Our Verdict
BORÉAL wet cat food receives the Cat Food Advisor rating, 5 stars
This range of food lists animal meat or fish as the first ingredient and includes other quality products such as vitamins and minerals. Because there is such a wide range of recipes to choose from, you are likely to find the right combination of protein, carbohydrate, fat and moisture content that is right for your cat.
Pros
- Extensive range
- High protein formulas
- Low carbohydrate recipes
- Rich in fat and moisture
Cons
- Contains plant based protein
Each recipe includes its AAFCO nutrient profile: Growth (kitten), Maintenance (adult), All Life Stages, Supplemental or Unspecified.
The BORÉAL wet product line includes 18 cat foods.
| Product line | Rating | AAFCO |
|---|---|---|
| BORÉAL West Coast Selection Cat - Chicken and Salmon Pate | 5 | U |
| BORÉAL West Coast Selection Cat- Lamb and Beef Pate | 5 | U |
| BORÉAL West Selection Coast Cat - Chicken and Lamb Pate | 5 | U |
| BORÉAL West Coast Selection Cat - Chicken and Beef Pate | 5 | U |
| BORÉAL West Coast Selection Cat- Chicken Pate | 5 | U |
| BORÉAL Cobb Chicken, Canadian Duck & Atlantic Salmon | 5 | U |
| BORÉAL Cobb Chicken, New Zealand Lamb & Angus Beef | 5 | U |
| BORÉAL Cobb Chicken, New Zealand Lamb & Angus Beef | 5 | U |
| BORÉAL Cobb Chicken and Atlantic Salmon | 5 | U |
| BORÉAL Cobb Chicken and Chicken Liver | 5 | U |
| BORÉAL Cobb Chicken and Canadian Duck | 5 | U |
| BORÉAL Cobb Chicken and Heritage Turkey | 5 | U |
| BORÉAL Pork and Trout | 5 | U |
| BORÉAL Heritage Turkey & Trout | 5 | U |
| BORÉAL Red Tuna, Carrot & Green Pea in Gravy | 5 | U |
| BORÉAL Red Tuna With Shrimp in Gravy | 5 | U |
| BORÉAL Red Tuna With Whitefish in Gravy | 5 | U |
| BORÉAL Red Tuna With Gravy | 5 | U |
| BORÉAL Red Tuna With Chicken in Gravy | 5 | U |
Recipe and Label Analysis
BORÉAL Cobb Chicken, Canadian Duck & Atlantic Salmon 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 Cobb Chicken, Canadian Duck & Atlantic Salmon recipe
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Protein
Fat
CarbsCarbohydrates
Chicken, chicken broth, salmon, duck, beans, peas, whole egg, whole green peas, lecithin, calcium carbonate, flaxseed, choline chloride, monosodium phosphate,vegetable oil, salt, dl-methionine, yucca schidigera extract, pea fiber, dried blueberries, dried blackberries, dried apples, dried pomegranate, dried cranberries, taurine, l-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate (source of vitamin C), zinc amino acid complex, vitamin E supplement, ferrous sulfate, iron amino acid complex, zinc sulfate, niacin supplement, thiamine mononitrate, copper proteinate, vitamin A supplement, sodium selenite, manganese sulfate, manganese amino acid complex, d-calcium pantothenate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, riboflavin supplement, biotin, vitamin D3 supplement, vitamin B12 supplement, calcium iodate, folic acid.
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 1.0%
Red denotes any controversial items
Ingredients Analysis
The first ingredient is 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 broth. Broths are of only modest nutritional value. Yet because they add both flavor and moisture to a cat food, they are a common component in many wet products.
The third ingredient is salmon. Salmon is an oily marine and freshwater fish not only high in protein but also omega 3 fatty acids, essential oils needed by every cat to sustain life.
The fourth ingredient is duck. Duck is considered “the clean combination of flesh and skin derived from the parts or whole carcasses of duck”. 2
Duck is naturally rich in the 11 essential amino acids required by a cat to sustain life.
The fifth ingredient is beans. Legumes naturally high in dietary fiber and other healthy nutrients.
The sixth ingredient is peas which are a quality source of carbohydrates and natural fiber.
However, both beans and peas contain about 25% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the meat content of this cat food.
The seventh ingredient is whole egg. Eggs are easy to digest and have an exceptionally high biological value.
The eighth ingredient is whole green peas. 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.
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, this recipe does contain two notable exceptions:
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, this food also contains chelated minerals that have been chemically attached to protein. This makes them easier to absorb. Chelated minerals are usually found in better cat foods.
Recipe star rating 5
Nutrient Analysis
Based on its ingredients alone, BORÉAL Cobb Chicken, Canadian Duck & Atlantic Salmon recipe looks like an above-average wet product.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 36.4%, a fat level of 34.1% and an estimated carbohydrate level of 21.5%.
As a group, the brand features an above-average protein content of 45% and an above-average fat level of 25%. Together these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 21.9% for the overall product line, alongside a fat to protein ratio of 64%.
This means this BORÉAL wet cat food range contains higher than average protein, lower than average carbohydrate and higher than average fat, when compared to typical wet cat food.
Final Word
This range of food is extensive as there are 18 recipes to choose from. Each one lists the first ingredient as animal meat, or fish. There are both high protein formulas, in addition to low carbohydrate options.
The Ca tFood Advisor recommends this food.
Has BORÉAL Pet Food Wet cat food been recalled in the past?
No. BORÉAL Pet Food 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.
Sources
Best cat foods
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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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