18 cans compared

Friskies vs Purina ONE

The typical Purina ONE can gets 5.6% of its calories from carbohydrate, against 16.3% for Friskies. Friskies has 0 of 10 recipes under the 10% low-carb line; Purina ONE has 5 of 8. Below, every number is worked out the same way from each can’s label.

Friskies

Purina ONE

Friskies vs Purina ONE 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.

	Friskies	Purina ONE
Cans we compare	10	8
Typical carbs, % of calories	16.3%	5.6%
Carb range	12.9–19.4%	3.9–13.6%
Recipes under 10% carbs	0 of 10	5 of 8
Typical protein, % of calories	50%	45%
Typical fat, % of calories	34%	50%
Calories per ounce	24	31
Calories per can	124–180	70–105
Recipes with published phosphorus	0 of 10	0 of 8
Typical phosphorus, mg per 100 kcal	—	—
Confirmed for kittens	0 of 10	7 of 8
Chicken-free recipes	0 of 10	0 of 8
Fish-free recipes	2 of 10	0 of 8
Textures	Chunks in gravy, Pâté, Shreds in broth	Pâté, Flaked

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

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

Purina ONE3 oz

Chicken & Salmon Recipe

Pâté · 105 kcal per can

Carbs: 3.9%
Protein: 39%
Phosphorus: not listed

Protein 39%Fat 57%Carbs 4%

Low carb

Same texture, head to head

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

Texture	Friskies	Purina ONE
Pâté	Salmon Dinner14.9% carbs · 36% protein · 178 kcal	Chicken & Salmon Recipe3.9% carbs · 39% protein · 105 kcal

Which to choose, by what your cat needs

For a diabetic or overweight cat

Purina ONE is the lower-carb line overall. Its lowest-carb recipe is Chicken & Salmon Recipe at 3.9% 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 Purina ONE gives you 5 to choose from and Friskies none.

For kidney concerns

Friskies doesn’t publish phosphorus on the pages we checked. Purina ONE 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

Friskies has 0 of 10 recipes whose label we could confirm covers growth or all life stages; Purina ONE has 7 of 8. A missing statement doesn’t mean a can is unsuitable, only that we couldn’t verify it.

For allergies and picky eaters

Chicken-free: Friskies 0 of 10, Purina ONE 0 of 8. Fish-free: Friskies 2 of 10, Purina ONE 0 of 8. Textures: Friskies makes chunks in gravy, pâté, shreds in broth; Purina ONE makes pâté, flaked.

Questions about Friskies vs Purina ONE

Is Friskies or Purina ONE lower in carbs?

The typical Purina ONE can gets 5.6% of its calories from carbohydrate, against 16.3% for Friskies. Friskies has 0 of 10 recipes under the 10% low-carb line; Purina ONE has 5 of 8.

Which has more protein, Friskies or Purina ONE?

Purina ONE. Its typical can gets 45% of calories from protein, against 50% for Friskies. Friskies has 2 of 10 recipes over 50% protein calories; Purina ONE has 3 of 8.

Which is more filling per ounce?

Friskies. Its cans average 24 calories per ounce against 31 for Purina ONE, so a cat needs fewer ounces of it to get the same calories.

Do Friskies and Purina ONE publish phosphorus?

Friskies doesn’t publish phosphorus on the pages we checked. Purina ONE doesn’t publish phosphorus on the pages we checked.

Which is better for a diabetic cat, Friskies or Purina ONE?

Carbs are what matter most, and Purina ONE has the lower-carb line with 5 of 8 recipes under 10%. The best single choice is a specific recipe, not a brand: Prime Filets With Ocean Whitefish & Tuna in Sauce (12.9%) from Friskies or Chicken & Salmon Recipe (3.9%) from Purina ONE. Change a diabetic cat’s food only with your vet.