Our Verdict
Canidae PURE cat food receives the Cat Food Advisor rating, 5 stars.
The grain-free wet food recipes feature tuna, chicken and mackerel along with added vitamins and minerals. The broth formula has a smooth texture and meaty flavor. These recipes are made without grains or carrageenan and are formulated to suit cats with allergies or food sensitivities.
Pros
- High protein and low in carbohydrate
- Uses high-quality fish and meat
- High in moisture
- Includes omega fatty acids
Cons
- Expensive
Each recipe includes its AAFCO nutrient profile: Growth (kitten), Maintenance (adult), All Life Stages, Supplemental or Unspecified.
The Canidae PURE wet product line includes four cat foods.
| Product line | Rating | AAFCO |
|---|---|---|
| Tuna, Chicken and Mackerel in Broth | 5 | M |
| Tuna, Chicken and Whitefish in Broth | 5 | M |
| High-Protein Sardine and Mackerel in Broth | 5 | M |
| Salmon and Whitefish in Broth | 5 | M |
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Recipe and Label Analysis
Canidae PURE Wet Cat Food: Tuna, Chicken and Mackerel in Broth 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.
Canidae PURE Wet Cat Food: Tuna, Chicken and Mackerel in Broth recipe
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Protein
Fat
CarbsCarbohydrates
Water sufficient for processing, tuna, chicken, mackerel, sunflower oil, modified tapioca starch, guar gum, tricalcium phosphate, choline chloride, potassium chloride, taurine, sodium chloride, magnesium sulfate, alpha-tocopherol acetate, ferrous sulfate, zinc oxide, niacin, vitamin A acetate, copper proteinate, manganese sulfate, thiamine mononitrate dicalcium phosphate, calcium pantothenate, riboflavin supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), biotin, vitamin B12 supplement, sodium selenite, cholecalciferol, menadione sodium bisulfite complex, potassium iodide, folic acid, magnesium oxide
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 1%
Red denotes any controversial items
Ingredients Analysis
The first ingredient is water, which adds nothing but moisture to this food. Water is a routine finding in most wet cat foods.
The second ingredient is tuna. Tuna is an oily marine fish not only high in protein but also omega 3 fatty acids, essential oils needed by every cat to sustain life.
This item is typically sourced from clean, undecomposed whole fish and fish cuttings of commercial fish operations. 1
The third ingredient is chicken. Chicken is considered “the clean combination of flesh and skin derived from the parts or whole carcasses of chicken”.2
Chicken is naturally rich in the 11 essential amino acids required by a cat to sustain life.
The fourth ingredient is mackerel. Mackerel is an oily salt-water fish naturally high in protein as well as omega-3 fatty acids, an essential fat needed by every cat to sustain life.
The fifth ingredient is sunflower oil. Sunflower oil is nutritionally similar to safflower oil. Since these oils are high in omega-6 fatty acids and contain no omega-3s, they’re considered less nutritious than canola or flaxseed oils.
Sunflower oil is notable for its resistance to heat damage during cooking. There are several different types of sunflower oil, some better than others. Without knowing more, it’s impossible to judge the quality of this ingredient.
The sixth ingredient is modified tapioca starch, a gluten-free, starchy carbohydrate extract made from the root of the cassava plant.
The seventh ingredient is guar gum, a gelling or thickening agent found in many wet pet foods. Refined from dehusked guar beans, guar gum can add a notable amount of dietary fiber to any product.
The eighth ingredient is tricalcium phosphate, a beneficial source of calcium and phosphorus. In addition, this additive is used in wet foods as an emulsifier — an agent designed to disperse a food’s fats more evenly in water.
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.
Recipe star rating: 5
Nutrient Analysis
Based on its ingredients alone, Canidae PURE Wet Cat Food: Tuna, Chicken and Mackerel in Broth recipe looks like an above-average wet product.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 68.8%, a fat level of 12.5% and an estimated carbohydrate level of 10.8%.
As a group, the brand features an above-average protein content of 73.7% and a near average fat level of 11.5%. Together these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 10.8% for the overall product line, alongside a fat to protein ratio of 19%.
This means the Canidae PURE wet product line contains higher than average protein, lower than average carbohydrate and near average fat, when compared to typical wet cat food.
Final Word
The Canidae PURE wet product line is grain-free cat food which is ideal for adult cats with allergies or food sensitivities. The Cat Food Advisor recommends this range and gives it 5 stars.
Has Canidae cat food been recalled in the past?
Yes. In 2012, the company recalled several of its foods due to salmonella contamination. The affected foods were all made by one of the companies that Canidae outsources production to.
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
Canidae was founded in 1996 by Scott Whipple and John Gordon. It is an independently-owned pet food company that’s still under the control of its original owners.
Some of its food is made at the Ethos Pet Nutrition facility in Brownwood, Texas, using natural ingredients that the company raised or grew itself. However, a good portion of its food is made by outside manufacturing plants.
Sources
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Article reviewed by
Veterinarian
Dr Georgia Jeremiah has a first class honors degree in comparative pathology with field experience in anatomic and clinical pathology, studying disease processes in a multitude of species.
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