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In other cases, his weight loss may simply be due to Skinny Old Cat Syndrome (SOCS). Being high in moisture and loaded with meat flavor, this recipe should be enticing to even the pickiest cats and, because it is made from wholesome natural ingredients, it will be highly nutritious and easy to digest. Switch to wet food: Canned cat food is more appealing than dry. Vets often cite feline obesity as a key issue to watch out for, but a cat who’s underweight can also be a cause for concern. Overall, this formula contains 486 calories per cup with 40% crude protein and 20% fat. Being underweight increases your cat’s risk for malnutrition if he isn’t eating enough. Cat foods made with high-quality, natural ingredients are more digestible for your cat which means that he’ll be absorbing more nutrients along with those extra calories. This formula features fresh chicken and turkey as the top two ingredients, followed by chicken liver and chicken broth as rich sources of natural flavor and moisture. Make sure that ... 3. Add a flavorful food topper to your cat’s food – look for moist and semi-moist options or you could even add some cooked chicken to entice your cat’s appetite. The easiest change is to switch to a food with more protein and fat. Considering that cats are much smaller than dogs, a loss of only one or two pounds can be significant. Most cat weight loss diets will be a combination of either: High Fiber/Low Fat: A higher fiber content can support satiety and increase bulk, allowing your cat to … Many cats lose weight as they get older, so you might be looking for a high calorie wet cat food for senior cats to help your cat regain a healthy body weight. A source of high-quality animal protein as the first ingredient, At least 30% crude protein for kittens and at least 26% for adults, A minimum of 9% crude fat for kittens and adults, A balance of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, primarily from animal sources, A rich blend of nutrients from natural sources and supplements, as needed, Limited carbohydrate content from digestible sources (like whole grains and veggies), No low-quality fillers, by-products, or artificial additives (preservatives, dyes, or flavors), Provides solid nutrition with 40% protein, Made with 95% chicken, turkey and chicken liver, No artificial colors, flavors or preservatives. Some cats have trouble eating dry food or find it unappetizing – warm broth can make it easier to eat and more flavorful. One of the first symptoms noticed in a newly diabetic pet is a sudden loss of weight, usually despite increased hunger and food intake. Recommended Canned Food for Diabetic Cats→. After all, it is better to be underweight than overweight, right? Obesity is a serious health concern in pets, but it isn’t the only possibility – your cat could also be very unhealthy if he is underweight. Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Indoor Formula Dry Cat … Many pet owners worry about their pets gaining an unhealthy amount of weight. Just about any cat food can help your cat gain weight if you feed him the proper amount. Every recipe is made with a premium source of animal protein as the main ingredient with other natural ingredients to follow. Rich in moisture and flavor. Taste of the Wild Rocky Mountain Grain-Free Wet Food. Meat provides your cat with protein and vitamin A that are necessary for her overall health. This recipe also contains chicken meal, duck meal, and menhaden fish meal as supplemental proteins for a total protein content of 40%. In the wild, more than 50% of a cat’s diet comes from protein. Feed your cat a meat-based diet. If you have a young or very active kitten, she may be just burning off more energy than she is taking in. Canned sardines or mackerel also have a good level of healthy protein and fat, and your cat may be unable to resist. If you indicate that your cat needs to gain weight, his meals will be higher in calories to accommodate for that need. Now that you have a better understanding of what causes a cat to lose too much weight, you may be wondering how to make a skinny cat gain weight to improve his health. This usually means having dry food down all the time, and feeding … While canned food may not always have higher calories than dry food, the smell and taste may encourage your cat to eat more. Feeding your cat the correct amount of food and making sure they stay at an appropriate weight are crucial parts of keeping them healthy. Here at Petsumer we never recommend a product we wouldn’t use for our own pets and we do our very best to bring you honest reviews of the products we recommend. If you can easily see your cat’s bones, it is a sign that he is too skinny. Copyright 2020 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Media, All Rights Reserved. Before you start to panic about whether your cat is underweight or not, know that there is a simple way to find out. Thanks for stopping in, we hope you found what you were looking for! However, look for foods with high proteins with higher fat. If you’re trying to get your cat to gain weight, he needs to eat more so choosing a cat food high in moisture and flavor will make it more appealing to your cat. For the sake of calculations, we will make an assumption that a 6.5 pounds skinny average size cat is underweight and that his ideal weight is around 8 to 10 pounds. The calorie requirement for overweight cats or overweight prone cats is the same as above: (30 x Ideal Weight (lbs.) For some cats, that pickiness leads to low food intake which can lead to unhealthy weight loss over time. How to Feed an Overweight Cat. If your cat is thin, some simple diet changes could change her from supermodel thin to pleasingly plump. He might have a food allergy that prevents him from properly absorbing calories and nutrition, or he could be eating less of the food than he should be simply because he doesn’t like it. Instead, cat carers should calculate the correct daily amount to feed, and either weigh this amount daily, or use a feeding container to give the measured amount every day as their cat’s food supply. We look for cat foods that use high-quality sources of animal protein with a low concentration of carbohydrates. Try Some Pantry Items. This Rocky Mountain Grain-Free Wet Food offers the highest concentration of calories for the brand’s cat food options, coming in at 149 calories per 5.5-ounce can (the average is between 120 and 190 calories per can). It contains plenty of fiber for healthy digestion with chelated minerals to ensure optimal nutrient absorption. Canned Food May Be More Tempting Give tasty treats in-between meal times High Protein Cat Kibble. Whether they are suffering from dental problems or poor appetite, these cats may benefit from switching to a canned food instead of a dry cat food. Offering treats throughout the day or in between meals. Best Dry Cat Food for Weight Gain: Many pet parents prefer to feed their cats kibble because it is more affordable, for the most part, and has a longer shelf life than canned food after opening. In fact, unhealthy weight loss becomes an increasingly common problem as cats age. If you are feeding them wet food, make sure it contains 5% fat and 7% protein, or higher. Achieving your cat's ideal body weight is best for diabetes management. Switch to a higher quality cat food so your cat’s body can more easily digest the ingredients and absorb their nutrients – fresh food is a great option. If your pet is burning up more calories than usual (by living in a hot environment, exercising more, or becoming excited over nearby female in heat), eating a new food that may not be as digestible or eating less food(and therefore fewer calories), it can lose weight. Protein is an important element in addressing these issues, but it needs to come from a highly digestible animal source. Kitten food might be a good choice, since it is higher in protein and fat than most adult cat foods. Dry food tends to be packed with more calories than wet food so you may increase the dry food portion if your cat is underweight. Animal proteins like poultry, meat, and fish are considered complete proteins which means that they contain all of the essential amino acids your cat needs to build and maintain lean muscle mass. There is a great deal of misinformation out there regarding cat food and cat nutrition. We also favor recipes that are highly digestible and free from artificial additives, fillers, and by-products. Your vet can help you determine the right food, portions, and feeding schedule for your cat. Look for grain-free kitten foods, as they almost always will have the highest protein and fat levels, and don't contain any grain fillers, which is like junk food for our feline friends. The average cat food sold today, typically contains 15-30% starch/carbs. If your cat is losing weight, it could be partially due to the food you are feeding him! So please pull up your socks when it comes to spicing up your kitten’s food, and she will soon start growing fat. Senior cats are at risk for dental disease which can lead to dental pain or tooth loss, making it more difficult for the cat to eat. Since cats are carnivores, they need to consume a lot of protein in order to be healthy. Good luck! New York Times: A Sniff of Home Cooking for Dogs and Cats. You’ll also find that they are supplemented with vitamins and minerals to ensure complete and balanced nutrition. The kitten will simply ignore your less spiced food and take the more spiced one very quickly. These quickly growing felines need higher calorie food, which can also benefit your older cat losing weight. Another option is to feed your cat a food formulated for kittens. Older cats may have a health issue, like hyperthyroidism or diabetes, that causes weight loss. On occasion, our suggestions for high-quality pet products will direct you to our partner site(s), where we may earn a small commission, which financially supports further development of Petsumer.com. Cats that are underweight must eat dry foods or kibble that contain 20% fat and 30% protein. A diet made from high-quality, natural ingredients is the best treatment for digestive issues in cats that are not directly linked to an underlying disease. Any cat food that we recommend is one that we would be happy feeding our own cats. Both recipes are packed with premium animal proteins and natural meat flavor, plus a rich blend of omega fatty acids. Look for grain-free kitten foods, as they almost always will have the highest protein and fat levels, and don't contain any grain fillers, which is like junk food for our feline friends. Here are some simple tips for helping an underweight cat gain weight: Helping your underweight cat gain weight is about more than just feeding him more of his current food. Here are some additional recommendations: Some cats become more picky about the food they eat over time which makes your job more difficult. The 9 Best Cat Foods for Weight Gain in Underweight Cats NomNomNow Fresh Cat Food Delivery. Try it Warm Try placing some warm water or milk on your wet food and mixing it up. NomNomNow takes that information and creates a custom meal plan for your cat, sending you regular deliveries of pre-portioned meals customized to your cat’s calorie needs. Here at Petsumer, we care about pets just as much as you do and it’s our goal to help you become the best pet parent you can be. With weight loss, you cat may develop lower insulin requirements. The difference is the total calorie count for the household, which is calculated and then divided between scheduled feedings and food stations. Both of these can be managed pretty easily with a visit to the vet to get the right meds. All of the cat foods we recommend adhere to. Canned Cat Food. No one understands pets like pet owners themselves! Plus, at 410 calories per cup, this recipe is slightly above average in calorie content for a cat food (the average cat food is about 350 to 400 calories). This brand features premium roasted meats in all of their recipes paired with healthy fats and highly digestible sources of grain-free carbohydrates. Try switching to a different cat food flavor. “At diagnosis, some cats need to put on some pounds, some need to lose some pounds, and some need to stay right where they are,” says Thomas Schermerhorn, VMD, Dipl. So your vet might recommend them to help an elderly underweight cat, too. If you’re looking for a good food to boost your cat’s protein and calorie intake without triggering allergies or sensitivities, try this Ziwi Peak Lamb Recipe Canned Food. Cats with digestive issues often have trouble absorbing nutrients. It is important to remember that the best food for an underweight cat is one with as many animal ingredients in it as possible. You may also want to monitor the phosphorus content of your cat’s food if he has kidney issues and switch to a low-starch diet if your cat is suffering from diabetes. To get you started in shopping for a new recipe, here are our top picks for food for weight gain: Overall Best Cat Food for Weight Gain: When it comes to helping an underweight cat gain weight, it isn’t just about calories. Most Affordable Cat Food for Weight Gain: Cat foods for specialized diets can cost a pretty penny. It provides more benefit to an underweight older cat than traditional adult food. 4. Before you check them out, however, take a moment to learn exactly how we evaluate different cat food brands to make our recommendations. 4. If you can get your kitty to eat more calories, she'll gain weight. If you’re looking for a cat food recipe that is affordable but still high in quality, consider the American Journey brand. Since cats are carnivores, it is essential that your cat eat meat. Plain yogurt also is a healthy addition, and provides good probiotics to help your cat's digestion. You’ll also find several sources of healthy fat in this recipe such as chicken fat and flaxseeds. If you’re looking for the best canned cat food for weight gain, we recommend this chicken recipe from Instinct by Nature’s Variety. You’ll also find an assortment of fresh fruits and vegetables, including grain-free carbohydrates, to provide natural sources for key nutrients. If you’re feeding him a high-carb diet, he may not be getting the protein he needs to maintain lean muscle mass which can lead to weight loss. It also contains fresh fruits and veggies as natural sources for key nutrients. Required fields are marked *. When your cat loses too much weight, it can put him at risk for malnutrition, brittle bones, and other issues. Try breaking up your cat’s daily feeding into three or four smaller meals if he has trouble eating a lot of food at once. Kittens, like older cats, need heightened levels of protein and fat. Experience: Our writers have more than 20 years of experience writing about pets, on top of decades of personal experience with pet ownership. Switch to kitten food: Kitten food is higher in calories than adult food. While many cats self-regulate and don't become overweight on this type of feeding, it is often part of the reason that indoor cats do get too heavy. This helps to support healthy lean muscle mass. 2. This particular recipe features fresh duck as the main ingredient which is a rich source of premium animal protein and a high-fat protein at that. In many cases, food allergies are caused by low-quality ingredients and by-products, but some cats are allergic or sensitive to common proteins like chicken or beef. Pet Place: Tips on Feeding Thin or Underweight Cats. With such a high concentration of meat, there’s no room left for carbohydrates, making this an ideal food for cats with diabetes or a sensitive stomach. Kitten food is a fine one-off substitute if senior food is out of stock. While various methods exist for feeding cats, there are two common methods of feeding: free-choice feeding and limited-time feeding. They eat … Your pet is your world and you need pet advice you can trust. 5. They may make your cat feel full, but they won't help her gain weight. That’s why we recommend Wellness CORE Grain-Free Chicken, Turkey, & Chicken Liver canned cat food as the best cat food for weight gain. Overall, this recipe contains a dry matter calculation of 36% protein and nearly 25% fat. In addition to her work as a ghostwriter and author, Kate is also a blogger for a number of organic and natural food companies as well as a columnist for several pet magazines. Free-choice feeding involves keeping your cat’s bowl full of dry food such that the cat can eat as much as he wants. The food is 98% chicken muscle meat and liver, which means that the food is rich in high-value animal protein. 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