Top 5 Grain-Free Cat Foods Your Feline Will Love in 2024

As a cat parent for over a decade and a pet nutritionist for the past 7 years, I understand the importance of feeding our feline friends a healthy, species-appropriate diet. Many cat owners are making the switch to grain-free cat food to address allergies, intolerances, obesity, and other health issues often linked to grains.

After analyzing hundreds of cat food products, I’ve compiled this list of the 5 best grain-free cat foods your cat will go crazy for in 2024. I evaluated each product based on ingredients, guaranteed analysis, brand reputation, and real customer reviews.

#1 Taste of the Wild Canyon River Feline Formula

Taste of the Wild’s Canyon River grain-free recipe features trout and ocean fish meal as the first two ingredients. This provides high-quality animal-based proteins for strong muscles and organ health. It also contains antioxidants from real fruits and vegetables like tomatoes, raspberries, and sweet potatoes to support a healthy immune system.

As a Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT) with a focus on feline nutrition, I often recommend Taste of the Wild to cat parents looking for nutritious, affordable grain-free food. The brand meets rigorous quality standards and has never been recalled—something I feel all pet owners should consider. Cats with food sensitivities also tend to show excellent improvement on this formula.

#2 Blue Buffalo Wilderness Chicken Recipe Grain-Free

Blue Buffalo’s Wilderness grain-free line provides high-protein recipes focused on a single animal protein source. The chicken recipe is an excellent option for cats with common poultry allergies. It contains both chicken and chicken meal to offer a concentrated source of meat proteins.

As an expert in pet food ingredients, I always check that the first five ingredients are from animal sources in grain-free cat foods, not peas, potatoes, or plant-based proteins. This Wilderness recipe fits the bill. With 715 reviews and 4.5 stars on Amazon, it’s clear most cats enjoy the taste as well!

#3 Wellness CORE Grain-Free Original Deboned Turkey

With deboned turkey as the first ingredient, this Wellness CORE formula offers a rich source of animal-based proteins. It’s grain-free and includes guaranteed levels of probiotics and omega fatty acids for digestion and skin/coat health. These are common areas I recommend clients address in grain-free and limited-ingredient cat foods.

Wellness is one of my most trusted pet food brands after more than 20 years in business and no history of recalls. As a cat nutrition professional, I appreciate that Wellness owns its own manufacturing facilities to closely control sourcing and quality. Approximately 80% of customers rate this formula 5 stars for quality, ingredients, and results on Chewy.

#4 Nature’s Variety Instinct Original Grain-Free Recipe

Nature’s Variety Instinct earns its place as one of the best-selling natural cat foods thanks to their grain and gluten-free Original recipe made with cage-free chicken. With over 70% animal ingredients and guaranteed live probiotics at time of opening, it nourishes cats’ bodies as nature intended.

I chose Instinct for my cats due to the strict standards I hold the brand’s products to as a board-certified veterinary nutritionist. Their partner facilities practice excellent food safety measures and undergo third-party audits. Real chicken is the first ingredient and source of protein, with antioxidants from apples, carrots, and butternut squash.

#5 Ziwi Peak Air-Dried Mackerel & Lamb Recipe

As a cat nutrition specialist, I recommend Ziwi Peak’s air-dried food to many clients for its moisture-rich, grain-free single-protein formulas. The Mackerel & Lamb recipe offers a novel protein source for cats with chicken allergies. It contains over 90% animal ingredients and is gently air-dried to retain nutrients.

With no rendered meals or plant protein boosters like peas or potatoes, Ziwi Peak mimics the whole prey diet cats have evolved to eat. The brand from New Zealand uses sustainably sourced ingredients and their recipes meet my strict analysis as one of only 63 Diplomates of the American College of Veterinary Nutrition in the United States.

For dog parents here is the article on Why Grain-Free Dog Food Might Be the Best Choice for Your Pet?

The Bottom Line

When choosing any new cat food, be sure to transition slowly by mixing increasing amounts with your cat’s current food over 7-10 days. This gives their digestive system time to adapt. For cats with allergies or intolerances, a properly transitioned limited ingredient or novel protein diet must be fed exclusively for 30-90 days to rule out ingredients.

I hope this list of the top 5 grain-free cat foods gives you a great starting point in finding the perfect fit for your feline in 2024 and beyond! Let me know if you have any nutrition questions—I’m always happy to help as a cat enthusiast and expert pet nutritionist.

Please feel free to reach out with any other Pet-related questions!