What Kind of Cat Food Does Orijen Offer?
The five kibble options might seem too boring, but once you look at the Orijen cat food ingredients and see your cats devour it, you’ll realize why the company doesn’t bother with canned products. We’ll go over all five formulas in a minute, but first check out the common advantages and drawbacks they share:
- Increased protein content of 40% to 44%
- Five formulas with various animal protein sources
- Covered in freeze-dried liver
- Beloved by cats and their owners
- Grain-free but full of fresh veggies
- Quite expensive
- Soft, crumbly kibble
Orijen Cat & Kitten
Unsurprisingly, the most popular and affordable of Orijen offers is chicken-based. However, you can be sure the chickens are free-range, and the eggs are cage-free. The turkey meat, chicken liver, herring, and flounder add to the protein source variety and make the kibble much more flavorful. The freeze-dried liver coating is the first to stir the kitty's interest, and once she starts nibbling, you're unlikely to have any troubles with transitioning to the new food.
The well-balanced combination of 40% protein, 20% fat, and 20% carbohydrates is ideal for fast growth in kittens, providing energy to adult cats, and keeping the senior tabbies happy and healthy for many years. Ensure you follow the feeding guide on the bag to find the right portion size for your kitty's age and weight. Smaller cats may need as little as 35 grams of kibble per day, stretching a single 4-pound bag for over a month.
Orijen Six Fish
If your cat is allergic to chicken or ignores meat-based kibble, give this formula a try. The six fish in this recipe are pacific pilchard, pacific hake, pacific mackerel, pacific flounder, rockfish, and sole. Most are used fresh and whole and supplemented by dehydrated ingredients and a variety of veggies and legumes. The latter might seem like a potential digestive hazard, so consult the vet before you feed this kibble to a kitty with a sensitive tummy.
A bit higher in protein than other Orijen grain-free cat food recipes, the Six Fish formula boasts 42% with a standard 20% of fat and 3% of fiber. All the goodies, like EPA and DHA, Omega acids, and taurine, are present too, which is great for adult and senior cats, along with fully weaned kittens as young as five weeks old.
Beware: this food smells strongly of fish. The cats seem to love it, but storing the kibble in an airtight container becomes a must if you're sensitive to smells.
Orijen Regional Red
As true carnivores, cats need protein from meat, cartilage, and organs, and this recipe provides the best combination thereof. Formulated around red meats, it includes beef, wild boar, goat, and lamb without any chicken or chicken by-products in sight. The only drawback of this kibble is the price tag. It's one of the highest among Orijen cat formulas, though most reviews claim it's worth every penny.
The formula is made of 90% meat and only 10% veggies and fruits, so there's no surprise crude fiber makes for barely 3% of the content. Protein is at 40%, fat is at 20%, and carbohydrates are even lower than that, under 20%. You can also expect the kibble to contain minerals and vitamins, along with Omega fatty acids and taurine, making it an ultimate solution for cats of all ages.
Orijen Tundra
Whenever your kitty gets bored of chicken or fish-based kibble, you can go with this unique blend of goat, wild boar, venison, arctic char, duck, mutton, and steelhead trout. The wide variety of animal protein sources is enough to satisfy even the pickiest of eaters, and the freeze-fried liver covering every nibble is a surefire way to your kitty's heart. Still, the unusual combination of flavors can take getting used to, so give your felines a few days to get acclimated to the new food.
The protein-to-fat ratio of 40 to 20 is great for most kittens and adult cats. But if your kitty is older and less active, check out the feeding guide and adjust the portion size to prevent weight gain. Another thing you should know about this kibble is the low fiber content of merely 3%. It could cause trouble for cats with digestive issues, so be sure to consult the veterinarian before making the switch.
Orijen Fit & Trim
If your kitty is a bit overweight, and you want to make her lithe and active again, try this Orijen maintenance cat food filled to the brim with animal protein. Its increased content (44%), along with higher fiber and lower fat concentration, are perfect for trouble-free digestion and increased energy levels.
You'll notice plenty of freeze-dried and dehydrated protein sources on the ingredients list. The first five items alone are chicken meat (14%), whole eggs (6%), whole herring (6%), turkey meat (6%), and chicken liver (6%), and more goodies are to be found down the line. With no grains to speak of, the fiber and carbs come from fresh farm-grown veggies.
The feeding guide includes instructions for lean and overweight cats, and I recommend you follow it to a T if you want to promote weight loss. And don't worry about your kitty turning her nose up on the new kibble. According to Orijen dry cat food reviews, even picky eaters warm up to this kibble very soon.
