Canidae is not just the scientific name of the mammal family that includes dogs, it’s also the name of a well-known pet food brand. And while its name might suggest that it’s only focused on dog food, this US brand also produces a cat food range. 

Canidae says its focus is on “sustainable goodness”, not just for pets but for the planet as a whole. It aims to use wholesome, premium ingredients to provide the nutrition your cat needs, while at the same time sourcing sustainable ingredients to help look after the environment.

Wag! rates Canidae cat food 4.5 out of 5 due to its protein contents, ingredient quality, and recipes for specific health needs. It's also vet recommended. It misses out on top marks due to its price and customer feedback.

So is Canidae the best choice for your pint-sized panther? Keep reading for our unbiased Canidae cat food review where we examine its pros and cons, customer reviews, and recalls.

The Canidae cat food range features a variety of dry and wet recipes spread across two product lines that feature premium proteins and wholesome veggies: PURE and Goodness. Let’s take a closer look at what each of these lines has to offer.

All Canidae cat foods are complete and balanced, meeting the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) nutrient profile guidelines for all life stages, adult maintenance, or growth.

Read the guaranteed analysis printed on each cat food's label for more information. 

Canidae Goodness cat food is designed to provide wholesome nutrition for your pet using responsibly sourced ingredients. Formulated with a veterinary nutritionist, these recipes don’t feature any corn, wheat, or soy.

First up are four dry foods, each of which is designed to meet a specific nutritional need. Overall, these recipes are high quality with an unprocessed cut of meat as the top ingredient in each recipe. Other common ingredients include turkey meal, oatmeal, and chickpeas (garbanzo beans). 

Goodness for Indoor Cats provides protein to support a healthy weight, and fiber to help your cat feel fuller for longer.

Goodness for Digestion boasts probiotics to support gut health, while the Skin & Coat Formula is a rich source of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids to maintain a shiny coat. Finally, Goodness for Joints features glucosamine and chondroitin to promote strong joints and cartilage.

These dry recipes have good protein-to-fat ratios. Goodness for Digestion contains above-average protein (31.8% as dry matter) and average fat (9.8% as dry matter) compared to your typical cat kibbles. 

Next up are three Balanced Bowl wet recipes that are inspired by home-cooked meals. They combine high-quality animal protein with wholesome veggies, and all meet the AAFCO nutritional levels for maintenance. They’re served in gravy for extra palatability and can be fed as a complete and balanced meal or as a topper.

Like its dry offerings, Canidae Goodness wet food are excellent, with broth and quality cuts of meat as the top ingredients. Balanced Bowl Chicken & Pumpkin has above-average protein (50% as dry matter) and average fat (9.3% as dry matter) compared to standard wet cat food. 

The PURE range is Canidae’s limited-ingredient product line. It features recipes crafted with quality protein sources, a host of essential nutrients, and never more than ten ingredients. The first ingredient is real meat or fish, and all seven recipes are grain-free, designed to suit pets with food allergies and sensitivities.

There’s no corn, wheat, or soy in these recipes, and animal proteins are paired with ingredients like sweet potatoes and chickpeas. Recipes are also a good source of omega fatty acids for skin and coat health, and include taurine to support a healthy heart and vision.

Overall, Canidae PURE dry and wet food have similar ingredients to the Goodness range, except with no grains and only a handful of primary ingredients. 

Canidae PURE Grain Free Chicken dry food contains lower protein (38.4% as dry matter) and higher fat (19.7% as dry matter) than Goodness recipes. 

Canidae PURE Grain Free Tuna, Chicken and Mackerel in Broth has high protein (68.7% as dry matter) and average fat (12.5% as dry matter) levels compared to standard wet cat food. Canidae PURE wet foods generally have excellent protein-to-fat ratios. 

Dr. Georgia Jeremiah, pet nutrition expert and one of Wag!’s veterinary consultants, recommends Canidae cat food to her clients. “Canidae offers premium wet and dry grain-free recipes, featuring premium proteins in limited ingredient formulas, with real meat and no fillers like corn, wheat, soy, or animal byproduct meals,” she says. “Their variety of recipes caters to picky eaters, and formulations by veterinary nutritionists aim to enhance digestion, skin, and coat health.”

There’s plenty of choice in the Canidae cat food range. So, if your cat is a picky eater or you just like to give them plenty of variety in their diet, you’ll be able to find what they need from this brand.

The Canidae range also has products designed to meet the nutritional needs of a wide range of felines. While there are some recipes designed to meet the AAFCO Cat Food Nutrient Profiles for maintenance, there are also formulas that feature ingredients to help promote proper digestion, support skin and coat health, support strong joints, and keep your cat in a healthy weight range.

Canidae dry food recipes are made in the USA, providing peace of mind for pet parents. The company produces kibble at its own plant in Brownwood, Texas, while its wet food is produced at partner facilities across the US.

Canidae also highlights its commitment to sustainability. This includes using regeneratively farmed grains and vegetables for its cat and dog food products, and introducing the use of recycled materials across its pre-packaged products.

Canidae has picked up some negative customer reviews online. On ConsumerAffairs.com, it has an average rating of 2.6 out of 5 stars from over 1,700 reviews.

Some pet parents have reported that their cat didn’t want to eat some Canidae recipes. Cats can be notoriously fussy eaters, but your pet may need to sample a few products to find something they like.

Canidae is far from the most expensive cat food brand on the market, but there are cheaper options available. At the time of writing, a 10 lb bag of the PURE limited-ingredient salmon recipe retails for $34.99 on Chewy, or $3.50 per lb. If you’re looking for something more affordable, you’ll need to consider other budget-friendly cat foods.

“My cat was having some stomach problems so one of my friends suggested switching to this food because it has limited ingredients. So glad I tried it! Minnie has been eating this food for 2 years now and absolutely loves it. Her stomach issues cleared up and she is now as healthy as can be. We love supplementing her diet with the salmon and sweet potato wet food!”

“My cats were each born with a single kidney. On top of that, my girl has digestive issues that cause frequent vomiting. This food has helped immensely. In fact, I have to use slow-feed bowls or the cats eat it too quickly! They love it and I’m thrilled with the improvements to their health. I do feed a mix of wet and dry, but I went through 8 dry foods to find one that works for my babies and this was it.”

Read more reviews on Chewy.

Canidae was founded in California by two friends, Scott Whipple and John Gordon, in 1996. The two met while working at a pet supply store known as San Dimas Grain Company. As pet parents themselves, Whipple and Gordon wanted to create a pet food that didn’t contain any chemicals, preservatives, or other nasties. Canidae was the result, and the company took ownership of a 100,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Brownwood, Texas, in 2012.

“Animals aren’t just pets, you know? They’re part of our family. People entrust us and we don’t take that lightly,” Whipple says in this promotional video.

The only recall in Canidae’s history occurred on May 5th, 2012. 

The brand issued a voluntary recall of four dry dog foods due to potential Salmonella contamination at Diamond Pet Foods’ South Carolina manufacturing facility.