Feeding cats and dogs in Tashkent: budgets, kibble brands, and home cooking
How much it really costs to feed a pet for a month, which brands you can get in Tashkent, and how to build a safe home-cooked diet.
One of every new owner’s big questions: “what do I feed it?”. Tashkent has a wide spread of choices — from premium imported kibble to home-cooked meals. This article walks through the trade-offs and real monthly costs honestly.
Dry kibble
Economy class (from 30,000 sums/kg)
Pedigree, Whiskas, Chappi, Friskies. Sold in every supermarket. Downsides: lots of grain, flavorings, little meat. Fine as a temporary option when nothing else is available, but for the long term: skin problems, allergies, urinary stones in cats after 3–5 years.
Premium class (60–120,000 sums/kg)
Royal Canin, Pro Plan, Brit Premium. Balanced formulation that suits most healthy animals. Available in pet stores and online (Zoojoy shop).
Holistic and super-premium (from 150,000 sums/kg)
Acana, Orijen, Farmina, Grandorf. High meat content (60–80%), grain-free. The price stings, but consumption drops by 30% — a smaller portion fills the pet up.
Home-cooked food
Home cooking is cheaper but takes knowledge. Base formula for a dog:
- 50% — meat (beef, turkey, skinless chicken)
- 20% — organ meats (liver, heart, stomachs)
- 20% — vegetables (carrots, zucchini, pumpkin)
- 10% — grains (rice, buckwheat)
Cats need different ratios: 80% meat + organs, vegetables minimal (5%), no grains. A cat is an obligate carnivore, not an omnivore.
Never giveonion, garlic, grapes, raisins, chocolate, bones (especially chicken), raw river fish, mushrooms.
Monthly budget
| Option | Dog 15 kg | Cat 4 kg |
|---|---|---|
| Economy dry | ~250,000 sums | ~120,000 sums |
| Premium dry | ~600,000 sums | ~280,000 sums |
| Holistic | ~900,000 sums | ~400,000 sums |
| Home-cooked | ~450,000 sums | ~250,000 sums |
Prices are rough for summer 2026. Premium foods rise with the USD exchange rate — watch for promotions at pet stores.
The main rule
A good food is not the most expensive one — it’s the one on which your pet has shiny fur, no stool problems, and the energy of a puppy. If something feels off, switch brands after talking to a vet.
Transition without harmYou can’t switch foods overnight. Mix the old and the new at 75/25 → 50/50 → 25/75 → 0/100 across 7–10 days.