioca starch, pea protein, vegetable oil, tricalcium phosphate, guar gum, potassium chloride, salt, magnesium sulfate, choline chloride, taurine, iron amino acid chelate, zinc amino acid chelate, alpha tocopheryl acetate, thiamine mononitrate, vitamin a acetate, niacin, manganese amino acid chelate, copper amino acid chelate, calcium iodate, D-calcium pantothenate, riboflavin supplement, vitamin B12 supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, folic acid, biotin.
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 1.0%
Red denotes any controversial items
Ingredients Analysis
The first ingredient is fish broth. Broths are nutritionally empty. But because they add both flavor and moisture to a cat food they are a common addition component in many canned products.
The second ingredient is sardines which is an oily salt-water fish which contains oil that is naturally rich in the prized EPA and DHA type of omega-3 fatty acids. These two high quality fats boast the highest bioavailability to cats and humans.
The third ingredient is mackerel. Mackerel is an oily salt-water fish naturally high in protein as well as omega-3 fatty acids, an essential fat needed by every cat to sustain life.
The fourth ingredient is tapioca starch, which is a gluten-free, starchy carbohydrate extract made from the root of the cassava plant.
The fifth ingredient is pea protein. what remains of a pea after removing the starchy part of the vegetable.
Even though it contains over 80% protein, this ingredient would be expected to have a lower biological value than meat.
And less costly plant-based products like this can notably boost the total protein reported on the label — a factor that must be considered when judging the meat content of this cat food.
The sixth ingredient is vegetable oil, a generic oil of unknown origin. The ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fats in any oil is nutritionally critical and can vary significantly (depending on the source).
Without knowing more, it’s impossible to judge the quality of an item so vaguely described. However, compared to a named animal fat, a generic vegetable oil cannot be considered a quality ingredient.
The seventh ingredient is tricalcium phosphate, a beneficial source of calcium and phosphorus. In addition, this additive is used in wet foods as an emulsifier — an agent designed to disperse a food’s fats more evenly in water.
The eighth ingredient is guar gum, which is a gelling or thickening agent found in many wet pet foods. Refined from dehusked guar beans, guar gum can add a notable amount of dietary fiber to any product.
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.
There is however, one notable exception: 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 5
Nutrient Analysis
Based on its ingredients alone, Grandma Mae’s Country Naturals Sardine & Ocean Fish Dinner looks like an above-average wet product.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 50%, a fat level of 18.8% and an estimated carbohydrate level of 23.3%.
As a group, the brand features an above-average protein content of 49.8% and an above-average fat level of 17.3%. Together these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 24.9% for the overall product line, alongside a fat to protein ratio of 36%.
This means this Grandma Mae’s Country Naturals range contains higher than average protein, lower than average carbohydrate and higher than average fat, when compared to typical wet cat food.
Final Word
This range of food comes in a variety of meat and fish options. All recipes contain either animal or fish protein, but also have plant based proteins. Whilst this needs to be considered when evaluating the protein content, this food offers a great diet option.
The Cat Food Advisor recommends this food.
Has Grandma Mae's Country Naturals Wet cat food been recalled in the past?
No. Grandma Mae’s food has not been recalled.
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
Grandma Mae’s Country Naturals was founded in 2007 and has headquarters in New York.
Grandma Mae’s foods are manufactured at certified-organic facilities in New York and Ohio. These facilities were previously Southern Tier Pet Nutrition and Ohio Pet Foods. Today they are both part of BrightPet Nutrition.
The company also uses manufacturers in New Zealand and Thailand.
Most ingredients come from the United States. A few ingredients come from Canada, the UK, or Europe.
Sources
Best cat foods
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Article reviewed by
Pet Nutritionist
Laura studied BSc (Hons) Animal Science with an accreditation in Nutrition at the University of Nottingham, before working for eight years in the pet food and nutrition industry.
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