CORE vs. NV Instinct or Raw vs. Merrick BG

OK, so after doing a bit of research about different kinds of canned foods I want to feed my two cats (since making my own isn't really an option right now), I've narrowed it down to CORE, NV Instinct, Merrick BG, and while it's technically not canned NV Raw Medallions.

What are everyone's thoughts on these foods, which are the best bang for the buck (essentially which are cheapest ), how do your cats like these (my cats are pick, sigh), etc. Now I already know that my girls will eat Wellness CORE kitten, but I haven't tried any other flavors since basically I just ran through PetSmart and picked up any can that said "Grain Free" to try and find out what they'd tolerate. They also seem to enjoy the NV Instict Venison flavor if I mix it up with some warm water to make it moister and give it "Gravy". And does anyone have any information on Tiki Cat? I heard it mentioned in a few threads while I was lurking around and searching different foods.

I know the Instinct and Merrick BG are available in large dog cans in the same formula, so that seems like the best deal money-wise. Then again, I'm not sure how long a 3 pound bag of the NV Raw Medallions would last two cats so that could also be a good deal. But what are your favorites? :3

Thanks!

All three are good foods. One thing to consider is merricks and wellness have carrageenan in them which has some controversy (http://consciouscat.net/2012/06/08/carrageenan-should-it-be-in-your-cats-food/). I occasionally feed foods with it in them but I try to limit it.

I really like natures variety and I feed the pride and the raw medialians to my kitten. My cats love the pride and it makes up most of their diet. I am not as crazy about their raw because it looks more like frozen pate than fresh ground raw and my kitten likes fresh raw meat better but she does eat it. It may be better for cats who don't like raw, but my other cat who hates anything raw wont eat it but he won't eat any kind of raw food. Since she eats wet food too I only give her one to two a day so a bag lasts a long time. I probably won't get another bag and just make some of my own raw bc she likes that better.

Tiki cat is another favorite in our house. I feed the chicken varieties and the fish and chicken mixes once to twice a week.

All of those are good food. I personally switched to raw because it turned out cheaper. Depending on how big your cats are will determine how much they eat of the raw. Mine eat 4oz a day. If both your cats were to eat that much a 3lb bag will last you 6 days. You would be getting a better deal if you got a 6lb bag. It would be easy to divide it up between your two and save you some money.

I heard Merrick has phased out their BG line .  I can't find it anymore, but it's still on their website.  Last time I went to buy some, the store told me they (Merrick) stopped making it, which is too bad, since my kidney cat really liked their BG beef, and it was really low in phosphorus, which was good. 

As to price, really, it all depends on where you buy it.  For Merrick (not BG), I can get it anywhere from $1.49/can all the way up to $2.19/can locally.  Same with Wellness.  I haven't really price the Instinct lately because mine don't really like it.

As far as what my diva likes, she liked the BG Beef, but kind of a moot point, currently she loves the Merrick Cowboy Cookout, but the OLD recipe...I'm really afraid what is going to happen when we run out of the that and have to buy the new cans, she used to tolerate the Wellness chicken (not CORE), now won't touch it, doesn't like NV Instinct,, and is currently on a raw strike!  But my boys love their raw.  They don't eat any canned except on Saturday for lunch when I'm not home and DH feeds them.  Then they all 3 share a can of Weruva Mideast Feast.