Should I switch to Diet Food?

Hi, I'm hoping for some thoughtful opinions. I have a 15lb 3 year old cat trying to get down to a healthier weight. My vet took a blood and urine sample and found nothing alarming so he recommended Science Diet over what he currently eats which is wellness grain free wet. We agreed we'd wait a month before we thought about switching foods.

Switching to a dry food seems counter intuitive to losing weight to me. Switching to a food with grains does as well.

Would you cut back on the amount of wet food (he's eating 1 6oz can a day) or switch to a diet dry, even if it's not as healthy? I know Innova Evo has a weight management dry. Has anyone ever tried Now! Grain Free? They also have a dry that is at least grain free.

Does anyone know of a canned weight control cat food that is grain free/

In my experience, no, dry food doesn't help with weight loss, and especially not a "diet" food, since those are generally higher in carbs. Maybe just cut back his food intake a bit? Maybe try giving him only 5.5 oz a day, or 5 oz? How much did the say he should weigh?

People here say that diet cat foods don't work, but that has not been my experience. My biggest cat, Claude, lost more than 2 lbs. on a combination of Wellness Healthy Weight dry, and Natural Balance canned reduced calorie cat food. But the amount I give is measured, and it is rather complicated at my house because of all the cats I have.

But, reducing the amount of canned food your cat now gets should work, especially a good idea if he likes the food, you like the food, and he is doing well on it. I'd go with 1/2 oz. less than he currently eats per day. In a few months, as his body adjusts and the weight loss slows, you can reduce the amont by 1/2 oz. more. You want slow, gradual weight loss - no more than 1/2 pound a month.

Robin

I don't believe in diet food unless free feeding, nor that dry is more effective for losing weight than wet since wet is less calorically dense.

It ultimately comes down to calories in vs calories used. If you were feeding a 1/4 cup of a high calorie grainfree and switch to 1/4 cup of diet food, you should see weight loss, sure... but you could also just feed a few less kibbles of the good stuff.

So I agree, just reduce the wet food intake a bit and increase exercise. Now if you wanted, you could do a half-half diet and put some of the dry food into a feeder ball. It can take a cat an hour or more to finish its meal if you put the openings on their smallest size, and when they eat slower, they feel more satiated. Check amazon for "slim cat distributor ball".

Thanks for the input everyone!

Originally Posted by Willowy

How much did the say he should weigh?

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The vet would be happy with 11lbs or 12lbs at most.

Originally Posted by bastetservant

But, reducing the amount of canned food your cat now gets should work, especially a good idea if he likes the food, you like the food, and he is doing well on it. I'd go with 1/2 oz. less than he currently eats per day. In a few months, as his body adjusts and the weight loss slows, you can reduce the amont by 1/2 oz. more. You want slow, gradual weight loss - no more than 1/2 pound a month.

Robin

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Thanks I'd prefer to continue with his current food so I think we will try this.

Originally Posted by Ducman69

I don't believe in diet food unless free feeding, nor that dry is more effective for losing weight than wet since wet is less calorically dense.

It ultimately comes down to calories in vs calories used. If you were feeding a 1/4 cup of a high calorie grainfree and switch to 1/4 cup of diet food, you should see weight loss, sure... but you could also just feed a few less kibbles of the good stuff.

So I agree, just reduce the wet food intake a bit and increase exercise. Now if you wanted, you could do a half-half diet and put some of the dry food into a feeder ball. It can take a cat an hour or more to finish its meal if you put the openings on their smallest size, and when they eat slower, they feel more satiated. Check amazon for "slim cat distributor ball".

Click to expand...

That's what I thought, that a grain free wet had to better for my cat overall than a diet dry. It just dawned on me I need to get an ounce measuring cup to make sure we're on point, rather than just dividing up the can.

He gets dry when we go out of town which is regular and probably 1-2times a few pieces as a treat and I've heard of those balls before so I should get one. thanks for reminding me about that!!

As far as exercise, we're still trying. He loves playing bird, so I try to do that a few times a day. He plays with our other 3 year old and runs up and down his tree a lot but I have no idea how to gauge their activity level.

Thanks again for all the ideas everyone!

I would certainly not switch away from a wonderful grain-free wet to a diet dry, especially Science Diet, Ick!!

I feed wet only so I know it can be tricky to reduce wet food when all you can do is eyeball how much wet you are giving. I've found the easiest way to reduce wet is one of two ways:
One is to feed almost a whole can except for a tiny sliver, and toss that sliver out so you don't end up giving too much the next day.
Second is to mark down when you started a can and always start the next can after that at a later time. [For example, if you feed your cat at 9am, noon, 4pm and 9pm, and if you start a can at 9am, instead of opening a new can at 9am the next morning, you would open it at noon. And then the can you opened at noon would go until 4pm. And so on and so forth.]