Ever wonder if there is any cat food best to give a cat to help her gain weight?
In short, your Underweight cat must be put on a heavy protein dietary consumption of around 30% while the fatty acids of 20% are required as a minimum.
And if your feline is predominantly fed on wet cat food, a 7% protein content is required as a minimum while 5% of fatty acids is needed as a minimum for canned wet cat food or wet cat food pooches.
On top of a daily regular feline diet, make sure you are also supplementing your cat food with small measured amounts of special select high-calorie wet canned cat food or wet cat food pouches made of 100% deboned meat sources free from additives.
As a pet owner, I know how easy it can be to worry the most about your cat being overweight, which admittedly, it is a very common problem among cats.
Yet the most dangerous condition for the majority of pets that succumbed to varying ailments is being underweight.
Felines that are malnourished or somewhat needing a helping hand to build up a significant muscle gain is just as unhealthy as being overweight, it can as well lead to other health problems.
So, if your cat is underweight and you are looking for ways to help the feline gain a bit, then you are exactly where you need to be. In this article you will learn about:
- Factors that can cause your cat to lose weight
- Healthy tips that will help your cat gain weight
- What exactly you should look for in high-calorie cat food for weight gain
- The ten best cat food for weight gain
Is 12 pounds overweight for a cat?
No, 12 pounds for a cat is not overweight unless the breed for that cat was A Siamese cat breed which weighs at least 5 pounds when it is at an Ideal Weight for similar Cat breed. Yet if you have a Maine Coon cat breed, they actually tend to have a slightly larger body frame which means if they are 12 pounds, they are not overweight at all.
As a matter of fact, a Siamese cat would weigh 5 pounds at its pinnacle of healthy while Maine Coon cat breeds can weigh up to 25 pounds and still be healthier.
Your average domestic cat usually is not in the same cats’ breeds known to have a smaller frame, but if they happen to be the long body frame type of cat breed, where they have this naturally long, tall, and squatty, then 12 pounds is not likely to be ower weight at all.
How do I know if my cat is too skinny?
The cat’s breed is the first place to tell if your cat is too skinny for their body frame. Cat breeds like main Coon tend to have a larger body frame than that of many domestic cats like Siamese cat breed.
With their big frame, Maine Coon cats can amass up to 25 pounds and still be healthy. So, if the bodyweight of such cat breeds drops to 10 or 12 pounds, its time to seek a helping hand in managing their weight.
The key to knowing if your cat is too skinny is by Understanding your cat breed’s weight chart which is predominantly dependant to their breed, body frame type, and the historical overall health.
Most cats have their ribcage exposed on top of their back, this can be a sure sign to watch out for. So If your feline has visible ribs on her back where you aren’t able to feel any muscle and layers of fat cushioning across her ribs and back, chances are that she’s likely underweight and too skinny.
Things to watch out in cats deemed to be too skinny and underweight also includes:
- Slightly narrow waistline than normal.
- Visibly protruding abdominal rib cage.
- Boney shoulder blades bordering on the obvious.
Factors that can cause your cat to lose weight
If you notice your chubby cat suddenly losing weight, don’t be happy about it because it can be a sign of a health problem and can be very dangerous The following are some of the factors that can cause your cat to lose weight:
- When your cat refuses food: Some cats are just too picky when it comes to food, so when you present to them the kind of food they don’t like, they will refuse to eat and hence lose weight.
- When you change your cat’s diet: If you suddenly change your cat’s diet and it happens that they don’t like it as the previous meal, they might refuse to eat and hence refuse to eat.
- Food allergies: Some cats are sensitive to ingredients found in some foods, this cat upset the digestive system and then cause weight loss.
- Stress and anxiety: When cats feel stressed they tend to lose weight.
- When your cat gets old: As cats get older, they tend to lose weight and are at high risk of other health issues such as diabetes and cancer.
- When your cat has intestinal parasites: Intestinal parasites, as worms when present in a cat can cause digestive problems and lead to weight loss when left untreated.
When you notice your cat losing too much weight despite eating a normal amount of food then the best thing you can do is take it to the vet, the veterinarian will do some tests and eventually tell you the exact problem of your cat.
Once that is done, you can take further steps to help your cat gain weight.
Learn How to fatten up my cat
Feed your feline with canned wet food with high contents of protein like duck, sardines and liver pate. Most skinny cats needing extra food supplements will gain a recommended weight by feeding them specially select canned cat food as it has a smell they like and that encourages them to eat more.
Healthy tips that will help your cat gain weight
The best way to help your skinny cat gain weight may be to feed more amounts of food than before. Below we have listed some simple tips that will help your skinny kitty cat gain weight.
- Feed your cat wet food only: Hard food can be difficult for some cats to chew and hence they might just not enough switching to wet food will encourage them to eat a bit more. Creating and sticking to a feeding routine can be an excellent thing to do as well.
- Get your cat some weight gain supplements: If your cat is too skinny and its taking time for it to gain weight, then some weight gain supplements will be of great help.
- Feed your cat foods that are high in calories: The best way to help your skinny cat gain weight faster is by increasing the number of calories in the food it eats every day.
- Feed your cat meals made from100% meat: This will help help your cat gain weight even faster, small bites of cooked chicken, deli turkey are a great way to boost your cat’s protein and calorie intake and eventually gain weight faster.
What exactly should you look for in high-calorie cat food for weight gain?
Calories and nutrients should be present in large amounts in your cat’s food if you want it to gain weight without any delay.
The food should be high in calories, proteins and nutrients, this will help your cat gain muscle weight rather than fat.
Below we have listed some of the things to look for in high-calorie cat food for weight gain:
- The food should be high in calories
- Should contain premium animal proteins
- Should contain higher fat content
- Should be rich in moisture and flavor
- Should have a limited number of ingredients
- Should have no artificial additives
The 10 best cat foods for weight gain
Hopefully, by now you should have a clear picture of what exactly you should be feeding your cat to gain weight. The best cat food for weight gain should contain high amounts of calories, protein, and fats. With that said, let’s look at the 10 best cat foods for weight gain.
1. NomNomNow fresh cat food
This is the best food for your cat to gain weight, it is rich in calories, fats, and proteins. The food is made from premium quality ingredients and grain-free for maximum digestibility and nutritional quality.
The food is prepared fresh and is high in moisture and flavor, making it palatable for cats of all size.
PROS
- The food is freshly prepared
- The food is grain-free for digestibility
- Contains real animal proteins
- Made from pure natural ingredients
CONS
- The food is expensive to feed as a staple diet for your cat
2. American journey duck recipe grain-free cat food
This food features real duck as the main ingredient and also has a premium source of animal protein. it is as well grain-free for easy digestion, contains healthy fats and calories to help your cat gain weight a bit fast.
The recipe of this food contains 40% proteins and 20% healthy fats with 429 calories per cup, the food is full of flavor and is made in the USA, so you are assured that you are feeding your cat healthy quality food.
PROS
- You get the food at an affordable price
- Contains healthy fats
- The food is rich in omega fatty acids
- Contains probiotics and chelated minerals
- Contains plenty of fiber and is grain-free for easy digestion
CONS
- The main ingredient is chicken some cats may be sensitive to it
- Contains plant protein
4. Nulo freestyle chicken and cod recipe grain-free dry cat and kitten food
This food is ideal for both adult cats and kittens, it will help your cat start gaining weight in no time. The food features fresh chicken as the main ingredient and also contains animal proteins, turkey meal, chicken meal, and deboned cod.
It is as well grain-free for easy digestion but very high in proteins, calories, and fats. Overall the food offers a full 40% protein and 20% fat with 500 calories per cup.
PROS
- The food is excellent for both adult cats and kittens
- The food is high in protein and fat
- Contains plenty of fiber and chelated minerals
- Is grain-free for easy digestion
CONS
- Is expensive to feed as stable food
- The food may be too high in fiber for some cats
5. Ziwi Peak venison recipe canned food
Ziwi is one of the best-wet cat food available on the market and is best for your cat’s weight loss. The food is available in many flavors and features 93% meat, organs and New Zealand green mussels, making it low in carbohydrates but very rich in proteins.
The food is made from natural recipes that are 100% good for your cat’s health. The best part about this meal is that it is formulated for cats of all ages.
PROS
·The food is very rich in proteins but low in carbohydrates which is excellent for cats losing weight
·The food is made from premium completely natural ingredients
·The food is formulated for cats of all stages
CONS
·The food is pretty expensive to be bought as your cat’s staple diet
·The food doesn’t contain probiotics
6. Nature’s variety instinct LID grain-free rabbit recipe dry food
This can food is made with premium natural ingredients and is a combination of high protein kibble and freeze-dried raw pieces for maximum nutrition and flavor.
The main ingredients of this food are real chicken and also contains omega fatty acids for healthy skin and coat.
PROS
·The food is made from premium-quality all-natural ingredients
·Contains high protein kibble blended with freeze-dried raw pieces
·Contains chelated minerals and probiotics
CONS
·The food is very expensive to feed your cat as a staple diet
6. Merrick Limited ingredient Diet Grain-free real turkey pate recipe
The main ingredient of this food is turkey and it also contains pea protein. Other ingredients available are organic alfalfa meal. guar gum and flaxseed oil.
This cat food is best for cats losing weight because it is low in fats, carbohydrates but high in moisture and protein.
PROS
·The food is excellent for cats of all ages
·Is grain-free
·Contains no by-products
CONS
· Makes the poop of your cat to smell bad
·Some cats may not love the flavor of this food
7. Merrick Backcountry Raw infused game bird recipe dry food
The main ingredient of this food is turkey and it also contains pea protein. Other ingredients available are organic alfalfa meal. guar gum and flaxseed oil.
This cat food is best for cats losing weight because it is low in fats, carbohydrates but high in moisture and protein.
PROS
·The food is excellent for cats of all ages
·Is grain-free
·Contains no by-products
CONS
· Makes the poop of your cat to smell bad
·Some cats may not love the flavor of this food
8. Wellness core grain-free cat food
This cat food contains 11% percent of minimal proteins, 7% minimum fats, 1% maximum Fiber has and has a maximum of 78% moisture.
The recipe of this cat food features real chicken as the main ingredient which is a lean source of premium animal protein. The food is grain-free for easy digestion and also features all-natural ingredients.
This cat food will improve your cat’s overall health and is excellent for cats losing weight.
PROS
The food is made from real chicken and chicken liver as the first ingredients
The food is grain-free and very low in carbohydrates
The food is great for cats of all ages
CONS
- The food doesn’t contain probiotic supplements
- The food contains guar gum which will make the poop of the cat smell bad
9. Solid gold indigo moon high-protein wild Alaskan pollock and eggs gain-free recipe
This food features organic chicken as the main ingredient also has supplemental protein sources like chicken meal and turkey meal.
It is also rich in omega-3 fatty acids to keep your cat’s skin and coat looking beautiful and healthy, it is also loaded with grain-free fruits and vegetables. In total, this food contains 60% crude protein and 15% fat with 500 calories per cup.
PROS
- Contains several premium animal proteins
- The food is starch-free and grain-free or easy digestion
- Is rich in omega-3 fatty acids
- Contains chelated minerals and probiotics
CONS
- Contains plant protein
- Too high in fats for some cats
10. Wysong Epigen starch-free chicken formula grain-free cat food
This food is grain-free for easy digestion, featuring chicken as the first ingredient. The recipe is high in fat and calories which is great for your cat to gain weight.
PROS
- Contains several premium animal proteins
- Is rich in essential fatty acids
CONS - Some cats are sensitive to chicken ingredients