Hypoallergenic cat food: review of products from popular manufacturers

If your indoor cat becomes lethargic, doesn't eat well, or often feels nauseous, the problem may be more serious than just being sick. Perhaps it's an allergic reaction - unfortunately, this disease has increasingly begun to haunt pets, bringing with it discomfort and trouble. Under no circumstances should the problem be ignored - allergies can pose a serious danger to the health and even life of a four-legged animal. The correct tactics involve several measures - from consulting a veterinarian and switching to hypoallergenic cat food to selecting drug treatment in particularly difficult cases.

In this article, we will analyze the features of a specialized diet for furry pets, answer the most frequently asked questions and tell you about the most popular brands of food for cats with allergies.

Why do you need hypoallergenic food?

Many domestic cats suffer from food allergies.
Therefore, they can only be fed with special foods that do not contain allergic components. Today, many manufacturers of ready-made food for cats produce special anti-allergenic diets. This can be either dry or wet food. They contain a certain amount of main ingredients. There are no harmful components or allergens here. Thanks to this, the risk of developing allergies is minimized.

This food is highly nutritious and digestible, as it consists only of high-quality ingredients. Therefore, such products belong to the super premium class. It cannot provoke any digestive disorders or cause an allergic reaction.

While on this diet, the animal remains healthy and does not lack nutrients. Moreover, many foods have medicinal properties.

How to choose?

High-quality food should provide the cat with all the nutrients, not irritate the stomach and liver, be well digestible and mitigate the symptoms of allergies.

Premium brands are distinguished by the fact that they do not contain low-quality by-products. To prevent the cat from refusing food, natural meat extract and vegetable oil are added to the food. To ensure normal life, it is necessary to have a complex of minerals and vitamins.

It is advisable to choose premium brands. Only such hypoallergenic cat food (reviews indicate this) can provide the animal with everything necessary for growth and development.

It is important to understand that economical packaging, which is sold in regular stores under the guise of hypoallergenic, will not save you from the problem. They consist of bone meal, flavored with cereals and equipped with flavorings. Their only advantage is their low price and availability.

You should not skimp on food, otherwise your cat’s health will be at risk. Then you will have to spend time and money on her treatment.

What to consider when choosing

Before choosing one or another product, you need to contact a veterinarian, who will help to accurately determine the cause of your pet’s allergies - by sorting through food at random, you can harm the animal even more.

When choosing a product, keep in mind that it must belong to the premium, or better yet, super-premium class.

In economy class there is no such food (even if something similar is stated).

Also consider the age and condition of the animal susceptible to allergies. Some foods are not suitable for kittens, pregnant cats, old or sick animals. If you intend to sterilize your pet, consult a veterinarian who can help you choose food from one or another line.

Approach your choice as responsibly and thoughtfully as possible, analyze your pet’s condition after changing food, and unpleasant allergy symptoms will remain a thing of the past.

Features of anti-allergenic food

Food for domestic cats with allergies produced by different manufacturers is divided into three categories:

Contains no vegetable protein (gluten). The food does not contain corn, wheat or other grains. Grain alternatives include brown or white rice, millet and oats. These are completely grain-free recipes;
contains no animal protein. Beef, chicken, and pork are excluded here. Instead, lamb, duck, rabbit, as well as herring and salmon are used. Specialized monoprotein formulations with single-component proteins are available;
Contains no dairy products, yeast or eggs. The name of this line of food always contains the mark “with a limited number of components.” A minimal set of components is used here to eliminate any “risky” products.

Each line is created against a specific type of allergy. Therefore, if a domestic cat is allergic, its food is selected very carefully.

Causes of food (nutritional) allergies in cats

Typically, in cats, food allergies account for 55–60% of all diagnosed allergies. It can be caused by an unbalanced diet, individual intolerance to certain foods, or violation of feeding rules.

Important! Food allergies are diagnosed in cats of various age groups and breeds. In kittens it appears at the age of 3–5 months.
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Causes of food allergies:

ready-made industrial feeds of the low price segment;
introducing new products into the diet;
intolerance to lactose, milk fats, proteins;
genetic or breed predisposition;
hypo-, avitaminosis;
intestinal infections, dysbacteriosis;
hairballs in the stomach;
fatty food;
congenital or acquired pathologies of the digestive tract;
intolerance to animal proteins.

Food allergies in cats If your furry pet is kept on a ready-made diet, then you should take into account that many industrial foods contain dyes, stabilizers, flavor enhancers, synthetic additives, and preservatives that contribute to the development of nutritional allergies.
Allergies can be caused by cereals, grains (soybeans, wheat, buckwheat, rice), vitamins, and mineral supplements.

If you have an allergic cat, then you should take into account that allergic reactions are caused by most food products, so it is necessary to adjust the diet and switch your pet to special dietary foods, which are available in a wide range in online stores, veterinary pharmacies, and pet stores. Hypoallergenic cat food must have a completely balanced composition and not contain allergenic substances.

Wet cat food

Anti-allergenic cat food can be selected taking into account the age, breed, and individual characteristics of your pet’s body. Give preference to products from well-known brands (hypoallergenic cat food Brit, Akana, Hills, Royal Canin, Proplan, NM).

Dry food Brit

Composition "Grandorf"

This food is intended for cats that suffer from allergic reactions. It is also recommended:

animals that have been treated with antibiotics to restore microflora;
weakened animals and pets that are at risk;
for cats that need to improve their general condition and tidy up their coat;
pets who have problems with the cardiovascular system;
to prevent allergic reactions.

The feed contains dehydrated meat as the main product. Also, any pack contains taurine, dietary fiber, brewer's yeast, dried cranberries and apples, L-carnitine, natural antioxidants and live probiotics. The food is rich in a complete vitamin complex and contains all minerals.

Popular foreign feed manufacturers

Today, many pet food manufacturers have anti-allergenic lines. Each brand (Purina, Pro Plan, etc.) produces its own special food intended for pets with allergies. Let's look at the antiallergic products of the most popular manufacturers of ready-made food for cats.

Acana

Canadian stands out from its competitors due to the excellent composition of its products. His food is designed for animals that cannot digest gluten. Therefore, the composition is completely free of any grain crops. The recipe contains duck, lamb, turkey, chicken eggs and fish. For animals that are completely intolerant to gluten and animal protein, the manufacturer has developed special fish recipes.

Bilanx

Another good manufacturer of hypoallergenic food. Its products have a beneficial effect on the digestive processes thanks to the exclusive use of easily digestible, allergen-free ingredients. There are no grains and soy, as well as synthetic flavors, dyes and harmful additives. The main food components are fish, lamb and rice.

Purina

Purina brand food is considered not only hypoallergenic, but also medicinal. For example, they are prescribed if the pet will be sterilized. This product is suitable for animals of all age groups. Prepared from lamb, fish oil, minerals, vegetable oils. Animal protein sources are excluded here. But hydrolyzed soy protein and corn starch are used. Therefore, the food is partially allergic.

Sana Belle

The German company Bosch produces a special line of Bosch SanaBelle, which is designed to overcome problems with allergies in the digestive process. The formula contains poultry, lamb, sorghum, rice and potato protein. Dairy components, synthetic preservatives, grains, flavor enhancers, dyes and GMOs are excluded here.

Go!

Another Canadian manufacturer producing the super premium hypoallergenic Sensitivity + Shine line. Go! specializes in grain-free diets. To prepare the food, duck meat, herring, salmon, trout, taurine, pro- and prebiotics and Omega acids are used.

Brit Care

The Czech manufacturer Brit Care produces food for animals with gluten allergies. These products do not contain corn, soy or wheat. The main source of protein here is rice. Salmon, lamb, and dried potatoes are also used to prepare ready-made food. This product is suitable for cats with sensitive stomachs.

Organix

The special line Organix Adult Cat Lamb has a special formulation that excludes unnatural flavor enhancers and additives. This food can be eaten by a cat who is allergic to vegetable protein. Contains no wheat, soy or corn. Beetroot acts as a source of fiber. Various mineral and vitamin mixtures are also used here. To normalize liver functions, lecithin is added to the composition.

Leonardo

The German manufacturer Bewital has developed a special Leonardo recipe, which made it possible to remove all risky components from the feed. Instead of grains, the recipe uses amaranth. Poultry and lamb, fish, rice and chili seeds are also added (have a positive effect on digestion). Anti-allergenic foods are presented in a wide variety: Maxi GF, Salmon GF, Leonardo Adult Lamb and Poultry GF.

1st Choice

Van Choice anti-allergenic food is very popular among pet owners. It is suitable for pets with intolerance to traditional food proteins. Duck meat and sweet potato are used to prepare this product. There are no cereal crops here at all.

Hill's

Many veterinarians prescribe Hill's brand food from the Nature's Best line for cats with allergies. The main components of this food are rice, animal and fish oil, chicken, drained pulp and beet pulp. Cereals are excluded.

Top 3. Primordial for kittens with duck and turkey

Rating (2021): 4.83

271 reviews from resources were taken into account: Yandex.Market, OZON, Otzovik, IRecommend, MirKorma, Unizoo, SberMegaMarket

The best for kittens A thoughtfully balanced composition that will not leave the kitten indifferent and at the same time provide the body with everything necessary for healthy development.

Characteristics
Average price: 1,900 rub. for 2 kg
Country: Italy
Type of food: dry
Age: kittens up to 1 year
Packing options, kg: 0.4; 2 and 6
Flavor: turkey, duck
Proteins: 32%
Fat: 20%
Ash: 7.9%

Primordial dry food for kittens is among the best both in the selection of ingredients and in their quality. Belonging to the holistic class, the diet contains only natural ingredients suitable for food even for humans. Most of the composition is occupied by fresh turkey meat, dried chicken and duck combined with high-quality fiber, the sources of which are peas and potatoes, known for their beneficial properties.

The food is supplemented with flaxseed and fish and algae meal, which are especially important for the proper development of muscles and bones, coat health, support of proper metabolism and digestion. The latter is also promoted by natural prebiotics and dried beet pulp. Blueberries also help prevent vision problems. In general, this is a very natural and high-quality grain-free food, devoid of powerful flavors, citrus fruits and other irritants. Most kittens eat it willingly and feel great.

Advantages and disadvantages

Complete Holistic
Gentle formula
Normalization of digestion
Unflavored

Bag without zipper

Russian product

Our brand food (hypoallergenic) for cats has positive reviews. Among domestic feeds, the product is of the highest quality and, despite the quite budget price, copes with its task well.

It contains a lot of fiber, which promotes good digestion. Taurine, which is also sufficient, is responsible for the cat’s excellent well-being and vigor.

If you need inexpensive, but high-quality hypoallergenic dry cat food, reviews of which confirm its safety, then “Our Brand” will be the best choice. It helps strengthen the immune system, maintains sharp vision and hearing, and slows down the natural aging of the body.

Belgian Grandorf

For animals with food allergies, the manufacturer offers varieties with a low grain content and a large amount of prebiotics for better digestion.

Hypoallergenic Grandorf cat food (reviews confirm this) is considered unique. Its peculiarity is the presence of live probiotic cultures in its composition. The functioning of the gastrointestinal tract and the general well-being of the cat depend on them.

"Grandorf" is a hypoallergenic super premium cat food. It contains no wheat, beets, corn, eggs or by-products. Flavorings and dyes are completely excluded.

For restricted feeding

As mentioned above, Champion Petfoods produces a line consisting of only three types. The manufacturer does not produce special food for sterilized cats. However, Akana Prairie cat food is suitable for this category of animals, which is confirmed by reviews from veterinarians.

For everyday feeding

Optimal magnesium content helps reduce the risk of urolithiasis, which affects cats that have undergone castration.

In addition, pets tend to gain excess weight after this surgical procedure. A balanced composition of the food and its low carbohydrate content will help keep your pet slim. Acana food will not cause health problems and is perfect for neutered cats as a daily diet.

Top 8. Monge BWILD Feed the Instinct for large breeds with buffalo

Rating (2021): 4.61

673 reviews from resources were taken into account: Yandex.Market, OZON, Unizoo, Sber Megamarket

The most popular food among large cats, the food is developed taking into account the characteristics of such breeds as Maine Coon, Savannah, Turkish Van, Siberian, Norwegian Forest and other large cats. Received hundreds of positive reviews.

The largest pellets One of the few diets that are truly easy for big cats to chew on. Thanks to the granules with a diameter of 1 cm, you don’t have to worry that your pet will swallow without chewing.

Characteristics
Average price: RUB 1,524. for 1.5 kg
Country: Italy
Type of food: dry
Age: all life stages
Packing options, kg: 1.5 and 10
Flavor: buffalo
Proteins: 31%
Fat: 20%
Ash: 8%

In addition to solid granules, a feature of Monge BWILD food for large cats is its versatility in terms of age. The diet is suitable for both adult and elderly animals, as well as kittens. It meets the specific needs of a big cat - supplemented with salmon fat, which has a beneficial effect on the health of joints, ligaments and coat. Many buyers also notice this, noting that the pet becomes more active and the fur becomes silkier.

The food is also credited with increasing muscle mass, which is not surprising. The diet is based on a rare and healthy ingredient. The share of buffalo meat in the composition reaches 38%. The food also contains fresh chicken, which cats love, and several types of fat, which instantly arouse the pets' interest. However, it is worth noting that this makes the diet very high in calories, which is not always optimal for sterilized cats, but helps kittens develop better. At the same time, it is absorbed quite well thanks to an extensive range of prebiotics.

Advantages and disadvantages

More than 50% meat in composition
Caring for digestion and joints
Promotes muscle gain
Suitable for kittens and cats

There are fakes
High fat content

Reviews from pet owners

I had to find a super food for the cat. At first the choice fell on Royal Canin, but the pet was very itchy from it, plus there were red spots on the ears. Then I bought Royal hypoallergenic, and it seems to me that it does not taste good, since the cat ate it with great reluctance and was constantly hungry. I am now feeding 1st Choice anti allergy cat food and it seems to be going well.

Maksim

Our cat began to develop bald spots on his head, stomach, and then on his paws. The vet reported an allergy and had to change food again. For a month and a half now I have been giving hypoallergenic cat food, called Pronature Holistic, and the bald spot on my head has gone away, my paw has also gradually become overgrown.

Andrey

Having bought the kitten, I continued to feed him the same dry food as the breeder. Then a couple of weeks later he developed diarrhea that did not go away. After a bunch of tests and visits to various clinics, I was offered to change food to the hypoallergenic “Purina Proplan”; at first I was against it, I didn’t know about its features. But I started giving it, and over time the stool improved. Marina

Feeding recommendations

The optimal feeding regime for the animal is 2 times a day with an interval between meals of 8-12 hours. If the cat previously ate a product of a different brand, then the new food is introduced into the menu carefully. The transition process usually takes 2 weeks. During this period, food is mixed with the usual food in small quantities, gradually increasing the dosage.

The approximate standards that must be followed when organizing the animal’s diet are indicated by the manufacturer on the product packaging. However, each pet is individual, so the dosage may be adjusted.

- MMM tasty…

For pregnant cats, the amount of food is increased by 25% of the daily requirement, and during the lactation period the product should be freely available. There should always be a bowl of clean water next to the food, which needs to be changed daily.

By age category

Akana cat food is completely universal. The company does not produce separate types of food for each age. All products are safe, do not burden the digestive system and are suitable for feeding both mature cats and kittens. Only the dosage of feeding varies. For babies, the daily norms are as follows:

kitten 5-20 weeks – 60 g per 1 kg of weight;
20-52 weeks – 30 g / 1 kg;
from 52 weeks – according to the norms for adult cats.

For healthy animals of reproductive age, the manufacturer recommends the following dosage, depending on body weight (g/day):

pet weighing 2 kg – 40;
3-4 kg – 45-60;
5-7 kg – 75-85;
8-10 kg – 90-120.

For older pets, feeding rates are reduced by 10-15 grams. However, each animal is individual, so if an older cat is quite active, then a dosage reduction is not required.

The famous Royal Canin

The manufacturer offers a wide variety of specialized feeds. You can choose a pack depending on the age of the animal and even the breed. There is also an option for neutered pets.

Hypoallergenic cat food "Royal Canin" reviews are mostly recommendations. Cat owners are happy that the animal receives everything it needs, but the composition is completely safe. However, there are opinions that recently the quality of the product has become somewhat worse.

But if you turn to veterinarians, they often recommend the Royal Canin brand labeled “hypoallergenic” for animals with problems digesting certain food components. Its advantage is its balanced composition, taste qualities that cats appreciate, and a fairly reasonable price.