Fresh regional ingredients and high-meat formulations have helped make Acana one of the most frequently-recommended and most expensive cat food brands on the market. But is it a good choice for your cat?
Feline news source allaboutcats.com reviewed Acana, providing an unbiased opinion on the brand that many cat owners swear by.
Rating Acana On What Matters
The review analyses and evaluates the brand on species-appropriateness, ingredient quality, product variety, price, customer experience, and recall history. Here’s how it rates in each of those six key areas.
Overall Score: 6.6/10
- Species-Appropriateness – 7/10
- Ingredient Quality – 9/10
- Product Variety – 5/10
- Price – 7/10
- Customer Experience – 6/10
- Recall History – 6/10
As part of the review process, samples were submitted to an independent lab to get a full report. In addition, a sample of Acana Indoor Entree Chicken, Rabbit, Herring Dry Cat Food was submitted for analysis at an ISO 17025 certified food testing and analysis lab. Analytical testing in a food chemistry lab provides the product’s exact macronutrient and micronutrient content, painting a clear picture of what you’re putting in your cat’s bowl.
Remember that, when it comes to nutrient content, the cat food label only gives us a guaranteed analysis, which is a set of minimum and maximum values—not a description of what’s in the food. In reality, the food’s nutrient content may be substantially different from what you see on the label.
We hope the information in this lab report empowers you to take a scientific, data-driven approach to decide whether or not this brand is the right choice for your cat.
Sourcing And Manufacturing
Acana foods are made in Canada and the United States. Buyers from the United States, Central America, and South America receive Acana food manufactured in the company’s DogStar kitchens located in Kentucky. Those living in Canada, Europe, and Asia buy Acana made in the company’s NorthStar kitchen, which is located in Alberta.
In this article, we’ll focus on the formulations produced in the company’s DogStar kitchen.
Champion’s DogStar kitchens are centrally located in Kentucky’s farming community, giving them access to fresh regional ingredients. According to the company, most Acana ingredients arrive at the DogStar kitchen within 48 hours of harvest. To store these fresh ingredients, the DogStar kitchens are equipped with 25,000 square feet of cooler space capable of holding over 500,000 pounds of fresh ingredients.
Acana refuses to outsource its manufacturing to co-packers and they don’t manufacture pet food for anyone else.
Top 3 Acana Cat Food Recipes Reviewed
Allaboutcats.com reviewed the top 3 food recipes for Acana cat food and you can read the results here.
Consumers’ Reviews and Concerns
Acana receives mixed reviews. While the brand is generally well-regarded and gets primarily positive reviews, Acana has been hit by criticism since opening their DogStar kitchen in Auburn, Kentucky. Since the transition to the United States manufacturing plant, customers say that Acana foods taste different, look different, and, according to some, make their pets sick.
The Price You Pay For Acana Cat Food
Import costs have a major effect on the price of Acana in South Africa, making it one of the most expensive cat foods on the market. According to the company’s feeding guidelines for a 5 KG cat is 75 g / ⅝ C per day for Acana Regionals Wild Prairie Cat Food. Based on this, you can get 72 servings out of a 5.4KG bag. With the average online cost of R1150, it works out to be just short of R16 per serving.
The Verdict
Acana is one of the best dry cat food brands on the market. Acana’s unusually high meat inclusions, use of muscle meat, organs, and cartilage in WholePrey™ ratios, and relatively low carbohydrate content set it apart from other kibble brands.
But Acana isn’t without its flaws. Although they offer a line of limited-ingredient foods for dogs, Acana hasn’t yet launched a Singles line for cats. The brand’s emphasis on varied meat proteins may make it a poor choice for cats with food sensitivities and allergies.
