8 Best Cat Foods for Weight Loss (2024 Reviews)

We love our pets like our children and they become members of the family. And just like with people, sometimes we use food to show our love. While there is nothing wrong with “treating” your cat from time to time, too much food can lead to excess weight.

And just like in people, excess weight can lead to other health problems. We do the best we can to keep our family healthy and you should do the same with your feline family members.

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The best cat foods for weight loss can help keep your cat trim and healthy just by making a few simple changes not only to their diet but also to their lifestyle. Interesting…it is pretty much exactly the same as keeping yourself healthy.

If you have an obese cat, you must take deliberate steps to reduce their weight and preserve their health. After all, we want to have our best friend as many years as possible. 

8 Best Cat Foods for Weight Loss

Cat Attitudes Picks

1.) Iams Weight Control Cat Food

You cannot go wrong with cat food that has meat as the first ingredient. And Iams Weight Control Cat Food has chicken as their first ingredient. A high-quality protein is a necessity in weight loss cat food. 

A proprietary fiber blend with beet pulp provides an ingredient that helps reduce hairballs before they become a problem for your cat. Iams provides a balanced diet that aids in weight control making it perfect for indoor and senior cats alike.

This cat food is formulated with l-carnitine to help your overweight cat slowly and healthily shed extra weight. If your cat needs to lose a few pounds or lives indoors, he needs a high-quality food to keep him healthy. 

The Iams “Proactive Health” cat foods have 10% less fat to provide your cat with a quality high protein meal. Our cats have eaten IAMS Proactive Health Adult Indoor Weight & Hairball Control Dry Cat Food for many years. It is what we switched to when we realized they were starting to move up on the “chonk chart”.

Manufacturers Specs

• Sizes Available: 4 sizes (7 lbs to 22 lbs)
• Flavor: Chicken
• Form: Dry

What We Like

• Chicken is the first ingredient
• Iams has a variety of “Proactive Health” cat foods
• High customer reviews
• No artificial preservatives
• Designed for weight loss and hairball control
• Reasonably Priced

What We Don’t Like

• Formula change that is not liked by all cats

Summary

Overall, this is a high-quality cat food for weight control and hairball control. This is what my cats have eaten it for many years. Cat Attitudes loves the Iams brand of pet products.

2.) Royal Canine Weight Control Cat Food

When you think of high-quality cat food, Royal Canine should be at the top of the list. After all, they have a 50-year history of scientific research and observation and have delivered a quality product for as many years. They have shown that 90% of cats that eat their product lose weight in the first 60 days. 

Royal Canine cat foods come highly recommended by veterinarians and they make a line of specialty foods designed for the unique needs of indoor, senior, and overweight cats. Additionally, they also have products for cats that may have a sensitive stomach or allergies.

To help maintain muscle mass, this food contains L-carnatine. It also helps with fat metabolism and supports an ideal body condition. If your cat is a little “fluffy”, this cat food can help. And the ideal fiber blend will keep your cat satisfied and not driving you nuts for more food.

Manufacturers Specs

• Sizes Available: 4 sizes (7 lbs to 22 lbs)
• Flavor: Chicken
• Form: Dry

What We Like

• Chicken is the first ingredient
• 90% positive results
• High customer reviews
• 100% satisfaction guarantees
• They have a wet and dry formula

What We Don’t Like

• Formula change that is not liked by all cats
• More expensive than other brands

Summary

Royal Canine has been in the pet food business for a long time and their reputation speaks for itself. They have many happy pet owners as customers with a high percentage of them reporting happy and thinner cats. If your cat prefers one type (dry or wet) food over the other, weight control foods are available in both forms.

3.) Hill’s Science Diet Perfect Weight Dry Cat Food

With 70% of cats losing weight on the Hill’s Science Diet in the first 10 weeks, this is an excellent product for the cat that needs to shed a few pounds to get their weight under control. Hill’s weight control cat food follows the number one rule of nutrition by offering a quality protein (chicken) as the first ingredient on the list.

With all-natural ingredients and high-quality protein, it is a good food for your cat whether he needs to lose weight or not. This food can help your cat maintain lean muscle and keep them satisfied between meals. After all, a hungry cat can be a real pest.

Hill’s cares about what your cat eats. They have strict requirements for the facilities that provide ingredients for their food. And all ingredients are analyzed for quality. There are no artificial colors, flavors, preservatives or chicken by-product meal.

Here at Cat Attitudes we love when suppliers give back. Hill’s Food, Shelter & Love program donates food to shelters across the country. With every purchase of Science Diet, you help feed over 100,000 homeless pets every day, 365 days a year.

Manufacturers Specs

• Sizes Available: 3 sizes (3 lbs to 15 lbs)
• Flavor: Chicken
• Form: Dry

What We Like

• Chicken is the first ingredient
• Hill’s makes a variety of Science Diet cat foods
• Created especially for weight management 
• No artificial preservatives
• Number 1 veterinarian recommended
• Natural ingredients

What We Don’t Like

• Formula change that is not liked by all cats
• A little bit pricey (but worth it)

Summary

Hill’s Science Diet comes with high customer reviews and documented testimonials of weight loss success. It is this success that makes Hill’s Science Diet one of our top recommended weight management cat foods.

4.) Blue Buffalo Weight Control Cat Food

One thing that seems to separate a quality weight management cat from ordinary cat food is having a real protein (chicken, beef, fish, turkey, etc.) listed as the first ingredient and Blue Buffalo meets that requirement. Whole grains and vegetables are also an important part of this blend.

Omega 3 & 6 fatty acids are also part of good cat food. This helps with weight control as well as providing your best friend with a shiny coat. Blue Buffalo blends antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals into their food. They follow a holistic path when it comes to their cat food recipes.

Blue Wilderness Weight Control Cat Food puts the health and well-being of your cat first. Their formulas are free of chicken/poultry by-product meals, corn, wheat, soy or artificial flavors. Does your cat need a specialty formula other than weight management? Blue Buffalo provides several options for specialty needs.

Manufacturers Specs

• Sizes Available: 3 sizes (3 lbs to 15 lbs)
• Flavor: Chicken and Brown Rice
• Form: Dry

What We Like

• Real protein is the first ingredient
• Created especially for weight management
• LifeSource Bits with antioxidants, vitamins and minerals
• No low-quality ingredients
• Makes formulas for cats with unique needs

What We Don’t Like

• Some reports of cats getting UTIs
• A little bit pricey 

Summary

While overall customer reviews are good for this cat food, there are some reports of UTIs in cats. There are also testimonials of cats loving this food and losing weight.

5.) Purina Pro Plan Weight Control Cat Food

When someone says “cat food”, one of the first manufacturers that comes to mind is Purina. They have been making quality pet food for many years. From wet foods, to dry foods and prescription foods, Purina carries a full line of specialty foods.

Like all the other weight management foods before, this food contains chicken as its first ingredient. Being high in protein, Purina Pro Plan Focus Weight Management blend helps your cat maintain muscle mass during weight loss. 

This food also contains less fat which helps your cat lose the extra pounds that he may have gained over time. With 100% complete and balanced nutrition for adult cats along with the taste she’s sure to love, this recipe provides the nourishment your feline friend needs to achieve her natural greatness.

Manufacturers Specs

• Sizes Available: 3 sizes (3.5 lbs to 16 lbs)
• Flavor: Chicken and Rice
• Form: Dry

What We Like

• Chicken and brown rice at the top of the ingredient list
• Purina knows pets
• Created especially for weight management 
• 20% less fat
• 100% complete and balanced nutrition
• Reasonably priced

What We Don’t Like

• Not all cats like this food

Summary

With a solid reputation and many years in the cat food-making business, you can rest assured their product is high-quality. Many customers report theirs cats loved Purina Pro Plan Weight Control Cat Food and lost weight eating this cat food.

6.) Iams Perfect Portions Grain Free Weight Control Cat Food

Want to make feeding your cat the correct serving-size food a simple task? Try Iams perfect portions. As the name says, this food comes in twin pack tray with each serving size being 1.3 ounces. This makes it easy to know exactly how much food your cat is getting at mealtime.

Iams Perfect Portions Heatlhy Grain Free Wet Cat Food not only gives you the perfect serving size for your cat, but it is also grain free. Cats can sometimes be sensitive to grains in cat foods, but keep in mind they can also be sensitive to beef. If the carbs are lower, chances are the fat content will be higher. It all seems to be a trade-off.

This cat food offers a balance of nutrients that promotes weight management and healthy metabolism in cats. This product has added l-carnitine and no preservatives. If your personal preference for your cat’s food is on the wet side, this Iams brand makes a great choice for your best friend.

Manufacturers Specs

• Sizes Available: 24 pack (2.6 ounce twin packs) 48 servings total
• Flavor: Chicken Recipe
• Form: Pate

What We Like

• Chicken, chicken broth and chicken liver are ingredients
• Perfect portion sizes (no guessing, no mess)
• Supports weight control and healthy metabolism in cats
• Grain-free formula
• Contains vitamins, minerals and antioxidents

What We Don’t Like

• Not all cats like this food
• Priced on the high-end

Summary

While the overall reviews for this food is good, there are always those few who report that their cats do not like the food. If your cat likes a more moist food, this Iams brand in pate form is a good choice for your cat.

7.) Purina Pro Plan Weight Control Pate Wet Cat Food

This is another wet/pate cat food for those of you who have furbabies that are not so keen on dry food. The upside is Purina Pro Plan comes with both a wet and a dry food. This food comes in a can giving you are larger portion than the “perfect portions” listed above.

Like all quality foods, the Purina Pro Plan Weight Control Food in cans lists real turkey as the first ingredient, giving your cat the quality protein that he needs. This will help him lose weight and keep the muscle. 

If you are looking for the expertise of the Purina brand, they offer several wet and dry specialty foods. it is just a matter of finding the one that your cat likes and more importantly, allows your cat to get to a healthy weight and maintain it. Mixing wet and dry is not out of the question either.

Manufacturers Specs

• Sizes Available: 24 pack (3 ounce cans) 48 servings total
• Flavor: Turkey and Rice
• Form: Wet

What We Like

• Chicken, chicken broth and chicken liver 
• Perfect portion sizes (no guessing, no mess)
• Supports weight control and healthy metabolism in cats
• Grain-free formula
• Contains vitamins, minerals and antioxidants

What We Don’t Like

• Not all cats like this food
• Priced on the high-end

Summary

While the overall reviews for this food is good, there are always those few who report that their cats do not like the food. If your cat likes a more moist food, this Iams brand in pate form is a good choice for your cat.

8.) Solid Gold – Fit as a Fiddle Weight Control Cat Food

Solid Gold – Fit as a Fiddle provides the nutritious meals that your cat needs to stay healthy and maintain his lean and trim figure. Made with Alaskan pollock loaded with omegas and antioxidants make it the perfect cat food for gut health and overall immune support.

Not only does this formula contain holistic ingredients like pumpkin, carrot, blueberries, broccoli, almond oil, it is grain and gluten free. It is also loaded with olive oil, canola oil and salmon oil for overall skin and coat health.

This food comes with 100% satisfaction guarantee. Solid Gold’s single mission is to provide a quality holistic food for your cat. This cat food is a grain and gluten free meal for a less active, mature and overweight adult cat. 

Manufacturers Specs

• Sizes Available: 3 sizes (3 lbs to 12 lbs) 
• Flavor: Alaskan Pollock
• Form: Dry

What We Like

• Alaskan Pollock as the first ingredient
• Natural and grain-free
• Nutrient packed with holistic ingredients
• Contains protected probiotics
• 100% satisfaction guaranteed
• Offers a variety of specialty blends of cat food

What We Don’t Like

• Some reports of causing urinary infections in cats
• Priced on the high end

Summary

Holistic and natural can be a great way to nourish your cat and this cat food is chalked full of nutrients. Lots of customers report their cats loving this food and losing weight while eating Solid Gold-Fit as a Fiddle Weight Control Cat Food.

How to Help Your Cat Lose Weight

Cats can have issues with obesity just like people. And they will suffer a lot of the same health issues that people have when they carry too much weight on their body.

Diabetes, liver disease, arthritis, urinary problems, lameness, pancreatitis and GI diseases of all types, and skin problems such as dandruff are some of these conditions. You want to find the best weight-control cat food for your furbaby.

We do the best we can to give our cats the best lives we can and that means helping them maintain a healthy weight. Some cats will stop eating when they are full, but others can be compulsive overeaters. Leaving food out for your cat all the time is not always a good idea.

Your cat may love their treats, but treats are not always “love.” And if your cat is overweight and you are spoiling him with food, you are not doing him any favors. Just remember it is up to you to keep your best friend healthy and with you as long as possible. 

5 Tips for How to Get a Cat to Lose Weight

You may be asking “How do I get my indoor cat to lose weight?” Think about what a person would do to lose weight. Of course, the emotional things aren’t going to help your cat, but you can follow these tips:

1. Invest in the best cat food for overweight indoor cats. Weight control food is made specifically for the less active feline. Cat foods with a real protein as the first ingredient are also high quality and they are a good place to start when your kitty needs a weight loss plan. 

2. Control your cat’s daily food amount. Most weight control cat foods actually have portion recommendations on the package. We had a cat that lost five pounds (he weighed 20 pounds) over the period of a few years.

He was fed a half to three-fourths cup of food one time each day. You can also break the portion size in half and feed it to your cat twice daily. One of the biggest reasons for obese cats is owners not realizing just how much food they are feeding their cats on a daily basis.

3. Get your cat to move. Movement (exercise) will help your cat lose weight and if you can make it fun for him, he won’t mind it and may even enjoy it. Cats love to chase things that move.

An automatic laser toy is a great way to give your cat daily exercise and takes no effort on your part. Many toys are designed for you to play with your cat. I have one cat that will play fetch with an aluminum foil ball until he has no energy left.

4. Another way to combine exercise and mealtime is with a puzzle toy. Puzzle toys are devices that hold your cat’s food, but your cat has to work for the food. He has to figure out how to gain access to it. Not only will he not be able to eat as fast, you will have to be active to actually get the food.

Wet or Dry Food for Weight Loss?

According to VCA Hospitals,  the best way to lose weight is with a canned diet food fed several times per day, rather than leaving food down all of the time. One of the reasons canned diet foods work better is because finicky felines often prefer wet food to dry.

Our cat lost 5 pounds over a 2-year period and he did it with dry food. It was an indoor cat weight control food and he loved the food. It is not as much about whether the food is wet or dry. In most cases, it is about how much food your cat eats each day. 

How Long Does it Take a Cat to Lose Weight?

Just like a person, this can vary from cat to cat. With lifestyle changes for your best friend, you should be able to see some reduction of weight within a month. An ideal target for weight loss in a cat is 1% – 2% of their body weight per week.

Most cats will be at their ideal weight in 6 to 8 months. There is no set time for a cat to lose weight. The goal is to get the excess pounds off so your best friend can live his best life.

How to Get a Cat to Lose Weight with Multiple Cats

The ideal solution is to feed the cats separately. Allow the overweight cat to eat for 15 or 20 minutes and then pick up all food bowls until the next meal time. There are also feeding stations that open by reading your cat’s microchip (who would have thought).

When my cats needed to lose a few pounds, I reduced the portions of all 3. They all ate together and were usually finished in 30 – 60 minutes. While the 20-pound boy ate more than the 8-pound girl, she was satisfied and he lost weight. I suspect this solution will not work for all cat parents, but it did serve our cats well and produced the desired results. 

Final Thoughts

We at Cat Attitudes take the health of cats very seriously. Having an overweight cat can shorten the number of years that you will have them in your life. Yes, the “fat cat” names may be funny and the chonk chart cracks us up, but having an overweight cat is no laughing matter.

Our cat suffered from asthma, he could not clean himself effectively and it was difficult for him to jump. But with a weight control food, portion control and some added activity, he was able to lose the weight. And to our amazement, all of the obesity related issues disappeared. 

Our guy became a happy and healthy boy again. The vet still considered him “obese”, but his breed is known for being large. The change in his body and behavior was incredible. If you have a “fat cat”, take the necessary steps to give him back his or her health.