Before we get into the benefits of grain-free food for cats, let’s get some facts straight.
Grain-free food is not essential for cats unless suggested by a vet or if your cat has grain allergies. Secondly, grain-free food doesn’t always mean carb-free or reduced carbs. It can have more protein and fewer carbohydrates, but this is not a universal fact. Thirdly, grains are not bad for cats. They provide carbohydrates, which are an essential part of a feline diet. Moreover, grains are also a rich source of vitamins, minerals, fiber, and protein. All of these are necessary elements of a balanced cat diet.
Yet, there are some situations when grain-free cat food is good for your cat. Let’s find out the different benefits of grain-free cat food.
3 Benefits of Grain-Free Cat Food
Great for Cats with Food Allergies
The biggest benefit of grain-free cat food is that it takes care of cats with sensitive stomachs and those with grain allergies. However, you have to first figure out the allergy by putting your cat on an elimination diet.
Although food allergies in cats are quite rare, many cases have been reported. If you can’t figure out what’s troubling your furry buddy, take him to a vet for a proper diagnosis.
You can also test your cat’s allergy with a DIY elimination diet. It is a simple process where you feed your cat a grain-free diet and see if the symptoms go away. If they do, grain-free cat food is best for your pet. If they don’t, consult a vet.
Much Closer to a Natural Diet
Being obligate carnivores, cats love to eat animal meat. They don’t only love it; they need it as well. Taurine, an essential amino acid, comes from animals. Grain-free food often has a lower carbohydrate content, making it quite similar to a cat’s natural diet in the wild.
The thing to consider here is that wild cats are different from domestic cats. Domestic cats have evolved to eat starches and digest up to 95% of them without any difficulty. However, kittens and those with sensitive stomachs can find grain-free food much easier to digest than grain-inclusive options.
They come with High-Quality Ingredients
Many costly and high-quality grain-free or grain-inclusive cat foods come with a cleaner ingredient list. The manufacturers usually mention how they source ingredients, process them, and store their cat food. All cat foods in the US are FDA-approved, so you don’t need to worry too much unless your cat has a really sensitive stomach.
Can a Grain-Free Diet harm my Cat?
No. A grain-free diet poses no health risk to your cat. Extensive research has been conducted on this subject, but no link has been found. However, studies have suggested a relationship between grain-free dog food and canine hearing problems.
As we already explained, grain-free food is not essential for cats, and similarly, it is not harmful for cats. Ultimately, it is your cat that will have the final say when it comes to picking the food type. This is similar to some cats preferring wet food over dry food or a raw diet.
