canned cost comparison

msserena

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Wow I am floored, I just did a cost comparison on the foods that I'm currently feeding & I'm kinda in awe.

As I've always heard Weruva & Tiki Cat is pricey, Soulistic actually came up as the most expensive food!

Against The Grain non fish is $2.01-2.10 per oz

Fancy Feast Purely non fish is $1.51-1.55 per oz

Soulistic non fish is $3.15-4.07 per oz

Tiki Cat non fish is $1.53-2.40 per oz

Weruva non fish is $1.99-3.53 per oz

It definitely depends on what size case you buy, believe it or not, the smaller cans are cheaper, I always thought you saved money the bigger the cans. This holds true on all the different brands.

I checked prices at amazon, drs foster & smith, chewy, petco & pet food direct.
 

dorimon

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Wow I am floored, I just did a cost comparison on the foods that I'm currently feeding & I'm kinda in awe.

As I've always heard Weruva & Tiki Cat is pricey, Soulistic actually came up as the most expensive food!
Yup, I don't purchase Soulistic since it is so low in calories.  Also, I know that the Harvest Sunrise flavor (which is quite popular) is kinda high in carbs...
 

solomonar

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Compare meat content as well. Price per weight of meat is a more relevant indicator.

Also depends on dry mass equivalent: animal protein per unit of dry mass (if these are shown on the label).

===

I feed my cat by at least 3 brands of wet food and 2 brands of dry food to avoid dependence and to counterbalance potential errors in food formulas.
 

tiptopper

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We recently looked into the foods we buy. Weruva pouches cats in the kitchen- 

                                                                 chicken & duck        $1.25  3oz.  62 calories

                                                                chicken & mackerel  $1.25  3oz.  70 calories

                              Weruva Truluxe         chicken & duck         $1.61  3oz.  52 calories  

We do feed other brands but these are their favorites. Time to make some changes.                                 
 

solomonar

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We recently looked into the foods we buy. Weruva pouches cats in the kitchen- 

                                                                 chicken & duck        $1.25  3oz.  62 calories

                                                                chicken & mackerel  $1.25  3oz.  70 calories

                              Weruva Truluxe         chicken & duck         $1.61  3oz.  52 calories  

We do feed other brands but these are their favorites. Time to make some changes.                                 
Calories per what? Pert unit of content, per unit of dry mass? It looks like overall content.

Calories are relative, because they include calories in other components than meat . Only calories from meat  are available for cat's metabolism.

To a certain extent, calories may serve to evaluate the omnivore food formula (like humans) but make little sense for obligate carnivores (cats).

Well, could be reviewed by type of meat, since the number of calories differs by species and body part. 
 

tiptopper

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There are 52 calories in a 3 oz. can of Weruva Truluxe chicken & duck. We look at ingredients, protein, fats and carbs. We like to know the amount of calories in a can for the cats daily requirements. It works for us!
 

solomonar

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The question was about comparing foods costs, let apart particular feeding options and objectives.

From biochemical reasons, animal protein from meat (excluding other protein) per unit of dry mass is a variable to be considered, because that protein is of first class and no doubts it can be methabolised by the cat. Meanwhille, reporting to dry mass is more portable between various formulas/brands than reporting to wet mass in the can.

As far as the calories relevance for each Guardian objectives or option, you are right: if you target weight control calories may be relevant. For sure calories are easier  to manage than more complex indexes. Anywayl, we are not commercial breeders, but just cat lovers :-). 
 
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msserena

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Yup, I don't purchase Soulistic since it is so low in calories.  Also, I know that the Harvest Sunrise flavor (which is quite popular) is kinda high in carbs...
I based all my food choices off carbs in the beginning. I really studied Dr Piersons website, all foods I fed were 10% or lower dry matter. Then I switched to raw & my one cat barely ate any canned (I would put a can out at bedtime). She totally blew up. I took her in for a dental, got a blood test before hand & some of the results weren't good. Vet wanted me to go on a vet diet, Hills W/D. dm fat is 15.8, dm carbs is 24.2.

So when I saw these numbers I got super confused, because from everything I've read & researched, carbs were the problem & this food was for weight loss but the carbs were totally high. I declined on the Hills food & decided to go my own route. I decided I would try a super low fat food but not pay attention to carbs.

She's currently on all the above mentioned foods because they're all 15% or lower dm fat. She hasn't even been on the new foods for two weeks yet so I don't think her body has adjusted. I'm gonna add in Fussie Cat cause I just got their fat numbers & they're all under 15%.
 
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msserena

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Against The Grain non fish is $.46-.50 per oz

Fancy Feast Purely non fish is $.64-.66 per oz

Soulistic non fish is $.25-.32 per oz

Tiki Cat non fish is $.42-.65 per oz

Weruva non fish is $.28-.50 per oz

Fussie Cat non fish is $.43 per oz
 

solomonar

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OK. Now it comes the magic of chemistry/physics: :-))

Look at dry matter on the label.

Then look at whatever animal protein (reccommanded) or calories (if this is handy for you, although not entirely biochemically correct - see above).

If animal protein is given in weight units per can, then no need for more calculation. Just compute:  price of can / weight (in fact, mass) of animal protein.

You will obtain the cost of an unit of animal protein, variable which is to be compared between brands with regard to the price.

If the animal protein is given in percentage (e.g. 10% animal protein) then compute: weight of the can x (multiply by) that percentage. You will get the absolute weight of animal protein per can. Then proceed as above to obtain the price per mass unit of animal protein .

You should favor the brand for which the price per mass unit of animal protein is the lowest.

====

Please be aware that the above is a very rough calculation, since other characteristics of the can shall be taken into consideration such as: whether the food is approved for human consumption (human grade), whether the origin of the food is local or not mentioned, presence of adjuvants (if any), quality control and so on.

As usually, one pays more for the reputation of the brand, all others being equal.

There are also some tricks like "veterinary approved"- I suspect this is always true, I am not expected Electricians to do it :-).
 
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bonepicker

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My cats eat soulistic chicken dinner pate &shreds in Gelee for breakfast and alternate dinner either Merrick rabbit pate, whole earth duck or whole earth beef. These are all they seem to love. I treat them with purebite freeze dried chicken (dog size bag) or a few merrick kibble that I feed the ferals. I order from Chewy.com and petco.com, and Amazon.com
 
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