Can I get an opinion on this cat food?

Once again, I'm feeling the guilt of not feeding my 3 cats the expensive, premium food. I am on a fixed income and best of all - I have no car anymore! I am totally dependent on my sister for shopping trips. So, I've been feeding them the Purina One for the last couple of years, as it seemed to be the best that can be gotten at a grocery store or *Mart. But, I'd really like some expert opinions on this brand. If I can swing it financially, I will try to get Evo from petfooddirect.com. But, I don't know if that will happen or not.

AND, if I can only get the "regular" food, would I be better off giving them just canned? Or both?

Thanks from the Perpetually Perplexed Pet Owner!

***Edited to add: I have 2 torties about 5 yrs old and a male maybe about 10ish. Don't really know his age for sure.

Here's the info on Purina One:

Purina ONE® Chicken & Rice Formula

* Real Chicken contributes protein for strong muscles, including a healthy heart
* Highly digestible Rice for healthy energy
* Antioxidant rich nutrition for immune health
* Omega Fatty Acids and Vitamin E for healthy skin and coat

Guaranteed Analysis

Crude Protein (MIN) 34.0%
Crude Fat (MIN) 13.0%
Crude Fiber (MAX) 2.0%
Moisture (MAX) 12.0%
Ash (MAX) 7.0%
Linoleic Acid (MIN) 1.4%
Calcium (Ca) (MIN) 0.8%
Phosphorus (P) (MIN) 0.7%
Magnesium (Mg) (MAX) 0.09%
Selenium (Se) (MIN) 0.30 mg/kg
Vitamin A (MIN) 11,000 IU/kg
Vitamin E (MIN) 100 IU/kg
Taurine (MIN) 0.15%


Ingredients

Chicken, brewers rice, corn gluten meal, poultry by-product meal, wheat flour, animal fat preserved with mixed-tocopherols (form of Vitamin E), whole grain corn, fish meal, soy protein isolate, animal liver flavor, phosphoric acid, potassium chloride, calcium carbonate, caramel color, salt, choline chloride, taurine, L-Lysine monohydrochloride, Vitamin E supplement, zinc sulfate, ferrous sulfate, manganese sulfate, niacin, Vitamin A supplement, calcium pantothenate, thiamine mononitrate, copper sulfate, riboflavin supplement, Vitamin B-12 supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, folic acid, Vitamin D-3 supplement, calcium iodate, biotin, menadione sodium bisulfite complex (source of Vitamin K activity), sodium selenite.G-4153

Manufactured by: Nestlé Purina PetCare Company, St. Louis, MO 63164 USA

Animal feeding tests using Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) procedures substantiate that Purina ONE Chicken & Rice Formula provides complete and balanced nutrition for maintenance of adult cats.

Ordering online will overcome your travel problems..and online you can look for bargains.
See what carealotpets.com has. I have found them to be very good pricewise and service wise.


Purina is not the best product....
These contents are not good.
corn gluten meal, poultry by-product meal, wheat flour,whole grain corn,soy protein isolate, animal liver flavor

Contents of Merrick Cat Food..just as an example..

Look at the difference in the ash content..

Guaranteed Analysis
Crude Protein (Min.) 10.00%
Crude Fat (Min.) 3.00%
Crude Fiber (Max.) 1.5%
Moisture (Max.) 78.00%
Ash (Max.) 1.80% <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Magnesium (Max.) .025%
Taurine (Min.) .08%

Calorie Content
992 kcal/kg - A 3.2oz. can provides 87 kcal of metabolizable energy, calculated value.

Ingredients:
Chicken, Chicken Broth, Turkey Liver, Fresh Red Jacket New Potatoes, Fresh Carrots, Fresh Snow Peas, Fresh Whole Red Delicious Apples, Potato Starch-modified, Olive Oil, Calcium Carbonate, Potassium Chloride, Tricalcium Phosphate, Cassia Gum, Carrageenan, Flax Seed Oil (For Omega -3), Poultry Seasoning (Thyme, Sage, Rosemary) Choline Chloride, Salt, Taurine, Mixed Tocopherols, Vitamin E Supplement, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Zinc Amino Acid Complex, Iron Amino Acid Complex, Manganese Amino Acid Complex, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Copper Amino Acid Complex,d-Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin A Acetate, Niacin, Lecithin, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement, Folic Acid, Ethylenediamine Dihydriodide, Cobalt Glucoheptanate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Biotin,Thiamine Mononitrate, Sodium Selenite.

I also get it from pet food direct now. Now for cost. I have 5 cats. Their old food (Purina Indoor cat)came in a 20lbs bag and I was going through 1 bag every two weeks. Switched to Evo because of 2 diabetic cats. (After 6 months of insulin and Evo one is no longer diabetic.) Those bags run about 15 lbs but I only go through one a month. The cats are free fed their dry food and always have been. They do get one can of wet Evo each evening. In the long run not even counting the insulin I no longer buy the Evo ends up if not cheaper then even. They also use the litter box less. Less in less out.

If you decide to try pet food direct I would suggest going with the smallest cheapest bag for your first order. After that you will get emails about every 3 days for a percentage off. First a 13, then 15 up to 22% off. I only order when it is 22% off. Then it covers the shipping and handling and still save me a couple dollars.