July 05, 2023
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
We’ve rated Performatrin cat food on ingredient quality, species-appropriateness, recalls, and more. Read our Performatrin cat food review to learn how this brand stacks up.
The Cats.com Standard—Rating Performatrin Cat Food on What Matters
We’ve rated the brand on six key criteria for quality. Here’s how it rates in each of these six crucial areas.
Ratings
- Species-Appropriateness – 6/10
- Ingredient Quality – 6/10
- Product Variety – 7/10
- Price – 8/10
- Customer Experience – 7/10
- Recall History – 9/10
Overall Score: 7.1/10
In total, we give Performatrin cat food a 43 out of 60 rating or a B grade.
Why Trust Cats.com
When reviewing cat foods like Performatrin, I order and personally test at least three products. For this review, I ordered one wet cat food product as well as one dry food recipe from each of Performatrin’s product lines. I tested the food on my three cats: Bagel, Biscuit, and Munchkin.
While testing Performatrin cat foods, I made observations about the products’ appearance, texture, palatability, and appeal. I also analyzed the product information and researched the brand. My research included Performatrin’s website and social media accounts as well as third-party review sites.
After completing my in-depth testing and research, I rated Performatrin in six key categories according to the Cats.com Standard.
About Performatrin
Performatrin is a registered trademark of Pet Valu Canada Inc. It was founded in 1988, just a few years after the U.S. National Academy of Sciences published the first nutritional requirements for companion pets. For over thirty years, Performatrin has been offering balanced pet foods for dogs and cats that are formulated by their in-house nutritionists.
The Ultra line of Performatrin products was released in 2004, followed just over a decade later by a collection of limited-ingredient diets. In 2019, Performatrin Naturals was launched. Performatrin’s most recent development, the Prime line, was launched in 2022.
Sourcing and Manufacturing
Headquartered in Markham, Ontario, Performatrin is made in Canada from domestic and imported ingredients. Performatrin is a private-label brand manufactured for Pet Value.
Neither Pet Valu nor Performatrin provide any specific information about where their ingredients are sourced or how the foods are made. The Performatrin website does include a detailed Ingredient Glossary to explain the benefits of their various ingredients, but they don’t say where they get them.
Recall History
The Performatrin brand does not appear to have had any product recalls. This is impressive, given the brand’s 30+ year history. It’s worth noting, however, that the products are manufactured in Canada.
In the United States, product recalls are initiated by the FDA and customers can make complaints to the Reportable Food Registry. Canada does not have an equivalent national recall program for pet food.
What Kinds of Cat Food Does Performatrin Offer?
Across numerous product lines, Performatrin dry food comes in triangular or X-shaped kibbles. Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Performatrin offers a wide selection of cat food products formulated to satisfy a variety of preferences, life stages, and health concerns. Their products are divided among canned cat food and dry cat food, as well as both lickable and freeze-dried treats.
The following product lines are part of the Performatrin portfolio:
- Ultra – A holistic line of cat foods built around quality protein, nutritious fruits and veggies, with added probiotics.
- Limited Ingredient Diet – A small selection of grain-free recipes featuring chicken, salmon, turkey, or duck as the main animal proteins.
- Naturals – A selection of easy-to-digest wet and dry foods.
- Prime – A line of wet and dry foods formulated to address specific health concerns.
In addition to offering pet foods focused on specific ages or issues, Performatrin offers pet owners some useful information on their website. Pet parents can shop for pet food by health issues, such as hip & joint concerns, immunity issues, or sensitive stomach.
What Did Our Test Cats Think?
The limited-ingredient dry food we tested was the least favorite among my three cats — perhaps because of the high carbohydrate concentration. Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Performatrin dry cat food products come in resealable packages that are easy to use and keep the food fresh. I ordered the food from Pet Supermarket and it arrived within just a few days.
Performatrin Cat Food – Top 3 Recipes Reviewed
| Product Name | Food Type | Main Protein Source | Calories | Price | Our Grade |
| Performatrin Adult Grain-Free Beef Formula Canned Cat Food | Wet | Beef | 39 kcal/oz. | 0.33 per oz | B+ |
| Performatrin Prime Kitten Formula Dry Cat Food | Dry | Chicken | 118 kcal/oz. | 0.22 per oz | C- |
| Performatrin Ultra Limited Ingredient Sweet Potato & Chicken Adult Dry Cat Food | Dry | Chicken | 99 kcal/oz. | 0.30 per oz | D |
#1 Performatrin Adult Grain-Free Beef Formula Canned Cat Food
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Made with a single source of animal protein, this beef-based wet cat food is rich in hydrating moisture. Fresh beef and beef liver are the primary ingredients, contributing to a dry matter protein content of over 45%. While sunflower oil is the main source of added fat, the food also contains menhaden fish oil – a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids.
This canned cat food has a very soft, loaf-like texture. My cats seemed to find it appealing and it was very easy to mix with water. The only ingredient of potential concern is the guar gum, used to thicken the food. Though guar gum hasn’t been definitively linked to negative health outcomes, gum thickeners have been known to contribute to loose stools in some cats.
Overall, this is a moderate-protein, high-fat wet cat food formula with fairly low carbohydrate content. At around 39 calories per ounce, it’s calorie-dense as well. The average 10-pound cat may only need to eat one can a day.
Ingredients
Beef, Beef Broth, Beef Liver, Sunflower Oil, Tricalcium Phosphate, Guar Gum, Salt, Potassium Chloride, Dried Kelp, Choline Chloride, Taurine, Cassia Gum, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Tripolyphosphate, Menhaden Fish Oil (Preserved With Mixed Tocopherols), Oregano, Parsley, Inulin, Iron Proteinate, Zinc Proteinate, Rosemary, Sage, Vitamin E Supplement, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Thiamine Mononitrate, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Sodium Selenite, Niacin Supplement, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, Biotin, Potassium Iodide, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Folic Acid.
Ingredients We Liked: Beef, Beef Liver, Menhaden Fish Oil
Ingredients We Didn’t Like: Guar Gum, Cassia Gum, Xanthan Gum
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
What We Liked:
- Relies primarily on animal protein from a single source
- Rich in moisture to support your cat’s hydration
- Short list of easily digestible ingredients
- Menhaden fish oil provides animal-sourced omega-3s
What We Didn’t Like:
- Relies primarily on plant-based fat (sunflower oil)
#2 Performatrin Prime Kitten Formula Dry Cat Food
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Formulated for growing kittens, this Prime dry cat food formula is largely chicken-based. With corn gluten meal as the third ingredient, however, it’s likely that a significant portion of the food’s roughly 38% dry matter protein content comes from plant sources. The two sources of added fat are animal-based.
Like most dry foods, this cat food is very high in carbohydrates. Rice and oats are less problematic than ground corn in terms of nutrition and digestibility. The rice is assumed to be white rice which is high in starch and the oat hulls are likely included as fiber source. Corn contains phytic acid which can bind to key minerals and impair their absorption.
This food comes in small X-shaped kibbles that measure about ½-inch in diameter. My cats seemed to enjoy the crunch and the flavor of this food.
Overall, this is a moderate-protein, moderate-fat dry cat food formula with high carbohydrate content. It’s pretty calorie-dense at 119 calories per ounce, but the nutrition it delivers offers limited biological value for cats.
Ingredients
Chicken, Chicken Meal, Corn Gluten Meal, Rice, Ground Corn, Chicken Fat (preserved with mixed Tocopherols and Citric Acid), Menhaden Meal, Natural Chicken Flavor, Dried Plain Beet Pulp, Salmon Oil (preserved with mixed Tocopherols and Citric Acid), Spray Dried Egg Product, Oat Hulls, Potassium Chloride, DL-Methionine, Sodium Bisulfate, Yeast Extract, Choline Chloride, Taurine, Chicory Root Extract, Dried Kelp, Sodium Hexametaphosphate, Salt, Potassium Citrate, Ginger, Oregano, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Dandelion, Parsley, Chamomile, Rosemary Extract, Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin Supplement, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate [source of Vitamin C], Thiamine Mononitrate, Biotin, Vitamin A Supplement, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Beta Carotene, Riboflavin Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid), Minerals (Zinc Proteinate, Ferrous Sulfate, Calcium Carbonate, Zinc Oxide, Iron Proteinate, Copper Sulfate, Sodium Selenite, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Manganous Oxide, Calcium Iodate).
Ingredients We Liked: Chicken, Chicken Meal, Chicken Fat, Menhaden Meal, Salmon Oil
Ingredients We Didn’t Like: Corn Gluten Meal, Ground Corn
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
What We Liked:
- Animal proteins are the top two ingredients
- Both sources of added fat are animal-based
- Calorie-dense to support growth in kittens
- Cats seems to enjoy the flavor and texture
What We Didn’t Like:
- Contains corn ingredients (including as a concentrated source of protein)
- No dry food provides the moisture your cat needs
- Very high carbohydrate content
#3 Performatrin Ultra Limited Ingredient Sweet Potato & Chicken Adult Dry Cat Food
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Part of Performatrin’s Ultra line of products, this limited-ingredient formula features a short list of ingredients. Unfortunately, the first ingredient is not animal protein. Sweet potato is rich in antioxidants and is a low-glycemic alternative to white potato, but it’s much less biologically valuable as a first ingredient than meat would be.
Though very high in carbohydrates, this dry cat food is a single-protein recipe. Chicken and chicken meal contribute to the food’s dry matter protein content, which sits at around 33%. It’s worth noting, however, that the food contains a concentrated source of plant protein as well – potato protein.
Overall, this is a moderate-protein, low-fat formula with very high carbohydrate content. The use of sweet potato as the top ingredient may contribute to the food’s low calorie density. The feeding recommendations call for 1 ¼ cup per day plus ¼ cup per 5 pounds of body weight. That’s a lot to feed a cat. The high ratio of plant to animal ingredients in this food reduces its digestibility which may contribute to higher stool volume and more litter box odor.
This is not a recipe I would choose to feed my cat as a staple diet. That said, my cats seemed to enjoy it well enough. It comes in triangular kibbles that measure about ½ inch in diameter.
Ingredients
Sweet Potato, Chicken, Chicken Meal, Potato, Potato Protein, Chicken Fat (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols and Citric Acid), Salmon Oil (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols and Citric Acid), Natural Flavor, Flaxseed, DL-Methionine, Choline Chloride, Sodium Bisulfate, Taurine, Salt, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Rosemary Extract, Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin Supplement, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate [source of Vitamin C], Thiamine Mononitrate, Biotin, Vitamin A Supplement, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Beta Carotene, Riboflavin Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid, Menadione Nicotinamide Bisulfite), Minerals (Zinc Proteinate, Ferrous Sulfate, Calcium Carbonate, Zinc Oxide, Iron Proteinate, Copper Sulfate, Sodium Selenite, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Manganous Oxide, Calcium Iodate).
Ingredients We Liked: Chicken, Chicken Meal, Chicken Fat, Salmon Oil
Ingredients We Didn’t Like: Potato, Potato Protein
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
What We Liked:
- Made with a single source of animal protein
- Relies primarily on animal-sourced fat
- Salmon oil provides animal-sourced omega-3 fatty acids
- Free from corn, wheat, soy, and artificial additives
What We Didn’t Like:
- Animal protein is not the first ingredient
- No dry food provides the moisture your cat needs
- Very high carbohydrate content
What Do Customers Think of Performatrin Cat Food?
Because Performatrin is a Canadian company and not available on Chewy or Amazon, online customer reviews are very limited. The only third-party reviews I could find were on Pet Supermarket and Pet Valu. Few products on these sites had more than ten ratings.
“I have hunted high and low over 2 years for a food that doesn’t have any grain or peas or anything with fish or anything that has wings (or by products) for my cat who’s allergic and now, picky. She chowed down on this product like there’s no tomorrow!” by Daisy, Reviewing PetSupermarket.com, Performatrin Prime Adult Grain-Free Beef Formula, 3 years ago
“My cat has been eating this for years. This is all he will eat initially it helped him slim down.” by Yoda, Reviewing Pet Supermarket, Performatrin Ultra Limited Ingredient Sweet Potato & Chicken Adult Dry Food, 5 months ago
Customers who are satisfied with Performatrin products frequently comment that even their picky cats seem to like the food. Some seem to find the weight management formulas effective and I saw several comments about improvements in skin and coat condition on Performatrin foods.
“Since label change, cats hate it. They ate this exclusively when it was red label for well over 10 years. Won’t touch it since white label. Ingredients look similar but food is a grayish color compared to original formula.” – Yssaly, PetValu.com, Reviewing Performatrin Prime Grain-Free Turkey Formula Pate, 2 months ago
“I have been purchasing this product for both my cats for over 7 years with total satisfaction. However in the past 6 months I noticed the moisture content in the 13 oz size, was low to non-existent. The food looks like dry lumps that my cats refuse to eat it.” – Franny Fran, PetValu.com, Reviewing Performatrin Ultra Grain-Free Chicken Stew Cat Food, 1 year ago
Formula changes are a running theme among negative reviews for Performatrin foods. One customer commented that a recipe they’d been feeding their cat for years suddenly had an ingredient their cat was allergic to. When I ordered Performatrin Adult Grain-Free Beef Formula Canned Cat Food for testing, the original packaging was pictured on the site but I received the new product.
How Much Does Performatrin Cat Food Cost?
Averaging under $0.30 per ounce for dry food and under $0.50 per ounce for wet food, Performatrin cat foods are affordable for the average cat owner. This is especially true for the more calorie-dense wet foods. For the beef recipe tested, the average 10-pound cat would only need about one 5.5-ounce can per day – a daily cost of about $1.80.
Priced between $0.20 and $0.30 per ounce, the daily cost to feed Performatrin dry food varies greatly depending on the calorie density. For example, the Prime kitten formula reviewed above contains 118 calories per ounce and would cost about $0.37 per day. The limited ingredient formula, however, only contains 99 calories per ounce and would cost about $0.60 per day to meet a 10-pound cat’s energy requirements.
Performatrin dry cat foods are economically priced – similar to what you’d pay for Fancy Feast but a little more expensive than Diamond Naturals. This brand is on par with other private label brands like Chewy’s American Journey.
Where Is Performatrin Cat Food Sold?
As a Canadian private-label brand, Performatrin products are the easiest to find in Canada. You can find them in Pet Valu stores and other Pet Valu family stores including Bosley’s, Total Pet, Paulmac’s Pets, and Tisol Pet Nutrition & Supply. All of these stores also sell products online.
Availability of Performatrin products in the United States is limited. Pet Valu closed all of its US stores after the pandemic, so the only place to purchase Performatrin products is Pet Supermarket. Performatrin products are not sold on Amazon.com or Chewy.com.
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Looking for other cat food brands similar to Performatrin? Check out some of our other brand reviews.
can i order from Canada
Absolutely!
My cat has eaten Science Diet dry cat food for all of his 14 years. I recently tried Performatrin Ultra for senior cats and, for the first time ever, he poops with regularity and they’re very healthy looking. He loves the food, so that’s been enough for me!
Glad you’ve found something that works for your cat, Robin!