As a cat parent, you must want that your cat eats well, but it may not be possible for you to feed your cat expensive food. Your budget may not support you to feed expenses as you are supposed to lead your own life. This article is all about Budget-friendly homemade cat food.
So, there are so many budget-friendly and cheap cat foods that you can feed your cat. Besides, you have to take care of your kitty’s health. Cheapness doesn’t mean that the food will be unhealthy. I will discuss readymade and homemade budget-friendly cat food in my article.
Table of contents
How to choose the best budget-friendly cat food
Always remember that cheap food is not less than expensive food in its nutritional value. Cheap commercial food is delicious, robust, and species-appropriate. There is no evidence that cheap food harms health or can’t provide the nutrition your cat needs.
There is said that if you purchase cheap commercial food, you must compromise on the quality. But, when the question comes to the meat of things, there is no reason why cheap food can’t replace expensive food.
You should focus on the protein mixed with muscle meat, chicken organs, animal-sourced fat, and less carbohydrate and plant-based food as cats are carnivorous. Meat and protein is the main source of their food. At last, nutrients are more important than ingredients. So, keep an eye on the ingredients so that the food can fulfill the requirements of your cat.
The cheap and budget-friendly cat foods contain cost-effective ingredients like plant and by-product animals. The name of the ingredients often are not mentioned directly, such as ‘Salmon’ or ‘chicken’ won’t be mentioned. Instead of those, fish or poultry will be mentioned.\
more ways to choose the best budget-friendly cat food
Some people suspect that by-product ingredients are unsafe as they’re less strictly regulated and the food quality is low. But there is no strong evidence that these feed-grade ingredients are dangerous. As your budget doesn’t support premium quality food, you shouldn’t be worried about the food and feed quality.
Wet cat food is more expensive than dry food because wet food can hydrate cats’ bodies. If your cat is a poor drinker, wet food is ideal for their health. But if you feed your cat dry food, you must provide them with much water. Otherwise, the kidney will fall sick, and you must pay for treatment.
So, what is the benefit? You pay now or later. So, you must be careful that your cat drinks enough water. The selection process of cheap cat food is critical. So, just focus on some matters so that the food can be cheap, healthy, and tasty. Buying budget-friendly commercial cat food isn’t an easy task.
The reason is the options will seem to the real when it is just acting like the real. The food may not be as cheap as you expected always. So, keep in mind some factors when you’re going to choose the best budget-friendly cat food.
About protein and carbohydrates
Cats are carnivorous and predators by nature. They need high protein and fewer carbohydrates. Their bodies are designed like that. So, though carbohydrates are cheaper than proteins, carbohydrates can’t be a substitute for protein and filler food.
The portion of fat in cat food
There are 2 kinds of fat-healthy and unhealthy fats. Healthy fats are great for cats’ health. It keeps the joints and coats healthy, and up to 10% of fat’s presence in a cat’s food is ideal.
Too much fat can create the calorie density of cat food. If your cat struggles with weight management, an even lower fat percentage will be better for your fatty cat’s health.
Vitamins and minerals
The main ingredients of your cat food are protein and fats but other ingredients like vitamins and minerals are also essential. So, provide your kitty with food containing all the necessary ingredients. If your cat’s food lacks protein or fat, it will be seen soon, but the lack of vitamins won’t be visible soon, and when it soon, it will harm your cat’s health. So, you must be careful about the vitamins and minerals provided by your cat’s food.
Leave unnecessary additives
When purchasing commercial food for your cats, you must keep a good eye that any unnecessary additives can’t be added to your cat’s food. The manufacturers often claim that their manufactured food doesn’t contain any additives. You must review the ingredients of your cat food. Maybe the food is grain-free or doesn’t contain corn products, but there is no guarantee that the food is also preservative, artificial flavors, and colors free.
Sometimes there are unrecognizable and even difficult-to-pronounce ingredients in cat food. These ingredients are unnecessary and should be avoided in your cat’s diet.
As they don’t give your cat any health benefits and can cause digestive problems and long-term health issues, be aware of these additives.
What about the taste of Budget-friendly homemade cat food?
Taste is a great factor. Your cat will see the taste, not the ingredients and their benefits. As cats are carnivorous, they will find the taste of chicken and other birds. Fish, beef, and Turkey. If the food doesn’t have a meaty flavor, then it doesn’t matter how many great ingredients are in Thai food and how many beneficiaries they are for your cat’s health.
If your cat is a picky and fussy eater, then you must provide different types of food to your cat’s bowl. Also, they must be healthy and affordable. So, start with a protein-rich food with different meat so your cat can’t leave anything in their feeding bowl.
Dimension of your cat’s budget-friendly food
Cats usually chew food if it is in the right size, but if the food is very small, then your cat may struggle to chew it. If your cat doesn’t have any problem chewing small food, then it ok but if he is struggling with the food size, you must look for big-sized cat food.
Price of cat food
Last but not least is your cat’s food price. Don’t think a high-nutritional, healthy, and delicious cat food is always expensive. After fulfilling all the requirements that are mentioned above, you have to find a budget-friendly cat food so that you can create a diet that is sustainable and enjoyable for your cat.
Best budget-friendly, readymade, and commercial cat food
There are so many choices in the market. So, setting in one is challenging indeed. I have sorted out some recipes for you so that it becomes easy for you to pick the best commercial and budget-friendly recipes.
Those are:
The Honest Kitchen Grain-free Chicken and Whitefish Clusters
A very much affordable and grain-free food. It was collaborated and developed by certified veterinarians and nutritionists. They utilize a combination of natural foods, chicken, Whitefish, and digestion-friendly probiotic boosters that increase the bowel movement of cats.
It also contains Flaxseeds, Cranberries, and probiotics that help to keep it in good condition of urinary health, digestion, and coats. The recipe is designed with premium components that are ideal for your cat’s overall health and well-being.
Food type:
Dry cat formula
Best for:
Cats of all ages
Price:
Check on Amazon and other social sites.
Pros of The Honest Kitchen Grain-free Chicken and Whitefish Clusters
- All ingredients are natural, and no genetically modified organism ingredients (GMO) are used.
- Enriched with protein and fiber.
- No preservatives, artificial colors, and filters.
- Ideal for boosting energy levels and digestion.
- Contains human-grade quality.
Cons of The Honest Kitchen Grain-free Chicken and Whitefish Clusters
- It also contains high carbohydrates, calories, and fats.
Ingredients:
Whitefish, Fenugreek seed, Taurine, Dried organic kelp. Whitefish is an essential fatty acid. It helps to soothe skin irritation and repair damaged skin.
Fenugreek seed is an antioxidant that helps to fight against feline asthma, and Taurin is an essential food supplement and amino acid for a good immune system, good condition in the gestation period, fatal development, strong vision, digestion, and heart muscles. The users are very satisfied with The Honest Kitchen Grain-free Chicken and Whitefish Clusters and their cats have improved overall health and energy level.
American Journey Grain-free Dry Cat Food
A real grain-free cat food. It contains 40% of protein. A large portion of American Journey is enriched with real meat, and other ingredients are recognizable, which means no artificial colors, preservatives, or fillers are added. All the ingredients are well-balanced. So, if your cat is a picky eater, even he’ll come to eat from another room and is bound to love it.
Food type:
Dry cat food
Best for
adult and older cats
Price:
Check on Amazon and other social sites.
Pros of American Journey Grain-free Dry Cat Food
- The ingredients are natural and in a whole condition.
- Contains high protein.
- No preservatives, grains, or fillers were added.
Cons of American Journey Grain-free Dry Cat Food
- There are small pieces of food that may not be chewable for cats.
- Fish and chicken flavors can create allergies in cats. So, if your cat is allergic, it may not be the best for your cat.
Ingredients:
All ingredients are natural and for the well-being of your cat. You don’t need to sacrifice your cat’s health.
Authority Chicken Entry Adullt Pate Canned Cat Food
It is a mix of poultry and fish with rice. It is not frisky. So it doesn’t contain any by-product animal or poultry. No artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives are added. It also contains muscle meat and livers of chickens and Manhaden fish oil which is a good source of Omega-3 fatty acids.
A low carbohydrate and protein-rich Formula, and calories are dense in it. If you have a 10-pound of cat, then you have to spend. That means you can feed less to your cat in every meal.
Food type:
Wet cat food.
Best for:
Adult cats.
Price:
Check on Amazon or other social sites.
Ingredients:
Protein: 10%, fat: 6.5%, Fiber 0.8%, moisture: 78%, and Ash: 2.5%.
Pros of the Authority Chicken Entry Adullt Pate Canned Cat Food
- Low carbohydrates.
- Animal ingredients are nourishing.
- No potential harmful additives.
- Enriched with Menhaden fish oil, a great source of Omega-3 fatty acids.
Cons of the Authority Chicken Entry Adullt Pate Canned Cat Food
It contains ocean fish on a vague label.
Open Farm Surf and Turf Freeze-Dried Raw Cat Food as Budget-friendly homemade cat food
It contains 98% grass-fed beef, wild Salmon, and organ meat, including beef hearts, liver, and bones. It is a prey model food that your cat is bound to love. And, it is a highly affordable and cost-effective cat food. Besides, it is an irresistible meal mixer and also a delectable balanced meal.
Food type:
Freeze-dried cat food
Best for:
Cats of all ages.
Price:
Check on Amazon and other e-commerce sites.
Pros of the Open Farm Surf and Turf Freeze-Dried Raw Cat Food as Budget-friendly homemade cat food
- A budget-friendly cat formula.
- It is a freeze-dried formula and easy to serve. Never try to keep it on the stove.
- Grian and legume-free and with 100% non-GMO ingredients.
- Its main ingredients are human-raised and grass-fed beef and wild-caught Salmon. Its ingredients are 100% traceable with organic fruits and vegetables.
- No hormones, antibiotics, or steroids have been used.
The Cons of Open Farm Surf and Turf Freeze-Dried Raw Cat Food AS Budget-friendly homemade cat food
- No significant cons are tressed.
Ingredients:
- Wild-caught Pacific Salmon:
The Salmons are caught in the deep cold water of the Pacific Ocean, containing omega-3 fatty acids like EPA and DHA.
- 100% animal welfare certified beef:
The cows are from open farms and are human-raised and grass-fed. The beef contains high protein and vitamin E.
- 100% animal welfare certified organ meat:
The Organs like the heart and beef contain iron, protein, and calcium, which are important for your cat’s health. The customers are very satisfied with the Open Farm Surf and Turf Freeze-Dried Raw Cat Food. They say their cats love this Formula, even if it is a picky eater cat. Pet owners don’t have any problem selecting the Formula regularly.
Wellness Complete Health pate Chicken Entree Grain-free Canned Cat Food
The Formula is made from chicken and chicken liver. It is a nice change from by-products to real meals. This trait is available in expensive food products. You should know that Formula isn’t so cheap, but according to its popularity, reputation, and positive customer review, it can be a good option for your budget.
Type of food:
Wet cat formula.
It is best for
Adults and older cats.
Price:
Check on Amazon and other e-commerce sites.
Ingredients:
Protein: 10.5%, Fat: 7%, fiber:1%, carbohydrates:15.91%. The Formula contains animal proteins from the chicken liver, a better source. It is also enriched with fat and fibre for better digestion. Low carbohydrates make it very much eligible for a cat’s health.
Pros of the Wellness Complete Health pate Chicken Entree Grain-free Canned Cat Food
- It is a mixture of muscle meat and organ meat.
- Low carbohydrates make it a cat-friendly Formula.
The cons of the Wellness Complete Health pate Chicken Entree Grain-free Canned Cat Food
- It contains some plants that are unnecessary in cat foods.
- It may seem a bit more expensive than the customers’ expectations.
Lams pro-active as Budget-friendly homemade cat food
The Formula ensures the happiness of the mind and also health. Protein is the main ingredient of this food. The major ingredients consist of whole food. The Formula also reduces the weight and hairballs of your cat. The Formula contains lower calories and carbohydrates.
Small pieces of food are in the Wellness Complete Health pate Chicken Entree Grain-free Canned Cat Food. So your cat can easily chew it. All chicken-made recipes can conquer the heart of your cat, even if it is a picky eater. Your kitty won’t turn its nose from the food, for sure. However, you can get a 15-pound bag while the other high-quality foods can be got only 12 pounds at the same price.
Type of food:
Dry food
Best for
Adults and older cats.
Price:
Check on Amazon and other e-commerce sites.
Pros of Lam’s pro-active health dry cat food
- A real cat formula with whole ingredients.
- High-quality protein enriched.
- Helps to reduce weight.
- Available at affordable costs.
The cons of Lam’s pro-active health dry cat food
- It contains nearly 16% of Carbohydrates, so it may not be eligible for processing.
- There is evidence of decreasing hairballs, as the brand claims.
Smalls cat Budget-friendly homemade cat food
It is a human-grade cat food that offers 3 recipe flavors chicken, other Birds, and cow, and is also available in 3 texture options such as- smooth, ground and pulled textured. The recipe is AAFCO-approved (Association of American Feed Control Officials), complete, and nutritionally balanced.
Type of food:
Fresh and fridge-dried cat food.
Suitable for:
Cats of all ages.
Price:
Check on Amazon and other e-commerce sites.
Pros of the Smalls cat Budget-friendly homemade cat food
- Human-grade cat food.
- Enriched with protein and dense nutrients.
- You can make your own choice between 3 flavours and 3 textures.
- No artificial flavours, grains, or fillers are added.
- Available at an affordable price.
Cons of the Smalls cat Budget-friendly homemade cat food
No significant cons are found.
Ingredients:
Chicken recipe:
It’s all about chicken. Chicken meat, liver, heart and kale, green beans, spinach, vitamins, minerals, and Taurine.
Other birds recipe:
The other bird is Turkey. Turkey meats, liver, heart, kale, green beans, spinach, vitamins, minerals, and Taurine enriched.
Cow recipe:
Beef, liver, green beans, spinach, vitamins, minerals, and Taurine enriched.
The owners say the cats are improving physically and mentally after consuming the small food. They’re very much satisfied with the brand and its affordable price.
Purina Cat Show Indoor Budget-friendly homemade cat food
Purina never makes upset the customers. They have all kinds of products for the feline population. So, if you’re thinking about saving money and also want to give a good choice to your kitty, then Purina Cat Show Indoor Dry Cat Food is ideal.
The Formula is perfect for indoor cats who are less active and obese. The premium best-budget cat food may have a high carbohydrate content, but it will help your kitty to control hunger and weight loss. Real meat and protein will make the bowl of your cat enjoyable in every meal.
Food type:
Dry cat food
Suitable for
Adult cats
Price:
Check on Amazon and other cat food.
Pros of the Purina Cat Show Indoor Budget-friendly homemade cat food
- A real meat formula.
- Very effective in controlling hunger and weight loss.
- A balanced and healthy diet.
- Cat’s favourite food.
Cons of the Purina Cat Show Indoor Budget-friendly homemade cat food
- It is not the perfect home run as it contains some artificial colouring. This is why it can’t be the perfect home run.
- A bit more expensive than other cheap cat formulas.
Ingredients:
The main ingredient is meat, as it contains artificial flavour, so you must ensure your cat is comfortable with artificial flavours.
Whole-hearted All-Life Stages Grain-free Chicken Recipe as Budget-friendly homemade cat food
Diet and exercise are involved in your cat’s weight loss journey. Food that contains low carbohydrates, high protein, controlled fat, and calories- is the best recipe for a cat’s weight loss.The problem is that if you like the recipe but not the price of expensive cat food, then the Whole-hearted All-Life Stages Grain-free Chicken Recipe can be an ideal option.
The main ingredient of the Formula is shredded and juicy muscle meat, which is set in broth. It also contains Sunflower seed and Tuna oil. Tuna is a great source of Omega-3 fatty acids. Its other traits are- no by-product ingredients or artificial colours and flavours added. Plenty of moisture and necessary fats satisfy the Formula, and your adult cat can also stay slim.
Type of food:
Wet and canned.
Suitable for:
All aged cats.
Price:
Check on Amazon and other e-commerce sites.
Product information and ingredients:
Protein: 10%, Fat-2.0%, fiber-1.0%, and moisture: 84%. The main ingredient is chicken, so it is a real meat formula. It also contains low carbohydrates, appropriate fat, fibre, and moisture. It also contains Tapioca starch.
Pros of the whole-hearted All-Life Stages Grain-free Chicken Recipe
- Carbohydrates are low in amount.
- The primary ingredient is chicken; no animal by-product or vague-named ingredient is present here.
- No potential harmful additives.
- Fish oil provides a great source of Omega-3 fatty acids.
Cons of the whole-hearted All-Life Stages Grain-free Chicken Recipe
It contains Tapioca Starch.
The customers are very much satisfied with the Formula. They are giving testimonials of weight loss of their fatty kitties.
Blue Buffalo Wilderness Natural Adult Dry Cat Food as Budget-friendly homemade cat food
The main ingredient of the Formula is wild-caught Salmon fish. It helps to maintain your cat’s instincts. The Formula is available in various flavours and pack sizes to ensure the right fit for your cat.
Salmon has another effectiveness. It helps in muscle building and keeps your cat active. The presence of Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids also keeps the skin and coats of your cat. The other ingredients of the Formula are antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals.
Type of food:
Dry cat food.
Suitable for:
Kittens and adult cats.
Price:
Check on Amazon and other e-commerce sites.
Pros of the Blue Buffalo Wilderness Natural Adult Dry Cat Food
- The main ingredient is high protein.
- Helps to build the cat’s muscles.
- Low carbohydrates with health.
- Keeps skin and coats healthy.
- Supports the immune system.
Cons of the Blue Buffalo Wilderness Natural Adult Dry Cat Food
- It contains peas. Some cats are not comfortable with the ingredient.
- The packaging of the Formula is not sufficient for good packaging quality. The company could make it better.
Ingredients:
Salmons without bones:
Salmon is a great source of protein, and you know that protein builds muscles and keeps them active.
Chicken:
It is another great protein source and gives your cat a great taste.
Peas:
Though cats don’t need 2nd types of protein and some cats are not comfortable with veg protein, it is also a great source of protein, making the kibble more filling.
As the cheap Formula is a great source of protein and builds immunity, and doesn’t contain any animal by-products, artificial colours, and flavours, the users give it a review rate of 4.5 out of 5.
What is a budget-friendly homemade cat food recipe?
Till now, we have discussed budget-friendly commercial and readymade cat food recipes. Now we’ll get to know the budget-friendly homemade cat food recipes.As you know, every cat is different, and their choice is different. There are so many readymade and commercial cat foods in the market.
They’re good in quality, but those recipes are readymade, and they may contain some ingredients like artificial flavours and colours, preservatives, meat by-products, textures, and fillers- that your cat may not like. It may suffer from allergies and other issues.In that case, you can’t control the ingredients of the food. But if you make food for your cats at home, then? You can control what is happening in your cat’s body; budget is also a big factor.
If you lead a low-income life and want to feed your cat good food on a low budget, homemade food is the best option. Always remember to discuss and take advice before switching your kitty to homemade food. First, your vet will evaluate the recipe you will provide with your kitty. If your vet recommends food supplements to add to homemade food for nutritional balance, then you should add them; otherwise, don’t do it with your knowledge.
Budget-friendly homemade cat food recipes
If you want to make budget-friendly food at home, it won’t be easy for you because there are so many choices. So, I have sorted out some best budget-friendly and homemade cat food recipes.
Here are those-
Recipe no: 01: Tuna
This recipe is very much simple, as the main ingredient is Tuna. You need just one other ingredient to prepare it: corn oil.
Just take ⅛ ounces of drained and canned Tuna and ¼ tablespoon of corn oil, and ⅞ teaspoon of balance IT carnivore blend.
Recipe No.2: Chicken
This is also a budget-friendly and highly affordable recipe. The recipe needs 3 ingredients. Those are- 2 pieces of chicken thigh meat, ⅛ ounce per piece, 2 pieces of ¼ ounces chicken breast, and ¼ tablespoon of corn oil. At first, the chicken meat should be bone and skinless. Now, roast the meat first. When the chicken is cooked, mix the corn oil and ⅞ teaspoon of balance IT carnivore blend.
Recipe No.3: Pork
The recipe is a bit more expensive than Tuna. You need ⅜ ounces of 84% of lean ground pork. The amount is- 2 pieces. You also need ¾ tablespoon of corn oil. First, cook the pork, then crumble it. Mix the crumbled pork with the corn oil and then add ⅞ teaspoon of balanced IT carnivore blend.
Recipe No.4: Chicken and rice
Estimate time: 30 minutes.
Ingredients:
½ cup White rice and ½ pounds chicken breasts must be boneless and skinless.
Cooking process:
First, you have to cook the rice according to the instructions mentioned in the package. Now cook the chicken separately in a pan very well. Mix the chicken and rice well, and it is ready to serve. Now, store the leftover in the refrigerator.
Recipe No:5: Budget-friendly kibbles recipe
Ingredients:
3 cups whole wheat flour, 2 cups Soya flour, 1 cup wheat germ, 1 cup corn meal, 1 cup dry milk (without fat), ½ cup yeast, 1 can or 15-ounce mackerel, 5 tablespoons vegetable oil, 1 tablespoon cod liver oil, water as needed.
Making process:
First, preheat the oven to 350 degrees. You need 2 large bowls to mix all the ingredients. Now, mash the mackerel in the second bowl and mix. Add water and oil. Add mackerel to the first bowl and mix all the ingredients well. Use your hands to mix the ingredients, as it is a dry recipe. Now make rolls about ¼ inches thick and cut the rolls about into ¼ inches bits.
Use a knife to cut the rolls. Now make mounds of the bits and bake on a greased cookie sheet. The baking time shouldn’t be exceeded 25 minutes. While baking, make sure that both sides of the mound bake well, and for this, you can use 2 wooden spoons to toss the mounds well. They should be brown. Now off the hit and let the mounds be cool. When those become cool, remove them from the oven.
Now store the kibbles in an airtight container and refrigerate them. Use can make longer use of these kibbles.Websites for homemade kibbles: Well, you can search for the website of CompassionCircle.com. They provide nutritional supplements products from which you can make kibble for your pet at home. I use their website to make kibbles for my cat, and she likes to have them.
Recipe No.6: Fish and potato
You need just ½ hour to prepare this recipe.
Ingredients:
½ cup White potatoes and ½ cup any kind of Whitefish.
Preparation process:
First, boil the potatoes until they get intended, and then peel the shells off and mash them. Cook also the fish very well separately and mix both ingredients. Let it be cool before serving.
Recipe No:7: Chicken, beef, and Turkey
It is a pure meat recipe because the 3 main ingredients are chicken, beef, and Turkey, which are very good sources of proteins. Let’s know about the whole ingredients.Chicken: ½ pound and should be the meat of thigh or breast and also boneless and minced.
Turkey:
6 ounces and should be dark meat and minced.
Beef:
½ pound lean beef and minced.
Other ingredients:
½ pound chicken, beef, and turkey liver and, of course, minced. You need to add 1 hard-boiled chopped egg 3 times per week. You can add 4 ounces of organic liver from any meat source as a substitute if you like. And, you also have another source of adding. Such as 4 ounces of canned Tuna packed with water. 6-ounce cans of Sardines or 5-ounce cans of Salmon every week.
Note: never use canned fish (except for Tuna) as they can cause urinary tract problems. You also can add a cup of cooked white rice.
Supplements to be added:
One teaspoon of olive oil or flaxseed oil, 300 mg of Calcium Carbonate, 2 teaspoons of steamed vegetables 9(without Onion powder) as many cats like steamed vegetables, ¼ tablespoon salt substitute (potassium chloride), one cat-size dose of multiple vitamins and minerals supplements, one enzyme supplement, and 80 mg of Taurine.
Cooking process:
Cook all the meat ingredients very well until they are intended. Now, take a large bowl and mash all the meat ingredients very well. Then mix all the supplements into the meat, and the food is ready to serve.The recipe is for 3 times serving, and provide your cat with the amount of food so that he or she can eat for approximately 20 to 30 minutes. Now, store the leftover in the refrigerator.
Recipe No:8: Turkey and vegetables
You need just 30 minutes to prepare the recipe.
Ingredients:
½ cup of chopped Turkey and ¼ cup of any type of vegetables. The veggies must be chopped, carrots, beans, or peas.
Making process:
First, cook the Turkey very well; now add the vegetables until fully cooked. Mix all the ingredients very well, and it is ready to serve. Let it cool before serving.
Recipe no:9: Chicken and pumpkin
Just 30 minutes are needed to make the recipe.
Ingredients:
½ cup cooked chicken and ¼ cup canned pumpkin.
Making process:
Cook the chicken first very well. After that, add the canned pumpkin and heat thoroughly. Now, it is ready to serve, and let it cool before serving.
Recipe: No.10: Shrimp and sweet potato
Estimated time: 30 minutes.
Ingredients:
½ cup cooked Shrimp and ½ cup sweet potatoes to be peeled, peeled, and diced.
Preparation process:
Boil the sweet potatoes until it gets tender. Boil the Shrimp separately until the colour becomes pink. Now mix the Shrimp and potatoes very well and let them cool. Now, serve your adorable kitty.
Recipe No:11: Tuna and Pea
Estimated time: 30 minutes
Ingredients:
½ cup of canned Tuna and ¼ cup of frozen peas.
Making process:
First, combine the Tuna and peas in a pan. Now cook them very well until the peas are tended, and the Tuna is heated. Let it cool before serving.
Recipe No.12: Salmon and Broccoli
Estimated time:
30 minutes
Ingredients:
½ cup cooked Salmon and ¼ cup cooked Broccoli.
Cooking process:
Cook the Salmon until it is cooked well, and now add the Broccoli until it is tender. Now it is ready to serve, and let it cool before serving.
Recipe: No:13: Beef and Brown Rice
Estimated time: 60 minutes or 1 hour
Ingredients:
½ cup Brown rice and ½ pound ground beef.
Making process:
First, cook the rice according to the package direction. Now cook the beef in a separate pan very well. Now, combine the 2 ingredients in a bowl and let it cool. Finally, you can serve it to your cat.
Recipe:14: Lamb and Quinoa
Estimated time: 30 minutes
Ingredients:
½ cup Ouinoa and ½ cup diced lamb.
Cooking process:
Cook the Quinoa as erected in the pack. Cook the lamb separately in a pan very well. Now combine in a bowl, and it is ready to serve.
Recipe No:15: Venison and sweet potato.
Estimated time:
30 minutes
Ingredients:
½ cup diced Venison, and ½ cup sweet potatoes must be peeled and diced
Cooking process:
Cook the Venison in a pan very well. Now add the sweet potatoes to the pan and cook again. When both of them tend, the recipe is ready to serve in a cool condition.
Recipe No:16: A budget-friendly homemade cat food recipe without cooking
Till now, I have discussed cooked recipes. Now, I will discuss a recipe that is not cooked, which means raw food recipe. If you would like to feed your kitty raw meat and vegetables, then you can follow it. I tried this recipe on my cats, and you also can try it on your kitty. But keep in mind that every cat is different, and you have to do it according to your one. The recipe is a combination of raw meat, any kind of vegetable, and various supplements.
The recipe is below:
Ingredients:
- You can pick any kind of meat except for pork or rabbit.
- A combination of vegetables such as Broccoli, leafy greens, Cauliflower, Cabbage, Zucchini, Beets, and so on. But keep in mind that you can’t use spinach, eggplants, onions, tomatoes, and potatoes.
- You must use eggs in your food. So, keep the eggshells and grind them into the grinder and make powder. It serves calcium.
Preparation instruction:
Take one pound of raw meat and one cup of water. Now add four tablespoons of eggshell powder. Now chop the vegetable very finely.
Next mix the vegetables and meat in a ratio of 2:1. That means the meat is double that of the vegetables. Now add hot water to give it a stew look. If your cat takes vitamins, then add them. After that, it is ready to serve. So, I have tried my best to help you make budget-friendly and both commercial and homemade food. So, choose it according to your cat and the situation of your life.
What ingredients should be in budget-friendly cat food?
Well, the article is about budget-friendly cat food- it is true. But the ingredients and quality also matter. You can’t feed low-quality food to your adorable kitty because you have to pay for its treatment later.
So, the ingredients that are a must in cat food. Those are-
- Animal protein:
The protein that you’re feeding your cat must be from a recognizable source. The name of the meat should be mentioned, such as ‘chicken’, ‘Beef’, or ‘Poultry,’ etc.
If the ingredients are mentioned in vague like ‘Meat’ or ‘Meat by-product,’ then you better look for other brands that contain chicken, beef, fish, Tuna, or Venison, etc.
- Taurin:
Taurin is an Amino acid. It is an essential ingredient in your cat’s food. Taurin is effective for stronger vision, boosting immunity and digestion, and also in pregnancy and fetal development.
- Micronutrients:
Not all cat’s requirements need to be the same, but some food supplements are more or less important for all cats.
Those are- vitamins, Minerals, pro-biotics, fatty acids, carbohydrates, fish oil, and enzymes.
- Water:
The last ingredient of your cat food is moisture- that means- water. Water is very much important to keep the body hydrated and get rid of kidney disease. The older cats are less prone to drink enough water. So, their food should contain enough water. Dry cat food isn’t recommended for them. Water also controls hairballs and cat litter cleaning of your cats.
What ingredients shouldn’t be in budget-friendly cat food?
Till now, we have come to know which ingredients should be in your cat’s food. Now, we’ll come to know which ingredients should be in your cheap cat food. The brands and manufacturers always claim that their food is free of harmful chemicals, artificial colors, and preservatives. But you have to check it and avoid those ingredients that are mentioned below:
- Artificial preservatives and additives:
There are some chemicals like BHA, BHT, Ethoxyquin, and Propylene Galletes that are potentially harmful to health.
- Meat by-products:
As meat by-products, chicken and bone meals are not real products, they aren’t also not recommended by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). However, these kinds of foods are a high source of protein and Taurine.
- Fillers:
Fillers mean carbohydrates. As you know that carbohydrates are not recommended for older and diabetic cats. If a cat food contains less than 50% of fillers, then it is considered as safe.
More about Budget-friendly homemade cat food
Which food is cheaper – wet or dry food?
Generally, dry food is cheaper than wet food because there is more effort to be needed to pack the wet food, and it is also more difficult to preserve as wet food is more prone to Bacteria and pathogens. Dry food is easy to preserve and also more able to calm the hunger of your kitty.
The eligibility of homemade cat food
Homemade cat food is good for a cat’s health though there is a chance to miss the nutrition balance. That means commercial food is designed by veterinarians and nutritionists. So, the balance of ingredients and nutrition is maintained professionally. Homemade cat food doesn’t have professionality though that homemade food is also cooked according to vet-approved recipes. But there is a question that is of the standard always remains.
I have noticed in rural areas and countryside that there is no access to commercial pet food. The pets in those areas are healthy enough and also thrive. So, homemade food is eligible to feed your adorable kittens.
Raw vs cooked homemade and budget-friendly cat food
There is always a debate between raw and cooked cat food. Well, raw food can indeed be harmful to human health. Raw food can contain bacteria like E. Coli, Clostridium, and Toxoplasma Gondi. So, if you feed your cat raw food, then you must be cautious about the health of you and your feline.
Cummings Schools of Veterinary Medicines at Tuft’s University observed that the health risk of raw food is more serious in elderly people, infants, and pregnant women. So, cooked food is very much safe than raw food.
