Need Cheap But Nutritious Food Suggestions

[TooManyFelines]

A close relative has gotten himself into huge legal trouble and we had to take in his 4 cats or they would have ended up at animal control and, as they are adults and one is diabetic, probably euthanized.

We have 4 of our own whom we feed mostly very good quality canned food, but we will not be able to continue to do this for 8. Are there any fairly low cost canned foods that are also okay to feed everyone that you guys can recommend?

 

[sidneykitty]

First of all, thank you for your rescuing these kitties! You are amazing <3

Personally, I think the Fancy Feast Classic Pates line is quite good quality for a low price! The only thing you may not like is the small can sizes so that's going to be quite a lot of cans for 8 cats. But the ingredients are mostly meat, no carbs. Around where I am in Oregon, they tend to be 70-90 US cents per can.

Maybe there is a brand that makes bigger sized cans that can be cost-effective. Hopefully someone else might know more about those and can help you out!

 

[Kieka]

The Fancy Feast Classics is probably your best choice right now. A low carb diet should help the diabetic one as well, you'll want to mointior the medication closely and do a follow up with a vet in a few months to see if it should be adjusted regardless of what food you do because diet can impact medication requirements.

 

[TooManyFelines]

First of all, thank you for your rescuing these kitties! You are amazing <3

Personally, I think the Fancy Feast Classic Pates line is quite good quality for a low price! The only thing you may not like is the small can sizes so that's going to be quite a lot of cans for 8 cats. But the ingredients are mostly meat, no carbs. Around where I am in Oregon, they tend to be 70-90 US cents per can.

Maybe there is a brand that makes bigger sized cans that can be cost-effective. Hopefully someone else might know more about those and can help you out!

Aww, thank you. Husband and I are not at all happy about having 8 cats, but what can you do. FF, our 18 year old loves it and has it for treat when she stops eating the good food. I get her the classic pate chicken and liver, glad to read it's a decent food. I thought I was indulging her with junk.

The Fancy Feast Classics is probably your best choice right now. A low carb diet should help the diabetic one as well, you'll want to mointior the medication closely and do a follow up with a vet in a few months to see if it should be adjusted regardless of what food you do because diet can impact medication requirements.

2nd FF endorsement, glad to read it. Yes, we'll definitely have to have her checked pretty soon. She is on 3 units of prozinc twice daily and was at death's door a while back but has recovered and gained weight and she walks almost normal. He was feeding her a partly raw diet with chicken hearts and gizzards so I might supplement her with that on top of a balanced canned diet.

 

[lisahe]

Yes, Fancy Feast Classics are pretty decent foods! So are Sheba pates, which I think are a bit better, though I think they're also a bit pricier.

A very good alternative if you have a Tractor Supply Store near you is the Paws & Claws "Kitchen Selects" line of pates: they're pretty much like Fancy Feast, very low in carbs, but (IMHO) the ingredients are a little better. And they're cheaper! Our cats don't like them as much as FF. Probably just because they know they're cheaper.

Good for you for taking in more cats!

 

[Kflowers]

My diabetic cat and the others at the time did well on Friskies, but the FF is a good idea because you may have to tempt her to eat from time to time. Just a suggestion, give her the insulin shot right before you feed her. After the second time, she should be jumping up on the counter/table for the shot because it makes them feel better almost instantly. Do not give the shot while she's eating. This tends to make them stop eating, despite what your vet suggests.

If you feel bad about the cans, they are aluminum and can be recycled. When you get to the recycling place someone will tell you
the cans are tin/steel. Let them do the magnet test then head on to the aluminum bin.

You are a good person. From experience I promise 8 aren't any more trouble than 4. Just be sure everyone has their own carrier.

 

[LTS3]

Low carb diabetic-friendly FF: Wheat gluten free, low carbohydrate Wet Food

Use this chart to find other canned foods that are under 10% carbs for the diabetic cat (the others can also eat as well): http://catinfo.org/docs/CatFoodProteinFatCarbPhosphorusChart.pdf

For help with the diabetic cat's insulin, monitoring, etc you should join the FelineDiabetes.com message board.

Are the 4 cats just in your home temporarily until the relative is in a more stable situation? It would be best to discuss with the relative about long-term care for the cats if you aren't able to do so in addition to your own cats.

 

[1 bruce 1]

I'll endorse the FF classic pates, too. We have a 12 year old cat with lots of health problems, and it's the only food we've found he digests well
We have 9 cats. They found us. They're work, but they're rewarding and we enjoy them all. Going from 4 to 8 would be a shell shock, but once everyone is settled in you may wonder how you got along without them

 

[catapault]

Years ago when we had a diabetic cat I switched all three cats to FF pates, Classic Tender Beef Feast and also Turkey and Giblets. Mist is now over the Rainbow Bridge and the two remaining cats are still eating FF. I usually get it from Cheweys, which is a little less than Wal-Mart. The beef is about 65 cents/can while the turkey & giblets is a little less. Three ounce cans, two per cat per day. The boys are indoors only, active, bright eyed, good weight, nice coats.

Bless you for doubling the purr family. How did you manage the introductions - it must have been a circus for a while. Pictures of the newcomers and original family?

 

[Willowy]

I don't find Fancy Feast to be especially affordable as a sole food---with 8 cats it will cost around $10 a day to feed them all (assuming price of 60 cents per 3-oz can, 2 cans per cat). But, yes, the pates are a fine choice, if that's in the budget.

My cats do well on canned Friskies pate flavors. The 13-oz can is around $1.10-$1.20 at most places ($1.00 at Dollar Tree or some online sources), 5.5-oz cans are usually around 55 cents. Most of the Classic Pate flavors are on the low-carb list.

Or you could do half Friskies and half Fancy Feast.

 

[maggiedemi]

Another vote for Friskies Pate.

 

[MoonstoneWolf]

My cats love the Friskies Pate. But sadly there is only one flavor in my area that comes as pate so the others I run through the blender for them as Shaman is the problem child with eating anything but pate. She hates mousse. $1 at Dollar General by me.

 

[Kflowers]

The blender is a really good idea.

 

[maggiedemi]

My cats hate their food run through the blender. It's worth a try, but it didn't work for me.

 

[MoonstoneWolf]

The blender is a really good idea.

I forgot who recommended that to me. It was on here about the feeding situation. I think they said immersion blender but I regular blender (can't do ice) that I haven't used in 2 years and only used it 3 times before hand. First time was a bust and too watery but I just added kibble to it to run through the blender even more.

 

[TooManyFelines]

Yes, Fancy Feast Classics are pretty decent foods! So are Sheba pates, which I think are a bit better, though I think they're also a bit pricier.

A very good alternative if you have a Tractor Supply Store near you is the Paws & Claws "Kitchen Selects" line of pates: they're pretty much like Fancy Feast, very low in carbs, but (IMHO) the ingredients are a little better. And they're cheaper! Our cats don't like them as much as FF. Probably just because they know they're cheaper.

Good for you for taking in more cats!

Thanks so much, I didn't know about the tractor supply line of foods. I do try to avoid carageenan and fishy foods because one of ours has problems with both and I've read some scary stuff about carageenan. But the TS gravy foods don't seem to have any, so those look promising.

My diabetic cat and the others at the time did well on Friskies, but the FF is a good idea because you may have to tempt her to eat from time to time. Just a suggestion, give her the insulin shot right before you feed her. After the second time, she should be jumping up on the counter/table for the shot because it makes them feel better almost instantly. Do not give the shot while she's eating. This tends to make them stop eating, despite what your vet suggests.

If you feel bad about the cans, they are aluminum and can be recycled. When you get to the recycling place someone will tell you
the cans are tin/steel. Let them do the magnet test then head on to the aluminum bin.

You are a good person. From experience I promise 8 aren't any more trouble than 4. Just be sure everyone has their own carrier.

The vet who has her records and whom we called to find out her dosage said she should be given her shot while she eats, so we've been doing that. She is quite hungry and since we are supposed to feed her every 12 hours she is good and ready to eat by the time it's shot time. Ours are not happy though, they are used to having food down until it's eaten and getting some kibble every day as well. So we are all going to have to adjust.

8 are really too much for us, we are kind of old and getting ready to retire within a couple years. So this has thrown a huge monkey wrench into our plans. Not just financially, but personally as well.

Low carb diabetic-friendly FF: Wheat gluten free, low carbohydrate Wet Food

Use this chart to find other canned foods that are under 10% carbs for the diabetic cat (the others can also eat as well): http://catinfo.org/docs/CatFoodProteinFatCarbPhosphorusChart.pdf

For help with the diabetic cat's insulin, monitoring, etc you should join the FelineDiabetes.com message board.

Are the 4 cats just in your home temporarily until the relative is in a more stable situation? It would be best to discuss with the relative about long-term care for the cats if you aren't able to do so in addition to your own cats.

Thank you for the links and the advice, much appreciated. This situation the relative is in is a very serious legal situation and it is a huge mess we have to deal with as well. The pets are only part of the fallout. About all we can do for now is give her the shots and take her to the vet when needed until the dust settles.

But realistically, our relative is going to go away for a while and we are probably going to be stuck with them permanently. They also do not have financial resources to assist with the costs of the cat's upkeep so it is 100% on us which is why I am trying to find ways to lower food costs.

I'll endorse the FF classic pates, too. We have a 12 year old cat with lots of health problems, and it's the only food we've found he digests well
We have 9 cats. They found us. They're work, but they're rewarding and we enjoy them all. Going from 4 to 8 would be a shell shock, but once everyone is settled in you may wonder how you got along without them

I hear you, our 4 all adopted us. We had 5 but we lost one last February. He was only 8 but had stomatitis and other related problems and was always a sick little guy. We took him to a vet dental specialist to have all his teeth removed after we took him in and that gave him 7 fairly healthy years.

Our 18 year old is very finicky but FF chicken and liver will usually get her to eating when she refuses the other food.

The cats are innocent and there is no way they are going to animal control so unless we are able to find really good homes, they will stay.

Years ago when we had a diabetic cat I switched all three cats to FF pates, Classic Tender Beef Feast and also Turkey and Giblets. Mist is now over the Rainbow Bridge and the two remaining cats are still eating FF. I usually get it from Cheweys, which is a little less than Wal-Mart. The beef is about 65 cents/can while the turkey & giblets is a little less. Three ounce cans, two per cat per day. The boys are indoors only, active, bright eyed, good weight, nice coats.

Bless you for doubling the purr family. How did you manage the introductions - it must have been a circus for a while. Pictures of the newcomers and original family?

I love chewy, they sent us flowers when our kitty passed in February. I order all of our food and litter from them. I usually purchase a large FF pack to have on hand when our 18 year old does not want to eat, so I'll stock up more as well as try the TS food recommended by Lisa.

The cats already knew each other because we've watched them occasionally off and on when our relative had to go out of town. So there is still some sniping, but nothing major.

I will take pics and post when I am able, we are running ragged right now because we are having to deal with relative's situation which requires a 5 hour drive every few days, plus our work and some ongoing medical issues with related appointments and upcoming surgery for me, so things are really rough and stressful.

I don't find Fancy Feast to be especially affordable as a sole food---with 8 cats it will cost around $10 a day to feed them all (assuming price of 60 cents per 3-oz can, 2 cans per cat). But, yes, the pates are a fine choice, if that's in the budget.

My cats do well on canned Friskies pate flavors. The 13-oz can is around $1.10-$1.20 at most places ($1.00 at Dollar Tree or some online sources), 5.5-oz cans are usually around 55 cents. Most of the Classic Pate flavors are on the low-carb list.

Or you could do half Friskies and half Fancy Feast.

Egads, $300 a month is out of the question. Will have to look into Friskies then as well.

Another vote for Friskies Pate.

Thank you, it's on the list!!

My cats love the Friskies Pate. But sadly there is only one flavor in my area that comes as pate so the others I run through the blender for them as Shaman is the problem child with eating anything but pate. She hates mousse. $1 at Dollar General by me.

I'll keep the blender idea in mind. Why do kitties have to be so difficult?

I forgot who recommended that to me. It was on here about the feeding situation. I think they said immersion blender but I regular blender (can't do ice) that I haven't used in 2 years and only used it 3 times before hand. First time was a bust and too watery but I just added kibble to it to run through the blender even more.

I blended up chicken and broth for sick kitties a few time, for syringe feeding. That usually worked pretty well but they still preferred chicken baby food, without onions and garlic, of course.

 

[Kflowers]

Yep, are vet said give it to her while she eats to. The first time I did she flew away from the food and wouldn't come back to it for an hour. When I gave her the shot while she was standing beside the empty bowl, she waited. I put the syringe down and put the food in the bowl. She ate without moving away.

 

[Willowy]

Egads, $300 a month is out of the question.

I'm also thinking of opening all those tiny little cans! Your poor hands. . .probably end up with carpal tunnel syndrome . I wish Fancy Feast came in larger cans.

 

[lisahe]

T TooManyFelines , since you mentioned Chewy... have you already looked at the ingredients of their (private label) Tiny Tiger foods? The pates (particularly turkey and giblets) have very decent ingredients and it looks like they come to about 50 cents a can if you buy the case. I've never fed Tiny Tiger but I know some Cat Site members have said their cats love it. (At least some of the gravy foods have potato so those definitely aren't as good for your situation!)

It sounds like you have quite a lot lying ahead. Good luck -- I hope things go smoothly. And just keep asking if you have questions!

 

[TooManyFelines]

Lisa, we've tried Tiny Tiger already, I thought the ingredients were better than FF and was hoping our old girl might like it as a treat instead, but she turned her nose up and everyone else hated it too. Husband gave it to a friend who takes care of ferals and they liked it.

Thank you, yes, there is a lot to deal with right now but at least I have lots of food suggestions, thanks to you guys.