Finding the best cat food for your cat can be daunting and there is much to consider. Just like humans, some cats should not be eating grains. Cats would not be consuming grains in the wild, which should suggest that grains could be detrimental to their health.

Cats like meat and that is final. When was the last time your kitty tried to steal some of your green beans almondine? Cat foods that are free of grains are more like their natural diet.

Many people are allergic to grains and cats are no different. Cat foods that contain various grains may be difficult for your cat to digest. Allergic reactions to grains can include skin problems, vomiting, diarrhea and weight loss.

If your cat has been diagnosed with diabetes, you should avoid cat foods with grains. Carbohydrates are not good for the diabetic cat and regular cat foods contain high amounts of carbohydrate laden grains.

Many cat owners prefer to feed their cat wet food only and there are some highly rated grain free wet foods. There are different view points on wet v. dry food. Some say that you should only feed wet food while others say a combination of wet and dry is fine. The major issue is that you make sure to keep your cat hydrated for continued urinary tract health.

A diet that is exclusively dry foods can develop kidney and urinary tract issues. The low protein and high grain content of commercial cat food can cause dehydration which can lead to kidney and urinary tract diseases.

Once you have decided that cat food without grains is a healthier choice, the next step is finding the substitute. There are quite a few grain free cat foods on the market but we want the best for our beautiful felines.

When looking for the best grain free cat food there are a few things to look for. The ingredients should list meat proteins as the first ingredient, preferably the first three ingredients. Your cat also need fatty acids, amino acids, vitamins and minerals in their food to stay healthy. Avoid cat foods that list corn, wheat, barley, beet pulp, and brewer’s rice. These are nothing but fillers and offer little nutritional value.

I have gone to several sources to find various reviews for the best dry cat food and the best wet cat food that is grain free.

The first reviews I checked were for the best grain free cat food in dry form. It appears that the same brand names keep coming up as the best dry cat food.

Wellness CORE Grain-Free Dry Cat Food was on most of the top choice lists. The Wellness CORE line has several options that are grain free, including an indoor formula. The line includes turkey, chicken, fish and duck.

The CORE line of dry cat foods does not list either by-products or fillers. While there is no guarantee for all cats, the list of ingredients does not include ingredients that commonly cause food allergies. The only negative was that the food tastes so good that some cats gained weight.

Orijen Cat and Kitten was considered one of the best on all the reviews that I consulted. Orijen’s ingredients met all the standards for healthy grain free dry food. This company use locally grown vegetables and meat and no grains. Orijen was one of the highest in meat percentage at 90% with the other 10% dedicated to fruits, vegetables, and some botanicals.

The next brand that was considered one of the best is Feline Natural Freeze Dried food. This high quality grain free food offers three formulas. There is beef and Hoki, Chicken and lamb and lamb and salmon. There are no by-products or any other fillers listed in the ingredients. The one warning that is noted, however, is that the food contains some lamb organ meats that may be an allergen for some cats.

In general, grain free cat food tends to be on the expensive side. Of course we all want what is best for our kitties, but some of us do have budget restraints. Taste of the Wild dry food may be the answer to this problem. Taste of the Wild Rocky Mountain Feline Formula is still grain-free, but more affordable than many of the other top rated. The main ingredient is chicken meal, along with vegetables, fruits, nutritious supplements and even contain probiotics. While chicken meal may sound a little questionable, it is still considered a good source of protein.

Wild Rocky Mountain Feline Formula has two flavors available; trout and smoked salmon or roasted venison and smoked salmon. The only drawback to this brand is that it contains potatoes and pea protein. These ingredients are not harmful but they do add some extra carbohydrates.

Some of the previously reviewed dry foods also make a wet grain free food. Both Wellness and Feline Natural make grain free wet foods. Both brands are considered to be among the best wet cat food. There are, however, some other brands that deserve consideration.

Tiki Cat has gotten excellent reviews and has an extensive list of products. All of their wet cat foods are considered an excellent source of protein without the added grains and fillers. With a name like Tiki Cat Puka Puka Luau Succulent Chicken, how could you go wrong? In this formula, chicken is the primary ingredient and does not contain any by-products.

Another brand that has received above average reviews is the Instinct line of wet cat food without grains. This food is made by Nature’s Variety and offers duck, rabbit, chicken, turkey and fish formulas. Most varieties contain more protein than average and a lot less carbohydrates than many other brands.

I would be remiss if I didn’t address the special needs for older cats. It is important to find the best cat food for older cats that may have dental, weight or medical conditions. When deciding between dry or wet foods you need to look at your cat’s individual needs. Dental issues may eliminate the dry food option. Cats with renal issues or are overweight have a different set of needs.

The Nutro brand has a line of wet foods for senior cats and received good reviews. You have the choice of chicken, cod, tuna and salmon formulas. All the senior plan foods are higher than average in protein and have a very low carbohydrate content.

There are quite a few dry foods for seniors, but it was difficult to find dry grain free foods for senior cats.

One grain free dry food was Wellness Grain Free Adult. It met good nutritional standards and offers a turkey, pork and duck formula that does not contain any potential allergens.

Nutro Wholesome Essentials Indoor Senior is a line of dry food for seniors with above average amount of protein, but they are not grain free and are higher in carbohydrates.