I would prefer something with chicken, turkey, lamb, or rabbit as the primary protein source. Kitty does not like duck, and beef and seafood give him some pretty gross smelling poo. Thanks in advance!
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What are the least expensive brands of grain-free cat food (both canned & dry)?
- Thread starter meowfrau
- Start Date
Unfortunately, the grain free food is going to be more expensive. In the dry, I would expect to spend at least $20/bag. And usually the bags are less than 10lbs. And the seafood are cheaper, too. So for the next least expensive, it would be chicken or turkey. Rabbit and lamb are considered specialty ingredients so they will be more expensive. Petco often has specials. So you may be able to get a bag for about $15 or $16 and a case of wet for about $40. That seems to be the norm whenever I go shopping. Solid Gold Indigo Moon and Nature's Recipe are often cheaper but my cats don't like it. They like the Natural Balance Instinct line the best. So that's what I get them. Wellness Core is also usually pretty good priced. And they have larger bags and more cans in their case normally.
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My cat only eats wet but I bought grain free Dry "Taste of the Wild" for a stray and it was a great deal.
Mine only eat wet too so I can't help you with dry but I found Nutro Natural Choice canned on Wag.com for .79 a can after the coupon codes (they only sell it in 3 oz cans). They have a good variety of flavors and textures. My picky eaters love the minced/sliced varieties but they have soft loaf (pate) and chunky loaf (pate with little bits in it). You can also try Soulistic at Petco. It is made by Weruva and is shredded in consistency. I think it's $1.09 a can. @P3 and The King is right about rabbit and lamb being pricier than chicken or turkey. I'd check Amazon for deals as well as wag.com, chewy.com and petfooddirect.com as well.
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My kitten is only on the wet so have no idea about dry. I think Fancy Feast and Friskies both have a line of grain free which are considered cheaper than most. The Fancy Feast is the one labeled 'Classic' which is grain free. Not sure on the Friskies. I don't feed those myself since I don't like many of the ingredients but I know others here do.
For me Weruva Cats in the Kitchen I can get here for $.99 per 3 oz can and Nutro Natural Choice $1.09 per 3 oz can. Not exactly cheap but compared to others I've bought which are grain free its a bit cheaper.
Also there are a few online sites which you can get deals if you buy in cases.
For me Weruva Cats in the Kitchen I can get here for $.99 per 3 oz can and Nutro Natural Choice $1.09 per 3 oz can. Not exactly cheap but compared to others I've bought which are grain free its a bit cheaper.
Also there are a few online sites which you can get deals if you buy in cases.
You need to re read labels on your cat food... Fancy Feast does not have a grain free line to my knowledge. Nor does Purina, who makes Fancy Feast. Well that's not true... Purina has only one advertised Grain free food and it's called Beyond. However it is only in a fish flavor and it is about $19/6lb bag and I haven't seen the wet version of it. But I believe it's probably all fish as well.
Just because a food is wet does not make it grain free. Often there are grains in the broth which is the case with Fancy Feast.
Just because a food is wet does not make it grain free. Often there are grains in the broth which is the case with Fancy Feast.
Fancy Feast Classic (their pate line) is indeed grain free, but they don't advertise that way. It has been since before "grain free" became a thing. All of their foods with gravy/sauce do contain grain products, however.
Friskies on the other hand does have rice even in the classic pate.
Sheba is another inexpensive grain free food that is not advertised as such. Evangers also has some inexpensive grain free options - no byproducts or artificial colors/flavors, unlike the others I mentioned.
Friskies on the other hand does have rice even in the classic pate.
Sheba is another inexpensive grain free food that is not advertised as such. Evangers also has some inexpensive grain free options - no byproducts or artificial colors/flavors, unlike the others I mentioned.
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Thank you! I will try both the Fancy Feast Classic & Sheba chicken pate to see which one my cat might like.
I hadn't wanted to try either as the brands sound "cheap" but I think it might be the way to go. My cat hates all the wet food so far except for Iams chicken pate for kittens that I accidentally bought for her. She barely touches Iams adult chicken pate & seems to hate seafood since she won't even take a bite of seafood pate. She looked at me confusedly and like I was crazy when I tried to serve her a pouch of Whiskas since I thought she might like that.
They told me at the shelter she didn't eat the wet food they gave her and that she just liked the dry food. I'm so happy whenever I see her drinking from her water bowl. I had been adding water to her dry food until I read online that it was turning into bacteria stew after 20 minutes. I've felt guilty for giving her "cheap" food so far except for the Arcana dry food that the rescue shelter gave me, but I think she might be a Fancy Feast Classic kind of girl. =D
I hadn't wanted to try either as the brands sound "cheap" but I think it might be the way to go. My cat hates all the wet food so far except for Iams chicken pate for kittens that I accidentally bought for her. She barely touches Iams adult chicken pate & seems to hate seafood since she won't even take a bite of seafood pate. She looked at me confusedly and like I was crazy when I tried to serve her a pouch of Whiskas since I thought she might like that.
They told me at the shelter she didn't eat the wet food they gave her and that she just liked the dry food. I'm so happy whenever I see her drinking from her water bowl. I had been adding water to her dry food until I read online that it was turning into bacteria stew after 20 minutes. I've felt guilty for giving her "cheap" food so far except for the Arcana dry food that the rescue shelter gave me, but I think she might be a Fancy Feast Classic kind of girl. =D
Don't feel guilty for giving her "cheap" can food .. The most expensive food on the planet does no good if she won't eat it ..
My cats will only eat Fancy Feast Kitten Turkey Feast ( pate ) but I do not feel bad because they are eating an all wet diet which I feel is very important for their health ..
Thank you! I hope she likes turkey pate as well as chicken! I may try to cook an organic chicken for her... =D
Edit: I forgot to mention that I feed her ~1/2 slice of reduced sodium turkey breast from Trader Joe's sometimes, which she loves, but I worry about the sodium level. ^_^
Edit: I forgot to mention that I feed her ~1/2 slice of reduced sodium turkey breast from Trader Joe's sometimes, which she loves, but I worry about the sodium level. ^_^
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Do you mean Natures variety instinct?
No broth in fancy feast classic, it is a pate but does have by products ( not the best but not the worst either)
These are the general foods that both our boys like and what I currently pay (and I always look for the higher end grain free foods that are on sale if at all possible). I purchase through Chewy.com almost exclusively.
Nature's Variety Instinct Grain-Free Chicken Meal Formula Dry Cat Food - 12.1-lb bag @ $35.19
Nature's Variety Instinct Grain-Free Chicken Formula Canned Dog Food (exact same forumla as the cat food, best bang for your buck price wise) 13.2-oz, case of 12 @ $34.80
EVO 95% Chicken & Turkey Canned Cat Food - 5.5-oz, case of 24 @ $33.19
Halo Spot's Pate Ground Chicken Recipe Grain-Free Canned Cat Food - 5.5-oz, case of 12 @ $16.99
Weruva Paw Lickin' Chicken in Gravy Canned Cat Food, 10-oz, case of 12 - $34.99
Nature's Variety Instinct Grain-Free Duck Formula Canned Cat Food - 5.5-oz, case of 12 @ $29.40
Precise Naturals Chicken Formula Canned Cat Food - 5.5-oz case of 24 @ $33.20
Merrick Purrfect Bistro Grain-Free Sliced Cowboy Cookout Canned Cat Food - 5.5-oz, case of 24 @ $33.49
Tiki Cat Puka Puka Luau Succulent Chicken in Chicken Consomme Canned Cat Food - 6-oz, case of 8 @ $23.45
Nature's Variety Instinct Grain-Free Chicken Meal Formula Dry Cat Food - 12.1-lb bag @ $35.19
Nature's Variety Instinct Grain-Free Chicken Formula Canned Dog Food (exact same forumla as the cat food, best bang for your buck price wise) 13.2-oz, case of 12 @ $34.80
EVO 95% Chicken & Turkey Canned Cat Food - 5.5-oz, case of 24 @ $33.19
Halo Spot's Pate Ground Chicken Recipe Grain-Free Canned Cat Food - 5.5-oz, case of 12 @ $16.99
Weruva Paw Lickin' Chicken in Gravy Canned Cat Food, 10-oz, case of 12 - $34.99
Nature's Variety Instinct Grain-Free Duck Formula Canned Cat Food - 5.5-oz, case of 12 @ $29.40
Precise Naturals Chicken Formula Canned Cat Food - 5.5-oz case of 24 @ $33.20
Merrick Purrfect Bistro Grain-Free Sliced Cowboy Cookout Canned Cat Food - 5.5-oz, case of 24 @ $33.49
Tiki Cat Puka Puka Luau Succulent Chicken in Chicken Consomme Canned Cat Food - 6-oz, case of 8 @ $23.45
Then, it is NOT grain free if it is in the broth. In order to be seen as "grain free" it can have no wheat, corn, or oat gluten at all. So Fancy feast cannot be considered grain free because of this. Sheba, I am looking up but normally if a food is grain free, it is going to be considerably more expensive. It's just the way it is. The pate is grain free in Fancy Feast. I just looked it up.
And BonePicker, I got their 2 favorites mixed up... Yes they do like Natures Variety's INSTINCT but I was referring to Nature's Balance ALPHA and accidentally typed instinct.
Mine like natural balance ultra also[emoji]128077[/emoji][emoji]128062[/emoji][emoji]10084[/emoji]️
Now take out the carageen and what is left to choose from?
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For dry, I think Simply Nourish Source from Petsmart is pretty good.
Chicken & Turkey:
Ingredients:
Chicken, Chicken Meal, Turkey Meal, Dried Potatoes, Dried Peas, Canola Oil (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Flaxseed, Tomato Pomace, Natural Flavor, Dried Egg Product, Salt, Vitamins (Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Taurine, Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin Supplement, Ascorbic Acid, Thiamine Mononitrate, Pantothenic Acid, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin, Folic Acid, Calcium Iodate, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement), Dried Chicory Root, Dried Cranberries, Dried Carrots, Dried Sweet Potatoes, Choline Chloride, Minerals (Zinc Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Sodium Selenite)
$31.99 - 12lb
$17.99 - 6lb
$9.99 - 3lb
Rabbit & Chicken:
Ingredients:
Rabbit, Chicken Meal, Turkey Meal, Dried Potatoes, Dried Peas, Dried Chicken, Canola Oil (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Potato Protein, Flaxseed Meal, Tomato Pomace, Natural Flavors, Fish Meal, Dried Chicory Root, Dried Cranberries, Dried Carrots, Dried Sweet Potatoes, Vitamin E Supplement, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (Source of Ascorbic Acid), Niacin Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, Pantothenic Acid, Thiamine Mononitrate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid, Biotin, Choline Chloride, Salt, Zinc Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Sodium Selenite, Calcium Iodate and Taurine
This one only comes in 3lb and 6lb but same prices as above
Chicken & Turkey:
Ingredients:
Chicken, Chicken Meal, Turkey Meal, Dried Potatoes, Dried Peas, Canola Oil (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Flaxseed, Tomato Pomace, Natural Flavor, Dried Egg Product, Salt, Vitamins (Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Taurine, Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin Supplement, Ascorbic Acid, Thiamine Mononitrate, Pantothenic Acid, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin, Folic Acid, Calcium Iodate, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement), Dried Chicory Root, Dried Cranberries, Dried Carrots, Dried Sweet Potatoes, Choline Chloride, Minerals (Zinc Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Sodium Selenite)
$31.99 - 12lb
$17.99 - 6lb
$9.99 - 3lb
Rabbit & Chicken:
Ingredients:
Rabbit, Chicken Meal, Turkey Meal, Dried Potatoes, Dried Peas, Dried Chicken, Canola Oil (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Potato Protein, Flaxseed Meal, Tomato Pomace, Natural Flavors, Fish Meal, Dried Chicory Root, Dried Cranberries, Dried Carrots, Dried Sweet Potatoes, Vitamin E Supplement, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (Source of Ascorbic Acid), Niacin Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, Pantothenic Acid, Thiamine Mononitrate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid, Biotin, Choline Chloride, Salt, Zinc Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Sodium Selenite, Calcium Iodate and Taurine
This one only comes in 3lb and 6lb but same prices as above
Fancy feast classic is indeed grain free.
Remember any wet is healthier than dry, Dry causes health problems, especially as kitty ages.
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