Low calorie cat food: dry and wet foods ranked by calories
Adult cat foods from the lowest calorie quarter of our database, with dry and wet ranked separately.
Low calorie cat food has fewer calories in each kilogram, so your cat gets a bigger portion for the same daily calories. The lists below rank adult dry and wet foods by kcal/kg from the manufacturers' own labels, lowest first. Use the kcal per cup or per can to work out how much to feed.
Not veterinary advice: figures are copied from each manufacturer's label on the date shown in each row, so check the label on your own can or bag, and check with your vet before you change your cat's food. BowlMath is not affiliated with any of the brands listed.
How we picked these foods
- Adult or senior food only. We leave out kitten foods because kittens need food made for growth. Ask your vet what to feed a kitten.
- The lowest quarter for its format. A dry food makes the list at or below 3,502 kcal/kg, the 25th percentile of all 42 dry foods in our database. A wet food makes it at or below 835 kcal/kg, the 25th percentile of all 155 wet foods.
- Ranked by kcal/kg, lowest first, with dry and wet ranked separately.
Cutoffs are worked out from the label data each time the database is updated (data from 13 and 14 October 2026).
Low calorie dry cat food (11)
| Rank | Food | kcal/kg | Per cup | Label source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hill's Science Diet Adult Light Chicken Recipe Cat Food | 3,171 | 288 kcal per cup | Label, retrieved 13 October 2026 |
| 2 | Hill's Science Diet Adult Hairball Control Light Chicken Recipe Cat Food | 3,180 | 279 kcal per cup | Label, retrieved 13 October 2026 |
| 3 | Hill's Science Diet Adult Multiple Benefit Chicken Recipe Cat Food | 3,295 | 271 kcal per cup | Label, retrieved 13 October 2026 |
| 4 | 9Lives Morris' Catch Dry Cat Food | 3,337 | 305 kcal per cup | Label, retrieved 13 October 2026 |
| 5 | 9Lives Indoor Essentials Dry Cat Food | 3,360 | 305 kcal per cup | Label, retrieved 13 October 2026 |
| 6 | 9Lives Daily Essentials Dry Cat Food | 3,400 | 310 kcal per cup | Label, retrieved 13 October 2026 |
| 7 | Hill's Science Diet Adult Perfect Weight Chicken Recipe Cat Food | 3,412 | 319 kcal per cup | Label, retrieved 13 October 2026 |
| 8 | Tiki Cat Indoor Health: Trout & Menhaden Fish Meal Recipe | 3,453 | 379 kcal per cup | Label, retrieved 13 October 2026 |
| 9 | 9Lives PLUS High Protein Dry Cat Food | 3,467 | 315 kcal per cup | Label, retrieved 13 October 2026 |
| 10 | Hill's Science Diet Adult Indoor Chicken Recipe Cat Food | 3,492 | 327 kcal per cup | Label, retrieved 13 October 2026 |
Low calorie wet cat food (37)
| Rank | Food | kcal/kg | Per can or pouch | Label source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tiki Cat Kapi'Olani Luau Tilapia | 666 | 53 kcal per 2.8 oz can | Label, retrieved 13 October 2026 |
| 2 | 9Lives Bites Wet Cat Food With Real Beef in Gravy | 730 | 115 kcal per 5.5 oz can | Label, retrieved 13 October 2026 |
| 3 | Tiki Cat Bora Bora Grill Sardine Cutlets in Lobster Consommé | 730 | 58 kcal per 2.8 oz can | Label, retrieved 13 October 2026 |
| 4 | Tiki Cat Oahu Luau Seabass | 736 | 59 kcal per 2.8 oz can | Label, retrieved 13 October 2026 |
| 5 | Tiki Cat After Dark Chicken & Duck | 737 | 59 kcal per 2.8 oz can | Label, retrieved 13 October 2026 |
| 6 | Tiki Cat Makaha Grill Mackerel & Sardines | 737 | 59 kcal per 2.8 oz can | Label, retrieved 13 October 2026 |
| 7 | Tiki Cat After Dark Chicken & Beef | 744 | 59 kcal per 2.8 oz can | Label, retrieved 13 October 2026 |
| 8 | Tiki Cat After Dark Chicken & Pork | 744 | 59 kcal per 2.8 oz can | Label, retrieved 13 October 2026 |
| 9 | Tiki Cat Tahitian Grill Sardine Cutlets | 754 | 60 kcal per 2.8 oz can | Label, retrieved 13 October 2026 |
| 10 | Hill's Science Diet Adult Perfect Digestion Chicken, Vegetable & Rice Stew Cat Food | 758 | 62 kcal per 2.9 oz can | Label, retrieved 13 October 2026 |
Show 27 more wet foods
| Rank | Food | kcal/kg | Per can or pouch | Label source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | Hill's Science Diet Adult Perfect Weight Vegetables and Chicken Stew Cat Food | 759 | 60 kcal per 2.8 oz pouch | Label, retrieved 13 October 2026 |
| 12 | 9Lives Bites Wet Cat Food With Real Chicken & Beef in Gravy | 760 | 120 kcal per 5.5 oz can | Label, retrieved 13 October 2026 |
| 13 | Hill's Science Diet Adult Sensitive Stomach & Skin Salmon & Tuna Dinner | 765 | 60 kcal per 2.8 oz pouch | Label, retrieved 13 October 2026 |
| 14 | Tiki Cat After Dark Chicken & Lamb | 769 | 61 kcal per 2.8 oz can | Label, retrieved 13 October 2026 |
| 15 | 9Lives Bites Wet Cat Food with Real Chicken & Fish in Gravy | 770 | 120 kcal per 5.5 oz can | Label, retrieved 13 October 2026 |
| 16 | 9Lives Bites Wet Cat Food With Real Chicken in Gravy | 770 | 120 kcal per 5.5 oz can | Label, retrieved 13 October 2026 |
| 17 | 9Lives Senior Shreds Wet Cat Food with Real Ocean Fish & Tuna in Sauce | 770 | 120 kcal per 5.5 oz can | Label, retrieved 13 October 2026 |
| 18 | Fancy Feast Gravy Lovers Salmon and Sole Feast Gourmet Cat Food in Wet Cat Food Gravy | 770 | 65 kcal per 3 oz can | Label, retrieved 14 October 2026 |
| 19 | Fancy Feast Gravy Lovers Turkey Feast Gourmet Cat Food in Wet Cat Food Gravy | 774 | 65 kcal per 3 oz can | Label, retrieved 14 October 2026 |
| 20 | 9Lives Shreds Wet Cat Food With Real Turkey in Sauce | 775 | 120 kcal per 5.5 oz can | Label, retrieved 13 October 2026 |
| 21 | Fancy Feast Gravy Lovers Beef Feast Gourmet Cat Food in Wet Cat Food Gravy | 775 | 65 kcal per 3 oz can | Label, retrieved 14 October 2026 |
| 22 | Fancy Feast Gravy Lovers Salmon Feast Gourmet Cat Food in Wet Cat Food Gravy | 775 | 65 kcal per 3 oz can | Label, retrieved 14 October 2026 |
| 23 | Fancy Feast Gravy Lovers Chicken Hearts and Liver Feast Gourmet Cat Food in Wet Cat Food Gravy | 792 | 67 kcal per 3 oz can | Label, retrieved 14 October 2026 |
| 24 | Hill's Science Diet Adult Indoor Salmon & Vegetable Medley Cat Food | 792 | 123 kcal per 5.5 oz can | Label, retrieved 13 October 2026 |
| 25 | Tiki Cat Puka Puka Luau Succulent Chicken | 792 | 63 kcal per 2.8 oz can | Label, retrieved 13 October 2026 |
| 26 | Fancy Feast Gravy Lovers Chicken and Beef Feast Gourmet Cat Food in Wet Cat Food Gravy | 795 | 67 kcal per 3 oz can | Label, retrieved 14 October 2026 |
| 27 | Hill's Science Diet Adult Indoor Salmon & Vegetables Stew Cat Food | 798 | 63 kcal per 2.8 oz pouch | Label, retrieved 13 October 2026 |
| 28 | Hill's Science Diet Adult 7+ Healthy Cuisine Roasted Chicken & Rice Medley Cat Food | 808 | 63 kcal per 2.8 oz can | Label, retrieved 13 October 2026 |
| 29 | Hill's Science Diet Adult Perfect Weight Salmon and Vegetables Stew Cat Food | 817 | 65 kcal per 2.8 oz pouch | Label, retrieved 13 October 2026 |
| 30 | Tiki Cat After Dark Chicken | 826 | 66 kcal per 2.8 oz can | Label, retrieved 13 October 2026 |
| 31 | Hill's Science Diet Adult 7+ Senior Vitality Chicken & Vegetable Stew Cat Food | 827 | 67 kcal per 2.9 oz can | Label, retrieved 13 October 2026 |
| 32 | Tiki Cat After Dark Chicken & Quail Egg | 829 | 66 kcal per 2.8 oz can | Label, retrieved 13 October 2026 |
| 33 | Hill's Science Diet Adult Healthy Cuisine Roasted Chicken & Rice Medley Cat Food | 832 | 65 kcal per 2.8 oz can | Label, retrieved 13 October 2026 |
| 34 | Fancy Feast Grilled Beef Feast In Gravy Gourmet Wet Cat Food | 833 | 70 kcal per 3 oz can | Label, retrieved 14 October 2026 |
| 35 | Fancy Feast Grilled Turkey Feast In Gravy Gourmet Cat Food | 833 | 70 kcal per 3 oz can | Label, retrieved 14 October 2026 |
| 36 | Fancy Feast Grilled Chicken & Beef Feast In Gravy Gourmet Wet Cat Food | 835 | 71 kcal per 3 oz can | Label, retrieved 14 October 2026 |
| 37 | Hill's Science Diet Adult 11+ Healthy Cuisine Seared Tuna & Carrot Medley Cat Food | 835 | 66 kcal per 2.8 oz can | Label, retrieved 13 October 2026 |
Why we rank by kcal per kg
Kcal per kg is the energy in a kilogram of food as it comes out of the can or bag. It is the one figure every label gives on the same basis, so it compares like with like. Calories per can or per cup depend on the can size or cup weight, which differ from food to food.
Wet food is mostly water, so its kcal per kg is a third or less of a dry food's. Ranking them together would only tell you that wet food has more water, so dry and wet are ranked separately.
What you actually feed is cups or cans, so each row also shows the kcal per cup or per can from the label. To turn a daily calorie target into cups or cans, use the cat calorie calculator.
Is a lower calorie food a weight loss plan?
No. A lower calorie food gives your cat a bigger portion for the same calories, which can help, but your cat only loses weight if the total calories go down. Measure every meal, count treats, and change amounts slowly. The cat weight loss guide explains a safe rate, and your vet can set the calorie target.
Check the label says complete and balanced
Look for a statement that the food is complete and balanced for adult maintenance. Our data does not record that statement, so a food on this list may be a complement or topper rather than a full meal. Check the bag or can before you switch.
Why are there no vet diets on this list?
We leave out vet and prescription diets. Your vet chooses those foods and how much to feed.
Looking for a weight formula?
Some foods are sold as light or weight formulas without being in the lowest quarter for calories, and some low calorie foods are not sold as weight formulas at all. The weight management cat food page lists foods by name instead. For wet food only, see low calorie wet cat food.
Questions
What is a low calorie cat food?
On this page, an adult food in the lowest quarter of our database for its format: at or below 3,502 kcal/kg for dry food and 835 kcal/kg for wet food.
Is low calorie cat food good for weight loss?
It can make portions look bigger for the same calories, but weight loss depends on the total calories your cat eats. Ask your vet for a calorie target and measure every meal.
Why are there no kitten foods on this list?
We leave out kitten foods because kittens need food made for growth. Ask your vet what to feed a kitten.
Sources
- Manufacturer product pages and labels, linked on every row (retrieved 13 and 14 October 2026)
- AAFCO: Calorie content on pet food labels
- AAFCO: Reading pet food labels
Related
Estimate only. Check with your vet. Not veterinary advice. Every number is copied from the manufacturer's published label data on the date shown. Recipes change, and a food that is low in calories is not right for every cat. Ask your vet before you change food for a cat that is overweight, unwell, a senior or on a prescription diet.