Purina Cat Chow Naturals is a decent, budget-friendly dry cat food. Real chicken is the first ingredient, it has no artificial colors, flavors or preservatives, and it is complete and balanced for all life stages. The trade-off is that a lot of its protein and bulk comes from corn, wheat and soy, so it is not the right pick for cats that need a meat-heavy or grain-free diet.
Quick Facts
- Type: dry kibble
- First ingredient: chicken
- Life stage: all life stages, including kittens and nursing cats
- Calories: about 398 kcal per cup
- Bag sizes: 3.15 lb, 6.3 lb, 13 lb and 18 lb
- Varieties: Naturals Original (chicken and salmon), Naturals Indoor and Kitten Chow Naturals
What’s in Purina Cat Chow Naturals?
According to Purina, the first ingredients in the Original recipe are chicken, corn gluten meal, chicken by-product meal, rice, soybean meal, ground yellow corn and whole ground wheat, followed by beef tallow and salmon. Here is what that means in plain terms.
The Protein
Chicken is listed first, which is a good sign. Keep in mind that fresh chicken is mostly water, so it contributes less protein after cooking than its place on the label suggests. Chicken by-product meal is a concentrated animal protein and adds more than the name implies. Corn gluten meal and soybean meal are plant proteins that raise the protein number on the bag at a lower cost than meat.
The Grains
Despite the “Naturals” name, this is not a grain-free food. Corn, wheat, rice and soy all appear near the top of the list. Grains are not harmful to healthy cats, but cats are obligate carnivores and do best when most of their protein comes from animal sources.
The Extras
The food includes added taurine, an amino acid cats must get from their diet to support the heart and eyes, along with what Purina describes as all 25 essential vitamins and minerals. A small amount of dried spinach is on the list too, but there isn’t enough to change the food’s nutrition much.
Pros and Cons
What We Like
- Real chicken is the first ingredient
- No artificial colors, flavors or preservatives
- Complete and balanced for kittens, adults and nursing cats, which is handy in multi-cat homes
- Affordable and easy to find at grocery stores and online
What to Watch
- Heavy on corn, wheat and soy
- A good share of the protein comes from plants, not meat
- Calorie-dense, so free-feeding can lead to weight gain
- Contains chicken, beef fat and salmon, so it won’t suit cats with allergies to those proteins
Which Cats Is It Good For?
Cat Chow Naturals is a reasonable choice for healthy cats without special dietary needs, especially if you are feeding several cats on a budget and want to avoid artificial dyes.
Look elsewhere if your cat:
- Has a diagnosed food allergy. Beef, fish and chicken are the most commonly reported food allergens in cats, and this recipe contains all three.
- Is overweight or mostly inactive. The Indoor formula or a weight-management food is a better fit.
- Has urinary, kidney or blood sugar problems. These cats usually need a diet chosen by a veterinarian.
- Does better without grains. See our guide to the best grain-free cat food.
How Much to Feed
Purina’s feeding guide for adult cats is:
- 5 to 9 pounds: 1/2 to 3/4 cup per day
- 10 to 14 pounds: 3/4 to 1 cup per day
A few tips make any dry food work better:
- Measure the food with a real measuring cup and split it into two or more meals.
- Switch from the old food gradually over 7 to 10 days.
- Keep fresh water available at all times. Dry food contains very little moisture, so many owners also add some wet food.
- Store the kibble in its original bag, rolled closed, inside a clean, dry container.
Has Cat Chow Naturals Been Recalled?
We found one recall involving this food. In June 2011, Purina recalled a limited number of 6.3-pound bags of Cat Chow Naturals that had been shipped by mistake to a few customers in Colorado, Idaho and Oregon, because of possible Salmonella contamination. Purina reported no illnesses. For current information, check the FDA’s pet food recall list.
How It Compares
Compared with standard Purina Cat Chow Complete, the Naturals line is made without artificial colors or flavors and puts chicken first. Compared with premium, meat-focused foods, it has more grain and plant protein, and it costs less. That is the choice you are making with this food: a cleaner label than basic grocery kibble at a similar price, without the higher meat content of more expensive brands.
Bottom Line
Purina Cat Chow Naturals is a fair everyday food for healthy cats and a step up from kibble with artificial dyes. It is not a high-meat or grain-free diet, and it is rich enough in calories that portions need to be measured. If your cat has allergies, weight problems or a medical condition, ask your vet for a more suitable food.
This review is for general information and is not a substitute for veterinary advice. Talk to your veterinarian before changing the diet of a cat with a health condition.
