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Is grain-free dry cat food with potato flakes good for digestion?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | Persian | Female | unspayed | 5 months and 29 days old | 5 lbs

Does this dry food good for my cat? I see they add potato flakes 19% into the composition but they claim it is grainfree and glutenfree. I have read that potato is not good for cat concerning cat's digestion.

4 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Dr. Heidi DVM, CVA, CCRT, CVTP, CVSMT, CVCH

Veterinarian, Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist, Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner

Published on December 29th, 2017

In order to make a dry food, the manufacturer has to put in some type of carbohydrate. That used to be grains, but now people want grain free, so they will use potato or sweet potato or pea most commonly. Cats cannot use carbohydrates well and they contribute to obesity, but carbohydrates are necessary to make a dry food. If you are concerned about carbohydrates in dry food, I would recommend a canned food diet for Burrikh. My cats eat canned food only and are doing well, but make sure you do a slow transition to any new food. I have included more information on cat diets below for you.
http://catinfo.org
Good luck! I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using PetCoach.

2Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Dr. Davis
Veterinarian
Published on October 12th, 2017
Cats are carnivores so I prefer an all meat or fish diet. Dry food has an excess of carbohydrates for cats and that is why so many cats are now overweight. I recommend feeding an all meat wet food twice daily and I add in a tablespoon of plain canned pumpkin for additional fiber. If you are feeding dry I do use grain free and one that is high in meat protein. There are many good cat foods so find one that they like and stick with it. I find switching foods often can cause upset stomachs, diarrhea, food allergies and fussy eaters. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you get answers to your veterinary questions.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Dr. Strydom, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on October 12th, 2017
There is no data or studies that show that cats need a grain free diet. The only reason this would be indicated is if you had allergy testing done on your cat and it was determined he/she was allergic to some type of grain. Otherwise, it is not necessary.

White potatoes are OK if they are plain (no butter or spices). That being said, I don't know too many cats that will eat them. Just feeding a premium brand cat food should be enough.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Catherine Stecyk
Veterinarian
Published on March 3rd, 2019
Hello and thank you for reaching out to PetCoach. Purina makes several options of grain-free diets for cats, and this is a reputable brand. That being said, most veterinarians do not recommend feeding grain-free diets to cats or dogs. Grains provide vital nutrients to cats (and dogs) and do not cause any harm. Most food allergies in cats and dogs are to specific types of proteins, not grains. Some grain-free diets are lower in carbohydrates, which means that they can be quite high in both fat and calories. Other grain-free diets merely substitute similar amounts of highly refined starches such as those from potatoes or tapioca (cassava) in place of grains. These ingredients may provide fewer nutrients and less fiber than whole grains, while costing more. Please see the attached link to learn more about the truth about grain-free diets, and share with your friends! http://vetnutrition.tufts.edu/2016/06/grain-free-diets-big-on-marketing-small-on-truth/. I hope this is helpful!
2Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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