From stray rescues to recovering from illness, there are plenty of reasons a cat may be underweight. Before making major changes to their diet, though, it’s always smart to talk to your veterinarian, especially if the weight loss was sudden or unexplained. Once you know what’s going on, the right food can make a huge difference.
Below, we’ll look at the best cat food for weight gain, along with a few important things to know about helping cats gain weight safely and healthfully.
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Best Overall
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Best Budget Food
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Best for Kittens
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Big Pet Food prioritizes profits over cat health and they pack cat food with preservatives and fillers. Smalls believes cats deserve better and uses natural ingredients and added vitamins and minerals in our food. The fresh food come in many delicious flavors and textures. |
This Purina Friskies cat food variety pack features a tasty poultry pate cat food assortment, with each recipe packed with everything your cat needs to stay looking and feeling her best, like protein, antioxidants, and healthy omegas. |
Tiki Cat Baby Whole Foods Variety Pack Grain-Free Wet Kitten Food is nutrient-dense, animal-sourced protein is the first ingredient, giving kittens a big dose of energy. Plus, DHA and essential fatty acids are included to support healthy brain development, and prebiotics are included to aid digestion. |
Big Pet Food prioritizes profits over cat health and they pack cat food with preservatives and fillers. Smalls believes cats deserve better and uses natural ingredients and added vitamins and minerals in our food. The fresh food come in many delicious flavors and textures.
This Purina Friskies cat food variety pack features a tasty poultry pate cat food assortment, with each recipe packed with everything your cat needs to stay looking and feeling her best, like protein, antioxidants, and healthy omegas.
Tiki Cat Baby Whole Foods Variety Pack Grain-Free Wet Kitten Food is nutrient-dense, animal-sourced protein is the first ingredient, giving kittens a big dose of energy. Plus, DHA and essential fatty acids are included to support healthy brain development, and prebiotics are included to aid digestion.
For overweight cats on the other side of the scale, check out our best cat foods for weight loss!
What To Look For in Cat Food for Weight Gain?
Cat food for weight gain should be calorie-dense, meaning your cat gets more nutrition and energy in smaller portions. In general, look for recipes with plenty of high-quality animal protein and healthy fats from sources like chicken, salmon, or fish oil.
Easily digestible carbohydrates, such as rice or sweet potato, can also help provide extra calories without overloading sensitive stomachs.
It’s about more than just putting weight on, though. Healthy weight gain should support muscle maintenance, digestion, immune health, and overall recovery, especially if your cat has been sick or undernourished.
Look for foods labeled complete and balanced, made with recognizable ingredients, and ideally free from excessive artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives. Probiotics and omega fatty acids are also nice bonuses for digestive and overall health support.
Now let’s see which foods tick the most boxes. We broke this up into wet and dry food to make it easier for you to find the right fit for your cat.
Best Wet Cat Food For Weight Gain
Let’s take a look at our top five picks for lovers of wet food.
Best Overall: Smalls
Smalls is our top pick for lovers of convenience. Voted the #1 healthiest cat food by vets, you can customize a meal plan subscription to meet your cat’s unique needs and change it at any time, so you can tweak your recommendations to maintain or even lose weight once your kitty gets where she needs to be on the scale.
Key features:
- Voted #1 healthiest cat food by vets
- Freshly cooked meals
- Ultra-high protein and zero fillers
- 88% report positive changes
- Subscription with sample boxes available
What makes it good for underweight cats:
The biggest benefit here is that Smalls makes it so easy to get just the right recommendations based on your cat’s needs. Smalls recipes are also rich in animal protein, great-tasting (to cats), and moisture-packed, making them a solid option for kitties who need extra calories but aren’t especially enthusiastic about eating.
What we like:
All you need to do to get started is take their one-minute quiz, and they’ll figure out the rest. The flavor options include beef, turkey, chicken, and fish, and each of them is freshly cooked, with a super high-protein content and no fillers.
They’re also designed by vets, with 88% of customers reporting noticeable, positive changes in their cats’ health and wellbeing after making the switch, including softer and shinier coats, better digestion and mobility, stronger muscles, and more energy.
It’s subscription only, but they’ll start you off with a sample box to try it out before committing, and you can also buy other stuff from their site without subscribing, like toys and bone broth.
What to consider:
Their meals arrive frozen and need to be kept in the fridge or freezer, so make sure you’ve got room! They also have a short shelf-life once defrosted, so remember to keep an eye on the expiration dates.
Big Pet Food prioritizes profits over cat health and they pack cat food with preservatives and fillers. Smalls believes cats deserve better and uses natural ingredients and added vitamins and minerals in our food. The fresh food come in many delicious flavors and textures.
Most Affordable: FRISKIES Poultry Pate Favorites Variety Pack
The FRISKIES Poultry Pate Favorites Variety Pack is our top pick for budget buyers, with a whopping 32 cans of food for a great price.
Key features:
- 32 cans and 4 flavors (8 of each)
- High in protein, antioxidants, and omegas
- Enhanced with essential nutrients
- Made in the USA
What makes it good for underweight cats:
Friskies Paté is fairly calorie-dense for an affordable wet food, and the soft texture plus strong aroma can make it appealing to cats with smaller appetites or picky eating habits. The higher moisture content can also help cats who need extra nutrition but aren’t great about drinking water.
What we like:
It contains four aromatic flavors to spoil your kitty cat with, including mixed grill and poultry platter. They’re all packed with high-quality protein, antioxidants, and Omegas, and enhanced with essential nutrients like taurine for whole-body health and complete nutrition.
They’re also smooth and soft on the teeth and gut, with no artificial colors or preservatives, and go through strict quality and safety checks that exceed industry standards.
What to consider:
It contains rice, so steer clear if your kitty has a grain intolerance.
This Purina Friskies cat food variety pack features a tasty poultry pate cat food assortment, with each recipe packed with everything your cat needs to stay looking and feeling her best, like protein, antioxidants, and healthy omegas.
Best For Kittens: TIKI CAT Baby Whole Foods Variety Pack
Interestingly, kitten food is sometimes recommended for underweight adult or senior cats because it tends to be more calorie-dense than regular adult formulas. The TIKI CAT Baby Whole Foods Variety Pack contains four vet-backed flavors for growing kittens, including chicken with tuna and liver shreds.
Key features:
- 1st ingredients are chicken and broth
- With DHA and added taurine
- Minimally processed
- For kittens 8+ weeks old
What makes it good for underweight cats:
Tiki Cat Baby recipes are packed with animal protein and healthy fats in a soft, easy-to-eat texture, making them especially helpful for kittens, recovering cats, or underweight adults who need calorie-dense nutrition without a lot of fillers.
What we like:
Chicken and chicken broth are the first two ingredients in every flavor, with delicious, aromatic organ meats to encourage good eating habits. They’re naturally high in protein, hydration, and healthy fats, like DHA for cognitive development, and minimally processed for maximum goodness.
They’re ideal for sensitive tummies, with no fruits, veggies, or grains – just animal products and essential nutrients, like taurine, a vital amino acid for growing cats. There are also no gross byproducts, weird GMOs, artificial ingredients, carrageenan, or fillers.
What to consider:
It’s not suitable for kittens under 8 weeks old, although that’s fairly typical for kitten foods since very young kittens are usually still nursing or transitioning from formula to solid food.
Tiki Cat Baby Whole Foods Variety Pack Grain-Free Wet Kitten Food is nutrient-dense, animal-sourced protein is the first ingredient, giving kittens a big dose of energy. Plus, DHA and essential fatty acids are included to support healthy brain development, and prebiotics are included to aid digestion.
Best Budget Kitten Pick: WELLNESS CORE Natural Grain-Free Pate Canned Kitten Food
Another option if you want to go the kitten-food route, WELLNESS CORE Natural Grain-Free Pate Canned Kitten Food is our top budget pick for growing cats, with six affordable flavors, including turkey and chicken liver. All of them are high in calories and protein, with no bulky grains or gluten.
Key features:
- Six high-protein flavors
- Designed for optimal growth and development
- High levels of DHA
- Supports key areas of health
What makes it good for underweight cats:
Wellness CORE Kitten Paté is especially calorie-dense for a wet food, with plenty of animal protein and healthy fats to help support healthy weight gain, muscle maintenance, and overall recovery in underweight cats.
What we like:
Made with carefully selected, premium ingredients for optimal development, it supports key areas of health and well-being in growing kittens, including the skin and coat, teeth and bones, digestion, and urinary tract health, as well as sustained energy levels and strong immunity.
It also contains high levels of DHA for healthy cognitive development and vision, with no carrageenan, nasty byproducts, or artificial stuff.
What to consider:
To get it even cheaper, consider ordering with auto-ship on Chewy. You can get 35% off your first order and 5% off all future deliveries!
This specially developed meal contains added DHA to help support healthy brain and eye development in growing kittens. Each recipe is made without the use of carrageenan, artificial colors, flavors or preservatives—just wholesome ingredients for a nutritious meal.
Best For All Life Stages: INSTINCT Original Variety Pack Grain-Free Pate Wet Cat Food
Made in the USA with wholesome, real ingredients sourced from around the world, each recipe in this variety pack begins with cage-free chicken, cage-free duck or wild-caught salmon. Packed with animal protein to give your furry friend strong, lean muscles, these delicious recipes include 95% real meat and organs as well as 5% vegetables, fruit and other beneficial ingredients.
The INSTINCT Original Variety Pack Grain-Free Pate Wet Cat Food is designed to be complete and balanced for cats of all life stages, making it ideal for seniors and homes with multiple cats of different ages.
Key features:
- 95% raw meat or fish, including organs
- Cage-free and wild-caught ingredients
- Easy to chew and digest
- Made in the USA
What makes it good for underweight cats:
Instinct Original Paté recipes are rich in animal-based ingredients and healthy fats, with a fairly high calorie content that can help underweight cats gain weight while still supporting muscle maintenance and overall nutrition.
What we like:
Although the brand offers six flavors in this high-calorie formula, we love this variety pack as it incorporates the two densest recipes, cage-free chicken and duck, as well as wild-caught salmon. All of them are grain-free and protein-rich with raw meat or fish, including organs and bone broth, for natural, delicious, ancestral nutrition.
This also makes them perfect for picky eaters and seniors who may have lost interest, with 95% raw meat and 5% other wholesome stuff, like cranberries and flaxseed. It’s soft and chewable for cats with dental issues, and easy to digest for sensitive systems. There are also no gums or artificial stuff, and it’s made in the USA with recyclable packaging.
What to consider:
Some cats may be wary of trying duck if it’s new to them.
Made in the USA with wholesome, real ingredients sourced from around the world, each recipe in this variety pack begins with cage-free chicken, cage-free duck or wild-caught salmon. Packed with animal protein to give your furry friend strong, lean muscles, these delicious recipes include 95% real meat and organs as well as 5% vegetables, fruit and other beneficial ingredients.
Best Dry Cat Food For Weight Gain
Now, for our lovers of crunch, our top five picks!
Best Add Water: The Honest Kitchen Grain-Free Dehydrated Cat Food
If your cat struggles with crunch or you’d like human-grade wet food without sacrificing fridge space, The Honest Kitchen Grain-Free Dehydrated Cat Food is our top pick.
Key features:
- Becomes a homemade meal in 3 minutes
- Crafted by vet nutritionists
- All-natural and human-grade
- Supports healthy digestion, skin, and coat
What makes it good for underweight cats:
The Honest Kitchen’s dehydrated recipe is extremely calorie-dense compared to typical wet foods, with high protein and fat levels that can help underweight cats gain weight without needing to eat large portions. The softer rehydrated texture can also appeal to cats with smaller appetites.
What we like:
It comes in three flavors: chicken, turkey, and chicken with fish, with a shelf-stable, dehydrated formula that becomes a warm, homemade meal when you add water.
All of the meat is cage-free and human-grade, accompanied by other natural, functional ingredients like cranberries for urinary health and flaxseed to help fight hairballs. It’s also vet-crafted to be complete and balanced for all breeds and sizes, and supports healthy digestion, skin, and coat, with added probiotics and a splash of bone broth!
What to consider:
Portioning can be tricky, so make sure you’ve got a good measuring cup!
The Honest Kitchen believes human-grade whole foods provide pets the best nutrition possible. This Grain-Free chicken recipe is made with real whole food ingredients that are gently dehydrated to maintain nutrients and taste. Just add warm water and wait three minutes for a tasty, homemade meal that you and your cat will love!
Best With Raw: Open Farm Prairie Grain-Free RawMix for Cats
The Open Farm Prairie Grain-Free RawMix is our top pick for those who want to include a little raw in their cat’s diet, without going all the way.
Key features:
- Protein-packed kibble with freeze-dried raw coating and raw chunks
- Bone broth and organ meats
- Non-GMO fruits and veggies
- Strict animal welfare standards and climate commitment
What makes it good for underweight cats:
Open Farm RawMix combines high protein, healthy fats, and freeze-dried raw pieces in a very calorie-dense formula, making it a strong option for cats who need extra calories and more nutritional variety to encourage eating.
What we like:
The crunchy kibble is covered by a nutritious bone broth and freeze-dried raw coating, with delicious chunks of raw meat mixed in. It comes in two flavors for adult cats, Open Prairie and Wild Ocean, as well as a chicken, turkey, and fish flavor for kittens.
The adult flavors are also suitable for seniors, and all of them are packed with meaty protein and non-GMO fruits and veggies. All of the meat used is raised in line with strict animal welfare standards, and a climate strategy commitment to minimize carbon footprint.
What to consider:
It’s on the expensive side because of the quality, but it’s worth it, especially if you value sustainability and strict welfare standards.
RawMix features a protein-packed kibble covered in a nutritious bone broth and freeze dried raw coating, with added chunks of chicken & turkey freeze dried raw. Crafted with a blend of 100% animal welfare certified chicken and turkey, this irresistible recipe includes nutrient-dense meat, organ, and bone with no grains.
Best Kibble: TIKI CAT Born Carnivore High Protein Dry Cat Food
For those who just want a regular kibble, check out Tiki Cat’s Born Carnivore High Protein Dry Cat Food!
Key features:
- Three flavors to choose from
- High in protein (42%) and healthy fats
- Real chicken/fish with nutrient-rich super foods
- Gently baked and minimally processed
What makes it good for underweight cats:
Tiki Cat Born Carnivore is very calorie-dense and packed with animal-based protein and fat, which can help underweight cats maintain muscle while taking in more calories from smaller meals. The strong fish-forward flavor also tends to appeal to picky eaters.
What we like:
It’s gently baked and minimally processed, with 42% protein, nourishing fatty acids, and gentle fiber. There are three flavours to choose from: chicken with herring and salmon meal, deboned chicken with egg, and herring with salmon meal.
Real chicken or fish is the first ingredient in all of them, followed by nutrient-rich superfoods like flaxseed and pumpkin. They’re all designed to be nutritionally whole for adult cats, and they’re also grain-free and free from GMOs, processed plant proteins, and artificial additives.
What to consider:
It’s pretty pricey, but not necessarily an ongoing buy once your cat has gained weight!
Tiki Cat Born Carnivore High Protein Dry Cat Food is packed with nutrient-rich ingredients for a complete and balanced meal for your furbaby. It gives cats the meat they need with the tasty flavors they love. This food is gently baked to preserve nutrients and flavor, and it’s packed with protein from real, high-quality herring and salmon meal to satisfy your kitty’s cravings.
Best For Kittens: MADE BY NACHO Cage-Free Chicken, Chicken Liver & Bone Broth Kitten Recipe
The MADE BY NACHO Cage-Free Chicken, Chicken Liver & Bone Broth Kitten Recipe is our top pick for kittens who need more nourishment, with extra protein and fat from high-quality meat.
Key features:
- Made by a chef alongside nutritionists
- Chicken and liver infused with bone broth
- Wholesome grains like oats and brown rice
- Fruit and veg like blueberries and butternut squash
- Added pre/probiotics, taurine, and DHA
What makes it good for underweight cats:
Made by Nacho’s kitten recipe is rich in calories, protein, and healthy fats, making it especially useful for growing kittens or underweight cats that need extra nutritional support. The inclusion of bone broth and chicken liver also adds flavor and palatability for cats who are reluctant eaters.
What we like:
The formula was developed by a chef alongside pet nutritionists to be nutritionally whole for kittens in their first year of life, with cage-free chicken, chicken liver, and wholesome grains, fruits, and veggies. All infused with bone broth for extra protein and flavor.
All of the ingredients are responsibly sourced, with added pre and probiotics for a happy tummy, taurine for healthy vision, and DHA for brain development. It’s also naturally rich in antioxidants for a strong immune system, and it’s free from artificial additives and bulky fillers like wheat.
What to consider:
It’s not suitable for kittens with grain allergies.
This recipe features the extra protein and fat that kittens need to thrive. Its first ingredient is premium cage-free chicken, plus chicken liver pieces for su-purr taste and strong muscles, too. DHA promotes brain development while taurine supports your furbaby’s vision. Prebiotics and probiotics help to keep little tummies happy.
Best For Seniors: PURINA PRO PLAN AdvantEDGE Senior Support Plus Adult 7+ Chicken & Rice Formula Dry Cat Food
The PURINA PRO PLAN AdvantEDGE Senior Support Plus is our top pick for senior cats, with an extremely calorie-dense formula for those who need to gain significant weight.
Key features:
- Backed by 9 years of research
- Nutrient blend clinically proven to improve and extend life
- Supports lean muscle mass maintenance
- Fortified with live probiotics
- For cats 7+
What makes it good for underweight cats:
Purina Pro Plan AdvantEDGE Senior Support Plus is extremely calorie-dense, making it a practical option for senior cats who struggle to maintain weight or eat large meals. The higher protein and fat levels can also help support muscle maintenance in aging cats.
What we like:
It’s designed to support a longer life and stronger immunity, with a prime plus nutrient blend that’s clinically proven to improve and extend the lives of cats over 7 years old.
The formula is, of course, nutritionally complete and balanced for seniors, with high protein from real chicken to support the maintenance of lean muscle mass. It’s also fortified with live probiotics for gut and immune health, and it’s made in the USA with no artificial flavors or colors.
What to consider:
While the first ingredient is a named protein (Chicken), it contains “Poultry By-Product Meal” as its second ingredient.
This specialized formula offers three-in-one senior support. It delivers a delicious taste to keep your senior cat engaged and enjoying their meal. The dry food for cats features real chicken as the number one ingredient and delivers a highly digestible formula for optimal nutrient delivery.
How Can I Tell If My Cat Is Underweight?
Signs a cat is underweight include visible ribs, spine, and hip bones, with a lack of muscle and a sharp tuck in at the waist. You may also feel that their ribs lack fat when you pet them.
Most vets use something called the body condition score to rate a pet’s weight and health. It’s a 1-9 scale, with 1-4 indicating being underweight.
What Should My Cat Weigh?
The average healthy adult cat typically weighs somewhere between 8 and 12 pounds, although the right weight for your cat depends on things like breed, frame size, age, muscle mass, and activity level.
A petite Siamese and a giant Maine Coon are obviously not working from the same blueprint. (Cats are nothing if not committed to individuality.) Your veterinarian can help you determine your cat’s ideal healthy weight.
Why Has My Cat Lost Weight?
Cats can lose weight for a number of reasons besides poor diet and not eating enough for their activity level. Common culprits are picky eating, food bowl avoidance, dental pain, chronic diarrhea, stress, and certain illnesses, like diabetes and parasites.
If you’re unsure why your cat’s losing weight, it’s best to let a vet look them over. Old age can also cause cats to eat less or not absorb food properly, and sometimes pets can steal from each other’s bowls – so consider that if you’re in a multi-pet home!
How To Help a Cat Gain Weight Safely?
Once you’ve addressed any underlying problems and spoken to your vet, the key to helping your cat gain weight safely is a gradual increase in intake, especially if they’re severely underweight. Otherwise, you can overwhelm their body and do them further harm.
Smaller, more frequent meals with high-calorie foods are best, and you should also think about monitoring/restricting their exercise if necessary.
Is Wet or Dry Cat Food Better For Weight Gain?
Dry food is more calorie-dense, but wet food tends to be better for enticing picky eaters, so it’s about what works for you. You can even use both!
Take note, parents of picky eaters – cooking method is very important. Gentle, human-grade methods like baking not only ensure no nutrition is lost, but they also lock in flavor.
Final Thoughts
The right food can make helping your cat gain weight much easier! Talk to your vet before making any big changes, and once you’ve reached your weight goal, remember – good food, portion control, and a firm feeding schedule are key to maintaining it.
For help with scheduled feeding or what food to switch to once your cat’s gained weight, check out our list of the best cat food delivery services and our favorite automatic feeders. Bon appetit!
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