Skip to main content

How to help your cat get healthy: Fantastic cat supplements for weight gain

If your cat is looking a little thin, he may need more calories than his current diet is providing. Cats can lose weight for many reasons, including stress, lack of appetite as they age, and high activity levels. There are even some health issues that can contribute to weight loss. If your cat needs to gain weight, you can help him fill out in various ways.

Difficulty

Easy

Duration

15 minutes

What You Need

  • Cat food

  • Food topper

  • Supplements

How to help your cat gain weight

In many cases, helping your cat gain weight requires a few changes in his diet. But remember you'll want to make them gradually. Suddenly switching up his food can lead to digestive upset. Instead, gradually introduce any food modifications.

Step 1: Upgrade their kibble.

Start by looking for a food that delivers better nutrition than the one you’ve been feeding him. Opting for a high-calorie food can help your cat get more calories with every meal, even though he may be eating the same amount.

Siamese cat eating wet food out of a dish
Veera/Shutterstock

Step 2: Increase their intake.

Consider making dry food available to your cat continuously so he can graze as he pleases. If your cat is eating only a dry or a wet food, try offering the other type to encourage him to eat more. Sometimes, just changing up the food you offer can pique a cat’s interest.

Step 3: Add some flavor.

If your cat’s picky appetite is affecting how well he eats, consider changing the flavor of his food or adding a cat food topper. Food toppers make your cat’s meals more interesting and appetizing, encouraging him to finish every bowl.

Top cat weight-gain supplement options

While increasing your cat’s food is one way to promote weight gain, this strategy might not work when used alone. A cat with a poor appetite may not eat enough of the food to gain weight, so supplementation becomes important.

Weight-gain supplements contain concentrated calories to give your cat a nutritional boost without requiring him to eat more food. Many of these supplements contain calories from fish oils for a healthy addition to your cat’s diet, and they’re packed with the necessary minerals and vitamins for cats to gain weight.

Supplements are available in many different forms, including liquid and gels. You may have luck mixing a supplement into your cat’s food, which might appeal to your cat if he’s a picky eater. Some supplements are so palatable that your cat will lick them right off a spoon. Alternatively, you can feed a liquid supplement with an eyedropper, ensuring that your cat gets the full dose.

  • Miracle Vet High Calorie Weight Gainer is one of those convenient liquid supplements. It’s suitable for both dogs and cats and delivers 150 calories per ounce.
  • If you’re looking for a gel, TOMLYN Nutri-Cal High Calorie Nutritional Gel is safe for both cats and kittens. It provides extra calories and vitamins and works as an appetite stimulant, calorie booster, and weight gainer.
  • If your cat loves his wet food, you can easily mix in Lexelium Weight Gainer and Appetite Stimulant. This powdered supplement is all natural, and it’s odorless and tasteless, perfect for picky eaters.
  • In cases where your cat isn’t eating, such as if he’s recovering from a serious illness, ensuring he gets the calories he needs is essential to his health and recovery. Under the Weather Ready Cal for Cats & Dogs is designed for just this situation. This high-calorie nutritional supplement contains nine vitamins and seven minerals to support your cat’s health. It’s delivered in an oral dosing syringe with measurements so you can make sure that your cat gets just the right amount.
cat weight gain supplement pawing at treat
Krakenimages.com/Shutterstock

When it’s time to see a vet

Sometimes an overeating cat manages weight loss, still – and if this is the case, it’s time to call the vet. It’s a good idea to take your pet there anytime you notice unexplained weight loss, whether that occurs suddenly or gradually. Cat weight loss can be triggered by many health issues, including intestinal parasites, food allergies, infections, and diabetes. Your vet can check your cat over and make sure that none of these serious issues is behind the weight loss.

Your vet can also help you make a plan for your cat’s weight management. Be sure to share information about any supplements or foods that you’re currently feeding.

Helping your cat gain weight can take time, but it’s an important step in keeping him healthy. Your vet is an important partner in this journey and can advise you which supplements and options are best for your cat’s individual situation.

Editors' Recommendations

Paige Cerulli
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Paige's work has appeared in American Veterinarian, Business Insider, Healthline, and more. When she's not writing, Paige…
Being a cat person will help you get dates: Study
You'll be glad you have a feline or a Fido after you read this
Person wearing a wedding ring holds cat in hands

All pet parents understand that our fur babies come first, even if that sometimes means scaring away potential mates. Still what many don't realize is that owning a pet can actually attract a person to you (and your beloved animal). It's officially time to retire the stereotype that having a cat means saying goodbye to meeting a special human someone. In fact, recent research claims the opposite — that being a cat person may actually make you more likely to score a relationship or a good date.

It's official: there are romantic benefits to owning a cat
Luckily for us, new research conducted by OnePoll for World’s Best Cat Litter of 1,000 cat owners (and 1,000 non-cat owners) has discovered that kitty moms and dads are actually more likely to be in a relationship and equally likely to be married. But if you're in the dating market, there's even better news. 72% of everyone surveyed thought owning a pet was an attractive quality, and many stated they would be more interested in dating someone who had one. To top it off, 40% claimed they had gone home with a potential date to meet a particularly cute pet at one time or another, so your little kitty might help you out in that department too.
Cat people will still scare away a few dates (good riddance)
On the flip side, we all understand there are some drawbacks to living with a pet, mainly that some won't be able to enter into a partnership with us (and our fuzzball) no matter how much they might want to. Research participants were very cognizant of allergies in particular, with 41% saying it would pose a potential problem. That's just slightly more than the number who mentioned a dislike of cats would not stop them from dating someone (40%). It's important to note that hating cats mostly crossed the line, and cat people generally do not want to date those who don't understand their kitties.
Pets are part of the family for many
Every cat person knows that our pets are important to us and equivalent to family. “Even if you’re not the type to treat your pets like they’re your children, they’re still an important part of the family and can wield a lot of influence,” says Jean Broders, Director of Marketing for World’s Best Cat Litter, in a statement. “Cat owners clearly seem to know this, as our findings indicate they’re more likely to worry about making a good first impression on a partner’s pet.”

Read more
What you can do to help your cat after surgery and show your pet how much you love them
Here's how to keep your kitty feeling safe, comfy, and calm post-op
A cat at the vet

You love your kitty. Sometimes, that means agreeing to send them in for cat surgery. Whether it’s a standard spay or neuter procedure, necessary dental work, or something more worrisome like removing a cancerous tumor, you’ll want to ensure you give your furry friend some extra TLC post-operation.

Your feline friend may also need you to be patient with them. Cat behavior after surgery can vary from pet to pet, but they may be slightly shyer, lethargic, or easily irritated for a while. The good news is that your cat should go back to normal — and hopefully wind up as an even healthier version of themselves soon. Knowing what to prepare for can ensure your cat feels safe, loved, and comfortable after surgery.

Read more
Is chocolate toxic for cats like it is for dogs?
We know chocolate is toxic to dogs, but is it safe for your cat?
Cat sitting and eating a treat

If you've ever searched for a list of foods toxic to dogs, then you already know allowing your furry best friend to ingest a chocolate bar can have tragic consequences. But is chocolate bad for cats? Although your feline fur baby is much less likely to scarf down a slab of chocolate cake while you have your back turned, chocolate poisoning does occur in cats, too, and it can have equally life-threatening consequences.

Keeping your cat safe is your top priority, which makes knowing the symptoms of chocolate ingestion vitally important. Knowing the proper steps to take in case your cat eats foods she shouldn't might just save her life. Here's what you should know.

Read more