Many owners use cat food toppings to increase their cats’ interest in eating. Cat food toppers can also be used to disguise supplements or medications that cats might not like or refuse to consume. “Meal toppings can benefit a cat in many ways,” says BondVet.com’s Medical Director. They can provide extra nutrients such as moisture and protein, which is especially beneficial for cats who are prone to dehydration.
Our Favorite Cat Food Topper
Purina Fancy Feast Broths Gourmet Cat Complement
What We Like: Three-flavor variety pack; easy to store leftovers; first two ingredients are broth and protein; no artificial colors or flavors
What We Don’t Like: Contains guar gum and tapioca starch; can smell a bit fishy
If you’re dealing regular eater who is fussy or needing an opportunity to tempt them during mealtime, this trio of flavors from Fancy Food Classic Broths Variety Pack is a good starting point. Cat-friendly fishy flavors such as shrimp, tuna and whitefish, tuna, anchovies and whitefish, and vegetables and salmon are able to get even the most picky eaters to finish their meals. We also enjoy it as a great mix-in with medication and as an easy method to increase the amount of moisture in our cat’s diet. It is easy to refrigerate leftovers inside the pouch already in place.
This topper comes with a moderate amount of calories, with 18.8 calories for each pouch. If you’re making it a habit to use it regularly it is necessary to alter the amount of food your cat eats to accommodate the additional calories. The product is free of artificial colours or preservatives. You’ll be happy with this topping’s list of proteins-first ingredients also. The salmon flavor has spinach and tomato and tuna, while the two tuna-based flavors have carrots. Each flavor contains tapioca and guar gum, which act as fillers and may upset cat stomachs.
Another Great Choice
Instinct Raw Boost Mixers Freeze Dried Cat Food Toppers
What We Like: Raw, nutrient-dense protein source; helps with digestion and coat; contains cage-free or farm-raised meat with organs; made without grains, soy, and potato; no artificial colors or preservatives
What We Don’t Like: High-fat content; contains fruit and vegetable fillers
Instinct Raw Mixers allow your cat to enjoy the benefits of raw food without changing its usual diet. This freeze-dried meal topper contains 12 ounces nutrient dense whole protein including organ meats and ground bones. The soft, chewy raw kibble pieces can be enjoyed by even the most discerning of pet parents. They also offer a variety of health benefits, including improved digestion and skin and coat quality. We like that this product is available in a cage-free version of chicken, but also comes with rabbit meat (contains pig), which makes it an excellent choice for pet parents looking for a protein-rich meal.
The ingredients are free of gluten, soya, potato and artificial colors and preservatives, but include non-GMO fruit and vegetables to fill out the meal. You’ll need to adjust the cat’s meals to avoid overfeeding. This meal topping is high in fat and protein.
How We Picked
What To Look for in Cat Food Toppers
Calorie Content:
Don’t forget to check the calorie content of your cat’s meal topper. Cat meal toppers add extra calories to your cat’s daily nutritional intake, which can lead to obesity. Make sure the overall calories of your topper don’t significantly contribute to your cat’s daily calories. As a good rule of thumb, meal toppers should not exceed more than 10 percent of your cat’s daily calorie intake.
Feeding Frequency:
Dr. Fald warns that cat food toppers should be used in moderation. She also says they shouldn’t be used as a primary source of nutrition but rather as an occasional addition to your cat’s regular meals. Feeding meal toppers with every meal or in large quantities can lead to dietary imbalances, obesity, and nutritional deficiencies, she explains. They also lack the essential nutrients a cat needs for balanced nutrition. “ Always use them as a complement to your cat’s main diet.
Ingredients:
When picking out the best meal topper for your cat, look for high-quality ingredients. Dr. Fadl recommends checking labels for toppers that list real meat or fish within the primary ingredients. She also says to avoid toppers that contain excessive fillers, artificial additives, or by-products, explaining that these are usually less nutritious and less appealing for cats. Dr. Fadl also reminds “if your cat has known food allergies or sensitivities, you should check the ingredient list to avoid any allergens they might react to. Opt for meal toppers that cater to your cat’s dietary restrictions.”
More We Recommend
Open Farm Harvest Chicken Bone Broth for Cats
What We Like: Uses humanely farmed chickens, no hormones, antibiotics, or steroids, GMO-free ingredients; for wet and dry food; several servings per pouch
What We Don’t Like: Unnecessary ingredients like cinnamon; not suitable for cats under one year of age
The best broth: Open The Farm Harvest Broth is made from humanely-farmed chickens that are treated with antibiotics, hormones or steroids. Natural collagen and the natural flavor of chicken are extracted from chicken bones and cooked for 10 hrs. Pouring a small portion of this delicious bone broth onto dry or wet food is a quick and tasty method to add taste along with moisture and flavor to the cat’s food. Each pouch is packed with 12 ounces worth of liquid gold. The suggested serving size is 2 teaspoons for every 10 pounds bodyweight.
We like the resealable and easy-pour spout, which makes it simple to pour and store securely in the refrigerator between meals. Other ingredients that are not GMO include things such as pumpkin, carrots, and cinnamon. These are not necessary, but provide anti-inflammatory properties and digestion supporting properties.
Purina Pro Plan Cat Calming Care Veterinary Supplements
What We Like: Easy way to add probiotics to a cat’s diet; can help temper stress response; promotes positive behaviors; decreases aggressive and anxious behaviors
What We Don’t Like: Continued use can get expensive; for wet food only; takes up to six weeks to see benefits
Best Calming : This meal-topper contains a strain of probiotic bacteria that has shown to promote calm behavior. Gut health in cats can affect their mood, just as it does with humans. Purina Pro Plan Calming Care Probiotics contain BL999, which acts as a behavioral complement when sprinkled on your cat’s diet for at least six week.
It helps to reduce the production of cortisol – a stress hormone that can cause a cat to be aggressive, anxious or antisocial. Purina claims that each pouch contains a certain amount of microorganisms to calm your cat (although the exact types and amounts are not revealed). The liver flavor makes it more appealing, but the powder should be mixed with wet food as it can’t be absorbed in dry kibble.
INABA Churu Lickable Cat Treat
What We Like: High protein; approximately six calories per serving; great flavor variety; high moisture content; can double as a standalone treat; can be used in partial portions
What We Don’t Like: Cats may eat around topper portion; contains tapioca starch
The best Low-Calorie Food:Indaba Churu Lickable treats have an established reputation as a top-cat treat, however these tubes that squeeze out can be used as a sneaky meal topping. With just six pounds of fat per tube, we appreciate that the Churu treat meal topping doesn’t need us to calculate calories or recalculate portion sizes for meals.
These low-calorie, high-moisture toppings make the perfect meal topper for those who have a tendency to be fussy eaters or cats on diets to control weight or cats that require constant stimulation for their appetites.
We like that you can offer small portions and then refrigerate the remainder until the next meal. You can also serve it for a treat in between meals. But be aware: certain cats are reported to lick the topper for treats and eat their food in the bowl, so you might be thinking about mixing it into the food before serving. The reason these snacks so delicious is their creamy texture, which is, unfortunately, due to the use of tapioca starch.
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