Many cat owners think that all foods labeled Sterilized are equally optimal for their spayed or neutered pets. We have a different opinion: specialized diets for pets who are deprived of the opportunity to give birth are largely a marketing ploy to expand the product line and take up more space on shelves in pet stores, and not the true need of such cats. It should also be taken into account that the compositions of such formulas can be quite different in quality.
In order for our readers to have the tools to choose such foods, we have prepared a review of the Grandin Cat Sterilized Chicken Grain Free food, trying to explain in as much detail as possible all its pros and cons so that the comparison of this grain-free diet with other products for castrates is informative.
Formulation and nutritional content
We analyze the composition of the feed mixture using the example of food for kittens and pregnant females:
Meat and fish ingredients come first. A variety of foods ensures that the protein is balanced in amino acids. Chicken and salmon fat are more suitable for the cat's body than vegetable oils.
The manufacturer has prepared grain-free food for kittens and pregnant females. Cats need small amounts of carbohydrates. Therefore, starch comes from potatoes and green peas. The latter is a source of dietary fiber. Beet pulp (dry pulp) is a sorbent that absorbs and retains excess moisture. Apples contain antioxidants and pectin, which are absorbed by beneficial bacteria in the large intestine. Whey (apparently milk whey) is also added to the feed mixture. It contains lactose, which is only accessible to the enzymes of beneficial bacteria. Two types of yeast were included in the feed. These are sources of B vitamins, as well as immunomodulators.
The plant complex contains natural antiseptics, preservatives, dietary fiber, and biologically active substances. Chicory rhizome is included in all premium and holistic feeds as a reservoir of Inulin, a prebiotic that nourishes microflora. Yucca has the ability to partially absorb unpleasant odors emanating from cat excrement.
The feed mixture included rosemary extract, Taurine, DL-methionine, antioxidants, and preservatives. Perhaps this is why consumers consider Grandin food not a holistic product, but a super-premium product. The energy value of the feed is high – 4306 kcal/kg due to the large amount of fat – 22%. A high level of protein (38%) ensures intensive growth, embryo development, and abundant lactation.
Feed characteristics
Cat owners can purchase the following products online:
- Kitten food for kittens up to 12 months of age, pregnant and lactating cats, with chicken.
The food contains 78% fish and meat components. The composition of dry food is mentioned above. Food is prescribed for kittens older than two months. Pregnant cats are switched to Kitten food and continue to feed it until lactation stops.
The cost of packaging 1.5 kg is 1149 rubles.
- Indoor food for domestic cats aged 1 to 7 years, with lamb.
Lamb meat is a hypoallergenic product, so the food is prescribed for hypersensitive cats. The food contains 61% meat and fish components, incl. 25% – lamb. The feed mixture contains auxiliary components that ensure immunity strength, skin health, and normal intestinal functioning.
Chicken fat gives the food an attractive taste and aroma. The feed mixture is rich in protein (33.5%), fats (20%). A moderate level of fiber – 2.5% – stimulates intestinal motility. The price of a one and a half kilogram package is 977 rubles.
- Senior food for cats over 7 years of age, with lamb and rabbit.
Rabbit meat was used in food for the elderly. The feed mixture was enriched with the following products:
- hepatoprotectors that support liver function - milk thistle and lemon balm;
- chondroprotectors - green mussels containing substances that strengthen articular cartilage;
- alfalfa leaves, which have an immunomodulatory effect;
- sources of dietary fiber - beet pulp.
The feed mixture contains a high content of protein (34%) and fiber (3.7%), a moderate amount of fat - 14%. The cost of 1.5 kg of feed is 1149 rubles.
- Sterilized food for sterilized cats aged 1 to 7 years, with chicken.
The food contains 35% protein, 12% fat, 3.5% fiber. Packaging cost 1.5; 10.0 kg – 1149; 5499 rub.
- Adult hypoallergenic food for adult cats aged 1 to 7 years, with beef.
The food contains 80% animal feed, among which beef comes first. The microelement composition is supplemented with chelates (organometallic compounds) of manganese, copper, selenium, and zinc. Protein content 31%; fat – 15%; fiber – 4.1%. Packaging cost 0.4; 1.5; 10.0 kg – 359; 119; 5499 rub.
- Canned food for adult cats, turkey fillet with tuna.
Prices
In fact, the brand belongs to the same owner as the 4 Paws pet store chain, so you can buy Grandin food mainly in the stores of this chain. The price varies depending on the volume of packaging:
- 400 g – from 359 rub.
- 1.5 kg – from 1149 rub.
- 10 kg – from 5499 kg.
- Canned food (70 g) and pouches (85 g) – from 80 rubles.
You can now view the current price of the drug and buy it right here:
general information
The Grandin brand produces two types of wet food: in bags and in cans. The manufacturer classifies these products as “holistic” - this is indicated on the front side of the package. You should not focus on this characteristic, because there are no official standards that would strictly determine the status of the product; this is nothing more than a marketing ploy. We prefer to judge the quality of food based on the composition of the product - we will analyze the composition indicated on the official website of the brand.
Canned food Grandin
A distinctive feature of these products is the content of meat ingredients - 55%. The manufacturer also explains that this food does not contain dyes, flavors or preservatives. There are only 4 varieties in the line with different tastes, and all of them are intended for adult cats. The list of components is quite laconic:
- chicken meat (55%);
- turkey meat (50%), tuna (5%);
- chicken meat (50%), tuna (5%);
- chicken meat (50%), shrimp (5%).
So, the first thing that can be noted is that the name of the ingredients tells us that exactly meat was used in this food, that is, muscle fibers, most likely, without bones and other by-products.
Turkey and chicken are excellent foods for cats, as poultry is part of a cat's natural diet in the wild. However, the manufacturer did not indicate in what form the meat was added to the feed. Since the website indicates “meat fiber” in the name of the food, we conclude that this is raw meat, probably pre-deep frozen - otherwise it would be indicated that the meat is fresh. The difference between chicken and chicken is not entirely clear; usually these ingredients mean the same thing, but the manufacturer found it necessary to separate these two types of meat products.
Tuna and shrimp in this case do not have any significant effect on the content of animal protein in the feed, since they constitute only 5% of the total share of the feed. They probably act as a natural flavoring additive.
And the composition seems worthy at first glance, but we have a reasonable question: if they described to us what 55% of the food consists of, then what makes up the remaining 45%? Is it water or is it meat juice released during cooking, maybe sauce or jelly? The manufacturer does not provide any information about this. It’s somehow not very interesting to buy food, almost half of the components of which are hidden under the veil of trade secrets.
Only vitamin E in the amount of 50 mg is indicated as additives, but the manufacturer does not hide the fact that the product is only an addition to the basic diet. Guaranteed product analysis tells us the same thing:
- protein 10-12%;
- fat 0.8-1.2%;
- raw ash 0.7-1.5%;
- crude fiber 0.3-1.5%;
- moisture 84%.
Our verdict
In general, canned food is quite good, but we find the statement about the increased meat content to be somewhat advertising; we have also seen more meat-based food. In addition, almost half of the feed composition remains unknown. Most likely, the unknown part is its own juice. And this is again a reason to think about whether it is worth paying for 100% of the product, but receiving only 55%.
Spiders Grandin
“Grandin” spiders already have a target orientation not only according to tastes, but also the age and characteristics of cats. The manufacturer claims that these foods contain 70% meat ingredients, represented by only one type of animal, that is, the composition of these products is monoprotein, which should help the animal avoid allergic reactions. In addition, the food does not contain grains. The consistency of the product is described by the manufacturer as “tender meat pate in jelly.” The food is declared as complete.
There are 6 types of food in the line, its gradation according to intended purpose almost completely repeats the line of dry food:
- senior (for cats over 6 years old) with beef;
- sterilized (for sterilized cats) option with turkey and lamb;
- kitten (for kittens up to one year old) with chicken;
- adult (for adult cats from one year to 7 years) option with chicken and veal.
So, let’s not beat around the bush, in the first place for these foods are meat and meat by-products, consisting of 70% beef, turkey, chicken, lamb or veal. What can you say about this component?
- Firstly, we are not talking about meat; the manufacturer implies a certain mix of not only soft, muscle tissue, but also other parts of the carcass, and this could be skin, bones, tendons, etc.
- Secondly, offal is also a loose concept, because this category includes both valuable liver and heart, as well as less nutritious heads and paws. The main problem with this component is that the raw material can vary from batch to batch, because its composition does not have clear regulations.
- Thirdly, again a statement about the reduced risk of food allergies in cats, despite the fact that an allergic reaction most often occurs to chicken, beef and other products obtained from these animals. A monoprotein food made from chicken will do nothing to reduce the risk of food intolerance in a cat with a chicken allergy, so this claim is nothing more than marketing.
In addition to the main ingredient, these feeds include:
Minerals are probably some kind of mineral premix averaged in terms of their indicators. Not the highest quality component, since its true composition is not known for certain.
Flaxseed oil is a source of unsaturated Omega 3 and 6 acids of plant origin - and this is its main disadvantage, because animal fats are much better absorbed by carnivorous animals. Moreover, it is not clear how this oil was extracted and how it was preserved.
Green mussels (in senior food) are a natural source of glycosaminoglycans, which help restore cartilage tissue. However, the exact amount of the component is unknown, so it is also unknown how expressive the effect of this ingredient is.
Fish oil (in kitten food) - most likely, this oil was obtained from various types of fish, because the manufacturer was silent about the primary raw materials, the method of obtaining the oil, the method of preserving it, but the quality of fish oil can vary greatly.
Guaranteed analysis corresponds to the complete product:
- protein 10.3-10.9%;
- fat 5.9-6.9%;
- raw ash 2.3-2.5%;
- crude fiber 0.3-0.4%;
- moisture 78-80%.
Our verdict
The food left mixed impressions: the ingredients may not be of the worst quality, but not too high either. The manufacturer's assurances about reducing the risk of food allergies do not fully correspond to reality. Additives do not have an indication of the mass fraction. The product is sold in pouches of 85 g, the cost of a pouch is 80 rubles - the price is quite fair for this composition, so based on the results of the review, we can say that you can use this food, but with caution, especially if your cat has food intolerance to any of the types of meat.
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Main cast
One of the advantages of Grandin cat food is the high percentage of meat components. Thanks to the unique technologies of Grandin Holistic, all the nutritional and taste qualities of fresh products that do not contain GMOs and are suitable for human consumption are preserved. The food contains up to 68% animal proteins and contains a vitamin and mineral complex created for each age and characteristics of the pet.
Products for small kittens contain a balanced amount of fats, proteins and microelements necessary for growth and normal development. Grandin food contains yeast to provide the body with a complex of B vitamins. It also contains flaxseed oil and fish oil, which are beneficial for older animals.
Main ingredients included:
- proteins;
- raw protein;
- cellulose;
- ash elements;
- vegetable fats and oils;
- phosphorus;
- sodium;
- calcium.
Feed overview
Grandin food for cats belongs to the super-premium class. The manufacturer also positions this food as holistic. Experts recommend it as the main diet for pets. It is enough to choose the appropriate food, taking into account the pet’s age and weight. You can also read the review of Grandin dog food.
The food contains many essential minerals. The composition contains cold-pressed salmon oil, eggs, 1.3% yeast and many herbal additives, apples, potatoes, beets, 1.5% flax seeds.
The manufacturer believes that the main advantage of this dry food is that it contains a lot of fresh meat and does not contain GMO elements. “Grandin Holistic” is the full name of the food.
After analyzing the information, it is clear that the composition of the food is of high quality. It is truly natural, perfectly balanced, meeting all the needs of pets.
Advantages of Grandin food:
- The main source of protein is fresh and dry meat, fish additives;
- It contains no grains (wheat, corn, etc.);
- Lots of essential minerals and vitamins.
The disadvantages of the food include:
- There is no list of preservatives. It is indicated that there are technological additives - preservatives and antioxidants.
Composition of Grandin Holistic Indoor food with lamb for domestic cats aged 1 to 7 years
Information on the composition of Grandin feed from the manufacturer’s official website
Reviews of Grandin cat food
Poltin
While exploring the shelves of cat food at the 4 Paws pet store, my attention was drawn to the stylish packaging of Grandin Holistic Kitten dry kitten food. The standard packaging form and volume is 400 grams, the usual cost is 359 rubles, on sale 319. In general, at the level of the widely advertised Royal Canin and others like it. The food is declared as holistic, although I personally am confused by its price, it seems like holistic products are more expensive. But the composition looks very natural. A large percentage of meat components and animal proteins. Quite an impressive list of vitamins and microelements in the food. The food smells, but I wouldn’t say it’s unpleasant, it’s more of a “natural” smell. The kitten eats with pleasure, cleaning the bowl. In general, given the price of this dry food, we will buy more instead of other popular premium brands of a similar price.
The photograph is not a direct representation of the reviews presented in the review.
FeonaBell
I have a picky cat with British roots. How we suffered with him, we just didn’t treat him and didn’t try to feed him. It is very important for your pet to choose the right food. So far we have found the right one and tried about 5-6 items, including more expensive ones, until we tried the Grandin series food. First, I took Grandin kitten, which corresponded to the age of the kitten (up to 1 year), transferred it smoothly, as recommended by veterinarians, mixing it a little with the previous food, gradually increasing the amount of new food. The cat began to feel better, began to slowly grow stronger, the fur changed, became thicker, and the problems with the litter box disappeared (he always had loose stools). After a year, I started taking my cat Grandin Adult, which is recommended for adult cats, it has the maximum composition of meat ingredients, up to 80%. I also liked this food, the cat felt great and became more active. But after several months I began to gain weight, one might say get fat. Switched to Grandin Indoor. It already contains 61% meat, and the rest is healthy vegetables and herbs; it contains brewer’s yeast and flaxseed, which has a positive effect on the condition of the coat and digestion. I also gradually switched to the dietary version, since after the food consisted of almost only meat, the cat ate it reluctantly, but quickly got used to it.
The photograph is not a direct representation of the reviews presented in the review.
Spook
I usually use Pro Plan food, but lately I've started to feel like it's not doing very well for my animal's coat. I decided to buy Grandin for comparison. I took it on the seller's advice, Grandin with beef. The cat walked around the bowl, sniffed it, pointedly buried the whole thing with its paw and left. Grandin is the first food that she clearly did not want to eat.
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