PetSmart Purina Pro Plan Cat Food Review

Nutrients and Quality

Purina Pet Care, the company that owns the Pro Plan brand, is one of the oldest pet food companies globally, with more than 125 years in the pet care industry. Not surprisingly, it's also one of the best-known and widely trusted pet food companies in the world. The Pro Plan brand is the company's premium offering. From a nutritional perspective, Purina Pro Plan foods get high marks for containing high-quality meats and fish. Most varieties—though not all—list meat or fish as their primary ingredient.

Purina employs more than 500 scientists to formulate its cat foods. The company reports that 99% of its foods are manufactured in its own rigorously monitored facilities. One hundred percent of Purina's beef is sourced in the U.S., along with 99 percent of our poultry. Additionally, the company also sources 96 percent of the grain and 100 percent of the soy used to produce its products in the US, as well. 

Purina Pro Plan cat foods contain an average amount of protein. They are relatively high in carbohydrates, though, and do contain some artificial ingredients you may not want to put in your cat's bowl every day.

Purina manufactures countless bags and cans of cat food each year under various brand names. Not surprisingly, its foods have been periodically recalled over the years. Certain cans of Purina Pro Plan cat food were recalled in July of this year due to the presence of small pieces of plastic that represented a choking hazard. In 2015, one lot—which is actually a very large amount of cat food—  was recalled because of insufficient levels of thiamine. In 2011, Purina dry cat foods were recalled due to suspected salmonella contamination.

Price

Purina Pro Plan is available exclusively at specialty pet stores and from select online retailers like Chewy and Amazon. It's considered a moderately priced brand compared to other foods sold at these outlets. Many brands, especially those made up of fresh foods and organic ingredients, cost far more. A 24-pack of canned Purina Pro Plan food will run you somewhere between $25 and $28 dollars. Depending on the weight of your cat, Purina recommends you feed your cat between 2 and 3 cans per day. So if you have a 10 lb. cat, you can expect to spend that amount every 16 days or so. You can expect a 6 lb. bag of dry Purina Pro Plan food, priced at $22 for salmon flavor, to last about 2 months if you're feeding a cat weighing about 9 lbs.

Variety

Based on anecdotal evidence, cat owners are more likely to want to give their feline friends a variety of food than dog owners. Perhaps because cats tend to be pickier than dogs or perhaps because it's simply fun to mix things up, cat food manufacturers tend to offer dozens of cat food varieties. Purina Pro Plan is no exception. From smooth to chunky to gravy-slathered wet foods to packets of moist pellets and crunchy kibble, you can offer your cat an incredibly varied menu when you feed Purina Pro Plan. The brand offers foods for kittens, adult cats, and seniors. You'll also find foods designed to address common cat issues, including carrying too much weight, frequent vomiting and hairballs, and urinary tract problems. Interestingly, Purina recently introduced a food that reduces allergens in pet dander, which can be a game-changer for cat lovers who suffer from allergies.