Feeding four cats on a budget

Feeding four cats is a real balancing act — you're trying to keep costs manageable without compromising on what cats actually need. And that matters more than people realise: cats are obligate carnivores with specific nutritional demands that a lot of cheaper commercial foods quietly cut corners on. Wet food is also genuinely important here — it's far better for hydration than dry, which protects kidney health long-term, especially as cats age. To point you in the right direction: what type and age are all four cats, are any of them dealing with health issues or dietary sensitivities, and what are you currently feeding them?

That's a workable budget, but Felix and Whiskas are mostly cereals, gravy, and derivatives — they're not great nutritionally, and the gravy-style ones in particular are high moisture but low substance. Your 8-year-old especially will thank you for a meaningful upgrade, as kidneys start working harder from around that age. Can I ask — are you buying in bulk when you can, or mostly week to week? And are all four on the same food, or does anyone need something different?

Good — that makes this much simpler. My recommendation is Applaws Tuna Fillet in Broth pouches, bought as a bulk multipack on Amazon. Applaws uses a short ingredient list — real tuna, broth, and not much else — no cereals, no derivatives, high in protein, and genuinely high moisture content. It's not the cheapest pouch on the shelf, but in bulk it comes down to around 35–40p per pouch, and because the quality is higher your cats tend to feel fuller and eat more consistently. For four adult cats on two pouches a day each alongside a small amount of quality dry — something like Applaws dry as a topper — you'd be looking at roughly £50–60 a month total, which lands you right in your budget. The older cat will particularly benefit from the higher moisture and clean protein.

A small amount of quality dry alongside the wet is fine and actually helps keep the cost down without undermining the nutrition. The key is making wet food the main event — at least 70–80% of what they eat — so the hydration benefit is real. Dry food used as a minor supplement rather than the base of the diet is a sensible middle ground, especially when you're managing volume across four cats. Just avoid dry foods where corn or wheat is the first ingredient. Applaws dry, or James Wellbeloved, both hold up well on that front.

That's the move. Search for Applaws Tuna Fillet in Broth 70g pouches — the 48 or 72 packs on Amazon give you the best per-pouch price. It's a straightforward upgrade that won't blow the budget, and your older cat especially should do well on it over time.