Orijen Original Cat grain-free cat food changed its formula. The 2016 Orijen cat food recipe was labeled as “Cat & Kitten”, now it’s simply Orijen Original Cat. As I do usually when brands change their recipe, I researched the new ingredients and the guaranteed analysis to see if those changes point in the right direction. So, here’s my review of this new formula.
Nutritional Features of Orijen Original Cat
- Orijen Original is a grain-free formula
- No soy, wheat, corn or tapioca
- 90% fresh and raw* animal ingredients (unprocessed state of the ingredients)
- 10% fruits, vegetables, and other nutrients.
- The first 5 ingredients are fresh or raw
- Wholeprey diet, including what’s most nutritional for cats.
- Freeze-Dried coated kibbles provide a raw flavor that cats love.
- Free-run chickens and turkeys (in a barn without outdoor access).
- Packaged with all essential amino acids for your cat’s immune system.
- With added probiotics to help the cat’s gut.
- Omega-3 and Omega-6 for healthy skin and shiny coats.
- Made in the USA with local and overseas ingredients.
*Fresh meats mean they are refrigerated as the sole method of preservation. Raw meats are also fresh meats but they are frozen at the peak of freshness to preserve nutrients.
The formula includes the following meats & fish varieties:
⇒ Chicken: Meat, liver, dehydrated chicken, dehydrated chicken liver, fat.
⇒ Turkey: Meat, giblets, dehydrated turkey.
⇒ Mackerel: Whole fish, dehydrated mackerel.
⇒ Flounder: Meat.
⇒ Herring: Whole fish.
Orijen Original Cat New Formula Ingredients:
Chicken, Turkey, Whole Mackerel, Turkey Giblets (Liver, Heart, Gizzard), Flounder, Chicken Liver, Whole Herring, Eggs, Dehydrated Chicken, Dehydrated Turkey, Dehydrated Mackerel, Dehydrated Chicken Liver, Dehydrated Egg, Chicken Fat, Whole Red Lentils, Whole Pinto Beans, Whole Peas, Whole Green Lentils, Whole Chickpeas, Natural Chicken Flavor, Whole Navy Beans, Pollock Oil, Lentil Fiber, Pea Starch, Chicken Heart, Choline Chloride, Dried Kelp, Mixed Tocopherols (Preservative), Vitamin E Supplement, Zinc Proteinate, Whole Cranberry, Whole Pumpkin, Whole Butternut Squash, Collard Greens, Whole Apples, Whole Pear, Freeze-Dried Chicken, Freeze-Dried Turkey, Copper Proteinate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Niacin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Dried Chicory Root, Turmeric, Sarsaparilla Root, Althea Root, Rosehips, Juniper Berries, Citric Acid (Preservative), Rosemary Extract, Dried Lactobacillus Acidophilus Fermentation Product, Dried Bifidobacterium Animalis Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus Casei Fermentation Product.
Guaranteed Analysis Orijen Original Cat New Formula
Crude protein 40% min – Crude fat 20% min – Crude fiber 3% max – Moisture 10% max – DHA (Docosahexaenoic acid) 0.2% min – EPA (Eicosapentaenoic acid) 0.2% min – Calcium 1.4% min – Phosphorus 1.0% min – Magnesium 0.1% min – Taurine 0.2% min – Omega-6 Fatty acids* 3.5% min – Omega-3 Fatty acids* 0.8% min – Total microorganisms* 1 Million CFU/lb (Lactobacillus acidophilus, bifidobacterium animalis, lactobacillus casei).
More nutritional Facts:
Calories: 515 per cup.
Iodine: 2.4 mg on an as fed basis
Sodium: 0.4% as fed basis
Phosphorus: 1.10% as fed basis
Ash: 9%
Ingredients of Orijen Cat & Kitten 2016 Formula (discontinued):
Deboned Chicken, Deboned Turkey, Eggs, flounder, Whole Atlantic Mackerel, Chicken Liver, Turkey Liver, Whole Atlantic Herring, Chicken Heart, Turkey Heart, Dehydrated Chicken, Dehydrated Turkey, Dehydrated Mackerel, Dehydrated Chicken Liver, Dehydrated Egg, Whole Red Lentils, Whole Pinto Beans, Chicken Fat, Chicken Necks, Chicken Kidney, Whole Green Peas, Whole Green Lentils, Whole Navy Beans, Whole Chickpeas, Natural Chicken flavor, Alaskan Pollock Oil, Ground Chicken Bone, Lentil fiber, Choline Chloride, Whole Pumpkin, Whole Butternut Squash, Mixed Tocopherols (Preservative), Dried Kelp, Zinc Proteinate, Freeze-Dried Chicken Liver, Kale, Spinach, Mustard Greens, Collard Greens, Turnip Greens, Whole Carrots, Apples, Pears, Pumpkin Seeds, Sunflower Seeds, Thiamine Mononitrate, Copper Proteinate, Chicory Root, Turmeric, Sarsaparilla Root, Althea Root, Rosehips, Juniper Berries, Dried Lactobacillus Acidophilus Fermentation Product, Dried Bifidobacterium Animalis Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus Casei Fermentation Product.
Guaranteed Analysis of Orijen Cat & Kitten 2016 Formula (discontinued)
Crude protein (min.) 40 % – Crude fat (min.) 20 % – Crude fibers (max.) 3% – Moisture (max.) 10 % – Calcium (min.) 1.2 % – Phosphorus (min.) 1% – Magnesium (min.) 0.1% – Taurine (min.) 0.2% – Omega-6 fatty acids (min.) 3.5 % – Omega-3 fatty acids (min.) 0.8% – DHA (min.) 0.2 % – EPA (min.) 0.2 %
Changes In Orijen Original Cat USA New Formula VS Previous Recipe
Ingredients Changes in main ingredients:
- It replaces “deboned chicken” with “chicken”. “Deboned chicken” is free of bones and lacking the nutrients that bones provide. “Chicken” is the whole chicken including bones, providing vitamins, minerals and also adding palatability. The downfall is that adds more phosphorus and calcium to the formula. I must mention that any meat, boneless or not, contains water weight, and its proportion in the formula is drastically reduced after being cooked. All in all, this is a good change in the ingredients.
- It replaces “deboned turkey” with “turkey”. Bones provide calcium, magnesium, chondroitin, glucosamine, and arginine to the cat’s diet. Turkey meat contains water weight that after being cooked puts this ingredient further down the list. In general, this is a good change in the formula.
- It replaces “eggs” with “whole mackerel”. This change has its pros and cons. Eggs are high in proteins and a natural ingredient that cats eat in the wild, but usually when they are cooked the cholesterol in eggs can oxidize if the food doesn’t contain the appropriate preservatives. On the other hand, whole mackerel is a fish with good nutritional properties for the cat’s diet since it includes, eyes, bones, and others. However, bones in fish add more calcium to the cat’s diet. Eggs instead, don’t include shells. As I have said in the past, I don’t like too much fish in cat foods, they add some mercury and can create allergies, so I don’t like this change.
- It replaces “flounder” with “turkey giblets”. This is a good change. Cats’ natural diet includes liver, heart, gizzard. Since in this new formula they eliminated eggs and replaced them with mackerel, they put this second fish, flounder, further down the list.
- It replaces “Whole Atlantic Mackerel” with “flounder”. In the new formula, Mackerel is an ingredient with a larger proportion on the list, so flounder replaces the 5th position on the list of ingredients. I would have preferred chicken liver in this position instead of flounder.
Guaranteed Analysis Changes:
In general, the guaranteed analysis didn’t change very much, but the calcium level increased. Including chicken, turkey, and fish with their bones, will obviously increase the level of this mineral. Calcium increased from 1.2% to 1.4%.
Analysis of the First 5 Ingredients of Orijen Original Cat
Chicken: Good source of protein for cats but chicken as an ingredient to be cooked, loses weight in the proportion of the formula. 3 stars
Turkey: The same as chicken, turkey meat contains water weight that after being cooked, reduce the proportion of turkey in the formula. 3 stars
Whole Mackerel: A bluefish like Mackerel is a good source of protein and essential fatty acids. However, fish contain some amount of mercury and could create allergies. Plus, the whole fish includes all parts of it, gills and fins. 3 stars
Turkey giblets: Excellent source of proteins, minerals, and vitamins that mimic the natural cat’s diet. 4 stars
Flounder: It adds proteins and essential fatty acids. Since the formula already has Mackerel, adding flounder in the first 5 ingredients is not ideal. 3 stars
What are the Pros and Cons of the New Orijen Original Cat Formula?
The most important elements are the following:
PROS
- Grain-free formula, which means no corn, soy, wheat, or rice.
- The formula only contains natural flavor or preservatives. Artificial ingredients are carcinogens so natural ingredients are always welcomed.
- The formula contains a total of 88% animal proteins. The main seven ingredients on the list are animal-sourced proteins.
- Vitamins or minerals are not synthetic, they naturally occur in the ingredients.
Kibble is coated with raw freeze-dried liver, highly palatable for cats.
CONS
- Carbohydrate content is a little less than 20%. This is a high percentage for a cat formula. And from this percentage, less than 14% corresponds to legumes. This is too many legumes for a cat.
- Calcium was increased by 0.2%
- Natural sources of vitamin B1, B6, and B9 are not local.
- The formula contains two types of fish in the main 5 ingredients. Fish add mercury to the cat’s diet and could create food allergies in cats.
- Since kibble is coated with freeze-dried raw meat, it needs to be stored always in a cool place. It could be hard to find a good storing location at home during hot summers.
Final Thoughts
Orijen made some changes in the animal ingredients but kept most of the guaranteed analysis percentages. However, the new ingredients added more calcium to the cat’s diet. Also, it added more fish instead of eggs. More fish means more mercury, even though Mackerel is a low-mercury fish, it still increases mercury in comparison to eggs. This formula is still a high-quality one, don’t take me wrong. But I am not fond of cat foods with too many fish in the first ingredients. The other downfall of this recipe is its high content of legumes, totaling a little less than 14%. This means high in calories. The calories in one cup as fed are 515 which is on the high side.
Bottom Line
I can’t say if the new Orijen Original Cat formula improved regarding its previous 2016 version. I believe this cat food is still a Premium high-quality one, providing a good percentage of proteins, minerals, vitamins, and fats, but if I have to choose, I would go with a formula containing less fish and legumes. Also, cats don’t seem to like this new formula regarding the previous one either.
However, one good thing about a formula that contains fresh and raw fish is that your cat’s skin and coat will be shiny and healthy. Consider that a long-term feeding with cat food with fish may create an allergy to your kitty. Also, considering the number of calories in the recipe, your indoor cat may get a little chubby if he is not active. You can get this Orijen Original Cat formula on Chewy and save 30% on your first Autoship. Check it out —> here.
If you want to try this formula with your cat, I recommend feeding your feline a small amount of it and complementing it with chicken/turkey-based wet food. I would say about 60% wet and 40% dry.
Thanks so much for writing out this review! My cat has loved the Cat & Kitten formula, but I was anxious to try the new one afraid they changed the formula. Your review solidified my concerns and I really appreciate your thorough attention to detail for what the change in formula will mean for my cat. Thanks again!
You are welcome NewCatMom!
My cat has been having stomach issues since the recipe change 😩
I took her to the vet and all tests showed she is healthy.
The only change in her life was the new bag of cat food. I wasn’t pleased with the name change, and did notice the elimination of eggs. I had no idea about the increase in fish and what that could do.
Thank you for posting this information!
Hello Johnna, one of the Cons I mentioned in my review is the fact that with this new version the kibble is coated with freeze-dried raw meat. If this cat food is not properly stored, it could lead to some type of bacteria. Always buy in stores that keep the cat food at a cool and dry temperature. I am sorry your cat is not doing well with this cat food.
Hi Lorena, my cats have been on the Cat and Kitten version for a couple of years, and it had the freeze-dried coating as well, which was never a problem, and the cats LOVED the taste. My cats have had a horrible digestive problems with this formula change, and the kibble is a different color and size. It doesn’t have the shiny coating of the freeze-dried meat they are used to, so Orijen is probably getting super cheap with their ingredients — though their price point won’t change — and the poor cats will be the ones who suffer. I hate when good companies start cutting corners, but not their prices.
Hi Melissa, the cause of the digestive issue your cat is experiencing with this food could be hard to pinpoint. It could be the increase of fish instead of eggs, the high amount of legumes, or any other ingredient your cat may be sensitive to. What’s the exact digestive issue your cat has? Diarrhea, vomiting? In any case, if the digestive issue your cat is having came right after switching to this new formula I suggest trying a different one. Sometimes, it takes one change in the ingredients to affect the cat’s digestive function. I hope you can find a good formula for your cat. I suggest you try a brand which I have been feeding my cat with for the last few months and my Sophie’s doing great with it. It’s Wellness Core Grain Free Turkey and Duck formula. The good thing about this formula is that it gives your cat a break from Chicken, fish, and eggs, which are common allergens on a long-term feeding. I hope it works well for your kitty and it won’t have any digestive issues with it. Hope that helps!
Since the original formula has changed, neither of my 2 cats will eat it! I bought it originally due to it being for cat and kitten since I have multiple age groups! The price has gone up but the quality seems to have gone down ! This used to be a food both cats would gobble up! Not now! Sorry they had to change something good!
I am sorry your cats don’t like the new formula. To be honest, I am not fond of this new formula either as I stated in my final thoughts. I hope you can find better dry cat food for your cats.
Thank you so much for this post!
A few months back, when the change happened, I was skeptical about buying a new bag but I could find no info online about any changes, so I gave it a shot. I have a very good nose and as soon as I opened the bag I knew it was all wrong. I offered a small handful to the cats and they literally walked away – something that would never happen with the old formula. I took the bag back that very night and let the clerk know that, no matter what her supplier was telling her, there was a change and it wasn’t for the better.
I’ve looked online several times to try and find any information on a current buyout or change and still had had no luck, not sure how I missed your review but I’m certainly glad I finally came cross it!
It is good (and bad) to hear that I’m not alone in disliking the change and not feeding it any longer.
I am happy I could help you with my review. I am trying to review and compare the changes of different cat food brands because as a cat owner I know this information is not easy to find online. I will keep up with my work to help cat owners. Thanks for your comment!
Hello,
Do you suggest buying the old recipe or the new one? I see in the comments only those cats which have ate the old formula before seem to have issues with the new ones? Maybe that won’t be the case if we start feeding it with the new formula directly? I am currently feeding Royal Canin Kitten food btw.
Please can you help?
Hello Jashim, you can feed a cat this formula, but please note the high content of legumes (almost 14%) this means high in calories and risk of your cat gaining weight. If you are going to feed your cat this formula I suggest keeping a proportion of 50% wet food and 50% this dry food.
My cat won’t eat the new bag of Orijen food. Which dry cat food has the best balance? My cat refuses wet food or any good human food. Please give me a brand name so I can get to the pet store and help her. Thanks!
Hi Judy, the brand I currently feed my cat with is Wellness Core Grain Free Turkey and Duck formula. This recipe is free of eggs, chicken, and fish. I hope it works for your cat. Good luck!
May I know what’s your opinion on another new
formula of Orijen, Kitten and Gurdian 8? Would you recommand to try? I’ve searched, but not a lot of information.
Thank you.
Thanks for bringing this to my attention. I will check and make a review of this formula ASAP.
Update: I checked the ingredients and noticed that this formula contains 3 types of fish within the 5 first ingredients. Personally, I don’t like formulas with too many fish, it creates more tendency to develop food allergies in cats.
My problem is different; it has been the recomended brand for Ferret owners for years despite the problem with peas causing kidney stones. Is it still a good brand for Ferrets? Is the new ‘Kitten’ Brand better?
rob
Hi Robert, I am sorry I don’t know much about ferrets, I hope some of our readers can help you with that. Regarding suitability, I wouldn’t recommend this formula for kittens. Hope that helps!