If you notice a typical reaction like vomiting, flatulence, frequent scratching, coughing, red skin, after feeding your furry little friend, then it might be a case of food allergy. One of the best approaches to care for your pet in that regard is to adopt hypoallergenic foods. These are special foods with formulations that have minimal or no potential to cause pet allergy.
While an allergy may be specific to your kitty, it’s also possible he/she has allergies similar to other cats. Therefore, a vet can guide and pinpoint your pet’s allergic reaction trigger. Once you have an idea what the problem is, this carefully curated list of the best hypoallergenic cat food will help make your choice easier—amidst all the misleading marketing hype out there.
The Top Hypoallergenic Cat Foods
Take a look below at our top picks of all the hypoallergenic cat foods from Blue Buffalo to Hill’s Science cat food.
Blue Buffalo Basics L.I.D. Adult Dry Cat Food
If you have successfully narrowed-down your pet’s allergen to chicken, beef or poultry (which is not uncommon for cats), your kitty might want to try Blue Buffalo’s Basics L.I.D. Dry cat food. This protein only option is from real whitefish, a fantastic source of amino acid and essential oils.
As a grain-free, it also contains potatoes, pumpkin and peas, which altogether promote healthy digestion. Even better is the fact that there are no other hidden protein sources like beef or eggs, which are potential sources of allergies to many cats. What’s more, Blue Buffalo brings in an exclusive composition of antioxidants, minerals and vitamin blend known as LifeSource Bits. So your cat can always work with an optimum immune system to fight germs and stay healthy.
You’ll also love that this adult dry food is devoid of artificial sweeteners and preservatives. Altogether, you are sure your pet is getting the whole nine yards of natural ingredients.
Natural Balance L.I.D. Dry Cat Food.
Many cats get allergies from eating food that contains too many low-quality nutrients sources. Natural Balance brings this unique formulation that ensures your cat gets a healthy protein and carbs-containing diet from a one quality source.
The Natural Balance dry Cat Food is a combination of high-quality duck and green peas, which are both excellent sources of protein/amino acids and carbs, respectively. The formulation also contains a natural source of vitamins and other minerals. Altogether, this diet will promote a healthy immune and digestive system in your cat. So your kitty should expect nothing less than strong bones, healthy skin and of course, shiny coat.
This ten pounds dry adult kibble is also grain-free and certified by the ANSI-ASQ National Accreditation Board. What’s more, the manufacturer put this one through nine different safety tests. So that you can rest knowing every bowl poured meets the highest safety and quality standards.
Instinct Grain Free Wet Canned Cat Food
One of the unique things about this Instinct Grain Free Wet Canned Cat Food is that it contains 95% of protein from wild salmon and pork liver only. You probably won’t get that from any other wet cat food out there with the limited ingredient promise. What’s more, the remaining 5% is composed of fruits, vegetables, and essential oils to ensure your cat gets only the best.
Furthermore, all ingredients are natural and have no artificial flavours, coloring or preservatives. So you can be more confident about your cat’s diet. Trust us, this formulation isn’t one of those put together in cheap labour markets. Every ingredient included from start until finish is on United States soil where there are strict safety protocols. This cat food is also suitable for cats with digestive disorders. So whether you’ve got a senior cat or kittens, Instinct Grain has got your back.
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I AND LOVE AND YOU Grain Free Canned Cat Food
The “I AND LOVE AND YOU” brand is one of the newbie hypoallergenic food makers in the market. Cat owners are all too psyched about the Oh My Cod! Pate flavor. If you’re kitty picky eater, it won’t resist this.
What’s more, this is a reliable grain-free cat food if your vet recommends that your cat stays away from beef and poultry. Codfish, its primary protein source, is rich in omega 3 and 6 for your cat’s skin and coat.
It’s also worth noting that there are various other flavors such as chicken, beef, for pets that are not allergic to them. Other ingredients in this recipe include cranberries and spinach, which are both an excellent replacement for grain. So relax. This recipe is genuinely grain-free. No doubt, the I AND LOVE AND YOU Grain Free Canned Cat Food is safe and worth trying for your allergic adult cats.
Halo Natural Dry Cat Food
Halo takes potential allergens off your cat’s menu by ensuring this dry cat food recipe is devoid of starchy fillers, a common source of pet allergens. The recipe is also devoid of genetically modified fruits, vegetables, and artificial preservatives. The all-natural dry food formulation is a seafood flavor containing natural whitefish, salmon, eggs, peas and essential vitamins plus minerals.
Digestibility is one of the end goals of this formulation. So Halo Natural Dry Cat Food is an excellent choice whether you have senior cat transitioning from the difficult-to-digest diet or kittens that are new to the game. All ingredients are premium-sourced and put together in the U.S.A.
Blue Buffalo Basics L.I. D Natural Adult Pate Wet Cat Food
If your kitty doesn’t drink water as often as it should, here’s another wet food option that might not be such a bad idea. Besides, some cats are not just fans of the crunchy kibbles, so you are in luck with this Blue Buffalo Basics L.I. D Natural Adult Pate Wet Cat Food.
It contains all the essentials your cat needs for a healthy life and everyday domestic adventure. This grain-free option comes with a single protein source, i.e., duck. This means that your kitty has a low chance of being exposed to allergy-containing meat or poultry by-product. It also contains potato, made into a texture your domestic feline will find easy to munch and digest.
All the ingredients here are of high-quality and enhanced with vitamins and essential minerals. Even more, there are no thickening agents or artificial sweeteners included. So, you can completely rest as you pour your cat new meals.
Hill’s Prescription Diet Hypoallergenic Feline Treats
Hill’s prescription knows your cats deserve treats. So they’ve put together this hydrolyzed chicken liver diet that allows your cat’s system to not only digest easily but also circumvent allergic reactions from non-hydrolyzed protein contents. The carbs here are rice and corn, so you might want to stay away from this one if your cat is allergic to corn. Besides that, Hill’s Prescription Diet Hypoallergenic Feline Treats is an excellent choice for your feline friend.
Purina Cat Chow Naturals Original Dry Cat Food.
Here’s another go-to dry cat food if you aim at an all-natural feeding plan for your pet devoid of potential allergens. Purina Cat Chow Naturals Original Dry Cat Food contains natural salmon and chicken, whole grain and leafy greens instead of peas. That’s good news for cats that may be allergic to peas and therefore, an excellent alternative to pea-containing cat foods.
The fibre blend in this dry food will help you cat control hairballs, thereby improving digestion. What’s more, you won’t find any artificial flavors, colors, sweeteners and preservatives in here. The manufacturer also caters for cats with unique food recommendations, and you don’t have to worry about the price.
Hypoallergenic Cat Food Buying Guide
Here are the things to look out for when you are out to purchase hypoallergenic cat foods
- Protein
It’s not uncommon for cats to be allergic to protein foods, so one of the things to look out for is cat foods that limit ingredients to single or at least very few protein sources. By-products combination is common with manufacturers, and they tend to contain allergic protein foods. Protein sources like white fish, duck, cod are good sources of protein in hypoallergenic foods.
- Limited ingredients
You might also want to pay attention to the labels when you want to make a purchase. Cat food with limited ingredient promise is an excellent way to go as they eliminate not only potential food allergens but also limit many other ingredients and preservatives. Limited ingredient diets are a good recommendation for pet owners who aren’t sure of the actual allergens their cat is sensitive to.
- Dry or Wet
Manufacturers make hypoallergenic cat foods in both dry and wet option. If your cat is picky and has digestive challenges, wet food might be a great option to promote digestion since it has more liquid.
Hypoallergenic Cat Foods FAQs
How do I know my cat is allergic?
Common allergic reactions in cats are vomiting, flatulence, frequent scratching, coughing, red skin, diarrhoea, etc. If you notice them after daily feeding, then it’s a pointer you need to visit your vet.
Is there a one type fit all hypoallergenic cat food
Allergens are usually specific to pets, so you might need a vet or proper personal monitoring to help narrow down the source of your cat’s allergies. While many hypoallergenic cat foods are devoid of usual allergens like corn, gluten, grain dairy, you also want to be sure the protein source, e.g. beef, chicken, isn’t your cat’s trigger.