Frequently Asked
Questions

All of our ORGANIX recipes have received the highest level of certification from the USDA as they are made with 95 percent or more organic ingredients. You’ll see the USDA Organic logo on all of ORGANIX offerings.

The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certifies fisheries for practicing environmentally sustainable fishing practices. Our PRISTINE recipes feature responsibly caught salmon, whitefish or tuna. For us, responsibly caught means MSC-certified, wild-caught fish that freely swim in natural bodies of water.

While we use many organic ingredients in our PRISTINE recipes as you'll see on our ingredient panel, we have not sought an organic certification for the line. If you are looking for a USDA Certified Organic offering, please consider our ORGANIX line of recipes.

Yes, organic is always non-GMO and all of our ORGANIX recipes are crafted with non-GMO ingredients. In fact, we have several ORGANIX canned recipes for dogs and cats (made with organic chicken) that have been Non-GMO Project verified for being free of GMOs; look for the Non-GMO Project Verified butterfly seal on these cans. 

Our recipes are available at Petsmart and Petco, natural grocery stores like Whole Foods Market, and online. Here's a link to our store locator for stores that carry our Castor & Pollux recipes: https://www.castorpolluxpet.com/store-locator.

Yes, it is formulated to meet the growth and energy needs for all puppies including large breed puppies.

Yes. Our PRISTINE fish recipes feature responsibly caught salmon, whitefish or tuna. For us, responsibly caught means MSC-certified, wild-caught fish that freely swim in natural bodies of water.

No. We do not use artificial colors, flavors or preservatives in our recipes.

Animal protein is naturally low in salt, yet salt is an essential dietary nutrient needed for electrolyte balance, acid base balance, osmotic and water pressure around and in cells, nerve function, proper digestion and reproduction. That’s a lot of important stuff! In order to provide your pet with a complete and balanced diet and to comply with the level of salt required by AAFCO, we add trace amounts of sodium chloride (the same as table salt) to our formulas. We never add salt simply as a flavoring agent.

The first ingredient in all of our dry foods is always an animal-based protein. Because chicken and turkey contain a high percentage of water, we follow it with a high-quality meal, which is protein-rich and highly digestible, and a great complement to the chicken or turkey.

Protein is a critical component of your pet’s overall nutritional needs. But not all proteins are created equal. There are several things to consider when choosing a protein source, like amino acid profile and the digestibility of the protein. There’s also something called “biological value,” which is the ability of protein to be used by the body. Both chicken and turkey have a very high biological value. We carefully select the ingredients that go in our foods to ensure an optimal balance of essential nutrients for your dog or cat, and that includes chicken and turkey.

They’re not necessarily more expensive. Remember, it’s not the cost of the bag that matters; it’s the daily feeding cost. Castor & Pollux diets are more calorically dense, highly digestible, and the nutrients tend to be more bioavailable. That means the amount of our food that your pet needs — to get a complete and balanced diet and feel satisfied — could be anywhere from 10 to 50 percent less than other pet foods! So do the math. First, consult with the manufacturer of the product you’re buying today, to find out how many ounces are actually contained in an 8-ounce measuring cup; the size, shape, and density of the kibble can make a big difference. Then figure how many servings are in the bag, and divide the cost of the bag by that number to get the true value of what you’re buying.

No. Castor & Pollux does not currently make any prescription foods. Because our foods are made with natural ingredients, and in the case of ORGANIX, organic ingredients, many pets with compromised systems do very well on our foods. However, if your pet has a medical condition and you are considering a change in diet, we recommend you always consult your veterinarian first.

Yes. Our ingredients are tested upon arrival, samples are tested throughout the production process. Once the food is cooked, it is tested for toxins and contaminants before we release it for sale.

Because our ingredients are minimally processed and we don’t add any artificial colors or flavors, the appearance of our products may vary from batch to batch. What you see in our cans and bags resembles the natural ingredients that went into making the food and treats. Rest assured, our products go through a rigorous quality control process and are not released for sale until they have been tested for a long list of toxins and possible contaminants, and we are satisfied that they meet our nutritional standards.

We carefully select the best organic and responsibly sourced ingredients to make recipes that deliver the best nutrition for pets. For ORGANIX, which is the only complete line of USDA organically certified pet food, that means using the highest quality organic poultry, fruits, and vegetables. And, our PRISTINE line is the only complete line of pet food made with responsibly sourced ingredients, such as wild-caught salmon and grass-fed beef.

We care about your pet's food's food. We believe ingredients that are responsibly raised, caught or grown make some of the best food for your pet's health – ingredients like free-range, cage-free organic and chicken and turkey, grass-fed lamb and beef, wild-caught fish, and certified organic fruits and vegetables.

Purposeful pet food is a new standard in natural pet food that not only speaks to the quality of ingredients that goes into a pet’s bowl, but also how those ingredients are sourced. At Castor & Pollux, we scour the earth to carefully select the best organic and responsibly sourced ingredients to make the most nutritious recipes for your pet’s health.

Gradually! Start by mixing a small amount of Castor & Pollux food in with their current food. Then over the course of seven to ten days, increase the amount of the new food while decreasing the amount of the old until you have 100% Castor & Pollux in the bowl. You can refer to our recommended schedule for a transition to a new food. Review the package for recommended daily feeding amounts.

While many of our PRISTINE ingredients are sourced from within the United States, there are times when the most responsibly sourced ingredients come from other parts of the world. For example, we've chosen to use grass-fed beef and lamb from New Zealand in our PRISTINE recipes as these are currently the best option for both the supply we need and the quality we want.

ORGANIX is the most complete line of USDA Organic pet food, with all recipes made with 95 percent or more organic ingredients, including for the first time, kibble. Recipes feature free-range organic chicken and turkey, certified organic fruits and vegetables, and a new superfood blend.In PRISTINE, the recipe's first ingredient is meat, fish or poultry that has been responsibly sourced – that is responsibly raised or caught. PRISTINE offers a variety of responsibly sourced protein choices, such as free-range chicken and turkey, grass-fed lamb and beef, and wild-caught fish. Produce is also responsibly grown without synthetic fertilizers or chemical pesticides.

Both ORGANIX and PRISTINE recipes start with the best quality meat, fish or poultry as the first ingredient and also feature the finest produce to provide necessary nutrients for pets. Recipes are also safely cooked here in the USA, and contain no corn, soy or wheat either.  If you’re looking for certified organic recipes, you’ll want to choose ORGANIX. If you’d like a wider range of protein options in recipes that include the most responsibly sourced ingredients, check out our PRISTINE lineup.