Cat Food getting expensive

[Brat]

Hi there!

I switched my cats in February from dry kibble to canned Wellness. One of my cats had been rushed to the hospital with a urinary blockage. After a week in the hospital and a few more weeks of recovery, he's doing absolutely amazing. He was a pretty heavy guy (~18lbs) and now he's lost quite a bit of weight and he's looking very healthy. He plays a lot more just looks a lot happier overall.

Here's my dilemma. The Wellness I buy is $2.59 a can plus tax and according to the can instructions I should be feeding each of my cats half a can a day. So that's 45 cans a month. This comes out to approx. $132 with tax a month. We've been pulling it since February but it's been going on our credit card because right now we just don't have that kind of money to spend. I'm in school part time, we opened our own company last year and have been living on very little every month. On top of that I have a $3200 vet bill from when my cat got sick in February. It was my fault for feeding him that dry kibble crap and I feel so bad that I did that to him but I'm doing my best to make it up to him. I want to keep them on Wellness but I think I could only do about 30 cans a month. I feed them 3 times a day (morning, evening and before bed time) so this means one of their meals has to be something else just to help our budget right now. Once we have enough money we'll be doing full Wellness.

My question is what could I feed them as their third meal that won't be as expensive? The place where I buy my food suggested dry kibble with no grain (Taste of the Wild and Evo is what they gave me as sample packs) But to be honest, since February, I'm terrified of dry kibble. Is this no grain stuff okay or is just all bad? As their third meal should I keep it wet but maybe a cheaper kind?

Like I said, I'm really not trying to cheap out on my babies. It's just something we have to do right now. What I might do is feed my guy who had the urinary blockage all Wellness because he's more prone to getting sick again. And for the other two, I'll give them Wellness and something else.

I've read up on a Raw diet and making my own food but it's just not something I have any time for at the moment. Once I have more time and the money to buy a grinder I'd love to start doing that.

Any suggestions?

Thanks for your help!

-- Tamara

[sugarcatmom]

Originally Posted by Brat

My question is what could I feed them as their third meal that won't be as expensive? The place where I buy my food suggested dry kibble with no grain (Taste of the Wild and Evo is what they gave me as sample packs) But to be honest, since February, I'm terrified of dry kibble. Is this no grain stuff okay or is just all bad? As their third meal should I keep it wet but maybe a cheaper kind?

Stay away from all kibble, whether grain-free or not. Absolutely you can intersperse the Wellness with a cheaper canned like Friskies or if you find Fancy Feast on sale (Petsmart sometimes has good deals if you have a Pets Perks card). Also offering some fresh meat when you're cooking your own meals will provide some quality protein (just make sure it doesn't make up more than 10-20% of their diet because it isn't balanced).

[14+kitties]

I feel your pain, believe me! My bills are around $100 a week. Sometimes more.
Have you tried offering hearts and giblets? Liver? Things like that are inexpensive and would do well as a mid day snack. My guys love the giblets. Not too crazy about the hearts and liver but they will eat a little. I think with feeding Wellness twice a day you should be ok with something like that.
Good luck!

[Joeyjoejoe]

I do the same thing. 1 can of Wellness (Chicken & Beef) for my two cats per day. 1/2 can @ 7:30am, 1/2 can @ 7:30pm, and about a quarter cup Wellness Indoor Dry before I got to bed.

I'm annoyed that a few months ago, Wellness canned jumped up like 30 cents in price per can at both Pet Value and Global Ryan.

[ancientgirl]

I buy the 13 oz Innova and Innova Evo cans. I buy a case (12 cans) a week, which costs me about $23. I feed all 5 cats with one can in the morning. They each get 2 tables spoons. I mix the can in a bowl and add 4 tablespoons of warm water. It makes it so there is a little left over once they each get their tablespoon so I divide what's left into 5.

When I get home in the late afternoon, sometimes all their food is eaten, other times some is still left. They will eat a good bit when I put the food down, but then spend the time it's out just picking and snacking on it. For evening meal, the same drill.

I also give them treats every evening, so they get their little snacks throughout the night until bedtime.

See if you can buy the big cans. Sometimes they are less expensive, especially if you buy a case, and you get more out of them.

[phoozles]

Wellness is crazy expensive right now. I'm feeding my guys Performatrin (the Pet Valu brand). I buy the larger cans. It's cheaper, and it's grain free. Something you could try?