Dry cat food is generally less expensive than wet food and lasts longer once opened, making it more economical. However, finding a good quality affordable dry food isn’t always easy.
To help, our team of researchers — including veterinarians and pet nutritionists — have put together this list of the best budget-friendly dry cat foods.
All these foods are formulated to provide complete nutrition, with the right balance of protein, fat, fiber, and essential vitamins and minerals your cat needs.
Our top picks
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American Journey Grain Free
American Journey Turkey & Chicken Grain Free recipe received the Cat Food Advisor’s second highest rating: 4 stars.
It is a dry product range made by American Journey Pet Food, an exclusive brand owned by Chewy.com. It was launched in 2017, and the products are sold almost exclusively through Chewy’s website.
This particular recipe derives the bulk of its protein from turkey, which is naturally rich in the 11 essential amino acids required by a cat to sustain life.
Dry matter label analysis reveals a wet recipe containing 44.4% protein, 16.7% fat and 30.9% carbohydrates . . . with a fat-to-protein ratio of 38%.
This food provides an excellent source of quality protein and is made in open-to-public kitchens. The home-made food is lightly cooked to retain its nutritional value.
Highly recommended.
Read our review of the full American Journey Grain-Free (Dry) range hereThings we like
- No artificial colors or flavors
- No animal by-products
- Packed with vitamins and minerals
Main Ingredients Deboned turkey, turkey meal, chicken meal, tapioca starch, dried egg product Texture Type Grain free Protein Percentage 44.4% AAFCO Standards All Life Stages Best For Kittens/cats/senior cats Sample buyer review...
"Our cat stopped eating over a period of months. She became so finicky. The pet store clerk recommended Just Food For Cats. Well, I guess we found what she likes. She gobbles it up, crawls up our legs as we prepare it and is back to her old self again. Her coat is shiny and she has more energy and is playful. We are so happy and relieved. Thanks for making this great food!"
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Tender & True
Tender & True Organic Chicken & Liver recipe received the Cat Food Advisor’s highest rating: 5 stars.
It is one of six products in a range made by Tender & True, a company founded in 2014 and one of the first to produce certified, humanely raised, pet food that meets USDA organic standards.
Tender & True Organic Chicken & Liver recipe derives the bulk of its protein from chicken, which is naturally rich in the 11 essential amino acids required by a cat to sustain life.
Dry matter label analysis reveals a wet recipe containing 38.6% protein, 25% fat and 28.4% carbohydrates . . . with a fat-to-protein ratio of 65%.
This food is an independently owned certified organic product using humanely raised animal protein. Tender & True has formed relationships with fisheries and growers to provide quality ingredients at an affordable price.
Highly recommended.
Read our review of the full Tender & True (Dry) range hereThings we like
- USDA certified organic ingredients in two of the recipes
- Grain free
- No artificial preservatives, colors or flavors
Main Ingredients Organic chicken, organic chicken broth, organic chicken liver, organic pea protein Texture Type Organic Protein Percentage 38.6% AAFCO Standards All Life Stages Best For Kittens/cats/senior cats Sample buyer review...
"All seven of my kitties actually LIKE this brand. It smells and looks good. Finally a BIG HIT after a few misses!"
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Diamond Naturals
Diamond Naturals cat food range received the Cat Food Advisor’s second highest rating: 4 stars.
It is made up of three recipes made from superfood ingredients as well as probiotics to support digestive and immune health.
Diamond Naturals Kitten Chicken & Rice Formula was chosen to represent the other products in the line for a detailed recipe and nutrient analysis. It derives the bulk of its protein from chicken which is naturally rich in the 11 essential amino acids a cat needs to sustain life.
Dry matter label analysis reveals a wet recipe containing 37.8% protein, 24.4% fat and 29.8% carbohydrates . . . with a fat-to-protein ratio of 65%.
Read our review of the full Diamond Naturals (Dry) range hereThings we like
- Includes antioxidants & probiotics
- Contains dried kelp as a natural source of essential nutrients
- Doesn’t contain fillers, by-products, or artificial additives
Main Ingredients Chicken, chicken meal, grain sorghum, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), dried yeast. Texture Type Kibble Protein Percentage 37.8% AAFCO Standards All Life Stages Best For All Cats Sample buyer review...
"I love feeding the cats DIAMOND brand. When we inherited 3 kittens I didn't hesitate to purchase their brand for the kittens. All the babies & the mom loved this food and tolerated it very well! I would recommend this product to anyone with kittens & or pregnant/nursing cats."
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Taste of the Wild
Taste of the Wild Rocky Mountain Feline Recipe with Roasted Venison and Smoke-Flavored Salmon Cat Food received the Cat Food Advisor’s second highest rating: 4.5 stars.
It is one of five recipes in this product range made by Taste of the Wild, a company owned by Diamond Pet Foods. It derives the bulk of its protein from chicken meal and dry matter label analysis reveals a wet recipe containing 46.7% protein, 20% fat and 25.3% carbohydrates . . . with a fat-to-protein ratio of 43%.
This recipe is grain-free, made from natural ingredients and high in protein.
Highly recommended.
Read our review of the full Taste of the Wild (Dry) range hereThings we like
- Grain-Free
- Antioxidants from real fruits and veggies
- Added probiotics for your cat’s gut health
Main Ingredients Chicken meal, peas, sweet potatoes, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), pea protein. Texture Type Kibble Protein Percentage 46.7% AAFCO Standards All Life Stages Best For All Cats Sample buyer review...
"My senior cat developed a reaction to the food she was on, Taste of the Wild was suggested to me. I tried it, she liked it and her eye mattering cleaned up. I think it was the switch to fish rather than foul based food."
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Tiki Cat Born Carnivore
Tiki Cat Born Carnivore High Protein Deboned Chicken & Egg recipe received the Cat Food Advisor’s second highest rating: 4.5 stars.
It is one of eight recipes in this product range made by Tiki Cat, a brand founded in 2005 by husband and wife, Christine and Robert Hackett. (Christine had previously worked in research and development for PetCo and during that time decided that the pet food market needed a new kind of diet, food that was more species-appropriate and had fewer grains and carbohydrates.)
This particular recipe derives the bulk of its protein from chicken. Dry matter label analysis reveals a wet recipe containing 47.8% protein, 21.1% fat and 23.1% carbohydrates . . . with a fat-to-protein ratio of 44%.
Tiki Cat Born Carnivore dry cat food is rich in protein and low carbohydrate content. It is formulated with a focus on providing a high-protein diet that mimics a cat’s natural carnivorous diet.
Highly recommended.
Read our review of the full Tiki Cat Born Carnivore (Dry) range hereThings we like
- Non-GMO ingredients
- High in protein
- No artificial additives
Main Ingredients Deboned chicken, chicken meal, dehydrated chicken, dried egg product, tapioca Texture Type Kibble Protein Percentage 47.8% AAFCO Standards Unspecified Best For Adult cats Sample buyer review...
"This dry food has small round kibble, smells fantastic and fishy. My cats love it and it’s high in protein which is important! My cats had no problem with digestion, they loved the taste and texture"
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Blue Buffalo Wilderness
Blue Buffalo Wilderness Adult Cat Chicken dry recipe received the Cat Food Advisor’s highest rating: 5 stars.
It is one of 11 recipes in a product range made by Blue Buffalo.
This particular recipe derives the bulk of its protein from chicken and dry matter label analysis reveals it contains 44% protein, 19.8% fat and 28.3% carbohydrates . . . with a fat-to-protein ratio of 45%.
The formula is made from an excellent source of high-quality protein and includes essential fatty acids. It is made with natural, wholesome ingredients free from grains, artificial colors, flavors and preservatives.
Highly recommended.
Read our review of the full Blue Buffalo Wilderness (Dry) range hereThings we like
- Real meat as the main ingredient
- Affordable
- No artificial additives or animal by-products
Main Ingredients Deboned chicken, chicken meal, pea protein, tapioca starch, peas Texture Type Kibble Protein Percentage 44% AAFCO Standards Maintenance Best For Adult cats Sample buyer review...
"My cat is my child so I buy him the best food money can buy and this is the best! The company is so sweet too; they put a nice thank you note in the box! I will definitely buy from them again when we run out. "
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I and Love and You
I and Love and You Naked Essentials Grain-Free Chicken & Duck recipe received the Cat Food Advisor’s second highest rating: 4.5 stars.
It is one of seven recipes in a product range made by I and Love and You, a company founded in 2011 in Boulder Colorado. The food is sourced nationally and internationally from the USA, Canada, Australia, Brazil and New Zealand.
This particular recipe derives the bulk of its protein from chicken. Dry matter label analysis reveals a wet recipe containing 37.8% protein, % fat and 38.7% carbohydrates . . . with a fat-to-protein ratio of 41%.
I and Love and You formulate each recipe with high-quality ingredients including non-GMO proteins, vegetables, and legumes.
Highly recommended.
Read our review of the full I and Love and You (Dry) range hereThings we like
- Grain-free
- No fillers or by-product meals
- Sustainably sourced fish
Main Ingredients Chicken, chicken meal, turkey meal, dried garbanzo beans, dried peas Texture Type Kibble Protein Percentage 37.8% AAFCO Standards All Life Stages Best For All cats Sample buyer review...
"I have a finicky kitty when it comes to eating, but she loves this food. It isn't packed full of fillers & is higher in protein. I rotate the flavors each month and she's always excited when it's switch up time. Other foods she has snubbed but I've never had her turn her nose to this brand."
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Applaws
Applaws Natural Grain-Free Adult Dry Cat Food, Chicken With Turkey recipe receives the Cat Food Advisor’s second highest rating: 4 stars.
It is one of four recipes in a product range made by Applaws, which is owned by premium pet food company MPM. MPM specializes in the production of high quality, human-grade pet foods made from natural, clean-label ingredients.
This particular recipe derives the bulk of its protein from chicken. Dry matter label analysis reveals a wet recipe containing 39.6% protein, 18.1% fat and 34.3% carbohydrates . . . with a fat-to-protein ratio of 46%.
Each formula lists animal or fish protein as the first ingredient.
Highly recommended.
Read our review of the full Applaws (Dry) range hereThings we like
- First ingredient listed as animal meat, or fish
- Contains flaxseed (a source of omega-3)
- Added vitamins and minerals
Main Ingredients Chicken, peas, chicken meal, lentils, chickpeas Texture Type Kibble Protein Percentage 39.6% AAFCO Standards Maintenance Best For Adult and senior cats Sample buyer review...
"I have an extremely fussy elderly lady, she appears to like the food but only as and when she feels it meets her requirements!! High quality food recommended."
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Addiction
Addiction Duck Royale Entrée dry recipe receives the Cat Food Advisor’s second highest rating: 4 stars.
It is one of eight recipes in a product range made by Addiction, a family run business established in 2002 by Jerel Kwek.
This recipe derives the bulk of its protein from duck. Dry matter label analysis reveals a wet recipe containing 37.8% protein, 16.7% fat and 37.6% carbohydrates . . . with a fat-to-protein ratio of 44%.
This grain-free food has a good protein level and does not include corn, soy and wheat. It has an AAFCO nutrient profile suitable for the maintenance of adult cats.
Highly recommended.
Read our review of the full Addiction (Dry) range hereThings we like
- Contains a range of proteins
- It is grain-free
- There are no artificial ingredients
Main Ingredients Duck, chicken, chicken meal, fava beans, tapioca Texture Type Kibble Protein Percentage 37.8% AAFCO Standards All Life Stages Best For All cats Sample buyer review...
"The quality of this product seems outstanding, and it's now my cat’s preferred daily meal. Not only does she love the taste, but I've also noticed a positive change in her weight, and her coat looks healthier and shinier."
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Article reviewed by
Pet Nutritionist
Laura studied BSc (Hons) Animal Science with an accreditation in Nutrition at the University of Nottingham, before working for eight years in the pet food and nutrition industry.
