Your furry companion is part of the household, yet that doesn’t mean their meals must be as costly as yours — even when you aim to provide high-quality fare.
Unfortunately, pet food also felt the effects of pandemic-era supply chain disruptions. There are fewer drivers moving ingredients and finished goods, shipping delays at sea, and a rise in pet ownership since before the pandemic — all contributing to a pet food crunch. Now add inflation to the mix.
Prices for pet food have climbed, and at times it’s been challenging to locate the brand your dog or cat prefers (there was a shortfall in cat food earlier this year). So, should you change their diet? If so, to what? The wide array of pet food options can make the choice seem overwhelming. And, you can’t exactly ask your pets which products they favor. (You could try, but the answer might not be helpful.)
9 Professional Tips on Affordable Pet Food
- Seek store or generic labels from reputable manufacturers
- Prioritize whole meat as an ingredient
- Grain-free isn’t always superior
- Check for “nutritionally complete” on packaging
- Dry food is an acceptable choice
- Steer clear of carrageenan as a thickener
- “Premium” is largely advertising — don’t be swayed
- Think about cost differently — use calories
- Consider preparing homemade pet meals
We consulted veterinarians and animal nutrition experts to learn how to spot nutritious, widely available pet food options that won’t overwhelm your budget.
Before switching your pet’s food, check with your veterinarian about what’s appropriate, particularly if your companion has special dietary needs.
1. Seek Store or Generic Labels From Reputable Manufacturers
Stephanie Mantilla, an animal trainer and enrichment specialist at Curiosity Trained, often hunts for pricier brands that are sold in a more affordable, generic form. For instance, she notes that Whole Earth Farms is manufactured by Merrick but is significantly cheaper.
The simplest method to spot high-quality generic labels is to scan the pet food aisle near the recognized premium brands, Mantilla says.
“You’ll see Merrick, Wellness, Instinct and Taste of the Wild grouped together,” she said. “If there’s a lesser-known name nearby at a lower cost, it’s likely one of the generic lines.”
Searching online also helps, Mantilla adds. If you already favor a particular brand, try searching for “generic [brand name] food.”
“Sometimes you’ll uncover exact-match generics or suggestions for similar products when the manufacturer doesn’t offer a discount line,” Mantilla said.
2. Prioritize Whole Meat Ingredients
For dog food, whole meat ingredients — not by-products — should be listed first on the label.
“Dogs are omnivores, but a formula that lists grains as the top ingredient may not deliver enough protein for them,” Mantilla explains.
Brands that often meet this guideline include Purina Pro Plan, Costco’s Kirkland Signature and Blue Buffalo, according to Sakura Davis, a veterinary consultant and technician.
3. Grain-Free Isn’t Automatically Better
Grain-free options generally cost more, but that doesn’t make them superior unless your pet requires a grain-free diet for medical reasons.
While some people feel better on grain-free regimens, that benefit doesn’t necessarily transfer to pets, particularly dogs. The FDA has investigated a possible association between certain grain-free diets and canine dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), especially diets relying heavily on peas, lentils, legume seeds and potatoes.
4. Verify “Nutritionally Complete” on the Package
Even if the ingredient list looks unfamiliar, one quick way to tell if a bag or can provides the necessary nutrients is to check the label for a Nutritional Adequacy statement, sometimes called the AAFCO statement.
This statement — typically on the back or side of the package — should indicate whether the food supplies all essential nutrients, how that determination was made, and for which life stage the food is formulated.
If the label states it’s intended for intermittent or supplemental feeding only, avoid using it as a regular meal and reserve it for treats.
5. Dry Food Is Acceptable
A study published in BMJ’s Vet Record found that only 13% of dogs and 33% of cats eat exclusively conventional commercial pet food like kibble. While owners may worry dry food is dull or unhealthy, that’s a misconception.
“What people don’t see are the nutrients packed into kibble and the decades of research supporting it,” said Sarah Dodd, veterinarian and lead author of the study, in an interview with Supermarket News.
6. Steer Clear of Carrageenan as a Thickener
If you choose wet food, try to avoid products containing carrageenan, Mantilla advises. Carrageenan, derived from seaweed, is used to thicken products. It can make cans look fuller while providing fewer calories per serving.
7. “Premium” Is Mostly Marketing — Don’t Be Fooled
Researchers at the Cummings Veterinary Medical Center at Tufts University note that “premium” is a marketing buzzword. Much like “natural,” manufacturers can add “premium” to packaging without a standard definition.
Brands favor this wording because many buyers equate it with higher quality and are willing to pay more. A study from 2007 by Caltech and Stanford found that when people are told a product is expensive, they’re likelier to rate it as tasting better.
Pet owners aren’t immune: the premium segment of the pet food market grew from 44% of sales in 2001 to 61% by 2015. Skipping “premium”-labeled products can often save you money without sacrificing nutrition.
8. Reframe How You Evaluate Cost
Rather than focusing on price per bag or per pound, consider price per kilocalorie, recommends Tufts University’s Clinical Nutrition Service. Different products concentrate calories differently, so two bags of identical weight might have very different calorie counts. A bag with higher kilocalories may cost more but you’ll feed less by volume.
To determine price per kilocalorie: first measure how much your pet eats each day. Multiply the measured daily amount by the calories per cup/gram/can listed on the label (if you need help, use calorie calculators).
Next, find the kilocalorie content of the food on the label and the cost of the bag or can. Use the Tufts cost calculator to calculate your daily feeding cost. This provides a clearer comparison than merely looking at price per bag or per pound.
9. Prepare Homemade Pet Food
Making your dog’s meals is often the least expensive way to provide high-quality nutrition (though kibble usually remains the most economical overall), says Emma Bowdrey, an ISCP-trained dog trainer in Easterton, United Kingdom.
Include proteins, carbohydrates and nutrient-rich vegetables, and avoid onions, garlic and chives. Bowdrey suggests visiting a butcher for organ meats like liver, kidneys and heart.
“Organ meats are rich in protein, fat, vitamins A and B, and iron, and they’re relatively low-cost, so you get a lot of nutrition for the price,” Bowdrey notes.
The following three recipes offer tasty, wholesome treats for your dog that won’t be hard on your wallet.
Combine these with good-quality muscle meat, potatoes and vegetables to make a balanced and appealing meal. Turmeric and ginger — anti-inflammatory ingredients that can promote gut health — may be added during preparation, Bowdrey recommends.
Raw bones can be useful for dental health and tartar removal, but avoid cooked bones because they may splinter. For variety, snacks like apples, sardines and strawberries are great options.
How Do Cat and Dog Food Differ?
Cats are obligate carnivores, while dogs are omnivores. That means cats require meat, whereas dogs benefit from both meat and plant foods. Cat food typically contains higher levels of meat-based protein, while dog food has more plant-derived ingredients. Regular consumption of cat food by dogs can contribute to obesity, pancreatitis and digestive upset. Conversely, if a cat eats dog food frequently, it may lack critical nutrients.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Affordable Pet Food
Below are answers to common questions about cost-effective pet nutrition.
You’ll need to read labels and do some arithmetic to determine true value. Ignore the “premium” claim — it’s mainly promotional. Instead, calculate cost per kilocalorie, because foods vary in caloric density and you may feed less by volume if the calories are higher. Measure how much your pet eats daily and multiply that by the calories per cup/gram/can of the food. If this feels tricky, use acalorie calculator to learn how many kilocalories your pet needs. Then check the kilocalories per bag (on the label) and compare foods using cost per kilocalorie rather than price per bag.
If you need assistance feeding your pet, there arepet food pantries available. You can also ask your veterinarian about sample diets and contact local shelters for extra supplies. National groups likePets of the Homeless can offer help when you’re struggling.
Expenses vary depending on what you buy: dry kibble bags commonly range from $15-$75, while wet food is costlier. Store-bought homemade-style dog food might average about $5 per day, but preparing your own meals can reduce that to roughly $2 per day — generally less than feeding premium commercial wet and dry diets.
Kibble is cheaper than canned food. If your cat favors a specific brand, follow that brand on social media for coupons. Always buy in bulk to maximize savings and evaluate cost per day instead of price per pound to assess true expense. TheHumane Society maintains lists of organizations that provide free pet food assistance.
Although canned foods often contain higher-quality ingredients and can be more filling, dry cat food is less expensive. Feeding a cat exclusively dry food is acceptable.
Contributor Danielle Braff is a Chicago-based writer who covers consumer products and budget shopping. Her work has appeared in the New York Times, Washington Post, Real Simple and other outlets.
