I've had the same question before, and from my experience, good affordable options close to Royal Canin are Reflex/Reflex Plus, Purina (Friskies or ONE), and Whiskas wet pouches - not premium, but decent for the price. If you can stretch a bit, Bonacibo or Josera are even better.
For homemade food (2–3 times a week), what worked best for my ~5-year-old cat is simple boiled chicken (no salt or spices) with a bit of rice or broth - super safe and helps with hydration. Just avoid onions, garlic, and heavy seasoning.
I actually ordered some cat food from Chewy before, and it really helped me compare different brands and figure out what worked best for my cat.
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Tyrone Pierce
Veterinarian
Maryland Hospital
MD
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