Skip to main content

PawTracks may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

Affordable, healthy cat food: Our top 4 picks

Your cat is your family member, and naturally, you want to feed him the best food to keep him both happy and healthy. Your vet may have recommended some top foods, or your friends might be feeding their cats a quality food that you want to try. But some of those premium cat foods can be too expensive for your budget. The good news is that plenty of healthy cat foods out there are affordably priced. We’ve highlighted four of the best-quality affordable wet cat food and dry cat food options to help you get started.

Crave Grain Free Adult High Protein Natural Dry Cat Food

Crave’s Grain Free High Protein Natural Dry Cat Food delivers the protein your cat needs to support his muscle development and immune system, but without the fillers commonly used in other foods. It’s free of chicken byproduct meal, corn, wheat, and soy, which can trigger allergies and stomach sensitivities in many cats. This kibble delivers a complete and balanced diet and includes energy from quality carbohydrates. Flavor varieties include salmon and ocean fish, chicken, chicken and salmon, turkey, and chicken and duck. Real meat is the first ingredient in each 40%-protein formula, and other ingredients include pea protein, tapioca, and potato protein. This food is suitable for cats ages 1 and up.

Why we like it:

  • Free of fillers that can trigger allergies and stomach sensitivities
  • Real meat is the first ingredient
  • Comes in a variety of flavors

Recommended Videos

Rachael Ray Nutrish Indoor Complete Premium Natural Dry Cat Food

Rachael Ray Nutrish Indoor Complete Premium Natural Dry Cat Food combines quality and affordability, offering some of the best healthy cat food prices you’ll find. This food features real farm-raised chicken from the United States as its first ingredient and is formulated with your indoor cat’s dietary needs in mind. Prebiotics from pumpkin help support your cat’s digestive health. Berries are rich in antioxidants and support your cat’s immune system. Added vitamins and minerals promote overall health for your feline friend. This food is also available in turkey, chickpeas and salmon, or a chicken, chickpeas, and salmon variety.

Why we like it:

  • Real farm-raised chicken is the first ingredient
  • Includes prebiotics from pumpkin to boost digestive health
  • Includes berries to support your cat’s immune system

Blue Buffalo Freedom Grain Free Natural Adult Pate Wet Cat Food

One of the best inexpensive wet cat food options available, Blue Buffalo Freedom Grain Free Natural Adult Pate Wet Cat Food  has real chicken as its first ingredient. It’s made with natural ingredients like sweet potatoes, carrots, cranberries, blueberries, and fish oil. While it’s full of nutrition, this food is free of chicken byproduct meals, corn, wheat, and soy. It also contains no artificial flavors or preservatives, so you’ll know exactly what you’re feeding your feline friend. The pâté’s smooth texture makes it easy for your cat to eat.

Why we like it:

  • Real chicken is the first ingredient
  • Free of chicken byproduct meals, corn, wheat, and soy
  • Contains no artificial flavors or preservatives

Tiki Cat Grill Grain-Free, Low-Carbohydrate Wet Food with Whole Seafood in Broth

A must for the seafood-loving cat, Tiki Cat Grill Grain-Free, Low-Carbohydrate Wet Food with Whole Seafood in Broth is packed full of variety. Real seafood is the first ingredient in each can, delivering plenty of protein in every serving. The food provides balanced nutrition suitable for both kittens and adult cats, and its high moisture content supports your cat’s hydration. Flavors include tuna and crab, tuna crab surimi, mackerel and sardines, sardine cutlets in lobster, and ahi tuna. This variety pack keeps your kitty’s meals interesting and his appetite piqued, and by rotating the flavors you feed your cat each day, you can help keep him interested in mealtime. The cans are available in 2.8-ounce and 6-ounce sizes, so you can choose the purr-fect size for your cat.

Why we like it:

  • Real seafood is the first ingredient
  • High moisture content aids in your cat’s hydration
  • Comes in a variety of flavors

These quality cat foods are designed with your cat’s nutrition needs in mind. Instead of being full of fillers, which can upset sensitive stomachs, these foods are packed with natural nutrition and carefully sourced ingredients. When choosing a food, it’s important to consider whether your cat has any sensitivities to certain proteins or ingredients that you should avoid. Once you’ve picked the food you’d like to try, gradually introduce it to your cat by adding just a little to his old food each day. You can slowly increase the amount of the new food while decreasing the amount of the old food until you fully transition your cat over. This deliberate process can help avoid digestive upset that a sudden food change can cause.

Paige Cerulli
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Paige's work has appeared in American Veterinarian, Business Insider, Healthline, and more. When she's not writing, Paige…
Why do cats hate closed doors? What science says
Your cat has a few reasons for following you into the bathroom
Cat sits in the bathroom looking out

Every cat owner knows that living with a feline means never having privacy. They follow you into the bathroom, the bedroom, and of course, the kitchen. Any door you're behind, in particular, becomes a cat nemesis. But why do cats hate closed doors? It turns out that the answer, like so much of pet behavior, comes from a complex place of modern living and ancestral instincts. Here's what you need to know about why your kitty detests you shutting them out and what you can do to keep your paint intact.
Why do cats hate closed doors?

When you go to the bathroom and shut the door, you might instantly hear the sounds of a cat positively shredding the outside (see also velcro dogs). It's not just that they want desperately to be near you, though. Cats have a unique perspective on their own space and a need to control it. After all, your house is theirs, too.

Read more
How to help your new cat settle in
Here are the steps you should take to help your cat feel at home with you
Tiger cat lying on a rug

Bringing home a new cat can be stressful for both you and your new furry family member. Fortunately, there are many ways you can help reduce your cat's stress and make the transition period easier. As your new cat settles in, he'll need some support from you, but he'll also need you to be patient with him. He's undergoing a big life change, and as excited as you are for him to be around, the best thing you can do is to give your kitty some time and space while he adjusts. He'll be roaming the house and hanging out with you soon enough if you follow these tips.
What is the 3-3-3 rule for cats?

If you have ever adopted a cat before, you may have heard this often-cited rule for settling in. The rule says that cats take three days to adjust to being in a new place at all and may seem especially hesitant and skittish.

Read more
How to tell if your cat is angry at you and what to do
Your guide to angry cat body language
Angry calico cat hissing

Cats can get the reputation of being perpetually grumpy and unloving. These are myths — cats can be playful and remain affectionate even after the kitten stage.

Yet, cats — like humans — experience various emotions, including anger. Even the cuddliest, most mild-mannered kitties have their triggers and moments. Unlike humans, cats can't tell you how they feel using words. Though cats can vocalize — and often will when angry — watching body language will provide the most clues into what your cat thinks about their current situation.

Read more