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Guardian 8

Adult
Regular
Indoor and Outdoor
AAFCO White Logo
Orijen

Guardian 8

Adult
Regular
Indoor and Outdoor
AAFCO White Logo
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23.2K cats eat it
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Product Summary

Orijen Guardian 8 is a biologically appropriate dry cat food designed to support eight vital areas of feline health, including immune function, digestion, and joint health. Its formula contains 90% premium animal ingredients, with the first five being fresh or raw poultry and fish. The high protein content (40%) from fresh chicken, salmon, and turkey supports muscle maintenance, while added prebiotics and Omega-3 fatty acids promote digestion and a healthy coat.

 

Pros:

  • High protein content (40%) from animal sources supports muscle health.
  • Omega-3 fatty acids (1.2%) from wild-caught fish enhance skin and coat health.
  • Prebiotics like dried chicory root and natural fiber aid digestion.

 

Cons:

  • Fat content is relatively high (18%), which may not suit less active cats.
  • Lower fiber content (4%) might not be ideal for cats needing more digestive support.
  • Contains legumes like lentils and peas, which some owners prefer to avoid.

 

Ingredients

Fresh chicken
32%
Raw salmon
5%
Raw turkey
5%
Raw whole herring
5%
Raw whole mackerel
5%
Fresh chicken giblets (liver, heart)
4.5%
Raw turkey liver
4%
Fresh eggs
4%
Dehydrated chicken
4%
Dehydrated turkey
4%
and also:
Dehydrated herring (4%), Dehydrated chicken liver (4%), Dehydrated egg (4%), Raw rabbit (4%), Whole red lentils, Whole pinto beans, Whole green lentils, Whole chickpeas, Whole navy beans, Whole peas, Pea starch, Ground miscanthus grass, Pollock oil (1%), Chicken fat (0.5%), Fresh whole pumpkin, Fresh whole butternut squash, Dried kelp, Dried chicory root, Fresh whole apples, Fresh whole carrots, Fresh whole pears, Fresh whole zucchini, Brewers dried yeast, Hydrolyzed yeast, Fresh beet greens, Fresh kale, Fresh spinach, Fresh turnip greens, Whole cranberries, Whole blueberries, Fresh poultry (37%), Fresh fish (15%), Fresh poultry giblets (8.5%), Dehydrated poultry (8%), Fresh eggs (4%), Dehydrated herring (4%), Dehydrated chicken liver (4%), Dehydrated egg (4%), Raw rabbit (4%)

Vitamins and Additives

Vitamin B1 25 mg
Vitamin B2 0.1 mg
Vitamin B3 50 mg
Vitamin B5 8 mg
Vitamin B6 7.5 mg
Vitamin B9 0.75 mg
Vitamin B12 0.1 mg
Vitamin E 50 IU
and also:
Technological additives: Tocopherol extracts from vegetable oils: 121 mg, citric acid: 40 mg. Sensory additives: Rosemary extract: 80 mg. Nutritional additives: Choline chloride (choline): 1400 mg, Zinc proteinate: 75 mg, Copper proteinate: 11.3 mg. Zootechnical additives: Enterococcus faecium DSM 10663/ NCIMB 10415 1x10⁹ CFU

Notes

The score is calculated after relocation of fresh meat or fish ingredient(s) as explained in the calculation rule #7 in Chapter 1.

Guaranteed Analysis

Crude Protein
40%
Crude Fat
18%
Crude Fiber
4%
Moisture
10%
Crude Ash
9%
Calcium
1.4%
Phosphorus
1.1%
Magnesium
0.1%
Omega 3
1.2%
Omega 6
3%
Metabolizable Energy
3980 kcal/kg

Notes

The score is calculated after relocation of fresh meat or fish ingredient(s) as explained in the calculation rule #7 in Chapter 1.

Product last updated: September 20, 2024, 12:28 PM

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Why this score?

21.1% carbohydrates of combination P
-11
Low protein content
-6
Additional source of animal protein at 4-5th place
2
Dehydrated Meat/Poultry/Fish at 1st place
4
Fresh Whole Poultry/Fish ingredient at 1st place
2
Natural source of Taurine
5
Chelated minerals
2

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How the score is calculated?

The actual calculation of the score is based on sophisticated and advanced algorithm that takes into account multiple parameters.

To simplify the explanation, the calculation is based on three main criteria:

(1) Amount of protein (more is better)

(2) Amount of carbohydrates (less is better)

(3) Quality and source of ingredients.

Based on that 3 main criteria, 9 score calculation rules are used to compare the different foods.

One major assumption is that the closer an ingredient is to the top of the ingredient list, the greater its relative weight and contribution to the food.

In general, cat food is composed of protein, fats, carbohydrates, fibers, vitamins, and minerals.

Protein is the most important component in a cat’s diet, and cats primarily get their protein from animal meat.

Fat is a primary source of energy and essential fatty acids.

Carbohydrates are controversial in a cat’s diet, as cats are obligate carnivores and typically consume very few carbohydrates.

Fibers play an important role in digestion and food absorption, and vitamins and minerals are essential for different organism functions.

Dry matter values are used to compare the amount of nutrients in different cat foods.
This means that moisture is excluded from the equation to provide a more accurate comparison.

Putting all of these and more into a formula results in a product score.

The maximum score a cat food can receive is 100.
Points are added or removed based on the score calculation rules.