Pro Plan cat food: reviews, composition analysis, price

When choosing food for a cat, every owner looks for the optimal product that meets all the needs of the animal and is affordable. Pro Plan cat food from Purina has long been known and popular on the Russian market. Let's figure out how useful Pro Plan is, study its composition, cost and product line, as well as all its advantages and disadvantages.

About the food

Purina Pro Plan cat food is produced by the American company Nestle Purina PetCare under the Purina brand in factories in Italy, France, and Russia. It belongs to the premium class products, but if you take into account the presence of a veterinary line, then the class of food can easily be classified as super-premium. Purina is also a manufacturer of Purina One, Purina Cat Chow, Gourmet, Felix, Friskies, Darling food, and produces food products not only for cats, but also for dogs. The range of the famous brand includes dry, liquid food and vitamin and mineral supplements in the form of separate products.

According to the manufacturer, Pro Plan can be the cat's only food and there is no need to add other ingredients to the menu. All types of food are presented with a rationally balanced nutritional composition, and also contain vitamins, enzymes and beneficial probiotics to strengthen the immune system, maintain healthy teeth and coat. The Pro Plan product line is officially recognized as hypoallergenic. Moreover, each series of food has a wide range of flavors that can satisfy the most picky cats.

Manufacturer

, which is a manufacturer of Pro Plan food from the USA. This major developer of food for cats and dogs is known all over the world. The company is also the owner of the Nestle brand, which is a sign of the quality of the product.

Purina branches are located in France, Italy and Russia. Products mainly produced in Russia are presented on the domestic market.

However, the highest quality food is considered to be French food, which is practically not available in pet stores. Alternatively, goods can be ordered online on specialized websites.

Purina Pro Plan food line

1. Dry food in the form of small homogeneous granules. Introduced the Original Adult series for adult cats with rice additive and flavors: chicken, duck, turkey, salmon. Sold by weight and in individual packages.
2. Soft food: canned food in jars and pouches in 85 g bags with flavors: chicken, turkey, lamb, salmon, sea fish in the form of jelly, pate, sauces.
3. Pro Plan food for kittens of the Pro Plan Junior series, including dry food in packages from 0.4 g to 10 kg, as well as wet food in the format of pouches and cans of pate and stew. For kittens there is also a Baby Kitten series for the first feeding.
4. Pro Plan for older and elderly cats: a special line of 7+ of all series has been developed for them: Adult, Original, Nutrisavour.
5. Dietary general strengthening series: Pro Plan Delicate for cats with weak or sensitive digestion, Pro Plan Derma Plus for strengthening the skin, coat and making it silky.
6. Purina Sterilized - for castrated and sterilized cats to maintain optimal weight and a healthy genitourinary system after surgery, and to prevent urolithiasis.
7. Purina Pro Plan medicinal: veterinary line Veterinary diets for a maintenance and therapeutic diet for a wide variety of cat diseases. Includes the series: OM - to combat obesity; UR - for animals with urinary tract diseases; NF - for kidney pathology; Hepatic—for cats with liver disease.

This therapeutic line also includes food for a veterinary diet for diseases of the joints, gastrointestinal tract, diabetes, chronic allergies, food intolerance, etc. The series includes a special feed additive of the Fortiflora series with a probiotic to normalize the gastrointestinal tract.

Owner reviews

Lyubov R.

My French Bulldog absolutely loves Pro Plan. We started feeding him when he was still a puppy, the breeder advised. Then they were transferred according to age to a new type. There have never been any allergic reactions, the gastrointestinal tract works like a clock, the coat and skin are in excellent condition. Sometimes I buy different flavors, swap chicken for lamb or turkey. I try to buy on sale or on promotion - the price is a little high for me.

Elena G.

The bull terrier puppy was allergic from a very early age. A little something is wrong - it itches. We tried many options in different segments and price categories. We couldn't find one that would suit the dog. Some dogs refused to eat at all and never came to the bowl. In the end, together with the veterinarian, we chose a diet food without animal protein. Everything came together here - he was happy, his body did not give a negative reaction.

Composition of Pro Plan food

Let's look at the main composition of Pro Plan using the example of standard dry food for adult cats and cats, Original Adult. The manufacturer guarantees that the food contains:

• proteins: 36%;
• fat: 16%;
• fatty acids: Omega-6: 2.5%; Omega-3: 0.4%;
• raw ash: 7%;
• crude fiber: 1%.

Let's study in more detail.

1. The composition includes: chicken 21% and dried poultry protein. Compared to other premium brands, Pro Plan puts chicken meat first. The percentage of poultry protein is not indicated, and the word “meat” is not used, so it cannot be said that this is pure chicken meat. According to the American AAFCO standard, the ingredient called chicken also includes chicken bones, skin and offal.
2. Wheat and rice are in second place. Both ingredients are sources of carbohydrates, with rice being the most palatable for cats.
3. Corn and wheat gluten and corn. These are quite allergenic products, especially corn, which is almost always GMO. Corn is cheap and profitable for the manufacturer, but the most harmful product for cats: it often causes allergies in animals with hair loss, bald spots and scratching. Wheat gluten, like corn gluten, contains a lot of vegetable protein.
4. Animal fat is a source of Omega-6 and Omega-3 fatty acids, but the origin of the fat is not specified.
5. Powdered eggs are an additional source of protein.
6. Minerals: iron, copper, iodine, manganese, zinc and selenium.
7. Vitamins: A: 37000 IU/kg, D3: 1200 IU/kg, E: 670 IU/kg, C: 160 mg/kg.

Also included in the composition, without specifying the percentage: dried chicory root, fiber, flavoring additive, yeast, preservatives, amino acids.

The manufacturer also claims that the food contains a natural probiotic, but what percentage it is and what exactly it is called is not provided.

Let's summarize: if you analyze the origin of the protein in the amount of 36-40% (this is the norm for a healthy cat), declared by the manufacturer, you can understand that animal proteins contain exactly more than 20%. But since the amount of dry poultry protein is completely unknown, the remaining 16-20% of proteins are most likely of plant origin.

Regarding the dosage of dry food:

According to reviews, 1.5-2 kg of dry food for a month is enough for one adult medium-sized cat. For example, with a cat weighing 3.5 kg and a norm of 50-55 g, 1,500 to 1,650 g of food will be enough for her per month. There is no need to buy vitamins and mineral supplements separately. Each product in a separate line has its own feeding recommendations.

Advantages

The probiotic FortiFlora exhibits a complex effect on the body:

• activates the synthesis of antibodies to protect against pathogens of dangerous infections;
• prevents digestive disorders, diarrhea and constipation;
• suppresses the growth and development of pathogenic microorganisms;
• accelerates the elimination of toxins in case of various types of poisoning;
• lactic acid bacteria in the Purina FortiFlora supplement restore the quantity and quality of beneficial microorganisms in the intestines;
• neutralizes the influence of decay products during the life of pathogenic flora in parts of the digestive tract;
• participates in the production of B vitamins, the deficiency of which worsens the condition of the skin and horny formations, disrupts the functioning of the nervous system, and affects the entire body.

Additional benefits:

• the probiotic can be mixed with dry and wet food;
• the food supplement contains not only lactic acid bacteria, but also other useful substances: vitamins, ash, fiber, fats, mineral components, a source of digestive enzymes;
• the supplement is approved for lactating and pregnant bitches;
• to achieve a positive result, it is enough to give your four-legged pet a packet of nutritional supplement once a day;
• the drug Forti Flora has practically no restrictions, except for previously identified allergic reactions to individual components of the drug;
• suitable for the prevention of stool disorders in dogs with a sensitive digestive tract;
• the powder has a pleasant taste; when combined with food, a specific taste appears that even the most fastidious animals like;
• FortiFlora mixture is suitable for dogs of various breeds.

When developing a complex based on probiotics, experts found the optimal packaging option for each serving of beneficial lactic acid bacteria. Microgranules have two layers that can withstand the action of acidic gastric juice. The shell dissolves only when it enters the intestines, which provides the most beneficial effect on the body.

Feed cost

Pro Plan is sold in any pet store and supermarket with a small selection both online and offline. The price varies depending on the weight purchased and the type of feed. In 2020, average prices for Pro Plan for the Adult series ranged from 480 to 700 rubles. for 1 kg of dry food:

Adviсe

When feeding dry granules, it is important to adhere to the drinking regime. On average, an animal needs 50 g of liquid per 1 kg within 24 hours. You should not force your dog to drink water. It is enough to provide her with constant access to clean water.

It is advisable to soak dry food for babies whose teeth are not yet strong, pets with gastrointestinal problems and aging dogs. It is diluted with clean warm water to a pasty state.

You can use low-fat kefir, and for puppies up to 5 months old - boiled milk. Uneaten food remains are immediately disposed of to avoid souring.

Pro Plan Pros and Cons

The benefits include:

• accessibility and availability in many stores;
• high percentage of protein content;
• rich in vitamins and beneficial microelements;
• a huge range of flavors;
• availability of a treatment line for cat diseases;
• balanced composition, the presence of medicinal enzymes and probiotics.

Disadvantages include:

• overpriced compared to other higher quality analogues: Acana, Royal Canin, Go Natural, NOW, Felidae;
• the presence of allergens in the composition and the increased content of vegetable protein, an increased proportion of carbohydrates in the diet;
• vague statements of the constituent components without indicating the percentage;
• use of flavoring fillers and preservatives.

Reviews from veterinarians

Dmitry K.

From the practice of prescribing Pro Plan to my patients, the risk of obesity is significantly reduced, sugar and blood pressure levels are maintained, and the load on the heart in dogs is reduced. A huge plus is medicinal and dietary food. Of course, food is prescribed with caution to animals with a predisposition to allergies to cereals - almost all food contains wheat or corn. But the manufacturer has provided for these – gluten-free options.

Olga S.

In my practice, I give preference to other diets and recommend them to patients from other manufacturers. Although she did not abandon it completely, offering only medicinal and dietary types. The main complaints about Pro Plan products: animal protein is mainly obtained from offal, vague formulations, often without specific names, contains a lot of carbohydrates and chemical additives to enhance taste.