Is Royal Canin or Purina Pro Plan better

Purina vs Royal Canin cat food: Which one should you pick?

When it comes to Purina vs Royal Canin cat food, you may be wondering if one is better than the other when it comes to providing your feline friend with all the nutrition they need to stay fit and well.

The best cat food arena can feel like a bit of a minefield at times, with so many brands claiming to be number one. But the good news is that when it comes to Purina and Royal Canin, both are good choices they just excel in slightly different areas.

Just like the question of is dry cat food best or is wet food better, there really is no right or wrong decision when it comes to choosing between these two heavyweights. Both offer nutritionally complete and balanced wet and dry food options, however, where they differ somewhat is their ingredient list and their prices.

To help you decide which brand to fill your kittys food bowl with, weve done a deep dive into what Purina and Royal Canin have to offer, examining everything from reputation and variety of products to quality and cost. Lets take a look

Purina vs Royal Canin: Background

Purina is one of the oldest pet food companies in the world, having been founded in 1894, expanding and growing in popularity over the years. Its 2001 merger with Swiss food company Nestl allowed it to expand even further, and to this day it remains at the forefront of the cat food market.

Vets always seem to speak highly of Royal Canin, and its no surprise, considering the company was founded by one. In the 1960s, French vet Jean Cathary started experimenting with his own cat food formulas in response to a number of skin complaints suffered by his customers cats. Such was his success that he created his own cat food line, which continues to this day.

Purina vs Royal Canin: Price

Purina is one of those brands that has something for everyone. Offering a selection of products that span the range from budget buys to more premium picks, Purina has made sure that there's a cat food in their product line that's accessible to all pet owners. Expect to pay around $17 for 24 cans of wet food in the Friskies range up to around $29.00 for a 16 lb bag of Purina ONE kibble.

When it comes to Royal Canin, let's not beat around the bush. This brand is significantly more expensive than Purina and that's potentially going to make it a no-go if you're on a tight budget. To give you an idea of the difference, 24 cans of wet food from Royal Canin will set you back around $45, while a 15 lb bag of kibble is likely to cost around $57.

Some may argue that youre getting food of a higher standard with Royal Canin, but in all honesty, it really depends on what your cats requirements are.

Purina vs Royal Canin: Quality of ingredients

We like that Purina tries to use real meats as its primary ingredient wherever possible. This is the case in its Purina ONE Tender Selects Adult Dry Cat Food (chicken), Purina Cat Chow Gentle Dry Cat Food (chicken), Purina ONE Indoor Advantages Dry Cat Food (turkey), and Purina Beyond Simply Adult Dry Cat Food (white chicken and whole oatmeal).

The benefit of this is that your cat is getting a clean and reliable source of protein, with very little in the way of artificial preservatives. Furthermore, Purina is transparent regarding the sourcing of its ingredients, so youre left with no doubt as to whats in your cats food, and whats gone into creating it.

One of the big issues with Purina is that although they have a good reputation, they tend to be lacking in consistency when it comes to the quality of their products, with some clearly being head and shoulders above others in terms of ingredients.

Take Friskies as an example. Yes, it's super affordable and that's a huge plus if you find that the higher-end lines in the Purina range simply aren't accessible to you due to cost. But what you gain in affordability can be lost when it comes to quality, with Friskies containing animal by-products instead of real meat and with a dose of artificial flavors to top it all off.

When it comes to Royal Canin, part of what makes the brand so appealing is the way that each formula has been specially tailored to meet specific conditions. One such example is the Gastrointestinal Fiber Response Dry Cat Food, which has been proven to help relieve constipation suffered by many cats.

While brands like Purina undoubtedly offer reliable all-round diets, their products can be inconsistent when it comes to the quality of ingredients. Royal Canin tends to be more rigorous about ensuring they use high-quality ingredients across the board, so its line of cat food is well worth considering if you're looking for a brand that offers an unrivaled capacity to concern itself with cats who have specific ailments, something that gets a huge round of applause from us.

That being said, we do have to remove a few points for the high level of carbohydrates that are present in a lot of their products. While this isn't such an issue for active cats, it could cause weight gain and even obesity in those that live a more sedentary lifestyle.

Products where this could be the case include the Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Urinary SO Moderate Calorie Dry Cat Food and Royal Canin Gastrointestinal Fiber Response Dry Cat Food (this also has high plant-based content, which isnt the best source of vitamins). While they're great for cats with particular conditions, they may be less ideal as a day-to-day food source.

Purina vs Royal Canin: Choice

First off, there are a number of different imprints within the Purina brand, offering customers a variety of choice. For instance, Purina ONE is its highest quality food, Friskies is aimed at lower budgets, and Beyond focuses on formulas with natural ingredients.

While there's an excellent selection of Purina products available, they're not yet in the league of Royal Canin, which has an extensive catalog of wet and dry cat food to suit every age, stage, breed, and need. It also offers far more flavors than Purina, which is great if you have a fickle fur baby who likes lots of variety.

Purina vs Royal Canin: The verdict

To summarize, Purina has a lot of positive things about it. While it doesn't have as many products as Royal Canin, there is still plenty to choose from, and you can be sure that its food is of high quality. Moreover, Purina has always been transparent when it comes to the source of its ingredients, so you will always know where your money is going.

While Royal Canin has a reputation for quality supported by vets, and comes in a wide variety of forms to suit your cats requirements, some of its products may not be the best all round choice for everyday consumption, and theres also the high price to consider. Still, its long-standing reputation should serve as a confidence booster for any potential customer and, while the levels of carbohydrates and plant-based content are high in some products, it deserves its reputation as a trusted brand of good quality cat food.

Not convinced that a wet or dry food off the shelf is right for your feline? We explore whether homemade cat food is better than store bought to help you make an informed decision.

Purina vs. Royal Canin dog food: Which one should you pick?

When it comes to Purina vs. Royal Canin dog food, trying to decide which one to go for is a common dilemma amongst pet parents. Both are firm favorites with our canine companions when it comes to flavor and, thankfully, theyre also right up there when it comes to delivering high-quality nutrition too.

Purina and Royal Canin have each had a consistently solid reputation over the years for producing the best dog food that money can buy. And while its great to have two stellar brands offering up a range of delicious and nutritious options, it can make trying to choose between the two more than a little challenging.

To help you out, weve examined the dog food ingredients contained in the Purina and Royal Canin lines and explored the advantages and disadvantages of each brand. Below, youll find everything you need to know to help you make the right decision about which of these two heavyweights is worthy of a spot in your foodie fur babys bowl.

About Purina

Purina have been at the forefront of pet nutrition since they first came into existence over 90 years ago, and since then, they've gone from strength to strength, forming a range of collaborative partnerships and creating innovative recipes that have led them to become leaders in the pet food industry.

When shopping the Purina range, you'll notice there are eight different brands that come under their umbrella, each one of which has been designed to meet a range of different health needs and household budgets. As well as catering to adult dogs, they have a great range of products targeted at puppies and seniors, so there's something to suit every age and stage.

Whats good about Purina?

First up, we love the range of products produced by Purina, with a variety of different brands spread across the price spectrum, ensuring theres something for every taste bud and bank balance. The affordable Alpo range for example features an abundance of extra gravy in its wet food dishes, perfect for pups that love a rich, meaty and moisture-rich meal.

Take a step up from Alpro and you'll be greeted by the ever-popular Purina Beyond range, which is a real favorite amongst pet parents who have a doggy suffering from allergy issues or a sensitive stomach. Grain-free and made from natural ingredients, both the kibble and wet food dishes contain nourishing proteins and vegetables that are incredibly gentle on the digestive system.

At the top of the range sits the creme de la creme of canine nutrition, the stellar Purina ONE and Purina Pro Plan lines which feature real meat as the first ingredient and do away with a lot of the fillers and artificial colors, flavors and preservatives that you'll find in the more inexpensive formulas.

Pro Plan is the most expensive of the two and its one of the go-to choices for specialized nutrition. Whether your dog is struggling with their weight or needs a sport and performance blend for their increased activity levels, Purina Pro Plan has got you covered.

Whats not so good about Purina?

There's no denying Purina's solid reputation, which is incredibly well deserved and the sheer array of products across their eight lines is nothing short of impressive. That being said, we do feel that the quality isn't always as good as we'd expect from a brand of this standing, particularly across their cheaper lines.

Some of the ingredients they choose to use are highly controversial, particularly things like meat and poultry by-products and artificial colors and dyes, all of which provide no nutritional value for your dog. We understand that these are used to keep prices down, but it does substantially affect the quality of the end product.

An overuse of soybean, corn, and wheat meal as fillers has also caused us to raise an eyebrow as there are brands on the market these days that are proving that these ingredients are unnecessary. If you have a dog with allergies or sensitivities, we recommend you read the ingredient list carefully before purchasing to ensure its suitable for your pup.

Purina: The verdict

While some of Purina's products do have some drawbacks that are well worth considering, overall we feel that this brand is doing a great job of trying to offer a range of wet and dry formulas that is both highly nutritious and delicious.

They've also really considered the financial side of things, offering eight different ranges to suit every budget. This means that even if you can't stretch to the Purina ONE or Pro Plan lines, you can still serve your dog up a quality meal without having to make any sacrifices where their health is concerned.

While they do compromise somewhat on ingredient choice in order to keep their prices down, their blends still provide plenty of flavor and all the necessary vitamins and minerals your hound needs to stay healthy. All in all, Purina's dishes are complete and balanced and get the paws up from most pups, ticking all the important boxes you'd want a pet food to tick.

About Royal Canin

Since they first burst onto the scene more than 50 years ago, Royal Canin have continually proven that they're a force to be reckoned with, positioning themselves at the top of the pet food chain and maintaining a consistently high level of quality that has seen them become one of the most trusted brands in the world.

Partnering with leading scientific, veterinary, and behavioral experts, Royal Canin collaborates extensively with those in the know to create targeted nutrition to suit every breed and health need. They may not offer as big a range as some other brands, but what they slightly lack in quantity they more than make up for in quality.

Royal Canin is the front runner when it comes to creating innovative blends and their recognition of how the smallest nutritional differences can affect a dogs health has earned them a stellar and well-deserved reputation.

Whats good about Royal Canin?

Royal Canin may not have as many lines as Purina does, but there's no denying that when it comes to quality, they're hard to beat. Offering both retail and vet products, their dishes have been created using extensive scientific research to ensure each wet and dry dish delivers the precise blend of antioxidants, vitamins, fiber, prebiotics and minerals that your dog needs to thrive.

Many of their formulas are also crafted to be breed-specific, which means that dogs that are known to have sensitive stomachs, such as German Shepherds, only consume meals with highly digestible proteins and specific soothing fibers. This is one of the things that sets Royal Canin apart and makes them well worth considering if you're looking for a dish that has been tailored to specifically suit your breed of dog.

And its not just at the nutritional level that their recipes are formulated, their dry kibble has also been shaped and structured to suit the uniquely shaped jaws and eating behavior of each breed. This is important as smaller dogs do best with smaller kibble that's easier for their tiny teeth to manage, while bigger breeds enjoy crunching on something a little more substantial.

As we mentioned earlier, youll find two kinds of products in the Royal Canin range - those that they call their retail products and those they label as vet products. As youve probably guessed, their retail products are widely available and this is where youll find breed-specific recipes, with both wet and dry ranges.

Their vet products offer more targeted nutritional support for dogs with health conditions, such as gastrointestinal problems and diabetes. While some online retailers do stock some of these products, theyve been designed to help with very specific health issues, so we recommend you consult with a vet first who will be able to let you know if the dish you're considering is suitable for your dog.

Whats not so good about Royal Canin?

While Royal Canin has a lot going for it, there are a few disadvantages that are worth considering before you decide whether this is the brand for you. The most glaring of these is the price - Royal Canin are one of the most expensive brands on the block, and although it's definitely a case of getting what you pay for, if you're on a tight budget, we recommend shopping around for a more affordable option.

There are some additional issues, namely the use of animal by-products and the high carbohydrate content in a lot of their products, which is the result of the addition of grain-based fillers, such as rice. This won't be a problem if your dog is super active, but if you have a sedentary or overweight pup, it would be worth taking a look at some lower carb options.

Royal Canin: The verdict

Pet parents rate Royal Canin highly and its not unusual for this brand to come close to reaching the coveted 5-stars across major online retailers. And for good reason - this is a solid science-backed company that puts a lot of research into their recipes and the breadth of their range is impressive.

Yes, there are some issues with the carbohydrate content and with the higher price tag we feel the ingredient quality could be better at times, but all-in-all Royal Canin offers nutritionally complete dishes that have been well formulated and are sure to keep most hounds happy and healthy.

For more content like this, check out our guide to Pedigree vs Purina dog food, where we put another two popular brands to the test.