What s better Royal Canin or Purina Pro Plan

By Isabella Storyclaire

last updated November 18, 2024

Contributions sourced from

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

(Image credit: Getty)

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.

Royal Canin vs. Purina Pro Plan Dog Food: 2024 Comparison, Pros & Cons

Dogster is reader-supported. When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you.

Learn more

Royal Canin vs. Purina Pro Plan Dog Food: 2024 Comparison, Pros & Cons

Written by: Chelsie Fraser

With so many dog food options available, choosing the right one for your pet can be hard. Royal Canin and Purina Pro Plan are both top-of-the-line foods, but each has its advantages. Purina Pro Plan is more affordable than Royal Canin, but Royal Canin has more options for pets with health issues. There are hundreds of recipes available between these two dog food brands. To help you choose, we break down the pros and cons of each, so you can choose the best one for your dog.

A Sneak Peek at the Winner: Purina Pro Plan

The best choice for most dogs is Purina Pro Plan. This food is more affordable and uses higher quality ingredients than Royal Canin. In most cases, Royal Canin is only superior to Purina Pro Plan for dogs with chronic health issues.

Our favorite Purina Pro Plan recipes are Purina Pro Plan Adult Shredded Blend and Purina Pro Plan Sport. You can find them at these links:

About Royal Canin

Royal Canin dog food is often recommended by veterinarians for dogs with health conditions. Its line of foods specifically addresses a wide variety of unique healthcare needs that other dog foods dont. It also offers health formulas that are carefully balanced for each individual dog breed.

Dogs that require foods specifically designed to avoid urinary tract problems, offer renal support, maintain blood sugar levels, and deal with many other issues will find their needs addressed by one of Royal Canins specialty foods.

Access and availability are the biggest downsides of Royal Canin food. Since it primarily offers veterinary foods, most of the recipes require a prescription to purchase. This limits where you can purchase the food online or at the vets office. It also makes the food more expensive.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Bear (@bear.the.white.labrador)

About Purina Pro Plan

Purina Pro Plan has a wide variety of recipe options. Its a leading pet food brand that is sold in most countries. Purinas food recipes are made in its animal health research center, which employs numerous veterinarians and veterinary nutritionists to design the best quality dog foods for various needs.

The popularity of Purina Pro Plan foods has increased in recent years due to its unique sports line of dog foods. For active dogs, these foods ensure that they have just the right proportions of protein and fat to maintain body condition during periods of high activity. Purina Pro Plan is also known for food that addresses skin and stomach sensitivities.

The biggest downside of Purina Pro Plan dog food is that its recipes contain plant ingredients like corn gluten or soybean to boost their protein content. These ingredients offer the benefit of being economical and not increasing the price of the food, but they arent as nutritious as meat or other animal-based proteins.

The 3 Most Popular Royal Canin Dog Food Recipes

1. Health Nutrition Small Adult Dry Dog Food

Royal Canin Health Nutrition Small Adult food is the most popular recipe for small breed dogs that weigh between 9 and 22 pounds. This food provides high-quality energy without adding fat and calories, to help your dog maintain a healthy body weight. Added ingredients help support skin and coat health. This food is extra tasty for picky eaters and is made up of small kibble pieces that are easy for tiny jaws to chew.

The biggest downsides of this recipe are the cost and the kibble size. Some owners find that the kibble is designed primarily for toy breeds rather than just small breed dogs. Dogs in the 20-pound range can swallow the kibble whole. This is not only a choking hazard, but it can also lead to overeating.

Pros

Promotes maintenance of a healthy body weight
Supports skin and coat health
Extra tasty for picky eaters

Kibble is too small for some dogs
Expensive

2. Small Puppy Dry Dog Food

For puppies up to 10 months old, Royal Canin offers size-specific nutrition based on the expected adult weight of your dog. This particular recipe is designed for small dogs, but Royal Canin also has recipes for medium and large dogs. The biggest difference between puppy foods is the kibble size. This one has small kibble for small jaws. Several ingredients are added to support growth and development, as well as your pups immune system.

The biggest issue with Royal Canin puppy food seems to be whether your puppy likes it or not. Many picky dogs wont touch it, while other dogs cant get enough. Since the food is already fairly expensive, its not cost effective to add extra ingredients to convince your puppy to eat it.

Pros

Kibble size tailored to the size of your dog
Added supplements to support healthy growth and development

3. Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Adult Gastrointestinal Dry Dog Food

Royal Canins Gastrointestinal recipe is the most common prescription diet for dogs suffering from digestive issues, allergies, or sensitive stomachs. This high-calorie food is designed to be fed in small portion sizes and to appeal to dogs with decreased appetites. It has a high-fiber content and added prebiotics and probiotics to promote healthy gut flora and healthy stools.

The biggest risk of this food is weight gain due to overeating. Since its meant to be fed to dogs that dont like to eat, its high in calories and fat. Since it is a prescription diet, youll need a vets approval to buy this food, and unfortunately, that adds to the cost.

Pros

For sensitive stomachs
Requires small meal sizes
Appropriate for underweight dogs

Could lead to weight gain
Requires vets prescription

The 3 Most Popular Purina Pro Plan Dog Food Recipes

1. Focus Sensitive Skin and Stomach Salmon and Rice

Purina Pro Plans Sensitive Skin and Stomach foods are high in protein to meet the needs of active dogs with sensitive digestive systems. Vitamins and minerals are added to support digestive and immune function health, and the recipe is rich in omega fatty acids to maintain skin and coat health. The salmon flavor appeals to picky eaters and makes the food more palatable.

As with any food, it doesnt fix all sensitivity issues and may not fix GI problems in every dog. Some dogs seem to have more problems with this food than other sensitive-stomach foods, while it reduces symptoms in others.

Pros

High protein
Appeals to picky eaters
Promotes skin and coat health

Doesnt alleviate GI upset for all dogs

2. Sport All Life Stages Performance 30/20 Formula for Athletes

Purina Pro Plan is well known for its line of sports foods, as there arent many comparable options that provide high-calorie, high-protein dog foods for athletic dogs. The 30/20 formula is safe to feed all life stages, from puppy to senior, and is specially formulated to provide high-energy dogs with the quality nutrition that they need to perform. Its also a great option for underweight dogs that need more calories at mealtime.

Interestingly, Purina Pro Plan Sport foods are made with novel proteins. This particular recipe includes turkey, duck, and quail. Since protein is also the source of many sensitivities, this food may also be good for dogs that have digestive upset with other foods.

Purina Pro Plans sports line is not appropriate for dogs that struggle with maintaining a healthy weight, as it is high in calories.

Pros

Designed for athletic dogs
Safe for all life stages
Includes a novel protein
Good for underweight dogs

Not for dogs that are overweight

3. Purina Pro Plan Adult Shredded Blend Complete Essentials

Complete Essentials food combines traditional kibble with shredded pieces to make extra tasty high-protein food. This is a complete nutrition option for adult dogs. The added antioxidants and prebiotics are designed to support a healthy immune and digestive system, while the omega fatty acids support skin and coat health.

This recipe is comparable to most other dog kibbles, but it stands out for its addition of shredded protein. This seems to be the key to getting picky dogs to eat more food than they would otherwise.

Pros

Offers complete nutrition
Kibble and shredded food mixed
Appeals to picky eaters

Recall History of Royal Canin and Purina Pro Plan

Safety is one of the most important considerations when choosing dog food. Knowing a brands recall history can help you determine how safe a dog food is and what the companys history looks like. It also tells you where the company made mistakes and how it dealt with mistakes, which may be even more important than the recall itself.

Royal Canin

Royal Canin has been making dog food for less than half the amount of time Purina has. During this time, it has also had more recalls than Purina. The most notable recall occurred in 2007, when its products were recalled for melamine contamination. This involved ingredients sourced from China and affected multiple brands of dog food.

In 2006, a Royal Canin exclusive recall involved foods sold at a vet clinic with suspected elevated vitamin D levels. The company removed all foods that were affected from shelves with no further issues.

Purina Pro Plan

Purina has had only one recall, in March 2016. The company voluntarily recalled several batches of Purina Beneful and Purina Pro Plan wet dog food when it discovered that they might not contain the same vitamin and mineral content that was stated on the labels.

Since Purina has been manufacturing pet food for over 120 years, this is an impressive recall history.

Royal Canin vs. Purina Pro Plan Comparison

Main Similarities

Both Royal Canin and Purina Pro Plan are highly specialized dog food brands that offer a wide range of products. They both manufacture wet and dry food, along with different recipes for health conditions, age, size, weight, and activity levels. There are more similarities than differences between the two brands.

Main Differences

The biggest difference between these two dog food brands is that Royal Canin offers breed-specific formulas and a separate prescription line of foods. While Royal Canin focuses on special health issues, Purina Pro Plan recipes are more generalized and focus on issues like stomach sensitivities and allergies or athletic dogs rather than a specific breed.

Taste

According to customer reviews, dogs seem to prefer the taste of Purina Pro Plan over the taste of Royal Canin. But there are more reviews available for Purina, so this could be why. Most owners dont buy Royal Canin unless their dog has a health concern that needs special food. Fewer users mean fewer reviews, so it isnt necessarily indicative of Purina Pro Plan being better, but rather that it has been fed to more dogs.

Nutritional Value

Purina Pro Plan dog food recipes nearly always list real meat as the first ingredient. However, there are a few recipes that list another ingredient first. Some varieties use corn and soybeans to boost the protein content, which isnt as nutritious as using an animal-based protein.

If you are concerned about only feeding your dog real-meat ingredients and no meat byproducts, Purina Pro Plan isnt the food for you. It often uses meat byproducts in its foods to maintain the economical price. Purina does state that it only uses the nutritionally beneficial parts of the animal and that its recipes do not contain filler.

The ingredients in Royal Canin are similar to those in Purina Pro Plan. The company does use quality foods, but meat is not always the first ingredient, and most recipes contain meat byproducts. Unlike Purina, it uses more byproducts than real meat. It also does not specify what parts of the animal that it uses, which means it could be using non-nutritious parts, like beaks and feathers. What is clear is that Royal Canin is not as transparent as Purina about its ingredients.

In general, there is little nutritious difference between Royal Canin and Purina Pro Plan, but Purina is more open about how it develops its food.

Selection

Many of the veterinary foods offered by Royal Canin must be purchased at your local vet practice or online with a prescription. Purina Pro Plan is available at numerous retail locations and online. Since it doesnt require veterinary approval, it is easier to buy.

Overall

The best overall choice is Purina Pro Plan. It has comparable nutritional value to Royal Canin, and its food is more palatable to dogs and suits the needs of more dogs in general. Purina Pro Plan recipes are more economical and easier to find than Royal Canin.

Final Verdict

Purina Pro Plan is the clear choice for premium-quality dog food for most dogs. However, Royal Canin is the best choice if your dog has a specific health issue, like kidney disease, urinary tract issues, or severe digestive concerns. Its special recipes address health concerns better than any other food. But since most dogs dont have chronic health concerns, Purina Pro Plan is the more economical choice for many pet owners.

Featured Image: cottonbro, Pexels

About the Author

Chelsie is a freelance writer who is passionate about helping owners and pets live their best lives. She resides in rural Alberta, Canada with her husband and two sons, and is currently a pet parent to four horses, four cats, and a border collie.