Top 5 Best Cat Food For Weight Gain In 2020
What is every cat owner’s worry when taking care of these adorable fur balls? Well, according to my personal experience with many cat lovers, the worst nightmare for them is having a skinny feline.
Not only it makes the cats look weak and lifeless, but also affects their own health. Admit it, don’t we all want a fluffy fur ball to cuddle rather than a bony one. And that’s why we need the best cat food for weight gain.
There are many methods for gaining weight, however feeding them the right food is the most effective method in the long term. Here is the list of pre-made cat food that has been carefully picked and reviewed by our experts.
Best Cat Food For Weight Gain - Top 5 Picks:
#1. Best Pick - Blue Buffalo Wilderness Chicken Recipe
Editor's Rating: 4.7/5 Overall Score
The product comes in various selections from size and flavors. You can choose between quality high protein products like deboned chicken, salmon, and duck. They also have weight-control and hair-control foods, in case your cats need them.
Besides the mostly identical component compares to the first product on our list, this cat food has additional blueberries and cranberries for supporting antioxidants enrichment. And of course, no by-product or any type of artificial components too.
But still, there is no completely perfect product. The food itself has no fault, but because it is one type of dry pre-made food, the cat might suffer from constipation if being feed for a very long time without any changes in the recipe. To avoid this, try feeding yours cooked food once in a while, remember to add veggies and water-rich food.
Pros
- Good price
- Delicious and nutritious
- Various selection of sizes and flavors
- Good for gaining and controlling weight
- Supports antioxidants enrichment for better health
Cons
- May cause constipation and dehydration if use in long term
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#2. Nulo Adult & Kitten Grain Free Dry Cat Food
Editor's Rating: 4.6/5 Overall Score
This Nalo dry cat food is packed with 83% animal-based protein with have more amino acids. It's low on carbohydrates but has healthy ingredients, such as: lentils, sweet potato and chickpeas.
Since the food is low on carbohydrates, your feline is less susceptible to kidney disease and respiratory infections.
During the preparation process, Nalo uses their own patented BC30 Probiotioc, which supports healthy gut flora and food digestion. You can choose between two flavors: chicken or turkey. The food has a small kibble shape, and most kittens and cats love it's texture and taste.
Pros
- 83% animal based protein
- Grain free: no wheat, soy, corn, etc.
- No artificial flavorings or colors
- Probiotic for healthy digestion
Cons
- Comes in 2 flavors only (chicken and turkey)
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#3. Best Wet Food For Weight Gain - Instinct Original Grain Free Recipe Natural Wet Canned Cat Food
Editor's Rating: 4.5/5 Overall Score
The company Instinct manufactures a wide variety of wet and dry cat foods, which are very high in protein. Since some cat owners prefer wet food, this is a great option to consider. This Instinct Original food is made with 95% salmon & pork liver and 5% vegetables, fruits and other wholesome ingredients.
You can choose from a wide variety of flavors, such as: beef, chicken, duck, lamb, rabbit, salmon and venison. This means that your cat is sure to find their favorite flavor and finish their bowl every time.
The company uses only responsibly sourced ingredients, such as cage free duck, cage free chicken, etc. There is no grain or gluten found in their recipes, such as: corn, wheat, soy, potato, or by products, no artificial colors or preservatives. It's suitable for kittens, adult or seniors.
Pros
- High in protein
- Made with 95% real salmon & pork liver
- Gluten and grain free, no wheat, corn, soy, or harmful by-products
- Suitable for kittens, adult and seniors
Cons
- Price is higher than the other foods on the list
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#4. Also Great - Natural Balance Dry Cat Food
Editor's Rating: 4.5/5 Overall Score
The product contains 1 – 10-pound bag of cat food. All are made from high-protein food and there are no grains or what so ever. The main ingredients is green pea and salmon which is a great combination of nutritious food.
There are also many selections for you to choose from, such as chicken and pea, duck and pea, and so on. The recipes are complete and well balanced which makes a good product for weight gaining.
But the thing about this is that the food is only limited between pea and other poultry or salmon protein which can make your cat grow tired of them over time. It has been proven with my two kitties. My daughter recommended this food when we first got them. They really liked it at that time, but the enthusiasm got decrease over time.
Pros
- Pea and high-protein make a great combination
- Comes with different selection in sizes and foods
- Grain free and no artificial components
Cons
- The interest decrease over time due to the limited recipes
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#5. Budget Pick - Solid Gold - Indigo Moon - High Protein & Grain-Free
Editor's Rating: 4.4/5 Overall Score
Another high protein food food by the Solid Gold brand. Their formulas are designed to help with better digestibility, more energy, as well as healthier skin and coat. It's suitable for kittens and adult cats.
It's made of responsibly sourced Alaskan Pollock, whole egg which is rich in nutrients, there are omega fatty acids and superfoods which provide natural vitamins.
You can also buy the chicken flavor, which uses responsibly sources USA raised real chicken as the number 1 ingredient. Their food contains living probiotics which aid the immune system and the digestive system. There are no fillers, such as corn, wheat or soy. There are also no artificial colorings or preservatives.
Pros
- High in protein
- Natural, grain and gluten free
- Contains probiotics, omega fatty acids, superfoods
Cons
- The interest decrease over time due to the limited recipes
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High Calorie Cat Food
You can either increase the amount of food your cat is eating, or switch to foods with higher calorie count inside. If the food is high in calories, your feline will be getting more energy and muscle mass.
Pay careful attention to the calorie count of the food you're giving your feline. The more calories it has, the more energy it will get. Over time you will notice that your feline is gaining weight.
High Calorie Food For Kittens, Adult, Vs. Senior Cats:
Small kittens need a different diet than matured one when it comes to weight-gaining. Although both are related to providing rich-protein food, younger cats need a more balanced and complete recipe.
It should contain antioxidants, veggies, and vitamins for better metabolism. While the matured one only needs more protein and some veggies in their food for gaining weight.
As your feline goes older, it is more likely to face some health issues with age, for example: dental problems, kidney, hearth disease, etc. Senior cats need to consume more calories and protein, compared to adult ones, don't miss our article on the best cat food for older cats for more tips.
High Calorie Cat Supplements
Supplements have become very popular in recent years. You can find them in the form of gels, liquid formula, or powder. They contain vitamins, minerals and amino acids, and will help your feline absorb more nutrients and gain more weight.
TOMLYN Nutri-Cal High Calorie-Nutritional Gel for Cats & Kittens
This is a nutritional oral gel, which is high in calories (28 calories per teaspoon), plus vitamins and minerals. It also contains Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids, which are needed to support healthy heart, skin and joints.
The gel is easy to digest and administer. It has a malt flavor which most cats love. It's suitable for sick or aging cats. It will also stimulate their appetite, so they can eat more.
It comes in two choices: for cats or for kittens. Plus, it's very affordable!
How To Fatten Up A Cat?
There are several things you can do to help your feline gain weight over time. Here are some tips you can try:
- Switch to a high protein food, which is also high in calories. On this list we've reviewed our 5 best picks you can buy online and start feeding them right away.
- Serve your cat wet food, not only dry. You can switch entirely to wet food or serve half of their meals. You can also add a meal topper. This will give them more variety and should increase their interest in the food.
- Have a more structured feeding time and schedule. Don't leave the food out for too long. Take it away after 10 or 20 minutes.
- Change the feeding schedule. If you've been feeding your feline two large meals during the day, switch to four smaller meals instead, and see if this makes them eat up and finish everything in their bowl.
- Get an automatic cat feeder. If you find that adjusting their feeding schedule and routine helps them consume more food for the day, you might want to consider getting an automatic cat feeder, which will serve just the right portions even when you are away from home.
Find your cat's favorite flavor and texture
Cats have a preference for the flavor and texture of the food they are eating. Serve your feline different flavors until you find their favorite one: chicken, duck, salmon, beef, etc.
The texture is also important, with wet food you'll be able to find smooth pate, minced, to meat-cubes.
Also, some cat might prefer cooked food other than a pre-made one so if you want to help it gain weight, you should cook the food yourself. It’s very simple, some meat and veggies are fine.
Is it good to keep feeding my cat pre-made food?
Now, I’ve heard this question many times. It’s not always bad to feed yours with pre-made food because it’s often made with all the necessary nutrition that your cat needs.
But if being fed for a long time, the preservative might affect its health. Overall, make sure you've picked a brand that manufactures nutritional and healthy food.
Should I choose dry food or wet food?
It depends on how you’re going to use it. Dry food can be kept for a long time compared to wet ones. But the nutrition in it is often reduced in this state. On the other hand, wet food has a high amount of nutrition in comparison to dry one but they’re harder to preserve.
Bottom line
If your lovely feline is not gaining enough weight, the first thing you can do is switch to a more protein rich and high calorie food. Our number one recommendation is the Blue Buffalo Wilderness Chicken Recipe, which is high in protein and has healthy carbohydrates inside such as sweet potatoes and peas. It also contains, fatty acids, vitamins and antioxidants. For more flavor choices, make sure you check all the products on this list.
