People makeup allergies when they want to feel better about their diet or suffer allergies so severe they can never set foot in another Dairy Queen. Cats can’t tell other people about an allergy, and they can’t avoid their allergies either. It’s terrible for cats that have allergies but fortunately, there is a lot more than we can do for cats now and it all comes down to diet.
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The key to finding a great hypoallergenic cat food is knowing what allergies your cat has, and what they can get away with eating. You may not want to subject your cat to the equivalent of a scratch test, although no doubt they’ve given it to you, you might need to visit your vet if their allergies are extraordinarily severe.
Addressing the Most Common Cat Allergies
The number of common cat food allergies is unbelievable, but we’re going to win you over here. When you’re done with this section, you’ll see that every cat food option has some cat allergen in the ingredients list.
Common food allergies for cats include:
- Artificial coloring
- Corn products
- Dairy
- “By-product”
- Seafood
- BHA and BHT preservatives
- Wheat products
The allergies listed above generally share a common theme… cats wouldn’t encounter these in the wild! Aside from seafood, which has trouble with everyone, none of these would be readily available to a cat as a staple in their diet. Diary is the one that surprises cat owners the most, but dairy is hard to process, and lactose is a very common allergy.
You should avoid anything that lists dairy products, including dried or dehydrated milk, and any grain. If you know that your cat has allergies, you’ll need to avoid seafood flavors as well.
Wet, Dry, or Raw?
The question of what form of food is best for your cat has been long debated. It’s not as simple as saying that wet or dry food is the best. It’s also unfair to say that raw cat food is the best when it’s not affordable in most households.
But, dry food may come into more frequent contact of allergens compared to wet or raw foods. This is because the dry food is processed in large batches. These batches come from huge facilities that make it impossible to ensure that they don’t have contact with the dust from other proteins or grains.
Wet food, however, has to go through different processes which are normally done in smaller batches. Smaller batches mean that there is a lesser likelihood that the food could become contaminated with allergens that are present in other cat food products made in the same factory.
Making Your Cat Comfortable
Believe it or not, there are ingredients in your cat’s food that can make their allergies more comfortable even if you haven’t found anything that is completely hypoallergenic. The benefits that come from Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids as well as Vitamin E and many of the Vitamin Bs can help soothe your cat’s skin.
Many cats that experience allergies have serious skin problems. But we don’t notice because of all their fur. Instead, it just looks like they want attention because they’re rubbing up against the couch. Or, you might even think it’s cute that they are rolling in the grass. These are all signs of skin irritation caused by fleas or food allergies.
Look for fish based options or choices that have added Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids. For Vitamins B and E, you should look to flaxseed, carrots and even sweet potatoes!
Limited Ingredients
The ideal hypoallergenic cat food will have limited ingredients and focus on working with only a handful of natural or whole ingredients. You still want a balance of protein, and fiber-rich vegetables or fruits. That means you should carefully read through ingredients lists before purchasing anything!
| Cat Food | Lifestage | Price | Our Rated | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. FirstMate Chicken Meal | Adult | $ |  |
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| 2. Crave Adult Dry Cat Food With Protein From Turkey | Adult | $ | |
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| 3. Avoderm Natural Grain Free Chicken | Adult | $$$ |  |
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| 4. Wellness Healthy Indulgence Natural Grain Free | Adult | $$ | |
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| 5. Tiny Tiger Turkey and Giblets Recipe Grain-Free Pate | Adult | $$$ |  |
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Top 5 Hypoallergenic Cat Foods
1. FirstMate Chicken Meal with Blueberries Formula Limited Ingredient Diet Grain-Free Dry Cat Food
[img_products img_code=”51-I1MRkrOL” alt=”FirstMate Chicken Meal with Blueberries Formula Limited Ingredient Diet Grain-Free Dry Cat Food” code=”B016M3I2YE” reviews=”View on Amazon”]- Limited Ingredient
- Dry Food
- Single Source Protein
With FirstMate you don’t have to worry about cat allergies too much. The ingredients list has everything from yeast extract for prebiotics to chicken meal. The chicken meal does go through some processing, but it shouldn’t be so extensive when compared to the meat by-product ingredients you can find in many other dry foods.
This dry food is a hard crunch kibble, with potato and blueberries as the supporting elements in the recipe.
We loved that they kept their protein and vegetables so straightforward. The chicken meal and chicken fat work to provide 36% protein in the mixture, and the vegetables offer a rich blend of fiber and vitamins.
The only real downside of this cat food is that it’s dry. Dry food may run into powder or dust from other recipes as they use the same machines. The machines that process these large batches are not cleaned between the different formulas regularly. Although this level of concern doesn’t expose cases of cross-contamination often, it’s a worry that some pet owners have.
Overall, FirstMate is a top rate option for any cat with allergies. As a hypoallergenic recipe, you’ll find limited ingredients and a single source protein that accounts for a formula with high fiber and protein.
There is also the presence of Vitamin E which is known to help cats cope with the skin irritation that comes with the food allergy issue. However, it would be nice to see an additional boost of Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids that can make a huge difference in skin care.
2. Crave Turkey, Chicken, and Duck Grain-Free Dry Cat Food
[img_products img_code=”81EWyHSCXDL” alt=”Crave Adult Dry Cat Food With Protein From Turkey” code=”B07C27R71V” reviews=”View on Amazon”]- Grain-free
- Blend of proteins and vegetables
Crave is becoming a well-known name among pet owners that deal with managing restricted diets. Whether the cat is overweight, has a sensitive stomach or even food allergies Crave delivers well with this recipe which is no surprise!
They use simple ingredients, boosted vitamins and nutrients to help your cat bear through their allergies. Turkey, chicken, and duck are all proteins that aren’t likely allergens. They also avoid all grains and opt for a boost of nutrients and vitamins.
The outstanding combination of protein is what makes Crave’s turkey chicken and duck grain-free dry cat food stand out from the rest. Aside from the turkey, chicken, and duck they recipe also includes pea protein and potato protein. Both of these help boost the fiber substantially!
Unfortunately, in Crave’s effort to achieve a 40% crude protein recipe they’ve turned to fish and salmon meal. The meal products are known to set off some allergies, and fish will set off some allergies as well. But, it’s worth noting that fish allergies and allergies set off by fish meal are far less likely than grain or corn allergies.
Although the use of fish and salmon meal isn’t ideal, this is a great formula for any cat with a grain or dairy allergies. There are other recipe’s available with similar ingredients, but they all contain the fish and salmon meal.
The boost of vitamins and nutrients will help with the skin issues from allergies. The kibble is easy to crunch and great for any adult cat. For senior cats with allergies, a pet owner can make the kibble easier to chew by mixing the kibble with water or broth and heating slightly.
3. Avoderm Natural Grain-Free Chicken and Duck Recipe in Gravy
[img_products img_code=”61h+ZG-FB0L” alt=”Avoderm Natural Grain Free Chicken & Duck Recipe In Gravy Pouch Wet Cat Food” code=”B00LJN915M” reviews=”View on Amazon”]- Grain-free
- No corn or soy
The nutrition that any adult or senior cat needs without any common cat allergens. The chicken and chicken broth base are known to be a vitamin-rich boost over the meal or filtered water. AvoDerm does well with using top tier ingredients from the start.
We enjoyed that there was an excellent, hypoallergenic wet cat food option. The high moisture in the recipe will help with their coat, and the supplements of Vitamin E will aid in relieving itchy skin while they recover from their previous diet.
There’s virtually no downside to this option except maybe that the calorie count is slightly high. Of course, the caloric value of this recipe is thoroughly justified by the tapioca starch, duck and avocado oils which are all present to help stave off common allergens that cat’s come across.
AvoDerm uses only natural ingredients, avoids all grains and uses proteins that are generally accepted as hypoallergenic. The duck, as well as the avocado and sunflower oil all help to keep a healthy coat and skin.
Without a doubt, this option for cats with allergies is a top-notch option! A complete diet with a balanced macronutrient builds that is full of antioxidants, omegas, and vitamins. The use of avocado’s and taurine make this a mineral rich diet option packed with energy for your cat to burn!
4. Wellness Gravies Healthy Indulgences Pouches
[img_products img_code=”81dvizEaseL” alt=”Wellness Healthy Indulgence Natural Grain Free Wet Cat Food, Gravies Chicken” code=”B01BF157EQ” reviews=”View on Amazon”]- Grain-free
- Multiple flavor options
- Packed in 3 oz pouches
Packed into 3-ounce packages, perfect for feeding time, Wellness Healthy Indulgence Gravies are a go-to option for any cat with allergies. Most of the formulas are hypoallergenic although you’ll still want to read the ingredients list.
The more popular chicken and turkey recipe are completely free of any common cat allergies, but the skipjack tuna and shrimp flavor do include seafood which many cats are allergic to. The order of 32 cases, however, include both pouches.
The premium, natural ingredients that are free of any grain including corn and soy make this option a top choice. The ingredients list is by far and away the best thing that could happen for any cat with allergies.
There is an egg present in both recipes which although it isn’t the most common allergy, is still among regular food allergies that cat’s experience. The egg is not dehydrated or unnecessarily processed which is thought to play a major role in the allergic reaction’s cats have to eggs.
If you know what your cat is allergic to you can decide on whether this is the right recipe for you or not. The boost of Vitamin E and Omega3 and 6 fatty acids make this recipe an excellent choice for helping cats rehabilitate their skin from past diets.
The recovery that cat’s with allergies must go through doesn’t give any pet owner the go-ahead to just jump from one diet to another. Recipes like these two flavors here that use natural and grain-free ingredients can take a while for a cat’s gut to get used to because the formulas are so different from standard cat food.
5. Tiny Tiger Turkey and Giblets Recipe Grain-Free Pate
[img_products5 alt=”tiny-tiger-turkey-giblets-recipe” img_number=”https://prf.hn/click/camref:1100l4bUK/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fimg.chewy.com%2Fis%2Fcatalog%2F141881_Main._AC_SS400_V1534972704_.jpg” product_name=”https://www.chewy.com/tiny-tiger-turkey-giblets-recipe/dp/168778″ check=”Buy from Chewy”]- Primary protein is turkey
- Vitamin E supplements
Tiny Tiger is becoming well-known as the affordable hypoallergenic option. Although they use “meat by-products” the company ensures their customers that they use only the primary protein and associated “parts” which makes sense in a turkey and giblets recipe.
We love the care that went into choosing the vitamin supplements that are present in the recipe. Unlike other recipes, this one doesn’t use a catch-all vitamin that is full of things that your cat doesn’t need. The protein level is very high which is another bonus!
The downside of this, besides the use of mysterious “meat by-products” is that the fat content is high. Turkey is known to increase a fat content but compared to chicken it is much more nutrient dense.
Tiny Tiger is a great start for transitioning your cat into a hypoallergenic diet. But if you’re looking for an outstanding and natural formula, you have other options available. The moisture will help set the scene for a long and healthy diet.
If you do choose Tiny Tiger to be sure to keep an eye on how often you’re giving your fur baby food. Cats are very likely to gain weight on this hypoallergenic option!
The Clear Winner…
The AvoDerm Natural Grain-Free Chicken and Duck in Gravy recipe is everything you would hope for in cat food. It is the best hypoallergenic cat food option available because it’s a wet food that’s produced in small batches and made without any of the common cat allergies.
Unlike other hypoallergenic cat food options, the AvoDerm natural grain-free chicken and duck in gravy recipe has large morsels with a lot of moisture in the macronutrient formula. The moisture along with the Vitamin E supplement and avocado oil will help take care of any skin problems they’ve been suffering from due to past allergic reactions.