Can anyone recommend a grain-free dry cat food that isn't too expensive? Right now my girls get Blue Wilderness and I try to buy it when it is on sale but even then it is pricey. And although Tiger and Lily eat it, they don't seem to like it as much as the cheap stuff they're not really supposed to be eating. Any thoughts on what I could try without breaking the bank?
kidcat
Buy brands like Wellness grain-free or Dave's in the biggest cans available--12.5 or 13 oz cans. I'd start changing up proteins, brands, and textures so they won't be bored eating the same thing day in and day out, too.
Look for online sales once you get several brands and foods your kitties like to eat. I have bought Nature's Variety Instinct in the 13 oz cans in several flavors. Our forum has a vendor I've purchased from when they had specials, but I don't think quality canned food comes "cheap". It's quite a bit cheaper than if I simply buy 3 or 5.5 oz cans, though!
Look for online sales once you get several brands and foods your kitties like to eat. I have bought Nature's Variety Instinct in the 13 oz cans in several flavors. Our forum has a vendor I've purchased from when they had specials, but I don't think quality canned food comes "cheap". It's quite a bit cheaper than if I simply buy 3 or 5.5 oz cans, though!
Thanks for the suggestion! But I'm looking for dry food recommendations. My girls already love the Simply Nourish brand grain free wet food. 
Nature's Variety Instinct. For the big bag I pay at Petco or Petsmart ~$ 40.- if it is not on sale. Sale is about $ 4.- cheaper then regular price. The big bag last our Pepper 6 month. She gets only a 1/4 cup per day and 2.75 oz wet food/day
Ah, my bad. My eyes skimmed over the word, "dry"! Lol.
Doodlebug should have some to recommend since you've already mentioned Blue Wilderness as your price max-point.
Doodlebug should have some to recommend since you've already mentioned Blue Wilderness as your price max-point.
Grain free dry cat foods have several levels of quality:
Best: High protein (35%+) with all protein coming from meat sources. (Examples: Orijen, Wilderness, Instinct, Go Fit & Free, Wellness CORE original)
Mid: High protein (35%+) but includes some pea or potato protein. (Examples: Taste of the Wild, Earthborn, Fromm 4 Star, CORE Tky/Duck or Indoor, Merrick Purrfect Bistro)
Mid: Lower protein (<35%) all from meat sources (Examples: Evanger's Meat Lovers, Now!, Wild Calling, Acana, Blue Buffalo Freedom)
Lower: Lower protein (<35%) with pea or potato protein (Examples: Natural Balance LID, Halo Spot's Stew, Science Diet Grain Free, Science Diet Ideal Balance)
Price can vary wildly and there are foods in the lower category that are just as pricey as the best. IMO if you can't afford foods in the Best category, then the best bang for the buck are Taste of the Wild, Earthborn and Evanger's Meat Lovers.
I created 2 "Mid" categories because there is a distinction...the question is which is better...higher protein but some sourced from plants or a little lower protein but all sourced from meat but with a higher carb level. I lean towards the high protein with some from plants as being the better choice.
Best: High protein (35%+) with all protein coming from meat sources. (Examples: Orijen, Wilderness, Instinct, Go Fit & Free, Wellness CORE original)
Mid: High protein (35%+) but includes some pea or potato protein. (Examples: Taste of the Wild, Earthborn, Fromm 4 Star, CORE Tky/Duck or Indoor, Merrick Purrfect Bistro)
Mid: Lower protein (<35%) all from meat sources (Examples: Evanger's Meat Lovers, Now!, Wild Calling, Acana, Blue Buffalo Freedom)
Lower: Lower protein (<35%) with pea or potato protein (Examples: Natural Balance LID, Halo Spot's Stew, Science Diet Grain Free, Science Diet Ideal Balance)
Price can vary wildly and there are foods in the lower category that are just as pricey as the best. IMO if you can't afford foods in the Best category, then the best bang for the buck are Taste of the Wild, Earthborn and Evanger's Meat Lovers.
I created 2 "Mid" categories because there is a distinction...the question is which is better...higher protein but some sourced from plants or a little lower protein but all sourced from meat but with a higher carb level. I lean towards the high protein with some from plants as being the better choice.
When I was feeding dry, I included three brands in the rotation: Wilderness, Fromm, TOTW, and the girls LOVED all three. (I included three because at the time it seemed like there were a lot of recalls for dry food and I wanted at least one that was ok at any time.) By far the least expensive of those three was the Taste of the Wild (Rocky Mountain).
When I fed dry I always went with Merrick. At my local pet store chain Pet Supplies Plus, they almost always had the 4lb. bag of Merrick on sale for $10 (I would also have coupons sometimes to bring it lower!). My girls did absolutely great on Merrick and I recommend it highly. Not sure how the price of it compares to Blue Buffalo, though, since I've never fed that.
Also, Taste of the Wild is definitely one of the cheapest grain-free dry foods I've ever seen. I'm always wary of them (and any pet foods made by Diamond) because of their recalls, but my mom feeds it in a mixture with Acana to her Pomeranians and they do great. I think she gets her 5lb bags of TOTW at Rural King for $10.
Also, Taste of the Wild is definitely one of the cheapest grain-free dry foods I've ever seen. I'm always wary of them (and any pet foods made by Diamond) because of their recalls, but my mom feeds it in a mixture with Acana to her Pomeranians and they do great. I think she gets her 5lb bags of TOTW at Rural King for $10.
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