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Best Grain-Free Cat Food Review 2025
Written by Wag! Staff
Veterinary reviewed by:
Published: 04/01/2024, edited: 03/03/2025
The Wag! team conducts independent research and consults pet experts to curate our recommendations. This content is supported by our affiliate pet partners and we may receive a commission on the links provided.
Choosing a high-quality diet for your fur-baby is a key responsibility for every pet parent. And if you want to switch your cat to a grain-free diet, you’re spoiled for choice. But with so many options available, how do you decide on the best grain-free cat food for your furry family member?
To help you find a food that provides all the nutrition your cat needs to stay happy and healthy, we’ve put together this guide to the best grain-free cat food. Keep reading to discover 7 grain-free diets your cat will love.
Overview
- Blue Buffalo Freedom Grain-Free Indoor Adult Fish Recipe
- The Honest Kitchen Grain-Free Chicken and Fish Recipe
- American Journey Grain-Free Salmon Recipe
- Merrick Limited Ingredient Diet Grain-Free Real Chicken Pate Recipe
- Orijen Original Cat
- Taste of the Wild Rocky Mountain Feline Recipe
- Instinct Original Grain-Free Pate Real Rabbit Recipe
- FAQ
Blue Buffalo Freedom Grain-Free Indoor Adult Fish Recipe
5
Best vet recommended overall
This Grain-Free Indoor Adult Recipe from Blue Buffalo offers wholesome, grain-free goodness for your cat.
Featuring whitefish as its first ingredient, this recipe features Blue’s LifeSource Bits that provide a host of important antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals for your furry friend. It’s a good source of omega fatty acids too, ensuring that your cat’s skin and coat are at their best.
Best of all, Dr. Georgia Jeremiah, pet nutrition expert and one of Wag!’s veterinary consultants, recommends Blue Buffalo cat food to her clients. “Blue Buffalo provides wet and dry recipes tailored to various life stages, including high-protein and grain-free choices,” she says.
“Catering to special dietary needs, they offer limited ingredient varieties such as Blue Basics without common allergens such as chicken, beef, corn, wheat, soy, dairy and eggs. With real meat, omega fatty acids and plenty of antioxidants, Blue Buffalo recipes are a good option for felines with delicate digestive tracts. Be mindful of the higher carbohydrate and low moisture content with some formulas if your cat has specific medical conditions.”
So, if you’re looking for the best grain-free cat food, it’s hard to go past this recipe from Blue Buffalo.
Blue Buffalo Cat Food
Why Wag! loves it
- Features real whitefish as the first ingredient.
- No artificial flavors or preservatives.
- Supports a healthy immune system.
Considerations & concerns
- Some complaints about this food causing an upset stomach.
- Some buyers complain about quality control issues.
- Not all cats like the taste.
What pet parents say about Blue Buffalo Freedom Grain-Free Indoor Adult Fish Recipe
“My two cats are 12 years old, and I have tried many different brands to see which they like and which agrees with their stomach. They love this food and very rarely have any hair balls or regurgitation. This is a winner.”
“My cat gets tired of her food every couple of years and will slowly eat less and less and start to get thinner. I noticed this was happening again on the Freedom Chicken so I switched over to fish. Only had about a week of mixing the two kibbles and she took right to fish with NO stomach upsets. She's a little sensitive now that she's 9 and did just fine here. LOVES the fish!”
Read more reviews on Chewy.
Image sourced from Chewy. Copyright Blue Buffalo Company Ltd.
The Honest Kitchen Grain-Free Chicken and Fish Recipe
5
Vet recommended
This scrumptious chicken and fish recipe is sure to have your cat licking their lips. The Honest Kitchen specializes in human-grade food for pets, and this dry formula has been created in collaboration with a veterinary nutritionist. Cage-free chicken and wild-caught fish are the animal protein sources, flaxseeds promote coat health, and cranberries help maintain urinary tract health.
“The Honest Kitchen offers high-protein, human-grade cat food that's grain-free and devoid of artificial preservatives, GMOs, corn, wheat, and soy,” says Dr. Georgia Jeremiah, who recommends The Honest Kitchen cat food to her clients. “Prioritizing meat as the first ingredient, their range includes both wet and dry varieties in multiple flavors to satisfy picky eaters - all with a money-back guarantee.”
Why not let your cat give this grain-free recipe a try the next time you need to stock up on cat food?
The Honest Kitchen Cat Food
Why Wag! loves it
- Made with human-grade ingredients.
- No corn, wheat, soy, or artificial colors or flavors.
- Features probiotics to support healthy digestion.
Considerations & concerns
- Expensive.
- Not a hit with all cats.
- Some pet parents report that their cat would prefer larger kibble pieces.
What pet parents say about The Honest Kitchen Grain-Free Chicken and Fish Recipe
“We have 2 indoor cats and we also feed 2 outdoor (not so feral anymore) cats. All of them happily enjoy the chicken and whitefish clusters. This is the ONLY brand I've found that all of them will eat. One of the outdoor cats is a male that likely has feline leukemia. Since I started feeding him this food, his health has significantly improved. He has gained weight and his coat is thicker. I don't know how long he has left, but I am happy that his quality of life is somewhat better now.”
“We feed our cat and our dogs honest kitchen dry kibble. They all love it, and their coats are so soft and shiny. Love being able to give them something that keeps them healthy from the inside out.”
Read more reviews on The Honest Kitchen.
Image sourced from the Chewy website. Copyright The Honest Kitchen.
American Journey Grain-Free Salmon Recipe
4.5
Vet recommended
If you’re looking for a nutritious, grain-free cat food that’s also friendly to your wallet, this American Journey Grain-Free Salmon Recipe fits the bill. Designed for cats at all life stages, this high-protein recipe features real salmon as its first ingredient. It also contains fruit and veg like pumpkins and carrots to provide important antioxidants, and taurine to ensure eye and heart health.
“American Journey cat food features high-quality, real meat as the primary ingredient, ensuring balanced nutrition with essential vitamins and minerals,” explains Dr. Georgia Jeremiah. “It offers grain-free options, free from artificial additives or preservatives, in various flavors to suit individual preferences. Additionally, it includes added probiotics for digestive health and is known for its affordability.”
Check it out if you’re searching for grain-free cat food that won’t break the bank.
American Journey Cat Food
Why Wag! loves it
- Affordably priced.
- Contains omega fatty acids for skin and coat health.
- Suitable for all life stages.
Considerations & concerns
- Some complaints about bag not being resealable.
- Not a hit with all cats.
- Some complaints about this food causing an upset stomach.
What pet parents say about American Journey Grain-Free Salmon Recipe
“My three cats really love this food. Two of them were having itching problems before, that I think came from chicken or grains that made them keep licking their fur continuously until I switched to the Salmon American Journey. Now the itching has stopped, bare spots grown back, and no daily furballs.”
“One of my cats has a chicken allergy that can make her so itchy that she’ll lick herself raw, so I’m really particular about the food that she gets. She was on a prescription diet for a while before we figured out what she was allergic to but it was too expensive to keep her on once we realized the allergen was chicken. So many cat foods that are marketed as fish flavored have chicken meal in them, so it was hard to find an alternative to the prescription food. This fits the bill perfectly. It’s less than half the cost of the prescription food and there really isn’t any chicken in it - as attested to by my happy cat. She can be a picky eater too but she loves this stuff. Could not recommend it more.”
Read more reviews on Chewy.
Image sourced from the Chewy website. Copyright Chewy, Inc.
Merrick Limited Ingredient Diet Grain-Free Real Chicken Pate Recipe
4.5
Vet recommended
If your cat prefers wet food instead of dry, this limited-ingredient diet from Merrick is well worth checking out. It features real deboned chicken as the first ingredient, this recipe doesn’t contain any grains or potatoes.
This Chicken Pate Recipe is also a good source of antioxidants to support a strong immune system, features omega fatty acids to help your cat’s skin and coat stay healthy, and is made in the USA.
“Merrick offers high-protein diets with meat as the primary ingredient,” says Dr. Georgia Jeremiah, pet nutrition expert and one of Wag!’s veterinary consultants. “Recipes are free from corn, wheat, soy, artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives and rich in omega fatty acids and include probiotics for overall feline well-being.”
And because this recipe is made with minimal ingredients, it’s a good choice for cats that are prone to food sensitivities and intolerances.
Merrick Wet Cat Food
Why Wag! loves it
- No artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives.
- Made in the USA.
- Contains taurine to support heart health and vision.
Considerations & concerns
- Some pet parents report that their cat didn’t like this food.
- Some complaints about inconsistent texture.
- Some complaints about bad batches.
What pet parents say about Merrick Limited Ingredient Diet Grain-Free Real Chicken Pate Recipe
“My cats love this food. My cats are real particular on the food they eat. I wanted to give them food that has more nutrients and this fits the bill.”
“My cat ended up having an aversion to the prescribed food he was on and we went through several different brands of wet food, many of which upset his stomach. We wanted a low protein wet food as well and found this! My cat loves it, good ingredients, low protein - only 1% more than the prescribed food which is easier on my 17y/o kitty's kidneys. So grateful to find this after a long struggle and my cat is gaining weight. Highly recommended!”
Read more reviews on Chewy.
Image sourced from the Chewy website. Copyright Merrick Pet Care.
Orijen Original Cat
5
Vet recommended
Orijen Original Cat is a high-protein, grain-free diet that’s loaded with nutritional goodness. This recipe is made from 90% animal ingredients and its first 5 ingredients are chicken, turkey, whole herring, turkey giblets (liver, heart, gizzard), and salmon. It’s a good source of taurine to maintain heart health, and it features fiber along with prebiotics and probiotics to promote gut health.
Orijen cat food is also another brand that Dr. Georgia Jeremiah recommends to her clients. “Orijen is known for its high protein content, incorporating meat, organs, and bones from multiple animal sources,” she says.
“Recipes are made with fresh ingredients and avoids fillers, artificial additives, and grains. Additionally, they include a probiotic blend for digestive health. One potential drawback is that these diets are expensive; however, overall this is a high-quality, convenient diet option.”
Orijen Cat Food
Why Wag! loves it
- Made with 90% poultry and fish ingredients.
- Made in the USA.
- Freeze-dried coated for extra flavor.
Considerations & concerns
- Not cheap.
- Some pet parents complain that this food has a strong odor.
- Some complaints that this food causes stinky poop.
What pet parents say about Orijen Original Cat
"I’ve been on a mission to find a new food for the cats. They had been eating purina one grain free, but I wanted better for them. I tried all kinds of premium foods, and this is the one the cats wanted to eat. They have approved fish flavored orijen as well."
"My cat is old and will vomit up a meal if I give her too much at one feeding. Because this food is so high in calories, even with a smaller portion, she’s doing great and maintaining her weight."
Read more reviews on Chewy.
Image sourced from Chewy. Copyright Mars Petcare US, Inc.
Taste of the Wild Rocky Mountain Feline Recipe
4.5
Vet recommended
Taste of the Wild’s nutritional philosophy is based on feeding your cat the sort of diet their ancestors would have eaten in the wild. This Rocky Mountain Feline Recipe is a high-protein, grain-free food that features chicken meal, roasted venison, smoke-flavored salmon, and ocean fish as its animal protein sources. It also includes Taste of the Wild’s proprietary Viables Probiotics, which are designed to support your pet’s digestion and immune system.
Even better, Dr. Georgia Jeremiah recommends Taste of the Wild to her clients. “Taste of the Wild cat food features grain-free options with novel proteins such as venison, and added probiotics for your cat's gut health,” she says. “While it is affordable, their formulas are high in pea and potato plant-proteins, and the presence of guar gum in the ingredients may contribute to digestive issues in sensitive cats.”
But if you’re searching for a cost-effective grain-free diet, Taste of the Wild Rocky Mountain Feline Recipe is well worth a look.
Taste of the Wild Cat Food
Why Wag! loves it
- High in protein.
- Features probiotics for gut health.
- Affordably priced.
Considerations & concerns
- Chicken meal is the first ingredient, despite the fact that the front of the label mentions venison and salmon.
- Some complaints about this food causing smelly poop.
- Some complaints about this recipe causing upset stomachs.
What pet parents say about Taste of the Wild Rocky Mountain Feline Recipe
“We recently had a stray kitten adopt us, my best guess is she’s a little over 6 months. While reading how to care for outside cats, this high protein food was recommended to help outdoor kitties live a healthy life. I love that it contains antioxidants and probiotics. I initially started feeding it to her dry but after reading more about outdoor cats and helping them to stay hydrated, I started putting water in the food before giving it to her so it turns soft. She loves it crunchy, and she loves it soft! So sometimes I’ll hydrate the food with water and then put a few pieces of dry on top like it’s a little crunchy treat, and it seems she loves it best this way. The best part is, I started noticing her getting the zoomies after I started feeding her this food. Also, her coat is getting more full and soft. This is a great, grain-free cat food!”
“Jezebel's first act every morning is to meow in my face to get up and put her food in her bowl. She likes it a lot and eats it all. She appears to be doing very well on this food and the vet gave her an A++ on her check up.”
Read more reviews on Chewy.
Image sourced from Chewy. Copyright SCHELL & KAMPETER, INC.
Instinct Original Grain-Free Pate Real Rabbit Recipe
4.5
Vet recommended
Last but not least on our list of the best grain-free cat food is this Instinct Original Grain-Free Pate Real Rabbit Recipe. This recipe doesn’t feature any grains, potatoes, corn, wheat, or soy, but it includes farm-raised rabbit as the first ingredient. This is a novel protein source for cats with food sensitivities, while the pate texture of this formula will make it highly palatable to your fur-baby.
“Instinct cat food offers a species-appropriate diet with high protein content and real meat as the primary ingredient,” Dr. Georgia Jeremiah says. “With grain-free recipes and those free from artificial preservatives, colors, and flavors, Instinct provides options that are suitable for cats with digestive sensitivities. However, some recipes may have higher fat or carbohydrate levels and are relatively more expensive than comparable brands.”
But if you don’t mind paying a little extra for quality, this Instinct Original Grain-Free Pate Real Rabbit Recipe could be the “pawfect” choice for your cat.
Instinct Wet Cat Food
Why Wag! loves it
- Made using 95% rabbit, pork, and liver ingredients.
- A good option for cats with chicken allergies
- Made in the USA.
Considerations & concerns
- Some complaints about bones in food.
- Some pet parents complain about a changed recipe.
- Not a hit with some picky eaters.
What pet parents say about Instinct Original Grain-Free Pate Real Rabbit Recipe
“I have four cats. Between the finicky and the allergies it can be tough to find a food [that] they all will eat. They will all eat this one. Seems to be filling too, as they eat less hard food on this canned. I like that there is no chicken (not easy to find even in the limited ingredient formulas). The rabbit seems by far to be the most natural of the foods out there. I have yet to see a cat take down a cow... just saying. My one cat was starting to show signs of food allergy. He had scratched a small bald spot on his ear. I switched him to this a few weeks ago and the hair is growing back. It’s not a cheap food, but worth the money for healthy cats.”
“I have 2 cats with food sensitivities. One allergic to chicken and another allergic to fish. It’s really hard to find food without chicken and fish. They both love this rabbit food. I also like that it’s not super gelatinous, it has a nice texture.”
Read more reviews on Chewy.
Image sourced from Chewy. Copyright Nature's Variety.
FAQ
What is the best grain-free food for cats?
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