Best Affordable Cat Food
This page contains affiliate links. We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post through our independently chosen links, which earn us a commission.
There’s a common saying that good cat food isn’t cheap and cheap cat food isn’t good. While this may be an over-simplification, it does highlight the fact that some cat foods cost more than others. What makes some cat foods more expensive, and how do you tell if a higher price tag is justified by the quality of the product?
It’s your job as a cat owner to choose a nutritious diet for your cat, and you should always buy the highest quality product you can consistently afford.
Keep reading to learn more about why some cat foods cost more than others and how to choose a high-quality product that won’t break the bank. You’ll also see our top picks for the best affordable cat food.
Why Do Some Cat Foods Cost More Than Others?
There are several things that factor into the cost of cat food. The biggest factor is, of course, the quality of the ingredients. Premium animal proteins like chicken, beef, and fish cost more than plant proteins, and low-quality grains like corn, wheat, and soy are much cheaper than whole grains.
Generally speaking, the higher the quality of the ingredients, the more digestible and nutritious the food will be.
Another thing that affects the cost of a cat food is the manufacturing process. Products that are dehydrated, freeze-dried, or sold fresh are going to be more expensive than traditional kibble – products that are extruded and cooked at high heat to make them shelf-stable.
Products made in small batches cost more than mass-produced cat foods, and companies that use locally-sourced ingredients or human-grade ingredients may charge more to recoup their costs.
Keeping all of these things in mind, you’re now ready to learn how to choose the best affordable cat food. Here’s what you need to know:
How To Choose The Best Affordable Cat Food?
When it comes to shopping for cat food, your cat’s nutritional needs are the most important thing to consider. Cats are obligate carnivores, so the majority of their nutrition should come from animal sources like meat, poultry, and fish.
Cats also need healthy fats (particularly a blend of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids) for healthy skin and coat. These and other nutrients can be found in cat foods at all price ranges, so it’s up to you to learn how to identify a good cat food that is also affordable.
Here are some things to look for in an affordable cat food:
- Real animal protein. Your cat requires a minimum of 26% protein in its diet, but higher protein content (especially from animal sources) is usually best.
- Healthy fats. Fat provides your cat with a concentrated source of energy and should make up at least 9% of his diet. Chicken fat and salmon oil are excellent examples of nutritious fats for cats.
- Whole-food ingredients. The higher the quality of the ingredients in your cat’s food, the more nutritious and digestible it will be. Make sure that at least the first five ingredients on the list are whole foods and not by-products or fillers.
- No fillers or by-products. Low-quality grains like corn and wheat are commonly used in cheap cat food to add bulk to the product without significantly increasing the price. These ingredients have little to no nutritional value, so avoid cat foods made with by-products and additives.
- Complete and balanced. As long as the cat food, you’re looking at carries an AAFCO statement of nutritional adequacy, you know it meets your cat’s minimum nutritional requirements. Keep in mind that this statement says nothing about the quality– that is still up to you to determine.
Compare Best Affordable Cat Food
|
Best Overall
1. Purina Beyond Simply Indoor Wild-Caught Salmon, Egg & Sweet Potato Recipe Grain-Free Dry Cat Food |
Best Affordable
2. Whole Earth Farms Grain-Free Healthy Kitten Recipe Dry Cat Food |
Best For Grain-Free
3. Rachael Ray Nutrish Zero Grain Natural Dry Cat Food, Chicken & Potato Recipe |
Best For Wet Cat
4. Weruva Paw Lickin' Chicken in Gravy Grain-Free Canned Cat Food |
Best For Allergies
5. Blue Buffalo Basics Limited Ingredient Grain-Free Formula Fish & Potato Indoor Adult Dry Cat Food |
|
Protein
33% Min |
Protein
36% Min |
Protein
32% Min |
Protein
10% Min |
Protein
30% Min |
|
Fat
10% Min |
Fat
14% Min |
Fat
12% Min |
Fat
1.4% Min |
Fat
14% Min |
|
Fiber
6.5% Max |
Fiber
5% Max |
Fiber
5% Max |
Fiber
0.5% Max |
Fiber
6% Max |
|
Moisture
12% Max |
Moisture
11% Max |
Moisture
9% Max |
Moisture
85% Max |
Moisture
9% Max |
|
Caloric Content
3,301 kcal/kg |
Caloric Content
3,500 kcal/kg |
Caloric Content
3,496 kcal/kg |
Caloric Content
57 kcal/3-oz can |
Caloric Content
3,952 kcal/kg |
The Top 5 Best Affordable Cat Foods
The best cat food for your cat is one that provides for its nutritional needs in a healthy and balanced way. As a cat owner, it’s your job to provide for your cat’s basic needs and a wholesome diet is part of that. You need to figure out how to walk the line between providing for your cat’s needs and sticking to your budget. To help, we’ve compiled a list of affordable cat foods that offer decent quality nutrition.
Purina Beyond Simply Indoor Wild-Caught Salmon, Egg & Sweet Potato Recipe Grain-Free Dry Cat Food
Product Info
- Protein: 33% Min
- Fat: 10% Min
- Fiber: 6.5% Max
- Moisture: 12% Max
- Caloric Content: 3,301 kcal/kg
- Real salmon and chicken as top two ingredients
- Highly digestible with supplemental fiber
- Complete and balanced with vitamins and minerals
- May be too high in fiber for some cats
- Mineral supplements are not chelated
It features real animal proteins like salmon, chicken, and eggs with grain-free carbohydrates to ensure digestibility.
It contains plenty of supplemental fiber for healthy digestion as well, and it is supplemented with vitamins and minerals to ensure nutritional balance. Overall, it offers decent quality at a very affordable price.
Whole Earth Farms Grain-Free Healthy Kitten Recipe Dry Cat Food
Product Info
- Protein: 36% Min
- Fat: 14% Min
- Fiber: 5% Max
- Moisture: 11% Max
- Caloric Content: 3,500 kcal/kg
- Real chicken and turkey meals as the top two ingredients
- Rich in fiber with probiotics for healthy digestion
- Supplemented with chelated minerals for optimal nutrient absorption.
- Contains plant protein as a main ingredient (pea protein)
It is supplemented with fiber and probiotics for healthy digestion and contains chelated minerals to ensure balanced nutrition and optimal nutrient absorption. It offers a full 36% protein with 14% fat.
Rachael Ray Nutrish Zero Grain Natural Dry Cat Food, Chicken & Potato Recipe
Product Info
- Protein: 32% Min
- Fat: 12% Min
- Fiber: 5% Max
- Moisture: 9% Max
- Caloric Content: 3,496 kcal/kg
- Real farm-raised chicken as the first ingredient
- Naturally gluten-free and grain-free
- Highly digestible with supplemental fiber
- Contains some plant protein (pea protein)
This formula contains no poultry by-products or fillers, and it is free from artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives. Simply put, if you want a decent grain-free cat food that won’t break the bank, this is one to try.
Weruva Paw Lickin' Chicken in Gravy Grain-Free Canned Cat Food
Product Info
- Protein: 10% Min
- Fat: 1.4% Min
- Fiber: 0.5% Max
- Moisture: 85% Max
- Caloric Content: 57 kcal/3-oz can
- Real cage-free chicken as the first ingredient
- Cooked in a flavorful gravy to increase moisture and flavor
- No artificial additives, fillers, or by-products
- Primary source of fat is plant-based (sunflower seed oil)
It features real cage-free chicken as the main ingredient in a recipe that is grain-free, gluten-free, and carrageenan-free.
It is made in a flavorful gravy your cat won’t be able to resist but also provides for its nutritional needs in a healthy, balanced way.
Blue Buffalo Basics Limited Ingredient Grain-Free Formula Fish & Potato Indoor Adult Dry Cat Food
Product Info
- Protein: 30% Min
- Fat: 14% Min
- Fiber: 6% Max
- Moisture: 9% Max
- Caloric Content: 3,952 kcal/kg
- Limited number of ingredients to prevent allergies
- Fresh fish as the first ingredient, supplemented with menhaden fish meal
- Highly digestible with fiber and probiotics
- Contains some plant protein as a main ingredient (pea protein)
- May be too high in fiber for some cats
It features deboned whitefish as the main ingredient with menhaden fish meal as a concentrated source of supplemental protein.
It is highly digestible, rich in protein and healthy fats, plus it contains fresh fruits and vegetables to deliver natural sources for key nutrients.
Final Remarks
Many cat owners make the mistake of shopping for cat food based on the price tag alone. While bottom-shelf cat foods may technically meet AAFCO requirements for nutritional balance, low-quality ingredients are much harder for your cat to digest, and they offer limited nutritional value.
The better the ingredients, the better the product, and the better it will be for your cat’s long-term health and wellness.
The most important thing to remember is that you should buy the highest quality cat food you can consistently afford. If you’re not sure where to start, try one of our top 5 picks reviewed above!
