The Ultimate Guide to Canadian Pet Food Brands

I have a similar post that I wrote in 2023 but I decided it’s time to update it! Because of tariffs, it’s safe to say many Canadian pet parents are now looking for good quality, locally made pet foods. And the good news is – there are plenty of options! Whether you feed your cat kibble, canned, raw, or mix of them – I gotcha covered! 

This article exclusively lists Canadian brands manufacturing in Canada, eliminating potential tariff costs.

Canadian Kibble / Dry Pet Food Brands

Truth be told, I am not an expert when it comes to kibble feeding; in fact, I don’t recommend it. If I want to have some shelf stable pet food, I go for freeze dried raw. It’s a much better / healthier alternative to kibble. 

If kibble is what you and your pet need, then keep on reading! Here are some (great) Canadian brands that produce kibble:

Carna4

I wholeheartedly support this brand and their products! Their kibble is slightly different – it’s quick baked, completely synthetic-free, and made with whole foods only. While they may be priced higher than some commercial kibble, they offer a high-quality option.

Nutrience

I’ve heard some great things about their Sub-Zero line! Their products are sourced from local farms – where the animals are humanely raised and sustainably harvested. 

First Mate + Kasiks

Those are sister brands so I decided to put them on this list together. Their products are designed to be nutrient-rich, often requiring less food to provide the same satiety and calories as other brands. 

Boreal

This brand focuses on adding products with low GI – glycemic index. This (supposedly) helps to fuel pets for longer, and keeps the blood sugar levels stable. Each product has added an antioxidant and a prebiotic package to help with digestion and improve palatability.

Performatrin

This brand offers different product lines – Ultra, Culinary, Prime, and Naturals. They focus on using whole, recognizable ingredients, avoiding by-products, artificial additives, and fillers. They offer a variety of proteins, making it easy to implement rotational feeding, which can help diversify your pet’s diet and potentially reduce the risk of allergies or sensitivities

Canada Fresh / PetKind

Every formula contains only one animal protein (except the red meat), which is a good choice for anyone whose pet has sensitivities or allergies. 

Oven Baked Tradition

Their products are slowly cooked at low temperature in the oven; as opposed to extrusion (the usual practice when making kibble). 

Canadian Canned / Wet Pet Food Brands

Nutrience

I use Nutrience SubZero canned food in regular rotation. The quality of the products is top notch, yet very affordable! 

Oven Baked Tradition

I like how many protein options they offer. You can find the “usual” proteins like chicken, beef, and more novelty options like quail, duck, or rabbit. 

First Mate + Kasiks

Those are sister brands; for this reason, I decided to put them on this list together. 🙂 Their products appear to be high in carbohydrates. Consider using them in a rotation, not as a sole diet. 

Boreal

Wet Food is Grain Free, Gum Free, and Potato Free – a limited ingredients diet that is high meat and low carb. They add an antioxidant and a prebiotic package to their products, to help with digestion and improve palatability. From what I found, their products are rather high in carb content, so I suggest including them in your rotation; and not solely relying on those brands when feeding your cat/ pet.

Performatrin

This brand offers different product lines – Ultra, Culinary, Prime, and Naturals. They offer a wide variety of proteins, which is great! Their products appear to be high in carbohydrates. Consider using them in a rotation, not as a sole diet.

Canada Fresh

This brand offers that each can of food is 95% fresh meat. Canada Fresh formulas use a limited ingredient approach to ensure their products are suitable for pets with allergies. Their products appear to be high in carbohydrates. Consider using them in a rotation, not as a sole diet.

Canadian Raw Pet Food Brands 

Now this is my time to shine! Allow me to share my favourite raw pet food brands! We use these brands in our rotation, and I wholeheartedly recommend them all.

Red Dog Blue Kat

The brand is based from BC and source most of their ingredients from local farms. They follow thorough testing regimes (for both the ingredients and the finished products); and create both balanced and “base” options for customers. They even have some snacks and edible bones!

Big Country Raw

This brand is based from Ontario, and mainly sources from local farms as well. BCR facilities follow very strict guidelines for food safety. They offer both complete meals, “pure” options, and edible bones.

Iron Will Raw

Whenever I use their products, Chumka skips all the treats that are on top of the meals and goes straight for “the main food”. It’s that appetizing/ good to him – and he can be a very picky cat at times! IWR sources local and follows strict guidelines for food safety. 

Healthy Paws

This brand includes probiotics and Omega(s) in each of their blends, so you don’t need to add any supplements. I am (or rather, Chumka is) a huge fan of their salmon and venison blends!

The following Canadian brands are also highly regarded, though I haven’t personally tried them yet.

Carnivora

This brand makes foods that replicate what pets would naturally eat in the wild. They include a whole animal in their products – including bones, fur/ feathers, scales, etc. It’s like feeding your pet the whole prey model, except with way less work for you and your pet 🙂 

Bold by Nature

They offer different types of products, with each one closely replicating what a pet would eat in the wild. They add tripe to almost each blend to boost the food with Omegas and probiotics. 

Canadian Freeze Dried Raw Food Brands

Nutrience

Nutrience delivers on all pet food fronts! I regularly include Nutrience White Fish Freeze-Dried cat food when we travel.

Smack 

I remember the first time I’ve heard about this brand was when I was given a small package of it as a gift. I didn’t know much about freeze dried raw food back then, and didn’t think my cat would go for “dry food”… boy howdy was I ever wrong! Chumka fully destroyed that bag and  there was not a single crumb in sight! This brand is absolutely worth every penny! 

Final Words

I hope that you found this post helpful! If you have any questions – feel free to send me a DM on Instagram or send me a message through the contact page! 😊

Please give your pet(s) some love from me!! 💛