Even pets are skipping grains now! Our **premium grain-free cat food** keeps your furry friend healthy and happy. Plus, they'll absolutely adore it!
Oftentimes, we come across and own sensitive cats who, no matter how safe and hygienic food you feed them, will simply not tolerate it.
They either throw up the food, throw up hairballs, make the house dirty with their ongoing condition of serious or not diarrhea, or have other digestive and kidney issues.
To cope up with all these, you need to understand that the problem doesn’t lie with the food itself, but the ability of your feline’s body to digest it.
Among all the things that could be causing trouble, we have grains or glutens.
This is why we chose to carve out a section of cat foods from the market that is grain-free.
You can follow our recommendations to feed your cat with grain-free food, available in both wet and dry versions.
Best Grain-free Dry Cat Food Comparison
Top 10 best grain-free cat food reviews
Here are some of the best grain-free cat food that you can purchase ASAP:
Best grain-free dry cat food:
1. Blue Buffalo Wilderness High-Protein, Grain-Free, Natural-Ingredient Adult Dry Cat Food in the flavour “Chicken”
Blue Buffalo has tried (and quite succeeded in) making one of the best grain-free cat food for sensitive stomachs.
You know what the problem with sensitive stomachs is, right?
Not for you, but for your cat. For your cat, it means smelly, really smelly poop; throwing up here and there; not being able to digest the food it is taking; not being even able to take it to the mouth and puking before ingesting the food and so much more.
With Blue, your cat reduces in levels of smelly poop, so that the litter box and your house doesn't look like a disaster.
Bowel habits improve drastically with this food. If you have a cat that is having digestive issues, you can take our word for this one!
As for the ingredients, the first and present in the most amount is real chicken. You have a quality protein source right there.
Again, in the case of carbs, since these are all grain-free food, this obviously lacks the by-product meals, soy, corn, and wheat.
What it does contain is a superfood, sweet potato, which is rich in Vitamin A, fiber, and minerals. It also contains peas and omega threes and sixes to give your cat all the essential fatty acids for a super glossy coat and healthy skin.
If you didn't know already, Blue features Lifesource Bits in its cat food, which essentially is a combination of vet-approved and cat-supporting antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals to ensure a good immune system, digestive system, heart health, and skin.
The ingredients used in making the LifeSource kibbles are specially cooked in lower heat so that the goodness does not die out while cooking, as happens with most food.
These kibbles should be more potent in nutrition than the other ones contained in it, or any other cat food if they are following this special technique.
Pros
- Contains LifeSource bits to feed the cat with comparatively more nutritional food.
- Is a great option for adult cats.
- Smells excellent.
- Since it is free from fillers, cats eat less but better.
- Better than overprocessed cat food.
- Good on the wallet.
- Improved bowel movements.
Cons
- Assumed the change in formula caused worse conditions in some cats.
- Made some cats throw up.
2. Purina Beyond Grain-Free, Natural-Ingredient Adult Dry Cat Food in the flavor “Ocean Whitefish and Egg”
There is another from the ongoing list which is one of the best grain-free cat food for sensitive stomachs, and this one is from Purina. Let's see what it has in store for us.
As they say, many have claimed to the hall of fame of using natural, pet-safe, body-safe ingredients in their cat food; and so has Purina.
According to the others, it doesn't just have control and awareness of what is put in, but also of what they are not putting in their cat food. That is one approach to be unique, isn't it?
What is also individual to them, comparing with all that there are on this list as of yet, is their in-house nutritionist.
A panel of them picks and leaves what goes in on the dish. It isn't just pet enthusiasts that are working on your cat's food, it is actually a group of experts on all things cat, that decides the ingredients. Purina here, promises natural food, and finely selected food.
Another thing that you must know, is that the dry food that you are buying from Purina is done inside their own facilities.
You may know companies that use ingredients that are made into the final food outside the facilities. But with Purina you are safe.
Coming to the ingredients, the pack features Ocean Whitefish and Egg. It is somewhat seen that some cats are allergic to egg products.
If your cat is not one of them, this is a delectable combination of ingredients, especially protein-rich ingredients. As they say, these are chosen on purpose, because they bear the ability to provide all-around nutrition to your cat.
Since the cats have a hard time digesting grains, and since we have already mentioned the group of cat experts who know exactly what cats want, there are no corn, wheat or soy in the food.
Pros
- Keeps the house cleaner with lesser vomiting tendency in cats.
- Cats keep their litter box clean with healthy poop.
- Big, chunky kibbles for cats who love to chew and crunch.
- Tasty and filling.
- High-quality cat food for cats of all ages.
Cons
- Not for toothless cats because kibbles are larger.
3. Taste of the Wild Grain-Free, High-Protein Recipe Rocky, Premium Dry Cat Food
One of the best grain-free dry cat food to gain weight for cats that just won't fatten, yes!
This is a very helpful tool, (or should we say food) to get you straight to the goal of feeding the furry love of your life with healthy and nutritious cat food that helps to put on weight.
If we were there, all slim and lanky, we would probably go for more junk food to gain the extra layers of fat.
You know how we are. This food with all its composition will not bulk up your cat with layers of fat, but muscle mass.
The food contains roasted venison and smoked salmon which are quality sources of protein.
This adds loads and loads of amino acids to the diet. Not just protein, there are also added vitamins and minerals in it. Also, there are superfoods for the extra benefits that work well acting as a boost for hardworking or hard “playing” cats.
You would think that so many different foods would make it hard to digest.
Due to lacking complex carbs, thankfully, they are easily digestible. The easy digestion also gets another push with the probiotics present in the cat food.
If we look at the composition, it has more than forty-two percent of protein, which is more than the optimum level of thirty percent. We are good to go here.
The protein content and the recipe were done keeping it in mind that cats are active animals who need a lot of protein to thrive in their wild nature. They have tried to make the product more carnivore-friendly.
If you try to feed your cat vegan food, it isn't for you. All this also makes the food one of the best grain-free kitten food.
Pros
- Made to revive and feed the wild nature of cats.
- Easy to digest.
- Tasty to eat.
- Has vegetables and fruits beside meat-based protein to ensure balanced nutrition.
- Promotes a healthy immune system.
- Helps to gain weight and improve overall health in thinning cats or kittens.
Cons
- Not for older cats.
- Not for fat cats.
4. Instinct Ultimate Protein, Grain-Free Recipe with Natural Ingredients in the flavour “Chicken”
If you have an old furry friend and you are here not finding anything for him, now’s the time.
This is the best grain-free cat food for senior cats from Instinct Ultimate.
It may be one of the names you haven’t heard so much; if you compare it with Blue or Purina, but this has just made its mark and there are enough reasons.
One of the very unique things and we are saying very unique because this is something you haven’t (or at least we haven’t heard) in the cat food industry till now.
They use “cage-free” chicken in making their chicken-flavored cat food.
Of course, we have heard chicken being used now and then in cat food due to being a popular protein source, but choosing one that’s cage-free?
This means that they do not use dying, weak, one-on-top-of-the-other chickens that are often seen in farms; rather they let chicken have a free-reign, so they eat natural food that they get, roam around freely, and are healthier.
We don’t know by what statistics, but Instinct claims the use of three times more real chicken than the others.
Another thing that we liked about them is that they have the chicken listed as the first ingredient, in a manner that ninety-five percent of protein comes from this.
We have zero issues and more appreciation for the protein content. This is the best one so far.
They have picked ingredients that do not just address the needs of old-age cats, but one that works on the immune system, the skin, the coat, and digestion. They also have left out any sort of animal-meals which are harmful fillers for cats.
Needless to say, there are no grains here. Bid adieu to corn, soy, wheat, and anything like that.
Another distinctive thing about Instinct is that they coat the dry kibbles in raw nutrition and freeze dry them.
There’s a purpose behind doing this, we suppose, because being the carnivore that cats are, they did not use to eat a cooked meal but hunted in the wilderness.
These have the touch and brush off the rawness over the kibbles to feed to the old habits.
Pros
- Comparable with similar premium cat food brands in terms of quality.
- Has a raw coating.
- A great option for diabetic cats.
- Contains less vegetable-based proteins.
- Good for cats with sensitive teeth.
- High-quality ingredients.
Cons
- A little bit pricey.
- Contains flaxseed so should not be fed to cats with breathing issues.
5. Blue Buffalo Freedom Grain-Free, Natural-Ingredient, Indoor Adult Dry Cat Food in the flavor “Chicken”
Last of the best grain-free cat food which is on the dry side, here's another one from Blue.
This one is for all the cats out there.
The Blue Buffalo Freedom range has been made to address the needs of cats of all ages. If you are a cat mom or a cat dad that owns a kitten, an adult cat, and a senior cat all at the same time, or maybe cats of different age groups, this last one is the best one for you.
Note that, it is for indoor cats.
As you may be thinking, kittens have specific needs and senior cats have specific needs, right?
Then how is it that both of them can be satisfied with this one food?
The answer is pretty simple. The need of the kittens for DHA, to name one; and the need of senior cats for glucosamine for the bones (since this is their prime concern at that age), is overly balanced in the food.
If you have a cat that has weak bones, and if you have a cat that needs nutrition to grow, you can get it all here. Another thing by which Blue Freedom maintains this hard task is by incorporating ingredients that will be easy on the digestive system because it has to address different issues together.
It can not be crammed with unnecessary ingredients.
The package contains real chicken as the first ingredient and a quality protein source. Other than this, we have carrots, peas, and even blueberries and cranberries!
It should make good taste altogether.
The ingredients have been selected such that they do not add unrequited fat or carbs to your cat's diet. Rather, it focuses on the development of the health and balance of the cats.
It helps to maintain a healthy weight and is therefore free from harmful corn, wheat, and other grains.
Pros
- Picky cats love the food.
- Contains necessary nutrients for cats.
- Reasonable price and healthy at the same time.
- Removed food allergy in some cats.
Cons
- Proved better for female cats than some male cats.
- Made some cats throw up.
Best Grain-free Wet Cat Food Comparison:
1. Purina Pro Plan-True Nature Natural, Grain-free Wet Cat Food in the flavour “Natural Chicken and Liver Entree (Pack of 24)”
Purina as a cat food brand has many ranges or lines of products that serve different purposes.
One such product line is the True Nature line. This true nature refers to the nature of cats, who are actually wild carnivores, now treated as domestic pets.
Purina has tried to serve the hunter cat spirits with their True Nature formula.
It boasts a good load of high-protein food that is meant for domestic cats who love to “hunt” in the form of playing around and jumping, breaking vases, and whatnot, to meet their daily energy requirement.
Now you might be wondering, why does my fat cat need so much energy to run along?
It doesn't do anything except just sit and stare, But there is good news for you.
This wet cat food is one of the best-wet cat food for overweight cats. This is because the chicken and liver present in the dish serve to be quality sources of protein that works to increase muscle mass, and not contribute to adding layers of fat to your cat.
This also contains 78% moisture, which falls a little short of the optimal 80%, but we really like it for being so into providing water to your cat.
The added vitamin supplements in the recipe is a nutritional bonus for the cat.
Pros
- Cheaper option compared to other wet cat food.
- Picky cat eaters can also be made to transition to this.
- An excellent choice for obese cats.
- The first three ingredients on the list are animal meat making it a premium protein source.
- Easy packaging that helps the buyers pour and portion the food.
- Lowest and safest percentage of carbs.
- Smells good too.
- Cats are obsessed with the taste and flavor of the food.
Cons
- Complaints about the change in formula.
2. Purina Beyond Grain-Free, Natural, Adult Wet Cat Food in the flavour “Wild Salmon”
One of the best grain-free canned cat food and the last one from Purina on the list today is this one featuring Wild Salmon in the recipe.
This one is from the third line of Purina, the Beyond line, which has no grains in it. It also has no by-products and artificial additives.
Besides the fish, there are also vegetables in the recipes to even and balance everything out. Purina thinks that there should only be ingredients in the cat food that you can recognize.
It is pretty natural, isn't it?
We rarely eat things we do not know anything about. Why feed our cats with ingredients we don't even know the names of, let alone know what purpose they serve!
To ensure the long-term, overall wellness of the cats, they are given naturally-sourced ingredients that are inspected by the in-house Purina nutritionists.
Everything is also made inside their own facilities, so there is more control over what your cat is having.
To make you feel better about the safety of the ingredients, you must know that Purina follows the health standards set by AAFCO, FDA, and USDA, besides attending to their own set of rules and regulations.
With this much monitor and control, you should be expecting the best from them. Monitored by experts and prepared and backed by nutritionists, this is all in all a good buy.
Pros
- Cats love the texture.
- Promotes healthy skin and coat in cats.
- Has no artificial additives.
- Reduces possible IBS and IBD in some cats.
- Reasonably priced.
Cons
- Needs to be mixed with a little water or broth if leftover to be fed the next time.
3. Purina Fancy Feast Grain-Free Pate/Wet Cat Food (Variety Pack of 24) in “Poultry & Beef Collection”
Here is another one from Purina. But as we told you, it's from a different line than the one we reviewed a few minutes ago. This is from the Fancy Feast line.
Owing to the fact that cats being obligate carnivores that they are, they love meat; this food addresses this one need, if not any. (Actually, it does so much more.)
From what we have learned, this is the best cat food for diabetic cats, in a manner that it has successfully reversed diabetes in quite a lot of cats. We have heard stories of cat parents who had overweight cats and serious cases of diabetes.
After feeding this food for a couple of weeks, it was possible to get them off the insulin and reduce the blood sugar level.
There are two different flavors in the pack which allows your cat to taste different flavors on the same day in mealtime.
The recipe features both poultry and beef, the two very yummy ingredients that provide protein in good amount to your cat. It also has liver and fish and plenty of other ingredients that fortunately features Taurine and more than that.
The rich ingredients make it possible for even pregnant cats to eat this food, just with increased portions. We are speaking of very superlative food here.
Being extremely low in carbs content, this is great if we dare say, the greatest grain free low carb Canned cat food we have come across today, for diabetic cats.
Pros
- Very, very low in carbohydrate content for diabetic cats.
- Helped diabetic cats come off insulin.
- A great choice for nursing cats.
- Easy to ingest and digest pate texture.
- Cats love the taste.
- An excellent choice for owners who want to buy wet cat food on a budget.
Cons
- Quality sometimes changes with batch.
4. IAMS Perfect Portions Grain-Free Wet Cat Food Pate (Pack of 24) for Indoor Cats in the flavour “Salmon”
IAMS has tried to address a couple of issues with its grain-free cat food version.
This is the first cat food on today's list that went out of its way to incorporate vitamin E for the extra boost of the immune system.
What we've been seeing so far is the mix of antioxidants crafted for immunity. Here we have added vitamin E, which's a plus.
Again, they have included wonderful protein sources such as chicken and salmon, to help cats make the most out of their meal. They have to tackle the paradox of water and nutrition content.
Whichever ingredients they chose, they maintained taste besides nutrients.
The packaging is also very easy, portable, and foolproof with IAMS.
You have individual packs of two flavors for two servings.
You just tear the side open that you want to feed, while the other remains safe and intact. If you are traveling far away with your cat and you are in the car or the van on a road trip; just feed on flavor once.
Then switch to the other flavor and discard the packaging. Two perfect meals!
This pack is also great for both kittens and adult cats. You have to worry less if you own cats of different age groups. Just shop once and you're done!
With healthy ingredients, there are also prebiotics and fiber to improve the digestive system of cats.
Pros
- Free of artificial preservatives.
- Good for cats with respiratory issues who can not consume solid food.
- The wide container ensures cats can eat without leaving out the food ring.
- Leaves minimal trash due to easy packaging.
- Portioned serving.
Cons
- A little bit expensive.
- Portion size could be bigger for cats that eat more.
5. Crave Grain Free, High Protein Wet Cat Food (Case Of 24) in “Chicken and Salmon”
This may not be a name you hear quite often when you purchase cat food. Well, that is to say, comparing with the likes of Purina, Blue or Hills.
What’s in a name?
This may turn out to be a name you will start to hear, for the many promising aspects it brings to a cat’s daily dietary needs.
Let’s give you a little backstory about Crave to make you understand why it deserves to be on the list with the so-called elites of the cat food industry.
Crave started as a protein-rich, meat-first, and free from grains recipe that could serve the wild nature of cats. Note that many cat food brands are only now coming up with the idea of feeding the wildness of cats.
This is the very base Crave started with.
They have studied the nature of wolves and wild cats to formulate the diet. They say that no matter how much you tame and domestic these wild beings, their predatory genes still remain, and must be adhered to when feeding them.
This will keep them healthy and allow them to live longer.
That doesn’t mean they serve freshly killed rodents and rabbits, chunked into pieces in a can, and send it out. No. They maintain the highest health and safety standards and prepare the food in a hygienic manner.
The best thing is that fifty percent of their food is rich in protein. And not just protein, they have all the essential nutrients needed to keep them energetic and increase the metabolism for easy digestion.
Pros
- Comes in easy-to-serve trays.
- Develops muscle mass.
- Contains a high level of omega fatty acids.
- Optimal moisture and pH level.
Cons
- The packaging of cat food is not environment-friendly.
- Pricey.
Buying guide for the best grain-free cat food:
To buy the best grain-free cat food, you must know the following:
In the case of dry food:
Follow these tips:
The texture of the kibble
What happens if you do not use your teeth? They decay, right, or grow plaque?
Similar is the case with cats.
Tartar starts to build on cat teeth if not used that often, and they weaken. With the dry and crunchy kibble, they have to bite their way through to chew the food and ingest it. As a result, there occurs a good use of their teeth.
Under these circumstances, you should try to give your cat hard kibbles, if it doesn't have a problem chewing them. It is more needed for kittens because they are at a growing stage.
If your cat has dental issues, weak teeth, or no teeth at all, restrain from feeding it dry kibbles.
Caloric Content
Of course, kittens jump and play around all day compared to senior cats, whether indoors or outdoors. This is why they should be fed food rich in calories, that keep them active.
For older cats, while buying cat food, it should be remembered that the caloric content in their food does not make them bulky.
If your older cat likes to eat more, make sure it plays or is active that much too, to stop it from gaining extra weight.
Ingredient List
A quality source of protein or maybe two, Taurine, optimal fiber, vitamin C and E, omega fatty acids, etc. should come from the ingredients in the list.
The ingredients should, in all circumstances, be free of harmful fillers and additives. The lesser the ingredient, the better, but you should not compromise with the quality.
Buy in smaller batches so that you come out from the excuse of feeding a food that contains preservatives.
Taste
You do not control how they will like the taste of their new food. What you can maintain is the presence of meat and superfoods in the list, since it adds taste to the pack. Mix the kibbles with other formulae to elevate the taste further.
Cost
The cost of the food you purchase will depend on your budget. Remember, there are plenty of cheap and reasonably priced cat food, so you do not have to splurge your purse thinking that the more expensive the cat food, the better.
In the case of wet food:
Follow these tips:
Food Moisture
There is a paradox that often leads to confusion when feeding wet cat food. The good thing is that your cat will be drinking more water. The bad thing is that while increasing the moisture content, the nutritional content is sometimes sacrificed.
If you are feeding your cat just with wet food, consider a bigger portion than if you fed it with a mixed one (wet and dry).
Food Texture
Wet food can come as pate, shredded, minced, soggy, cubes, and flakes.
You can feed your cat any of them according to the texture they prefer.
Kittens are fed with pate and the older ones take shredded versions, but it all actually depends on what it likes on the plate.
Taste
There is a lot of trouble in finding a wet cat food that tastes good. We don't know exactly for what reason, the taste of dry kibbles can't be shifted to wet food.
Therefore, to make the food more appealing, manufacturers add artificial coloring and flavor to the food to make it more tasteful.
This is where all the harm lies. You should try to buy wet cat food that should have only natural ingredients and natural preservatives.
You should remember the wise saying: the worse tasting the food, the better it is in nutritional value!
Cost
Wet cat foods are comparatively more expensive than dry cat food. This is one of the reasons wet foods are less popular of a choice when feeding .
If you seriously want to feed your cat with this, you can try feeding it by mixing with dry food or feed it wet food as a meal every other day.
This will reduce the cost per serving and you and your cat both will be benefitted.
Conclusion
I hope you will buy one from the best grain free cat food we just recommended!
These are sure to be fit for your cat if they are not prone to certain health issues or aren’t allergic, and of course, if they like the taste of it.
Remember, you can’t change your cat’s eating habits in one day!
Try things out and watch the goodness that comes along
Once you have decided on the best grain-free cat food, don’t forget to check out our Best weight loss cat food review and guide!
Have a nice day!
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