This thread has been dormant for awhile, but I wonder again, with the current economy, is it more economical to make your own cat and/or dog food than to buy commercial?  I know the main reason to prepare your own is health and safety.  When you add in the cost of supplements, does homemade cost less or more than commercial?

Its still a lot cheaper. I pick up supplements on sale & stock up when the health food store does it semi annual 25 & 35% off coupons. I bought an extra chest freezer so I can buy in bulk & stock up when I get a good buy on meats,I cook them & grind them & bag measured by lb to make it easier when defrosting & making the food. I even cook my organic rice ahead & freeze it.You do lose a little taurine when freezing so I supplememnt.Got a case of BluBonnet with the coupon from the health food store,so each bottle of 50[500mg-USA] is only about $6. I like to stock up on fruit & veggies while the local farm markets have them & freeze them too.I usually make batches of approx 40-50 lbs of meat,it takes hours but then I have several weeks worth in the freezer ready to go.[Tip-don't make a big batch with any new ingredient until you know they are all ok with it] Luckily the 2 bigger dogs have no food issues & can eat anything the cats & Remy can't.I haven't broken down the exact cost lately,but it used to run me less than $2 a lb finished so probably just slightly higher now. I did check cost on ordering bulk boneless chicken at the meat market 2 weeks ago. I can order 40lbs of organic boneless breasts at $1.90 a lb or thighs at $1.60.The dog mix [trim & organs]is still $.55 lb in 10 lbs & up.I use that raw occasionally,but prefer it cooked because of the fat levels in it.Also pork loins have gone on sale here at $.99 & $1.49,I bought 5 all over 12 lbs. If you have the freezer space,make large batches of different ingredients & mark them batch #1 or #2,that way they aren't eating the same thing every day.Thats also a good way to add fish  & liver without overdoing it.

I've been using Eggshellent powdered shells.

http://www.pet-grub.com/pet-supplements/eggshellent-calcium.pets

http://www.homevet.com/osc/product_info.php?products_id=39

I still do my own eggshells & also grind calcium citrate caps in a coffee bean grinder. I've used the Nature's Bounty & some off brands. I can't afford all organic either,today Shady Brook ground turkey was on sale for $4.49 for 3 lbs & I bought 24 lbs of it. I prefer not to buy preground meats,but I have cooked it & will bag it in 5lb size & add a little to different batches. I buy local eggs at a good price & add scrambled eggs as part of the meat & save the shells for calcium. I find if I wash ,cook & crumble them ,its not so hard to do them in big batches. I spend a few hours grinding them & keep the powder frozen. The biggest time saver is to do the meats & veggies & fruit as you get it & freeze it. Do the eggshells when you have enough to make a few baggies. That way when you make a batch its mostly defrosting & mixing.  I got 3 -13 1/2 qt bowls[real USA stainless] for mixing & have lots of plastic containers. It takes a few hours to mix,measure & clean up but I get approx 2 1/2 weeks out of a batch. At first I would panic if I forgot something,but whatever you make,even scrambled eggs has to be better & cheaper than commercial.If anyone is close to NJ it might be worth it to order that animal mix in large amounts. It's still $.55 lb.If you have any local meat markets or butcher shops ask about meat trim & organs,they might sell it to you cheap. Made some chicken & rice with only calcium added for my neighbors dog who has been vomitting & having diarrhea & she called tonight to ask what she could start making for them. Even adding leftovers to commercial will help.