Exploring Hypoallergenic Cat Food: Feed the Love

Last Updated: 4 months ago

Looking for the best hypoallergenic cat food for allergies?

While you should always talk to your vet first before trying a new food, we have some great recommendations for you!

We’ve included both wet canned food and dry kibble below, so you can pick the one your cat prefers.

Let’s take a look!

Why hypoallergenic cat food?

The answer to that is fairly obvious, right? You need hypoallergenic cat food if your cat has sensitivities to certain ingredients. 

We usually hear more about dogs developing food allergies, but it can absolutely happen to cats, too. 

According to Dr. Catherine Barnette of VCA, the most common foods that cause allergies in cats include beef, fish, dairy products, and chicken. 

Now, that doesn’t mean that if your cat is allergic to, say, beef, he’ll also be allergic to fish. 

So, vets often recommend a food trial diet to find out what’s causing the problem. 

What is a food trial diet?

Basically, your vet puts your cat on a very strict diet consisting of ONE protein that your cat hasn’t eaten in the past. 

If your cat’s symptoms go away on that diet, you know that food was the culprit. 

You’ll slowly reintroduce her old foods back into her meal plan, one at a time, until kitty reacts again. 

It takes time and patience, but once you find out what your cat is allergic to, you’ll be able to avoid it in the future. 

Again, your vet should help you with all of this. Don’t try to do it on your own. 

Once you do know what kitty has an issue with, you can use that information to buy her hypoallergenic cat food.

Benefits of Hypoallergenic Cat Food

Hypoallergenic cat food offers several benefits for cats with food allergies or sensitivities. Here are the key benefits and explanations for each:

1. Reduced Allergic Reactions: Hypoallergenic cat food is formulated to contain fewer common allergens, such as specific proteins or grains. This can help reduce allergic reactions in cats, including skin issues, gastrointestinal problems, and respiratory symptoms.
2. Improved Digestion: Many hypoallergenic cat foods feature highly digestible ingredients, making it easier for cats with sensitive stomachs to absorb nutrients and reduce digestive discomfort.
3. Healthy Skin and Coat: By minimizing allergens and incorporating high-quality, hypoallergenic ingredients, these foods can promote healthier skin and a shinier coat in cats prone to skin issues caused by allergies.
4. Stable Weight and Energy Levels: Hypoallergenic cat food helps maintain consistent energy levels and can assist in managing your cat’s weight. This is especially important for cats with food sensitivities that might experience fluctuations in appetite and energy.
5. Balanced Nutrition: These specialized diets are often formulated to provide a well-balanced and complete nutrition profile, ensuring your cat receives all the essential nutrients they need for optimal health.
6. Reduced GI Distress: Cats with food sensitivities may experience gastrointestinal distress, including vomiting and diarrhea. Hypoallergenic cat food aims to reduce these issues, promoting better digestive health.
7. Management of Chronic Conditions: For cats with chronic conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) or food allergies, hypoallergenic cat food can be a crucial part of their treatment plan, helping to manage and alleviate symptoms.
8. Prevention of Future Allergies: Feeding hypoallergenic cat food to cats prone to allergies can help prevent future allergic reactions by avoiding the problematic ingredients and allergens commonly found in regular cat food.
9. Support for All Life Stages: Many hypoallergenic cat foods are suitable for cats of all life stages, from kittens to seniors, ensuring consistent dietary support for your pet throughout their life.
10. Veterinary Guidance: Hypoallergenic cat food is often recommended and prescribed by veterinarians, meaning you have professional guidance in selecting the right diet for your cat’s specific needs.

Remember, it’s essential to consult with your veterinarian before making significant dietary changes for your cat, as they can provide specific recommendations and guidance tailored to your cat’s unique health requirements.

Best Hypoallergenic Cat Food for Kitties with Allergies

Cat foods typically have more vitamins and nutrients added to them than, say, a comparable limited-ingredient dog food.

So while you should definitely pay attention to all of the ingredients, really focus on the first few.

That’s where you’ll find the bulk of the food, including what type of protein it uses. Got it? Good! Let’s get started!

1. Natural Balance Wet Cat Food

The Natural Balance L.I. food is one of the best if you need special and delicious food for your feline.

It’s made out of carefully chosen ingredients, and it doesn’t contain any kinds of grains, colorants, or artificial flavors.

Features

This cat food was specially made for those cats that are prone to developing allergies, and because it’s canned, it also helps them meet their hydration requirements.

Duck is a fantastic novel ingredient (meaning it’s not in every cat food, so your kitty isn’t overexposed to it).

Benefits

Perfect for allergic cats, it is grain-free and a great source of vitamins and minerals.

Drawbacks

Some cats may not like the taste of it.

While it is one of the best hypoallergenic cat foods, some of the felines are not very happy with the taste of it.

Recommendation

This is a great canned food for any cat with allergies, but buy just a couple of cans at first until you know your cat likes it.

2. Natural Balance Dry Cat Food

If a cat prefers kibble, this is the best quality dry cat food that will keep your feline happy and away from allergies.

It’s made out of quality ingredients, and you can be sure that it provides her with all the needed nutrients.

Features

Natural Balance’s cat kibble was designed to come and help those cats who need delicious food served in a safe formula.

It’s made out of salmon and green pea, and it’s suitable for cats of all ages.

Benefits

Suitable for all ages, few ingredients, source of vitamins and minerals

Drawbacks

Some cats don’t enjoy the green peas.

Recommendation

This is an overall great product, and suitable for cats of all ages.

What you need to keep in mind, is the fact that not all the cats like it.

Unfortunately, this food is not sold in very small bags, a common complaint among customers with cats who didn’t like it.

3. Instinct Dry Cat Food

Instinct’s Limited Ingredient Dry cat food is one of the best choices in order to keep your cat healthy and happy.

It only includes one animal protein and one vegetable ingredient in order to keep the allergen levels low.

Features

Containing only one type of protein, and no grains, soy, colorants, or artificial flavors, this may just be the perfect food for your cat.

Instinct made sure to add omegas and antioxidants in the formula, in order to keep your cat’s coat healthy and shiny too!

Benefits

Rich in omegas and antioxidants, only one protein, no grains added.

Drawbacks

Again, some cats simply don’t like it.

Recommendation

This cat food, aside from being hypoallergenic, also has nutrients to help your cat’s coat.

However, some cats simply don’t like this formula. What can I say, cats are finicky!

This is a great food for cats with food allergies, and the raw bites are a huge hit!

Sometimes, though, they’re so much of a hit that your cat will end up picking them out first and leaving the rest of the food behind.

4. GO! SOLUTIONS Grain Free Cat Food

Go!’s formula for sensitive cats may just be what your cat needs. It only contains six main ingredients, and also has prebiotic fibers in order to aid the feline’s digestion.

Features

This food doesn’t contain any grains or soy, in order to keep your feline away from any allergies. and one of the main ingredients is de-boned duck, which is a favorite for them.

Thanks to the prebiotic fibers in it, your cat’s digestion will improve, while the omega oils will assure her coat stays beautiful and fluffy!

Benefits

Grain-free formula, contains prebiotic fibers, contains omega oils.

Drawbacks

Not all cats like this formula.

Recommendation

If your cat likes this formula, then you should definitely keep it close, as it’s got everything a feline needs for good development.

This is very good food for cats with allergies, but since it contains eggs, it may not be suitable for all the cats.

You should have a talk with your veterinarian and figure what your cat is allergic to.

5. Stella & Chewy’s Freeze-Dried Cat Food

There’s something very special about Stella & Chewy’s Duck Duck Goose cat food.

Aside from being made from natural ingredients, those ingredients are actually freeze-dried when raw.

Your cat can eat it as it is, or you can add some water over it in order to give it a different consistency.

Features

This cat food is made out of duck, goose, and organic-certified fruits and vegetables.

Besides, it doesn’t contain any kinds of grains, fillers, artificial flavors, or colorants.

The formula was designed for adult cats only, and it provides them with a full meal.

Benefits

Made out of natural ingredients, grain-free, multiple serving options, aids digestion.

Drawbacks

Not suitable for kittens.

Recommendation

This is one of the best out there, and it also helps your cat’s digestion. Make sure you don’t buy it for your kitten though.

This is one of the best hypoallergenic cat food options, but if you want to serve it as wet food, make sure that you don’t add boiling water over it, as it’s not supposed to be cooked.

By the way, if you want to add raw to your cat’s diet as a topper instead of his main food.

6. Cedar Crate Market Wet Canned Cat Food

Cedar Crate Market’s limited ingredient diet formula is one of the best options if you have more than one cat.

It’s made limited ingredients, doesn’t have any grains, and it’s suitable for all life stages.

Features

This is a grain-free recipe, and the main ingredient of it is protein-rich chicken.

The formula contains vitamins, minerals, and taurine, as well as antioxidants and omega-3 acids in order to keep your cat healthy and happy all the time.

The best part is that it comes in 5oz cans, meaning that every meal will be fresh!

Benefits

Grain-free, source of vitamins and minerals, suitable for all life stages.

Drawbacks

Some cats simply don’t like it, chicken is a common allergen.

Recommendation

This is a great hypoallergenic food for any cat, but some of the felines don’t really like it.

Merrick’s hypoallergenic formula is great overall, but only after you’ve ruled out a chicken allergy.

7. I and love and you Dry Cat Food

I Love You And You came up with an amazing formula for hypoallergenic cat food.

It’s made out of salmon and sweet potatoes, and it’s suitable for all life stages, from kittens to senior cats.

Features

This is one of the cat food formulas that don’t contain chicken or beef at all.

Instead, the main ingredients are fish and peas, along with other nutrients.

It’s grain-free, and it has a lot of vitamins and minerals, as well as prebiotics and probiotics in order to aid your cat’s digestion.

Benefits

Grain-free formula, contains prebiotics and probiotics, suitable for all life stages, NO chicken or beef.

Drawbacks

Won’t please all the felines, VERY fishy smell.

Recommendation

Even though this is not going to be every cat’s favorite, it’s still one of the best grain-free cat foods.

Just make sure your cat really loves fish, and that you don’t mind the overwhelming aroma.

We love that this is one of the few cat foods that contain absolutely no chicken or beef.

You’re be surprised how many brands throw in a bit of chicken to round things out and act as a filler.

As always, make sure your vet has eliminated fish from your cat’s “do not eat” list.

8. Blue Buffalo Wet Cat Food

Blue Buffalo’s Basic Limited Ingredients formula has multiple benefits for your cat.

Besides only having one type of animal protein, the canned food also has vegetables to aid digestion, as well as omega acids to promote healthy skin and fur.

Features

Only containing duck as an animal protein source, can be the perfect food for cats with multiple allergies.

It’s only suitable for adult cats, but it has a delicious texture and doesn’t contain any grains.

Benefits

Grain-free, only one animal protein type, contains omega acids.

Drawbacks

Not suitable for kittens or senior cats.

Recommendation

Even though this is not suitable for kittens, it’s an amazing formula to keep your adult cat healthy!

This is a great product, but it’s a bit pricey. So, you may want to buy single cans from a local pet store first to make sure your kitty actually likes it.

9. I and love and you Canned Wet Cat Food

I Love You And You’s Rabbit formula is absolutely amazing.

It’s got no grains or gluten, it’s perfect for cats of all ages, and it also contains fruits and vegetables to build the full package.

Features

This formula is great for any cats with multiple allergies, as it only contains rabbit, beef broth and liver, spinach, sweet potatoes, and carrots.

Any cat can eat it, regardless of age, and thanks to the antioxidants and omega acids, your cat’s fur will look incredible.

Benefits

Grain-free, gluten-free, suitable for all life stages, contains vitamins and minerals.

Drawbacks

Contains beef.

Recommendation

While rabbit is a great novel ingredient for cats with allergies, beef broth and liver could be problematic for some cats with allergies.

While I wish they offered this without quite so much beef (or better yet, no beef), customers do really love this food.

Some even say their cats prefer it over kibble, so it could be a great way to feed your very picky cat.

Again, I have to stress, talk to your vet to make sure beef isn’t a problem.

10. Halo Holistic Dry Cat Food

Halo’s sensitive stomach formula was specially designed to promote healthy digestion while providing adult cats with a full meal.

It doesn’t contain any artificial ingredients, and it can improve the look of your cat’s coat.

Features

This cat food is made with non-GMO fruits and vegetables, such as cranberries, sweet potatoes, carrots, and cranberries.

All this for the formula to provide your cat with the needed vitamins and minerals.

Besides that, it has the Proprietary DreamCoat added, so your cat’s coat will look incredible.

Benefits

Formula for easy digestion, source of vitamins, and minerals.

Drawbacks

Not suitable for kittens, contains grains.

Recommendation

This is an amazing cat food that will provide your cat with all the needed vitamins and minerals. However, it’s not grain-free.

The Halo formula is great when it comes to sensitive tummies, but it does contain grains.

Final Word

Hypoallergenic cat food has emerged as a vital solution for cat owners seeking to address their feline friends’ allergies and sensitivities.

By eliminating common allergens and offering highly digestible, nutritionally balanced options, these specialized diets have the power to transform the lives of both cats and their owners.

Remember to consult with your veterinarian to determine the right dietary plan for your cat’s specific needs, and enjoy the journey to a healthier, allergy-free life for your feline companion.

Last update on 2024-04-10 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API