Published Dec 3, 2022
We’ve rated Canada Fresh cat food on ingredient quality, species-appropriateness, recalls, and more. Read our Canada Fresh cat food review to learn how this brand stacks up.
The Cats.com Standard—Rating Canada Fresh Cat Food on What Matters
We’ve rated the brand on six key criteria for quality. Here’s how it rates in each of these six crucial areas.
Ratings
- Species-Appropriateness – 9/10
- Ingredient Quality – 8/10
- Product Variety – 6/10
- Price – 6/10
- Customer Experience – 7/10
- Recall History – 9/10
Overall Score: 7.5/10
In total, we give Canada Fresh cat food a 45 out of 60 rating or a B+ grade.
About Canada Fresh Cat Food
Petkind’s canned food products are sold under the brand name Canada Fresh. Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Canada Fresh is a canned pet food company produced by PetKind, a company owned and operated by the Wasmuth family out of British Columbia. The company was started by the Wasmuths when the matriarch of the family began showing champion dogs. Inspired to create their own healthy dog foods, the family began featuring green tripe in their dog’s meals.
Though PetKind offers a variety of dog and cat food products, their canned cat foods are sold under the brand name Canada Fresh.
These canned foods are made with at least 95% fresh meat or fish. Every recipe has a limited list of high-quality ingredients, including a single source of animal protein. This brand is ideal for cats with food allergies or sensitivities.
Sourcing and Manufacturing
Canada Fresh cat food is made in Canada from mostly Canada-sourced ingredients. The exception is the salmon, which is sourced from Europe. Other PetKind products including Tripe Treats, That’s It, and Tripe Cat are made in the United States.
Ingredient sourcing for PetKind products seems to depend on the product line and where the food is manufactured. Beef, beef tripe, bison tripe, bison, turkey, chicken, and wild salmon are sourced from Canada and venison tripe, lamb trip, lamb, and venison from New Zealand. USA-made PetKind foods use US-sourced beef ingredients and only the Canada Fresh line uses European-sourced salmon.
As part of their commitment to the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC), all Canada Fresh ingredients are sustainably sourced.
Recall History
I didn’t find any evidence of product recalls for Canada Fresh or PetKind cat food. Because I was unable to determine exactly when Canada Fresh was launched, however, the brand doesn’t receive the highest score in this category. Our top rating is reserved for brands with an established history of quality and responsiveness to customer concerns.
What Kinds of Cat Food Does Canada Fresh Offer?
While Canada Fresh is a line of canned food only, Petkind also offers several dry food recipes. Kate Barrington / Cats.com
While this company also offers dry foods, they are sold under the brand PetKind. All canned foods and treats are sold under the Canada Fresh name.
The Canada Fresh canned food lineup is made up of six single-protein wet foods. The proteins featured include lamb, salmon, chicken, beef, and duck. All six are made with at least 95% fresh meat and have a limited ingredient deck which makes them allergy-friendly.
In addition to their canned foods, Canada Fresh offers a collection of four air-dried, single-protein cat treats made with either beef, salmon, lamb, or chicken.
What Do Customers Think Of Canada Fresh Cat Food?
I wasn’t able to determine when Canada Fresh was launched but it may have been recently given the dearth of customer reviews available online. The entire six-product Canada Fresh line has fewer than 100 customer reviews on Chewy and only a handful of reviews on the PetKind website.
On Chewy, Canada Fresh foods seem to be fairly well liked. Most of the reviewed products carry a 3- or 4-star rating, though some have no reviews at all. Customers who wrote positive reviews seem to like the food’s consistency and the quality of the ingredients. Even some who wrote negative reviews report that their issue wasn’t with the food itself but the fact that their cat refused it for whatever reason.
Some negative reviews also mentioned the food being a little dry, though that seems to mostly be the case with the 12-ounce cans rather than the 3- or 5.5-ounce cans.
Let’s take a look at a few reviews from some of the most popular recipes from Canada Fresh.
Positive Reviews
“I’m not sure what the others here are talking about, but this food is amazing. My sister went to Canada and bought some for my cats. The ingredients are great, no bad fillers like gums etc…and most of all my cats love it. KEEP IN MIND, my cats have never been fed cheap food. They eat brands like Instinct, Ziwi Peak, Acana, and Orijen, as well as freeze-dried and air-dried food. Coming from these, the cats absolutely loved Canada Fresh! I think partly because it’s way more moist than the normal brands my cats eat.” -by Sofia Reviewing Canada Fresh Lamb Canned Cat Food on 19 Jun 2022
“So far, we’ve tried the salmon, lamb, and duck from this brand. The duck seems to be the favorite so far, with salmon as a close runner up. I’ve noticed that the duck seems to be less dense, with a bit more moisture than the other flavors as well. I like this brand for their quality and ethics, so as long as the cats keep eating it, I’ll keep feeding it to them.” – by JKLC Reviewing Canada Fresh Duck Canned Cat Food on 17 Sept 2018
Negative Reviews
“My cats did eat this food but they didn’t seem to enjoy it because of how dry it is. When my cats would take breaks after eating they would clean their faces for quite a while and they would only eat if I sat with them, once I walked away they would follow me. This food is just fine but because it’s so dry and a pate in such a large can I just can’t recommend it, honestly I can’t recommend any pate that’s in a can that’s 10 ounces or larger.” – by Gabbie Reviewing Canada Fresh Salmon Canned Cat Food on 6 Mar 2022
“My picky 16 yr. old couldn’t walk away fast enough. This food’s fat content is about the same percentage as its protein which makes the pate a thick, gluey mess. I’m sure loading up on fat is a cost-saving measure for the manufacturer, but it certainly can’t be good for any feline’s health.” – by Sally Reviewing Canada Fresh Red Meat Canned Cat Food on 19 Sept 2018
What Did Our Test Cats Think?
In order to test Canada Fresh cat food, I ordered a case of the salmon canned cat food. I also ordered a bag of PetKind Green Tripe & High Seas Formula dry cat food by mistake, not realizing that the Canada Fresh product line was a separate brand from the Green Tripe product line.
I ordered the 3-ounce cans of Canada Fresh salmon recipe and found the texture to be very smooth and almost mousse-like. I didn’t have the issue one of the reviewers mentioned above, probably because I ordered the smaller cans.
All three of my cats loved the food and I appreciated the smooth, moisture-rich texture. Two of my cats have had dental work and they seem to prefer softer foods. This recipe really fit the bill.
Canada Fresh Cat Food – Top 3 Recipes Reviewed
| Product Name | Food Type | Main Protein Source | Calories | Price Per Ounce | Our Grade |
| Canada Fresh Salmon Canned Cat Food | Wet | Salmon | 31 kcal/oz. | $0.36 | B+ |
| Canada Fresh Lamb Canned Cat Food | Wet | Lamb | 31 kcal/oz. | $0.43 | A- |
| Canada Fresh Duck Canned Cat Food | Wet | Duck | 31 kcal/oz. | $0.55 | B+ |
#1 Canada Fresh Salmon Canned Cat Food
Featuring fresh salmon as the main ingredient, this moisture-rich canned cat food is an appropriate option for cats with allergies to chicken, beef, or other common proteins.
Aside from salmon, the only other ingredient in this formula is peas. Unfortunately, peas can be difficult for cats to digest and they contain phytic acid which may compromise absorption of certain nutrients. Because this ingredient is one of the main ingredients, it contributes significantly to the product’s nutritional composition and high carb content (nearly 20% measured as dry matter).
Though certainly higher than I like to see, the carb content of this food is lower than store-brand cat foods. It’s also a point in this recipe’s favor that it doesn’t contain more than three main ingredients or any artificial additives.
Overall, this is a moderate-protein, high-fat, and fairly high-carbohydrate canned cat food.
Ingredients
Salmon, Salmon Broth, Peas, Calcium Carbonate, Tricalcium Phosphate, Agar-Agar, Choline Chloride, Salt, Taurine, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (Source of Vitamin C), Zinc Proteinate, Vitamin E Supplement, Ferrous Sulfate, Iron Proteinate, Zinc Sulfate, Niacin Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Copper Proteinate, Vitamin A Supplement, Selenium Yeast, Manganese Sulfate, Manganese Proteinate, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin Supplement, Biotin, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin B12. Calcium Iodate, Folic Acid.
| Ingredients We Liked | Ingredients We Didn’t Like | Common Allergens |
| Salmon | Peas
Agar-Agar |
Fish |
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
Pros
- Made with a single source of high-quality animal protein
- Rich in moisture to support your cat’s hydration
- Salmon provides an animal source of omega-3 fatty acids
- Limited list of ingredients, highly digestible
Cons
- Agar-agar may cause stomach upset in some cats
- Peas contribute to a fairly high carb content
#2 Canada Fresh Lamb Canned Cat Food
Another single-protein recipe, this cat food features fresh lamb as the main ingredient with salmon oil as the only source of added fat. The protein and fat content of this recipe is a little higher than the previous formula, and so is the per-ounce price.
Again, peas are a main ingredient in this food. Because the protein and fat contents are higher, however, the total carbohydrate content of the food is a littler lower – closer 10% measured as dry matter.
Like all of Canada Fresh’s canned cat foods, this recipe contains agar-agar as a thickener and stabilizer. While generally regarded as safer than carrageenan, agar-agar has still been known to trigger digestive upset in some cats.
Overall, this is a high-protein, high-fat canned cat food with moderate carbohydrate content.
Ingredients
Lamb, Lamb Broth, Peas, Tri-Calcium Phosphate, Agar-Agar, Calcium Carbonate, Salmon Oil, Choline Chloride, Salt, Taurine, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (Source of Vitamin C), Zinc Proteinate, Vitamin E Supplement, Ferrous Sulfate, Iron Proteinate, Zinc Sulfate, Niacin Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Copper Proteinate, Vitamin A Supplement, Selenium Yeast, Manganese Sulfate, Manganese Proteinate, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin Supplement, Biotin, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin B12, Calcium Iodate, Folic Acid.
| Ingredients We Liked | Ingredients We Didn’t Like | Common Allergens |
| Lamb
Salmon Oil |
Peas
Agar-Agar |
None |
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
Pros
- Made with a single source of novel animal protein
- Salmon oil provides omega-3 fatty acids
- Moisture-rich to support your cat’s hydration
- Free from artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives
Cons
- Peas can be difficult for cats to digest
#3 Canada Fresh Duck Canned Cat Food
This recipe is similar in nutritional composition to the first option but contains the same salmon oil added to the second.
The protein and fat content are roughly equal, so the food offers a fairly concentrated source of calories, but the protein content could be a little higher. Were the protein content higher, the carbohydrate content would be lower. The current formulation contains about 20% carbohydrate as dry matter.
One of the primary benefits to this recipe (and the previous) is that it is made with a single source of novel animal protein. This makes it a good option for cats with allergies to common proteins like chicken and fish.
Overall, this is a moderate-protein, high-fat, and high-carbohydrate canned cat food.
Ingredients
Duck, Duck Broth, Peas, Calcium Carbonate, Agar-Agar, Tri-Calcium Phosphate, Salmon Oil, Choline Chloride, Salt, Taurine, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (Source of Vitamin C), Zinc Proteinate, Vitamin E Supplement, Ferrous Sulfate, Iron Proteinate, Zinc Sulfate, Niacin Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Copper Proteinate, Vitamin A Supplement, Selenium Yeast, Manganese Sulfate, Manganese Proteinate, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin Supplement, Biotin, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin B12, Calcium Iodate, Folic Acid.
| Ingredients We Liked | Ingredients We Didn’t Like | Common Allergens |
| Duck
Salmon Oil |
Peas
Agar-Agar |
None |
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
Pros
- Made with a single novel animal protein
- Rich in moisture to support your cat’s hydration
- May be a good option for cats with food allergies
- Supplemented with salmon oil for omega-3s
Cons
- High carb content around 20% dry matter
- Peas can be difficult for cats to digest
How Much Does Canada Fresh Cat Food Cost?
Because Canada Fresh only offers canned cat food, it might be more expensive to feed it to your cat as an exclusive diet than other brands. Canada Fresh is in a similar price range to Koha’s limited ingredient recipes and Fussie Cat wet foods but is more expensive than similarly-rated cat foods FirstMate.
Canada Fresh canned foods range from around $0.36 to $0.55 per ounce. To feed a 10-pound cat Canada Fresh wet food, you’d spend between $2.32 and $3.54 per day.
Overall, Is Canada Fresh Cat Food A Good Choice?
Canada Fresh offers a limited selection of meat-based canned cat foods. Their recipes are all made with a short list of main ingredients and every recipe contains a single source of animal-based protein. While Canada Fresh cat foods do contain peas which elevate the carbohydrate content, the food is still rich in moisture and animal-based protein and fat.
Unfortunately, Canada Fresh is also a pretty expensive cat food. This is often the case with foods made from locally-sourced ingredients – especially single-protein recipes. Their products are similar in price to some of our top-rated brands like Tiki Cat and Open Farm but are a little less carnivore-friendly given the carb content of the food.
If you’re looking for a single-protein canned food for a cat with allergies or food sensitivities, Canada Fresh is a good choice if it’s within your budget. Otherwise, you may be able to find something of equal or higher quality for around the same price.
Where Is Canada Fresh Cat Food Sold?
Canada Fresh cat food is sold in local and independent pet retail stores and online from Chewy. PetKind notes that the stores listed on their store locator may not carry the full Canada Fresh lineup, so it’s wise to call ahead to confirm availability. You can also buy the food directly from PetKind on the brand’s website.
