As cats become more sedentary (between 6 and 8 years), they tend to gain weight if continued on their normal diet. Excess weight can be contributary to a number of conditions, including arthritis, diabetes and heart disease. Here are my top choices for "lite" foods for cats based on quality of ingredients, guaranteed analysis, and my test cats' reactions to the listed foods. All nutrient percentages are listed by dry weight.
1. Innova Cat Lite
For my cats, Innova is the top of the line in commercial cat food and the lite formula is no exception. Top named ingredients include turkey, chicken, ground barley, ground brown rice, chicken meal, potatoes, rice, and herring, with pea fiber, apples, Lower protein (28.8% dry matter) and fat content make the difference in this formula.2. Natural Balance Reduced Calorie Dry Cat Food
Top listed ingredients are brown rice, chicken meal, chicken, oat groats, lamb meal, oatmeal, potatoes, and duck. Guaranteed analysis includes protein at 30.5% dry matter and fat at 10%. My cats love all the Natural Balance formulas, including the reduced calorie version.3. Wellness Super5Mix Lite Formula for Cats
Top ingredients: deboned chicken, chicken meal, ground whole barley, ground whole Oats, ground brown rice, rice bran, chicken liver. Guaranteed analysis: Protein 33% (dry matter), Fat 9% fibre 8.3%. Wellness is highly rated by forum members, although some cats apparently don't like the taste. I'd still definitely recommend giving it a fair try.
4. Chicken Soup for the Cat Lover's Soul Lite
Contains Fresh Chicken, Salmon, Potatoes, Duck, Turkey, Carrots, and Peas. Dry matter values: Protein 36%, fat 10%, fibre 9%. Gives 3.2 kcals per gram. "Chicken Soup" hit the ground running when it was first introduced, and continues to rank high among Cats Forum members' cats.5. Drs.Foster & Smith Chicken & Brown Rice Formula Lite
THIS PRODUCT WAS RECALLED BECAUSE OF A RICE PROTEIN CONCENTRATE INGREDIENT IMPORTED FROM CHINA BY IMPORTER WILBUR-ELLIS, WHICH IS POSSIBLY CONTAMINATED BY MELAMINE. DOCTORS FOSTER & SMITH CHICKEN & BROWN RICE FORMULA ADULT LITE CAT FOOD, NET WT. 3 LBS. and 7 LBS.; Code date: Best Used By March 13, 09;, MANUFACTURED BY CHENENGO VALLEY FOODS, WHICH WAS NOTIFIED BY WILBUR-ELLIS TO RECALL ALL FOODS MADE WITH THIS SHIPMENT OF RICE PROTEIN CONCENTRATE. STAY TUNED FOR FURTHER NEWS.6. Nutro Natural Choice Complete Care Weight Management
First named ingredients are chicken meal, ground rice, corn gluten meal, rice flour and dried beet pulp. The caloric value is not known. Nutro remains a favorite of my cats from Day One, and is highly regarded by forum members. It's relatively economical and cats seem to love the flavor.