Top 10 Best Dog Food for Catahoula
The Catahoula dog breed is beautiful, muscular, and tough. These amazing dogs were originally bred to work in forests and swamps to assist farmers and herders. They are high-energy dogs that stand anywhere from 20 to 26 inches in height at the shoulder and typically weigh about 50 to 70 lbs.
Though these dogs aren’t as popular as other breeds, they’re some of the most lovable pups you can have. Catahoulas make for great guard dogs and are awesome family pets. It’s best to meet their high-energy needs by providing them with protein-heavy kibble or wet food and ensuring that they get the daily exercise that they need. If not, you may find them terrorizing your home and shredding anything that they can get their paws on.
It’s also helpful to have meals that provide enough moisture, fat, and calories to maintain the dog’s beautiful spotty coat. In this review, we’re going to go over our top dog food picks for Catahoulas.
The 10 Best Dog Foods for Catahoula
Blue Buffalo Freedom Adult Dry Dog Food – Best Value
| Main ingredients: | Deboned lamb, turkey meal, potatoes, peas, pea starch |
| Protein content: | 22% |
| Fat content: | 14% |
| Calories: | 381/cup |
Blue Buffalo Freedom Adult Dry Dog Food makes our list of top recipes for Catahoula dogs as the best dog food for the money. This affordable option makes a balanced and nutritious diet more available for pet owners who want to give the best to their dogs without the hefty price tag. With benefits in its ingredients to promote strong muscles, a healthy immune system, and healthy skin and coat, this recipe is a blend of vitamins and nutrients for a balanced diet.
Its recipe is comprised of natural ingredients checked for quality, without the addition of artificial flavors and preservatives. It contains no meat by-products and lists animal protein as the primary ingredient.
- Small kibble
- Low flavor profile
- Packed with vitamins and minerals
- Animal-based protein
- Promotes a healthy immune system
Ollie Fresh Dog Food – Best Overall
| Main ingredients: | Beef, peas, sweet potatoes, potatoes, carrots, beef kidney |
| Protein content: | 12% |
| Fat content: | 10% |
| Calories: | 1540/kg |
Ollie Fresh Dog Food makes the top of the list as the best overall dog food for Catahoulas because it takes the basic needs of everyday dog food and elevates them to another level. With raw or natural and baked options for dog food, this subscription-based option makes feeding your dog easy. They make it unique to your dog by filling out a quiz about the age, breed, and favored ingredients of your dog and ship them to you frozen and easy to store.
This is a good option for dog owners who want to give their pups raw food that’s pre-portioned helping with specific issues like weight management.
- Subscription-based
- Expensive
- Natural and raw ingredients
- Delivered frozen
- Specific to your dog
ORIJEN Original Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
| Main ingredients: | Chicken, turkey, flounder, whole mackerel, chicken liver |
| Protein content: | 38% |
| Fat content: | 18% |
| Calories: | 473/cup |
ORIJEN Original Grain-Free dog food makes a great choice for Catahoula dogs with premium ingredients and a whopping 38% protein content. Plus, it has 5 animal protein sources listed as the recipe’s first ingredients. Protein is great for dogs who need a lot of energy, so although a premium dog food, you can be sure it will promote an active lifestyle. This recipe includes essential vitamins and minerals and is made in the USA. It also has a freeze-dried coating to give a flavor boost to every bite.
ORIJEN’s chicken and turkey are free-range, and their fish is sustainably sourced to ensure the highest quality.
- Expensive
- Not for picky eaters
- Freeze-dried coating
- High in animal protein
- Added essential vitamins and minerals
Castor & Pollux ORGANIX Organic Dry Dog Food – Vet’s Choice
| Main ingredients: | Organic chicken, organic chicken meal, organic oatmeal, organic barley, organic brown rice |
| Protein content: | 26% |
| Fat content: | 15% |
| Calories: | 383/cup |
Castor & Pollux ORGANIX Organic Dry Dog Food has made our list of recipes for Catahoula dogs with high protein and fat content for maintaining energy levels. As a vet’s choice, this brand is pricey, but this is likely related to its use of organic ingredients. This recipe contains ingredients that have health benefits such as superfoods like blueberries and flaxseed for overall wellness. It contains oats for healthy digestion for those dogs who have food sensitivities or stomach issues.
The first few ingredients listed are all certified organic to provide your dog with a quality diet. It is free from pesticides, preservatives, antibiotics, and only sustainably sourced protein.
- Expensive
- USDA-certified organic
- High protein content
- Supports healthy digestion
Purina Pro Plan Dry Puppy Food – Best for Puppies
| Main ingredients: | Chicken, rice, poultry by-product meal, corn gluten meal, whole grain wheat |
| Protein content: | 28% |
| Fat content: | 18% |
| Calories: | 456/cup |
Purina Pro Plan Puppy Food is best for puppies of the Catahoula breed. This recipe contains everything your growing puppy needs for healthy development all around. It’s packed with glucosamine and EPA and omega fatty acids and these ingredients support joint health and optimal mobility. This makes great dog food for high-energy dogs who need an energy-packed diet. Chicken is listed as the first ingredient in this recipe, meaning the protein is front and center.
Purina has curated this recipe with growing puppies in mind including optimal levels of vitamins and nutrients to support an overall healthy puppy, including brain and vision, and bone and teeth health.
- May cause indigestion in some pups
- Supports overall health
- High in protein
- Packed with vitamins and omega-fatty acids
Purina Pro Plan Complete Essentials Shredded Blend Dry Food
| Main ingredients: | Chicken, rice, whole grain wheat, poultry by-product meal (source of glucosamine), soybean meal |
| Protein content: | 26% |
| Fat content: | 16% |
| Calories: | 387/cup |
Purina Pro Plan Complete Essentials Shredded Blend Dry Food has many benefits for a high-energy dog breed like the Catahoula. The inclusion of rice and wheat gives dogs a balanced amount of carbohydrates for a boost of energy. This recipe is unique with its combination of dry kibble and tender pieces to give your dog a better flavor. Chicken is listed as the recipe’s first ingredient to ensure a quality protein source.
There is also the addition of beneficial ingredients such as probiotics, vitamins, minerals, and omega-6 fatty acids—all to promote overall wellness, healthy skin and coat, and easy digestion.
- Contains by-products
- Not for picky eaters
- High protein content
- Contains balanced carbs
- Promotes healthy skin and coat
Diamond Naturals Extreme Athlete Dry Dog Food
| Main ingredients: | Chicken meal, chicken, ground white rice, chicken fat |
| Protein content: | 32% |
| Fat content: | 25% |
| Calories: | 470/cup |
Diamond Naturals Extreme Athlete has a name that provides a lot of confidence for pet owners with high-energy dogs. With a name like “Extreme Athlete,” you might raise an eyebrow if you have a Catahoula. This brand’s recipes are made in the USA by a family-owned company, sourcing their ingredients from both the US and trusted worldwide sources. With a high protein content and high nutrition, you can be sure these ingredients will help to support your dog’s energy levels.
It also contains omega fatty acids, vitamins and minerals, and superfoods to support overall health and wellness, plus ingredients to support digestion and overall immune system health.
- Hard to digest for some dogs
- Chicken meal is the first ingredient
- Fairly high-fat content
- High protein content
- USA-based
- Contains probiotics
Merrick Grain-Free Adult Dry Dog Food
| Main ingredients: | Deboned chicken, chicken meal, turkey meal |
| Protein content: | 34% |
| Fat content: | 17% |
| Calories: | 388/cup |
Merrick Real Chicken and Sweet Potato dog food has a protein content of 34%, which is one of the highest protein levels found across dog food options. High protein ingredients make a great option for dog breeds that are naturally high-energy. It promotes healthy muscle growth and contains ingredients to support healthy joints. With omega-3 and 6 fatty acids, Merrick adds the benefit of promoting healthy skin and coat for your dog in every bite.
This brand also advertises that they only use real, whole, and high-quality ingredients sourced from trusted farmers.
- Expensive
- Grain-free recipe is not ideal for all dogs
- High in quality protein
- Packed with essential omega-fatty acids
- Whole ingredients
Purina Pro Plan Performance 30/20 Dry Dog Food
| Main ingredients: | Chicken, corn gluten meal, rice, beef fat |
| Protein content: | 30% |
| Fat content: | 20% |
| Calories: | 484/cup |
Purina Pro Plan Performance 30/20 is great for dogs who need high protein and fat in their diets. The Catahoula breed is high energy, so high fat and high protein are a real benefit when choosing this dog food. This recipe has chicken listed as its first ingredient so you can feel reassured that protein is a prime component. This recipe is a great choice for maintaining energy levels as it has nutrition built to support oxygen metabolism supporting prolonged endurance. These ingredients are also beneficial to fuel your dog’s metabolism and maintain lean muscles—everything a high-energy dog needs!
It’s a relatively affordable choice especially when you prefer purchasing dog food in bulk.
- Expensive
- Not a favorite flavor for some dogs
- High protein content
- Supports high energy levels
- Ideal for all ages
Earthborn Holistic Great Plains Feast Dry Dog Food
| Main ingredients: | Bison meal, peas, pea protein, tapioca, dried egg |
| Protein content: | 32% |
| Fat content: | 18% |
| Calories: | 400/cup |
Earthborn Holistic Great Plains Feast Dry Dog Food is a USA-based product made for dogs with high energy needs like the Catahoula. It contains L-carnitine which is said to promote lean muscle and burns fat to support both energy and weight management. It’s a good option for dogs who lead active lifestyles. This recipe also contains omega 6 and omega 3 fatty acids to support your dog’s healthy skin and coat. Using the novel protein bison, the protein content tops the charts at 32% while also providing essential amino acids.
If your dog has been recommended to avoid grain in their diet by a vet, this recipe is a great alternative. It contains the necessary antioxidants, vitamins, and superfoods to promote overall health and wellness.
- Recent price increase
- Not for picky eaters
- High in novel proteins
- Contains L-carnitine
- Easy to digest
Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Best Dog Food for Catahoula
For your Catahoula dog, it’s important to look for high protein levels and good, hardy carbohydrates to support their high energy levels. They require a lot of exercise and need firm and assertive owners through training and socializing with others—dogs and people alike. Many of the recipes that made our list contain the basic benefits of vitamins, minerals, and fatty acids to support overall health and wellness. The range of protein does vary from a low of around 20% up to 32%. The latter seems to be the preferred percentage, but also keep an eye out for listed ingredients.
If your dog has any specific dietary restrictions, you should look out for grains, wheat, or other ingredients such as berries and potatoes. Pickier dogs may not enjoy some of the more expansive or creative recipes. While most of these recipes avoid artificial preservatives, fillers, or coloring, it is important to note what other ingredients are included. Some pet owners seem to stray away from meat by-products being listed in the primary ingredients, although there is no real evidence of these foods being harmful to dogs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Catahoula Leopard healthy dogs?
Yes, Catahoulas are generally healthy dogs with excellent genes. They only suffer from two major health complications; hip dysplasia and deafness. While it’s difficult to avoid them, you should still ask your breeder for the joint and hearing tests of your dog’s parents.
Should Catahoula Leopards eat a raw diet?
Yes, you can feed Catahoulas a raw diet if their nutritional needs are being met. Always use fresh ingredients and high-quality meat from the butcher to make their food. Once prepared, store it safely in a refrigerator and remember to take precautions to avoid cross-contamination.
Are Catahoula Leopards sensitive and allergic?
No, Catahoulas are robust dogs and do not generally suffer from allergies or a sensitive stomach. Despite that, there’s always a percentage of the population prone to these conditions and will need a limited ingredient or grain-free diet.
Should you feed Catahoula Leopards wet or dry food?
We recommend dry food for Catahoulas as it’s more convenient to store and serve. It also automatically removes tartar and maintains dental hygiene. Since this breed isn’t prone to any urinary issues, they don’t need excess moisture from wet food.
How much exercise do Catahoula Leopards need?
A Catahoula needs at least 1 to 2 hours of intense daily exercise to stay satisfied. This can be a long walk, game of fetch, tug of war, or any other outdoor game/activity. If you do not provide them with an outlet for their pent-up energy, they will quickly become destructive.
How much should Catahoula Leopards eat?
An average adult Catahoula Leopard needs between 3⅜ to 5⅛ cups of food or 1,000 calories a day to stay active and maintain a healthy weight. Growing puppies need approximately 1,400 calories but fewer cups of food. Seniors need fewer calories to avoid obesity but more nutrients.
Are Catahoula Leopard picky eaters?
No, most Catahoulas will eagerly eat whatever you put in front of them. But if your dog shows some stubbornness, you could try adding a meat-flavored broth to their kibbles or use toppers.
Which treats are best for Catahoula Leopards?
Treats that contain healthy fats and are packed with good calories are ideal for Catahoulas. This includes beef and bacon jerky treats, as well as natural treats like peanut butter, blackberries, apples, and other high-calorie fruits.
Final Thoughts
The best overall dog food for Catahoulas is Ollie Fresh Dog Food, as it is raw and delivered pre-portioned and frozen. Blue Buffalo comes in as the best value for the money as it’s affordable without skimping on health benefits. ORIJEN is our premium choice of dog food with an increased price point and Castor & Pollux is our vet’s choice with USDA organic ingredients.
From our research, it is apparent that high protein, carbs, and a decent fat content make for the best dog food recipe for this breed. We hope our reviews have helped you find the best food for your Catahoula!
