18 cans compared

Purina Pro Plan vs Wellness

Both brands land close on carbs: 6.9% of calories for the typical Purina Pro Plan can and 6.2% for Wellness. Purina Pro Plan has 5 of 8 recipes under the 10% low-carb line; Wellness has 7 of 10. Below, every number is worked out the same way from each can’s label.

Purina Pro Plan

Wellness

Purina Pro Plan vs Wellness 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	Wellness
Cans we compare	8	10
Typical carbs, % of calories	6.9%	6.2%
Carb range	1.8–19.1%	0–25.9%
Recipes under 10% carbs	5 of 8	7 of 10
Typical protein, % of calories	50%	40%
Typical fat, % of calories	43%	51%
Calories per ounce	30	27
Calories per can	72–113	66–481
Recipes with published phosphorus	0 of 8	8 of 10
Typical phosphorus, mg per 100 kcal	—	168 mg
Confirmed for kittens	2 of 8	3 of 10
Chicken-free recipes	0 of 8	2 of 10
Fish-free recipes	2 of 8	1 of 10
Textures	Pâté, Flaked, Chunks in gravy	Pâté, Flaked, Shreds in broth, Chunks in gravy, Minced

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

Wellness3 oz

Chicken, Turkey & Chicken Liver Recipe

Pâté · 116 kcal per can

Carbs: 0%
Protein: 40%
Phosphorus: 147mg

Protein 40%Fat 60%Carbs 0%

Low carbLower phosphorus

Same texture, head to head

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

Texture	Purina Pro Plan	Wellness
Pâté	Chicken & Liver Entrée (Classic)1.8% carbs · 44% protein · 99 kcal	Chicken, Turkey & Chicken Liver Recipe0% carbs · 40% protein · 116 kcal
Flaked	Flaked Ocean Whitefish & Tuna Entrée5% carbs · 52% protein · 113 kcal	Flaked Skipjack Tuna & Wild Salmon Entrée in Broth0% carbs · 54% protein · 70 kcal
Chunks in gravy	Chicken & Rice Entrée in Gravy15% carbs · 59% protein · 72 kcal	Chicken Entrée Cubes in Rich Gravy6.9% carbs · 37% protein · 79 kcal

Which to choose, by what your cat needs

For a diabetic or overweight cat

Neither brand has a clear edge on carbs. Pick by recipe: Purina Pro Plan’s lowest is Chicken & Liver Entrée (Classic) (1.8%), Wellness’ is Chicken, Turkey & Chicken Liver Recipe (0%).

For kidney concerns

Purina Pro Plan doesn’t publish phosphorus on the pages we checked. Wellness publishes phosphorus for 8 of 10 recipes (typical 168 mg per 100 kcal). Only recipes with a published value can be checked, so start from those and confirm targets with your vet.

For kittens

Purina Pro Plan has 2 of 8 recipes whose label we could confirm covers growth or all life stages; Wellness has 3 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, Wellness 2 of 10. Fish-free: Purina Pro Plan 2 of 8, Wellness 1 of 10. Textures: Purina Pro Plan makes pâté, flaked, chunks in gravy; Wellness makes pâté, flaked, shreds in broth, chunks in gravy, minced.

Questions about Purina Pro Plan vs Wellness

Is Purina Pro Plan or Wellness lower in carbs?

Both brands land close on carbs: 6.9% of calories for the typical Purina Pro Plan can and 6.2% for Wellness. Purina Pro Plan has 5 of 8 recipes under the 10% low-carb line; Wellness has 7 of 10.

Which has more protein, Purina Pro Plan or Wellness?

Wellness. Its typical can gets 40% of calories from protein, against 50% for Purina Pro Plan. Purina Pro Plan has 4 of 8 recipes over 50% protein calories; Wellness has 2 of 10.

Which is more filling per ounce?

Wellness. Its cans average 27 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 Wellness publish phosphorus?

Purina Pro Plan doesn’t publish phosphorus on the pages we checked. Wellness publishes phosphorus for 8 of 10 recipes (typical 168 mg per 100 kcal).

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

Carbs are what matter most, and the two brands are close. The best single choice is a specific recipe, not a brand: Chicken & Liver Entrée (Classic) (1.8%) from Purina Pro Plan or Chicken, Turkey & Chicken Liver Recipe (0%) from Wellness. Change a diabetic cat’s food only with your vet.