Hi Protein Lo Calorie Dry Food

Hi! Looking for a good quality high protein lower calorie dry food.
I use an equal mix of wet/dry food when I travel and usually use Dr. Elsey's clean protein, but at over 500kcal per cup, its really high in calories. I have 3 cats (7 lbs, 10 lbs, and chubby boy at 15lbs). They are weight stable but big boy Salem tends to overeat when given free range.

Normally they get 80% wet food diet (rotation of 3-4 brands fed 2-3x/day). When I travel, i have a sitter come once a day to feed the cats and put down wet and dry to last till the next day. I leave more than I would normally would because I have a very shy cat who may not get to the food before the other gluttons eat (and she prefers to graze). Plus I feel guilty/fearful that Im starving them when I'm gone (totally not rational i know but hey, they are my babies!).

Have tried Instinct and NOW (first gave the sibling pair feline acne..possible tapioca allergy? and I wasn't a s fan of NOWs ingredient list).

Thinking of trying NULO Trim....any others I should consider?

Thanks from a long time lurker!!!

There are 4 calories in both protein and carbs but 9 in fat. So any food that is high protein, moderate fat and low carb will naturally be higher calorie. To get high protein low calorie, you'll have to either have plant based proteins (which will introduce more carbs) or have a low fat, higher carb food.

Some with lower calories :

495: https://www.chewy.com/tiki-cat-born-carnivore-chicken-luau/dp/172036

Wysong Epigen 90 is 445 per cup if I remember.
https://www.chewy.com/wysong-epigen-90-starch-free-formula/dp/103308

473: https://www.chewy.com/go-fit-free-grain-free-chicken-turkey/dp/41296

This list may be helpful too Dry Food Comparison Chart | Zero Carb and Grain Free Cat Food

If you are feeding higher protein and fat, it will fill the cat up faster and for longer than a food filled with carbs and fillers. Focus less on the calories. Aim for high protein and fats and less grains/carbs.

The last thing you want in cats food is more carbs, grains = carbs = sugars, this can lead to obesity, diabetes, males with urinary issues and blockages and kidney disease.

There are only 2 high protein and low carb dry foods: Dr. Elsey and Ziwipeak.

It’s not really about the amount of calories but where the calories come from. High animal protein and low carb is much more important than the number of calories. You’d be better off switching to all wet.