Is My Cat Overweight?
Three look-and-feel questions following the veterinary body condition score, an honest verdict and a weight diary to track the trend.
1/3 · Can you feel your cat's ribs?
Run a flat hand with light pressure along the side of the ribcage, front to back.
2/3 · Do you see a waist when looking from above?
Look straight down at your standing cat's back, at the area between the ribs and the hips.
3/3 · How does the belly line run seen from the side?
Look at your standing cat from the side. The loose skin flap between the hind legs (the primordial pouch) is normal and doesn't count — it's about the line of the belly itself.
Tip: weigh yourself on the bathroom scales with and without your cat — the difference is the cat.
Answer all 3 questions to see the result.
Want to know how many calories fit the target weight? The feeding planner calculates it — and the boredom test helps burn it.
Why you can’t trust the scales blindly
The Association for Pet Obesity Prevention has measured for years that well over half of pet cats are too heavy — and most owners don’t see it, because weight creeps on a few grams a week and a round cat is undeniably adorable. Yet excess weight is the most underestimated health complaint of the domestic cat: it raises the risk of diabetes, joint wear and bladder problems and is linked to a shorter life expectancy. The tricky part is that the number on the scales says little: a healthy Maine Coon weighs more than an overweight moggy. That is why vets judge the body rather than the weight, using the body condition score (BCS) published by the WSAVA, the global association of companion-animal vets: can you feel the ribs, is there a waist, how does the belly line run? This check asks you exactly those three questions and translates your answers into a BCS indication with concrete advice.
Did the result say ‘too heavy’? The feeding and medication planner calculates how many calories fit the target weight, and the DIY puzzle feeders make your cat work for its food — the most natural way to eat slower and move more at the same time.
Frequently asked questions about cat weight
When is a cat overweight?
A cat is overweight when you can only feel the ribs with firm pressure, no waist is visible from above and the belly sags. Vets score this with the body condition score on a scale of 1 to 9, where 4 to 5 is ideal and 6 or higher is too heavy. Do mind the loose skin flap between the hind legs: that primordial pouch is part of the cat and is not fat.
How much should a cat weigh?
There is no single number: a healthy weight differs per breed and build, roughly from 3 kilos for a small female to 7 kilos or more for a large male. That is why you judge the body rather than the scales. What the number is good at: showing the trend. A cat that gains or loses half a kilo in a few months without anything changing deserves attention — that is what the weight diary above is for.
How do I help my cat lose weight safely?
Slowly and under your vet’s guidance: at most one to two percent of body weight per week. Never starve or crash-diet a cat — unlike in people, losing weight too fast can cause liver failure in cats (hepatic lipidosis). The safe route: weigh daily portions on kitchen scales, cut loose treats, feed through a food puzzle and add a few short hunting-play sessions every day.
How this check calculates
The three questions follow the look-and-feel points of the body condition score as published by the WSAVA Global Nutrition Committee; the indicative target weight uses the veterinary rule of thumb that every BCS point above 5 means roughly 10 to 15 percent above ideal weight. It remains an indication based on your answers and does not replace veterinary advice: breed, age and build make a difference a questionnaire cannot see, and only a vet can rule out medical causes.
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