Are you on the hunt for a high-quality dry cat food diet for your chonky kitty? This post is for you! Check out our top picks for the best dry cat food diets for weight loss below.
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According to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention, in 2018, an estimated 60% of cats in the United States were overweight or obese. This is a serious problem as feline obesity predisposes cats to a number of devastating health complications, including (but not limited to) insulin resistance, diabetes mellitus, lower urinary tract disease, osteoarthritis, and skin problems.
Best Dry Cat Food for Weight Loss - Selection Criteria
When selecting dry cat food diet options for this post we were on the lookout for the following nutritional benefits and diet-friendly features;
- Complete and balanced nutrition as per AAFCO guidelines for adult cats
- A majority of calories from protein and healthy fats, instead of carbohydrates
- Quality whole meat protein as the primary protein source (not meat meal)
- Contains minimal starchy fillers from grains, corn, soy, and potatoes
- Contains little to no animal by-products, or meat meal from by-products
- Contains no chemical preservatives or artificial flavors
- Availability of multiple flavor profiles/recipes for picky eaters
- Made in the USA
For the purposes of this post and consumer convenience, only non-prescription weight-loss diets for adult cats were considered.
Disclaimer: This post features editorial suggestions only, and should NOT be used as a substitute for professional medical veterinary advice.
8 Best Dry Cat Food Diets for Weight Loss
Check out our top picks for the best non-prescription dry cat food diets for weight loss below, and remember, if you’re ever unsure about what food is right for your cat or how many calories they should be consuming each day, it’s always best to check with your vet.
Image via Nulo
1. NULO FREESTYLE Grain-Free Adult Trim (Salmon & Lentils)
via Amazon
Calories: 421 kcal/cup
Crude Protein: 42%
Crude Fat: 12%
Crude Fiber: 5%
Moisture: 10%
Carbs (approx.): 25%
What we like:
- High protein formula
- Low carb, grain-free recipe
- Contains 83% animal-based proteins
- Real salmon listed as the 1st ingredient
- Complete and balanced nutrition
- Contains healthy probiotics for digestive support
What we don’t like:
- Only 1 Adult Trim recipe is available
Image via Purina
2. PURINA PRO PLAN Adult Weight Management (Turkey & Egg)
via Amazon
Calories: 460 kcal/cup
Crude Protein: 43%
Crude Fat (max.): 14%
Crude Fiber: 5%
Moisture: 12%
Carbs (approx.): 20%
What we like:
- Low carb content
- High protein formula
- Real turkey listed as 1st ingredient
- Grain-free formula with no corn, no wheat, and no soy
- Complete and balanced nutrition
- Contains live healthy probiotics for digestive support and immune health
- No artificial flavors or colors
- Chicken & Rice formula also available
What we don’t like:
- Contains potato protein
- The chicken & rice formula contains corn, soy, wheat, and poultry by-product meal
Image via Instinct
3. INSTINCT RAWBOOST Healthy Weight For Adult Cats
via Amazon
Calories: 385 kcal/cup
Crude Protein: 38%
Crude Fat: 16%
Crude Fiber: 6%
Moisture: 9%
Carbs (approx.): 26%
What we like:
- High protein formula
- Cage-free chicken listed as the 1st ingredient
- Contains no grain, no corn, no wheat, no soy, no potato, and no by-product meal
- Contains minimally procesed bites of freeze-dried raw meat throughout
- Contains probiotics for digestive support
- No artificial colors or preservatives
- Complete and balanced nutrition
What we don’t like:
- Only 1 Healthy Weight recipe is available
Image via Purina
4. PURINA ONE +PLUS Ideal Weight High Protein
via Amazon
Calories: 400 kcal/cup
Crude Protein: 42%
Crude Fat: 9%
Crude Fiber: 5%
Moisture: 12%
Carbs (approx.): 29%
What we like:
- High protein formula
- Real turkey listed as the 1st ingredient
- Complete and balanced nutrition
- No artificial flavors or preservatives
- Budget-friendly price
What we don’t like:
- Contains chicken by-product meal
- Contains soy, corn and rice flour
Image via Halo
5. HALO Indoor Cat Grain Free Healthy Weight (Wild Salmon & Whitefish)
via Amazon
Calories: 400 kcal/cup
Crude Protein: 32%
Crude Fat: 13%
Crude Fiber: 5%
Moisture: 10%
Carbs (approx.): 33%
What we like:
- Grain-free formula
- Responsibly sourced real whole salmon and whitefish listed as 1st two ingredients
- Contains non-GMO fruits and veggies
- Contains no rendered meat meal
- Complete and balanced nutrition
- No artifical flavors, colors, or preservatives
- Chicken & Chicken Liver recipe also available
What we don’t like:
- Relatively high carb content
- Contains soy and potato
Image via Iams
6. IAMS PROACTIVE HEALTH Indoor Weight & Hairball Care (With Chicken & Turkey)
via Amazon
Calories: 302 kcal/cup
Crude Protein: 30%
Crude Fat (max.): 14%
Crude Fiber: 8%
Moisture: 10%
Carbs (approx.): 32%
What we like:
- Low-calorie recipe
- Real chicken listed as the 1st ingredient
- Contains real turkey (8th ingredient)
- Also formulated to help reduce hairballs
- Complete and balanced nutrition
- Salmon recipe also available
What we don’t like:
- Relatively high carb content
- Contains chicken by-product meal
- Contains corn (3rd, 4th and 5th ingredient)
Image via Nutro
7. NUTRO WHOLESOME ESSENTIALS Indoor Cat Adult (Chicken & Brown Rice)
via Amazon
Calories: 378 kcal/cup
Crude Protein: 33%
Crude Fat: 14%
Crude Fiber: 7%
Moisture: 10%
Carbs (approx.): 30%
What we like:
- Real chicken listed and the 1st ingredient
- Contains no chicken by-product meal
- Contains no corn, wheat or soy protein
- Complete and balanced nutrition
- No artifical flavors, colors, or preservatives
What we don’t like:
- Contains potato protein
- Only 1 Healthy Weight recipe available
Image via Hill’s Science Diet
8. HILL'S SCIENCE DIET Perfect Weight for Adult Cats (Chicken)
via Amazon
Calories: 315 kcal/cup
Crude Protein: 36%
Crude Fat: 9%
Crude Fiber: 12%
Moisture: 8%
Carbs (approx.): 30%
What we like:
- Low-calorie recipe
- Real chicken listed as the 1st ingredient
- No artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives
- Complete and balanced nutrition
- US Veterinarian recommended
What we don’t like:
- Contains corn gluten meal and wheat
- Only 1 Perfect Weight recipe available
Note: All manufacturer guaranteed analysis percentage figures specified above have been rounded to the nearest whole number for simplicity, while carbohydrate content was calculated using this formula and is an approximate figure only. Where Ash content was not specified by the manufacturer, an average Ash content of 6% was used to help calculate the approximate carb content.
Weight loss tips for cats:
In addition to switching your cat to a high-quality weight-loss diet, you can also try the following;
- Add water to your cat’s dry food, as research suggests that this helps to promote physical activity (it’s also beneficial for urinary health)
- Ditch the gravity feeder to prevent overeating (portion control is crucial)
- Monitor your cat’s daily food intake to avoid excess calorie consumption
- Limit treats and be sure to include them in your cat’s daily calorie quota
- Consider multiple (more frequent), smaller, portion-controlled feeds per day to reduce the risk of potential problem behavior resulting from a restrictive diet (research suggests that this may help to decrease hunger and frustration while promoting spontaneous physical activity, water intake, and urine production)
- Use puzzle feeders and environmental enrichment for added mental and physical exercise (especially for indoor cats)
- Weigh your cat and evaluate their body condition score regularly to make sure you’re on the right track
- Consult your vet if your cat is still having trouble losing weight
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