Orijen cat food

Every day, more and more people are realizing that their pet's diet is responsible not only for their pet's well-being but also for its health and longevity. As a result, owners have become less reliant on advertising and more interested in high-quality, nutritious nutrition, which includes Orijen cat food.

Orijen prepared pet food is a product of the Canadian company Champion Petfoods LP, founded in 1975 by Reinhard Mühlenfeld in Alberta. Initially, he only had a small mill, but seeing the demand for pet food at his local store, he became interested in producing prepared pet food.

He proposed the idea and his recipe to a local entrepreneur, but was told his formula was too complex and the business project itself wasn't worth pursuing. Today, Champion Petfoods, still owned and managed by the Mühlenfeld family, produces cat food under the brands Orijen and Akana, and reviews from grateful customers repeatedly confirm the high quality of their products.

Since 1985, when they began producing diets for pets, the company has remained true to its motto: "Eat well, live long!" That's why they developed their own nutritional formula philosophy, called "Biologically Appropriate." This means that Orijen's formulas are as close as possible to a cat's natural diet.

Champion Petfoods claims that all its pet food is produced in Canada, using ingredients sourced from local farmers, and packaged locally. The ingredients used in its pet food undergo rigorous testing and are classified as fit for human consumption. The company itself has received multiple awards for its superior pet food, high quality, and advanced pet food manufacturing technologies.

Assortment

In 2017, the company introduced an updated line of Orijen food, including cat food. In addition to improved formulas for the familiar Cat & Kitten and Six Fish, the manufacturer added completely new pet food formulas to the line. Some of these are already available (Fit & Trim), while others will not be available in the Russian market due to their beef content. The status of the Tundra food is still unknown.

The manufacturer claims that their product fully meets the needs of cats, who are natural carnivores and therefore require a large amount of meat in their diet. Improvements to the new formulas primarily affect the meat content: now, instead of 80%, it will be 85%. The percentage of fresh meat has increased from 50% to 66%, and the variety of meat components has grown from six to eight. Naturally, this has affected the protein content: now, instead of 38-42%, the protein content of Orijen cat food will range from 38% to 44%.

The official distributor in Russia presented a line consisting of four food products, differing primarily in their ingredients.

Orijen Cat Tundra is a food for cats at all stages of life, suitable for both adults and kittens. It contains goat, wild boar, venison, Arctic char, duck, and sheep. The manufacturer emphasizes that these ingredients are delivered fresh or raw, never frozen, and do not contain any preservatives. Available in 0.34 kg, 1.8 kg, and 5.4 kg packages.

Orijen Cat & Kitten is a nutritional diet for cats of all ages, based on poultry (chicken, turkey), fish (flounder, herring, mackerel, sardines), and eggs. Available in 0.34 kg, 1.8 kg, 5.4 kg, and 17 kg packages.

Orijen Cat 6 Fish is a fish-based menu suitable for cats of all ages. It includes sardines, hake, mackerel, flounder, bass, herring, as well as sole, blue whiting, and cod. This is Orijen's most popular cat food—owner reviews indicate that their pets absolutely love this menu, and almost everyone eats it with gusto. Available in 0.34 kg, 1.8 kg, and 5.4 kg sizes.

Orijen Cat Fit & Trim is a diet designed to maintain healthy weight and body condition for overweight cats or those prone to weight gain. It is low in fat—15% versus 20% in regular Orijen—and has increased fiber and low carbohydrate content. The top 10 ingredients are meat-based ingredients such as chicken and turkey, eggs, and a variety of fish (herring, flounder, mackerel, hake, and others). Available in 0.34 kg, 1.8 kg, and 5.4 kg packages.

All Orijen cat food is grain-free and potato-free. Instead of grains, it includes lentils, peas, chickpeas, and a wide range of vegetables, fruits, berries, and herbs. Diets produced under the Orijen brand are considered the latest generation of super-premium, holistic foods.

Evaluation and analysis of the composition

First of all, it's worth mentioning that the Orijen brand utilizes the WholePrey principle in its diets. This concept mimics the food composition as if a cat had caught it in the wild. This means the formulas contain not only meat, but also beneficial organs (liver, heart), as well as cartilage. These serve as a natural source of vitamins, minerals, and chondroprogenic nutrients.

The manufacturer also uses Freeze Dried technology to enhance the palatability of diets. This is essentially a natural flavor additive made from meat, liver, and tripe that have undergone a gentle drying process called lyophilization.

For a full and detailed review, we've chosen Orijen Cat & Kitten cat food, whose ingredients we'll examine in detail. Since this menu is now available in an updated form, we'll be examining the new ingredients. Here's the guaranteed analysis:

• Proteins – 40%
• Fats – 20%
• Fiber – 3%
• Humidity – 10%
• Ash content – ​​8%
• Calcium – 1.4%
• Phosphorus – 1.1%

The manufacturer states that the carbohydrate content is 19%. The manufacturer also states that 39% of calories come from protein, 18% from fruits and vegetables, and 43% from fat. This represents an optimal fat content, an acceptable amount of fiber, and a good protein level. There are no significant shifts in this balance. The low carbohydrate content is particularly pleasing, which can be considered a plus for the recipe.

The list of ingredients in the Cat & Kitten diet is extensive, comprising approximately 50 items, not including mineral supplements. About half of the ingredients are devoted to fruits, vegetables, and herbs. For this reason, we're listing only the first ingredients in Orijen cat food, which form the basis of the recipe:

• Chicken meat – 18%
• Turkey meat – 7%
• Whole eggs – 5%
• Chicken liver – 5%
• Whole flounder – 4%
• Whole herring – 4%
• Turkey liver – 4%
• Chicken heart – 4%
• Turkey heart – 4%
• Chicken necks – 4%

These are the first ten ingredients. Each one is labeled as "fresh." The next five ingredients are dehydrated:

• Chicken – 4%
• Turkey – 4%
• Whole mackerel – 4%
• Whole sardine – 4%
• Whole herring – 4%

Following them are chicken fat (3%), various legumes (red and green lentils, green and yellow peas, kidney beans, whole navy beans). Next come chicken cartilage (1%), herring fat (1%), freeze-dried chicken and turkey liver, and a list of vegetables, fruits, berries, and herbs.

As we can see, the manufacturer clearly and precisely specifies the quantity of each ingredient, as well as the origin of the raw materials. There are no vague statements or ingredients of questionable origin. We consider this a plus for this food.

Squirrels

The recipe contains 59% fresh meat, fish, and meat-based ingredients combined. This is approximately 17-18% after the cooking process, meaning it doesn't contain any water. Plus, there are 20% dehydrated ingredients that follow. The final product contains 37-38% dry meat and fish. This is, without exaggeration, a very respectable figure, demonstrating that the formula is truly based on a source of high-quality animal protein.

There are also plant-based proteins, abundant in lentils, peas, chickpeas, beans, and legumes used in the recipe. These appear in the 17th to 24th ingredient list, meaning their amounts are quite reasonable.

Fats

The fat sources here are chicken fat (ingredient #16) and herring oil (ingredient #26), at 3% and 1%, respectively. They are easily digestible and rich in omega acids, which are essential for maintaining healthy skin and coat in cats. Herring oil is a very valuable component, rich in vitamins D and B, which are essential for the prevention of a number of diseases. Importantly, these fats are preserved with natural antioxidants—tocopherols—without the use of any synthetic substances.

Fiber and carbohydrates

This Orijen cat food is grain-free—veterinarians' reviews point this out as a positive. Grains in a cat's diet provide no benefit, as they are practically indigestible, and they sharply increase blood sugar levels, which can lead to a number of health conditions, such as obesity and diabetes. This diet contains a number of ingredients that serve as both fiber and low-glycemic carbohydrates, making them safe for cats:

• A variety of legumes: red and green lentils, chickpeas, green and yellow peas, kidney beans, beans, lentil fiber;
• Fruits, vegetables and plant components: pumpkin and butternut squash, zucchini, parsnips, carrots, apples, pears, cabbage, spinach, beet and turnip greens, and kelp.

Most fruits and vegetables in the ingredients are listed as "fresh," meaning they haven't been processed in any way before being prepared and likely retain their beneficial properties.

Other feed components

The already rich composition of Orijen cat food is supplemented by a whole host of medicinal plants and herbal roots, as well as various berries. These include chicory root, cranberry, and blueberry, as well as rose hips and turmeric, which are quite common and often used in prepared diets. However, lavender flowers, burdock root, marshmallow root, serviceberry, and milk thistle are extremely rare. While these supplements are present in very small quantities, they also contribute to strengthening your pet's immune system. Let's look at the most interesting ones:

• Lavender flowers are used in dried form. They have antiseptic, diuretic, and anticonvulsant properties. Another beneficial property is their ability to improve blood circulation.
• Serviceberries are a popular plant in the US and Canada. Rich in vitamin P, they are used to strengthen blood vessels and normalize heart function. They are also used as a multivitamin and help with intestinal disorders.
• Marshmallow root is often used medicinally. It has anti-inflammatory properties and contains mucilaginous substances that coat the stomach lining, making it effective in treating gastrointestinal disorders.

All these ingredients make this recipe unique, as few manufacturers can boast such an abundance of beneficial additives. Overall, this herbal cocktail is aimed at strengthening the immune system, preventing a wide range of diseases, and normalizing metabolism. It's difficult to judge how much of this herbal composition retains its beneficial properties in the finished product.

Advantages and disadvantages

No overtly harmful or questionable ingredients were found in this menu. However, there are some nuances that could be considered shortcomings of the food.

Cons

• The composition contains a whole range of different types of animal protein - in cats suffering from food intolerance, this can provoke an allergic reaction;
• The high price of the products - not everyone can afford to feed their pet such food;

Pros

• High content of meat and fish, which is necessary for every cat;
• Availability of fresh meat ingredients;
• Low carbohydrate content;
• A whole range of healthy vegetables, fruits, and herbal supplements;
• Using only natural preservatives;
• Transparent and honest composition with precise indication of percentages, no vague wording;

Orijen Pet Food Reviews

This brand's food was introduced in our country in 2000, so many opinions and impressions have accumulated, both from professional cat breeders and hobbyists. People are often eager to leave reviews of Orijen cat food, and most of them are positive:

Igor:

"I have an Abyssinian cat; she came to me when she was 8-9 months old. The breed is naturally slender and wiry, but she was nothing but a skeleton. I started feeding her natural food and vitamins, but she wasn't gaining weight well. Her fur was shedding, her skin was flaking, and she had a lot of dandruff. I switched her to dry food and canned food; I tried five or six brands, but they were all just not right. As soon as she started eating Orijen, literally a month later, everything was back to normal. She started gaining weight, the dandruff and flaking disappeared. Her coat is shiny and lustrous. Everything is great, I recommend it!"

Alla:

"I bought Orijen for my neutered male cat with the best of intentions because the reviews were good and the ingredients were appealing. But he vomited on the very first day. Then I started giving him a little at a time, but I was concerned about the frequent bowel movements and the terrible smell. Then he developed allergies, severe itching, and watery eyes. I had to switch to a different brand of food, but the itching gradually subsided. Orijen didn't work for us."

The opinion of veterinarians

Veterinarians' reviews of Orijen cat food generally agree that this brand's products are holistic in every way and are well-balanced. However, experts emphasize the high protein content, which isn't suitable for every cat and may impact their health in individual cases. They also recommend keeping in mind the fact that the food contains different types of protein, which raises concerns about food intolerances in some cats.

Price

The price of the new dry cat food Orijen Cat & kitten is:

• 0.34 kg – from 411 RUR
• 1.8 kg – from 1870 RUR
• 5.4 kg – from 3905 RUR
• 17 kg – 11084 rub.

Price for Orijen 6 Fish dry cat food (not updated version):

• 0.34 kg – from 446 RUR
• 2.27 kg – from 2573 RUR
• 6.8 kg – from 5092 RUR

In conclusion, although Orijen food is quite pricey, it truly is one of the best cat foods on the Russian pet market today. These formulas are clearly tailored to meet all animal needs, and our website can recommend them for your pet.

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• How to switch a cat to a different food
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