Obesity is a common problem for our pets, and if it’s left unchecked, it can lead to a long list of serious health issues. Part of the problem is that it’s impossible to tell if your cat is overweight simply by looking at the number on a scale. Some felines are naturally bigger or smaller than average, and their ideal weight will depend on things like their height and muscle mass. Different cats have different healthy body weights, but as a responsible cat owner, you should know whether your cat is fit or fat. Here’s how to evaluate your cat to determine if they’re overweight.
Look at Your Cat From Above
Most veterinarians use a body condition score system that ranges from 1 to 9. Cats on the low end of the scale are considered highly underweight, and scoring a nine would mean your cat is unhealthy and obese. A score of 4 to 5 is ideal.
You can ask your vet where your cat currently sits on the scale at your next visit, but you can also do this simple test at home. Stand so you’re looking down at your cat’s spine. You should see a slight waist right in front of their hips. Their sides should also be straight and not rounded. If you can’t see any indication of a waist and if your cat’s overall shape seems more rounded or oval, they belong on the higher end of the scale.
Here’s a chart to help you score your cat’s body condition.
Look at Your Cat From the Side
Switch views so you can see your cat’s full body from a side profile (make sure they’re standing up). If they’re at a healthy weight, you should see the same waistline you saw from above. It’ll look like a slight tapering that starts after their ribs and goes up into their hips. They could most likely afford to lose a couple of pounds if there’s no waist or their belly looks rounded or sagging. However, don’t confuse your cat’s primordial pouch with a saggy overweight belly. Click here to read about that particular section of skin and why it’s there.
These visual tests are a decent way to get a general idea of whether or not your cat is overweight, but you’ll probably notice a slight problem. If your cat’s fur is extra fluffy, all that floof will hide their natural body shape. You can try holding the fur flat with your hand, but that still won’t give you a good look. Move on to the next test for a more accurate conclusion.
Feel Their Ribs
Under the pretense of giving some lovely pets, see if you can feel your cat’s ribs beneath their fur, skin, and fat. Your cat’s ribs should be pretty easy to feel at an ideal weight. They shouldn’t stick out, but you’ll be able to feel those ridges by only putting a little bit of pressure on your cat’s sides.
If you have to dig through a thick layer of fat or can’t feel the ribs at all, your cat is overweight.
Talk To Your Vet
Some cat breeds, like Norwegian Forest Cats and Maine Coons, are naturally more significant than the average feline. Some cats bring up a high number on the scale, but that’s because they’re pure muscle, and muscle weighs more than fat.
The simple at-home tests discussed above will give you a general idea of your pet’s obesity risk. It’s always best, however, to hear the facts straight from your vet. Their experience lets them objectively evaluate body condition scores and let you know of any concerns. They’ll also weigh your cat every visit so that you can keep track. It’ll be hard to tell whether your aging cat is gradually packing on the pounds just by looking at them daily. But with regular weigh-ins, you can catch your cat’s potential weight problems before they get too serious.
