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Orijen Cat Food is considered a very high end brand and as such, many cat owners find the price to be too high. However, Orijen also has a fantastic reputation for providing high quality ingredients that are locally sourced. Orijen was founded in 1985 by Champion Pet Foods. The company believes in producing “biologically appropriate” dog and cat foods. They own their own manufacturing plant in Alberta, Canada and source most of their ingredients from the local area.
Even with the higher price of this food, their online reputation is excellent and there have been no reported recalls as per the FDA. It is a bit difficult to find their products as they aren’t carried in most grocery stores, however, many speciality pet food stores do carry the products and it can also be purchased online. Touted as some of the best pet food in the industry, they have a very loyal following.
Below, you will find an analysis of the top 10 ingredients in this food. Please let us know what you think of this food by using our rating system above and by also leaving a comment below this article. We want to know what you think!
List Of Ingredients In This Cat Food
Boneless wild boar,* boneless lamb,* boneless beef,* beef liver,* boneless pork,* whole herring,* pork liver,* beef meal, lamb meal, herring meal, salmon meal, pollock meal, lamb fat, green lentils, chickpeas, red lentils, bison,* whole egg,* yellow peas, beef tripe,* herring oil, lamb liver,* beef kidney,* alfalfa, kelp, pumpkin,* butternut squash,* spinach greens,* carrots,* apples,* pears,* cranberries,* mixed tocopherols (preservative), chicory root, dandelion root, chamomile, peppermint leaf, ginger root, caraway seeds, turmeric, rose hips, freeze-dried lamb liver, freeze-dried beef liver, freeze-dried wild boar liver, freeze-dried tripe, dried Enterococcus faecium fermentation product + vitamins and minerals
Top 5 Ingredients Analysis
Boneless wild boar
This is a very high quality ingredient and will help boost the meat protein percentage in the food. When used in kibble, about 80% of the protein will be cooked off during the cooking process. However, in canned foods, much of the protein in this ingredient will be retained. There is nothing of major concern in this ingredient.
Boneless lamb
Lamb is a very high quality source of meat protein. Generally, this ingredient is more nutritious in canned formulas than dry formulas, but in either case, it is nice to see this ingredient listed. Unfortunately, about 80% of this ingredient is lost during the cooking process. That means, there actually isn’t much of this ingredient left once it has all been processed.
Boneless beef
Beef is considered to be a higher quality ingredient. It is an excellent source of animal protein and contains many other nutrients that are very important for a cat to survive and thrive. Since this is not in “meal” form, that means this ingredient still contains all of its moisture content prior to cooking. Once fully cooked, most of this ingredient will have evaporated due to its high moisture content. That means, even when this ingredient is ranked highly, it will usually only provide a small percentage of the overall protein in the food. There is no dismissing this ingredient, though. It is high quality and we are pleased to see it listed.
Beef liver
Some cat owners think they should avoid any type of liver because in high quantities, liver can be toxic to cats. However, in proper quantities this is actually a very safe and nutritious ingredient for most cats. Beef liver is not something most people would find appetizing, but in the wild, cats eat almost every organ of their prey, including livers. It contains a high amount of protein, iron, vitamins, minerals, and many essential nutrients that an obligate carnivore like a cat needs to thrive.
Boneless pork
Since pork is one of the most consumed human food products in the United States, this ingredient also shows up in many pet foods. In this case, we find pork “meal” which means the moisture has been removed prior to the cooking process. This is beneficial as opposed to whole pork products as it contains more of it’s weight after the cooking process, meaning it provides for a superior protein source as opposed to its the whole pork counterpart. Pork is not always considered to be the highest quality meat product for cats, but nonetheless, this ingredient contains many beneficial elements and is an excellent protein source which cats need to thrive.
Additional Ingredients Of Interest
Whole herring
Herring is a silvery fish that is most abundant in coastal waters. Fish provides an excellent source of proteins as well as high amounts of healthy omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. Some people worry about mercury levels in fish. It’s true that all fish contains some degree of mercury, the level in salmon is much lower than other types of fish and the FDA doesn’t believe it causes any problems. Most herring in cat food is likely farmed herring, but higher end cat food (especially those labeled “natural”) can often times be fished from natural environments. The biggest problem with fish ingredients, including herring, is if the fish includes an antioxidant called ethoxyquin (EMQ). It is believe that ethoxyquin could be very harmful to cats and other animals. Always make sure you are using “Ethoxyquin free” cat food blends when they include fish ingredients. When in doubt, call the customer service number and ask.
Pork liver
While beef and chicken livers are the most common liver sources in cat food, occasionally we will find pork liver. Some cat owners believe liver is toxic to cats, but this is only true in very large quantities. When provided in safe quantities, like in this food, it is completely safe. The health benefits of pork liver mostly come from its vitamin A and iron contents. Liver is said to improve eye health, balance energy levels, and improve both red and white blood cell development. Since human demand for pork liver is low, this ingredient is readily available and is a cheaper meat source.
Beef meal
Beef is considered to be a higher quality ingredient. It is an excellent source of animal protein and contains many other nutrients that are very important for a cat to survive and thrive. Since this is not in “meal” form, that means this ingredient still contains all of its moisture content prior to cooking. Once fully cooked, most of this ingredient will have evaporated due to its high moisture content. That means, even when this ingredient is ranked highly, it will usually only provide a small percentage of the overall protein in the food. There is no dismissing this ingredient, though. It is high quality and we are pleased to see it listed.
Lamb meal
Lamb is a very high quality source of meat protein. Generally, this ingredient is more nutritious in canned formulas than dry formulas, but in either case, it is nice to see this ingredient listed. Since this is in “meal” form, the moisture has already been removed prior to the cooking process. This makes the ingredient especially nutritious as it retains far more nutrients including meat proteins.
Herring meal
Herring is a silvery fish that is most abundant in coastal waters. Fish provides an excellent source of proteins as well as high amounts of healthy omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. Some people worry about mercury levels in fish. It’s true that all fish contains some degree of mercury, the level in salmon is much lower than other types of fish and the FDA doesn’t believe it causes any problems. Most herring in cat food is likely farmed herring, but higher end cat food (especially those labeled “natural”) can often times be fished from natural environments. The biggest problem with fish ingredients, including herring, is if the fish includes an antioxidant called ethoxyquin (EMQ). It is believe that ethoxyquin could be very harmful to cats and other animals. Always make sure you are using “Ethoxyquin free” cat food blends when they include fish ingredients. When in doubt, call the customer service number and ask.
