Cats can be picky eaters, making deciding what to buy challenging. Sometimes, it takes trial and error to find a cat food your cat will actually eat, and it may take a while to find something your cat will scarf down. It’s especially hard to find cat food if your kitty has food allergies, which brings us to grain-free diets.
Nowadays, you can find a ton of grain-free diets for cats, but the only reason grain-free is necessary is if your cat is allergic to grains, which is only a small percentage. Grain-free diets are often lower in carbs but higher in fat and calories, so we recommend checking with your veterinarian to ensure that grain-free is right for your cat, especially with the ongoing concern of grain-free diets possibly causing dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). While this is more of a canine concern, the condition occurring in felines cannot be ruled out.
That said, if your cat requires grain-free food, we’ve listed our top 10 picks to help you when shopping for the perfect food.
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A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites in 2024
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Best Overall | Smalls Human-Grade Fresh Cat Food |
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Click to Save 40% Use code: Catster24 | |
Budget Buy | Reveal Natural Grain-Free Variety of Fish Cat Food |
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Premium Choice | The Honest Kitchen Minced Chicken in Bone Broth Gravy |
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Best for Kittens | Blue Buffalo Wilderness Kitten Chicken Recipe |
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Dr. Elsey's Clean Protein Turkey Recipe Grain-Free Dry Cat Food |
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The 10 Best Grain-Free Cat Foods
1. Smalls Human-Grade Fresh Cat Food – Best Overall
Main Ingredients: | High-quality meat/fish, liver |
Protein Content: | 5% |
Fat Content: | 5% |
Calories: | 1,401 kcal/kg |
Smalls Human-Grade Fresh Cat Food is a meal delivery service that offers protein-rich recipes with various textures to satisfy a picky kitty. This all-natural food contains all the necessary vitamins and minerals your cat requires, and with the four recipes available, you’ll surely find a winner with your cat.
All the recipes are gently cooked with the following options: fish, bird, cow, and “other bird.” They come in smooth or ground textures to suit your cat’s preference, and they contain fresh veggies that mimic what a cat would digest from the stomach of prey in the wild. All fresh ingredients come from trusted sources in the United States and Canada, and each recipe contains enough taurine to exceed AFFCO’s nutritional standards.
Smalls also offers freeze-dried raw recipes that encompass the nutritional benefits of raw with three proteins to choose from: bird, other bird, and water bird. The freeze-dried raw recipes are an excellent option for cats that love a crunch to their food rather than a pâté style.
This meal delivery service is pricey, but it’s delivered right to your door; however, they only ship within the continental United States to ensure the freshness of the food. Still, given the all-natural ingredients and various textures, this food is our pick for the best overall grain-free cat food.
- Protein-rich, all-natural recipes
- Delivered to your door
- Various textures
- Contains all necessary vitamins and minerals
- Only ships within the continental U.S.
- Expensive
2. Reveal Natural Grain-Free Variety of Fish Cat Food – Budget Buy
Main Ingredients: | Tuna, fish broth |
Protein Content: | 15% |
Fat Content: | 5% |
Calories: | 40 kcal ME/can |
Reveal Natural Grain-Free Variety of Fish Cat Food is wet canned food for cats that love the texture of bits and broth. This food comes in a case of 12 or 24, 2.47-ounce cans with a variety of flavors: tuna fillet, ocean fish, and tuna fillet with seaweed. It’s made with real protein and natural ingredients for optimal nutrition, and you can feed it as a complement to dry kibble or on its own for a complete and balanced meal.
This food contains no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives—only 100% natural ingredients to keep your cat healthy. However, be aware that bones may make their way into the food, and the food is made in Thailand rather than the U.S. Nonetheless, for the price and variety, this food is our pick for the best grain-free cat food for the money.
- Offered in a case of 12 or 24 cans
- Made with real protein and natural ingredients
- Variety of flavors
- Contains no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives
- Bones may be present in food
- Made in Thailand rather than the U.S.
3. The Honest Kitchen Minced Chicken in Bone Broth Gravy – Premium Choice
Main Ingredients: | Chicken, chicken broth, pumpkin, carrots, blueberries, cranberries |
Protein Content: | 10% |
Fat Content: | 4% |
Calories: | 515 kcal/cup |
The Honest Kitchen brand has a long-standing history of being, well, honest! All of their food products are completely human-grade, and the company prides itself on not utilizing any ingredients that could harm your cat—such as fillers, wheat, soy, by-products, and preservatives. The Grain Free Minced Chicken In Bone Broth Gravy is an especially savory product for felines that need to be out on a grain-free diet.
With THK trying its best to ensure that texture and taste appeal to cats, most reviews have shown that even the pickiest of kitties love to dive right into this meal! The preparation of the meal is also great for kitties with sensitive bellies, as all of the ingredients are easy to understand and good for your cat. This meal is 166 calories per box, with 10% protein, only 4% fat, 1% fiber, and 82% moisture. Serving the grain-free meal is as easy as opening the package and pouring it.
- Human-grade ingredients
- No artificial preservatives, fillers, nor GMOs
- No rehydration needed
- Various flavors available
- Includes 10% of protein intake
- Good for cats with sensitive tummies
- Texture can be inconsistent
4. Blue Buffalo Wilderness Kitten Chicken Recipe – Best for Kittens
Main Ingredients: | Deboned chicken, chicken meal, pea protein |
Protein Content: | 40% |
Fat Content: | 20% |
Calories: | 457 kcal/cup |
If you’re looking for grain-free kitten food, Blue Buffalo Wilderness Kitten Chicken Recipe may be an excellent option for your little bundle of fluffy joy. Kittens require a high-protein diet, and this food is packed with protein through high-quality chicken without added by-products. It also contains fatty acids DHA and ARA for proper growth and development and taurine to support brain and eye health.
Blue Buffalo includes LifeSource Bits, which is an exact blend of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants to support a healthy immune system to get your kitten off to a great start.
Some kittens may experience vomiting and diarrhea with this food, and some may have a hard time digesting the food.
- Quality protein without by-products
- DHA and ARA for growth and development
- Taurine for brain and eye health
- Contains LifeSource Bits for a healthy immune system
- Some kittens may develop vomiting and diarrhea
- May be hard to digest for some kittens
5. Dr. Elsey’s Clean Protein Turkey Recipe Grain-Free Dry Cat Food
Main Ingredients: | Turkey, dried chicken |
Protein Content: | 58% |
Fat Content: | 18% |
Calories: | 547 kcal/cup |
Dr. Elsey’s Clean Protein Turkey Recipe Grain-Free Dry Cat Food is packed with protein (over 90%) and free of grains, fillers, and gluten. This food uses a low glycemic, low oxalate formula to help prevent bladder stones and calcium oxalate crystals, and it’s full of vitamins and minerals for a complete and balanced meal. It includes omega-3 fatty acids and taurine, and it contains chickpeas, flaxseed, and salmon oil for added vitamins and nutrients. This food also comes in chicken, duck, salmon, and rabbit recipes.
You can buy this food in a 2-pound bag or a 6.6-pound bag. A downfall is this food may cause your cat to have smelly poop and may cause diarrhea in some cats. It’s also not suitable for cats needing a low-protein diet.
- Packed with protein
- Free from gluten or fillers
- Low glycemic, low oxalate formula
- Full of vitamins and minerals
- Comes in a variety of flavors
- May cause smelly poo
- May cause diarrhea in some cats
6. Sheba Perfect Portions Grain-Free Multipack
Main Ingredients: | Salmon cuts, tuna cuts, whitefish & tuna cuts |
Protein Content: | 7% |
Fat Content: | 5% |
Calories: | 31 kcal/serving |
Sheba Perfect Portions Grain-Free Multipack comes in a 24-pack that gives your kitty a variety of flavors: gourmet salmon entrée, sustainable tuna, and delicate whitefish and tuna entrée. All recipes are free from artificial flavors and preservatives and contain high-quality protein in each tray. Each twin pack contains two, 1.32-ounce servings, and each tray is perfectly portioned so you don’t have to determine how much to feed each time. The trays are also easy to open—just snap and peel open the top.
Each recipe has savory chunks of high-quality protein smothered in gravy that will satisfy even the pickiest of eaters, and they all contain essential vitamins and minerals to help your cat thrive.
A downfall is that the trays may be hard to open, and you need to be cautious not to cut your fingers. However, this food is made in the U.S. and is reasonably priced.
- Comes in 24-pack with a variety of flavors
- Contains essential vitamins and minerals
- Pre-portioned trays
- Made in the U.S.
- Reasonably priced
- Trays may be hard to open
- Exercise caution when opening to avoid injury to fingers
7. Weruva Paw Lickin’ Chicken in Gravy Grain-Free Canned Cat Food
Main Ingredients: | Chicken, chicken broth |
Protein Content: | 10% |
Fat Content: | 4% |
Calories: | 192 kcal/can |
Weruva Paw Lickin’ Chicken in Gravy Grain-Free Canned Cat Food is made with free-range shredded chicken smothered in gravy for a burst of flavor for your kitty. Each can contain 85% moisture, which makes it perfect for kitties that don’t drink much water. It has no preservatives or artificial flavors.
This food contains a balanced mix of amino acids, vitamins, minerals, and omega fatty acids for overall nutritional needs, plus taurine to support vision and heart health. The chicken is made from real meat for adequate protein, and you can serve it alone as a complete meal or as a topper for additional flavor for your feline furball. You can also buy this food in 3-ounce or 10-ounce cans.
This food comes in a 24 count and is expensive, which may be a gamble if you have a picky eater. This food may also cause gastrointestinal problems in some cats.
- Made from real, cage-free chicken
- Smothered in gravy for flavor
- Contains 85% moisture in each can
- Comes in various sizes
- Complete and balanced
- May cause GI problems in some cats
- Expensive
8. Purina Beyond Grain-Free Natural Simply Wild Caught Whitefish & Cage Free Egg Recipe Dry Cat Food
Main Ingredients: | Hake, chicken meal |
Protein Content: | 35% |
Fat Content: | 14% |
Calories: | 392 kcal/cup |
For kitties that love a crunch to their food from dry kibble, Purina Beyond Grain-Free Natural Simply Wild Caught Whitefish & Cage Free Egg Recipe Dry Cat Food may be a terrific choice. Real wild-caught whitefish is the first ingredient, which gives your cat high protein to satisfy his needs. It also contains natural probiotics for digestive health, and it’s 100% complete and balanced with essential vitamins, minerals, and nutrients.
All ingredients are selected by pet nutritionists from trusted sources, and it’s crafted in U.S. facilities. However, Purina has changed the recipe a little recently, and it now includes chicken meal, which will make it unsuitable for cats with chicken allergies.
- High-protein dry kibble
- Contains probiotics for digestive health
- 100% complete and balanced
- Crafted by pet nutritionists in U.S. facilities
- Not suitable for cats with chicken allergies
9. Blue Buffalo Wilderness Chicken Recipe Grain-Free Dry Cat Food
Main Ingredients: | Deboned chicken, chicken meal |
Protein Content: | 40% |
Fat Content: | 18% |
Calories: | 443 kcal/cup |
Blue Buffalo Wilderness Chicken Recipe Grain-Free Dry Cat Food is high in protein and made with real chicken to maintain strong muscles. It contains both omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids for healthy skin and coat, and it’s made without by-products.
This food includes Blue Buffalo’s LifeSource Bits—a blend of essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants to support a healthy immune system and oxidative balance, and it has no artificial flavors or preservatives. For added fuel, the recipe contains sweet potatoes and peas. Cats who prefer wet food may not enjoy this food, and the food crumbles easily.
- High in protein with real chicken
- Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids for healthy skin and coat
- Contains no by-products
- Contains LifeSource Bits for optimal nutrition
- Added sweet potatoes and peas for fuel
- Lots of crumbs in the bag
10. Fussie Cat Premium Tuna with Salmon Formula Grain-Free Canned Cat Food
Main Ingredients: | Tuna, water for processing |
Protein Content: | 12% |
Fat Content: | 4% |
Calories: | 49 kcal/can |
Our last pick is Fussie Cat Premium Tuna with Salmon Formula Grain-Free Canned Cat Food. This food is both grain and potato-free that’s suitable for cats with sensitive tummies. It’s low in fat and carbohydrates, which makes it an excellent choice for cats needing more of a low-fat diet, and it’s high in phosphorus with vitamins B6 and B12.
It aids in healthy skin and coats with the added omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, and tuna is the first ingredient for a healthy, high-quality protein source. Some consumers complain that the tuna chunks have too much gelatin surrounding them, and it contains little moisture. It comes in a case of 24, 2.82-ounce cans and is fairly pricey.
- Both grain and potato-free
- Low in fat and carbs
- High in B6 and B12
- Omega fatty acids for healthy skin and coat
- May have a gelatin consistency
- Contains little moisture
- Expensive
Buyer’s Guide: How to Select the Right Grain-Free Cat Food
As we mentioned at the beginning of this article, not all cats require grain-free diets. Grain-free diets are only needed if your cat has a grain allergy; in that case, your cat will benefit from eating grain-free. But what should you look for when searching for the perfect grain-free cat food? First, ensure the food adheres to AAFCO’s nutritional standards, which you’ll find on the label, but that’s not all you should look for. Let’s check out more specifics to help you further.
If you’re curious about what’s safe for cats to eat, are interested in supplements or have general questions about your feline’s nutrition and diet, it is recommended you speak to your vet.
If you need to speak with a vet but can’t get to one, head over to PangoVet. It’s an online service where you can talk to a vet online and get the personalized advice you need for your pet — all at an affordable price!
Protein
Cats are obligate carnivores, meaning they need primarily meat and other animal products in their diets to be healthy and survive. Cats can digest fruits and veggies, but they do not require many of these sources in their food. Protein is a cat’s most important source of energy, and you should select a cat food that has at least 26% protein listed on the label unless your veterinarian suggests otherwise.
Fat Content
Cats derive energy from fat content rather than carbs. According to AAFCO, cats require at least 9% of fat with dry kibble, but look out for high amounts of fat content in wet food, as sometimes the fat content is almost as much as the protein content. Cats need fat in their diets, but fats should not supersede the protein content.
Fat is vital in a cat’s diet because it provides twice the amount of energy than protein and carbs, helps transport nutrients, provides a barrier for bacterial and fungal infections, makes food more palatable, and aids in nerve signal transmission.
Ingredients
- Protein
- Fat
- Carbohydrates
- Vitamins
- Minerals
- Water
Each nutrient performs a particular job within your cat’s body, and when searching for cat food, ensure the food contains all of these nutrients. Keep in mind that protein should make up the bulk of the food. Each ingredient should be calculated accordingly for your cat’s nutritional needs, and selecting a cat food approved by AAFCO will give you peace of mind that you are providing a complete and balanced meal.
Moisture Content
Most canned cat food contains roughly 75% moisture, which is ideal if you have trouble keeping your cat hydrated. You can also opt for semi-moist canned food that offers 15%–30% moisture content. However, canned wet food is typically more expensive than dry kibble. One way to save a little money is to use wet food as a topper mixed with dry kibble. Before adding wet food to your cat’s dry kibble, we advise you to check with your veterinarian to ensure you are providing a complete and balanced meal and not overdoing it in certain areas, such as providing too much of any one ingredient.
- NO MESS - The 360° tray on this cat food and water bowl set has a raised design to catch and...
- WHISKER FRIENDLY - Shallow and wide metal containers with flat bottoms ensure your kitty can enjoy...
- CHEW-SAFE MATERIALS - Kittens and cats love chewing on silicone and soft rubber - but it's a choking...
Feeding your cat a high-quality diet is important for keeping them healthy and happy. But it goes beyond the food you choose; the dishes they use also matter. The Hepper NomNom Cat Bowl is our favorite for its unique, five-star design that protects from whisker fatigue and promotes good posture which also aids in better digestion. As an added bonus, it’s beautifully crafted and offers a modern take on the traditional cat bowl that fits seamlessly with all home stylings. Learn more about the NomNom by clicking here.
At Catster, we’ve admired Hepper for many years and decided to take a controlling ownership interest so that we could benefit from the outstanding designs of this cool cat company!
Our Grain-Free Cat Foods Selection Process
Catster’s dedicated team of writers and editors collaborate with expert veterinarians, considering a wide range of factors when selecting the best grain-free foods for cats. These parameters include customer reviews, brand reputation, veterinary experience, and in some cases, hands-on testing. Of course, our cats have a say in the process, too! We strive to select and review the highest-quality products available, to help you choose the best possible product and make the most informed decision for your and your cat’s needs.
Why Trust Catster?
Catster has been a trusted online brand since 2001, so we know a thing or two about grain-free cat foods. We’re a team of cat-loving writers, editors, and veterinarians dedicated to helping you make the most informed decision for your feline. We deeply believe in providing the best information for cat owners to help their cats live their best life possible. We look at reviews from the most trusted sources available, and this, combined with our veterinary team’s experience and expertise, helps us gather the best options on the market. Our team is invested in the welfare and health of cats around the world, and believe that expert knowledge is one of the best ways to achieve this.
Conclusion
We hope our reviews help you make the best decision for your cat. For the best overall, Smalls offers human-grade, protein-rich ingredients. For the best value, Reveal Natural Grain-Free offers real protein and natural ingredients. The Grain Free Minced Chicken In Bone Broth Gravy from The Honest Kitchen is human-grade and doesn’t use any ingredients that may harm your feline friends.
For kittens, Blue Buffalo Wilderness Kitten Chicken Recipe contains all the necessary nutrients for growth and development. Lastly, Dr. Elsey’s Clean Protein Turkey Recipe for its low glycemic, low oxalate formula helps prevent bladder stones and calcium oxalate crystals.
Featured Image Credit: Sari ONeal, Shutterstock