Problems keeping weight on their cat?

My 3 year old male cat has always ran super lean, so I've always had him on kitten food. But I got my second female cat last summer and once she hit a year, her triple chins and absent elbows determined that she no longer needed kitten food.

Male is active and rarely eats.

Female only moves to frequent the food bowl.

I can feel the male's ribs, spine, hips and breast bone prominently since switched off kitten food a few months ago.

(isn't this just like a man? sheesh)

I wasn't planning on switching back to kitten food, but was thinking of  adding something high calorie to his diet, like a treat?

Does canned food help with weight gain? Any other suggestions? I don't mind making treats either if you have any ideas- used to make weight gain snacks "satin balls"  for my rescue dog when I first got him and he was all skeletal haha so lay it on me! I'm assuming his metabolism will slow eventually over the next couple years when he hits middle age, right?

In sum, this is what I'm working with:

  

:lol3: at the pictures!

I suggest that you switched to timed meals for the cats. That way your boy can have his kitten food and you girl can get her portion control. Wet food will definitely help with weight loss, as it's often a more satisfying meal. It could help with weight gain too though - if he finds it yummier he might be tempted to eat more of it.

My personal preference is to feed a mix of wet and dry - it helps with hydration too.

I really would want to get a vet check for your boy though - just to rule out any physical causes for his lack of interest in food and low weight.
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Thanks for the links- might try mixing canned food, tuna juice and the all meat baby food for a calorie punch. I don't think stopping free feed would be super successful. The dogs are also free fed (not on purpose they are just nibblers) and if the cat bowl empty chubby mc chunkerson moves right along to the dog food haha I think the cat soup idea from the weight gain article might be something good to give ole skinny though Thanks!

He goes to the vet annually for his vax and his weight isn't a new issue- we went through this when he first hit a year and tried to switch to adult cat food and ended up switching back for the same reason- just trying to figure out how to balance a fat cat and a 'svelt' one haha he's healthy/acting normal, just not getting as many calories since the switch but if he starts acting lethargic etc would take him in