Best Weight Loss Food For Cats

Hills Science Diet Adult Perfect Weight

Cat foods for weight loss do not have to be unappetizing. The Perfect Weight Wet Cat Food from Hills Science Diet proves this. Available in Liver and Chicken as well as Roasted Vegetable and Chicken varieties, this cat food, like its dry counterpart, ensures to give your pal quality nutrition that is great tasting.

Pros:

• Expect to see positive results when it comes to your cat losing weight.
• Most cats gobble it down up to the last drop.
• While it is more pricey compared to other brands, it is still considered as good value for money.
• It effectively helps maintain weight.

Cons:

• Check the ingredients since a few have experienced allergies and digestive issues.
• Its scent might be a problem for some.

Purina Pro Plan Focus Adult Weight Loss Food

Though specific formulas tailored for the best weight loss results in cats are never truly budget cat foods, this Purina Pro Plan option certainly offers excellent value. The 46.0% minimum protein content as served translates to a 52.3% dry-matter content, which is impressive to say the least.

A protein content this high means you can expect good lean muscle retention, and that your cat will feel full after each meal. The downside to such a high protein content is that at 427kcal/cup its not quite the lightest calorie cat food around.

Fear not, since Purinas feeding guidelines account for this, and fewer cups per meal equals MORE value for money. Its this incredible value for money that leaves 99% of reviewers recommending this diet cat food on Chewy.

The Best Diets For Weight Loss In Cats

From dry food to wet food, raw or fresh diets, to a combination of them all, cat diets are as varied as cats themselves. Pet parents should always consult with their veterinarians to ensure that there are no special dietary needs for their specific cat. However, putting a cat on a weight loss diet is as easy as knowing the right foods to feed her. Here are the best weight loss diets to feed an overweight or obese cat, and the benefits:

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Lite/light Cat Food Vs Cat Food With Reduced Calories

Cat food labeled Lite or Light, contains low-level calories per gram. Compared to cat foods labeled Less Fat or Reduced Calories, the former would often contain fewer calories compared to the latter.

So, if your fat cat just needs to lose a few pounds, then you might want to try cat foods with reduced calories. If your cat, however, is overweight or obese, then Lite cat foods might work best since they contain fewer calories. Then again, it is still best to consult your vet.

Add Water Or Replace With Water

Add some water to your cat’s food, as it will help make your cat feel full, even if they are getting less food than before. If youre feeding our dehydrated food, you can increase the amount of water you mix in with their meal. Adding water also improves their hydration, as dehydration is a common issue for cats. You can also add water to wet or canned food for the same effect.

If your cat’s still begging for food and its not mealtime, consider giving them fresh water instead. If your cat drinks when you offer, it can stave off feelings of hunger a little longer and train them to drink more water.

Alternatively, you could offer a low-calorie hydrating snack, like our Instant Goats Milk for cats. It helps your cat feel full, is packed with gut-boosting probiotics, and adds a little extra flavor into their routine, and only adds 10 calories per serving.

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What Is The Best Homemade Cat Food

We selected three homemade recipes for cats developed by a feline expert.

These recipes are developed by Debora Robertson and can be found in Cooking for Cats, a cookbook for cat lovers. According to Debora, developing a complex feline diet is complicated, I feed my cat home-cooked meals 30 percent of the time, with a high-quality commercial wet food, making up the balance of her food.

Disclaimer: These recipes are not meant to be fed as a substitute for daily meals and can be fed in addition to a balanced diet. Pet experts and vets recommend working with a board-certified vet nutritionist on a menu plan for your feline if you plan to cook.

*prep time varies for each of these recipes.

Is Homemade Cat Food Cheaper

Yes, in fact, pet owners can save money by cooking homemade cat food, but whether its cheaper to cook meals is relative. Homemade cat food may be cheaper, but its certainly not safer. If pet owners arent working with a nutritionist, then its better to feed a commercial diet.

The next best alternative is wet food versus dry kibble. Wet or canned cat food isnt cheap, but its by far the best option for your feline buddy.

Why wet? Cats need meals with high moisture content. The moisture content of canned pet foods varies from 60% to > 87%. Dry pet foods contain 3%11% water, and semi-moist foods contain 25%35% water. As a result, dogs and cats consuming predominantly canned food generally drink less water than those consuming predominantly dry diets, according to Merck Veterinary Manual.

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Don’t Rush The Weight Loss Process

Finally, be patient. If you cut food or increase exercise drastically, you could actually make your cat sick. For example, cats that go two consecutive days without eating can develop fatty liver disease . Left untreated, this condition turns into liver failure. This potentially fatal condition is preventable if you schedule a thorough health exam with your vet and create a good weight loss plan together.

Just as weight gain happens slowly, weight loss takes time too. A cat can safely lose about 0.5 to 2% of their body weight each week, so use that as a guide for your expectations. Your vet should also give you a rough timeline.

We Looked For Foods That Kept Plant Protein To A Minimum

While its unclear exactly where each source of plant protein lies on the digestibility spectrum, we do know that protein from peas, potatoes, and other plants is less efficient than that from animal ingredients. While a single prey animal offers all the amino acids a cat needs, plant ingredients need to be combined with animal protein and synthetic additives to recreate that mix of amino acids.

Furthermore, many cat guardians report that their cats have less waste when theyre eating a diet composed primarily of animal-sourced protein.

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We Avoided Foods That Contained Animal By

Animal by-products are one of the most misunderstood ingredients in cat food.

Most people have responded to the AAFCO definition of byproducts with the same sort of nausea that you might feel if served a platter of these ingredients at a restaurant. And yet much of the products that fall into the definition of by-products are highly-nourishing parts of an animal carcass that your cat would love to eat. And theres nothing disgusting about that.

Digestibility and quality control are the real problems with animal by-products. These vaguely-specified ingredients may be produced from any number of animal parts from any number of different animals.

A former AAFCO president once emphasized how loosely regulated these ingredients are that You dont know if its cattle or sheep or horse or Fluffy.

Besides not knowing what type of animals contributed to the by-product stew, you dont know if it contains more wholesome liver or nutritionally void chicken feet. If you want to ensure maximum protein digestibility, avoid meat by-products and other vaguely-named ingredients like meat, poultry, and meat and bone meal.

Ways To Help A Cat Lose Weight

Unfortunately, your cat probably doesnt know he is overweight and, if he does, he doesnt care. You cant just tell your cat he needs to watch what he eats you need to help him lose weight.

But how do you create a cat weight loss program that actually works?

The key to helping your cat lose weight is a combination of two things reducing his caloric intake and bumping up his exercise. You want to make sure your cat is still getting enough calories and nutrients to stay healthy, but you want to encourage some healthy activity to burn off the extra weight.

Here are 7 ways to help your cat lose weight:

Before you start taking steps to help your cat lose weight, you should talk to your veterinarian.

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Look For The Aafco Statement

Instead of sweating over the ingredient list, pay attention to the nutrients in your cat food, says Carey. Look for a statement from the Association of American Feed Control Officials saying that the food is complete and balanced. Do you know what your cat means when they make these noises?

This nutritionally-dense fish-based grain-free cat food is AAFCO-approved and a great all-around option for most adult cats.

With The Right Food And A Solid Strategy You Can Help Your Cat Reach A Healthy Weight

Weight loss isnt an arcane pursuit. Once youve established a strong strategy and chosen a nutritious diet, your biggest challenge will be to stay disciplined and consistent.

Especially if youre converting your cat from dry food to wet cat food, youre bound to encounter some frustrations along the way. There will be days when you want to give in to your cats meows and give up altogether. When you feel like youre hitting a wall, take a deep breath and remember that a healthier, happier cat is waiting on the other side.

Track your cats weight loss from week to week. Also, talk to your veterinarian about your cats weight loss. If your cats weight has plateaued, your vet might recommend trying a different food or adding in extra exercise to stimulate weight loss.

Regarding exercise, physical activity is a critical component of weight loss. In combination with fewer calories from the new diet, physical activity will help increase your cats metabolism, helping your cat burn more calories.

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Weight Loss Cat Food Brands: What To Look For

When choosing a weight loss cat food, the smartest move you can make is to read the label carefully. Make sure the food is labeled as complete and balanced, Thompson says, to ensure it has the nutrients, vitamins, minerals, fats, and other supplements your cat needs to stay healthy.

Here are some other details veterinarians like Thompson recommend paying attention to:

High Dietary Fiber Content

Felines need to consume fiber, particularly when losing weight. Fiber boosts the cats digestion while keeping them satiable on few calories. Therefore, check that the cat food has high fiber content.

Giving your pet the highest quality nutrition is a top priority, so why not give them a food and water dish to match? The Hepper Nom Nom Bowl is our product, but its too good not to share.

Made from food-safe stainless steel, you can ensure that your pet is consuming the best nutrition out of the finest bowls on the market. to get yours.

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How Should I Begin A Weight Loss Program For My Cat

Theoretically, weight loss seems simple enough: fewer calories in plus more calories out equals weight loss. Unfortunately, it is not as simple as that. You should never put an obese cat on a diet without veterinary supervision.

“If cats do not eat for as little as two consecutive days, they can develop a life-threatening form of liver disease known as hepatic lipidosis.”

The cat’s physiology is different than humans or dogs and if they do not eat for as little as two consecutive days, they can develop a life-threatening form of liver disease known as hepatic lipidosis . Your veterinarian will perform a physical examination of your cat, and will likely recommend some diagnostic testing to ensure that there are no underlying diseases or obstacles to weight loss for your cat.

Protein And Carb Content

Its also important to look at the nutrition, moisture, and fat content of your cats food. Cats evolved as hunters so their natural diet would be primarily carnivorous. They would consume prey that contains high amounts of protein, moderate amounts of fat, and a nominal amount of carbohydrates.

Pet parents should also look for high protein, says Dr. Ushi-Phillips. Not only is protein almost always a good option for our carnivorous cats, but high protein can help cats preserve muscle mass as they lose weight.

Note that protein and fat content numbers will be higher in dry foods than in wet foods, because wet food percentages are reported on a wet basis and contain a high percentage of water while dry food percentages are reported on a dry basis. You should look for about 8-10 percent minimum for protein in wet foods or at least 25 percent in dry food. Fat content should be a minimum of 5 percent in wet food or 20 to 30 percent in dry food. Some cats will turn their nose up at foods with less protein or fat than is recommended.

Lastly, pet parents will want to avoid too many carbohydrates within the first several ingredients, says Dr. Ushi-Phillips. Ingredients are listed in order with the greatest amount first. While higher fiber food will have some carbohydrate sources, they shouldnt be the main ingredients. Healthy carbs should come from ingredients like organic pumpkin, sweet potato, or brown rice.

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Selecting Weight And Diet Management Food For Your Cat

When choosing a cat food that meets your felines needs and your budget, there are several factors to consider. The first is the type of diet thats best for your cat. Is it high in protein? Low-calorie? High in fiber? How much water content does it have? These questions will help you determine what type of diet management food is right for your pet.

Next, consider how much time and money you want to spend on feeding him. If hes not eating enough calories or protein or if he has certain health problems like diabetes or kidney disease, then clearly hell need more care than usualbut if his health isnt an issue , then chances are he wont need as much supervision when it comes time to eat dinner each day.

Blue Buffalo Indoor Hairball & Weight Control Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe

Our Top Pick for the Most Popular Cat Food for Weight Loss: The Blue Buffalo brand is one of the most popular brands of cat food on the market because they offer a wide variety of high-quality formulas. This Indoor Hairball & Weight Control Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe is a great choice if youre trying to help your cat lose weight. This recipe features lean chicken as the main ingredient with digestible whole-grain carbohydrates for added fiber. It contains 30% protein and 10% fat, with 9% fiber. This recipe also contains fresh fruits and vegetables for a boost of healthy nutrition and beneficial supplements like chelated minerals and probiotics.

• Pros: Designed for weight control and hairball reduction, lean protein as first ingredient, 30% protein and 10% fat, high in fiber at 9%, fresh fruits, and vegetables, chelated minerals, probiotics
• Cons: Not a grain-free recipe, contains some plant protein

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Is Your Cat Overweight

Now that you know what to look for in weight loss cat food, its important that you follow the feeding guidelines closely in order for the food to have the desired effect. You may be tempted to give your cat an extra cup when they give you those pleading eyes, but its in their best interests to stick strictly to the plan.

Other than their diet, there are many ways to help your feline lose weight. First, its important to know what a healthy weight is for your particular breed of cat so you can monitor it. For most domestic cat breeds, no more than 10 pounds is a good rule of thumb, but of course, this can vary widely depending on the breed.

No matter the breed of cat you own, though, they are considered obese if they are 20% above their ideal body weight. So, if you have a cat that should be around 10 pounds, if they are weighing in at 12-13 pounds, they are certainly overweight and likely obese.

You should immediately begin giving your cat regular exercise in addition to weight-loss food. This will help them stay healthy and maintain muscle mass while they are slimming down from their diet.

Start By Consulting Your Veterinarian

Before tackling your cat’s excess weight, you should make an appointment with your veterinarian. Every cat has a different physiology and different needs, and even making small changes to your cats diet, food amount, or feeding frequency can make a big impact, positive or negative. Your vet is the best source of guidance to craft a safe, personalized weight loss plan for your unique pet.

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