The 10 Best Grain-Free Cat Foods

Orijen Original Cat is a meat-heavy kibble for owners who want animal ingredients first. Fresh or raw chicken and turkey lead the list, then whole fish and organ meats, with lentils, beans and chickpeas in place of grain. The bag lists at least 40 percent protein, and picky cats tend to eat it readily. Its freeze-dried coating means washing hands and bowl after serving. It's rich, so measure meals, and it costs a lot per pound.

In Tiki Cat After Dark, shredded chicken and organ meat sit in broth, with no fruit, vegetables, gums or starch at all. The pack mixes five recipes, plain chicken plus chicken with quail egg, duck, lamb or beef, and it's labeled complete for kittens and adults. It tends to tempt picky and older cats. Feeding it as a full wet diet costs a lot, though, and chicken in every recipe rules it out for cats that react to chicken.

Made for cats that spend their days on the couch, Wellness CORE+ Indoor is the current name for Wellness Core Indoor. Deboned chicken, turkey meal and chicken meal come first, and the mix of high protein, modest fat and extra fiber is meant to keep calories in check. The chicken meal adds glucosamine and chondroitin, and probiotics are added. Wellness makes it in its own U.S. plant. All three main ingredients are poultry, and it's formulated for adults, not kittens.

Shoppers watching costs can turn to Taste of the Wild Rocky Mountain, a low-cost kibble from a major brand that promises at least 42 percent protein. Read the label closely, though. Chicken meal comes first, and the venison and smoke-flavored salmon on the front come after peas, sweet potatoes and plant proteins, so some of that protein comes from plants. It won't suit a cat that reacts to chicken. It's labeled for all life stages, and some cats refuse it.

A kitten can stay on Nulo FreeStyle Cat & Kitten into adulthood, since it's labeled for all life stages. Deboned chicken, chicken meal and turkey meal come first, and most of the protein comes from animals. The small disc-shaped kibble suits small mouths, peas and lentils replace white potato and tapioca, and a probiotic is added. It's rich, so growing kittens need measured portions, and it costs a lot per pound.

Sold almost everywhere, Blue Buffalo Wilderness Indoor is made for indoor adult cats. Deboned chicken and chicken meal come first, with no chicken byproduct meal, corn, wheat or soy. Pea protein is the third ingredient, though, so part of the protein comes from plants. Small dark bits carry added vitamins and antioxidants, and a small trial bag lets you see whether your cat likes it before buying more. Some cats won't eat it.

Natural Balance L.I.D. Salmon keeps the recipe short, with salmon as its only animal protein. That helps owners steering clear of chicken or beef, a common trigger when a cat reacts to food. Green peas come first, though, and protein and fat are on the low side for kibble. The big bag keeps the cost per pound down. It won't help a cat that reacts to fish, and a real allergy needs a vet's diagnosis first.

The smooth texture of Nulo Freestyle Pate may suit seniors and cats with few teeth, and the canned food comes in three recipes, from chicken and liver to tuna and shrimp. Nulo labels it for kittens, adults and seniors. There's no carrageenan, though guar gum binds it, and chickpeas come third in the chicken recipe, so it isn't starch-free. Some cats refuse pate, and it costs a lot per ounce.

Weruva B.F.F. OMG pouches are for cats that mainly want gravy. The pack holds six recipes, all built on tuna with chicken, beef, salmon, lamb, turkey or duck. They're mostly water, which adds moisture to a cat's diet, and they skip carrageenan, though tapioca starch thickens the gravy. Each pouch is light on calories, so a full diet takes several a day. Tuna in every recipe rules it out for cats that need to avoid fish.

Sold in most supermarkets, Fancy Feast Gourmet Naturals is a budget way into wet food without grain. This trout and tuna pate puts trout first, then chicken, fish broth, liver and tuna, with no poultry byproducts or artificial colors, flavors or preservatives. Guar gum holds it together, and the small cans mean little waste. It's made for adult cats, not kittens. The texture can be watery, and this pack offers only one recipe.