Determining if your cat is overweight can be difficult because cats come in all shapes and sizes, with varying amounts of fur. This is a topic I address daily, as many pet owners don’t even realize that their cat is overweight.
This is a difficult conversation to have, but an important one that can have a major impact on your cat’s overall health.
Here are some tips to help you determine if your cat is overweight, at a healthy weight, or underweight.
How do you know if your cat is overweight?
There is no “ideal weight” for a cat, but most fall into the range of 9-11 pounds.
To determine a cat’s ideal weight and assess their overall health, veterinarians look a little deeper than just the number on the scale. Just as humans are commonly rated using their BMI (Body Mass Index), we use a similar system called the Body Condition Score (BCS) to rate cats.
Body Condition Score System
There are several systems, but most veterinarians use the 1-9 system, which you will quickly learn to assess your cat.
The Body Condition Score system has nothing to do with your cat’s actual size, muscle strength or amount of fur, and it helps you determine if your cat is at a healthy weight for their body, rather than just a numerical weight.
Your veterinarian will perform a full body analysis of your cat to determine its BCS, but there are also ways to physically and visually assess your cat to get a rough idea of what your cat’s BSC is.
Determining a cat’s body condition score
Cats are divided into three categories:
-
health
-
Underweight
-
Overweight
Within these categories, veterinarians will give a specific BCS from 1 to 9 to determine severity.
Here we explain how we rate cats and what makes each category unique.
Healthy Cat Weight: BCS 5
The ideal BCS for a cat is 5. A cat with a BCS of 5 has the perfect mix of a little extra “reserve” fat, but not enough to cause any health problems.
When viewed from the side, a cat at an ideal weight will have a small “dimple” around the belly and hips, meaning the belly won’t drag on the floor.
The belly should fit snugly against your cat and curve upwards to meet its hind legs.
If you look at the same cat from above, you’ll notice that it has a small dip just in front of its hips, or “figure eight” hips.
When you pet a BCS-5 cat, you can feel both the spine and the ribs, but you can’t actually see them from a distance.
Underweight cats: BCS 1-4
Occasionally we come across cats that are “underweight,” which gives them a score of 1 to 4. If your cat is a 1, it means they are extremely emaciated to the point of starvation. A 4 is a cat that is slightly underweight, and a physical exam is usually required to determine how badly.
In these cats, the abdomen is quite toned towards the hind legs, and the “waistline” is very noticeable when viewed from above.
When you pet a cat with a low BCS, you can actually feel the bones of their spine as well as the bones of their rib cage.
While there are other reasons why these bones may protrude (especially in older cats with thyroid, kidney or other diseases), in young, healthy cats, the most common cause is being underweight.
Overweight cat: BCS 6-9
However, it is far more common for cats to have a BCS above 5. These cats are becoming too heavy for their size, giving them a more blocky appearance.
When viewed from above, an overweight cat will look more like a rectangle than a nice tapered figure 8. Instead of their belly rising to their waist, an overweight cat’s belly drags all the way down and wobbles when they walk.
When you pet an overweight cat, you can’t feel the ribs or spine.
The importance of maintaining a healthy weight in cats
Maintaining a healthy weight is essential to your cat’s overall health. Overweight cats are more susceptible to problems such as diabetes, heart disease and arthritis.
Maintaining your cat’s healthful weight will help minimise the risk of these diseases and reduce unnecessary stress on their joints and bones.
Consult your veterinarian
When it comes to managing your cat’s weight, your veterinarian is your best ally.
They can help you understand what is normal for your cat and know how to monitor your cat’s weight to make sure it is maintaining a healthy weight.
Working with your veterinarian to monitor your cat’s weight can also be helpful, as it’s much easier to deal with a cat with a BCS of 6 or 7 than one that has grown to a BCS of 8 or 9.
Once a cat reaches a level of severe obesity, they will require specialized care to ensure any weight loss plan is effective and safe.
Author: Dr. Sandra Mitchell, Veterinarian
Featured Image: iStock.com/200mm
