Is your cat gaining excess weight? This may visibly show on their body or you might notice that they are less agile than before. Weight issues are common in indoor cats, less active cats, and cats that consume more than the healthy daily intake (among other factors).
Wondering if it’s time to consider getting weight loss cat food? This guide by Sploot Vets talks all about what to do if your cat is overweight or obese—along with some examples of cat food for weight loss.
Overview:
- Getting cat food for weight loss is only one of the ways to help a cat get back to their healthy weight; lifestyle changes and enrichment may also be helpful.
- A high-calorie diet as well as a sedentary lifestyle puts cats at risk of becoming overweight.
- Weight loss cat food is typically high in protein and low in carbohydrates and calories.
How Do I Get My Cat Back to a Healthy Weight?
Do you suspect that your cat is carrying some excess weight? If so, we highly recommend booking a pet wellness exam. These physical exams assess your cat’s overall health and veterinarians can give you recommendations to optimize their diet and lifestyle, ensuring that they are as healthy and happy as possible..
By consulting a veterinarian, you get personalized insights on the safest and most effective solutions to help your cat get back to a healthy weight—along with other highly beneficial recommendations that help keep serious illness at bay.
What is the Difference Between Overweight & Obese Cats?
Overweight vs Obese Cat’s Weight & BCS
Overweight and obese cats both carry excess body fat, but the main difference is how much excess weight they have. This can be measured through
- Overweight cats have 10 to 20 percent more than their ideal body weight.
- Obese cats typically exceed their ideal body weight by over 20 percent.
The difference between an overweight and obese cat can also be demonstrated through the body conditioning score (BCS), a standardized scale for classifying a cat’s weight.
- Overweight cats have a BCS of 6 to 7, wherein the ribs, spine, and hip bones are not visible and challenging to feel due to excess fat. The waist of the cat is also minimal or absent from above.
- Obese cats have a BCS of 8 to 9, wherein a thick layer of fat covers the ribs, spine, and hip bones, making them difficult to feel. The waist may appear distended from above and there are fat deposits on the neck, chest, and lower spine.
Overweight vs Obese Cat Treatment
Another key difference is the treatment strategy for overweight and obese cats. Obesity may produce more complications that require attention. Treatment for weight issues can comprise of the following:
- For overweight cats – vets may recommend moderate dietary changes like switching to indoor cat food, wet food with fewer carbohydrates, non-prescription weight loss cat food, and fewer treats. Vets may also encourage additional playtime and slow feeding, as well as cat furniture to enrich their environment.
- For obese cats – vets may recommend prescription weight loss cat food (e.g. metabolic cat food). Treatment may also be given for possible complications like diabetes, heart disease, and arthritis. Additional playtime would be highly encouraged, with some safety notes on joint-friendly cat exercises. Lastly, you may be asked to bring your cat regularly for weigh-ins and check-ups.
Note: If your cat is free-feeding, there is an increased likelihood of developing weight issues. Your veterinarian may recommend transitioning to scheduled meals or ways to control the total caloric intake of your cat.
Does Cat Weight Loss Food Work?
Though additional playtime helps, the main method of weight loss for cats is through diet optimization—especially since most cats cannot be taken on walks or trained for agility courses the same way that dogs can.
Cat weight loss food works by reducing your cat’s caloric intake in a gradual and comfortable pace. Typically, cat food for weight loss has fewer calories and carbohydrates than usual cat food. However, they are packed with protein and vital nutrients that cats need to stay healthy.
Weight loss cat food can also contain ingredients that help speed up your cat’s metabolism and boost fat burning—these are known as ‘metabolic cat foods’.
What is the Best Weight Loss Cat Food?
When looking for the best weight loss or weight management cat food, here’s what to look for:
- Recommended by your veterinarian
- AAFCO-approved
- Indicated for indoor cats, weight management, weight care, or weight loss
- Portion-controlled as per recommendations.
As a starting point for conversations with your vet, here are some examples of top-rated weight-management cat food:
1. Hill's Prescription Diet Metabolic – Wet Cat Food
- Available on SplootRX online pet store. Get 35% off (up to $20) on your first order with the promo code WELCOME
- One of the best weight loss cat food, AAFCO-approved, PRESCRIPTION REQUIRED
Hill's Prescription Diet Metabolic Wet Food is packed with protein and is specially formulated to help cats lose weight, avoid weight regain, and promote overall health.
This wet cat food also contains added moisture to help support healthy hydration. It is also formulated with S+OXSHIELD to help reduce the risk of struvite and calcium oxalate crystals in the urinary system.
Note: According to Hill’s® 88 percent of pets lost weight at home in 2 months with the nutrition of Metabolic.
2. Hill's Prescription Diet Metabolic – Dry Cat Food
- Available on SplootRX online pet store. Get 35% off (up to $20) on your first order with the promo code WELCOME
- One of the best weight loss cat food, AAFCO-approved, PRESCRIPTION REQUIRED
Hill's Prescription Diet Metabolic - Dry Cat Food features a blend of ingredients to help cats lose weight, stay satisfied between meals, and receive optimal nutrition. It also contains powerful antioxidants to promote cellular health and immunity.
This prescription weight loss cat food also features an S+OXSHIELD formula that helps reduce calcium oxalate and struvite crystal formation, which are common causes of urinary blockages in cats.
Note: According to Hill’s® 88 percent of pets lost weight at home in 2 months with the nutrition of Metabolic.
3. Hill’s Prescription Diet Multicare + Metabolic – Dry Cat Food
- Available on SplootRX online pet store. Get 35% off (up to $20) on your first order with the promo code WELCOME
- One of the best weight loss cat food, AAFCO-approved, PRESCRIPTION REQUIRED
Hill’s Prescription Diet Multicare + Metabolic - Dry Cat Food helps address urinary and joint issues that are common in obese cats—while also promoting healthy weight loss and overall nutrition.
This prescription weight loss cat food contains antioxidants for cellular health and omega-3 fatty acids that support joint health. Another key feature is its S+OXSHIELD formula, which helps reduce the risk of developing struvite and calcium oxalate crystals—along with controlled levels of magnesium, calcium, and phosphorus, which also helps reduce stone formation in the urethra.
Note: According to Hill’s® pet parents observed visible weight loss and increased social interaction on this nutrition.
Frequently Asked Questions: Cat Food for Weight Loss
Should I Switch My Cat to Wet Food to Lose Weight?
Wet food for cats typically contains more water content and less carbohydrates compared to dry cat food counterparts. Therefore, some cats can lose weight by either switching to wet food or mixed feeding (both wet and dry food).
However, the effectiveness of the above solutions still depends on portion control and your cat’s lifestyle. In any case, it’s always best to consult a veterinarian to safely facilitate weight loss while preventing malnutrition.
How Long Does It Take For A Cat To Lose Weight On Diet Food?
By following the diet and lifestyle recommendations provided by a vet, cats can lose 0.5 to 1.0 lbs per month. To estimate how long a cat would need diet cat food to lose weight, we must take into account the average weight for their breed and their starting weight.
Most domestic cats weigh 8 to 12 lbs, with female cats tending to be on the smaller and lighter side than male counterparts. However, some larger breeds have different weight ranges, such as:
Here are some example scenarios. These are only for illustrative purposes and may be affected by other individual factors like age, health conditions, and so on:
- If a domestic cat has a starting weight of 14.4 lbs, It may take them over 2 to 4 months to reach a healthy weight of 12 lbs.
- If a Siberian cat has a starting weight of 24 lbs, it may take them 4 to 8 months to reach a healthy weight of 20 lbs.
Final Thoughts on Helping Your Cat Lose Weight
We trust that you found this guide on weight loss cat food helpful. As a final reminder, a pet wellness exam is the best starting point for managing your cat’s weight.
Make sure to also ask your vet about the safest ways to encourage exercise in obese cats. While your cat still has excess weight, this can affect their balance, agility, and joints. Therefore, starting with lower and more gradual climbing furniture may be best.
For severely overweight cats, physical therapy and water therapy may be recommended—along with joint supplements like Omega-3 for cats.
Weight & Wellness Consultations for Cats at Sploot Vets
Looking to get your cat’s weight assessed and start their journey toward better health? Sploot Vets is here for you!
Sploot Veterinary Care provides all-in-one, next-level vet care for cats. We offer primary (preventive), urgent, and emergency vet services under one roof, 365 days a year, with extended vet clinic hours.
Your cat’s comfort is our priority. Our Fear Free certified medical teams are here to make sure that vet visits are a stress-free and positive experience!
Schedule an appointment online or through the Sploot Vets app.
Till next time, we’re with you every pounce of the way!
