Cheap but decent dry food: does it exist?

karagraaf · Dec 8, 2013

I am feeding my cat(s) wet food but do incorporate dry i(just the mom cat, not her kittens) diet as well. I will probably be adding more dry soon because I do need to cut costs down. I'm just wondering if there is any dry food out there that isn't too horribly expensive and a decent quality ? I feel bad doing this to her, she loves her wet food but I think I have to make one meal dry when she weans the kittens, I know feeding 6 kittens wet and then the added litter costs is going to run me dry

Also I assume it would be fine to slowly mix wet with dry to get her used to dry, right? She'll eat it but when she is hungry for her meals, she expects wet food and isn't satisfied until she gets it.
I would like to say I'll go back to wet after the kittens are homed but we are also keeping a kitten (2 if I had more say in it!) and honestly i'm not sure if we can do all wet for 2 cats.

pinkman · Dec 8, 2013

What wet food are you feeding? And what is your monthly cat-food budget like? With more information I am sure one of us can help.

karagraaf · Dec 9, 2013

I'm embarrassed to say because we give her the cheapest possible wet food out there:/ she gets the Friskies pate . I have just started getting the 13 oz cans for 98 cents now because that is a dollar cheaper then 32 5.5 oz cans package that runs about $14 and then a cheap dry food a month also. I don't really have a set budget for her. When we got her, she was pregnant and eating a lot and now she is nursing and eating even more so we have yet to figure out what a normal food budget would be like for her. At this point I'm just giving her all that she wants and so that would maybe put me at about $35 a month for food. I will do whatever I have to do right now with her nursing. But if at all possible, I would like to have that be a little cheaperwhen she is done nursing( which will be fairly soon).. Is that even possible to have her on a decent food and spend less then $30-35 a month? I want to feed both dry and wet.

denice · Dec 9, 2013

Some of the Friskies pates aren't bad at all. Once she is finished nursing her kittens 6 ounces a day spread across two meals a day would be enough without feeding a dry. Your keeping a kitten and the kitten will and needs to eat more than the adult. She would need a third meal of wet so for all wet that would be a little over a large can of Friskies pate a day, it would be 15 ounces a day. That would actually be right around 35 a month for the Friskies.

pinkman · Dec 9, 2013

Seconding Denice about the Friskies Pate.

Regarding dry - Taste of the Wild seems to be a popular "cheaper but decent" dry food. However, I'm with most people on this forum and think a cheap wet food is way better than dry food, but if it's what you gotta do, it's what you gotta do.

I am not sure if you are comfortable about doing this, but ever thought about supplementing with some raw? Maybe egg yolks? I once read that some nursing mothers and growing kittens can really benefit from yolks - good source of fat, choline, and other goodies. When I got my 9 week old, I supplemented his diet with an egg yolk a week, split up into multiple meals - worked great.

laurag · Dec 9, 2013

What you will want to do when incorporating any dry food is to look first for meat ingredients. While the initial cost of foods with grains or meal as the first ingredient might be less expensive, cats eat a lot more of it so in the end you spend just as much.

I have 7 cats (egad) but 6 of them will nibble on dry at night. The rescue cat isn't in the least bit interested. So...there is that possibility that your kitties won't touch it.

I have found that Wellness dry is acceptable as a supplemental food for my cats. The brand doesn't add any artificial colors or flavors which by themselves can add to problems for cats developing allergies. It has no corn, wheat or soy which can give your kitties problems. However it isn't grain free. It has rice and barley. I alternate between the chicken and the salmon. I purchase the largest bag and then just keep it clipped. The cats don't eat a lot of it but they seem to snack on it through the night and so it provides a decent choice for between meals.

Petsmart sells the bags and so the cost of the largest bag 12 pounds, is about $38.00. I know that's more than you spend on the canned alone, but the bag will last quite a long time.

As a comparison, Purina Cat Chow is probably about $15.00 for a 20 pound bag. Pro plan also by Purina doesn't seem that different from the cat chow but is expensive. The corn meal in most foods is pretty off putting to me, but I know there are millions of cats that do okay even with that. Although you will also hear stories about cats who end up with kidney failure in later years that they have attributed personally to the dry foods. I don't think there are studies that prove that but it is observational and based on the problem with the ingredients.

karagraaf · Dec 9, 2013

How do you give egg yolk to your cat? I actually eat scrambled eggs almost every day, one whole egg and one egg white and have a yolk left over that I never know what to do with, so that would be VERY doable

I just would like to have dry availed because we often visit my parents who are an hour away and some times we get home very late, I would like to have dry sitting out for just that purpose.

I never thought about raw-- just sounds pricey so I never gave it a thought but I admit I am very clueless about it.

I hate to just give my cats junk to eat - it's not that I can't afford anything. But with a family of 5 and me being a stay at home mom, I do have to be careful with my money . I hate to sound cheap and have it negatively affect my animals., so I'd rather choose something middle of the road. I have to keep reminding myself this is still better than if her and her babies were outside in the snow and cold.

Anyway, maybe all Friskies canned will work. Maybe I'll just leave dry food out to nibble on if I am going to my parents house and not able to get home in time(if my dog doesn't get to it first)

pinkman · Dec 9, 2013

About fifteen percent of an adult cat's diet can be something supplementary, so if you don't give treats you can surely give them a raw treat here and there. I give my cats raw egg yolks still (one yolk a week, split into two meals now that they are older) mixed with their ground raw food (or canned.) Do you cook meat? You can give tiny scraps of raw chicken - feeding all raw is probably more pricey than say feeding all Friskies, but surely supplementing is a different story if you cook often. The added egg yolk to the canned food will make it richer and more filling for sure.

Okay - now that I know your situation - if it's supplementary dry food feeding I don't think it's a bad idea. Authority and Simply Nourish (I think from Petsmart, might have some corn though not sure) also seem to be cheaper but decent dry foods. Keep in mind with dry foods - the more "expensive" and "premium" dry foods are pretty calorie dense, so you may not need a lot per serving. That's a generalization but maybe you can look into calorie/cost ratios?

procat · Dec 9, 2013

lauraG said:
As a comparison, Purina Cat Chow is probably about $15.00 for a 20 pound bag. Pro plan also by Purina doesn't seem that different from the cat chow but is expensive. The corn meal in most foods is pretty off putting to me, but I know there are millions of cats that do okay even with that. Although you will also hear stories about cats who end up with kidney failure in later years that they have attributed personally to the dry foods. I don't think there are studies that prove that but it is observational and based on the problem with the ingredients.

For what it is, ProPlan is very overpriced IMO. The shelter had Proj on ProPlan and I was paying $14.00 for 3.5lb bag. I switched to grain-free EVO (which is 100x better ingredient wise) and now I'm paying $23.00 for a 6.6lb bag. Marginally cheaper ounce for ounce, but higher protein/better ingredients = less eating, so the bag is lasting a lot longer.

laurag · Dec 9, 2013

ProCat said:
For what it is, ProPlan is very overpriced IMO. The shelter had Proj on ProPlan and I was paying $14.00 for 3.5lb bag. I switched to grain-free EVO (which is 100x better ingredient wise) and now I'm paying $23.00 for a 6.6lb bag. Marginally cheaper ounce for ounce, but higher protein/better ingredients = less eating, so the bag is lasting a lot longer.

I agree. I noticed that the ingredients were nearly identical to cat chow---but with different packaging. At that point it would make sense to select a different kind. I had forgotten about EVO. My cats loooved that. But gained a lot of weight on it.

karagraaf · Dec 9, 2013

Ok thanks! It's hard trying to figure out what to do. for the past few months it's been chaos. I likes routine and it's like random eating all the time and random spending. I just would like to plan some sort of animal budget when we can, so we aren't all over the place.

Also if I can keep it low cost enough, possibly I could try and convince my husband to keep another kitten. I'm not feeling very confident we will find homes for all 6 kittens. Why did she have to have 6?! When we got her, I just wanted a cat, I didn't know she was pregnant. Of course I love the kittens, these guys are so dear! but like I said, it's been chaos since October when we rescued her!

procat · Dec 9, 2013

lauraG said:
I agree. I noticed that the ingredients were nearly identical to cat chow---but with different packaging. At that point it would make sense to select a different kind. I had forgotten about EVO. My cats loooved that. But gained a lot of weight on it.

Proj is only eating 1/3 to 1/2 a cup + 3oz of wet per day and she's maintaining... so far.

EVO is calorie dense though. 600cal per cup if I remember correctly.

My only problem with EVO so far is the kibble size. Sometimes she gets eager, swallows it whole and then it comes back up. On the carpeting of course... never on the tile.

maewkaew · Dec 9, 2013

If you have a Petsmart near you, I agree I would check into their store brand foods.    I know Authority & i have heard people on here mention Simply Nourish. The canned Authority is often about 80 cents for a 6 ounce can. and it is decent, it's no byproducts and low carb.      You might be able to feed that some of the time to fill in with the Friskies canned , just so they get some muscle meat in their diet.

   The dry does have some corn.   & is more carbs/ sugar than i would ideally want to feed but if it's the minority of the diet it may be fine. and it is definitely better than most inexpensive dry food, and better than some that costs quite a bit more.

Or some of the premium dry foods , you really do feed less than with the cheaper foods since it's less filler... and that also means less poop!

One other idea, though I don't know if you want to get into it, is homemade diets. You do need to be very careful to make sure it is balanced.    but I've heard people on here say they are saving money by making their own food.    If you are interested in that , check out the section for Raw & Home Cooked Cat Food.

Willowy · Dec 9, 2013

Friskies pate foods aren't bad. Try to stick to the meatier flavors like Poultry Platter, Turkey & Giblets, Mixed Grill, Liver & Chicken, Country Style Dinner. I have a lot of cats and they're all doing very well on a primary diet of Friskies pate.

When I fed dry, I liked Chicken Soup for the Cat Lover's Soul, Diamond Naturals Active Cat, Premium Edge, and 4Health for inexpensive but decent foods. Right now for the ferals and the indoor cats' occasional dry treat, I'm using Kirkland Premium (Costco store brand), which is really quite good for the price.

catwoman707 · Dec 9, 2013

As having a cat rescue group we settled on feeding our rescues and foster cats Natural Balance dry, with friskies canned daily as well.

The Nat Bal is at least a decent food as well as doable price-wise. We are a non profit so we don't have the resources to feed all of the cats in our care the very best, but Nat Bal seems to be decent and affordable.

Friskies pates are fine too.

NEVER be embarrassed that you can't afford the best food! I seriously doubt that there are too many on here who have a money tree growing in their backyards either

As Lisa Pierson, who is one vet that has done extensive research and educates that, she will always recommend canned over dry, as she states, the cheapest canned is better than the best dry.

laurag · Dec 9, 2013

catwoman707 said:
As having a cat rescue group we settled on feeding our rescues and foster cats Natural Balance dry, with friskies canned daily as well.

The Nat Bal is at least a decent food as well as doable price-wise. We are a non profit so we don't have the resources to feed all of the cats in our care the very best, but Nat Bal seems to be decent and affordable.

Friskies pates are fine too.

NEVER be embarrassed that you can't afford the best food! I seriously doubt that there are too many on here who have a money tree growing in their backyards either

As Lisa Pierson, who is one vet that has done extensive research and educates that, she will always recommend canned over dry, as she states, the cheapest canned is better than the best dry.

Agree! And as you said, it is so much better that you have them. They are happy, healthy and warm. Good for you!

happybird · Dec 9, 2013

We have been using chicken flavor Authority dry food (I think it is Petsmart's store brand) as a free feed for when we are not home to supervise the wet food. It's an okay food, very similar to Iams as far as ingredients, but several dollars cheaper. It is not ideal, but we can afford it and it lists chicken as the first ingredient. The cats seem to like it, too.

cprcheetah · Dec 9, 2013

My dad who is a retired Vet recommends Kirklands Signature Cat Food, that's what he feeds his 15+ kitties, in addition to feeding the Whiskas Pouches and Friskies canned food to a few of his kitties that like canned food.

awaiting abyss · Dec 9, 2013

If you live near a Tractor Supply Co. store, they have an exclusive brand called 4Health that is cheap and good. I feed my cats their canned food mostly (with EVO when I can get it on sale) with a bit of their dry food. I feed the "All Life Stages" 4Health dry cat food. It has no corn, soy or wheat in it

They also have a grain-free dry cat food, but it has way too much fish in it.

mrsgreenjeens · Dec 10, 2013

catwoman707 said:
As having a cat rescue group we settled on feeding our rescues and foster cats Natural Balance dry, with friskies canned daily as well.

The Nat Bal is at least a decent food as well as doable price-wise. We are a non profit so we don't have the resources to feed all of the cats in our care the very best, but Nat Bal seems to be decent and affordable.

I WONDERED IF YOU HAD CHECKED OUT COSTCO FOR THEIR BRAND OF KIBBLE (KIRKLAND), IT'S A REALLY GOOD FOOD (FOR KIBBLE) AND VERY INEXPENSIVE). ONLY COMES IN BIG SIZES, SO PERFECT FOR RESCUE GROUPS. (am having problems here and cannot type outside of your quoted area, use icons, etc., so hope you see this in all caps)

Cheap but decent dry food: does it exist?

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