Anyone use Orijen?

[Caylynn]

I like how Orijen obtains its ingredients locally too, which is why I'm looking at it as one of the options for feeding my cat when we move back to Canada.

I've heard nothing but good things about it.

Wellness, on the other hand, uses Menu to produce some of their canned foods.  I don't want to support a company that does any business with Menu, so I won't be buying Wellness.

[SymbaandTrooper]

I live in Toronto, Canada, and this food has been flying off the shelves at Bark 'n' Fitz, and other pet food stores.  What's not to love?  Made from 70% meats (human-grade chicken, fish, and eggs) and 30% fruits & veg, and grain-free.  All ingredients sourced from Western Canada, no chemical preservatives.  It is the premium line of Champion Petfoods, which makes and packages their own foods.

I recently (last 3 weeks) switched my cat and dog to it, and they are just wild about it.  Which is good for me, because I feel really good about feeding it to them (40-45% protein).

One thing I will say though, the company could do a better job of marketing their product.  Several emails to the company that were quickly answered, confirmed that all of their foods are ethoxyquin-free, and rice protein/wheat gluten/rice protein concentrate-free (which I realise may seem obvious through their claim of being grain-free, but I felt the need to check). 

I have been trying to get the word out about this product, because I believe it is a quality product that is not very well-known.  I am in no way affiliated with the company.  Check it out for yourself (try googling it) 

[garypen]

Orijen and Acana, both Champion brands, were two of the first brands I researched. If either were available in my area, I definitely would have tried one or both. They look great on paper, and have good word of mouth.

If another a-hole gets elected president like the current one, I'll probably move up there and get to try it after all. 

[SymbaandTrooper]

Orijen is available in just a few states in the US - but if you're interested, I've also found it online at www.only4pets.com.  Alternatively, you might consider approaching your local pet store and asking them to contact Champion Petfoods (or else contact them yourself). 

I am not kidding when I say the company is really responsive! 

I cannot say enough good things about the food or the company.  I just hope they continue to live up to my praise!! 

[Sharon L.]

Going by the above analysis alone, I'd choose Core from those three.

Ah, but the smaller company with local ingredient suppliers is such a selling point. And besides, my quite finicky cats just love this food.

BTW, have you looked into Nature's Variety Raw Instinct. It is also a high-protein zero-grain formula. The magnesium may be too high for you though.

I haven't (at least yet ... let's see what the next round of recalls do to my peace of mind) considered raw. With my schedule and the finickyness of my cats I just didn't think it was something I could keep up with consistently. And my goal is the get the diet stabilized, get the baseline pH reading, and then make whatever adjustments would be necessary at that time.

Sharon L.

[Sharon L.]

Orijen is available in just a few states in the US - but if you're interested, I've also found it online at www.only4pets.com.  Alternatively, you might consider approaching your local pet store and asking them to contact Champion Petfoods (or else contact them yourself). 

I've had my Orijen shipped from a Portland, OR pet store ... but the shipping was almost as great as the cost of the food.  I've just sent an email to the only4pets.com to get a shipping estimate. I've also approached a few speciality stores, I am hoping that at least some interest was sparked.

Sharon L.

[garypen]

Sharon - I don't think Raw Instinct is actually raw. I believe it is another high-meat/no-or-low-grain kibble.

[Caylynn]

I guess I'm lucky - the pet store where I buy food and litter online doesn't charge for shipping if you spend over 20 Euro.   And they carry Orijen!   Yay, I'll be able to try the food out before moving back to Canada, to see if my Sphynx likes it.

[amy]

Hi

Logan is currently eating the last of his Raw Instinct mixed with Orijen now.  He likes it well enough, though not quite as well as the Raw Instinct.  I was impressed with the ingredient list, and since he only eats it at night, not too worried about the high protein.  I think I will stay with this, since I can't figure out who makes Raw Instinct for Nature's Variety.  I bought the Orijen from only4pets online like many have done.  Now, I live in New Jersey, and just to let you know, Mike's Feed in Riverdale will be carrying it.  I think he may be the only one in the tri-state area.  Maybe that will help someone close to me. 

[SymbaandTrooper]

... I was impressed with the ingredient list, and since he only eats it at night, not too worried about the high protein. 

Hi Amy - out of curiosity, can you explain your comment?  What's the connection betwen high protein and time of feeding?  I'm sure I'm missing something obvious, but you've piqued my interest!

[khf]

Hi, I've been researching cat foods for my daughter in France.  I saw that Orijen is available and was looking for opinions. 
I see Almo Nature mentioned in this thread also.  She has been using the wet version but from the analysis, the calcium/phosphorus ratio is way off.  None of the varieties seem to be balanced.
Anyone have any information on this?
Karen

[Caylynn]

Karen, from what I understand, based on conversations with my cat's breeder and our veterinarian, Almo Nature wet food shouldn't be fed exclusively - it is designed to be fed in conjunction with a high-quality dry food, whether from Almo Nature or another company.  The calcium:phosphorus ratio in the Almo Nature dry food is right where it should be.

My Sphynx is thriving on two cans of Almo Nature a day, and free feed dry food from Sanabelle and Almo Nature.  My cat's breeder also feeds her cats this way, and they are thriving as well (and include a couple of champions).  Sphynx have very high metabolisms, so need a high-quality food.  Some breeders in North America feed all their Sphynx kitten food their entire lives, but with the high-quality foods we can buy in the EU, most breeders here don't find it necessary (except for kittens and pregnant and lactating queens.) 

I like that the Almo Nature is made from 100% organic, hormone-free meat, 100% organic rice, and cooking water, and that's it.  (Which is why it needs to be fed with a dry food - it is not a balanced food in and of itself.)  It also looks like food that I would eat myself, and is made from human-quality ingredients.

I am in Germany, but will be moving back to Canada (my husband is a Canadian army officer) which is why I'm looking at other foods to feed (since I won't be able to buy Almo Nature or Sanabelle in Canada.)  Orijen and Katz-N-Flocken are the two that look most promising to me at the moment.  Orijen appeals to me based on its ingredients and the fact that it is a Canadian company.

[amy]

Symba and Trooper:

I wrote a horribly constructed sentence, depite being an English teacher   You didn't miss anything.  I just meant that I don't worry about the high protein because he eats dry food once a day, at night.  I know of no connection between protein and evening meals.  Carbs migh metabolize differently at night I would think, but have absolutely no scientific basis for that idea!

[SymbaandTrooper]

Symba and Trooper:

I wrote a horribly constructed sentence, depite being an English teacher   You didn't miss anything.  I just meant that I don't worry about the high protein because he eats dry food once a day, at night.  I know of no connection between protein and evening meals.  Carbs migh metabolize differently at night I would think, but have absolutely no scientific basis for that idea!

Thanks for putting my active imagination to rest, Amy!  Since cat food is so  rich, I've seen what happens when my dog gets into it....it's just not pretty.  I was wondering if that's what you meant....ie high protein diet and litterbox use at night spares you from any unpleasant aftereffect 

But glad to hear there are none!  By the way, my cat's digestive system is just fine on Orijen!  And so's my dog's (when he sticks to his own food, that is). 

[jcat]

I guess I'm lucky - the pet store where I buy food and litter online doesn't charge for shipping if you spend over 20 Euro.   And they carry Orijen!   Yay, I'll be able to try the food out before moving back to Canada, to see if my Sphynx likes it.

We may be buying food and litter from the same online supplier.

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.

Some online suppliers are still offering sample bags of Orijen. Once our cat finished his up, I ordered a large bag, and will continue to give it to him till he tires of it. I'm definitely going to make it part of his regular "dry food rotation".