Best Cat Food For Cats With Food Allergies

Is It Wet Or Dry Cat Food

Many cats with food allergies or intolerances are older and/or have failing health. For these creatures, chewing hard kibble can be tough on their teeth and hard to swallow.

Additionally, if you give your pet only dry food, she may be at risk for dehydration . And all cats, especially those with intolerances, need to be well-hydrated to ensure their digestive system runs smoothly.

Then again, cats can be picky . Certain textures of canned wet food may be unappealing. Also, you can’t really free-feed with wet food, or at least as easily as you can with dry foodand this may be something your kitty is already used to.

For this reason, think about all the individual factors about your kitty when deciding to go wet vs. dry. Many pet owners opt to do bothusing a bit of wet food as a treat on top of their kibble. It’s really a matter of pet preference and need.

How Can I Determine The Allergy Of My Cat

If your cat exhibits one or more of the symptoms above, and you suspect they have a food allergy, seek advice from your vet. They will be able to carry out a skin test or endoscopy to help determine whether an allergic reaction has occurred and what the allergen was. Your vet will then advise you about the best diet for your cat likely hypoallergenic food. You may need to try a few different hypoallergenic cat food brands before finding the one that works best for your cat.

How To Shop For The Best Cat Food

You should approach buying cat food the same way you look at breakfast: Start with a nutritionally balanced diet. You need food that is complete and balanced and appropriate for the life-stage of your cat, says Bruce Kornreich, DVM, the director of the Cornell Feline Health Center in Ithaca, New York.

Kornreich recommends looking for a nutritional adequacy label from the Association of American Feed Control Officials , a nonprofit that assesses whats in pet food and animal feed. Since cats are carnivores, meat is a key component of achieving the balanced diet that Kornreich emphasizes.

If meat and meat by-products are among the first ingredients listed, it suggests the food likely has enough animal source ingredients to provide essential amino acids and fatty acids, says Kornreich. But cats cant live on meat alone.

Cats must get nutrients like calcium, phosphorus and Vitamin D from other ingredients, says Shelly Ferris, DVM, the regional director of Petco Veterinary Services.

She recommends looking for cat food with natural whole ingredients such as fruits, vegetables and high-quality carbohydrates like rice, oats or potatoes.

As for what to avoid, Paz Veterinarys Julien keys in on ingredients that are more about sentiment and marketing than nutrition. He points to dyes that make food look more appealing to people and exotic ingredients like kangaroo and lentils, which are less well studied in cats.

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Hills Science Diet Adult Sensitive Stomach & Skin Chicken & Rice Recipe Dry Cat Food

If your feline is especially prone to conditions that affect the skin, and tummy. This nonprescription formula is great for cats over one year of age. It is easily digestible. Made with only ingredients from the USA, it helps in assisting their immunity and helps them to do a higher quality of life.

I And Love And You Lovingly Simple Limited Ingredient Diet Salmon & Sweet Potato Dry Cat Food

Our Top Pick for the Best Cat Food for Sensitive Stomach and Allergies: If your cat has food allergies and a sensitive stomach, you need to be doubly careful about what you feed him. A limited ingredient diet is a must to reduce the risk for triggering allergies, but you also need to focus on the quality and digestibility of the recipe to avoid digestive upset. This I and Love and You Lovingly Simple LID Salmon & Sweet Potato Dry Cat Food is a great choice for a number of reasons. First, it is specifically designed for cats with sensitivities and it is made with a low number of primary ingredients. Next, it features novel proteins like salmon and menhaden fish meal without the use of any chicken ingredients. It is rich in healthy fats, including a blend of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids for healthy skin and coat. It also contains digestible grain-free carbohydrates like sweet potatoes and chickpeas. All in all, this recipe provides high-quality nutrition that will be gentle on your cats stomach.

• Pros: Gentle on sensitive stomachs, limited number of ingredients, novel proteins, no chicken ingredients, blend of omega fatty acids, digestible grain-free carbohydrates, probiotics
• Cons: Expensive to feed as a staple diet, not a single-source protein recipe

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Nomnomnow Fresh Food Delivery

If your cat suffers from food allergies, you need a high-quality cat food that will provide for his nutritional needs without triggering symptoms. Fresh cat food made with a limited number of high-quality ingredients is an excellent option which is what makes NomNomNow so perfect. This fresh food delivery service sends a months worth of fresh cat food right to your door in perfectly portioned packages suited to your cats age and weight. NomNomNow allows you to choose from two protein options in two recipes made with fresh fruits and vegetables as digestible sources of carbohydrate, fiber, and essential nutrients. This food is packed with protein, limited in carbohydrates, and rich in moisture to support healthy digestion and recovery from food allergy symptoms. Plus, you can work with the company to customize your cats food according to his unique needs and preferences.

• Pros: Fresh food delivered monthly, high in protein, low in carbohydrates, grain-free, rich in moisture and fiber for digestion, pre-portioned for your cats needs, customizable diet
• Cons: Only two recipes , expensive to feed as a staple diet

Which Ingredients Is My Cat Likely To Be Allergic To

It can sometimes be the food that they eat every single day. No two cats are the same, either.

Beef, pork, fish, soya, dairy, wheat and eggs are some of the most common allergens for cats, but grains and other meats are also possible.

This will include not just the meat as the main protein source, but also any oils or other vitamins.

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We Looked For Foods That Were Free Of Potentially Harmful Ingredients And Additives

The Best Cat Food Is Free Of Carrageenan.

This natural seaweed extract is a great binder and thickener for canned cat food, but it has a bad reputation. Studies have shown that carrageenan creates inflammation in the body and may exacerbate cancer.

The Best Cat Food Doesnt Contain Artificial Ingredients.

Artificial flavors are unnecessary if the food is made with nourishing meat ingredients. No cat needs artificial colors. In addition to being unnecessary, food dyes are tied to behavioral issues and cancer development in both humans and animals.

BHA, BHT, and ethoxyquin are popular preservatives that are associated with serious problems. Most pet foods have replaced them with natural alternatives including Vitamin E , rosemary extract, and other antioxidants. Although ethoxyquin rarely appears on the ingredient list, it may enter your cat food as a fish preservative.

How Will My Veterinarian Diagnose Food Allergies

The chronic itching associated with food allergies can also be caused by a number of other conditions, such as mites, bacterial infection, yeast infection, or other allergies. Therefore, testing is required in order to determine the cause of your cat’s skin condition. The most reliable test for diagnosing food allergies is a food trial. This test involves feeding a special diet, one which does not contain any proteins that your cat has been previously exposed to, for 6-8 weeks. A food trial diet may take a number of forms:

• a hydrolyzed-protein diet ,
• a commercially-available novel protein diet , or
• a home-cooked novel protein diet .

Your veterinarian will help you determine the best option for your cat.

While your cat is on a food trial, she must eat ONLY the food that has been recommended by your veterinarian. It is very important that no other treats, supplements, or other edible products be fed during the food trial. Be vigilant about cleaning dishes off the table after your family meals, because even licking a plate clean may interfere with the results of a food trial. Your cat can only receive the prescription food, water, and unflavored prescribed medications during a food trial.

“If your cat’s signs resolve with the food trial AND return within one week of a food challenge, your cat has been definitively diagnosed with a food allergy.”

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Solid Gold Indigo Moon With Chicken & Eggs Grain

This Solid Gold Indigo Moon with Chicken & Eggs Grain-Free Dry Food is a great option for cats because it is holistic and grain-free. This recipe features chicken meal as a concentrated source of protein with ocean fish meal and eggs for supplemental protein. It is a grain-free recipe made with fresh fruits and vegetables, loaded with protein and fat for nutritional balance. Youll also be glad to know that it contains beneficial supplements like vitamins, chelated minerals, and probiotics.

• Pros: Concentrated source of animal protein, rich in protein and fat, grain-free carbohydrates, fresh fruits and vegetables, chelated minerals, probiotics
• Cons: Main source of fat is plant-based , contains some plant protein

What Is A Food Allergy

The term food allergy is used to describe an abnormal immune-mediated reaction to an antigen within food. In other words, food allergy refers to a reaction caused by the immune system to a specific protein found within food.

Although we understand the mechanism by which food allergies occur, it is not known why these allergies occur. We do not understand why some cats develop food allergies and others do not.

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How Do Vets Test For Cat Food Allergies

To determine whether your cat has a food allergy, your vet will usually try a few different tests. The most common way to find out whats causing the problem for your cat is to start with an exclusion dietary trial. This is where you start feeding your kitty a pretty bland hypoallergenic diet. These foods are specially made with proteins so small that they very rarely cause any kind of reaction.

Gradually, you can begin to introduce new bits of food and ingredients into the diet and keep an eye on how your kitty responds. Usually, the exclusion diet will last for a fixed period of time, which your vet will suggest based on the symptoms your cat is displaying. If your cat has skin issues, for instance, they might continue using the restricted diet for about 12 weeks. Gastro problems usually clear up a bit faster.

The key to success with the exclusion diet treatment is making sure that your kitty doesnt eat anything other than the food suggested by the vet. This includes treats and tidbits from your table no matter how much you want to keep your cat happy. Respond to your vet with insights into how your kitty has been while eating the newly recommended food.

Remember, like with most health-related tests for your kitty, its important to be as honest as possible about the results with your vet. This includes letting your vet know if your cat refuses to eat the food you give them or tries to pull other food out of the trash.

Purina Beyond Simply Salmon And Whole Brown Rice Recipe

You can feel good about dishing up your kitty some of this nutrient-packed cat food from Purina. Made with limited ingredients, this wholesome option features real salmon, cranberries, brown rice, and egg. Its a solid option for both sensitive and regular felines.

Purina Beyond Simply Salmon & Whole Brown Rice Recipe

Limited ingredients make this formula a winner with sensitive felines.

This limited-ingredient food for indoor cats is rich in protein from fish, with easy-to-digest carbs from potatoes. It includes LifeSource Bitsthe companys combination of selected antioxidants, minerals, and vitamins necessary for feline health.

Blue Buffalo Basics L.I.D. Fish and Potato Dry Cat Food

A limited-ingredient fish-based recipe with easy-to-digest potatoes.

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Avoid Feeding Excess Protein To Cats With Allergy

Limiting protein levels in a food reduces the risk that a cat will encounter a potential allergen. For cats with uncomfortable skin conditions caused by an allergy, it is recommended to feed a diet with only 30-45% protein on a dry matter basis.

In certain scenarios, your veterinarian may recommend feeding a higher levels protein due to another health condition. Always check before limiting this nutrient in the diet of a cat with an ongoing illness.

Best Cat Food For Allergies Reviewed

All our twelve cat diets meet the minimum nutritional guidelines of AAFCO. It is best to ask the veterinarian about the dietary changes in food allergic cats.

• Key Feature: Best overall diet for food allergies in cats
• Type of Product: Gluten-Free, Grain-Free, Prescription-only Veterinary Diet
• Life Stage: Adult
• Best for: Best high-end food for curing food allergies in felines

The Hills Prescription Diet d/d Skin/Food Sensitivities Venison & Green Pea Formula Dry Cat Food offers limited ingredient nutrition. Because of this, common food allergies can be prevented in your felines.

It is clinical nutrition developed to promote your furry friends skin and food sensitivities. Besides that, this dry kibble can soften the scratchy and itchy skin.

It does not have beef, chicken, pork, turkey, and fish, which often are the reasons for food allergies in cats. This feline food contains animal protein only from venison, which can treat your allergic furry pets.

The high amounts of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids enrich the immune response of your kitty. It also boosts the digestion, stool quality, and the health of the skin and coat of your furry friend.

Veterinary prescription required.

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We Chose Foods That Were Rich In High

Cats need a lot of protein. But its more complicated than just looking for high-protein food. Instead, we also have to think about the quality of that protein. When choosing the best cat food, we paid attention to the difference between crude protein and digestible protein.

Protein exists on a digestibility spectrum rated by biological value.

For example, 36g of crude protein from feathers is not equivalent to 36g of crude protein from an egg they have vastly different biological values. An egg has a biological value of 100 , while the feather is virtually indigestible.

Yet both the feather protein and the egg protein look lovely on the guaranteed analysis and lend the impression of a high-quality food capable of nourishing your cat.

Digestibility values, not percentages in the guaranteed analysis, are key to measuring nutritional value.

To make things a little more interesting, we dont know everything about protein digestibility in cats. No one has figured out exactly which protein sources are the most bioavailable or the least. Instead, were left to put together a picture based on what scarce information is available.

Smoking Cigarettes In Your Home Or Around Your Cat

If you are a smoker, this is something that you need to be aware of, if you are also a pet owner. Cigarettes are not only dangerous to people, they can be just as bad for cats. If they get a hold of a cigarette they can get nicotine intoxication to the point of it becoming poisonous.

They can also develop various types of cancer and other lung problems like asthma. This is a preventable allergy, by taking certain actions to protect your animal.

• Get an air purifier to keep air clean
• If you have a guests that smoke, have them go to a designated area outside and have them dispose of cigarette butts in a container the cat cant reach if they are both an indoor and outdoor cat.

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What Foods Are Associated With Food Allergies

In order for a cat to develop a food allergy, the food must be one to which the cat has been previously exposed. An animal cannot develop an allergy to a food that it has not been exposed to.

The foods most commonly associated with food allergies in cats include beef, fish, chicken, and dairy products. Limited research has been performed in this area, and there may be other common allergens that we have not yet identified.

The Best Hypoallergenic Cat Food In 2022

Like their owners, cats can be prone to various food allergies. Some common allergies include corn, dairy, and unfortunately for your feline friend seafood! Luckily, since allergies like these are so common, experts from a host of pet food manufacturers have put their minds to creating foods that will keep your friend healthy and full, without upsetting their stomach: these are hypoallergenic cat foods. Weve searched for the best cat food for allergies out there, and have compiled this list of what we believe are the best on the market right now.

Weve also addressed some of the most common questions about hypoallergenic food to keep you in the know about your cats health. We hope this list will help you find the right option for you.

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What To Look For In Hypoallergenic Cat Food

• a novel protein is simply a protein your cats body is not familiar with. So, if your cat has only ever eaten chicken cat food, every other animal protein would be considered novel. The most common animal proteins in pet food include chicken, beef, and seafood. Some good choices for novel proteins include rabbit, duck, venison. Novel proteins are great hypoallergenic ingredients as they still offer the nutritional value cats need as carnivores. Still, they have no risk of causing allergic reactions as your cats immune system will not recognize them as a threat.
• Hydrolyzed ingredients hydrolyzing proteins in the act of breaking down the chemical bond of the protein, making it more digestible and less likely to be recognized by your cats immune system as an allergen. Some cats with particular protein allergies can ingest these problem proteins if they have been hydrolyzed.
• Limited ingredients a LID is often used to tackle allergies in cats. Many cat foods contain multiple proteins, carbohydrates, and vitamin sources, making identifying allergens very difficult. Limited ingredients can help pinpoint and increase digestibility.
• Natural additives all pet foods will have additives of some kind. These are added to increase palatability and preserve food. Some of these are of unnatural origin and can be the source of allergies. Look for natural ingredients to act as preservatives such as vitamin C and E and rosemary products.