As an editor for “Dog Care Story,” our mission is to provide cat owners with accurate, high-quality information to help them make the best dietary choices for their pets. Today, we’re diving deep into an Orijen Wet Cat Food Review, a brand often associated with premium pet nutrition. Orijen, a brand renowned in the pet food industry, also offers a range of high-quality wet cat food, much like its esteemed sister brand Acana, which is recognized for products such as acana grasslands cat food review. With its reputation for species-appropriate diets and high-quality ingredients, Orijen wet cat food promises a lot. But does it deliver? Let’s explore.
Understanding Orijen: Brand Overview and Philosophy
Orijen is the flagship brand of Champion Petfoods, a Canadian company founded in 1985 by Reinhard Mühlenfeld with the aim of becoming Canada’s first pet food manufacturer. The brand’s philosophy centers on nourishing cats according to their evolutionary adaptation to a diet rich in diverse, fresh meat and protein. This commitment has earned Orijen an international reputation and numerous industry awards. However, a significant development occurred on February 28, 2024, when Mars Petcare finalized the acquisition of Champion Petfoods, integrating the ORIJEN and ACANA brands into its vast pet nutrition portfolio.
Orijen prides itself on sourcing ingredients from carefully vetted farms and ranches located close to its manufacturing facilities. The company operates two main kitchens: the NorthStar kitchen in Alberta, Canada, and the DogStar kitchen in Kentucky, USA. Customers in Canada, Europe, and parts of Asia receive Orijen foods produced in the Canadian facility, while those in the United States, Central America, and South America purchase foods manufactured in Auburn, Kentucky. Champion Petfoods maintains a strict “never outsource” policy, ensuring that their custom-built facilities exclusively produce Orijen and Acana foods. These facilities have earned internationally recognized Safe Food Quality (SQF) and Safe Feed/Safe Food (SFSF) certifications, and all products undergo sampling by in-house quality assurance staff and a third-party lab after production. Orijen emphasizes a ‘Whole Prey’ philosophy in its formulations, a principle also seen across its diverse product lines, including specialized options like orijen small breed dog food review. Ingredients are sourced locally near their custom-built facilities, including their NorthStar kitchen in Alberta, Canada, known for producing high-quality pet foods. dry dog food reviews canada
Orijen’s Commitment to Quality: Recalls and Controversy
Despite its premium positioning, Orijen has faced some quality-related incidents. The brand has been involved in one recall to date, which occurred in 2008. All Orijen cat food sold in Australia was recalled after several cats became ill and died. Champion Petfoods maintained that their recipes were not at fault, attributing the issue to mandatory gamma irradiation treatments applied to the food, which was an Australian import regulation at the time. This treatment, designed to destroy microbial contaminants, inadvertently depleted vitamin A in the food and promoted the formation of free radicals, making the food unsafe for cats.
More recently, a lawsuit was filed against Champion Petfoods in 2018. Consumers from Minnesota, California, and Florida alleged that the company had misrepresented its products by not disclosing the presence of heavy metals and toxins. Testing conducted by the Clean Label Project indicated that Orijen and Acana foods contained arsenic, BPA, cadmium, mercury, and lead. However, it’s important to note that the average amounts of these heavy metals were found to be below the maximum tolerable levels established by the FDA. These instances highlight the importance of transparency and continuous quality control in the pet food industry.
Exploring Orijen’s Wet Cat Food Range
Orijen’s current product lineup for cats encompasses a variety of dry foods, wet foods, and treats. Historically, Orijen primarily offered dry foods and freeze-dried treats for cats until mid-2022, when they expanded into wet food formulations. A core tenet of Orijen’s dietary philosophy is a high concentration of animal ingredients. Their dry food formulas typically contain up to 90% animal meat, while their wet foods boast an even higher percentage, around 95%. Orijen guarantees that at least the first five ingredients in every diet consist of fresh or raw animal components.
Beyond just fresh and raw muscle meat, Orijen cat foods incorporate organs, bones, and cartilage, following what the brand refers to as “Whole Prey” ratios. This approach aims to mimic the nutritional profile a cat would naturally obtain from consuming whole prey in the wild. While their dry cat foods include low-glycemic fruits, vegetables, and other additives for nutritional completeness, the wet food formulas are designed with a significantly lower carbohydrate content, with many formulas containing less than 5% carbohydrates on a dry matter basis. Although Orijen emphasizes fresh meat and botanicals, many of their foods still include synthetic vitamins, minerals, and amino acids, similar to most other commercially available cat foods.
Detailed Orijen Original Entrée Wet Cat Food Review
The Orijen Original Entrée Wet Cat Food focuses on chicken as its primary protein source, aligning with the brand’s commitment to animal-derived ingredients. This formula is crafted with an impressive 95% animal-derived ingredients, providing a rich source of protein and healthy fats. The ingredient list prominently features fresh chicken, chicken liver, and whole mackerel, followed by nutritious and protein-rich bone broths.
Mackerel and sardine are included not only for protein but also for their abundance of omega-3 fatty acids, which are crucial for supporting a cat’s healthy skin and a shiny coat. Chicken heart, a nutrient-dense organ meat, contributes significantly to the natural chicken flavor of the entrée. While this recipe does contain a notable number of synthetic vitamins and minerals to ensure complete and balanced nutrition, it is entirely free from artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives. Crucially, it contains no added carbohydrates, making it a highly species-appropriate option for felines.
Orijen Original Entree In Bone Broth Chicken Wet Canned Cat Food
Ingredients We Liked: Chicken, Chicken Liver, Whole Mackerel, Chicken Bone Broth, Fish Bone Broth, Chicken Heart, Whole Sardine, Egg.
Ingredients We Didn’t Like: None.
Guaranteed Analysis (Dry Matter Basis):
- Protein: 60%
- Fat: 30%
- Fiber: 2.5%
- Carbohydrates: 7.5%
Pros:
- No added carbohydrates, making it highly species-appropriate.
- Bone broth provides a nutritious source of moisture, essential for feline hydration.
- Packed with animal protein from diverse sources.
- Completely free from artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives.
Cons:
- Limited availability following its initial release, making it challenging for some customers to find.
What Customers Are Saying About Orijen Wet Cat Food
Customer feedback for Orijen cat food generally painted a positive picture when the products were exclusively manufactured in Canada. However, since the opening of their DogStar facility in Auburn, Kentucky, and subsequent reformulations to incorporate more American ingredients, many loyal customers in the United States and Central and South America have reported a decline in quality. These complaints frequently mention inconsistencies in the food, strange odors, and instances where the food allegedly made their cats sick. Such negative experiences now constitute a significant portion of the adverse reviews for Orijen.
It is important to note that the majority of online Orijen cat food reviews primarily focus on their dry food products. As the wet food line was only recently released (as of May 2022, per the original article), there is limited customer feedback specifically pertaining to the wet formulations. This makes it difficult to ascertain widespread customer satisfaction or issues with the wet food varieties at this time. While Orijen aims for a premium offering, customer experiences can vary, similar to the diverse feedback found in detailed analyses such as we feed raw dog food reviews.
Orijen Cat Food Products
One positive dry food review from “CTab” on July 20, 2025, for Orijen Fit & Trim Cat Food stated, “My two girls LOVE this. It’s always hard to find a true fish cat food and what I was purchasing was getting hard to find. Glad I tried this for them. They eat a lot less also and seem to get full so bag will last a lot longer than other brand I was using.” Another positive review from “Kelly” on March 20, 2025, for the same product noted, “I only buy this when I have a coupon or it’s on sale somewhere, but in terms of quality, nothing tops this food. There’s no reason this (or anything) should be as expensive as it is, but the fact remains that it is unmatched in terms of junk-less, quality cat food.”
Conversely, negative feedback highlights significant concerns. “RiggerBill” on May 8, 2025, reviewing Orijen Dry Cat and Kitten Food, expressed, “This company was bought out by Mars (the candy company) in 2022. They recently changed the formula. I assume because they wanted to save $$$. We’ve been using Orijen with great results for years. The new formula made all seven of our cats sick.” This reviewer further mentioned changes in kibble shape and instances of vomiting and loose stool. Another negative review from “nuong nguyen” on July 4, 2025, for Orijen Six Fish Cat Food reported, “The cat started to vomit 6 times in two days. We stop feeding it the food and will take it to the vet. DO NOT BUY THIS food. Recall please…my cat has never vomited like this before.” These varying customer experiences underscore the importance of monitoring your cat’s reaction to any new food, especially with recent changes in manufacturing or formulation.
Orijen Original Entree In Bone Broth Chicken Wet Canned Cat Food
Cost and Availability of Orijen Wet Cat Food
When considering Orijen cat food, the cost is often a significant factor for pet owners. Most of Orijen’s dry cat food varieties are priced similarly, generally ranging from $0.30 to $0.35 per ounce. Based on the company’s feeding guidelines for an average 11-pound cat, the daily cost for dry food would be approximately $0.91.
As of May 2022, the Orijen wet foods were not yet widely available online or in physical stores, which prevented a definitive pricing assessment at that time. However, it was anticipated that the pricing for Orijen wet food would be comparable to other premium, species-appropriate wet food brands such as Ziwi Peak and Identity. While initial availability was limited, Orijen wet cat foods are expected to become more accessible through trusted online retailers and local independent and specialty pet food stores over time.
Orijen Original Entree In Bone Broth Chicken Wet Canned Cat Food
Our Verdict: Is Orijen Wet Cat Food a Good Choice?
Orijen cat food, particularly its wet formulations, certainly has strong merits that make it a contender for a top spot in the premium pet food market. The brand’s commitment to a “whole-prey” philosophy, utilizing a rich variety of fresh muscle meat, organs, and bones, sets it apart. Orijen’s wet foods are particularly notable for their exceptionally high animal protein content (around 95%) and very low carbohydrate levels, making them highly species-appropriate for felines. The inclusion of bone broth also provides a nutritious source of moisture, which is vital for cat health. Furthermore, the absence of artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives is a significant advantage.
However, it’s not without its drawbacks. The recent reformulations and manufacturing changes following the opening of the DogStar kitchen in the United States have led to a noticeable increase in customer complaints, with some reporting inconsistencies and adverse reactions in their cats. This shift in quality perception, though primarily associated with dry food reviews due to the newer wet food line, casts a shadow over the brand’s overall reliability for some pet owners. Additionally, the premium nature of Orijen products means they are often more expensive than many alternatives, and the wide variety of animal species in their recipes, while aligned with a whole-prey diet, could pose challenges for cats with specific allergies or food sensitivities.
Overall, Orijen wet cat food presents a compelling nutritional profile that aligns well with a cat’s natural dietary needs. However, potential buyers should be mindful of the reported quality inconsistencies and limited availability, especially for the wet food lines. It is always advisable to monitor your cat closely when introducing any new food and consult with your veterinarian for personalized dietary recommendations. For more insights into premium pet nutrition and in-depth evaluations, explore our other comprehensive guides, including best dry dog food australia reviews.
References:
- Based on comprehensive review from Cats.com.
- Petful.com – Orijen Recall (2008).
- Truthinadvertising.org – Vado v. Champion Petfoods (2018).
