The Best High Calorie Cat Food For Weight Gain
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Maintaining a healthy body weight is essential for cats, and obesity is a serious problem. What many cat owners don’t realize, however, is that the opposite can be just as dangerous – low body weight can negatively impact your cat’s health and wellness. Many senior cats have trouble keeping on weight, as do cats that are highly active.
Keep reading to learn more about why some cats struggle to maintain a healthy body weight and what you can do to resolve the issue. You’ll also receive our top 5 picks for the best high-calorie cat food for weight gain.
Compare Best High Calorie Cat Food For Weight Gain
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Best Affordable
2. Blue Buffalo Wilderness Chicken Recipe Grain-Free Dry Cat Food |
Best For Grain-Free
3. Solid Gold Indigo Moon High Protein Wild Alaskan Pollock & Eggs Recipe Grain-Free Dry Cat Food |
Best For Allergies and Weight Gain
5. Instinct Limited Ingredient Diet Grain-Free Recipe with Real Rabbit Freeze-Dried Raw Coated Dry Cat Food |
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Protein
8% Min |
Protein
38% Min |
Protein
42% Min |
Protein
8% Min |
Protein
35% Min |
|
Fat
3.5% Min |
Fat
16% Min |
Fat
20% Min |
Fat
5.5% Min |
Fat
19% Min |
|
Fiber
2% Max |
Fiber
6% Max |
Fiber
3% Max |
Fiber
1% Max |
Fiber
5.5% Max |
|
Moisture
82% Max |
Moisture
9% Max |
Moisture
10% Max |
Moisture
78% Max |
Moisture
9% Max |
|
Caloric Content
750 kcal/kg or 116 kcal/156 g carton |
Caloric Content
3671 kcal/kg |
Caloric Content
3860 kcal/kg |
Caloric Content
1325 kcal/kg |
Caloric Content
3,890 kcal/kg |
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Food Type
Fresh |
Food Type
|
Food Type
|
Food Type
|
Food Type
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Why Do Some Cats Struggle To Gain Weight?
The average cat weighs about 10 pounds, so gaining or losing even a single pound can be significant. Most cat owners worry about their cat gaining an unhealthy amount of weight, but the opposite problem is just as significant. Keeping your cat’s weight up will reduce its risk for serious health problems, including malnutrition, weakness, and lethargy.
Here are some of the most common reasons cat lose weight or struggle to gain weight:
- Food allergies, intolerance, or sensitivity
- Change in diet – the cat may not like the new food as much
- High levels of stress or anxiety
- Old age
- Intestinal parasite infections
- Hormonal imbalance
- Dental problems
If your cat suddenly loses a significant amount of weight, see your veterinarian right away to identify the underlying cause for the problem. Your vet will be able to recommend a course of treatment as well as any dietary changes that might help your cat gain weight.
Keeping all of these things in mind, you’re now ready to learn how to choose the best high-calorie cat food for weight gain. Here’s what you need to know:
How To Choose The Best High-calorie Cat Food For Weight Gain?
Helping your cat gain weight is not necessarily as simple as just feeding it more. If your cat is a picky eater, has food allergies, or has an underlying health problem, its appetite may be low. The best thing you can do is choose a nutritious, high-calorie cat food that will nourish your cat’s body as much as possible when it actually chooses to eat.
Here are some things to look for in a high-calorie cat food for weight gain:
- Wholesome, natural ingredients. Whole-food ingredients are the most digestible for your cat and the most nutritious, so look for an all-natural cat food formula.
- High-quality animal protein. Protein is essential for all cats, but it is particularly helpful for skinny cats because it supports muscle development. Look for a recipe made with a source of premium animal protein as the main ingredient.
- Higher fat and calorie content. Fat is the most highly concentrated source of calories for cats, so higher fat content in your cat’s food means higher calorie content. Just make sure that most of it comes from animal sources with some plant oils to balance the omega-3 and omega-6 content.
- Easy to digest. The higher the quality of the ingredients in your cat’s food, the easier it will be to digest. Avoid anything made with fillers, by-products, and artificial additives.
- Rich in natural meat flavor. Enticing your cat to eat can be tricky, but choosing a recipe that is full of natural meat flavor will help stimulate its appetite.
The Top 5 Best High-Calorie Cat Foods For Weight Gain
The best cat food for a skinny cat is one that is rich in protein, fat, and calories. It should also be made with wholesome, natural ingredients in a formula that is complete and balanced.
Open Farm Herring & Mackerel Rustic Blend Wet Cat Food
Product Info
- Protein: 8% Min
- Fat: 3.5% Min
- Fiber: 2% Max
- Moisture: 82% Max
- Caloric Content: 750 kcal/kg or 116 kcal/156 g carton
- Food Type: Fresh
- Packed with high-quality animal protein
- Rich in moisture, good for your cat’s digestion
- Free from artificial additives, fillers, and by-products
- Only two recipes to choose from (chicken or fish)
- Can be expensive to feed as a cat’s staple diet
Open Farm is a fresh pet food delivery service that sends monthly deliveries of pre-portioned cat food right to your door. This Open Farm Herring & Mackerel Rustic Blend Wet Cat Food features real ocean herring & mackerel in a protein-packed recipe that contains 750 kcal/kg.
Blue Buffalo Wilderness Chicken Recipe Grain-Free Dry Cat Food
Product Info
- Protein: 38% Min
- Fat: 16% Min
- Fiber: 6% Max
- Moisture: 9% Max
- Caloric Content: 3671 kcal/kg
- Formulated for high protein content (40% crude protein)
- All-natural, no fillers or artificial additives
- Packed with omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids for skin and coat support
- Contains plant protein as a main ingredient (pea protein)
Solid Gold Indigo Moon High Protein Wild Alaskan Pollock & Eggs Recipe Grain-Free Dry Cat Food
Product Info
- Protein: 42% Min
- Fat: 20% Min
- Fiber: 3% Max
- Moisture: 10% Max
- Caloric Content: 3860 kcal/kg
- High-protein recipe (42%) featuring real chicken
- Holistic grain-free recipe made with natural ingredients
- Supplemented with probiotics and superfoods
- First source of fat is plant-based (canola oil)
- Contains some plant protein (pea protein)
Ziwi Peak Lamb Recipe Canned Cat Food
Product Info
- Protein: 8% Min
- Fat: 5.5% Min
- Fiber: 1% Max
- Moisture: 78% Max
- Caloric Content: 1325 kcal/kg
- High in protein, moisture, and natural meat flavor
- Single source of premium animal protein
- Complete and balanced nutrition for cats
- Contains some thickeners (agar-agar)
- Some cats may be allergic to common proteins like lamb
Instinct Limited Ingredient Diet Grain-Free Recipe with Real Rabbit Freeze-Dried Raw Coated Dry Cat Food
Product Info
- Protein: 35% Min
- Fat: 19% Min
- Fiber: 5.5% Max
- Moisture: 9% Max
- Caloric Content: 3,890 kcal/kg
- Limited number of ingredients to reduce risk for allergies
- Single source of novel animal protein – rabbit
- Highly digestible ingredients with no fillers or byproducts
- Fairly expensive compared to traditional kibble
- First source of fat is plant-based (canola oil)
Final Remarks
There are many reasons why a cat might struggle to gain weight, so talk to your veterinarian about your concerns before taking matters into your own hands. As long as your vet rules out any potential underlying conditions, you can switch your cat to a high-calorie cat food to support healthy weight gain.
Shopping for cat food can be tough because there are so many options. By taking what you’ve learned here, however, you can make a smart choice that works for you and your cat. If you’re not sure where to start shopping, try one of our top 5 picks reviewed above!
