Orijen Six Fish vs Wellness Complete Health: Which Dry Cat Food Wins?
Wellness Complete Health Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal & Rice Recipe
Full review →The short answer. Orijen wins by six points, delivering 40% protein, the highest omega-3 load in this ranking and a clean 40-year recall record — for 76% more per pound. Wellness Complete Health is the value answer at $3.80/lb with a fully disclosed label and a 98 value score.
Side by side
Every number below comes from the manufacturer's current label or current US retail listings, scored on the same 6-dimension model. Shaded cells mark the better value on that row.
| Attribute | Orijen Six Fish Grain-Free Dry Cat Food | Wellness Complete Health Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal & Rice Recipe |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 91 / 100 | 85 / 100 |
| Protein quality & source (30%) | 100 | 90 |
| Ingredient transparency (20%) | 80 | 80 |
| Nutritional standards (18%) | 84 | 80 |
| Recall history & safety (14%) | 95 | 79 |
| Value for money (10%) | 89 | 98 |
| Owner & pal feedback (8%) | 90 | 84 |
| Protein (as fed) | 40.0% | 38.0% |
| Protein (dry matter) | 44.4% | 42.2% |
| Fat (min) | 20.0% | 17.0% |
| Fibre (max) | 3.0% | 4.0% |
| Moisture | 10.0% | 10.0% |
| Calorie density | 4,120 kcal/kg | 3,952 kcal/kg |
| Price per lb | $6.67/lb | $3.80/lb |
| Price per 1,000 kcal | $3.57 | $2.12 |
| Owner rating | 4.5/5 (1,352 ratings) | 4.3/5 (252 ratings) |
| First ingredient | Whole Herring | Deboned Chicken |
| Form | Dry (kibble) | Dry (kibble) |
| Life stage | All life stages | Adult maintenance |
| Best for | Cats that need very high animal protein and omega-3, and poultry-sensitive cats | Adult cats whose owners want high animal protein with grains and full label disclosure |
Where the difference actually comes from
Cats are obligate carnivores and both foods are built around that, but Orijen pushes further: 40% protein against 38%, six marine fish rather than poultry, and an animal inclusion near 90%. For a cat that is poultry-sensitive or coat-dull, the marine fat profile is the substantive reason to pay for it.
The safety argument is the same one that separates these brands in the dog ranking: Champion has no recall for Orijen across four decades, giving it 95 on safety against Wellness's 79. Wellness is not a risky food — its 79 reflects a real but shorter event history.
Price is where Wellness wins decisively. At $3.80/lb against $6.67/lb it takes 98 on value against 89, and it still delivers 38% protein with a fully disclosed panel led by deboned chicken. Its weakness is sample size: 252 ratings at 4.3/5 against Orijen's 1,352 at 4.5, so the owner consensus behind it is thinner.
Which one should you buy?
Choose Orijen if
Your cat is poultry-sensitive or needs maximum marine omega-3, and you want the cleanest manufacturer safety record in the ranking.
Choose Wellness Pet Food if
You want high animal protein with grains, a fully disclosed ingredient panel, and to pay roughly half as much per pound.
Pros and trade-offs
Orijen
What owners and our testing liked
- Six named whole fish - whole herring, salmon, flounder, Acadian redfish, monkfish and whole hake
- 40% protein with 2% omega-3 and 0.65% EPA plus DHA, and 1.1% DHA declared on the label
- All-life-stages statement covers kittens through seniors in one bag
- Chicken-free, which makes it usable for cats with poultry sensitivities
Trade-offs
- About $3.57 per 1,000 kcal - the most expensive dry cat food in this ranking per calorie
- Very rich at 4,120 kcal/kg; free-feeding this is the fastest route to an overweight cat
- Fish-heavy recipes are a poor choice for cats with a history of urinary crystals or fish allergy
Wellness Pet Food
What owners and our testing liked
- Deboned chicken and chicken meal lead, then barley, rice and oats - no plant protein concentrate in the top five
- 38% protein with cranberries and chicory root for urinary and digestive support
- Wellness discloses taurine, calcium, phosphorus, omega-3, omega-6, glucosamine, chondroitin and a live probiotic CFU count
- Grain-inclusive, which sidesteps the legume-heavy formulation of most grain-free competitors
Trade-offs
- Only sold in a 5 lb bag, so $3.80/lb never improves - about $2.12 per 1,000 kcal
- 4.3/5 across just 252 ratings, the thinnest and lowest review base in this ranking
- Formulated-to-meet only, with no feeding-trial evidence
Frequently asked questions
Is grain-free better for cats?
Cats have no nutritional requirement for grain, so grain-free is not harmful, but it is not automatically superior either. Both foods here are grain-free in practice for Orijen and grain-inclusive for Wellness, and the more meaningful difference is animal protein percentage and ingredient disclosure.
Why is Orijen so much more expensive?
It is a cost-of-ingredients difference: roughly 90% animal inclusion from whole fish and organs costs more per tonne than a poultry-and-rice formulation. You are paying for ingredient density, not for a measurable health outcome.
Which is better for an overweight cat?
Neither is a weight-management formula, and Orijen at 4,120 kcal/kg is the most calorie-dense food in this comparison, which works against weight loss. For an overweight cat look at an indoor or light formula with lower calorie density and higher fibre instead.
Want to compare more than two? Use the comparison tool — up to four foods side by side. Individual animals vary; if your pet has a diagnosed condition, confirm the choice with your veterinarian.