ACANA Cat Food Review: Biologically Appropriate Food for Cats

Pet food choices seem to increase in number by the day. More and more pet parents demand better quality than what the traditional pet food products have to offer.

ACANA is one of the brands that specializes in the more protein-centric, species appropriate dog and cat foods. To help you find the best cat food based on what the brand has to offer, we have created this comprehensive ACANA cat food review.

The brand aims to provide biologically appropriate food using high quality natural ingredients. ACANA is owned by Champion Petfoods. The company is the award-winning pet food maker based in Canada that also gave us ACANA’s sister brand, Orijen.

Founded more than 30 years ago in Barrhead, Alberta, Canada, the company created pet foods with fresh regional ingredients that are made in their own kitchens. The company now serves quality pet food in more than 90 countries across the globe.

According to ACANA, their Biologically Appropriate concept means to “mirror the quantity, freshness, and variety of meat that nature evolved dogs and cats to eat.” Aside from making sure that every product is at least 60% -70% meat, ACANA cat food line does not use synthetic vitamins and minerals supplements.

The brand believes in “WholePrey” foods. Meaning all of the nutrients needed by pets are found naturally in organs, bones, and cartilage delivered in appropriate amounts included in the pet food products. This makes ACANA one of the best cat foods you can include in your cat’s diet.

Half of the meats used are supplied either fresh (refrigerated, without preservatives) or raw (flash-frozen, with no preservatives), while the rest are dried for a concentrated source of animal fats and proteins. 25% of the list of ingredients come from whole vegetables, fruits, and botanicals from regional farms.

The brand’s fresh regional ingredients include red meats raised on regional ranches; free-run poultry and cage-free eggs from Kentucky or Canadian farms; wild-caught saltwater fish from New England, as well as freshwater fish; whole fruits and vegetables delivered straight from local farms; and naturally grown botanicals grown for the company by their trusted suppliers.

ACANA Cat Food Review

1. Wild Atlantic

Wild Atlantic is a high-protein dry cat food made with 75% wild-caught mackerel, herring, redfish, hake and flounder.

The first of its ingredients is whole mackerel. Like all ACANA products, Wild Atlantic has WholePrey ratios of fish, organs and bone.

It also has healthy produce such as whole red lentils, whole green peas, pinto beans, chicory root, pumpkin, kale and other vegetables.

All these provide a complete and balanced diet for your cat.

2. Grasslands

Grasslands dry cat food is for kitties who have no protein sensitivities.

Made of fresh ingredients such as grass-fed lamb, free-run duck, cage-free eggs, wild-caught fish and quail, this dry food is packed with high-quality protein.

These biologically appropriate regional ingredients make this a highly nutritious meal for your cats. This cat food is made even tastier with freeze-dried liver.

3. Appalachian Ranch

ACANA Appalachian Ranch is inspired by Kentucky’s Appalachian ranching heritage.

This high-quality grain-free food’s fresh regional ingredients include ranch-raised beef, Yorkshire pork, grass-fed lamb, ranch-raised bison and freshwater catfish. It is packed with rich, meaty flavors that cats crave.

ACANAs WholePrey ratios of meat, organs and cartilage provide nutrients required by a feline diet in their natural form.

It has 2 lbs. of beef, tripe, and liver; 1 lb. pork, liver, and kidney; 1 lb. lamb, liver and tripe; ¼ lb. freshwater catfish; and ¼ lb. ranch raised bison.

4. Meadowlands

Inspired by Kentucky’s own fertile meadows and cold American waters, this dry cat food is made of fresh regional ingredients such as free-range turkey and chicken and wild caught fish.

Additional protein for your cat’s diet comes from cage-free whole eggs. This grain-free kibble includes ACANA’s WholePrey ratios of meat, organs, cartilage and bone as well as nutritious vegetables for naturally present nutrients for a complete and balanced diet for your cat.

5. Highest Protein Kitten Food

This kibble is expertly crafted to support your kitten’s growth and development with premium, protein-rich nutrition.

It starts with free-run chicken and turkey, nutrient-dense chicken liver, and wholesome fruits and vegetables, offering a delicious and nourishing foundation.

Made with up to 75% animal ingredients, this formula delivers the high-quality protein your kitten needs to build strong muscles, without any soy, corn, tapioca or wheat.

It’s enriched with taurine, EPA and DHA to support healthy vision and brain development, while a blend of fiber and probiotics promotes optimal digestion.

Rich in omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, it helps keep your kitten’s skin healthy and coat shiny.

Best of all, it’s made without any artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives—just clean, biologically appropriate nutrition to give your kitten the best start in life.

6. Senior Entrée Free-Run Chicken & Turkey

This food is specially formulated to support the unique nutritional needs of older cats with a high-protein recipe that helps maintain lean muscle mass as they age.

It starts with premium free-run chicken and turkey, providing a rich, flavorful source of animal protein your senior cat will love.

This senior-specific formula includes fiber and a blend of probiotics to promote healthy digestion, along with essential nutrients like taurine, EPA, and DHA to support heart and eye health.

Omega-3 fatty acids are also included to help support joint health and keep your aging kitty comfortable and active.

Made without any artificial flavors, colors or preservatives, this wholesome food offers clean, nourishing ingredients to help your cat thrive in their golden years.

7. Beef & Tuna Chunks in Broth

Introducing a new addition to the ACANA lineup, this tasty chunks in broth brings irresistible taste and premium nutrition to your cat’s bowl.

Each 3-oz can is crafted with 85% high-quality animal ingredients, including protein-rich beef and tuna, offering the nourishment carnivorous cats crave.

This recipe is served in a savory and hydrating bone broth base, enhancing both flavor and moisture intake.

Free from grains, carrageenan and legumes, it's ideal for cats with food sensitivities.

Naturally occurring omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids support healthy skin and a glossy coat, while added antioxidants and vitamin E help maintain a strong immune system.

It's a flavorful, nutrient-rich meal that supports your cat’s health from nose to tail.

8.  Lamb + Lamb Liver in Bone Broth

This is a flavorful and nourishing meal crafted to delight your cat's taste buds while supporting overall health.

Made with a rich blend of raw lamb, lamb liver, lamb kidney, chicken, beef bone broth and chicken bone broth, this recipe delivers a meaty, protein-packed experience your feline will love.

The savory bone broth not only enhances flavor but also provides healthy hydration with every bite.

Free from artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives, this grain-free wet food is made using only the world’s finest ingredients, giving your cat the clean, high-quality nutrition they deserve in a deliciously satisfying recipe.

Where are ACANA cat foods made?

Aside from Biologically Appropriate and Fresh Regional Ingredients, the company’s third core value is Never Outsourced. The company manufactures all of their products in their DogStar kitchen in Kentucky and in their NorthStar kitchen in Canada. Only ACANA and Orijen products are made in both kitchens.

Each kitchen has their own set of products that are sold in their designated markets. DogStar makes the Meadowland, Grasslands, Appalachian Ranch, and Wild Atlantic. While the NorthStar kitchen makes the Wild Prairie, Grasslands, Ranchlands, and Pacifica.

Their DogStar kitchen has 25,000 square feet of cooler space that can store over 600,000 lbs of ingredients. According to the Champion Petfoods, the kitchen itself is custom-built with fresh ingredient-processing technologies that are the first of their kind anywhere in the world.

Next to their NorthStar kitchen in Alberta, Canada is Champion Petfoods’ BAFRINO Research and Innovation Centre. It is the company’s research and development hub focused on advancing their Biologically Appropriate mission in the pet food industry.

BAFRINO means Biologically Appropriate, Fresh Regional Ingredient, and Never Outsourced. Their mandate in four core areas are biologically appropriate food development; fresh meat technologies, natural flavor development, and nutrient testing and validation.

Their kitchens house the fresh meat and produce that are sourced from specialty farmers and are delivered fresh or raw.

At this time, ACANA makes only dry food products for cats. Read the in-depth review below of some of ACANA’s top-rated cat foods on Amazon.com to find the best cat food for your cat’s diet.

Parting Words

Champion Petfoods has been in the pet product industry for 30 years, and is one of the most trusted names of pet lovers. ACANA is definitely a brand known for high quality pet nutrition.

Did it live up to expectations? In terms of ingredient quality, we think they did. Their use of fresh regional ingredients is enough to make discerning pet parents pay attention. The first five ingredients of all of their dry cat food are animal protein. They are all grain free and do not have corn and wheat fillers in the ingredients list.

Even the carbohydrates, fiber, vitamins and minerals sources are of good quality vegetables and fruits. No artificial supplements are included in all of their foods. All nutrients required by a cat’s diet are naturally sourced from their WholePrey superfoods that include meat, organs, bone, and cartilage. The products are also free from artificial enhancers such as favors, colors, or preservatives.

However, some cat owners feel that ingredients such as peas, whole green lentils, chicory root, pumpkin, kale, chickpeas, etc. do not need to be in a cat’s diet. They prefer that the ingredients list be simpler with more protein that carnivorous felines need in their diet. All ACANA foods however, contain 60% – 70% meat.

As far the results are concerned, ACANA has delivered excellently. Many cats have personally experienced the health benefits from their products. Their cat foods have received rave reviews saying that their cats’ tummy issues have been resolved or improved. Most of the good reviews received are for the healthy skin and beautiful shiny coats that their cats have grown since being regularly fed ACANA kibbles.

While some find their products too expensive, cat parents who swear by their food find that the quality is worth the extra cost. Their cats are healthier and they can rest assured that only fresh regional ingredients go into every bag of ACANA cat foods.