Purina Cat Chow Cat Food Review
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Why Should You Trust This Review?
- I’ve been a cat mom for 30 plus years
- I have volunteered at animal shelters for over 15 years
- I frequently review and confirm information with veterinarians
- I conducted 12+ hours of research on this cat food
About Purina Cat Chow Cat Food
Purina Cat Chow is manufactured by Nestlé Purina Petcare. Purina’s origin dates back to 1894 when William H. Danforth partnered with George Robinson and William Andrews and founded the Robinson-Danforth Commission Company, to feed farm animals. The name of the company was changed to Ralston Purina in 1902. Purina established the first pet nutrition and care center at Purina Farms near Gray Summit, Missouri in 1926. Today it is known as the Nestle Purina Pet Care Center.
Purina introduced the Purina Cat Chow line in 1963 to cater to the growing population of household cats in the country. Nestlé Purina Petcare was formed in December 2001 when merged it with Friskies PetCare Company adding to it’s Dog Chow, Cat Chow and Pro Plan pet food brands.
Purina Cat Chow is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Cat Food Nutrient Profiles.
Purina Cat Chow Sourcing And Manufacturing
| Parent Company/ Owned by | Nestle Purina PetCare |
| Company Net Worth | 11.2 Billion |
| Dry Food Manufactured | St Louis, Missouri |
| Wet Food Manufactured | N/A |
| Number of Recipes | 8 |
| FDA Approved | Yes |
Recall History
June 2011 – Purina Cat Chow Naturals was recalled for possible salmonella contamination.
Top 5 Recipes Reviewed And Analyzed
#1 Purina Cat Chow Complete Cat Food
Guaranteed Analysis
- Crude Protein 32.0% Min
- Crude Fat 12.0% Min
- Crude Fiber 3.0% Max
- Moisture 12% Max
- Taurine 0.15% Min
Ingredients
Chicken by-product meal, ground yellow corn, corn gluten meal, whole grain wheat, rice, soy flour, beef fat preserved with mixed-tocopherols, chicken, fish meal, liver flavor, phosphoric acid, calcium carbonate, salt, potassium chloride, choline chloride, MINERALS [zinc sulfate, ferrous sulfate, manganese sulfate, copper sulfate, calcium iodate, sodium selenite], taurine, VITAMINS [Vitamin E supplement, niacin (Vitamin B-3), Vitamin A supplement, calcium pantothenate (Vitamin B-5), thiamine mononitrate (Vitamin B-1), riboflavin supplement (Vitamin B-2), Vitamin B-12 supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride (Vitamin B-6), folic acid (Vitamin B-9), Vitamin D-3 supplement, biotin (Vitamin B-7), menadione sodium bisulfite complex (Vitamin K)], DL-Methionine, Red 40, Yellow 5, Blue 2.
To better understand the Purina Cat Chow Complete Cat Food recipe, we analyzed the first 5 ingredients.
Chicken By-Product Meal is made up of the clean parts of the carcass of slaughtered chicken, such as necks, feet, undeveloped eggs and intestines which has been ground or otherwise reduced in particle size. This is a cheap way for pet food companies to keep the protein levels up and the production costs down. This is considered a “suitable” source of protein for pet food.
Ground Corn may provide some beneficial nutrients to cats, but is not biologically appropriate. Corn is difficult to digest and pales in comparison to animal protein. Corn used as the primary ingredient in cat food is an inexpensive source of calories.
Corn Gluten Meal does contain protein but not the kind of protein that cats digest very well. Cats have to eat twice as much corn to get the same amount of protein that they would from animal proteins.
Whole Grain Wheat is a good source of fiber, vitamins, minerals, and essential fatty acids. Currently there is no conclusive evidence that shows whole grains are harmful to the general cat population. However a small percentage of cats may have sensitivities to grains.
Rice is considered a whole grain that is filled with antioxidants and fiber. It is considered empty calories for cats and is a carbohydrates cats do not need.
#2 Purina Cat Chow Indoor Cat Food
Guaranteed Analysis
- Crude Protein 30.0% Min
- Crude Fat 9.5% Min
- Crude Fiber 5.5% Max
- Moisture 12.0% Max
- Taurine 0.12% Min
Ingredients
Chicken by-product meal, whole grain corn, soy flour, whole grain wheat, corn gluten meal, rice, beef fat naturally preserved with mixed-tocopherols, liver flavor, chicken, powdered cellulose, soybean hulls, calcium carbonate, phosphoric acid, salt, natural flavor, potassium chloride, choline chloride, parsley flakes, taurine, Vitamin E supplement, MINERALS [zinc sulfate, ferrous sulfate, manganese sulfate, copper sulfate, calcium iodate, sodium selenite], VITAMINS [Vitamin E supplement, niacin (Vitamin B-3), Vitamin A supplement, calcium pantothenate (Vitamin B-5), thiamine mononitrate (Vitamin B-1), riboflavin supplement (Vitamin B-2), Vitamin B-12 supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride (Vitamin B-6), folic acid (Vitamin B-9), Vitamin D-3 supplement, biotin (Vitamin B-7), menadione sodium bisulfite complex (Vitamin K)], L-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate (Vitamin C), Red 40, Blue 2, Yellow 5.
To get a better understanding of this Purina Cat Chow Indoor Cat Food, we analyzed the first 5 ingredients.
Chicken By-Product Meal is made up of the clean parts of the carcass of slaughtered chicken, such as necks, feet, undeveloped eggs and intestines which has been ground or otherwise reduced in particle size. This is a cheap way for pet food companies to keep the protein levels up and the production costs down. This is considered a “suitable” source of protein for pet food.
Whole Corn may provide some beneficial nutrients to cats, but is not biologically appropriate. Corn is difficult to digest and pales in comparison to animal protein. Corn used as the primary ingredient in cat food is an inexpensive source of calories.
Soy Flour is considered a source of protein in cat foods that can contribute to protein levels in addition to meat proteins. Soy has been known to produce serious gastric distress, reduced protein digestion and chronic deficiencies in amino acid uptake in cats.
Whole Grain Wheat is a good source of fiber, vitamins, minerals, and essential fatty acids. Currently there is no conclusive evidence that shows whole grains are harmful to the general cat population. However a small percentage of cats may have sensitivities to grains.
Corn Gluten Meal does contain protein but not the kind of protein that cats digest very well. Cats have to eat twice as much corn to get the same amount of protein that they would from animal proteins.
#3 Purina Kitten Chow
Guaranteed Analysis
- Crude Protein 40.0% Min
- Crude Fat 13.5% Min
- Crude Fiber 2.5% Max
- Moisture 12% Max
- Taurine 0.12% Min
Ingredients
Chicken by-product meal, corn gluten meal, rice, soy flour, beef fat preserved with mixed-tocopherols, ground whole wheat, chicken, fish meal, liver flavor, dried yeast, calcium carbonate, phosphoric acid, salt, choline chloride, MINERALS [zinc sulfate, ferrous sulfate, manganese sulfate, copper sulfate, calcium iodate, sodium selenite], VITAMINS [Vitamin E supplement, niacin (Vitamin B-3), Vitamin A supplement, calcium pantothenate (Vitamin B-5), thiamine mononitrate (Vitamin B-1), riboflavin supplement (Vitamin B-2), Vitamin B-12 supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride (Vitamin B-6), folic acid (Vitamin B-9), Vitamin D-3 supplement, biotin (Vitamin B-7), menadione sodium bisulfite complex (Vitamin K)], taurine, potassium chloride.
Here we analyzed the first five ingredients to get a better understanding of what is included in this Purina Kitten Chow, cat food for kittens.
Chicken By-Product Meal is made up of the clean parts of the carcass of slaughtered chicken, such as necks, feet, undeveloped eggs and intestines which has been ground or otherwise reduced in particle size. This is a cheap way for pet food companies to keep the protein levels up and the production costs down. This is considered a “suitable” source of protein for pet food.
Corn Gluten Meal does contain protein but not the kind of protein that cats digest very well. Cats have to eat twice as much corn to get the same amount of protein that they would from animal proteins.
Rice is considered a whole grain that is filled with antioxidants and fiber. It is considered empty calories for cats and is a carbohydrates cats do not need.
Soy Flour is considered a source of protein in cat foods that can contribute to protein levels in addition to meat proteins. Soy has been known to produce serious gastric distress, reduced protein digestion and chronic deficiencies in amino acid uptake in cats.
Beef Fat is considered an important protein source. It also provides omega-3 and the omega-6 fatty acids which helps with skin and coat.
#4 Purina Cat Chow Naturals Grain Free Cat Food
Guaranteed Analysis
- Crude Protein 32.0% Min
- Crude Fat 11.0% Min
- Crude Fiber 3.0% Max
- Moisture 12.0% Max
Ingredients
Chicken, chicken by-product meal, cassava root flour, soybean meal, pea starch, pea protein, beef fat naturally preserved with mixed-tocopherols, lentil flour, canola meal, dried yeast, natural liver flavor, phosphoric acid, salt, calcium carbonate, choline chloride, MINERALS [zinc sulfate, ferrous sulfate, manganese sulfate, copper sulfate, calcium iodate, sodium selenite], taurine, potassium chloride, VITAMINS [Vitamin E supplement, niacin (Vitamin B-3), Vitamin A supplement, calcium pantothenate (Vitamin B-5), thiamine mononitrate (Vitamin B-1), riboflavin supplement (Vitamin B-2), Vitamin B-12 supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride (Vitamin B-6), folic acid (Vitamin B-9), Vitamin D-3 supplement, biotin (Vitamin B-7), menadione sodium bisulfite complex (Vitamin K)].
To get a better understanding of this Purina Cat Chow Naturals Grain Free Cat Food, we analyzed the first 5 ingredients.
Chicken is a good source of protein, low in fat, low in sodium and is a low-carb food.
Chicken By-Product Meal is made up of the clean parts of the carcass of slaughtered chicken, such as necks, feet, undeveloped eggs and intestines which has been ground or otherwise reduced in particle size. This is a cheap way for pet food companies to keep the protein levels up and the production costs down. This is considered a “suitable” source of protein for pet food.
Cassava Root Flour is often used in place of grains. It is a vegetable that is used to produce tapioca and is used as a thickening agent in pet foods. It is an unremarkable ingredient and offers very small amounts of vitamin C and fiber.
Soybean Meal is a common source of protein in many cat foods because it is less expensive than meat proteins. Soy contains enzyme inhibitors that have been known to produce serious gastric distress, reduced protein digestion and chronic deficiencies in amino acid uptake in cats.
Pea Starch is a thickening agent used in grain free pet foods. It is a source of carbohydrates and fiber but is also a way to increase protein levels in food.
#5 Purina Cat Chow Gentle Cat Food for Sensitive Stomachs
Guaranteed Analysis
- Crude Protein 36.0% Min
- Crude Fat 11.0% Min
- Crude Fiber 5.0% Max
- Moisture 12.0% Max
Ingredients
Turkey by-product meal, corn gluten meal, ground yellow corn, soy flour, rice, beef fat preserved with mixed-tocopherols, chicken by-product meal, ground whole wheat, turkey, liver flavor, powdered cellulose, soybean hulls, inulin, phosphoric acid, natural flavor, salt, calcium carbonate, choline chloride, potassium chloride, taurine, VITAMINS [Vitamin E supplement, niacin (Vitamin B-3), Vitamin A supplement, calcium pantothenate (Vitamin B-5), thiamine mononitrate (Vitamin B-1), riboflavin supplement (Vitamin B-2), Vitamin B-12 supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride (Vitamin B-6), folic acid (Vitamin B-9), Vitamin D-3 supplement, biotin (Vitamin B-7), menadione sodium bisulfite complex (Vitamin K)], MINERALS [zinc sulfate, ferrous sulfate, manganese sulfate, copper sulfate, calcium iodate, sodium selenite].
Here we analyzed the first five ingredients to get a better understanding of what is included in this Purina Cat Chow Gentle Cat Food for Sensitive Stomachs.
Turkey By-Product Meal is made up of the clean parts of the carcass of slaughtered turkey. This includes parts such as necks, feet, undeveloped eggs and intestines which has been ground or otherwise reduced in particle size. This is a cheap way to keep the protein levels up and the production costs down. This is considered a “suitable” source of protein for pet food.
Corn Gluten Meal does contain protein but not the kind of protein that cats digest very well. Cats have to eat twice as much corn to get the same amount of protein that they would from animal proteins.
Ground Corn may provide some beneficial nutrients to cats, but is not biologically appropriate. Corn is difficult to digest and pales in comparison to animal protein. Corn used as the primary ingredient in cat food is an inexpensive source of calories.
Soy Flour is considered a source of protein in cat foods that can contribute to protein levels in addition to meat proteins. Soy has been known to produce serious gastric distress, reduced protein digestion and chronic deficiencies in amino acid uptake in cats.
Rice is considered a whole grain that is filled with antioxidants and fiber. It is considered empty calories for cats and is a carbohydrates cats do not need.
Is Purina Cat Chow A Good Cat Food?
With the use of low-quality ingredients, below average protein, questionable fillers, and animal by-products, I would not recommend this food for your cat or kitten.
When considering the Purina Cat Chow Cat Food ingredients there are several types of fillers within the first 5 ingredients, which offer your cat little to nothing nutritionally and could be harmful. In addition to that there many low-quality grains, low animal protein content, by-products, and meals too high on list for most recipes. These recipes also contain corn gluten meal, ground yellow corn, soybean meal and soybean hulls which can cause problems in cats who suffer from food allergies.
Purina Cat Chows Naturals recipes contain both healthy and low quality ingredients. With that being said, it’s only redeeming quality is the use of real meat as the first ingredient.
Where Is Purina Cat Chow Cat Food Sold?
Purina Cat Chow Cat Foods are available in most grocery store chains and big box stores, although varieties may vary. You can also purchase Purina Cat Chow online through Amazon, Chewy, and various pet food retailers.
