It’s no secret that our cats would powerhouse through as much delicious food as we allow them. But if your cat has been packing on the extra pounds, your vet might be a little concerned. As much as your cat might disagree, weight management is super important for cats.
After being spayed or neutered, and with the onset of aging, your cat’s body might not need as much food as they’ve been used to until now. So, if you’re looking for a calorie-light food to feed your kitty, we came up with eight of the top choices we could find. Here are our reviews.
Disclaimer: The foods reviewed here were chosen because they have certain characteristics that might help with some of the causes or consequences of this medical condition. However, they are not a medical treatment or a substitute for medical treatment. Keep in mind that each medical case is different and what works for some pets may not work for others. Your veterinarian is the right person to advise you on the best diet for your pet’s case.
A Glance at Our Favorites in 2024
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Best Overall
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Smalls Fresh Cat Food Subscription |
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Budget Buy
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Purina Cat Chow Indoor Healthy Weight |
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Hill’s Science Diet Adult Perfect Weight |
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Blue Buffalo Weight Control |
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Iams ProActive Health Indoor Weight |
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The 9 Best Cat Foods for Weight Loss
1. Smalls Fresh Cat Food Subscription – Best Overall
| Type: | Fresh |
| Calories: | 1220 kcal/kg |
| Protein: | 15% |
| Fat: | 6% |
| Fiber: | 0.5% |
| Moisture: | 72% |
Smalls Cat Food isn’t found in stores. This is a subscription meal service for cats that sends healthy food right to your door. The company uses high-quality ingredients, like protein from real animal sources, vegetables, vitamins, and minerals. You can choose between several fresh recipes, and they are all completely customizable.
There are several recipes with various protein options, but a popular pick is the Small Fresh Bird recipe. Chicken is the main protein source, with meat from the breast, liver, and heart. Green beans, kale, and peas are added for nutrients and healthy carbohydrates. The recipes are high in protein and low in fat, making them helpful for cats that have a few pounds to lose. The lean protein helps build lean muscle while giving your cat energy to run and play. This food contains no artificial fillers or additives, although trace amounts of vegetable oil are used in a few recipes. We feel Smalls is the overall best cat food for weight loss.
The ordering process is simple. Just head to the website, and fill out a short survey about your cat to get started and see which recipes would be best for them.
While the subscription service is convenient, it does mean you’ll need space in your refrigerator to store the food if you choose the fresh recipes. The food is also more expensive than some other high-quality brands.
2. Purina Cat Chow Indoor Healthy Weight – Budget Buy
| Type: | Indoor Weight Control |
| Calories: | 358 |
| Protein: | 30% |
| Fat: | 9.5% |
| Fiber: | 4.7% |
| Moisture: | 12% |
As far as budget options are concerned, we liked the Purina Cat Chow Indoor Hairball & Healthy Weight Dry Cat Food the best. It is affordable, nourishing, and perfect for weight control. The influx of fiber helps control hairballs and allows the digestive system to function correctly.
This recipe contains 358 calories per cup. The guaranteed analysis of the product is 30% crude protein, 9.5% crude fat, 4.7% crude fiber, and 12% moisture. There is also linoleic acid, calcium, phosphorus, and all sorts of other necessary vitamins and minerals.
Even though this will work for most healthy adult cats, you do need to watch out for allergy triggers. This cat food does contain animal by-products, wheat, corn, and soy. So, always make sure to check the label before purchase.
3. Hill’s Science Diet Adult Perfect Weight
| Type: | Adult Weight Control |
| Calories: | 300 |
| Protein: | 36% |
| Fat: | 8.5% |
| Fiber: | 10% |
| Moisture: | 8% |
If you want high-end cat food and money is no object, Hill’s Science Diet Adult Perfect Weight Chicken Recipe Dry Cat Food is our recommendation. This top-notch recipe is a specially formulated blend of ingredients to promote weight loss and maintain healthy muscle. This reduces health-related issues and provides antioxidants to create a healthy immune system.
One serving of this cat food contains 300 calories per cup. The guaranteed analysis is 36% crude proteins, 8.5% crude fat, 10% crude fiber, and 8% moisture. It also has L-carnitine, acid, and vitamin E to provide proper bodily support.
The company boasts weight loss in 70% of pets who eat their product over 10 weeks. Even though this is a dietary food, the cats are still drawn to the taste of this recipe. However, if your cat has any grain sensitivities, you might need to look elsewhere as this product contains gluten.
4. Blue Buffalo Weight Control
| Type: | Weight Control |
| Calories: | 346 |
| Protein: | 30% |
| Fat: | 10% |
| Fiber: | 9% |
| Moisture: | 9% |
We really loved the Blue Buffalo Weight Control recipe because it is full of terrific ingredients. The first ingredient is real deboned chicken, so you know that your cat is getting high-quality protein with half the calories. All Blue Buffalo recipes also have antioxidant-rich LifeSource bits to enhance appetite.
This formula contains 346 calories per cup. The guaranteed analysis is 30% crude protein, 10% crude fat, 9% crude fiber, and 9% moisture. It also contains magnesium, taurine, omega fatty acids, and L-carnitine for optimal health.
One thing we really like about this product is that it contains all-natural ingredients without by-products, corn, wheat, soy, and other artificial preservatives. However, it might not match all dietary needs, so always check the label before purchasing.
5. Iams ProActive Health Indoor Weight & Hairball Care
| Type: | Indoor Weight & Hairball Control |
| Calories: | 302 |
| Protein: | 30% |
| Fat: | 13.5% |
| Fiber: | 8.3% |
| Moisture: | 10% |
Iams ProActive Health Indoor Weight & Hairball Care Dry Cat Food is a terrific selection to control weight and reduce hairballs. This product helps your cat spike a healthy metabolism. They use chicken as the number one ingredient to provide a healthy dose of protein.
The best cat food for weight loss recipe contains 302 calories per cup. The guaranteed analysis on the product is 30% grade protein, 13.5% crude fat, 8.3% crew fiber, and 10% moisture. It contains beet pulp and promotes a terrific fiber blend to get rid of hairballs and create a functional digestive tract.
This product also contains L-carotene, which helps your kitty burn fat and kick up their metabolism a few notches. The only thing we didn’t care for is that the protein is a little low considering how few calories it has per serving.
6. Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Weight Control Cat Food
| Type: | Veterinary-Approved Weight Control |
| Calories: | 250 |
| Protein: | 33% |
| Fat: | 8.3% |
| Fiber: | 11% |
| Moisture: | 8% |
The Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Weight Control Formula Dry Cat Food is an excellent recipe for weight control. However, it does require veterinary approval before purchase. This recipe is specifically designed to help spayed or neutered cats maintain a healthy weight.
This product contains 250 calories per cup. The guaranteed analysis is 33% crude protein, 8.3% crude fat, 11% crude fiber, and 8% moisture. The product contains L-carotene and low-calorie support for a healthy metabolism.
This recipe is formulated with highly digestible proteins and a special blend of fibers to nourish a cat’s body while controlling their weight. If you think that your veterinarian will recommend this brand, it is definitely worth transitioning your cat in extreme cases.
7. Purina Pro Plan Weight Management
| Type: | Weight Control |
| Calories: | 437 |
| Protein: | 43% |
| Fat: | 9% |
| Fiber: | 5% |
| Moisture: | 12% |
Purina Pro Plan Weight Management Is an excellent selection to keep your cat’s weight under control. The entire goal is to promote a healthy, lean muscle mass while losing the appropriate amount of weight. This formula is specifically a high-protein variety, with chicken as the first ingredient.
This product contains 437 calories per cup. This product contains 43% crude protein, 9% crude fat, 5% crude fiber, and 12% moisture. Because of the high calorie content, it might not work for every situation, so check with your vet first.
This recipe contains considerably less fat than other recipes. It also has a dose of probiotics for digestion and immunity. It contains 600 million live CFU of natural prebiotic fiber that helps grow healthy gut bacteria.
8. Solid Gold Fit as a Fiddle Healthy Weight Grain-Free
| Type: | Grain-Free Weight Control |
| Calories: | 360 |
| Protein: | 31% |
| Fat: | 9% |
| Fiber: | 9% |
| Moisture: | 10% |
If you have a chubby boy or a girl that can’t handle gluten, Solid Gold Fit as a Fiddle Weight Control is a grain-free recipe that might work wonders. The entire concept is to cleanse their system with superfoods that feed good gut bacteria with antioxidants and phytonutrients.
In one serving, there are 360 calories. The guaranteed analysis is 31% crude protein, 9% crude fat, 9% crude fiber. You don’t have to worry about any harmful grains irritating your cat’s stomach, as the recipe is totally holistic and gluten-free. It is balanced with 90 million live probiotics, and it is full of omega fatty acids.
This recipe was designed specifically for less active mature cats with weight problems. However, it won’t work for every cat. It does have a 100% satisfaction guarantee from the company, so you can get your money back if things don’t work as expected.
9. Natural Balance Fat Cats
| Type: | Weight loss |
| Calories: | 320 |
| Protein: | 35% |
| Fat: | 9.5% |
| Fiber: | 9% |
| Moisture: | 10% |
The Natural Balance Fat Cats dry cat food is specifically designed to promote healthy weight loss for our chunky kitties. The price range is within most budgets and the recipe is outstanding. This recipe contains very low-calorie kibble while giving your cat all of the nutrients necessary to nourish their bodies.
This recipe contains 320 calories per cup. The guaranteed analysis on this recipe is 35% crude protein, 9.5% crude fat, 9% crude fiber, and 10% moisture. It also has tons of omega fatty acids and taurine for total body support.
This product also contains some pretty decent ingredients that seem to tantalize the taste buds. It includes chicken meal, salmon meal, pea protein, and garbanzo beans to name a few. This recipe is superb for overweight cats, and the company offers a 100% satisfaction guarantee on the product as well.
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Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Best Cat Foods for Weight Loss
Why Is a Healthy Weight for Your Cat Important?
Keeping your cats at a healthy weight might not seem like a big deal initially. After all, who doesn’t love a big chubby cat? Even though it might be adorable to squeeze their balls of fluff, it’s best to help them maintain a healthy weight throughout the duration of their lifetime.
This can get a little bit more challenging as they start to age and become less active. Also, once a cat is spayed or neutered, they tend to gain weight as well.
Health Issues Associated with Obesity in Cats
There are a wide variety of problems you can face when your cat is obese. These problems can develop over time, or the onset may be much faster. Some issues require treatments, medication, and other potentially expensive management methods. It might also decrease the lifespan of your cat.
Spayed or Neutered Cats & Weight Gain
Once your cat is spayed or neutered, weight gain is very common. That is because these procedures cause a cat’s metabolism to slow down, causing body fat to be distributed to the body, especially in the abdomen.
It’s very easy to tell when a cat is fixed because a large portion of their body weight gravitates toward the infamous fat pouch on their bellies.
Even though some weight gain is expected, it can be really easy for your cat to pack on the extra pounds. If their activity levels are also decreasing, it is incredibly important to get a handle on offering extra calories.
Free Feeding vs. Scheduled Feeding
Free feeding is basically when you place food into a bowl and allow your cat to eat at their leisure whenever they feel like it. Scheduled feedings are routine, set at specific times throughout the day.
If you’re trying to get your cat on a diet, free feeding is not a good option. There’s no regulation here as far as caloric intake is concerned. Scheduled feedings create much more of a routine and allow you to closely monitor your cat’s precise intake.
Weight Control for Cats
When it comes to controlling a wait, there are several different aspects that come into play. Obviously reducing calories is one of the main ways manufacturers formulate these recipes. There are certain ingredients that can boost metabolism while reducing weight.
It’s best to discuss your cat’s weight loss goals with your vet so you can find the best diet.
High-quality cat food is an important part of fostering a long and healthy life for your cat but the right cat food and water dish will promote good posture, offer whisker relief, and aid in good digestion. The Hepper NomNom Cat Bowl is our favorite bowl since it offers all of the above and is beautifully crafted to meet modern home stylings. The wide tray design catches any food and water spills and the entire setup is dishwasher safe. Learn more about the Hepper NomNom Cat Bowl here.
At Pet Keen, we’ve admired Hepper for many years and decided to take a controlling ownership interest so that we could benefit from the outstanding designs of this cool cat company!
Conclusion
Overall, we stand by our first choice—Smalls Fresh Cat Food. It is specifically formulated to reduce the weight of your tubby kitty, but the recipe doesn’t scrimp on nutritional value. Also, it falls into a comfortable price range most families can afford.
But, if you’re looking to save as much as you can during this diet session, take a look at Purina Cat Chow Indoor Hairball & Healthy Weight Dry Cat Food. It’s very price-friendly—plus, it controls hairballs by providing an adequate dose of fiber.
No matter which one of these delightful recipes caught your eye, the one you choose should help curb the pounds on your kitty as needed. We won’t even tell them they are on a diet—it can be our little secret.
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Featured Image Credit: Capri23auto, Pixabay
