What to feed a cat to gain weight

If your cat begins to lose weight without warning, there may be reason for concern. It takes close attention to their diet to help your cat return to a healthy weight, regardless of the cause—disease, stress, or an active lifestyle. It’s not always the case that feeding them more is the answer.

It’s important to comprehend your cat’s nutritional requirements when selecting the food to aid in weight gain. A healthy balance of fats, proteins, and other vital nutrients can have a profound impact. In order to guarantee that they are consuming the proper kind of calories, it is crucial to prioritize quality over quantity.

We’ll look at the best ways to safely assist your cat in gaining weight in this article. There are various ways to promote healthy weight gain without endangering their general health, from filling meals to delicious treats.

Is fattening required

How can one tell if a cat is "fattened," normal weight, or slender? First of all, it’s crucial to remember the following points:

1. The owner should not compare it with the pets of friends, neighbors, close relatives. After all, individuality also plays a role in this issue. Even 2 kittens from the same litter can have different constitutions: 1 is excessively thin, and the second has plump sides.
2. If we are talking about purebred pets, then there are certain standards. Usually, the table indicates both the minimum and maximum data – height and body weight.
3. If the cat is of “noble” origin, then you will have to rely “on the eye”, or rather, on the touch. The animal should be placed in a stand – the front limbs are straight, the back legs are slightly pulled back, in the direction of the tail. You need to feel its spine, it should be smooth. When stroking the pet, the outer ribs should not be felt, and this is considered the norm. Then the pelvic part is felt – in a moderately well-fed animal, the croup is smooth, with slightly protruding knuckles. The stomach can be tucked up or slightly saggy. When moving, a fold forms in the peritoneum – this is also the norm. On the sternum and abdomen there is a thin layer of fat, which can be felt.

Usually, during the cold season, a thin layer of fat develops on even the leanest members of the species.

Indications of thinness from the outside. A pet is considered thin if it possesses:

• the spinal column and ribs are visible during a visual examination;
• the hip joints clearly protrude with tubercles;
• a hollow is noticeable in the peritoneum area;
• the muscles of the forearms, hind limbs, and sternum "fall off".

The animal’s physique and muscular tone are always considered. Although they have well-developed muscles, many cats have a thin appearance.

Let’s figure something out.

It is not possible to determine a pet’s "ideal" weight through formulas or mathematical computations of coefficients.

For instance, "British" cats typically weigh between 4.2 and 6.8 kg. Nonetheless, a case of a male of this breed weighing slightly less than 14 kg has been documented. Despite being physically sound at the same time, the giant was still not allowed to breed (see the article on the appropriate weight for a cat based on breed and age).

Reasons for a cat"s weight loss: fatten up or treat

In certain instances, a pet’s decrease in body weight is linked to fairly predictable physiological factors:

1. Feeding a large litter.
2. Hunger – the cat lives on the street or for some other reason was deprived of food.
3. A combination of stress and hunger – the cat got lost, did not leave a secluded place for a long time.
4. Dehydration (severe dehydration) resulting from vomiting and/or diarrhea.
5. Medical intervention – after intensive therapy, strict dietary restrictions, complicated pathologies.
6. Metabolic process failure – metabolic disorders can be congenital or acquired. In the latter case, this can occur due to mixed feeding of natural food and industrial feed.
7. Dysbacteriosis – develops as a result of a congenital tendency, eating inedible.

Because of all of the above, the cat’s metabolism is slowed down and weight loss occurs gradually. But the pet will soon regain its normal physical form if the owner recognizes the changes early and takes the necessary action.

When gaining weight is ineffective. However, it is far from possible to cope with the problem by strengthening the pet"s diet in all cases. This approach won’t produce a favorable outcome:

1. If the animal is infected with helminths, it requires antihelminthic therapy.
2. If the cat is infected with an intestinal infection, the disease is accompanied by diarrhea, vomiting, dehydration and requires complex treatment.

How should one proceed? You cannot waste time if the pet is refusing food, losing weight quickly, or experiencing worsening health. As soon as you can, get in touch with a veterinary clinic for expert assistance.

Products that promote weight gain

When an animal has a "skinny" constitution and no major health issues, its owner should reevaluate its diet and adjust a few feeding guidelines, specifically:

1. When choosing a menu, you should take into account the taste preferences of your pet.
2. It is recommended to enrich the diet with high-energy products. They should contain a large amount of protein, not fat, because the cat should build muscle mass, and not increase the fat layer.
3. It is necessary to adhere to the established feeding schedule.
4. The one- or two-time regime is replaced by fractional, 5-6 meals a day. The daily norm should be divided into small portions.

A collection of practical fattening products. Not every product will benefit a cat that is "properly fattening." However, it is recommended that the menu include:

1. Beef, chicken meat – they contain a lot of animal protein and should become the basis of the animal"s diet.
2. Oatmeal and bran – a source of coarse fiber that stimulates the functions of the digestive tract. It is recommended not to boil them, but to pour boiling water over them and keep them under the lid for a quarter of an hour.
3. Rice and buckwheat are cereals that can be given to cats. But they should not be the basis of the menu.
4. Vegetables: carrots, zucchini, pumpkin, green bean pods. They are boiled, mashed and mixed with other ingredients.
5. Liver, kidneys, heart (turkey, chicken, beef) – it is better to boil or scald with boiling water before serving.
6. Chicken or quail egg – usually cats are given only boiled yolk, 1-2 times in 7 days.
7. Ocean or sea fish – it is pre-boiled and bones are removed. It is enough to give such food to a cat a couple of times a week. But you should not feed pets with river fish, it is often infected with parasites.
8. Aspic from cartilage – the product is rich in collagen, which is useful for joints.
9. Low-fat dairy products: cottage cheese, kefir, sour milk, yogurt. They should not contain sugar and artificial additives. Cream can also be given, but it must first be diluted with boiled water or milk.
10. Cheese – low-fat. A couple of small slices a week is enough for a cat.
11. Baby formula and cereals without any additives.
12. Baby purees – meat, meat and vegetable. You should avoid products from legumes, potatoes.

Enhancing the mother cats’ diet. Veterinarians recommend wet canned food for kittens as a supplement for new nursing moms. Naturally, they are never used as the primary meal—always as a complement. Soft food for cats that have undergone surgery is also suitable for these purposes.

What is not allowed.

No matter how much the owner would like to feed the animal fatty foods like butter, sour cream, or pork, the animal should not be given these items. Such food will strain an overworked pet’s liver to breaking point.

Giving a cat a balanced diet full of high-quality fat and protein will help it gain weight. Choose foods high in nutrients, such as dry or wet cat food made especially for gaining weight, and think about including nutritious treats or supplements. Consistent feeding and portion control are important because frequent, small meals can promote gradual weight gain in cats. See a veterinarian if the cat’s underweight is the result of illness in order to rule out any underlying medical conditions and receive tailored advice.

Additional measures

Sadly, whiskered and striped cats frequently end up in hazardous situations, and their weight loss causes abnormal alterations in their eating habits. Frequently, a cat’s appetite must be piqued before it can become obese. There are numerous ways to do this:

1. Vitamins. You should choose a suitable vitamin complex for your pet, which will help restore the animal"s body and provide it with useful substances. Cats do not always take vitamin supplements with pleasure. But even if the pet resists, the owner should be persistent. Tablets or dragees can be crushed to a powder state, diluted with water and poured into the cat"s mouth using a syringe without a needle. Also, solid drugs can be crushed and mixed with food.
2. Beneficial bacteria. It is recommended to give your pet probiotics consisting of bifido- and lactobacilli, 30 minutes before a meal. They normalize the intestinal flora, suppressing the activity of microbes that cause dysbacteriosis. In addition, lactobacilli are involved in strengthening the immune system, which is important for both sick and healthy pets. The most useful probiotics that have a positive effect on the intestinal microflora of an animal: Bifitrilak, Zoonom, Subtilis, Enterol, Lactobifadol, Olin, etc. It is permissible to use drugs from a regular pharmacy, for example, Lactobacterin, Bifidumbacterin.

Dry food for weight gain

These days, a lot of pet owners switch their animals to pre-made diets or bring them home with pre-existing taste preferences. What kind of food will help your pet reach a healthy weight gain? In line with clinical research:

1. The product should be premium or super-premium, not contain chemical additives.
2. It is desirable that the composition contains vitamins and coarse plant fibers that are useful for digestion.
3. Many manufacturers produce lines of special diets designed for pets gaining weight. It is worth paying attention to similar products marked Gastro Intensive.
4. They should consist of high-quality ingredients – meat, cereals, offal, and in composition be as close as possible to the usual complete diet of the animal. Ready-made feeds are valued not only for the composition of the components, but also for their competent combination and ratio.
5. It is important to adhere to the recommended dose, it is usually indicated on the back of the package. For a more accurate dosage, it is better to use a measuring cup or spoon. It often seems to the owner that his pet eats too few granules and does not finish eating. However, it is worth considering that the satiety of the diet is sometimes not related to the portion size. Usually, the consumption of a quality product is much lower than that of cheap, low-quality diets.

Don’t drastically increase the amount of food your pet is fed when they are "fattening down." Restoring body weight is less likely to result from this than issues with digestion.

Also read:

• how to feed a cat correctly;
• what you should not feed cats;
• how to train an adult cat to dry food.

Achieving the ideal balance between nutrition and feeding practices is the key to assisting a cat in gaining weight. Good foods high in protein and healthy fats can have a significant impact on your cat’s weight and general health.

Maintaining consistency is essential. Your cat may eat more frequently if you give them smaller, more frequent meals. To make sure you’re on the correct track, remember to keep an eye on portion sizes and record your cat’s progress.

Never forget to see a veterinarian to rule out any underlying medical conditions and to receive expert guidance specific to your cat’s needs. Your cat will have the best chance of reaching a healthy weight with a customized approach.

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