Grain & Fish Free Foods

I would like some suggestions to an affordable, fish & grain-free cat food. My cats have always eaten dry food and usually only lick the gravy off of the wet cat food and leave the 'meat'.  They are senior cats (all 3 sisters, 14 years old).

I have always fed them the Purina Indoor cat formula until I found out we're not supposed to be feeding cats grains.  After I started reading about what cats should not be eating that's being put in their food by the pet food industry, it's becoming frustrating and difficult to find a food that is fish-free, grain-free and inexpensive. I'm disabled and living on a limited income (I had a full-time job when I took in my 3 cats 14 years ago) now, barely able to afford my own food.  I can't believe how expensive the good cat food is, it's just ridiculous.

Anyway, I had read this article: http://www.2ndchance.info/hyperthyroid.htm that fish-flavored cats foods, especially fish-flavored cat foods in the can, are suspected of causing the high rate of hyperthyroidism in felines.  So ...I'm avoiding fish.

I had bought Tractor Supply's 4-Health cat food, which they liked, but found fish in it.  I recently made a trip to Pet Co and found Wellness Grain-Free Indoor Formula and no fish, but it does have potatoes in it, which I know are high in calories/carbs.  I was able to get it on clearance, a 12 lb bag for $21 (which is still too high for me).  I had bought some wet cat food, the Wellness sliced chicken, for them to try and they loved it. But, after reading more this past week, found it had carrageenan in it, which is something else we should be avoiding.

Does anyone have any suggestions on a low-cost fish, grain and carrageenan free cat food ?  I never see coupons for any of this more expensive food, has anyone else?

I want to feed my cats they way they are supposed to be fed, but it's just so expensive.



Thanks everyone.

Dry foods by nature must have some sort of starch to bind it all together. The best dry foods I know of are Wysong Epigen 90, Young Again Zero Carb and Ziwipeak, but none is cheap.

The least inexpensive of the canned foods without grains/starches, fish and carrageenan are the Fancy Feast classic pates. Hound & Gatos is pretty reasonable. nature's Variety sends out coupons all the time if you sign up on their website.

Finding a commercial food that meets our criteria and is affordable can be very difficult. This is one of the reasons that some of us have turned to homemade cat food.

When I was feeding Boo and Caesar the cheaper canned foods, I would only use pates that were grain, fish, and sodium nitrate free. It's a small list:

Fancy Feast Classic Turkey & Giblets

Fancy Feast Classic Tender Beef & Liver Feast

Fancy Feast Classic Tender Liver & Chicken Feast

Purina Pro Plan Classic Finesse Adult Chicken & Liver Entree

Sheba Pate Turkey Entree (my cats only liked the turkey, but there are other pates without fish)

I do not have any recommendations on a cheaper dry food that meet your criteria. To me, $21 for 12 lbs. is a good price. I am paying more than that for a 5.5 lb. bag of Nature's Variety.

Ok people probably aren't going to like what I say and I just want to state it is my opinion, everyone cannot afford the high priced foods and therefore we must adapt to what we can afford.  You are on a limited income with 3 senior cats.  It doesn't sound like your cats have any health issues and you have been happily feeding them for 14 years without problems.  If you have a Trader Joe's around you they have a good turkey or chicken canned food (5.5 oz) for .69 a can.  I feed my girls this along with Wellness with no ill effects. 

Please don't feel you are doing an injustice to your cats by not getting the most expensive "good" food out there - there probably is something "bad" in every single one of them.  You are correct fish cat food is not good, nor is dry kibble, but on the other hand there are thousands of cats out there that have lived on dry kibble and lived to a good old age, I know one who is 22 yrs old only eating dry kibble.  Don't upset yourself.  You can mix dry kibble with some canned and that will make a nice meal for them.  You have loved them for 14 years and doing the best you can therefore pat yourself on the back, give them a hug and continue doing what you are doing.

Sometimes the Internet is a good thing, sometimes there is such a mass of conflicting so called "information" it boggles the mind. You cannot believe everything you read.  You are doing fine, keep up the good work and love your cats.

Also classic fancy feast chopped grill and beef and chicken feast have no fish or grain

^^^ FF Tender Beef Feast does contain fish (& yes it is part of the Classics line). When I serve one of their beef flavors I use Chicken & Beef or Liver & Beef.

Thank you for your replies. I don't have a Trader Joe's anywhere near me, but as for the other suggestions, I will try those out. I appreciate your help. =)

Natural balance is not totally grain free but I feel it is the most economical of better canned and dry and it comes in 5.5 oz cans for multiple cats. My 18 year olds are eating both and going strong.

If you want to eliminate fish completely from their diets, you can try "blue-buffalo, freedom- grain free chicken".

It does not contain any fish in it at all. But like other posts, you don't have to eliminate it completely, unless your cats are super allergic to fish. Also, i think fish is important for their coats, and some fish in the food won't hurt. I like grain-free products also, but again, it depends what food (dry) you buy. If you get meow mix you get completely different sort of grains that are terrible compared to a nice healthy grains from more premium foods. I do believe that cats would eat less of grain-free food since there would be less empty calories.

With canned food, the only one that I found without carrageenan would be Halo products and fancy feast appetizers.

For grain, gum, fish & carrageenan free try: Nature's Variety Instinct Pork, Turkey or Lamb.
Nature's Variety Instinct Cheshire's Chicken
Newman's Own Organics Liver
Weruva Paw Lickin' Chicken

Hope that helps!