Healthiest low budget food options for my kittens

[toulousekitty]

I have one 3 month old kitten and one 22 day old kitten. My 3 month old kitten is currently eating mainly dry food and some wet cat food, and is having an issue with soft stools recently that may be due to his dry food. My 3 week old kitten is still being bottle fed, but I would prefer to feed them the same diet when she is older. What are the best low cost food options that give the most overall nutrition for the best price? I am looking to find dry, wet, or foods but am unsure of which brands of food or methods of feeding are of the best quality for the price. I am also looking for foods or tips to provide good dental health for my kittens as they grow. So far they have no sensitivities that I am aware of, although they are still young! Any advice appreciated.

 

[LTS3]

There are lots of TCS threads on affordable foods:

http://www.thecatsite.com/t/308964/healthy-but-affordable-canned-food

http://www.thecatsite.com/t/272192/affordable-canned-food

http://www.thecatsite.com/t/327692/cheapest-most-affordable-grain-free-or-healthiest-canned-food

http://www.thecatsite.com/t/330459/...conomical-way-to-buy-friskies-canned-cat-food

http://www.thecatsite.com/t/306956/new-affordable-petsmart-brand-d

http://www.thecatsite.com/t/292890/4health-now-has-affordable-grain-free-wet-food

http://www.thecatsite.com/t/271014/...rying-to-find-a-decent-back-up-rotation-brand

Also these:

http://www.thecatsite.com/a/choosing-the-right-food-for-your-cat

http://www.thecatsite.com/a/choosing-the-right-food-for-your-cat-part-2

http://www.thecatsite.com/a/grain-free-cat-food-what-does-it-mean

http://www.thecatsite.com/a/what-makes-the-best-canned-cat-food

Just look for the highest quality foods with minimal grains and fillers and you can afford. A brand your cats like to eat is important too. Supermarkets and big box storse tend to have only the mass marketed really low quality brands filled with junk. Look for better foods at chain pet stores (Petco, etc) and small independent pet stores.

No food will help keep teeth clean. It's a myth that even vets believe. Here's an article: http://www.thecatsite.com/a/does-dry-food-actually-clean-your-cats-teeth The only way to keep your cats' teeth clean is the same as you would do for your own teeth: regular toothrbushing and the occasional dental as needed. Brushing a cat's teeth can be hard at first but with lots of patience and a yummy flavored toothpaste it can be done. Brushing daily is best but a few times a week is better than nothing. There are lots of info here on TCS on how to brush a cat's teeth.

 

[msserena]

Wouldn't the youngest need some kind of milk? There are many rescue people on here, I'd hear what they have to say.

I just researched a few brands/varieties & came up with this. A lot of people say FF Classic line is one of the cheapest decent foods to feed, I haven't gone down that path yet.

Against The Grain non fish is $.46-.50 per oz

Fancy Feast Purely non fish is $.64-.66 per oz

Soulistic non fish is $.25-.32 per oz

Tiki Cat non fish is $.42-.65 per oz

Weruva non fish is $.28-.50 per oz

Fussie Cat non fish is $.43 per oz

Since they're kittens, they need kitten food - that is super important! Feed them kitten food until they're at least a year old. I fed mine Merrick dry & Wellness Core Kitten. They loved them!

 

[catapault]

Fancy Feast Classic Tender Beef Feast and FF Classic Turkey and Giblets do not have carbohydrates. Wal-Mart and Shoprite supermarket sell them for 57 cents / 3 ounce can which is 19 cents / ounce. My adult cats, neutered males, each eat 2 cans / day which comes to $1.14 per cat per day.

You can expect that kittens, while smaller, will eat more because they are growing so rapidly. Kittens also need more frequent but smaller meals because their little tummies don't hold so much food. Three meals / day O.K., four if you can manage it is even better. If you can afford it, all canned food is best, mix of canned and dry O.K., all dry food is not so good.

Here's to happy days and long life with your two kittens. What are their names? And any pictures to share - would love to see them.

 

[LTS3]

 
Wouldn't the youngest need some kind of milk? There are many rescue people on here, I'd hear what they have to say.

OP does say that the 3 week old is currently being bottle fed. When it's time to start weaning the kitten onto regular food, it's probably best to start with some watered down canned food and then later move onto some dry food. Once the younger kitten is eating solid food, just free feed both cats since they need a lot of food for their growing bodies.

What brand of food is the older cat eating? There may be something in the food that is causing the soft stools. If you think it's the dry food, try stopping the dry food for a week or so to see if the poop improves.

 

[toulousekitty]

LTS3 thank you for all of the helpful links! Yes, by dry food I meant this specific brand of dry food (petsmart brand that was given to me), which was the cause of the soft stools. I have switched to fancy feast for the time being for Toulouse.

The 3 month old kitten is a black domestic shorthair boy named Toulouse

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• toulousekitty
• Jan 23, 2017

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• toulousekitty
• Jan 23, 2017

And the 3 week old kitten is a blue lynx point Siamese girl named Violette

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• toulousekitty
• Jan 23, 2017

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• toulousekitty
• Jan 23, 2017

I was wondering what anyones opinions on giving raw bones for dental health. I have only researched it a small amount, but along with or compared to regular brushing, does this seem to be beneficial and enjoyable to your cat? Thanks!

 

[LTS3]

I was wondering what anyones opinions on giving raw bones for dental health. I have only researched it a small amount, but along with or compared to regular brushing, does this seem to be beneficial and enjoyable to your cat? Thanks!

Many raw feeders here on TCS do give raw meaty bones and gizzards and such for dental health. It probably does help some. You can feed raw bones in addition to tooth brushing and other dental care methods. I personally don't feed my raw fed cats bones and such. Neither knows what to do with a chunk of bone

I just brush their teeth

 

[msserena]

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• toulousekitty
• Jan 23, 2017

And the 3 week old kitten is a blue lynx point Siamese girl named Violette

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• toulousekitty
• Jan 23, 2017

IMG_1162.JPG

• toulousekitty
• Jan 23, 2017

I was wondering what anyones opinions on giving raw bones for dental health. I have only researched it a small amount, but along with or compared to regular brushing, does this seem to be beneficial and enjoyable to your cat? Thanks!

Oh my gosh - they are so adorable!!!

 

[toulousekitty]

Thank you!