As cat owners, we can pretty much all agree that there’s something extra adorable about cats who are a little on the portly side — and there’s nothing wrong with that, right? It just means that a cat is well-fed and loved by its humans.
But how much should a cat weigh? Well, in short, cats should weigh anywhere from 5-25 pounds. The exact ideal weight for a cat depends on its breed, age, overall health, and a number of other important factors. In general, though, most cats should fall around the 10-pound range, with certain breeds like the Siamese and Maine coon falling on the extreme ends of the weight spectrum.
Keep on reading this article to find out exactly how much your cat should weigh.
- Factors That Determine Ideal Cat Weight
- How Is Ideal Cat Body Weight Calculated?
- What Does A Cat At Its Ideal Weight Look Like?
- How Does Being Overweight Affect Cats?
- How Does Being Underweight Affect Cats?
- What If My Cat Is Not At Their Ideal Weight?
- Maintaining Your Cat’s Normal Weight
- Final Thought: So, How Heavy Should My Cat Be?
Factors That Determine Ideal Cat Weight
Age
The age of a cat can have major effects on how much it weighs.
For example, a kitten is going to weigh a lot less than an adult because it is a much smaller animal. In addition, though, as cats age, their weight may also be affected. This is because the aging process tends to make a cat either gain or lose weight at a noticeable rate.
A cat who gains weight as they age is likely to do so because they become less active and their metabolism slows, while one who loses weight may see the weight loss as a result of a diminishing appetite.
Breed
The breed of a cat can also affect how much it should weigh. Like humans, cat breeds have different frames, which plays a role in what their ideal healthy body weight is.
As we mentioned, full-bodied large cats like Maine Coons should weigh more than a small, delicately-framed Siamese or Sphynx.
This is because, in order to maintain a healthy body, Maine Coons need to carry extra weight; if a male cat of this breed weighed what many male Siamese cats do – 12 to 13 pounds – he would be considered underweight.
General Health
The general health of a cat also plays into how much it should weigh to be healthy. For example, a cat who suffers from diabetes – whether the disease is controlled or uncontrolled- is likely going to weigh less than a cat who doesn’t.
Even though they weigh less than what is considered “normal”, their veterinarian may still deem them healthy considering that one of the symptoms of diabetes is weight loss.
There are other conditions that can cause weight loss or gain, too, such as leg and joint problems, food sensitivities, and even certain conditions of the brain. Basically, anything that causes a cat to feel unwell or to physically be unable to digest food can result in weight loss.
On the other side of things, health problems that affect the hormones or the way the body moves can cause weight gain.
Sex
In the animal kingdom, males and females of any given species typically vary in size. This is also true with cats. Most of the time, male cats will be bigger and weigh more than a female of the same species.
How Is Ideal Cat Body Weight Calculated?
Ideal body weight is something that a veterinarian will decide. However, if you have any knowledge of what an overweight/underweight cat looks like, you might be able to realize the problem all on your own.
Usually, bodyweight is scored on a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 being underweight and 5 being obese. This scale is known in the veterinary world as the BCS (Body Condition Scoring).
Using your cat’s physical appearance, the veterinarian will use this scale and its dedicated indicators to place your cat, treating them if their place on the scale warrants it.
What Does A Cat At Its Ideal Weight Look Like?
If you’re looking to get an idea of where a veterinarian would place your cat on their BCS chart, you can do so by observing a few key indicators right from the comfort of your home.
You can conduct a rib check. This process involves placing both of your thumbs on your cat’s backbone and spreading your hands across the rib cage. You want to feel the ribs.
You might also use the profile check, which has you looking at your cat head-on at their level. If you can see your cat’s abdomen protruding out from behind the rib cage, he or she is overweight. You want the abdomen to be tucked neatly behind it instead.
From above, see if you can see your cat’s waist behind their ribs. If you can’t, they’re overweight.
To check the other end of the system, the underweight side, look at your cat’s ribs. As we said, you should be able to feel them but you shouldn’t be able to see them beneath the skin.
In addition, a cat whose abdomen is seemingly “sucked in” to their body cavity, leaving their hip bones and ribs protruding is also usually underweight.
How Does Being Overweight Affect Cats?
Cats who veterinarians classify as overweight or obese are at risk of having shorter lives as well as developing a wide variety of health problems. These issues can include diabetes, arthritis, liver and kidney problems, certain types of cancer, GI system upset, skin issues, and urinary problems.
In fact, it’s been found that cats 8-12 years old who are obese or severely overweight have a mortality rate that is 2.8 times higher than lean cats of the same age. Yikes!
How Does Being Underweight Affect Cats?
While cats who are underweight are not necessarily more likely to pass away, they are likely to have a lower quality of life. Being underweight can result in a lack of energy, physical fragility, depression, anxiety, and antisocialism.
Of course, if the issue persists or develops into other life-threatening problems, the risk of death could increase.
What If My Cat Is Not At Their Ideal Weight?
If your cat is either under or overweight, the first step is visiting a veterinarian. With some tests, they will be able to confirm the cause of the weight issue and build a treatment plan for either gaining or losing weight.
These plans will be attainable for you and should be relatively easy to adhere to. They are not overnight cures by any means but with time and dedication, your cat should be brought to a normal, healthy weight.
After a vet visit, you’ll likely be instructed to change your cat’s diet — whether that means increasing/decreasing food, feeding more or less frequently, or switching foods altogether. You’ll probably also be instructed to reduce or increase the number of treats you feed your cat — at least until the weight issue has been managed and the extra pounds gained or lost.
In addition, if the cause of the weight problem is determined to be something like the loss of appetite due to a toothache or another issue that could be easily remedied, the veterinarian will put a plan in place to deal with it.
This may mean surgery, medication, or lifestyle modifications. It often means a combination of two or more of these things.
Most of the time, cats who are overweight will be recommended to exercise. For you, this could mean taking your cat for a walk on the leash or increasing the frequency of play sessions.
If your cat is particularly stubborn or lazy, it might also mean moving the litter box to a different area of the home to encourage walking or getting them to jump up onto the couch or bed more often for no real reason other than to promote movement.
Maintaining Your Cat’s Normal Weight
After you’ve nailed down the cause of the weight problems your cat is experiencing, the focus will be on maintaining a healthy weight.
As you likely know, maintaining a healthy weight after suffering from weight problems can be incredibly difficult. It can be even more so when you’re dealing with a cat who doesn’t understand why you won’t give them an extra helping of their favorite wet food or slip them chicken scraps under the table anymore, though.
Lifelong changes are often necessary, with physical activity and food consumption two of the main factors that will need monitoring and extra attention. With a bit of time, both you and your cat will adapt to the new normal.
Final Thought: So, How Heavy Should My Cat Be?
Just to recap, your cat should weigh anywhere from 5 to 25 pounds depending on their breed, age, overall health, and sex. Remember, though, that some cats will be considered at their ideal weight even if they aren’t right at the exact weight that is considered ideal for the rest of their breed — this comes down to the needs of the individual cat.
Being both underweight and overweight can cause numerous health problems and the issue is best dealt with quickly. “Dealing with” the issue usually consists of lifestyle changes and a visit to the veterinarian.
Regardless of what the veterinarian recommends, though, continue to show your cat all the love and attention that you can muster and the two of you will make it through together.