Purina ONE is a well-known brand in the pet food industry, positioned as a premium option within the broader Purina family. For cat owners seeking the best nutrition for their feline companions, the question “Is Purina One A Good Cat Food?” is crucial. This review delves into the specifics of Purina ONE, assessing its ingredients, product range, and overall quality to help you make an informed decision.
We’ve rigorously evaluated Purina ONE based on the Cats.com standard, focusing on six key criteria to provide a comprehensive rating:
Ratings
- Species-Appropriateness – 7/10
- Ingredient Quality – 6/10
- Product Variety – 7/10
- Price – 8/10
- Customer Experience – 7/10
- Recall History – 7/10
Overall Score: 6.8/10
Purina ONE cat food receives an overall grade of B-, with a score of 41 out of 60.
Our reviews are built upon thorough research, market analysis, expert insights, and practical in-home testing. Our team of cat food experts, in collaboration with veterinarians, animal nutritionists, and cat behaviorists, dedicates significant time to understand each brand. This involves examining company history, analyzing customer feedback, scrutinizing product labels, and testing the food with our own feline testers.
Before putting any food to the test, we consider factors such as recall history, customer service reputation, manufacturing practices, and packaging. Our testing process includes a detailed analysis of nutritional content, balanced with expert opinions and, importantly, the preferences of our cat testers.
Purina ONE, a brand of Nestlè-Purina PetCare, entered the premium pet food market in 1986. Marketed as a natural brand, Purina ONE emphasizes “a difference from day ONE,” suggesting that superior ingredients lead to improved feline health.
In the Purina product lineup, Purina ONE is most similar to Pro Plan and Beyond. It stands out as the most affordable of these three, often boasting a higher protein content. However, when compared to Beyond, Purina ONE includes more controversial ingredients such as artificial colors, corn gluten meal, and animal by-products. In contrast, Purina ONE contains fewer artificial additives than Pro Plan.
Ultimately, the distinctions between Purina ONE and other Purina brands are subtle and varied, necessitating a product-by-product evaluation to determine the best choice for your cat.
Like most Purina products, Purina ONE is primarily manufactured in the United States within company-owned facilities. While the majority of ingredients are sourced from North America, Purina may procure ingredients from other countries depending on availability and manufacturing needs.
Purina maintains a degree of transparency regarding ingredient sourcing, stating in their FAQs that “all Purina ONE natural dog food and cat food formulas use high-quality ingredients for nutrition that can lead to visible differences in your pet’s health.” They also provide an ingredient glossary that explains the nutritional benefits of various components but does not specify their origins.
Purina’s long-standing presence in the pet food industry and its extensive portfolio of brands mean it has experienced a number of recalls over the years.
However, Purina ONE itself has a limited recall history, with only one incident affecting two lots of a single product. In 2011, two batches of Purina ONE Vibrant Maturity 7+ dry cat food were recalled due to potential salmonella contamination.
Purina ONE is positioned as a premium pet food line featuring “natural” ingredients with added vitamins, minerals, and nutrients aimed at promoting cat health. The brand offers an extensive selection of both wet and dry cat foods, including grain-free and grain-inclusive options. Purina ONE cat foods are organized into several product lines, each designed to address specific nutritional needs or health benefits.
For example, the True Instinct line focuses on grain-free, high-protein recipes with a primary animal protein source. Purina ONE +Plus offers formulas tailored for kittens, indoor cats, senior cats, urinary health, and weight management. The LiveClear line is specifically formulated to reduce active Fel d1 levels (the primary allergen in cats).
Purina ONE’s product lines include:
- Purina ONE Healthy Kitten
- Purina ONE True Instinct
- Purina ONE Grain-Free
- Purina ONE LiveClear
- Purina ONE +Plus
- Purina ONE Ideal Weight
- Purina ONE Urinary Tract Health
- Purina ONE Tender Selects Blend
Purina encourages cat owners to utilize their “Find Your Formula” tool on their website. This tool provides product recommendations and customized feeding guides based on a short questionnaire. Additionally, the “28-Day Challenge” allows pet owners to track visible health improvements in their cats during the first month of feeding Purina ONE, offering coupons upon registration and completion.
Let’s examine three of Purina ONE’s top recipes in detail:
| Product Name | Food Type | Main Protein | Calories Per Ounce | Price | Our Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ONE Tender Selects Blend with Real Chicken Dry Cat Food | Dry | Chicken | 107 kcal/oz. | $2.02 per lb | C- |
| ONE +Plus Sensitive Skin & Stomach Adult Dry Cat Food | Dry | Chicken | 108 kcal/oz. | $2.05 per lb | C |
| ONE Chicken Recipe Paté Natural Grain-Free Canned Cat Food | Wet | Chicken | 32 | $0.33 per oz | A- |
#1 Purina ONE Tender Selects Blend with Real Chicken Dry Cat Food
The Tender Selects Blend with Real Chicken is among Purina ONE’s most popular dry food options. This recipe features a mix of crunchy kibble and tender morsels, with chicken as the primary protein source. While chicken is the first ingredient, the formula also incorporates several plant-based proteins, including corn gluten meal, soybean meal, and soy protein isolate.
Nutritionally, this food is fairly standard for kibble, offered at an accessible price point. It is a grain-inclusive formula with added artificial color and flavor. While palatable to cats, and reported by some customers to support feline health, it is not considered a top-tier nutritional choice due to its reliance on plant proteins and higher carbohydrate content.
Ingredients:
Chicken, Rice Flour, Corn Gluten Meal, Chicken By-Product Meal (Source Of Glucosamine), Beef Fat (Naturally Preserved With Mixed-Tocopherols), Soybean Meal, Whole Grain Corn, Wheat Flour, Liver Flavor, Soy Protein Isolate, Soy Protein Concentrate, Glycerin, Phosphoric Acid, Calcium Carbonate, Salt, Potassium Chloride, Caramel Color, Dried Carrots, Dried Peas, Choline Chloride, Sodium Bisulfate, Vitamins [Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin (Vitamin B-3), Vitamin A Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate (Vitamin B-5), Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B-1), Riboflavin Supplement (Vitamin B-2), Vitamin B-12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B-6), Folic Acid (Vitamin B-9), Vitamin D-3 Supplement, Biotin (Vitamin B-7), Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (Vitamin K)], Taurine, Minerals [Zinc Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite], L-Cysteine, L-Lysine Monohydrochloride, Dl-Methionine.
Ingredients We Liked: Chicken, Beef Fat
Ingredients We Didn’t Like: Rice Flour, Corn Gluten Meal, Soybean Meal, Whole Grain Corn, Wheat Flour, Liver Flavor, Soy Protein Isolate, Soy Protein Concentrate, Caramel Color, Dried Peas
Guaranteed Analysis:
Crude Protein: 34%
Crude Fat: 15%
Crude Fiber: 2%
Moisture: 12%
Dry Matter Basis:
Protein: 38.64%
Fat: 17.05%
Fiber: 2.27%
Carbs: 42.05%
Caloric Weight Basis:
Protein: 31.65%
Fat: 33.91%
Carbs: 34.44%
What We Liked:
- Chicken is the top ingredient
- Primarily uses animal-sourced fat
- Contains approximately 40% dry matter protein
- Palatable flavor for cats
What We Didn’t Like:
- Relies on multiple plant-based protein sources
- High carbohydrate content
- Dry food format lacks essential moisture for cats
#2 Purina ONE +Plus Sensitive Skin & Stomach Adult Dry Cat Food
Similar to the Tender Selects Blend, the Sensitive Skin & Stomach formula starts with a whole animal protein source, turkey, as the first ingredient. Chicken by-product meal provides additional protein, appearing second on the ingredient list. This recipe reduces soy content and is formulated without artificial flavors or preservatives.
Purina promotes this food as highly digestible for cats with sensitive systems, although the specific digestibility improvements over other Purina ONE dry foods are not detailed. Customer reviews are overwhelmingly positive, with many reporting digestive improvements in their cats.
While still a high-carbohydrate, low-moisture dry food, it offers a comparable protein and fat content to the Tender Selects Blend, with a slightly adjusted ingredient profile for sensitive cats.
Ingredients:
Turkey, Chicken By-Product Meal, Rice, Corn Protein Meal, Soybean Meal, Oat Meal, Whole Grain Corn, Beef Fat (Preserved With Mixed Tocopherols), Dried Egg Product, Natural Flavor, Dried Chicory Root, Soybean Oil, Phosphoric Acid, Calcium Carbonate, Salt, Glycerin, Dried Carrots, Dried Peas, Vegetable Juice (Color), Choline Chloride, Potassium Chloride, Vitamin E Supplement, MINERALS [Zinc Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite], Taurine, L-Lysine Monohydrochloride, VITAMINS [Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin (Vitamin B-3), Vitamin A Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate (Vitamin B-5), Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B-1), Riboflavin Supplement (Vitamin B-2), Vitamin B-12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B-6), Folic Acid (Vitamin B-9), Vitamin D-3 Supplement, Biotin (Vitamin B-7), Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (Vitamin K)].
Ingredients We Liked: Turkey, Beef Fat, Dried Egg Product
Ingredients We Didn’t Like: Corn Protein Meal, Soybean Meal, Whole Grain Corn, Soybean Oil, Dried Peas
Guaranteed Analysis:
Crude Protein: 34%
Crude Fat: 14%
Crude Fiber: 4%
Moisture: 12%
Dry Matter Basis:
Protein: 38.64%
Fat: 15.91%
Fiber: 4.55%
Carbs: 40.91%
Caloric Weight Basis:
Protein: 32.69%
Fat: 32.69%
Carbs: 34.62%
What We Liked:
- Top two ingredients are animal proteins
- Primarily uses animal-sourced fat
- Free from artificial flavors and preservatives
- Customer reports suggest effectiveness for sensitive digestion
What We Didn’t Like:
- Contains multiple plant-based protein sources
- High in carbohydrates
- Dry food lacks essential moisture content
#3 Purina ONE Chicken Recipe Paté Natural Grain-Free Canned Cat Food
The Chicken Recipe Paté is a popular wet food from Purina ONE, featuring a chicken-based paté formula. It is predominantly made with animal-derived ingredients, listing chicken, liver (unspecified origin), pork lungs, and unspecified fish as primary components.
Aside from guar gum as a stabilizer, this recipe avoids starchy plant ingredients or plant protein concentrates. It includes “natural flavors,” typically derived from hydrolyzed animal tissues, as a minor ingredient before a comprehensive list of synthetic vitamins, minerals, and amino acids to ensure nutritional completeness.
Overall, this wet food recipe aligns well with ideal feline nutrition, offering low carbohydrate content, high animal protein, a mix of muscle meat and organs, and high moisture content.
Ingredients:
Chicken, Liver, Chicken Broth, Pork Lungs, Fish, Natural Flavors, MINERALS [Potassium Chloride, Magnesium Proteinate, Zinc Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Potassium Iodide], Guar Gum, Taurine, VITAMINS [Vitamin E Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B-1), Niacin (Vitamin B-3), Calcium Pantothenate (Vitamin B-5), Vitamin A Supplement, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (Vitamin K), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B-6), Riboflavin Supplement (Vitamin B-2), Vitamin B-12 Supplement, Biotin (Vitamin B-7), Folic Acid (Vitamin B-9), Vitamin D-3 Supplement], Choline Chloride, Salt.
Ingredients We Liked: Chicken, Liver, Chicken Broth, Pork Lungs, Fish
Ingredients We Didn’t Like: Guar Gum
Guaranteed Analysis:
Crude Protein: 11%
Crude Fat: 5%
Crude Fiber: 1.5%
Moisture: 78%
Ash: 3%
Dry Matter Basis:
Protein: 50%
Fat: 22.73%
Fiber: 6.82%
Carbs: 6.82%
Caloric Weight Basis:
Protein: 44.64%
Fat: 49.28%
Carbs: 6.09%
What We Liked:
- High protein content at 50% dry matter
- Short, digestible ingredient list
- Rich in moisture, crucial for feline hydration
- Low carbohydrate content (under 10% dry matter)
What We Didn’t Like:
- Guar gum may cause digestive upset in some cats
- Contains vaguely named animal protein sources
Customer feedback for Purina ONE cat food is generally positive across platforms like Amazon and Chewy. For instance, the Tender Selects Blend dry food has a high average rating and numerous reviews on Chewy. Purina ONE canned foods also maintain strong ratings, although with fewer reviews overall.
Customer dissatisfaction typically revolves around palatability issues with picky eaters or delivery problems. Some customers have noted fluctuations in their cats’ acceptance of the food or inconsistencies between batches.
Positive Reviews:
“The pate is exactly the right consistency and there’s enough juice in the can to drizzle over the food to make it more palatable. My cats prefer their dry food, so it’s been a struggle to find wet food that they will eat.” – Araby, Chewy Customer
“Makes her coat shiny and soft, and she likes the taste. I sometimes get her the lamb flavor of the sensitive skin and stomach formula just to vary it up, but this purina formula is definitely the way to go.” – Brenda, Chewy Customer
Negative Reviews:
“I switched my cats over from the tender selects formula to this since they were starting to throw the food up. but they aren’t crazy for it. I have thrown out multiple bowls of leftover stale food when they usually clear them. It definitely depends on the cat but my 3 aren’t too fond of the switch.” – Morgan, Chewy Customer
“My cats did not like the puffy “tender” bits at all (of which there were too much) and picked out only the crunchier ones that smelled and tasted better. It is very greasy and attracts bugs, especially if you feed indoor/outdoor cats. Neither my cats nor I liked it. Will not buy again.” – Kathy, Chewy Customer
Purina ONE is positioned as a more budget-friendly option within Purina’s premium brands. Dry cat foods are typically priced under $0.15 per ounce (or less than $2.50 per pound), making the daily feeding cost for a 10-pound cat around $0.25. This price point is comparable to brands like Rachael Ray and Diamond.
Purina ONE wet cat foods are slightly more expensive, ranging from $0.35 to $0.45 per ounce, resulting in a daily cost of $2-$3 for a 10-pound cat. This places them in a similar price range to Blue Buffalo Wilderness and Nulo wet foods.
Purina ONE cat food is widely available in pet stores, major retailers, and online pet retailers such as Amazon and Chewy. While Purina does not sell directly from their website, product pages link to various online retailers for purchase.
Overall, is Purina ONE a good cat food? Purina ONE offers a range of recipes, some of which, particularly the wet food options like the Chicken Paté, are nutritionally sound choices. However, some dry food recipes rely on plant-based proteins and fillers. For optimal nutrition within the Purina ONE line, focusing on their canned food options is advisable. If dry food is preferred, certain recipes from the +Plus line may be suitable, particularly for addressing specific health concerns at an affordable price.
If you’re exploring cat food brands similar to Purina ONE, consider reviewing our other brand analyses for comparison.
