10 Best Wet & Dry Grain Free Cat Foods in 2019
Whether your cat is allergic to grains or you want to make sure you provide it with the most nutritious meal possible, here are 10 grain free cat food options to consider, both wet and dry.
Taste of the Wild Grain Free High Protein Real Meat Recipe Rocky Mountain Premium Dry Cat Food
Check price »The grain free cat food debate has been going one for a while, with some people wholeheartedly recommending it to other pet parents and others disapproving of this choice. Before you decide on grain free cat food options, you should know its advantages, as well as its disadvantages.
The best thing about grain free food for cats is that it provides more of the ingredients your kitty would be eating if they were living in the wild. Most grain free foods contain healthy proteins like meat and fish. These foods are also great for cats that are more sensitive and could develop an allergy to grains.
As for disadvantages, the most relevant one is that high protein can also mean high fat. To avoid your cat putting on weight due to grain free cat food, make sure you monitor the portions carefully. Also, keep in mind that this type of food tends to be more expensive than your regular cat food, so you’ll have to be willing to pay more for a grain free cat food diet.
Now, without further ado, let’s see what the ten best grain free cat food options, wet and dry, are!
- Taste of the Wild Grain Free High Protein Real Meat Recipe Rocky Mountain Premium Dry Cat Food
- Hill's Science Diet Dry Cat Food, Adult, Sensitive Stomach & Skin
- Halo Spot's Stew Cat Formula Grain-Free Hearty Chicken Recipe
- NUTRO Perfect PORTIONS Grain Free Pate Natural Wet Cat Food
- Purina Pro Plan TRUE NATURE Natural Adult Canned Wet Cat Food
- Merrick Purrfect Bistro Grain Free Dry Cat Food Salmon Recipe
- Tiki Cat Born Carnivore Grain-Free, Low-Carbohydrate Dry Cat Food
- NUTRISCA Potato-Free, Low-Carbohydrate, Dry Cat Food for Adult Cats
- Blue Freedom Adult Indoor Grain Free Flaked Chicken Wet Cat Food
- Wellness Core Natural Grain Free Dry Cat Food, Indoor Chicken & Turkey Recipe
10. Wellness Core Natural Grain Free Dry Cat Food, Indoor Chicken & Turkey Recipe
- Wheat-free
- No artificial flavors, colors or preservatives
- Contains vitamins, antioxidants, and probiotics
- Contains real nutrients like cranberries and flaxseed
- Some cats don’t seem to like the taste
- The shape of the kibble can make it difficult for some cats to eat it
For protein-rich nutrition for your little buddy, the Wellness Core grain-free dry cat food promises to deliver a recipe containing chicken meal, deboned chicken, and turkey meal. If you’re familiar with their original formula, you should know this one has 20% less fat.
It also contains omega fatty acids that work to nourish your cat’s skin and coat. The food supports a leaner body mass and helps with weight management and joint support.
9. Blue Freedom Adult Indoor Grain Free Flaked Chicken Wet Cat Food
- Contains natural fibers that help remove hairballs and minimize litter box odor
- Wheat-free
- No artificial flavors or preservatives
- Not that much gravy in it
Next on our list of best grain free cat food choices is Blue Buffalo’s Freedom canned cat food. This features a protein-rich recipe that contains no poultry or chicken by-products, wheat, corn or soy.
Instead, it includes cranberries to ensure your cat’s urinary tract functions as it should. The high-quality chicken meat is cut in flakes that make it easy for your cat to eat its food, and the balanced calories guarantee your baby won’t gain weight.
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8. NUTRISCA Potato-Free, Low-Carbohydrate, Dry Cat Food for Adult Cats
- The formula works for kittens as well
- Contains real animal protein
- Rich in fiber and amino acids
- Contains omega 6
- Strong odor
- A bit pricey
This grain free cat food has more than the attractive packaging going on for it. For one, its ingredients are pretty great: salmon is the first one, followed by chickpeas, peas, vegetables, and fruit.
Plus, there’s no wheat, corn, potatoes, preservatives, artificial colors or flavors to speak of in its formula. The food is rich in nutrients and proteins coming from high-quality sources. They work together to ensure your cat’s well-being and overall health.
7. Tiki Cat Born Carnivore Grain-Free, Low-Carbohydrate Dry Cat Food
- 44% average protein, more than many other cat food brands
- 0% processed plant proteins
- 80% bioavailable animal sources
- Suitable for all life stages
- Pricey
- The kibble is quite hard
- Strong odor
If high-protein, low carb sounds like a dream come true to you, you’ll love the Tiki Cat Born Carnivore cat food, and so will your little buddy. This food contains delicious, real meat, providing cats with the nutrition they need, all the while being delicious and appealing for them.
The kibble is baked to maximize its flavor and nutrients, and it contains no corn, potatoes, wheat, or rice. This is a low-carbohydrate option featuring ingredients like flaxseed, pumpkin, and salmon oil.
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6. Merrick Purrfect Bistro Grain Free Dry Cat Food Salmon Recipe
- No gluten ingredients
- No artificial flavors, colors or preservatives
- Delicious taste
- Comes in several sizes
- The new formula doesn’t agree with all cats
- Some bags contain a lot of kibble dust
This delicious real salmon and sweet potato dry cat food from Merrick is bound to attract your kitty. The main ingredient is real deboned salmon, and the food contains omega fatty acids that help your cat have a healthy skin and fur.
The recipe has added fiber that regulates hairball problems. It is also fortified with minerals, vitamins, antioxidants, and probiotics for a healthy and happy cat.
5. Purina Pro Plan TRUE NATURE Natural Adult Canned Wet Cat Food
- Natural recipe
- Supports agility, focus, and sharp reflexes
- Provides balanced nutrition
- The lid is hard to open
- Some cans might contain fish bone fragments
Purina’s Pro Plan True Nature cans are a high-protein, real meat option for kitties. The cans are filled with delicious chicken and liver pate, but they also come in beef and liver, chicken and salmon, chicken and turkey, beef, chicken, trout and salmon, whitefish and salmon, ocean whitefish and trout, and salmon and catfish.
The recipe is optimized to fill your cat with energy and help it develop and maintain lean muscle.
4. NUTRO Perfect PORTIONS Grain Free Pate Natural Wet Cat Food
- High-quality animal protein
- No wheat, corn or soy
- No artificial flavors, colors or preservatives
- Non-GMO ingredients
- Portions might be too small for some cats
- Some owners complain about the packaging being hard to open
If you want to feed your cat exact portions and not have to deal with leftovers, the Nutro pate is an excellent option. You can buy it in the following flavors: beef, chicken, chicken and liver, chicken and shrimp, chicken liver and shrimp, salmon and chicken, salmon and tuna, turkey, and turkey and liver.
It follows a natural recipe, and it includes minerals, vitamins, and other nutrients.
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3. Halo Spot’s Stew Cat Formula Grain-Free Hearty Chicken Recipe
- Contains L-carnitine that boost metabolism
- Uses fish from sustainable fisheries
- Easy to digest
- Some owners don’t like the new formula
- The kibble is a bit hard
The difference between most grain free foods for felines and Halo is that the latter contains whole chicken, as opposed to a chicken meal or meat meal. It helps with your furry buddy’s digestion and provides bioavailable nutrients to cats that live indoors.
The recipe also contains ingredients like chickpeas, chicken liver, and non-GMO vegetables. If you’re worried about your cat gaining weight, you should know this food has reduced fat and calories.
2. Hill’s Science Diet Dry Cat Food, Adult, Sensitive Stomach & Skin
- Natural ingredients
- Vet-recommended
- No wheat or corn
- Contains vitamin E and Omega 6
- Not incredibly nourishing – cats might get hungry fast
- A bit on the expensive side
If you have a furry friend at home who has a sensitive stomach and you’ve tried different grain free foods, but nothing seemed to work, give Hill’s Science diet food a try. It contains prebiotic fiber that supports digestive health.
It also fuels beneficial gut bacteria and balances the microbiome. It’s easy to digest, and it improves stool pick up due to its natural fibers. You can buy it in salmon and yellow pea, chicken and rice, and rice and egg.
1. Taste of the Wild Grain Free High Protein Real Meat Recipe Rocky Mountain Premium Dry Cat Food
- Optimal for lean muscle
- Contains antioxidants
- Sustainable ingredient sources
- Nutrient-rich
- No wheat, corn, artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives
- Expensive
- Not good for diabetic cats
One of the most acclaimed grain free cat foods on the market, and the best grain free cat food on this list, the Taste of the Wild Rocky Mountain variety is a perfect combination of taste and nutrients.
I chose the roasted venison and smoked salmon flavor because it’s one of the tastiest, and it also contains superfoods like fruit and vegetables. Minerals and vitamins complement the high-protein ingredients, and the fatty acids are great for healthy skin and coat.
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Conclusion
What do you think of this best grain free cat food selection? Do you feed your furry companion any of these regularly? Do you have other recommendations to share with our readers? Leave me a comment!
Hi, I’m Andrea and I’m a writer, editor, geek, couch potato, and most importantly, animal lover. I have been proudly owned by my two cats, Sherlock and Smokey, for 2 years, and I am by no means ashamed to admit I am a crazy-cat-lady-to-be. How did my love for animals start, you ask?
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