Which are the 5 best dry commercial cat foods?

ziggy'smom

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Which do you think are the 5 best dry cat foods that are not super expensive? I'm trying to come up with a list of good cat foods to give to adopters as suggestions. There are so many foods though I want to narrow it down to five good ones. Which dry foods would you include on a list of good foods?
 

ritz

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Well, I won't get into the debate about no dry food is good food...

BUT:  Costco (Kirkland brand) has a good reputation at a decent price.

If the adopter can afford it, any no-grain/low grain/low carb dry food is the best.

Taste of the Wild and Blue Buffalo are good.  On Sunday, I went shopping with the person who adopted Buckley, and picked out Blue Buffalo.  TOTW is available at higher end pet food stores.
 

melesine

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If I had to pick a dry food, Orijen. I like that they don't even make pet food with grains so there is no risk of the non informed picking up a different formula of their brand that has grains in it. I like Wellness Core well enough but I can see it being very easy for someone to just buy the regular Wellness cat food if Core isn't at the store and thinking that it's the same. 
 

odinsmom

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While I think a primarily moisture rich diet (canned and/or raw) is really the best way to go, these are the dry foods I have felt comfortable feeding in small amounts:

Orijen Cat and Kitten

Nature's Variety Instinct

Blue Buffalo Wilderness

Nature's Logic

EVO

I have fed Taste of the WIld and think it is decent for those who are on budget.  TOTW is grain-free, but I really think too much of the protein comes from vegetables (too many pea and potato proteins listed after chicken meal).
 

ducman69

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We feed Blue Wilderness Duck Dry as 50% of their daily calorie intake, and the cats are healthy, have high energy, silky coats (except Wesley does shed quite a bit but I think its genetic for him, as Buttercup really doesn't shed at all), and to date great dental health per their vet.

They also eat greenies as treats and half of their food is wet, so I can't conclusively say that the great result is from the dry, but at the very least it sure doesn't hurt! 


No very long-term experience with other brands since I don't like to fix what is already working so well.
 
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cat person

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My "Top Five" are as follows:

1) Evo: Chicken and Turkey-http://www.evopet.com/products/1441

2) Orijin: Cat and Kitten-http://orijen.ca/products/cat_kitten

3) Wellness Core: Fish and Fowl Recipe-http://www.wellnesspetfood.com/product-details.aspx?pet=cat&pid=23

4) Blue Buffalo: Chicken Recipe-http://bluebuffalo.com/cat-food/wilderness-chicken

5) Kirland Signature-http://shop.costco.com/In-The-Warehouse/Kirkland-Signature-Pet-Food/Cat.aspx

** Please note the following, I have only used the top three. The order in which my top three are listed, is based on my satisfaction with the product.***

I have heard great things about Blue Buffalo. However, it did not agree with my F3 Savannah. The only one that really did was Evo. The other three domestics did not care for Blue Buffalo. So, it is not in my rotation.

I would say for the average person, Kirlands brand is fine. Both ingredient wise, as well as the pocketbook/wallet.
 

feralvr

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Nature's Variety Instinct
EVO
Wellness Core
Felidae Pure Essentials
Fromm Surf and Turf

I am currently feeding Felidae Pure Essentials. It is very reasonable consider to the top three. Fromm is overlooked and is an excellent dry food, reasonably priced as well. :wavey:
 

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I have a diabetic cat and have been doing a lot of research.  Go to this web site for a full understanding of can and dry cat foods.  It is very intense, though. Written by a vet.  catinfo.org
 

chloe92us

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Premium good (all are grain free):

Orijen

Blue Buffalo Wilderness

EVO

Wellness Core

Nature's Variety Instinct

Mid-range good (not all are grain free):

Kirkland Signature

Natural Balance Ultra

Taste of the Wild

I would also suggest to your adopters to feed some wet, along with dry, or even all wet.  Some people just don't know that moisture is a problem for cats (I didn't, until recently).  Also suggest a fountain if they plan on feeding all dry.
 

marc999

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Also note that quite a few suggestions here, although good, completely ignored the first sentence of the OP's question.  'not super expensive'.

People need to slow down when they respond to a thread.  That's a big pet peeve of mine.  They completely missed the point.

Wellness Core and Orijen do not meet the OP's requirement and thereby are rather irrelevant.
 

p3 and the king

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Also note that quite a few suggestions here, although good, completely ignored the first sentence of the OP's question.  'not super expensive'.

People need to slow down when they respond to a thread.  That's a big pet peeve of mine.  They completely missed the point.

Wellness Core and Orijen do not meet the OP's requirement and thereby are rather irrelevant.
Also if they actually READ the post, the OP isn't even asking for their own cats, but for people who adopt cats.  Much of the time, the food donated to shelters or any rescue is the super cheap brands.  Because it is donation.

As for cheaper brands,

IAMS Naturals never gave my Phoebe any problems. Purina One or Beyond seems to do that, though.  It upsets her tummy and seems to give her UTI's.

PRO PLAN is about the same price as some of the others but comes in larger bags, several pounds larger.

My older senior and handicapped friend got a lot of flack for feeding the super cheap brands so she switched to PURINA CAT CHOW Naturals.  It makes her feel better and her cats like it.  She's on SS and a tight budget so this is as good as she can do.

That's all I have for the "cheap" suggestions that are OK.  Let's not get on the preaching about doing things your way... It's one of my pet peeves.  I know many mean well but it comes off very judgmental.  And you need to realize your way may not work for all cats and their guardians.
 

chloe92us

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Also note that quite a few suggestions here, although good, completely ignored the first sentence of the OP's question.  'not super expensive'.

People need to slow down when they respond to a thread.  That's a big pet peeve of mine.  They completely missed the point.
Wellness Core and Orijen do not meet the OP's requirement and thereby are rather irrelevant.
Point taken, BUT...at first glance the ultra premium foods are significantly more expensive. However, they tend to be more calorie dense and therefore you feed less. In the end, the price difference narrows after considering how much you need to feed of one vs another.

http://www.iskydesign.com/nunn/wp-c...Food-Calorie-Counts-December-2011-Dry-Cat.pdf

As an example, Iams kitten (their MOST calorie dense food according to this list) is 470 calories per cup, while EVO cat & kitten is 602.
 
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p3 and the king

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Point taken, BUT...at first glance the ultra premium foods are significantly more expensive. However, they tend to be more calorie dense and therefore you feed less. In the end, the price difference narrows after considering how much you need to feed of one vs another.

http://www.iskydesign.com/nunn/wp-c...Food-Calorie-Counts-December-2011-Dry-Cat.pdf

As an example, Iams kitten (their MOST calorie dense food according to this list) is 470 calories per cup, while EVO cat & kitten is 602.
I know you think this makes perfect sense, and it does... But, when you're running low on funds and almost out of cat food, or you're a person on SS or some very fixed budget, or a little girl with an allowance and it's her responsibility to feed her cat, this doesn't help much. Most will not spend $30+ on a bag of food or wet.  They are going to try to find the most economical solution, the best food for their money.  This is why Walmart carries Iams, most of these people cannot afford to shop in the pet specialty stores, you also have to take that into account, and some even live in towns without them and have to travel a long way.  Well, you say there's the internet.  True.  But, you are still talking about people who can't afford those prices without shipping and handling.

Iams is the best you're going to do at Walmart.  It's reasonable and it's better quality than the rest of the options they have available.  Even Purina One and Beyond are higher priced.  But, I never was impressed with those early on (before Petco) because they seemed to contribute to my Phoebe's upset tummies and UTI's.
 

chloe92us

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I know you think this makes perfect sense, and it does... But, when you're running low on funds and almost out of cat food, or you're a person on SS or some very fixed budget, or a little girl with an allowance and it's her responsibility to feed her cat, this doesn't help much. Most will not spend $30+ on a bag of food or wet.  They are going to try to find the most economical solution, the best food for their money.  This is why Walmart carries Iams, most of these people cannot afford to shop in the pet specialty stores, you also have to take that into account, and some even live in towns without them and have to travel a long way.  Well, you say there's the internet.  True.  But, you are still talking about people who can't afford those prices without shipping and handling.

Iams is the best you're going to do at Walmart.  It's reasonable and it's better quality than the rest of the options they have available.  Even Purina One and Beyond are higher priced.  But, I never was impressed with those early on (before Petco) because they seemed to contribute to my Phoebe's upset tummies and UTI's.
The foods I recommended; Kirkland Signature, Natural Balance Ultra, and Taste of the Wild are the same price as Iams with much better ingredients. I'm embarrassed I responded to an old thread, I normally catch that, but The OP didn't ask for the "cheapest" food, nor did she ask for the best food at Walmart. She asked for the "best" foods that weren't "super expensive". So, yes, that would take Orijen out of the running, but for the money I definitely would not consider Iams to be the "best". As I stated, there are brands with much better ingredients for the same cost.
 
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p3 and the king

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The foods I recommended; Kirkland Signature, Natural Balance Ultra, and Taste of the Wild are the same price as Iams with much better ingredients. I'm embarrassed I responded to an old thread, I normally catch that, but The OP didn't ask for the "cheapest" food, nor did she ask for the best food at Walmart. She asked for the "best" foods that weren't "super expensive". So, yes, that would take Orijen out of the running, but for the money I definitely would not consider Iams to be the "best". As I stated, there are brands with much better ingredients for the same cost.
I know this.  I was answering from my demographic and geographical perspective... No, Iams is not the same price as TOTW or NBU... Not here anyway.  You can get a 16lb bag of Iams Naturals for about $18 at Walmart otherwise it's about $30 for a 20lb bag I believe at Petco.  In my area, it's a tourist town, so during the tourist season, most people do OK.  So they might go to Petco or order online.  I do.  And before I started at the vet/adoption center, during winters, I would have to go to Walmart, like most and get Iams.  At last check, this was the price.  I can tell you that Branson is considered a larger town now so we got a Petco a few years ago... But other areas, these stores are few and far between.  The older lady I always refer to has only Dollar General in her town.  But, once a month, when their checks come in, she and her hubby travel to the nearest Walmart to get her kitty food.  They get Purina Cat Chow Naturals.  She is proud of this.  She spends more than she really should in her daughters eyes, for her cats.  She can get 32lbs, more than enough to last a month for less than $25.  To someone on a budget, this is wonderful and they ARE doing the best they can.

When I was a little girl and had cats growing up, it was my responsibility to do chores and earn allowance to feed my cats.  I did each week.  Wet and dry.  I would spend more than 75% of my allowance on my cats.  I didn't know about nutrition but I did the best I could.  I never fed them fish flavors.  And I got the stuff I thought they would like.  I was proud of myself.  All of my cats lived to be 14-16 yrs old or more.  AND they were outdoor cats, except for one, Angel, and it was because he was blind and hearing impaired.

That was what I meant.  I was trying to get people to see that their ideas of inexpensive or very accessible, may not be to everyone.  That is all. 
 
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tarasgirl06

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We're longtime fans of Nutro Chicken and Nutro Salmon; we also like Royal Canin Special 33, which is expensive, but high quality and they love it; and Solid Gold Katz-n-Flocken.  I know all about having to stretch the budget, but I believe also in giving them -- and me -- the highest-quality food I can afford, because it saves significantly on vet bills (and keeps me away from doctors and drugs, which I don't believe in at all). I think of preventive health as a much better "health care insurance" than what they now force everyone to buy.
 
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