8+ Best Limited Ingredient Cat Food [2023]

Does your feline companion struggle with food allergies? IBS or IBD? Limited ingredient cat food could be your solution!

Limited ingredient cat foods focus on minimal, easy-to-digest ingredients so your cat’s nutritional needs are met without causing any upset tummies or allergic reactions. 

But which limited ingredient cat food is right for your cat? We've curated a list of some of the best limited ingredient cat food products currently on the market. These options can help you manage your cat's health while satisfying their palates!

 

What is Limited Ingredient Cat Food? 

Limited ingredient cat food is a cat food made with fewer ingredients than generic cat food formulas, and focuses on natural ingredients instead of fillers. This type of cat food is perfect for cats with sensitive stomachs, food allergies, and IBS or IBD. 

Limited cat food recipes usually include: 

• One protein source (cats are obligate carnivores, and must eat meat)
• If any, just one carbohydrate source
• Vitamins and minerals
• Fats for a nutritional balance

And usually exclude: 

• Potatoes
• Peas
• Soy
• Preservatives
• Artificial color and flavoring
• Dairy

These are some of the most common food ingredient allergies among cats, and excluding these ingredients can prevent trips to the vet for skin rashes, vomiting, diarrhea, and infections.

Plus, a shorter ingredient list makes it easier for pet owners to identify potential allergens for their cats. 

However, know that the term “limited ingredient” is not regulated by the FDA, which means pet food companies can add “limited ingredient” on their labels–no matter how many ingredients there are. 

Fortunately, there are lots of great, genuinely limited ingredient cat foods out there. Just be vigilant and make your cat food decision with care!

 

Best Limited Ingredient Cat Food

Let’s take a look at some great limited ingredient cat foods on the market so you can make the best decision for your pawfect pet! 

 

1. KOHA Cat Food

KOHA's mission is to provide pets with the best and most nutritious food possible. With minimal and limited ingredients, KOHA products are ideal for pets with sensitive stomachs, IBD, IBS, food allergies, and more. 

KOHA’s limited ingredient cat foods include duck pâté, rabbit au jus, turkey pâté, and chicken pâté. All of their limited ingredient cat foods help with: 

• Extreme food sensitivities: Novel proteins your cat has never eaten and one meat per recipe gives you the best opportunity to avoid food sensitivities.
• Sensitive Stomach: Carefully selected ingredients and simple cooking methods keep nutrients closer to their original state.
• Digestion Issues: Moisture-rich, high protein, no unnecessary fillers, and low carbohydrates create a meal that is easy to digest.

KOHA also offers meal toppers, stews, raw toppers, and shredded meats to ensure that your feline friend is getting all the nutrients needed to keep that tail up! 

 

Pros:

• High in protein and offers novel protein options, with only one meat per can  
• Recipes don’t include any carb-loaded fillers like potatoes, wheat, corn, soy, or preservatives 
• Easy for cats to digest
• Pumpkin and turmeric help support the digestion 
• Cranberries aid urinary tract health 
• New Zealand Green Mussels support joint health

Cons: 

• Currently only ships to the US 

Additional Cat Food Products

• Pure Shreds for Cats: Various shredded meat entrées served in broth
• Minimal Ingredient Stew: Moisture-rich recipes made with meat in a savory gravy
• Poké Bowl in Gravy for Cats: Shredded and minced protein in a rich gravy 
• Raw Toppers: Filler free freeze-dried raw meat powder

KOHA’s limited ingredient cat food formulas have a paté texture, a delicious taste that cats love, and are easy to digest–making stomachs happy and purrs aplenty.

 

2. Smalls Cat Food 

Smalls Cat Food makes high protein limited ingredient wet cat food products with an assortment of all-natural proteins like turkey, chicken, beef, poultry, and fish. Each recipe has specific vitamins, fibers, and supplements.

Pros:

• Doesn’t have any fillers or preservatives in their food products
• Products are high in protein 
• Takes a survey of owners’ cats to recommend the best product 

Cons: 

• Limited cat food options 
• Some customers dislike the wet cat food packaging because it’s not resealable and can be messy 
• The brand can be expensive compared to others

Additional Cat Food Products: None! Smalls only makes limited ingredient foods.

 

3. Blue Buffalo Basics Limited Ingredient Diet Grain-Free

Blue Buffalo Limited Ingredient Diet Grain-Free cat food contains no preservatives, soy, wheat, or by-products. The dry cat food recipe comes in duck, fish, and turkey, and includes "LifeSource Bits" to help promote a healthy cat coat and stomach at all stages of life.

 

Pros:

• Limited ingredients do not contain any chicken by-products, corn, wheat, soy, artificial flavors, or preservatives
• Adds in antioxidant-rich “LifeSource Bits” 
• Blue Buffalo’s products can be used for all life stages
• High in protein for cats 

Cons: 

• There are potatoes or peas in every limited ingredient cat food recipe 
• Only offer dry limited ingredient cat food 
• Some customers feel that the product contains too many ingredients for a limited ingredient product 

Additional Cat Food Products

• High-Protein Nutrition
• Targeted Nutrition
• Prescription Formulas
• Grain-free Diet
• A Healthy Head Start
• Delicious Healthy Cat Food

 

4. Natural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Wet Cat Food

Natural Balance offers several  L.I.D. Wet Cat Food products, including grain-free tuna & pumpkin, grain-free chicken & pumpkin, chicken & green pea, duck & green pea, salmon & green pea, and a duck formula for indoor cats. This product can be used as a wet topper over dry kibble or a complete meal.

Pros:

• Limited ingredients products are soy, wheat, and grain-free
• Products contain Omega 3s and fatty acids for healthy skin and coat
• Single protein recipe options

Cons: 

• For a “limited ingredient” product, it has a very long ingredient list
• Contains green peas, which are an unnecessary filler ingredient
• Products are often out of stock 
• Recently changed the formula and some customers are saying their cats will no longer eat it

Additional Cat Food Products

• Original Ultra Pate Formula
• Original Ultra Indoor Grain-Free Dry Cat Food 
• Fat Cats Dry Cat Food
• Delectable Delights Cat Stew
• Platefulls

 

5. Merrick Grain Free Limited Ingredient

Merrick’s Grain Free Limited Ingredient cat foods contain deboned, single-sourced proteins. The recipes also incorporated antioxidants and omegas for healthy skin, coat, and immune system. The product doesn’t include any grains, potatoes, preservatives, or artificial flavors and colors. 

Additional Cat Food Products

• Purrfect Bistro Grain Free or Health Grains (dry and wet)
• Backcountry Cat Food (dry and wet)

Pros:

• Includes antioxidants, omega-3s, probiotics, and fatty acids 
• The limited ingredient wet cat food product includes single-sourced protein 
• Doesn’t contain any soy or corn 

Cons: 

• Products can contain meat by-products
• Some recipes contain pea protein, an unnecessary filler
• Fewer novel protein options

 

6. Purina Beyond Grain-Free

Purina Beyond Grain-Free Cat Food has both dry and wet options with an assortment of flavors, including salmon, chicken, duck, catfish, and more. These limited ingredient cat food products don't contain any artificial flavoring, wheat, soy, or other by-products. 

Pros:

• Offers both wet and dry cat food options 
• Natural probiotics to help with digestion and immune health 
• Made without any corn, soy, wheat, by-products, artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives

Cons: 

• No single meat options: all contain chicken
• Recipes contain liver from an unspecified source, making it less safe for cats with food allergies

Additional Cat Food Products

• Pro Plan Development Classic Grain-Free
• Pro Plan PRIME PLUS Senior Adult Classic Wet Cat Food
• Pro Plan Complete Essential Wet Cat Food
• Pro Plan Adult Complete Essentials Shredded Blend
• Pro Plan Adult Hairball Management
• Pro Plan Sensitive Skin
• Pro Plan Urinary Tract Health 
• Pro Plan Adult Weight Management
• Pro Plan LiveClear Allergen
• Pro Plan Vital Systems
• Pro Plan Indoor Care Wet Cat Food
• Purina ONE
• Fancy Feast Medleys
• Fancy Feast Savory Center
• Purely Fancy Feast
• Fancy Feast Petites
• Fancy Feast Gourmet Naturals

Pros:

• Offers both wet and dry cat food options 
• Natural probiotics to help with digestion and immune health 
• Made without any corn, soy, wheat, by-products, artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives

Cons: 

• No single meat options: all contain chicken
• Recipes contain liver from an unspecified source, making it less safe for cats with food allergies

Additional Cat Food Products

• Pro Plan Development Classic Grain-Free
• Pro Plan PRIME PLUS Senior Adult Classic Wet Cat Food
• Pro Plan Complete Essential Wet Cat Food
• Pro Plan Adult Complete Essentials Shredded Blend
• Pro Plan Adult Hairball Management
• Pro Plan Sensitive Skin
• Pro Plan Urinary Tract Health 
• Pro Plan Adult Weight Management
• Pro Plan LiveClear Allergen
• Pro Plan Vital Systems
• Pro Plan Indoor Care Wet Cat Food
• Purina ONE
• Fancy Feast Medleys
• Fancy Feast Savory Center
• Purely Fancy Feast
• Fancy Feast Petites
• Fancy Feast Gourmet Naturals

 

7. Instinct Limited Ingredient Diet Grain-Free Recipe Natural Cat Food

Instinct Limited Ingredient Cat Food comes in both wet and dry and only has one animal protein and one vegetable in each recipe. Their proteins include rabbit, salmon, and turkey and the products are free of any grains, dairy, eggs, potatoes, chickpeas, and artificial flavoring.

Pros:

• Limited ingredient products contain one animal protein and vegetable
• Made without grain, corn, wheat, soy, dairy, eggs, beef, fish, potatoes, artificial colors, and preservatives

Cons: 

• Products can be expensive
• Some products have mixed ingredients from different animals
• Recipes contain peas and pea protein, which are unnecessary filler ingredients

Additional Cat Food Products

• Raw Boost Indoor Health Dry Cat Food
• Healthy Cravings Wet Cat Food Topper
• Raw Longevity Adult Frozen Cat Food
• Raw Boost Mixers Freeze-Dried Cat Food Topper
• Ultimate Protein Dry Cat Food
• Original Dry Cat Food
• Original Grain-Free Pâté
• Original Minced Wet Cat Food Cups
• Raw Boost Mixers Multivitamin Freeze-Dried Food Topper

 

8. Merrick Purrfect Bistro Grain-Free Healthy Weight Recipe

Merrick Purrfect Bistro Grain-Free Healthy Weight Recipe is a dry food recipe to help with weight management and is made with whole foods like sweet potatoes and peas for immune system health. This recipe is made with deboned chicken and turkey and has no artificial flavoring, coloring, or preservatives. 

 

Pros:

• Can be either grain-free or include grains
• Includes Omega-6 and Omega-3 
• Products are formulated with pre and probiotics for digestive tract health

 

Cons: 

• Contains potatoes and peas, which are unnecessary filler ingredients
• Recipes have more than one animal protein source, which is not ideal for cats with food allergies

 

Additional Cat Food Products

• Backcountry Cat Food
• Limited Ingredient Diet Wet Cat Food

More About the Best Limited Ingredient Cat Food

Let’s dive more into the best possible limited ingredient cat food for your four-legged friend! 

What is the best wet limited ingredient cat food? 

KOHA has the best wet food options for cats suffering from sensitive stomachs, IBS, or IBD. The patés have only one meat per can with very few additional ingredients to keep your cat companion happy and healthy. 

Check out our limited cat food options here!

 

What is the best dry limited ingredient cat food? 

There are several great dry limited ingredient options on this list, including Natural Balance’s Adult Grain-Free Dry Cat Food, Merrick Purrfect Bistro Grain-Free Healthy Weight Recipe, and Blue Buffalo Limited Ingredient Diet Grain-Free. 

However, if your cat has an extremely sensitive stomach or has been diagnosed with a medical condition, wet cat food can be a better option thanks to its higher moisture content.

Plus, the wet food is easier to digest, so cats can get all the nutrients they need. 

 

What is the best limited ingredient cat food for allergies?

KOHA offers cat owners the best limited ingredient cat food for allergies because the limited ingredient formula is simplified with only one protein, making it ideal for cats with the most sensitive stomachs. 

On top of that, to help cats with digestion, KOHA adds pumpkin to each recipe to make digestion easier for cats. 

 

Are fewer ingredients better in cat food?

Opting for cat food with fewer ingredients can be highly beneficial since it eliminates potential allergens and filler foods that don’t contribute to your cat's well-being. 

Limited ingredient cat foods deliver essential nutrients from high-quality sources while avoiding unnecessary fillers, additives, and potential irritants common in other foods. This simplified approach eases digestion and reduces the risk of reactions, making it an ideal choice for felines with sensitive stomachs or food-related allergies.

However, while using fewer ingredients can be beneficial, making sure that these ingredients fulfill your cat's dietary needs is crucial. Therefore, fewer ingredients in cat food are only better if they’re wholesome, nutritious, and sufficient to maintain optimal health.

 

Is there a limited ingredient cat food with rabbit? 

Yes! KOHA’s Limited Ingredient Diet Rabbit Au Jus is made with 96% rabbit meat and is grain, pea, and potato-free, nor does the recipe contain soy, corn, or carrageenan. Cats with the most sensitive stomachs can enjoy a meal without any digestive issues.

 

Serve the Best Limited Ingredient Cat Food 

Limited ingredient cat food is one of the best ways to provide your cat with all the nutrients it needs without hurting their stomach or causing other irritations. 

When it comes to finding the right limited ingredient cat food, it’s important to look for a product that genuinely has limited ingredients, sticks to one protein source per product, and includes all the minerals and nutrients your cat needs. 

What limited ingredient cat food brand can do all that–and more? KOHA.

KOHA has multiple recipes for limited ingredient cat food that are sure to keep your cat purring after every meal. Each recipe includes: 

• Just one meat per recipe
• Novel protein options for cats who have developed allergies to more common proteins
• Pumpkin for digestion
• Cranberries for their urinary tract
• New Zealand Green Mussels for joint health

Finally feel safe feeding your cat with KOHA’s delicious, high-protein sensitive limited ingredient cat food recipe.