Best non-premium cat food?

callista

TCS Member
Thread starter
Top Cat
Joined
Apr 6, 2006
Messages
3,152
Purraise
86
I have two foster cats: Tiny, 10-month-old male; Baby Girl, 1 1/2 year old female. Both are healthy and active indoor cats, though Baby Girl is still a bit skinny at 6 lb.

Currently I am feeding Purina One kitten food. They both like it, and though Baby is too old for it, she can stand to put on some weight. However, this is really stretching my budget.

I'm a poor college student and these two cats had no place else to go, so I took them in. I'm surviving on mac 'n' cheese, ramen, marked-down produce, and spaghetti, myself; I think I may be spending about half as much to feed the cats as I am to feed myself, which is a lot considering how small they are. And I need to keep back some money to pay $20 for Tiny's neutering, as well as cab fare to get him there and back ($50).

Anyway, I need to find a food that is acceptable--something that will fulfill their nutritional needs--for a good price. They will soon be switching to adult food, as it's unlikely that I'll find a home for them anytime soon--SICSA is overloaded, and cute kittens go first.

I figure we're all struggling young adults at my place, feline and human, and I need the best food possible at a low price... So what's the kitty equivalent of mac 'n' cheese?
 

sharky

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Jan 30, 2005
Messages
27,231
Purraise
38
Purina naturals IMHO is better than MOST of the ONE s and is CHEAPER

chicken soup is VERY good and 6 lbs in many stores is 7-11 $
 

littleraven7726

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Apr 1, 2002
Messages
3,339
Purraise
12
Location
Next to the World's Largest 6-pack
I just wanted to add when I was flat broke I bought Nutro Max, but the big 20 lb bags. It goes on sale regularly for $20 at Petco & Petsmart. My cats didn't eat any canned food back then. I'm not sure on the smaller bag prices.

I've switched back to it, just because my cats seem to like it the best of everything they've eaten over the years.
 

fenleebe

TCS Member
Young Cat
Joined
Sep 4, 2007
Messages
96
Purraise
1
If you are feeding dry, I agree Chicken soup maybe or even Felidae. I've seen places that sell Felidae cheaper than Purina and it's all life stages, they can both eat it. I think maybe Pet Supplies Plus if you have one of those.

Trader Joe's has cheap canned food, they may also have a decent dry food, but to be honest, I can't say for sure.
 

sharky

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Jan 30, 2005
Messages
27,231
Purraise
38
Originally Posted by Fenleebe

If you are feeding dry, I agree Chicken soup maybe or even Felidae. I've seen places that sell Felidae cheaper than Purina and it's all life stages, they can both eat it. I think maybe Pet Supplies Plus if you have one of those.

Trader Joe's has cheap canned food, they may also have a decent dry food, but to be honest, I can't say for sure.
Many food s that dont state are all stage .. One has to read the microAFFCO statement... chicken soups Kitten is one such food ... plus the protein and fat is better than the adult...
 

fenleebe

TCS Member
Young Cat
Joined
Sep 4, 2007
Messages
96
Purraise
1
Originally Posted by sharky

Many food s that dont state are all stage .. One has to read the microAFFCO statement... chicken soups Kitten is one such food ... plus the protein and fat is better than the adult...
Good point. The fine print is very FINE!
You know what else though, I have also noticed the same in reverse. For example Wellness canned foods say they are formulated for "maintenance" while their website says ALL their canned foods are formulated for all life stages.
 

sharky

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Jan 30, 2005
Messages
27,231
Purraise
38
Originally Posted by Fenleebe

Good point. The fine print is very FINE!
You know what else though, I have also noticed the same in reverse. For example Wellness canned foods say they are formulated for "maintenance" while their website says ALL their canned foods are formulated for all life stages.
Yep READ the fine fine print....
 

tiger1206

TCS Member
Adult Cat
Joined
Feb 12, 2007
Messages
147
Purraise
1
Location
USA
If you have a costco membership, their brand food is $12.00 for 25 pounds, and it has really good ingredients!
 

jencat

TCS Member
Adult Cat
Joined
Aug 8, 2007
Messages
109
Purraise
21
If you have access to a Costco, their premium food is a really good price and you get a huge bag. I read the ingredients the other day and was shocked at the quality.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #11

callista

TCS Member
Thread starter
Top Cat
Joined
Apr 6, 2006
Messages
3,152
Purraise
86
No Costco membership--there isn't one in my area, just Sam's Club.

The cats don't like wet food, for some reason. I've tried different kinds, even given them bits of my people-food canned salmon (which you can make into lovely hamburger-like cakes, with rice and egg added, and then fry, for surprisingly little money per meal)... No go. They'll lick it dry, but they won't eat it. Weird cats...

So yeah, I'm looking for dry food. I've bookmarked the thread, will write down the different suggested brands, and compare prices my next trip to the pet store.
 

essayons89

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Sep 5, 2006
Messages
3,611
Purraise
2
Location
Cincinnati
I recently switched the cats to Chicken Soup a few weeks ago and they love it. I bought what I believe was an 18lb bag for $20 last week at a local family owned pet store. The cats have really taken a liking to it.
 

jencat

TCS Member
Adult Cat
Joined
Aug 8, 2007
Messages
109
Purraise
21
Oops, I didn't mean to echo what Deb already posted.
 

muzby

TCS Member
Kitten
Joined
Aug 29, 2007
Messages
6
Purraise
0
Location
London, ON
As a person with limited funds myself, and four cats, we look for cost effective and good nutrition.

I bought a bag of a grain free food (pricey! OUCH), and a 15lb bag lasts us 2 mths and 2 weeks with four cats, and two are kittens who eat like horses.

15lbs was $52, but I didn't have to buy more food for TWO MONTHS! It was awesome. I kept small amounts in a can next to the feeding station, and the rest in baggies in the fridge to stay fresh.

Look into Innova EVO, you -will- save money in the long run. AND, all the cats only poop once a day now! YAY!
 

jenc511

TCS Member
Adult Cat
Joined
Sep 1, 2007
Messages
182
Purraise
1
Location
Arlington, VA, USA
Originally Posted by Muzby

I bought a bag of a grain free food (pricey! OUCH), and a 15lb bag lasts us 2 mths and 2 weeks with four cats, and two are kittens who eat like horses.

15lbs was $52, but I didn't have to buy more food for TWO MONTHS! It was awesome. I kept small amounts in a can next to the feeding station, and the rest in baggies in the fridge to stay fresh.
$52?! I just bought 11lb of Nature's Variety Instinct for $28! I live in Arlington, VA, not exactly known for its low cost of living or decent bargains (as an added bonus, this place will give me a free bag after i buy eight of them).

Instinct is grain and potato-free. I buy it for the ferret who can't decide if he will eat wet food or not (he's not nearly as picky about dry food, but *I* am). The only "wet" food he will consistently eat is Prowl, by The Honest Kitchen (a dehydrated food that has to be reconstitued with water). Even that is incredibly cheap compared to what you're paying.

I would imagine I could buy it online, even with shipping, for much less than you're paying. You may want to shop online.

Edited to add: Are these US$? Actually, after checking the exchange rate, that still seems kind of high.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #16

callista

TCS Member
Thread starter
Top Cat
Joined
Apr 6, 2006
Messages
3,152
Purraise
86
Looks like Purina Naturals is the only one available within my biking distance of 5 miles, so that's what the cats got today. Both like it. Hooray!
 
Top