Choosing cat food for your pet is one of the most important responsibilities you’ll have as a pet owner. This decision can affect the day-to-day living of your cat, as well as their susceptibility to illnesses and diseases. The right cat food ensures that your cat lives a long, healthy life.
One of the ingredients you should avoid feeding your cat is carrageenan. Carrageenan is a food additive used to thicken canned cat food. It’s made from the extract of red seaweeds called Irish Moss and has been used in countless food products through the years. However, recent studies show that carrageenan can cause gastrointestinal problems and cancer.
Carrageenan doesn’t have any nutritional value and is non-digestible. This ingredient is solely added to improve the texture of wet cat food. This means that feeding your pet cat food with carrageenan will only do more harm than good.
Table of Contents
Best Cat Food Without Carrageenan
- Best Overall: Dr. Elsey’s Clean Protein
- Runner Up: Merrick Backcountry
- Best Without Carrageenan or Guar Gum: Tiki Cat Puka Puka Luau Succulent Chicken
- Alternative Option: Stella & Chewy
- Best on a Budget: Taste of the Wild Rocky Mountain Recipe
3 Ingredients to Avoid in Cat Foods
- Food Dyes
- Rendered Fat
- Corn or Corn Meal
Best Cat Food Without Carrageenan
Listed below are our top five options for carrageenan-free cat foods. Take note of the information presented here and check if one suits the needs of your cat.
- Best Overall: Dr. Elsey’s Clean Protein
Out of all the carrageenan-free cat foods we’ve encountered, Dr. Elsey’s Clean Protein is the best. It doesn’t contain any fruits, vegetables, or carbohydrates, making it an excellent option for cats as they’re natural carnivores. It’s high in protein and uses animal sources.
Instead of adding carrageenan, Dr. Elsey’s Clean Protein uses agar-agar as its thickening agent. As stated by PetFoodIndustry.com, agar-agar is an excellent alternative to carrageenan because it doesn’t cause any harm and is believed to aid in weight loss and treat constipation.
We also love the following features from Dr. Elsey’s Clean Protein:
- Doesn’t contain any grains, fillers, artificial flavors, or colors.
- Contains chicken that boosts your cat’s immune system and helps build mass.
- Uses dried egg products, which are great sources of high-quality protein for felines.
- Runner Up: Merrick Backcountry
The Merrick Backcountry comes in second because its first six ingredients are all animal-based and come in different flavors, such as beef, duck, and rabbit. It lists real deboned turkey as its primary ingredient, which is one of the best protein sources you can give to your cat.
Another thing we love about Merrick Backcountry is that it uses antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables. Antioxidants minimize damage to cells and help your cat stay healthy. This wet cat food also contains turkey broth, chicken broth, turkey liver, and deboned chicken.
Here are other features Merrick Backcountry has to offer:
- Doesn’t contain any common allergens, like wheat, corn, or gluten.
- Ideal for all breed sizes.
- Has omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids that support skin and fur health.
- Best Without Carrageenan or Guar Gum: Tiki Cat Puka Puka Luau Succulent Chicken
If you’re looking for thickener-free cat food, Tiki Cat Puka Puka Luau Succulent Chicken is your best bet. It doesn’t contain any thickening agent, such as carrageenan, guar gum, and xanthan gum, and uses chicken as its main ingredient. Its high moisture content aids the hydration of your cats.
Tiki Cat Puka Puka Luau Succulent Chicken also offers the following:
- Ideal for all breed sizes.
- Uses real meat as its protein source.
- Contain sunflower seed oil, which is a healthy source of fats for felines.
- Alternative Option: Stella & Chewy
Another thickener-free cat food that made it on our list is Stella & Chewy. It contains 98% cage-free chickens, organs, and bones, which is ideal for cats as they naturally crave meat. It also features taurine and probiotics, which improve and maintain a healthy digestive tract in cats.
Stella & Chewy is also versatile as you can serve it as dry kibble or add water to improve the moisture. This is why Stella & Chewy is an excellent option for picky eaters.
Purchase Stella & Chewy and get to enjoy the following:
- Doesn’t contain any added hormones, antibiotics, grains, or fillers.
- Offers 100% balanced and complete nutrition for all life stages.
- Supports better health, vibrant skin and coat, and healthier teeth and gums.
- Best on a Budget: Taste of the Wild Rocky Mountain Recipe
You don’t have to go over your budget just to serve carrageenan-free food to your cats; Taste of the Wild Rocky Mountain Recipe proves that you can provide the best diet for your cat even when you’re on a tight budget. All of its first ingredients are animal-based, namely salmon, fish broth, chicken broth, chicken liver, and chicken.
Taste of the Wild Rocky Mountain Recipe also has these to offer:
- Features animal proteins that support healthier bones and joints.
- Increases your cat’s water intake.
- Contains nutrients that provide your cat with energy to thrive.
3 Ingredients to Avoid in Cat Foods
Aside from carrageenan, do you know that there are other ingredients you should look out for in pet food? As a cat owner, it’s important to determine which ingredients to avoid in order to keep your cat active and healthy.
When picking cat food for your pet, make sure to avoid the following ingredients:
Food Dyes
In an attempt to make pet food more appealing, many brands use food dyes to change the natural colors of the ingredients used. However, food dyes should never be a part of your cat’s diet as studies show that they can cause hypersensitivity reactions and behavioral problems.
Rendered Fat
Rendered fat gives additional flavor to pet food but can be a source of microorganisms, such as salmonella, and toxins like heavy metals. Once moisture penetrates a bag of cat food that contains rendered fat, harmful bacteria and mold can immediately flourish and thrive.
Corn or Corn Meal
Corn or corn meal is an ingredient that’s low in protein but high in sugar. Feeding cat food that contains corn or cornmeal to your feline friend will also increase their risk of developing health problems, namely overeating, diabetes, obesity, and malnourishment.
Partner With Your Vet
Before changing your pet’s diet by feeding them any of the cat food mentioned here, consult your vet first. Felines have sensitive stomachs, and changing their diets abruptly can cause gastrointestinal discomfort, vomiting, and even diarrhea.
Make sure that your vet approves of the cat food you’re planning to give to your pet. Additionally, ask for tips on how you can properly change your cat’s diet. With their help, your cat will reap the benefits of a carrageenan-free diet without putting their safety on the line!