17 cans compared

Instinct vs Purina Pro Plan

The typical Instinct can gets 3.5% of its calories from carbohydrate, against 6.9% for Purina Pro Plan. Instinct has 5 of 9 recipes under the 10% low-carb line; Purina Pro Plan has 5 of 8. Below, every number is worked out the same way from each can’s label.

Instinct

Purina Pro Plan

Instinct vs Purina Pro Plan 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.

	Instinct	Purina Pro Plan
Cans we compare	9	8
Typical carbs, % of calories	3.5%	6.9%
Carb range	0–25.9%	1.8–19.1%
Recipes under 10% carbs	5 of 9	5 of 8
Typical protein, % of calories	40%	50%
Typical fat, % of calories	60%	43%
Calories per ounce	38	30
Calories per can	67–122	72–113
Recipes with published phosphorus	0 of 9	0 of 8
Typical phosphorus, mg per 100 kcal	—	—
Confirmed for kittens	9 of 9	2 of 8
Chicken-free recipes	6 of 9	0 of 8
Fish-free recipes	2 of 9	2 of 8
Textures	Pâté, Flaked	Pâté, Flaked, 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

Instinct3 oz

Limited Ingredient Paté Real Turkey Entrée

Pâté · 113 kcal per can

Carbs: 0%
Protein: 40%
Phosphorus: not listed

Protein 40%Fat 60%Carbs 0%

Low carbNo chickenNo fish

Purina Pro Plan3 oz

Chicken & Liver Entrée (Classic)

Pâté · 99 kcal per can

Carbs: 1.8%
Protein: 44%
Phosphorus: not listed

Protein 44%Fat 54%Carbs 2%

Low carb

Same texture, head to head

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

Texture	Instinct	Purina Pro Plan
Pâté	Limited Ingredient Paté Real Turkey Entrée0% carbs · 40% protein · 113 kcal	Chicken & Liver Entrée (Classic)1.8% carbs · 44% protein · 99 kcal
Flaked	Flaked Real Chicken Entrée in Gravy12.4% carbs · 40% protein · 75 kcal	Flaked Ocean Whitefish & Tuna Entrée5% carbs · 52% protein · 113 kcal

Which to choose, by what your cat needs

For a diabetic or overweight cat

Instinct is the lower-carb line overall. Its lowest-carb recipe is Limited Ingredient Paté Real Turkey Entrée at 0% of calories; Purina Pro Plan’s is Chicken & Liver Entrée (Classic) at 1.8%. Both brands have recipes under the 10% line (5 of 9 against 5 of 8), so the right recipe matters more than the brand.

For kidney concerns

Instinct doesn’t publish phosphorus on the pages we checked. Purina Pro Plan 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

Instinct has 9 of 9 recipes whose label we could confirm covers growth or all life stages; Purina Pro Plan has 2 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: Instinct 6 of 9, Purina Pro Plan 0 of 8. Fish-free: Instinct 2 of 9, Purina Pro Plan 2 of 8. Textures: Instinct makes pâté, flaked; Purina Pro Plan makes pâté, flaked, chunks in gravy.

Questions about Instinct vs Purina Pro Plan

Is Instinct or Purina Pro Plan lower in carbs?

The typical Instinct can gets 3.5% of its calories from carbohydrate, against 6.9% for Purina Pro Plan. Instinct has 5 of 9 recipes under the 10% low-carb line; Purina Pro Plan has 5 of 8.

Which has more protein, Instinct or Purina Pro Plan?

Instinct. Its typical can gets 40% of calories from protein, against 50% for Purina Pro Plan. Instinct has 0 of 9 recipes over 50% protein calories; Purina Pro Plan has 4 of 8.

Which is more filling per ounce?

Purina Pro Plan. Its cans average 30 calories per ounce against 38 for Instinct, so a cat needs fewer ounces of it to get the same calories.

Do Instinct and Purina Pro Plan publish phosphorus?

Instinct doesn’t publish phosphorus on the pages we checked. Purina Pro Plan doesn’t publish phosphorus on the pages we checked.

Which is better for a diabetic cat, Instinct or Purina Pro Plan?

Carbs are what matter most, and Instinct has the lower-carb line with 5 of 9 recipes under 10%. The best single choice is a specific recipe, not a brand: Limited Ingredient Paté Real Turkey Entrée (0%) from Instinct or Chicken & Liver Entrée (Classic) (1.8%) from Purina Pro Plan. Change a diabetic cat’s food only with your vet.