Unlock the Secret to Allergy-Free Cats: Ultimate Guide to Hypoallergenic Diet Ingredients!

If your feline friend struggles with food allergies or sensitivities, choosing the right hypoallergenic cat food is crucial for their health and well-being. Food allergies in cats can lead to symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, excessive scratching, or even skin rashes. By switching to a hypoallergenic diet for cats, you can alleviate these issues and provide them with the nutrition they need without triggering allergic reactions. Studies show that food allergies account for about 10-15% of all feline allergies. Hypoallergenic food for cats is designed to minimize allergic reactions by avoiding common allergens like beef, dairy, wheat, corn, and soy. Such diets can be essential for cats with sensitivities or conditions like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Understanding Food Allergies in Cats

Sometimes, the body’s immune system recognizes components of the diet as ‘foreign’ and reacts to them. The protein component is the most likely cause for adverse food reactions (AFRs) in dog and cat diets. Two ways of diagnosing and addressing AFRs are by feeding either a hydrolyzed protein diet or a novel protein diet as part of a diet trial.

Diagnosing and Addressing Adverse Food Reactions

Elimination diet trials are the most reliable way to accurately diagnose a food allergy (adverse food reaction) or food intolerance in dogs and cats. The recommended hydrolyzed or novel protein diet is fed exclusively for 6-10 weeks, followed by a dietary rechallenge. A negative response (increased itching, etc.) can take up to two weeks to develop and indicates a positive food allergy. It is important to only re-introduce a single protein source at a time when rechallenging to accurately identify which protein is causing the reaction. It can take some time and experimenting to identify a true food allergy.

Hydrolyzed Protein Diets

Hydrolyzed protein diets are those where the protein source (ex. chicken, fish, soy) has been broken down into very small pieces, similar to how the body normally digests food. This makes it more difficult for the body to detect this potentially allergenic component and react to it. Choosing a hydrolyzed protein diet can take the guesswork out of your pet’s diet history.

Novel Protein Diets

A novel protein is one that the body has never been exposed to before. Prescription novel ingredient diets can be good options for pets that need a diet trial, but they require an excellent understanding of what your pet has previously eaten. Any previous exposure to the diet component suspected to be responsible for your pet’s signs, however small, can set them up for a future reaction. And even though a protein source may be novel to your pet, cross-reactions between similar proteins can occur.

Read also: Kidney-Friendly Cat Food Explained

Veterinary Prescription vs. Over-the-Counter Diets

One of the main differences between veterinary prescription hypoallergenic diet and over-the-counter (OTC) diets is the way in which they are manufactured. Prescription hydrolyzed diets and novel protein have far stricter quality control while OTC diets can contain contaminant proteins that may skew the results of an elimination diet trial.

Grain-Free vs. Hypoallergenic Diets

Generally, no, a grain-free diet is not the same as a hypoallergenic or hydrolyzed diet. Over-the-counter diets advertised as ‘grain-free’ are not typically limited-ingredient and may contain multiple protein and carbohydrate sources or contaminant nutritional components. While diets that are chosen for an elimination diet trial may be grain-free, they are specifically formulated and checked to have only the desired ingredients we want for the diet trial.

Treat Options During a Diet Trial

The companies that make prescription hydrolyzed diets also make compatible treats! Another option is reserving a portion of your pet’s normal meal to use pieces of kibble as individual treats. If you need a softer or ‘wetter’ food, your pet’s hydrolyzed diet may come in a canned version or you can add water to the kibble and then blend it.

The Inaccuracy of Skin and Blood Tests

Unfortunately, skin and blood tests don’t accurately identify food allergens.

Long-Term Feeding of Hydrolyzed Diets

Maybe a hydrolyzed diet is necessary for the diet trial period (6-10 wks) and then the animal can be re-challenged with a single protein source.

Read also: Guide to Raw Feeding for Cats

Top Hypoallergenic Cat Food Considerations

The right hypoallergenic food for cats eliminates common allergens and provides balanced nutrition to prevent allergic reactions. The top 5 hypoallergenic cat foods you should consider, focusing on their benefits, ingredients, and suitability for cats with food allergies.

Key Features of Hypoallergenic Cat Food

Hypoallergenic cat food is specially formulated to reduce the risk of allergic reactions in cats. It typically avoids common allergens like beef, dairy, wheat, and soy, using novel or hydrolyzed proteins instead.

Recognizing Signs of Food Allergies

If your cat exhibits signs of food allergies-such as excessive scratching, skin irritations, vomiting, or diarrhea-consult your veterinarian.

Hypoallergenic Food for Kittens

Yes, some hypoallergenic cat foods are specifically formulated for kittens.

Time to See Improvements

It can take 6-8 weeks to notice improvements in your cat’s symptoms after switching to a hypoallergenic diet.

Prescription Requirements

Not always some hypoallergenic foods, such as limited ingredient diets, can be purchased without a prescription.

Real-World Examples and Testimonials

Numerous cat owners have shared their positive experiences with hypoallergenic cat foods.

One owner mentioned that after switching to Nutrience + for sensitive stomachs, their cat Bailey's GI issues disappeared, and he could finally enjoy treats.
Another owner shared that their elderly cat, who had been losing weight, regained half a pound after trying a sample of CARE+ Sensitive Skin and Stomach food.
One cat owner reported that after switching to Nutrience's premium products her cat no longer has stomach issues.
Another cat owner said that Nutrience Sensitive is exactly what Cinder needed and his stomach issues have completely settled and fully attribute it to the change in food.
My picky little evil Eva one just loved this dry food.
My cats loved the sensitive stomach dry food. Awesome product! High quality ingredients, grain free.
My cat had constant urinary issues. I didn’t want to switch to the vet formula due to the cost of the food that had such horrible ingredients.
I was so relieved that Nutrience came out with a urinary food.
I have 3 cats, 2 are allergic to fowl and 1 is allergic to beef. This is the only food i can feed to all 3.
My 4 years old female cat really liked it!
My female who has the sensitive belly is sooo with the new cat food but my male cat seems to be enjoying it. His coat is so much softer now and his belly is getting better.
The cats love this stuff. They had been on a hunger strike for a month eating the next thing we could find after the one we were "prescribed" by the vet was discontinued. I got a sample of this food and they thought it was Christmas morning.
My Sphynx, Jack, loved the Care Line!
Mini loves her nutrience food ! Her digestive issue seem to be better since we started feeding her.
My two kitties love their new food.
Our older cat is not a fan of eating dry food at all! All he ever wants is fishy wet food! But with so many issues with his skin as he's gotten older, we tried slowly introducing this one! He definitely still prefers wet food, but he will sit and nibble away at this one.
Probably because salmon is the number one ingredient!
She loves the food.
My cats love Nutrience.
My male cat loves the new food!
My cat loves this new food!
I made the switch from the department store brands to nutrience, my cat loves it. I have noticed a huge improvement with his skin and stomach.
Our Ivy loves her new food and has no problems.
My cat loved the taste of this food, in particular the Sensitive skin and stomach salmon and pumpkin flavour.
My cat loved the cat food.
Our cat loves it.
My cat love it!
My boy Oscar loves his Nutrience Sensitive Stomach food. To my surprise it worked wonders. His skin is sooo good now.
My cats absolutely love for sensitive skin and stomach Nutrience sample food we received.
Mon chat adore cette nourriture.
Sara received a sample pack of CARE+ Sensitive Skin and Stomach and she loves it (so much so that she’ll chase us down at meal time).
We adopted our cat, Bailey 5 months ago and he had GI issues. We tried a few different cat foods for Sensitive stomach but they didn’t work.
A sales lady at a pet store suggested Nutrience + for sensitive stomachs. We did and our cat, Bailey absolutely loves it and the wet food as well. His GI issues are gone and for the first time since we had him, he can eat treats.
I received a very generous sample sized bag of this food and both of my kitties went crazy over it.
We have an elderly cat who has been losing weight for unknown reasons. He was on an expensive vet brand food but it wasn’t helping. He loved this food so much that he gained back just about half a pound!
This food is amazing! Over a year of chronic diarrhea cleared up in less than a week! His bloating is gone and neither of our cats has had a hairball fit in a month. They are healthy and happy and the litter box is so much easier to clean.
Nutrience has always been one of my favourite brands.
I got the sample pack of CARE+ Sensitive Skin and Stomach | Hypoallergenic Cat Food for my kitty Thunder. He absolutely gobbled it up without hesitation. He loves every Nutrience product I have fed him.
My cat enjoys this food & I have noticed a significant difference with her skin & fur. 5 Stars!
My cat Shaggie is 21.5 years old. She is not very interested in eating and suffers various health issues. When I give her the sample (sensitive stomach) she chews it down with great enthusiasm. This must be because of taste for sure and it must be edible for her even though she has unresolvable dental/gum issues. I am so pleased she loves this and shows some energy at her old age. I had previously tried the dental formula and it was a hit. The sensitive skin and stomach had the same awesome reaction!
My kitten loved these and i had to buy him the regular size after he refused to eat anything else. Not only is it healthy and packed with nutrients from salmon and pumpkin, it is also appetizing to cats!
Both my kitties love this! It took a while for them to adjust even though I was mixing it in with their old food and I still am but they were so greasy it was gross. I was going to stop using it but I thought, may as well wait until I'm done with it and now they're back to a nice shiny sleek coat.
My cat loves this food! It is good for her sensitive stomach.
Mister loves his food! Comes running every time.
Bagheera always had GI issues and troubles with hairballs. This has helped her so much with both areas, can't be more thankful.
My cat had stomach issues, but since trying Nutrience's premium products does not have those issues anymore.
My cats absolutely love your dry food.
I feed him this sensitive stomach dry food as my one cat her stomach is extremely sensitive and I find your cat food has truly helped my cats sensitive stomach is this is the only food I've been feeding her for a while as she seems to settle it in her stomach quite well. And I wanted to thank you so much for supplying my cat food that she can eat and that helps her I really do appreciate it.

These testimonials highlight the positive impact of hypoallergenic diets on cats with sensitivities, showcasing improvements in digestion, skin health, and overall well-being.

Pro Plan LiveClear: An Innovative Approach to Allergen Reduction

Allergens coming between you and your cat? Try Pro Plan LiveClear®. Pro Plan LiveClear allergen reducing cat food reduces the major allergen in cat hair and dander in as little as 3 weeks. Try it, and see for yourself. You don’t have to choose between your allergen reduction and your cat’s nutrition needs. Pro Plan LiveClear gives you the best of both worlds-including specialized nutrition for kittens, adults, seniors, indoor cats and more. Plus, LiveClear comes in a variety of formulas.

How Pro Plan LiveClear Works

As cats groom themselves, there’s a common allergen in their saliva that gets on their fur. When they eat LiveClear, that allergen is neutralized, simply and safely.

Prescription Requirement for Pro Plan Veterinary Diets

Per FDA guidelines for therapeutic pet food, you need a prescription for Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets. Non therapeutic diets, supplements and treats do not require approval for purchase.

Satisfaction Guarantee

Yes, the products are backed by a 100% satisfaction guarantee. If you are not completely satisfied for any reason, a refund of your purchase price will be provided.

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