Best Cat Foods For Weight Management
Introduction:
Losing weight is difficult for both two- and four-legged people! On the other hand, your cat may live longer and enjoy those extra years if it loses weight and gets in better shape. It can be easier than you think to assist your pet in losing a few pounds. It calls for cooperation with your veterinary healthcare team, attention to detail, and a dedication to fitness and weight loss.
Why do cats gain weight?
An increase in body fat leads to weight gain. This is typically brought on by overeating, particularly when coupled with inactivity. However, other elements may also have a role.
Age: Older cats need less calories, are less energetic, and are less active. They tend to gain weight.
Breed: Certain cat breeds have a higher propensity to put on weight. However, this is more common in cats of mixed breeds.
Gender: Overweight is more common in female cats.
Spaying and neutering: According to clinical research, neutered cats have a reduced basic metabolism. In actuality, neutered cats need fewer calories. Due to a more sedentary lifestyle, cats spayed or neutered are twice as likely to develop obesity. (Having your pet spayed or neutered has numerous health benefits; just keep an eye on your cat’s weight.)
Medical Issues: Weight gain is frequently linked to a medical condition that may require specialized care.
Overfeeding: It makes sense that cats who have unrestricted access to food would consume more than they require.
Overindulging: A lot of processed meals are high in fat and salt. Your cat will want to gorge because this enhances taste.
Feeding practices: Eating “people’s food” and leftovers from the table might cause obesity.
Absence of exercise: Obesity is a common outcome of eating too much and exercising too little.
IMPORTANT: To ensure your cat maintains her ideal weight, it’s crucial to undergo regular weight checks at the vet’s office, even if she doesn’t exhibit any symptoms of being overweight.
Does my cat have extra weight?
Every cat has a weight that is ideal for their breed and size. You can find out what this is from your veterinarian, who can also show you how to make sure your cat is keeping a healthy weight. Put your hands on her side in between examinations to see if her ribs are difficult or impossible to feel.
She is probably overweight if that’s the case. In between visits to your veterinarian, you can also keep track of your cat’s weight at home. Simply hold your cat and go on the scales. Your weight will be subtracted, leaving only your cat’s weight.
Some of the following symptoms could indicate that your cat is overweight:
- Sleeping longer than normal
- It is difficult to feel your cat’s ribs when you run your palm along its side.
- Absence of a noticeable waist
- The collar has to be loosened.
- Having trouble walking
- Slow motion
- Breathlessness
- Anger management issues
How to Safely Assist Your Cat in Losing Weight
Before starting your cat on a diet, see your veterinarian. They will assist you in creating a diet plan for cats that promotes healthy, progressive weight loss without severely limiting food intake.
Hepatic lipidosis, often known as fatty liver disease, is a deadly illness that cats can get as a result of severe food restriction and rapid weight loss.
How to Determine the Body Condition Score of Your Cat
A cat’s bodily condition score determines their ideal weight. Based on the visibility of your cat’s ribs, the existence of a “waist,” and the ease with which their vertebrae can be felt, this is an objective assessment of their body composition.
Following the assignment of a body condition score, your veterinarian can assist you in determining your pet’s desired weight and daily caloric intake by applying the resting energy requirement (RER) formula:
70 x (kg of body weight)0.75 = RER
What is the ideal weekly weight loss for cats?
A cat’s weekly weight loss should not exceed 1% to 2% of their entire body weight.
You should see a weekly weight loss rate of 1% to 2% if you cut their calorie intake to 80% of their RER (this may vary somewhat based on the particular cat).
You can get assistance from your veterinarian in determining portion sizes, calorie consumption, and weight loss. To make sure your cat is following your veterinarian’s plan, weigh them once a week. With the assistance of your veterinarian, boost your cat’s calorie intake by 10% if their weight loss exceeds 2% per week. Cut their calorie intake by 5–10% if they lose less than 1% of their body weight each week.
Please have your cat checked out by a veterinarian if they ever stop eating.
How can I begin an exercise regimen with my cat?
reduction looks straightforward: weight reduction is equal to fewer calories consumed plus more calories expended.
Unfortunately, things are more complicated than that. An obese cat should never be put on a diet without a veterinarian’s supervision because it might be unhealthy to lose weight too quickly or with the wrong food.
To make sure there are no underlying illnesses or issues that could affect your cat’s ability to lose weight, your veterinarian will examine your cat physically and probably suggest some diagnostic testing.
Nutrition’s significance
Your cat’s general health and well-being are significantly influenced by the food she consumes. A healthy, active lifestyle requires eating a balanced diet. Your cat will get overweight by eating too much cat food, which raises their risk of developing diseases like diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, and respiratory issues.
When it comes to treating an overweight cat, food is crucial. A low-fat, low-calorie cat food is crucial for your cat’s weight loss and fitness, in addition to exercise. Another important component is fiber, which keeps your cat full while reducing her appetite.
Your cat should have a continuous weight-management plan based on healthy eating, regular check-ups, and weigh-ins because she may be prone to weight increase after being overweight.
Consult your veterinarian for a precise diagnosis and treatment options, and ask them to suggest the finest diet for managing your cat’s weight.
Ways to Assist Your Cat in Losing Weight
Changes in cat food or a nutrition program can effectively control weight issues, which are prevalent in cats. The best strategy to reach a healthy weight is to combine a change in diet with more exercise.
See the veterinarian
Inquiries concerning your cat’s diet and level of exercise will likely be part of the inquiries your veterinarian asks you. Your veterinarian will be able to suggest some easy adjustments to help your cat’s weight if you provide honest answers to these questions. Before beginning any weight-management program for your cat, you should rule out any medical disorders that may be contributing to their obesity. Your veterinarian may also do testing to identify these conditions.
Cut Back on How Much You Give Your Cat
First, your veterinarian might advise cutting back on the amount of food your cat consumes. If so, start with a 25% reduction in the daily portion. Until your cat loses 1% of its initial weight, keep cutting their intake by 10% increments every two to three weeks. A 1% reduction, for instance, would be 2½ ounces if your cat weighed 15 pounds.
Try breaking up the daily ration into multiple little meals (at least two meals a day) and picking up what your cat doesn’t eat half an hour after each meal if you feed them a single huge meal or keep food on hand at all times.
Compared to a diet that mostly consists of rice, one that includes slowly digested carbs like corn and sorghum may have lower blood sugar and insulin levels. Maintaining a healthy weight might also be aided by lower insulin and blood sugar levels.
Modify Your Cat’s Food Slowly
If your veterinarian advises modifying your pet’s diet, take it slow because it might be unpleasant for them.
Start with a daily serving that consists of 75% of the old food and 25% of the new food. The following day, reduce the quantity of the old food to 50% and raise the quantity of the new food to 50%. Continue reducing the amount of the old food and increasing the quantities of the new food throughout the following few days until the food is made up entirely of the new diet. This technique reduces the frequency of stomach troubles and enhances the possibility that your cat will accept the new diet.
Motivate Your Cat to Play
Increasing your cat’s exercise level might also aid in weight loss. You may educate your cat to play fetch or walk on a leash, or you can give them cat trees to climb. Purchase or make your own exercise-promoting toys. One clever owner throws her cat’s dry food ration, one piece at a time, across the room!
Your cat’s innate hunting urge can also be used to aid with weight loss. Throughout the home, conceal a few little servings of their daily food supply. Make sure your cat uses the stairs if your house has multiple floors.
Be creative, but exercise caution. Keep a fat cat from becoming overheated, fatigued, or out of breath. Remember that an elderly cat might not be able to engage in strenuous activity.
Rewards like playtime, grooming, rubbing, or conversation can be used in place of food treats. Keep the obese cat in a separate room around dinnertime if you can’t resist their begging for food at the table. The regular winner of the food competition sweepstakes is frequently obese if your home has multiple cats. If this is the case, try to keep the cats apart during mealtimes.
Be patient
Reversing obesity is never too late, but it takes sustained patience and dedication. Obesity is simpler to prevent than to treat. Cat weight loss is a gradual process. The cat runs the danger of developing further health issues if their food intake is drastically limited.
The best methods for assisting an obese cat in losing weight include increased activity, calorie restriction, and behavior adjustment (for both you and your cat). It’s crucial to anticipate certain plateaus and setbacks, though. For an obese cat to drop 15% of their initial weight, it will take at least four months. After that, take another look at your cat’s physical state and proceed accordingly.
How soon should I start giving my cat the new weight-loss food?
There may likely be a transition period when you start your cat on a new diet. A slower transition over roughly three weeks may be advised for finicky cats or cats that have experienced GI distress in the past. Start by serving tiny portions of the novel dish in a different bowl. It can take your cat two to three weeks to decide to consume it if they are a picky eater. After your cat has started eating the new food, take into account the recommended transition guide:
- Step 1: Combine 75 percent of the old food with 25 percent of the new food.
- Step 2: Combine half the new food and half the old.
- In step three, combine 25% of the old meal with 75% of the new.
- Step 4: Serve the new food in its entirety.
Depending on how well your cat is doing, you can proceed more or less quickly, but each step should take two to three days. A quicker transition may be suitable for cats who have had a range of meals and textures and who have never experienced gastrointestinal distress from a new food.
Do not hesitate to seek guidance from the veterinarian clinic if your cat refuses to consume the new diet or if you have any worries during this initial phase of introduction. To improve palatability, they might suggest a warm meal, seasoning it with FortiFlora® (a probiotic with flavor enhancer), adding a tiny bit of salmon or tuna juice, or administering an omega-3 fatty acid supplement. Before doing any of these things, it’s crucial to consult your veterinarian team so they can make sure they’re safe (if your cat has any other health issues) and make sure the weight-reduction plan accounts for the calories from these foods.
How can I motivate my feline to exercise more?
Cats were not made to be active for extended periods. Wild cats developed into stalkers who rarely ventured far from their region and used very little energy to find their food. When cats encounter prey, they immediately begin a brief, highly anaerobic pursuit. The majority of wild cats spend less than a minute chasing their prey at maximum speed. After doing this task, they need hours to recuperate in preparation for the subsequent hunt.
It might be difficult to encourage domestic cats to exercise more, so we need to think outside the box to get them to use more energy. Furthermore, every cat is unique, so what suits one might not suit another. Before you notice progress, you might need to allow your cat some time to adjust and try a few different approaches. Among the concepts are:
To ensure that the cat always has to walk to get its food bowl, move it upstairs or downstairs and change its location often. Because they are intelligent, cats will go upstairs to discover the food bowl if it shifts.
The feeding bowl should be placed as far away from your cat’s favorite spots as you can. To avoid having to move far to have a snack, a lot of overweight cats will sleep and lounge next to the food bowl.
Purchase a snuffle mat, food puzzle, or other toy that requires your cat to interact to obtain food bits. The cat must try to remove the dry food once you fill these interactive objects with a certain amount.
At mealtimes, try throwing your cat’s food across the room or down a long corridor to get them to chase it.
Plan moments when you and your cat can engage in active play. Use feather toys, foil or paper balls, laser pointers, or anything else your cat is interested in chasing. Try spending 10 minutes, twice a day, playing with your cat. You can read, watch TV, or even eat while doing this. Variety is crucial for many cats, and what is fascinating today might be dull tomorrow. After the play session, you can reward them with one of their meals or a few treats from the store.
How can I stop my feline from pleading for food?
When your cat begs, it might be difficult to resist giving in, particularly if it happens in the middle of the night or before your alarm. Rewarding cats for begging will just make them beg more, so keep in mind that new habits take time to form. The following advice can help you control begging behaviors:
To teach your cat to beg the feeder rather than you, use an automatic feeder.
Use a smart device that tracks your cat’s food intake or an automatic feeder that lets you regulate how much food comes out in a serving.
Sometimes we mistake attention-seeking behavior for food begging. Instead of rewarding with food, show your cat affection by patting, brushing, or playing with them.
Adjust your meal quantity and frequency. The research is mixed: some studies suggest that smaller, more frequent meals are better for satiety (fooling cats into believing they are receiving more), while others imply that fewer, larger meals have a greater impact on satiety. One way may be more effective for your cat (and your schedule). The most important thing is to maintain a steady overall amount of food every day.
Instead of offering food, provide fresh water. If your cat is staring at an empty food bowl, a drink of cool, fresh water may fulfill his or her desire.
Out of all the cats I own, just one is overweight. How can I give kids a variety of foods?
Since many weight-loss meals are also suitable for maintaining adult cats, you may be able to feed your other cat the same food, depending on their nutritional requirements. You will give your second cat a larger portion if they don’t need to lose weight. A suitable meal dosage could be obtained by consulting your veterinarian team.
Your cats should not share a dish or steal from one another, even if they are eating the same food, as this can result in extra calories. Some ideas on how to do this include:
Throughout the day, give your cats certain meals, and keep an eye on mealtime. After the appointed mealtime, take out any leftovers.
Give the kitties their meals in different places. In one room, feed the fat cat her food, while in another, feed the other cat. Give them a set amount of time to eat, usually 15 to 30 minutes, and then take away any food that isn’t consumed until the next feeding.
The normal-weight cat should be fed up high, out of reach of the overweight cat.
You can come up with several strategies to let the smaller cat eat where the larger cat cannot, depending on how big your cats are. A door can be made just wide enough for the skinny cat to enter by using a safety chain or hook and eye closure. To let the smaller cat in to eat, you may also use a big box and cut two small doors in it.
Make use of a commercial feeding station that only opens in response to your cat’s microchip being detected.
Food should never be left out while you are away. When you are away, you have no control over who consumes what.
For what length of time must my cat follow a diet?
Since every cat is unique, the suggested diet or regimen may need to be modified, which could extend the time frame for the weight loss program. Even though the goal is to lose weight, losing weight too quickly might cause your cat to lose lean muscle and increase their risk of developing serious liver disease, such as fatty liver syndrome or hepatic lipidosis. Cats should ideally lose 1% to 2% of their starting body weight per week; however, cats who are severely obese may benefit more from weight loss of 0.5%.
A few variables will determine how long it takes your cat to reach their desired body weight:
- the speed at which they embrace the new eating plan;
- the weight reduction rate (for example, 1% weight loss will require twice as many weeks as 2%); and
- the overall weight loss goal.
For the majority of cats, a solid collaboration between their devoted, committed family and the medical team is the key to effective weight loss.
The best foods for cats to control their weight:
According to multiple sources, these are a few of the top cat foods for weight loss:
Royal Canin Weight Management Satiety Support Cat food is designed to make cats feel fuller for longer periods, which may lead to them eating less in general. Compared to ordinary cat food, it has fewer calories and fat.
Another well-liked option for weight loss is Hill’s Science Diet Perfect Weight Adult Cat Food. It is designed to assist cats in maintaining lean muscular mass and has fewer calories and fat than ordinary cat chow.
Weight Management by Blue Buffalo Cat food is free of artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives and is produced with natural ingredients. Compared to ordinary cat food, it has fewer calories and fat.
The Purina Pro Plan OM Overweight Management Cat Food is designed to help cats feel fuller for longer periods and burn more calories. Compared to ordinary cat food, it has fewer calories and fat.
Weight Management and Wellbeing Cat food is free of artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives and is produced with natural ingredients. Compared to ordinary cat food, it has fewer calories and fat.
It’s crucial to remember that different cats will react differently to the same meal. It is crucial to chat with your veterinarian about the appropriate food for your cat’s particular needs. They can assist you in selecting a cat food that is both safe and efficient.
You can assist your cat in losing weight in addition to giving them weight-loss food by:
Increasing exercise: Give your cat toys that encourage movement and play with them more frequently.
Giving children smaller meals more frequently can help them feel content and full without going overboard.
You may slow down your cat’s eating and make mealtimes more interesting and demanding by using a food puzzle.
Advice on Beginning a Program to Help Your Cat Lose Weight
- Be consistent and patient!
- You should always consult your veterinarian first.
- Get rid of any food treats.
- Make multiple smaller meals out of the daily allotment.
- Every two weeks, weigh your feline.
- A cat’s weekly weight loss should not exceed 1% to 1.5% of their starting weight.
FAQs
Which food is ideal for a cat with diabetes?
At Purina, we suggest low-carb, high-protein meals made especially for cats with diabetes. For the finest choices suited to your cat’s requirements, speak with your veterinarian.
Can diabetic cat chow be consumed by a non-diabetic cat?
Although diabetic cat food can be consumed by a non-diabetic cat, it might not give them the well-rounded nutrients they require. Before making any dietary adjustments, always get advice from your veterinarian.
Does cat food for weight loss work?
Cat food that lowers calories can help your cat lose weight. Increasing a cat’s metabolism to help them burn more calories is another goal of some weight-loss cat chow. The effectiveness of weight-control cat food in promoting weight loss is not guaranteed.
How much weight loss is possible for cats?
Generally speaking, cats can safely reduce their body weight by 1.5% per week until they reach their target weight. You should weigh your cat every two to four weeks while on the diet. During this period, you can visit the hospital to have your pet weighed.
Does eating indoor cat food help you lose weight?
Weight management cat food and indoor cat food are made to give your cat all the vitamins and nutrients they need to be healthy while consuming fewer calories. For cats who don’t receive as much exercise as outdoor cats, this is ideal because it keeps them healthy without causing them to gain weight.
Is it possible for cats to lose weight?
Any cat, from calico cats to domestic shorthairs, can lose weight, although older cats that are more likely to get sick may experience it more frequently. As their nutritional needs change with age, older cats may experience weight loss. Ask your veterinarian for specific nutritional advice if your cat is elderly.
References
Creating a weight reduction plan for cats | VCA Animal Hospitals. (n.d.). Vca. https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/creating-a-weight-reduction-plan-for-cats
Diet Cat food: Weight Management Cat food | Purina. (n.d.). https://www.purina.co.uk/cat/cat-food/diet
McKnight, S., & Leeson, J. (2024, December 6). The 14 best weight loss foods for cats, with advice from vets. Business Insider. https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/pets/best-cat-foods-weight-loss
Seraydar, K., DVM. (2024, February 13). Cat dieting: How to help your cat lose weight. PetMD. https://www.petmd.com/cat/nutrition/evr_ct_obesity_in_cats_and_what_to_do_about_an_overweight_cat