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Summary
Nutrition
Recipe
Protein
Verdict
Orijen
Original Cat
Cat
Dry
Rating
★★★★★
5.0 / 5
Protein Clarity
High
Animal Protein
High
Allergy Highlights
Contains:
Egg
Legumes
Poultry
Fish
Free From:
Gluten grains
Grains (gluten-free)
Dairy
Nuts
Red meat
Shellfish
Unknown Meal
Pros
Uses clearly named animal protein sources for better transparency.
Contains organ meats that provide natural vitamins and minerals.
Includes plant ingredients that can provide fiber and natural antioxidants.
Is Orijen Original Cat dry cat food good?
Orijen Original Cat is a dry cat food rated 5 stars, with high ingredient transparency and strong animal protein content. The recipe lists most animal ingredients by name and features real muscle meat as a primary protein source. This recipe is free from Gluten grains, Grains (gluten-free), Dairy, Nuts, Red meat, Shellfish, Unknown Meal but contains Egg, Legumes, Poultry, Fish.
Nutrition Breakdown
Dry Matter
As Fed
Protein
44%
Fat
22%
Est. Carbs
21%
Fiber
3.3%
Ash
8.9%
Moisture (10%) removed so you can compare foods fairly.
Dry matter basis = label value ÷ (100% − moisture%). Carbs estimated from remaining.
Tips
Protein is High (44% dry matter) on our label-based comparison range. This is generally more aligned with cats' higher protein needs than lower-protein recipes, assuming the food is complete for the cat's life stage.
References
Fat is Super High (22% dry matter) on our label-based comparison range. This is very energy-dense; cats with pancreatitis, digestive disease, or weight concerns need case-specific veterinary guidance.
References
Ingredients Analysis
37 of 37 matched
Prefer
14
Concerned
3
Notice
0
1
Fresh Chicken
2
Fresh Turkey
3
Fresh Whole Herring
4
Fresh Chicken Giblets
5
Fresh Whole Cod
6
Fresh Turkey Liver
7
Fresh Eggs
8
Dehydrated Chicken
9
Dehydrated Turkey
10
Dehydrated Herring
11
Dehydrated Sardine
12
Dehydrated Mackerel
13
Chicken Fat
14
Whole Red Lentils
15
Whole Peas
16
Whole Green Lentils
17
Whole Chickpeas
18
Lentil Fiber
19
Whole Pinto Beans
20
Pea Starch
21
Cod Oil
22
Dried Kelp
23
Fresh Whole Pumpkin
24
Fresh Whole Butternut Squash
25
Fresh Whole Zucchini
26
Fresh Carrots
27
Fresh Apples
28
Fresh Pears
29
Fresh Kale
30
Fresh Spinach
31
Fresh Beet Greens
32
Fresh Blueberries
33
Whole Cranberries
34
Dried Chicory Root
35
Lavender
36
Marshmallow Root
37
Rosehips
Tips
Named animal proteins near the top: Fresh Chicken, Fresh Turkey are listed early in the ingredient panel.
Ingredients worth checking: Lentil Fiber, Pea Starch, Lavender.
Higher-caution ingredients: Fresh Kale have caution notes in the ingredient database.
Possible digestion triggers: Whole Red Lentils, Whole Peas, Whole Green Lentils, and 4 more have digestion notes; watch tolerance if your pet has a sensitive stomach.
Protein Analysis
How this recipe earned its protein scores.
Protein Clarity
High
High
Named
100%
Strong clarity: 100% of Orijen Original Cat's animal-protein ingredients are clearly named (like chicken or salmon). Only 0% use vague terms such as "meat meal" and 0% are by-products. Named protein ingredients let you verify the source and check for allergens.
Contributing ingredients
Named
Fresh Chicken
Fresh Turkey
Fresh Whole Herring
Fresh Chicken Giblets
Fresh Whole Cod
Fresh Turkey Liver
Fresh Eggs
Dehydrated Chicken
Dehydrated Turkey
Dehydrated Herring
Dehydrated Sardine
Dehydrated Mackerel
Animal Protein
High
High
Animal
94%
Plant
6%
Meat-forward: 94% of the weighted protein in Orijen Original Cat comes from animal sources. Plant signals are modest (6% whole plants, 0% plant concentrates), so the protein profile leans on real meat.
Contributing ingredients
Animal
Fresh Chicken
Fresh Turkey
Fresh Whole Herring
Fresh Chicken Giblets
Fresh Whole Cod
Fresh Turkey Liver
Fresh Eggs
Dehydrated Chicken
Dehydrated Turkey
Dehydrated Herring
Dehydrated Sardine
Dehydrated Mackerel
Plant
Whole Red Lentils
Whole Peas
Whole Green Lentils
Whole Chickpeas
Whole Pinto Beans
Pea Starch
Orijen Original Cat dry cat food Review
Orijen Original Cat is a strong choice — rated 5 stars with high ingredient transparency and strong animal protein content. A confident pick when the ingredient panel matches your pet's needs.
Best for
Owners who want clearly named protein sources
Pets avoiding gluten grains
Pets that thrive on muscle-meat protein
Avoid if
Your pet is allergic to eggs
You're avoiding legumes
Key takeaways
Named animal proteins make up 100% of the recipe's protein panel — a clear sourcing win.
Contains common allergens: Egg, Legumes, Poultry, Fish.
On a dry-matter basis: 44% protein, 22% fat, 21% estimated carbohydrates.
94% of the weighted protein comes from animal sources.
Free from Gluten grains, Grains (gluten-free), Dairy, Nuts, Red meat, Shellfish, Unknown Meal.
Frequently asked questions
Is Orijen Original Cat good for cats?
Yes — rated 5 stars, with high ingredient transparency and strong animal protein content.
Does Orijen Original Cat contain Dairy?
Does Orijen Original Cat contain Egg?
Does Orijen Original Cat contain Legumes?
Does Orijen Original Cat contain Nuts?
Is Orijen Original Cat grain-free?
What are the main protein sources in Orijen Original Cat?
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