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My cat's on wet food. What's normal weight loss & when should it stop?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Hi there! I stopped giving my kitty dry food about two months ago and she is now only on wet food . How much weight is normal for her to lose as a result of this diet change and when should the weight loss stop ? Thank you

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Dr. Davis

Veterinarian

Published on April 9th, 2018

She should gradually lose weight over several months. Cats usually only lose about one half a pound a month unless you restrict the amount of food given daily. It’s rare for them to get too thin if she’s an indoor cat who is fairly inactive. When she is a normal weight then you may want to increase the amount of wet daily a little so she maintains her normal weight. I have found that some cats still don’t lose on a wet food only diet. If she’s slow to lose the weight I give less wet food and add a tablespoon of plain canned pumpkin to each feeding to increase fiber and fill her up with less calories. Increasing her daily activity will speed the weight loss also by building muscle and burning calories. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for your cat.

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  • Image profile

    Answered By Dr. Davis

    Veterinarian

    Published on April 9th, 2018

    Sorry I misunderstood. Most people have trouble getting their cats to lose weight. I would check the calorie content of the wet food you are giving. It will be printed in small print on the label. Since cats only eat a certain volume of food daily I would gradually switch to wet food with a higher calorie content. That will help her gain back some weight without eating more food. Also if you’re able I would feed several smaller meals daily so the food is fresher and often warming it for eight seconds in the microwave will make it more appealing. I’m glad you are monitoring her weight closely. Luckily you’ve caught this early and can help her stabilize at a normal weight. Thanks for asking for clarification.

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