The Best Grain-Free Cat Food

Cats can suffer from allergies just like humans can. Some of these allergies can include grains such as wheat, rice and corn. Perhaps your cat has been diagnosed with a grain allergy or you are looking to cut grains out of their diet to naturally replicate more of what they would eat in the wild — but what do you do if that’s the case? You will want to invest in a grain-free food for your cat, but with so many on the market, it can be difficult to know which one is the healthiest, will still give your cat the nutrition they need, and will be tasty enough for them to want to eat it.

You’ll want to look for evidence in your cat food that the ingredients are “complete and balanced”, meaning that it complies with the nutritional guidelines set forth by the Association of American Feed Control Officials. Cats are carnivores and require primarily animal-based proteins to survive. The cat food that you feed your cat should have at least 30% of protein so they are getting the amount they need. Depending on their life stage, cats will have different needs; kittens will have greater nutritional needs and need more protein to promote healthy growth and development more than adult or senior cats.

You’ll need to make sure that when you introduce a new food to your cat you introduce it gradually, firstly to ensure your cat gets used to the food but also to make sure your cat has no bad allergic reactions to the new food. You can do this by starting with 1/4 bowl of new food and 3/4 old food, then half and half, then 3/4 new and 1/4 old until your cat is just eating the new food.

Best Grain-Free Cat Food – Comparison Table

Product name	Features	Star Rating
1) Purina Beyond Simply Natural Cat Food	Natural Limited Ingredient Add extra variety and flavor Support hydration	4.4 out of 5
2) CRAVE Grain Free High Protein Dry Cat Food	Real chicken is the #1 ingredient Dry, grain free cat food High protein cat food	4.7 out of 5
3) Purina Beyond Grain Free Cat Food	High protein cat food With real ocean whitefish as the #1 ingredient Support hydration	4.7 out of 5
4) Blue Buffalo Wilderness High Protein Grain Free Cat Food	Packed With Real Chicken Grain Free Cat Food With Lifesource Bits	4.7 out of 5
5) Halo Grain Free Wet Cat Food	Sustainably Sourced Highly Digestible And Nutritious Designed For Adult Cats	4.2 out of 5
6) Rachael Ray Nutrish Super Premium Dry Cat Food	wholesome brown rice, vegetables Essential vitamins, minerals and amino acids U.S. farm-raised chicken as the #1 ingredient	4.6 out of 5
7) Blue Buffalo Freedom Grain Free Cat Food	Starts With Real Chicken Grain Free Cat Food With Lifesource Bits	4.7 out of 5
8) Natural Balance L.I.D. Cat Food	Grain-free Limited ingredient diet With a single animal protein source	4.6 out of 5
9) Iams Proactive Health High Protein Adult Cat Food	Chicken is the #1 ingredient Help support strong muscles Provide healthy energy for play	4.7 out of 5
10) Hill's Science Diet Dry Cat Food	Made with natural ingredients Made in the USA with global ingredients you can trust #1 Veterinarian Recommended	4.7 out of 5
11) Wellness Core Natural Grain Free Dry Cat Food	Savory Food Cats Love Elevated Nutrition For A Lifetime Of Wellbeing Whole Body Health	4.6 out of 5
12) Wellness Complete Health Natural Grain Free Dry Cat Food	Enjoy A Lifetime Of Wellbeing Together Specially Made For Indoor Cats Whole Body Health	4.6 out of 5
13) Purina Beyond Grain Free Wet Cat Food	Vegetables And A Savory Gravy Grain-Free Recipe Contains Real Beef And Chicken	4.4 out of 5
14) Purina Fancy Feast Grain Free Pate Wet Cat Food	Tender pate offers delightful texture 100 percent complete Balanced nutrition for adult cats	4.8 out of 5
15) Purina ONE Cat Food	Real chicken is the #1 ingredient in this cat food kibble Grain-free cat food recipe you can feel good about giving your cat 0% fillers means all our high-quality ingredients have a purpose	4.7 out of 5
16) Blue Freedom Mature Pate Indoor Grain Free Wet Cat Food	Starts With Real Chicken: Paté Style Canned Cat Food Natural Cat Food	4.5 out of 5
17) NUTRO Perfect Portions Natural Wet Cat Food	High-quality protein Contains twenty-four (24) 2.64 oz Easy-to-chew grain free	4.5 out of 5
18) Wellness Natural Grain Free Wet Canned Cat Food	Chicken Pate Superior Ingredients Healthy Hydration	4.6 out of 5

Does my cat need a grain-free diet?

A grain-free diet is where the food contains no wheat, rice or corn. Although grain allergies in cats are very rare, they are still possible. Some of the symptoms include itchy or inflamed skin, excessive grooming, hair loss or bald patches, and sores and scabs. If your cat experiences any of these things, you can take them to your vet and they will be able to establish which ingredient it is, if any, that is causing these allergic reactions by a process of elimination. Of course, some cats don’t necessarily have an allergy, but an intolerance to grains. Owners who suspect a grain intolerance in their cats have reported a lesser amount of vomiting after switching to a grain-free diet.

While grains are something that can be cut out of your cat’s diet, there are certain things that your cat must eat to survive. Mentioned above, cats are carnivorous and require primarily animal-based proteins to survive. This protein can come from a range of animals, such as chicken, beef, eggs, venison, lamb, salmon, sardines, mussels and duck. Organ meat, such as chicken or beef liver, is also a bonus. Unlike dogs, cats do not thrive well with carbohydrates in their diet and so the first five ingredients of the cat food should be meat.

There are also many nutrients like antioxidants, minerals and vitamins in vegetables and therefore manufacturers include them in cat food. Some manufacturers will include vegetables in the fist five ingredients which is fine, but at least three out of the five ingredients should be animal products.

What are the pros and cons of this type of diet?

Advantages

The first advantage of switching to a grain-free recipe is, if your cat suffers from a grain allergy, a no-brainer! By taking out the ingredient that is causing an allergy within your cat, your kitty will be both happier and healthier and enjoy life more! Switching to a grain-free diet also replicates a cat’s diet in the wild more closely. In the wild, cats choose not to eat grains out of choice and are wired to eat meat and protein.

Often in cat food, manufacturers use grains as a filler. These filler ingredients such as wheat, corn and rice bulk up the food and boost the carbohydrate count in the food, but they are not always of great quality and are often taking the place of better, more nutritious ingredients. By staying away from grains, you are more likely to find healthier and better quality ingredients on the packet.

Disadvantages

However, there are disadvantages to grain-free cat food too. By removing the grains from cat food, something has to be put in their place. This can often be fats and is something to watch out for to make sure your cat is still getting a balanced diet. Otherwise, they are more likely to become overweight. Another disadvantage to grain-free cat food is that they are often more expensive than regular cat food. However, cat’s are often able to meet their nutritional needs with smaller portions when consuming grain-free food, so the price can sometimes work out to be the same.

What makes a good grain-free cat food?

A good grain-free pet food should, of course, contain no grains but still contain all the other ingredients that your cat needs for a nutritional diet. The Association of American Feed Control Officials has set out guidelines that cat food companies must follow. As mentioned above, your cat needs three main ingredients that you should look for in their food — high protein, high moisture and low carbohydrates. Good fats are also a great ingredient for cat food. These can be found in the meat proteins, but can also be supplemented in the food. This includes omega-3 fatty acids, also known as EPA, DHA and ALA.

You should stay away from ingredients that are sourced from a cheap location or are vague or nondescript, because they may be unhealthy and could worsen health problems within your cat, including diabetes, kidney disease, cancer, and obesity.

You can give your cat dry or wet grain-free food — it will depend on their preference. Sometimes, wet food is best if your cat does not drink as much water as they should, as it gives them the moisture they need but while they are eating. The type of pet food you give your cat will also depends on your cat’s preference and taste buds. There are so many different types of grain-free cat food on the market these days that you will be able to find one your cat loves and if you can’t, ask your vet for their help.

Can cats digest grains?

Cats do not have the same enzyme in their saliva that humans have — called salivary amylase — which assists in the breakdown of grains before they reach the stomach. However, they do have amylase secreted by the pancreas, allowing them to break down grains in the intestines as digestion occurs. This makes it possible for them to absorb carbohydrates from grains, but in the wild this would only be in very small amounts.

If you’re ready to switch your cat to a grain-free diet, take a look at the best cat food we recommend below, all available to you on Amazon.

1) Purina Beyond Simply Natural Cat Food

In the Purina Beyond Simply Natural cat food, chicken is the number one ingredient. Wheat-free, this high protein food helps support your cat’s strong, lean muscles. The food contains natural fruit and vegetable accents harvested from nutrient rich soil as well as egg, pea protein and yeast as excellent sources of amino acids. Included in this food are barley and rice, providing high-quality carbohydrates for energy, as well as oat meal and pea fiber that supports healthy digestion.

However, this food is free of the grain wheat, as well as corn and soy and there are no artificial colors of flavors in this food. All the ingredients are sustainably sourced and the recipe is free from poultry by-product meal. This cat food also comes in the flavor of salmon and brown rice.

Key Features:

Natural Limited Ingredient
Add extra variety and flavor
Support hydration