John Seeberg

Written by John Seeberg

Georgia Jeremiah

Reviewed by Georgia Jeremiah

Updated: May 30, 2024

Petite Cuisine (Wet) Review

Updated: May 30, 2024

Our Verdict

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Highly Recommended

Petite Cuisine canned wet product range is made of six recipes which all receive the Cat Food Advisor rating, 5 stars.

The Petite Cuisine wet range provides a high level of protein from animal meat.  Each recipe is formulated as a broth, so moisture content is high.  This food offers a good diet option.

Pros
  • High in protein
  • Lists the first ingredient as animal protein
  • Low in carbohydrate
  • High in moisture
Cons
  • Relatively low in fat and calories
  • More expensive than some cat foods
  • AAFCO rating unspecified

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
Petite Cuisine Aunt Molly’s Tuna with Sweet Potato & Salmon 5 U
Petite Cuisine Darling Daisy’s Chicken with Pumpkin & Chicken Liver 5 U
Petite Cuisine Baby Bluebell’s Chicken & Pumpkin 5 U
Petite Cuisine Sister Rose’s Tuna, Pumpkin & Ocean Whitefish 5 U
Petite Cuisine L’il Violet’s Tuna, Pumpkin & Tilapia 5 U
Petite Cuisine Sweet Ivy’s Chicken & Sweet Potato 5 U

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Recipe and Label Analysis

Aunt Molly’s Tuna with Sweet Potato & Salmon recipe 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.

Aunt Molly’s Tuna with Sweet Potato & Salmon recipe

Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content

62.5%

Protein

12.5%

Fat

17%

CarbsCarbohydrates

Tuna, fish broth, sweet potatoes, salmon, sunflower oil, tapioca starch, cranberry, tricalcium phosphate, xanthan gum, taurine, magnesium sulfate, zinc oxide, reduced iron, vitamin E supplement, niacin supplement, sodium selenite, thiamine mononitrate, manganese sulfate, vitamin A supplement, vitamin B12 supplement, copper amino acid complex, pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), calcium pantothenate, riboflavin supplement (vitamin B2), biotin supplement (vitamin B7), vitamin D3 supplement, folic acid, potassium iodide, menadione sodium bisulfite complex.


Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 2%

Red denotes any controversial items

Ingredients Analysis

The first ingredient is tuna.  Tuna is an oily marine fish not only high in protein but also omega 3 fatty acids, essential oils needed by every cat to sustain life.

The second 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 third ingredient is sweet potatoes.  Sweet potatoes are a gluten-free source of complex carbohydrates in cat food.  They are naturally rich in dietary fiber and beta carotene.

The fourth ingredient is salmon.  Salmon is an oily marine and freshwater fish not only high in protein but also omega 3 fatty acids, essential oils needed by every cat to sustain life.

The fifth ingredient is sunflower oil.  Sunflower oil is nutritionally similar to safflower oil.  Since these oils are high in omega-6 fatty acids and contain no omega-3s, they’re considered less nutritious than canola or flaxseed oils. 

Sunflower oil is notable for its resistance to heat damage during cooking.

There are several different types of sunflower oil, some better than others.  Without knowing more, it’s impossible to judge the quality of this ingredient.

The sixth ingredient is tapioca starch, a gluten-free, starchy carbohydrate extract made from the root of the cassava plant. 

The seventh ingredient is cranberry, a nutrient-rich fruit that’s also high in fiber.

The eighth 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.

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.

However, this food also contains a controversial form of vitamin K linked to liver toxicity, allergies and the abnormal break-down of red blood cells.

Since vitamin K isn’t required by AAFCO in its nutrient profiles, we question the use of this item in any feline recipe. 

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Nutrient Analysis

Based on its ingredients alone, Aunt Molly’s Tuna with Sweet Potato & Salmon recipe looks like an above-average wet product.

The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 62.5%, a fat level of 12.5% and an estimated carbohydrate level of 17%.

As a group, the brand features an above-average protein content of 67.5% and a near-average fat level of 13.1%.  Together these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 11.4% for the overall product line, alongside a fat to protein ratio of 19%.

This means this Petite Cuisine range contains higher than average protein, lower than average carbohydrate and near-average fat, when compared to typical wet cat food.

Final Word

Petite Cuisine is a well balanced formula with healthy ingredients such as animal protein.  Each recipe is carefully created to provide the right nutrients and vitamins.

The Cat Food Advisor recommends this food.

Has Petite Cuisine cat food been recalled in the past?

No, Petite Cuisine has no history of product recalls.

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

Petite Cuisine was founded in 2004 by Eric Weber and is based in Rancho Cucamonga, California.

Its food is manufactured in Thailand, however, so it is likely that the chicken and fish they use is sourced from there as well.

Sources

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Our reviews are completely independent; we are not paid by any pet food company to promote their products favorably. We do not accept money, gifts, samples or other incentives in exchange for special consideration. For more information see our Disclaimer & Disclosure page.

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