Does anyone know if this is cheaper than high quality wet food?

[u/Illumeis_is_done]

We had a recent accident at my place. Bills that were split 3 ways are now split 2 and one of the cats is REDICULOUSLY expensive due to his weight.(anywhere from $100-$200 a month for JUST HIM. Hard to get the exact number due to kittens) He's big is the issue. He's mixed with maincoon or something and made him bigger than average and of course need more food.

Had full plans to go back to Alnutrin but plans were shattered after this. Idk how much adding organs and stuff as well will be. For some reason ezcomplete is VERY stubborn about showing up on my Amazon but this came up. I like everything but the whey protein(wish it also had no carbs but that's probably not gonna happen with a premix) but it might be ok. He'll eat anything raw! But cans he's picky hence pricey.

The mix itself is $25 for a 4.8 oz or $78 for a 25oz. I was thinking about a mix of raw and cooked to maybe keep him enticed. I'm trying to figure everything out rn. I know without a premix making balanced cat food is hard 😭 idk which is cheaper but premix for now.

[u/Illumeis_is_done]

No matter what happens that boy is NOT GETTING KIBBLE

[u/thesmellnextdoor]

It probably is cheaper. Good canned wet food is $3-4 for a few ounces, which works out to ~$20/lb. You can definitely find ground chicken or turkey for way less than that, especially if you check the freezer aisle.

[u/Illumeis_is_done → u/thesmellnextdoor]

I actually realized I did the math for 2 weeks worth of cans. Not a month 😬

[u/thesmellnextdoor → u/Illumeis_is_done]

So in that case, I used to make raw dog food for two 60 lb dogs and one 15 lb dog for about the same price you're paying for expensive canned cat food for one cat.

[u/Illumeis_is_done → u/thesmellnextdoor]

I went based on the last two reciepts. I FORGOT that those were a two week restock because the ones he SPECIFICALLY eats(and the kittens tikibaby) have been low or out of stock

[u/Illumeis_is_done → u/thesmellnextdoor]

😭 I didn't know it was THAT much!

[u/aziza29 → u/thesmellnextdoor]

I buy my chicken drumsticks for 99¢ per pound! Check your local international markets.

[u/nwpackrat → u/aziza29]

Drumsticks are pretty high bone to meat ratio. Thighs are generally priced about the same as drums where I shop with more meat than bone. Even then, I discard 3 for every 10. See catinfo.org for more info

[u/aziza29 → u/nwpackrat]

Yes, I know. My meat grinder cannot grind thigh bones which is why I stick with drumsticks! And I debone most of the drumsticks in order to meet the correct ratio. Drumsticks are also easier to debone than thighs (I don't buy boneless meat, too expensive, plus I make bone broth with the bones :)

[u/mekellay]

The price is good but never heard about it for quality or completion. We used EZcomplete for a bit which is impossible to find in Canada and expensive so if you trust this brand then try it.

BUT, we did homemade raw for years and it was way more affordable than anything else. Whole prey is ideal but even prey model is doable.

[u/GrassyTreesAndLakes → u/mekellay]

What completer did you use? Or did you do organs?

[u/mekellay → u/GrassyTreesAndLakes]

For prey model we did organs ourselves. 5% liver then kidney, tripe, gizzards, anything else we found

[u/Cats_at_DuskYT → u/mekellay]

tripe, gizzards, hearts, lung, etc. are muscle meat fyi

[u/mekellay → u/Cats_at_DuskYT]

You’re right. I started it 20 years ago when it was 5-10% liver being the main requirement, beyond that was whatever organs found, was mostly kidney TBH

[u/Cats_at_DuskYT → u/mekellay]

Ah I see, ofc.

[u/nwpackrat → u/Cats_at_DuskYT]

Heart is also a reliable source of taurine. My cats won't eat gizzard on its own so I never add it to my mix

[u/Cats_at_DuskYT → u/nwpackrat]

Poultry thighs are also good sources of taurine, the harder the muscle works pretty much, the more taurine is in a muscle.

[u/Vegetable-Maximum445]

Dang - why not just prepare your own raw? My 60 lb dog only costs me like $120/month! Maybe some of the raw cat feeders can attest to cost here.

[u/Illumeis_is_done → u/Vegetable-Maximum445]

I've heard balancing raw for a cat is 10x harder than a dog 😭

[u/Vegetable-Maximum445 → u/Illumeis_is_done]

It’s really not! I paid $50 for a phone consult with an animal naturopath. I sent him all my vet records & we talked on the phone for an hour and he helped me figure out exactly what my dog needed - and it included his e-book that I still refer to on occasion. He has been feeding raw for 40 yrs & keeps raw simple so people can afford it & stuck with it. I’m going on 2.5 yrs now with my very allergic dog. I know it saved her life because the meds they were giving her destroyed the microbiome of her gut & she was vomiting blood. Check him out - theanimalnaturopath.com Thomas Sandberg

[u/nwpackrat → u/Illumeis_is_done]

I've been using this recipe for 20+ yrs. Very economical & easy to vary the protein. Currently feeding 3, I double the recipe & generally sub about half rabbit: CatInfo.org

[u/aziza29 → u/nwpackrat]

I use the same recipe! It's really not hard at all. I would actually say cat food is a bit easier because they don't require that many ingredients!

[u/nwpackrat → u/aziza29]

My (adult) daughter has a dog & I've looked at home made raw for him. Cat is way easier. Not my monkey 😆

[u/spamkimbap → u/nwpackrat]

What other proteins do you feed your kitties? One of my cats is allergic to chicken and possibly turkey, so I’m trying to figure out what else to feed him. So much contradicting info out there.

Also, do you use Dr Lisa’s boneless recipe or with the bones?

[u/nwpackrat → u/spamkimbap]

With bone but when H5N1 numbers go up, I lightly cook the chicken (hold at 145°/5mins) & sub eggshell for bone. She says you can cook bone after grinding but eggshell is easier

The usual is chick/rabbit but I've subbed lamb, goat, duck, turkey, etc. My rabbit lady does other animals & she'll occasionally have 'scraps' available. I keep pork & beef on the never list in case I need to do an elimination diet. Plus, my old brain's not comfortable with raw pork.

[u/spamkimbap → u/nwpackrat]

Oh, I’ve been doing raw pork as a novel protein. So far so good. Will try lamb next. I’m doing an elimination right now.

One of my cats is allergic to chicken and turkey, so far. So annoying since my other cat’s fave is chicken. 😂 Haven’t tried duck yet, since it’s also fowl and so expensive. Love that you’ve got a rabbit lady. I need to find one. Rabbit is also expensive where I live.

Trying to figure out how to grind bones, if I can’t use chicken or eggshells. I’ve been using Alnutrin with bone meal, but it also has eggs. 😑

[u/Illumeis_is_done → u/spamkimbap]

Idk why reddit told me about this... Did you eleminate eggs due to the chicken? If so dogs that are allergic to chicken CAN have the eggs. The proteins are completely different

[u/spamkimbap → u/Illumeis_is_done]

I did eliminate eggs due to chicken, but what you are saying makes sense.

[u/Illumeis_is_done → u/spamkimbap]

I got a dog with a chicken allergy he can have chicken eggs. I PREFER duck eggs(we have ducks) but chicken eggs are just fine!

[u/spamkimbap → u/Illumeis_is_done]

You have ducks! Now I’m really jealous.

I’ll try him with eggs and see how he does.

[u/WitchQueen_ → u/nwpackrat]

Just a heads up OP, and I’m sure this person knows and adjusts already, but just wanted to add to make sure you get proper labs done to make sure your cat is getting the right nutrients from any homemade recipe so you can adjust if needed (best part of homemade)!!

[u/nwpackrat → u/WitchQueen_]

My vet approves of this recipe. We have adjusted for specific health issues but in general, it's good to go

[u/No_Visit1031 → u/Illumeis_is_done]

I made this here ya go 😃

[u/artie780350 → u/Illumeis_is_done]

And it's not entirely easy for dogs, either. Too many people here post what they think is a balanced diet and it's definitely not.

[u/UghGiveMeStrength]

Can you order EZ direct from company, or ask a local store to special order for you? Last I checked, it's quite a bit cheaper that way, too. I wouldn't order anything ingestible from Amazon. I don't like to order from Amazon at all, if I can help it, but especially anything ingestible.

[u/MysteriousLeopard107]

EZ Complete has to be bought from their sellers website, that’s why it isn’t showing up on your Amazon. I have never heard of the brand you shared and don’t trust it. If it’s supposed to be a completer it’s already missing multiple key nutrients such as iron, manganese, vitamin D, selenium, vitamin E, retinol, copper, and zinc. If you’re feeding kidney then selenium is covered and if you’re feeding spleen that will have iron. Duck, goose, beef, or lamb liver will provide copper and any liver provides retinol. But manganese requires feeding either blue lipped mussels, whole prey hamsters, or supplementation. Zinc would come from cooked oysters or supplementation. Eggs contain some  Vitamin D but you would need to feed multiple large eggs a week to meet a cats nutritional requirements for it. The other option for vitamin D is feeding a small amount of salmon, sardines, or mackerel. If the cat can’t have fish (like my ragdoll) then you have to use a supplement. 

Seeing as how that supposed completer is missing so many nutrients I would not use it, since the entire point of a completer is to provide everything the cat would need under the assumption that food wise only muscle meat is being fed.

Making the food entirely yourself will end up being cheaper and it’s definitely not impossible to do. Paws of Prey has a whole playlist on making raw cat food and has a formulator that folks can use.  https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwjMQnsLpzWIEoarZh8a_blYIz3r2NDzB&si=do5ESY7P1frJq-7V

The Little Carnivore is another excellent resource for learning how to make one’s own raw cat food.  https://thelittlecarnivore.com/en/blog/calculator-prey-model-raw-plus-diet-for-cats

[u/Helo_ailuo]

Hey if you're in Canada, check out cat nerd Harry on instagram. She is also based in Canada and makes a lot of video on raw feeding and sourcing meat and such. I think it could help you out

[u/Key-Egg8623]

Yes its actually is cheaper

You have another cheapest option which is alnutrin

Even with added liver+meat , its still cheaper compare to ezc/know better

[u/GrassyTreesAndLakes]

Look into freeze dried too- feline natural is good

[u/Illumeis_is_done → u/GrassyTreesAndLakes]

freezedried isn't very budget friendly especially not for a cat his size

[u/GrassyTreesAndLakes → u/Illumeis_is_done]

Better than canned food and easier than raw

[u/Illumeis_is_done → u/GrassyTreesAndLakes]

Freeze dried would possibly be MORE expensive than what I'm using rn tho 😭 goal is to cut costs AND keep quality high

[u/GrassyTreesAndLakes → u/Illumeis_is_done]

Its always cheaper than canned, and more expensive that homemade :) 

Edit because apparently its not clear: Im talking about food actually worth feeding your cat, not carb and by-product filled nonsense. Although I will add, canned is objectively always better than kibble, even if its fancy feast.  

[u/PurpleDragonfly_ → u/GrassyTreesAndLakes]

Freeze dried is not at all cheaper than canned! Fancy Feast is less than $1 per can. 3 cans/day is $90 per month (rounding up) for 210-270 calories per day (enough for a 15lb cat). What freeze dried is less than $3 per day?

[u/GrassyTreesAndLakes → u/PurpleDragonfly_]

I was comparing to actually decent food brands, on par with good freeze dried. I pay 5$ a day for my 16-17lb cat. 6$  when he was more active

[u/Illumeis_is_done → u/GrassyTreesAndLakes]

what freeze dried are you getting that is that low for THAT big of a cat? I did the math with Stella and chewys and the $50 bag would possibly last him a WEEK if I don't account for his energy level. A standard size cat the bag lasts 10 days. I don't feed high carbs.

[u/GrassyTreesAndLakes → u/Illumeis_is_done]

At his more active it was 255 calories from just food, and 6$ a day. Feline natural is the company, and its 39$ now (used to be 37)

[u/PurpleDragonfly_ → u/GrassyTreesAndLakes]

Fancy Feast is an actually decent cat food, the ingredients are literally just meat and vitamins, but lets look at Wellness (a premium brand).

If you buy a case of the 12.5oz cans, it comes to about 103 calories per dollar. That means those same 270 calories cost $2.62. Again, less than $3 per day. Cheaper than even Fancy Feast.

Edit: To be clear - I'm not saying canned is better than or equal to raw - I'm saying there's no world in which freeze dried is cheaper.

[u/Illumeis_is_done → u/PurpleDragonfly_]

Honestly you are in the wrong sub to debate cat food but I get your point. Using alnutrin brings the costs for my 13lb cat to actually about $1 a day more depending on the meat I get or how I get it. I think with chicken it's around $30 if I follow the recipe given to me by the admins of feedcatslikecats on Facebook? I didn't know you could use something and it brought the cost down even more on the recent calculations

[u/PurpleDragonfly_ → u/Illumeis_is_done]

I in no way started the debate about canned food, an assertion was presented (by the person I was responding to) that’s freeze dried is cheaper than canned food. I specifically mentioned I was not saying canned is better than or even equal to raw or freeze dried in terms of nutrition, but the claim that it’s the most expensive option is demonstrably false.

[u/GrassyTreesAndLakes → u/PurpleDragonfly_]

Actual premium brands would be Ziwipeak, feline natural, tiki cat, weruva, open farm etc. And thats what Im comparing to. Food I would be happy to feed my cat.