Friends - or scared of claws? Credit: Elsie esq./Flickr
I had no idea that 75% of people own dogs and 50% own cats, which makes an April 2011 issue of ShopSmart magazine on the cheapest place to buy pet food super relevant. The mag’s secret shoppers compared prices of 23 items and found:
- Target and Walmart have the best prices on pet good and supplies – about 20% lower than grocery stores
- Grocery stores never had the highest prices, however, so if convenience is important…
- PetSmart beat PetCo by an average of 13%
- Home delivery from online sites will cost you – about 50% more than at Target and Walmart. ShopSmart found some of the highest prices at PetFoodDirect.com and Petco.
As for prices on specific items, here are the best prices on eight popular pet items.
9 Lives Shredded – $.36 at Walmart
Alpo Prime Slices – $.64-.$65 at Target or Walmart
Iams ProActive Health – $1.20 at Walmart
Kibbles ‘n Bits Original – $10.42 at Walmart
Meow Mix Original Choice – $3.97-$3.99 at Target or Walmart
Milk-Bone dog treats – $2.53 at Walmart
Purina Beneful Original – $14.18 at Target
Tidy Cats Scoop cat litter – $7.71 at Walmart
Tip: Despite the recession, we spent as much on our pets last year as in past years. Each month, we spend $36 on food and treats for dogs, and $20 for cats. Plus each year vet bills, shots and other expenses add up to $209 for dogs and $151 for cats.
Welcome to Bargain Babe! I’m Mara, and I’m so glad you’re here. I am an obsessive bargain hunter and penny pincher, and I am determined to live a full life without EVER paying full price.
Aldi is cheaper than WalMart and Target on dogfood and treats.
Right now through March 29, you can get a 22ox can of Pedigree dog food at Ralphs for $.49ea when you buy at least 10 per visit. In addition, Pedigree will spit out a $1.50 off coupon on your next shopping trip, so it’s like getting 10 cans for only $3.88 which works out to $.39ea.
I’m not going to knock any particular pet food, but having had cats with kidney and bladder problems and food allergies, sometimes getting the cheapest food creates the need to get more veterinary care, thus making higher quality food a better bet in the long run, both financially and for your fur people. My vet is adamant that corn is not the best thing to be listed as the first ingredient in pet food.
I strongly agree with Susan. I would NEVER buy pet food from a grocery or discount store. You HAVE to learn about what’s in pet food to make a good decision about what to buy. It’s disturbing, really, to know what’s in some of that stuff!
I agree with you Susan! I know all too well what certain foods can do to a cat’s kidneys as one of my cats died of kidney failure and another got diabetes. I switched my current cats to a higher quality pet food and seem to have better results. I still bargain hunt for the cheapest prices on better food. I came to realize that some ma and pa pet supply stores are actually cheaper for some brands than Petsmart. Maybe it’s because they don’t have as much overhead.
Although I definitely look for cheaper prices at various places for cat litter.
Hi Simone,
What brand do you buy?
And where are you located?
Thank you
I find Canadian superstore is the best price for cat litter. My daughter and I have been using it for years.
I share the others’ concern for what goes into the food, and that’s why I buy my dry food at Costco. It’s dense with chicken and the cats love it more than any name brand or specialty offering.
Cats need plenty of water too, so I bought a used Brita pitcher and buy the filters so they always have filtered water to drink. They do prefer the filtered water so it’s worth the extra cost and effort for those reasons.
I agree with Susan about paying more for higher quality pet food. Since I switched to a pure protein food with no corn or wheat fillers (Wellness Core), my dogs are shedding less, rarely have skin or digestive problems, and my white dog no longer gets tear stains underneath his eyes. It has definitely been worth the price difference to me!
Oh, and Simone is spot on about some mom & pop places being cheaper than Petco or Petsmart for the more expensive brands. In Los Angeles we have a store called Red Barn Feed that has a few locations throughout LA. Their prices are already a few dollars cheaper than the corporate stores, plus you can print a coupon off their website for $5 off a $40 purchase. Stacking this with the coupon I get in my monthly subscription to Wellness brand’s newsletter enables me to save $10 or more on a 26 lb. bag of dog food every time I buy one.
Purina has a great new product! And great coupons out now. It’s called One Beyond. There is no Corn. It even has cranberries for urinary tract health. I bought mine at Walmart.
I tried Beyond for my cats and one of my cats got horrible diarrhea from it. I think it was a sensitivity to the preservative they used.
My sister-in-law in Greensboro, NC, reports:
“Pet Smart actually has the best prices in Greensboro. Both Wal-Mart and Target don’t compare when it comes to the type of moist cat food we have to buy.” As she pointed out, where one lives is a factor in pricing.
Having a dog with bad food allergies means we must purchase dry/wet food without many of the ingredients most dog food contain. We have found Dick Van Patten’s Natural Balance to meet his needs. And the best place to get it is at the Red Barn. They often have a coupon offer for $5.00 of a $40.00 purchase also. By the time I buy a medium size bag, several cans of wet food, and some treats, I have reached this amount Definitely the best.
Adding to Jackie’s comment, Red Barn has a regular feature on their site – a printable coupon (no expiration date).
Print off a few, and keep near your pet food storage so when it’s time for the next purchase, those coupons will be ready to go.
We have two cats, one can eat 3 or 4 cans a day if I let him, hence his name is Mr Fat Cat. I only give him 2 and the other cat gets one. They will only eat the dry if they’re desperate. Today Mr. Fat Cat gave me a nasty look when all I gave him was the dry. LOL. Any way, I was wondering if there is a wet canned cat food that’s larger and cheaper per ounce than the small cans. Also is there anyway to make home made cat food. We’re spending $50 or more a month on cat food even buying it at Walmart. Maybe there’s a place to buy by the case cheaper? Any help would be appreciated.
I happen to have 16 cats,it a not the origonal plan but that is how it shaped up ,my annual cat food bill is around 4k,just about twice what I end up spending on my own groceries,but then again there is only one of me.Because I am passionate about cat health issues,the simplest way to keep your feline companions well is to feed them properly. I have 8 toms and 8 queens and anyone who thinks that they cannot get along is sadly mistaken.On issues of cat/human affection I found my toms to be far more needy of physical contact.Brushing helps to strengthen the bond between you and pussy and most cats request it regularly , my Norwegian Forest cat even brings me the hairbrush.Wellness also involves mental wellness so because each has their own distinct personality it is necessary to get to know your cats on an individual basis.All of my family are rescue or once feral beings,some being born in my basement or under the houses nearby..Because cats are obligate carnivores I feed very little dry food. Under feral conditions cats eat what they can get which is usually what they can catch.As a result I try to stay within that dietary regimen and feel that any wet food is better than the best dry food.Cats do not drink a great deal as they get the majority of their moisture from what they eat.If you have gotten a cat that has been used to dry only you may find that in the beginning they drink a great deal of water because they have to.Staying away from dry high carbohydrate foods cuts down on the incidence of feline diabetes. Some are picky eaters but if you pay attention you will get the idea of the ranges that appeal to them,,I limit the amount of fish products that I put out to six cans a week and for the most part each eats the same fare which varies depending of what is in the larder.Kittens do not need “kitten food” as in the wild they eat what the parents eat and thrive. Any living food source is self completing and the proof is in the living.Corn belongs on human plates and cats have absolutely no need of it.Most can not digest it at all.It is a pure filler( read profit) for pet food manufacturers as well as bone meal,these are junk and don’t feed them to your little friends.Any cat that is healthy will be on the skinny side if they get enough exercise,the tell tale here is in the appearance of the coat and the shine in the eye.I do provide cat treats that have dental applications because cats especially ones on pate or softer diets can get tartar build up,which may have to be removed by the vet,,(big bucks as kitty isn’t going to sit still for it) Dental issues pop up from time to time the best indicator is bad breath,these must be dealt with asap as they can get peridontal disease same as you.So enjoy your living relationship because cats return a lot if you take time to gain their trust.Be kind and never cruel,just as you would to your children.And if you are away from home during the day please take in another cat because your little friend is a social being and gets lonely.Right now as I write this I have six cats withing arms reach and one preparing to get on my lap all and all a very satisfying evening..
quote: “Corn belongs on human plates and cats have absolutely no need of it.”
Actually, human beings are not designed (by evolution) to eat corn or any other grains. Meat, fruit, vegetables, nuts.
… Hello. So what were we conditioned to eat?