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You look at your cat and find that it is underweight. What do you do? You would probably start feeding it more food. However, there are certain things to take into consideration when feeding an underweight cat such as the cause of your cat’s weight loss (it could be an underlying medical issue) or treatment for underweight cats.
Photo by Tomas Ryant from Pexels
If your vet has cleared any medical issues causing the cat weight loss and you have an underweight cat due to its food, this article is for you! We discuss all the food you should be feeding your cat so that it fattens up.
Food that fits your cat’s preferences
The first step in determining what to feed your underweight cat is to find out what types of food your cats prefer the most. Usually your feline friend will have a strong preference for a specific flavour and texture of food. They can even be picky about the type - dry, raw or canned.
Once you find out what kitty prefers, it will be easier to feed it. However, you will then have to make sure that what it likes fits their dietary requirements and does not cause digestive issues like stomach upsets.
Food that fits your cat’s nutritional needs
Cats are obligate carnivores which means that it really, really needs protein in their diet. Imagine your cat in the wild. It will feed on smaller prey which is mostly protein and will rarely eat grains.
Whatever you decide to feed your underweight cat, make sure that it contains the nutritional values it needs to thrive.
Calculate how much to feed your cat
To work out the right amount to feed your cat, the general calculation for a healthy weight gain rate that is gradual is as follows:
Calculate your cat’s resting metabolic needs, then feed this amount of calories and add 20 per cent more calories.
If you are unable to figure it out, it is best to get your vet to help you out as overfeeding your cat or making it gain weight suddenly can be potentially harmful.
Good food options for cat weight gain
To make sure your underweight cat gains weight, make sure to feed good quality cat food to it such as the ones from Petcubes. Petcubes cats food are meticulously crafted raw diets which have the right amount of nutrients and protein.
You can start by feeding your cat plain old chicken. It is one of the favourite foods for cats and can potentially entice its appetite to eat more. Made with antibiotic-free chicken that is packed with natural goodness, feeding recommendations are at 1 cup per meal but you can always feed your underweight cat more.
Calories: 147kcal/100g.
Another cat favourite, beef is a very good source of protein for your cats. The raw beef is made from pasture fed free range beef that is specially formulated for cats and is from human-grade whole ingredients air flown from Australia.
With a targeted blend of protein, calcium, taurine, omega oils and iodine, it ensures that your cat has improved digestion and, healthier coat and increased energy.
Calories: 153kcal/100g
So if your cat does not favour chicken or beef, you can try wild kangaroo instead. As a novel protein, your cat may be tempted to eat this more often.
Made from 100 percent wild kangaroo that is air-flown from Australia, kangaroo meat is particularly good for cats with allergies. Feed this to your underweight cat more often, several times a day as the calorie content is slightly lower compared to other meats.
Calories: 127kcal/100g
Cat Variety Pack by Petcubes
If you are still unable to figure out what your cat loves to eat, you can try this variety pack so that there is a range for it to choose from. There are six flavours in the variety pack - chicken, beef, duck, lamb, venison, kangaroo - and eventually, you will figure out which flavour your fussy cat prefers.
You can also rotate the food so that it does not get bored and eats more, solving your underweight cat problem!
Conclusion
No matter what you feed your cat, ensure that it has the proper amount of nutrition. If you are unsure, consult with your veterinarian beforehand and always ask before changing its diet. As you change its diet, and if your cat has no underlying medical conditions, your underweight cat will eventually put on weight.
