Together with my cat Apollo we tested MAC’s, a grain-free wet cat food with high meat content. Is it as good as it seems at first glance?
Few words about MAC’s
MAC’s is wet food for cats,which is produced in Bavaria, Germany. It is based on a cat’s natural eating habits and free from colours, flavours and preservatives.
My tests and analysis
MAC’s currently offers following flavor variants:
- Beef,
- Veal & Turkey
- Salmon & Chicken
- Poultry & Cranberry
- Duck, Turkey & Chicken
- Beef & Chicken Hearts
- Duck, Rabbit & Beef
Price: around 1.5 EUR for one 400-gram can (in a six-pack from the Zooplus store).
Composition and analysis of MAC’s
The manufacturer states that this is a complete food for cats. I will check if it really is the complete basis of a daily and balanced diet.
I have analyzed the composition of all flavors and each flavor is described separately in the tabs below. Let’s take a look into details and do some math 😉
The composition given on the packaging
Meat (min. 40% chicken, min. 30% beef) animal by-products (chicken hearts, chicken stomachs, beef liver, beef lungs, beef stomachs, 10% beef hearts), minerals.
Additives (per kg): Vitamin D3 (200 IU), taurine (1500 mg), zinc [zinc sulfate monohydrate] (15 mg), manganese [manganese (II) sulfate monohydrate] (3 mg), iodine [calcium iodate anhydrous] (0.75 mg).
Analytical composition: protein 10.8%, fat 7.0%, crude ash 1.9%, crude fiber 0.3%, moisture 79.0%
My simple ingredient analysis
- Muscle meat accounts for 70% of the food.
- Offal is the remaining meat content.
- No info on the calcium or phosphorus levels.
Taurine
1500 mg/kg
Calories
112.81 kcal EM/100g
My calculations of analytical components in d.m.
Proteins
51,43%
Fats
33,33%
Carbohydrates
4,76%
The composition given on the packaging
Meat (min. 70% beef), animal by-products (beef hearts, beef lungs, beef stomachs), carrots (3%), minerals (1%), thistle oil (0.2%)
Additives (per kg): taurine (1500 mg / kg), zinc [zinc sulphate monohydrate] (15 mg / kg), manganese [manganese (II) sulphate monohydrate] (3 mg / kg), copper [copper (II) sulphate pentahydrate] )] (1.0 mg / kg), iodine [calcium iodate anhydrous] (0.75 mg / kg)
Analytical composition : protein 10.7%, fat 7.3%, crude ash 2.3%, crude fiber 0.4%, moisture 76%
My simple ingredient analysis
- Muscle meat accounts for 70% of the food.
- Offal is the remaining meat content.
- Carrots are an unnecessary plant ingredient.
- Thistle oil is a vegetable oil made from the seeds of the thistle that has no use in a cat’s diet. Cats are food specialized for eating meat, so they poorly absorb nutrients from plant materials.
- No info on the calcium or phosphorus levels.
Taurine
1500 mg/kg
Calories
147,63 kcal EM/100g
My calculations of analytical components in d.m.
Proteins
44,58%
Fats
30,42%
Carbohydrates
13,75%
The composition given on the packaging
Meat (min. 35% veal, min. 35% turkey) animal by-products (turkey hearts, turkey livers, veal hearts, veal liver, veal stomach), minerals
Additives (per kg): Vitamin D3 (200 IU / kg), taurine (1500 mg / kg), zinc [zinc sulfate monohydrate] (15 mg / kg), manganese [manganese (II) sulfate monohydrate] (3 mg / kg ), iodine [calcium iodate anhydrous] (0.75 mg / kg)
Analytical composition : protein 10.6%, fat 7.1%, crude ash 2.2%, crude fiber 0.5%, moisture 78%
My simple ingredient analysis
- Muscle meat accounts for 70% of the food.
- Offal is the remaining meat content.
- No info on the calcium or phosphorus levels.
Taurine
1500 mg/kg
Calories
122,90 kcal EM/100g
My calculations of analytical components in d.m.
Proteins
48,18%
Fats
32,27%
Carbohydrates
7,27%
The composition given on the packaging
Meat (min. 45% poultry, min. 25% beef), animal by-products (poultry hearts, poultry livers, poultry stomachs, beef hearts, beef liver, beef stomachs), cranberry (3%), minerals (1%) , thistle oil (0.2%)
Additives (per kg): Vitamin D3 (200 IU / kg), taurine (1500 mg / kg), zinc [zinc sulfate monohydrate] (15 mg / kg), manganese [manganese (II) sulfate monohydrate] (3 mg / kg ), iodine [calcium iodate anhydrous] (0.75 mg / kg)
Analytical composition: protein 10.8%, fat 7%, crude ash 2.3%, crude fiber 0.5%, moisture 78%
My simple ingredient analysis
- Muscle meat accounts for 70% of the food.
- Offal is the remaining meat content.
- Cranberry are an unnecessary plant ingredient.
- Thistle oil is a vegetable oil made from the seeds of the thistle that has no use in a cat’s diet. Cats are food specialized for eating meat, so they poorly absorb nutrients from plant materials.
- No info on the calcium or phosphorus levels.
Taurine
1500 mg/kg
Calories
119,57 kcal EM/100g
My calculations of analytical components in d.m.
Proteins
49,09%
Fats
31,82%
Carbohydrates
6,36%
The composition given on the packaging
Meat (min. 40% chicken), fish (min. 30% salmon) animal by-products (chicken hearts, chicken livers, chicken stomachs), bananas (2%), minerals (1%), salmon oil (0, 2%)
Additives (per kg): Vitamin D3 (200 IU / kg), taurine (1500 mg / kg), zinc [zinc sulfate monohydrate] (15 mg / kg), manganese [manganese (II) sulfate monohydrate] (3 mg / kg ), iodine [calcium iodate anhydrous] (0.75 mg / kg)
Analytical composition: protein 10.8%, fat 6.3%, crude ash 2.5%, crude fiber 0.5%, moisture 78%
My simple ingredient analysis
- Muscle meat accounts for 70% of the food.
- Offal is the remaining meat content.
- Bananas are an unnecessary plant ingredient.
- Salmon oil is an important source of Omega polyunsaturated fatty acids which are essential in a cat’s diet.
- No info on the calcium or phosphorus levels.
Taurine
1500 mg/kg
Calories
121,58 kcal EM/100g
My calculations of analytical components in d.m.
Proteins
49,09%
Fats
28,64%
Carbohydrates
8,64%
The composition given on the packaging
Meat (min. 20% duck, min. 25% turkey, min. 25% chicken) animal by-products (duck hearts, duck livers, duck lungs, turkey hearts, turkey stomachs, chicken hearts, chicken livers, chicken stomachs), minerals
Additives (per kg): Vitamin D3 (200 IU / kg), taurine (1500 mg / kg), zinc [zinc sulfate monohydrate] (15 mg / kg), manganese [manganese (II) sulfate monohydrate] (3 mg / kg ), copper [copper (II) sulfate pentahydrate] (1.0 mg / kg), iodine [calcium iodate anhydrous] (0.75 mg / kg)
Analytical composition: protein 10.4%, fat 5.8%, crude ash 2.5%, crude fiber 0.5%, moisture 79%
My simple ingredient analysis
- Muscle meat accounts for 70% of the food.
- Offal is the remaining meat content.
- No info on the calcium or phosphorus levels.
Taurine
1500 mg/kg
Calories
115,70 kcal EM/100g
My calculations of analytical components in d.m.
Proteins
49,52%
Fats
27,62%
Carbohydrates
8,57%
The composition given on the packaging
Meat (min. 20% duck, min. 20% rabbit, min. 15% beef, min. 15% heart), animal by-products (rabbit liver, rabbit lungs, duck hearts, duck livers, duck lungs, beef stomachs, beef hearts), minerals
Additives (per kg): Vitamin D3 (200 IU / kg), taurine (1500 mg / kg), zinc [zinc sulfate monohydrate] (15 mg / kg), manganese [manganese (II) sulfate monohydrate] (3 mg / kg ), iodine [calcium iodate anhydrous] (0.75 mg / kg)
Analytical composition : protein 10.6%, fat 6.1%, crude ash 2.2%, crude fiber 0.5%, moisture 78%
My simple ingredient analysis
- Muscle meat accounts for 70% of the food.
- Offal is the remaining meat content.
- No info on the calcium or phosphorus levels.
Taurine
1500 mg/kg
Calories
130,31 kcal EM/100g
My calculations of analytical components in d.m.
Proteins
48,18%
Fats
27,73%
Carbohydrates
11,82%
Comprehensive analysis of the composition
MAC’s has a good, meaty composition and the right level of taurine, protein, and fat, and at the same time a large variety of flavors. Only one food flavor (Salmon and Chicken) contains salmon oil. Other flavors include thistle oil, which has no use in a cat’s diet, because cats poorly absorb nutrients from plant materials.
Unfortunately, most flavors have significantly elevated carbohydrate levels.
Zalety
- high meat content,
- optimal taurine content (1500mg / kg),
- optimal level of proteins and fats,
- good selection of flavors
- grain and soy free.
Wady
- unnecessary plant additives,
- not all flavors contain salmon oil,
- elevated carbohydrate levels in many flavor variants.
Comprehensive analysis of the composition
MAC’s wet cat food looked quite promising, but unfortunately the increased carbohydrate levels disqualify it as very good food for my cat. If the producer gave up unnecessary vegetable and fruit supplements, the amount of carbohydrates in the food would drop. MAC’s wet cat food is ok, but it isn’t the best.
My cat’s opinion
Apollo liked Beef & Chicken Hearts, Veal & Turkey and Salmon & Chicken the most, while Poultry & Cranberry the least.
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What do You think?
I would love to see your thought, suggestions and questions in the comments below!
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Joanna z Apollo Fluffy Cat
I am Joanna and together with my cat Apollo, I create the Apollo Fluffy Cat blog, where I share my experiences and knowledge about cats and ecology so that you can learn how to become a better and more mindful cat parent! You can found more about me, Apollo and our blog's mission on the "About Us" page.