18 cans compared

Purina Pro Plan vs Royal Canin

The typical Purina Pro Plan can gets 6.9% of its calories from carbohydrate, against 14.6% for Royal Canin. Purina Pro Plan has 5 of 8 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.

Purina Pro Plan

Royal Canin

Purina Pro Plan 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.

	Purina Pro Plan	Royal Canin
Cans we compare	8	10
Typical carbs, % of calories	6.9%	14.6%
Carb range	1.8–19.1%	8.8–24.1%
Recipes under 10% carbs	5 of 8	2 of 10
Typical protein, % of calories	50%	53%
Typical fat, % of calories	43%	29%
Calories per ounce	30	22
Calories per can	72–113	55–78
Recipes with published phosphorus	0 of 8	0 of 10
Typical phosphorus, mg per 100 kcal	—	—
Confirmed for kittens	2 of 8	2 of 10
Chicken-free recipes	0 of 8	0 of 10
Fish-free recipes	2 of 8	2 of 10
Textures	Pâté, Flaked, Chunks in gravy	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

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

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	Purina Pro Plan	Royal Canin
Pâté	Chicken & Liver Entrée (Classic)1.8% carbs · 44% protein · 99 kcal	Kitten Loaf in Sauce8.8% carbs · 53% protein · 78 kcal
Chunks in gravy	Chicken & Rice Entrée in Gravy15% carbs · 59% protein · 72 kcal	Adult Instinctive Thin Slices in Gravy10.6% carbs · 62% protein · 66 kcal

Which to choose, by what your cat needs

For a diabetic or overweight cat

Purina Pro Plan is the lower-carb line overall. Its lowest-carb recipe is Chicken & Liver Entrée (Classic) at 1.8% of calories; Royal Canin’s is Kitten Loaf in Sauce at 8.8%. Both brands have recipes under the 10% line (5 of 8 against 2 of 10), so the right recipe matters more than the brand.

For kidney concerns

Purina Pro Plan 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

Purina Pro Plan has 2 of 8 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: Purina Pro Plan 0 of 8, Royal Canin 0 of 10. Fish-free: Purina Pro Plan 2 of 8, Royal Canin 2 of 10. Textures: Purina Pro Plan makes pâté, flaked, chunks in gravy; Royal Canin makes pâté, chunks in gravy.

Questions about Purina Pro Plan vs Royal Canin

Is Purina Pro Plan or Royal Canin lower in carbs?

The typical Purina Pro Plan can gets 6.9% of its calories from carbohydrate, against 14.6% for Royal Canin. Purina Pro Plan has 5 of 8 recipes under the 10% low-carb line; Royal Canin has 2 of 10.

Which has more protein, Purina Pro Plan or Royal Canin?

Purina Pro Plan. Its typical can gets 50% of calories from protein, against 53% for Royal Canin. Purina Pro Plan has 4 of 8 recipes over 50% protein calories; Royal Canin has 8 of 10.

Which is more filling per ounce?

Royal Canin. Its cans average 22 calories per ounce against 30 for Purina Pro Plan, so a cat needs fewer ounces of it to get the same calories.

Do Purina Pro Plan and Royal Canin publish phosphorus?

Purina Pro Plan 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, Purina Pro Plan or Royal Canin?

Carbs are what matter most, and Purina Pro Plan has the lower-carb line with 5 of 8 recipes under 10%. The best single choice is a specific recipe, not a brand: Chicken & Liver Entrée (Classic) (1.8%) from Purina Pro Plan or Kitten Loaf in Sauce (8.8%) from Royal Canin. Change a diabetic cat’s food only with your vet.