My local pet store sells the 6lb bag of By Nature Grain Free for 12.00. I won a free 3 month supply of it so I switched Book over to use it up (MowMow can't eat dry because of all of his issues).

So far a 6lb bag lasts Book a month so... 12.00 a month for cat food is pretty decent. It would probably last a regular cat a little less (Book eats MowMow's leftovers so he gets a few extra calories from there). Still, I think that's a great price for a decent food.

 

Here is a link where you can compare some nutritional equivalencies and MSRPs/online prices of some grain free kibble. If you get a few ideas from it, you can research better which ones are best and which ones have coupons readily available, etc.

Best Grain Free Cat Foods. Compare, reviews & ratings.

 

I have no petco/petsmart near, and can't afford grain free.

 

What's your monthly budget for food? That might help everyone give some options. Does she eat dry food at all now? Is there anything she likes/doesn't like?

 

I've seen this food in regular stores: Chicken & Whole Oat - Dry Cat Food - Purina ONE® beyOnd®

Not as expensive as the higher end stuff I think.

 

I've actually been using this for a while now...its a lot better than what they were getting for their 'kibble munchies'!
It has agreed with all of them, no tummy issues at all.
I also found at PetSmart, Candidae grain free, which they also all like...

Don't feel bad...we've all been there, I'm sure, at one point or another.
Hugs!

 

She used to love Iams Chicken, as well as FF dry, and after I take care of my savings, my phone, and my rent, I'll be left with $36 a month that needs to be used to take care of my dog and my cat. =/

 

Ok, how much are you spending on dog food and how much does your dog eat a month (i.e., what size bag)?

I'm sure everyone can give some good ideas that will work with your budget. Just hang in there.

 

I'm definitely switching her back to her wet, if not FF wet, once I can manage to get a job after moving, because I can't manage one here no matter what I try.

 

Right now I'm spending about 5.25 on her kibble that lasts two weeks. So, 10.50 a month.
And Zoe's wet food certainly costs more than $30.
Friskies is $20 for two 24 can 5.5 oz boxes.
Is Friskies very bad for them? Could she go on that until I'm more stable?

 

We use Purina Indoor Cat Formula. Plus we buy 5.5 oz cans of wet food. Both of our cats get 1/4 of a can per day. The cats are doing very well. Inky is black and has a very sleek, plush coat that glistens in sunlight. Patches is doing fine too but he's a cow cat and his fur is more coarse.

 

If you mean Friskies wet food and you choose the pate style (not the slices or chunks in gravy), it is actually a better food than most grocery store foods.

EDIT: "in my opinion"

 

We feed our 4 friskies, ff and chicken breast for treats. If I could afford it we would feed the best, but we can't, so don't feel bad. You do the best with what you have, your pets are loved, fed, warm, cared for, so remember that and don't kick yourself.
I know when I read some of the posts about food I feel like we should be feeding better food, but we feed what we can afford and I buy chicken on sale and cook that for treats.

 

I'll need to get can lid covers then, since her food will be being refrigerated once again. Speaking of which, Purina said they'd send me lids for FF, and they never did. Hmmm. Wonder what happened there.
But they sell "normal" size canned goods lids. I guess I can use that for friskies.

 

My first cat lived to be 19 and ate Whiskas wet food. We didn't have grain-free, organic, etc. food back then. A lot of it is genetics to be honest. But to answer your question, wet food is better for a cat than dry food. So if you can afford Friskies, and she likes it, then I'd stay with that! Less stress for everyone.

 

I actually found a 32 pack of 5.5 oz friskies for just $15. Vs 24 cans of FF that lasts 12 days for $14. So the 32 pack for what I paid for about two weeks of food, yeah, I think that sounds good.

 

TBH if you're looking at cheap kibbles then PetSmarts store brand, Authority, is very decently priced and is a better food than others at the same price. Worth checking out, plus it's on sale all the freakin' time because it's their store brand.

 

Don't feel bad for feeding what you can afford - you're giving your cat a loving, safe home. Just because you can't afford the very best doesn't make you anything less than a great cat owner!

 

Don't feel bad. Our cats have never had anything but dry. For us it was a decision of cost versus the number of cats we wanted to rescue. We knew we could bring three cats into our home if they did not eat canned/wet food.

Do not feel bad for giving a cat into a wonderful home.

 

I think I'll buy her a bag of kibbles, and the friskies.
I know she eats kibble, but I don't know if she'll eat friskies.

 

I'm on a budget and feed the friskies pâté to mine and they do great I would rather be able to feed my kitty with weight issues that than any dry food.


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Tonight I decided to start feeding more dry with some can if they will eat it! I have had it trying to get canned food they will eat regularly. I have bought so many brands and they may eat it once and then not the next time. I am throwing out so much canned food. I can't take it any more. My other 4 cats over the years had cheap dry food with treats like chicken or tuna and all lived to 16 or so years. We all have to do what we can.

 

You might consider feeding raw, esp. if you live in a rural area. I feed raw prey model, canned, and kibble (different cats, different diets). Raw is the cheapest of the three because I get almost all of my raw meat/bones/organs for free or nearly free. I put a free ad in the local shopper and on local Facebook groups telling folks that I can use all of their old frozen meat so that they don't have to pay to send it to the landfill when they clean out their freezers. I have gotten well over a thousand pounds of free or very cheap (20-30 cents/lb) meat that way over the last several years.

Even if you can't or don't want to go completely raw, you could supplement your cat's current diet with some raw to stretch your commercial food budget.

Laurie

 

;-; I can't even afford meat for myself, let alone the cat.

 

Can you afford the vet bills for ailments that you risk your cat developing by eating an a dry diet??

 

Wolfheartmoon, I hope things get better for you. This isn't forever so your pets will survive. A personal note, due to health conditions, I am trying to eat more rice, beans, tofu, and non meat items. With this and even frozen vegetables and fruit, you will be feeding yourself good food. Do the best you can.

 

Ahhh, Wolfheartmoon, don't let one poster knock you off balance!
There are to many people here who do understand!
You've got a ton of things to juggle right now in your life...
Just hang in there...
This to, shall pass...