Grandin cat food: reviews, composition analysis, price

Grandin cat food review

Dry cat food from the Grandin brand is produced in Europe, more precisely in the Czech Republic, at the industrial facilities of the company Dibag as, commissioned by the Russian company. High-quality raw materials are used for production, thanks to which industrial feed belongs to the super-premium class of feed. The full name of the product is “Grandin Holistic”.

Logo for Grandin holistic cat food

Note! This brand also produces dry and wet dog food.

The manufacturer offers a wide range of products, taking into account the individual characteristics of the pet’s body, as well as its age, breed and size. Company employees assure every potential buyer that the main advantage of Grandin is the high concentration of fresh meat in the composition; there are no artificial preservatives or harmful substances.

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 a mass fraction indication

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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Composition analysis

Grandin cat food has a different composition depending on the product line. In this case, it will be considered using the example of a lamb-flavored diet for adult domestic cats.

"Grandin" (dog food): dry and canned

The main component used in the production of feed is meat and fish, as well as their by-products. These ingredients are proteins of animal origin. The manufacturer indicates that the percentage concentration of lamb meat in the feed is 25%, dried chicken meat 21%, dried lamb meat 8%, as well as 4% pork liver and 3% cod meat. Additionally, the feed composition is enriched with sardines and conger eel.

Note! The composition is high quality and quite balanced. Veterinarians and cat owners leave mostly good reviews about this manufacturer.

Potatoes are used as the main source of carbohydrates. There are no grains in the composition at all; the auxiliary component is fresh green peas. To compensate for the deficiency of polyunsaturated fatty acids in domestic cats, cold-pressed Norwegian salmon oil and chicken fat are used.

The main sources of fiber are apples and beet pulp. Chicken eggs contain a high concentration of animal protein. Brewer's yeast is a source of B vitamins. It is also worth mentioning flaxseed oil, enriched with unsaturated fatty acids and fiber.

Line of dry cat food "Grandin"

Additionally, to compensate for the pet's deficiency of vitamins, minerals, macro- and microelements, various medicinal herbs are used - chicory and ginger root, Yucca Schidigera to reduce the unpleasant odor of excrement.

Formulation and nutritional content

We analyze the composition of the feed mixture using the example of food for kittens and pregnant females:

Composition of Grandin feed

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.

Pros and cons of cat food from a European manufacturer

Organix (cat food): composition of diets

Food for kittens "Grandin", despite a large number of positive reviews, has not only advantages, but also disadvantages. Before giving preference to one or another product, it is strongly recommended that you first familiarize yourself with the pros and cons of industrial formulations.

The benefits of Grandin cat food include:

• composition enriched with high-quality vitamin and mineral supplements;
• the main source of animal protein is fish and meat components;
• The composition does not contain cereals - wheat, corn, oats, etc., since they quite often provoke the development of allergic reactions in animals.

As for the disadvantages, the following should be highlighted:

• “Grandin” cannot be classified as inexpensive food; in comparison with analogues, the cost is even slightly higher;
• You can purchase the product only in pet stores of the “Four Paws” chain;
• it is not indicated which preservatives were used in the production of the product (the list of ingredients only says “Technological additives: preservatives, antioxidants”).

Composition of Grandin dry food for cats

Note! The manufacturer has been providing its products to the market for a long time, but cat food was introduced relatively recently.

Grandin food base for sterilized cats

At first glance at the list of ingredients, it is immediately clear that the rule of indicating components in descending order has been violated. The first place is occupied by the complex combined under the name “meat ingredients”: “Meat ingredients (27.5% fresh chicken meat, 30.5% dried chicken meat, 6% dried turkey meat, 4% pork liver).” We are against such a free interpretation of the composition and believe that it is important that all ingredients are clearly indicated in descending order, in the appropriate places in the list.

In this case, the overall share of high-quality meat is quite decent (68%, that is, the composition of the Grandin food for castrated cats is confirmed by the large numbers on the front side of the package) and allows you to assign a bonus of 5 points to the food. This point should always be assessed biasedly, because in many other diets the volume of such complexes from various ingredients of animal origin is much less.

Instead of grain, potatoes (No. 2 on the list) and peas (No. 3) are added here - it’s a pity that their exact shares in the diet are not indicated. Beet pulp and chicken fat round out the top five.

Dietary recommendations

Gemon (food for cats and kittens): description and composition

Historically, cats originated from the arid southern regions. They are an obligate predator that has adapted to feed on whole carcasses of small animals. Knowledge of this feature allows us to note the basic principles of cat nutrition. So:

• Cats are comfortable eating small portions, but often.
• Cats do not like to drink, so quite often they refuse to drink clean water from clean dishes.
• The cat's body does not digest carbohydrates of plant origin well, even after the products have been subjected to heat treatment.
• These animals are extremely conservative in their choice of food.

When choosing a diet, it is important to take into account the individual characteristics of each specific animal, as well as its breed, weight and age.

Proper diet for domestic cats

There are three types of diet for pets: homemade, dry and wet. Most owners prefer a combination of both. It is important to follow certain rules and recommendations:

• You cannot give different types of food to an animal at the same time. For example, put wet food and croquettes into a bowl at the same time, or mix cottage cheese into dry food.
• The organs of the gastrointestinal tract of cats adapt to the food they receive regularly. The term “regularly” means every day. It follows that if an animal is mixed-fed, then every day at the same time in the same quantity it should receive different feeds. For example, in the first half of the day, dry food is placed in a bowl, making up 60% of the daily ration, and in the afternoon, in the late afternoon, wet food in the amount of 40%.
• Each component of the diet must fully meet the animal’s requirements and be balanced. For example, you cannot feed an animal only dry food and chicken fillet just because the pet loves it. Ultimately, this will lead to an imbalance of substances in the body.

If a cat owner has difficulty developing a diet on his own, it is better to contact a veterinarian nutritionist. They will take into account all the necessary characteristics of the animal, as well as its needs.

Chain of pet stores "Four Paws"

Note! Most food manufacturers indicate on their packaging the optimal combination of dry and wet formulations.

Feed composition

We will analyze the composition of Grandin feed using the example of a grain-free dry diet for sterilized cats and neutered males aged 1-7 years. Since conclusions about the quality of a product are usually made primarily based on the first five components, it is these that you should pay attention to first of all:

1. Meat ingredients (30.5% dried chicken, 27.5% fresh chicken, 6% dried turkey, 4% pork liver).
2. Potato.
3. Green peas.
4. Beet pulp.
5. Chicken fat.

Next on the list are: alfalfa 2.5%, apples, chicken eggs, brewer's yeast, inactivated yeast, flaxseed, black currant 1%, plant complex, cold-pressed oil from Norwegian salmon and a number of other useful additives.

Squirrels

In first place is a multi-component source of animal protein, represented by two types of meat: mainly chicken with the addition of a small amount of turkey. Despite the fact that the presence of dried and fresh meat is indicated in almost identical quantities ((27.5 and 30.5%, respectively), it should be borne in mind that during the production of dry granules, the volume of fresh meat will decrease by approximately 4 times. In general, these are useful for most cats, except for those with a chicken protein allergy, pork liver is a by-product rather than a meat, so its presence on the list of meat ingredients seems a bit odd, and it is more of a flavoring agent than a source of protein.

Chicken eggs are another high-quality source of protein, but the manufacturer does not indicate in what form they were used: dried, frozen or raw (the latter is the most preferred).

Fats

Grandin's source of fat is chicken fat, a chicken byproduct that is a good source of omega-6 fatty acids. This component is often present in high-quality diets and has a more attractive taste and aroma for cats compared to other types of animal fat.

An additional source of healthy fats is cold-pressed Norwegian salmon oil. Due to cold-press technology, it better preserves useful substances, so the value of this component will be quite high. Another source of omega-3 fatty acids is flaxseed, but some experts argue that the cat’s body is not able to fully absorb such acids from flax seeds.

Carbohydrates

Potatoes are a source of carbohydrate that is healthier for cats than grains, provided they are added in small quantities. The percentage of potatoes is not indicated, but its presence in the top five components rather indicates a considerable quantity. In addition, the composition contains green peas - a good source of fiber, vitamins, antioxidants, iron and other microelements. Although the manufacturer does not indicate in what form it is used.

Other Supplements

Additionally, Grandin feed uses:

• Beet pulp is a prebiotic and a source of fiber necessary to support digestive processes and the formation of normal stool.
• Alfalfa is an additional source of protein and fiber.
• Apples – contain pectin, which improves the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract and normalizes stool consistency.
• Yeast (brewer's and inactivated) - contains minerals and vitamins that have a beneficial effect on digestion processes, the functioning of the nervous system, and the condition of hair and skin.
• Herbal complex - contains herbs that have properties beneficial to the digestive system (dandelion, linden, nettle), but a minimal amount of them is unlikely to have a real effect.
• Chicory root - provides the body with fiber and inulin necessary to maintain healthy intestinal microflora.
• Yucca Schidigera - contains bacteria that promote normal intestinal function and reduce the odor of excrement.

Grandin also contains a number of other additives (blackcurrant, freshwater algae, etc.) with beneficial properties, the amount of which is too small to have a noticeable effect on the cat’s body.

The advantages of the food include the use of meat components as the main source of protein and their large quantity, balanced vitamin and mineral composition. But combining components is a kind of marketing ploy by the manufacturer in order to bring higher quality components to the forefront of the composition, regardless of their actual volume. The name “grain-free” is confirmed by the complete absence of cereal components in the composition. Among the disadvantages: the lack of exact names of the preservatives used. In addition, holistic foods must indicate the proportion of at least the main components, which cannot be said about Grandin. Thus, Grandin falls short of being holistic. After analyzing the composition, the product can be classified rather as a super-premium class.

How to buy Grandin food and how much it will cost

For now, you can only purchase the holistic product from the Four Paws chain of pet stores. The average cost for 400 g of dry food is 360 rubles, 1.5 kg - at least 1150 rubles.

Cat food "Grandin" has not yet become widespread on the Russian market, since it went on sale relatively recently. However, veterinarians note the excellent quality of production and balanced composition, which provides the animal’s body with all the necessary elements for normal life. Perhaps the biggest drawback is the high cost.