Usually, when a veterinarian is talking about a cat’s weight, it’s because they need to lose a pound or two. While obesity is prevalent amongst domestic cats, being underweight can be problematic, too. If your vet has suggested feeding your kitty a high-calorie diet to help them gain some weight, you’re probably not quite sure where to begin. Unfortunately, it’s not always as simple as giving them bigger portions.
Today, we’re going to take a look at ten of the best high-calorie cat foods for owners looking to help their kitties put on some pounds. Keep reading to find our reviews of these 10 foods as well as information about weight gain diets.
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A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites in 2025
| Rating | Image | Product | Details | |
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Best Overall
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Smalls Fresh Food, Ground Bird Recipe – Best Overall |
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Budget Buy
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Nulo Freestyle Chicken & Cod Recipe Grain |
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Hill’s Prescription Diet a/d Urgent Care |
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| Best for Kittens |
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Royal Canin Feline Health Nutrition |
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Solid Gold Indigo Moon with Chicken & Eggs |
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The 10 Best High-Calorie Cat Foods for Weight Gain
1. Smalls Fresh Food, Ground Bird Recipe – Best Overall
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| Main ingredients: | Chicken, Chicken Liver, Green Beans, Water Sufficient For Processing, Dried Yeast, Kale |
| Protein content: | 48% (dry matter basis) |
| Fat content: | 31% (dry matter basis) |
| Calories: | 200 kcal/5.0 oz |
Having your cat healthily gain weight is essential. While all the recipes on our list are recommended and highly rated, we have Smalls Fresh Food Ground Bird Recipe as the best overall choice. Fresh food is becoming increasingly popular among cat owners, so if you are interested, the Ground Bird Recipe is quite popular. The first ingredients are human-grade chicken and chicken liver, which are full of healthy fats and protein that will safely promote weight gain. The other ingredients include green beans and kale, which add vitamins and minerals to your cat’s diet.
With fresh food, careful handling is a must. Additionally, Smalls is a bit on the expensive side, as is the case with most fresh foods.
- High fat and protein content
- First two ingredients are chicken and chicken liver
- Human-grade quality
- Different recipe options available
- Expensive
- Requires careful storage and handling
2. Nulo Freestyle Chicken & Cod Recipe Grain-Free Dry Cat & Kitten Food – Budget Buy
| Main ingredients: | Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Turkey Meal, Deboned Cod, Whole Peas |
| Protein content: | 40.0% min |
| Fat content: | 20.0% min |
| Calories: | 486 kcal/cup |
The Nulo Freestyle Chicken & Cod Recipe Grain-Free Dry Cat & Kitten Food offers a high-calorie formula that both kittens and adult cats can enjoy.
This formula consists of a ton of protein, as the first four ingredients are animal protein sources. The food actually contains 83% animal-based proteins, which is pretty impressive.
This product contains a unique probiotic strain to support your cat’s gastrointestinal health and a good dose of omega fatty acids to nourish their skin and coat.
Its disk-shaped kibble has a unique texture and taste that most cats enjoy. It’s also quite small, which can be a pro or con, depending on your cat’s preferences.
This food also has a powerful smell. This can be enticing for your kitty, but if you’re scent-sensitive, you may want to approach it with caution.
- High in protein
- Promotes gastrointestinal health
- Unique texture and taste
- Kibble may be too small for adult cats
- Very strong scent
3. Hill’s Prescription Diet a/d Urgent Care with Chicken Wet Dog & Cat Food
| Main ingredients: | Water, Turkey Giblets, Pork Liver, Chicken, Corn Flour |
| Protein content: | 8.5% min |
| Fat content: | 5.2% min |
| Calories: | 180 kcal/5.5 oz can |
If you have a slightly larger budget for your pet’s food, Hill’s Prescription Diet a/d Urgent Care with Chicken Wet Dog & Cat Food may be worth considering.
This highly digestible and very palatable food is designed for cats (and dogs) recovering from surgery, illnesses, or injuries. Its unique blend of ingredients can help stimulate a low appetite and get pets on the path to healing. Its energy-dense formula is also rich in potassium to help avoid depletion. It also contains clinically proven antioxidants to promote immune system health and healing.
The food is smooth, soft, moist and easily digestible, however it is only meant for intermittent use, not long-term feeding. So, if your cat needs a nutritional boost for weight gain, Hill’s a/d may be an option but should not be their sole food source for the long term.
You would need a prescription from your veterinarian to order this product online.
- Highly digestible formula
- Very palatable
- Promotes immune system health
- Requires a prescription
- Expensive
4. Royal Canin Feline Health Nutrition Kitten Dry Cat Food – Best for Kittens
| Main ingredients: | Chicken By-Product Meal, Brown Rice, Brewers Rice, Chicken Fat, Wheat Gluten |
| Protein content: | 34.0% min |
| Fat content: | 16.0% min |
| Calories: | 367 kcal/cup |
If you have a picky kitten on your hands, you need high-quality kitten-specific food to promote weight gain.
The Royal Canin Feline Health Nutrition Kitten Dry Cat Food is specifically designed to meet the nutritional needs of growing kittens. It contains a blend of antioxidants and vitamins your young cat needs for their immune system and overall health. It includes a mixture of digestible proteins, fibers, and prebiotics to promote digestive health.
The kibble texture is easy for young cats to chew and is perfectly sized for their tiny mouths and emerging teeth.
This food may also be safe for adult cats to eat as long as you get the thumbs-up from your veterinarian before feeding it to them.
This food can be quite expensive.
- Designed specifically to meet a kitten’s nutritional needs
- Contains antioxidants for immune system support
- Made with highly digestible proteins
- Texture and size are easy for kittens to navigate
- May be expensive
5. Solid Gold Indigo Moon with Chicken & Eggs Grain-Free High Protein Dry Cat Food
| Main ingredients: | Chicken Meal, Potatoes, Canola Oil (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Peas, Chicken |
| Protein content: | 42.0% min |
| Fat content: | 20.0% min |
| Calories: | 475 kcal/cup |
Solid Gold Indigo Moon with Chicken & Eggs Grain-Free High Protein Dry Cat Food is a kibble designed for active cats, so its high-calorie formulation can be great for cats that need to gain weight. It’s made with real chicken and contains prebiotics and live probiotics for digestive health and immune system support. The ingredient list also contains whole eggs, which is another great protein source for cats.
This brand can be hard to find in some locations, namely Canada.
- High in protein
- Promotes digestion
- Made with real chicken
- Can provide immune system support
- May not be available in Canada
6. Purina Pro Plan Prime Plus Adult 7+ Chicken & Rice Formula Dry Cat Food
| Main ingredients: | Chicken Meal, Potatoes, Canola Oil (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Peas, Chicken |
| Protein content: | 38.0% min |
| Fat content: | 17.0% min |
| Calories: | 604 kcal/cup |
The Purina Pro Plan Prime Plus Adult 7+ Chicken & Rice Formula Dry Cat Food offers a high-protein formula with real chicken as its first ingredient. Protein is essential for supporting lean muscle mass and can be particularly beneficial for older cats who may be beginning to lose muscle.
This high-calorie food contains nutrients like vitamin A and taurine to promote eye health and live probiotics to support digestion.
The kibble may be too big for some cats to eat.
- Made with real chicken
- Supports healthy vision
- Promotes digestive health
- Made specifically with older cats in mind
- Large kibble
7. ZIWI Peak Venison Recipe Canned Cat Food
| Main ingredients: | Venison, Water Sufficient for Processing, Venison Tripe, Venison Liver, Chickpeas |
| Protein content: | 10.0% min |
| Fat content: | 4.0% min |
| Calories: | 222 kcal/6.5 oz can |
ZIWI Peak Venison Recipe Canned Cat Food offers a single-protein, chunky pate made with free-range meats and wild-caught fish. Single-source protein foods can be very important for cats with allergies.
If your cat hasn’t been eating well, their skin and coat may be suffering, too. This food is made with New Zealand green mussels, an ingredient exclusive to New Zealand. These mussels provide a natural source of omega-3 fatty acids to promote skin, coat and even joint health.
This high-calorie canned food doesn’t contain added carbohydrates, which some manufacturers add to increase the calorie count.
There appear to be some inconsistencies with the texture of the food. Some cans are soft and moist, while others are drier.
This food contains chickpeas, which can cause digestive issues for some cats.
- Single protein recipe
- May promote skin and coat health
- No added carbohydrates
- Texture inconsistencies
- Not all cats can digest chickpeas well
8. Wellness CORE Grain-Free Original Formula Natural Dry Cat Food
| Main ingredients: | Deboned Turkey, Deboned Chicken, Turkey Meal, Chicken Meal, Peas |
| Protein content: | 45.0% min |
| Fat content: | 18.0% min |
| Calories: | 473 kcal/cup |
Wellness CORE Grain-Free Original Formula Natural Dry Cat Food is a protein-rich, high-calorie food made with real turkey and chicken. It contains flaxseed and salmon oil, which provide a dose of omega-3 fatty acids to support your cat’s skin and coat health. The inclusion of cranberries and other antioxidants may help support immunity.
The kibble is small and round shaped, which can be challenging for some cats to eat. Additionally, the food smells very strong, which can be unpleasant when serving it to your pet.
- High in protein
- Made with real turkey and chicken
- Contains omega-3s for skin and coat health
- Kibble may be too small for some cats
- Very strong smell
9. Wysong Epigen 90 Starch-Free Formula Grain-Free Dry Dog & Cat Food
| Main ingredients: | Chicken Meal, Organic Chicken, Meat Protein Isolate, Chicken Fat, Gelatin |
| Protein content: | 63.0% min |
| Fat content: | 16.0% min |
| Calories: | 447 kcal/120g cup |
Wysong Epigen 90 Starch-Free Formula Grain-Free Dry Dog & Cat Food is an ultra-high protein kibble that offers a starch-free diet more like what your kitty’s ancestors ate. It contains omega-3s for skin and coat health and boasts a natural flavor that most cats enjoy. The formula also contains probiotics for digestive support.
It’s made with domestically sourced ingredients, so you can feel good about knowing where your cat’s food components come from.
The kibble is roughly the size of a chickpea, which may make it difficult for some cats to eat. Unless you subscribe to auto-ship, this food can be pretty pricey as it’s only available in five-pound bags.
- High in protein
- Omega 3s for coat health
- Very expensive
- Kibble may be too big for some cats
10. Blue Buffalo True Solutions Fab Feline Natural Indoor Cat Formula Adult Dry Cat Food
| Main ingredients: | Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Oatmeal, Brown Rice, Barley |
| Protein content: | 36.0% min |
| Fat content: | 20.0% min |
| Calories: | 446 kcal/cup |
The Blue Buffalo True Solutions Fab Feline Natural Indoor Cat Formula Adult Dry Cat Food contains high-quality protein and prebiotic fiber for optimal digestion. It’s made with real chicken and contains Blue Buffalo’s antioxidant-rich LifeSource Bits. These bits include a blend of vitamins, antioxidants, and minerals like omega 3 and 6 fatty acids, taurine, and vitamin B12.
This food can be quite pricey, especially if you’re not taking advantage of auto-ship discounts. Additionally, the kibble may be too small for some cats to eat.
- Made with real protein
- Can promote digestive health
- Contains antioxidants
- Expensive
- Kibble can be hard to eat
Buyer’s Guide: Everything You Need to Know About High-Calorie Cat Foods
How to Choose the Best High-Calorie Food
As easy as it would be to just increase your underweight kitty’s portion sizes, this isn’t typically the best way to help them gain weight.
Determine the Cause
Determining why your cat is underweight should be your first concern. There are many potential reasons including kidney disease, diabetes, dental disease, cancer, and gastrointestinal conditions. Once your vet has run some tests and has a better idea of why your cat is underweight, you can create an action plan to help your pet gain weight.
Follow the Recommended Diet
If your veterinarian has suggested a particular diet to help treat your kitty’s illness, follow it to a T. Diets created to address specific concerns are formulated to contain the right balance of macronutrients and micronutrients to both gain healthy weight and address disease-related issues.
Find a Food That Your Cat Likes
If your veterinarian hasn’t suggested a particular diet, you’ll need to focus on finding a food that your kitty not only enjoys eating but tolerates well. Unfortunately, this often does require some trial and error, so you may need to try a few different foods and brands before finding one that works for you and your kitty.
Ensure the Food Is Nutritionally Complete
Unfortunately, finding a food your cat likes and tolerates isn’t the only consideration you need to think about when choosing a weight gain food. You’ll need to ensure the food you buy is nutritionally complete, too. As obligate carnivores, cats must eat animal products as the majority of their food. Look for the AAFCO seal of approval to make sure the food of choice meets a cat’s nutritional requirements.
How to Help Your Cat Gain Weight
How to Help Your Cat Gain WeightAddressing underlying health issues and choosing the right food is only part of the battle in feline weight gain. Here are some tips on encouraging your kitty to gain weight healthily.
Feed Smaller Meals
A cat’s stomach is smaller than you might think – roughly the size of a ping-pong ball. This means that the average cat can only hold around two to four tablespoons of food at a time. It is, therefore, completely normal if your cat isn’t interested in scarfing down a whole lot of food all at once.
Instead, try offering them smaller, more frequent meals. Additionally, this type of feeding schedule is generally better tolerated by cats with sensitive tummies and can reduce the risk of vomiting after eating, too.
Heat Their Meal
Cats are attracted to food that smells good to them. This is partly why most kitties seem to prefer wet food over kibble – it smells very strong. Warming up your underweight cat’s wet food can make it more aromatic and enticing.
Heat their wet food in your microwave for just a few seconds. Do a finger test or use a thermometer to make sure it’s not too hot. The last thing you want to do is burn your kitty’s mouth or esophagus.
Give Them Privacy
Cats are usually social animals, but they do cherish some moments of privacy. I know you want to monitor your kitty to make sure they’re eating, but hovering over them can stress them out and make them less likely to eat at all.
Consider High-Calorie Meal Toppers
While your cat’s food should be the main component of their diet, high-calorie meal toppers can be a great way to encourage them to eat while also adding calories. They typically come in gel or powder format and may even offer other benefits, such as stimulating their appetite.
We recommend speaking with your veterinary team to find a good quality, high-calorie meal topper that will benefit your kitty based on their specific needs.
Consider Appetite Stimulants
There are two types of appetite stimulants for cats – prescription medication and natural options.
Your veterinarian can prescribe an appetite stimulant to help your pet feel the urge to eat. There are several options, and some of them even come in a transdermal gel form, which is typically much simpler to administer than pills. However, appetite stimulants may not be ideal for cats with kidney or liver disease, so follow the instructions of your veterinarian.
According to PetMD, catnip can be a natural appetite stimulant that can also help reduce anxiety and pain. If your cat’s inappetence is being caused by anxiety, it may be worth giving catnip a shot. Fresh catnip is more potent, but you can also find dried and spray forms.
Acupuncture is another way to increase your kitty’s appetite. According to the Veterinary Information Network, acupuncture is particularly effective in cats and can be used to treat numerous conditions, including lower urinary tract disease, arthritis, and even asthma. It can also be used to reduce fevers and stimulate the appetite.
Keep Tabs on Their Weight
It’s essential to keep a close eye on your cat’s weight when you’re actively trying to help them gain or lose some pounds. Weigh them once a week and jot down their weight so you can keep tabs on how successful their new diet is. If they’re not gaining weight or are losing weight every weigh-in, it’s best to have them examined by your veterinarian as soon as possible.
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High-quality cat food is an important part of fostering a long and healthy life for your cat but the right cat food and water dish will promote good posture, offer whisker relief, and aid in good digestion. The Hepper NomNom Cat Bowl is our favorite bowl since it offers all of the above and is beautifully crafted to meet modern home stylings. The wide tray design catches any food and water spills and the entire setup is dishwasher safe. Learn more about the Hepper NomNom Cat Bowl here.
At PangoVet, we’ve admired Hepper for many years and decided to take a controlling ownership interest so that we could benefit from the outstanding designs of this cool cat company!
How We Determined This List of High-Calorie Cat Foods for Weight Gain
All the cat foods reviewed in this article were chosen by our writers, editors, and team of experienced veterinary professionals to ensure that they are safe and meet the care needs of your pet. When choosing which cat foods to feature, we took into account brand reputation, personal and hands-on experience, reviews from other customers, and of course, feedback from our beloved pets, to make sure to bring you only the best of the best. We at PangoVet want to give you only the best products to choose from in our reviews, to ensure that they meet your pets’ needs for optimal health and well-being.
Why Trust PangoVet?
We are a team of experienced veterinarians, writers, and editors who are pet owners ourselves, so we understand how important your pets and the products they use and consume are to you. Whether you are caring for a furry, scaly, or feathered friend, we make sure that you have honest and unbiased reviews of the top cat foods on the market, so you can make an informed decision.
Conclusion
For the best overall high-calorie cat food for weight gain, consider Smalls Fresh Food Ground Bird Recipe for its quality protein and digestion support. For cat owners on a budget, the Nulo Freestyle Chicken & Cod Recipe Grain-Free Dry Cat & Kitten Food combines an affordable price with a delicious recipe cats love. If money is no problem, our premium pick, Hill’s Prescription Diet a/d Urgent Care, can be considered for short-term feeding. You will require a prescription for that one, however. Kittens needing high-calorie food will benefit from Royal Canin Feline Health Nutrition Kitten Dry Cat Food, designed with their specific nutritional needs in mind. Finally, Purina Pro Plan Prime Plus Adult 7+ Chicken & Rice Formula Dry Cat Food offers high-calorie food made specifically for older cats.
We hope our reviews and buying guide have shed some light on the importance of choosing the right high-calorie food for your kitty needing to gain weight. If you’re still not quite sure if you’re on the right track, we highly recommend speaking with your veterinarian.
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Featured Image Credit: Fayzulin Serg, Shutterstock
