"Pro Plan" Food For Cats And Kittens, Sterilized Animals: Overview, Composition, Range, Pros And Cons, Reviews Of Veterinarians

2024 Author: Bailey Albertson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 12:53

Proplan cat food: is it suitable for all pets?

Proplan wet and dry cat foods are among the most popular ready-to-eat foods. The secret to fame lies in aggressive marketing. Purina products are considered to be of high quality due to widespread advertising, but in reality they are not.

Content

• 1 General information about the feed "Proplan"

• 2 Types of feed "Proplan"

  • 2.1 For kittens

    • 2.1.1 Dry food
    • 2.1.2 Wet food

  • 2.2 For adult cats

    • 2.2.1 Dry food
    • 2.2.2 Wet food

  • 2.3 For older cats

    • 2.3.1 Dry food
    • 2.3.2 Wet food
  • 2.4 Preventive feed
  • 2.5 Treatment ruler

• 3 Analysis of the composition of the feed "Proplan"

  • 3.1 Wet food
  • 3.2 Dry food
• 4 Advantages and disadvantages of Proplan feed
• 5 Is Proplan food suitable for all cats?
• 6 Cost of Proplan feed and points of sale
• 7 Reviews of pet owners and veterinarian

General information about the feed "Proplan"

Proplan feed is produced by Purina, which became a division of Nestle Corporation in 2002. The company specializes in the production of low-quality economy and premium products. Proplan rations belong to the latter category. Despite the name, premium products are not much better than economy products. These feeds are not used on a regular basis.

The logo is present on the packaging of cat food

There is also a Proplan line for dogs. Additionally, the Purina division is engaged in the production of feeds such as Friskies, Felix, Gourmet, Darling, Cat Chow and Purina One.

Types of feed "Proplan"

The manufacturer offers many varieties of dry and wet food. There are ready-made diets for cats of all ages. They produce products for animals with different levels of activity. Additionally, the corporation has developed preventive and therapeutic formulas.

For kittens

There are 2 types of kitten food: dry and wet. The latter is appropriate to use as an intermediate before switching to a pelleted diet. Wet food is more like regular food in texture, so kittens are more likely to eat it and are less likely to suffer from digestive disorders. You can enter the pellets directly into the menu, but they must be soaked.

Dry food

For kittens the company produces 2 types of dry food: with chicken and with turkey. The latter is used for hypersensitivity and a tendency to allergic reactions. Consider both ready-made diets.

Despite the manufacturer's assurances, the main ingredients are, rather, rice, wheat and corn.

A standard chicken feed contains the following ingredients:

• chicken (20%);
• dry poultry protein;
• rice;
• wheat gluten;
• animal fat;
• corn;
• corn gluten;
• pea protein concentrate;
• corn starch;
• egg powder;
• minerals;
• flavoring feed additive;
• yeast;
• fish fat;
• preservatives;
• vitamins;
• amino acids;
• colostrum (0.1%).

The manufacturer highlights the following benefits of the formula:

1. Strengthening the immune system. The therapeutic effect of the feed is due to the presence of colostrum, an analogue of colostrum. The substance has powerful immunomodulatory properties. This helps kittens to calmly survive the transition from maternal antibodies to their own and prevents infection with viruses and infections.
2. Supports bone growth. The composition contains vitamin D, which contributes to the normal absorption and distribution of calcium.
3. Development of the brain and organs of vision. Proplan prevents the onset of diseases due to the presence of docosahexaenoic acid. It is used for cell growth and division.

There is a mark on the package indicating that the food is suitable for castrated and sterilized pets, but in reality, when choosing a ready-made diet, one should be guided by the individual characteristics of the animal. Kitten foods are high in calories and can cause obesity. If your pet is overweight, it is better to change the diet.

This dry food for sensitive kittens contains the following ingredients:

• turkey (17%);
• rice;
• dry turkey protein;
• pea protein concentrate;
• animal fat;
• soy protein;
• corn gluten;
• corn starch;
• dried chicory root (2%);
• minerals;
• flavoring feed additive;
• yeast;
• amino acids;
• vitamins;
• fish fat;
• preservatives;
• antioxidants.

The manufacturer highlights the following benefits of the formula:

1. Improvement of the immune system and intestines due to bovine colostrum. However, this product does not contain colostrum. Either the manufacturer made a mistake when listing the ingredients, or this is a dubious marketing ploy.
2. Harmonious development of the organs of vision and the brain thanks to fish oil. The ingredient contains unsaturated fatty acids that act as building materials for fabrics.
3. Bone and muscle growth. The advantage is provided by the high protein content (40%) and the presence of phosphorus and calcium. However, it must be borne in mind that most of the amino acids are of plant origin, that is, they are practically useless for cats.

In case of sensitive digestion, soy and corn are contraindicated, but in the composition of specialized feed, in total, they occupy a high position

It is best not to give this food to kittens with sensitive digestion. In the dry matter of meat, it contains only 3-4%. But kittens need amino acids for the final formation of organs. Such eating can make digestive problems chronic. I personally know a case when a kitten after this food was almost completely bald. Most likely, the cause lay in an allergy to corn or soy, but due to lack of nutrients, liver disease could also occur.

Wet food

There are several varieties of wet food for kittens. The company produces ready-to-eat rations with chicken, turkey and beef. Additionally, they produce a paste for kittens, which has a more uniform and softened consistency.

There is more sauce in the spiders than we would like, which makes their purchase, taking into account the composition, inappropriate

Wet foods vary greatly in composition. For comparison, consider the chicken sample first. It contains the following ingredients:

• meat and processed meat products (including chicken 5%);
• fish and fish products;
• minerals;
• Sahara;
• vitamins.

Only 5 positions, which is commendable for wet food, but the quality of the diet cannot boast. In the list of ingredients, all definitions are general, there are anonymous "processed products", under which industrial waste can be hidden. The share of chicken is only 5%, and this is the cheapest type of meat. The composition contains sugars that are dangerous to cats due to the risk of developing allergies. Predators cannot fully digest such substances. Part of the sugar is deposited in the liver, the rest enters the bloodstream along with toxins. A friend of mine has a Scottish cat at home. She eats wet Proplan food, and her eyes are constantly flowing. Of course, this is partly due to the peculiarity of the breed, but it does not have a very flattened muzzle, so nutrition clearly makes a contribution.

The following positions are present in the composition of wet food with beef:

• meat and meat products (including beef 4%);
• vegetable protein extracts;
• fish and fish products;
• vegetable oils and animal fats;
• amino acids;
• minerals;
• products of processing of vegetable raw materials;
• thickeners;
• Sahara;
• cellulose;
• vitamins;
• dyes.

It is not entirely clear what caused this difference in the amount of ingredients, but the quality of the feed with beef is even lower. In second place are vegetable proteins. Their source of origin is unknown, and the need for their presence in wet food is questionable. New disadvantages have been added to the general definitions: the presence of thickeners, cellulose and dyes in the composition. They help give the product a more pleasant texture, but irritate the digestive tract of cats and can cause allergies.

Pate contains relatively little liquid

We will not separately consider the composition of the pate. It resembles the last food: in the second place are vegetable proteins, sugars and dyes are present. This is more common with a granular product, but not with a pate.

For adult cats

For adult cats, dry and wet food is produced.

Dry food

Standard chicken feed is suitable for animals that spend most of their time at home. This is most likely due to the reduced calorie content, but the manufacturer did not provide accurate information on the energy value of the product.

The food is suitable only for very healthy animals, but it can also cause diseases in them over time due to a deficiency of proteins and an excess of cereals

The dry food contains the following components:

• chicken (20%);
• dry poultry protein;
• rice;
• corn gluten;
• wheat;
• dry beet pulp;
• animal fat;
• dry chicory root (2%);
• wheat gluten;
• corn;
• egg powder;
• minerals;
• fish fat;
• preservatives;
• flavoring feed additive;
• yeast;
• vitamins;
• antioxidants.

The manufacturer highlights the following benefits of the formula:

1. Supports kidney health thanks to the presence of omega-3 unsaturated fatty acids and natural antioxidants. Vitamins A and E are used as the latter, which are not enough for reliable preservation. The list of ingredients contains anonymous "antioxidants", which can be both safe food preservatives and harmful substances or salt. Owners of castrated animals are better off looking at other foods.
2. Improving digestion. The product contains beet pulp - a source of plant coarse fibers. Fiber cleanses the intestines from food debris. Chicory root contributes to the development of microflora.
3. Reduced fecal odor. As an argument, the manufacturer gives a general argument about the digestibility of the ingredients, although in reality most of the ingredients are of vegetable origin and are less digestible than meat. Usually, Shidigera yucca is added to the feed to reduce the odor of feces, but it is not here, so the information is not true.

Wet food

There are several products in the wet food line for adult cats. The main diets include chicken pate, lamb jelly, and turkey jelly. The pate has a higher meat content (14%), but it still falls short of a complete feed. In addition, the company produces turkey jelly and salmon sauce for cats that live at home. Most likely, the caloric content of the latter feeds is lower than that of conventional ones, but there is no exact information on the energy value. It is possible to draw only an indirect conclusion, judging by the composition: the original jelly with turkey and a similar product for domestic cats differs only in the presence of plant components in the latter.

Lamb feed contains only 4% of the main declared ingredient

For example, consider the composition of lamb jelly. The list contains the following items:

• meat and processed meat products (including lamb 4%);
• fish and fish products;
• Sahara;
• minerals;
• vitamins.

Among the advantages, the manufacturer mentions general facts. For example, the presence of tocopherols and ascorbic acid is presented to the buyer as protection of the body against free radicals. In fact, vitamins should be found in any complete food.

For older cats

For older cats, several types of wet foods and granular ready-made diets are available.

Dry food

There are 2 types of food for senior cats: standard food with salmon and ration for neutered cats. Let's consider them separately. Let's start with a regular diet.

If a manufacturer had to list cereals as one ingredient, it would come first

Salmon is used as the main ingredient. This is a good solution because fish contains fatty acids that are essential for maintaining healthy joints, brain, immune system and eyes. With the onset of old age, the course of degenerative processes accelerates in all tissues and organs of animals, therefore, proper nutrition allows you to maximize the quality of life and increase its duration.

The dry food contains the following ingredients:

• salmon (19%);
• dry poultry protein;
• rice;
• corn gluten;
• corn;
• animal fat;
• wheat gluten;
• corn starch;
• flavoring feed additive;
• soybean oil;
• dried chicory root (2%);
• cellulose;
• minerals;
• dried beet pulp;
• egg powder;
• amino acids;
• vitamins;
• fish fat;
• preservatives.

The key benefits of the formula are the use of fish oil, chicory and beet pulp. The food helps support digestion. However, the composition lacks therapeutic additives to improve the condition of joints and bones. If you have health problems, it is better to prefer foods with sources of glucosamine and chondroitin in the composition. Clam extract, crab shells and cartilage are often used to strengthen joints.

Sterilized cat food contains the following ingredients:

• turkey (14%);
• dry poultry protein;
• rice;
• corn gluten;
• wheat gluten;
• wheat;
• wheat fibers;
• soy flour;
• corn starch;
• egg powder;
• animal fat;
• dried chicory root;
• soybean oil;
• cellulose;
• minerals;
• vitamins;
• fish fat;
• amino acids;
• flavoring feed additive;
• yeast.

Food for neutered cats should contain fewer calories as the animals become less active after surgery. Energy data are not available, so this criterion cannot be taken into account. Neutered pet foods usually contain additives to control urine acidity. Most often, cranberries are used to prevent the development of KSD. There are no such additives in this feed, so the expediency of its use is questionable. Moreover, I twice witnessed the development of ICD in cats on the background of feeding on Proplan feed. The reason for this, most likely, was the overestimated content of calcium, which was revealed during the research of Roskachestvo. Stones are formed with an increased saturation of urine from minerals, and even when eating dry food, this happens even faster, because.animals receive less water and visit the litter box less often.

Wet food

The wet food range includes turkey sauce and tuna pâté. The presence of foods that differ in consistency can be attributed to the advantages, since older cats often become finicky. Some people prefer the pieces in jelly, others prefer the pate. Due to the lack of a fundamental difference in the recipe, the transition from one type of feed to another is facilitated.

Turkey is used, rather, as a flavoring additive, because there is little of it: only 4%

The jelly contains the following components:

• meat and meat products (including turkey 4%);
• vegetable protein extracts;
• fish and fish products;
• vegetable oils and animal fats;
• amino acids;
• minerals;
• products of processing of vegetable raw materials;
• thickeners;
• various sugars;
• cellulose;
• dyes;
• vitamins.

Wet food for older animals is almost identical to similar products for kittens. It also contains too high a share of plant components and contains dubious ingredients. Elderly cats are not recommended to give such food, since they are more sensitive and susceptible to the development of diseases with improper nutrition.

Despite the fact that vegetables are used instead of cereals, the food cannot be called more useful: there is no specific information, so the composition may include peels, partitions, missing products, etc.

The pate contains the following ingredients:

• meat and offal;
• fish and fish products (of which 4% are tuna);
• vegetables;
• oils and fats;
• minerals;
• vegetable processing products;
• Sahara.

There are fewer potentially harmful ingredients in the pate, but there is little useful in it. The manufacturer does not indicate the presence of antioxidants in the composition, which casts doubt on the company's honesty. Without preservatives, moist food would only remain fresh when stored in the refrigerator. The shelf life would be several weeks.

Preventive feed

Prophylactic ready-made rations are used to prevent the development of diseases with a tendency to any disorders or to prevent recurrence of existing pathologies. Sometimes they are given to pets for medicinal purposes as directed by a veterinarian.

Purina makes the following prophylactic foods:

1. For neutered cats and cats. This is a wide range that includes over 10 product varieties. Both dry and wet foods are available. It is recommended to alternate between different types of rations after surgery, but not to mix them. This helps to normalize the water-salt balance and avoid oversaturation of urine. We cannot evaluate food for sterilized cats, since there are no therapeutic additives and information on the energy value of the products. It is advisable to prefer super-premium or holistic diets with urine-regulating ingredients and low calories.

   

   The manufacturer offers to take his word for it, however, with so many shortcomings and a complete lack of specifics, this is difficult to do

2. For cats with sensitive digestion. The line includes wet and dry food. This is a significant advantage, since in some cases dry granules cause slight dehydration. As a result, the stool becomes dry and dense. This can cause inflammation, diarrhea, and even mucus and blood in the stool. The formula for cats with sensitive digestion practically does not differ from the standard one, so its presence in the line is questionable. For problems with the gastrointestinal tract, it is better to choose high-quality food without allergens.

   

   Sensitive digestion is a syndrome that can occur with a number of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, so it is important to first make an accurate diagnosis, and only then choose food

3. For cats with sensitive skin. The main ingredient is salmon. It contains unsaturated fatty acids that help hydrate the skin. The substances help create a lipid film that protects the animal from ultraviolet rays, cold, heat and other types of aggressive effects. As a result, the skin retains moisture better and becomes more elastic. Some of the greasy secretion gets on the coat and gives shine. However, all efforts are canceled out by the presence of wheat and corn in the composition. These grains are often allergic and cause flaking, red spots and itching. Depending on the cause of the skin problem, food can either help or make the situation worse. Before using the product, it is advisable to undergo an examination at a veterinary clinic and make an accurate diagnosis.

   

   In case of skin problems, it is better to forget about Proplan feeds: the proportion of fats and animal proteins in them is minimal

4. For overweight cats. To normalize body weight, manufacturers reduce the calorie content of feed by reducing the proportion of fat. In a wet product, lipids account for 2.5% of the composition. This is a low figure. It is suitable for weight loss, but it can cause a general deterioration in well-being. Caloric content is not specified, therefore it is impossible to plan the animal's diet, which makes the use of feed inappropriate. The description of the dry diet lacks both fat content and energy value.

   

   Food "Proplan" may help the cat to lose weight, but at the cost of health; in this regard, it can be compared with strict diets

5. To maintain oral health. Granules clean the teeth only if, when biting, they do not split, but are pressed inward. This provides an impact on the part that is located closer to the roots. The manufacturer specifies in the advantages of the feed that when the canine penetrates into the granule by 1.052 mm, it crumbles. This helps to cleanse the tips of the teeth and move plaque towards the root, which can lead to stones in the future.

   

   The feed does not cope with its task, which once again undermines the credibility of the manufacturer

Healing ruler

Healing feeds are used during therapy to reduce the load on problem organs and improve their condition, as well as after surgery to speed up recovery. These ready-made rations should have the most thought-out composition, since even minor errors can cause aggravation in pets. General criteria for assessment are not suitable here, since the diet of unhealthy animals must be adjusted to their individual needs. Manufacturers alter the proportion of proteins, fats and micronutrients to reduce the burden on organs.

Purina makes the following medicated foods:

1. Diet for violations of the liver. The product contains chicory to reduce ammonia production. Decreasing the copper concentration and increasing the zinc content helps to relieve the symptoms of diseases. However, it should be borne in mind that the feed is quite fat (22%), therefore, it can cause aggravation in animals.

   

   Paradoxically, this is the fattest food among all the company's products.

2. Diet for allergies. There is no meat in the feed, which does not at all contribute to the improvement of the animal's condition. Rice starch, hydrolyzed soy protein and soybean oil are used as the main ingredients. While rice is relatively rare to cause allergies, soy often causes itching and spots in animals.

   

   If the cat is not allergic to rice and soy, the symptoms will indeed go away, but this food can only be used as a temporary option.

3. Diet for chronic kidney disease. There is no meat in the feed. The proteins in the composition are purely plant-based, which can increase the burden on the kidneys due to atypical foods for cats. With prolonged use, the feed will cause the development of pathologies in other organs. The lack of essential amino acids found in meat can accelerate the progression of kidney disease.

   

   Recently, more and more often, veterinarians and researchers declare that there is no need to reduce the proportion of proteins to a minimum in case of kidney pathologies, and this is logical, because the animal needs amino acids to restore and divide cells

4. Diet for diseases of the lower urinary tract. The composition practically does not differ from analogues. There are no therapeutic additives in the feed. The product may cause temporary relief due to the reduced concentration of minerals, however, with prolonged use, there will be a deficiency of substances.

   

   Not the best option for unhealthy animals, since the food practically does not contribute to the prevention of stone formation

5. Diet for diabetes. The food is low in fast carbohydrates and can therefore be used to regulate blood glucose levels. However, there are practically no high-quality sources of animal proteins in the product, therefore, with prolonged use, the ready-made diet will cause the development of pathologies of other organs.

   

   The composition is far from ideal, but still helps to stabilize the condition in diabetes.

6. Diet for digestive disorders. The feed contains inulin, which stimulates the development of microflora, but animal proteins are practically absent. The main ingredient is soy protein isolate, which can cause allergies and aggravate your pet.

   

   In most cases, the feed will not cope with its task due to the modest amount of therapeutic additives

7. Diet during the recovery period. The food contains kidney, liver, salmon, by-products, fish oil and vegetable oils. In theory, the product should supply the body with the unsaturated fatty acids necessary for tissue regeneration and enough calories. However, it is alarming that there is no indication of the origin of the by-products. In addition, the kidneys are quite low in calories, and the liver, if abused, can cause hypervitaminosis. The product may only be used with veterinarian approval.

   

   The product can be given to replenish vitamin stores, but special supplements are preferred.

Analysis of the composition of the feed "Proplan"

For a complete picture, we will look at the composition of dry and wet food.

Wet food

Let's take wet kitten food with chicken as a sample. It contains the following components:

• meat and processed meat products (including chicken 5%);
• fish and fish products;
• minerals;
• Sahara;
• vitamins.

The quality of the ingredients is questionable, since everywhere the manufacturer mentions only general formulations. The use of processed products is alarming. They can be feathers, carcasses of dead animals, scales, etc. The nutritional value of such components is practically zero. The presence of sugars makes the situation worse: because of them, cats often develop allergies and watery eyes. Vitamins and minerals have been added in order to make the food complete, but this does not save the day. Cats should receive nutrients from natural sources - meat and offal.

Dry food

As an example, consider the composition of dry chicken food for adult cats. The product contains the following components:

• chicken (20%);
• dry poultry protein;
• rice;
• corn gluten;
• wheat;
• dry beet pulp;
• animal fat;
• dry chicory root (2%);
• wheat gluten;
• corn;
• egg powder;
• minerals;
• fish fat;
• preservatives;
• flavoring feed additive;
• yeast;
• vitamins;
• antioxidants.

Chicken is used as the main ingredient. This indirectly indicates the presence of various tissues and body parts in the food. The proportion of pure meat is lower than the total amount of the ingredient. In addition, fresh, not dehydrated fabrics are used, so we have 4–5% of the dry residue. This is a low figure for cat food. Dry protein in second place is also not a quality component, since it can be represented by beaks, claws and other parts of the body.

The diet contains wheat and corn, and they are split into several positions: corn gluten, corn, wheat and wheat gluten. The total proportion of each grain can be higher than the amount of rice, dry protein and chicken.

Source of animal fats not specified. The poultry variety used to obtain dry protein is not included in the description. The manufacturer does not provide complete data on the ratio of all vitamins and minerals. The type of yeast is also not specified, although baker's can pose a threat to the health of the digestive tract of cats. There is no kind of antioxidants and preservatives. The origin of the flavoring feed additive has not been specified. If it is a synthetic substance, it can irritate the gastrointestinal mucosa.

Advantages and disadvantages of Proplan feed

It is difficult to highlight the advantages of the Proplan feed. The only benefit is that some medicinal products can actually prolong remission when used carefully. However, because of them, pathologies of other organs develop, so this is a controversial plus.

The disadvantages include the following factors:

1. Use of ingredients of dubious quality. Most often, the composition includes processed products, individual substances of unknown origin, etc.
2. Lack of specific information. The manufacturer does not specify the calorie content of the feed. Micronutrient balance data are incomplete. In some cases, even the ratio of fats to proteins is not known.
3. Low fat content in most feeds. According to the results of the research of Roskachestvo, with the declared 18%, the lipid content was only 10%. This is a low figure for adult cats. Food can cause poor overall health, weakness and skin problems.
4. The presence of allergens in the composition. The feed contains wheat, soy and corn.
5. Low meat content. In some products, it is completely absent.
6. High price. For example, the cost of a hypoallergenic feed is 1000 rubles. for 1 kg. The buyer pays for cheap rice and soybeans, as there is no meat.
7. Doubtful marketing moves and attempts to deceive the buyer. The manufacturer crushes some dubious ingredients, puts fresh meat first, and presents the presence of mandatory additives as an advantage.

Is Proplan food suitable for all cats?

Proplan food is not suitable for healthy animals. It can be used for some diseases to reduce the load on organs, but only in short courses.

Even after the veterinarian's permission, it is better to think it over carefully, visit several specialists and carefully observe the reaction of the animal. One day my friend was told to give her cat a medicated food "Proplan" to improve the condition of allergies. In the end, he brushed himself bloody and pulled out several clumps of fur until he was transferred to holistic. Then the condition returned to normal.

Cost of Proplan feed and points of sale

The average cost of 1 kg of regular feed is 500 rubles. Medical diets are 2 times more expensive. The price of canned food and spiders is 50–70 rubles. You can buy Proplan food in almost any pet store and even in some hypermarkets.

Reviews of pet owners and veterinarian

Proplan food is a kind of anti-example in terms of price-quality ratio. It is even more expensive than some holistic grade products, but may not contain meat. The sales of rations are driven by exceptionally good advertising.