Boreal
CanadaPetPicks.ca Aggregate Score: 4.1 / 5 | Based on 10 independent sources | Zero recalls | Made in Beamsville, Ontario
Location: Beamsville, Ontario | Canadian owned and operated | Visit Official Website
What is Boreal?
Boreal is a Canadian-owned pet food company headquartered in Beamsville, Ontario. Founded by Dan Stevenson, Boreal draws inspiration from the boreal forest ecosystem — the vast arboreal landscape that stretches across northern Canada — and applies that philosophy to pet nutrition: ancestral diets, low-glycemic ingredients, and Canadian sourcing wherever possible.
Boreal dry foods are made in Ontario using peas and northern white beans grown in Canada’s prairie provinces and southern Ontario. Their chicken, turkey, duck, and salmon are Canadian-raised. Their wet foods use sustainable sea products sourced from British Columbia, with some canned production in Thailand. Lamb is imported from Australia and New Zealand. All Boreal recipes include Availa-Pet, a chelated trace mineral package containing zinc, iron, and manganese for enhanced absorption.
Aggregate Review Scores
We aggregated ratings from 10 independent sources covering both dog and cat food lines.
| Source | Score | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Dog Food Advisor (Grain-Free) | 4.5 / 5 | Ingredient analysis, dry dog food |
| Cat Food Advisor (Dry) | 4 / 5 (avg) | Dry cat food, range 3.5-4.5 |
| Cat Food Advisor (Wet) | Above average | Wet cat food, recommended |
| Cats.com | B+ equivalent | Species appropriateness, ingredients, variety |
| CatFoodDB (wet) | Above average | Wet cat food ingredient analysis |
| CatFoodDB (dry) | Average | Dry cat food ingredient analysis |
| Moesonson (Original) | 3.5 / 5 | Dry dog food nutrition profile |
| Moesonson (Proper) | 3 / 5 | Dry dog food nutrition profile |
| German Shepherds Forum | Positive (with notes) | Real owner experience, palatability |
| Boreal owner reviews | Strongly positive | Coat, digestion, energy improvements |
Ingredient Quality
Boreal consistently uses named animal proteins as the first ingredient across all product lines. Their low-glycemic philosophy — using whole peas and northern white beans instead of potato or grain — is a genuine nutritional differentiator rather than a marketing claim. This makes Boreal one of the few Canadian brands to specifically address glycemic load in their formulation approach.
Cat Food Advisor notes that all dry Boreal recipes contain chelated minerals, a marker of premium-tier formulation. The wet food line is rated above average and recommended, with higher-than-average protein and lower-than-average carbohydrates compared to typical wet cat food. The dry line scores average to above-average depending on the recipe, with plant-based protein from peas and beans contributing to the overall protein count — a common industry practice that some reviewers flag as a minor concern.
One standout product: the Functional Limited Ingredient line won Favourite New Product at the Pets Canada Industry Show in Drummondville. The LID line features single meat proteins (herring, venison, duck, pork for dogs; duck for cats), lower starch load, and advanced minerals for gut and skin support.
Product Range
Boreal produces a broad range of recipes for both dogs and cats across three main lines:
- Original (Grain-Free) — Single or dual protein dry recipes. 4 dog formulas, 6 cat formulas. Average dry matter protein 31-32%, fat 19-20%, carbs 41%. Rated 4.5/5 by Dog Food Advisor.
- Proper (Low-Carb Grain) — Uses low-carb grains instead of grain-free legumes. Designed for owners who prefer grain-inclusive without high-glycemic fillers.
- Functional LID — Limited ingredient, single protein. Award-winning line for dogs and cats with sensitivities. Lower starch, advanced mineral support.
- Wet / Canned — 13+ wet cat food recipes, 18+ total wet recipes. Above-average protein, below-average carbs. Recommended by Cat Food Advisor. Some production in Thailand from BC-sourced sea products.
All recipes are potato-free. Grain-free formulas are also gluten-free. All cat foods contain organic zinc. The entire range uses peas and beans rather than potato as the primary carbohydrate source — a deliberate low-glycemic choice that sets Boreal apart from many competing Canadian brands.
Recalls and Safety
No recalls found across any source consulted — confirmed by Dog Food Advisor, Cat Food Advisor, Cats.com, and CatFoodDB. Boreal is a Canadian-owned company with dry food manufactured in Ontario, giving them direct oversight of their domestic production. Wet food is produced in Thailand from BC-sourced ingredients, which is standard practice across the premium wet food industry.
Price and Canadian Availability
Boreal sits at the higher end of the premium Canadian pet food segment. Approximate Canadian pricing:
- Dry dog food (11.4kg bag): $64-$70 CAD
- Dry cat food (2.26kg bag): ~$23 CAD, 5.4kg ~$51 CAD
- Wet cat food (13oz can): ~$4.29 CAD per can, ~$45 per case of 12
Boreal is available at independent Canadian pet specialty stores including Global Pet Foods locations. It has a more limited distribution footprint than brands like FirstMate or Nutrience — availability varies by region. Use the store locator on their website to find your nearest retailer. Online availability through select Canadian pet retailers.
What Canadian Pet Owners Say
Owner feedback is strongly positive, particularly around digestive improvements, coat quality, and palatability. Several owners switching from Orijen and Acana report comparable results at a lower price point. The brand has a loyal following among owners of dogs and cats with food sensitivities who appreciate the single-protein LID line. The most common concern raised in forums is regional availability — Boreal is not as widely stocked as larger brands, and some owners report having to special-order through pet stores.
Our Verdict
Boreal is a genuinely Canadian brand — owned, headquartered, and dry-food manufactured in Ontario — with a clear and coherent nutritional philosophy built around low-glycemic ingredients and ancestral diet principles. The ingredient quality is strong, the recall history is clean, and the LID line is award-winning. The main limitations are higher pricing compared to peers and more restricted retail availability outside major urban centres.
| Category | Score |
|---|---|
| Ingredient quality | 4.0 / 5 |
| Product variety | 4.5 / 5 |
| Canadian availability | 3.5 / 5 |
| Value for money | 3.5 / 5 |
| Recall history | 5.0 / 5 |
| Consumer satisfaction | 4.0 / 5 |
| CanadaPetPicks Aggregate | 4.1 / 5 |
Where to Buy Boreal in Canada
- Boreal store locator — find your nearest Canadian retailer
- Global Pet Foods — widely stocked across Canada
Boreal Reviews & Product Coverage
Browse all our reviews and articles covering Boreal products below.
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Boreal Functional Indoor Cat Dry Cat Food
Single product review of Boreal Functional Indoor Cat dry food. Purpose-built for indoor and sterilized cats. Hairball, urinary, dental and stress support. Made in Ontario. CanadaPetPicks score: 4.1/5.
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Boreal Original Turkey & Trout Dry Cat Food
Single product review of Boreal Original Turkey & Trout dry cat food. Boreal’s top-selling cat recipe. Made in Ontario, 36% protein, grain-free, all life stages. CanadaPetPicks score: 4.4/5.
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Boreal Dry Cat Food
Summary review of all Boreal dry cat food lines — Original, Proper, and Functional Indoor. Made in Ontario, Canada. Zero recalls. CanadaPetPicks aggregate score: 4.0/5.
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Boreal Pork and Trout Cat Food
Single product review of Boreal Pork and Trout wet cat food. Novel protein, Canadian-made, 95% protein from meat/fish, grain-free, gum-free, chicken-free. CanadaPetPicks score: 4.3/5.
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Boreal Cobb Chicken and Atlantic Salmon Cat Food
Single product review of Boreal Cobb Chicken and Atlantic Salmon wet cat food. Canadian-made, 95% protein from meat/fish, grain-free, gum-free. CanadaPetPicks score: 4.4/5.
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Boreal Wet Cat Food
Summary review of the Boreal Canadian-Made wet cat food line. 13 recipes, made in Canada, 95% protein from meat/fish, grain-free, gum-free. CanadaPetPicks aggregate score: 4.3/5.
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