PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a process for making a pet food composition which involves the steps of: heating a meat portion above its denaturation point and pre-hydration and pre-gelatinization of a carbohydrate source and water to form a carbohydrate portion.SOLUTION: The meat composition and the pre-hydrated and pre-gelatinized carbohydrate portion are combined in a cooker and filled into cans to make the pet food composition.