Last updated Apr 19, 2023
Grandma Mae’s Country Naturals is a small, privately-owned company based in the United States. The company makes dog and cat foods with high quality, human-grade ingredients. Their foods are only sold through independent retailers. Learn more about Grandma Mae’s Country Naturals Cat Food in our unbiased review.
The Cats.com Standard – Rating Grandma Mae’s Country Naturals Cat Food on What Matters
We have analyzed Grandma Mae’s Country Naturals cat food and rated it according to our standards here at Cats.com. Our grades are based on the species-appropriateness of the food, the quality of the ingredients, product variety, price, customer experience, and recall history. You can read more about our ratings here.
Here are our ratings for Grandma Mae’s Country Naturals in these key areas:
Ratings
- Species-Appropriateness – 7/10
- Ingredient Quality – 7/10
- Product Variety – 8/10
- Price – 7/10
- Customer Experience – 7/10
- Recall History – 9/10
Overall Score: 7.5/10
We give Grandma Mae’s Country Naturals cat food a 45 out of 60 rating (75) or a B grade.
About Grandma Mae’s Country Naturals
Grandma Mae’s Country Naturals was founded in 2007, when a group of independent pet store owners met to discuss what was happening in the pet food industry. They were concerned that many premium pet food brands were being acquired by large corporations or investment groups. When control of these companies passed from the founders, the quality of the products often declined and prices went up. In many cases, the pressure for increased profits led to taking short-cuts with ingredients and processing as well as an increase in cost.
To continue to provide their customers with high quality pet food, these small business owners, who had devoted their lives to selecting the highest quality products for pets, pooled their funds to start Grandma Mae’s Country Naturals – the independent retailer-owned pet food.
Today, Grandma Mae’s is still controlled by independent business owners. According to Grandma Mae’s, they put pets before everything else, including advertising and a sales force.
Grandma Mae’s Country Naturals is also environmentally conscious. Their new Susta-Pak bags are made using a renewable resource that is biodegradable and carbon-neutral.
In addition, Grandma Mae’s supports military families. Up to a dollar of every purchase goes to providing free or discounted dog and cat food to families with members serving overseas.
In case you’re wondering, there really was a Grandma Mae (1899-1985). She inspired the owners as an early advocate and practitioner of healthy eating and exercise for both people and pets.
The company has headquarters in New York, New York.
Sourcing and Manufacturing
According to online information, Grandma Mae’s foods are manufactured for them 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 which makes private label pet foods.
Grandma Mae’s states that the facilities that make their foods have earned three of the most stringent certifications that a pet food facility can have, including the highest level of organic certification in the US-Oregon Tilth Certification, and the European Union Certification. (Europe’s testing standards are tougher than those in the US).
The company also uses manufacturers in New Zealand and Thailand. The plant they work with is of the highest quality and makes other well-known and trusted brands such as Weruva.
Pet food quality also depends on its ingredients. Grandma Mae’s uses high quality ingredients sourced from family farms, non-GMO when possible.
Most ingredients come from the United States. To ensure the best quality product, a few ingredients may come from Canada, the UK, or Europe. Some examples of our sourcing include:
- No ingredients from China in any of our products
- Chicken from family farms in Ohio
- Duck Meal from France, for the best possible quality
- Grass-fed lamb from New Zealand
- Brown rice and other whole grains, legumes like peas, lentils and chickpeas, all grown in the US, and in a few cases in Canada
- Fish from the cold waters of the North Atlantic Ocean, caught off either Norway, the Maritime Provinces of Canada, or the South Pacific off Chile, with fish meal processed onshore, not on ships. Onshore processing means we can avoid the preservative ethoxyquin, which is required with on-ship processing
- Vitamins from the US, Canada or Europe
Their manufacturing process involves a unique, low-temperature, slow-cooking method that retains high levels of proteins, vitamins, and minerals.
All batches of Grandma Mae’s Country Naturals are sent to an outside lab and tested for Salmonella and other issues. Only when the batch is tested safe is it released for sale.
Grandma Mae’s original formulas were developed by Dr. Martin Glinsky and Dr. Tom Willard, two long-time leading experts in the field of Animal Nutrition. Dr. Glinsky has a PhD in Animal Nutrition from the University of Illinois and worked in the field for over 35 years. He was one of the originators of the holistic fresh-ingredient category and was the original formulator of Innova. Dr. Willard had a PhD in Animal Nutrition from North Carolina State and, during his time, served as the full-time in-house nutritionist for manufacturers including the Iams Corporation and Performance Foods, among others.
Today Grandma Mae’s works with Animal Nutrition Expert Serge Boutet as well as Dr. David Dzanis. Serge Boutet is the previous manager of pet foods and nutrition for J.E. Mondou Ltee and Hagen Pet Foods. Dr. Dzanis has a DVM from Purdue and a PhD in Veterinary Nutrition from Cornell. He is also a Diplomate and past chair of the American College of Veterinary Nutrition.
Has Grandma Mae’s Country Naturals Cat Food Been Recalled?
According to Grandma Mae’s Country Naturals, their foods have never had a recall. We didn’t find any suggestion of a recall online.
What Kinds of Food Does Grandma Mae’s Country Naturals Offer?
Grandma Mae’s Country Naturals offers both kibble and canned cat foods. Their kibble is available in three grain-free recipes and two grain-inclusive formulas.
The company also has 16 canned recipes in pate, gravy, and dinner styles. The meals come in a variety of different meat, poultry, and fish offerings.
Many of the foods are suitable for all life stages but Grandma Mae’s also makes several foods that are designed for a specific life stage.
All of Grandma Mae’s Country Naturals’ cat foods, both dry and canned, are “uristic,” which means they are designed to promote long-term urinary tract health. The cat foods contain a high level of methionine, an amino acid which raises the acidity of urine, helping to break down urine crystals and in turn, reducing inflammation of the urinary tract.
Grandma Mae’s Country Naturals Cat Food – Top 3 Recipes Reviewed
| Product Name | Food Type | Primary Protein | Calories | Price | Our Grade |
| Grandma Mae’s Grain Free Chicken Meal & Herring Meal Recipe for Cats & Kittens | Dry | Chicken | 3700 kcal per kg | $4.24 per lb | C |
| Grandma Mae’s Country Naturals Mackerel & Sardine Dinner | Wet | Fish | 823 kcal per kg | $7.15 per lb | B+ |
| Grandma Mae’s Country Naturals Duck Meal Recipe for Cats & Kittens | Dry | Duck | 3525 kcal per kg | $4.17 per lb | B+ |
#1 Grandma Mae’s Country Naturals Grain Free Chicken Meal & Herring Meal Recipe for Cats & Kittens
Despite the recent pandemic, cat lovers have been buying more cat food and treats than ever. However, wet foods – often considered better for cats because of their moisture content – are becoming increasingly popular with cat owners. Wet foods are the most popular foods sold on Amazon, Chewy, and at Walmart.
Many cats still prefer dry foods; or owners like to offer a choice or mix of dry and wet foods. If your cat likes dry cat food alone of mixed with wet food, Grandma Mae’s Country Naturals offers five different formulas. Four of the formulas are for all life stages. The fifth formula, made for weight control and hairballs, is suitable for adult cats and seniors. Two of the formulas are grain-inclusive while the other three are grain-free.
Grain Free Chicken Meal & Herring Meal Recipe for Cats & Kittens is made with non-GMO ingredients. The first five ingredients are: Chicken meal, peas, lentils, chickpeas, and chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols). Herring meal and dried eggs are the sixth and seventh ingredients. They provide more animal protein. Most of the remaining ingredients are added vitamins and chelated minerals.
Chicken meal, herring meal, and dried eggs are all good sources of animal protein. We have no problem with good named meat and fish meals. Unlike fresh meats which contain about 65-70 percent moisture, these meals have already had most of the moisture removed. That means they are a concentrated form of protein when they are used to make the cat food.
We do question the use of peas, lentils, and chickpeas as the second, third, and fourth ingredients. That’s a lot of plant material high up in the ingredient list. Peas, lentils, and chickpeas are plant sources of protein, carbohydrates, and fiber. In addition, they contain phytic acid which can block the absorption of certain nutrients during digestion.
We don’t always agree with Truthaboutpetfood.com when it comes to judging foods but this article provides food for thought. There is currently concern among dog owners, vets, and researchers about feeding dogs grain free diets that rely too heavily on peas, lentils, and legumes though this concern has not been extended to cats and their foods at this time.
Overall, we would pass up this grain free food. Although the animal protein sources look good, the high amounts of peas, lentils, and chickpeas are concerning.
Calorie Content (ME Calculated): 440 kcals per cup; 3700 kcal/kg
Ingredients
Chicken Meal, Peas, Lentils, Chickpeas, Chicken Fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), Herring Meal, Dried Eggs, Menhaden Fish Oil, Dried Kelp, DL-Methionine, Calcium Carbonate, Lecithin, Choline Chloride, L-Lysine, Taurine, Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin Supplement, Yucca Schidigera Extract, d-Biotin, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin A Acetate, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid, Potassium Chloride, Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Sulfate, Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Copper Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Manganese Sulfate, Manganese Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Manganous Oxide, Sodium Selenite, Chelated Calcium Iodate
Ingredients We Liked: Chicken meal, chicken fat, herring meal, dried eggs, menhaden fish oil, dried kelp, chelated minerals
Ingredients We Didn’t Like: Peas, lentils, chickpeas
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
Pros
- Good animal and fish proteins
- No dairy, soy, corn, or wheat gluten
- No artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives
- No GMO ingredients
Cons
- Very high in peas, lentils, and chickpeas
#2 Grandma Mae’s Country Naturals Mackerel & Sardine Dinner
Unlike many grain-free kibbles that need a replacement for ingredients such as corn, it’s not at all unusual for canned pet foods to be grain-free without using ingredients such as peas and lentils. Canned foods usually have fewer ingredients than dry foods.
They don’t need the carbs and starch that dry foods need. Many wet foods rely on some animal protein, perhaps a few veggies, and some vitamins and minerals. Some of them may contain some rice (which would make them “grain-inclusive”) but the premium wet foods rarely contain corn or wheat.
When you see wet cat foods labeled “grain free,” it’s not very unusual. Most wet cat foods are grain free without really trying.
Grandma Mae’s Country Naturals Mackerel & Sardine Dinner is grain free and carrageenan-free. It is low in ash, phosphorus, and magnesium. It is also uristic – formulated to help prevent urinary tract infections. It is also completely free of chicken, if this is an issue for your cat.
The first five ingredients in this recipe are: Fish broth, mackerel, sardines, tapioca starch, and pea protein. Fish broth, made from the fish used in the food, is a good source of moisture. Mackerel and sardines are good sources of fish protein for your cat.
Tapioca starch has virtually no nutrients but it is used as a binder and carbohydrate in some grain free pet foods. It’s considered to be a good carbohydrate for people and pets with allergies to some grains. However, cats that are obese or that have diabetes might be better off avoiding tapioca starch in their food.
Pea protein appears to be added simply to bolster the protein percentage in the food.
This recipe does not contain carrageenan but it does have guar gum, if that is a concern for you. There are pros and cons to guar gum. It is a soluble fiber so it can help with digestion in healthy cats. On the other hand, it has been known to lead to gastrointestinal upset in some cats. Unfortunately, it’s difficult to find wet foods that don’t contain guar gum or some other kind of thickening agent.
The rest of the ingredients in this food are added vitamins and chelated minerals.
Overall, Grandma Mae’s Country Naturals Mackerel & Sardine Dinner looks like a good canned cat food as long as your cat isn’t affected by one of the possible problems we noted.
Grandma Mae’s Country Naturals Cat Food is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Cat Food Nutrient Profiles for All Life Stages.
Calorie Content (ME Calculated): 823 kcal/kg (calculated) or 128 kcal/can (cans are 5.5 ounces)
Ingredients
Fish Broth, Mackerel, Sardines, 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, dI-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
Ingredients We Liked: Fish broth, mackerel, sardines,
Ingredients We Didn’t Like: Pea protein
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
Pros
- Good fish protein – chicken-free
- Low in ash, phosphorus, and magnesium
- Carrageenan-free
- No artificial flavors or preservatives
Cons
- Tapioca starch can be a problem for cats that are obese or diabetic
- Guar gum is a problem for some cats
#3 Grandma Mae’s Country Naturals Duck Meal Recipe for Cats & Kittens
For cats who get a little tired of the same old chicken and turkey, duck can be a good alternative poultry to try. Duck is higher in vitamins, iron, and copper than chicken. Duck provides almost three times more vitamin B1 and over two times more vitamin K. Other vitamins found in higher amounts in duck meat include vitamin B2, vitamin E, vitamin A, and folate. Duck also contains vitamin D, which is absent in chicken. It has a few more calories and fat but it’s a little lower in cholesterol and sodium. Duck is also very tasty.
Grandma Mae’s Country Naturals has a Duck Meal Recipe for Cats & Kittens. This is a grain-inclusive dry food with duck meal as the first ingredient. Over 70 percent of the protein in the food comes from animal sources.
The first five ingredients in this food are: Duck meal, brown rice, pearled barley, oats, and egg product. As mentioned, duck is an excellent source of nutrition. Eggs are a good source of protein. Chicken liver is the eighth ingredient. It provides a good source of vitamins, especially vitamin A.
There are a number of grains in the first five ingredients – brown rice, pearled barley, and oats. Most cats should be able to eat these ingredients without difficulty. They provide good sources of complex carbohydrates and fiber for digestion. Ideally, they would be lower in the ingredient list.
The ingredients include cranberries which are said to be good for the urinary tract. Blueberries are thought to be a good antioxidant.
This recipe includes probiotics for better digestion.
Overall, Grandma Mae’s Country Naturals Duck Meal Recipe for Cats & Kittens appears to be a good food choice for cats.
Grandma Mae’s Country Naturals Duck Meal Recipe Cat Food is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Cat Food Nutrient Profiles for All Life Stages.
Calorie Content (ME Calculated): 440 kcal per cup; 3525 Kcal/kg
Ingredients
Duck Meal, Brown Rice, Pearled Barley, Oats, Egg Product, Millet, Chicken Fat (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Chicken Liver, Dried Apple Pomace, Natural Flavor, Flaxseed Meal, Dried Brewers Yeast, Pea Protein, DL-Methionine, Cranberries, Blueberries, Taurine, Potassium Chloride, Choline Chloride, Monosodium Phosphate, Vitamin E Supplement, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Dried Lactobacillus acidophilus Fermentation Product, Dried Bacillus subtilis Fermentation Product, Dried Bifidobacterium thermophilum Fermentation Product, Dried Bifidobacterium longum Fermentation Product, Dried Enterococcus faecium Fermentation Product, Zinc Proteinate, Zinc Sulfate, Sodium Selenite, Ferrous Sulfate, Copper Proteinate, Maganese Proteinate, Vitamin A Supplement, Copper Sulfate, Niacin, Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Maganese Sulfate, Riboflavin, Biotin, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Cobalt Proteinate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Folic Acid, Calcium Iodate.
Total Microorganisms* 3.5×105 CFU/lb MIN
Ingredients We Liked: Duck meal, egg product, chicken fat, chicken liver, dried apple pomace, cranberries, blueberries
Ingredients We Didn’t Like: Millet, natural flavor, pea protein
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
Pros
- Duck is nutritious and flavorful
- Over 70 percent of the protein comes from animal sources
- Contains digestive support – fiber, probiotics
- No corn, dairy, soy, or wheat; so artificial preservatives, flavors, or colors
Cons
- “Natural flavor” is vague
- Contains pea protein which appears to be added to increase the protein percentage
What Do Customers Think of Grandma Mae’s Country Naturals Cat Food?
We found lots of customer reviews for Grandma Mae’s Country Naturals online from sites such as Amazon.com.
Positive Reviews
Our local pet store owner recommended this food as a very good and also affordable grain free option for our cat. Online research supported this, and so we tried it out. Our cat loves the food, and this bag lasts a good long time. For me, getting this is a no brainer. – George, reviewing Grandma Mae’s Country Naturals Grain Free Dry Cat & Kitten Food 12 LB Chicken & Herring Recipe on December 13, 2016
We have a Siamese cat who is about 15 years old. Late last year, she was diagnosed with kidney disease. She has never liked canned food, but I finally found one with low phosphorus that she would eat. (I will not feed the prescription foods.) After several months, she went on strike against the canned food. Most dry foods have higher phosphorus levels than recommended for cats with kidney disease (1% or more) but when I was “label shopping” I found this food, with a MAX of .63% phosphorus.This is by far the lowest I have found in a quality dry cat food. And the best thing of all, she LOVES it!!! She would usually eat a little, wait, eat a little more, wait … which is difficult when there are three other cats in the house. But ever since we started her on this food, she cleans her whole bowl at one sitting. (She gets fed twice a day.) I am so thankful for this healthy food that works perfectly for our Kidney Kitty. Our other cats may get switched over as well! – brdrcol, reviewing Grandma Mae’s Country Naturals Grain Free Dry Cat & Kitten Food 12 LB Chicken & Herring Recipe on August 17, 2016
Negative Reviews
Our 2 cats do not like it. We have to mix it with their previous (much cheaper) food. We have h ad it about 2 months and they MAY be starting toi accept it by itself – Anonymous, reviewing Grandma Mae’s Country Naturals Grain Free Dry Cat & Kitten Food 12 LB Chicken & Herring Recipe on January 14, 2018
Ingredients appear to be good however out of 10 cats none of them will touch it. – catsonly, reviewing Grandma Mae’s Country Naturals Grain Free Dry Cat & Kitten Food 12 LB Chicken & Herring Recipe on September 29, 2019
How Much Does Grandma Mae’s Country Naturals Cat Food Cost?
We found a range of prices for Grandma Mae’s Country Naturals Cat Food online. The 3-lb bags of dry food seemed to start around $18. We found 6-lb bags around $30-32. The 12-lb bags were between $45-50.
For the canned foods, we found them between $51-55 for a case of 24 cans (5.5 ounce cans).
Overall, Is Grandma Mae’s Country Naturals Cat Food a Good Choice?
It depends. We think Grandma Mae’s Country Naturals wet foods look good. You should look at the foods to make sure they don’t contain any ingredients that might bother your cat, such as tapioca for obese or diabetic cats. Otherwise, we like the wet foods.
For the dry foods, we have some concerns about the grain-free foods just because they have so much plant protein (peas, lentils, chickpeas). We would avoid those foods. However, the grain-inclusive dry foods look good. They are high in animal protein.
We would compare this brand to Blackwood, American Natural Premium, and Whole Earth Farms.
How Do You Order Grandma Mae’s Country Naturals Cat Food?
Grandma Mae’s Country Naturals sells through independent retailers. You can check their web site to find a retailer in your area.
You can also buy their food on Amazon.com and from some other online pet food sellers. We did not find their food on Chewy.com.
