How to Make a Cat Gain Weight

Many pet owners search for ways to get their pets to lose weight. A pet that is too skinny, however, also faces potentially serious health risks. Getting a cat to gain weight is not as easy as you putting on a few pounds. After all, you can't force food down your cat's throat. Fortunately, there are many different things you can try to make your cat gain weight. You can try one of these tips or a combination of a few of them in order to put weight on your cat.

Things You'll Need

  • Wet and dry cat food
  • Olive oil
  • Tuna fish
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Instructions

    • 1
      Bowl of cat food

      Try changing to another cat food if your cat isn't eating enough. Pets, just like children, can be finicky eaters. A simple change in food could get your cat to eat more, thus causing the cat to gain weight.

    • 2
      Cat in front of bowl

      Keep your cat's food out all day. Unlike dogs, it can be extremely difficult to get your cat to adhere to an eating schedule. Leaving your cat's food out all the time will allow your cat to eat when it is ready.

    • 3
      Canned cat food

      Add canned cat food to your cat's dry food. Many cats prefer the canned foods to dry food. If you put the canned food over the dry food, though, your cat will eat both. This will increase the amount of calories in your cat's daily diet, making your cat gain weight.

    • 4
      Olive oil

      Pour a small amount of olive oil over your cat's food. A tablespoon should be a good amount, but you can just eyeball it when pouring the oil on the food. Olive oil may make the cat food more appetizing for your finicky feline, which in turn will lead to him eating more food than normal. As two added bonuses, olive oil can also improve the look of your cat's fur and help to eliminate hairballs.

    • 5

      Give your cat tuna fish a couple of times each day. Since you want your cat to gain weight, you should give him or her tuna in oil. If your cat doesn't love tuna, you can mix the tuna in with its regular food.

    • 6
      Vet with cat

      Ask your vet about a dietary supplement or high-calorie food. These items are made specifically for cats who are dangerously underweight or who haven't been eating regular cat food. While you can order these items on your own (see Resources), you should still contact your vet first to make sure that a supplement or high-calorie food is necessary for your cat.