If you are a cat owner, you may wonder how much your cat should weigh and how to keep them in good shape. After all, you want your furry friend to be healthy and happy, right?
But with so many factors affecting cat weight, such as breed, age, sex, and lifestyle, it can be hard to determine what is the ideal weight for your cat.
In this blog post, I will help you answer the question “How much should a cat weigh?” and give you some tips on how to help your cat lose weight if they are overweight or obese.
I will also explain how to use a body condition score to assess your cat’s weight and health status.
Let’s dive right in…
Key takeaways
- The average domestic cat should weigh around 8-10 pounds or 3.6-4.4 kg, but this can vary depending on the breed, size, and build of your cat.
- You can use a body condition score to visually and physically evaluate your cat’s weight and body fat. A score of 5 out of 9 is considered ideal, while a score of 7 or higher indicates obesity.
- Obesity can lead to serious health problems for your cat, such as diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, and joint injuries. To help your cat lose weight, you should consult with your vet, adjust your cat’s diet, and encourage them to exercise more.
- You should aim for a gradual and safe weight loss for your cat, about 1-2% of their body weight per week. You should also monitor your cat’s weight and body condition regularly to ensure they are on the right track.
How much should a cat weigh?
The answer to this question is not as simple as you may think. There is no one-size-fits-all answer, as different cats have different weight ranges based on their breed, size, and build.
However, as a general guideline, the average domestic cat should weigh around 8-10 pounds or 3.6-4.4 kg.
This is based on the assumption that your cat is a mixed breed or a non-pedigree cat with a medium-sized frame.
If your cat is purebred or has a larger or smaller frame, you may need to adjust this number accordingly.
To get a more accurate idea of your cat’s ideal weight, you should consult with your vet.
Your vet can perform a physical exam and some diagnostic tests to rule out any underlying health issues that may affect your cat’s weight.
Your vet can also use an ideal body weight formula to calculate your cat’s target weight based on their body size and build.
How to use a body condition score to assess your cat’s weight
Another way to determine if your cat is at a healthy weight is to use a body condition score (BCS). This is a nine-point scale that helps you to visually and physically assess your cat’s weight and body fat.
To use the BCS, you need to look at your cat from the side, from above, and from below. You also need to feel your cat’s ribs, spine, and hip bones with your hands.
Based on these observations, you can assign a score to your cat from 1 to 9, where 1 is very underweight and 9 is very overweight.
Here is a summary of what each score means:
- 1: Very underweight. Your cat has visible ribs, spine, and hip bones with no fat covering. Your cat has a severe tummy tuck and a very thin waist. Your cat may have a serious health problem or be malnourished.
- 2: Underweight. Your cat has easily visible ribs, spine, and hip bones with minimal fat covering. Your cat has a pronounced tummy tuck and a thin waist. Your cat may need more food or have a health issue that causes weight loss.
- 3: Thin. Your cat has slightly visible ribs, spine, and hip bones with a thin layer of fat. Your cat has a noticeable tummy tuck and a slender waist. Your cat may be slightly underfed or have a high metabolism.
- 4: Lean. Your cat has barely visible ribs, spine, and hip bones with a moderate layer of fat. Your cat has a slight tummy tuck and a well-defined waist. Your cat is close to the ideal weight but may benefit from a little more food.
- 5: Ideal. Your cat has ribs, spine, and hip bones that are not visible but can be easily felt with your fingers. Your cat has a minimal tummy tuck and a smooth waist. Your cat is at the perfect weight and body condition for their size and build.
- 6: Overweight. Your cat has ribs, spine, and hip bones that are hard to feel under a thick layer of fat. Your cat has no tummy tuck and a rounded waist. Your cat is slightly overweight and may need to reduce their food intake or increase their activity level.
- 7: Obese. Your cat has ribs, spine, and hip bones that are very hard to feel or not palpable under a very thick layer of fat. Your cat has a sagging belly and no waist. Your cat is significantly overweight and at risk of developing health problems. Your cat needs to lose weight with the help of your vet.
- 8: Severely obese. Your cat has ribs, spine, and hip bones that are not palpable under an excessive layer of fat. Your cat has a large and pendulous belly and no waist. Your cat is extremely overweight and has a high chance of suffering from health issues. Your cat needs to lose weight urgently with the help of your vet.
- 9: Morbidly obese. Your cat has ribs, spine, and hip bones that are not palpable under a massive layer of fat. Your cat has a huge and hanging belly and no waist. Your cat is dangerously overweight and has a very low quality of life. Your cat needs to lose weight immediately with the help of your vet.
The ideal score for your cat is 5, which indicates that your cat is at a healthy weight and body condition. A score of 4 or 6 may also be acceptable, depending on your cat’s breed and individual variation.
However, a score of 3 or lower, or 7 or higher, indicates that your cat is underweight or overweight, respectively, and may need to adjust their diet and exercise.
You can use this table to compare the BCS scores and the corresponding body conditions:
| BCS Score | Body Condition |
| 1 | Very underweight |
| 2 | Underweight |
| 3 | Thin |
| 4 | Lean |
| 5 | Ideal |
| 6 | Overweight |
| 7 | Obese |
| 8 | Severely obese |
| 9 | Morbidly obese |
How to help your cat lose weight
If your cat has a BCS score of 7 or higher, it means that they are overweight or obese and need to lose weight.
Obesity can lead to serious health problems for your cat, such as diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, and joint injuries. Obesity can also shorten your cat’s lifespan and reduce their energy and happiness.
To help your cat lose weight, you should follow these steps:
Consult with your vet
Your vet can help you determine your cat’s target weight, ideal calorie intake, and suitable diet plan. Your vet can also rule out any medical conditions that may cause or worsen your cat’s obesity.
Your vet can also monitor your cat’s progress and adjust the plan as needed.
Adjust your cat’s diet
- Feed your cat a high-quality, low-calorie, and high-protein diet that meets their nutritional needs and helps them feel full.
- Avoid giving your cat any treats, table scraps, or human food that can add extra calories and harm their health.
- Measure your cat’s food portions and feed them on a regular schedule, rather than leaving food out all the time.
- Provide your cat with fresh water at all times and limit their access to other sources of food, such as other pets’ bowls or outdoor prey.
Encourage your cat to exercise more
You should play with your cat at least twice a day for 10 to 15 minutes each time, using toys that stimulate their natural hunting instincts, such as feathers, balls, or lasers.
You should also provide your cat with a stimulating environment that encourages them to move around, such as scratching posts, cat trees, tunnels, or windowsills.
On top of that…
Reward your cat with praise, affection, or toys, rather than food, when they exercise or play.
Aim for a gradual and safe weight loss
You should not try to make your cat lose weight too fast, as this can cause health problems and stress for your cat. A safe weight loss rate for your cat is about 1-2% of their body weight per week.
This means that if your cat weighs 15 pounds, they should lose about 0.15 to 0.3 pounds per week.
You should also weigh your cat and check their body condition score regularly to track their progress and make sure they are losing weight at a healthy pace.
Conclusion
How much your cat should weigh depends on their breed, size, and build, but the average domestic cat should weigh around 8-10 pounds or 3.6-4.4 kg.
You can use a body condition score to assess your cat’s weight and health status and aim for a score of 5 out of 9, which indicates an ideal weight.
If your cat is overweight or obese, you should consult with your vet, adjust your cat’s diet, and encourage them to exercise more.
You should also aim for a gradual and safe weight loss of about 1-2% of body weight per week.
I hope this blog post has helped you answer the question “How much should a cat weigh?” and given you some useful tips on how to keep your cat in good shape. Thank you for reading and have a purr-fect day! 😺