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Do you often wonder what other food brand to feed your cat? Here is the Purina cat chow complete review.
One of the most common questions cat parents ask veterinarians is whether product X is good for their cat or not.
The Purina brand offers dry and wet food for dogs and cats of all ages. The Purina brand has several food categories for pets, including Purina ONE, Purina Chow, Purina Pro Plan, Purina Veterinary Diets, and Purina Beyond. Their products are rich in protein and enhanced with vitamins, minerals, and amino acids.
One of the products the Purina brand has to offer is Cat Chow Complete Dry Cat Food. This product has healthy carbs added to it and 25 essential minerals and vitamins. It doesn’t contain real meat but chicken by-product meal, corn, and grains, making it a non-free-grain diet. If your cat has a food allergy or a sensitive stomach, I wouldn’t recommend this product.
Therefore, here are some alternatives to other brands that contain real meat: Blue Buffalo Wilderness Kitten Chicken Recipe Grain-Free Dry Cat Food, Diamond Naturals Indoor Formula Dry Cat Food, or Diamond Naturals Kitten Formula Dry Cat Food. Some of these alternatives are also grain-free.
In this article, you will find out what Purina cat chow complete food is, why Purina is a good food brand, if Purina cat chow is a good diet for cats, and more.
What is Purina Cat Chow?
This pet food brand makes wet and dry food for dogs and cats. Their products provide 100% complete and balanced diets, suited for all life stages, including pregnant and nursing cats and dogs. They also make veterinary diets to aid in various medical conditions.
Purina Chow Brand History, Sourcing, and Manufacturing
Purina Chow is a food category of the brand Purina (Nestlé Purina Petcare). The Purina brand is currently a US subsidiary of Nestlé.
This brand was founded in 1894 in the US and was called Purina Mills. The company made animal feed.
It was not until 1926 that the Purina brand launched Purina Chows, and began making food for hunting and farm dogs.
In 1956, the Purina brand launched pressure-cooked dog food in the form of kibbles of various sizes.
In 1963, Purina Cat Chow and Puppy Chow were launched.
The name Purina comes from the company’s slogan at the time: “Where purity is supreme”.
The white and red logo with a chessboard pattern comes from a childhood memory that William Danforth (the company’s creator) had. His then-neighbors once dressed their children in this pattern to identify them at an exhibition.
The ingredients the Purina brand uses are mainly sourced from the US: 100% soy, 96% grains, 99% poultry, 91% meat, and 76% fish.
99% of Purina’s brand products are manufactured in America in their own facilities.
Purina Recalls
Several products of the Purina brand have been withdrawn from the market since 1978.
In more recent years, Purina has recalled the following products:
- Purina Cat Chow Naturals (2011) – possible salmonella risk.
- Purina ONE Vibrant Maturity 7+ dry cat food (2011) – possible salmonella risk.
- Purina Veterinary Diets OM Overweight Management canned cat food (2012) – possible low thiamine.
- Purina Pro Plan Complete Essentials Tuna Entrée In Sauce Wet Cat Food (2021) – potentially containing plastic pieces.
Nutrients & ingredients
Purina Chow contains natural diets for cats and dogs made with quality ingredients, such as:
- Animal protein: anchovies, arctic char, beef, beef by-product, catfish, chicken, and more.
- Vegetables: lentils, dried beet pulp, chickpeas, peas, wild rice, etc.
- Fats and oils: animal fat, corn oil, fish oil, and others.
- Vitamins and minerals.
Cat Chow Complete Dry Cat Food
One of the products the Purina brand has to offer for cats of all ages is Cat Chow Complete Dry Cat Food.
How It Is Prepared
It contains chicken by-product meal, ground yellow corn, whole grain wheat, rice, and other ingredients. It also has added vitamins and minerals. This product is suited for cats of all ages, including kittens and pregnant and lactating females, but it is recommended mostly for adult cats.
This food promotes nutrition, increased muscle mass, and healthy skin and shiny coats.
Guaranteed Analysis
Cat Chow Complete Dry Cat Food is high in protein (32%) and packed with 25 vitamins and minerals to support the good functioning of your kitty’s body. It has added omega-6 fatty acids to aid your cat’s skin and coat. Overall, this product promotes health and nutrition.
Guaranteed Analysis[1]
| Crude Protein | 32.0% min |
| Crude Fat | 12.0% min |
| Crude Fiber | 3.0% max |
| Moisture | 12.0% max |
| Linoleic Acid | 1.25 min |
| Arachidonic Acid | 0.03% min |
| Calcium (Ca) | 1.1% min |
| Phosphorous | 0.9% min |
| Selenium (Se) | 0.30 mg/kg min |
| Vitamin A | 10,000 IU/kg min |
| Vitamin E | 70 IU/kg min |
| Taurine | 0.15% min |
Ingredient Analysis
Cat Chow Complete Dry Cat Food is a 100% complete and balanced diet, improved with vitamins and minerals, such as:
- Vitamin B12
- Vitamin E
- Vitamin A
- And more.
Vitamin B12
Vitamin B12 (cobalamin) is an essential nutrient for optimal cell renewal and the production of new red blood cells.
It plays an important roles in various body mechanisms, being essential in : [2]
- DNA synthesis.
- New red blood cell production.
- Nervous and cardiovascular system.
- Cellular metabolism.
- Liver protection.
Vitamin E
Vitamin E is an essential organic micronutrient for the body’s functions. It is a fat-soluble vitamin that helps cells communicate with each other. It also supports the fulfillment of many vital processes. The main functions of vitamin E are:[3]
- Facilitates the storage of energy, in the form of glycogen, in the liver and muscles, including the heart muscle.
- Maintains healthy blood vessels.
- Supports the immune system.
- Supports the formation of new tissues.
- Maintains eye health.
- Protects the liver.
- Ensures amino acid metabolism.
- Ensures the metabolism of fatty acids.
- Aids with skin lesions.
- Vitamin E is also a powerful antioxidant.
- Accelerates healing.
- Supports the immune system.
- Maintains bone, skin, teeth, gums, and hair health.
- Helps with eyesight.
Vitamin A
Like vitamin E, vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin that is essential for the good functioning of the body. Vitamin A has the following benefits for your cat:[2]
- Helps with eyesight.
- Accelerates healing.
- Supports the immune system.
- Maintains bone, skin, teeth, gums, and hair health.
Cat Chow Complete Dry Cat Food Pros
- Easy to store and serve.
- High in protein.
- 25 added vitamins and minerals.
Cat Chow Complete Dry Cat Food Cons
- It has grains in its composition.
- It has chicken by-products meal as its first ingredient.
- Some cats’ hair fell off.
- Some cats might throw up.
- Some vets do not recommend it.
Feeding Guidelines[1]
Feed according to your cat’s activity level, weight, and age. Seal and store in a cool and dark place after opening.
| Weight | Daily Feeding (Cups) |
| 5 – 9 lbs. | 1/2 – 3/4 |
| 10 – 14 lbs. | 3/4 – 1 |
Cat Chow Complete Dry Cat Food Review By Customers[1]
5-star reviews:
Customer 1
“My Feral cats love it
I feed colonies of feral cats and we are supplied this food, I tried it on my colony of feral cats that are in my backyard 18 total and they love it as well, the price is great and feeding so many of them I have to budget.”
Customer 2
“Good buy for my outdoor cat loves it
I bought this for both my cats but thought that my indoor cat would have some issues as he is sensitive to most things but my indoor and outdoor cat love it. They are very picky but they love the flavor I guess. This was a great buy for us and didn’t need two different types of food.”
Customer 3
“Good, affordable option
I love this food. My kitties enjoyed it from the beginning and still enjoy it after eating it for a while. This bag lasts me over a month for two cats. The price is pretty affordable. The vets can be quite picky with what is good quality food, and they told me that this one is a good choice! Very happy with it and I will continue to feed them this.”
1-star reviews:
Customer 1
“Not good food
I used to feed this to my cats but I started noticing that they were losing a bunch of Weight. So I took them to the vet and she said it was the food I was feeding them. She said she would NEVER recommend this product. Honestly I wouldn’t either. If you really care about your cat, definitely recommend spending a few more dollars on better food.”
Customer 2
“Not for us
My cats are having issues with this food. They throw up after eating it. I’m trying something else.”
Customer 3
“Bladder Stones
Beware! Fed this food to my cat for a couple of years, and she developed struvite bladder stones. She had to have surgery to remove them. Vet blames it on poor nutrition. Wish I could go back in time and feed her better food. Do lots of research before settling on the cheaper stuff! Wouldn’t want my cat, or any other, to go through this experience again.”
Good Alternatives For Cat Chow Complete Dry Cat Food
Blue Buffalo Wilderness Kitten Chicken Recipe Grain-Free Dry Cat Food
Blue Buffalo Wilderness Kitten Chicken Recipe is a 100% complete and balanced diet making it one of the best dry cat food options available. It is recommended for kittens, helping them to develop their brain and vision, increase muscle mass, and build a strong immune system. This diet is also grain-free and has real chicken in it.
Diamond Naturals Indoor Formula Dry Cat Food
Diamond Naturals Indoor Formula Dry Cat Food is high in protein (32%) and packed with vitamins, minerals, and taurine. It promotes health, supporting the good functioning of your kitty’s body. It has other added essential nutrients such as omega 3 and 6 fatty acids for your cat’s skin and coat. Diamond Naturals Indoor Formula also has added fiber to its recipe to support healthy digestion making it the next best dry cat food option.
Diamond Naturals Kitten Formula Dry Cat Food
Diamond Naturals Kitten Formula Dry Cat Food is suited for kittens and nursing females, being improved with omega 6 DHA for your developing kitten. It is made with real meat and it has grains in its composition.
FAQs
Where to buy Cat Chow Complete Dry Cat Food?
You can buy Diamond Naturals cat food from Chewy.com.
Is Cat Chow Complete Dry Cat Food good for kittens?
Yes, this recipe is suited for all life stages.
Conclusion
As a vet, in my opinion, Cat Chow Complete Dry Cat Food does and doesn’t make a good choice. It has grains in its composition and uses chicken by-products meal as its first ingredient, but has 25 vitamins and minerals added to it. Therefore, it is not suited for cats with food allergies or sensitive stomachs.
Always ask your vet about your cat’s diet or any other medical problem or concern.
