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Dry cat food is cheaper than wet.
The problem dry cat food is much higher in carbs. Not best for long term health.
Our 3 best budget cat foods strike a balance between health and affordability.
- Fancy Feast | Best Overall
- Friskies Pate | Best Bulk Buy
- Tiki Cat Born Carnivore | Best Dry
Finding affordable cat food that your cat likes is hard, but it doesn’t have to be.
Most budget cat foods are carb packed to save costs at the expense of your cats health.
I’ll offer some quick buying tips on what to look for with budget cat food, then offer my top picks.
Finally, I’ll go through any frequently asked questions on the topic.
Let’s go.
I am not a veterinarian and I recommend seeking the advice of a vet for any further questions. This article is not intended as a replacement for medical advice.
Buying Guide
How do you choose healthy cheap cat food?
Here’s what to do:
Choose a Sole Feeding Option
Cats need complete meals.
First, choose a sole feeding cat food option per AAFCO’s nutrition guidelines. That means cats get all the nutrients they need.
If the label says it’s only for supplemental feeding, it isn’t complete nutrition. Check the back label for this statement.
Quick notes:
- Choose complete food
- AAFCO nutrient profile
- Check back label
Learn more:
Dry or wet cat food?
Wet is best.
Whilst dry is cheaper, it’s higher in carbs and designed to imitate meat flavor. Dry cat food contains more grains, legumes, and potatoes.
This isn’t optimal for the long term health of your cat. Cats are carnivores, and wet food reflects their dietary preference.
Quick notes:
- Dry food cheaper
- Worse quality though
- Wet for health
Learn more:
Choose Low Carb Cat Food for Health
Low carb is best.
As carnivores, cats have no need for carbs. Cheaper cat foods load up on carb rich foods like grains to save on cost.
High carb diets cause digestive issues, and may increase diabetes risk. Use an online calculator to find the dry matter basis (experts suggest limiting to under 12%).
Quick notes:
- Choose low carb (~12% dry matter)
- Increases diabetes risk
- Use online calculator
Learn more:
Check the Ingredients
Meat is best.
As discussed, cheaper cat foods load up on grains and high carb ingredients. Things cats don’t want or need.
Ingredients list by weight. Steer clear if you see things like wheat gluten, corn, potatoes or cereals first.
Quick notes:
- Check the ingredients
- Listed by weight
- Look for meat first
3 Best Budget Cat Foods
1. Fancy Feast Creamy Delights
Best Wet Cat Food
Pros and Cons
Summary
Fancy Feast is the best cat food on a budget. Fussy cat friendly.
Their wet cat foods are low carb and high in animal protein. Meets AAFCO’s nutrition guidelines as a complete meal for all life stages.
They offer variety packs to save.
The main downside is the use of meat by-products. That leads to mixed quality from tin to tin.
Best for:
- Value for money
- Picky eaters
- Easy digestion
Where to find Fancy Feast Creamy Delights?
Read more:
2. Friskies Pate
Best Bulk Buy
Pros and Cons
Summary
Friskies are a popular bulk buy wet cat food. Fussy cats will love it.
Whilst the carb content is borderline high (hovers around 15% dry matter), it is still higher in animal based ingredients than dry cat food.
For picky cats that just won’t budge, Friskies is worth a look.
Best for:
- Budget buy
- Multiple cat houses
- Fussy eaters
Where to find Friskies Pate?
Read more:
3. Tiki Cat Born Carnivore
Best Quality Affordable Dry Cat Food
Pros and Cons
Summary
Tiki Cat Born Carnivore falls under 15% carbs on a dry matter basis.
That’s far better than, well 99% of what’s out there! It’s the only cheaper dry cat food I can recommend without hating myself.
Whilst it’s a little pricier than the ultra budget cat foods, it’s worth it for your cats health.
Best for:
- Easy digestion
- Diabetic cats
- All life stages
Where to find Tiki Cat Born Carnivore?
Read more:
How Did I Choose These Cat Foods?
Using a database.
I sorted cat foods based on a price per ounce basis for the purpose of this article. I filtered supplemental cat foods and high carb foods (highest is Friskies Pate).
Finally, I looked at overall quality based on ingredients, nutrition, and taste.
Full list of the budget cat foods:
| Best budget cat foods | Price | Type | Texture | Carb* | Lifestage | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friskies Pate | $ | Wet | Pate | 16% | Adult | Best value, although slightly high carb |
| Halo Chicken Recipe | $ | Wet | Stew | 8% | Adult | Mixed taste results |
| Dave’s Naturally | $ | Wet | Pate | 4% | Adult | Mixed taste results |
| Fancy Feast Creamy Delights | $ | Wet | Pate | 1% | All | Great taste and quality |
| Nulo Freestyle | $ | Wet | Pate | 6% | All | Great choice (untested) |
| Tiki Cat Born Carnivore | $ | Dry | Kibble | 14% | All | Best dry cat food |
| Natural Balance Duck & Pea | $ | Wet | Pate | 8% | Adult | Limited ingredient choice |
| Avo Derm Tuna & Crab | $$ | Wet | Gravy | 11% | All | Chicken free |
| Sheba Perfect Portions Roasted | $$ | Wet | Pate | 7% | All | Handy single serve tubs |
| Hound & Gatos | $$ | Wet | Pate | 0% | All | 98% protein & low carb |
| Dr. Elsey’s Clean Protein | $$ | Dry | Kibble | 0% | All | Best low carb, at a slightly higher cost |
Frequently Asked Questions
How Can I Feed My Cat Cheaply?
Don’t overfeed.
Free-feeding is one of the main causes of obesity in cats. It’s also a waste of cash.
Other tips:
- Bulk buy
- Taste test first
- Look for sales
Learn more:
Which Budget Cat Food Is Best?
Fancy Feast.
It’s great for fussy eaters, and low carb for top health. Meat rich to keep your cat strong.
Other great reasons:
- Urinary health
- Complete meal
- Great variety
Learn more:
Are Canned Sardines Good for Cats?
Maybe.
Sardines are high protein, but also high in polyunsaturated fats (PUFA). AAFCO suggest balancing PUFA and Vitamin E.
Eating high amounts of PUFA changes the ratio of PUFA to other fats in fatty tissue. High PUFA intakes may increase the risk of renal failure due to inflammation.
Quick notes:
- High protein
- High PUFA
- Occasional meal only
What Ingredients Should Not Be in Cat Food?
Avoid or limit:
- Corn gluten meal
- Wheat gluten
- Pea protein
- Potatoes
- Lentils
- Brewers rice
- Carrageenan
Brewers rice impairs the absorption of taurine, an essential amino acid crucial for healthy eyesight and heart function.
Carrageenan is a seaweed-based thickener used in wet cat food. It’s linked to increased immune response and digestive-related issues.
Learn More:
Conclusion
Wet cat food is the best choice on a budget. It’s lower in carbs and helps keep your cat hydrated.
Look for cheap cat food that meets AAFCO’s nutrition targets for your cats life stage. This makes sure your cat gets a balanced diet.
Try giving your cat a taste test before committing to a cat food. Then look at bulk buy packs to save long term.
Top picks:
- Fancy Feast | Best Overall
- Friskies Pate | Best Bulk Buy
- Tiki Cat Born Carnivore | Best Dry
