Cat Nutrition
  • HOME
    • ABOUT
    • CONTACT
    • CREDITS
  • FOODMAKING
    • RECIPES
    • PICTORIAL
    • SUPPLIES
    • TIPS
  • DISEASES
    • DIABETES
    • IBD
    • OBESITY
    • PERIODONTAL DISEASE
    • URINARY TRACT ISSUES
  • CARE
    • CLEANING
    • LITTERBOX
  • RESOURCES
    • FAQ
    • TESTIMONIALS
    • TRANSLATIONS
  • VETS
    • OPEN LETTER TO VETS
    • SAMPLE HANDOUT
  • Say Thanks
  • BLOG

Blog

What it really costs to make cat food - not so much! 

2/9/2013

8 Comments

 
Picture
Dr. Lisa Pierson of catinfo.org - who is much more of a numbers person than I am - has on her website an awesome, detailed breakout of what it costs to make homemade raw cat food. 

Many folks are understandably dubious about the price of doing it themselves and, to be sure, if you go down the path of making cat food yourself there can be an initial outlay for a grinder and a supply of the dry vitamins and other ingredients.  The grinder, however, will last you for years and years (mine's been going strong for well over a decade).

I finally did some calculations this morning on what it costs me to make a supply of cat food for my two furry shamans.  I bought free-range chicken (on sale at Whole Foods) and when I added up the total cost of the meat, eggs, organs and other ingredients - and divided the cost by the number of days it will feed Wilson and Sidney-Beans, I came up with a cost of about 90 cents a day per cat.  

As a benchmark, I looked at the cost of buying - on sale - a premium canned cat food.  That came to  $1.50 a day per cat.  

A few other snippets to inform your thinking about cost:  

  • Our friends at the One Stop Jerky Shop sell the grinder for around $160. I've been using the same grinder for well over 10 years - amortized, it's cost me $15 a year to have that grinder.     
  • If you use this link to order the other ingredients (vitamins, salmon oil, etc.) from iHerb, you can get $5 off your first order.  
  • Diet is the brick and mortar of health - as Dr. Pierson reminds readers, you can pay now or pay later.  Paying later can come in the form of high vet bills from nutritionally-linked ailments like IBD, diabetes, obesity, and urinary tract disorders. 

Methinks homemade raw feeding really is a bargain.    



8 Comments
ssi disability attorney link
6/17/2013 07:36:35 pm

I was not aware of the fact that making cat food at home is cheaper than buying. I am sure that with this information, many cat owners will be certainly benefited from it.

Reply
Cynthia Burke link
11/9/2013 11:01:55 am

I give your info to all my adopters, and it's part of our agreement that they feed exclusively raw organic food...keep up the great work. It is certainly cheaper than having a sick cat...even if you didn't care about the cat...I give info on the one-stop jerky shop Tasin 108 too!

Reply
Kathryn Hargreaves
11/11/2013 12:24:27 am

I have it worked out to $0.75/day/cat. I feed my ferals raw, too---not the kibble that even Alley Cat Allies recommends.

Reply
cynthia burke link
3/6/2014 06:21:43 am

what EVER it costs it's cheaper than having a sick cat! come ON :-) !!

Reply
Chandler link
4/22/2014 09:17:50 am

Eating raw is definitely a cheaper and healthier alternative. I'm glad I came across this because if not my cats would still be eating plain cat food. I want my animals to be just as healthy as I am and if I get to eat good and nutritious food then they should as well. In the long run it will equal out to fewer vet visits as well as saving a lot of money buying worthless cat food.

Reply
Della Smith link
7/26/2015 04:33:56 pm

Thanks for sharing with us informative information.It is extremely helpful for me. I would like to suggest Herbsmith Sassy <a href="http://www.petcareshoppe.com/sassy-cat-treats-freeze-dried-salmon.html?">Healthy Cat Treats</a>. It is made without fillers artificial preservatives, or grains. It help our feline friends live naturally.

Reply
Cat food link
1/17/2016 11:17:51 pm

Thanks for sharing this informative information with us and it is extremely helpful for me. I was not aware of the fact that making cat food at home is cheaper than buying. I am sure that with this information, many cat owners will be certainly benefited from it.

Reply
Danielstastypetfoods link
1/20/2018 02:20:09 am

Other content online cannot measure up to the work you have put out here. Your insight on this subject has convinced me of many of the points you have expressed. This is great unique writing.

Reply

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Follow @catnutritionorg

    Older Stuff

    September 2016
    July 2015
    December 2014
    September 2013
    July 2013
    May 2013
    February 2013
    December 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    September 2010
    February 2010
    September 2009
    August 2008
    May 2008
    September 2007
    August 2007

    RSS Feed

CAT FOOD RECIPES  |   FOODMAKING PICTORIAL  |  FAQ   |  TESTIMONIALS  |  BLOG
The Important Fine Print:  Information on catnutrition.org is for general information purposes only and is provided without warranty or guarantee of any kind. The content on this site is written by a lay person with no veterinary training. This website is not intended to replace professional advice from your veterinarian and nothing on this site is intended as a medical diagnosis or treatment. Questions about your animal's health should be directed to a professional animal health care provider.

© Copyright 2003-2021  CatNutrition.org. All Rights Reserved.
  • HOME
    • ABOUT
    • CONTACT
    • CREDITS
  • FOODMAKING
    • RECIPES
    • PICTORIAL
    • SUPPLIES
    • TIPS
  • DISEASES
    • DIABETES
    • IBD
    • OBESITY
    • PERIODONTAL DISEASE
    • URINARY TRACT ISSUES
  • CARE
    • CLEANING
    • LITTERBOX
  • RESOURCES
    • FAQ
    • TESTIMONIALS
    • TRANSLATIONS
  • VETS
    • OPEN LETTER TO VETS
    • SAMPLE HANDOUT
  • Say Thanks
  • BLOG