Friskies Classic Pate Poultry Platter Wet Cat Food
The cheapest food here by a wide margin at roughly $4.85 per 1,000 kcal, and the only one where a wet-only diet is genuinely affordable. The label is built from by-products and unnamed proteins, which is exactly how that price is achieved.
Score breakdown
The overall score of 59/100 is a weighted sum of the six dimensions below. Each dimension shows what we found in this specific formula.
Weight 30% · Algorithm-computed score 34/100
Algorithm: first ingredient “Meat By-Products” is by-product; 2 named animal ingredients in the top five; protein 40.9% on a dry-matter basis (target for this stage: 28%). Deductions: Named by-products; Unspecified poultry parts; a variable-quality protein source..
Weight 20% · Algorithm-computed score 44/100
Algorithm: first ingredient is not a named animal source; among the top five, 2 by-product/unnamed and 0 plant-protein concentrate items.
Weight 18% · Editorially assessed score 74/100
AAFCO statement: Formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Cat Food Nutrient Profiles for maintenance of adult cats.. Formulated-to-meet profiles are acceptable but weaker evidence than feeding trials, which caps the score here.
Weight 14% · Editorially assessed score 82/100
Nine voluntary recalls since 2011, most of them small and lot-specific. Recent events cluster in the prescription channel: a December 2022 mislabelling of Pro Plan Veterinary Diets EN cans and a February-March 2023 elevated-vitamin-D withdrawal of EL Elemental dry food. No mainstream retail Pro Plan dry food has been recalled.
Weight 10% · Algorithm-computed score 80/100
Algorithm: about $5.02 per 1,000 kcal ($$$ tier), normalized against same-species peers, wet and dry together (cheapest = 100, most expensive ≈ 15).
Weight 8% · Editorially assessed score 89/100
Owner ratings are consistently high across major retailers, with few recurring palatability complaints.
Pros and cons
What we like
- About $5.02 per 1,000 kcal - by far the cheapest food in this ranking on a per-calorie basis
- Sold in 5.5 oz cans at roughly $0.16/oz, so a wet-only diet is affordable even in a multi-cat home
- 4.5/5 across roughly 3,400 ratings; palatability is the single most praised attribute
- Complete and balanced for adult cats with added taurine, made in Purina-owned facilities
What we don't
- Meat by-products and poultry by-products lead; no named whole meat until position four
- 9% protein and 5% fat as-fed - the lowest protein level in this ranking
- Contains artificial colours and flavours, plus unnamed fish
Ingredients & nutrition analysis
The first five ingredients tell most of the story:
Friskies is the price floor of this ranking, and it is worth being precise about how low: at $0.16/oz from a 24-can case and 1,163 kcal/kg, it works out to roughly $5.02 per 1,000 kcal. That is about a third of Fancy Feast and under a third of Wellness pate, which is why it is the only wet food here that a household can feed exclusively without flinching.
The trade-off is total. Meat by-products and poultry by-products lead, chicken does not appear until fourth, fish is unnamed, and there are artificial colours and flavours. It is complete and balanced with added taurine and it is made under Purina's own quality system - but it is a hydration and palatability tool, not a quality-protein choice.
Alternatives to consider
Other products ranked in Best Wet Cat Food:
75/ 100 Fancy Feast Classic Pate Chicken Feast Wet Cat Food
Frequently asked questions
Is Friskies Classic Pate Poultry Platter Wet Cat Food right for my pet?
It is our pick for: Strict budgets, multi-cat households, and feeding wet food as a hydration supplement. It is not the best fit for: Owners who want named whole meats, and cats with known protein sensitivities. Individual animals vary — if your pet has diagnosed health conditions, confirm the choice with your veterinarian.
How much does Friskies Classic Pate Poultry Platter Wet Cat Food cost?
Expect roughly $2.56 per pound ($$$ tier) depending on bag size and retailer. Check the linked retailers for current pricing; our value score compares cost per 1,000 kcal against comparable formulas.
How should I switch to this food?
Transition over 7–10 days, mixing increasing proportions of the new food into the old. Go slower for puppies, kittens, seniors and pets with sensitive stomachs, and watch stool quality during the switch.
Score history
Every change to this product's score is logged here, including the reason. Scores are recomputed by algorithm whenever ingredient or price data changes.
- 2026-10-19 — Product data refreshed: guaranteed analysis, ingredient list, AAFCO statement, calorie content and price replaced with values verified against the manufacturer's current US label and current US retail listings. Editorial scores for standards, safety and reviews reassessed against that data.