Our Verdict
Carna4 cat food receives the Cat Food Advisor rating, 4 stars
This range of food is quick baked, air-dried and formed into round lightweight kibble nuggets. Protein levels are high and derived from animal meat and organs. However, each recipe includes more than one plant based protein, which needs to be considered when evaluating protein levels.
Pros
- High in protein
- Contains animal based protein
- Free from synthetic supplements and artificial additives
Cons
- High carbohydrate content
- Limited range
Each recipe includes its AAFCO nutrient profile: Growth (kitten), Maintenance (adult), All Life Stages, Supplemental or Unspecified.
The Carna4 product line includes two dry cat foods.
| Product line | Rating | AAFCO |
|---|---|---|
| Carna4 Chicken Formula | 4 | A |
| Carna4 Fish Formula | 4 | A |
Recipe and Label Analysis
Carna4 Chicken Formula 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.
Carna4 Chicken Formula
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Protein
Fat
CarbsCarbohydrates
Chicken, chicken liver, eggs, organic sprouted barley seed, herring, ground fava beans, sweet potato, organic sprouted flaxseed, organic sprouted lentils, organic sprouted peas, potato starch, kelp, cranberry, sea salt, sunflower oil, nutritional yeast, natural baking soda.
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 4%
Red denotes any controversial items
Ingredients Analysis
The first ingredient is chicken which 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 liver. This is an organ meat sourced from a named animal and thus considered a beneficial component.
The third ingredient is eggs. Eggs are easy to digest and have an exceptionally high biological value.
The fourth ingredient is organic sprouted barley seed. Unlike seeds, sprouted grains are rich in digestible energy, vitamins, amino acids, proteins, and phytochemicals. And many of the minerals they contain can be naturally chelated.
What’s more, sprouted seeds can be expected to have a lower glycemic index than their refined grain counterparts.
The fifth ingredient is herring. Herring is a fatty marine fish naturally high in protein as well as omega 3 fatty acids, essential oils needed by every cat to sustain life.
The sixth ingredient is ground fava beans. Legumes are naturally high in dietary fiber and other healthy nutrients.
However, beans contain about 25% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the meat content of this cat food.
The seventh ingredient is sweet potato. Sweet potatoes are a gluten-free source of complex carbohydrates in cat food. They are naturally rich in dietary fiber and beta carotene.
The eight ingredient is organic sprouted flaxseed. one of the best plant sources of healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Provided they’ve first been ground into a meal, flax seeds are also rich in soluble fiber.
However, flaxseed contains about 19% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the actual 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.
Recipe star rating 4
Nutrient Analysis
Based on its ingredients alone, Carna4 Chicken Formula
looks like an above-average dry product.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 44.4%, a fat level of 18.9% and an estimated carbohydrate level of 28.7%.
As a group, the brand features an above-average protein content of 44.4% and an above-average fat level of 18.9%. Together these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 28.7% for the overall product line, alongside a fat to protein ratio of 43%.
This means this Carna4 range contains higher than average protein, near-average carbohydrate and higher than average fat, when compared to typical dry cat food.
Final Word
The Carna4 range of food which has good sources of animal protein. This dry food range is unique in that most of the plant ingredients are sprouted, which aids digestion.
The Cat Food Advisor recommends this food.
Has Carna4 Cat Food cat food been recalled in the past?
No. Carna4 cat food has not had a product recall.
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
Carna4 is a boutique pet food brand made in Canada. The brand was founded by David Stauble and Maria Ringo in 2010. It is a private, family-owned company with headquarters in Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Carna4 sources its ingredients from Canadian and American farms
and the food is manufactured by an EU-certified, family-run bakery in Quebec called Bio Biscuit.
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Article reviewed by
Content Director
Julia Ogden, is a former journalist with more than 10 years’ experience in content marketing; specializing in writing for people as well as a Google algorithm.
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