Hey, thought I’d chime in here since nutrition is one thing I’m big on where my pets are concerned–they definitely eat better than me! lol–and I totally understand the pressure of feeding them well on a budget!
What I will say about the expensive brand (Was she maybe recommending Orijen or Ziwipeak? Oven Baked is another great option if available in your area) is that, because it is filled with only the good stuff, and is so very high in protein, your cat will actually end up eating less. So you’re paying a lot for a small looking bag, but it kind of balances out, considering your cat would be eating much more of a lower quality brand to keep up nutritionally. So the bag lasts longer than it looks like it will. Did that make sense? Sorry, it’s late and I feel like I explained that in a very muddled way ๐ ๐
2 things really important about cat nutrition is that 1.protein is a big deal (they need a higher percentage of protein than even dogs do) and 2. Cats don’t have a thirst drive, so it’s important for their diet to account for this (a diet that includes kibble AND canned keeps this pretty balanced–or, alternatively, a raw diet will actually curb their thirst because it’s so moist, so they get the water without needing to drink as much).
I’m personally a very big advocate of a raw diet–and if done right it could even be cheaper than some of the cheapest kibbles–and way healthier. I know that this option is intimidating, impractical, or just NOT an option for some people, and I totally get that. The fact that you’re concerned with her diet at all is fantastic, and I commend that. But if you are at all curious about the raw diet, I can give some info and point you in the direction of some great sites/resources/recipes. It is more work than kibble though, and it’s important it’s done right so they get the proper nutrients and a balanced diet. My cats personally LOVE it, and pick it all the time over the bag of Oven Baked that I keep around, and they’re in great shape and health. It’s fun to know they’re interested in what they eat. (I’ve always thought kibble would kind of be like eating the same cereal every day for every meal, you know? lol)
Last thing–in the end, a more expensive brand saves you money in the long term, as it will keep your pet healthy and in shape for longer, cutting waaay back on vet bills, by keeping his or her joints strong, muscles lean, and coat shiny.
Okay, THIS is the LAST thing, lol: I’ve read that Friskies is actually better (at least the wet variety) than Whiskas or even Fancy Feast, and I have to say that when my cats were on commercial food, they’d turn their nose at Whiskas more often than not, but did really enjoy Friskies. Plus I’m pretty sure Friskies has a wider variety of flavours, no? You can get a bulk pack at Costco/Club Price if they have those in your area. You can also check out Amazon for big packs of the higher end canned foods (Tiki Cat, Ziwi peak, etcโฆ) And if you’re in the States, sites like Entirelypets.com have all kinds of brands for way lower than in-store prices.
Sorry–I warned you I’m big on nutrition! ๐
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