20 cans compared

Blue Buffalo vs Friskies

The typical Blue Buffalo can gets 7.5% of its calories from carbohydrate, against 16.3% for Friskies. Blue Buffalo has 7 of 10 recipes under the 10% low-carb line; Friskies has 0 of 10. Below, every number is worked out the same way from each can’s label.

Blue Buffalo

Friskies

Blue Buffalo vs Friskies at a glance

Typical values are the middle recipe of each brand. Shares are of calories, so textures compare fairly. Marked cells show the better value where the gap is meaningful.

	Blue Buffalo	Friskies
Cans we compare	10	10
Typical carbs, % of calories	7.5%	16.3%
Carb range	0–25.5%	12.9–19.4%
Recipes under 10% carbs	7 of 10	0 of 10
Typical protein, % of calories	42%	50%
Typical fat, % of calories	53%	34%
Calories per ounce	30	24
Calories per can	57–157	124–180
Recipes with published phosphorus	0 of 10	0 of 10
Typical phosphorus, mg per 100 kcal	—	—
Confirmed for kittens	1 of 10	0 of 10
Chicken-free recipes	0 of 10	0 of 10
Fish-free recipes	2 of 10	2 of 10
Textures	Pâté, Flaked, Minced, Chunks in gravy	Chunks in gravy, Pâté, Shreds in broth

Lowest-carb can from each brand

The recipe with the smallest share of calories from carbohydrate on each side, leaving out toppers meant for supplemental feeding.

Put these two side by side

Blue Buffalo3 oz

Chicken Recipe

Pâté · 119 kcal per can

Carbs: 0%
Protein: 34%
Phosphorus: not listed

Protein 34%Fat 66%Carbs 0%

Low carbNo fish

Friskies5.5 oz

Prime Filets With Ocean Whitefish & Tuna in Sauce

Chunks in gravy · 124 kcal per can

Carbs: 12.9%
Protein: 59%
Phosphorus: not listed

Protein 59%Fat 28%Carbs 13%

High protein

Same texture, head to head

For each texture both brands make, the lowest-carb recipe from each.

Texture	Blue Buffalo	Friskies
Pâté	Chicken Recipe0% carbs · 34% protein · 119 kcal	Salmon Dinner14.9% carbs · 36% protein · 178 kcal
Chunks in gravy	Chicken Entrée in Savory Sauce (Tender Morsels)20.2% carbs · 47% protein · 66 kcal	Prime Filets With Ocean Whitefish & Tuna in Sauce12.9% carbs · 59% protein · 124 kcal

Which to choose, by what your cat needs

For a diabetic or overweight cat

Blue Buffalo is the lower-carb line overall. Its lowest-carb recipe is Chicken Recipe at 0% of calories; Friskies’ is Prime Filets With Ocean Whitefish & Tuna in Sauce at 12.9%. Friskies has no recipes under the 10% line we compare, so for a diabetic cat Blue Buffalo gives you 7 to choose from and Friskies none.

For kidney concerns

Blue Buffalo doesn’t publish phosphorus on the pages we checked. Friskies doesn’t publish phosphorus on the pages we checked. Without published values neither brand can be checked for phosphorus from the label alone; ask the maker for a typical analysis.

For kittens

Blue Buffalo has 1 of 10 recipes whose label we could confirm covers growth or all life stages; Friskies has 0 of 10. A missing statement doesn’t mean a can is unsuitable, only that we couldn’t verify it.

For allergies and picky eaters

Chicken-free: Blue Buffalo 0 of 10, Friskies 0 of 10. Fish-free: Blue Buffalo 2 of 10, Friskies 2 of 10. Textures: Blue Buffalo makes pâté, flaked, minced, chunks in gravy; Friskies makes chunks in gravy, pâté, shreds in broth.

Questions about Blue Buffalo vs Friskies

Is Blue Buffalo or Friskies lower in carbs?

The typical Blue Buffalo can gets 7.5% of its calories from carbohydrate, against 16.3% for Friskies. Blue Buffalo has 7 of 10 recipes under the 10% low-carb line; Friskies has 0 of 10.

Which has more protein, Blue Buffalo or Friskies?

Blue Buffalo. Its typical can gets 42% of calories from protein, against 50% for Friskies. Blue Buffalo has 0 of 10 recipes over 50% protein calories; Friskies has 2 of 10.

Which is more filling per ounce?

Friskies. Its cans average 24 calories per ounce against 30 for Blue Buffalo, so a cat needs fewer ounces of it to get the same calories.

Do Blue Buffalo and Friskies publish phosphorus?

Blue Buffalo doesn’t publish phosphorus on the pages we checked. Friskies doesn’t publish phosphorus on the pages we checked.

Which is better for a diabetic cat, Blue Buffalo or Friskies?

Carbs are what matter most, and Blue Buffalo has the lower-carb line with 7 of 10 recipes under 10%. The best single choice is a specific recipe, not a brand: Chicken Recipe (0%) from Blue Buffalo or Prime Filets With Ocean Whitefish & Tuna in Sauce (12.9%) from Friskies. Change a diabetic cat’s food only with your vet.