It’s a common concern among veterinarians to address feline obesity, but many cats also struggle with being underweight. Unlike weight loss, gaining weight can be a complex process for cats, extending beyond simply adjusting food portions. The first crucial step is to identify the underlying reasons for your cat’s weight loss before establishing a plan to help them safely reach a healthy weight.
Several health issues can lead to a cat losing weight, including intestinal parasites, kidney disease, hyperthyroidism, diabetes, dental disease, gastrointestinal disorders, lung disease, chronic pain, and cancer.
Create a Plan of Action for Your Cat
Once you and your veterinarian have diagnosed and established a treatment plan for any underlying disease, you can focus on the process of weight gain. Your veterinarian will offer specific recommendations tailored to your cat’s age and medical requirements. A diet customized to your cat’s specific health condition is most likely to yield the best results. Your vet will also determine your cat’s ideal weight and schedule regular weigh-ins to monitor the plan’s effectiveness and ensure your cat doesn’t exceed their target weight. For cats that are unwell, regaining a healthy weight involves more than just increasing calorie intake. Diets designed for specific conditions are formulated with the right balance of macronutrients and micronutrients to promote weight gain while addressing unique disease-related concerns.
What to Feed a Cat to Help Them Gain Weight
If your cat’s medical issue is under control—such as treated parasites or removed painful teeth—simply correcting the calorie deficit might be the only treatment needed. Your veterinarian will consider the following factors when selecting a healthy cat food for weight gain:
Find a Type of Food That Fits Your Cat’s Preferences
The most critical initial step is to find a food that your cat enjoys eating and that doesn’t cause digestive upset. You need a food that meets their dietary needs and is highly palatable, encouraging them to eat it. It’s common for cats to have strong preferences for specific flavors, food types (canned/dry), or even textures. Conversely, they may be repulsed by these factors. Understanding and navigating your cat’s preferences is the foundational step to ensuring they eat well.
Make Sure the Food Fits Their Nutritional Needs
Cats are obligate carnivores, meaning they must obtain essential nutrients for their health from animal products. The natural prey for cats, such as small rodents, is estimated to consist of approximately 55% protein, 45% fat, and 1–2% carbohydrate on a dry matter basis. Although the macronutrient breakdown of prey contains only 1-2% carbohydrate, most cats can utilize up to 40% of their diet in the form of carbohydrates for a good energy source. Generally, dry food contains a higher percentage of carbohydrates than wet food.
Cat Food Options for Weight Gain
High-quality kitten food is an excellent option for healthy cats needing to gain weight, and most cats find kitten food appealing. Royal Canin Feline Health Nutrition dry cat food for young kittens is nutrient- and calorie-dense and is generally highly palatable to most cats. Your veterinarian may also prescribe high-calorie cat foods such as Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Recovery RS canned cat food or Hill’s Prescription Diet a/d Urgent Care canned cat food. [cite:2, cite:3] These formulations are highly digestible and provide the extra calories your cat requires for weight gain.
Calculate How Much to Feed Your Cat
Once you’ve identified a food that meets your cat’s needs and excites them about mealtime, it’s time to determine the correct portion sizes. Mathematical calculations are essential here. As a general guideline for gradual and healthy weight gain, it’s best to calculate your cat’s resting metabolic needs and then feed that amount of calories plus an additional 20%. Your veterinarian can assist you in translating this into the appropriate amount of food to serve.
Tips for Helping a Cat Gain Weight
Addressing underlying health issues, selecting the appropriate food, and determining portion sizes are crucial for success. However, these are just the starting points. After these factors are settled, you’ll need to establish a consistent feeding routine. Here are some tips to encourage your cat to eat reliably and gain weight safely:
Feed Small, Frequent Meals
A cat’s stomach is roughly the size of a ping-pong ball, so it’s normal for them not to eat large quantities at once. Whether your cat prefers wet food, dry food, or a combination, try offering one tablespoon of food every few hours. These small, regular meals are better tolerated than large meals and can reduce the risk of vomiting post-meal.
Try Warming Up Your Cat’s Wet Food
Cats are stimulated to eat by the aroma of their food. Warming up wet food can enhance its scent, making it more appealing to your cat. To heat your cat’s food, place it in a microwave-safe bowl and heat for a few seconds. The optimal temperature for most cats is at or near their body temperature, around 38.5°C (101.5°F).
Offer the Right Snacks Between Meals
Healthy snacks offered between meals can contribute to your cat’s weight gain. Consider tempting your cat with a few high-protein, simple bites of freeze-dried chicken, such as PureBites chicken breast freeze-dried raw cat treats, between each meal.
Decrease Your Cat’s Anxiety
A calm cat is a happy cat, and happy cats are more inclined to have a good appetite. Cats are solitary hunters and eaters, preferring to consume their meals without disturbance. When your cat has been unwell, it’s natural to want to stay close, but your cat may eat better if given some space.
Talk to Your Vet About Appetite-Stimulating Medicine
Your veterinarian can prescribe medications to help stimulate your cat’s appetite. Approximately an hour after taking the medicine, your cat will feel the urge to eat. You can inquire if your vet can provide the medicine in a transdermal form (a patch or gel applied to the skin or gums) to avoid the challenge of administering a pill.
