Anyone use Orijen?

[Caylynn]

I feed Almo canned, along with Schesir, which is very similar, and a good quality dry due to the calcium/phosphorous question with Almo and other all meat/all fish brands.

As a result of the gluten issue in North America, I've decided to try and switch to dry foods containing no grains. I've been feeding Serengeti for well over a year, but that's often unavailable in Germany for long periods. Prairie's Raw Instinct was a huge hit for about three weeks, and then our cat started to eat it rather reluctantly. It may just be a coincidence, but he lost his taste for it at the same time as I tried Orijen.

I've tried feeding my Sphynx the Schesir wet, but something in it doesn't agree with him, because he throws it back up.  He does that with several wet foods that we've tried, but the Almo Nature agrees with him.

I'm also looking at switching to foods with no grains, and I'll probably buy some Orijen the next time I need dry food.  At least the Almo Nature dry contains organic rice and corn, and not glutens or protein concentrates.

[Laura]

   I just received a bag of Orijen Senior dog food that I ordered-  I haven't opened it yet, as I need a secure container to put it in-  or...since it should last awhile, maybe I'll just put SOME in a small container, which can then go INTO the container I keep my regular kibble in.....and seal up the bag and store IT in the OTHER container sitting here (which isn't air-tight, so I don't really like to put kibble in it)....  I'm trying the Orijen for my oldest dog only for right now, and I'm looking forward to seeing if it works for him!

[Kathleen]

After reading about ORIJEN I decided to give it a try--why not I have tried everything else. I am inTORONTO so it is sold near me. I have to say the literature is most impressive---but then so are the other companies' flyers.  I am wondering where they get their taurine for the cat's food. Taurine was not included in the section  "REGIONAL INGREDIENTS"  but is in the"GUARANTEED ANALYSIS".   I think that I read somewhere that most of the Taurine  added to cat food comes from China. HORRORS!!!  However, I  think that I have also read that taurine is in chicken hearts and they use whole grain- fed chickens. If they also use the stomach contents of the chicken that would also give the cat carbs---just as they would get  in freshly killed prey, when the carnivore would eat the innards.    God in heaven---- the terms I have leaned to toss around after spending days reading this message board. You know, I have spent more time fretting over cat food than I ever did over baby food. Maybe I was not clued in then.

Anyway, I have emailed the company to inquire about taurine. I will post their response if and when I get it.
                                    Kathleen

[Cindy Nevarez]

Hi Kathleen,
Thanks for the post. I'd be very interested in that. Also, I bought human-grade Taurine distributed by Sunflower Markets, and it says 'may contain rice-powder...,' but in the ingredients it DOES contain "wheat, gluten, corn, soy..."
So I think you are right about where it comes from.

BTW, how is your dog doing?

[Laura]

   I've been switching my old boy over to the Orijen for a few days now-  so far, I am very pleased with the way it smells- very strong odor, and it took me a minute to place it, but it really does smell like chicken!  Whether he eats it is not a good indication- he eats anything that even RESEMBLES a food item!  I plan to take a few pics of him tomorrow, and will follow those up as often as I think about it.  Since I'm doing pics to document my pregnant bitch's ever-expanding belly (she is now officially known as "wide load"), I should be able to get Stony's pics done too.
  I've been trying to find out how difficult it might be to just run over to Canada to pick it up- but I'm not sure if it's allowed (or easy to accomplish) to cross the border without "official" shipping... 

[Caylynn]

My package of Orijen Cat Food arrived yesterday, and I mixed a bit into my Sphynx' other dry food.  So far, so good!  He happily eats it, and no stomach upset.   I'm very happy so far - he has a bit of a sensitive stomach, so sometimes will vomit when I try a new food.  But not this time.  I'll keep everyone updated as I continue to feed this, but so far, so good.

[Kathleen]

I heard back from ORIJEN--they replied promptly. They do not add TAURINE---- it is naturally in the chicken meat and they were quick to add that nothing comes from China. I bought a small $2.00 bag of both cat and dog kibble. The cats seemed to like it to-day---but who knows what will happen tomorrow--you know what cats are like.    I swear, I think that they reconnoiter at night while I am sleeping and plan how they will drive me nuts the next day.
    The dog would not touch the kibble.

                               Kathleen

[Caylynn]

Yesterday was day 2 of mixing Orijen into my cat's dry food (and today is day 3).  Still no problems.   He's happily eating it and he hasn't thrown up once since I started mixing it in.

[SymbaandTrooper]

So I wanted to share a story here.  Several of you may know that I've been a strong proponent of Orijen on the forums...particularly because it's grain-free .  And I've been having good success with it - both the dog and cat love it, and the dog's stools I've noticed are minimal.  The reason that I raise this particular aspect will become apparent.

In light of the pet food recalls, I thought I would also treat my cat to the best cat litter I could find, and with a name like the World's Best Cat Litter , I was convinced.  Made of corn, clumps, natural, flushable - all very appealing to a cat owner.

However, I was at my wit's end with my dog Symba this week.  Having gone through all the trouble (and expense, mind you), of finding him the best food I could, my husband and I just discovered that he's been going into the cat's litter box and not just eating the cat's stools (which he's done in the past when we had him on a diet), but also EATING THE CAT LITTER ITSELF.  He's been eating so much of it, that we've noticed a significant increase his stools, both in terms of the volume ( I would say at 3-4 x) and frequency.  I'm not kidding - the amount that is going through him is insane.  And the crazy dog - he just can't seem to stop himself!!   

So if anyone ever needs evidence that a grain-based food is not good for a dog, please use this story.

And by the way, if anyone has any advice on how to deal with this situation, I'd really appreciate it!!

[Cindy Nevarez]

A lot of yelling!

We are challenged 2 - 3 times per week regarding our dogs and the cat boxes. And we use WBCL too. Once we changed to the large dome style litter boxes...it got better.

[Laura]

  Not knowing what your house is like, I don't know if this could help you or anyone out there...but a friend of mine keeps her cats' litter box in her basement, and has a "cat door" in the basement door so the kitties have free access, while the dogs don't.  Of course, if you have small dogs, this wouldn't work for you at ALL! 

[Caylynn]

And by the way, if anyone has any advice on how to deal with this situation, I'd really appreciate it!!

I've never owned dogs, so don't have any experience with dogs and cat litter, but how big is your dog?  If your dog is medium-to-large, could you maybe get litterboxes that have a flap door, so that the dog can't get into the litter?  If your dog is small and can fit through, that obviously won't work.

[SymbaandTrooper]

Wow, thanks so much Cindy, Laura and Caylynn for your suggestions.  I appreciate you all taking the time to answer my plea for help on this non-cat topic forum

I live in an apartment, so I'm afraid the basement option is a no-go for now...though I'll definitely keep it mind when we move into a house!  Also, Symba is an 85-lb shepherd-collie cross, so I don't think he would let a little thing like a flap on the opening of the litterbox get in his way - he's been sticking his head in and just, for lack of a better word, 'sucking up' the litter (even as I write this, a wave of revulsion comes over me.  Believe me, I am careful not to disclose this nasty fact to just anyone - but I figure among other pet owners, I am somewhat safe from the judgement).  Also, Trooper (cat) is very particular about how he conducts his business (he likes to prop himself up on the edge of the opening), and I don't think he would like the idea of having to contend with a flap.  However, I will explore the dome box suggestion.

Thanks again for lending me your 'eyes'...I appreciate it!

[Javas Mom]

At our small pet store, I've also seen a unique litter box that stands roughly 18 inches tall and a top lid that snaps on with a hole about 8 inches in diameter on the top that the kitty jumps through to get into the litter pan. Of course, if kitty really likes to just perch on the edge and not actually step into the litter, this may not be the answer, but it may be worth a try...I doubt Symba could get his head down low enough to eat any of it.  The store owner said they've had very few returned...

[SymbaandTrooper]

Thanks Javas Mom!!  (I will follow-up with you via PM, to keep this thread on topic)