Is your cat sensitive to grains? Or do you desire a healthy diet for your feline friend? The Cornell Feline Health Center recommends feeding your cat animal proteins since they are obligate carnivores.
In the wild, felines will hunt animal prey. Therefore, your cat’s diet should mimic the same proportions. It should contain a large percentage of animal protein and smaller portions of fat and carbohydrates. Grain-free cat food fits this description.
But, being grain free is not a guarantee that the food carries the right nutritional balance or ingredients that benefit your cat. That’s why you should only source the best grain-free dry food for cats.
Jump to:
- 1. Purina Beyond Simply Grain-Free Cat Food
- 2. Taste of the Wild Rocky Mountain Cat Food
- 3. Blue Buffalo Wilderness Chicken Cat Food
- 4. The Honest Kitchen Grain-Free Chicken and Whitefish Clusters
- 5. CRAVE Grain-Free Adult Natural Dry Cat Food
- 6. Instinct Original Grain Free Recipe with Real Chicken Natural Dry Cat Food
- 7. American Journey Turkey & Chicken Recipe Grain-Free Dry Cat Food
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Final Thoughts
1. Purina Beyond Simply Grain-Free Cat Food
Purina Beyond Simply Grain Grain-Free Cat Food is a chicken-based dry cat food formulation with chicken as the primary ingredient. Other ingredients in the cat food include:
- Chicken meal
- Dried egg product
- Beef fat
- Dried carrots
- Pea starch
- Vitamins A, E, B1, B5, B12, B2, B6, B7, K, B9, B3, and D3 supplements
- Pea fiber
- Taurine
The formulation doesn’t contain grains, artificial flavors, and preservatives. It is ideal for all adult cat breeds as a primary source of nutrition.
2. Taste of the Wild Rocky Mountain Cat Food
Taste of the Wild Rocky Mountain Cat Food is one of the best affordable grain-free cat foods with a 42% protein content derived from roasted venison and salmon (smoke-flavored). It is ideal for cats of all ages.
Other ingredients in this cat food are pea protein, potato protein, ocean fish meal, taurine, blueberries, tomatoes, raspberries, vitamin supplements, and probiotics.
The ingredients support your cat’s nutritional needs and provide it with the energy needed for everyday play.
Also present are probiotics that support your cat’s immune and digestive systems.
3. Blue Buffalo Wilderness Chicken Cat Food
One of the considerations when looking for the best grain-free dry food for cats is its high animal protein content. Blue Buffalo Wilderness Chicken Cat Food ticks this box as it’s made from real chicken.
It also contains peas and sweet potatoes to energize your cat. The cat food is made with LifeSource bits that contain antioxidants, minerals, and vitamins to support your pet’s immune system.
Blue Buffalo’s cat food is perfect for cats with unhealthy coats or fur. It contains Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids that promote a healthy coat and skin.
4. The Honest Kitchen Grain-Free Chicken and Whitefish Clusters
The Honest Kitchen Grain-free Chicken and Whitefish Clusters is a dry cat food product formulated to meet your cat’s nutritional needs.
It stands out among the best grain-free dry foods for cats as a product designed with the help of vets. The cat food is packed with proteins from chicken and fish. It’s processed in a human-grade facility with ingredients suitable for human consumption.
Other ingredients in the cat food are:
- Vitamin supplements
- Taurine
- Minerals
- Chicken liver
- Eggs
- Salmon oil
- Pumpkin
- Blueberries
- Carrots
The Honest Kitchen’s grain-free cat food is suitable for kittens and adult cats.
5. CRAVE Grain-Free Adult Natural Dry Cat Food
CRAVE Grain-Free Adult Natural Dry Cat Food stands out as one of the best grain-free dry foods for cats, with real chicken as the primary ingredient. With 40% animal protein, this cat food will nourish your cat with the nutrition it needs.
In addition to real chicken, the formulation contains:
- Chicken meal
- Pea protein
- Chicken fat
- Potato protein
- Dried alfalfa meal
- Taurine
CRAVE’s grain-free cat food lacks artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives, most of which irritate sensitive cats.
6. Instinct Original Grain Free Recipe with Real Chicken Natural Dry Cat Food
Instinct Original Grain Free Recipe with Real Chicken Natural Dry Cat Food is a top choice if you want the best grain-free dry food for cats.
It is formulated with 81% protein from cage-free chicken to support your kittens’ growth and energy needs. It is also free from any grain, including wheat.
Other ingredients in the food include turkey meal, Menhaden fish, egg product, white fish meal, vitamin supplements, taurine, dried chicken liver, and minerals.
7. American Journey Turkey & Chicken Recipe Grain-Free Dry Cat Food
American Journey Turkey & Chicken Recipe Grain-Free Dry Cat Food is cat kibble with deboned turkey and chicken as the primary ingredients.
It is made from carefully sourced ingredients and excludes grains and artificial preservatives.
The cat food is fortified with vitamins, amino acids, antioxidants, and fatty acids to strengthen your cat’s immune system.
Other ingredients include pea fiber, Menhaden fish meal, dried egg products, taurine, pumpkin, and apples.
Frequently Asked Questions
The best brand of grain-free cat food contains animal proteins fortified with valuable vitamins and amino acids. Purina Beyond Simply Grain Grain-Free Cat Food ticks this box.
The best affordable grain-free cat food is Taste of the Wild Rocky Mountain Cat Food. This brand offers the best value by packing in healthy ingredients and an appropriate protein content under a small price tag.
It is much better for cats to have grain-free food, especially if what you feed them consists of animal protein. Their guts are better suited to digest and utilize animal proteins. Although whole grains may be nutritious, they cannot provide all the needed nutrients to your cat.
Grain-free cat food is OK for cats. Cats are obligate carnivores, meaning they depend on meat for nutrition. Most grain-free products contain proteins sourced from animals, making them excellent cat foods.
Although grain-free cat food is OK, it lacks some essential nutrients. Your cat may miss iron, calcium, niacin, and riboflavin.
Final Thoughts
Protein content and source are vital considerations when choosing the best grain-free dry food for cats. Animal protein is the best alternative as it provides the same nutrition as cats would have in the wild. When looking for grain-free cat foods, read the ingredients label to ensure that you are not swapping out grains for other filler ingredients that don’t benefit your cat.
