Hills, Proplan, Royal Canin or Purina: which food is better for a cat?

ProPlan

ProPlan is one of the most affordable premium foods in the line. The product consists of approximately half protein components, which is very important for the health and activity of the pet. The downside is that a larger percentage of the proteins contained are of plant origin (corn, soy), rather than animal. They are used for manufacturing due to the low cost of raw materials. But corn gluten and soy flour, among others, can adversely affect the condition of the animal. For example, you may be allergic to these ingredients. The advantages include the content of natural chicken meat and offal, which are healthy. The food also contains prebiotics, which is important for healthy digestion. The ProPlan series of medicinal foods is of significantly higher quality and is recommended by many veterinarians. If the pet feels well and has no health problems, then the ProPlan line can be an ideal budget option.

Veterinarians' opinions on review representatives

Veterinarians speak quite unequivocally about the comparison of the quality of the two foods. In their opinion, they are both at the same level of quality, and are also objectively overrated and do not deserve super premium status due to the nuances of the composition (meat by-products, dyes, preservatives and flavor enhancers). Reviews show that they are recommended equally often for feeding healthy puppies or adult dogs.

For the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases, ProPlan is considered preferable. It has a narrower range, but maintaining specifications according to the disease and size of the animal increases the effectiveness of veterinary products. The same applies to nutrition for pets with other diseases: ProPlan Urinari and Royal Canin Urinari are often sold together, but professionals recommend the former.

Video: review of ProPlan dog food

Range

In general, the situation with cat food of these brands is similar to the situation in the dog food market. The range of Royal Canin cat foods significantly exceeds the range presented in the Hills and Purina Pro Plan lines.

Purina has the smallest amount of food and, as a consequence, its least tailored to the special needs of cats. Although this manufacturer also has diets for domestic, obese, sterilized and sensitive cats, as well as food for maintaining beautiful coats and healthy skin. Hills has added food to the line that helps remove hair from the digestive tract and keeps the animal's mouth clean. Royal Canin is significantly ahead of its competitors in this criterion, as it has diversified its line of foods for outdoor/active cats, fluffy and long-haired cats, and cats with sensitive digestion. The line also includes diets for the prevention of urolithiasis and milk powder for kittens.

Brit Premium

Brit Premium is a premium product line. The food has a well-balanced composition and is suitable for daily feeding. The product is manufactured in the Czech Republic, which can guarantee European quality control. The disadvantages include the presence of cheaper ingredients than in super premium food from the same company – Brit Care. Brit Premium, unlike higher grades, contains artificial colors and flavors. Also, these foods are not available in every pet store. The advantage of this line is its wide range: you can choose the right food for even the most picky pet at an affordable price.

Which food is better: Proplan or Royal Canin for cats

Both products are premium.

They produce dry granules, wet canned food, as well as veterinary food for the following age and gender groups of cats:

1. Kittens up to 4 months.
2. Kittens 2-12 months.
3. Juniors - 4-12 months.
4. Adult cats.
5. Pregnant and lactating women.
6. Elderly.
7. Castrati.

The next criterion is breed characteristics. The main differences are in the length of the coat. The needs of long-haired and short-haired cats for certain nutrients are not the same. You should not select food for specific breeds. An individual cat may not like the food. In addition, health status is taken into account. If your purr has been diagnosed with a chronic disease, veterinary rations will be required.

The degree of activity must be taken into account. A cat walking outside will need more calories than a pet living in a high-rise apartment. And finally, you need to take into account your pet’s susceptibility to allergic diseases.

Royal Canin and Proplan belong to the premium class. The best food for your pet will be food that he likes and will not cause side effects. If the cat feels well, is active, the fur is shiny, the feces are formed, the size of the output is moderate, the smell is weak, then the food is suitable.

Royal Canin

Royal Canin is a premium balanced food for cats. It can be a good replacement for natural food, as it contains all the necessary nutrients for a pet. The disadvantages of Royal Canin include the presence of various types of chemicals: dyes, preservatives, flavor enhancers, etc. The line of medicinal food from this company is of higher quality. But if your pet tolerates this type of food well, then you can stop with it. It wins among food in its class with relatively good quality, price and availability in any pet store. But since Royal Canin production has been established in Russia, its quality has dropped significantly, so it is best to order European-made food, if possible.

General conclusion

more honest with customers. Vague formulations are less common in the list of components of these diets. However, it is still difficult to call food quality. Although meat ingredients come first, their relative share in the dry residue is small. The indicators are brought to normal levels by adding poultry protein. Even the food with rice, which is most often purchased by owners of pets with allergies, contains wheat, corn and gluten, which is not very good for consumers.

In the case of Royal Canin products, a more ambiguous picture is observed. The first places in the composition are usually dehydrated proteins of animal origin. The exact source of their production is not indicated, so one can only guess what the manufacturer uses: muscle tissue or offal with almost zero nutritional value. In any case, the use of isolated protein in place of whole meat in everyday foods is discouraged. In addition, the composition includes plant proteins, i.e. there are not enough animal amino acids to create an attractive balance.

Both manufacturers use questionable ingredients: sugars, flavorings without specifying their origin, yeast, etc. Purina Corporation includes propylene glycol in its dog food. It is officially recognized as safe, but it is prohibited from being added to cat foods, which is alarming. It is possible that negative reactions may occur with prolonged use and accumulation of the substance in the body. Propylene glycol is used primarily as a flavoring agent, so the manufacturer could avoid using it.

The quality of feed is determined by its composition. Royal Canin and ProPlan have long ceased to be quality foods, since most of the income is spent on advertising and promotion. Plus, there is nothing natural in the composition - proteins of animal origin, it doesn’t even say what animal these proteins were taken from. This makes it difficult to pick a favorite. Corn, soybeans, wheat - those grains that are not digestible by animals are present in large quantities in these feeds. And almost all of these cereals are excreted from the body along with feces, without being absorbed one bit.

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Trust in the manufacturer

Many Russian nurseries and veterinarians do not trust domestic products, as well as companies that produce their food in local factories and according to local standards. This feature of the perception of dog diet plays into the hands of both brands: Royal Canin and ProPlan are produced outside the country or here, but using Western technologies.

Pro Plan is created by the American monopolist in the field of animal nutrition Purina, with factories located in France, Italy and Russia. And Royal Canin is made by a French company. Factories for the production of both dog and cat food are located in Poland, Russia and France. A comparison of Royal Canin and ProPlan by place of production shows that they are in equal positions. The reputation in the media and according to reviews of both companies is also approximately the same.

Details about the composition

Is Royal Canin better than Proplan? Judging by the composition of the first one, it’s much worse. Let's figure out why French products are so bad. Can a good food have vegetable proteins in the first place? Some would say that they are a source of protein. Animal protein is ideal for cat nutrition, plant protein is not. Not only is it at the heart of the product, but the quantity is also hidden.

Dried poultry proteins. Where is the clarification of its type? Bird can mean chicken, hazel grouse or crow. The manufacturer kept silent about the species of the bird. As well as about the quantitative component of the declared proteins. According to veterinarians, this is a significant lack of food.

Hills

Hills belongs to the premium class and has a good composition. It contains poultry meal, or meat, fish oil, vitamin and mineral supplements - everything that is necessary for complete nutrition. The downside of all premium food, including Hills, is the presence of various types of chemicals. In addition, Hills contains a high amount of carbohydrates, which is not very good for a cat’s digestion. The series of medicinal feeds from this company is of the highest quality and belongs to a higher class. But if your pet does not suffer from any disease, veterinarians advise to refrain from feeding the medicinal line of food. The advantages of the product include availability in stores, low price and a vitamin complex in the composition.

Price policy

The pricing policy of all three brands is quite loyal. Of course, this is due to the presence of cost-reducing components in the food (more on them a little later), but every animal owner can choose the most suitable food that will not “tighten the pocket”, but will provide the animal with all the necessary substances and keep it in good shape.

At Purina, 0.7 kg packages cost the same, regardless of the purpose of the food, and the price for them is 325 rubles. The average cost of a package weighing 3 kg is 1125 rubles, and for a 12 kg package you will have to pay 4225 rubles (only food for older dogs of medium and large breeds costs a little more). The cost of diets from the Duo Delice series is slightly higher.

Important! Prices are calculated for the period of writing the article and may change in one direction or another over time. Therefore, here, rather, it is worth focusing not on a specific figure, but on the general pricing policy of a particular manufacturer. In addition, the price of packages of the same weight, but for different purposes, even within the same manufacturer, may differ significantly. And the packaging itself does not completely duplicate each other, somewhere there are smaller packages, somewhere larger, and here everyone chooses the most suitable option.

Price difference

Most often, buyers are interested in market prices for feed and wonder whether ProPlan or Royal Canin is more expensive. And this is not surprising - most often they are overpriced and differ from the average in this segment.

Video: review of Royal Canin dog food

Composition of Pro Plan food

What to choose for your pet: American (Proplan) or French-made Royal Canin? We invite you to familiarize yourself in detail with the composition of Pro Plan, using food for adult cats as an example:

The first word listed on the packaging is “chicken.” The percentage of its component is 21.

Wheat is in second place, and dried poultry protein is in third place.

The fourth and fifth lines are occupied by rice and wheat gluten.

Now let’s take a closer look at each product included in the food in question.

Arden Grange

Arden Grange is a super premium range of pet products. It is popular in European countries, as it is one of the highest quality in its class. The food does not contain artificial colors, enhancers and other chemicals that help the animal become accustomed to the food. Arden Grange consists only of natural and well-balanced ingredients, and also contains enzymes and prebiotics that promote better absorption of the product. Its quality is confirmed by European quality control and positive reviews from many veterinarians. In terms of quality, this line is close to the holistic class, which is also evidenced by the relatively high price of Arden Grange.

Royal Canin food: pros and cons

Adherents of Royal Canin ready-made food for cats note the following advantages:

• a wide range of. There are foods designed for individual breeds;
• ubiquity, lack of supply;
• Some veterinary foods correspond to the super premium class.

Flaws:

• many ingredients of plant origin;
• cases of food allergies have been identified;
• relatively high price: individual feeds of the same quality are cheaper.

Comparison of the quality of the composition of two brands

When figuring out which of the two brands is of better quality and preferable for purchase, you need to pay attention to the composition. Both companies have different lines, but one problem repeats itself: the quality of the main component leaves much to be desired.

1st Choice

1st Choice is a super premium food made in Canada. 1st Choice has a high-quality and balanced composition. It consists of one third animal protein, which is optimal for a healthy diet. The food contains dietary poultry meat, as well as chicken eggs and fish oil, which are sources of amino acids necessary for a balanced diet. The composition contains only natural flavors that promote better pet appetite. The 1st Choice line also contains hypoallergenic food, which is recommended by experts for the treatment of allergies in pets.

Variety of food lines

To understand which dog food is better: Royal Canin or ProPlan, you need to compare the composition of the product lines of both companies. This comparison allows you to understand whether the range includes products for a particular dog.

Differences

1. Hill's entered the consumer market earlier and is distributed outside of Europe.
2. Royal Canin has a wider range of feeds, which makes it easier to individually match the animal's diet.
3. However, Hill's, having a more modest selection than its competitor, produces several varieties that do not contain grains, which is better suited for pets with sensitive digestion or prone to obesity.
4. It is noted that there are still more meat components in Hill's in percentage terms.
5. However, Hill's contains less healthy fiber.
6. Royal Canin, according to reviews from breeders, lost a little in quality when it began to be produced in Russia, so some prefer to order it in European countries.
7. He also has dry milk formulas for babies up to 2 months.
8. Hill's most often can cause an allergic reaction.
9. Royal Canin is very popular and available on sale.

Bosch SANABELLE

Bosch SANABELLE is one of the best super premium food of German quality. This product line contains only natural ingredients and no artificial flavor enhancers. It is optimally balanced and consists of almost one third animal protein. In addition, it contains fish oil and a mineral complex, which are vital for an animal living at home. There are also natural additives that contribute to the normal functioning of the digestive system. The food contains a small amount of cellulose, which can cause allergies in cats. But the risk of an allergic reaction, experts say, is very small, so this food may be quite suitable for your pet. Bosch SANABELLE can be found on the shelves of many pet stores, but it has a relatively high price.

What is preferable to feed a cat - industrial food or natural food?

Cats can be fed both natural products and prepared food. If the owner chooses the first option, it is necessary to create a competent diet that includes all the necessary products. In addition, your pet will have to periodically buy vitamin and mineral complexes.

The basis of a cat’s natural diet should be the following products:

• lean meat (boiled or scalded with boiling water);
• rice, buckwheat porridge;
• raw and boiled vegetables (carrots, zucchini, cucumber, cabbage);
• fermented milk products (kefir, fermented baked milk, yogurt);
• sea ​​fish (once a week instead of meat);
• quail eggs (1-2 times a week).

You should not give your pet milk, because the cat’s body does not produce enzymes to digest it. Sweet fruits, potatoes, smoked meats, flour and confectionery products, and river fish (which may contain parasites) are also prohibited. Bones can injure the animal's gastrointestinal tract. There should always be clean water in your pet's drinking bowl.

You can also feed your pet commercial food. The ready-made food contains all the substances the animal needs, so there is no need to supplement the diet with vitamin supplements. It is important to choose a good diet that will support the health of the animal and will not cause gastrointestinal disorders.

You cannot feed your pet commercial food and natural food at the same time. This is due to the fact that the animal’s body produces certain enzymes designed to break down this or that type of food. The stomach cannot produce both substances at the same time. Mixed nutrition leads to disruption of the digestive tract.

NOW Natural

The top three best foods include only holistic foods. NOW Natural line of products for cats belongs to . The main ingredient of the food is natural, boneless meat. NOW Natural does not contain by-products or grains, as the latter can cause allergies. The product contains a balanced amount of vegetables and fruits with gentle processing to preserve all the beneficial substances and deliver them to the pet. Like all holistic products, NOW Natural contains prebiotics for better absorption of nutrients. Veterinarians recommend holistic food of proven quality for proper and complete nutrition. These include NOW Natural. This line is not available in all pet stores, but it can be ordered online.

How to choose the best food, what should you pay attention to when buying it?

It is necessary to read on the front side of the package for whom the product is intended - a kitten, an adult animal, an elderly animal. On the reverse side there is information about the composition and nutritional content.

Be sure to read: What kind of porridge can be given to cats and at what age? You need to find out what percentage of meat and meat ingredients in the diet, what plant components and in what quantities are contained in the feed mixture. Conscientious manufacturers indicate which biologically active substances are added and in what quantities.

They inform you about it. what preservatives and antioxidants are included in the feed mixture. You should not purchase food that has no specific information about its composition.

Comparison of Royal Canin and Proplan feeds

When comparing ready-made food, the composition, range, availability and characteristics of kitten food, product quality, advantages and disadvantages are taken into account.

Feed composition

Comparative characteristics of the composition of granules for adult cats Proplan and Royal Canin are presented in the table:

Both manufacturers do not fully disclose information about the composition of the product. Thus, the Proplan notes only the contents of parts of the lamb carcass, which ones are not specified. Chicken meal is most likely meat and bone meal from whole birds subjected to sanitary slaughter, or from parts of the carcass unsuitable for human consumption.

The amount of egg powder is not specified. The feed mixture contains plant sources of starch and proteins. Since the food recipe contains amino acids, the manufacturer used either a small amount of animal raw materials or it was of low quality.

Brewer's yeast is an indicator of “premium”. Minerals, vitamins, and flavoring additives are added to the feed mixture.

Royal Canin nutrition, judging by the information presented, contains even more vegetable protein and starch than Proplan. But the diet includes beet pulp, which contains dietary fiber, FOS prebiotics, and vegetable oil, which helps maintain a balance between omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids. Based on the ratio of advantages and disadvantages of the compositions, they should be considered equivalent products of average quality.

The cost of packaging Proplan 3 kg is 1944 rubles. Price 2 kg Royal Canina -1330; 4 kg - 2546 rub. Arithmetic average - 1938 rub. That is, in this case, none of the feeds has an advantage.

Be sure to read:

The best food for kittens: premium and economy class

Proplan and canin royal range

In online stores, the buyer is offered 135 options for food for Royal Canin cats, incl. veterinary 29. The Proplan assortment amounted to 51 foods, incl. 24 medicinal. Ready-made food is available in the form of dry granules, canned food in cans, pouches of different flavors, for cats of all ages.

Food for kittens

The food recipe for kittens is not fundamentally different from the ingredients for adult cats. However, manufacturers Proplan and Royal Canin solve the problem differently. Proplan Junior is intended for feeding kittens from 1 to 12 months. If colostrum can be useful for a weanling, then why it is not clear to a one-year-old cat.

Manufacturers Royal Canin have a more responsible approach to the problem. The food is intended for pregnant and lactating cats, as well as kittens up to four months. In addition to ingredients common to adult animals and kittens, marigolds were included in the feed mixture.

This natural component is rich in luteins, which have a powerful antioxidant effect and enhance visual acuity. Kittens crawl out of the nest and become interested in the contents of their mother's feeder, which facilitates the work of the digestive system when switching from milk to solid food.

Product quality

When comparing product quality, consumer reviews were taken into account. So, the owner of a neutered cat tried both foods. I didn’t find any difference in palatability. She did not limit the consumption of pellets, and the pet did not gain excess weight. Both foods included a natural intake limiter - dietary fiber (fiber).

A case is described when a kitten happily ate Pro Plan canned food, but the granules remained untouched for a long time. The same thing was observed when switching to Royal Canin and Hill's. The owner of the animal switched to eating wet canned food.

Among the numerous reviews on the quality of Pro Plan and Royal Canin, positive ones prevail over negative ones without a clear superiority of one over the other.

Be sure to read:

What kind of porridge can be given to cats and at what age?

Proplan feed: pros and cons

Among the positive qualities, consumers highlight the following:

• a wide range of. There is food for all age and sex groups;
• there is a choice between dry granules and wet canned food;
• There is a line of veterinary food for pets suffering from chronic diseases.

Cat owners complained about the following shortcomings:

• opacity of the composition, the percentage of main feeds is not indicated;
• a long list of plant starch-containing components;
• relatively high price: you can find super premium food for the same price.

Acana

Acana is one of the popular brands of holistic food for pets. The Canadian manufacturer of the Acana line has received many awards for the quality of the product. The food in this series contains only fresh and high quality ingredients. All of them consist of more than half selected meat. The product also contains fruits and vegetables, which are a natural source of vitamins and minerals. The presence of flavorings and preservatives in this line is out of the question. It is for this reason that experts recommend these foods. The disadvantages of this series include the lack of medicinal feed and a relatively small assortment.