#catweightloss

My cat’s been gaining a bit of weight lately and I finally started looking into what I should actually change. I thought it would just be feeding less, but it turns out it’s not that simple.

I ended up going through a bunch of “weight management” foods and just tried to get a general sense of what people actually use. This is basically what I found:

Smalls This one seems like the easiest if you don’t want to think too much about portions. They portion it for your cat already, and it’s pretty high protein. Only downside is it’s a subscription, so you’re kinda committing to it.

Open Farm (wet) Came up a lot when I was looking at wet food. Not super calorie heavy and has a lot of moisture, so cats feel full faster. Texture looks a bit soft though, so I guess it depends if your cat likes that.

Purina Pro Plan (weight management) Feels like the most straightforward option. Lower calorie and actually made for weight control. Not fancy, but probably one of the easier ones to stick with.

Tiki Cat This one surprised me because the calories per can are pretty low. Mostly protein and broth. It’s very fish-based though, so I’m not sure how people use it long term.

Natural Balance “Fat Cats” Name is… yeah. But it’s made for overweight cats, lower calorie and more fiber so they stay full. Seems practical, just not as “clean” as some others.

Hill’s Science Diet (light) Feels like a safe option. Lower calorie, balanced, nothing too complicated. Probably one of those foods that just works without overthinking it.

IAMS Healthy Weight Similar to Hill’s but cheaper. Easy to find too. Not the best ingredients compared to others, but more realistic for everyday use.

Primal More high protein/raw style. Sounds good in theory, but also feels easy to overfeed if you’re not careful.

The main thing I noticed is they’re all kind of trying to do the same thing: keep protein high, keep calories lower, and help cats feel full so they don’t constantly act hungry.

Also didn’t realize how often people recommend wet food for weight loss because of the moisture. This is what I was looking at while trying to compare everything: https://technomeow.com/best-cat-food-for-weight-loss/

By Kelly R.

       One subject we hear a lot about at the vet’s office is that our pets are overweight, but putting our pets on a diet is easier said than done. I can relate to all our pet owners when it comes to working on weight loss. 

When I first started working at Gamble Pet Clinic, I had two cats that needed to lose weight. One of them, Sylvester, weighed in at 22 pounds! I had never thought about how it was affecting his health. About two months after starting at the clinic, Sylvester had a ruptured anal gland. After brining him in for treatment, the doctor told me that being obese could have attributed to his anal gland rupture. After that, I knew I needed to really be strict with his weight loss.

 After discussing my options, I started him on Natural Balance Fat Cat food; feeding wet food in the morning and dry at night. I also got an Eggcersizer to help keep him busy with a small amount of food between meals. This is a ball with holes in it that allows you to change how easy or hard it is to get the kibble. He loved it right away. 

I feed my cats in two different places and this has worked well. This allowed them each to have their space and eat at their own pace. I feed one cat on the floor while the other is fed on the fridge.

Working on weight loss definitely takes time and patience. I have been working on his weight loss for about a year and a half and he is now at his ideal weight of 12 pounds 10 ounces! It is amazing to see how much he has changed. 

Once the weight started coming off, I could see a difference. He has been more active and more loving. He is playing with my other cat more and running around. I can tell he is happy. I have not only extended his life span but have helped his joints significantly. I know weight loss can be hard, but it is worth it! I was able to do this with two cats so I know it can be done. Most of the staff here at Gamble Pet Clinic is actively working on weight loss with their own pets, so we know how hard it can be. Feel free to ask us any questions about working on weight loss for your pets. We are always happy to help!