Our Verdict
BORÉAL dry cat food receives the Cat Food Advisor rating, 4 stars
This range of food lists animal meat or fish as the first ingredient. The majority of the recipes are high in protein and carbohydrates. Vitamins and minerals have been added to make this a complete and balanced food suitable for all cats.
Pros
- Contains both animal and fish protein
- High fiber content
- Added vitamins and minerals
Cons
- Contains plant-based protein
- Relatively limited range
Each recipe includes its AAFCO nutrient profile: Growth (kitten), Maintenance (adult), All Life Stages, Supplemental or Unspecified.
The BORÉAL product line includes six dry cat foods.
| Product line | Rating | AAFCO |
|---|---|---|
| BORÉAL Original Chicken | ||
| BORÉAL Original Fish Trio | ||
| BORÉAL Original Turkey & Trout | ||
| BORÉAL Proper Chicken | ||
| BORÉAL Functional Indoor | ||
| BORÉAL Functional Senior / Less Active |
Recipe and Label Analysis
BORÉAL Original Chicken recipe was selected to represent the other products in the line for a detailed recipe and nutrient analysis.
Label and nutrient data below are calculated using dry matter basis.
BORÉAL Original Chicken recipe
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Protein
Fat
CarbsCarbohydrates
Deboned chicken, chicken meal, pea, dried whole egg, pea starch, salmon meal, chicken and turkey fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), northern white pea bean, dehydrated alfalfa meal, natural chicken flavour, flaxseed, choline chloride, salt, yeast extract, lecithin, dl-methionine, chicory root extract, taurine, apple, carrot, cranberry, spinach, blueberry, ferrous sulfate, zinc sulfate, calcium sulfate, vitamin E supplement, zinc amino acid complex, niacin supplement, copper sulfate, manganese sulfate, calcium pantothenate supplement, sodium selenite, manganese amino acid complex, iron amino acid complex, calcium carbonate, vitamin A supplement, thiamine mononitrate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, riboflavin, biotin, vitamin B12 supplement, vitamin D3 supplement, folic acid, calcium iodate.
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 4.5%
Red denotes any controversial items
Ingredients Analysis
The first ingredient is deboned chicken. Chicken is considered “the clean combination of flesh and skin derived from the parts or whole carcasses of chicken”. 1
Chicken is naturally rich in the 11 essential amino acids required by a cat to sustain life.
The second ingredient is chicken meal. Chicken meal is considered a meat concentrate and contains nearly 300% more protein than fresh chicken.
The third ingredient is pea. Peas are a quality source of carbohydrates. And like all legumes, they’re rich in natural fiber.
However, peas contain about 25% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the meat content of this cat food.
The fourth ingredient is whole dried egg, a dehydrated powder made from shell-free eggs. Eggs are easy to digest and have an exceptionally high biological value.
The fifth ingredient is pea starch, a paste-like, gluten-free carbohydrate extract probably used here as a binder for making kibble. Aside from its energy content (calories), pea starch is of only modest nutritional value to a cat.
The sixth ingredient is salmon meal. Because it is considered a meat concentrate, fish meal contains almost 300% more protein than fresh fish itself.
Fish meal is typically obtained from the “clean, dried, ground tissue of undecomposed whole fish and fish cuttings” of commercial fish operations. 2
The seventh ingredient is chicken and turkey fat. These fats are obtained from rendering chicken and turkey, a process similar to making soup in which the fat itself is skimmed from the surface of the liquid.
Chicken and turkey fat is high in linoleic acid, an omega-6 fatty acid essential for life. Although it doesn’t sound very appetizing, fat is actually a quality ingredient.
The eighth ingredient is northern white pea bean. Beans are a quality source of carbohydrates. And like all legumes, they’re rich in natural fiber.
However, pea beans contain about 25% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the meat content of this cat food.
From here the list goes on to include a number of other items. But to be realistic, ingredients located this far down the list (other than nutritional supplements) are not likely to affect the overall rating of the product.
However, there are two notable exceptions.
It includes taurine, an essential amino acid for cats associated with the healthy function of heart muscle and eye sight, and is crucial for maintaining good health in cats. We view the presence of taurine in this recipe as a positive addition.
And, BOREAL dry cat food contains chelated minerals, minerals that have been chemically attached to protein, thus making them easier to absorb. Chelated minerals are usually found in better cat foods.
Recipe star rating 4
Nutrient Analysis
Based on its ingredients alone, BORÉAL Original Chicken recipe looks like an above-average dry product.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 36.7%, a fat level of 20% and an estimated carbohydrate level of 35.3%.
As a group, the brand features a near-average protein content of 36.9% and an above-average fat level of 17%. Together these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 38.1% for the overall product line, alongside a fat to protein ratio of 46%.
This means this BORÉAL Pet Food Dry range contains near-average protein, higher than average carbohydrate and higher than average fat, when compared to typical dry cat food.
Final Word
This range contains good quality animal meat and fish, although it also contains plant-based protein which has to be considered when evaluating and rating the food.
Has BORÉAL Pet Food Dry cat food been recalled in the past?
No, BORÉAL has not been recalled.
You can view a complete list of all cat food recalls since 2021 here.
To stay on top of any cat food product recalls, sign up for our free email alerts, here.
About
BORÉAL Pet Food is based in Beamsville and has headquarters in Ontario, Canada.
The dry pet foods are made in Ontario and contain vegetables grown in Canada’s prairie provinces and in southern Ontario. The meats come from Canadian-raised chicken, turkey, duck, and sustainable salmon farms. The lamb is imported from Australia.
Boreal’s wet foods are made from sustainable sea products raised in British Columbia and Thailand. The majority of the canned foods are produced in Thailand.
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Article reviewed by
Pet Nutritionist
Laura studied BSc (Hons) Animal Science with an accreditation in Nutrition at the University of Nottingham, before working for eight years in the pet food and nutrition industry.
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