Grain Free Cat Food

Cats are obligate carnivores, so grain free cat food tends to line up more naturally with feline nutrition than the equivalent argument does for dogs. These recipes drop wheat, corn and rice in favour of animal protein and alternative carbohydrates, and the dry foods here generally sit higher in protein than grain-inclusive kibble.

Choosing between dry, wet and both

The most useful thing on this page is not grain free versus grain - it is moisture. Cats have a weak thirst drive and evolved to get most of their water from prey. A dry-only diet leaves many cats mildly under-hydrated, which is why wet food, or a mix of wet and dry, is worth considering regardless of what else is on the label. If your cat has had urinary trouble, this matters more than the grain question does.

Wet recipes here come as pate, minced in gravy, flaked in broth, shredded in sauce and in jelly. Texture preference is real and stubborn in cats - a variety pack is a cheaper way to find out what yours will actually eat than committing to a full carton.

What to check on the label

• Taurine. Non-negotiable for cats - it must be added. It varies between recipes even within one brand's range, so do not assume.
• Complete and balanced, or complementary? Toppers and "bowl boosters" are labelled for intermittent or supplemental feeding. They are not meals, however good they look.
• Life stage. Kitten formulas are built for growth. A few recipes are approved for all life stages and can be fed to either.
• Named protein. If you are avoiding chicken specifically, read the composition rather than the recipe name - wet food names are often flavour names, and a "tuna" recipe can still be chicken-led.

Shop by brand

• Wellness CORE - 38-45% protein dry, plus four wet lines
• Ivory Coat - grain free dry, gravy and jelly across life stages
• Hypro Premium
• Applaws

Browse related

• Grain free dog food
• Dry cat food
• Wet cat food
• Pate cat food
• Kitten wet food
• Cat treats