10 Best Gluten Free Cat Foods In 2023
Welcome to our comprehensive guide on the “10 Best Gluten-Free Cat Foods” that cater to your feline friend’s nutritional needs without the inclusion of gluten. In a world where sensitivities to food are becoming increasingly common, not only among humans but in pets as well, we understand the importance of accommodating dietary preferences and restrictions.
Table of Contents
Our list is specially curated with love and attention for those who care for cats with gluten intolerance or owners who prefer a gluten-free diet for their pets. We’ve researched and analyzed various cat food brands, focusing on their ingredients, nutritional value, flavor, and overall customer satisfaction.
Whether your cat is a picky eater or you’re just looking to offer a more wholesome diet, our top 10 selections offer an array of options that are free from gluten and rich in essential vitamins and minerals. From dry kibble to wet pâté, there is something to suit every cat’s palate.
Feel free to explore the page, and discover the perfect blend of taste and nutrition that ensures not only a happy cat but a healthier one too. Your pet deserves the best, and we’re here to help you provide just that!
Our Best Gluten Free Cat Food
- Blue Buffalo Wilderness Grain-Free
- Natural Balance L.I.D. Green Pea & Chicken
- Merrick Purrfect Bistro Grain-Free Salmon Pâté
- Instinct by Nature’s Variety Original
- Halo Holistic Seafood Medley Sensitive
- Ziwi Peak Venison Recipe Canned Cat Food
- Wellness CORE Natural Grain Free Indoor Chicken & Turkey Recipe
- Solid Gold Let’s Stay In Indoor Formula
- Tiki Cat Velvet Mousse Chicken
- Nutro Wholesome Essentials Indoor Chicken & Brown Rice
10 Best Gluten Free Cat Food Reviewed
Every cat food mentioned on this list adheres to the AAFCO nutrient criteria for cats. Before altering your cat’s food intake, always seek advice from your vet.
Blue Buffalo Wilderness Grain-Free Dry Cat Food
- First 5 Ingredients: Chicken, chicken meal, pea protein, tapioca starch, menhaden fish meal
- Key Feature: Gluten-free
- Guaranteed Analysis: Protein 40%, Fat 18%, Fiber 4%, Moisture 9%
- Caloric Content: 3,832 kcal/kg
- Type of Product: Dry food
- Life Stage: Adult
- Best For: High-protein diet
This gluten-free dry cat food focuses on real chicken as the first ingredient. It aims to mimic the diet of wild cats, supporting muscle development, energy, and overall well-being.
Inspired by the diet of wild felines, Blue Buffalo Wilderness provides a high-protein, grain-free formula with real chicken as the primary ingredient. It includes LifeSource Bits, a blend of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals to support immune health. This food helps promote lean muscle, healthy skin, and a shiny coat without using corn, wheat, soy, or artificial flavors, making it suitable for cats with gluten sensitivity.
Natural Balance L.I.D. Green Pea & Chicken Dry Cat Food
- First 5 Ingredients: Green peas, chicken meal, chicken, chicken fat, pea protein
- Key Feature: Gluten-free, limited ingredients
- Guaranteed Analysis: Protein 30%, Fat 12%, Fiber 4%, Moisture 10%
- Caloric Content: 3,500 kcal/kg
- Type of Product: Dry food
- Life Stage: Adult
- Best For: Sensitive stomachs
Formulated with a limited number of protein and carbohydrate sources, this gluten-free recipe helps support cats with sensitivities to common pet food ingredients.
Natural Balance’s Limited Ingredient Diets are designed to minimize the number of ingredients cats are exposed to, reducing the chance of allergic reactions. With green peas as the carbohydrate source and chicken as the single protein, it’s a balanced diet that supports healthy digestion for cats with sensitivities. This simple and wholesome recipe promotes healthy skin and coat.
Merrick Purrfect Bistro Grain-Free Salmon Pâté
- First 5 Ingredients: Deboned salmon, fish broth, chicken liver, dried egg whites, ground flaxseed
- Key Feature: Gluten-free, grain-free
- Guaranteed Analysis: Protein 10%, Fat 5%, Fiber 1%, Moisture 78%
- Caloric Content: 1,034 kcal/kg
- Type of Product: Wet food
- Life Stage: Adult
- Best For: Omega-3 support
This product is designed to provide essential Omega-3 fatty acids from salmon. The pâté texture is favored by many cats, and it is gluten and grain-free.
This wet food from Merrick is a grain-free, gluten-free pâté designed with a luxurious texture that cats enjoy. Deboned salmon is the primary ingredient, providing omega-3 fatty acids for healthy skin and a glossy coat. The texture encourages hydration and the formula excludes artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives, maintaining natural goodness.
Instinct by Nature’s Variety Original Grain-Free Recipe with Real Chicken
- First 5 Ingredients: Chicken, turkey meal, menhaden fish meal, peas, chicken fat
- Key Feature: Gluten-free
- Guaranteed Analysis: Protein 41%, Fat 21%, Fiber 3%, Moisture 9%
- Caloric Content: 4,450 kcal/kg
- Type of Product: Dry food
- Life Stage: All life stages
- Best For: Natural ingredients
With high-quality animal proteins and no grains, this recipe is intended to provide a natural diet for cats. It also includes probiotics for digestive health.
Instinct Original is made with 70% real animal ingredients and nutritious oils and 30% vegetables and other wholesome ingredients. The freeze-dried raw coating adds taste and nutrition. It aims to provide a diet close to what a cat would eat in nature, focusing on high-quality protein without grain, potato, corn, wheat, soy, or artificial additives.
Halo Holistic Seafood Medley Sensitive Stomach Dry Cat Food
- First 5 Ingredients: Whitefish, salmon, dried egg product, oatmeal, dried peas
- Key Feature: Gluten-free, sensitive digestion
- Guaranteed Analysis: Protein 32%, Fat 16%, Fiber 5%, Moisture 10%
- Caloric Content: 3,610 kcal/kg
- Type of Product: Dry food
- Life Stage: Adult
- Best For: Sensitive stomachs
Created with wholesome ingredients like real whitefish and salmon, this gluten-free formula is designed for cats with sensitive digestion.
This special formula from Halo is created with real whole meat, poultry, or fish (no rendered “meat meal”), non-GMO vegetables, and a grain-free blend designed for cats with sensitive stomachs. The seafood medley flavor includes real whitefish and salmon, offering high-quality protein. With added vitamins and minerals, it supports overall wellness, including the skin and coat health.
Ziwi Peak Venison Recipe Canned Cat Food
- First 5 Ingredients: Venison, water sufficient for processing, venison tripe, venison liver, chickpeas
- Key Feature: Gluten-free, single-protein
- Guaranteed Analysis: Protein 9%, Fat 5.5%, Fiber 2%, Moisture 78%
- Caloric Content: 1,150 kcal/kg
- Type of Product: Wet food
- Life Stage: Adult
- Best For: Novel protein source
A unique protein source, venison, is the star of this canned food. It’s grain-free and gluten-free, suitable for cats with allergies or food sensitivities.
Ziwi Peak’s canned cat food offers a novel protein source in venison, an excellent option for cats with allergies to common meat sources. The food is slow-cooked in small batches to retain the meat’s nutritional value, and it is free of rendered meats, cheap fillers, or preservatives. The limited ingredient list ensures quality and suitability for cats with sensitivities.
Wellness CORE Natural Grain Free Indoor Chicken & Turkey Recipe
- First 5 Ingredients: Deboned chicken, turkey meal, chicken meal, peas, herring meal
- Key Feature: Gluten-free, high-protein
- Guaranteed Analysis: Protein 38%, Fat 12%, Fiber 5%, Moisture 11%
- Caloric Content: 3,724 kcal/kg
- Type of Product: Dry food
- Life Stage: Adult
- Best For: Indoor cats
Specially formulated for indoor cats, this gluten-free option promotes lean body mass and muscle tone while minimizing hairballs.
Wellness CORE offers a protein-rich, grain-free diet that caters specifically to indoor cats. This natural, gluten-free recipe is packed with premium chicken and turkey, offering quality protein sources. It’s designed to help indoor cats maintain a healthy weight and lean muscle mass while also including fiber to help control hairballs.
Solid Gold Let’s Stay In Indoor Formula Grain-Free Dry Cat Food
- First 5 Ingredients: Chicken, chicken meal, peas, lentils, chickpeas
- Key Feature: Gluten-free, grain-free
- Guaranteed Analysis: Protein 36%, Fat 14%, Fiber 4%, Moisture 10%
- Caloric Content: 3,800 kcal/kg
- Type of Product: Dry food
- Life Stage: Adult
- Best For: Indoor cats, hairball control
This recipe is crafted for indoor cats and focuses on both digestive health and hairball control with natural fibers.
Solid Gold’s Let’s Stay In is tailored for indoor cats and emphasizes digestive health. The grain and gluten-free formula include carefully balanced proteins and fats from chicken, along with fiber-rich ingredients to support hairball control. Protected probiotics and healthy superfoods like pumpkin, almonds, sunflower oil, and broccoli are added for overall wellness.
Tiki Cat Velvet Mousse Chicken Wet Cat Food
- First 5 Ingredients: Chicken, chicken broth, sunflower seed oil, tricalcium phosphate, xanthan gum
- Key Feature: Gluten-free, high moisture
- Guaranteed Analysis: Protein 12%, Fat 2%, Fiber 0.5%, Moisture 81%
- Caloric Content: 900 kcal/kg
- Type of Product: Wet food
- Life Stage: Adult
- Best For: Texture preferences
This velvety mousse is ideal for cats that prefer softer textures. It’s also grain-free, gluten-free, and full of high-quality chicken.
The Tiki Cat Velvet Mousse offers a unique and soft mousse texture that many cats love. The grain-free, gluten-free, high-moisture content supports hydration, and real chicken offers a quality protein source. The blend of sunflower seed oil and fish oil also provides Omega-6 and Omega-3 fatty acids, which support skin and coat health.
Nutro Wholesome Essentials Indoor Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Cat Food
- First 5 Ingredients: Chicken, chicken meal, whole brown rice, brewers rice, pea protein
- Key Feature: Gluten-free, non-GMO
- Guaranteed Analysis: Protein 33%, Fat 14%, Fiber 7%, Moisture 10%
- Caloric Content: 3,531 kcal/kg
- Type of Product: Dry food
- Life Stage: Adult
- Best For: Indoor cats, weight management
Formulated specifically for indoor cats, this dry food is made with non-GMO ingredients and emphasizes weight management and digestion support.
Nutro Wholesome Essentials Indoor recipe provides balanced nutrition with real chicken as the primary ingredient. Along with whole brown rice, it supports healthy digestion and is crafted to promote a healthy weight for indoor cats. Made with non-GMO ingredients and free of artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives, it offers natural fiber to minimize hairball formation.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)
Is gluten free food good for cats?
Cats are obligate carnivores and require a diet that is high in animal protein. Gluten-free food is not necessary for cats unless they have a specific gluten intolerance or allergy. It is important to feed cats a balanced diet that meets their nutritional needs, which typically includes animal-based protein sources. Consult with your veterinarian for specific dietary recommendations for your cat.
What cat food has no corn and wheat gluten?
There are several cat food brands that offer products without corn and wheat gluten. Some options include:
1. Blue Buffalo Wilderness High Protein Grain-Free Cat Food
2. Wellness CORE Grain-Free Cat Food
3. Merrick Grain-Free Dry Cat Food
4. Natural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Cat Food
5. Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Hydrolyzed Protein HP Cat Food
Please note that it’s important to consult with your veterinarian before making any changes to your cat’s diet.
Is grain free cat food the same as gluten free?
No, grain-free cat food is not the same as gluten-free. Grain-free cat food refers to products that do not contain any grains like wheat, corn, or rice. On the other hand, gluten-free cat food specifically means that the product does not contain gluten, which is a protein found in wheat and some other grains. So while grain-free cat food may also be gluten-free, it is not a guarantee.
What is the best food for cats with bowel problems?
Cats with bowel problems can benefit from a diet that is easily digestible and gentle on their digestive system. A high-quality, grain-free wet cat food that is low in fat and contains easily digestible proteins, such as chicken or turkey, is often recommended. Additionally, adding a source of fiber, such as pumpkin puree or psyllium husk, to their meals can help regulate their bowel movements. It’s essential to consult with a veterinarian for a proper diagnosis and specific dietary recommendations for your cat’s individual needs.
