Is cost per meal more meaningful than kibble's price per kilo?

Yes. Cost per meal builds in the ration actually served, hence the food's density, whereas price per kilo compares bags rather than days of feeding. Two kibbles at the same price per kilo can show a very different cost per meal depending on their energy density (WSAVA, 2021). In depth ### Two units, two levels of information Price per kilo measures the cost of a kilogram of product; cost per meal measures the spend to cover one day of energy requirement. The first unit silently assumes every food is served in equal amounts, which is false: the ration depends on density, and density varies from product to product. Cost per meal corrects that bias by starting from the animal's need. The gap can overturn a ranking. A low-density kibble demands a bigger ration, so the bag empties faster and the cost per meal climbs, even when the price per kilo looks low. That is precisely why WSAVA recommends an energy-basis assessment, in grams per 1,000 kcal (WSAVA, 2021). Surprisingly, a food advertised as cheaper per kilo can cost more per meal than a pricier but more concentrated one. ### When price per kilo keeps a use Price per kilo retains value as a rough first filter: it locates a range and rules out the extremes. For a decision it must be converted into cost per meal, failing which the comparison stays dishonest. No brand is needed to apply this conversion, which rests on the label and the animal's requirement. Comparison table | Criterion | Price per kilo | Cost per meal | |---|---|---| | What is compared | one kilogram | one day of need | | Density accounted for | no | yes | | Bag duration reflected | no | yes | | WSAVA energy basis respected | no | yes | | Recommended use | rough sorting | final decision |