Leena Watts
Cats, like humans, require a certain amount of calories to function. The number of calories a cat needs depends on its age, sex, activity level, and body condition. For example, young, active, and underweight cats need more calories, whereas older, inactive, and overweight cats need fewer calories. If your cat is underweight, you can add calories to its diet by feeding it high-calorie cat food, such as Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Recovery RS or Hill's Prescription Diet a/d Urgent Care. You can also add flavour to its food, such as FortiFlora, a probiotic with a flavour enhancer, or a small amount of salmon or tuna juice. It is important to consult your veterinarian before making any changes to your cat's diet.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Calorie requirements | Depends on age, sex, activity level, and body condition |
| Young cats, those who have not been spayed or neutered, active cats, sick cats, and underweight cats | Need more calories |
| Older cats, spayed or neutered cats, inactive cats, and overweight or immobile cats | Need fewer calories |
| High-calorie cat food | Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Recovery RS canned cat food or Hill’s Prescription Diet a/d Urgent Care canned cat food |
| Warming the food | Add flavouring such as FortiFlora® (a probiotic with flavour enhancer), a small amount of salmon or tuna juice, or giving an omega-3 fatty acid supplement |
| Separate meals | Feed cats in separate locations, at different heights, and for a specific time (15-30 minutes) |
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What You'll Learn
High-calorie cat food
Cats need calories for essential processes such as digestion, respiration, nervous and circulatory system control, and other normal bodily functions. Their daily calorie intake is also determined by age, sex, activity level, and body condition. For example, young cats, those who have not been spayed or neutered, active cats, sick cats, and underweight cats need more calories.
If your cat is underweight, you should consult your veterinarian, who can prescribe high-calorie cat foods. These include Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Recovery RS canned cat food and Hill’s Prescription Diet a/d Urgent Care canned cat food. These foods are highly digestible and provide the extra calories your cat needs to gain weight.
Once you have found a food that suits your cat's needs, you can work out the right portion sizes. To gain weight gradually and healthily, you should assess your cat's resting metabolic needs and then feed this amount of calories plus 20% more.
If your cat refuses to eat the new diet, you can contact the veterinary clinic for advice. They may recommend strategies to enhance palatability, such as warming the food, adding a flavouring such as FortiFlora® (a probiotic with a flavour enhancer), a small amount of salmon or tuna juice, or giving an omega-3 fatty acid supplement. However, it is important to talk to your veterinary team before trying any of these things, so they can ensure they are safe and that the weight gain plan considers the calories coming from these items.
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Calorie requirements
A cat's calorie requirements depend on several factors, including age, sex, activity level, and body condition. Young cats, those who have not been spayed or neutered, active cats, sick cats, and underweight cats need more calories. Older cats, spayed or neutered cats, inactive cats, and overweight or immobile cats need fewer calories.
If your cat is underweight, you should consult your veterinarian, who can prescribe high-calorie cat foods. You can also add calories to your cat's diet by adding flavour enhancers such as FortiFlora® (a probiotic with a flavour enhancer), a small amount of salmon or tuna juice, or giving an omega-3 fatty acid supplement. It is important to talk to your veterinary team before making any changes to your cat's diet, so they can ensure they are safe and take into account any other medical conditions your cat may have.
To work out the right portion sizes, you should assess your cat's resting metabolic needs and then feed this amount of calories plus 20% more for gradual and healthy weight gain.
It is important to note that feeding too little food can deprive your cat of necessary energy, and feeding too much can result in obesity.
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Weight gain
If your cat is underweight, you may need to add calories to its diet. Young cats, cats that have not been spayed or neutered, active cats, sick cats, and underweight cats need more calories. You can calculate your cat's daily calorie intake by multiplying 353 calories by 0.8. This calculation is for a 19-pound cat and will give you the appropriate amount for weight loss, so you can add 20% more for weight gain. Your veterinarian can prescribe high-calorie cat foods, such as Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Recovery RS canned cat food or Hill’s Prescription Diet a/d Urgent Care canned cat food. These foods are highly digestible and provide the extra calories your cat needs to gain weight. You can also add flavour to your cat's food to encourage them to eat more, such as FortiFlora® (a probiotic with a flavour enhancer), a small amount of salmon or tuna juice, or an omega-3 fatty acid supplement. However, you should always talk to your veterinary team before making any changes to your cat's diet.
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Weight loss
If your cat is overweight, you should consult your veterinarian for advice on how to help your cat lose weight. They may recommend a high-calorie cat food such as Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Recovery RS canned cat food or Hill’s Prescription Diet a/d Urgent Care canned cat food. These foods are highly digestible and provide the extra calories your cat needs to gain weight. You can also ask your veterinarian about strategies to enhance palatability, such as warming the food, adding a flavour enhancer, or giving an omega-3 fatty acid supplement.
It is important to monitor your cat's calorie intake and ensure they are getting enough exercise. Young cats, those who have not been spayed or neutered, active cats, and underweight cats need more calories. Older cats, spayed or neutered cats, inactive cats, and overweight or immobile cats need fewer calories.
If you have multiple cats, it is important that they do not share dishes or steal food from each other, as this can add additional calories. Feed your cats specific meals during the day and monitor mealtime. Remove any leftover food after the designated mealtime and feed the cats in separate locations. Allow them to eat for a specific time, generally 15 to 30 minutes, then remove any uneaten food until the next feeding.
Remember, any changes to your cat’s diet should be done with the approval of your veterinarian.
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Consult a veterinarian
If you're looking to add calories to your cat's diet, it's important to consult a veterinarian first. They can advise on the best course of action and ensure that any changes to your cat's diet are safe and effective.
Veterinarians can recommend high-calorie cat foods that are specifically formulated to provide the extra calories your cat needs to gain weight. These foods are highly digestible and can help your cat gain weight gradually and healthily. The veterinarian will also be able to advise on the right portion sizes for your cat's needs.
Additionally, they can provide guidance on enhancing the palatability of your cat's food. This might include strategies such as warming the food, adding flavour enhancers or supplements, or incorporating small amounts of salmon or tuna juice. It's important to discuss these options with your veterinary team first to ensure they are safe and appropriate for your cat's individual needs and any existing medical conditions.
Your veterinarian can also help you calculate your cat's daily calorie intake based on factors such as age, sex, activity level, and body condition. This calculation will ensure that you're providing the right amount of calories to help your cat gain weight in a healthy way.
By consulting a veterinarian, you can ensure that any changes to your cat's diet are safe and effective, and you'll have expert guidance to support your cat's health and well-being.
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Frequently asked questions
Young cats, those who have not been spayed or neutered, active cats, sick cats and underweight cats need more calories.
Older cats, spayed or neutered cats, inactive cats, and overweight or immobile cats need fewer calories.
For gradual and healthy weight gain, it is best to assess your cat's resting metabolic needs and then feed this amount of calories plus 20% more.
Your veterinarian can prescribe high-calorie cat foods.
A cat's calorie requirements depend on several factors, including age, sex, activity level and body condition.
