Acana Cat Food Review: The Ultimate Guide For 2023

Last Updated on:

January 1, 2023

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Summary:

Anyone wishing to give their cats food that resembles what they'd consume in the wild should consider the top option of Acana Cat Food. Your cat will receive a wide array of essential nutrients and amino acids thanks to the food's abundance of protein from various animal sources. But note that this cat food is on the expensive side.

Key  Features:

  • Acana use at least 50% high-quality animal ingredients
  • Its recipes are balanced with fruits, vegetables, herbs, and nutrients
  • You will find an abundance of probiotics, additional vitamins and minerals, and natural preservatives

overall

4.5/5
75%
INGREDIENTS
85%
NUTRITION
40%
cost

There seem to be more options for cat food every day. Many pet owners want higher grades than what is available in typical pet food items.

One of the companies with a focus on more protein-focused, species-appropriate dog and cat diets is ACANA. I have put together this in-depth ACANA cat food review to assist you in choosing the best cat food, depending on what each company offers you.


About Acana

acana cat food banner

Champion Petfoods, which also manufactures Orijen, is the parent company of Acana Cat Food. All food products are produced using what is referred to as a "biologically appropriate" method, hoping that your cat will devour a nutrition resembling that they would consume in the wild.

Acana is a high-quality food, and its pricing reflects this. Parents who are prepared to spend any amount on providing their cat with quality chow will want to look closely. However, it's not a good option for frugal consumers.

Acana's food products are produced at the company's head office in Alberta, Canada. It uses certified organic products, and the meals are dripping with meat. Each of its items has at least a 75percent of overall beef, which is excellent for hunters like your cat.

It makes sense that Acana would be among the best foods available, considering the price. Although it's one of the best foods on the market, there are a couple alternative, comparably pricey choices that might be preferable if your only priority is feeding your cat the highest possible nutrition.

Acana Cat Food History

cat gazing at acana food

Champion Petfoods, a Canadian business best recognized for its high-meat, grain-free food products manufactured from materials sustainably sourced, launched the cat and dog food line Acana.

Reinhard Mühlenfeld, a Canadian businessman, founded Champion Petfoods in 1985. The business, which began as a small operation catered to Albertan farmers, has grown into Canada's most extensive pet food producer, exporting to more than 70 nations.

Orijen and Acana are two brands owned by Champion Petfoods. Acana foods are more affordable for consumers on a budget than Orijen because of their cheaper costs and reduced meat percentage.

How and Where is Acana Cat Food Prepared?

One of the key value of the business, after Biologically Appropriate and Fresh Regional Ingredients, is Never Outsourced. Both the DogStar facility in Kentucky and the NorthStar in Canada are where the company produces all of its items. In both facilities, exclusively ACANA and Orijen foods are produced.

Every kitchen has a unique assortment of goods that are supplied in specific markets. For example Acana's Meadowland, Appalachian Ranch, Grasslands, and Wild Atlantic are produced by DogStar Whereas Grasslands, Ranchlands, and Pacifica are prepared in the NorthStar kitchen.

25,000 square feet of refrigeration capacity in their DogStar kitchen can hold more than 600,000 pounds of ingredients. The kitchen was specifically designed with raw ingredient-processing technology, according to Champion Petfoods.

The BAFRINO Research and Innovation Center for Champion Petfoods is located right beside the NorthStar kitchen in Alberta, Canada. The industry's center for advancement and research is committed to furthering the pet food sector's Biologically Appropriate purpose.

Biologically Appropriate, Fresh Regional Ingredient, and Never Outsourced is referred to as BAFRINO. Biologically appropriate food production, fresh meat technology, the creation of natural flavors, and nutritional verification and testing are their four main mandates.

Raw meat and produce are kept in their facilities; these items are provided fresh or raw from specialised farms.


Acana Cat food Lines

acana food lines

One of the companies focusing on more protein-focused, species-appropriate dog and cat meals is ACANA. Using top-notch natural ingredients, the company tries to create biologically appropriate food.

The business, established in Barrhead, Alberta, Canada, more than 30 years ago, developed pet foods using locally sourced, freshly prepared ingredients.

In addition to ensuring that each product contains between 60% and 70% meat, the ACANA cat food range avoids the use of artificial vitamins and minerals. 

The company supports "WholePrey" foods. In other words, all the nutrients required by pets are already present in the organs, bones, and cartilage provided in the pet food items in the right amounts.

Because of this, ACANA is among the best cat foods you can feed your cat.

The remaining meats are dried to provide a rich supply of animal fats and proteins. 50% of the meats are primarily offered as fresh (refrigerated, without preservatives) or uncooked (flash-frozen, without preservatives). Fresh veggies, fruits, and herbs from farms in the area make up about 25% of the ingredient breakdown.

Red cuts of meat from regional farms, cage-free eggs, both freshwater and saltwater fish that have been caught in New England, whole vegetables and fruits shipped directly from nearby farms, and innately cultivated herbal products produced for the company by their trustworthy sources are just a few of the clean regional ingredients used in the brand's products.

The cat foods that Acana sells are listed here!

acana premium food

Acana premium pate cat food was introduced recently to the company products list, and people love it. The bone broth that comes with real meat cuts of chicken, tuna or other meat products provides the best nutrition for your cat. Moreover, this wet food also contains all the essential nutrients and added vitamins that support your cat's general well-being. Furthermore, it is free from filler grains and other ingredients that are not specie appropriate. And the best part is that many cat parents love it as it meets cats' daily nutrition needs.

acana's first feast cat food

The ACANA First Feast Recipe was created for your kitty to promote its nutrition and growth. First Feast has the meat protein your kitten requires to become healthy and is rich in 70% quality animal proteins, featuring fresh free-run chicken and whole herring. The maturation of your kitten's eyes and brain, as well as healthy skin and coat, muscles, and bones, are all supported by this taurine, E.P.A., and D.H.A. in this nutrient-rich mix. Moreover, healthy skin and a lustrous coat are supported by a balance of omega-3 fatty acids and omega-6 fatty acids.

acana grasslands

Each of the various flavors of Acana regionals grasslands uses fresh ingredients and real meat in its formulation. The fact that actual meat was used as the recipe's basis shows that it was created for meat-eaters. It was then finished with mineral and vitamin supplements to provide cats of all stages with a comprehensive source of nourishment.



ACANA Bountiful Catch Food is created with a profusion of fish that fills your cat with savory fish nutrients. Bountiful Catch provides your cat with the protein required to perform at its highest level. It is rich in 65% premium animal ingredients, such as raw salmon and herring. This recipe's high nutritional content also supports your cat's digestive health, skin and fur, and heart and eyesight. Feed your cat ACANA Bountiful Catch, a fish-forward formula that keeps them fit and joyful.

acana entree indoor cat food

ACANA Indoor Entrée Food was specially created for indoor cats and is ideal for their specific nutritional requirements. Indoor Entrée has the meat protein your cat deserves to be their optimum and is rich with 65% quality animal products like free-run chicken and turkey, whole herring, and more. This nutrient-dense formula also supports essential health benefits for your indoor cat, such as weight control, hairball prevention, and digestive health. With ACANA Indoor Entrée, you can provide your indoor cat with a formula designed to keep them content and strong.

acana wild atlantic

ACANA Greatest Protein Wild Atlantic Recipe, which contains the maximum level of animal protein, will thoroughly satiate your cat with its rich seafood contents and taste. This formula gives your cat a range of nutritious animal protein because it is made with 75% animal ingredients, including wild-caught whole mackerel, herring, and hake. This meal's abundance of nutrients also supports your cat's healthy digestion, skin health and fur, and healthy body and eyes.



Product Summary

Acana Regionals Meadowland Cat Food score 4.5 out of 5. Overall, this protein-based food has a high level of meat protein, medium fat, and many carbohydrates. It is also rich in nutrients for cat diets and helps digestion.

Ingredient

It contains 75% meat. 9 pounds of animal components are used to make each 12-pound package. Each bag begins with chicken and chicken liver, turkey and giblets, freshwater catfish, whole nest-laid eggs, and rainbow trout. The dish also contains dried chicken, catfish, and pollock in contrast to fresh or raw ingredients.

Nutrition

This dry food is primarily made of meat and has a high protein, moderate fat, and moderate carbs. In general, this cat food has 458 calories in every cup.

Value for Money

The Acana cat food is expensive, but its quality ingredients justify the price.

Why Do You Need To Buy Acana Regionals Meadowland Cat Food?

This dry food for cats primarily contains chicken and chicken liver as high-quality protein sources. The taste of this dry food, which comes in various flavors, starts with real meat. Each bite offers cats comprehensive nutrition while still being grain- and gluten-free to prevent stomach distress.

This Kentucky-inspired Acana Regionals meal uses local ingredients like chicken, turkey, catfish, and rainbow trout and is motivated by the pastures of that state. To provide nutrition inspired by whole prey, this cuisine is prepared with muscle meat, organs, and cartilage, contrasting most other meals with muscle meat.

Plant ingredients make up the other 25% of the mix. Red and green lentils, pinto beans, peas, and chickpeas are used to make the dish. Further, on the ingredient list are lentil fiber, whole butternut squash, whole pumpkin, and traces of other fruits and vegetables.

As sources of animal fat, the diet also contains pollock oil and chicken fat. Probiotics, botanicals, and a few extra minerals are added as supplements. It is created with predominantly fresh or raw ingredients and is a fantastic solution for cats of all ages.

Why You Should Not Buy Acana Regionals Meadowland Cat Food?

Nevertheless, compared to traditional cat food, it is significantly more expensive due to all the premium fresh ingredients and nutritional benefits it offers. Some people believe it to be simply too expensive, particularly for a family with numerous cats to feed. Many people decide that the advantages their cats receive are well justified by the added expense.

Positive Reviews:

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Negative Reviews:

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What's inside Acana Regionals Meadowland Cat Food?

acana meadowlands cat food review

Deboned Chicken, Deboned Turkey, Chicken Liver, Chicken Meal, Catfish Meal, Turkey Giblets, Whole Red Lentils, Whole Pinto Beans, Pollock Meal, Chicken Fat, Whole Green Lentils, Whole Green Peas, Whole Chickpeas, Whole Blue Catfish, Whole Eggs, Rainbow Trout, Pollock Oil, Lentil Fiber, Natural Chicken Flavor, Chicken Cartilage, Turkey Cartilage, Choline Chloride, Whole Pumpkin, Whole Butternut Squash, Mixed Tocopherols (Preservative), Dried Kelp, Zinc Proteinate, Kale, Spinach, Mustard Greens, Collard Greens, Turnip Greens, Whole Carrots, Whole Apples, Whole Pears, Freeze-dried Chicken Liver, Freeze-dried Turkey Liver, Pumpkin Seeds, Sunflower Seeds, Niacin, 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:

35%
Crude Protein
20%
Crude Fat
4%
Crude Fiber
10%
Moisture
0%
Ash

Dry Matter Basis:

39%
Protein
22%
Fat
5%
Fiber
34%
Carbs

Caloric Weight Basis:

31%
Protein
42%
Fat
0%
Fiber
27%
Carbs

Product Summary

Acana Regionals Appalachian Ranch Cat Food scores 4.5 out of 5 based on its dietary and ingredient parameters.

Ingredient

This dry cat chow appears to be mainly composed of beef, beef liver, and beef tripe. Meats from farms, ranches, and lakes in Kentucky and the Appalachian region are abundant in this meal. 9 pounds of animal ingredients make up each 12-pound bag, making it 75% meat.

Nutrition

This meat-based dish generally contains high fat, low carbohydrate, and high protein levels. Every cup of Acana Regionals Appalachian Ranch cat food contains 454 calories.

Value for Money

You can get this dry food from Acana for $0.28 per ounce. While you might think it's expensive cat food, pet lovers are happy with the results considering the ingredients and cost.

Why Do You Need To Buy Acana Regionals Appalachian Ranch Cat Food?

Kentucky's history of Appalachian ranching served as the inspiration for ACANA Appalachian Ranch. Ranch-raised cattle, Yorkshire pig, grass-fed lamb, ranch-raised American bison, and freshwater catfish are among the fresh local ingredients used in this premium grain-free meal. Cats love the rich, hearty flavors that are abundant in them.

The natural forms of the nutrients needed for a feline diet are provided by WholePrey amounts of meat, organs, and cartilage in ACANA. Fresh or raw animal products constitute 50% of the animal ingredients, while dehydrated meat meals or oils make up the other half. The formula asks for the ratios of muscular meat, organs, and cartilage known as WholePrey, which are typical of the native feline diet.

Even many fussy cats adore this dry cat chow from Appalachian Ranch, as Beef liver and fat are used to improve the flavor. All of these not only enhances its taste but also add to its protein content, which cats immensely like.

Why You Should Not Buy Acana Regionals Appalachian Ranch Cat Food?

Some people think this cat chow is a little too granular. At the bottom of the sack, there is a substantial chunk of food dust left over. Since cats do not eat it, this typically ends up in waste.

Positive Reviews:

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Negative Reviews:

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negative reviews about acana

What's inside Acana Regionals Appalachian Ranch Cat Food?

acana cat food

Deboned Beef, Deboned Pork, Deboned Lamb, Beef Meal, Lamb Meal, Pork Meal, Whole Green Peas, Red Lentils, Pinto Beans, Beef Liver, Beef Fat, Catfish Meal, Chickpeas, Green Lentils, Whole Yellow Peas, Deboned Bison, Whole Catfish, Herring Oil, Natural Pork Flavor, Lentil Fiber, Beef Tripe, Lamb Tripe, Lamb Liver, Pork Liver, Beef Kidney, Pork Kidney, Pork Cartilage, Dried Kelp, Whole Pumpkin, Whole Butternut Squash, Kale, Spinach, Mustard Greens, Collard Greens, Turnip Greens, Carrots, Apples, Pears, Freeze-dried Beef Liver, Freeze-dried Lamb Liver, Freeze-dried Pork Liver, Pumpkin Seeds, Sunflower Seeds, Choline Chloride, Zinc Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Mixed Tocopherols (Preservative), 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:

35%
Crude Protein
20%
Crude Fat
4%
Crude Fiber
10%
Moisture
0%
Ash

Dry Matter Basis:

39%
Protein
22%
Fat
5%
Fiber
34%
Carbs

Caloric Weight Basis:

31%
Protein
42%
Fat
0%
Fiber
27%
Carbs

Has Acana Cat Food ever been recalled?

The sister company of Acana, Orijen, has been recalled, while Acana has not yet.

Before 2009, Australian trade laws mandated that all foreign foods, whether raw or barely cooked, receive gamma irradiation treatment before being put on the market. Orijen products had to undergo this necessary irradiation process since they include fresh and freeze-dried components.

In 2008, the process eliminated more toxins in Orijen food than just microbes. Vitamin A was decreased, and free radicals were encouraged to develop and increase. When these effects occurred, numerous cats that ate the modified Orijen food became fatally ill.

U.S. consumers sued Acana's parent organisation, Champion Petfoods, in 2018.

According to the class-action lawsuit, Champion Petfoods was accused of misleading consumers by not disclosing the amount of heavy metals and poisons in their food. Both Orijen and Acana foods tested positive for lead, cadmium, mercury, and arsenic by the Clean Label Project. But The median concentration of heavy metals in Orijen and Acana products was below the F.D.A.'s maximum acceptable limits.

How Much Does Acana Cat Food Cost?

Acana is a brand of reasonably priced cat food. Acana costs between $0.64 and $0.75 daily for an 11-lb cat, based on the manufacturer's feeding recommendations. This places Acana in the same pricing range as grain-free dry cat foods like Wellness CORE.

Compared to its meatier and more costly brother, Orijen, Acana is around 20% less expensive, sparing you about $87 annually.

Overall - Our Verdict

One of the top brands of dry cat food available is Acana. Competing kibble brands can't compare to Acana's high meat contents, muscle meat, organs, and cartilage usage in WholePrey ratios, and relatively low carbohydrate levels.

Though Acana is not without fault, however, Acana hasn't yet introduced a Singles line of cat food while offering a range of limited-ingredient food for dogs. The company might not be the best option for cats with dietary allergies and sensitivities because of its focus on various meat proteins.

But the price is high, and the company doesn't have a wide selection. However, you'll probably find stuff in one of its formulas that works for you and your cat.

If price is no issue, there aren't many cat diets in its price bracket that are better than Acana. The amount you're ready to spend to provide your cat with balanced nutrition is up to you, but you may also select a few that are more pricey and even better.

In summary, this food has 15% carbs, 25% fat, and 60% protein on a dry matter basis. The average protein composition in the products is 70%, the moderate fat content is 25%, and the carb content is 5%.

Common FAQs:

Q.1 Is Acana Cat Food Best for Cats?

Ans. Acana Cat Food is excellent, yes. They receive high-quality, locally sourced ingredients from their vendors, and their food never contains artificial preservatives or additives.While vitamins and minerals are added to the Acana Cat Food products to boost their nutritional content, most of their nutrients come from whole prey foods and raw animal ingredients.

Q.2 Acana Cat Food: Is It Worth It?

Ans. Although Acana Cat Food is a little more expensive, it has excellent ingredients. You may be confident that the food products you are purchasing are of the highest quality because Acana never adds elements that are not necessary. Both dry and wet cat food is available from Acana Cat Food, and it is recommended to feed your cat a combination of the two to provide optimum nutrition.

Q.3. Which Cat Breeds Are the Best Fit for Acana?

Ans. Acana is suitable for cats whose parents are prepared to pay all it takes to ensure their happiness and health, like most luxury meals.

Additionally, because they will provide them lots of energy without causing their obesity levels to enlarge, its high-protein recipes are appropriate for high-energy species or those with weight problems.

Q.4 Where can I buy Acana cat food?

Ans. Acana is only offered through local pet specialty merchants and veterinarian clinics, both offline and online (Chewy). Acana is sold by both accredited and unaccredited dealers. Nevertheless, the business asserts only approved shops offer Champion Petfoods 100% satisfaction guarantee and excellent customer service. 

Q.5 Is ACANA devoid of G.M.O.s?

Ans. Yes. According to the company, they don't utilize G.M.O. ingredients.

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