Canidae Cat Food Review 2024: Natural Cat Food for Every Life Stage

Canidae is a pet food brand that has been well received by pet parents who wants to feed their furry friends natural yet affordable foods.

Established in 1996, Canidae was created by young entrepreneurs who listened to what customers are really looking for in pet foods. For an in depth look into their products, we have created this 2024 Canidae cat food review just for you.

Co-founders John Gordon and Scott Whipple recognized that there is indeed a gap between what pet parents want in pet foods and what is available in the market. They teamed up with veterinarians and pet nutritionists and created their first pet food products in 1996.

Canidae opened their Brownwood, Texas facility called Ethos Pet Nutrition in 2012. This is where their products are made in small batches. Prior to establishing their own manufacturing facility, all of the food brand’s products were made by Diamond Pet Food.

The Canidae food brand has 2 dry cat food products lines, and one wet cat food line. To help you pick the right foods for your cat, we have reviewed Canidae’s best-selling products available on Chewy.com.

Canidae Cat Food Review

Reviewed Canidae Cat Foods

1. CANIDAE PURE Limited Ingredient Salmon Recipe
2. CANIDAE Grain-Free PURE Elements LID
3. CANIDAE Grain-Free PURE Ancestral Diet
4. CANIDAE Grain-Free PURE Limited Ingredient Diet Paté
5. CANIDAE Adore Tuna, Chicken & Whitefish in Broth
6. CANIDAE Adore Sardine & Mackerel in Broth

Canidae Cat Food Reviews

1. CANIDAE PURE Limited Ingredient Salmon Recipe

CANIDAE Pure LID Salmon Formula is a dry cat food that offers complete and balanced nutrition for cats of every age.

Highly recommended for households with multiple pets of varying ages, this takes the guess work out of picking which foods to feed your cat.

This dry food offers optimum protein from salmon, salmon meal & menhaden fish meal.

Every kibble has Canidae’s HealthPlus Solutions. HealthPlus Solutions has probiotics, antioxidants, and omega fatty acids for your cat’s overall health.

The first five ingredients of this All Life Stages recipe is made with just 7 key ingredients.

Pros

No more puking. This product from Canidae has received great reviews from cat parents of kitties with sensitive tummies. It has probiotics that help aid digestion.

According to them, the kitties are able to keep this Canidae cat food down. It is highly digestible and does not upset the pets’ stomachs.

Silky soft fur. Many cat parents have noticed significant improvements in their pets’ skin and fur quality after switching to this Canidae cat food. Their fur are so much softer and shinier. They take this as a sign of good overall health.

Cons

Possible recipe change. According to a few reviews, there may have been some changes in the recipe of this All Life Stages product. These cat owners’ pets seem to prefer the previous recipe. The possible recipe change is not confirmed at this time.

However, the food brand states that they do make their products in small batches. According to their website, “any variations in color, size, or shape that you experience from bag to bag is due to the individual cooking process of each batch”.

Conclusion

CANIDAE PURE Limited Ingredient Salmon Recipe is highly recommended for families with multiple pets, as it can be fed to cats of all ages.

Many kitties with sensitive stomachs seem to thrive on this dry Canidae cat food. Vomiting has been resolved, Kitties are also enjoying improvements in their skin and coat health.

However, some owners feel that there may have been slight changes to the recipe, as kitties who previously loved this product seem to have changed their minds.

2. CANIDAE Grain-Free PURE Elements LID 

CANIDAE Grain-Free PURE Elements with Chicken Limited Ingredient Diet dry cat food is made with fresh chicken. The first of its 8 main ingredients is chicken.

It is made with whole foods for easy digestion. This grain-free food is free from gluten, wheat, corn, soy, antibiotics, and added hormones. This product has vitamins and minerals for a complete and balanced nutrition.

This grain-free recipe’s first five ingredients are Chicken, chicken meal, turkey meal, potatoes, peas.

Pros

Good for digestion. Kitties who were previously suffering from digestive issues such as vomiting or IBD have found relief since being fed with this cat food. It is gentle on even sensitive stomachs. The probiotics in Canidae’s products seem to aid digestion as well.

Kitties seem to be fuller for much longer due to the high protein content of this food. Some older pets who have lost a bit of their muscle mass have gained a healthy amount of weight. The kitties have also shown higher levels of energy when fed this recipe.

No more hairballs. This dry Canidae cat food has helped kitties with hairball issues, as per some Canidae reviews. Hairballs have been reduced or completely eradicated. The good digestion it offers helps in preventing hairballs in kitties.

Cons

Inconsistent kibble size. According to a few Canidae grain free review comments, the kibble sizes keep changing and their kitties are not fans of the new kibbles.

Conclusion

CANIDAE Grain-Free PURE Elements with Chicken Limited Ingredient Diet is recommended for kitties who have sensitive stomachs.

Many who were previously suffering from digestive issues such as vomiting and IBS are thriving on this food. They are able to keep the food down. The probiotics present in this product also helps in preventing hairballs.

However, some find that the kibble sizes are quite inconsistent. Such small changes are sometimes enough to turn a pet off cat foods that they once liked.

3. CANIDAE Grain-Free PURE Ancestral Diet 

CANIDAE Grain-Free PURE Ancestral Diet Freeze-Dried Raw Coated Multi-Protein Formula with Turkey & Salmon dry food features freeze-dried raw coated kibbles.

Its first ingredient is turkey. The first five ingredients of this high quality product are all animal proteins. This recipe for all life stages contains no wheat, corn, or soy. Perfect for kitties with sensitive stomachs.

This product is enriched with taurine to help support heart and vision health. It is also fortified with vitamin supplements such as biotin, vitamins A, E, B6, B12, and D3; as well as minerals like zinc proteinate, manganese proteinate, copper proteinate, zinc sulfate, and sodium selenite among others. This ensures a complete and balanced nutrition for every meal.

The first five ingredients of this high-protein dry food are turkey, salmon, lamb meal, chicken meal, and turkey meal.

Pros

High in protein. As this dry food is high in protein, pets do not need to gorge on food to satisfy their hunger. As a result, the kitties do not overeat. They are fuller for longer and seem satisfied until their next meal.

Great for weight maintenance. Due to the high animal protein content of this dry food, PURE Ancestral Diet Freeze-Dried Raw Coated Multi-Protein Formula is great for maintaining a healthy weight.

According to a few reviews, even kittens who were previously underweight have gained healthy weights since being fed this dry food. The cats are able to build healthy muscle mass without gaining excess fats.

Cons

Veggies. According to a few reviews, the inclusion of plant-based ingredients such as peas, sweet potatoes, and suncured alfalfa is not preferable to some cat owners. The cat owners prefer feel that such ingredients are just fillers that offer no nutritional value to cats.

Conclusion

CANIDAE Grain-Free PURE Ancestral Diet Freeze-Dried Raw Coated Multi-Protein Formula with Turkey & Salmon recipe good high protein dry cat food to try if you want to introduce your cat to the taste of raw freeze-dried food.

As it is high in protein, it is great for maintaining healthy weights. Underweight cats are able to gain healthy muscle mass, while overweight cats lose excess pounds.

The kitties seem fuller for much longer and actually eat less as a result. However, a few cat owners feel that the plant-based ingredients such as sweet potatoes, peas, lentils, and others do not offer much nutrition to cats.

4. CANIDAE Grain-Free PURE L.I.D Paté 

CANIDAE Grain-Free PURE Limited Ingredient Diet Paté with Tuna Canned Cat Food is a grain-free paté that contains only one type of animal protein.

The first of its ingredients is tuna. It is specially formulated for sensitive cats with food allergies. It contains no other animal protein sources such as chicken, eggs, beef, fish (other than tuna), or other poultry. It is also free from grains, wheat, soy, corn, and potatoes.

This wet food has taurine for heart and eye health. It is enriched with vitamins and minerals for a complete and balanced meal. This grain-free products is free from artificial enhancers such as colors, flavors, or preservatives.

The first five ingredients of this limited ingredient paté are tuna, fish broth, pea flour, sunflower oil, and natural flavors.

Pros

Good for sensitive cats. Kitties with skin allergies have thrived on this Canidae cat food grain free PURE Limited Ingredient tuna recipe from Canidae. Their skin and coat are much healthier. This wet food is recommended for cats who are allergic to all grains and animal proteins except tuna.

High quality ingredients. Cat parents love that CANIDAE Grain-Free PURE Limited Ingredient Diet Paté with Tuna has only high quality ingredients. The first ingredient is real tuna, and it is free from fillers that are possible allergens such as grains, gluten, corn, soy, or wheat. You can be confident that what you feed your cat is made of only nutritious ingredients.

Cons

A bit dry. According to a handful of reviews, they find that this tuna paté is slightly too dry. They would prefer a bit more moisture in this canned food.

Conclusion

If you have a cat with food sensitivities such as allergies to poultry, grains, or any animal protein except for tuna, CANIDAE Grain-Free PURE Limited Ingredient Diet Paté with Tuna may be the one for her. Many cats with sensitive tummies and food allergies have thrived well on this Canidae cat food.

They were able to keep the food down, and those who had skin allergies now have much healthier skin and coat. However, some find that this paté is a bit lacking in moisture.

5. CANIDAE Adore Tuna, Chicken & Whitefish in Broth 

CANIDAE Adore Tuna, Chicken & Whitefish in Broth Canned Cat Food has tasty sheds of meat that cats just love. It has real tuna, chicken, and whitefish served in flavorful broth.

Packed with protein, this Canidae cat food is free from grains, wheat, corn, or soy. This versatile product can be served on its own as a meal or as a meal topper.

This tuna, chicken, and whitefish recipe’s first five ingredients are water for processing, tuna, chicken, whitefish, and sunflower oil.

Pros

Cats love it! Kitties seem to enjoy the meaty combination of tuna, chicken, and whitefish. They love the meat shreds and enjoy licking the tasty broth. Even known picky kitties love this Canidae cat food. This is a great way to add moisture to your cat’s diet.

High in protein. This canned cat food is packed with protein from tuna, chicken, and whitefish. It has a higher protein content compared to the average wet cat food. It contains no grains, wheat, corn, soy, or even potatoes. This is perfect for cats in need of weight maintenance.

Cons

Difficult to open. A few reviews state that the cans are a bit hard to open without spilling some of the cat food.

Conclusion

This product is a good wet food for cats who have no protein sensitivities. Its animal protein content comes from chicken, tuna, and whitefish.

Highly recommended for cats who need to cut down on carbs, CANIDAE Adore Tuna, Chicken & Whitefish in Broth has more protein than the average wet food.

It is not only nutritious, but the combination of chicken and fish seem to be a hit among cats. They just love chewing the meaty shreds and happily lap up the broth. However, the can proves to be difficult to open for a few cat parents.

6. CANIDAE Adore Sardine & Mackerel in Broth 

CANIDAE Adore Sardine & Mackerel in Broth Canned Cat Food is packed with protein from sardine, mackerel, shrimp, and crab. This extra tasty wet cat food is perfect for fish and seafood lovers.

It contains no poultry or other meat by-products in its ingredients which makes it safe for kitties allergic to poultry and other animal proteins. This flavorful meal served in broth contains no grains, wheat, corn, soy, or even carrageenan. Fortified with vitamins and minerals, each can provides complete and balanced nutrition for your cat.

The first five ingredients of Canidae Adore Sardine & Mackerel in Broth are water for processing, sardine, mackerel, fish broth, and potato starch.

Pros

Visibly natural ingredients. Cat parents appreciate that they can clearly see the real meat from sardines, mackerel, shrimp, and crab every time they open a can of this Canidae cat food. This gives you confidence that what you feed your cat is real and nutritious food, and not overly processed protein from unnamed animals.

Flavorful meals. Cats who are fans of fish and seafood cat foods just love this product. They love the meat morsels and the extra tasty fish broth it is served in. even finicky kitties lick their bowls clean when served this wet food.

Cons

A bit expensive. Some cat owners find this cat food somewhat expensive to feed cats every day, especially for multiple cat households.

Conclusion

CANIDAE Adore Tuna, Chicken & Whitefish in Broth is a highly recommended wet cat food for fish and seafood lovers, or those who are allergic to other animal proteins such as poultry. The cats look forward to their meals and lick their bowls clean. This cat food has actually been given a rating of 4.5 stars at Chewy.com.

It is easy to see why they go crazy for this cat food as you can clearly see the bits of sardines, mackerel, shrimp, and crab in every can. However, cat foods with high quality ingredients do cost more than your usual cat foods. It can be quite costly to feed cans of this product to multiple cats on a daily basis.

Summary

Canidae is one of the respected brands in the natural pet foods industry. They have a variety of flavors and textures to choose from, and all of them are suitable for cats of all life stages.

This makes it easier for multiple cat households as you can feed the same Canidae food to cats of every age. They have a lot of grain free foods options, as well as grain-inclusive dry cat foods.

They offer a variety of choices to those who want to give their cats healthy, natural foods. They even have the Ancestral line that has raw freeze-dried coated kibbles. This makes it a good introduction into raw foods.

The ingredients of their foods are all high quality meat such as chicken, tuna, salmon, sardines, and other seafood. The pet food brand does use animal protein meals such as chicken meal, lamb meal, and turkey meal.

They do not use by-product meals. No artificial enhancers such as colors, flavors, and preservatives are ever used. Their grain-free options have healthy whole plant-based ingredients such as sweet potatoes, lentils, and peas.

While their Grain-free PURE Limited Ingredient dry cat food does have a shorter list of ingredients compared to their All Life Stages grain-inclusive products, the protein sources are not exactly limited.

Their limited ingredient chicken recipe actually has turkey meal, lamb meal, menhaden fish meal, and salmon oil aside from the chicken ingredients. Limited ingredient foods are typically sought after by owners of sensitive cats. This makes this chicken recipe not recommended for those who are sensitive to fish.

Their wet cat food products on the other hand have some great options for kitties with food sensitivities. Their grain-free canned food offer poultry-free or fish-free options. Many sensitive cats have thrived well on these products. They have grown healthy coats and improved their skin conditions.

Their canned foods have received rave reviews on the quality of the ingredients. The natural ingredients of the products such as real fish, chicken, and seafood are visible in every can. This gives confidence to cat parents that they are giving their pets high quality nutritious food.

All of Canidae’s products seem to be gentle on sensitive stomachs. They have all received good feedback from cat parents about how issues such as vomiting and IBD have been resolved. Even hairballs have been reduced or completely eliminated.

All these benefits do come with a higher price. The pet food brand’s cat foods cost more than the average food. However, they are not as expensive as other premium brands in the natural pet food products market. Numerous cat parents find good value in Canidae’s food products.

Based on ingredient quality, results delivered, reviews from cat parents, and cost, Canidae is overall a good cat food brand. They offer many options for your cat, and the ingredients of the products are without a doubt high in quality. Canidae’s food products are also affordable and have been known to deliver good results to cats’ health.