Is grain-free cat food better for cats?

Not inherently. Grain-free marketing implies grains are bad for cats, but most cats digest moderate grains fine, and true grain allergies are uncommon. What matters more is that the food is complete and balanced and meat-forward, since cats are obligate carnivores. Grain-free recipes often just swap grains for peas or potatoes, which aren’t automatically better. There’s also been ongoing scrutiny of some grain-free diets and heart health in pets, so grain-free isn’t a guaranteed upgrade. Choose on overall quality and an AAFCO statement, not the grain-free label alone.