Alternatives to Purina

Alternatives to Purina: 10 better-rated foods

Purina averages 69/100 across 87 products on the PetFoodRate independent A–E methodology. Here are 10 better-rated foods worth considering, picked across species and food type.

In short

The best-rated alternative to Purina in our database is Orijen Cat & Kitten (94/100, grade A), versus Purina's 69/100 average. Below are 10 foods scored higher than Purina, one per species + food-type pairing, ranked on our independent A–E method.

87 Purina products graded
69/100 average score
10 better-rated alternatives

The Purina profile across 5 criteria

Across the 87 Purina products we graded, the brand is strongest on "Few undesirables" and weakest on "Ingredient transparency". That weakest axis is usually where the alternatives below pull ahead.

  • Protein quality C 67/100
  • Nutritional balance C 69/100
  • Few undesirables B 82/100
  • Ingredient transparency D 53/100
  • Species fit C 69/100

Average of the A–E sub-scores across every graded Purina product. See it product by product →

Our Purina alternative picks

  1. #1
    A

    Top dry food for cats outside Purina.

    Orijen Cat & Kitten
    94/100
  2. #2
    A

    Top wet food for cats outside Purina.

    Applaws Natural Tuna Fillet
    87/100
  3. #3
    A

    Top dry food for cats outside Purina.

    Orijen Six Fish Cat
    92/100
  4. #4
    A

    Top dry food for cats outside Purina.

    Applaws Kitten
    90/100
  5. #5
    A

    Top dry food for cats outside Purina.

    Acana First Feast Kitten
    89/100
  6. #6
    A

    Top dry food for cats outside Purina.

    Acana Homestead Harvest Cat
    88/100
  7. #7
    A
  8. #8
    A

    Top dry food for cats outside Purina.

    Acana Indoor Entrée Cat
    88/100
  9. #9
    A
  10. #10
    A

How we select alternatives to Purina

For each species + food type combination represented in the Purina range, we identify the highest-scored product from a competing brand. The A–E score synthesises five criteria: protein quality, overall nutritional balance, absence of undesirable additives, ingredient transparency, and species fit. No sponsorship can change a product's score — the methodology is applied uniformly across the catalog.

Want to dig into a specific alternative? Each card above points to that product's dedicated /alternatives/<product>/ page, which adds cheaper-per-kg sub-rankings and other food-type options for the same species.

Full methodology →

Frequently asked questions

What is the best alternative to Purina?

In our database the best-rated alternative to Purina is Orijen Cat & Kitten, scoring 94/100 (grade A) versus Purina's 69/100 average. We list 10 better-graded picks in total, one for each species and food type Purina sells.

Why look for alternatives to Purina?

Purina averages 69/100 on the PetFoodRate independent methodology across 87 products we've scored, and scores lowest on transparency. Buyers searching for alternatives typically want higher protein quality, fewer undesirable additives, better ingredient transparency, or a better species fit.

How are these alternatives selected?

For each food type and species in the Purina catalogue, we pick the top-scored food from a different brand. Scoring covers five criteria: protein quality, nutritional balance, undesirables, transparency, and species adaptability. No sponsored brand ever changes its score.

Are these alternatives cheaper than Purina?

Cheaper-per-kg picks are flagged inside each individual product alternative page. Open any product card below to see its dedicated /alternatives/<product>/ page where the cheaper-per-kg sub-list sits alongside the higher-scored picks.