Last updated Apr 17, 2023
Wondering if Muse has what it takes to be your cat’s new favorite food? Get all the details in our unbiased Muse cat food review.
The Cats.com Standard—Rating Purina Muse on What Matters
We’ve analyzed Purina Muse and graded it according to the Cats.com standard, evaluating the brand on species-appropriateness, ingredient quality, product variety, price, customer experience, and recall history. Here’s how it rates in each of these six key areas.
Ratings
- Species-Appropriateness – 6/10
- Ingredient Quality – 7/10
- Product Variety – 7/10
- Price – 6/10
- Customer Experience – 7/10
- Recall History – 4/10
Overall Score: 6.2/10
We give Purina Muse cat food a 37 out of 60 rating or a C+ grade.
About Purina Muse
Pet food industry leader Nestlé-Purina launched the Muse cat food brand in 2016. The brand represents one of Purina’s latest attempts to harness the growing interest in natural, top-quality pet food.
In a press release that year, assistant brand manager Scott Werner explained that “Muse takes a cat-centric approach to natural food. We know cats can discriminate between ‘blah’ and remarkable meals, so we worked hard to elevate natural cat food to new, cat-worthy heights.”
But will Muse bring the “natural nirvana” the press releases promised? Let’s find out.
In the following review, you’ll learn everything you need to know about Muse, including its recall history, where it’s made, and where you can buy it.
Sourcing and Manufacturing
Purina Muse cat food includes ingredients sourced from around the world. The company doesn’t go into detail on their sourcing practices, but says their manufacturer uses ingredients from the United States and various other countries. Muse manufacturing is divided between Thailand and the United States.
Has Purina Muse Cat Food Been Recalled?
In March of 2019, Purina recalled one variety of Muse cat food after learning that customers had found pieces of rubber in the food.
In their recall announcement, Purina explained that they’d “made changes to our process so this should not happen in the future. While we have not received any reports to date of injury or illness to cats fed this product, we are conducting this voluntary recall as a precaution.”
What Kinds of Cat Food Does Purina Muse Offer?
The Muse lineup includes a wide variety of wet and dry foods, including paté-style foods, shredded foods in gravy, and foods infused with coconut milk. Whether wet or dry, all Muse foods are grain-and-gluten-free with no animal by-products or vaguely-named meat ingredients.
The brand emphasizes deliciousness and cat satisfaction, so all of their foods are covered by a Clean Plate Guarantee. This guarantee promises a refund if your cat doesn’t love the food.
Purina Muse Cat Food – Top 3 Recipes Reviewed
| Product Name | Food Type | Price | Our Grade |
| Purina Muse Charmed with Chicken Natural Chicken, Egg & Pumpkin Recipe | Dry | $0.19 per oz | C+ |
| Purina Muse Sailing with Salmon Natural Salmon, Egg & Yogurt Recipe | Dry | $0.19 per oz | C+ |
| Purina Muse Natural Grain-Free Filets, Chicken & Salmon Recipe | Wet | $0.60 per oz | B+ |
#1 Grain-Free Adult Dry Cat Food
Chicken appears to be the primary protein source in this dry cat food.
Let’s take a closer look at this popular chicken-based recipe.
In addition to chicken and chicken meal, the food includes dried egg product, canola meal, and pea protein as additional protein sources.
Charmed with Chicken is a grain-free kibble, but that doesn’t mean that it’s carbohydrate-free. The food contains both cassava root flour and pea starch. These ingredients help to give the kibble its shape, structure, and crunch. They also increase its carbohydrate content.
The food’s main fat source is beef fat, a nourishing source of the fatty acids that cats need to thrive. Dried pumpkin and spinach add trace nutrients.
The food is fortified with an array of synthetic vitamins, minerals, and amino acids that make it nutritionally complete.
Overall, this food has moderate protein content, moderate fat, and high carbohydrate content.
With clearly-named protein sources, a meat-first ingredient list, and no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives, this food is better than the average economy kibble. But like most dry cat foods, it’s high in carbohydrates with plenty of plant content—qualities that don’t help and could hurt your obligate carnivore.
The food has 422 calories per cup.
Ingredients
Chicken, Chicken Meal, Cassava Root Flour, Pea Starch, Natural Flavor, Dried Egg Product, Pea Protein, Canola Meal, Beef Fat Preserved With Mixed Tocopherols, Dried Pumpkin, L-Lysine Monohydrochloride, Potassium Chloride, Salt, Sodium Bisulfate, Phosphoric Acid, Spinach, Calcium Carbonate, Choline Chloride, Taurine, Minerals (Zinc Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite), Vitamin E Supplement, Vitamins (Niacin, Vitamin A Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Thiamine, Mononitrate, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin B-12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Folic Acid, Vitamin D-2 Supplement, Biotin, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex [Source Of Vitamin K Activity]).
Ingredients We Liked: Chicken, Beef Fat
Ingredients We Didn’t Like: Cassava Root Flour, Pea Starch, Pea Protein, Canola Meal
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
Pros
- Primarily made from nourishing chicken
- Made without low-value animal by-products
- Features beef fat as a source of fatty acids
- Doesn’t contain any artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives that might harm your cat
Cons
- High carbohydrate content
- The food’s low moisture content may contribute to chronic dehydration
#2 Purina Muse Sailing with Salmon Natural Salmon, Egg & Yogurt Recipe Adult Grain-Free Dry Cat Food
Salmon and chicken meal appear to be the primary protein sources in this dry cat food.
Purina Muse’s Sailing with Salmon food features a mix of salmon and chicken meal as its primary protein sources. They share the top of the list with cassava root powder and pea starch, ingredients that help to bind the kibble.
The food contains dried egg product and pea protein as additional sources of protein. It’s supplemented with nonfat yogurt. Though probiotic-rich yogurt can be beneficial for cats, the package doesn’t mention live or active bacteria. It’s unlikely that those probiotics survived the extrusion process.
In addition to the standard variety of synthetic supplements, the food contains trace amounts of spinach and blueberries.
Overall, this dry food has moderate protein content with moderate fat and high carbohydrate content.
Overall, this is a middle-of-the road grain-free dry food. It’s a few high-quality ingredients ahead of many dry foods at the same price point, but it’s not perfect. With over 30% carbohydrate content on a dry matter basis and plenty of plant ingredients, this Purina Muse cat food isn’t the best thing you could feed your carnivore.
The food has 433 calories per cup.
Ingredients
Salmon, Chicken Meal, Cassava Root Flour, Pea Starch, Dried Egg Product, Pea Protein, Dried Yeast, Canola Meal, Beef Fat Preserved With Mixed Tocopherols, Non-Fat Yogurt, Natural Flavor, L-Lysine Monohydrochloride, Potassium Chloride, Salt, Phosphoric Acid, Sodium Bisulfate, Whole Blueberries, Spinach, Calcium Carbonate, Choline Chloride, Taurine, Minerals (Zinc, Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite), Vitamin E Supplement, Vitamins (Niacin, Vitamin A Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Thiamine, Mononitrate, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin B-12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Folic Acid, Vitamin D-2 Supplement, Biotin, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex [Source Of Vitamin K Activity]).
Ingredients We Liked: Salmon, Beef Fat
Ingredients We Didn’t Like: Cassava Root Flour, Pea Starch, Pea Protein, Dried Yeast, Canola Meal
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
Pros
- Features animal-sourced fat rather than low-value plant oils
- Focuses on nourishing animal protein sources
- Contains named meats and fish instead of anonymous rendered meals and by-products
- Doesn’t use any potentially-harmful artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives
Cons
- High carbohydrate content
- Like all dry foods, this product doesn’t have enough moisture to keep your cat healthy
#3 Purina Muse Natural Grain-Free Filets Wet Cat Food Trays, Chicken & Salmon Recipe in Chicken Broth
Chicken appears to be the primary protein source in this wet cat food.
Each tray of this Purina Muse food contains a medley of flaked chicken and salmon set in chicken broth. Instead of using tapioca starch or other carbohydrate-laden thickeners, the food relies on a combination of guar gum and xanthan gum alone. This helps to keep the carbohydrate content low.
Sunflower seed oil serves as the food’s primary source of fat. A variety of synthetic vitamins, minerals, and amino acids round out the food’s nutritional profile and make it a safe, nutritionally complete diet for adult cats.
Overall, this food has high protein content with low fat and low carbohydrate content.
With a spare ingredient list, plenty of moisture, and nothing starchy, this is a straightforward, species-appropriate food. As long as you’re not scared off by its expensive price tag, this appears to be one of the better cat foods on the market.
The food has 46 calories per tub or about 21 calories per ounce.
Ingredients
Chicken Broth, Chicken, Salmon, Sunflower Seed Oil, Calcium Lactate, Tricalcium Phosphate, Guar Gum, Xanthan Gum, Salt, Choline Chloride, Minerals [Zinc Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Magnesium Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Potassium Iodide, Sodium Selenite], Taurine, Vitamins [Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B-1), Niacin (Vitamin B-3), Vitamin E Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate (Vitamin B-5), Vitamin A Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement (Vitamin B-2), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B-6), Folic Acid (Vitamin B-9), Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (Vitamin K), Biotin (Vitamin B-7), Vitamin B-12 Supplement].
Ingredients We Liked: Chicken, Salmon
Ingredients We Didn’t Like: Sunflower Seed Oil, Guar Gum, Xanthan Gum
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
Pros
- Primarily made from nourishing animal ingredients
- Low carbohydrate content
- Doesn’t contain any potentially-harmful artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives
- All of the food’s ingredients are clearly-named
Cons
- This food’s relatively low fat content is primarily sourced from plant ingredients
- Contains multiple fiber-heavy thickeners
What Do Customers Think of Purina Muse Cat Food?
Purina Muse appears to be a well-regarded brand and gets mostly positive customer reviews. Their dry recipes, in particular, get almost all 5-star reviews. Purina Muse’s wet foods aren’t quite as universally popular. Though most reviews are positive, a decent chunk of Chewy reviewers say their cats didn’t like the way the wet food tasted.
Let’s hear what a few real customers have to say about Purina Muse cat food.
Positive Reviews
“My cat loves the flavor and it is not too crunchy for her older teeth. This is apparently a good choice I made because this flavor seems very tasty to her as there are never any left-overs. Oh, and my cat LOVES the paper packaging as it crinkles. The box and crinkle paper are a bonus for my cat. Thank you.” – Emmie, reviewing Purina Muse Charmed Chicken Natural Chicken, Egg, & Pumpkin Recipe
“I was looking at the bag right as my husband asked me, “What if they don’t like it?”. I mentioned that I had seen the Clean Plate Guarantee before I had placed the order. So I knew that if they did not like it Purina would give me a refund. That gave me more assurance to try the food for them. Consequently they’re hooked on this food and here we are on our 2nd purchase! I think we’re also going to try the chicken this time.” – Jenn, reviewing Purina Muse Sailing with Salmon Natural Salmon, Egg & Yogurt Recipe
Negative Reviews
“The description given to this particular cat food sounded almost to good to be true…and for our cat it was. Poor Charley cat liked the food alright, it did not like him…he lost fur on several portions of his body. We like other Purina products; this Muse, however, just did not do the trick…” – grammyirene, reviewing Purina Muse Charmed Chicken Natural Chicken, Egg, & Pumpkin Recipe
“My cat loves this food and I like it because its grain-free. However, the size of the kibble has changed drastically. The kibble is almost half the size it used to be!! Too small, in my opinion for a cat. You see, my cat gobbles his food and with the pieces being so tiny now, he vomits them up routinely!! Now I have to find another dry food where the kibble is big enough forcing my cat to actually chew it!! Very disappointed!!” – ShadowsMom, reviewing Purina Muse Sailing with Salmon Natural Salmon, Egg & Yogurt Recipe
How Much Does Purina Muse Cat Food Cost?
Purina Muse can be either economical or expensive—it all depends on which recipe you choose and whether you prefer wet or dry food.
Their dry food is about the same price as Purina Beyond and a few cents per day more expensive than Purina ONE. If you have an average-sized cat who needs 200 calories per day, Purina Muse dry cat food will cost about $0.38 per day.
That cost would go up to around $4.80 per day if you opt for one of Muse’s wet recipes. Not only is Purina Muse wet food more expensive than almost any other food in the Purina family, it’s one of the most expensive wet foods you can buy.
Overall, Is Purina Muse a Good Choice?
That depends on who you are and what you feed your cat.
Muse dry cat food is similar to kibble from Purina’s other mid-range lines. It’s not the best food you could feed your cat, but it’s a few notches above Purina Cat Chow or other grocery-shelf foods. If you’re looking for a truly meat-based, low-carbohydrate kibble, you’ll have to look beyond the Purina brand family and consider alternatives from Young Again, Dr. Elsey’s, and Wellness CORE.
Muse wet cat food, on the other hand, looks like a good-quality food at a top-of-the-line price. The food is is similar to what you’d get from Weruva or Tiki Cat, but at almost twice the price. If cost isn’t a concern, Muse may be a decent option, but those looking to get a better value might consider BFF Originals, Soulistic, or WholeHearted as cheaper options with similar ingredients and quality.
Where To Buy Purina Muse Cat Food?
Purina Muse is sold in pet specialty and online retailers, including PetSmart’s brick-and-mortar stores, PetSmart.com, Amazon, Pet Supplies Plus, and Chewy.
