Whats the cheapest way to feed my cat?

Sequeena wrote: »

If it says meat and animal derivatives (which whiskas has) it's the crap left over which they can't use for humans.

Yes, I understand that....But what's not clear to me is what does '50% chicken' actually mean? 50% muscle meat?....Or is it just stating that 50% of the contents are chicken, and could in fact be meat and any other parts of said chickens? Sorry, but stating '50% chicken' is too vague for me.

That's why I'd like to know exactly what the labelling regulations are.

Fire_Fox wrote: »

The main change has been a new European definition of meat for labelling purposes, which is different from the definition currently used in the UK. The new definition defines meat as 'skeletal muscle with naturally included or attached tissue', and sets specific limits for the amount of fat and connective tissue (i.e., rind, tendon, sinew, skin etc.) allowed (see table below). The definition specifically excludes MRM, feet and trotters, tail, and head meat but includes cheeks (Masseters). It also excludes non-muscle cuts such as liver, kidney, heart etc. Products are still allowed to contain all of these ingredients - they will just need to be described differently, and they cannot count towards the declared meat content.
http://www.food.gov.uk/foodindustry/guidancenotes/meatregsguid/meatregsguidebutchers

Interesting, thanks for the link. I'll have a look at that tomorrow.

I've found a link for the regulations, but it's like looking for a needle in a haystack. Can't find any bits that I want, and it's enough to put you off reading for life.....If anyone wants to have a go at deciphering it...be my guest :rotfl:
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2005/20053281.htm

Oh, just to make things clear. I've got nothing against Purely. Never used it, and am unlikely to, seeing as my two cats' are raw fed. Nor do I have a problem with 'animal derivitives', as are stated on the Whiskas label. I just have a problem with vague statements that can sway people without giving any further info.

Blimey :eek: I'm way past my bedtime, thanks to getting a bee in my bonnet and trying to sift through that lot :rotfl:

What is your budget per animal? Do you want to feed commercial wet, kibble, both, raw? With cats the high meat stuff - especially raw - tends to come out the other end best! Grains are not very well digested by obligate carnivores, dogs are omnivorous but still shouldn't have too much grain but I will leave someone else to fill you in there.

Pet food offers thread here:
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1898241

Cheapest raw cat food:
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=2105627

Feeding cats on a budget:
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=2064383

James Wellbeloved is fairly low in meat: Hills is better but not all the variants so read the ingredients labels. The benefit of some of these big names for you is they do often come onto two-for-one offers. Cats are all one species, you don't need any kind of specific food for different breeds or coat types. Dogs come in a wider variety of sizes, so you may need to consider whether the breed has any risk of joint problems.

I am feeding Noah, a large adult cat, on 50p per day - a mix of ready made raw (Food4Cats), chicken wings, no grain dry (Orijen and Applaws), high meat wet (Pets at Home Purely, Feline Fayre, Bozita). I stock up when things are on offer and buy online to get the best prices.

£5 a week is loads of money you can easily feed a good quality diet on that, especially as the kitten will be small! There is no evidence that kibble is good for cleaning teeth, that is an old wive's tale - many vets recommend raw meaty bones to clean cats and dogs teeth. The great news is that sometimes this is FREE but definitely cheap! :money:

For raw bones you can ask a friendly butcher for any waste bones he has, chicken wings, necks and backs for the cat and really anything for the dog assuming he is a large dog. Just give them a raw meaty bone each a couple of times a week - Noah has half a raw chicken wing. Value/ Smartprice wings are £1.80 per kilo, Sainsburys Basics also have frozen bone in chicken portions for £1.50 per kilo.

For regular meals you have a choice:
1. All Raw - if you are scared of doing this yourself (me too), this website has a sample pack 3.2kg for £10 then your £10 is taken off your first proper order. http://www.food4-cats.co.uk/
Noah has half a sausage a day, your kitten would need far less, so it is really economical. I have been naughty and ordered a sample to my mum's address as well, so I have two £10 discounts to come.

2. Kibble - first thing to say is pet food companies are VERY generous, I e-mailed loads and ended up with 2.5kg of free dry food! :T There is a £5 voucher to print on the Hills website, £5 from Arovit, and if you register with Whiskas or Purina you get smaller vouchers.

As your aunt says, cats need meat. Most dry cat food is very low in meat (some 4%!) so always read the ingredients. If you have a Jollyes pet shop they do Lifestage 26% meat which is £2 per kilo. I think the premium stuff in Lidl or Aldi is OK meat-wise too, but not sure of prices. Pets at Home own brands are also good, the silver bag is 25% meat and Purely is 40% meat (£3.50 per kilo). If you want to go really high meat Applaws is 80% meat (£5.50 per kilo but often on offer) or Fish4Cats is 70% fish (£4.50 per kilo).

3. Wet Food: if you only feed wet food you must choose a complete food, if you feed dry or raw as well you can give a complementary food. Complete will contain all the muscle, bones, organs (heart/ liver) and fat that your kitten needs to be healthy. Definitely do not feed human tinned fish to a kitten except as a rare treat. It is much too salty and might stress their kidneys, also it doesn't contain all the nutrients a cat needs.

Reasonably priced wet foods include Feline Fayre - the cheaper blue packages are complementary and the more expensive black are complete. :rolleyes: Large 400g tins in Asda (70% tuna) are just 50p or £1.50 per kilo so cheaper and healthier than the human tuna! The Feline Fayre pouches (60% fish) are on offer at the moment £1 for eight, otherwise try Home Bargains or B&M where they are £1.80 for eight.

Pets at Home Purely which is complete, the small tins 160g (50% fish) work out to £2.80 per kilo, the pouches are much more expensive. Bozita which you buy online is also £2.80 per kilo, complete and up to 90% meat!! :j Lastly Tesco Luxury complete (50% meat) which is only cheap when on offer at £3 for a box of twelve pouches (£3 per kilo) but comes on offer regularly.

thanks so much, you have really been a help, i thought your could give a cat tinned tuna! i think iv been watching too much tv lol, i think i will wait until i get her as i dont know what food she will be eating from her breeders, then choose a food and slowly introduce it, i reckon i will go with a top quality kibble from pets at home, iv just had a browse on their site and a lot of the top quality kibbles are on special offer

Iv tried raw bones with my dog before (we have a staffordshire bull terrier) but he just got the runs from it, so never got it again. Can you give a kitten bones aswell or do they have to be over a certain age? Thanks so much for your help