Orijen Cat Food Review

Orijen Cat Food is a kibble diet made by Champion Petfoods out of Alberta, Canada. This review aims to give consumers some information about this pet food in order for them to be able to make an educated purchasing decision. This cat food review is as unbiased as possible and is aided by our years of experience, having fed Orijen to our own animals, and feedback from our customers.

The Good

• Made exclusively in Champion Pet Food's own factory
• Made with "fit for human consumption" ingredients
• A biologically appropriate diet for felines
• Obtains the majority of its nutrition from natural, unprocessed ingredients as opposed to relying on synthetic/isolated vitamins and minerals
• Very high fresh meat content (80%) compared with conventional pet foods (25-40%)
• Low in carbohydrates (20%)
• 50% of Orijen's ingredients arrive fresh each day
• High ratio of fresh meat provides a rich source of glucosamine and chondroitin without adding synthetic ingredients
• Formulated with botanicals that are a part of the natural feline diet and act as tonics to help strengthen organs and tissue

The Not-As-Good

• Since this food is so popular there can be occasional shortages frustrating both retailers and consumers
• Expense is a concern with some consumers. However, this is a cat food made with the highest inclusion of REAL FRESH MEAT of any kibble diet.

The Bottom Line

Taking into account the manufacturing process and the ingredients used, Orijen Cat Food is simply the best dry cat food available today. The only other kibble diet that even comes close is Orijen’s sister cat food Acana.

Review

Orijen Cat Food is a high-protein, low-carbohydrate and grain-free, biologically appropriate diet with a ratio of 80 percent meat; 20 percent fruit and vegetables; and zero grains. Orijen features human-grade ingredients, we don’t recommend anything less, so you aren’t going to find any of the rendered meats or waste and by-products of the human food industry that are so common in commercial cat foods today. The meats used are never frozen and contain no preservatives. Unlike most commercial pet foods, the fresh regional meats used in Orijen Cat Food are processed the same day they are received, and are a key factor in the superior palatability and feeding performance of Orijen. Fresh regional ingredients like chicken and fresh whole eggs produced on local prairie farms; lake whitefish freshly caught in northern Canadian lakes; and salmon, cranberries and apples from Pacific coast oceans and orchards are used. These ingredients found in Orijen Cat Food can’t be over-emphasized because they are full of nutrients that are usually depleted by long-term storage and shipping and can’t in any way be compared to the highly refined commodity ingredients found in many other pet foods.

Having one of the highest meat inclusions of any kibble cat food, means Orijen Cat Food is going to provide your feline companion with the biologically available and easily digested and assimilated protein sources a cat needs for good muscle tone, adequate energy levels, injury healing and a healthy immune system. The fresh regional fish, such as salmon and white fish, provide the fatty acids that cats have a hard time producing themselves (including DHA and EPA) that are so important to nutritionally support the development of cell membranes, immune system function and a vibrant skin and coat. In many commercial pet foods, the fresh fish is replaced with fish oil imported all the way from China - preservatives and all!

When comparing kibble cat foods, Orijen is matched only by its sister food, Acana, and Nature's Logic Pet Food in the way it derives the bulk of its nutrition from whole food ingredients. Instead of relying on large quantities of synthetic vitamins to meet AAFCO requirements, Orijen focuses on fresh fruits and vegetables and native botanicals that include marshmallow, burdock, chicory root, stinging nettle and milk thistle. All of these replicate the natural feline diet and help to soothe, nourish and tone the digestive tract, strengthen the liver and control insulin levels. In addition, all delicate ingredients, such as the botanicals and beneficial microorganisms are added after the cooking process to preserve their natural nutritional qualities. We are sure that you and your feline will also appreciate the absence of any artificial flavors, colors and preservatives!

Champion Pet Foods, the manufacturer of Orijen Cat Food, is just as special as the quality of the ingredients. Based in Canada, this family owned business formulates Orijen Cat Food in their own facility and has been manufacturing high caliber pet food for over 35 years. This keeps quality control in-house and is a huge selling point with us, especially after the large pet food recalls! Further proof of their passion to provide the highest-quality cat food is their proprietary, low-temperature (90C) processing method, which includes steam-cooking their fresh ingredients in small batches to preserve the natural goodness and delicious taste.

Is there another kibble diet better than Orijen Cat Food? We don’t believe so. The only real competition comes from its sister food, Acana, and you can’t go wrong with either one!