As cats become more sedentary (between 6 and 8 years), they tend to gain weight if continued on their normal diet. Excess weight can be contributory to a number of conditions, including arthritis, diabetes and heart disease. Here are my top choices for dry "lite" foods for cats based on quality of ingredients, guaranteed analysis, and my test cats' reactions to the listed foods.
Cats on a primary diet of dry food should always be given a ready supply of fresh, cool water.
For my cats, Innova has been at the top of the line in commercial cat food and the low fat formula is no exception. However, since Natura Foods announced the retirement of the owners and sale to Proctor & Gamble, ie, Iams, I will be carefully monitoring the ingredients, once the "honeymoon" period is over.
Top named ingredients include Turkey, Chicken, Barley, Brown Rice, Chicken Meal, Potatoes, Herring, Rice, Pea Fiber, Natural Flavors, Chicken Fat (naturally preserved with mixed Tocopherols), Flaxseed, Apples. More nutritional information may be found on the manufacturer's web site.Buy from Amazon »
My cats love all the Natural Balance formulas, including the reduced calorie version.
Top Listed Ingredients: brown rice, chicken meal, chicken, oat groats, lamb meal, oatmeal, potatoes, and duck. Guaranteed analysis includes protein at 30.5% dry matter and fat at 10%.
More Nutritional Information
Feeding Guidelines
3,215 kilocalories/kg (385 kilocalories/cupBuy from Amazon »
Top ingredients: Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Rice, Ground Barley, Ground Rice, Whitefish Meal, Natural Chicken Flavor, Tomato Pomace, Chicken liver, Oat Fiber, Cranberries, Olive Oil, Chicory Root Extract, Cranberry Extract Powder, Cranberry Fiber, Flaxseed, Potassium Chloride, Vitamins
Manufacturer's Feeding Guidelines
Guaranteed Analysis
Provides 3490 kcal/kgBuy from Amazon »
Contains Fresh Chicken, Salmon, Potatoes, Duck, Turkey, Carrots, and Peas. Dry matter values: Protein 36%, fat 10%, fibre 9%. Gives 3.2 kcals per gram. "Chicken Soup" hit the ground running when it was first introduced, and continues to rank high among Cats Forum members' cats.Buy from Amazon »
Since my Jaspurr recently weighed in at 22 lbs. (8 years old), he urgently needs to reduce his weight. He turned up his nose at the Purina CD Dry my veterinarian originally prescribed, so we're looking for another formula.
The Royal Canin contains 261 kcal/cup, compared to 281.3 of the Purina CD'
First Listed Ingredients: Chicken meal, corn gluten meal, corn, wheat gluten, pea fiber, natural chicken flavor, rice hulls, brown rice, chicken, chicken fat, dried beet pulp (sugar removed), dried brewers yeast, calcium sulfate, sodium silico aluminate, anchovy oil (source of EPA/DHA), salt, ground psyllium husk.
Feeding Guidelines and Guaranteed AnalysisBuy from Amazon »
Cats on a primary diet of dry food should always be given a ready supply of fresh, cool water.
Innova Low Fat Dry Cat Food
For my cats, Innova has been at the top of the line in commercial cat food and the low fat formula is no exception. However, since Natura Foods announced the retirement of the owners and sale to Proctor & Gamble, ie, Iams, I will be carefully monitoring the ingredients, once the "honeymoon" period is over.
Top named ingredients include Turkey, Chicken, Barley, Brown Rice, Chicken Meal, Potatoes, Herring, Rice, Pea Fiber, Natural Flavors, Chicken Fat (naturally preserved with mixed Tocopherols), Flaxseed, Apples. More nutritional information may be found on the manufacturer's web site.Buy from Amazon »
Natural Balance Reduced Calorie Dry Cat Food
My cats love all the Natural Balance formulas, including the reduced calorie version.
Top Listed Ingredients: brown rice, chicken meal, chicken, oat groats, lamb meal, oatmeal, potatoes, and duck. Guaranteed analysis includes protein at 30.5% dry matter and fat at 10%.
More Nutritional Information
Feeding Guidelines
3,215 kilocalories/kg (385 kilocalories/cupBuy from Amazon »
Wellness Healthy Weight
Top ingredients: Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Rice, Ground Barley, Ground Rice, Whitefish Meal, Natural Chicken Flavor, Tomato Pomace, Chicken liver, Oat Fiber, Cranberries, Olive Oil, Chicory Root Extract, Cranberry Extract Powder, Cranberry Fiber, Flaxseed, Potassium Chloride, Vitamins
Manufacturer's Feeding Guidelines
Guaranteed Analysis
Provides 3490 kcal/kgBuy from Amazon »
Chicken Soup for the Cat Lover's Soul Lite
Contains Fresh Chicken, Salmon, Potatoes, Duck, Turkey, Carrots, and Peas. Dry matter values: Protein 36%, fat 10%, fibre 9%. Gives 3.2 kcals per gram. "Chicken Soup" hit the ground running when it was first introduced, and continues to rank high among Cats Forum members' cats.Buy from Amazon »
Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Feline Calorie Control
Since my Jaspurr recently weighed in at 22 lbs. (8 years old), he urgently needs to reduce his weight. He turned up his nose at the Purina CD Dry my veterinarian originally prescribed, so we're looking for another formula.
The Royal Canin contains 261 kcal/cup, compared to 281.3 of the Purina CD'
First Listed Ingredients: Chicken meal, corn gluten meal, corn, wheat gluten, pea fiber, natural chicken flavor, rice hulls, brown rice, chicken, chicken fat, dried beet pulp (sugar removed), dried brewers yeast, calcium sulfate, sodium silico aluminate, anchovy oil (source of EPA/DHA), salt, ground psyllium husk.
Feeding Guidelines and Guaranteed AnalysisBuy from Amazon »