Healthy and ideal weight in cats: Everything you need to know

By Charlotte Francesca Stiles, DVM

Your cat’s weight is a significant factor in their overall health and well-being. By managing it correctly, you can reduce the risk of them suffering from various conditions and diseases.

That being said, it can be tricky to know whether your cat is carrying an appropriate amount of weight. So in this article, we’ll explain how to assess your cat’s weight and give tips to help them achieve their ideal weight.

How do I know if my cat is a healthy weight?

Weighing your cat regularly, doing body condition scoring (more on that later), and discussing your pet’s weight with your vet are great ways to keep on top of your cat’s weight.

Your veterinarian will be able to advise you on your cat’s weight and give you tailored advice on how to improve or maintain it. It’s also a great idea to keep a log of your pet’s weight and be aware of how much you are feeding them.

It’s good to remember that a healthy weight for cats is affected by things such as their breed, age, sex and whether they’ve been spayed or neutered.

What is body condition scoring and why is it important?

Body condition scoring is a technique which grades animals based on visual and palpable cues (things you can feel). It is a grading system which runs from 1 to 9, 1 being extremely underweight and 9 being extremely overweight.

Vets usually recommend for animals to be around grade 5, the scores according to Royal Canin being as follows:

• 1-3 - Underweight - some bones such as ribs, pelvis and spine may be visible. Their waist is very noticeable and their abdomen tucks up very noticeably.
• 4-5 - Ideal - it’s easy to feel the ribs but not possible to see them. A waist is noticed when looking from above and the abdomen appears slightly tucked up.
• 6-9 - Overweight to obese - increasingly hard to feel the ribs, no visible waist with excess fat deposited in the abdomen.

Your cat’s weight plays a vital role in helping to keep them healthy. Underweight cats often have a weaker immune system so are less equipped to defend themselves from diseases and may not heal as fast as normally. Additionally, they can develop problems with their muscles and organs such as the liver.

Overweight cats, on the other hand, are at increased risk of developing conditions such as osteoarthritis, diabetes, and urinary blockage (in male cats).

If you notice a sudden, unexplained change in your cat’s weight, routine, or behaviour it’s a good idea to consult your veterinarian. Our Lifetime Protection Membership includes 24/7 access to veterinarians by phone, email or live chat. So if you’re worried about your pet, you can quickly get the help you need.

How can I achieve and maintain my cat’s ideal weight?

We’ve listed some ways you can help your cat achieve and maintain their ideal weight below:

• Weigh your cat regularly and set targets.
• Feed only high-quality food in the correct amounts.
• Increase exercise (if overweight)
• Keep treats only for special occasions.
• Attend regular health checks and consultations with your veterinarian.

We hope you’ve enjoyed reading this article about a healthy and ideal weight for cats. Maintaining an appropriate weight is a great way to help keep them healthy and decrease the chances of them suffering from some preventable conditions.