"Grain-Free Is Always Better" — The Nuance

The Grain-Free Craze

Grain-free cat food has been one of the most aggressively marketed trends in the pet food industry over the past decade. Labels proclaim "NO GRAINS!" in bold letters, and the price premium implies superior quality. But the nutritional reality is more nuanced than the marketing suggests — and in some cases, grain-free may not be better at all.

What "Grain-Free" Actually Means

Grain-free foods replace grains (corn, wheat, rice, barley) with other carbohydrate sources:

• Potatoes and sweet potatoes
• Peas, lentils, and chickpeas
• Tapioca and cassava

Here's the critical insight: the total carbohydrate content may be similar or even higher than grain-inclusive foods. You've simply swapped one starch for another. A food isn't automatically "low-carb" just because it says "grain-free."

When Grain-Free Makes Sense

There are legitimate reasons to choose grain-free:

• Diagnosed grain allergy or sensitivity — if your veterinarian has confirmed a food allergy through an elimination diet trial. Note that true grain allergies in cats are actually quite rare; protein allergies (chicken, fish, beef) are far more common.
• Genuinely low-carb formulations — some grain-free foods use the removal of grains as an opportunity to increase animal protein content. These are the good grain-free foods.
• High-quality meat-first recipes — when grain removal means more room for named animal proteins

When It Doesn't Matter

• If the food simply swaps grains for equivalent amounts of other starches — the nutritional impact is negligible
• If your cat has no grain sensitivity — most cats digest well-cooked grains without any issues
• If you're paying a premium only for the "grain-free" label without any other quality improvements

The DCM Investigation

In 2018, the FDA launched an investigation into a potential link between grain-free diets and dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in dogs. While the research primarily focused on dogs (and remains inconclusive), the investigation raised important points relevant to all pet owners:

• Diets heavily reliant on legumes (peas, lentils, chickpeas) as primary ingredients were disproportionately represented in DCM cases
• Legume-heavy formulations may affect taurine absorption or bioavailability
• The finding underscored that "grain-free" is not synonymous with "healthier"
• Ingredient quality and balance matter far more than any single label claim

What to Focus On Instead

Rather than fixating on grain-free vs. grain-inclusive, evaluate these factors:

1. Total carbohydrate content — aim for under 15% on a dry matter basis, regardless of the carb source
2. Animal protein as the primary ingredient — this matters far more than whether grains are present
3. Overall macronutrient profile — protein, fat, and moisture on a dry matter basis tell the real story
4. AAFCO "complete and balanced" statement — non-negotiable for any primary diet
5. Named ingredient sources — "chicken" is better than "poultry," and "chicken meal" is better than "meat meal"

The Bottom Line

The best cat food isn't necessarily grain-free — it's the one with high animal protein, adequate moisture, low overall carbohydrates, and quality ingredients. A grain-inclusive food that's 45% protein and 10% carbs is objectively better than a grain-free food that's 30% protein and 40% carbs.

Sources

• U.S. Food and Drug Administration. "FDA Investigation into Potential Link between Certain Diets and Dilated Cardiomyopathy in Dogs." FDA.gov, 2019. View source
• Mueller, R.S. et al. "Critically appraised topic on adverse food reactions of companion animals (2): common food allergen sources in dogs and cats." BMC Veterinary Research, 12(1), 2016. View source
• AAFCO. Official Publication. Association of American Feed Control Officials, 2024. View source