![]() |
Brulee enjoying her Merrick® Backcountry™ Rabbit Recipe |
We've been fans of Merrick cat food for a long time (back when Sweet Praline lived with Mom Paula). We've tried many of the recipes from what is now the Purrfect Bistro® line of cat food and were excited to try some of the food from the Backcountry™ line when it was launched in 2016. At that time, we were eating the chicken, turkey, and duck recipes. Mom Paula has always said we eat a "feather" diet. We were introduced to the Real Rabbit Recipe Cuts at that time and liked it. Of course Truffle gobbled it up and Brulee lapped up the gravy and tended to leave the large cuts of rabbit. The wet formulas of Backcountry wet recipes were in pouches and included cuts of meat with gravy. Recently, Merrick began offering their Backcountry formulas in cans in the form of a pate.
![]() |
Truffle waiting to see which recipe of Merrick Backcountry wet food will be opened. |
The Merrick Backcountry Pate offers cats a complete and balanced nutrition that includes the necessary moisture they need. Real deboned meat is always the first ingredient because high-quality protein helps build and maintain healthy muscle tissue and energy levels. All Merrick recipes are crafted in Hereford, TX kitchen and cooked in USA facilities that uphold strict FDA guidelines. The Backcountry Pate recipes are available in rabbit, chicken, turkey, salmon, duck, and beef. The newest formulas are rabbit, salmon, turkey, kitten chicken, and mature chicken.
The Backcountry recipes are formulated with prebiotics and probiotics to help with digestive tract health. They are grain-free and are made with natural ingredients that are free from artificial flavors and colors.
![]() |
Truffle eating the Merrick Backcountry Real Rabbit Recipe Cuts |
Even though Truffle and Brulee have eaten many varieties of the "feather" diet, I wanted to begin feeding them a rotation diet of a variety of proteins. They really don't like tuna or beef. I've tried some of the "wild game" type food with them and they weren't fans. They do like some brands/recipes of salmon, but I don't feed fish to them more than once a week. The newest protein in our home is rabbit. Very few companies carry rabbit recipes. I'd already fed the girls the Backcountry Real Rabbit Recipe cuts in the past and was wandering through the cat food aisles in a local pet food store and discovered Merrick had added canned pate recipes to their line of food and one of the recipes was rabbit. I purchased a couple of cans to try with the girls. To my delight, both Truffle and Brulee (Yay!) gobbled it up. Even though it was a pate, I've learned to use a fork to break it down for Brulee, and she loves it. The girls get rabbit food 1-2 times a week and it's usually a huge treat for them.
When I met up with the Merrick representatives at Global Pet Expo this year, I told them what a hit the new Backcountry canned pate recipes were with Truffle and Brulee and asked if I could review these new formulas with our readers. Since I'd worked with Merrick in the past, they were more than willing to send us some of the Backcountry pates to try. I chose to sample the real rabbit and the mature chicken recipes for this review.
![]() |
Brulee enjoying the Merrick Backcountry Real Rabbit Pate cat food |
I must say that every time I feed the girls any of the Merrick Backcountry recipes, whether it's the cuts or the pate, they immediately begin eating the food and usually clean their plates. This is one of the few brands/recipes of wet food that both Truffle and Brulee will eat. Truffle is still eating a prescription kibble to help prevent future bladder stones, but I must feed her a high-quality, high-protein wet diet to keep her hydrated and meet all of her nutritional needs to help maintain her beautiful Persian coat and other unique needs of Persian cats. The bonus is that both girls love the food.
I look forward to trying the other Backcountry pate recipes. I like there is such a variety that the girls can eat a different protein each day of the week. This helps ensure they get all of the nutrients, taurine, vitamins, and minerals they need and don't get bored with their food.
Merrick promises your cats will love the taste of their food and be happier and healthier. If you or your pet are not 100% totally satisfied with the Merrick food, you can return it and get your money back.
Merrick partners with and supports local and national organization that share their passion for pets, including K9s For Warriors, PAWS Chicago, Austin Pets Alive!, Tree House Human Society, and San Antonio Pets Alive!.
![]() |
Brulee examines the Merrick Backcountry Real Rabbit Pate |
Giveaway
We're excited to announce
that two of our readers (1 cat and 1 dog) have the opportunity to win a case of Merrick® Backcountry™ wet food (choice of flavor and recipe - cuts or pate). No
purchase necessary. The giveaway is open to residents of the United States 18+
years, except where prohibited by law. The giveaway will run from August 16-30, ending at 11:59 pm ET. The winner will be randomly selected by Rafflecopter
(powered by Random.org) and notified via email. Winner will have 48 hours to
claim her prize; failure to do so will result in forfeiture of the prize and
a new winner will be randomly chosen. To qualify for the giveaway, a comment
must be left on our blog post. Other
entry options are available after a comment is left. Please check your email and be sure to
add sweetpurrfections@sc.rr.com to your
address book!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Good luck to everyone who enters! To stay up to date with Merrick®, make sure to follow them on social media.
Reference
Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine (July 2017). Feeding Your Cat. https://www.vet.cornell.edu/departments-centers-and-institutes/cornell-feline-health-center/health-information/feline-health-topics/feeding-your-cat.
You know about Bear's ban on all brands that start with "W" - and how neither of my kitties "do" vegetables - but neither of my cats will eat rabbit, lamb, or duck. I find it so fascinating that they probably influence each other more on preferences than most people recognize.
ReplyDeleteSounds like good food. Great review. Don't know if mine would eat it though. Have a great day Paula.
ReplyDeleteWe're not fans of rabbit either but it does look good!
ReplyDeleteAnytime you get a clean plate, it means you've done a good thing!
ReplyDeleteWow that sounds so good!
ReplyDeleteMy cat likes salmon and chicken. He would probably enjoy other flavors too.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a good food.
ReplyDeleteYum! I usually eat the fishy recipes but TW wants me to eat more poultry. I think maybe a paté altho the variety poultry pack looks good. free always tastes better so I'm not picky.
ReplyDeleteMy cat loves lamb. He also likes Rabbit and that's the flavor I'd try.
ReplyDeleteHmm I don't think I've heard of Merrick Backcountry cat food before. I like that the food is quality, has variety for pets and also in the pate. I remember my girls loved pate over mince or chopped style food. I'm happy to hear your girls love this brand and seem to tolerate it well. I'll have to pin this post so I can remember this brand for the future.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great food and am so happy they are eating well and you have found something they love as picky eaters can be a nightmare sometimes LOL.
ReplyDeleteMy cat likes any flavor, any texture but I prefer not to feed him fishy flavors. I'd like to try the pate definitely probably the rabbit, duck or chicken.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like good quality food ! Purrs
ReplyDeleteThe Backcountry pouches are one of my go to foods when I'm on the road! I eat the rabbit, along with all the different poultry selections.
ReplyDeleteI like that this food has prebiotics and probiotics. I know Merrick brand makes food for cats and dogs as well. (From: Dachshund Station)
ReplyDeleteI went to take a look at the ingredients; it does look quite good indeed.
ReplyDeleteMy cats like chicken, turkey, duck, salmon and venison a lot.
ReplyDeleteMy cats love rabbit food, I bet they’d love this. I’m not a fan of the potato and pea protein, but seems like that is hard to get away from.
ReplyDeleteThat looks like the kind of food Dusty would simply love! QUICK send me a tin in an envelope!
ReplyDeleteAny food that promised to help with cat health (and helps cat rescues) is my kind of food.
Brulee looks like she means serious business while inspecting the food:-) I am glad they like the rabbit pate and have options to explore.
ReplyDeleteBoth of my cats like most flavors but love chicken, turkey and duck. The rabbit flavor sounds interesting and I might want to try something new.
ReplyDeleteI've never tried rabbit, but would give it a shot. I've had duck and it's pretty tasty.
ReplyDeletei rotate different proteins with my cats so they get a little bit of everything! would love to try any of the merrick recipes!
ReplyDeleteOne of my cats is so picky that I can barely get her to eat any wet food. The other one is getting pickier but he'll still eat some things. He prefers chicken, turkey, beef. He's not a fan of seafood stuff anymore. We would probably go with the Backcountry Grain Free Poultry Cuts Variety Pack so he could try a variety of items.
ReplyDeleteWe've tried many Merrick products in the past and really trust them. TO answer your question, since it's for the kitties of the universe, we haven't tried specific cat products/flavors. I'm sure they're all awesome. If we win, we'll donate the pate option for cats to our local shelter...they always seem to have a need for that kind of cat food and if I can help with filling that need, it would be much appreciated.
ReplyDeleteMerrick is what we used for our foster pup who beat parvo. It really helped put weight back on him and gave him the energy to be a puppy again!
ReplyDeleteMy cats especially like chicken (with some turkey as a change of pace). Since my Moko has medical issues and it's often hard to get her to eat enough, I'm always looking to try different foods - trying to find one she will actually eat enough of on a daily basis. I'd love to be able to try these with her.
ReplyDeletei dont have cats but would love this to donate to safe haven for cats. i have brought some of their treats from my dogs. i guess i would chose the salmon. i thought cats were partial to fish. i am not a big fan of chicken for my dogs. so many i would get the salmon or turkey. i had brought the beef and venison treats for my dogs.
ReplyDeleteOur household cats are fans of Merrick and of rabbit, salmon, turkey, and chicken. I'm sure they'd enjoy the opportunity to try the Backcountry Pate recipes.
ReplyDeleteYour cat is so cute. We would love to try the Chicken flavor. My cats prefer Chicken and Tuna best.
ReplyDeleteLuna, our sweet black and white baby, currently eats fancy feast kitten. We have had alot of issues finding kitten wet food. She seems to love the fishy ones. Hmm imagine that. I see that a Kitten chicken is available from Merrick. Thanks for the informative blog post.
ReplyDeleteThe Backcountry Pate recipes with salmon. Cat loves salmon.
ReplyDeleteAwesome! No words. You always go one step beyond.
ReplyDeleteThere is so much great, useful information here. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
Read our guide if you wish.
best review top
Thanks again :)