Pro Plan cat food
Almost every pet store, even one with a modest selection, carries ProPlan cat food. The popularity of the Pro Plan brand extends far beyond our borders and has received numerous positive reviews from pet owners in the CIS, Europe, and the United States.
Thousands of pets eat Pro Plan cat food thanks to William Danforth, who founded the company in 1894 and renamed it Ralston Purina in 1902. More than a hundred years have passed since then, and the Purina logo is still seen on various types of cat food, including Pro Plan packaging.
In 2001, Nestlé acquired Ralston Purina and merged it with Friskies, creating Nestlé Purina PetCare. Its divisions and manufacturing facilities are spread across the globe, including Europe, Asia, North and South America, Africa, and even Australia. In Russia, the pet food factory is located in the village of Vorsino in the Kaluga Region. Nestlé Purina PetCare's product portfolio, manufactured here, includes long-established brands such as Friskies, Felix, and Pro Plan.
Content
Assortment
Pro Plan products can be roughly divided into three nutrition lines. One of these lines is Veterinary Diets, the other two are ProPlan dry cat food, and Nutrisavour canned and wet food.
The Veterinary Diets category includes therapeutic diets that help maintain the health of cats suffering from various illnesses. There are approximately ten different diets in this segment, each with its own specific benefits, such as Urinary, which is formulated for urolithiasis, and Hepatic, which is a diet for pets with liver disease. Some products are available only in dry food, while others are exclusively canned. Veterinarian reviews of Proplan cat food primarily focus on the therapeutic line and are generally positive. However, it's important to note that Veterinary Diets diets are prescribed only by a veterinarian, often as an adjunct to primary medication.
The Nutrisavour line is an updated series of wet food in portioned bags (pouches) of 85 grams, divided into five types: for kittens, adult individuals, neutered, living exclusively at home and for sensitive digestionYou can offer your pet either pieces with sauce (gravy) or pieces in jelly. You can vary your pet's menu or satisfy a picky eater with a variety of flavors: chicken, turkey, duck, lamb, beef, salmon, and ocean fish.
In addition to pouches, there's also Pro Plan cat food in 85g cans. These are six types of pâtés, divided, like the pouches, according to the pet's needs. This category also includes Light, for cats prone to weight gain, and Adult 7+, for senior pets.
ProPlan dry cat food is a classic line of nutrition that takes into account two key criteria: the pet's age and its special needs. With the goal of catering to kittens with sensitive digestion, the manufacturer offers ProPlan Junior Delicate for cats under one year old. Breeder reviews note the positive effects of this diet in combating gastrointestinal issues in kittens.
For pets who require specialized nutrition every day, this line offers specific items and diets. For example, Proplan food for spayed and neutered cats (Sterilized), for animals with sensitive skin (Derma Plus), for healthy teeth and gums (Dental Plus), and diets for indoor pets and overweight pets (Housecat and Light). For those with food intolerances or digestive issues, Delicate food with turkey and rice is recommended.
Evaluation and analysis of the composition
A large team of nutritionists and veterinarians develops Pro Plan brand diets. They have created the unique and patented formulas Optistart, Optirenal, and Longevis. These are complexes made up of a specific combination of ingredients. Optistart supports intestinal function and improves intestinal microflora (used in the kitten diet), while Optirenal promotes kidney health (found in the adult, indoor, neutered, and Delicate diets).
Diets for those who have already crossed the seven-year mark (7+) use the Longevis formula, with the addition of antioxidants and prebiotics aimed at slowing down the aging process of the body.
For a detailed look, let's take a closer look at Pro Plan Adult Daily Cat Food with Chicken. It's one of the most popular items in the Pro Plan cat food line, yet reviews are highly mixed.
Let's move on to the guaranteed nutritional values declared by the manufacturer:
- Proteins – 36% – within normal limits;
- Fats – 16% – normal level;
- Fiber – 1.5% – low;
- Raw ash – 7% – within normal limits;
The official website for Russia does not provide information on moisture levels or carbohydrate content. The English-language source lists a carbohydrate content of 34%, which is above average.
A preliminary assessment shows that fiber is insufficient, even though it plays a crucial role in healthy intestinal function. However, the carbohydrate content is quite high; cats practically have no need for carbohydrates, obtaining energy from proteins and fats.
The ingredient list for this diet consists of 17 items, all of which are listed in descending order of their quantity in the food, according to the requirements. Therefore, the first five or six ingredients will show you what Proplan for cats is actually made of. Here's the composition of the food:
- Chicken – 21%;
- Dry poultry protein;
- Wheat;
- Rice;
- Wheat gluten;
- Animal fat;
Next comes corn gluten, then corn, then egg powder. Next comes dried chicory root at 2%, and almost at the very end are fish oil and yeast.
The manufacturer also uses general terms to indicate the presence of minerals, a certain flavoring additive, preservatives, antioxidants, and vitamins.
It's worth noting that the formula for Proplan cat food doesn't allow us to determine the percentage of each ingredient; the exact figure is only for the chicken content. This may allow the manufacturer to adjust the amount of a particular nutrient as needed.
Squirrels
This formula includes three protein sources: chicken, poultry protein powder, and egg powder. The fact that the first and second ingredients are animal proteins is a good indicator. Chicken is an easily digestible product and a source of complete protein (containing essential amino acids). Here, "chicken" refers to fresh or raw poultry, from which approximately 70% of the water content is removed during cooking. Therefore, the dry food will contain approximately 6-8% of the water content, not 21%. Therefore, this component will no longer be listed as the first ingredient in the food.
Poultry protein powder is essentially high-protein poultry meal. It's considered a poor choice for cats for several reasons: it's highly processed and contains unknown raw material sources.
Egg powder is listed near the end of the ingredients list rather than the beginning, meaning its quantity is very small. Nevertheless, this ingredient is a good source of animal protein, although significantly inferior to fresh whole eggs.
Cereals
Five of the 17 ingredients are devoted to grains or grain derivatives. These include wheat, wheat gluten, rice, corn, and corn gluten. These are sources of carbohydrates and also contain plant protein, which is largely indigestible by animals. Furthermore, the presence of wheat protein (gluten) is a common cause of food intolerances in cats. If you were to "pour all the grains into one pile," the grain content would likely outweigh the meat components.
Such grain components are used to reduce the cost of the product; they are not desirable in the diet of cats, and serve only as a "fecal filler."
Fats
Proplan dry cat food contains animal and fish fat. Animal fat is not considered a worthy dietary component, as it is a product of unknown origin and often of poor quality. Animal fat is derived from the tissues of birds and other animals that are unfit for human consumption. The ingredient labeled "animal fat" is typical of low-priced products.
Fish oil is number 12, almost at the very end, meaning its share in the recipe, and therefore its benefits, are very small.
Other feed components
As it turns out, such a renowned brand doesn't offer a rich list of ingredients or a variety of beneficial additives. The added ingredients include unknown preservatives, questionable flavorings, yeast, and dried chicory root.
- Chicory has a number of beneficial properties, including boosting the immune system, maintaining healthy gut flora, and stabilizing blood sugar levels. It is rich in B vitamins, potassium, and iron.
- Yeast improves metabolism, contains vitamin B, and has a positive effect on the condition of the skin and coat. Brewer's yeast is often used as a standalone vitamin supplement.
The manufacturer also lists antioxidants used to prevent food spoilage. However, their origin is unclear, and whether they are natural or chemical remains anyone's guess.
Pros and cons of Pro Plan
The advantages of this brand's products include:
- Presence of high quality animal protein (fresh chicken, eggs);
- There are vitamins and minerals, several useful supplements;
- Availability of a treatment line;
- A wide range of products that takes into account the different needs of animals;
The noticeable disadvantages of the recipe are:
- Large amount of grains;
- Potentially allergenic components;
- Ingredients of dubious origin;
Reviews of Proplan food
An integral part of every product is the consumer's opinion. Since our pets can't speak up, their owners take on this role. There's probably not a single pet forum without reviews of Proplan cat food. This brand has many fans, but it also has its detractors:
Katerina, owner of a neutered British cat:
"The breeder gave me a pack of Pro Plan food when I bought my kitten from her. My Archie is now five years old, and he only eats this food, only now it's for neutered cats. Sometimes I buy him cans of pâté to pamper him. He's never been sick, and his appetite is good, although he's maybe gotten a little chubby."
Roman, an ordinary cat:
"Even though he's not a pedigree cat, he's a very picky eater. He only eats Delicate food with turkey, but the main problem is that he's fluffy and periodically starts throwing up hair. I tried Derma Plus, but he doesn't want it and walks around hungry. I've tried everything: growing grass, giving him a special toothpaste, but he won't eat anything. And this food doesn't help with the hairballs. I'll look for other brands; a friend recommends Royal."
When it comes to professional opinions on Proplan cat food, veterinarians' reviews primarily focus on the therapeutic diets category, confirming the positive effects of these formulas. They also find that standard formulas are comparable in their characteristics. premium class nutrition, and are recommended as a good alternative to economy-class foods.
Price of feed
Due to the wide range of products, we selected several popular food items and analyzed their prices.
Pro Plan for cats with chicken:
- 4 kg – from 250 RUR
- 5 kg – from 830 RUR
- 3 kg – from 1555 RUR
- 10 kg – from 4715 RUR
The price for Proplan therapeutic (Urinary ST/OX) cat food will be higher:
- 35 kg – from 305 RUR
- 5 kg – from 1055 RUR
In summary, this is a premium product with both strengths and weaknesses. Its pricing is comparable to many of its peers. For owners who aren't put off by the steep price of super-premium or holistic diets, we recommend taking a closer look when choosing food for your pet.
Read also:
Add a comment