If you have cats at home, we assume you consider them part of the family and do your best to provide them with a healthy diet. For this reason, feline owners are increasingly serving “high-end,” “natural,” “organic,” or grain-based foods without genetically modified organisms (GMOs), additives, or preservatives.
As our evaluation of cat food shows, filling the kitten’s bowl with a quality product that meets their nutritional needs at an affordable price is quite possible. You don’t need to spend a fortune to feed your feline well, and we can prove it to you.
Check out our reviews of the five best budget cat foods we’ve handpicked to help you find the one that will make your kitty and wallet happy!
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A Quick Glance At Our Favorites in 2025
| Rating | Image | Product | Details | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Best Overall
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Purina Cat Chow Dry Cat Food |
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Best Value
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Iams ProActive Health Dry Cat Food |
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Premium Choice
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Hill's Science Diet Dry Cat Food |
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| Best for Kittens |
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Whole Earth Farms Healthy Kitten Food |
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Cat Chow Naturals Chicken Dry Cat Food |
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The 5 Best Budget Cat Foods
1. Purina Cat Chow Complete Dry Cat Food – Best Overall
| First ingredient: | Chicken by-product meal |
| Taurine: | Yes |
| Grain-free: | No |
In general, veterinarians recommend cat food that is high in protein, contains good sources of fat, and is low in carbohydrates. In addition, cats need taurine, arginine, niacin, preformed vitamin A, and specific types of essential fatty acids; otherwise, they can suffer from serious health problems.
That is why Purina Cat Chow Complete Dry Cat Food is the best overall budget cat food option due to the quality of its ingredients, the reputation of the brand, and its low price. However, Cat Chow also contains corn and other grains, which does not make it a low-carb option. Nevertheless, since chicken is the first ingredient on the list, the protein content is higher, which limits the possibility of weight gain.
- Made with real chicken
- High protein content
- Affordable
- Contains corn and rice
2. Iams ProActive Health Dry Cat Food – Best Value
| First ingredient: | Chicken |
| Taurine: | Yes |
| Grain-free: | No |
You can’t go wrong with Iams. It’s ideal for indoor cats and owners who want to buy from a reputable brand without having to break their piggy bank. Not only is chicken the number one ingredient, but it’s also formulated to help cats maintain a healthy weight and reduce hairballs.
However, Iams ProActive Health is only for indoor cats; don’t buy it if your pet spends the day exploring your neighborhood since they may need extra calories. However, we think it’s the best budget cat food for the money.
- Made with real chicken
- May help reduce hairballs
- Affordable
- High corn content
- Not the best choice for active outdoor cats
3. Hill’s Science Diet Dry Cat Food – Premium Choice
| First ingredient: | Chicken |
| Taurine: | Yes |
| Grain-free: | Yes |
Hill’s Science Diet Dry Cat Food is more expensive than the other formulas, but because it is made with high-quality protein and is grain, wheat, and soy-free, your cat will be satisfied with less food. You can wait longer to buy another bag, making it a better option in the long run. Plus, since vets recommend Hill’s Science Diet, you can be sure your cat is getting all the essential fatty acids they need to thrive.
However, despite all the benefits of Hill’s, some cat owners have reported that their kittens do not like the flavor. So, to ensure you don’t waste money on an entire bag that will end up in the trash, you should see if your vet can provide a sample before purchasing.
- High-quality protein
- No corn, wheat, soy
- Recommended by veterinarians
- Expensive
- Some cats don’t like it
4. Whole Earth Farms Grain-Free Healthy – Best for Kittens
| First ingredient: | Chicken meal |
| Taurine: | Yes |
| Grain-free: | Yes |
Whole Earth Farms Grain-Free Healthy Kitten is an affordable option for your new kitten. It combines premium ingredients to ensure the optimal development of your new furry friend. The added taurine benefits your cat’s sight and heart and aids digestion. However, the carbohydrate content (dry potatoes) is a little high, which may promote weight gain in some kittens.
You will, therefore, need to keep an eye on the portions you are giving your pet.
- High-quality proteins
- Kittens love it
- Great for kittens with food allergies
- Small pieces may not be chewed well
- High carbohydrate content
5. Cat Chow Naturals Grain-Free Real Chicken Dry Cat Food
| First ingredient: | Chicken by-product meal |
| Taurine: | Yes |
| Grain-free: | Yes |
If your cat has a sensitive stomach or is prone to weight gain, then Cat Chow Naturals Grain-Free is an excellent and affordable option. It is composed of natural ingredients, with good quality protein and without grains, which will keep your kitty full for longer.
However, although “real chicken” is said to be the first ingredient, the label also mentions “by-product meal” after the word chicken, which can be misleading. Besides, some cats, especially seniors, may find the kibble hard to chew.
- Whole and natural ingredients
- No artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives
- High-quality protein
- Some cats can find it hard to chew
Buyer’s Guide: Selecting the Best Budget Cat Food
Things to Consider When Choosing
As obligate carnivores, cats are very delicate animals when it comes to their diet. Their diet must be more balanced to avoid ailments such as urinary disorders. What’s more, providing quality food increases the chances of improving their health once they get old.
Unlike the nutrition guidelines for foods intended for human consumption, the composition of pet food (referred to as “guaranteed analysis” on kibble bags) is not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Therefore, on a voluntary basis, the industry complies with the standards set by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), a North American group of scientists who make recommendations.
According to this standard, cat food must contain four nutritional elements: the minimum levels of protein and fat and the maximum levels of moisture and fiber.
- Protein. Cats should be fed protein-rich food, ideally 28% for indoor cats and 30% for outdoor cats (since the latter usually are more active than indoor cats). Cat food that contains fresh meat and fish, egg products, and meat meals, among the first ingredients listed on the packaging, is ideal. Indeed, unlike plant protein, animal protein provides the cat with the amino acids they need to survive.
- Fat. Because they play a direct role in the caloric value of the food, the fat should preferably be around 9% for indoor cats and between 15% and 20% for outdoor cats. If the products exceed these thresholds, they could make the cat fat, especially if they are not active enough to compensate for this gain. Conversely, a fat deficiency leads to a lack of essential fatty acids (omega-6 and omega-3). These compounds are necessary for a cat’s skin and coat health, vision, immune system, and brain development. So, to make sure your furry friend gets the fatty acids they need, the formula should ideally contain chicken fat, which is high in omega-6 (more than beef fat and vegetable fat). On the other hand, fish, fish oil, and flax seeds are good sources of omega-3 fatty acids.
- Fibers. Fiber is needed to keep the digestive tract healthy. Thus, an indoor cat should ingest between 3% and 6% of fiber, and an outdoor cat should consume between 3% and 4%. On the other hand, too much fiber could cause the animal not to absorb all the nutrients they need and lose weight.
- Humidity. The product should not be too wet either; otherwise, it could go moldy. In addition, very dry food (8%–10% moisture) is generally more pleasing to the kitty’s palate.
High-quality cat food is an important part of fostering a long and healthy life for your cat but the right cat food and water dish will promote good posture, offer whisker relief, and aid in good digestion. The Hepper NomNom Cat Bowl is our favorite bowl since it offers all of the above and is beautifully crafted to meet modern home stylings. The wide tray design catches any food and water spills and the entire setup is dishwasher safe. Learn more about the Hepper NomNom Cat Bowl here. At PangoVet, we’ve admired Hepper for many years and decided to take a controlling ownership interest so that we could benefit from the outstanding designs of this cool cat company!
Importance of Taurine and Magnesium for Cats
- Taurine is an essential amino acid that cats cannot produce on their own. They must get it in their diet; otherwise, they can develop heart and vision problems. Besides, the minimum threshold for taurine should be 0.1%. However, most dry foods do not display the taurine content on their packaging, which makes it impossible to validate whether there is sufficient taurine.
- Magnesium is another necessary mineral for cats, but in excess and associated with a low urinary pH, it can lead to urinary problems. Therefore, experts have determined that indoor and outdoor cat food should ideally contain 0.1% magnesium, which meets all the cat’s needs. However, most products do not display this information.
Should You Buy Cat Food from Your Vet?
To feed a healthy cat, there is no need for products sold by veterinarians. The food sold in such establishments is mainly intended for animals with specific therapeutic and dietary needs. When it comes to high prices, you should know that you are also paying for quality nutritional advice when you buy your food from the vet. In addition, the formulas are often subjected to clinical trials, which are excessively expensive to carry out. Such tests make it possible to document whether the animal digests the food properly.
What should you take away from all this information? If your cat is healthy, you can easily buy food from a supermarket or pet store without paying an exorbitant price. Nevertheless, be sure to read the ingredient list carefully so that your cat can benefit from all the elements necessary for his overall health.
Our Budget Cat Foods Selection Process
The cat foods we reviewed in this article were chosen by PangoVet’s writers and editors, in collaboration with our experienced veterinary team, based on personal experience with the product, knowledge and expertise about the pet’s care needs, brand reputation, and reviews across multiple retail outlets from other customers that have purchased and used the product. The combination of these factors allows us to gather a wide range of information to help you choose only the best cat foods and ensure you have the most accurate information about these products to promote proper care, health, and well-being of your beloved pets.
Why Trust PangoVet?
PangoVet’s licensed and experienced veterinarians have a knowledge base that extends to all kinds of pets—furry, scaly, and feathered—and want only the best for pets of all shapes and sizes. We also have experienced writers and editors who are pet owners with a variety of different pets, and we love our pets as much as you do. We recognize pets as part of our family. We make sure to only choose products from reputable brands highly rated by customers as well as products that we have personal experience with, to ensure that every cat food featured in this review is high-quality and safe for your pets.
Conclusion
If you are on a tight budget, you can still provide quality food to your dear pet feline. According to our reviews of the options available on the market, Purina Cat Chow Complete Dry Food is the best overall, at a more than affordable price. Iams ProActive Health also offers an attractive combination of price and quality, while Hill’s Science Diet Dry Cat Food is the more expensive option but advantageous in the long run. Either way, don’t neglect your kitten’s annual vet visits and routine checkups; they can determine whether they will need more expensive food to treat specific health issues.
Featured Image Credit: Okssi, Shutterstock
