Cats shed, that’s simply a fact of life. But, there’s a point where shedding is excessive, and this is where pet parents’ step in to ensure their furball is in good health. So, if you’re tired of dealing with hairballs, or trying to lint roll hair off your clothes, give these cat food options a shot! The best cat food for shedding shouldn’t just prevent shedding. It should promote your cat’s skin and coat health.
Things to consider
Why do cats shed? Well, just like us they are regrowing hair all the time. But issues with their diet, common allergens and stress can all cause cats to shed excessively. There’s no time to lose if you notice that your cat is losing hair!
Avoid Common Allergies
Currently, most pet food options are loaded with common cat allergens which can cause them serious discomfort. But, we don’t know any better because we’re relying on the same companies that have been making cat food for decades now.
When you’re looking for the best cat food for shedding you need to avoid these ingredients actively:
- Grains
- Corn
- Dairy products
- Preservatives
- Artificial colors and flavoring
These might seem like they don’t belong in cat food, except maybe milk, but it’s important to note that none of these items would be in a cat’s diet in the wild! Grains have become a staple in pet food, although neither cats nor dogs regularly eat wheat or corn.
Allergies are known to cause excess shedding because they’re creating underlying skin problems.
Avoid Meat By-Products
By-products, unlike meal, are made from the unwanted pieces of the animal which can include bone, hoof, and snout. Any “meal” product in a cat food will use the internal organs and lower grade meat, but by-product uses the unwanted parts with a protein adhesive to make something new. Like a chicken nugget. There isn’t a lot of information about what all goes into meat by-products because there’s no one looking out for our fur babies.
The issue with by-products is that the meat, or meat like material, is so over processed it’s hard for animals to digest. The processing also opens the product up to the opportunity for a lot of cross contamination. For instance, if 2 different types of cat food are made in the same facility and use the same by-product, a grain-free recipe could have grains or other allergens in the by-product.
Pet food companies have begun using by-product to hide a wide array of ingredients that concerned pet parents started avoiding.
Be sure to dodge meat by-products by looking for single source protein options or limited ingredient diets. These options hardly ever use by-products and most avoid using meal products also!
Off-Balanced Diet
A cat that regularly eats the only kibble has an off-balanced diet. Kibble is usually high in protein but low in fat and fiber. For many cats missing out on fatty acids, and quality fiber can cause serious damage to their skin and coat.
Finding a balance to your cat’s diet may take some time. But you can always start by looking at their current food and comparing it to the options listed here. When we pulled our top 5 cat foods for shedding, we looked for high-protein options that had a lot of omega-3 and 6 fatty acids.
Many pet parents avoid anything with high fat content, but anything too low in fat might be the reason behind excessive shedding. If your cat is overweight, you might need to be a little more specific with your food options to ensure that they don’t put on the extra weight while correcting the shedding problem. But, overall a cat’s diet should have a lot of protein, a moderate amount of fat and a little bit of fiber.
| Cat Food | Feature | Price | Our Rated | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Natural Balance LID Limited Ingredient | Adult, Dry Wet Food | $$ |  |
Buy From Chewy |
| 2. Go! Sensitivity and Shine Grain-Free | Adult, Wet Food | $$$ |  |
Buy From Chewy |
| 3. Addition Grain-Free | Adult, Dry Wet Food | $$$ | |
Buy From Chewy |
| 4. Iams ProActive Healthy Adult Salmon and Tuna | Adult, Dry Wet Food | $$ | |
Buy From Chewy |
| 5. Redbarn Naturals Lamb Pate | Adult, Wet Food | $$ | |
Buy From Chewy |
Top 5 Cat Food for Shedding
1. Natural Balance LID Limited Ingredient Diets Indoor Grain-Free Turkey and Chickpea Formula
[img_products3 img_number=”112683″ alt=”natural-balance-lid-limited” img_code=”V1507672626″ product_name=”https://www.chewy.com/natural-balance-lid-limited/dp/140007″ check=”Buy from Chewy”]- Dry cat food
- Balanced omega-3 and 6 fatty acids
- Prebiotic fiber
Natural Balance provides a wide range of options for cats that need a little help with their diet. They only use limited ingredients to help ensure that you’re not unknowingly giving your cat something that could cause further problems.
This recipe is grain-free and uses ingredients like turkey and chickpea to create a balance between protein and fats.
We love that this is a reasonable solution that uses lean proteins to prevent excess weight gain during coat and skin repair. Not to mention the limited ingredients will help cut out unnecessary sugars and carb fillers as well!
There’s nothing to dislike about this formula. The recipe avoids all the major allergens, provides a healthy mix of fats, proteins, and fiber with wholesome ingredients.
Overall, the only thing that we could ask for with this recipe is a wet cat food option, but we’ll happily take this Natural Balance dry cat food! The recipe reinforces a balanced diet, the fats and fiber will help with shedding, and it’s high in protein.
What’s even better about this formula is that it’s meant for indoor cats which are often the ones who experience unnecessary shedding. The real turkey and chickpeas will help indoor cats regulate their digestive system as well. Because they’re indoors typically inside cats are lower energy and more likely to suffer from digestive issues too.
2. Go! Sensitivity and Shine Grain-Free Duck Pate
[img_products3 img_number=”63572″ alt=”go-sensitivity-shine-grain-free-duck” img_code=”V1475247241″ product_name=”https://www.chewy.com/go-sensitivity-shine-grain-free-duck/dp/48539″ check=”Buy from Chewy”]- 5-oz Cans
- Single source protein
- Grain-free
Go! Has many outstanding recipes and this one is specifically for coat and skin health? Not only will it help reduce shedding, and relieve the pain from skin sensitivities, it will boost the shine in your cat’s coat as well.
With only duck, and turkey liver as the primary proteins they are both single sourced. But the balance of sweet potatoes, carrots, and apples make it a great way for cats to get the balance of fats and fiber that they need.
As a wet cat food, the best part of this recipe is the moisture! Cats that eat kibble can become dehydrated which can lead to many skin issues. Skin issues lead to shedding, so combating the dehydration is targeting the underlying problem!
We don’t like that this formula only has a crude fiber concentration of 1% which isn’t enough for many cats to process hairballs or other hard to digest proteins. This lack of balance in any cat food diet can make it difficult to overcome skin conditions that lead to excess shedding.
If you’re looking for cat food that will help reduce shedding without the risk of weight gain from extra fats, this recipe is a top choice! The vitamin E supplements present here are a great way to get a one-up on ongoing skin conditions.
Finally, Go! Sensitivity and Shine ended up on our top 5 because of the grain-free formula. They also avoid by-products and don’t have any artificial preservatives or flavors. Go! Stands by their values and only produces top-quality cat food that will address your cats’ specific needs.
3. Addition Grain-Free Duck Royale Dry Cat Food
[img_products3 img_number=”112845″ alt=”addiction-grain-free-duck-royale-dry” img_code=”V1487771882″ product_name=”https://www.chewy.com/addiction-grain-free-duck-royale-dry/dp/140165″ check=”Buy from Chewy”]- Cage-free duck as the first ingredient
- Easy crunch kibble
This recipe uses duck salmon and peas as the foundation for high-protein dry cat food. The recipe also includes flaxseed, cranberries and various oils. The oils and fats will help stir up your cat’s ability to manage their skin and coat health.
Addiction is a top-tier cat food that only uses human-grade food and supplements in their food. As part of their system for developing formulas, they rely on alternative proteins and fiber options such as duck or cranberry.
We love the high fiber content. A lot of time dry food is lacking in fiber which is a necessary part of the balancing act in every cat’s diet. In the wild cats wouldn’t regularly intake a lot of fruits or vegetables, so Addiction has given up the attempt of using sweet potatoes or pumpkin to up the fiber and focus on seeds and berries instead.
If your cat is overweight or you know that they’re an overeater, they will certainly gain weight on this formula. The 16% fat content is very high and will result in a few extra ounces or even pounds.
Addiction is a well-known pet food company in New Zealand, and they’ve been making waves in the American pet market as well. They know how to select the best ingredients and balance them together for prime levels of nutrient density!
But, you do need to exercise caution with the fat content because it is so easy for cats to start to put on the extra ounces. If you know that your cat is overweight, you might want to avoid this food altogether because they won’t be able to lose weight while they’re eating this formula.
4. Iams ProActive Healthy Adult Salmon and Tuna Dry Cat Food
[img_products3 img_number=”148006″ alt=”iams-proactive-health-healthy-adult” img_code=”V1525966942″ product_name=”https://www.chewy.com/iams-proactive-health-healthy-adult/dp/174838″ check=”Buy from Chewy”]- New formula
- High-protein
- Lots of Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids
Iams outdoes themselves with this recipe. Although it’s not as premium as the other products on this list, it’s a great way to help your cat get their shedding under control. Iams knows how to work with a wide variety of ingredients to support a balanced diet.
We like that they use such a wide array of ingredients to achieve a well-rounded diet. The balance is unique and outstanding even though if they go outside the concept of limited ingredients.
While Iams offers a lot of alternative ideas to how they build a balanced formula, the one ingredient we can’t get past is the chicken by-product.
As we mentioned before the chicken by-product is a great way for companies to hide a variety of unknown ingredients into their recipes. Although Iams has an outstanding record for being transparent with their ingredients lists, the by-product is a big risk if you think your cat might have allergies.
When it comes to handling shedding and skin problems for cat’s that don’t have allergies, the Iams ProActive Healthy adult is a great solution. The new formula uses salmon to provide a wide array of fatty acids, and oils to help your cat’s coat.
5. Redbarn Naturals Lamb Pate Skin and Coat Grain-Free Canned Food
[img_products4 img_number=”93021.” alt=”redbarn-naturals-lamb-pate-skin-coat” img_code=”V1446757587″ product_name=”https://www.chewy.com/redbarn-naturals-lamb-pate-skin-coat/dp/120647″ check=”Buy from Chewy”]- 5-oz Cans
- Lamb first ingredient
- Alternative proteins
The high-quality lamb is a great way to help your cat slow down their shedding. This alternative protein is easier to digest than beef or chicken. The protein and a blend of vegetables are blended to form a flavorful paste that cats are loving.
On top of the lamb, the additional proteins include green-lipped mussels and salmon that will help your cat recover from skin problems that lead to shedding. On top of these little protein extras, we love that there aren’t any artificial colors or preservatives!
There’s nothing to dislike about this formula. But, some pet owners aren’t too happy with Redbarn’s prices. Although you’re getting 24 cans for this price, a full-growth cat might eat up to 2 cans per day.
If Redbarn is in your budget, you should give it a try! The unique protein options and grain-free recipe are a great way to rebalance your cat’s diet. The protein options are full of healthy fats and oils that will keep your cat’s skin and coat in peak condition.
Redbarn deserves a spot among these other premium brand options for the best cat food for shedding. Switch to Redbarn and watch your cat get the skin relief they’ve been craving.
Conclusion
The best cat food for shedding is the Natural Balance LID Limited Ingredient Diets Indoor Cat Turkey and Chickpea Recipe. This formula focuses on delivering high-quality ingredients and avoiding all major cat allergens. The first ingredient is turkey, followed up with turkey meal, peas, and potatoes. The 8% fat and 8% fiber is a great balance for any cat!
The Natural Balance LID Limited Ingredient Diets Indoor Cat Turkey and Chickpea Recipe doesn’t have any by-products in their formula. Additionally, this recipe amplifies skin and coat health with essential fatty acids such as Omega 3 and Omega 6, and vitamin E. This kibble will help get your cat back on track!