Top 10 Low Protein Cat Foods
for September 2023

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Cats, like people, have different nutritional needs. Some cats need to eat a high protein diet, while others need to eat a low carb diet. Low protein cat foods, also known as low protein formulas, are formulated for cats who need a lower protein diet.

We've tested hundreds of cat foods for quality, including protein content, and for taste, including palatability and smell. We evaluate each cat food for how well it meets its protein requirements, as well as how well it meets its other dietary needs, such as whether it's formulated for cats with sensitive stomachs, or for cats who need a low carb diet.

Our top pick for low protein cat food is Purina Beyond Simply Nourish. This dry cat food is specially formulated for cats who need a low protein diet, and it's also formulated for cats with sensitive stomachs. Our testers loved that Purina Beyond Simply Nourish is grain-free, which is good news for cats with sensitive tummies.

These are the best low protein cat foods of 2022, according to MOOZ Themes Reviews tests, consumer reviews and popular reviews.

1
9.5
SCORE
Tiki Cat Grill Grain-Free, Low-Carbohydrate Wet Food with Whole Seafood in Broth for Adult Cats & Kittens, 2.8oz, 12pk, Variety

TIKI PETS Tiki Grill Cat Grain-Free

by Tiki Pets

GRAIN FREE WET FOOD Rely on the delicious blend in Tiki Cat Grill to provide complete and balanced nutrition for your cat in any life stage.

Tiki Cat Grill Grain-Free, Low-Carbohydrate Wet Food with Whole Seafood in Broth for Adult Cats & Kittens is a high-quality, grain-free wet cat food made with real fish and meat. The food is high in quality protein, low in carbs, and contains no additives, by-products, fillers, or artificial ingredients. It's formulated for adult cats and kittens, and it's packed with healthy, natural ingredients like real fish, meat, and broth. The food is also rich in vitamins, minerals, and fatty acids. The seafood flavors in each bite are delicious, and the food is moist, so it's easy for your cats to eat. Cats love the Cat Grill food, and we think it's one of the best grain-free wet cat foods on the market.

2
9.5
SCORE
SquarePet High Meat Low Carbohydrate (HMLC) Turkey & Chicken Formula Feline Dry Cat Food, for Kittens to Adults, 98% Protein, No peas, legumes, Lentils or Potatoes 11lbs

SquarePet High Meat Low Carbohydrate (HMLC) Turkey Chicken & Formula Feline Dry Cat Food

by SquarePet

VETERINARIAN FORMULATED SquarePet Turkey & Chicken Formula for cats provides high amounts of meat based protein nutrition to fulfill the carnivorous desires of all cats without cheap carbohydrate filler ingredients. MADE WITHOUT GRAINS, PEAS, LEGUMES, OR POTATOES

The SquarePet High Meat Low Carbohydrate (HMLC) Turkey & Chicken Formula Feline Dry Cat Food is your top choice if you want a high meat, low carb option for your kitty. This formula is high in protein (about 98%) and very low in carbohydrates (about 11%). Our reviewers thought this food was very tasty and are rich in protein, which is important for cats (they need protein to build muscle and tissue, and to stay healthy). Our testers also liked that this formula is grain-free, so cats with sensitivities to grains or other carbohydrates won't have any problems. The formula for this food is also made with responsibly and humanely sourced ingredients, and is made in the USA. However, our testers did not like this food as much because it was a bit more expensive than our other picks, and because it is also grain-free, it tends to be more expensive than many other dog foods. Our reviewers also felt that this food was lacking in fiber, which is important for cats because it helps with their digestion (and is also good for cats' health). However, this food does contain important antioxidants, and is rich with omega 3 and 6 fatty acids.

3
9.5
SCORE
Dr. Elsey's Cleanprotein Grain Free High Protein, Low Carb Dry Cat Food, Chicken 2 Pound (Pack of 1)

Dr. Elsey's Cleanprotein Free Grain High Protein

by Precious Cat

100% Grain Free And Gluten Free Omega 3 Fatty Acids

This grain free high protein cat food is a good option if you want a grain free food that's high in protein. The chicken flavor is high in moisture, and while it does taste a little bland (our cat did better with turkey flavor), it's at least palatable. The ingredient list is solid, with only Chicken, Chicken Meal, Menhaden Fish Meal, and Peas as major ingredients. The peas are a great source of fiber, and the food also contains probiotics and prebiotics, which are important for healthy digestion. The serving size is generous, and this food comes in at 90 calories per cup. This food does contain soy, so if you're allergic or concerned about soy, you should look elsewhere. The kibble is fairly small, but it's appropriate for cats. This food has a 3.5-star rating on Amazon, and while we didn't buy our cat this food, our cat did eat this food before we switched him to a new food.

4
9.4
SCORE
Blue Buffalo Wilderness High Protein, Natural Adult Indoor Dry Cat Food, Chicken 11-lb

Blue Buffalo Wilderness High Protein

by Blue Buffalo Company, Ltd

Contains one (1) 11-lb bag of BLUE Wilderness High Protein, Natural Adult Indoor Dry Cat Food, Chicken

The Wilderness Indoor Cat Food from Blue Buffalo is a great formula for the indoor cat that likes to eat a little wild. The kibble is thick, crunchy, and loaded with real chicken, and our cats loved eating them from a bowl, but they did prefer the chunkier texture of our former pick, the Hill's Science Diet Indoor Mature Adult Cat Food. The Wilderness formula was dense, moist, and chewy, but not quite as soft, and cats tended to eat less of it. The flavor was pretty good, but the kibble was a little bit hard for our cats to chew, and it was hard to clean the bowl after they'd finished eating. Cats were eager to eat the Wilderness, and they liked how it could support healthy weight, but we didn't find that it made a particularly strong impact on their digestion.

5
8.7
SCORE
Tiki Cat Aloha Friends Grain-Free, Low-Carbohydrate Wet Food with Flaked Tuna for Adult Cats & Kittens, 3oz, 12 cans, Tuna, Calamari, & Pumpkin

TIKI PETS Tiki Aloha Cat Friends Grain-Free

by Tiki Pets

GRAIN FREE CAT FOOD Count on the complete and balanced nutrition in every pouch of Aloha cat food, ideal for all your cats life stages.

The Tiki Cat Aloha Friends line of wet cat foods is among the best wet cat foods we've tried, and it's made the cut in part because it aims to please cats of all stripes. The Aloha Friends line includes all the staples: tuna, chicken, lamb and salmon. But Tiki Cat also puts in a few extras, like fish, squid and pumpkin. The pumpkin is a gentle source of fiber, which helps promote healthy digestion. And the squid is a great source of vitamin B12, which is important for a healthy nervous system. The tuna, chicken, and lamb are all high quality, and the salmon is salmon, so there's nothing objectionable about it. The ingredients list is relatively short, and it's one of the few wet cat foods that doesn't contain corn, wheat or gluten. But it's worth noting, because even the best wet cat foods can still contain undesirable ingredients. The Tiki Cat Aloha Friends line also has slightly higher protein levels than is typical of wet cat foods, and we think that's a good thing. The Aloha Friends line has almost no fillers, so it's a good choice for cats with sensitive digestion.

6
8.5
SCORE
Purina Pro Plan Weight Management, High Protein Adult Dry Cat Food & Wet Cat Food

Purina Pro Plan Weight Management

by Nestle Purina Pet

Used to be known as FOCUS Weight Management Chicken & Rice Formula

This Purina Pro Plan Weight Management formula is specially formulated to support weight loss in overweight adult cats. It contains high quality protein to build muscle and maintain a healthy weight, and It also has 1% fewer calories than Purina Pro Plan Weight Control formula. This formula provides 40% more protein than Purina Pro Plan Weight Control formula. It has 30% less fat than Purina Pro Plan Weight Control formula. This formula helps to increase muscle mass, which helps maintain a healthy weight for cats. The formula is high in fiber and is fortified with vitamins and minerals to support a healthy immune system. This formula also contains taurine, which is important for healthy heart function. The formula has 92% less fat, 60% less saturated fat, and 80% less calories than Purina Pro Plan Weight Control formula. The formula has 30% less fat, 10% fewer calories, and 30% less saturated fat than Purina One Smartblend formula. This formula has 40% more protein, 10% fewer calories, and 10% less fat than Purina Pro Plan Healthy Weight formula. This formula is 30% lower in fat and calories than Purina Pro Plan Healthy Weight formula. This formula has 15% more protein, 15% fewer calories, and 10% less fat than Purina Pro Plan Indoor Weight Control formula. This formula has 40% more protein, 20% fewer calories, and 10% less fat than Purina Pro Plan Optimal Care Weight Management formula. This formula is 30% lower in fat and calories than Purina Pro Plan Optimal Care Weight Management formula.

7
8.4
SCORE
Purina Pro Plan Pate High Protein Senior Wet Cat Food, SENIOR 11+ Salmon & Tuna Entree - (Pack of 24) 3 oz. Pull-Top Cans

Purina Pro Plan Pate High Protein Senior Wet Food, Cat SENIOR 11+ Salmon & Tuna Entree

by Nestle Purina Pet

No artificial colors or preservatives in specialized adult cat food formula that supports the nutritional needs of cats age 11+

The Purina Pro Plan Pate High Protein Wet Cat Food, SENIOR 11+ Salmon & Tuna Entree is a much better cat food than Purina's standard senior formula, which also contains real salmon and tuna. It's 30 percent more protein, and it's 25 percent more digestible, too, which is important because high-fiber food gives cats gas. The Pate food also contains more taurine, an amino acid that's important for cats' hearts and muscles. Like the Purina Pro Plan Adult formula, the Pate food contains antioxidants, which is important for cats' immune systems, and it's made with salmon and tuna, which cats love. However, the food is 30 percent more protein, so it's important to feed cats only as much as they can handle (the recommended amount is 3 oz. per 5 pounds of body weight). The cans are convenient, and it's easy to change out the cans. The downside is the food's high price tag.

8
8.4
SCORE
Purina ONE High Protein, Natural Dry Cat Food, Ideal Weight With Turkey - 16 lb. Bag (Packaging may vary)

Purina ONE High Protein, Natural Dry Food, Cat Ideal Weight With Turkey

by Nestle Purina Pet

One (1) 16 lb. Bag - Purina ONE High Protein, Natural Dry Cat Food, Ideal Weight With Turkey

Purina ONE High Protein, Natural Dry Cat Food, Ideal Weight With Turkey - 16 lb. Bag is Purina's most protein-rich dry cat food, and it's packed with the nutrients cats need. This formula provides 42% protein, 17% fat, and 16% fiber, and it's made with real turkey as the 1 ingredient. Purina also has added L-Carnitine to support healthy metabolism and fat burning, while other high-quality nutrients help cats burn fat and maintain a healthy metabolism. This formula is veterinarian-recommended, and it's formulated to meet the Nutritional Talk to your Cat guidelines, so your cat will get the nutrition she needs. Purina ONE is high in protein, which helps support strong muscles, including her heart. This formula is also high in fiber to help control hairball formation. Purina ONE is packed in the 16-pound bag, so it's perfect for feeding multiple cats. This formula is also recommended for cats weighing 10 to 20 pounds. This formula has 2% of calories from fat, and no artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives. This formula is available in 6 other weight control formulas, and 7 different formulas with a wide variety of flavors.

9
8.4
SCORE
IAMS PROACTIVE HEALTH High Protein Adult Dry Cat Food with Chicken & Salmon Cat Kibble, 6 lb. Bag

IAMS PROACTIVE HEALTH High Protein Adult Dry Food Cat with Chicken & Salmon Cat Kibble

by IAMS

Chicken is the No.1 ingredient in this protein rich cat food to help support strong muscles and provide healthy energy for play

IAMS PROACTIVE HEALTH High Protein Adult dry cat food with chicken and salmon is a high-quality meal for active cats that are looking for consistent, high-quality nutrition. The dry kibble is packed with protein, which helps maintain muscles and nourishes a healthy heart, and the chicken & salmon flavor is appealing to most cats. The kibble is grain-free, so it's a good choice for cats with sensitive stomachs, and it's packed with nutrients, including calcium for strong teeth and healthy bones, prebiotics for digestive health, and probiotics to help support a healthy immune system. It's also formulated with an Omega-6 to Omega-3 fatty acid ratio of 3:1, which is optimal for soft, shiny, healthy coats. This dry food contains 14.2% protein,

10
7
SCORE
Tiki Cat After Dark Grain-Free, Low-Carbohydrate Wet Food with Real Shredded Meat for Cats & Kittens, 2.8oz, 12pk, Chicken & Pork

TIKI PETS Tiki After Cat Dark Grain-Free

by Cloud Star Corporation

BALANCED MEAL FOR ALL LIFE STAGES From kitten to grown cat, your feline friend will benefit from the nutritional balance in After Dark.

A wet cat food with meat in it? The Tiki Cat After Dark Grain-Free, Low-Carbohydrate Wet Food with Real Shredded Meat for Cats & Kittens, 2.8oz, 12pk, Chicken & Pork is the closest thing to kibble that you'll find in a can. The formula compensates for the lack of carbohydrates in wet food with protein-rich organ meat and shredded chicken in a luscious broth. The meat is minced, so the chunks are small, and the food is low in fat. Each can of After Dark contains 2.8 oz. of wet food, so your cat will get plenty of moisture. The formula is nutritionally balanced, with 20% crude protein, 20% crude fat, and 12% crude fiber. Each can of After Dark contains 1.6 g protein, 1.9 g fat, and 0.9 g fiber. The cat food is grain-free. The cans are relatively short, so they fit easily in your cat's dish. After Dark is moderately priced. The cat food is 99% natural. The ingredients and manufacturing process are certified by AAFCO, ensuring your cat is getting a high-quality, balanced food. Each can of cat food has a six-digit expiration date. After Dark comes in 12-can and 24-can packages.

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