Your cat is scratching, or vomiting, or has ears that keep flaring up, and your vet has said the words elimination diet.
That is the moment most people discover Natural Balance. The L.I.D. line exists specifically for this problem and it does the job well.
The brand also has the most recent cat food recall record of anything in this price tier, which is worth knowing before you commit.
- Natural Balance L.I.D. recipes use a single animal protein source and a limited ingredient list, designed for cats with food sensitivities.
- Natural Balance recalled L.I.D. Green Pea and Chicken dry cat food in May 2021 over possible salmonella, with no reported illnesses.
- In July 2020 Natural Balance recalled a lot of Ultra Premium Chicken and Liver Pate over elevated choline chloride, with adverse reactions reported.
- Limited ingredient diets only work as elimination trials if the protein is one the cat has not eaten before.
- Any food elimination trial should be run under veterinary supervision, because an incorrectly run trial produces no usable answer.
Our Top Picks
Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Chicken & Green Pea Recipe Wet Cat Food, 5.5-oz can, case of 24
Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Reserve Duck & Green Pea Recipe Wet Cat Food, 5.5-oz can, case of 24
Natural Balance Original Ultra Chicken Meal & Salmon Meal Formula Dry Cat Food, 15-lb bag
Natural Balance range compared
| Product | Best for | Size | Price | Line |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Chicken & Green Pea Recipe Wet Cat Food, 5.5-oz can, case of 24 | Best overall | Case | $54.72 | L.I.D. wet |
| Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Salmon & Green Pea Recipe Wet Cat Food, 5.5-oz can, case of 24 | Best fish recipe | Case | $54.72 | L.I.D. wet |
| Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Reserve Duck & Green Pea Recipe Wet Cat Food, 5.5-oz can, case of 24 | Best novel protein | Case | $66.72 | L.I.D. Reserve |
| Natural Balance Original Ultra Chicken Meal & Salmon Meal Formula Dry Cat Food, 15-lb bag | Best dry food | Dry bag | $49.98 | Original Ultra |
| Natural Balance Original Ultra Indoor Chicken & Salmon Meal Dry Cat Food, 15-lb bag | Best for indoor cats | Dry bag | $49.98 | Indoor |
| Natural Balance Original Ultra Fat Cats Low Calorie Weight Management Chicken Meal, Salmon Meal, Garbanzo Beans, Peas & Oatmeal Dry Cat Food, 15-lb bag | Best for weight control | Dry bag | $49.98 | Fat Cats |
How a limited ingredient diet actually works
This is the part people get wrong, and getting it wrong wastes two months.
Food allergy in cats is a reaction to a specific protein the immune system has learned to attack. The usual culprits are chicken, beef, fish, and dairy, simply because those are what cats eat most often. Grain is rarely the problem, despite the marketing.
An elimination trial works by feeding a protein the cat has never eaten before and nothing else at all for eight to twelve weeks, then reintroducing suspects one at a time to see what triggers a reaction.
Two things break it. First, choosing a protein the cat has already had, which is why duck and venison are used rather than chicken. Second, treats. A single Temptations, a lick of yoghurt, or a flavoured pill pocket during the trial invalidates the whole thing, and owners do this constantly without realising.
This is genuinely a job to do with your vet rather than alone. The Cornell Feline Health Center covers feline food allergy and how trials are structured.
The recall history, stated plainly
Natural Balance has had two cat food recalls recently enough to matter, and both deserve mentioning rather than burying.
- May 2021: a single lot of L.I.D. Green Pea and Chicken dry cat food was recalled over possible salmonella contamination. No customer complaints or illnesses were reported, and no other products were affected.
- July 2020: a lot of Ultra Premium Chicken and Liver Pate canned cat food was recalled over possibly elevated choline chloride, which can be dangerous or fatal to cats. The company acknowledged reports of adverse reactions in pets.
The 2021 recall was precautionary and handled properly. The 2020 one is more serious, because adverse reactions were actually reported rather than merely being possible.
For context, several brands in the same price bracket, including Acana and Tiki Cat, have no recall history at all. That is a fair comparison to make. Check current status yourself in the FDA recall database.
The 6 Natural Balance products, reviewed
Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Chicken & Green Pea Recipe Wet Cat Food, 5.5-oz can, case of 24: best overall
Limited Ingredient chicken and green pea, and the flagship of the range. One animal protein, one carbohydrate source, and very little else. That simplicity is the entire point: if you are trying to work out what your cat reacts to, a short list means fewer suspects. Grain free with no artificial colors or flavors.
Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Salmon & Green Pea Recipe Wet Cat Food, 5.5-oz can, case of 24: best fish recipe
Salmon and green pea, same limited ingredient structure with a single fish protein instead of poultry. Useful as the second protein in an elimination trial, since you need to switch to something the cat has not been eating rather than just changing brand.
Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Reserve Duck & Green Pea Recipe Wet Cat Food, 5.5-oz can, case of 24: best novel protein
Duck and green pea from the Reserve line. Duck is genuinely uncommon in cat food, which is exactly what makes it valuable for an elimination diet. Most cats have never eaten it, so the immune system has had no chance to develop a reaction to it.
Natural Balance Original Ultra Chicken Meal & Salmon Meal Formula Dry Cat Food, 15-lb bag: best dry food
Original Ultra with chicken meal and salmon meal, the everyday dry option rather than a limited ingredient formula. Solid mid-premium kibble. If your cat has no sensitivities and you just want a decent bag from this brand, this is it.
Natural Balance Original Ultra Indoor Chicken & Salmon Meal Dry Cat Food, 15-lb bag: best for indoor cats
Original Ultra Indoor, with adjusted calories and fiber for cats whose daily exercise consists of relocating between sunny patches. Chicken and salmon meal led. A sensible default if your cat never goes outside and does not need a limited ingredient diet.
Natural Balance Original Ultra Fat Cats Low Calorie Weight Management Chicken Meal, Salmon Meal, Garbanzo Beans, Peas & Oatmeal Dry Cat Food, 15-lb bag: best for weight control
Original Ultra Fat Cats is a low calorie weight formula with a name that does not mince words. Weight loss in cats must be gradual, because rapid loss risks hepatic lipidosis, a serious liver condition. Set a target and a timeline with your vet rather than improvising.
What Natural Balance gets right
- Genuinely limited ingredient lists. The L.I.D. recipes really are short, unlike some brands that use the phrase loosely.
- Unusual proteins. Duck and venison options give you somewhere to go when chicken and fish are already ruled out.
- Grain free, no artificial colors or flavors. Clean labels across the L.I.D. range.
- Both wet and dry. A trial is easier when you can offer texture variety within one protein.
Who should buy Natural Balance
Buy the L.I.D. range if your vet has suggested a food trial or you are managing a diagnosed sensitivity. That is what this brand is genuinely good at, and few competitors offer the same protein variety at this price.
If your cat has no sensitivities, there is less reason to choose it over the alternatives, and brands with cleaner recall records exist at similar money. Compare with our best dry cat food picks, Taste of the Wild, which also offers novel proteins, and the best wet options.
The bottom line on Natural Balance
Natural Balance does one thing better than most: it makes limited ingredient food with genuinely unusual proteins at an accessible price, which is exactly what an elimination trial needs.
The two recent recalls are the honest counterweight, and the 2020 choline chloride incident is the one that matters because cats actually reacted. Weigh that against brands with spotless records. If a trial is why you are here, Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Chicken & Green Pea Recipe Wet Cat Food, 5.5-oz can, case of 24 is the standard starting point, and run it with your vet rather than alone. This article is educational rather than veterinary advice.
Frequently asked questions
Q: Is Natural Balance a good cat food?
Natural Balance is a good mid-premium cat food, particularly its L.I.D. limited ingredient range for cats with food sensitivities. The recipes use a single animal protein with few other ingredients and no artificial colors or flavors. Its recall record is the main reservation.
Q: Has Natural Balance cat food been recalled?
Yes, twice recently. In May 2021 a lot of L.I.D. Green Pea and Chicken dry cat food was recalled over possible salmonella with no reported illnesses. In July 2020 a lot of Ultra Premium Chicken and Liver Pate was recalled over elevated choline chloride, with adverse reactions reported.
Q: What does L.I.D. mean in Natural Balance cat food?
L.I.D. stands for Limited Ingredient Diets. These recipes use a single animal protein source and a short overall ingredient list, which makes them useful for identifying what a cat is reacting to during an elimination trial.
Q: How long does a cat food elimination trial take?
A proper elimination trial runs eight to twelve weeks on a single novel protein with no treats, flavoured medications, or other foods at all. Suspect ingredients are then reintroduced one at a time. Run it with your veterinarian.
Q: Is grain the usual cause of cat food allergies?
No. Cats most commonly react to animal proteins they have eaten repeatedly, such as chicken, beef, fish, and dairy. Grain allergy in cats is comparatively rare despite how heavily grain-free food is marketed.
Q: Is Natural Balance good for cats with sensitive stomachs?
The L.I.D. range is designed for exactly that, using few ingredients and a single protein source. If your cat vomits regularly or has chronic loose stools, see a veterinarian first, because persistent digestive symptoms usually indicate a medical issue.
Q: Which Natural Balance protein is best for an elimination diet?
Duck is often the most useful because few cats have eaten it before, so the immune system has had no opportunity to develop a reaction. The right choice depends on what your cat has already been fed, which your vet can help you work out.
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