Purina Pro Plan Cat Food Review
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The Purina name is very well-known in the pet food industry. In fact, the Purina name is over 90 years old and has been associated with over a dozen different lines of pet food products over the year. Purina Pro Plan was released in 1986 as the first pet food brand to use real meat as the first ingredient.
This is what really started to separate Purina from the rest of the pack, though the company has certainly had its share of ups and downs over the years.
Today, the Purina name is associated with a number of different product lines, some of which are much higher in quality than others. Read on to learn more about the Purina Pro Plan brand in particular and what we think of it.
- Uses high-quality animal protein as the first ingredient
- Products are scientifically formulated
- Wide variety of recipes to choose from
- Some recipes include by-products, corn, wheat, and soy
- Fairly expensive compared to average kibble
- Uses high-quality animal protein as the first ingredient
- Products are scientifically formulated
- Wide variety of recipes to choose from
- Some recipes include by-products, corn, wheat, and soy
- Fairly expensive compared to average kibble
How We Review Cat Food Brands
When reviewing a brand of cat food, we look closely at the quality of the ingredients and the formulation of recipes. Cats are obligate carnivores which means that they require a high concentration of protein in their diets.
As such, we heavily favor brands that use quality sources of animal protein with low concentrations of carbohydrate in their recipes. We also favor cat food brands that offer a wide variety of products and those that haven’t been subject to recall.
Here Are Some Of The Other Things We Look For In A Good Cat Food Brand:
- High-quality animal protein as the first ingredient
- Rich in healthy animal fats (ex: chicken fat or salmon oil)
- Few to no carbohydrate ingredients (especially within the top 5)
- Limited number of main ingredients plus supplements
- No low-quality fillers, grains, or by-products
Additional factors we consider when reviewing a cat food brand including customer ratings and price per pound. It is important for us to do our own in-depth review of a cat food brand before offering you our thoughts, but customer reviews do play a role.
Recall history is a good way to gauge quality and safety as a whole and price per pound or ounce is a good metric to review as well.
Overview Of The Purina Pro Plan Brand
The Purina company began in the late 1890s when founder William H. Danforth came together with George Robinson and William Andrews to create the Robinson-Danforth Commission Company.
The company name changed to Ralston Purina in 1902 and remained a fairly small company until the first pet nutrition and care center was opened at Purina Farms in 1926.
Purina Dog Chow was released in 1956, becoming the first extruded pet food product (that came to be known as kibble) and Purina Pro Plan was released in 1986 thanks to an innovative process that made is possible to use real meat as the first ingredient in kibble.
According to the brand website, Purina Pro Plan is constantly developing new ways in which nutrition can perform for pets like your cat.
This brand offers breakthrough formulas that deliver advanced nutrition that nourishes a cat’s potential while meeting its needs for targeted nutrition. Purina Pro Plan is more than just a cat food brand – it is fuel for cats to help them excel through extraordinary nutrition with exceptional taste in recipes that are high in protein and grain-free.
Purina Pro Plan cat food is designed to nourish your cat’s body through complete and balanced nutrition targeted to its life stage and lifestyle. Products included in this lineup are formulated specially for kittens as well as adult cats and senior cats.
There are also recipes uniquely formulated with natural ingredients and recipes designed to support urinary tract health. No matter what formula you choose, you can count on it delivering optimized nutrition to support a long and healthy life.
What Kind Of Cat Food Products Do They Offer?
The Purina Pro Plan brand offers nearly 100 different cat food products, both dry and wet. These products are scientifically formulated and backed by more than 400 animal nutritionists, behaviorists, and veterinarians to deliver targeted nutrition and a taste cats can’t get enough of.
Choose from a variety of different canned cat food products featuring real proteins like beef, chicken, and salmon with healthy natural ingredients like wild rice, carrots, and spinach.
You’ll find a number of classic entrée-style cat foods as well as products featuring gravy or stew. For dry cat food, Purina Pro Plan has a wide variety of recipes targeted for certain aspects of nutrition such as indoor cat health, hairball management, sensitive stomach management, urinary tract health, and more.
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Products Included in This Review |
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| Name | Type | Protein % | Fat % | Top 5 Ingredients |
| Purina Pro Plan FOCUS Adult Indoor Care Turkey & Rice Formula Dry Cat Food | Dry | 40% | 14.5% | Turkey, brewers rice, corn gluten meal, chicken meal, dried egg product |
| Purina Pro Plan Adult Seafood Stew Entrée in Sauce Wet Food | Wet | 10% | 2% | Water, ocean fish, wheat gluten, liver, chicken |
| Purina Pro Plan SAVOR Adult Chicken & Rice Recipe Dry Food | Dry | 40% | 16% | Chicken, brewers rice, corn gluten meal, poultry by-product meal, dried egg product |
Compare Purina Pro Plan Cat Food
1. PURINA PRO PLAN Focus Adult Indoor Care Turkey & Rice Formula Dry Cat Food |
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Type of Food
Dry |
Type of Food
Wet |
Type of Food
Dry |
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First 5 Ingredients
Turkey, brewers rice, corn gluten meal, chicken meal, dried egg product |
First 5 Ingredients
Water, ocean fish, wheat gluten, liver, chicken |
First 5 Ingredients
Chicken, brewers rice, corn gluten meal, poultry by-product meal, dried egg product |
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Guaranteed Analysis
40% protein, 14.5% fat, 4.8% fiber, 12% moisture |
Guaranteed Analysis
10% protein, 2% fat, 1.5% fiber, 80% moisture |
Guaranteed Analysis
40% protein, 16% fat, 2% fiber, 12% moisture |
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Calories per Cup
445 calories per cup |
Calories per Cup
68 calories per can |
Calories per Cup
492 calories per cup |
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Price Per Pound/Ounce
$2.31/pound |
Price Per Pound/Ounce
$0.32/ounce |
Price Per Pound/Ounce
$2.31/pound |
PURINA PRO PLAN Focus Adult Indoor Care Turkey & Rice Formula Dry Cat Food
Product Info
- Type of Food: Dry
- First 5 Ingredients: Turkey, brewers rice, corn gluten meal, chicken meal, dried egg product
- Guaranteed Analysis: 40% protein, 14.5% fat, 4.8% fiber, 12% moisture
- Calories per Cup: 445 calories per cup
- Price Per Pound/Ounce: $2.31/pound
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Turkey, Brewers Rice, Corn Gluten Meal, Chicken Meal, Dried Egg Product, Soy Protein Isolate, Animal Fat Preserved with Mixed-Tocopherols, Fish Meal, Powdered Cellulose, Wheat Flour, Animal Liver Flavor, Soybean Hulls, Gelatin, Inulin, Potassium Chloride, Phosphoric Acid, Salt, Calcium Carbonate, Taurine, Vitamin E Supplement, Choline Chloride, Zinc Sulfate, L-Lysine Monohydrochloride, Ferrous Sulfate, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (Source of Vitamin C), Manganese Sulfate, Niacin, Copper Sulfate, Vitamin A Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin B-12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Folic Acid, Vitamin D-3 Supplement, Calcium Iodate, Biotin, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (Vitamin K), Sodium Selenite. L-4627.
This Purina Pro Plan FOCUS Adult Indoor Care Turkey & Rice Formula Dry Cat Food is specially designed to help indoor cats thrive. This recipe features high-protein nutrition to help your indoor cat maintain a healthy body weight with plenty of natural fiber to control hairballs.
It supports healthy skin and coat with a rich blend of omega fatty acids and contains real, natural ingredients like fresh turkey. The first ingredient is, in fact, fresh turkey but it is followed closely by corn gluten meal.
Chicken meal comes next which is a highly concentrated source of animal protein and there is nothing wrong with dried egg as the next ingredient either.
Soy protein isolate is somewhat concerning as a plant-based protein (much like corn gluten meal) and animal fat is an unnamed source of fat, as fish meal is an unnamed source of protein.
Overall, we wonder how much protein comes from high-quality animal sources and whether the low-quality ingredients are bad enough to cancel out the good ones.
PURINA PRO PLAN Adult Seafood Stew Entrée in Sauce Wet Food
Product Info
- Type of Food: Wet
- First 5 Ingredients: Water, ocean fish, wheat gluten, liver, chicken
- Guaranteed Analysis: 10% protein, 2% fat, 1.5% fiber, 80% moisture
- Calories per Cup: 68 calories per can
- Price Per Pound/Ounce: $0.32/ounce
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Water Sufficient For Processing, Ocean Fish, Wheat Gluten, Liver, Chicken, Meat By-Products, Tomatoes, Carrots, Corn Starch-Modified, Artificial And Natural Flavors, Shrimp, Soy Flour, Salt, Tricalcium Phosphate, Added Color, Potassium Chloride, Taurine, Choline Chloride, Vitamin E Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Zinc Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Niacin, Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin A Supplement, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (Source Of Vitamin K Activity), Copper Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin B-12 Supplement, Biotin, Folic Acid, Vitamin D-3 Supplement, Potassium Iodide, D-4690.
Every cat is different and this Purina Pro Plan Adult Seafood Stew Entrée in Sauce Wet Food appeals to a cat’s senses of taste, texture, and aroma. This plan delivers complete and balanced nutrition for cats in all life stages and is designed to support a healthy and active lifestyle.
It contains ocean fish as the main ingredient (though water is technically the first ingredient), supplemented with liver, fresh chicken, and meat by-products. This recipe contains a blend of omega fatty acids for healthy skin and coat as well as antioxidants for immunity and a mix of vitamins and minerals to ensure complete nutrition.
We are concerned to see wheat gluten, soy flour, and meat by-products on the list and the fiber content is a little high for a cat food. Overall, it isn’t the worst food out there but is far from the best.
PURINA PRO PLAN Savor Adult Chicken & Rice Recipe Dry Food
Product Info
- Type of Food: Dry
- First 5 Ingredients: Chicken, brewers rice, corn gluten meal, poultry by-product meal, dried egg product
- Guaranteed Analysis: 40% protein, 16% fat, 2% fiber, 12% moisture
- Calories per Cup: 492 calories per cup
- Price Per Pound/Ounce: $2.31/pound
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Chicken, Brewers Rice, Corn Gluten Meal, Poultry By-Product Meal, Dried Egg Product, Beef Fat Naturally Preserved With Mixed-Tocopherols, Wheat Flour, Soy Protein Isolate, Fish Meal, Natural Liver Flavor, Brewers Dried Yeast, Inulin, Potassium Chloride, Added Color, L-Lysine Monohydrochloride, Phosphoric Acid, Salt, Calcium Carbonate, VITAMINS [Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin (Vitamin B-3), Vitamin A Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate (Vitamin B-5), Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B-1), Riboflavin Supplement (Vitamin B-2), Vitamin B-12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B-6), etc…
Designed to provide an excellent nutritional foundation as well as unbeatable taste your cat will love, this Purina Pro Plan SAVOR Adult Chicken & Rice Recipe Dry Cat Food contains chicken as the main ingredient.
It contains 40% protein and delivers advanced nutrition thanks to antioxidants for immune system health, guaranteed live probiotics for digestive health, and a rich blend of omega fatty acids for skin and coat health.
Though chicken is the first ingredient, it is immediately followed by brewers rice, corn gluten meal, and poultry by-product meal. This leads us to question how much of the protein actually comes from animal sources.
We were also concerned to see wheat flower and soy protein isolate on the list, as well as numerous unnamed ingredients.
Overall, we don’t think this is a very high-quality product and we don’t recommend it.
What Do Customers Think Of Purina Pro Plan Cat Food?
Customers provide mixed reviews for Purina Pro Plan products. Many who love the brand comment that it is a favorite among even picky eaters, which isn’t particularly surprising since many lower quality brands fill their foods with flavorful but not necessarily high-quality ingredients.
Some concerned customers dislike the quality of the ingredients while others simply state that their cats won’t eat it.
Positive Customer Reviews
“My cat has been on a holistic blend of food for 3 years. After we tried two other brands. Anyway, she had been snubbing her nose up at her food and a friend of mine that is a vet tech suggested to switch to Purina Pro Plan for her. She will come running when she hears the bag open and eats it up!” – TillyBugsMamma, reviewing Purina Pro Plan FOCUS Adult Indoor Care Turkey & Rice Formula
“I have two senior cats who have been losing weight because they refuse to eat almost anything. I have spent hundreds of dollars on every cat food invented. I throw away more than is eaten. But when I tried this cat food, they both ate it up! I honestly think this cat food saved their lives.” – VikingQueen, reviewing Purina Pro Plan Adult Seafood Stew Entrée in Sauce Wet Food
“One boy who only eats dry food. Two divas who want to swallow the world with all the variety they can get. So, this is what I keep as a staple because they consistently love it in their feeder. This food is what they want every day.” – Dandee, reviewing Purina Pro Plan SAVOR Adult Chicken & Rice Recipe Dry Food
Negative Customer Reviews
“My ferals in the apartment building’s parking lot love it, so no waste here, but my Joy, who the bag was meant for, was not having it. She wouldn’t go near the bowl, even when I mixed it with her regular food (Purina Indoor Complete). The gals downstairs love it, but my girl, never picky, said no way.” – Gemcat, reviewing Purina Pro Plan FOCUS Adult Indoor Care Turkey & Rice Formula
“I found this food did not contain sufficient quality contents but rather was a stew as described swimming in excessive brown gravy. Although my 4 indoor cats seem to prefer gravy, which I think we all agree is not great for their health, they did not take a liking to this particular food choice.” – Tinkie, reviewing Purina Pro Plan Adult Seafood Stew Entrée in Sauce Wet Food
“My cats have been eating Purina Cat Chow for years. I decided to switch them to a better-quality food after seeing my sister’s cats on a quality food. Unfortunately, my cats don’t like the Pro Plan and, although I have been switching foods very slowly, there has been a lot of vomiting after eating the food.” – Mamameow, reviewing Purina Pro Plan SAVOR Adult Chicken & Rice Recipe Dry Food
Product Recall History
Just because a brand has experienced a few product recalls doesn’t necessarily make it a bad brand. Recalls can happen for a wide variety of reasons ranging from potential contamination with harmful substances to packaging issues.
If a brand has experienced more than one recall, it is important to pay close attention to what the recalls were for.
Here Is A List Of Recalls Affecting Purina Over The Last Decade:
- March 2019 (May contain rubber pieces) – In this recall, a limited run of Muse wet cat food was recalled due to concerns that the product might contain pieces of rubber.
- March 2016 (Inadequate levels of vitamins and minerals) – This recall affected certain runs of Purina Pro Plan Savory Meals in 10-ounce tubs as well as some Beneful products.
- August 2013 (Possible salmonella) – In this recall, 3.5-pound bags of Purina ONE Beyond Our White Meat Chicken & Whole Barley Recipe Adult Dry Dog Food were affected by potential salmonella contamination.
- May 2012 (Possible low thiamine) – Cans of Purina Veterinary Diets OM Overweight Management cat food were recalled due to possible low thiamine levels.
- June 2011 (Possible salmonella risk) – In this recall, 3.5-pound and 7-pound bags of Purina ONE Vibrant Maturity 7+ Dry Cat Food were recalled.
- July 2011 (Possible salmonella risk) – Bags of Purina Cat Chow Naturals were recalled due to possible risk of salmonella contamination.
As you can see, only one of these recalls affected the Purina Pro Plan brand in particular and it was for both dog food and cat food products. To learn more about these product recalls affecting the Purina family of brands, check out an in-depth review over at DogFood.guide.
How Much Does Purina Pro Plan Cat Food Cost?
Compared to some of Purina’s other cat food brands, Purina Pro Plan is a little more expensive.
When comparing it to an average cat food, however, it is very affordable. Both of the dry food recipes reviewed above were priced around $2.30 per pound and the canned food recipe cost less than $0.35 per ounce.
It only makes sense that some recipes will be more expensive than others, depending on the ingredients, but the brand as a whole is very affordable.
To give you a better idea how Purina Pro Plan stacks up against other cat food brands, here is a quick chart to show you some average prices:
| Brand/Recipe | Type | Quality | Price/Ounce | Price/Pound |
| Meow Mix Original Choice Dry Food | Dry | Low | X | $0.90/pound |
| Friskies Classic Pate Mixed Grill Canned Food | Wet | Low | $0.07/ounce | $1.16/pound |
| Blue Buffalo Indoor Health Chicken & Brown Rice Adult Dry Cat Food | Dry | Moderate | X | $2.53/pound |
| Whole Earth Farms Grain-Free Real Chicken Pate Recipe Canned Cat Food | Wet | Moderate | $0.36/ounce | X |
| Instinct by Nature’s Variety Original Grain-Free Recipe with Real Chicken | Dry | High | X | $3.45/pound |
| Ziwi Peak New Zealand Venison Recipe Canned Cat Food | Wet | High | $1.21/ounce | X |
Where Can You Buy Purina Pro Plan Cat Food?
The Purina family of brands is sold in just about every pet store you can find. Keep in mind, however, that different Purina brands appeal to different customers, so you may need to check the Purina Pro Plan website to find out specifically where these products are sold.
You can most likely find them in major pet store chains like Petco and PetSmart as well as from major online retailers like Chewy and Amazon. You can also purchase Purina Pro Plan products directly from the Purina website.
Our Final Thoughts: Is Purina Pro Plan A Good Brand?
Overall, the Purina family of brands is not our favorite. Many of their product lines are overpriced for low-to-moderate quality products. The Purina Pro Plan brand is one of the more affordable product lines, but the quality of the ingredients is still somewhat questionable.
This brand does use real animal protein as a main ingredient in most recipes, but there is still heavy use of by-products and unnamed ingredients.
Speaking generally about the Purina Pro Plan brand, it isn’t our top choice, but it may be a decent option for cat owners with a low budget for cat food. Just be sure to do your own research and choose the highest quality recipe you can with the most animal protein.
