The best cat food for weight gain will help nourish your cat completely, ensure optimal weight, and also greatly boost its chances for a long healthy life.
You’ll know your cat is getting the right nutrition based on its appearance. If your cat’s ribs are seen or you can feel the bulge of its spine, then chances are that it is underweight.
In this guide, we will discuss the best cat food for gaining weight along with each food’s pros and cons.
We will also answer some FAQs about feeding optimal nutrition to underweight or skinny cats.
Just in case you are in a hurry, click on our short summary below to view our Top 5 reviewed products for the best cat food for weight gain:
- Purina Fancy Feast For Gravy Lovers - Variety Packs
- CRAVE Grain Free High Protein Dry Cat Food
- Instinct Grain Free Wet Cat Food Pate
- Sheba Perfect Gravy Wet Cat Food - Variety Packs
- Blue Buffalo Wilderness High Protein Grain Free Dry Cat Food
5 Best Cat Food for Weight Gain – 2022 Top Picks
1. Our Editor’s Pick: Purina Fancy Feast For Gravy Lovers - Variety Packs
Purina Fancy Feast is a gourmet-style variety food for picky eaters. It contains chicken/beef/turkey flavored gravies which most cats love.
The tender, delicate bites and tempting textures are sure to keep your picky cat’s interest piqued at every meal time.
Besides this, the cat food is complete, wholesome, and contains balanced nutrition with vitamins, minerals, and proteins for sustainable weight management.
What we like about it
- Fresh ingredients impart great taste, flavor, and scent which cats love
- Ideal portion size
What we don’t like about it
- May cause upset stomach in some cats. Recommend to introduce this to your cat in small quantities to make sure he/she is suitable for this diet.
- Cat food with gravy, made without artificial colors or preservatives
- Purina Fancy Feast canned cat food variety pack crafted with real, high-quality ingredients, like real poultry or beef, to deliver 100 percent complete and balanced food for adult cats
- An irresistible, protein-rich Fancy Feast Gravy Lovers cat food taste offering a gourmet turkey, chicken or beef cat food meal with an enticing aroma and a light, savory gravy
- Developed in partnership with our expert nutritionists to create a unique and unforgettable Purina Fancy Feast wet cat food taste experience for your cat
- Canned cat food crafted in our U.S. facilities and undergoes regular quality and safety checks
2. CRAVE Grain Free High Protein Dry Cat Food
Crave Grain Free High Protein Formula contains 40% high quality protein which builds body mass in skinny cats.
If you are worried about your cat being under-weight, then this gentle, grain-free formula is sure to help it gain weight in a healthy and sustainable way.
The food contains salmon as the main ingredient. This protein is easy to digest and most cats love the taste.
There is no soy, corn, or wheat in this food so you do not have to worry about allergies, flatulence, etc.
Also read: Top 5 High Calorie Cat Food For Weight Gain
What we like about it
- Addictive taste, scent, and flavor that makes cats ravenous
- Grain-free formula is gentle on the feline digestive system
- Complete and balanced diet for skinny or ill cats
- Perfect texture to prevent plaque and dental issues
What we don’t like
- May cause vomiting in a small percentage of cats. Recommend to introduce this to your cat in small quantities to make sure he/she is suitable for this diet.
- Contains one (1) 10 lb. bag of CRAVE Grain Free Indoor Adult Dry Cat Food with Protein from Chicken & Salmon
- Real salmon and ocean fish are the #1 ingredients to give cats the flavor they go wild for and the protein-rich diet they need
- Dry, grain free cat food recipes are crafted with all natural, real ingredients inspired by your cat’s natural, ancestral diet—providing energy from quality carbohydrate sources, plus vitamins, minerals, & other nutrients
- With 40% protein, this dry cat food provides cats with essential nutrients for developing muscle, aiding in digestion, and supporting healthy immune systems
- Each grain free dry cat food recipe has no chicken by-product meal, no corn, no wheat, and no soy protein
3. Instinct Grain Free Wet Cat Food Pate
Made with 95% of real protein, Instinct Grain-Free cat food is high in calories. It contains 95% chicken, chicken liver, and turkey and rest of the calories come from vegetables.
The high protein food also utilizes free-ranging, pasture fed poultry, and is completely free from preservatives and chemicals.
An underweight cat can gain nearly 1239 kcal of energy per kilogram of this food. Use this for skinny, ailing, senior, picky, or rescued/abused cats to help them gain weight quickly and safely.
Also read: Best Dry Cat Food for Senior Cats
What we like about it
- Made in the USA
- All-natural, raw-inspired, wet cat food
- Fresh ingredients
- Perfect portion sizes
What we don’t like
- Some cats may refused to eat it initially. Slowly introduce this cat food together with his/her current cat food and increase the amount gradually until it totally replaces the current cat food.
- GRAIN FREE CAT FOOD WITH CAGE FREE CHICKEN: Instinct Original Chicken recipe is 95% chicken, chicken liver, & turkey, and 5% vegetables, fruits & wholesome ingredients. This high protein cat food is made with responsibly sourced cage-free chicken as the #1 ingredient.
- CANNED CAT FOOD WITH NO FILLERS: Instinct Original wet cat food is high protein cat food, made without grain, potato, corn, wheat, soy, by-product meals, artificial colors or preservatives - ingredients known to trigger food sensitivities.
- CANNED CAT FOOD WITH NO FILLERS: Instinct Original Kitten wet cat food is specially formulated for kittens. Made without grain, potato, corn, wheat, soy, carrageenan, by-product meals, artificial colors or preservatives - ingredients known to trigger food sensitivities.
- RAW INSPIRED WET CAT FOOD: Complete & balanced nutrition from real ingredients to support your cat's health from kitten to senior. Served as a meal or meal topper, this delicious pate has a texture and taste that even picky cats will love
- INSTINCT, THE RAW BRAND: We craft wet & dry cat food from real ingredients inspired by pure, real nutrition from raw ingredients. We believe all pets deserve the best life possible and that it starts with food
4. Sheba Perfect Gravy Wet Cat Food - Variety Packs
Cats love variety, especially if they are picky eaters and do not finish their food.
Sheba Perfect Portions is made with real protein, plus it contains essential vitamins, minerals, and amino acids. These nutrients help overcome deficiencies that may be causing a lack of appetite in your cat.
Cats love the flavor, scent, and the variety offered by Sheba Perfect Portions. That is why, thousands of happy customers have seen their picky eaters finish this food within minutes!
With regular intake of this cat food for weight gain, your cat will get the right balance of proteins and essential nutrients for optimal weight gain.
What we love about it
- Great presentation
- Perfect portion sizes
- Fresh ingredients for perfect taste, scent, and flavor
What we don’t like about it
- Packets may be difficult to open.
- 100% Complete and Balanced for Cats: Enriched with vitamins, minerals, and essential nutrients, this wet cat food provides 100% complete and balanced nutrition for cats at every life stage
- Soft, delectable cat food in an irresistible gravy cats love, Easy-to-use cat food trays: Just snap, peel, and serve
- Individual trays of tasty, fresh meals mean that you’ll have zero messy leftovers, unlike canned cat food
- Snap, Peel, & Serve: SHEBA PERFECT PORTIONS have two convenient servings in portioned trays so you can feed your cat exactly what they need
- Made without grain, corn, wheat, or soy, plus no artificial flavors or preservatives, so you can feel good about the food you feed your cat
5. Blue Buffalo Wilderness High Protein Grain Free Dry Cat Food
When it comes to pet food products, Blue Buffalo is a trusted name.
So when we found that they make high protein cat food, we were delighted! This food has been a blessing for pet owners frustrated with their cat’s skinny appearance.
Blue Buffalo Wilderness high protein food is made with real chicken along with a precise blend of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals.
With regular intake, this food can restore oxidative balance in your cat and also strengthen immunity, improve digestion, and lead to healthy weight gain.
What we like about it
- Approved by holistic veterinarians and animal nutritionists
- Grain-free food specially formulated for indoor cats
- Cold-formed, antioxidant rich ingredients
What we don’t like
- Some cats may not like it. Recommend to slowly introduce this cat food together with his/her current cat food and increase the amount gradually until it totally replaces the current cat food.
- REAL CHICKEN FIRST: This Blue Buffalo dry cat food is made with real, high-quality chicken as the #1 ingredient
- PACKED WITH FLAVOR AND NUTRITION: This dry cat food for indoor adult cats contains the finest natural ingredients to support your cat's health and wellness
- IMMUNE SYSTEM SUPPORT: High-protein cat food contains exclusive, antioxidant-rich LifeSource Bits
- HEALTHY, WHOLESOME INGREDIENTS: This natural cat food is made with no chicken (or poultry) by-product meals and no corn, wheat, or soy
- Contains: One (1) 11-lb. bag of BLUE Wilderness High-Protein and Grain-Free Indoor Dry Cat Food, Chicken Recipe
How can I get my cat to put on weight?
The best way to cause weight gain in cats is by finding out the reason behind their weight loss.
Many factors can cause sudden weight loss in cats: aging, abuse, stress, illness, hormonal issues, and picky eating, etc.
To make your cat gain weight and become healthier, you must feed him/her small, healthy meals several times a day.
Select a nourishing brand of food that your pet loves such as the top 5 best cat food for weight gain mentioned above.
Make sure the selected cat food for weight gain is high in calories and protein. It should also be free from fillers, allergens, and artificial ingredients.
You can also consider feeding your cat a cat food supplement for weight gain such as the one recommended below – Tomlyn 2-Pack Nutri-Cal for Cats High Calorie Dietary Supplement which most cats love.
These supplements are available in gel/paste form and you simply mix them with your cat’s kibble or rice. Most cats love the flavor and taste of these supplements which can lead them to clean their bowl every time.
Why is my cat suddenly losing weight?
According to ASPCA (American Society of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals), it is sometimes impossible to tell the ideal weight for cats as there are so many species and varieties of cats.
The reason why your cat may be suddenly losing weight could be one of the following:
- its food bowl may be stinky
- s/he may be stressed or depressed owing to certain environmental changes
- it may be suffering from intestinal parasites
- has a decreased sense of smell
- has some dental issues that may be preventing a senior cat from enjoying its food.
If you are unsure why your cat is suddenly losing weight, the best course of action is to visit a vet immediately to diagnose the condition before it worsen.
Not sure what your cat may be suffering from? Check out the following articles to learn more:
- Diabetes – Best cat food for diabetic cats
- Kidney disease – Best cat food for kidney disease
- Urinary health problems – Best cat food for urinary health
- Sensitive stomach – Best sensitive stomach wet cat food
Is my cat underweight? What should I do?
Your vet can guide you to the ideal cat weight chart so you can assess whether you cat is skinny. If your cat has always been skinny but is healthy otherwise, it should not be a cause of concern.
However, if an otherwise healthy cat suddenly stops eating and loses a ton of weight, get its blood work and/or fecal tests done (as suggested by a vet).
The vet can then guide you to the right treatment, cat food supplement, and/or the best cat food for weight gain to help your pet regain its lost weight in a healthy manner.
Conclusion
There are several brands of the best cat food for weight gain and with our guide, you will be able to select one that best suits your cat.
However, if your cat has always been healthy but has suddenly started losing weight for no apparent reason, it is better to consult a vet’s opinion before changing his/her diet.
For otherwise healthy cats, we recommend the Purina Fancy Feast Gravy Style Cat Food.
Most cats love the variety that this pack offers. If your cat loves dry food, then too there are many high calorie, high protein, kibble-style options available in the market.
We hope the above reviews help you make an informed choice in the matter.
