What's actually in Orijen?
We analyzed Orijen Cat & Kitten Biologically Appropriate Cat Food, their flagship feline formula from Champion Petfoods. The first five ingredients are deboned chicken, deboned turkey, whole Atlantic mackerel, chicken liver, and lentils.
Four of the first five ingredients are named animal proteins — three fresh whole meats and one organ meat. That's extraordinary for any commercial cat food. Cats are obligate carnivores with a biological requirement for animal protein, and Orijen delivers it at an intensity that no other brand in our database matches. Lentils at #5 are the first non-animal ingredient, used as a fiber and binding agent in this grain-free formula. Shop on Amazon →
The good stuff
The organ meat inclusion is the standout. Chicken liver at #4 is packed with vitamin A, B vitamins, iron, and copper — nutrients cats would naturally get from prey in the wild. Chicken heart further down the list is one of the richest natural sources of taurine, an amino acid that cats cannot synthesize adequately on their own and that's essential for heart and eye health. Most cat foods add synthetic taurine; Orijen provides it from actual organ meat.
The protein diversity is unmatched. Chicken, turkey, mackerel, and their rendered meal forms provide protein from multiple animal species — delivering a broader amino acid profile than single-protein formulas. Mackerel in particular contributes EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids directly from whole fish, supporting skin, coat, brain, and joint health.
Natural preservation with mixed tocopherols (vitamin E) is the gold standard. No BHA, no BHT, no artificial anything. The formula is grain-free with low carbohydrate content — aligned with what cats actually need as obligate carnivores.
The not-so-good stuff
The very high protein content can be too rich for cats with sensitive digestion, especially during transition. Cats accustomed to grain-heavy budget foods may experience digestive upset if switched too quickly. A gradual 10-14 day transition is recommended — longer than the typical 7 days for most food switches.
Lentils and peas appear in the formula as carbohydrate sources. While the amounts are modest compared to the meat content, the FDA's investigation into legume-heavy diets and potential DCM links in dogs has raised general awareness about legumes in pet food. The research is primarily focused on dogs, not cats, but it's worth noting.
Price is the biggest practical barrier. Orijen typically costs $50-65 for a 10-pound bag — roughly 2-3x the price of premium competitors like Wellness (B/80) or Blue Buffalo (B/76). The ingredient quality justifies the premium, but it's a significant ongoing cost.
How it compares
Orijen's A/91 is the highest score in our cat food database — 11 points above Wellness (B/80) and 15 above Taste of the Wild (B/76). The gap reflects a fundamentally different approach: Orijen builds its formula around multiple fresh whole meats and organs, while even the best B-tier brands lead with one or two protein sources padded with grains or legumes.
The A/90 cluster — Acana Cat, Wellness CORE Cat, and Instinct Kitten — sits one point behind Orijen, and Nulo (B/88) anchors the top of the B tier 3 points back. All five are grain-free or largely grain-free, protein-forward formulas. Orijen wins on protein diversity (more species) and organ meat inclusion at the cost of a significant price premium. Nulo offers the best pure-value proposition among the top performers.
Against the vet-recommended brands, the gap is dramatic. Orijen scores 31 points above Hill's Science Diet (C/60) and 35 above Purina Pro Plan (C/56). These brands charge premium prices too — but the ingredient profiles aren't in the same category.
Read the full breakdown in our head-to-head comparison: Acana vs Orijen.
The bottom line
Orijen Cat & Kitten earns an A grade (91/100) from KibbleIQ — the highest score in our cat food database. Multiple fresh meats, organ meats, whole fish omega-3s, and natural preservation make this the closest thing to a biologically appropriate diet you can pour from a bag. The premium price and rich formula that may challenge sensitive stomachs are the only real drawbacks. If your budget allows it, Orijen is the best dry cat food available. Shop on Amazon →