Cat treats for weight loss
A cat treat labelled for weight management is generally lower in calories per piece than a standard treat, which helps if your cat is on a weight-loss plan, but the treat itself is only part of the answer. Portion control, both of treats and of meals overall, is what actually decides whether a cat loses weight.
What a weight-management label actually means
A treat marketed for weight management is usually formulated to be lower in fat and calories per piece than an equivalent standard treat, sometimes with added fibre to help a cat feel satisfied on less. That makes it a sensible substitute for a regular treat, rather than a treatment for weight loss on its own.
It is worth checking the calorie count per treat against a standard treat from the same range if it is printed on the pack, since 'light' or 'weight management' wording is not independently regulated in the same way as a food's full nutritional claims.
Why portion control matters more than the treat itself
Treats are generally recommended to make up no more than around ten per cent of a cat's daily calorie intake, whatever the treat is labelled as, because even a lower-calorie treat adds up if given too often or in too much quantity.
A cat losing weight successfully is almost always on a properly portioned main diet as well as a controlled treat allowance, so swapping to a lower-calorie treat while leaving meal portions unchanged is unlikely to make a meaningful difference on its own.
Using treats without undoing the plan
Counting a treat as part of the day's food, rather than as an extra on top, keeps the maths honest. If your cat is on a vet-set feeding plan, ask whether treats have already been accounted for in it or need to be subtracted separately.
Splitting a treat into smaller pieces, or using a puzzle feeder to make a small amount last longer, can help a cat feel like they are getting more than they actually are, which is often the real goal during a weight-loss period.
Weighing meals rather than eyeballing a scoop is another simple change that often matters more than the treats themselves, since a slightly generous scoop at every meal adds up to a real surplus over a month without ever looking like much on any single day.
What we stock
Everything below is in stock with us, priced with delivery worked out, and packed and posted by hand in the UK.
Catit Nibbly Jerky Chicken & Fish Treats
Soft chicken and fish jerky treats for cats, two named meats high on the list, grain free
£1.89
Dreamies Meaty Sticks Adult Cat Treats with Tasty Chicken
Soft meaty stick treats for adult cats with chicken, individually wrapped, not for kittens
£1.59
Catit Creamy Tuna Lickable Cat Treats, 4 Pack
Lickable 26% tuna purée tubes for cats, 4 x 10g, up to 3 a day in place of main meal
£1.89
Dreamies Cat Treats with Salmon
Complementary Dreamies salmon-flavour cat treats for adults and kittens, 60G
£2.05
Dreamies Cat Treats with Chicken
Dreamies chicken cat treats for adults and kittens, in a 60G pack
£2.05
Catit Creamy Chicken Lickable Cat Treats, 4 Pack
Lickable chicken cat treats, 4 tubes, for treating or as a food topper
£1.89
Whiskas Relax & Unwind Adult Cat Treats with Chicken
Chicken treats for adult cats with tryptophan declared at 1.3%
£1.49
Felix Goody Bag Seaside Mix Cat Treats
60G treat for cats, with composition and analytical figures set out clearly
£1.45
Felix Goody Bag Original Mix Cat Treats
Felix Goody Bag cat treats in 60g or 330g, with composition and analytical figures set out clearly
From£1.45
HiLife Cat Tasty Duck Breast Treats
Freeze-dried 100% duck breast cat treats, 84% protein, described as grain free
£1.75
Whiskas Groom & Care Adult Cat Treats with Chicken
Chicken treats for adult cats, with green tea declared at 0.03%
£1.49
Common questions
- How many treats can I give a cat on a diet?
- As a general guide, treats should make up no more than around ten per cent of a cat's total daily calories, diet or not. If your vet has set a specific calorie target for weight loss, it is worth checking with them how treats fit into that figure.
- Are freeze-dried treats better for a cat losing weight?
- Freeze-dried meat treats are often naturally low in carbohydrate and can be lower in calories than some processed treats, but check the actual calorie count rather than assuming freeze-dried automatically means lower calorie, since this varies between products.
- Can I use treats to help my cat eat their diet food?
- Crumbling a small amount of an approved treat over a diet food can help encourage a fussy eater, but it should be counted within the daily allowance rather than added on top, so it does not quietly cancel out the calorie reduction the diet is meant to achieve.
- Should I stop treats altogether while my cat loses weight?
- Not necessarily. Cutting treats to zero can make a weight-loss period feel harsher than it needs to for both cat and owner, and a properly portioned low-calorie treat can usually still fit within a sensible daily calorie target.
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Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.