Best Cat Food for Weight Loss: 8 Healthy Options

Just like us humans, cats love their food—sometimes too much. Combine that with the life of leisure that many of our beloved house cats live (like sunbathing in their favorite chair for hours), and sometimes, your food-motivated cat starts to pack on the pounds, which isn’t healthy. 

Almost 60 percent of cats in the United States are considered overweight or obese (1), which makes them prone to a variety of health issues. “Excess weight causes increased inflammation in a cat’s body,” explains TB Thompson, a veterinarian from Phoenix, Arizona. “It can cause or worsen problems like osteoarthritis, asthma, heart disease, diabetes mellitus, pancreatitis, kidney disease, and fatty liver.”

Diets aren’t easy for anyone, even Fluffy—but the food you feed your cat can definitely make a difference.

Our Picks:

All featured products are chosen at the discretion of the Vetstreet editorial team and do not reflect a direct endorsement by the author. However, Vetstreet may make a small affiliate commission if you click through and make a purchase.

• Best Overall Winner: Smalls Human-Grade Fresh Cat Food
• Best Dry Cat Food for Weight Loss: Instinct Raw Boost Healthy Weight
• Best Canned Cat Food for Weight Loss: Blue Buffalo True Solutions Fit & Healthy Wet Cat Food
• Best Adult Weight Management Cat Food: Purina Pro Plan Focus Adult Weight Management
• Best Wet Prescription Weight Loss Cat Food: Blue Buffalo Natural Veterinary Diet Weight Management + Urinary Care
• Best Senior Cat Food for Weight Loss: Chicken Soup Weight and Mature Care Cat Food
• Best Healthy Weight Cat Food for Indoor Cats: Halo Holistic Healthy Weight Indoor Cat Dry Food
• Best Vet-Recommended Weight Reduction Cat Food: Hills Science Diet Adult Perfect Weight Cat Food

Best Cat Food for Weight Loss: 8 Healthy Options

Best Wet Cat Food for Weight Loss: Overall Winner

Our pick: Smalls Human-Grade Fresh Cat Food

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While not specifically designed for weight loss as a low-calorie cat food, Smalls Human-Grade Fresh Cat food is a great choice for a cat that needs to shed some extra pounds. We selected Smalls as our overall best wet cat food for weight loss for a variety of reasons.

All Smalls’ recipes are high in moisture and protein, while also being low carb and free of fillers. This ensures that more of what your cat eats gets turned into energy he can use. You can choose between chicken, turkey, or beef recipes, all of which are available in two different textures (smooth and ground). 

This is a good cat food for overweight cats also because it is vet-formulated, human-grade, and easy to transition cats from their current diet to Smalls. All of Smalls’ fresh frozen food can be kept in a sealed container or bag in the refrigerator for up to five days or up to 12 months in the freezer. Cat moms and dads can plan ahead to ensure their cats never run out of meals.

Highlights

• Made with fresh, high-quality animal proteins that have been sustainably-sourced
• No preservatives or fillers
• Human-grade ingredients
• Build a custom plan that adheres to your cat’s needs and lifestyle
• All fresh ingredients come from the United States or Canada
• All Smalls foods contain taurine that cats need
• All Smalls foods are prepared and cooked in the United States
• Ships right to your home

Things to Consider

• Only available via subscription
• Needs to be refrigerated
• Not classified as an overweight cat food, but can be used with caloric monitoring due to its quality and benefits listed above

Best Dry Cat Food for Weight Loss

Our pick: Instinct Raw Boost Healthy Weight

If you’re on the fence about whether to give your kitty dry kibble or raw food, this might be the cat food for you. With 10 percent fewer calories than the company’s raw food, this grain-free weight loss dry cat food contains fiber to keep your kitty full, L-carnitine to help burn fat, probiotics to support digestive health, and antioxidants to support immune health.

Pet parents get the best of both worlds with high-protein kibble and freeze-dried raw in every bag. As a dry food for weight loss, Instinct uses cage-free chicken as its first ingredient. By following the easy feeding directions, pet parents can choose a healthy weight portion or a weight loss portion, making it ideal for multiple cat households.

Highlights

• Protein-packed with chicken as the first ingredient
• Contains freeze-dried raw bits of protein
• Natural ingredients in each bag
• Made in the USA with ingredients from around the world
• Contains no, potato, corn, wheat, soy, by-product meal, or artificial colors and preservatives.
• Contains L-carnitine to burn fat and maintain a healthy weight 
• Has lots of healthy fiber to keep your cat feeling full

Things to Consider

• Contains some by-products
• On the pricey side for dry food

Best Canned Cat Food for Weight Loss

Our pick: Blue Buffalo True Solutions Fit & Healthy Wet Cat Food

With chicken, chicken broth, and chicken liver as the first three ingredients, this protein pate is also full of healthy fiber, vitamins, and nutrients. As a canned cat food for weight loss, it also contains L-carnitine, a natural amino acid that helps the body turn fat into energy and maintain a healthy weight. 

​​Ideal for all adult life stages, the pate texture is appealing to even the most finicky felines. BLUE True Solutions contains no chicken (or poultry) by-product meals so pet parents can feel good knowing high-quality chicken is first for their cats. It contains no corn, wheat, or soy, making it an idea low calorie cat food in a can.

Highlights

• Chicken is the first ingredient
• Contains L-carnitine to help burn energy
• Wheat-free recipe 
• Helps manage caloric intake due to moderate calories
• The high moisture content helps cats stay hydrated
• Full of fiber to help your cat feel fuller
• No by-products, artificial flavors, or preservatives
• Easy to refrigerate the unused portion.

Things to Consider

• Chicken is the only flavor
• Only sold in 3-oz. cans
• Contains grains

Best Adult Weight Management Cat Food 

Our pick: Purina Pro Plan Focus Adult Weight Management

If your cat isn’t a fan of pate, it can be tough to find a wet food he’ll eat that will also help him lose weight. But this Purina Pro recipe with ground turkey has a consistency that falls between a pate and a chunky wet food, offering a middle ground. This might appeal to cats that are picky about texture or that are getting older in age and need a softer food.

This weight control canned cat food has has 10 percent fewer calories than Pro Plan Adult Complete Essentials Classic Entree With Turkey and Vegetable. However, it contains 25 essential vitamins and minerals your cat needs for good health. The goal of this cat food is to help cats lose fat and not muscle.

Highlights

• Made with real turkey
• Contains antioxidants to support a healthy immune system
• Designed to maintain muscle mass
• Ground formula is easy for cats to chew 
• Packed with 25 essential vitamins and minerals
• Most cats will enjoy the tasty flavor in a gravy base

Things to Consider

• For weight maintenance, feed 1 can per 3 pounds of of body weight daily
• For overweight cats, feed 1 can per 3-1/2 lbs of body weight daily.
• By-products in the ingredients

Best Prescription Weight Loss Cat Food: Wet

Our pick: Blue Buffalo Natural Veterinary Diet Weight Management + Urinary Care

As mentioned earlier, overweight or obese cats are at risk for a variety of health conditions, and that includes urinary problems. That’s why this prescription weight loss cat food in a pate formula is designed to help both weight loss and urinary health at the same time.

With chicken as the first ingredient, this recipe is high in protein, fiber and moisture, while also still being low calorie. It also has controlled levels of magnesium and sodium to balance urinary pH. By promoting a healthy urinary environment, this cat food is for the dissolution and prevention of struvite stones and the prevention of calcium oxalate stones.

Highlights

• Chicken is the first ingredient
• Helps weight loss and urinary health
• Made in the USA
• Designed for all adult cat life stages
• Grain-free, low calorie recipe
• Contains no corn, wheat, or soy
• Blue Buffalo foods are formulated by animal nutritionists, food scientists, and veterinarians

Things to Consider

• Only one flavor available
• This wet cat food weight loss formula requires a veterinarian’s prescription

Best Senior Cat Food for Weight Loss

Our pick: Chicken Soup Weight and Mature Care Cat Food

Older cats can sometimes gain weight as they slow down and spend more time sleeping. So if you have an older cat that needs a diet, this wet food might help (and appeal to them!). It’s specially formulated to meet the nutritional needs of older cats, it’s relatively low calorie, and it’s packed with protein, including ocean fish, chicken, salmon, and duck, as well as real vegetables and fruit for fiber.

In terms of a good diet cat food, Chicken Soup for the Soul’s pate can be used on its own or as a tasty, appealing topper. We like that it contains no artificial colors, preservatives or flavors that your overweight kitty does not need. It meets AAFCO cat nutrient profiles and comes with a guarantee of quality.

Highlights

• Protein-heavy recipe
• All-natural ingredients
• Wheat and corn free
• Contains no soy or gluten
• Available in large 5-oz. cans
• Contains no by-product meals
• Made in North America

Things to Consider

• One recipe option

Best Healthy Weight Cat Food for Indoor Cats

Our pick: Halo Holistic Healthy Weight Indoor Cat Dry Food

Made only with whole meat from sustainably caught fish and non-GMO produce, this dry cat food is formulated with all-natural ingredients so that it’s easy for your cat to digest while also losing or maintaining a healthy weight. It’s also packed with nutrients to help your cat maintain his overall health too. 

The newest formula in this line contains more protein and no soy, so your cat will feel full and pet parents can comfort in knowing their cats are getting a high quality dry cat food for weight loss. Cooked in the USA with ingredients from around the world, this grain-free formula has lower fat levels for cats to maintain a healthy weight. The added  prebiotics, probiotics and postbiotics that support your cat’s immune system, which is a win-win all around.

Highlights

• Fish is sustainably caught in this cat food for overweight cats
• The number one ingredient is responsibly sourced salmon
• Formulated to be easy to digest
• Contains no corn, wheat, soy, meat meal, artificial flavors, preservatives or colors
• No byproducts or meals in recipe
• Non-GMO ingredients
• Includes nutrients for well-rounded health, including a healthy coat and eyes

Things to Consider

• Not for cats who don’t like fish
• Also available in a healthy weight chicken recipe

Best Vet-Recommended Weight Reduction Cat Food

Our pick: Hills Science Diet Adult Perfect Weight Cat Food

Hills Science Diet cat food weight loss formula is veterinarian-recommended and made in the USA with globally sourced ingredients. It does not require a veterinary prescription and is complete and balanced for adult cats who require fewer calories in their diet in the form of a weight reduction cat food. The unique combination of vitamins and antioxidants help support your cat’s immune system.

It can be served to cats who require less calories without skimping on flavor, high-quality ingredients, or the proper vitamins and ingredients. Hills’ proprietary ingredient blend is designed to help cats lose weight while maintaining lean muscle. Chicken is the first ingredient without any chicken by-product meal.

Highlights

• Hill’s Science Diet Adult Perfect Weight Cat Food is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Cat Food Nutrient Profiles for maintenance of adult cats
• Contains no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives
• Available in a variety of bag sizes
• Most cats show visible results within 10 weeks
• Made in USA
• Follow weight loss feeding instructions and adjust feeding amounts as necessary to maintain optimal weight

Things to Consider

• Does not contain prebiotics
• Contains grain

Weight Loss Cat Food: What to Know

If your cat needs to lose weight, you may think it’s simply a matter of feeding less of your cat’s normal food. Portion size does play a big role—if you give your cat too much food, he might overeat and gain weight. However, if you are feeding the recommended amount and start cutting back on regular portions, you could be depriving your cat of essential nutrients. 

To avoid nutritional deficiencies, your veterinarian may recommend switching your cat to a food that’s been specially formulated for weight loss or weight control. “Weight loss cat food can help your cat lose weight successfully without compromising balanced nutrition and without making your cat super hungry all the time,” says Thompson. 

You can also look for those labeled as “weight control cat food” or weight maintenance.” While these foods might have a slightly higher calorie content than “weight loss” labeled foods (and are not necessarily aimed at weight loss), they’re still on the lower side in terms of calories and can still help your kitty shed some excess pounds, Thompson explains.

Once your cat starts to lose the excess pounds, you might also see his health improve as a whole. You might notice that he is more energetic and playful, or that he spends more time around you (rather than sleeping). This also has another added benefit: if your cat is more active overall, it will be easier for you to notice when he is not feeling well.

Keep in mind that it is unhealthy for your cat to lose too much weight in a short period of time. As a general rule, cats can safely lose about 0.5-2 percent of their body weight per week, which comes to about 4 ounces per week for a 20-pound cat (2).

Is Wet or Dry Food Better for Overweight Cats?

Your cat can lose weight on wet or dry food—it really depends on the cat and what kind of food he prefers. 

Wet food has a lot of extra moisture, which makes it less calorically dense even though the portion might be bigger. This can help your cat feel full sooner, even if he ate fewer calories. 

Whether you choose wet cat food for weight loss or dry, the most important factors are meeting your cat’s nutritional needs, controlling caloric intake, and making sure your cat likes the food.

For many pet parents on a budget, dry cat food for weight loss is a viable option because it tends to be less expensive than canned cat food or home delivery services of fresh food. However, many cats prefer a wet food due to its palatability. Every cat, like every person, is different with unique likes and dislikes.

“I’ve definitely had cat patients who have done better with wet weight loss cat food because it kept them feeling more satisfied,” says Thompson. “But even cats who refuse to eat wet food altogether can lose weight with the right dry food and diligent monitoring.” 

Weight Loss Cat Food Brands: What to Look For

When choosing a weight loss food for cats, the smartest move you can make is to read the label carefully. “Make sure the food is labeled as complete and balanced,” Thompson says, to ensure it has the nutrients, vitamins, minerals, fats, and other supplements your cat needs to stay healthy. 

Here are some other details veterinarians like Thompson recommend paying attention to: 

Calories

“Some supposed weight loss foods have just as many calories as average cat food,” says Thompson, while other foods not labeled specifically for weight loss are great choices. 

The goal is to make sure the food you choose has fewer calories per cup than the one your cat is currently eating. Your cat will only lose weight if there is an overall caloric deficit.

Protein vs. Carbohydrate Content

Cats are true carnivores and natural hunters, so they generally do well when they eat food that’s high in protein. It can also help preserve their muscle mass while they’re trying to lose weight. 

Look for food that lists protein as the first ingredient and be wary of foods that have too many carbohydrates as the first several ingredients. It’s okay for there to be some carbs, though, as this gives the food fiber, the next thing to look for. 

Fiber

Fiber helps your cat feel full, even if he ingests fewer calories. Look for foods with increased soluble and insoluble fiber, Thompson says. This fiber will generally come from healthy carbohydrates, such as sweet potato, pumpkin, or brown rice. 

Avoid Fillers

Some foods will have a lot of low-cost ingredients in them that have little nutritional value and aren’t as healthy for your cat. These include animal by-products, grain products, and corn or wheat gluten. 

How to Help Your Cat Lose Weight: Tips and Advice

In addition to feeding your cat the right food to support his weight loss, you can also help him lose weight some other ways too:

Encourage regular, low-impact exercise. Encourage your cat to play with a new toy or an interactive toy, such as a feather wand. “Increasing activity will improve your cat’s mental attitude as well as burn a few more calories,” says Thompson.

Cut back on the treats. We’ve all been there: your hungry, purring kitty hops up on your desk and gives you that wide-eyed, pleading look that screams “treats please.” It’s hard to resist, but it’s in his best interest if you keep the treats to one or two small ones a day. 

Stick to portions. Make sure you feed your cat the portion recommended by your veterinarian or the packaging and not more.

If you’re unsure what food to get your cat—or if your cat is having trouble losing weight even on a weight loss cat food—talk to your vet, especially if your cat is severely overweight or if you aren’t seeing a slow, gradual decrease in weight after 6-8 weeks, Thompson says.

 “[Your] vet can recommend a special diet with a controlled calorie content that will increase your cat’s chances of success in losing weight,” says Thompson. “It’s rare that we can’t figure out a way to safely reduce a cat’s weight but sometimes it takes ingenuity. Don’t give up.”