How much do you spend per month feeding you cat?

Hello and a very Merry Christmas eve!

After a very expensive december, which is still not over, I was going through our family budget and noticed how much we have spent on the who cats we just adopted on december 2nd..(approx $1700!! and it's only december 24th. adoption fee, vet fees, med, food, litter and box, toys and other supplies)

So my main question is, how much do you spend per month feedings a cat?

I have been buying Blue Buffalo canned food as well as blue buffalo dry(indoor cat food)

I ended up buying the large(14lb) bag this last time and am hoping this last 2 months but am unsure as the two cats eating only 1/2 cup a day each went through the 7lb bag in 22 days.

alone side the 1/2 cup do dry kibble, we are feeling one can each of the wet food.

After doing doing the math, and after seeing a post here on who many cups were in an 7 lb bag of of the same food I am using, I have come up we will be spending : $142 a month on just food for two cats. (litter on top of that will be I think $21 a month, which I came up with this number as I figured after reading alot about the litter I'm useing(worlds best) say it only needs to be changes ever 3-4 weeks so figure the big bag I got , 28 lbs I think, will last at least 2 months?)

Anyhow going back to food cost, is this pretty typical for a cat? About $71 a month in just food?

I knew food would cost money, I have 3 boys and two parrots already, I know full tummbies cost money LOL! but I did not realize just how much it would be to feed  a cat. 

Is this pretty typical?

Keep in mind, I live in BC Canada and a small can of wet blue buffalo cat food is around $1.89(x 60 cans a month) after tax and a  14lb bag of adult/indoor blue buffalo cat food is around $58 after tax.

I consider Blue Buffalo to be somewhat overpriced for the quality. But I'm not sure which foods are available in Canada or what the prices are like. Maybe a Canadian member can help with brands and prices.

But some general guidelines: buy the largest bag/can that you can find (unless your cats won't eat leftover canned food, then buy the size of can that is appropriate for one meal for both). Sometimes the largest bag can cost half as much per pound as the smallest bag, same for cans. You can usually, if your cats don't have particular dietary needs, get away with a cheaper canned food because even cheap canned foods usually have much more meat than kibble. But don't get low-quality kibble. Look for 2-3 meat ingredients listed in the top 5 ingredients. To find the kind of litter you and your cat like best can take some experimentation. But don't be afraid to try cheaper brands---you might find that you prefer it. Also, if you do like World's Best, if you have a farm store nearby, many people find that chicken crumbles are a fine substitute, and much cheaper.

$71 a month for just food is ridiculous for 2 cats (in my opinion). I have 5 cats and my food cost for all 5 is $48 a month. 15lb bag of kibble (grain free) $27. 48 cans of (low grain) canned food $21. Yes, Blue Buffalo is a good brand but I only use occasionally when I do buy Blue Buffalo, I buy their Wilderness and Freedom lines. Healthy Living and Basics has too many carbs.

Litter is 25lbs and about $10-$12. Some times I need to buy 50 lbs and that is $20 or $24.

Treats about $1.50 - $3.99 (I do not buy treats often).

Toys/grooming/replace things, misc: $5-$15.

So $64 - $91 a month for 5 cats (one is a kitten).

Happy Holidays!

Just FYI, $71 is PER CAT, so in total $140 total for two!

That is quite a lot. Are you looking to down grade the cost or just asking what others pay?
I also raise rabbits for meat so when I butcher some the cats get some. All organs as well.

candicew said:

Just FYI, $71 is PER CAT, so in total $140 total for two!

Click to expand...

Wow, that is a lot!

I spend between $425 and $450 a month on food and cat litter for a colony of 22. Admittedly they don't get top quality, but they get mid-range price and quality most of the time, with occasional treats of the expensive stuff.

Try to make the bulk of their daily food wet rather than dry. Wet food is usually higher protein, which makes them feel full for longer.

Introduce a few cheaper canned foods. It's good to have plenty of variety in your rotation, so you don't end up with picky eaters who refuse to eat if their favourite brand is unavailable.

Check online stores. It's cheaper to buy a case of 24 cans than it is to buy individually. Canned food will last for months, so if you see a bargain get a couple of cases. A lot of online stores reward you for loyalty. I often get boxes of free samples and money-off vouchers.

Are you happy with the cat litter you are using? You can use a similar, cheaper brand at the bottom of the litter box and put a layer of the better stuff at the top to make it go further.

oldgloryrags88 said:

That is quite a lot. Are you looking to down grade the cost or just asking what others pay?
I also raise rabbits for meat so when I butcher some the cats get some. All organs as well.

Click to expand...

Def not attached to the food. The cats like it and seem quite healthy on it. There coats are so silky and soft now. I would love to find good quality for less for sure. Keep in mind again, I am in Canada. Our prices are almost double what USA pay.

Thank you, what 'cheaper' brand do you recommend to add in for variety? I am living the litter so far but being I have had cats less then a month, I am not attached to anything yet product wise.

Norachan said:

Wow, that is a lot!

I spend between $425 and $450 a month on food and cat litter for a colony of 22. Admittedly they don't get top quality, but they get mid-range price and quality most of the time, with occasional treats of the expensive stuff.

Try to make the bulk of their daily food wet rather than dry. Wet food is usually higher protein, which makes them feel full for longer.

Introduce a few cheaper canned foods. It's good to have plenty of variety in your rotation, so you don't end up with picky eaters who refuse to eat if their favourite brand is unavailable.

Check online stores. It's cheaper to buy a case of 24 cans than it is to buy individually. Canned food will last for months, so if you see a bargain get a couple of cases. A lot of online stores reward you for loyalty. I often get boxes of free samples and money-off vouchers.

Are you happy with the cat litter you are using? You can use a similar, cheaper brand at the bottom of the litter box and put a layer of the better stuff at the top to make it go further.

Click to expand...

oldgloryrags88 said:

That is quite a lot. Are you looking to down grade the cost or just asking what others pay?
I also raise rabbits for meat so when I butcher some the cats get some. All organs as well.

Click to expand...

Def not attached to the food. The cats like it and seem quite healthy on it. There coats are so silky and soft now. I would love to find good quality for less for sure. Keep in mind again, I am in Canada. Our prices are almost double what USA pay.

Oh... I seem to have missed the Canada part. I was reading too fast. Whoops.

I don't believe I will be of any further help as I am an American living in America and I've never left the States.

If that is your cat food cost, I'd hate to see your gas bill costs. :lol3:

Haha! Yup no joke, food for 3 kids 2 adults has been averaging around 1500 a month... Oh and gas! So much, around 350-400 a month! It's expensive here [emoji]128554[/emoji]

oldgloryrags88 said:

Oh... I seem to have missed the Canada part. I was reading too fast. Whoops.

I don't believe I will be of any further help as I am an American living in America and I've never left the States.

If that is your cat food cost, I'd hate to see your gas bill costs. :lol3:

Click to expand...

Thank you, what 'cheaper' brand do you recommend to add in for variety? I am living the litter so far but being I have had cats less then a month, I am not attached t

Norachan said:

Wow, that is a lot!

I spend between $425 and $450 a month on food and cat litter for a colony of 22. Admittedly they don't get top quality, but they get mid-range price and quality most of the time, with occasional treats of the expensive stuff.

Try to make the bulk of their daily food wet rather than dry. Wet food is usually higher protein, which makes them feel full for longer.

Introduce a few cheaper canned foods. It's good to have plenty of variety in your rotation, so you don't end up with picky eaters who refuse to eat if their favourite brand is unavailable.

Check online stores. It's cheaper to buy a case of 24 cans than it is to buy individually. Canned food will last for months, so if you see a bargain get a couple of cases. A lot of online stores reward you for loyalty. I often get boxes of free samples and money-off vouchers.

Are you happy with the cat litter you are using? You can use a similar, cheaper brand at the bottom of the litter box and put a layer of the better stuff at the top to make it go further.

Click to expand...

oldgloryrags88 said:

That is quite a lot. Are you looking to down grade the cost or just asking what others pay?
I also raise rabbits for meat so when I butcher some the cats get some. All organs as well.

Click to expand...

Def not attached to the food. The cats like it and seem quite healthy on it. There coats are so silky and soft now. I would love to find good quality for less for sure. Keep in mind again, I am in Canada. Our prices are almost double what USA pay.

We have three cats and spend roughly 100 us dollars (so 135 canadian?) a month to feed all three. They eat Fancy Feast, Weruva, Nutro, and Sheba wet food. They also eat Nature's Variety dry food that we buy in the largest bags. We order it all online and in bulk to get the best prices. Were not in Canada though. Still you may be able to find a place online that will ship to you. 

A different premium dry food probably will save a bit of money on that end, because, as others have said, blue is overpriced for the quality. I suggest checking out Orijen brand, as I believe they are a Canadian company. I don't believe Orijen will be much cheaper per pound(it may be a bit more, even), but it is better quality food, than blue, so if the price is close, your cats wont' need to eat as much and it may be a small savings that will also improve your cat's health.

  Where you can possibly get a big savings is by replacing the canned with cooked (either "u-Stew" or "Food Fur Life" brand), which will be both healthier and cheaper than blue canned, and since most of the weight is bought at your grocer, you won't get hammered on import costs.

A final (and controversial to many people) option to try is to make sure that the cats have excellent water (filtered water and a ceramic or stainless steel pet fountain), so that they drink more water, and thus can consume more kibble (which is significantly less expensive than canned.)  I do suggest making sure that they drink well ( some cats don't, even with fountains.), before reducing their canned food ratio, if you do decide to go that route, because while I tend to be of the school of thought that quality kibble is fine for healthy cats who drink well, not all cats drink well.

As I'm in Asia I don't get the same brands as you'll be able to find in Canada. I feed Sheba wet and Fancy Feast pates, among others. I think they're available where you are, not sure how they compare price wise.

candicew said:

Hello and a very Merry Christmas eve!
After a very expensive december, which is still not over, I was going through our family budget and noticed how much we have spent on the who cats we just adopted on december 2nd..(approx $1700!! and it's only december 24th. adoption fee, vet fees, med, food, litter and box, toys and other supplies)

So my main question is, how much do you spend per month feedings a cat?
I have been buying Blue Buffalo canned food as well as blue buffalo dry(indoor cat food)
I ended up buying the large(14lb) bag this last time and am hoping this last 2 months but am unsure as the two cats eating only 1/2 cup a day each went through the 7lb bag in 22 days.
alone side the 1/2 cup do dry kibble, we are feeling one can each of the wet food.
After doing doing the math, and after seeing a post here on who many cups were in an 7 lb bag of of the same food I am using, I have come up we will be spending : $142 a month on just food for two cats. (litter on top of that will be I think $21 a month, which I came up with this number as I figured after reading alot about the litter I'm useing(worlds best) say it only needs to be changes ever 3-4 weeks so figure the big bag I got , 28 lbs I think, will last at least 2 months?)

Anyhow going back to food cost, is this pretty typical for a cat? About $71 a month in just food?
I knew food would cost money, I have 3 boys and two parrots already, I know full tummbies cost money LOL! but I did not realize just how much it would be to feed  a cat. 
Is this pretty typical?
Keep in mind, I live in BC Canada and a small can of wet blue buffalo cat food is around $1.89(x 60 cans a month) after tax and a  14lb bag of adult/indoor blue buffalo cat food is around $58 after tax.

Click to expand...

Hi
You are FEEDING WAY too much!!!!! Cats only need so many calories per day. 1/4 cup of dry and a small can of food per day tops.

I have 5 cats. I spend $159 per month. They get high quality food that's grain free. I order from chewy.com

Chewy is American right? I only feed them one small wet can each a day and feed the suggested amount of dry kibble. I don't think they're eating too much at all . They are still only seven months old and I think if anything I should be feeding them more being kittens.

Shurples said:

Hi
You are FEEDING WAY too much!!!!! Cats only need so many calories per day. 1/4 cup of dry and a small can of food per day tops.

I have 5 cats. I spend $159 per month. They get high quality food that's grain free. I order from chewy.com

Click to expand...

2 cats.

I only feed wet food with occasional freeze dried when I can get them to eat . 

I spend about $120 - $170 per month.   It is a lot but I try to do the best for them.     I buy a variety of wet and no kibble.  

Can I recommend finding a different brand than Blue Buffalo?   It's expensive and the quality isnt all that great.  It's filled with unnecessary ingrediants for cats like veggies. 

Fancy Feast Classics,  Sheba are a cheaper alternative which do not  contain things like potatoes to keep down the cost  which companies like BB add to their food.   Other recommedations are Nutro Natural Choice,  Natures Variety Limited ingredients,  Weruva,  Merrick Limited ingredients,   Whole Earth Farms.  Not sure which are available in Canada but you can also order online.  I buy in cases to help reduce cost. 

Based on what you are spending for a can of BB, these brands are around the same price or even cheaper.     Plus its better to feed a variety of brands and not just one. 

thank you all I will def look into these other brands. I did however just buy the large bag of kibble so that will have to wait, but in a week or so I will start to buy other brand of wet and see if that saves me money and if the cats eat it just fine.

I will say though, I don't mind a little of the veggies in the kibble and wet food by BB. Being Vegan(sometimes just vegatarian) I do think veggies are important. I would never go as far as to feed my cats vegan(I have seen vegan food tood!) but do like the idea of a little veggies in food. 

Yes my cat naturally drink a lot of water. I fill there water bowl two times a day.

Thanks!

This thread might help you make comparisons:
[thread="301755"][/thread]

We only have one cat (with food allergies, so he needs special food), but I've found buying food in bulk online really cuts the cost. Generally I order a 3 - 4-month supply of canned food, thus getting free shipping and a 12% discount. He gets very little dry food, but it saves to buy a large bag and immediately break it down and vacuum pack small portions.

Our last cat only liked a particular kind of canned food in very small cans, and my husband almost had a heart attack the first time I ordered 240 cans of it at once. :lol3:

I have 6 cats and buy high-quality grain free kibble and each cat gets about 2 ounces (2/3 Fancy Feast cat) of wet food AM and PM.   

48 cans of wet food: $30

Pure Vita kibble:  $43

Science Diet Adult: $30

Total about $103  

I have 3 cats now and they are all on a raw diet. I bought some muscle meat from the farm ($50 or so) and I bought MDF ($60+). Should last them a long time. But usually, every month, my mom and I end up spending $70+. It's really hard to tell. I did the math and measured it out. They all get 3oz a day. But on top of that, I add canned food to the mixture so more like $80 a month. Totally worth it because I know they'll be healthy and happy.