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In recent years, the pet food market is taking another dimension, we’re now seeing pet food that is free of this and free of that, one of which is grain-free cat food which many cat owners prefer now. In this article, we shall discuss what you need to know about grain-free cat food.
As the name implies, grain-free cat food is a feline food that’s free of all forms of grain. Common grains found in cat food include wheat, oat, rice, and Barley.
Mostly, cats with food allergies are the ones that required grain-free foods, though it is unusual in cats. In a research, it was found that grain is the least cause of it.
You might be asking yourself, how do I know if my cat is having a food allergy, here are some symptoms of food allergy in felines.
- Excessive grooming
- Itchiness
- Hotspots
- Too much hair loss
- Skin inflammation
- Scabs and Sores
- Bald patches
- Chronic ear problem
- Coughing and sneezing
- Diarrahea and vomiting
The above symptoms can also be signs of flea bites, environmental irritants, mites, lice, and infections. To know what exactly is disturbing your feline, mind taking it to a vet for a thorough examination.
Grain-free cat food is extremely important to your felines, below are some of its importance
Importance of grain-free cat food to your felines
Grain-free cat food relies on protein
One of the most significant health benefits of grain-free cat food is its reliance on proteins and we know that felines require protein as it helps them in thriving off. Their diet requires high protein and a low amount of carbohydrates. As too many carbs aren’t good for a cat’s health and should be avoided. Healthful grain-free cat food that contains all the essential nutrients is all your cat need.
Grain-Free Cat food has a positive impact on your feline’s skin
Another benefit of grain-free cat food is its positive impact on the skin of your cat, especially cats with sensitive skins. Foods having rice, wheat, barley has been associated with allergies and skin intolerances while grain-free cat foods are known to improve your cat’s skin and its fur health. So if you’re yearning to see your feline with a shiny glamorous coat, feed it with balanced grain-free cat food.
Grain-free cat food are easy to digest
Carbs are usually hard to digest due to their dry and starchy nature, this exposes cats to stomachache and dry stools, as they lack the digestive enzyme amylase that is needed to break down food containing starch.
Grain-free cat foods are not loaded with carbs and they’re produced more naturally thereby producing a close alternative as possible to a cat’s balanced diet. Despite being devoid of grains, these food provide the required health benefits to your feline.
Grain-free cat foods are very important for your felines, they are very tasty and provide a well-balanced diet that helps them to thrive off. It also helps them develop a shiny, lustrous, and glamorous coat, reduces the risk of flaky and itchy skin, and aids digestion.
Factors to Note When Buying a grain-free Cat Food
Choosing a food for your feline might look easy, just go to a supermarket, or visit an online store and choose the one you want. Well, it’s beyond that, choosing cat food requires thinking and a bit of research. Here are few things you need to think of before choosing cat food for your feline.
The Statement intent and the ingredients
Like human food, pet food is also regulated by the government. When choosing cat food, look at the label and see whether the food is made specifically for cats or together with other pets. Another thing to look at is the ingredients which are usually arranged in an order of decreasing weight. Beef usually tops this list in moist food as it tends to contain a lot of moisture, this might be different in dry foods.
Take note of the life stage of your cat
An important thing to note when choosing a grain-free cat food for your feline is its life stage. Growing kitties have different requirements from adult felines, while kitties need a lot of calories to accelerate their growth, the latter needs little calories to maintain a healthy weight. Put it in your mind that, as your feline is growing, its nutritional needs are changing.
Dietary needs of your feline
Another essential thing to note when buying grain-free cat food is the dietary requirements of your pet. There are a lot of health conditions that can affect the diet your feline is taking, some of which are; hairballs, stomachache, allergy, and diabetes. Some brands produce foods that are specifically made for cats having a particular health challenge, if you’re lucky to come across the one your feline needs, grab it.
Lifestyle of your cat
While some pet owners shun this factor, it’s, however, an important thing to note. The nutritional needs of your cat depend on its agility. A cat spending the whole day at home resting on its couch or tower will require less energy-giving foods, while an agile cat that likes walks, and jumping will require more energy-giving foods.
Note the ideal weight of your feline
Don’t just go ahead and be feeding your pussycat anyhow, you need to feed them in a way that they will maintain ideal body weight. Most cats are overweight especially those that spent the whole day lying down, instead of you to be feeding their whole weight, be feeding them In a way that they will lose weight and regain their ideal weight.
Go for a reputable company
When choosing grain-free food, buy from a reputable brand, not from any company. Choosing a reputable brand means buying from a brand that has gotten good feedback from its former customers, a brand that’s transparent about its ingredients, and where they are sourced from.
Mind your budget
This can’t be left out no matter what you are buying, your budget determines it all. Different grain-free cat food comes at different prices, choose the one that you can afford but make sure the food is worth it, don’t pay extra money for a fine package. To ease your stress we have decided to review the 5 best and most affordable cat food that you can ever find on Amazon.
A big piece of advice: Let a veterinarian determine the best food for your feline
That everyone in the neighborhood is feeding their feline with grain-free food doesn’t mean you should follow suit. The first talk to your veterinarian about the best diet that will suit your pussycat’s lifestyle, it is a dietary requirement and its life stage. Be careful of what you see on the internet and what you were told in food stores about a diet that fits all cats. Just like humans, cats are different what one needs is different from what the other needs. Most doctors recommend that you feed your cat with canned food and reduce dry food to the barest minimum
The 5 Best Affordable Grain Free Cat Food Are Reviewed Below
With hundreds of grain-free cat food available on Amazon, picking the best one might not be easy especially if you are a novice. You might end up choosing a food that’s too expensive, not nutritious, or not perfect for your cat’s dietary requirement. To save you from such, we have reviewed the 5 best affordable grain-free cat food on Amazon.
These grain-free feline foods came from reputable companies that are transparent on their ingredients and how they sourced them. The foods also come at a friendly price that most can afford, above all they are very nutritious and tasty. Grab a hot coffee as you go through the list.
1
Purina Cat Chow Naturals with Real Chicken
The Purina cat chow naturals are the right grain-free feline food to provide your cat with the nutrients she needs and the taste she deserves. With the perfect blend of carbs, proteins, fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals, the Purina cat chow naturals are delivered 100 percent balanced and complete nutritious meals. All the available recipes contain wholesome ingredients, essential vitamins, and minerals that your cat needs to thrive off. The grain-free cat food provides your feline with all the 25 essential and minerals that it requires developing. The adult cats formula has chicken as the chief ingredient, thereby giving your cat the flavor she wants, this chicken also provides her with protein to help her maintain strong and lean muscles.
The presence of fatty acids and omega’s help to keep your cat’s skin healthy and her coat shiny, while supporting the cat’s immune health.
Apart from their original recipe, the brand comes up with a variety of formulas to suit cats with health challenges, these include; the gentle recipe for cats with sensitive stomachs, and the cat chow indoor cat food for cats suffering from hairballs.
The Purina cat chow naturals grain-free feline food provides a 100 percent balanced and complete meal that improves the overall health of your pussycat.
Key Features:
- 0ne 13 lb bag contains the Purina cat chow having real chicken as chief ingredient, a natural dry cat food.
- Real chicken is the chief ingredient
- Contains high-quality proteins to help your cat develop strong and lean muscles
- Provides your cat with all the 25 essential vitamins and minerals it requires
- Contains Omega-6 and fatty acids that help your cat to develop healthy skin and a shiny coat
- The kitties chow contain essential nutrients like those in the mother’s milk
- Free from artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives
- Different formulas tailored to meet your cat’s needs are available
Specification:
- Brand: Purina cat chow
- Manufacturer’s name: Nestlé Purina PetCare Company
- The model name of the product: CAT CHOW NTRLSGRNFR
- Country of Origin: United States
- Weight of item: 13 pounds (208 ounces)
- Dimension of item: 3.25 x 14 x 21 inches [L × H × W]
- Dimension of item package: 20.7 × 13.2 × 3.4 [L × H × W]
- Target audience: Indoor cats
- Age range: Adults
- Breed recommendation: All breeds
- Style: Dry food
- Number of items: 1
- Included components: One (1) 13 lb. Bag – Purina Cat Chow Grain Free, Natural Dry Cat Food, Naturals With Real Chicken
- Specific uses of product: Weight
Pros
- It provides your cat with all the essential vitamins and minerals
- Contains Omega 6 that helps in developing healthy skin and a fine coat
- Comes in different formulas to suit your cat’s needs
- Real chicken is the main ingredient, and it provides cats with the required protein
- Doesn’t have artificial preservatives, colors, and flavors
Cons
- The kibbles are big, making it hard to pick up and chew by felines that like smaller nibbles
2
Crave Grain Free High Protein Cat Dry Food
Felines like foods with a high taste of animal protein, the Crave grain-free dry cat food provides a 100 percent nutritious and tasty well-balanced meal.
It doesn’t contain soy, wheat, or corn only protein-rich diets that help your feline develop a lean, healthy body that keeps your cat active all day long.
The recipes of the brand aren’t based on buzzwords or trends, rather they are based on a primal and ancestral diet that’s inspired by wild cats but made for little kitties. Containing 40% protein, the Crave grain-free food provides your pussycat with high protein and a balanced diet that contains all the essential nutrients that your cat needs for developing muscles, aids in digestion, and provides it energy while improving its overall immune health. The chicken and salmon flavor provides your feline with the taste and feel it craves in every crunchy bite
Key Features:
- Contains (1) 4 lb. bag of CRAVE grain-free cat dey food with high protein sourced from natural chicken and salmon – specially made for house cats
- Real chicken is the chief ingredient, it provides cats with the proteins they need and the flavor they want
- The dry grain-free cat food recipes are crafted will a 100% natural, an ancestral diet that provides energy from carbs sources, vitamins, minerals, and other required nutrients
- The high protein cat food provides the essential nutrients for developing muscles, aids in digestion, and improve overall immune health
- The grain-free cat food has no chicken by-product, contains no soy, wheat, or barley.
- It gives your cat the taste it wants in each crunchy bite
- The crave cat dry food provides your cat with the complete, balanced and nutritious meal she required
Specification:
- Brand: CRAVE
- Manufacturer’s name: Mars Petcare
- Country of origin: United States
- Weight of item: 4 pounds
- Dimension of item: 5 x 8 x 13 inches [L × H × W]
- Dimension of item package: 12.68 x 8.86 x 3.9 inches [L × H × W]
- Target audience: House cats
- Age range: Adults
- Breed recommendation: All breeds
- Style: Adult
- Number of items: 1
- Included components: CRAVE Indoor Adult Dry Cat Food, With Protein From Chicken and Salmon, 4 Pound Bag
- Specific uses: Free from grain
Pros
- Chicken is the number one ingredient providing them with the required proteins and a tasty flavor
- It contains all the required nutrients, vitamins, and minerals it needs
- It contains no grains, no colors, and preservatives
- It provides your feline with a complete balanced and nutritious meal
Cons
- It contains potassium chloride
3
Blue Buffalo Wilderness high protein grain-free food
The Blue buffalo wilderness is a high-protein food made from natural ingredients that all cats will love. It’s a grain-free food that lets your feline embrace the wild side.
It comes in three different recipes: the chicken recipe, the salmon recipe, and the duck recipe. Let’s look at each of these recipes.
The chicken recipe is inspired by the spirit of lynx and contains chicken as the main ingredient which supports muscle development and growth. Its natural flavor was sourced from the spice, processed fruits, and vegetables that enhance the taste of the wet food. Fresh potatoes present provide your feline with carbs, vitamins B & C, and minerals. Blue Buffalo chicken recipe also contains Taurine, an essential mineral that supports eye and heart health in pets.
Also inspired by the spirit of lynx, the salmon recipe is made from real salmon that felines love. Salmon is a great source of proteins and omega -3 fatty acids, the recipe provides cats with proteins, iron, and vitamins. Flaxseed which aids in digestion and promotes the growth of healthy skin is also present in the recipe.
The third recipe is the duck recipe which provides high-quality protein with a real duck taste that your cat will enjoy. Just Like the other flavors, it is devoid of poultry by-products, artificial preservatives, and colors. A real duck which is the chief ingredient supports muscle development and growth while providing a natural flavor. It also supplies vitamin B & C, digestible carbs, and essential minerals.
All the three Blue buffalo Wilderness high protein food are awesome and provides a completely balanced nutritious meal.
Key Features:
- Each bag contains a variety pack BLUE Wilderness High Protein Grain Free, Natural Adult Pate Wet Cat Food, Chicken, Salmon, Duck 3-oz (12 count- 4 of each flavor)
- The grain-free cat food contains the fish (salmon) or poultry (duck and chicken) that your cat loves and it provides it with the required energy it needs to stay active
- The high-quality protein cat wet food provides the required taste your feline can’t resist.
- It was made from real natural ingredients that are enhanced with minerals and vitamins
- Contains no poultry by-product, no wheat, no corn, no soy, and no artificial preservatives and colors
Specification:
- Brand: Blue Buffalo
- Manufacturer’s name: Blue Buffalo
- Model Name: BLUE Wilderness
- Weight of item: 2.82 pounds
- Dimension of item: 7.75 x 5.19 x 3.06 inches [L × H × W]
- Dimension of item package: 9.37 x 6.5 x 5.87 inches [L × H × W]
- Target audience: Indoor cats
- Age range: Adults
- Breed recommendation: All breed sizes
- Number of items: 12
- Style: Wet food
- Included components: 3-Ounce Can (Pack of 12)
- Specific uses: Daily feeding
Pros
- It doesn’t contain artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives
- It provides your cat with the energy it needs to stay active
- It contains taurine and flaxseed
Cons
- The aroma is not good
4
Purina Beyond grain-free grain wet cat food
For a wholesome meal, serve your cat with Purina Beyond grain-free cat food that has wild salmon as the chief ingredient. With a blend of wholesome vegetables and essential nutrients, the feline grain-free food is the perfect option for your pussycat.
Purina Beyond grain-free wet food is made from real well-sourced ingredients that you can trust, the ingredients provide the natural nutrition and the essential nutrients that your feline needs for growth and development.
The brand formulates grain-free wet food without artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives so that your feline gets all she needs and gets nothing she doesn’t need.
The grain-free food has a smooth pate taste that cats will enjoy and each ingredient can be traced back to the brand’s trusted sources. Natural grain-free food that’s rich in protein, minerals, and vitamins is all you need to keep the fondness between you and your cat growing, and that food is Purina Beyond Grain-free wet cat food.
Key Features:
- A Twelve (12) 3 oz. Can of Purina Beyond Grain Free real Salmon Recipe for Adult Cat. Wet Food with a smooth pate taste
- Real wild salmon is the chief ingredient
- It doesn’t contain artificial additives, preservatives, colors, and flavors
- Contains wholesome vegetables for added nutrition
- Devoid of wheat, soy, corn, and all forms of grain
- Rich in minerals, and vitamins that your feline needs to thrive off
Specification:
- Brand: Purina Beyond
- Manufacturer’s name: Purina Beyond
- Model name: BEYOND PATE Cat Gra Fr Smn
- Weight of item: 2.65 pounds
- Dimension of item: 2.6 x 2.6 x 1.45 inches [L × H × W]
- Dimension of item package: 8.6 x 5.4 x 2.6 inches
- Target audience: House cats
- Breed recommendation: All breed sizes
- Age range: Adults
- Number of items: 1
- Style: Pate
- Color: Wild Salmon pate
- Included components: Twelve 3 oz. – Purina Beyond grain-free natural pet wet cat food – Wild Salmon recipe
- Specific use: Active
Pros
- Good for sensitive stomach cats
- Real salmon is the main ingredient and cats like its flavor
- It doesn’t contain artificial flavors and preservatives
Cons
- Some of the cans are contaminated
5
Racheal Ray Nutrish Wet cat food
Rachael said “food is love” that is why she also uses wholesome natural ingredients whenever she’s creating a recipe for her human friends or her furry friends. Each ingredient present in the Racheal Ray Nutrish wet cat food has a purpose. The brand carefully selected high-quality proteins- Salmon, chicken, and ocean fish then combine with vitamins and essential nutrients to make the grain-free food balanced and nutritious.
All the different nutrish wet cat food are inspired by recipes from Racheal’s kitchen and they are all made with real wholesome chicken, or seafood and they don’t contain any grain, artificial preservatives, or flavors. Just essential minerals, vitamins, and taurine that will improve the overall health of your feline.
Key Features:
- Each Racheal Nutrish wet cat food includes a Real fish or Chicken is main the ingredient in each delicious recipe: 4 Ocean Fish-A-Licious, 4 chicken & shrimp puttanesca, 4 Tuna Purrfection
- It is a natural wet grain-free cat food containing all the essential vitamins, minerals, and taurine
- It is devoid of artificial flavors, colors, gluten, and filler ingredients
- Comes in different flavors for your feline’s satisfaction
Specification:
- Brand: Racheal Ray Nutrish
- Manufacturer’s name: RACHEAL RAY NUTRISH
- Weight of item: 2.8 ounces
- Country of origin: Thailand
- Dimension of item: 6 x 8.19 x 3 inches [L × H × W]
- Dimension of item package: 11.99 x 5.5 x 2.1 inches [L × H × W]
- Target audience: House cats
- Age range: Adults
- Breed recommendation: All breed sizes
- Number of items: 12
- Color: Green
- Style: Wet food
- Included components: Feline’s food
- Specific uses of product: Active
Pros
- It contains Taurine that helps in the growth and development of felines
- Comes in different flavors to suits your cat’s desire
- Free from gluten and filler ingredients
Cons
- Comes different flavors that some cats might not like
Buying Guide Questions
Below we shall take a look at some frequently asked questions by cat owners about affordable grain-free cat food
Is a grain-free diet best for cats?
A grain-free diet might be the best or the worst for your feline depending on its health condition.
Depending on its nutritional needs, a grain-free diet might be best for your cat if it needs high-quality protein in large amounts. On the other hand, thiamine, iron, calcium, riboflavin are present in grain, so a grain-free diet might cause a deficiency in these nutrients
What is the healthiest cat food for indoor cats?
From online reviews, we have gathered that – these are the healthiest foods for indoor cats available on Amazon
1- The Racheal Ray Nutrish wet cat food
2-Purina Beyond grain-free wet cat food
3- Purina Cat chow naturals with real chicken
Is grain-free bad for cats?
Grain-free food is not bad for cats, however, lack of grain might expose your feline to a lack of iron, riboflavin, thiamine, calcium, and other essential nutrients. Unlike in dogs that grain-free dog food exposes them to canine and heart disease, such links have not been found in cats. Therefore, grain-free foods are not dangerous for cats.
What’s the worst cat food?
Some of the worst cat food’s according to an online review is Meow Mix dry, Friskies dry, Joy combo, Purina Deli dry, Sportmix dry.
However, these are based on the reviews of customers that have used the products before, don’t forget what didn’t work for one might work for the other. So these foods might not be bad.
Does grain-free cause heart problems?
Unlike in dogs, grain-free diets are not known to cause heart problems in cats. Generally, grain-free feline food doesn’t pose a health risk to our feline friends.
Is Blue Buffalo good for cats?
Yes, the Buffalo brand produces foods that are very good for cats. Former customers reviewed that their felines have developed healthier skin and shiny coats after they switched to Blue Buffalo. Their hair control formula has also proved to reduce hairballs in cats.
Is oatmeal good for cats?
Yes, oatmeal is very good for felines. Some cat foods contain plain oatmeal as it is a source of vitamin B. However, experts suggest that the oatmeal should be mixed with water rather than with milk as most pets are milk intolerant. It’s advisable to cook the oat for a few minutes or soak it in water for a short time then mix it with wet food or serve it alone. It is however suggested that oatmeals should be given to cats occasionally
Conclusion
The above reviewed free grain cat food is among the most affordable and most healthy on Amazon.
Grain-free cat food provides cats with the required high-quality protein they need for bodybuilding and overall health. However, they lack some essential nutrients like riboflavin, calcium, thiamine, iron, and others that are very essential for cats’ development.
To know what is best for your cat, ask a professional veterinarian.
For more about cats, check our previous articles: