For many pet parents, the cost of feeding their cats is a difficult one. Several factors go into calculating how much cat food will cost an owner per month, but there are some things you can do to lower your expenses. One way is to buy in bulk online or from big box stores.
Another option is to find less expensive brands by looking for coupons or specials at discount grocery stores. Finally, consider switching over to raw feeding if you’re able to prepare all the meals yourself!
So, how much does cat food cost?
You will get what you pay for; cat food price is directly related to food quality. On average, one pound of dry kibble and canned food costs between $2 to $10, depending on quality and source of protein. Usually, it cost between 20$ to 50$ in a month, and yearly it ranges between 250$ to 600$.
In the long run, dry kibble is cost-effective as compared to canned food. But here, the food is not the only cost; on average, an American spend $41 annually on treats and $31 on supplements.
There is a list of best tasting dry cat food which are economical, easy to chew, and easy to digest.
Wet of Dry Which Food Is Better?
Wet cat foods may cost twice as much as dry kibble. Dry food is simple to prepare and can be stored for months. But wet cat food has a higher level of moisture, which makes the stool easier to clean up.
Dry kibble is cheaper but may not meet all your cat’s nutritional needs. Dry cat food usually contains by-product meals, brewers, rice, or corn. These ingredients are inexpensive to produce, but they don’t provide the full nutritional value.
Canned cat food is best for cats that need to gain or maintain weight. It’s higher in protein and fat than dry food, making it better suited for active cats trying to put on muscle mass rather than obese ones struggling with their weight.
What Type of Price Do Large Brands Offer?
Large companies generally produce food from similar ingredients and similar quality, making their product less expensive than smaller brands.
For example, Purina ONE provides an estimated cost of $1.20 per day per cat. That’s approximately $35 per month for one cat with no particular health needs or $72 per month for two cats.
What are High-Quality Protein Sources for Cats?
High-quality protein sources for cats include:
- Chicken and fish: can be expensive and can cause allergies in some cats.
- Eggs: easily digestible, inexpensive, and provide high-quality protein.
- Duck: relatively affordable and provides high-quality protein without fishy odor or oily residue that can upset the digestive system of some cats.
- Beef/lamb/venison: for almost all adult cats who do not have food sensitivities, these proteins help with strong muscles and bones.
- Pork: helps with strong muscles and bones and is great for cats who don’t like the taste of fish.
- Turkey: provides similar nutrients to chicken (skinless turkey breast is a great option for cats with weight problems or skin issues).
Cats like to eat small bits throughout their day. Grain-free kibble keeps your cat full longer due to its higher protein content from different sources such as chicken, turkey, duck, beef, lamb, pork, and eggs.
What Ingredients to Avoid?
Avoid ingredients that are found in lower-quality cat food. These include:
- Meat by-product meals are the leftovers of processed meats, bones, and organs not suitable for human consumption.
- Brewers rice, a cereal grain broken into pieces during processing, contains very little nutritional value.
- Corn as the main ingredient, which is a cheap and less nutritious filler.
- Soy as the main protein source, which many experts believe causes food allergies and intolerance in cats.
- Colors and Flavors, most cats are sensitive to colors and flavors.
- Food additives such as carrageenan (a thickening agent), guar gum (a binder), and propylene glycol (a preservative) are another sign of low-quality cat food.
- Cereal grains, grains in cat food, fill up cats and don’t provide the high level of protein they need to thrive.
What Are the Best Brands for Cats?
There’s no perfect brand that provides 100% balanced nutrition for any cat. But there are high-quality brands that offer a variety of options to keep your cat healthy, happy, and full throughout the day.
The cost of the food depends on the size of the bag, type of food (grain-free vs. grain-in), quality ingredients used in production, flavors offered, and the number of cats in the household.
A low-quality cat food requires feeding twice as much to ensure your cat is getting the nutrients it needs and ends up costing more in the long run.
You may save a few dollars with a smaller monthly food budget, but your cat’s overall health and happiness can suffer drastically from eating inferior-quality food.
As a furkid parent, you must be aware of what to feed a cat when out of food? And if you have multiple pets at your home cats, and dog, then get information regarding how to stop dogs from eating cat food? And how to keep cat food away from dogs? It is necessary to ensure your kitty gets what you fill in her bowl.
To the behavioral side to educate pet parents, we recently published a guide on “why does my cat keep throwing up her food?” it helps you understand why cats through up their meals.
Wrap Up – Price Should Not be the Main Factor
Generally speaking, you get what you pay for. Cheap ingredients are often substituted for more expensive ingredients that provide the health benefits your cat needs.
For example, cheap seafood may result in gastrointestinal issues due to an excess of fishy oils not fit for human consumption. On the other hand, source cuts of high-quality poultry contain less oil and a more appropriate balance of fats for a kitty’s sensitive system.
Although the price per bag may need to be higher, you will save in the long run by feeding your cat quality food that is properly absorbed and does not make them sick.