10 Best Budget Cat Foods in Canada in 2024 – Reviews & Top Picks

The luxury pet care market can make you feel guilty if you can’t afford to splurge on your cat. We’re here to tell you that you’re a fantastic pet owner, no matter your cat food budget.

Pet food trends have come and gone over the years, with offerings like “grain-free” and “holistic” formulas. But at the end of the day, cats’ nutritional needs haven’t changed. What has changed are human preferences.

Your cat isn’t going to judge you for not feeding them organic food. What your cat needs is nutritionally sound food that tastes yummy. We’ve compiled a list of Canada’s best affordable cat foods. We hope these reviews help you find a budget-friendly food that your cat will love.

A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites in 2024

	Image	Product	Details
Best Overall		IAMS Proactive Health Dry Cat Food with Chicken	No artificial preservatives or colors Made in the U.S. Available in multiple-size bags	Check Price
Best Value		Whiskas Seafood Selection With Real Salmon	No artificial flavors or colors Good value for the money Whiskas is a household name	Check Price
Premium Choice		Purina Beyond Salmon & Whole Brown Rice	Made in North American facilities No artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives Contains probiotics	Check Price
Best for Kittens		Whiskas Dry Kitten Food With Real Chicken	No artificial flavors or colors Contains fish oil, a source of Omega-3 Affordable	Check Price
Vet’s Choice		Purina Cat Chow Dry Cat Food Naturals	Our vet’s choice for budget cat food No artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives	Check Price

The 10 Best Budget Cat Foods in Canada

We think Canada’s best overall budget cat food is IAMS Proactive Health with Chicken. The first two ingredients, chicken and chicken by-product meal, are tasty protein sources. Dried beet pulp provides the fiber your cat’s digestive needs. One ingredient we don’t like is the vague “natural flavor.” Thousands of positive online reviews prove that cats and owners alike love IAMS Proactive Health with Chicken. A handful of buyers felt this IAMS formula was too expensive. After our research, we maintain that this cat food is a good value for the ingredients and price. It is available in several different-sized bags. Once you know your cat likes this food, you can save money per kilogram by buying a larger package.

Whiskas has been a mainstay in the budget cat food market since 1958. We think their Seafood Selections Dry Cat Food With Real Salmon is the best budget cat food for the money. Many pet food brands in this price range contain artificial flavors and colors to make up for inferior ingredients. Whiskas sets itself apart by not using any artificial flavors and colors in this or any of its other cat food recipes. While Whiskas has labeled this formula “Seafood Selections,” the primary source of protein is chicken. Salmon and shrimp meal are further down the ingredient list.

Whiskas Seafood Selections Dry Cat Food contains synthetic preservatives, which you may choose to avoid for personal reasons. BHA and BHT are the last two ingredients listed, so the amount is minimal. We could not find information about where Whiskas produces their food or sources their ingredients from.

Purina Beyond’s Simply line of cat food is a good comprise of cleaner ingredients and an affordable price. As our premium choice, this formula does cost more than most other brands on our list. We like the salmon & whole brown rice recipe for several reasons. Many budget cat foods labeled “salmon” contain another primary protein source, but salmon is the first ingredient. This grain-inclusive formula allows pet owners to avoid wheat, soy, or corn. The one ingredient we’d like to see more transparency over is “natural flavor.” Purina Beyond Simply Salmon & Whole Brown Rice sets itself apart from other budget brands by adding probiotics to this recipe.

Kittens have different nutritional needs than their adult counterparts. They need food specially formulated for kittens until their first birthday. Whiskas Dry Kitten Food With Real Chicken doesn’t contain artificial flavors or colors. This formula contains fish oil rich in omega-3, an ingredient you don’t find in many budget brands. The last two ingredients are artificial preservatives, BHA and BHT. We’d like more information about this food’s “natural flavor.” We could not find any information about where Whiskas Dry Kitten Food With Real Chicken is made or where the company sources its ingredients.

Our vet’s choice for a budget cat food brand is Purina Cat Chow Dry Cat Food, Naturals Original. This recipe is free of artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives. It is one of Purina’s more popular cat food formulas, with over 12,000 online reviews. Many pet owners have happily fed this food to multiple cats over the years. A handful of cat owners said their kitty gained weight after switching to this food. The caloric content of cat food varies from formula to formula. Talk with your vet if you’re unsure how much to feed your cat each day. Purina Cat Chow Naturals Original is one of the more expensive options on our list.

Zoe is one of Canada’s favorite pet food brands. We think their Turkey with Peas & Russet Potato provides good value for a reasonable price. Consider this recipe if you want to avoid corn, wheat, and soy but want grain-inclusive food. Zoe claims the 4% fiber content can help control hairballs. We like that Zoe Turkey with Peas & Russet Potato is made in Canada and is free of artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives. This recipe contains probiotics, an ingredient you rarely see in budget-priced cat food. Zoe is one of the more expensive foods on our list but a good choice if you want to support a Canadian business.

Wet cat food is almost always more expensive per serving than dry food. But sometimes you want to treat your kitty. And wet food is a tasty way to boost your cat’s fluid intake. Cats with certain health conditions, including diabetes and kidney disease, can benefit from eating wet cat food. Many more affordable canned cat foods leave much to be desired with main ingredients like meat by-products and water. We like that Zoe Pâte Wet Food with Wild Caught Fish contains chicken broth. The “fish” name is a little deceptive, as this wet food’s primary protein source is chicken. Consider Zoe if you want a budget-friendly wet food made in Canada.

Purina Cat Chow Complete is a no-frills traditional food formulated for adult cats. We think it is an excellent choice if you have several cats to feed and don’t want to break the bank. This formula is made in the U.S. and has 2,000+ overwhelmingly positive reviews. The two primary ingredients, chicken by-product meal and ground yellow corn, keep the price low while providing solid nutrition. Purina Cat Chow Complete does contain artificial colors: Red 40, Yellow 5, and Blue 2. Chicken, fish meal, beef fat, and liver flavor make this an irresistibly tasty cat food.

Whiskas Hairball Control with Real Chicken lives up to its name. Satisfied cat owners report that 7% fiber content does indeed help manage pesky hairballs. We could not find any information about where Whiskas sources their ingredients for Hairball Control with Real Chicken. This formula contains artificial preservatives, BHA and BHT. Chicken is well-loved by most cats, and the addition of pork meat boosts this food’s flavor.

We end our list with the crown jewel of budget cat food brands, Fancy Feast. Your cat won’t care about the “Florentine” label, but they’ll love the shredded meat and gravy. The Wild Salmon recipe stands out, as its primary ingredients are fish broth and salmon. Many affordable “fish” recipes contain less expensive chicken as the primary protein source. This variety pack will save you money compared to buying individual cans. But the downside is that your cat may not like all of the flavors. The Fancy Feast’s Elegant Medleys Florentine Variety Pack contains artificial flavors and colors.

Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Best Budget Food For Your Cat

Shopping for cat food while sticking to a budget can seem overwhelming. Below we address common issues surrounding cat food so that you can make the best choice for your pet.

Does My Cat Need Grain-Free Food?

Probably not. Most cats tolerate grains just fine. Corn, wheat, and rice aren’t fillers. These grains are cost-effective sources of nutrients your cat needs to stay healthy.

There’s been an increase in grain-free pet foods over the last several years. This movement mimics the grain-free and gluten-free trends in human diets. While pet food marketing tactics continue to change and evolve, the nutrients cats need to stay healthy haven’t.

Switching to grain-free food is a case of, “If it’s not broken, don’t fix it.” There’s no need to feed your cat a grain-free formula unless your vet recommends it.

How Do I Know If My Cat Has a Food Allergy?

The most common symptoms of a food allergy are skin issues like itchiness or scabs, fur loss, and an upset stomach. Contrary to current pet food industry trends, grains are usually not the culprit. Most cats with food allergies are allergic to a protein like chicken or fish.

If you’re worried about your cat’s health, don’t automatically reach for a new food brand. You should contact your vet if you’re concerned about your cat’s health. They may have an underlying health condition that needs to be addressed.

Are Preservatives in Cat Food Safe?

The Pet Food Association of Canada (PFAC) states, “The same preservatives are used in food for people and pet food. They are safe and are used in very small quantities.”

You’ll notice that we’ve listed artificial preservatives as a “con.” We did so because many people choose to avoid artificial preservatives as a personal choice.

What Is ‘Chicken Meal’?

Meat “meals” such as chicken, beef, salmon, and turkey are common cat food ingredients. The term “meal” is a little confusing and requires some explanation.

Animal meat, skin, and bone undergo a process to make these ingredients ready for the pet food industry. The animal parts are ground up, and then cooked at a high temperature. The result is a dry, shelf-stable powder.

Meat meal is easy to transport, doesn’t require refrigeration, and won’t spoil the way raw meat would.

Conclusion

Our best overall choice was IAMS Proactive Health Dry Cat Food with Chicken. This IAMS recipe is made in the U.S. and is free of artificial colors and preservatives.

We think the best value for the money is Whiskas Seafood Dry Cat Food With Real Salmon. Whiskas keeps this food affordable by using chicken as the primary protein source.

Purina’s Beyond Simply Natural Dry Cat Food, Salmon & Whole Brown Rice is our premium choice. It is one of the more expensive options on our list. However, it’s still an economical choice if you value North American-produced pet food free of artificial ingredients.

You’ll want to consider Whiskas Dry Kitten Food With Real Chicken for your new furry family member. It contains fish oil, an ingredient ordinarily found in more expensive cat food brands.

And lastly, our vet’s choice goes to Purina Cat Chow Dry Cat Food, Naturals Original. This formula is an economical choice if you want to avoid artificial ingredients.

We compiled these reviews to make shopping for a budget cat food brand easier. We hope you find your kitty’s new favorite food on this list!

Featured Image Credit: Patrick Foto, Shutterstock