Last updated May 28, 2024
Kirsten McCarthy / Cats.com
Regardless of their current weight, your cat is at their best when they eat like a lean, trim carnivore. The best cat food for overweight cats is rich in high-quality protein without too much fat or starch.
That’s why we recommend Smalls Fresh Ground Bird as the overall best cat food for overweight cats. It’s high in protein, low in carbohydrates, moisture-rich, satisfying, and doesn’t have too much fat or starch, both of which can contribute to weight gain in adult cats.
If you want to make weight loss as easy as possible, Smalls is an outstanding option. But it’s not for everyone. To help you find a product that works for you, we’ve chosen 7 great foods for cats that need to lose weight.
At a Glance: Best Cat Foods for Overweight Cats To Buy
Smalls Ground Bird Fresh Cat Food
- Made with a single source of animal protein
- Limited list of digestible ingredients
- Adjust your cat’s meal plan as needed
BFF OMG Tuna & Salmon Sweet Cheeks Dinner in Gravy Wet Cat Food Pouches
- High in animal-sourced protein
- Made with wild-caught tuna and salmon
- Free of potentially-harmful additives like carrageenan, artificial colors, and preservatives
Wellness CORE Grain-Free Indoor Chicken & Chicken Liver Recipe
- Formulated for indoor cats and low in calories
- Made primarily from highly digestible animal protein
- Most cats enjoy the flavor
Open Farm Grass-Fed Beef Rustic Blend Wet Food
- Made with a single source of premium animal protein
- Formulated with 100% human-grade, traceable ingredients
- Contains the moisture your cat needs for hydration
Weruva Cats in the Kitchen Love Me Tender Cat Food
- Primarily made from animal protein
- Very low in calories
- Hydrating food helps to keep your cat satisfied
Vital Essentials Rabbit Mini Patties
- Primarily made from rabbit, a novel protein for many cats
- Rich in species-appropriate animal protein
- Contains herring oil as a source of omega-3 fatty acids
Nutro Perfect Portions Grain-Free Real Chicken Pate
- Packed with protein, real chicken first ingredient
- Rich in moisture, highly digestible
- Contains fish oil for omega-3 fatty acids
Top Picks Explained
Here’s How To Pick the Best Cat Food for Overweight Cats
The ideal weight loss diet has high protein content with moderate fat levels and minimal carbohydrates.
In general, if your cat is overweight, they might have been eating the wrong food for a long time. For overweight cats, just switching to a species-appropriate diet is often enough to make a difference. This type of diet helps to prevent obesity, and the transition alone may be enough to help your cat shed some extra pounds.
A species-appropriate diet mimics the nutritional content of your cat’s prey.
It’s rich in the right amino acids, contains low to moderate levels of animal-derived fat, and has little to no starch. This macronutrient distribution is at the heart of every good cat food. It helps cats maintain lean muscle mass, achieve appropriate blood sugar levels, and experience overall well-being.
Wet Cat Food Is Ideal for Weight Control
Most overweight or obese cats live on dry cat food, which leaves them under-stimulated, over-sugared, and at risk for serious health conditions.
In contrast to kibble, high-moisture cat food is bulkier and will help your cat feel full for longer, even if they are eating fewer calories. Think of it as a bowl of grapes versus a handful of raisins. You’ll get fewer calories in the bowl of grapes, but it feels more substantial and will leave you full for longer.
The switch to wet food might be a challenge, especially if your cat has eaten kibble since they were a kitten. But in the long run, it’s the best option to support your cat’s healthy body weight.
Free Feeding Is Out for Overweight Cats
Allowing your cat to freely nibble from a full bowl of food might seem to be the kindest choice, but few things could be less natural for a cat. Cats naturally eat multiple small meals throughout the day, fasting between each successful hunt.
In addition to discouraging your cat from gorging, feeding multiple meals during the day will allow you to closely monitor your cat’s calorie intake.
You Are Not Limited to Diets Marketed for Weight Management
Most indoor-specific recipes and diet cat foods follow a similar blueprint. They decrease the protein and fat while bumping up levels of carbohydrates and fiber. Foods with high carb and fiber content promise to keep your cat satisfied on roughage alone, but they fail to honor your cat’s needs as an obligate carnivore.
As a bright spot, these diets are formulated to meet your cat’s minimal nutritional requirements with fewer calories. Also, some of these diets have a high protein content with minimal carbohydrates.
However, given the blueprint mentioned above, weight loss diets for cats are generally engineered for disappointment.
By restricting protein intake, these diets might cause muscle loss.
Secondly, because cats are obligate carnivores, they’re hardwired to feel satisfied by protein and fat—not carbohydrates or fiber. This means that while these diets are low-calorie, they’re not as satisfying as diets that are rich in the protein and fat that your cat instinctively craves.
To help your cat lose weight while maintaining healthy muscle mass, put their carnivorous needs first. From their claws to their metabolism, your cat’s body is optimized to hunt and eat animals. That doesn’t change if the cat is overweight, obese, or underweight.
Why Trust Cats.com
Kirsten McCarthy / Cats.com
Before selecting products for testing, I spent several hours researching the subject of obesity in cats and gaining insight from members of our panel of veterinary advisors. With the understanding that diet is just one piece of the weight loss puzzle for cats, I selected an assortment of high-moisture cat foods with moderate calorie content between 20 and 35 calories per ounce.
To test these products, I purchased them at full retail price and tried them at home with my two cats, Wessie and Forest. While my cats provided their input on the products’ taste, texture, and general appeal, I made observations on the appearance, aroma, consistency, and packaging.
Top 7 Best Cat Foods for Overweight Cats
All our top picks are meat-rich foods that emphasize animal ingredients over anything else. They’re protein-packed, made from relatively high-value ingredients, and promise to keep your cat satiated without loading them up on unnecessary calories.
#1 Overall Best: Smalls Ground Bird Fresh Cat Food
- Made In: United States
- Guaranteed Protein: 13% Min
- Age Range: All Life Stages
- Calories Per Ounce: 40
- Typical Cost Per Day: $4.00 per day
Smalls is a delivery service that sends packages of fresh (frozen) cat food to your door. With four proteins and multiple textures to choose from, you can customize your cat’s meal plan according to their unique preferences and caloric requirements. When you sign up, you can indicate that weight loss is a priority and Smalls will adjust your plan accordingly.
All Smalls recipes feature a limited list of human-grade ingredients including species-appropriate proteins like chicken, turkey, beef, and fish. This Ground Bird recipe consists primarily of chicken muscle meat and chicken liver, supplemented with green beans, kale, and dandelion greens. Cod liver oil, the only source of added fat, is rich in omega-3 fatty acids to help support your cat’s skin and coat.
In addition to being high in protein and low in carbohydrates, this formula is rich in moisture which helps support healthy digestion. It’s moderately energy-dense at about 40 calories per ounce. Overall, this minced chicken recipe is a high-quality source of balanced nutrition for cats in all life stages.
Ingredients
Chicken, Chicken Liver, Green Beans, Water Sufficient for Processing, Dried Yeast, Tricalcium Phosphate, Kale, Magnesium Proteinate, Potassium Chloride, Choline Chloride, Dandelion Greens, Dried Kelp, Taurine, Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Cod Liver Oil, Salt, Niacin Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Thiamine Mononitrate, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Folic Acid, Sodium Selenite, Biotin.
Ingredients We Liked: Chicken, Chicken Liver, Cod Liver Oil
Ingredients We Didn’t Like: None
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
What We Liked:
- Made with a single source of animal protein
- Limited list of digestible ingredients
- Adjust your cat’s meal plan as needed
- Rich in hydrating moisture for your cat
What We Didn’t Like:
- Only available as a subscription plan
- No phone support (text and email only)
#2 Runner Up: BFF OMG Tuna & Salmon Sweet Cheeks Dinner in Gravy Wet Cat Food Pouches
Discerning cat owners understand the importance of feeding their cat a quality diet, but that doesn’t mean they don’t also like a bargain. If you’re looking for an affordable brand of cat food to help your cat lose weight, try BFF OMG Tuna & Salmon Sweet Cheeks Dinner in Gravy Wet Cat Food Pouches.
This formula features tuna and salmon as the main ingredients and the sole source of animal protein, while a combination of tapioca starch and guar gum gives the gravy its body. Sunflower oil serves as the food’s primary fat source.
After these primary ingredients, the food is fortified with synthetic vitamins, minerals, and amino acids that make it nutritionally complete.
At just 52 calories in each 3-ounce pouch, this formula is great for weight maintenance. You can find this recipe in 3-ounce pouches.
Ingredients
Tuna Broth, Tuna, Salmon, Tapioca Starch, Sunflower Oil, Guar Gum, Calcium Sulfate, Tricalcium Phosphate, Potassium Chloride, Celery Powder, Salt, Vitamin E Supplement, Ferrous Sulfate, Niacin Supplement, Zinc Oxide, Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B1), Taurine, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Manganese Sulfate, Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin Supplement (Vitamin B2), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Biotin, Copper Amino Acid Complex, Sodium Selenite, Folic Acid, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (Source of Vitamin K3), Potassium Iodide.
Ingredients We Liked: Tuna, Salmon
Ingredients We Didn’t Like: Tapioca Starch, Sunflower Oil, Guar Gum
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
Pros
- High in animal-sourced protein
- Made with wild-caught tuna and salmon
- Free of potentially-harmful additives like carrageenan, artificial colors, and preservatives
Cons
- Contains relatively more carbohydrates compared to other wet foods
#3 Best for Indoor Cats: Wellness CORE Grain-Free Indoor Chicken & Chicken Liver Recipe Canned Cat Food
- Made In: United States
- Guaranteed Protein: 11% Min
- Age Range: Adult
- Calories Per Ounce: 32
- Typical Cost Per Day: $4.94 per day
As an indoor cat food, this recipe is formulated to accommodate cats with lower activity levels and reduced calorie needs. It’s 29 calories per ounce and is among the lower-calorie foods you can buy.
Unlike the majority of indoor foods, this food is a meaty, protein-packed product. It emphasizes high-protein animal ingredients like chicken, chicken liver, chicken meal, and turkey.
On the negative side, this food isn’t made with animal protein alone. In addition to an array of meat ingredients, the food contains pea protein and dried ground peas. While they won’t hurt, these plant protein sources aren’t ideal for an obligate carnivore like your cat.
This food is around 22% carbohydrate on a dry matter basis, making it slightly more carb-heavy than the ideal feline diet.
Ingredients
Chicken, Chicken Liver, Chicken Broth, Turkey Broth, Chicken Meal, Turkey, Pea Protein, Dried Ground Peas, Natural Flavor, Cranberries, Pea Fiber, Ground Flaxseed, Guar Gum, Tricalcium Phosphate, Potassium Chloride, Choline Chloride, Taurine, Cassia Gum, Xanthan Gum, Dried Kelp, Chicory Root Extract, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Salt, Alfalfa Meal, Iron Proteinate, Zinc Proteinate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin E Supplement, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Sodium Selenite, Niacin, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, Biotin, Potassium Iodide, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Folic Acid.
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
What We Liked:
- Formulated for indoor cats and low in calories
- Made primarily from highly digestible animal protein
- Most cats enjoy the flavor
What We Didn’t Like:
- Contains a variety of plant ingredients, including pea protein, dried ground peas, cranberries, pea fiber, and ground flaxseed
- Expensive
#4 Best Ethically Sourced: Open Farm Grass-Fed Beef Rustic Blend Wet Food
- Made In: United States
- Guaranteed Protein: 8% Min
- Age Range: Adult
- Calories Per Ounce: 27
- Typical Cost Per Day: $4.11 per day
When it comes to high-quality ingredients and 100% traceability, you can trust Open Farm. What makes this Open Farm formula great for weight loss is the fact that it is packed with real animal protein and hydrating moisture but has moderate fat and calorie content (about 31 calories per ounce). This recipe also contains higher-than-average fiber, which might help your cat feel fuller for longer between meals.
With humanely raised beef as the primary ingredient, this recipe is rich in amino acids which helps support your cat’s lean muscle mass. Unfortunately, both of the added fats are plant-based and there are a significant number of plant-based ingredients on the whole. That being said, this recipe is still incredibly rich in protein and moisture and only contains about 11% carbohydrate on a dry matter basis.
Ingredients
Humanely Raised Beef, Beef Bone Broth, Pumpkin, Carrots, Spinach, Red Lentils, Agar Agar, Non-GMO Cranberries, Garbanzo Beans (Chickpeas), Chicory Root, Sunflower Oil, Coconut Oil (preserved with mixed tocopherols), Salt, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin Supplement, Biotin, Folic Acid, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Zinc Amino Acid Chelate, Iron Amino Acid Chelate, Copper Amino Acid Chelate, Manganese Amino Acid Chelate, Sodium Selenite, Dried Kelp, Potassium Chloride, Dandelion Greens, Choline Chloride, Taurine, Turmeric.
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
What We Liked:
- Made with a single source of premium animal protein
- Formulated with 100% human-grade, traceable ingredients
- Contains the moisture your cat needs for hydration
- No fillers, by-products, or artificial additives
What We Didn’t Like:
- Contains a significant number of plant-based ingredients
- Fairly expensive compared to the average cat food
#5 Best for Gravy Lovers: Weruva Cats in the Kitchen Love Me Tender Cat Food
- Made In: Thailand
- Guaranteed Protein: 9% Min
- Age Range: Adult
- Calories Per Ounce: 21
- Typical Cost Per Day: $5.46 per day
Of all the products on this list, this formula from Weruva has the fewest calories at just 20.6 calories per ounce and 62 calories per pouch.
This simple recipe features shredded chicken and duck in gravy, making it a good choice for cats that prefer chunks and shreds of minimally processed meat. It includes chicken broth as the first ingredient, meaning that the low-calorie density is largely thanks to the food’s unusually high water content.
Because it emphasizes animal protein, this food will help your cat maintain lean muscle mass while gradually losing weight.
Ingredients
Chicken Broth, Chicken (Boneless, Skinless Breast), Tuna, Duck, Tapioca Starch, Sunflower Seed Oil, Calcium Lactate, Xanthan Gum, Tricalcium Phosphate, Choline Chloride, Taurine, Zinc Sulfate, Vitamin E Supplement, Nicotinic Acid (Vitamin B3), Ferrous Sulfate, Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B1), Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin A Supplement, Manganese Sulfate, Riboflavin Supplement (Vitamin B2), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid, Copper Sulfate, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Potassium Iodide, Biotin, Sodium Selenite, Vitamin B12 Supplement.
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
What We Liked:
- Primarily made from animal protein
- Very low in calories
- Hydrating food helps to keep your cat satisfied
- Free from grains, carrageenan, antibiotics, and hormones
What We Didn’t Like:
- Expensive
- Contains tapioca starch as a thickener
#6 Best for Sensitive Stomach: Vital Essentials Rabbit Mini Patties
- Made In: United States
- Guaranteed Protein: 55% Min
- Age Range: Adult
- Calories Per Ounce: 116
- Typical Cost Per Day: $6.42 per day
If your overweight cat has allergies, inflammatory bowel disease, or other food sensitivities, think about providing a stripped-down diet that’s easy to digest with minimal irritating ingredients.
This freeze-dried food features rabbit as its lone protein source and main ingredient. Inspired by the variety of muscle meat and organs found in your cat’s prey, this food contains a diverse array of rabbit parts. The ingredient list features rabbit, rabbit liver, rabbit heart, rabbit kidney, and rabbit lung.
By featuring a lone protein source—and one that’s a novel protein for most cats—this food is good for cats with food allergies and intolerances—there’s not much in this food besides rabbit. The recipe relies heavily on the nutritional value of minimally processed rabbit. Compared to the average food, this recipe has significantly fewer synthetic additives and other supplemental ingredients.
This food is intended to be rehydrated before serving, meaning that your cat’s meals can be as calorie-dense as you want them to be.
Ingredients
Rabbit, Rabbit Liver, Rabbit Heart, Rabbit Kidney, Rabbit Lung, Herring Oil, Mixed Tocopherols (Preservative), Vitamin E Supplement, Zinc Amino Acid Complex, Iron Amino Acid Complex, Copper Amino Acid Complex, Manganese Amino Acid Complex
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
What We Liked:
- Primarily made from rabbit, a novel protein for many cats
- Rich in species-appropriate animal protein
- Contains herring oil as a source of omega-3 fatty acids
- Low in carbohydrates
- Can be very low-calorie
What We Didn’t Like:
- Some cats don’t like the rabbit flavor
- One of the most expensive foods you can buy
#7 Best for Portion Control: Nutro Perfect Portions Grain-Free Real Chicken Pate
- Made In: United States
- Guaranteed Protein: 12% Min
- Age Range: Adult
- Calories Per Ounce: 43
- Typical Cost Per Day: $4.66 per day
When it comes to helping your cat achieve and maintain the perfect weight, portion control is incredibly important. It helps to choose a recipe made with a low to moderate number of calories, but you still have to watch how much you’re feeding your cat.
This Nutro Perfect Portions recipe features real chicken as the main ingredient. It also contains other natural ingredients like chicken liver and fish oil.
This formula is completely free from by-products and additives like artificial colors and preservatives and it contains just 43 kcal per serving. The food is portioned in 1.3-ounce servings with two perfect portions in each pack. This makes it easy to give your cat exactly as much as they need while keeping the rest fresh.
Ingredients
Chicken, Chicken Broth, Chicken Liver, Water, Dried Pork Broth, Guar Gum, Potassium Chloride, Fish Oil, Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate, Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate, Tapioca Starch, Taurine, Salt, Choline Chloride, Magnesium Sulfate, Sodium Hexametaphosphate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin E Supplement, Zinc Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Potassium Iodide, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex.
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
Caloric Weight Basis
What We Liked
- Packed with protein, real chicken first ingredient
- Rich in moisture, highly digestible
- Contains fish oil for omega fatty acids
What We Didn’t Like
- Expensive
- Large cats might require multiple packs daily
What to Consider: Feeding Recommendations To Help Overweight Cats Lose Weight
“My vet is recommending a therapeutic diet. Does my cat really need a special food?”
Not necessarily. Prescription diets from brands like Royal Canin, Purina, and Hill’s Science Diet offer weight-loss diets. These low-fat foods might be lower in calories than the average cat food, but prescription weight-loss diets make heavy use of carbohydrates and non-nutritive fillers your cat might be better off without.
Simply put, it’s possible to choose a high-quality cat food and promote weight loss by reducing your cat’s daily portion and increasing their activity level.
Your cat should lose weight at a slow, steady rate of about 1 to 2% of their current weight each week. For example, if your cat currently weighs 25 pounds, they should lose between 4 and 8 ounces during their first week of dieting.
You probably won’t notice such a small rate of weight loss from week to week. But slow and steady weight loss is preferable to rapid weight loss. Your cat is more likely to maintain the weight loss if it is done gradually, and losing weight too quickly can create its own health consequences.
The 80% Technique
Assuming your cat is currently maintaining an unhealthy body weight, determine the number of calories they eat now and gradually cut back to 60 to 80% of that amount.
If you don’t know how much your cat presently eats, consult with your vet or try one of the other two methods.
The Crystal Ball Method
The following formula will give you an estimate of your cat’s maintenance calorie intake at an ideal weight. The variable “W” represents your cat’s weight in pounds.
(13.6 x W) + 70 = Calories required to maintain your cat’s ideal weight
If your cat’s ideal weight is 11 pounds, then their maintenance intake will be roughly 220 calories per day. When your cat is eating for a slimmer body, they are living with a calorie deficit. This encourages gradual weight loss until your cat reaches their goal weight.
Remember that a highly satisfying, moisture-rich, high-protein pet food will help you out here.
Keep this in mind, though: Cutting calories with your cat’s current diet could also reduce their nutrient intake. Your cat’s weight loss should be not come at the expense of their nutritional needs.
Your vet will be able to provide you with the most accurate calorie counts that your cat will need to achieve a healthy weight.
With the Right Food and a Solid Strategy, You Can Help Your Cat Reach a Healthy Weight
Weight loss isn’t an arcane pursuit. Once you’ve established a strong strategy and chosen a nutritious diet, your biggest challenge is to stay disciplined and consistent.
When changing your cat’s diet make the transition slowly, feeding both their old food and the new food. Over the course of a week or two, gradually increase the amount of new food and decrease the amount of old food until there are eating only the new food.
If you’re trying to convert your cat from dry food to wet cat food, sure your cat is eating the new food. Cats can develop very strict food preferences depending on what they were exposed to early in life, and it can be difficult for some cats to switch to eating a different type of food later in life.
Give it a good try, but make sure your cat is eating the new food. Cats can become very sick if they don’t eat enough, and your cat is not going to benefit from the good nutrition of a food they won’t eat.
Track your cat’s weight loss from week to week. Also, talk to your veterinarian about your cat’s weight loss. If your cat’s weight has plateaued, your vet might recommend trying a different food or adding in extra exercise to stimulate weight loss.
Regarding exercise, physical activity is a critical component of weight loss. In combination with fewer calories from the new diet, physical activity will help increase your cat’s metabolism, helping your cat burn more calories.
Want to learn more about feline obesity? Read our vet-written guide to this condition.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best cat food for losing weight?
The best cat food for weight loss isn’t necessarily a prescription diet or a diet labeled for weight loss. In fact, you can help your cat lose weight on just about any food as long as it is nutritionally balanced and you control the portions. If you’re looking for best cat food for weight loss, we recommend a high-protein, low-carbohydrate wet food with moderate fat and calorie content.
How do I get my indoor cat to lose weight?
Indoor cats tend to be less active than outdoor cats, so cat owners might need to be more proactive when it comes to helping indoor cats lose weight. The first step is to choose a diet that supports your cat’s weight loss and determine the appropriate number of calories per day. On top of adjusting your cat’s diet, also make an effort to increase your cat’s activity level with daily play sessions.
Is wet or dry cat food better for weight loss?
You can help your cat lose weight using either dry food or wet food. However, wet food tends to be the better option because it is higher in protein and moisture, which make it more satisfying for your cat – you can feed less without your cat feeling deprived. Wet food also tends to be higher in protein and lower in carbohydrates, which can also support healthy weight loss.