20 cans compared

Friskies vs Royal Canin

The typical Royal Canin can gets 14.6% of its calories from carbohydrate, against 16.3% for Friskies. Friskies has 0 of 10 recipes under the 10% low-carb line; Royal Canin has 2 of 10. Below, every number is worked out the same way from each can’s label.

Friskies

Royal Canin

Friskies vs Royal Canin 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	Royal Canin
Cans we compare	10	10
Typical carbs, % of calories	16.3%	14.6%
Carb range	12.9–19.4%	8.8–24.1%
Recipes under 10% carbs	0 of 10	2 of 10
Typical protein, % of calories	50%	53%
Typical fat, % of calories	34%	29%
Calories per ounce	24	22
Calories per can	124–180	55–78
Recipes with published phosphorus	0 of 10	0 of 10
Typical phosphorus, mg per 100 kcal	—	—
Confirmed for kittens	0 of 10	2 of 10
Chicken-free recipes	0 of 10	0 of 10
Fish-free recipes	2 of 10	2 of 10
Textures	Chunks in gravy, Pâté, Shreds in broth	Pâté, Chunks in gravy

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

Royal Canin3 oz

Kitten Loaf in Sauce

Pâté · 78 kcal per can

Carbs: 8.8%
Protein: 53%
Phosphorus: not listed

Protein 53%Fat 38%Carbs 9%

Low carbHigh protein

Same texture, head to head

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

Texture	Friskies	Royal Canin
Chunks in gravy	Prime Filets With Ocean Whitefish & Tuna in Sauce12.9% carbs · 59% protein · 124 kcal	Adult Instinctive Thin Slices in Gravy10.6% carbs · 62% protein · 66 kcal
Pâté	Salmon Dinner14.9% carbs · 36% protein · 178 kcal	Kitten Loaf in Sauce8.8% carbs · 53% protein · 78 kcal

Which to choose, by what your cat needs

For a diabetic or overweight cat

Royal Canin is the lower-carb line overall. Its lowest-carb recipe is Kitten Loaf in Sauce at 8.8% 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 Royal Canin gives you 2 to choose from and Friskies none.

For kidney concerns

Friskies doesn’t publish phosphorus on the pages we checked. Royal Canin 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; Royal Canin has 2 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: Friskies 0 of 10, Royal Canin 0 of 10. Fish-free: Friskies 2 of 10, Royal Canin 2 of 10. Textures: Friskies makes chunks in gravy, pâté, shreds in broth; Royal Canin makes pâté, chunks in gravy.

Questions about Friskies vs Royal Canin

Is Friskies or Royal Canin lower in carbs?

The typical Royal Canin can gets 14.6% of its calories from carbohydrate, against 16.3% for Friskies. Friskies has 0 of 10 recipes under the 10% low-carb line; Royal Canin has 2 of 10.

Which has more protein, Friskies or Royal Canin?

Friskies. Its typical can gets 50% of calories from protein, against 53% for Royal Canin. Friskies has 2 of 10 recipes over 50% protein calories; Royal Canin has 8 of 10.

Which is more filling per ounce?

About the same: 24 calories per ounce for Friskies and 22 for Royal Canin.

Do Friskies and Royal Canin publish phosphorus?

Friskies doesn’t publish phosphorus on the pages we checked. Royal Canin doesn’t publish phosphorus on the pages we checked.

Which is better for a diabetic cat, Friskies or Royal Canin?

Carbs are what matter most, and Royal Canin has the lower-carb line with 2 of 10 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 Kitten Loaf in Sauce (8.8%) from Royal Canin. Change a diabetic cat’s food only with your vet.