Not so expensive food

My mother has 4 inside cats, and now she started feeding the cats form the street, 12 to 15 cats. Sheâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s feeding all the cats Nutro Natural Choice Complete Care weight Management, everybodyâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s fat. Itâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s way too expensive for her. My question, its there a brand less expensive that she can buy for the outside cats? May be I can convince her to buy something different for the outside cats. Even better, is there a brand she can buy for everybody that is less expensive but good?

How much is Nutro? I feed Wellness and it's about $10 dollars for a small bag. Though I'm only feeding one cat so it lasts me a month. Perhaps she could buy in bulk? I think that would probably even out to be less in the long run. About what price is she willing to pay? If all else fails and she's just trying to do her best for them go with something less quality for the outside cats.

I can sympathise. My indoor guys get premium food...and it's expensive.

I feed what I can afford to the outside cats (Purina Cat Chow). It's not the best food, but they sure like it and they're all healthy and strong...and not fat. $9 for 20lbs

I'd be slacking if I didn't ask or suggest that those outside cats get fixed if they aren't already...that'll make the food bill stabilize and/or go down.

Does she leave food out at night? I can't do that here or else racooons and possums will eat it...another way to watch the food bill. One racoon can eat A LOT.

I don't know the price of a bag of Nutro either...but Chicken Soup for the Cat Lover's Soul comes up often as a good food that is reasonably priced. Here I can buy it at feed stores...I can't remember the price. Maybe $18 for 20lbs ??...something like that.

Its $28.99 and when itâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s on sale is $24.99, itâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s the big bag, donâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]t remember how much it weights. And it lasts for around 2 weeks. The food is bought at Petsmart. Is there a brand she should avoid? even if itâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s for the outside cats. They come to eat in the morning and at night. My mother told me she doesnâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]t see them during the day.

Buy the way, some of those cats are not fixed, but what can we do. I have an idea who the owners are of some of those cats, theyâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]re ugly people, and Iâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]m not brave enough to even stand close to their property.

Originally Posted by Cande

Its $28.99 and when itâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s on sale is $24.99, itâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s the big bag, donâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]t remember how much it weights. And it lasts for around 2 weeks. The food is bought at Petsmart. Is there a brand she should avoid? even if itâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s for the outside cats. They come to eat in the morning and at night. My mother told me she doesnâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]t see them during the day.

Buy the way, some of those cats are not fixed, but what can we do. I have an idea who the owners are of some of those cats, theyâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]re ugly people, and Iâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]m not brave enough to even stand close to their property.

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Call the SPCA or local shelter. If their unfixed it will esculate. Soon enough there will be kittens your taking care of. and then more kittens. Better to take care of it now than let them breed.

Originally Posted by Cande

Its $28.99 and when it’s on sale is $24.99, it’s the big bag, don’t remember how much it weights. And it lasts for around 2 weeks. The food is bought at Petsmart. Is there a brand she should avoid? even if it’s for the outside cats. They come to eat in the morning and at night. My mother told me she doesn’t see them during the day.

Buy the way, some of those cats are not fixed, but what can we do. I have an idea who the owners are of some of those cats, they’re ugly people, and I’m not brave enough to even stand close to their property.

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I think most of the big bags are 20lbs.

Personally, I would go with the Purina Cat Chow for 12-15 outside cats. I only feed 5 outside cats...but I don't feel bad about the Chow. As far as what to avoid, well...there's some stuff that might be a dollar or two cheaper but the Chow is my preference.

I understand her predicament and I'm not condeming you or her...I promise. I just know that's a BIG group already. Now that spring is here, that could become 50 cats in a heartbeat. Just count 5 more heads for each female. I just know how difficult it is when you care about the cats but you get overwhelmed like that.

And definitely bring the food in overnight...it will save her a bundle and the cats will soon learn that they need to be there before dark.

I told my mother time ago that I was going to call the SPCA, and she got very angry. She thinks they will come and kill them all. I can get her angry because of her health. I know we should call the SPCA.

I will check on Purina, thanks.

Originally Posted by Cande

I told my mother time ago that I was going to call the SPCA, and she got very angry. She thinks they will come and kill them all. I can get her angry because of her health. I know we should call the SPCA.

I will check on Purina, thanks.

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You're welcome. The only thing about a higher quality food is they tend to eat less of it. Since they're eating 'light' food that probably won't be the case. But if she finds herself going thru, say...double the Purina than the Nutro she won't be very much money ahead. If that happens, you might experiment with something midpriced but better than Purina, like the Chicken Soup brand.

Cat chow
Atta cat

Authority( petsmart brand)
Chicken soup
Nutro max

$$$$$ SPortmix low end premium 13.99$ for a 35lb bag

the indoor cats may loss wt on the indoor adult natural choice

You could check around to see if your local animal shelters or another group has a neuter-and-release program for feral cats.

Thank you everyone for your comments. And thank you Sharky for the list. Have a nice day everyone