The 8 Best Cat Foods for Weight Loss, According to 299 Cats

What to Look For in Cat Food for Weight Loss

“The first thing to realize is that cats can lose weight on any food. Weight loss is a result of cats expending more calories than they consume,” explains veterinarian Georgina Ushi-Phillips. When looking at calories, be sure to compare wet food to wet food, and dry food to dry food. That’s because the moisture content affects the weight and calories are calculated on a per weight basis.

Carefully read labels and look for important certifications when deciding which brand is right for your cat. “A good starting point is to look for higher-fiber diets," adds Dr. Ushi-Phillips. "Increased fiber will help cats feel more full and because of the way fiber is digested, pet parents can typically give more food as well. That means everyone will be happier.”

It's always a good idea to consult with your veterinarian for the key attributes to look for to support your individual cat’s weight issues. Be prepared to try more than one to find just the right fit for your overweight feline.

Texture and Wet Versus Dry

In the wild, a cat would eat a range of textures and get much of their necessary water by eating fresh meat, so some of their preference may be instinctually biased toward wet and raw foods—though domesticated cats, like humans, also have their own opinions, with some preferring soft minced food or chunky bites. Their habits may give you clues to their texture preferences, such as licking their food or eating the gravy first. Most veterinarians recommend a mixture of wet and dry food throughout the week.

A recent trend in pet foods, raw cat food is said to be an optimal choice because heat has not degraded proteins and other essential nutrients, although there is not yet much research to back these claims. However, research has shown that raw pet foods carry an increased risk of salmonella and listeria bacterial infections, which can be dangerous for both cats and human caretakers.

Protein and Carb Content

It’s also important to look at the nutrition, moisture, and fat content of your cat’s 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. Note that a typical nutritional profile will label percentages as minimums or maximums, indicating that the ratios are the best approximation.

“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 shouldn’t be the main ingredients.” Healthy carbs should come from ingredients like organic pumpkin, sweet potato, or brown rice.

Ingredients

As in human food ingredient labels, ingredients in cat food are listed in order from most to least based on weight and include the expected percentages of protein, fat, fiber, and moisture (these are often listed as an approximate proportion, usually presented as a maximum or minimum amount). Look for foods that list a high protein content of a specific meat first and if any grains are included; whole grains are best because of the nutrients they contain.

Cats also require more than a dozen other nutrients, including vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, and amino acids, and the amounts of nutrients needed vary in each stage of life—from kitten to adolescent, during pregnancy and nursing, and as a senior cat. If your pet food is well-balanced and complete for your cat’s current stage of life, they won’t require any additional supplements. Note that to prevent spoiling and increase shelf life, manufacturers will also use natural and non-synthetic preservatives, including vitamin C (ascorbic acid) and vitamin E (tocopheryl acetate, or tocopherol acetate).

Meat byproducts are another common ingredient of concern for cat food buyers, but in most cases, their presence isn't a reason to avoid a cat food. Meat byproducts include a range of organs, tissues, and bones—excluding hooves and teeth—which are cooked and ground into a uniform meal. Meat byproduct meals are typically used to tune a cat food's nutritional profile by altering the balance of protein and carbohydrates.

Organic and Natural

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) regulates the use of the term “organic” in human and cat food, so by law, the USDA must apply the same standard to cat food that they apply to human food. Organic crops must be grown on land free from pesticides for at least three years and the food itself must not contain toxic and persistent pesticides; artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives; synthetic growth hormones; antibiotics; or genetically modified organisms (GMOs); and must not have undergone irradiation. Organic livestock whose meat is used in pet foods must be fed organic feed, not be given antibiotics or hormones, and have access to the outdoors.

To become USDA Certified, all of these requirements must be documented and have been confirmed via USDA inspection. Unless you see “USDA Certified Organic” on the label, it’s difficult to be sure the food is truly organic. When only a portion of the ingredients are from certified organic sources, you’ll also see a percentage on the label, such as “95% USDA Certified Organic.”

Similarly, the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) defines and regulates the term "natural" for pet food and animal feed—meaning a feed or ingredient is derived solely from plant, animal, or mined sources that have not been produced by a chemically synthetic process. However, some ingredients can be labeled “natural” without actually being good or healthy for your pet.

Look out for ingredients known as “fillers” that are low-cost and have little nutritional value. They’re added to make your pet feel full with fewer high-quality ingredients by weight. Common ones are corn and wheat gluten and grain products, soy, animal byproducts, and fruit or vegetable pulps.

Probiotics

Many brands are also adding pre-, post-, and probiotics that promote healthy gut and intestinal flora. Domesticated cats that aren’t eating a natural diet of rodents and other critters aren’t exposed to bacteria they would encounter in the wild. So opt for pre-, post-, and probiotics when you have the option, especially if your cat has a sensitive tummy or has recently taken antibiotics or other medications.

How We Found the Best Cat Food for Weight Loss

To evaluate cat foods, our research panel put together a comprehensive questionnaire, asking cat parents to describe the qualities that matter most to them when they choose a food for their feline at each life stage. We learned what brands were recommended by veterinarians and which had the most trustworthy list of ingredients. We also looked for high-value brands that can fit people's budgets and brands with wide retailer availability.

We also gathered details about a cat's size, breed, age, and health history, which helped us make picks tailored to a wide range of cats since the best cat food for a senior Persian that is slowing down won't be the best cat food for a 2-year-old rescue who overindulged on the treats after finding their forever home.

In total, 299 respondents described how they and their cats felt about the cat foods they currently feed or previously fed at home, using a combination of numerical scores and detailed feedback.

Why Trust The Spruce Pets?

This story was updated by Anna Mejorada, a writer for The Spruce Pets, who shares her home with a happy pomeranian named Gidget. Before researching and writing about pet products for a living, Mejorada embarked on a self-mandated, ongoing quest to find the optimal items for her dog. She is now delightfully devoted to helping humans discover and select the most favorable products for their pets.

We also took a comprehensive survey on preferred brands and feeding habits. Each respondent provided data on their cat's age, size, and breed, in addition to a detailed history of the cat food brands and products they mutually enjoy.

A previous version was written by Lorraine Wilde who has had at least two cat companions in her home for the past 35 years, including some special needs kitties. Wilde also spoke with Dr. Georgina Ushi-Phillips, a practicing veterinarian and veterinary writer. Ushi-Phillips earned her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Florida, and her professional interests include nutrition, soft tissue surgery, and emergency care.